Weebs have that one anime that is a treasure trove of memories and Naruto is one such example. The series was a true rollercoaster with its own highs and lows. Like every Shonen anime, it was laden with criticism but the mangaka wasn’t someone to back down in any case, especially with this scene.
Shippuden gave us an underrated yet impactful scene that would shut out blatant criticism regarding the series. It is intense and complex but on the whole, it screams peak fiction in every sense. This is precisely why this particular arc stands underappreciated for the most part.
Naruto’s underrated scene screams peak fiction
Naruto is all about the vibes be it battles or loss. The mush of strength and vulnerability makes it wholesome especially with characters. It is a universal fact that characters are the core fuel of a story and the mangaka highlighted this element brilliantly.
And can we all agree that the series had some of the best side characters? This applies not only to the side characters but the villains too. There is so much potential yet all of it was wasted by the end of it all. But there is a bright side to it that deserves our attention and here’s why.
The series indeed sidelined some of the major characters but it doesn’t dispute their significance in any case. Such is the case with Fourth Raikage who is one heck of a baddie. He went head-to-head against Minato where the latter used Flying Raijin to gain advantage.
But hey, the Raikage isn’t someone to be taken lightly, especially with his finesse in Lightning jutsu. His Lariat is an OP ability that can only be countered by Killer B but it can potentially knock out others. It was pretty clear in one of the underrated scenes that scream “peak fiction.”
The Fourth Raikage isn’t as cool or jazzy as his brother Killer B. But he has values and beliefs of his own. The man can get stubborn and go overboard. But it is this very trait that underlines the series’ masterpiece status when we think about the talk-talk jutsu criticism.
Fans on r/Naruto would agree to this as well. The one-on-one fight is a step away from the recycled trope of talk jutsu. A goes beast mode on the knucklehead and the latter doesn’t back out. They’re unevenly matched but it is often overlooked. Precisely why the war arc stands underappreciated.
War Arc: well-written, fine yet underappreciated
In one of the interviews, Masashi Kishimoto revealed the unplanned origins behind the war arc. It may seem haphazard because it is in some cases. But there are moments where the mangaka slayed in writing characters and placing the lore.
One of them is A and his persona as a stubborn Raikage. He is pigheaded and someone who sticks to his guns no matter what. Some fans call it “humbling down” Naruto but the man had a point nonetheless. There’s also a scene where we see him break down during Blue B’s funeral but that is not the end of it all.
There are instances where we witness different hues and sides to the characters. The War Arc is all about the complexities and development of the characters. This also ties in well with Kaguya’s maternal love as well as Obito’s helplessness to save Rin.
But the War Arc cannot be boiled down to a single criticism. It raised the stakes and let the side characters shine if only for a brief time. Yes, the two-man show overshadowed others but we cannot dispute these well-written villains and side characters in any case.
Naruto: Shippuden is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
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