Naruto, as a series, is often distinguished from the likes of Fairy Taile and Dragonball in that it's fights were never linear or based on singular factors (Nakama Power or simple energy levels). Naruto fights - its plot device - never came down to any single thing. This was seen in the very first major fight - Kakashi vs Zabuza - where the rounds changed winners as the fighters learned more about each other. However, by the end of the series (particularly, the 4th War) it seems everything came down to whoever had the bigger chakra blasts. Tactics, special abilities and counter abilities seemed to only count within a very small bracket of power. In the end, powers were introduced that outright made everything come down to brute power (the Truth Seeker Element, which outright nullified standard techniques). Perhaps arguement can be made that it was not so, but rather just flashiness getting the better of viewer perspective. It can also be said that the idea of classes of power existing was always there - with genin Naruto able to spank two hired ronin using the most basic ninja training (of which Naruto himself was never the most skilled) and so on. However, such were clearly explained and defined. Ninja would overpower non-ninja, jonin would do the same to genin (Neji vs Hinata) and kage likewise to jonin (Hiruzen vs Orochimaru). This meant that one could expect certain levels of performance from characters based on their given levels. So how did it happen such that by the 4th War, we had seemingly everyone doing power blasts irrespective of their levels and anything else just being accessory to the fight?
In a world of patterns (which means the occupants thereof can't produce random works since they themselves are products of pattern), every sequence has a root, a necessary origin or element. In the context of this thread, that would be a look at which elements/factors were introduced that took tactics out and made everything come down to power levels. This search leads to the Truth Seeker Element which itself is similar to the Dust Release. Since those only apply to the uppermost level of characters, it can't be them. The search must then involve characters. Particularly, who were the first to break the mould. Of course, the breaking of the mould is not simply when a character of lower rank upsets someone stronger, but when this occurs inexplicably. This means that Naruto beating Haku is okay, as the Naruto who was genin level was normal Naruto, as opposed to a Naruto leaking demonic chakra that had both Kakashi and Zabuza messing their pants. So really, Naruto didn't beat Haku, but rather Naruto + Demonic Energy beat Haku (to put it simply). The same applies to when Neji draws with Kidomaru. Neji had the right powers and Kidomaru was extremely tired (among other issues). So what really happened there is that the greatest talent in Hyuga history beat a really tired guy. This applies in almost all fights. Attention to detail reveals the end result is one that fits the mould and everything is in line with the standards of the series. Of course, there has to be an exception, if the common conclusion of how things went is to be proven true.
The question that must be answered here is which character was made too powerful for their own hype. That would be Sai.
When Sai was introduced, he was hyped to be as strong as Naruto. Even before that, he was hyped up externally (to the readers, but not within the story) as a replacement for Sasuke. It is commonly understood from other shonen media and games that whenever a new character is introduced, their power level must be relevant to that part of the story (this usually translates to them being as powerful or stronger than their new mates). Now if this newbie happens to be a direct replacement, then they must be as strong or stronger than the one they are replacing. The story did not have to fulfill this external hype, but it did. When Danzo stated Naruto and Sai to be the top of their generation, he not only put them as near equals, but above the likes of Sakura, Choji and Team Gai (although it could be argued that being older makes them separated in generations). And since Danzo would know about their special powers (and could estimate that Naruto had control of some of the power of Kurama, on top of having the frogs as allies) he was an accurate source - which in turn made the hype he gave really strong. But where did Naruto stand in power? He was stated above Kakashi, who himself was easily above any jonin but definitively below an Akatsuki like Kakuzu who in turn seems to be average among Akatsuki. When Yamato states that having Naruto and Sai as backup against Orochimaru would be meaningless, this power limit is reinforced. Of course, Orochimaru himself is hyped above Akatsuki like Sasori - whose power is comparable to Kakuzu if not greator - but the fact that Sasori would need an ambush still means he's in the general level to trouble Orochimaru. This adds up to put the boys well below Akatsuki level. So it stands in stark contrast to that when Sai is suddenly involved in effectively one-shotting Sasori and Deidara, sealing some of the Seven Swordsfolk and decimating forests casually during the 4th War.
In the series, progress is a very pragmatic concept - characters have to train or be given something in order to improve. It doesn't just happens as a by-product of anything. It's why the older generations, for all their experience, were caught up to by Naruto's generation in their teen-age years - the young ones had been given a level of genius and technical mastery unlike others before them. So when Sai goes from being definitively below Akatsuki level to his showings in the 4th War, it leaves a gap in the story. He was not given any training (as he explained with his sealing technique, he always knew these moves) or power ups, so where did the moves come from? It could be argued that on account of his powers being explicitly tied to his emotions, the situation against Sasori and Deidara was fitting for him. However, that does not cover for his forest decimations, whose destructive output is only seen with proper kage level characters. Arguement can be made that his poor showings against the Ten Tails (when everyone was having their shining moments) peg him back down, but what's done is done. In fact, the fact that Sai is a master of flight and reactions (vs Orochimaru, when the bridge collapsed) makes it wierd that he'd be beaten in that very department. This combines with the fact that everyone was having a hype moment when he was embarrassed to make it seem as though the author himself had recognised that his previous showing were too good for his given level and was desperately trying to put him down again. Or is there another explanation which justifies the difference between early Shippuden Sai and 4th War Sai?
So the question, then, is whether Sai was made unnecessarily powerful?
I figure yes, and from that I figure the issue of fights in the series moving from tactical battles to power contests arose.
What say you?
In a world of patterns (which means the occupants thereof can't produce random works since they themselves are products of pattern), every sequence has a root, a necessary origin or element. In the context of this thread, that would be a look at which elements/factors were introduced that took tactics out and made everything come down to power levels. This search leads to the Truth Seeker Element which itself is similar to the Dust Release. Since those only apply to the uppermost level of characters, it can't be them. The search must then involve characters. Particularly, who were the first to break the mould. Of course, the breaking of the mould is not simply when a character of lower rank upsets someone stronger, but when this occurs inexplicably. This means that Naruto beating Haku is okay, as the Naruto who was genin level was normal Naruto, as opposed to a Naruto leaking demonic chakra that had both Kakashi and Zabuza messing their pants. So really, Naruto didn't beat Haku, but rather Naruto + Demonic Energy beat Haku (to put it simply). The same applies to when Neji draws with Kidomaru. Neji had the right powers and Kidomaru was extremely tired (among other issues). So what really happened there is that the greatest talent in Hyuga history beat a really tired guy. This applies in almost all fights. Attention to detail reveals the end result is one that fits the mould and everything is in line with the standards of the series. Of course, there has to be an exception, if the common conclusion of how things went is to be proven true.
The question that must be answered here is which character was made too powerful for their own hype. That would be Sai.
When Sai was introduced, he was hyped to be as strong as Naruto. Even before that, he was hyped up externally (to the readers, but not within the story) as a replacement for Sasuke. It is commonly understood from other shonen media and games that whenever a new character is introduced, their power level must be relevant to that part of the story (this usually translates to them being as powerful or stronger than their new mates). Now if this newbie happens to be a direct replacement, then they must be as strong or stronger than the one they are replacing. The story did not have to fulfill this external hype, but it did. When Danzo stated Naruto and Sai to be the top of their generation, he not only put them as near equals, but above the likes of Sakura, Choji and Team Gai (although it could be argued that being older makes them separated in generations). And since Danzo would know about their special powers (and could estimate that Naruto had control of some of the power of Kurama, on top of having the frogs as allies) he was an accurate source - which in turn made the hype he gave really strong. But where did Naruto stand in power? He was stated above Kakashi, who himself was easily above any jonin but definitively below an Akatsuki like Kakuzu who in turn seems to be average among Akatsuki. When Yamato states that having Naruto and Sai as backup against Orochimaru would be meaningless, this power limit is reinforced. Of course, Orochimaru himself is hyped above Akatsuki like Sasori - whose power is comparable to Kakuzu if not greator - but the fact that Sasori would need an ambush still means he's in the general level to trouble Orochimaru. This adds up to put the boys well below Akatsuki level. So it stands in stark contrast to that when Sai is suddenly involved in effectively one-shotting Sasori and Deidara, sealing some of the Seven Swordsfolk and decimating forests casually during the 4th War.
In the series, progress is a very pragmatic concept - characters have to train or be given something in order to improve. It doesn't just happens as a by-product of anything. It's why the older generations, for all their experience, were caught up to by Naruto's generation in their teen-age years - the young ones had been given a level of genius and technical mastery unlike others before them. So when Sai goes from being definitively below Akatsuki level to his showings in the 4th War, it leaves a gap in the story. He was not given any training (as he explained with his sealing technique, he always knew these moves) or power ups, so where did the moves come from? It could be argued that on account of his powers being explicitly tied to his emotions, the situation against Sasori and Deidara was fitting for him. However, that does not cover for his forest decimations, whose destructive output is only seen with proper kage level characters. Arguement can be made that his poor showings against the Ten Tails (when everyone was having their shining moments) peg him back down, but what's done is done. In fact, the fact that Sai is a master of flight and reactions (vs Orochimaru, when the bridge collapsed) makes it wierd that he'd be beaten in that very department. This combines with the fact that everyone was having a hype moment when he was embarrassed to make it seem as though the author himself had recognised that his previous showing were too good for his given level and was desperately trying to put him down again. Or is there another explanation which justifies the difference between early Shippuden Sai and 4th War Sai?
So the question, then, is whether Sai was made unnecessarily powerful?
I figure yes, and from that I figure the issue of fights in the series moving from tactical battles to power contests arose.
What say you?
