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Writing a manga isn’t a cakewalk and this is especially true with Masashi Kishimoto’s series. From brutal serialization to frustrating edits, the process was nothing short of arduous. Like most mangaka, he experienced perils while authoring his series.
Amidst the backbreaking process, there were crucial moments that eventually shaped the course of his manga. This involved an unplanned approach involving his editors.
Interestingly, it had more to do with a character who wasn’t a part of his original plan. Only after Kishimoto’s editors pressured him, he conceptualized the character into the plot.
On top of that, the character is equally hated yet popular in the fandom for many reasons. But the mangaka certainly went the extra mile in terms of fleshing out the character through his literary brilliance.
Masashi Kishimoto’s unplanned character in the series
Masashi Kishimotohad an unconventional approach regarding most of his characters. From designs to names, he renders an individuality to most of them. This is especially the case with Neji and Kiba whose names are symbolic to that of their abilities and nature.
On the other hand,his concept along with his namefor Gaara was equally eccentric. It all worked out pretty well with the character and his conflicting symbolism. The binary of love and hate played out perfectly with the sand shinobi. But we have barely scratched the surface with this one.
While most characters were named after ski resorts and fruits, others had strange undertones to them. One such case is that of Haku, who was initiallydrawn as a bear. Despite his impeccable and detail-oriented art, even Kishimoto falters with certain characters.
Consequently, Zabuza and Haku were drawn by Mikio Ikemoto who currently illustrates theBorutomanga. Among all the badass and iconic characters, there remains a character so hated that he was almost unplanned.
‘Shikamaru has a remarkably poor history of leadership’: Even Kishimoto’s Bias Can’t Save Konoha’s Tactician from His Biggest Flaw in Naruto
In a 2002 interview published in theFourth Databook, Kishimoto revealed the unplanned origins of Sasuke. He quoted:
I started drawing the manga without Sasuke, but the story didn’t go anywhere. I thought, if I don’t do something the manga will be over in ten weeks! [laughs] When I talked to my editor, he suggested giving Naruto a rival. That person became Sasuke. Then I decided I needed a heroine, and created Sakura.
Sasuke’s popularity is a double-edged sword, especially with his characterization in the series. Despite being loved by the fandom, he is equally trolled for his actions in the series. In their hate for the character, most fans overlook the complexities and layers associated with him.
Hate, Rotate, Repeat: Sasuke’s trolling byNarutofandom
There is no doubt that Sasuke Uchiha is one of the well-written characters inNaruto. So much so, that Kishimoto has shown a certain bias in portraying the Uchiha as an overpowered villain. Even fans agree that he is one of the coolest characters in Kishimoto’s magnum opus.
Conversely, fans do not hold back their hate for him, especially with his actions toward the Leaf village. The plot inconsistencies and irregularities have most people calling him maniacal. And while it seems plausible, that is not the case considering his perilous journey as a kid.
As avid readers and viewers, most fans overlook the nuances related to his psyche. From the clan massacre to Itachi’s tragic fate, Sasuke’s hatred for Konoha is valid. Of late, most fans have pointed toKonoha’s brutal policieswhich aided atrocities and fueled terrorism.
Be it Tobirama’s Uchiha hate or Hiruzen’s failure to halt Chunin Exams, the village failed its citizens in every manner. We may hate Kishimoto for his badly written female characters. But he brilliantly portrayed realism and the brutalities of life through his series.
‘Those kind of fit Naruto more’: Masashi Kishimoto is No Eiichiro Oda, Naruto’s Wind Style Feels Like an Afterthought When Compared to Luffy’s Ability
By and by, the hate toward Sasuke makes no sense considering how well put his character is. From his rage to his mistrust, Kishimoto went above and beyond for Sasuke’s character.
Narutois available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
