Summary
At the end of a 15-year-long run which included 700 published chapters in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, Masashi Kishimoto’sNarutocemented its place asone of the best-selling manga of all time. Following the story of its eponymous protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, the series traces his journey from growing up as a social outcast, to eventually becoming a hero to his village and the world.
Both the manga and itsanime adaptation by Studio Pierrot enjoyedconsiderable popularity, due to the series' thrilling fights, character writing, and exploration of themes such as friendship, morality, revenge, and war. The glue that tied all this together were the individual story arcs inNaruto, where Kishimoto’s talent at developing characters, world-building elements, and building tension, had the chance to shine. Hence, from all the superb narrative segments in the series, which one of them was the best story arc inNaruto?
What Makes A Great Story Arc?
Manga and anime feature some ofthe best examples of arc-based storytelling in the modern age. Longer series — particularly in the shonen genre — are structured as a sequence of successive story arcs, with each introducing new characters and scenarios for its main cast to interact with.
In effect,story arcs help to bring about changesin the main cast, which can be reflected in a multitude of ways. Story arcs can also be of varying lengths and have different purposes, with some serving as critical points in a series' larger narrative, while others bridge the transitions between them to flesh out character motivations and other forces at play in the overarching plot.
An arc-based approach to storytelling has more long-term implications for a series than an episodic format, where the latter returns to its original status quo once the main conflict is resolved. On a fundamental level,story arcs in battle shonen manga and animesuch asNaruto, are generally judged based on their pacing, character progression, significance of plot developments, key battles and events, as well as how well they echo the themes of the series.
Quite a few acclaimed story arcs in manga and anime are highly regarded because of how well they capitalize on plot elements set up in every preceding arc before them, providing a satisfactory payoff which brings the story full circle. A key element in the success of arc-based storytelling is centered on how well the author can connect each narrative segment to feel as if they are part of a whole, and this is an important part of what madeNarutoso engaging.
How Kishimoto Seamlessly Wove Arcs Together
It is no secret thatMasashi Kishimoto excelled at makingNaruto’sstory arcs flow together in a cohesive manner, building momentum in the process. Part I ofNarutohas some excellent examples of this, where everything from the Chunin Exams until the Sasuke Recovery Mission felt like a self-contained story, split up into chapters with different antagonists and objectives for the main cast to tackle. Part II also had stretches with well-organized and structured story arcs, until the latter third of the series, which covered the Fourth Shinobi World War.
More often than not, there are a few contenders that always come up when discussions about the best story arc inNarutoenter the picture. Spanning both Part I and Part II, these arcs represent the absolutepinnacle of Kishimoto’s achievements as a storyteller. While their respective lengths and overall themes vary greatly, there is no debating the fact that each one was a critical turning point in the journeys ofNaruto’smain cast.
Anime Episodes
Naruto Episodes #20 - #67
Tournament arcs are a mainstay in shonen mangaand anime, but the creativity and pacing of the Chunin Exams Arc, combined with its iconic fights, have often singled it out among the best arcs inNaruto. Laying the groundwork for a large portion of Part I, this arc introduced a swarm of new characters and world-building elements, to add more depth and stakes to the conflicts of the shinobi world.
In hindsight, theChunin Exams Arc was a spectacle that toldpoignant stories of struggle and perseverance through gripping fights — an approach that Kishimoto uses to great effect — which propelledNarutofrom a series with promise, to something truly special.
Naruto Episodes #68 - #80
Taking place immediately after the Chunin Exams Finals are interrupted by Orochimaru and theHidden Sand’s invasion of the Hidden Leaf, this arc features a number of fights, but its main focus is on two concurrent battles to decide the village’s fate. On one hand, Orochimaru and the Third Hokage’s turbulent relationship is at the fore of a thrilling confrontation that showcases Kage-level combat for the first time.
Simultaneously, Naruto struggles to protect his friends from Gaara, a fellow jinchuriki who faced the same harsh childhood as him. The conclusions of thesetwo fights in the Konoha Crush Arc, forever alter the village and the main cast, sparking changes that would send ripples through the second half of Part I.
Naruto Episodes #107 - #135
Bringing an end to Part I,the Sasuke Recovery Mission Arc concernsSasuke abandoning Konoha to seek out Orochimaru. Littered with moments that are now integral to Naruto and Sasuke’s rivalry, this arc wades through the build-up to the latter’s defection, before plunging into a series of tense battles, between the Sasuke Recovery Team and the Sound Four, with stakes higher than ever, and the prospect of death ever-present.
A touching tale of bonds severed by hatred, this arc’s grand finale features a battle that is arguably the best in Part I, and perhaps eventhe entire series: Naruto versus Sasuke. The result of this conflict defined how both characters started their journeys in Part II, illustrating its significance inNaruto’sstory.
Naruto Shippuden Episodes #134 - #143
Foreshadowed since Sasuke’s introduction, this was a fight that had been a long time coming. After tracking down his brother to the Uchiha Clan Hideout, Sasuke engages Itachi in a battle that pushes both siblings to their limits, shedding light on revelations such asthe secrets of the Mangekyo Sharinganand its next phase of its evolution.
However, all this was but a blip in comparison to the horror Sasuke felt upon learning the truth about Itachi, which would force him to sink further into darkness as his hatred consumed him. Short, action-packed, and enthralling, the Fated Battle Between Brothers is amid-series conclusion to Sasuke’s character arc, bringing closure to his original motives before new challenges appear.
Naruto Shippuden Episodes #152 - #175
Centered around the Akatsuki leader Pain’s invasion of Konoha, this arc is a huge leap forward for Naruto as a character, as he comes to terms with the death of Jiraiya, before being called on to defend the village from his mentor’s killer. WhileNaruto’s Sage Mode training is quiteengaging on its own, the real action takes place elsewhere as the village struggles to fend off Pain’s hunt for the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.
This arc also represents a massive coming-of-age moment for Naruto, as he pledges to fight against the hatred sown into the fabric of the shinobi world. With themes of overcoming grief, forgiveness, and the cycle of hatred in a war-torn world, the philosophical debate atthe heart of the Pain’s Assault Arcis its greatest triumph, illustrating Naruto’s newfound maturity while outlining his next objective going forward.
What Was The Best Story Arc In Naruto?
Picking between any one of these arcs is neither simple nor straightforward, given how each one is directly influenced by prior events.Kishimoto’s uncanny ability to tell a storywith such breathtaking fluidity was a huge factor inNaruto’sglobal success, and this made every story arc an important piece of the puzzle that constitutes the series.
That being said, it is hard to put the Fated Battle Between Brothers above any of the others, due to the relatively smaller scale of the conflict, in spite of its implications on Sasuke’s character arc. Next, the Konoha Crush andChunin Exams are almost like a single arcwhen looked at from one perspective, and picking any one of them over the other is near impossible. This leaves Pain’s Assault and the Sasuke Recovery Mission, and it is hard to fault anyone for picking either of them as the best story arc inNaruto.
Whereas Pain’s Assault is perhapsNaruto’sgreatest triumph at a time when Kishimoto was at the peak of his powers, the Sasuke Recovery Mission is razor focused on the series' defining rivalry, and holds as many, if not more iconic moments than Pain’s Assault. Therefore, whilePain’s Assault is the best story arcfor Naruto Uzumaki as a protagonist, the Sasuke Recovery Mission is perhaps the arc that best encapsulates whatNarutoas a series has to offer.
Narutois available to stream onCrunchyroll.
Naruto
A popular shonen anime based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, Naruto follows its eponymous shinobi’s journey as he goes from his town’s outsider to its hero.
