This article contains spoilers from the Naruto series.
Summary
- Naruto Uzumaki was originally planned to be a shape-shifting fox.
- Kishimoto eventually changed his mind, turning the fox into a human.
- Kishimoto's changes led to Naruto's success as a popular and relatable character.
Naruto Uzumaki is one of the most popular characters in the Naruto series, which isn't all that's surprising, since he's the protagonist. At the same time, fans know that Naruto Uzumaki is an icon and has become more than just a Naruto character. He's one of the most popular fictional characters in the world and an inspiration to millions all over the world, despite being a figure drawn on paper.
Naruto: Masashi Kishimoto's Original Plans For The Fourth Hokage Are Going To Shock You
Kishimoto had some ambitious plans for the fourth hokage in Naruto. He did not even plan to make him human at one point.
Naruto Uzumaki is a result of countless adversities that he had to face and that's what makes him so loveable and relatable to many. However, Naruto wasn't supposed to be the way he is right from the get-go. He evolved with each idea that Kishimoto got. In fact, his early version was supposed to be very different from what he ended up being, and Kishimoto has already commented on it in the past.
Kishimoto's Original Plan For Naruto Was Very Different
- Naruto Uzumaki Was Supposed to be A Shape-Shifting Fox
- Kishimoto Eventually Changed His Mind
While fans know Naruto Uzumaki to be a ninja with absolutely nothing to his name but a will to never give up, the original idea that Kishimoto revealed long ago for him was very different. According to Kishimoto himself, his original idea for Naruto was rather unique.
I don't quit and I don't run. I'll never go back on my word. That's my way of ninja. — Naruto Uzumaki
Kishimoto did not plan on making Naruto a story about ninjas, which means that the early version of Naruto Uzumaki was never going to be a ninja. Initially, Naruto was supposed to be a youkai, which are mythical creatures in Japanese mythology. In the case of Naruto Uzumaki, he was supposed to be the fox who could shapeshift into a human. This means Kishimoto originally intended to make Naruto an animal, while the concepts of hidden villages and ninjas were nowhere to be seen.
This isn't a surprise at all. Kishimoto also intended for the Third Hokage to originally be a monkey in his story. At the same time, the original plan for the Fourth Hokage was to make him a dog, similar to the ninken of Kakashi. Clearly, Kishimoto had an obsession with giving animals main roles in the story and having them lead from the front.
How Kishimoto's Original Plan Evolved Over The Years
Eventually, Kishimoto changed his story again. The fox that he drew then turned into a human and that's how the Naruto Uzumaki that fans know was born. When Kishimoto submitted his story, he did so keeping in mind the fact that there were already plenty of manga about ninjas. As such, Kishimoto wanted his story to stand out a bit more. He made Naruto Uzumaki blond for this specific reason, so he stands out more and looks more like a foreigner than a ninja.
Are Shinobi nothing more than mere tools to you? — Naruto Uzumaki to Zabuza
Naruto: Kishimoto Reveals Why Sakura Became The Most Hated Character Among The Fans
Sakura is one of the most hated characters in Naruto. Kishimoto reveals why.
Kishimoto also played around with the concept of what a ninja truly is. His version of a ninja wasn't one that died fighting, but lived to help and protect. Instead of having ninjas stay hidden, Kishimoto made sure they were an active part of society and widely accepted like any country. Even though he believed he was going off on a tangent, eventually, this plan was a big success.
Would Kishimoto's Plan Have Worked?
The Original Plan Might Not Have Been As Good
Kishimoto's original plan for Naruto will never be fully revealed to the fans. But, what is clear is that it evolved greatly over the years. If Kishimoto himself deemed it necessary to make the changes, then they were likely very important. A story about a young boy with a fox demon inside him is much more exciting than a fox who can shapeshift into a human. Every idea that Kishimoto changed on his own was most certainly one that needed changing and it was because of his many changes that Naruto is as popular as it is today.
Naruto is available to read on the MangaPlus and the Shonen Jump app. Fans can read the official release and support the author by doing so.
- Release Date
- October 2, 2002
- Network
- Adult Swim
- Creator
- Masashi Kishimoto
- Number of Episodes
- 220
