Masashi Kishimoto’s creation of the Shadow Clone technique has resulted in some of the most iconic images in the series naruto but the author surprisingly regrets introducing that technique in his series. As the characterization of the hero of the same name moved, there were countless manga pages filled with copies. Although this jutsu is a major aspect of Naruto’s character, Kishimoto admitted in an interview that he regretted creating it.
In an interview with Fuji TV in 2015 (which has been summarized and shared by Naruto fans on several websites, including here), Kishimoto answered many questions about the remaining mysteries and doubts. left after the end of his story. At one point, the author was asked if he felt like he was “digging his own grave” by introducing Kage Bunshin no Jutsu or “Shadow Clones” so early. He admitted that he did, saying, “I just thought, ‘I did it! While the interviewer implied that the issue made Naruto instantly powerful, there was a much simpler reason why Kishimoto regretted his decision.
Naruto’s most iconic ninjutsu makes storytelling complicated
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu is one of Naruto’s most powerful ninjutsu. Letting the young ninja learn how to use it in the first chapter is a great way to hint at his power. The downside is that establishing this power too early meant that Kishimo had to think of new, creative ways to show Naruto’s growth as the series progressed. Interviewer Kobayashi pointed out that establishing the use of multiple clones in the first place meant that Kishimoto had to worry about keeping Naruto’s power balance. In fact, Kishimoto even had to nerf Naruto’s Shadow Clone not long after his debut. While Kobayashi believes the mechanics are the biggest problem, Kishimoto suggests that it’s the art that matters.
One detail that can easily be overlooked is that all of the clones Naruto creates must be drawn. And the stronger he is, the more clones he can create. Half a dozen Naruto running through the tiles can overwhelm you; a few hundred of them are much worse. Kishimoto expressed this exact concern in the interview: “[Naruto] Get stronger quickly, right? As he progresses, his bunshin count also increases. I just thought, ‘I’ve really done it!’” While power balance is certainly a concern, the actual act of drawing the same character over and over again in every scene inevitably becomes difficult, even for a great artist like Kishimoto.
Giving Naruto more power means creating more clones
When it comes to popular media like Naruto, one can easily get caught up in the details of the story without stopping to think about the real work the creators have put in. The establishment of Naruto’s incredible powers from the very first chapter makes things difficult from a storytelling standpoint, but in this case, the simple consequence of having to draw hundreds of copies of Naruto the same character is the real reason Kishimo regrets creating Kage Bunshin in the first place, even if the Shadow Clone certainly contributed to it. narutoIts success is due to the powerful visual impact that this technique brings.
Source: naruto.fandom.com
