Summary
Naruto emphasized hard work over talent, showcasing underdog characters like Naruto and Rock Lee.
Shippuden introduced a chosen one theme, undermining the series’ original message of hard work triumphing.
Naruto’s lineage and reincarnation as Asura led to power-ups that undercut his growth through hard work.
The Naruto series is laced with nuanced themes and profound subtexts, with one in particular that has been apparent from the very beginning of the series. Right from the get-go, the Naruto series has made a point to emphasize the role of hard work and willpower, and how anyone can succeed through enough dedication and effort. This was the central theme for the most part in Naruto, especially considering how Naruto was an underdog from the very beginning, as he was looked down upon and neglected.
However, this central theme of the series was sidelined altogether in Shippuden after the “chosen one” twist was introduced. Naruto went from being the hardworking underdog to being a chosen one character who belonged to a revered bloodline and became the reincarnate of a demigod. With such a lineage backing Naruto’s strength, his hard work and dedication all went down the drain, in turn undermining the series’ core message that it had carefully crafted since its beginning.
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The Notion Of Hard Work Triumphing Over Talent
Naruto Crafted a Theme Of Hard Work Being Superior to Latent Abilities
Right from the beginning, the Naruto series has cemented the notion that hard work triumphs over all, whether it’s genetic superiority and all-powerful Kekkei Genkai techniques or even natural talent and prodigies. While there are several characters that have embodied this theme, Naruto himself is a prime example of an underdog who was deemed worthless and useless by his peers. However, Naruto proved himself worthy by never giving up and constantly training to improve himself, allowing him to go from being a socially deviant child to one of the heroes of the Hidden Leaf Village.
The same goes for other characters, such as Rock Lee, who arguably had an even worse start than Naruto. Despite being unable to use ninjutsu at all, Rock Lee aspired to be a shinobi, a dream that he was able to achieve by relentlessly training and perfecting his taijutsu. Rock Lee was able to overpower Gaara at one point, as he earned the feat of being the only shinobi to ever lay a finger on him. Such a feat was attained by him despite being unable to use ninjutsu, further emphasizing the theme of hard work triumphing over natural talent.
You could say that my ultimate taijutsu is the worst possible matchup for your Sharingan, and I’ll prove it with this technique… that hardwork surpasses genius — Rock Lee
This very theme was also apparent during Naruto’s battle against Neji Hyuga in the Chunin Exams. Naruto and Neji’s fight embodied the philosophy of a hardworking underdog vs a gifted prodigy. While there were other themes involved, such as their conversation over fate and destiny, the dominant subtext pertained to natural talent and hard work. Naruto ended up defeating Neji in the fight, further cementing the fact that hard work will always triumph over any genetic superiority. Other characters also embody this theme, though Naruto and Rock Lee’s examples are arguably the most pronounced throughout the Naruto series.
The Introduction of the Chosen One Theme
Naruto Eventually Pivoted to the Theme Of the “Chosen One” Protagonist
Initially, Naruto’s narrative heavily emphasized the significance of hard work and how never giving up will always triumph over any talent and gifted abilities. However, Shippuden flipped this narrative on its head after introducing a plethora of new themes, some that undermined part 1 of Naruto’s messages and symbolic nature. The chosen one theme is one such element that Shippuden introduced to the narrative. Initially, Naruto was deemed a worthless underdog who had to fight for his place in Konoha. However, this narrative soon changed through the various revelations that placed more significance on Naruto, whether it was through the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy, or the latter theme of the reincarnation of Asura and Indra.
Jiraiya’s backstory showed that after training at Mount Myoboku, the Great Toad Sage revealed to him that one of his disciples will be the Child of Prophecy, a destined shinobi who will change the world for the better and rid it of all evil. Since the Child of Prophecy was going to be Jiraiya’s pupil, he searched far and wide to find this destined child. While he initially thought that he had found the Child of Prophecy in Nagato, he later realized that Naruto is the true Child of Prophecy, the shinobi who will eventually change the world for the better. This prophecy eventually came true after Naruto defeated Kaguya Otsutsuki and saved the world from complete annihilation at the hands of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
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Moreover, the theme of reincarnation further added on to Naruto being a gifted individual who was bound to reach great heights, whether he worked hard or not during his early years. During the latter half of Shippuden, it was revealed that the Sage of Six Paths’ two sons, Indra and Asura, reincarnated several times within their descendants, with Madara and Hashirama being their last incarnates. After Hashirama and Madara, Naruto and Sasuke became the two incarnates of Asura and Indra, inheriting not just their chakra, but also their philosophies and strengths. With Naruto being Asura’s incarnate and a descendant of a literal demigod, he became a character that was destined to reach great heights, irrespective of his journey of overcoming all odds through sheer willpower.
How the Theme Undermines the Series’s Message
The New Twist Undermines Naruto’s Struggles Throughout the Series
Right from the beginning, it was clear that the Naruto series’ message was to showcase how hard work will always be superior to natural talent, and Naruto was naturally the poster child of this message. The series also had several impressive training arcs, with each one showcasing Naruto’s dedication to gaining strength and power through sheer hard work. However, introducing the chosen one theme and making Naruto a character who was destined to achieve greatness undermined this initial message altogether. In a way, Naruto now became a gifted prodigy, considering he was an Uzumaki, a clan that is a descendant of the Otsutsuki, and is also known for its destructive capabilities with Fuinjutsu.
Moreover, being an Uzumaki meant that Naruto had extremely large chakra reserves, immense lifeforce, and an unusually high longevity. Moreover, being a reincarnate of Asura further added on to Naruto’s abilities and strength. He inherited the Sage of Six Paths’ powers alongside Asura’s chakra, granting him his famed Six Paths Sage Mode and near-infinite chakra. These power-ups allowed him to become a demigod himself, as he became nearly unstoppable and achieved the feat of beating a literal alien god by the end of the series. This undermined his entire growth throughout the Naruto series, which he achieved purely through hard work and his willpower.
While the same goes for Sasuke, who became the reincarnate of Indra and was granted powers by the Sage of Six Paths, he was still initially deemed a talented shinobi, meaning he never had to work that hard to begin with. Naruto, on the other hand, purely made his way to the top through hard work, especially in part 1 of Naruto. However, these plot twists completely undermined his entire growth throughout Naruto, deeming him just another chosen one character who was bound to achieve greatness irrespective of his hardships.
Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.
