Would you have liked if there had been some more arcs in the manga focusing on them, with some of them dying to the Akatsuki while others are saved by Naruto and the good guys? Then during the war, Tobi could have relied more on using the Bijuu he had captured and less on zetsus and reincarnations.

I didn't know how to title this properly lol

Imagine Naruto (the anime/manga) focusing more on taijutsu, bukijutsu, and kenjutsu instead of all the increasingly overpowered ninjutsu, genjutsu, dōjutsu and shinjutsu we got later in Shippuden and Boruto. Ninjutsu could still exist, but imagine it being used more creatively alongside martial arts and weapons instead of every fight turning into a contest of who has the most broken abilities.

I feel like that would capture the essence of ninjas even more with fights relying on physical skill, precision, creativity, and strategy. What do you think?

This is one of my favorite moments to show how perceptive Naruto can be. Upon seeing Lee's bruises, he's immediately able to tell that Lee trains really hard. It's also contrasted with Sasuke who was more tunnel vission on beating Lee then learning of Neji to notice this as fast as Naruto did

I watched the land of waves arc again and it was literally a layup and would have honored him postmortem. He was the one who had the courage and bravery when no one else did.

I love Naruto but does he really need the bridge named after him? 😂

I guess it's because the bridge technically exists in real life and they just wanted it to match up? The only explanation I can think. That or its supposed to be an on the fly adlib from Tazuna.

But Kaiza got screwed is all I'm saying.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Naruto anime is its excessive filler, and rightfully so. Filler can contradict the source material, but I also think people overlook how much it adds to the story through character development.

For example, people often question why Naruto and Sasuke consider each other brothers when they’ve only shared a handful of missions in the manga. The anime’s filler helps bridge that gap by showing Team 7 going on random missions, getting into goofy situations, and genuinely enjoying each other’s company. One of my favorite examples is the episode where Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura try to see what’s underneath Kakashi’s mask. It’s a simple slice-of-life episode, but it reinforces their chemistry and makes their bond feel more natural.

The filler also gives the Konoha 11 much-needed characterization. We see Naruto develop relationships with the other genin through their missions together, which helps explain why they care so deeply about him and are willing to shoulder the burden of dealing with Sasuke themselves. Characters like Tenten benefit tremendously from this extra screen time, while Hinata’s training shows her determination to become stronger after Naruto inspires her during the Chunin Exams. Neji’s changing attitude toward Hinata and his growing respect for Naruto also feel more meaningful when you see that development unfold. Even Rock Lee’s continued determination to be a shinobi carries more weight when the anime explores his struggles after learning he might never be able to fight again.

That’s why I think Naruto’s filler can be so valuable: it adds depth to characters without necessarily changing who they are. Kishimoto couldn’t explore every character to the same extent in the manga, but the anime sometimes uses that extra time to flesh them out in ways that complement the original story.

And don’t even get me started on Sai, a character whose development I think gets overlooked far too often. His motivations and emotional journey are beautifully handled, and the anime’s additional material can make those character moments resonate even more.

Writing

How I Would Rewrite Karin: More Than Just Sasuke's Obsessive Fangirl

I've been thinking about Karin's character, and I honestly think there's a lot of wasted potential with her. I don't necessarily dislike her existing abilities or her connection to Sasuke, but I wish the story had done more with them.

My biggest idea is to make Karin a way to explore the Uzumaki clan's history while giving her an actual character arc independent of Sasuke.

1. Make Karin's Uzumaki Heritage Relevant

Karin is an Uzumaki, just like Naruto, and she possesses several abilities that make her stand out: enormous chakra reserves, sensory abilities, and the ability to heal others through her chakra.

I think her heritage should have been explored much more naturally throughout the story.

Rather than revealing or explaining everything at once, I'd establish that Karin already knows about her ancestry. Perhaps her family taught her some basic fuinjutsu, and she retained fragments of knowledge about the clan's history.

She wouldn't necessarily be an expert in sealing techniques, but she could recognize certain symbols, understand some basic principles, or possess knowledge that becomes relevant later.

This would allow the Uzumaki clan to be explored through an actual character rather than through exposition delivered whenever the plot needs it.

It could also make Karin and Naruto's eventual connection more meaningful. They come from the same clan, but their experiences and the fragments of their heritage they've inherited are very different.

1. Orochimaru and Karin's Search for Knowledge

I'd also give Karin a stronger reason for working with Orochimaru.

Instead of her simply being another subordinate, perhaps Orochimaru offers her access to research about her abilities, her ancestry, and the Uzumaki clan.

That would make their relationship more interesting because Orochimaru could be exploiting her curiosity and desire to understand herself.

Karin would be useful to him because of her abilities, but she would also have her own reasons for staying.

This could establish a recurring theme in her character: Karin wants to understand who she is and where she comes from, but she repeatedly finds herself in situations where other people value her primarily for what she can do for them.

1. Give Karin a Better Reason for Her Feelings Toward Sasuke

I don't think Karin necessarily needs to stop having feelings for Sasuke. I just think those feelings could have been written with more depth.

Her attachment to him could come from a combination of admiration, loneliness, and the memories of the times he relied on her or gave her a place within his group.

She might interpret those moments as evidence of a deeper connection, especially because she has spent so much of her life being valued for her usefulness.

This doesn't mean Sasuke secretly reciprocates her feelings. It means Karin has her own reasons for becoming attached to him, even if her interpretation of their relationship is flawed.

Her feelings could also parallel Naruto's determination to bring Sasuke back. Both characters cling to someone they believe they understand, and both struggle to reconcile their memories of that person with the choices Sasuke actually makes.

The difference is that Karin's attachment is romantic, while Naruto's is rooted in their friendship, shared experiences, and refusal to abandon their bond.

1. Sasuke Stabbing Karin Should Be a Turning Point

When Sasuke stabs Karin during the Five Kage Summit, I'd treat it as a major turning point in her character.

She doesn't have to instantly stop loving him. Realistically, feelings don't disappear just because someone hurts you.

However, the incident should force her to question the image of Sasuke she's been holding onto.

She could begin recognizing that the moments when he relied on her don't necessarily mean he valued her in the way she wanted him to.

This would be the beginning of her learning that caring about someone doesn't mean excusing everything they do or sacrificing her own identity for them.

Her development shouldn't be about proving that she can love Sasuke no matter how badly he treats her. It should be about learning how to care about someone without abandoning herself.

1. Karin's Story Should Continue Beyond Sasuke

After the war, I'd give Karin a personal goal that has nothing to do with winning Sasuke's affection.

She could pursue research into the Uzumaki clan, investigate its sealing techniques, and try to understand what happened to her people.

This would give her a reason to interact with Naruto that doesn't depend on a love triangle.

Their shared heritage could become a meaningful connection between them. Naruto might know more about the clan's history in some areas, while Karin might possess knowledge or family traditions he never learned.

They could help one another recover pieces of a history that was almost lost.

Karin could also gradually reevaluate what she wants from her relationships. She doesn't have to erase her past feelings for Sasuke, but she should be allowed to develop interests, ambitions, and relationships that aren't defined by him.

1. Her Persistence Should Be a Character Trait, Not a Convenient Excuse

One thing I'd avoid is treating Karin's attachment to Sasuke as simply an inherited Uzumaki trait.

Her stubbornness could instead come from her personal experiences, the values she was raised with, and her fear of losing the few connections that have mattered to her.

Perhaps she was taught that loyalty means enduring hardship and never abandoning someone. Those values can be admirable, but Karin has interpreted them too rigidly.

Her character arc would involve learning that persistence isn't always the same as refusing to let go.

Sometimes loyalty means standing beside someone through difficult times. Sometimes caring about someone means acknowledging that their actions are harmful and choosing to step back.

Letting go of an idealized version of Sasuke wouldn't mean betraying her feelings. It would mean finally recognizing him as he is, rather than as the person she hopes he can be.

Overall

I think Karin could have been a much more interesting character if her connection to Sasuke had been one part of her story rather than the defining feature of it.

Her Uzumaki heritage offers an opportunity to expand the world's history. Her abilities give her a meaningful role in the plot. Her attachment to Sasuke provides a personal conflict, and her eventual growth could involve learning to value herself independently of the people she wants to be loved by.

I'd still keep her flaws, her feelings for Sasuke, and her abrasive personality. I wouldn't want to turn her into a completely different character.

I'd simply give her more to be than the girl who loves Sasuke.

What do you think? Would exploring Karin's Uzumaki heritage and giving her an independent character arc make her more interesting, or do you think her existing role works as it is?

Has Kishimoto ever drawn any art of their wedding or expanded on it in a side manga? Are there any references to their wedding in the Boruto manga, such as wedding photos?

Confirmed by Seishi Kishimoto himself on his Twitter/X Account.

First time drawing him, actually 😿

I absolutely love adding on to my Naruto shelf! I do have more Naruto funko pop’s as well; I might actually just remove them all from their boxes and display them as well - I absolutely love my little figures; especially Jiraiya and Pain, and my homemade animatronic Jiraiya on toad! ☺️

Currently finished watching the Chūnin Exams Arc and all I have to say it is pretty good!

I love all of the fights and how unique they are to each character and the way each fight is choreographed is beautiful, and the techniques and strategies each character uses to beat their opponents is pretty good and I hope to see more fights and strategies in future Naruto episodes.

I also love the story of the arc as well and how it builds on the already established plot points by showing more of Naruto controlling his Tailed Beast power, the Hyūga clan lore, etc., and I hope more of the plot points are explored in future episodes.

Speaking of the Hyūga clan lore, I am starting to like Neji more now, even though he is still an arrogant jerk, the backstory showcased in this arc shows why Neji acts the way he does, while not excusing or absolving him of his actions whatsoever.

The main thing I dislike about this arc is how it sometimes takes to long to finish things as the fights can drag out for way too long in my opinion, and I often got bored and impatient, wanting things to end as soon as possible, or maybe it is just me being impatient as natural.

Overall, this arc is pretty good and I am going to watch the Konoha Crush arc next!

I’ve got 2:

1.Take a shot every time a character tells us something we already know

2.Take a shot every time someone says “Impossible!”

What are yours?

It feels like it is, but also like it isn’t.

How do everyone evaluate it?

Why does nobody tell him that Minato is his father? Kakashi & Jiraiya in particular since they were so close to Minato.