From pain to loneliness, Masashi Kishimoto excels in his portrayal of complex emotions. His series is a riveting account of a young ninja caught up in prejudice. The manga is an all-time bestseller and among the big three of Shonen.

But what makes it truly impeccable is the underscoring of themes of love and family. Friendships and companionship are pivotal in the premise of this story. And undoubtedly, the mangaka reigns supreme in the very portrayal of these relationships. And there’s more to it. 

Naruto Uzumaki in a still from the series | Credit: Studio Pierrot

The series stems from his own experience and instances. This includes the need for acknowledgment. Interestingly, a life-changing event shaped the course of the series. This further highlights the heartrending parental bonds and soul ties within the series.

Masashi Kishimoto’s life-changing event altered his manga

Masashi Kishimoto’s manga is a poignant account of personal experiences. These include war, strife, and prejudice. Apart from being a ninja story, the series is a commentary on the notion of peace. More often than not, these subtleties are lost in translation.

This also includes the mangaka’s personal experiences. Time and time again, he revealed his need for acknowledgment. It isn’t uncommon considering most mangaka embody insecurities. Even the most legendary mangaka have low self-esteem. And there’s more to it.

Minato and Kushina sealing the nine tails | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Through their writing and illustrations, manga artists express their inner selves. Kishimoto is no exception to this. Especially with his magnum opus.

From characters to backdrop, the premise itself draws a lot from the mangaka’s life. This also includes the hero’s journey and milestones. It also applies to his rite of passage into parenthood, as Kishimoto revealed later on.

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Revisiting his own experience, Kishimoto opened up about his experience of parenthood. In an interview, he attributed the hero’s parenthood to his own experience. He quoted:

Love is a great thing. Since I became a parent, I truly believe (although there might be a few exceptions) that parents all over the world always love their kids. When children can truly understand the love from their parents, it greatly helps them find themselves. So I really wanted to give Naruto that experience.

Apart from love, Kishimoto highlights some heart-rending bonds between characters. While traversing parenthood, the series brilliantly captures the essence of a soul family.

Parental bonds and soul family in Naruto

Naruto is poignant in its portrayal of family, war, and relationships. Especially with childhood. Throughout his childhood, our hero is devoid of parental love. He is oblivious to his plight and true identity. Amidst the lack of parental affection, there is an ever-present soul family.

Kishimoto’s brilliance lies in outlining the importance of a soul family. Be it Iruka or Jiraiya, both characters serve as parental figures for the hero. As problematic as the Third Hokage is, he left no stone unturned. This is especially true with his protection of the kid. And there’s more to it.

Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato in the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Jiraiya’s protection of the Ame Orphans amidst the ongoing war is another example. For the kids, the Sannin is a soul family and their pillar to lean on. Throughout the series, Kishimoto explores the possibilities of such soul ties.

Of all the heartwarming moments in the series, Iruka’s talk with Naruto takes the cake. Especially when the latter asks him to be his father at the wedding. For the whole fandom, that moment defined parenthood for the hero. As a kid devoid of love, his bond with Iruka is nothing short of heartrending.

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All in all, Masashi Kishimoto succeeded in making Naruto experience parenthood. Especially with his sequel series Boruto. This detail proves his true brilliance and prowess as a mangaka

Naruto is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
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