Masashi Kishimoto is a master of creating compelling characters, yet he often gets criticized for wasting Naruto’s potential.

SUMMARY

Naruto remains one of the most successful and popular works of all time, yet Masashi Kishimoto gets criticized endlessly for all the ways he failed to utilize the series’ potential.
This is an unfair gripe as the mangaka has proved time and again how he’s more than capable of creating compelling characters who leave a lasting impact on fans.
Regardless of the screen time, characters like Shisui Uchiha and Sakumo Hatake have become fan-favorite characters who continue to pique fans’ attention to this day.

With its glorious art and emotionally gripping storytelling, Naruto became one of the most popular series of all time. While the series is still immensely loved by fans for the experience it offers, it has become a trend to criticize Masashi Kishimoto. These criticisms are a mix of valid inputs rooted in analytical thinking and some nitpicking from fans.

However, the most prominent gripe that fans have with Kishimoto is how he wasted the potential of the series, especially when it comes to the side characters. Those who are familiar with the series would know that this is somewhat senseless when we consider the plot progression in Naruto. So let’s explore where this criticism stems from, and why fans who believe Kishimoto wasted Naruto’s potential couldn’t be more wrong.

Naruto’s ‘wasted potential’ and Masashi Kishimoto’s genius

At the beginning of Naruto, we were presented with a huge cast of characters with distinct quirks and personalities. The young genins quickly became fan favorites as they risked their lives for their goals. As the story transitioned to Shippuden, there were a few characters who were prioritized over the others. The sidelining of the other teams aside from Team 7 is an evident flaw or point where Masashi Kishimoto fumbled.

However, there are moments throughout the series where the characters are given their moments to shine. For instance, Ino played an important role during the war by being rational and not letting her emotions take over. Similarly, Choji and Shino played significant roles during the Pain arc.

While this aspect could’ve been better, the characters that Kishimoto committed to had glorious character arcs. This includes the central trio, Kakashi, Obito, Shikamaru, and even the members of the older generation. Moreover, the older generation exemplifies Kishimoto’s genius in crafting characters the best.

The men, the myths, and the legends of Naruto 

There were many characters in Naruto who had comparatively less screen time, but their impact on the narrative is still evident. Characters like Madara and Hashirama were explored fairly later on in the series, with their legendary tales sprinkled throughout the story. All the build-up was led to fruition during the war arc, and phenomenally so.

While both of them were still quite important, characters like Sakumo Hatake and Shisui Uchiha were only mentioned briefly, but fans are still curious about their lives. Considering their limited relevance in the grand scheme of things, they should be long forgotten. However, what’s happening is the exact opposite as fans still want spin-off stories that explore the lives of these characters.

Such characters prove that Kishimoto has a mastery in writing impactful character moments that transcend their relevance or screen time. With brief moments, the mangaka offers valuable experiences to fans that build an organic connection between the character and the audience.

Could the mangaka have done a better job with all the characters? Maybe so, but it’s unfair to say that Naruto’s potential was wasted as far as the characters are concerned. As we all know, we’d jump at the mere mention of a Tobirama spin-off or one that explores the daily lives of Konoha!