Ultimate Naruto Essay - Naruto As Hero Among Shinobi - PART 2 Shippuden

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WARNING: This is the second half of an essay. This essay was too long for LiveJournal. Part 1 of the Ultimate Naruto Essay can be found at the link or one post back in Chuunin!

Part 2 of Naruto: After the Time Skip

People have complained that Part 2 of Naruto is not the same as Part 1. It is all too common to hear that too much attention has been lavished on Sasuke or that Naruto's development has been abandoned.

I do not disagree with the premise that Part 2 is different than Part 1. However, I believe the differences are deliberate, or at least unavoidable, given where I think the story is going.

Part 2 is like Act 2 in a three Act play.

• Act 1 is introduction


• Act 2 is complication


• Act 3 is the climax.

Part 1 of Naruto introduces the world, the characters and the themes of the story on a feel-good note. It set the stage for the themes and characters to develop. Part 2 deepens the development of the characters, expands the world, and complicates the conflict. Part 2 is darker in the way the adult world is darker. Predicatively, Part 3 (which can extend right from Part 2 without a time skip) will merge the gravity and maturity of Part 2 with the nostalgia and victory of Part 1. (We may already be in Part 3)

There are three things being developed in Part 2.

• Naruto's progress to getting stronger


• Sasuke's progress to getting stronger


• Development of the true villains and conflicts

Naruto's path to getting stronger

Naruto's path to getting stronger isn't instantaneous; it's hard work.

In the beginning of Part 2, Naruto comes back from training with Jiraiya having mastered the basics he was missing before (strategy, for example), only to discover that he is the only remaining Genin in Konoha (still true). After the reunion, the next arc is the Rescue Gaara arc, in which—despite a bigger Rasengan and 3-tails Kyuubi—Naruto fails to be effective. In fact, Naruto fails to protect his friend and Gaara dies (though he is revived by Chiyo). Following this arc is the Sai/Oro/Sasuke arc, in which Naruto goes 4-tails chasing after Orochimaru, but through doing so, Naruto hurts his friends.

Although he is already too weak to do what he needs to do, Naruto decides not to use the Kyuubi anymore. It is obvious as to why. The Kyuubi is a shortcut, and a dangerous one at that. If Naruto had any doubts as to where relying on the Demon Fox would lead him, Sasuke obliterates them when he demonstrates his Uchiha-inherited ability to control the Kyuubi.

Instead, Naruto works on developing his own power—the slow way. Having failed to bring back Sasuke AGAIN, Naruto goes back to the drawing board and starts learning wind manipulation. Naruto's progress is doubted even by the other characters in the manga. He uses this new ability to create the Fuuton Rasenshuriken, which is awesome, but even the FRS is ultimately a failure. Although Naruto uses Fuuton Reasenshuriken to destroy Kakuzu, it is a technique that is simply too dangerous to use again. Because of the severe backlash it delivers to the user, the move is designated "forbidden".

After this, Naruto drops out of the story until the Itachi chase.

When Naruto disappears from the story, the action turns to Sasuke.

Sasuke's Path to Getting Stronger

Some people hate this part of the story. Some have even interpreted Naruto's failures and disappearance from the manga to mean that the author has betrayed the character out of favoritism for Sasuke's story and Uchiha back history. This is a ridiculous assertion in my opinion. Although Sasuke's story is important, and the Uchiha backstory relevant, Masashi Kishimoto has stated that he chose to write a story about a failure because of his own life experience. Naruto is the hero: period. In my opinion, what Part 2 actually does is highlight the following things:

1. The Meaning of True Perseverance: Naruto's transition from dreamer to achiever isn't instantaneous—success requires perseverance after set back after set back after set back.


2. The Meaning of True Progress: Sasuke demonstrates all the appearance of strength, but his victories lack authenticity, in part because although he accumulates a number of flashy jutsu and other tricks, he hasn't really grown. Between the two of them, Naruto is the stronger person.


3. The Meaning of True Villainy: The real threat and conflict of the story has to be developed. Sasuke is an integral part of the conflict, but the real threat is all the evil happening in the Shinobi world, and particularly the evil that has intentionally been perpetuated and/or orchestrated by villain characters such as Madara. This is revealed to the reader through Sasuke because if/when Naruto learns of it, he will react explosively.

The Meaning of True Perseverance

Naruto's progress in Part 2 is slow—much slower than in Part 1, but this is because he is progressing the "right way," even if it means having to go backwards, unlearned the "wrong" way of doing things, and essentially start over. Since Naruto gave up relying on the Kyuubi, he has had to relearn how to be strong. And it takes time. This is to be expected. However, Naruto perseveres, even when it seems that nothing he is learning is really helpful. Because of this, all of Naruto's supposed failures might just turn out to be trump cards in the end—thanks to Senjutsu.

So what about Sasuke?

The Meaning of True Progress

:

Since their split at the Valley of the End, Sasuke and Naruto have progressed in different ways—in fact, they switched. Naruto rejected dangerous "outside" power like the Kyubi whereas Sasuke embraced the curse seal and the absorption of Orochimaru. Naruto continues to believe in the strength of the village and in protect the people he cares about. His love of other is essentially Naruto's reason for giving up the Kyubi. Meanwhile, Sasuke professes the conviction that the way to become powerful is through severing bonds. This is Sasuke's reason for cutting all ties with Konoha, especially Naruto and Sakura, and becoming the distant, cold, arrogant character we see in Part 2.

Sasuke makes his choice--vengeance and the quickest path to power, even if he has to become a demon—because of the hatred he has nursed against his brother and because he saw how a demon helped Naruto gain extraordinary power—power great enough to defeat enemies much stronger than himself. Kakashi warns Sasuke that if he gives in to hatred and depends on the curse seal, that will be it for his strength growth, but Sasuke doesn't listen. To get what he wants, Sasuke accepts the curse seal from Orochimaru and becomes a cold monster. Sasuke does not, however, intend to become Orochimaru's—or anyone's—tool. To prove both these things, Sasuke allows Orochimaru to think he is a pawn only to betray and overpower him when he's sick and weak, proclaiming that he has become "cold hearted".

Subsequently, Sasuke's main concern is to kill his brother and satisfy his vengeance. He immediately recruits Team Hebi to track down Itachi. He specifically is not looking for friends or comrades; he merely thinks a platoon will help him achieve his goal. In thinking this way, Sasuke becomes emptier, but Sasuke knew that his ambition would throw him into darkness. However, the kind-hearted Sasuke is not entirely obliterated. Even Suigetsu remarks that Sasuke is still a Leaf Ninja. Unlike characters like Haku and Itachi, Sasuke never attempts to bury his heart completely. After all, his quest is essentially an emotional one, and he is dead set against doing things the way his brother did them. In keeping with his conscience, Sasuke refuses to kill anyone who is not his enemy.

The question to ask is whether or not this method to strength works for Sasuke.

Let's consider Sasuke's victories: Under Orochimaru's tutelage, Sasuke shows impressive growth in speed, chakra shape manipulation, taijutsu, the sword, summoning, genjutsu, and ninjutsu. In short, he grows into what he always had the promise of being—a five star ninja—and accomplishes it very quickly.

To demonstrate his growth in speed, taijutsu, and weapons, Sasuke is shown defeating large numbers of fodder ninja. Sasuke's absorption of Orochimaru demonstrates his accomplishment with genjutsu and mastery of the Sharingan. Sasuke's defeat of Deidara further demonstrates these abilities as well as showing what Sasuke gained by absorbing Orochimaru—rapid healing, summoning snakes, power burst from the curse seal level two, etc.

Sasuke relies heavily on the Sharingan and what he learned from Orochimaru, especially the curse seal, to give him the strength he needs to win as often as he does. Again, in this way, Sasuke's path to power is almost directly opposite of Naruto's. Where Naruto chooses to give up the Kyuubi and develop his own power, even if it means progressing more slowly or hardly at all, Sasuke throws all of his chips into what Orochimaru can teach him, even if it means losing himself.

Sasuke does become stronger, but his victories also lack the ring of triumph. Sasuke defeats Orochimaru when he is sick and weak. Sasuke's defeat of Deidara was a technicality (Sasuke only survived Deidara because Sasuke's elemental affinity happened to be Deidara's worst match, and if not for Orochimaru's rapid healing perks and the aid of Team Hebi, he would have died).

Word spreads of Sasuke's impressive growth, and finally, Sasuke challenges Itachi. This is the most telling battle of all, for it represents everything Sasuke has worked for, made sacrifices for, and killed to achieve. Sasuke throws everything he's got into defeating Itachi. He uses a combination of the Sharingan and the surge in the Level 2 Curse Seal to counter Itachi's Tsukiyomi. He evades Amaterasu and uses the heat from Itachi's own MS attack to strike his brother down with Kirin.

But Sasuke fails. Although Itachi acknowledges Sasuke's strength, and although he technically dies, nothing in Sasuke's arsenal was able to defeat Itachi. Like Orochimaru, Itachi was suffering from illness, but in spite of being ill, he was still able to back Sasuke into a corner with the Mangekyou Sharingan's greatest jutsu: Susanoo. Considering how heavily Sasuke relied on Orochimaru to gain the power he needed, it is a telling and ironic moment when Itachi destroys Orochimaru with a single stroke. Itachi then strips Sasuke of Orochimaru's powers and makes Sasuke believe that he is going to lose his eyes and die, in spite of all he has worked for. However, Itachi instead dies at Sasuke's feet, destroyed in large part by an unknown illness that had already been killing him, and also (as Sasuke discovers) because it was Itachi's wish to be killed by Sasuke.

Sasuke's victory is bittersweet, and not only because his win was yet another stroke of luck. In his last moments, Itachi speaks to Sasuke as the brother who once loved him when he smiles and says "This is the last time, Sasuke."

Sasuke's "victory" becomes a horror when Sasuke learns from Madara the truth of Itachi's past. Madara reveals the true history of the Uchiha and tells the story of Itachi's life as a tragic one. According to Madara, Itachi never wanted anything other than to protect Sasuke, but because he was such a "good" Shinobi, he became the sacrificial pawn of Konoha. Itachi became caught up in the politics between the founding families of Konoha village—the Uchiha and the Senju. Itachi chose the health of the village over his clan, and destroyed the clan when the Uchiha Clan plotted against the village. Because he loved Sasuke, Itachi attempted to bury this truth, but Madara reveals it in an effort to turn Sasuke's sympathies (and guilt) against Konoha. Presumably, Madara's plan works. At least, Sasuke announces his intention to attack Konoha, particularly the elders responsible for Itachi's demise and exile, but also anyone who defends or associates with them (which is everyone, since the elders are the village leaders).

Although Sasuke may be bluffing, it is not unbelievable that he intends to do exactly what he claims. Sasuke is emotional and immature. Of course, it's not entirely his fault. In many ways, Sasuke is stuck at the same maturity level he was at when Itachi massacred the Uchiha Clan. Because of that day, and since that day, Sasuke has lived for only one purpose: to kill Itachi and avenge his family. Sasuke has clung to that ambition in lieu of having a dream. Sasuke's "dream" is to live in the past with the family that is dead and the brother he used to love—an impossibility.

It is unclear what Itachi expected to become of Sasuke. It seems he did what he thought best to save his brother, but Itachi was unforgivably cruel to Sasuke. It was because of Itachi's words that Sasuke lived in hate. Perhaps Itachi feared that without hate, Sasuke would not have lived. Itachi wanted to motivate Sasuke to stay alive. He also wanted to make sure that Sasuke would come to kill him someday. It is possible that Itachi—despite having fulfilled his orders—didn't really want to live after the massacre, but hung on for Sasuke's sake, to give him the satisfaction of honor through vengeance. It is also possible that having lived as a criminal and member of Akatsuki changed Itachi. After all, habits shape the human brain; we are what we do.

Regardless of how Itachi's cruelty is explained, Naruto's dogged persistence of Sasuke seems to make an impact on him. Although they had little personal interaction, Itachi heard about Naruto's pursuit of his brother a d couldn't understand why Naruto didn't give up on him. He tries to pull Naruto aside to ask him about this, perhaps sensing, or hoping, that Naruto just might have something that could save Sasuke in a way Itachi couldn't.

This explains why Itachi smiled at Naruto in the forest before going to his death. Itachi wanted to know what motivated Naruto, why he was chasing Sasuke, and what he hoped to accomplish. What he finds out is that he and Naruto share the same goal: to be a good brother to Sasuke. But this isn't enough. After Naruto says this, Itachi has another question. In short, he presents to Naruto almost the exact same question presented to Naruto by Jiraiya. Shinobi have to make tough choices, sometimes between two great evils. Itachi had to make a choice between his greatest loves: his family and the village. Under the circumstances, as a Shinobi, he made the best choice he could. He killed his family because he had to in order to save the village and prevent a war, but he managed to save Sasuke, and hoped to "make it right" (as right as possible) by burying the ugly truth and giving Sasuke the satisfaction of killing him. His "best" was the assurance that Sasuke would live honorably, even if it was in an unsightly way.

More than anybody, Itachi suffered from adhering to the "true" Shinobi ideal. As a Shinobi, he knows that Sasuke ought to be branded a traitor for deserting the village and hunted down as a missing ninja. He is therefore baffled when Naruto continues to see him as a friend.

Itachi asks Naruto what he would do if Sasuke came against Konoha. In part, this is foreshadowing for what will really happen. But it also operates on another level. Naruto's behavior made Itachi doubt his own. He wanted to know what would Naruto do if he were faced with Itachi's choice. Would he have saved his family or the village?

And how does Naruto answer? Pretty much the same way he answered Jiraiya. Naruto won't entertain the idea that he even has to make "hard" Shinobi choices. "I won't bend my words," he says. "That's what being a ninja means to me!".

And if Naruto had the power to do it, it just might be that simple. This explains Itachi's (possibly impulsive) decision to give Naruto his own power. "Correct my mistake, Naruto," he might have said if he had allowed himself to reveal the truth, "I didn't believe like you do."

The confrontation Itachi hypothesized will come to pass. Now that Itachi is dead, Sasuke's dreams are empty. He can imagine no future for himself, and for this reason, he is easy to manipulate. Sasuke joins Akatsuki and seems to believe that he is in control of his situation, but Madara's odd deference to Sasuke indicates the opposite. Sasuke is being manipulated.

Perhaps Sasuke believes he is more fearsome and powerful than he has successfully demonstrated. Maybe he really is, but Sasuke's victories seem at least in part like a lucky streak, and it is equally possible that Sasuke's self-induced isolation has magnified his arrogance while his immaturity has made him self-absorbed and therefore naïve. Sasuke comes somewhat out of his "I can do it alone" mentality during his battle with the Eight Tails, which he survives thanks to Team Hawk. Sasuke defeats the Eight Tails (sort of) to protect his new team mates, but it unclear if any deep character change occurs within Sasuke at this time. He may earn some spiritual strength points in his realization that comrades are worth protecting and that many working together can do what one alone cannot, but bonds are another matter.

At this point, it might be plausible to assume that Sasuke will become the main villain of the manga. However, I do not believe so. Sasuke is certainly an antagonist, and he may be on the wrong "side", but everything ELSE that has happened in Part 2 points in a different direction for the story's ultimate conflict.

The True Meaning of Villainy

Where Part 1 established setting and character, Part 2 deepens the world, the conflict, and the plot. Part 2 has introduced all of the following:

• Deeper understanding of Jinchuriki and Bijuu.


• How Bijuu were the original catalysts for the Great Ninja Wars of the past as well as the greatest continuing threat to the future.


• The members, formation, and purpose of Akatsuki—to capture Bijuu.


• How suffering in the Shinobi world is directly connected to the Great Ninja Wars (including the creation of Pain).


• Pain's plan to create a new world devoid of suffering through a great Bijuu bomb coupled with the God-like power he possesses as a descendent of the Sage of Six Paths (still not sure how this works).


• The sordid history of the Uchiha and the founding of Konoha.


• Madara Uchiha's involvement in the founding of Konoha, the amenity between Madara and Shodai, and Madara's possible orchestration of the Great Ninja Wars as part of his revenge strategy.

All of this development is not for nothing! Let's review:

The Great Ninja Wars were fought over Bijuu and Jinchuriki.

Akatsuki was formed by Pain to collect Jinchuiki and Bijuu. Pain is a product of the Great Ninja Wars. Pain believes he is God, and has an ambition to end war, suffering, and unfairness through violence using the Bijuu.

Madara's involvement with Bijuu dates back to before the founding of Konoha. Madara could control the Nine Tailed Fox and was a star during the Great Ninja Wars. He was once heralded as the epitome of the unsentimental killing machine—the ideal of the true warrior. Madara profited greatly from war. We learn that Madara and the 1st Hokage founded Konoha together, but clashed over differing philosophies, and were rivals to the death. Madara has nursed a grudge against Konoha ever since he was defeated by the 1st Hokage.

Given this information, and the knowledge that Madara has been around so long, it is reasonable to assume that the Great Ninja Wars may have been caused by Madara. Madara may have purposely stirred up strife between the villages and sparked the latest wars, the ones that Kakashi fought in, the ones that scarred Itachi at the age of four. As Mizykage, it is possible that Madara was behind the gruesome training methods in the Hidden Mist that produced Zabuza. Indeed, Madara may have been the guy Zabuza was exiled for trying to assassinate. It is plausible that Madara set the Kyubi on Konoha when Naruto was a baby, that he incited mutiny in the Uchiha eight years later, that he purposely manipulated events to force Itachi to be used and discarded as a sacrifice, all of which has led to Sasuke becoming what he is now...possibly so that Madara can use him to capture Bijuu (like the Nine Tails?).

Part 3: Confrontation, Climax, and Future

It is important that most of the information revealed in Part 2—in fact, everything but what a Bijuu is--has not been revealed to Naruto. The majority of this information has been leaked through Sasuke's story. Naruto doesn't know about Madara, or Pain, or Itachi. This is important, for if Naruto suspected any of this, you'd better believe that he would take it, ALL of it, very very personally.

Naruto is, after all, the Nine Tails Jinchuriki. Naruto also sees himself as Sasuke's brother. If Madara IS responsible for ANY of the speculations above—much less all of them—then Madara must answer not only for Naruto's personal hardships, but Sasuke's personal hardships, Itachi's personal hardships, Kakashi's personal hardships, Gaara's personal hardships, Zabuza's personal hardships, Haku's personal hardships, etc and so forth down to the strife at the founding of the village. Something like this—along with Pain's plan to "end war," as well as confrontation with Konoha's elders, and whatever part Orochimaru/Kabuto have yet to play—will be sure to stoke Naruto's little fire into a blazing inferno.

Of course, Naruto must be strong. That is a given. Anger and passion alone are not enough to win—not with these kinds of stakes. But Naruto is working hard, and he is getting stronger. As Haku predicted, Naruto will one day be very very strong. Everyone, I'm sure, will be amazed, but the one who will be most amazed is Sasuke.

Where Naruto knows nothing of the evil truths Sasuke has uncovered, Sasuke knows nothing of Naruto's growth. Sasuke doesn't even know that Naruto gave up the Kyubi. When they next meet, Sasuke will assume that Naruto will be relying on the Nine Tails, and will plan his strategy for defeating Naruto accordingly. Certainly, Sasuke will have no idea of the exchange that took place between Naruto and Itachi.

There will likely be a cataclysmic exchange of information more powerful than whatever jutsu they throw at each other. Although it may be necessary (and satisfying) for Naruto to beat Sasuke to a pulp, what really matters is for them to actually understand each other. Sasuke had the wrong idea about Naruto at the Valley of the End. Naruto didn't understand Sasuke's suffering. Now, in the space of three-four years, there is so much more that they know but have not shared. Communication will be critical. Communication is Sasuke's weak point, but it is Naruto's great strength, and may just be his trump card. And if it is true that love can surmount all obstacles, then redemption should be possible for Sasuke. At the very least, it should be a very enlightening confrontation!

I'm not really sure what order things will happen in, but I'm fairly sure that the story will not end with Naruto fighting Sasuke.

It is important to recognize that winning a fight isn't really what Naruto is about.

A theme continually emphasized in Naruto is the reason for strength. Ideology drives confrontation. Naruto's reason for being strong will clash with that of the villains' and the victory will fall to whoever has the greatest strength: spiritually as well as physically. Here are the contenders for a climactic confrontation:

Sasuke: Sasuke's reasons for fighting are personal and emotional. For Naruto to defeat Sasuke, he has to nullify Sasuke's desire for vengeance. Depending what the elders have to say about Itachi's death, Naruto has the cards in his hand to do that, but it depends on their communication and willingness to listen to each other. As with Naruto's fight with Gaara, this might only happen if they've first exhausted all physical strength,

Orochimaru: Ideologically, Orochimaru was a mad scientist. He wanted to live forever so he could forever learn new jutsu and become—eternally—the greatest of all ninja. Because he didn't understand or value the Will of Fire, Orochimaru was passed over for the position of Fourth Hokage. Itachi supposedly destroyed Orochimaru by trapping him "forever" in a genjutsu, but Kabuto has absorbed something of his former master and I predict that there will be a part yet for Kabuto/Orochimaru to play.

Madara: Madara is a warmonger. If life was just about being strong, Madara would be the hero of the story. I suspect his end goal is to drive the state of the world backward in time to an era that reflects his glory days—so he can relive them. Madara's time should be over. He is old. But like Orochimaru, Madara doesn't see it this way. One of the final conflicts (perhaps THE final conflict, unless Pain supersedes Madara as the ultimate threat) will be a confrontation reminiscent of the one between Madara and Shodai—only it will be Naruto who represents Shodai's way of the ninja: The Will of Fire. This confrontation will echo Kakashi's ironic commentary at the end of Part 1 when Sasuke faced Naruto at the Valley of the End—where Madara and Shodai also fought.

Fear of death or unwillingness to diminish and let the next generation progress is a flaw shared by Orochimaru and Madara. It was also shared by Kakuzu. In fact, it was the reason Kakuzu was defeated--by Naruto.

Konoha's Will of Fire is a flame that is passed from one generation to the next, growing stronger and brighter as the former generation bows out to the one that follows it. This—the children of Konoha—is Asuma's "King." The idea of passing strength to the up-and-coming is something villains like Orochimaru, Kakuzu, and Madara never valued, but it is only in this way that progress occurs. The deeper bonds grow, and the farther they reach (brother to brother, father to son, mother to daughter, teacher to student, from the past to the future, connecting every one to everyone), the stronger they become, and the more strength actually comes to mean something. Strength without someone to protect is pointless.

Pain: Pain does understand the Will of Fire. He explains Konoha's "religion" to Hidan, but Pain's problem is that he is a megalomaniac. Pain believes he is God, and that the purpose of strength is to protect everyone from pain and suffering.

However, protecting someone isn't necessary about keeping them from suffering. Suffering is part of life, as failure is part of growth, and competition is part of strength. As already covered, it is through hardship and competition that people are motivated to achieve and change things for the better.

It is for this reason that Pain's philosophy of suffering and his method of ending war is likewise misguided. Pain is a terrorist: plain and simple. Pain wants to control the world and everyone in it through fear, and through threat of violence strip people of their free will, thereby denying them the freedom to harm others. This is because Pain doesn't trust that people can change things on their own, or that they can make decisions that do not lead to suffering (accidentally in Jiraiya's case, but on purpose for many). Pain's ambition is to use his great power to cow and control others—in order to protect them.

Not ALL About Naruto:

No matter what the matchups, Naruto's battles won't decide the outcome of the story.

The fight to change the world—to retire an era where Shinobi are used and discarded as tools--isn't the decision of one person or the outcome of one battle (or many). It has to be a clamor of voices, the united will of a generation, the passion of young people united who will surpass their teachers, rise to power, and replace the people who came before them. The world will change only if people change it, and those of Naruto's generation—a number of whom have been heavily influenced by Naruto himself, namely in recognizing their ability to change things--will form their own rules for the way they choose to live. Together, they can change Konoha—the Konoha of the elder generation that made "tough" choices, that sacrificed Itachi, that valued missions over human life, that treated Shinobi as tools.

And that, I suspect, can't fail to have a sweeping effect, not just in and throughout Konoha, but throughout the five countries, starting with the Sand Village, thanks to the Sand's alliance with the Leaf and Gaara's admiration and support of Naruto. And if two villages out of the five great Shinobi nations change, then the others will take notice, with a similar sentiment being echoed in the Rain Village, and the Cloud Village, the Mist Village, etc and so forth until Shinobi everywhere acknowledge that this is another way and redefine what it means to be a Shinobi—based largely on the example of one failure ninja who just didn't give up (or shut up).

If that happens, I can't imagine that anyone can object to why the story is called "Naruto" and can't imagine that Naruto could possibly fail to redeem Sasuke, or become Hokage, even if he's elected by vote from Genin status, or be regarded as having done anything less than prove to a generation that heroes really do exist.

Notes and Additional Citations:

There was more evidence than I could integrate on some of the themes in the body of the essay, especially regarding growth, maturity, and what it means to be an adult, everything from the meaning of the Konoha headband, to the Will of Fire, to Asuma's King, to how the next generation will surpass the first.

SOME further evidence includes the following:

• Iruka: This is the symbol that you've graduated and grown up.


• Naruto: I'm not the trouble making kid you think I am! I'll surpass Hokage, and have the whole village acknowledge my existence!.


• Zabuza: "You guys will never grow up. When I was about your age, these hands were already dyed red with blood!"


• Asuma: "I entrust my Will of Fire to you."


• Naruto: "If I can't get to the other side, I'll always be just a kid."


• Kakashi: "Naruto's a different person from before.".


• Kakashi: "The next generation will always surpass the previous one.".


• Shikamaru: "I'm too old to be acting like a kid".


• Shikamaru: "I always thought he was the coolest adult I knew. Now it's my turn".


• Asuma: "The next generation is the King".


• Itachi: "You're such a child. You talk of nothing but pipe dreams. There are times when a ninja must make painful choices."
  
• Jiraiya: "Our duty is to be an example and a help for the next generation."


• Shikamaru: "Don't you think it's about time for us to be the ones who entrust, not the entrusted?"


• Shikamaru: "We can't stay kids forever."

This essay is 28 pages and over 12,000 words (incredibly, chapter 5 of White Rain was longer). If you read all of it, please comment! I know it could use pictures to break up the space. Actually, it could use its own zipcode. I would like to make it a website, but I don’t have the hosting, ftp, design skills, or patience. I thought about putting it in WordPress as a blog, but blog software isn’t designed to be static and I don’t know how to hack the code. Also, I need to get back to writing Naruto fanfic; (according to one reviewer, the Naruto/Sasuke fight came off pretty well, so yay.)

Comments

[gwinna]

That was a great read! It kind of reminded me why I love Naruto, as well as giving me a lot to think about. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

[zapenstap.livejournal.com]

LOVE your icon. Do you have it in large size?

I love to remind you of loving Naruto! thanks so much for reading. ^^

[gwinna]

Heh, I'd forgotten which icon I was using. Anyway, it's from fandom_graphics; her last post has a bunch of Itachi fanart icons. The original image is by paintpixel and can be found here.

[senior-witch.livejournal.com]

(We may already be in Part 3)

Maybe it started with the conversation between Sasuke and Madara...

Again I will be careful and not discuss Sasuke...

It is unclear what Itachi expected to become of Sasuke. It seems he did what he thought best to save his brother, but Itachi was unforgivably cruel to Sasuke. It was because of Itachi's words that Sasuke lived in hate. Perhaps Itachi feared that without hate, Sasuke would not have lived. Itachi wanted to motivate Sasuke to stay alive. He also wanted to make sure that Sasuke would come to kill him someday. It is possible that Itachi—despite having fulfilled his orders—didn't really want to live after the massacre, but hung on for Sasuke's sake, to give him the satisfaction of honor through vengeance. It is also possible that having lived as a criminal and member of Akatsuki changed Itachi. After all, habits shape the human brain; we are what we do.

I think that Itachi told Sasuke to hate people (not only Itachi himself!) and kill his best friend in order to gain the MS just after the massacre! It is still one point on my list of mysteries. (And I still think that Danzou had a hand in this. I think that the real conflict has nothing to do with Senju, all the more as Tsunade is the only surviving Senju we know.)

Madara's involvement with Bijuu dates back to before the founding of Konoha. Madara could control the Nine Tailed Fox and was a star during the Great Ninja Wars. He was once heralded as the epitome of the unsentimental killing machine—the ideal of the true warrior. Madara profited greatly from war. We learn that Madara and the 1st Hokage founded Konoha together, but clashed over differing philosophies, and were rivals to the death. Madara has nursed a grudge against Konoha ever since he was defeated by the 1st Hokage.

I am not sure whether one could call him a killing-machine. To me, he rather seems like a warrior who fights for the sake of honor and glory, and for this it does not make sense to become a killing-machine who kills lots and lots of people, but someone who can win against the best of his time. I think that like a lot of warriors he has difficulties adjusting to peace where his talents are suddenly useless.

My personal prediction for final villain is still Danzou. Naruto too has some maturing to do - he has to fully understand that not all is well in Konoha.

Personally I would find it a disappointment if Sasuke was reduced to the negative foil to show Naruto's glory; to tell children: become like Naruto and not like Sasuke. (As if there had been much choice.)

[sensuelles.livejournal.com]

awesome awesome essay. I really agree and loved a lot of your analysis. This definitely was a great read and looked at a lot of different aspects and especially themes of the manga thus far (and there are MANY themes).

I think you did a great job comparing and contrasting Sasuke and Naruto. It really did make me appreciate Kishi's style a bit more, especially looking at the manga as a collective and integrated whole.

You are obviously very familiar with the manga,and took a lot of time to write this.

Thanks for writing it^^