Naruto was one of the pioneering anime series set in a world of shinobi. Masashi Kishimoto took a fresh approach and introduced a unique world to the Shounen demographic, unlike anything it had seen before.
In the Shinobi world where the series is set, each individual had their own unique shinobi way, known as nindó. However, many of the shinobi in this universe followed a nindó that was rooted in the violent and warlike traditions passed down from previous generations.
The main character challenged these traditions and developed their own guiding principle, known as nindó, which involved never wavering from their convictions. Sasuke joined in and together they overcame the original founder of the outdated ‘shinobi way,’ Kaguya Otsutsuki, by utilizing unconventional tactics. Similarly, Madara attempted to break the cycle of suffering by casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi, but was ultimately under the control of Kaguya from the beginning.
Please note that all opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
Exploring how Sasuke and Naruto ended the cycle of the ‘shinobi way’
In Naruto, the ultimate antagonist is Kaguya Otsutsuki, who, along with Isshiki Otsutsuki, arrived on Earth millions of years ago. Despite belonging to a lower-ranking family, Kaguya’s ambition was to consume the chakra fruit of this planet, leading her to betray Isshiki. She successfully harvested the chakra tree and ate its fruit, ultimately bringing an end to all the conflicts that had plagued humanity.
Despite finding a lover, Tenji, Kaguya’s clan’s desire for power led her to betray her own blood and attempt to consume her two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura. However, her sons refused to let their mother harm them and instead sealed her away in rebellion.
Kaguya, before her death, left behind two legacies: the ‘shinobi way’ that demanded a constant thirst for power, and Black Zetsu, who was tasked with ensuring the proliferation of this ideology. These events unfolded as Kaguya had foreseen: with each nation harboring resentment towards the other, resulting in frequent wars, particularly during the youth of Hashirama and Madara.
However, the two of them ultimately reached a resolution and established the Hidden Leaf Village in order to put an end to the conflict. Unfortunately, this peace did not last as Madara rose up in rebellion and sought to gain power, following in the footsteps of Kaguya and her descendants with the ‘shinobi way’.
Despite suffering a defeat against Hashirama, Madara retreated into hiding and devised a plan to end the suffering of all by creating the Infinite Tsukuyomi. However, his plan was ultimately unsuccessful as the Infinite Tsukuyomi awoke Kaguya within him, and Black Zetsu’s manipulation of Madara Uchiha resulted in the rebirth of the powerful Otsutsuki.
It became clear that putting an end to the vicious cycle of hatred (known as the shinobi way) would not be an easy feat. However, the emergence of the protagonist and Sasuke Uchiha brought a new perspective. The protagonist’s unconventional approach was to stand by his principles and his difficult upbringing as an orphan fueled his aversion to violence and warfare.
On the contrary, Sasuke discovered the truth about the world through uncovering his brother’s actions. As a team, they repeated history and successfully sealed Kaguya and her violent shinobi ways.
Despite being a powerful figure, Madara was ultimately controlled by Black Zetsu, who only exposed him to a life of violence and conflict. This ultimately led to the Uchiha clan’s downfall. However, the main and supporting characters possessed strong determination and were able to break the cycle of war and suffering in the shinobi world.
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