What is the actual meaning of destiny in Naruto?
Are you guys implying that Naruto would've been strong without any work?
I've seen this statement around and now I'm asking you what's your definition of "destiny"
For the most Naruto-relevant explanation:
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"An attempt to change one’s luck has two forces working against an orderly outcome: that fortune is always changing (yin-yang cycling) and that interfering actions may revert back against the do-er. Therefore, actions to change fortune could make matters worse.
The ChuangTzu sees fate and duty as two sides of the same coin. Both must be performed – there is really no choice. Instead, one may become content despite the coercion by serving one’s own mind or by seeing an unpleasant situation in the most pleasant light possible. In other words, wandering free and easy mentally."
The argument can be made that this is the interpretation that Kishimoto has chosen, as it seems to illustrate Neji and Hizashi's view of choosing to serve the Head Branch.
"The Taoist principle of Wu-Wei transcends free will (nothing is done yet nothing is left undone, TTC ch. 38), and the ChuangTzu questions whether one can ever be sure to distinguish human agency from heaven agency in Man (is the doer the man or heaven, ChuangTzu ch. 6). Therefore, one could say that seeking to align one’s destiny in the world harmonizes with Tao. Responsive meditation (such as a mirror-mind meditation) can help train someone to be spontaneous and sensitive to the Tao currents, but divination may also work to locate signposts in one’s destiny. The classic texts don’t delve into the specifics of divination (several popular forms of prognostication were practiced during the Warring States Period of China and the time of Lao Tzu), so I turn to other Taoists of the period and their understanding of prognostication systems. In Chinese astrology (dating to before 1000 B.C.) whether and how one fulfills one’s destiny is a matter of luck (Heaven, Earth, Human), contingencies and chance. Of the 3 kinds of luck, Man has influence over Earth and Human luck by selecting and rearranging living environments and by one’s deeds and actions. (Wu, Shelley, Chinese Astrology: Exploring The Eastern Zodiac, p. 14.) "
Under this, it could also be interpreted that -someone- was going to be the Child of Destiny. Naruto became that child through his efforts to be recognized and respected. But the Elder Toad did mention that the Child would bring great change to the world in that he would either lead it to its destruction or that he would lead it to peace (If I remember correctly).
Neji implies that Naruto and Hinata share the same destiny - a concept that has been artistically implied multiple times in the manga. That implies a somewhat relative view of destiny - people are destined to do certain things with/to/for each other, and nothing will change that relationship. The only thing that changes in the outcome of that destiny based upon the choices made by those involved.
The idea that people are floating in 'currents' of destiny (where acting within one's destiny is more efficient than attempts to change one's destiny), and that perhaps people share currents (or have intersecting currents) seems to be the model that most accurately explains the world which Kishimoto describes... but the concept of Destiny is enticingly romantic while worryingly conspiratorial.
