Great stories likeNaruto’s Pain Arc can have a palpable impact not only on the fans who read them, but also on the industry, medium, and culture that they are a part of. What is less recognized, however, is thatthese stories can also profoundly affect the authorswho write them. This was exactly the case forNaruto’s creator,Masashi Kishimoto.
The story of Pain, which is spread across multiple chapters of theNarutosaga but comes to a head inthe Pain’s Assault Arc, describes the evolution of Jiraiya’s disciple Nagato from a sensitive peace advocate to Pain, a monstrous villain and diehard proponent of peace through pain and unrepentant might. Widely considered among fans and critics asthe best story arc in theNarutosagaand one of the best in all manga and anime, the story not only provides thoughtful commentary on the impact of war on soldiers and civilians but also depicts a massive maturation of Naruto as a character and cultural icon.
Kishimoto Struggled With How Naruto Should Respond To Jiraiya’s Murderer
The Author Struggled to Choose Between Different Resolutions
Crafting a beloved and critically acclaimed narrative like the Pain Arc is a formidable challenge, even for seasoned creators. It demands a unique blend of creative skills, including the ability to weave engaging subplots that serve the larger story, craft compelling character development, and possess the physical and mental resilience to overcome the pressures of meeting deadlines. For Kishimoto, meeting these demands while creating the Pain Arc nearly proved to bean impossible task.
In a 2018 interview, a snippet of which was posted on X by@AshitanoGin, Kishimoto discussed the difficulty he faced in resolving a key element of the story:whether Naruto would ultimately forgive Painfor killing Jiraiyaand destroying Konoha or follow Sasuke’s path by seeking revenge and killing him.
“But I couldn’t come up with an answer, so couldn’t sleep. Even when I could get to sleep, I’d snap awake with my shirt soaked with sweat, or I’d toss and turn. It was exhausting.” - Masashi Kishimoto
Kishimoto’s struggle stemmed fromhis desire to infuse the story and characters with genuine emotion. Although his editor essentially gave him a free pass to take the easy route — resolving Naruto’s conflict in a way that was non-controversial and likely aligned with what fans wanted — he still wrestled with the decision.
“But, I wondered, if I just created a story about him going after and beating his hated opponent, what would kids think of that? I wanted to do it right.” - Masashi Kishimoto
The Effects Of Creating Good Content Can Be Debilitating
Kishimoto Was Physically Affected by This Struggle
Ultimately, Kishimoto decided that Naruto would take a different approach from Sasuke. While he could not forgive Pain, he could also understand why he would react as he did. His responseacknowledges the complexity of real-life situations, where grey areas prevail, unlike the typical “black or white” choices often depicted in manga. This nuanced approach also reflects Kishimoto’s personal struggles to craft a satisfying conclusion to the story. Indeed, in life, people are frequently faced with multiple choices but rarely opt for the extreme options.
In the end, Naruto’s decision to forgive Pain defined the rest of the story:
“So, Sasuke is a character who can’t forgive, and Naruto is one who can. Once it’s decided that the characters are that way, it must move forward in that direction.” - Masashi Kishimoto
Outside the stress that crafting a good story can have on the author, the biggest takeaway from the interview is the passion and desire some authors pour into their work. Indeed, for Kishimoto, the energy, passion, and devotion he put intoNaruto’s Pain arc negatively impacted his health, but created a story that will be remembered by fans for a long time.
Source:@AshitanoGin(X)
Naruto: Shippuden
Naruto: Shippuden follows Naruto Uzumaki as he returns to Konoha after two and a half years, facing new challenges and enemies, including the Akatsuki organization. The series continues Naruto’s journey and growth as a shinobi while navigating complex alliances and adversaries.
