Despite the quality and emotional impact of Naruto Shippuden’s Pain arc, there are some who believe the series should have ended after this point. This arc, which showcases Naruto’s intense battle against Pain, the killer of his mentor Jiraiya, is widely considered to be the pinnacle of the series. Pain, who was initially viewed as the leader of the infamous Akatsuki group and the strongest adversary, posed the ultimate danger to both Naruto and the Hidden Leaf Village.
The arc was perceived as a suitable ending, however, the Fourth Great Ninja War extended the story. Despite its potential, the War arc received criticism for being less captivating and containing some of the lowest points of the series, leading to discussions about whether Naruto Shippuden should have ended earlier.
Reasons for why the Pain Assault arc shouldn’t have been the final arc in Naruto Shippuden
Despite the widely acclaimed Pain arc, flaws in Naruto Shippuden were evident even before the Fourth Great Ninja War arc. These issues included a convoluted storyline for Sasuke, underdeveloped character development for Kabuto, questionable plans from the Akatsuki, the reveal of Madara Uchiha, and the backstory of Nagato.
The first part of Naruto primarily followed Naruto and his companions, but Shippuden broadened the scope of the saga, creating a sense of a much larger world. While this expansion added depth to the mythology, it also resulted in a loss of intimacy in the storytelling. When Pain launched his attack on the Hidden Leaf Village, it was evident that the series’ plot had become overextended.
Despite its increased power scale and larger number of characters, Naruto Shippuden aimed for a more ambitious storyline. However, this also posed a challenge in terms of execution. The abundance of characters and plotlines made it challenging to maintain a focus on Naruto, as was seen in part 1.
As a result, the flaws that were present in the War arc were already becoming apparent in the middle of the series. However, standout arcs such as Shikamaru’s Revenge and the Pain storyline helped to overshadow these flaws and make them less noticeable.
The argument that Naruto Shippuden should have concluded following the Pain arc is flawed due to the presence of unresolved plot lines. Tobi’s true identity as Madara Uchiha was only revealed right before Pain’s attack on the Leaf Village, making it impossible for Shippuden to end at that point.
The possibility of Madara Uchiha’s survival and continued control over the Akatsuki was a major concern that could not be easily resolved even after defeating Pain. This meant that defeating Pain would not have solved all of Naruto’s issues, as the threat of Madara Uchiha still loomed.
One of the main unresolved plotlines in the series revolved around Sasuke. Following his act of killing Itachi and uncovering the truth about the Uchihas and the Leaf, Sasuke’s decision to join the Akatsuki was driven by his desire for revenge against his brother.
The question of Sasuke’s fate had been looming over the series since the conclusion of Naruto part 1, making it inevitable for Naruto to face him at least once before the show’s end. With Madara’s revelation and Sasuke’s own journey, it was clear that Naruto Shippuden couldn’t come to a close immediately after the Pain arc.
How the Fourth Great Ninja War Could Have Been Improved in Naruto Shippuden
The primary issue with Naruto Shippuden was not the conclusion of the Pain arc, but rather the way in which the following storylines were executed. Despite being intended as the show’s climactic event, the Fourth Great Ninja War suffered from disjointed pacing. The prevalence of filler episodes, already a recurring problem in the series, only intensified during this arc, taking attention away from crucial characters such as Naruto and Sasuke and shifting it towards multiple subplots.
Despite certain battles, such as Madara vs. the Shinobi Alliance, gaining iconic status, the majority of fights in the War arc were repetitive and featured secondary characters. The inclusion of filler episodes alongside the manga canon also served to weaken the overall storytelling.
Despite Obito Uchiha’s reveal and the final chapter being the focus, the arc had already lost its momentum. A more cohesive Fourth Great Ninja War arc could have elevated the intensity of the ultimate confrontations with Madara, Obito, and Kaguya.
The concept of all Shinobi coming together to defend Naruto and Killer-Bee from the Akatsuki was captivating. The impending War had been hinted at since the beginning of the series, with Naruto’s generation fated to confront it.
Despite the presence of many formidable characters and lingering mysteries, the Fourth Great Ninja War and post-Pain arc material had the potential to serve as a compelling conclusion for Naruto Shippuden.
Final Thoughts
It would have been beneficial for Naruto Shippuden to continue the story after the Pain arc with a more well-crafted Fourth Great Ninja War. While the decision to save Sasuke’s story for the end and introduce Kaguya to defeat Madara was not ideal, it could have been successful with some modifications. Unfortunately, the ambitious setup of the Pain arc ultimately did not live up to its potential.
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