Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-12509038-20141124214040

Hello, and welcome to the official overview for the Naruto series! With this discussion, we will be talking about the series as a whole- the good, the bad, and the ugly (though I'd like to think you'd be leaning more towards the good, but this is here for you to say whatever you want). This is not going to be easy, as there is a lot to cover in a series of such epic proportions. So while you are free to say whatever you want, I thought it would be easier to break down the major points into a few categories. These are supposed to be treated with a more analytical attitude, and going much more in-depth about the entire series. The categories are as followed- I've also thought of a few more personal questions that pertain to you as a Naruto fan. These can be as in-depth as you want them to be, but either way you look at it, these questions relate to you, and you alone. The questions are as followed- As stated above, you don't have to follow this format, but as I said, with something so massive as this, using this format may be an easy way for you to compile your thoughts. Either way, I have presented the important elements that are up for discussion. There's a lot to say here, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading your thoughts of the entire Naruto series! _________________________________________________________________
 * 1) Characters
 * 2) Plot
 * 3) Mythology and World Building
 * 4) Action
 * 5) Themes/Life Lessons
 * 6) Artwork
 * 1) Who is your favorite character, and why?
 * 2) What is your favorite story arc (from Part I, II, or both), and why?
 * 3) What is your favorite technique/chakra nature, and why?
 * 4) What is your favorite battle (from Part I, II, or both), and why?
 * 5) What is your favorite moment(s) of the entire Naruto series?

My Thoughts on the Naruto Series- Analytical/Formal Portion:
1. Characters- The characters in Naruto are one of its greater attributes. There are a variety of different personalities and traits that make each character unique in their own special way. Likewise, since there are so many characters, it is easy to find yourself relating to at least one of them. While many people do complain about the lack of character development for a large majority of the characters in Part II, this really is not as much of an issue, and I often have a hard time understanding these complaints (look at the next point for further elaboration). While it is nearly impossible to talk about every character in-depth in this one discussion (though I would like to do discussions in the future that pertains to certain characters that I love), here is a list of the ten characters who had the best writing and overall development over the course of the series (in no particular order) to serve as an example of my argument: From Team 7, to the Konoha 11, to the rest of the Allied Shinobi Forces, to the rogues gallery, consisting of Orochimaru and Company, the Akatsuki, Madara Uchiha, etc; the characters are one of the greatest parts about this series.
 * Naruto Uzumaki
 * Sasuke Uchiha
 * Kakashi Hatake
 * Itachi Uchiha
 * Jiraiya
 * Shikamaru Nara
 * Gaara
 * Madara Uchiha
 * Obito Uchiha
 * Nagato

2. Plot- The story of Naruto started out simple: Naruto wanted to become the Hokage and be acknowledged by everyone in Konohagakure. That initial goal became the basis for everything else that happened in the story. While the story evolved so much since that moment, with Naruto’s chase to save Sasuke and the issue of the Akatsuki becoming two key factors, the story is about a child chasing to accomplish his dream at the end of the day. As stated above, one of the reasons why the overall story of Naruto managed to succeed is because Kishimoto focused on the important characters by developing those who had the most potential for an intriguing story, and those who could help progress the story. While there were certainly moments where the story dragged, and though it follows the standard Shonen concepts, the overall plot of Naruto is another overwhelming success.

3. Mythology & World Building- Initially, the world of Naruto seemed like such a strange entity, one that could not be understood. However, slowly but surely, Kishimoto began explaining the core ideas and history of the universe he had created in the Naruto world. Though the true history of the shinobi world was kept a secret for the majority of the series (in fact, the complete truth wasn't revealed until the final 100 or so chapters), Kishimoto did an excellent job of setting up the mythology, slowly revealing more and more each story arc. As far as world building goes, while some of it was explored in Part I, the majority of the series was secluded within Konohagakure. It wasn’t until Part II when Naruto and his friends began journeying outside of the village to other lands and hidden shinobi villages. Even still, much of this did not occur until the latter half of Part II, and so in a sense, some of the interactions between villages felt a bit rushed and unorganized. While Kishimoto could have handled the mythology and world building a little bit better than he did, it is still a satisfactory element, and deserves a passing grade.

4. Action- The action element of the Naruto series is another one of its greatest attributes, and it can be credited for catching the attention of the majority of the fan base. The best word to describe the action in Naruto is “escalation”- it started out as a basic ninja moves and gradually ended in nuclear explosions. In my humble opinion, the best part about the battle element in Naruto is how well it combines fast paced, blood pumping action with smart, cunning battle tactics and strategy. All this results in Naruto producing some of the best fights in all of Shonen manga history. While some fights may drag on for too long (such as the final battle of the War against Tobi/Obito/Juubito, the reincarnated Jinchuriki, Madara/Juudara, the Ten-Tails, and Kaguya- which went for well over 100 chapters), and some be shorter than we would have wished (such as Naruto and Sasuke’s final battle- which was only about seven chapters long), there is still something to enjoy about every single moment of action/fight in the series (yes, even the Kaguya battle, which can be argued as the worst fight of the series, had a lot of good moments).

5. Themes- Something the Naruto series is never credited for often is how its lessons and themes can be applied to everyday life. More often than not, people consider Naruto (and other Shonen manga for that matter) to be a form of entertainment, and that’s it. However, there is so much more that the series has to offer than awesome ninja action. There are so many life lessons throughout the story that it is almost impossible to list them all and explore each one with the depth required to perform such a task. Some examples of the important themes in this series pertain to loneliness, self sufficiency, justice, revenge, love, world peace, perseverance, the value of hard work, and (mostly focused on) the importance of camaraderie. Besides those, there are many of other themes that I didn’t even touch on. While there are certain times when the series can beat you over the head with their lesson (specifically with that last one), these are still important ideas that can have a major influence over the life of someone. While Naruto is certainly a major source of entertainment, it is important not to forget that there is a lot more below the surface, and that Naruto has a lot more to offer you in life.

6. Artwork- Finally, we come to the artwork. Masashi Kishimoto has drastically improved his art style over the past fifteen years. He has evolved from drawing crude, unclear, poorly drawn characters and backgrounds into one of the best mangaka of his generation. When comparing Kishimoto’s artwork to other manga, I personally believe he blows all of them out of the water in terms of his drawing style (specifically One Piece- I don’t know if it’s just me, but I can’t stand the artwork in One Piece!). Though he had a rough start, Kishimoto can now draw absolutely stunning versions of characters, backgrounds, landscapes, and two page spreads that really make the series amazing. Without this quality of artwork, the series as a whole would have never been as good as it was.

My Thoughts on the Naruto Series- Personal/Informal Portion:
1. My favorite character, and why- Sasuke Uchiha (who didn't see that coming?). As there is a lot to say about a character who is as influential as he is, I am planning on creating a full discussion that pertains to Sasuke some time in the future (maybe after The Last, where I see what role he plays in the film). Ironically enough, I wasn't initially a Sasuke fan, and the only reason I started paying attention to him was in order to catch the attention of someone else. However, after pretending for a little while, it eventually became the truth. In my opinion, the greatest thing about Sasuke is how he has evolved over the course of the series- he has gone from an innocent child, to teenager consumed with revenge, to a young man filled with confusion and betrayal, to an adult capable of making his own decisions and thinking about the fate of the world beyond his own selfish desires. While I can certainly understand why some people do hate his character, there are also a bunch of people who can relate how I feel about this character. Until the Sasuke Character Discussion in the future, let me summarize it like this: Sasuke has multiple layers to his character that can appeal to almost anyone; at times he is a cool and calm, mysterious and enigmatic, or eccentric and exciting. He is someone who prefers to make a point with his actions as opposed to with his words; and still, whenever he does talk (like Sawyer said), he has some of the best written dialogue in the entire series. All of this, combined with the fact that Sasuke has one of the best story arcs of any character, is what makes him my favorite character in the series.

2. My favorite story arc (both Parts), and why- For Part I, the Sasuke Retrieval Arc; for Part II, the Itachi Pursuit Arc.


 * Part I- The Sasuke Retrieval Arc: This is easily the best arc of Part I. Three honorable mentions for Part I arcs (in order of my preference) include the Search for Tsunade Arc, the Chunin Exam Arc, and the Land of Waves Arc. However, the Sasuke Retrieval Arc is perfect in almost every way. Orochimaru, who is often regarded as the greatest villain in the Naruto series, is the overwhelming threat, despite the fact that he does not battle anyone at all. The Sound Four are each a dangerous and intriguing threat, with very unique abilities. However, I must say that the highlight character of this arc is probably Kimimaro- his demeanor is something to be admired, and his unique bone abilities are one of the coolest elements of the series (if we're being honest, the bone abilities saved Kaguya from being an overall piece of sh!t character). One of the greatest attributes of this arc is the fact that this was essentially the last time we got to see any of the other Konoha 11 members do anything memorable. Each member (Choji, Neji, Kiba, Shikamaru, Rock Lee, and later Gaara & The Sand Siblings) had a memorable battle against their respective opponents- one that I still remember to this day. However, the best part about this arc was Naruto and Sasuke's climactic battle at the end (which I will go more in-depth on later).
 * Part II- Itachi Pursuit Arc: In my opinion, this is easily the best arc of Part II. Three honorable mentions for Part II include The Final Arc (since this is a part of the War, the Shinobi World War Arc and the Ten-Tails Revival Arc could be attached to this as well), the Hidan and Kakuzu Arc, and the Invasion of Pain Arc. There are so many parts about this arc that make this for me (as I do recognize that this is not the popular decision). First and foremost, this is very much a Sasuke-centric arc, and as you know, he is my favorite character; if you don't like Sasuke, then this is probably not for you. Secondly, this arc has the best fights in all of Part II. The major fights include a large majority of Sasuke fights (where he faces off against Orochimaru, Deidara, and Itachi) with Jiraiya vs. Pain (another classic) occurring in between. Specifically, the Sasuke vs. Itachi fight- this was a long awaited battle, and not only did the action element live up to the hype, but so did the emotional side. Another element that I did enjoy was Naruto and his team's mission to search for both Sasuke and Itachi. It reminded me a little bit of the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, and it was nice to see Naruto's relationship with Sasuke take a forefront in this arc. Jiraiya's mini-mission of infiltrating Amegakure and battling Pain was another highlight of this arc. Not only did we get some much needed character development for Jiraiya, but this was the introduction of Pain, and the mystery behind Pain; much of what was established in this arc is what made the Invasion of Pain Arc so great. This portion ended with Jiraiya's death- which is what I believe is not only the best death in the entire series, but it is also the first moment where I was physically, mentally, and emotionally affected from a series. The greatest part of the Itachi Pursuit Arc was the revelation at the end that Itachi slaughtered the Uchiha Clan on the orders of Konoha, and the fact that he actually loved Sasuke all along. This is the biggest bombshell in the entire series; of all the twists, this is the best one. While I always thought there was more beneath the surface of Itachi, I never expected something of this magnitude, and this is one of the defining moments of the series. Finally, the arc ends with Sasuke reflecting upon his relationship with Itachi, and we see him sobbing for his older brother. Revealing his Mangekyo Sharingan, this was a legendary moment that set up a lot more epic events for the future.

3. My favorite technique/chakra nature, and why- As far as the technique goes, it would have to be Kirin (makes sense, considering my namesake). What's there not to love about a freaking lightning dragon? I feel like I don't need any more justification than that. However, I also appreciate the logic and science behind it, as well as the fact that it takes a lot of preparation to use. As far as my favorite element goes, it would have to be Lightning Release. Once again, the fact that it allows someone to manipulate lightning for attacks is justification enough. While I like all of the other elements, this one feels like the most original, as I had never seen lightning manipulation before. The minute Kakashi used Lightning Blade against Zabuza, I was immediately hooked on the series.

4. My favorite fight (both Parts), and why- For both parts, my favorite fight is Naruto and Sasuke's battles in the Valley of the End (which is coincidentally the final fight of both parts). However, to add some variety- Naruto, Jiraiya, and Tsunade vs. Orochimaru and Kabuto for Part I; toss up between Naruto vs. Pain and Sasuke vs. Itachi for Part II.

First, let me explain what about the two Naruto vs. Sasuke at the Valley of the End fights from both Parts I and II make these my favorite fights in the series (then I'll explain the other ones in the next paragraphs). This is the ultimate rivalry; when I think of the word rivalry, I immediately think of Naruto and Sasuke. Seeing these two go head to head both times was the most exciting thing in the world for me. Though I was anticipating both throughout the entirety of both parts, I was probably looking forward to their second battle in Part II more than Part I because there was a lot more to their relationship by the time the Part II fight occurred. But either way, both of their fights are my favorite fights of the series. Not only because of the emotional factor, but also for the action. The Part I fight was very exciting, and I enjoyed how basic it was. It actually felt like two ninjas clashing. The Part II fight kicked it up a notch- while it still had that basic element (especially at the end with the legendary chapter that was 697), it also had massive explosions that scared the earth and destroyed the Valley of the End. But I won't get into it that much, as I have already written a very long post discussing the epicness that is Naruto vs. Sasuke. Now, allow me to discuss the other great fights of Part I and II (as I didn't want it to just be about Naruto vs. Sasuke for both parts).

Some honorable mentions for my favorite fights in Part I include Team 7 vs. Orochimaru, Rock Lee vs. Gaara, Naruto vs. Neji, Hiruzen vs. Orochimaru, and Rock Lee and Gaara vs. Kimimaro. However, Naruto, Jiraiya, and Tsunade vs. Orochimaru and Kabuto has my pick for the best fight in Part I (excluding Naruto vs. Sasuke Part I). At this time, we had heard a lot about the Legendary Sanin, and so it was amazing seeing them finally squaring off against each other. I don't know how to explain it, but there is just something about this fight that draws me to it, though I think it is a variety of things: the setting of a wide grass field fits the mood, the character history and interactions, the feelings, and finally the action element. There were so many great moments that resulted from this fight, such as Kabuto disabling Tsunade's nervous system and seeing her figure out how to adapt very quickly, the Sannin showdown with the summonings, and Tsunade beating the absolute sh!t out of Orochimaru. However, the greatest moment was when Naruto saved Tsunade from being killed by Kabuto, and then proceeding to blast him with the very first Rasengan attack; that was an amazing moment! While it's kind of difficult to describe the greatness of this fight, hopefully my passion for this battle has been displayed!

Some honorable mentions for my favorite fights in Part II include every single Sasuke fight (IMO, he had the best fights in Part II- each one enticed me in one way or another), Sakura and Chiyo vs. Sasori, Team Asuma and Kakashi vs. Hidan and Kakuzu, Kakashi vs. Pain, and the final battle of the Fourth Shinobi World War (this battle began with Naruto and Tobi's headbutt and concluded with Kaguya's sealing- even excluding separate incidents like other fights and flashback sequences, this is still the longest fight of the series, easily lasting over 100 chapters). However, it is a toss up between Naruto vs. Pain and Sasuke vs. Itachi for my favorite fight of Part II (excluding Naruto vs. Sasuke Part II). I will break down these two together, as in a way, they are very similar in a lot of aspects:
 * Both were highly anticipated- From the moment Pain killed Jiraiya, everyone was eager to see Naruto take on Pain and accomplish justice for the death of his sensei. Likewise, everyone was also looking forward to seeing Sasuke finally confront Itachi and achieve vengeance for the slaughter of his clan. There were a lot of emotions running wild, and there was a lot to look forward to from both fights.
 * The action was incredible for both- Naruto vs. Pain has the most explosive moments in the entire series (or at least until the War when the Tailed Beast Balls are spammed). We see giant Rasengans, giant summoning animals, and Naruto take on several transformations, all culminating in him forming a ninth tail. Likewise, Pain counters with a variety of Six Paths attacks, which include powers that can destroy an entire village and the ability to create a small moon. On the other hand of the spectrum, we have Sasuke vs. Itachi. With this fight, we have a lot of genjutsu being utilized in the beginning; a bunch of moments with basic ninjutsu, taijutsu, and shuriken; a massive clash of two fireballs; the appearance of the Amaterasu; Sasuke using the amazing Kirin; and the first appearance of the ever impressive Susanoo.
 * The "feels" hit hard- Both had their sheer moments of brutal emotion, which made me feel a lot of different ways during these fights. In Naruto vs. Pain, there was a lot of emotional build up while rooting for Naruto to beat Pain for Jiraiya's sake. However, as we learned more about Pain's history and his relationship with Jiraiya, there was a certain sense of tragedy that hit me. Finally, Naruto met his father for the first time in this arc, which was an absolutely amazing experience to witness. In Sasuke vs. Itachi, there was also the sense of excitement while rooting for Sasuke to accomplish his dream of defeating Itachi. After imagining this moment for years, there was a lot to be emotionally invested in. However, the real emotional moment came after the battle where we learned the truth about Itachi. Not only did it provide a large amount of shock, but this is also the moment where I felt the most amount of despair and anguish- there are no words to describe how I felt in those moments.

5. Favorite moments from the series as a whole- This is near impossible. There is so much about this series that I love that I can't possibly list every single moment. Truth be told, it would be easier to list the moments that I disliked as opposed to the ones that I liked. As there are literally hundreds of moments I adore from this series, I'm not even going to attempt to try to list them (sorry if this is a cop out, but this is already long enough!). Let me just say this- out of all the characters, the different plot dynamics, the fights, the mythology, and everything in between, there are no words to describe how many elements I adore from the Naruto series!

Conclusion
I have been following this series for about twelve to thirteen years of my life; I am twenty-one years old. Naruto has been a part of my life for over half the amount of time I've been on this earth. It was introduced to me by a good friend, who unforutunately, I have fallen out of touch with a long time ago. Initially, I didn't care too much about it, and I didn't think it was anything special. However, I wanted to develop a better relationship with this person, and so I stuck with this series, pretending to enjoy it for her sake; I was very young and naive back then. Eventually, there came a point where after we had fallen out of touch, something clicked, and I began to see just how great this series really is. And though I don't know when it happened, that was a time that forever changed my life. I don't know what my life would be like if this series wasn't a part of it; my life could be better, or it could be worse. However, I don't care- I am happy I stuck by this series, and though many people have lost passion for this series in it's later years, I am ecstatic that I was not one of those people.

The tale of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and the rest of their friends from Konohagakure is one of the greatest stories I have ever followed- even if some of it may seem cheesy, cliched, or unoriginal. At the end of the day, Naruto is a coming-of-age story, following the journey of a select few character as they age from mere children to confident adults. Though they face many obstacles and battles along the way, they manage to overcome these issues, endure through the hardships, and walk forward. At the end of the day, isn't that exactly what life is? Naruto is an excellent work of fiction that goes beyond basic story telling, as it manages to provide life lessons and can conjure up many philosophical debates, while also giving us an extremely entertaining story about the shinobi who reside in the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Before I finish this for good, I'd like to give my thanks to everyone who has been apart of Naruto for all these years. Thank you to Chandler, for encouraging me to follow this amazing story; without you, my life would surely be different. Thank you to Weekly Shonen Jump, for continuing to publish Naruto in your magazine for over fifteen years. Thank you to the fans of the Naruto series for continuing to support Kishimoto and his work for such a long period of time; without us, there would be no point for him to write this story for so long. Thank you to the community here over Narutopedia- I can't portray how much fun I've had over the past year and a half interacting with you guys. Finally, I want to thank the man, the myth, the legend himself: Masashi Kishimoto. Thank you so much for writing this story for the over fifteen years of your life. Despite the fact that I don't know you personally, you have no idea how much influence you have had over my life. Naruto is a true masterpiece, and I can't thank you enough for making the best story you could possibly make. Thank you to everyone, and I'll see you in the Spring of 2015!

What are your overall thoughts on the series as a whole? How has the Naruto series impacted your life? Let me know in the comment section below; I can't wait to read your thoughts!  