Why I Love Naruto
A bunch of reasons why this series changed my view on life
Naruto is incredible, so here are a few reasons why this manga/anime is near and dear to my heart.- Syd
Every Excuse Imaginable
Sometimes inspiration can be found amongst the hopeless. An origin born of admiration but baptized in bloodshed. A childhood shredded with the razor-edged scorn of people twice his age. His adolescence trotted through a forest of disdain, getting smacked by branches along the way. Most ninja find their first battle in the academy; however, his started before he had motor skills.
The glares bludgeon the orphan as their whispers slice his ear canal. A beautiful beginning, only to be dragged to the depths of depression. No family portraits, dinners, or memories, just imagining an existence that will never be.
Even more troubling was figuring out why tension greets those before an introduction. What could summon so much resentment out of the same group of citizens that many have gladly sacrificed for? Maybe the residents of Konaha had a right to fear him, just being assholes, or some weird combination of both.
A Demon’s Playground
One night was all it took for a city to be united in rancor. Peeling joyfulness of the bone, a beast of nightmares roars with malicious intent. Torment flooded every road and crack as soldiers scramble to defend what’s left of their village and sanity.
Violence incarnate exposed how fragile the Shinobi Society can be. Families ripped to pieces while the light of the full moon reflects off the carnage. Choking the life out of the cause for concern, a once peaceful night was strangled by a frustrated fox. Tragedy sleeps as the morning rises, while the devil disappears; aggression and fear only had one place to go.
The cause for Naruto’s woe has an attitude and refuses to halt the suffering. Penance is demanded, even if the accused is under a day old. Incarceration isn’t on the table, but how can one have aspirations of being a leader when the reason Konoha was reduced to ashes burns within?.
His bright blue eyes are a reminder of that red night of slaughter. However, the snickers and rumors were the least of his concerns when the world has weapons far greater than petty insults.
Wicked Words Of Wisdom
A villain’s motivations are a dime a dozen, but some stick out more than others. Governments trembling are mere side effects of achieving their goals. Boasting a sound conviction, and despite the destruction, their reasons are unusually understandable. Peeking into the valley of desolation, we shouldn’t be surprised at what crawls out.
Deep in the void, misery encapsulates one’s being. Children who survived living in war-torn societies finally grew up. Finding their own ways to cease the barbarity that's ravaged their lives for so long leads to unforeseen consequences. Not everyone is blessed with the camaraderie that The Leaf so shamelessly promotes to the masses. Naruto's ambitions sound like a fairy tale conjured up by a kid who has no idea it’s precious Konoha has done more than cuddle with deception.
History favors the winners, as some countries’ riches are covered with another’s blood. What the Demon Fox did on that fateful night pales in comparison to the abundance of grief inflicted by The Leaf. And the Pain that was delivered generations ago still creates conflict to this day. Perpetuating a Cycle of Hatred that asphyxiates any meaningful notion of atonement.
Redefining the definition of Justice with each confrontation. Venomous verbage may be spewed, but the stench of melancholy is too powerful to ignore. Foundations crumble without knowing Konoha’s crimson-painted days of old. For a boy to think he can take a village's past and-
Hold the weight of their sins
Rebuild the trust that set ablaze
Carve a better future for all those involved
While screaming Believe it disruptively all along the way
In a sense, it's a blessing even to be able to have these conversations. The strength to not only trade ideas but strikes with beings that claim deity status. Because, for all intents and purposes, Naruto was good old-fashioned dunce when it came to academics.
Getting it out of the Mud
This blonde kid was the dirt under the bottom of the barrel when compared to his classmates. A loser by any standard, preaching about his foolish dreams of becoming respected amongst his peers. His rambunctious nature may have put him at a disadvantage at first, but there is a bright side to being obnoxious.
Being built different may sound like a gamer tag, but it’s the best way to describe Naruto- Wisdom From Syd like 2 seconds ago
And with the world against you at every turn, it’s best to have a certain mindset. Delusions of grandeur can become a reality if we just stop caring about what others think.
It seems nonsensical to build bonds with the accused. Outcasts on different sides of the fence finding common ground in a field of anguish. Sympathizing with the supposed demented and valuing the power of togetherness.
Forming a relationship with Kurama was thought to be impossible. Even the notion of extending a hand to Nagato after all could easily be interpreted as a neuron misfiring. Plenty feel that world peace is unattainable, and there are plenty of examples to draw that conclusion from. But The Will of Fire doesnt respect the specifics of a situation. The shinobi world is already riddled with darkness, but that does permit you to cast your own shadow.
Unity is the only way for this fantasy to become a reality. As corny as it sounds, we need each other to make the world work. Especially when a close friend decides to make loathing his sanctuary. Dismissing the feelings of others always leads to terrible outcomes. And when you start off with everyone turning their back on you, it’s easier to find sorrow laced throughout the bitterness.
A Moral Compass
To what extent would you go for someone in need? How much pain are you willing to accept from a comrade? A brother on the battlefield, turned international criminal. A person you almost died for has now morphed into cancer. A confidant turned tumor, so far gone that he’s unrecognizable in the mirror.
Many would have just accepted that capital punishment was necessary. The societal pressure for vengeance was so tremendous that it would’ve crippled the average Shinobi.
Despite hesitation from those who are close to Naruto, giving up was never an option. Remembering the agony of being alone, He refuses to let someone whom he considered family drown in atrocity. Questioning his motives only emboldens his stance. Through his own despair, he understands the need for revenge. Knowing that even its own citizens are not safe from Konoha’s wrath.
However, the point remains that if Naruto can’t save an “angry” teenager, how is he supposed to change the Shinobi world? Even when all see his friend as a terrorist, he refuses to forsake his values. Realizing long ago that you must be your own advocate.
My Own Best Friend
Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader. To voice your opinions with a megaphone while simultaneously standing in the audience. The words you speak may not be true until they hit your ears. Ridiculous to a few, but if you never abandon your principles, are you ever truly alone? A different type of self-assurance is needed for the audacity to throw a middle finger up for your ideals. On plenty of occasions, this former stray had to be the one tuning up his own band.
Whether it’s inner conscience or a shadow clone churning devastation in his hand, hes never truly down and out. A boy who's known nothing but loneliness finds strength in multiplying his spirit. Fear not when no one agrees with him; he can make someone who will.
We may not be able to clone ourselves in real life yet, but to be a writer runs the risk of being alone sometimes you have to be your own champion.- Another banger from Syd
It always starts with an idea, and through action, support will eventually follow. He chose his own destiny and decided to do anything possible to make it happen, just like a lot of us today.
No Time For Caution
If one took the time to dissect the odds stacked against them, madness would follow suit. Naruto could've let the burden of thousands break his body, and the vast majority wouldn't have cared. Allowing the insults to bond his ethos. Permitting the fiend inside to run amok and let anxiety swallow him whole. Compromising his Will of Fire while his confidence erodes at the very sight of conflict.
However, we dont have time for any of that. His unyielding spirit inspired those across the nation. The mind can imprison our potential while thoughts patrol talent. Our gifts can not see their full until one actually believes they can do it. From the outside looking in, the host of Nine-tailed Demon Fox had no business even possessing the inkling of being Hokage. Fast forward a few years, and a kid turned quixotic finally gets the respect he deserves.