Focus of the Story - What went wrong?

[Thane]

Hello everyone.

So, I've noticed I'm not the only individual on this site who thinks the story has gotten rather stale, repetitive and uninteresting. And before you jump to any conclusions: no, I'm not 'bashing' Naruto. It's still a good series and I will most likely read it till it's finished, but it is more out of obligation than anything.

Remember back in the first part of the series where they talked about interesting themes such as a 'Ninja's place in the world', or 'does power inevitably corrupt' and the like? There was also more focus on different villages, political prowess and the like. Now I don't know about you, but to me that sounds much more interesting than just watching fight after fight of 'who can make the bigger explosion' - Because that's where we are right now. It's all about power levels and kekkei genkai and for some reason, genes and titles. Has any character that was not introduced before the war done anything of importance? No, this so called war is apparently about nameless Ninja dying in copious numbers.

So what could have been done? Well I'm no writer, but why didn't we just follow Naruto and Jiraiya's training? We could've discovered more about this interesting world rather than having it described to us with few details. We could've met other Jinchuriki during that time instead of being told by a previously unknown lady (who was apparently a big deal) that there are eight other people in the world like Naruto, including Gaara. We could've had gotten to know more about the Akatsuki, instead of the boring 'they're evil so stop them' nonsense we were given.

As I said, I'm no writer, perhaps these ideas simply don't appeal to the vast majority of the fans, but is it really that fun to just watch a bunch of guys competing in who can pull of the coolest jutsu and the biggest explosions? To me the answer is a definite no. Hell I don't even expect anyone to actually read this thread, it'll most likely drown in a shipping war or a power level debate.

But in any case, what do you think? Am I wrong? Could the focus of the story had been different from the 'Uchiha are behind everything' to something greater?

 

[Kikki]

I agree here because at the beginning, the story was to a point realistic and the main focus was on emotions. Hard training young people who lived in villages and learned how to use teamwork to become stronger and who fought in numerous interesting battles. I liked this entire 'Naruto changes the attitude of people, he cannot give up, he values his friends, he teaches elders to accept other villages and work together'. Everything was indeed really good till end of Pain arc. Then stuff got more and more confusing and unorganised. Tobi being Obito, this whole stuff with Madara, Oro coming back, bigger and bigger explosions, immortals and repetitive lessons about friendship to be taught. At first they sounded so realistic and believable. Now it's all a repetition and the core message is abit lost.

Same here, I'm not bashing Naruto, I want to see the good guys win over evil and I want to see all loose ends tied back together, but I can understand your point perfectly.

 

[Ishan Hokage]

The war was a mistake to begin with, I didn't like the war at all

 

[MartinRico]

Instead of the war, Kishi could have set aside some time for the K11. Naruto would have been on missions with them, growing at a slightly better rate than them. Now everybody has to rely on him just to overcome an obstacle.

 

[iSpeak the Truth]

Nothing went wrong. I love and enjoy the story as I always have. Don't know what your problem is and I couldn't care any less than I already do. My 2 cents.

 

[nagato9]

i disagree. The reason why i love naruto so much is because of the battles. No other manga can compare to the battle scenes in naruto.

 

[Thane]

I agree here because at the beginning, the story was to a point realistic and the main focus was on emotions. Hard training young people who lived in villages and learned how to use teamwork to become stronger and who fought in numerous interesting battles. I liked this entire 'Naruto changes the attitude of people, he cannot give up, he values his friends, he teaches elders to accept other villages and work together'. Everything was indeed really good till end of Pain arc. Then stuff got more and more confusing and unorganised. Tobi being Obito, this whole stuff with Madara, Oro coming back, bigger and bigger explosions, immortals and repetitive lessons about friendship to be taught. At first they sounded so realistic and believable. Now it's all a repetition and the core message is abit lost.

Same here, I'm not bashing Naruto, I want to see the good guys win over evil and I want to see all loose ends tied back together, but I can understand your point perfectly.

Aye, exactly. And don't get me started on all the things that were forgotten, like other villages supposedly being interested in attacking the Leaf in its weakened state. Everyone conveniently forgot about that after three years.

Instead of the war, Kishi could have set aside some time for the K11. Naruto would have been on missions with them, growing at a slightly better rate than them. Now everybody has to rely on him just to overcome an obstacle.

I do not agree. The Konoha 11 were neglected long before the war. Suddenly changing focus to them would just be confusing. Instead, he should've either not introduced them as main support characters, or he should have let them have a bigger role in Shippuden, just like they had in part one. Hell, why did he even introduce Sai? That guy, along with Danzo, were supposed to be some kind of big deal, and they actually introduced an interesting concept - possible betrayal from within. Instead they're both forgotten very quickly.

 

[narutoben10af]

Naruto is becoming like dragon ball. Dragon ball every arc. Goku gets stronger and stronger while krillin, tien and the others are getting not as strong as goku. Same with naruto and k11.

 

[Anorien16]

First of all the series is near ending there is SUPPOSED to be big battle finales or do u prefer Shogi match finales eh? . . . . . . Also Neji Death and the upcoming Sasuke and his inner conflict is not enough plot-other-than-battle part for u?

 

[Thane]

First of all the series is near ending there is SUPPOSED to be big battle finales or do u prefer Shogi match finales eh? . . . . . . Also Neji Death and the upcoming Sasuke and his inner conflict is not enough plot-other-than-battle part for u?

This entire so-called war arc has been going on for a very, very long time. I wasn't a fan of it in the beginning either because it made absolutely zero sense. And the current battle is completely uninteresting - what, does anyone believe Madara and Obito will actually be victorious? That this manga will end with their little pocket utopia proving to be the right way to end all conflict? So yes, I'd rather watch Sasuke and Naruto play shogi, at least that wouldn't take years to finish and I'm sure the dialogue would be much less corny.

How is Neji's death not related to the battle? Also, why should anyone care about his death? He hasn't done anything of importance on screen for years, why is it such a big deal that he dies? It simply didn't have any effect on me whatsoever, since his character is irrelevant to the plot.

Sasuke's story arc has never interested me, no. His logic makes no sense, his team is just a shallow bunch of misfits and his character has so far revolved around him chasing his own tail until the next guy shows up and tells him what to do.

 

[Anorien16]

This entire so-called war arc has been going on for a very, very long time. I wasn't a fan of it in the beginning either because it made absolutely zero sense. And the current battle is completely uninteresting - what, does anyone believe Madara and Obito will actually be victorious? That this manga will end with their little pocket utopia proving to be the right way to end all conflict? So yes, I'd rather watch Sasuke and Naruto play shogi, at least that wouldn't take years to finish and I'm sure the dialogue would be much less corny.

How is Neji's death not related to the battle? Also, why should anyone care about his death? He hasn't done anything of importance on screen for years, why is it such a big deal that he dies? It simply didn't have any effect on me whatsoever, since his character is irrelevant to the plot.

Sasuke's story arc has never interested me, no. His logic makes no sense, his team is just a shallow bunch of misfits and his character has so far revolved around him chasing his own tail until the next guy shows up and tells him what to do.

Show me a combat based manga where the villains have his big@$$ world conquering plans and it DOES NOT FAIL and i will say u have a valid point....

Wars are never meant to make sense as they are invoked for stupidest reasons . . . . . The plot as u see it has always been a battle for Ideals . . . . this too is a battle for Ideals peace through control vs Peace through understanding or one might say right to self determination . . . . . then there is the Uchiha Cycle of hatred which is in Sasuke's hand . . . .

Neji might have been irrelevant to the plot in your opinion but is very relevant to the theme also it gave Naruto the much needed dose of reality and a bit of character development . . . . . As for Sasuke he IS the genius gone astray, its his redemption that matters . . . .

Plus I think u should move to slice of life manga section for now instead of combat based shonen.

 

[iSpeak the Truth]

Show me a combat based manga where the villains have his big@$$ world conquering plans and it DOES NOT FAIL and i will say u have a valid point....

Wars are never meant to make sense as they are invoked for stupidest reasons . . . . . The plot as u see it has always been a battle for Ideals . . . . this too is a battle for Ideals peace through control vs Peace through understanding or one might say right to self determination . . . . . then there is the Uchiha Cycle of hatred which is in Sasuke's hand . . . .

Neji might have been irrelevant to the plot in your opinion but is very relevant to the theme also it gave Naruto the much needed dose of reality and a bit of character development . . . . . As for Sasuke he IS the genius gone astray, its his redemption that matters . . . .

Plus I think u should move to slice of life manga section for now instead of combat based shonen.

Hallelujah!!

 

[Thane]

Show me a combat based manga where the villains have his big@$$ world conquering plans and it DOES NOT FAIL and i will say u have a valid point....

Wars are never meant to make sense as they are invoked for stupidest reasons . . . . . The plot as u see it has always been a battle for Ideals . . . . this too is a battle for Ideals peace through control vs Peace through understanding or one might say right to self determination . . . . . then there is the Uchiha Cycle of hatred which is in Sasuke's hand . . . .

Neji might have been irrelevant to the plot in your opinion but is very relevant to the theme also it gave Naruto the much needed dose of reality and a bit of character development . . . . . As for Sasuke he IS the genius gone astray, its his redemption that matters . . . .

Plus I think u should move to slice of life manga section for now instead of combat based shonen.

What do other manga have to do with Naruto? The fact that there is absolutely zero excitement in this fight is is completely unrelated to other series.

Aye, wars are stupid, but the ones who start them are supposed to have their own reasons for doing so. Instead of having Obito whine about how cruel life can be for chapter after chapter, his motives could've been explored more in-depth.

So, a completely irrelevant character is sacrificed so that the protagonist, who has already faced insurmountable odds before, so that he can have a dose of reality? How does that make any sense at all?

How can his redemption still be interesting when we've just seen him act like both ruthless scumbag to lost puppy for years?

 

[Anorien16]

What do other manga have to do with Naruto? The fact that there is absolutely zero excitement in this fight is is completely unrelated to other series.

U said the final outcome of the battle is obvious...... but isnt final the outcome of any battle in Manga world obvious and uninteresting in your opinion?

If u still dont get the memo i m really sorry, its: Triumph of Good over evil is confirmed is 99.9% of work of fiction.

Thats how every other series is related.

Perhaps not Death Note . . . . it questions morality itself.

Aye, wars are stupid, but the ones who start them are supposed to have their own reasons for doing so. Instead of having Obito whine about how cruel life can be for chapter after chapter, his motives could've been explored more in-depth.

Perhaps that why we dont eat half cooked food, it gives us indigestion.

First of all the arc aint finished, secondly we got nearly 2.5 chapters of Obito's motives: He wants a world where people's loved one are not taken away and are happy and thirdly too much spotlight of Obito would leave the other parts of fandom whining.

So, a completely irrelevant character is sacrificed so that the protagonist, who has already faced insurmountable odds before, so that he can have a dose of reality? How does that make any sense at all?

Yes it makes sense cos that Protagonist faced in surmountable odds and crisis but not helplessness at the loss of a friend despite his best efforts (In Hinata and Kakashi case he felt rage, which is just an anesthetic to pain)...... it is the most humble of things that can break a man . . . . like Obito..... plus it fulfilled the Neji's sub plot: Curse of Fate + Freedom to choose.... like Father like son.

How can his redemption still be interesting when we've just seen him act like both ruthless scumbag to lost puppy for years?

Well i myself not fan of him but if u had your entire family murdered by your beloved bother whose death u brought about only to learn that he was not solely responsible can do serious **** to u . . . . Remember The hunter is nothing without the hunt, Sasuke lost his purpose in life the moment Itachi died, so he became more wayward and susceptible to manipulation . . . its his realization of the truths of the world that matters a lot.

As i said before move on the Slice of Life section, your getting old.

 

[Thane]

U said the final outcome of the battle is obvious...... but isnt final the outcome of any battle in Manga world obvious and uninteresting in your opinion?

If u still dont get the memo i m really sorry, its: Triumph of Good over evil is confirmed is 99.9% of work of fiction.

Thats how every other series is related.

Perhaps not Death Note . . . . it questions morality itself.



Perhaps that why we dont eat half cooked food, it gives us indigestion.

First of all the arc aint finished, secondly we got nearly 2.5 chapters of Obito's motives: He wants a world where people's loved one are not taken away and are happy and thirdly too much spotlight of Obito would leave the other parts of fandom whining.


Yes it makes sense cos that Protagonist faced in surmountable odds and crisis but not helplessness at the loss of a friend despite his best efforts (In Hinata and Kakashi case he felt rage, which is just an anesthetic to pain)...... it is the most humble of things that can break a man . . . . like Obito..... plus it fulfilled the Neji's sub plot: Curse of Fate + Freedom to choose.... like Father like son.




Well i myself not fan of him but if u had your entire family murdered by your beloved bother whose death u brought about only to learn that he was not solely responsible can do serious **** to u . . . . Remember The hunter is nothing without the hunt, Sasuke lost his purpose in life the moment Itachi died, so he became more wayward and susceptible to manipulation . . . its his realization of the truths of the world that matters a lot.

As i said before move on the Slice of Life section, your getting old.

I'm far too old to be talking to someone whose logic is flawed to the extreme, yes. Not wanting better quality from a series that once showed incredible promise.

Since it is clear neither of us will convince the other, perhaps it is best to just leave it at that and not clog the forum.

 

[Anorien16]

I'm far too old to be talking to someone whose logic is flawed to the extreme, yes. Not wanting better quality from a series that once showed incredible promise.

Since it is clear neither of us will convince the other, perhaps it is best to just leave it at that and not clog the forum.

Yet it was not any of us children who brought about trouble in the world . . . .enjoy the little things in your life.

Funny how you only answered my final advice when i went through the trouble of reading and at least trying to understand ALL of ur points and still be called someone with flawed logic . . . . . yes i have serious logical flaws as i dont whine I dont like this and this does not interest me.

BTW just a reminder its SHONEN manga and its living quite up to its potential to a SHONEN perspective.

 

[iSpeak the Truth]

Naruto is the best story in the world and it always will be. It is a gift from God through Kishi. Cherish it.

 

[AirWind]

The moral of the story. Uchiha is bad, dont follow your hatred and learn toad sage.