A true classic of shonen nekketsu, Naruto was recently the subject of a masterclass in Paris, during which its author Masashi Kishimoto revealed the arcs he is most proud of.
Naruto: Masashi Kishimoto's Favorite Arcs
Launched in September 1999 in the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump published by Shūeisha, Naruto is undoubtedly one of the most influential manga of the last thirty years, alongside One Piece. The adventures of the young Ninja in the orange costume have been a resounding success throughout the world, and more particularly in France, where their reputation has been even greater than that of Eiichiro Oda's manga.
It must be said that the manga can count on a gallery of terribly endearing characters on the one hand, starting with its eponymous protagonist, and for its extraordinary action sequences, sublimated by the anime.Completed in 2014 with its volume 72, the manga gave birth to a sequel, Boruto, mainly focused on the new generation of shinobis and which has had less success.
To celebrate the affection that the French public has for it, Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto (illustrator of Boruto) organized a masterclass in Paris. Kishimoto-sensei took the opportunity to make some revelations about Naruto. He explained that the arcs and narrative developments he is most proud of are the Pain Arc and the evolution of the relationship between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
There is no doubt that readers of the manga and viewers of the animated series from the Pierrot studio will agree with the mangaka. The Pain arc is often cited as the best arc of Naruto. As a reminder, Nagato – the leader of the Akatsuki – sends his avatars to destroy the hidden village of Konoha. Its inhabitants will be saved by Naruto Uzumaki, who learned hermit mode from master Fukasaku. At the end of a discussion with his opponent, Naruto will become both a hero for all the villagers and the custodian of the hopes for peace of the orphans of the village of Ame: Nagato, Yahiko and Konan.
As for the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke, it is the emotional heart of the second part of the manga;The symmetrical and paradoxical construction of the two characters goes far beyond the rivalry between Son Goku and Vegeta in Dragon Ball. Here, the rivalry is not just a matter of self-improvement and humor; it is the emanation of two identical sufferings and radically different conceptions of the world.
And you, do you understand the pride by Masashi Kishimoto regarding the Pain arc and the opposition between Naruto and Sasuke? Feel free to tell us what your favorite arcs of the manga are in the comments section.Did you like this article? Then feel free to discover the Kyūbi form of Himawari, Naruto and Hinata's sister, revealed recently in the manga Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.