This article contains spoilers from the Naruto series.
Highlights
- Kishimoto originally conceived of Naruto as a tale centered around four-man shinobi teams exploring various countries.
- Under pressure from editors at Jump, he reluctantly created the Chunin Exams arc, resulting in significant plot alterations.
- The editors also influenced key plot decisions, such as changing the expected winner of the Chunin Exams from Shikamaru to another character.
Table of Contents
When discussing iconic manga series like Naruto, it’s easy to assume that their creators have full creative freedom, especially given their incredible success. Masashi Kishimoto, the mind behind Naruto, exemplifies this tension between artistic vision and editorial oversight. Despite his acclaimed status today, Kishimoto faced significant constraints in the early stages of his career.
Initially, the storyline of Naruto took a different direction, with Kishimoto’s focus on a more exploratory narrative featuring four-man teams operating in various nations. However, as he began his journey in the manga world, the editors at Jump made substantial demands that altered his vision. Remarkably, Kishimoto has acknowledged that one of the most beloved arcs— the Chunin Exams— was not part of his original plans.
Kishimoto’s Initial Plans for Naruto
- Kishimoto envisioned stories centered on teams comprising four members.
- The premise involved these teams undertaking missions across various countries.
In an interview with Kobayashi, Kishimoto revealed that his initial concept did not include multiple powerful shinobi clans emerging from Konohagakure, nor did many of Naruto’s classmates from the early drafts even exist. Instead, his narrative featured a singular four-man team from Konoha travelling to encounter other teams from different villages, deepening the sense of rivalry and camaraderie.
As Obito Uchiha famously stated, “In the shinobi world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.” This ethos was integral to Kishimoto’s narrative intentions. However, when he pitched this concept, his editor deemed it too slow-moving, thereby steering him towards the more dynamic tournament arc that would ultimately evolve into the Chunin Exams— a division of the story that he still reflects on with some regret for the lost opportunity of exploring his original idea.
How Editors Influenced the Chunin Exams
Kishimoto’s Reluctance to Create the Chunin Exams
Initially resisting the shift to a tournament-driven storyline, Kishimoto expressed his concern, fearing that the effort required for the Chunin Exams arc could overwhelm him. His editor’s harsh directive?! “You will draw it even if you die!” Thrust into a new direction, he ultimately crafted the now-iconic Chunin Exams arc, much to the surprise of fans who were unaware that it wasn’t part of his original narrative blueprint.
The development of this arc introduced numerous challenges, particularly with character creation. Kishimoto solicited assistance from his editors, which led to the introduction of pivotal characters like Gai and Lee, who were originally envisioned to hail from different villages and serve as rivals to Kakashi and Naruto, respectively. Editors, however, insisted they be integrated within Konoha.
Kishimoto’s Intended Chunin Exams Champion
Despite his initial hesitations about the Chunin Exams, Kishimoto later recognized its role in elevating the series’ popularity and began to enjoy the unfolding story. However, he faced further editorial interference; he was directed to introduce Orochimaru as a pivotal antagonist during the exams, a deviation from his original plotline which anticipated Shikamaru’s triumph. Although he envisioned Shikamaru utilizing his high IQ to outmaneuver opponents, which would have added depth to his character, the editors’ decisions altered this trajectory, leaving many of Kishimoto’s intended narratives unrealized.
Naruto continues to captivate audiences, with many chapters available on MangaPlus and the Shonen Jump app, where fans can engage with the official content and show their support for the series and its creator.