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Naruto: The Best ‘Talk no Jutsu’ Scene
Watch the video version of this article: https://youtu.be/-JgXJkFTPu8
Naruto Uzumaki is a naïve and overly idealistic character especially in the beginning of his journey. While these traits can be obnoxious sometimes — particularly in Shippuden — one of the best uses of them came in the very first story arc of the series: The Land of Waves Escort Mission. A theme explored in this arc is the dehumanizing nature of being a ninja: a tool or weapon that is meant to carry out the will of another entity either a village or other ninja.
Team 7 is composed of rookie genin, besides their sensei of course, hence they do not have a great understanding of the way of shinobi. Their ignorance, specifically Naruto’s, is played for laughs multiples times in the arc. It is used more seriously, however, when it is contrasted with their considerably more experienced sensei, Kakashi Hatake. For instance, we learn the 25th principle of shinobi conduct from Sakura:
A shinobi is to never show his feelings no matter the circumstance; feelings are a weakness that only cloud his judgment and weaken his sense of duty.
Despite this principle, Sasuke’s death leaves Sakura in tears and Naruto was also devastated by it. Kakashi, on the other hand, had a much more mellow reaction; he was saddened by it but did not seem to dwell on…