Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-31278419-20170331010234/@comment-35622277-20170402115354

Thekillman wrote: UntappedRage wrote: Why couldn't he have just made the hero one as well? Or the only one, to be precise Thematic confusion, or rather in this case thematic betrayal. The theme set forward by the fight with Zabuza was that Naruto didn't want to succumb to the normal Ninja state of mind. If he lost that (and stayed lost in that) then that would not just be insanely depressing but also betray the very idea of the series. Doing this for a moment is fine (character growth and all this) but Naruto as a permanently depressing and dark figure just doesn't fit the series.

I do think the story would've been much better if Naruto at least outright killed a person (Rather than having this responsibility lifted by others. IE Kakuzu is finished by Kakashi so it's technically not Naruto's kill). Nagato would be the perfect target. It would make for a much stronger parallel with Sasuke. Well, he doesn't need to be permanently depressing. I just wished he turned a little more serious and mature after the Pain arc.

He stays as someone who believes the world can be saved, and that anyone who wants to be redeemed can be redeemed, and stays true to his dream of being Hokage.

Only except that nobody is revived (and Nagato is killed, but not Konan), and Naruto becomes a bit more ruthless in his methods, and savage with his words. Basically, his vocabulary expands.

His more dark and grim outlook can be balanced out if he gained some wit, and remains sort of light-hearted when not in any kind of confrontation. Coming up with witty remarks against the villains he is fighting would be amusing.

Hinata becomes one of the MC's. Naruto is also promoted to Jonin, so that he is taken more seriously. He also gains the skills to lead teams, because why not? He has the charisma. He also isn't stupid. Neji's role can also be expanded here.

He also doesn't beg the Raikage. He demands. Word has also reached him that Naruto is the one who defeated Pain, leader of Akatsuki and wielder of the Rinnegan.

TL;DR: Naruto needs to be so overwhelmingly GAR that he actually has weight in his words (a bigger vocab would go a long way), and presence in a scene he appears in. Jiraiya 2.0?