Naruto would’ve been a very different series with Sasuke as the main lead. But does different mean better?
Naruto is a series so popular it needs no introduction; however, its popularity doesn’t make it perfect. Even the most ardent Naruto fans will admit that the anime is not without its flaws, one of them being its overpowered, slightly one-note namesake protagonist. This brings us to the question: would Naruto the series have been better if it was narrated by a different character? Why Naruto, and not Sasuke?
As the second most important character in the anime, Sasuke takes up plenty of screen time as it is. In fact, many consider him to be a better-written protagonist. There’s depth, complexity, and nuance to him that, in addition to his rich background story, make him a character worthy of stealing the spotlight.
So, would he have been a better choice than Naruto? Not necessarily.
Sasuke’s story is one about a man embroiled in the darkest corners of the shinobi world. As a whole, a series centered around him would’ve been more of a Light Yagami type of tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, where the audience is subjected to watching a smart, skilled teenager with high potential, hopes, and dreams slowly but surely descend into madness.
Of course, there’s a difference here: Sasuke does not choose to become a villain, at least not entirely on his own. He is “helped” by a number of adults around him who push him into darkness, traumatizing a teenage boy to the point of insanity. Interestingly, the story told from Sasuke's perspective would’ve also inverted the narrative, turning Naruto into the “bad guy” and the upholder of an outdated regime.
Sasuke’s revenge plot, as well as his grounded outlook on the Will of Fire philosophy, is not ideal for mainstream audiences of battle shonen franchises. The anime would not have been welcomed by its target market, instead likely gaining a cult status and a small but dedicated fanbase. Nor would it have resulted in a successful sequel a la Boruto – the shift in tone would’ve been simply too dramatic.
Naruto is a children’s anime, first and foremost. Building it around a genocide survivor would’ve definitely cranked the rating up.
It’s fun to imagine various what-if scenarios, but practically speaking, Sasuke’s POV is more suited to a psychological revenge drama rather than a Marvel-style action movie. Perhaps, one day we will see it turn into a spin-off, as the Naruto universe is seemingly set to go on until the creators run out of juice.
Naruto would’ve been a very different series with Sasuke as the main lead. But does different mean better?
Naruto is a series so popular it needs no introduction; however, its popularity doesn’t make it perfect. Even the most ardent Naruto fans will admit that the anime is not without its flaws, one of them being its overpowered, slightly one-note namesake protagonist. This brings us to the question: would Naruto the series have been better if it was narrated by a different character? Why Naruto, and not Sasuke?
As the second most important character in the anime, Sasuke takes up plenty of screen time as it is. In fact, many consider him to be a better-written protagonist. There’s depth, complexity, and nuance to him that, in addition to his rich background story, make him a character worthy of stealing the spotlight.
So, would he have been a better choice than Naruto? Not necessarily.
Sasuke’s story is one about a man embroiled in the darkest corners of the shinobi world. As a whole, a series centered around him would’ve been more of a Light Yagami type of tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, where the audience is subjected to watching a smart, skilled teenager with high potential, hopes, and dreams slowly but surely descend into madness.
Of course, there’s a difference here: Sasuke does not choose to become a villain, at least not entirely on his own. He is “helped” by a number of adults around him who push him into darkness, traumatizing a teenage boy to the point of insanity. Interestingly, the story told from Sasuke's perspective would’ve also inverted the narrative, turning Naruto into the “bad guy” and the upholder of an outdated regime.
Sasuke’s revenge plot, as well as his grounded outlook on the Will of Fire philosophy, is not ideal for mainstream audiences of battle shonen franchises. The anime would not have been welcomed by its target market, instead likely gaining a cult status and a small but dedicated fanbase. Nor would it have resulted in a successful sequel a la Boruto – the shift in tone would’ve been simply too dramatic.
Naruto is a children’s anime, first and foremost. Building it around a genocide survivor would’ve definitely cranked the rating up.
It’s fun to imagine various what-if scenarios, but practically speaking, Sasuke’s POV is more suited to a psychological revenge drama rather than a Marvel-style action movie. Perhaps, one day we will see it turn into a spin-off, as the Naruto universe is seemingly set to go on until the creators run out of juice.
