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The ninjaverse in Naruto is no less than a dystopian reality. From wars to massacres, Masashi Kishimoto perfectly underscored themes of brutality, gore, and violence in his manga. The anime, however, takes it up a notch.
It is only natural for a power play to exist between factions. When it comes to power, Kishimoto laid the groundwork for kekkei-genkai. In doing so, however, he may have slipped up on a key aspect.
While the introduction of bloodline jutsu plays a pivotal role in the plot, there are several inconsistencies to it as well. This is especially true for a clan-based jutsu with an ability so formidable that it was sidelined eventually.
Interestingly, though, the mangaka missed the boat by leaving these elements uncharted. His treatment of key elements is tied to his bias toward certain characters. But what made it worse was the mangaka’s glossing of the overpowered ability.
Masashi Kishimoto’s fumbling of an overpowered kekkei-genkai
Masashi Kishimotoand his approach to power and strength in his series is anything but bog-standard. There’s diversity and versatility when it comes to the characters, their persona, and their abilities. His characters have an undertone of individuality to them.
In retrospect, this also applies to hisconception of bloodline abilities, also known as, kekkei-genkai. From bone release to lava release, the series featured an array of clan-based jutsu along with the abilities. But that is not the end of it.
Progressively, the kekkei-genkai were reduced to Dojutsu and their formidability. Dojutsu or visual jutsu,like most kekkei-genkai, are clan based. Yet they are daunting in their multifaceted nature and enhanced perception.
Most importantly, they give the wielder an undue advantage over other shinobi. Of all the dojutsu, Rinnegan stands the strongest with its ability to time-travel, reanimate, and summon. Kishimoto, however, may have fumbled big time in this aspect.
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While Rinnegan is deemedthe most powerful Dojutsu, the mangaka completely sidelined the Byakugan. Rather, he glossed over the most overpowered jutsu leaving behind a pool of inconsistencies.
From transformation to its vulnerability to genjutsu, its writing is slipshod and lackadaisical in every manner. This is true for its overhyping in the original series which was reduced to a mere mockery. With the Shippuden series, its potential frittered away because of the Uchiha-centric plot.
Narutoand its Uchiha-centric plot
Interestingly, Byakugan isn’t the only element that was slept on inNaruto’sUchiha-centric plot. The series squandered some of its best aspects and elements with the progression of the plot. Most fans suggest Kishimoto’s bias toward Uchiha characters to be one of the reasons behind it.
Overall, the series’ biggest criticism is tied to its power scaling and plot irregularities. Despite an impeccable power system, the series left several questions unanswered. Its unchartered territories left several plotholes and eventually flatlined the elements’ impact.
Byakugan, in this instance, lost its significance as a powerful ability due to various reasons. While it is intimidating in every sense, the author does little to flesh out the extent of its power. Compared toSharingan’s evolution, the Hyuga clan’s Dojutsu is rather linear.
This makes it more contentious considering the inconsistencies in its activation. It adds to the confusion regarding its wielders, especially non-Hyuga clan members. In this case, Ao’s ability to switch between its active and default nature makes it bizarre.
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To put it simply, Kishimoto went above and beyond with his favorite Uchiha characters and their abilities. In doing so, he squandered the Byakugan’s untapped potential. And thoughBorutoseemingly fleshes it out, it still leaves room for unanswered questions.
Naruto: Shippudenis available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
