The anime deals a lot with acceptance, social structuring and, from the moment there is a tragedy behind the story, there is a peculiar way that the character of Naruto conveys confidence. It’s no wonder that, over 21 years, Naruto inspired thousands of people around the world and gave us valuable teachings. The proof of its relevance is that, even with the end of the saga, year-after-year it remains on the list of the most watched anime.The sequel to the Naruto anime, Naruto Shippuden premiered on Japanese television and, since then, the adventures of the young ninja who dreams of becoming the next hokage (leader of his village), only grows in numbers of fans. According to a survey published by Crunchyroll, one of the largest anime streaming platforms, Naruto Shippuden was the most viewed anime of the decade!

One of Naruto’s main virtues is, without a doubt, to value the people around him, without distinguishing between the Hokage and a student at the Academy, for example. He is extremely empathetic and, because he considers the people of the Hidden Leaf Village his family, he always tries to help everyone.
And of course, we couldn’t fail to mention his incessant search for Uchiha Sasuke. He did everything possible and impossible to rescue his best friend from the darkness and did not give up, even when
everyone asked him to move on and all seemed lost. Naruto is determination personified. It is no exaggeration to say that he does not know the word “limit” (in a good way, of course).

Almost everyone in Brazil has heard of Naruto and many people that are curious to know it have never stopped to watch it. So, if you have never watched it, stop what you’re doing and start binge watching it now. You will not regret it.

Naruto is a fictional character in the anime franchise, based on the original manga, created by Masashi Kishimoto The anime was produced by Pierrot Studio along with TV Tokyo and aired between October 3, 2002 and February 8, 2007 on TV Tokyo, with a total of 220 episodes.

Naruto premiered in Brazil in January 2007 on Cartoon Network and in July of the same year on SBT already dubbed in Portuguese. Abroad, the anime had already aired on Disney’s former Jetix, with its first 104 episodes. Currently, the streaming services Claro Video and Netflix show the 220 episodes of this phase. There are four seasons of the first phase of the series and two of “Shippuden” available on Brazilian Netflix, while “Naruto Shippuden” is available in full on the streaming service Crunchyroll

For a long time, for an anime to be considered a phenomenon in Brazil, some important characteristics were necessary, including exhibition on open television, products in stores and recognition by people in general. The fame of this anime collection went beyond the target audience, and their characters were identified by name among anyone minimally tuned. Among the lucky ones who have achieved this status in Brazil are Saint Seiya, Goku, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Naruto. But Naturo has always seemed to have something more special about it. While the anime was shown on pay TV by Cartoon Network, publisher Panini began publishing the comic book version. In the same year, to further enhance the success, the ninja appeared in SBT’s children’s programming. Bandanas and jutsus quickly began to gain prominence on the product shelves, ranging from dolls to highlighter pens with the ninja stamped, and much of the series was still launched in the home-video market by PlayArte.

Everyone bet a lot on Naruto and the repercussion among the target audience was immense. Years prior, a lot of informative magazines put Goku and his friends on the cover to attract the attention of readers, this was the time when several Narutos dominated specialized magazines.The sequel Naruto Shippuden had part of its episodes dubbed and was released on DVD and shown on the PlayTV pay channel, the character’s last feature film had a lightning release in theaters (even without the series having been shown in full here) and the fourth game in the Naruto Ultimate Ninja series had the merit of being one of the few animebased games to get a Portuguese dubbing in Brazil, an unprecedented feat to date for giant franchises like Dragon Ball. Even so, the series lacked accessibility to the target audience. However, over time, children’s programming in Brazil suffered a blow with the regulation of children’s advertising. Unable to display advertisements to this audience, Naruto in particular still had an aggravating factor in this process of extinction of children’s programming in many broadcasting TV companies. Although it is aimed at teenagers, the anime contains many scenes of explicit violence that caused headaches for broadcasters. SBT itself had to eliminate some scenes from Naruto so as not to have problems with the indicative rating that, at any time, could prohibit the exhibition of the anime in its morning’s programs. Due to all these problems, a third batch of episodes never made it to open TV.If Naruto had its exhibition undermined on television almost 10 years ago, how can it be so heavily in demand to this day? The character continues to win licensed products, toys, and recently the Japanese production defeated Big Brother Brasil and the movie Cruella in the dispute for best Young/Adult Brand at Licensing Con 2021. Naruto has already entered Brazilian popular culture. We have meetings of people practicing the “Naruto race” in cities in Brazil, cosplayers appearing on national television during the coverage of the Tokyo Olympics and even Ana Maria Braga, one of the biggest presenters in the country, dyeing her hair of pink in honor to Sakura Haruno. And she even opened an episode of her show by sending a heavy “Haruka Kanata” at nine in the morning.

What explains today’s young children, who weren’t even born in the sbt airing, playing with jutsus at this date? I’ll tell you why: Naruto is a 12-year-old boy who is training to be a Ninja, and has a dream of one day becoming Hokage, who is the leader of the village. This dream causes laughter from other people, but little Naruto firmly believes in his dream and never gives up. He even stipulated several rules of his own ninja style of being.But the reason he causes laughter is because he is super undisciplined, rebellious, has attention deficit disorder, and has always been rejected by everyone in the village because he had a beast sealed in his body when he was a newborn. Because he suffers this rejection, without knowing the reason, he longs one day to be adored and respected by all, the day he becomes a hokage.And that’s when we get attached to Naruto, because he suffers a lot, sometimes we really cry. Despite the suffering and all the bullying, he is always cheerful, positive, persistent, and has the power to make people believe in him.

Although very stubborn, which can be a little annoying, he is passionate, and sometimes it makes you want to hug him… But he is an anime, right? So… How do you do it? Oops… Is it shameful to admit this?

Well, in addition to that, you are also impressed by the author’s creative ability. There is an infinity of characters, each with a specific ability, which makes the fight unpredictable. And with each episode there is a surprise, and as an audience member you are constantly surprised by new characters and challenges. In this story, ninjas are warriors who sometimes act as defenders of the village, as soldiers, with a well-militarized formation; sometimes as ninjas hired to provide services to other smaller villages or with less military power. Naruto’s village, called the Hidden Leaf Village, is one of the strongest and most respected.Much of the amazing creativity you’ll see in Naruto revolves around each ninja’s different abilities with their jutsus. In the anime, Jutsus are limited to Ninja techniques. Outside of fiction, the Japanese term jutsu is used to describe any technique, power, ability, or depending on the scope, arts in general.

Ninja skills are called Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Shinjutsu; Taijutsu which are bodily techniques, which involve martial arts or the optimization of natural human abilities.Ninjustu is chakra manipulation and hand seals.Genjutsu are techniques that cause false sensations in the victim’s nervous system, altering the flow of the victim’s chakra and, consequently, causing a disturbance in the senses, visual or sensory illusions.And, Shinjutsu are techniques comparable to divine miracles; few characters have mastered this technique. The hand seals are inspired by Indian Mudras. And to manipulate and shape the Chakra it is necessary to know its nature, that is, which element is the basis of your chakra: fire, wind, lightning, earth or water. In addition, there are dozens of other techniques and jutsus specific to each clan (or families) that are passed down from generation to generation genetically, which means, there is no way to learn: you have to inherit them through your genes.

Episode 418 of Naruto Shippuden delves into the backstory of Might Guy, the spirited sensei of Rock Lee, also known as “Bushy Brows.” As a child, Guy was not accepted into the academy due to his inability to use ninjutsu. Undeterred, he challenged himself by running 500 laps around the village with a banner proclaiming his goal of being accepted on a re-call. Despite being mocked by other children, Guy remained resolute, determined to never let his father down. Halfway through his goal, Guy collapsed from exhaustion. His father, Maito Dai, woke him up, scolding him gently but firmly. Guy apologized for not completing the 500 laps, but Dai explained that his efforts were commendable and that his “own rule” was meant to push him beyond his limits and help him stay disciplined. Even if he didn’t achieve his goal, the effort itself was valuable and deserving of recognition. Dai encouraged Guy to embrace his youth and his strengths, highlighting that knowing one’s weaknesses can amplify one’s strengths.

Dai emphasized that perceived flaws could be seen as qualities: repetitiveness as politeness, loudness as cheerfulness, and obstinacy as seriousness. Despite being mocked by two jonin for his eternal genin status, Dai always responded with a smile, teaching Guy resilience and positivity.However, Guy, dissatisfied with the mockery, confronted the jonin but was overpowered. It was Kakashi, his future rival, who saved him. This rivalry with Kakashi became a driving force for Guy, inspiring him to improve and push his limits. In the present, Guy prepares to face Madara, reflecting on how rivalry can fuel one’s growth. Kakashi, though a rival, was also a source of admiration and motivation for Guy, driving him to become stronger and challenge his limits.

In episode 420 of Naruto Shippuden, Naruto meets with Hagoromo. Naruto opens his eyes and wonders if he is dead. A voice from outside asks him: “What makes you think you’re dead? This ethical view of death differs greatly from what was perceived in my time. To use the term death so loosely… you must be more fervent, candid boy.”Naruto asks: _ who are you?Hagoromo replies, __ This is a precise inquiry for this location, but I am not sure of your ability to connect my name to my actions as a herald. I am the one who will attain peace and order. My name is Hagoromo. I am an anachronism. Over a long time, traditions, cultural and also ethical notions have brought significant changes. Each time I cross time and meet a reincarnated person I recognize the intense changes between the person and me. I am a person from the past, long since dead. I am a heap that wanders through this world like chakra, crossing generations, spreading the nishu, the ninja creed. Also known as the “Sage of the Six Paths”. “Don’t confuse Ninjutsu with Nishu.” My ninja creed is made to give hope. Do not confuse it with ninjutsu that only brings conflict.”

In a profound exchange, Hagoromo reveals to Naruto a striking resemblance to his son, Ashura. Despite Naruto’s initial confusion and dismissive attitude, Hagoromo persists, explaining the origins of the divine tree and his own lineage.Hagoromo recounts the story of his two sons, Indra and Ashura, who were taught the ninja code but exhibited starkly different abilities. Indra, the eldest, inherited Hagoromo’s powerful chakra genes and was naturally gifted, earning the title of genius. He relied solely on his own strength, recognizing his powers as unique and formidable. In contrast, Ashura struggled from an early age, lacking innate abilities. He could not achieve greatness alone and required the support and cooperation of others. Through this, he discovered the power of body chakra, ultimately reaching a level of strength comparable to Indra’s. Ashura’s journey highlighted the importance of love and collaboration, leading him to understand that true power lies in the bonds formed with others. Hagoromo’s tale emphasizes that exceptional parents do not guarantee exceptional children, drawing a parallel between Ashura and Naruto. The story serves as a reminder of the significance of teamwork and mutual support in achieving greatness. As Naruto listens, he begins to see the value in Hagoromo’s words, nodding in agreement with the sage’s insights.

Continuing his revelation, Hagoromo explains his decision to appoint the younger brother, Ashura, as the guardian leader of the Ninja Creed, believing that his elder brother, Indra, would support him. However, Indra rejected this decision, sparking endless conflicts. Even after their deaths, their chakra continued to reincarnate through the ages.Naruto, intrigued, asks if these reincarnations continue today. Hagoromo confirms that Naruto is the reincarnation of Ashura, having clearly sensed Ashura’s chakra within him. When asked about the reincarnation of Indra, Naruto immediately identifies Sasuke. Naruto’s enquiries about past reincarnations, and Hagoromo reveals that Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara were previous incarnations of Ashura and Indra, respectively. Their conflict, as Naruto knows, ended tragically. Madara’s obsession with power led to the confusion of a portion of Ashura’s chakra with Indra’s, awakening the Rinnegan and essentially recreating Hagoromo’s chakra. Hagoromo left inscriptions on a stone containing his writings to guide future generations in dealing with such power, but it appears that no one fully understood their meaning.

Naruto questions Hagoromo about his observations of the ongoing brotherly rivalry. Hagoromo explains that he has always believed chakra should be a binding force among people, not a means to amplify individual power. He reflects on his mother, Kaguya, whose arrogance turned her from a revered Goddess to a feared demon, demonstrating the dangers of concentrated power. Madara, Hagoromo notes, is a contemporary example of this peril. Having obtained the power of the Ten Tails, Madara mirrors Kaguya and seeks her immense power. The Infinite Tsukuyomi, the genjutsu Madara aims to unleash, will trap people in dreams while exploiting their power.

Wait a minute! Let’s make a parenthesis here. Isn’t this reminiscent of the scenario in the movie “The Matrix”? And when Hagoromo emphasizes the dire consequences if chakra is centralized again, transforming people into slaves bound by the divine tree’s roots, He recalls Kaguya’s use of her Sharingan and Byakugan to enforce this dreadful state, drawing a parallel to the plot of “WandaVision.”I always like to play this game of who have influenced who, and it seems the tales of the east and west are constantly feeding back each other. The Matrix was released prior to Naruto and Wanda Vision many years later. But knowing Naruto’s story is based in several legends from Japanese mythology it’s hard to know who might have influenced who.

Now let’s close the parenthesis and continue in Naruto’s tale then. Hagoromo urges Naruto to stop Madara, acknowledging Naruto’s unique potential despite his apparent foolishness. He commends Naruto’s unwavering faith and determination to protect the world, even in the face of death. Naruto expresses his gratitude, but Hagoromo humbly declines, admitting that his efforts to counteract the natural flow of events might be seen as selfish.

The scene shifts to reveal Hagoromo simultaneously conversing with Sasuke, who, like Naruto, is teetering on the brink of death and connected with his inner consciousness. Hagoromo laments the misuse of the tailed beasts as weapons rather than for maintaining peace and balance, acknowledging his possible naivety.

Naruto passionately disagrees, defending Hagoromo’s intentions. Suddenly, the tailed beasts appear inside Naruto, explaining that Obito had taken them from Madara and implanted them in Naruto. Kurama, the other half that was sealed in Minato, remarks that the promised time has come, aligning with Gamamaru’s prophecy about a blue-eyed youth who befriends the nine beasts.

Naruto, surprised, confirms the prophecy that the Great Sage foretold to Jiraiya, marveling at Hagoromo’s knowledge. Hagoromo, amused, praises Naruto’s ability to foster cooperation and recognizes his acceptance of Ashura’s reincarnation within him. Hagoromo then summons all the tailed beasts, declaring that the time of prophecy has arrived. He asks Naruto what he wants to achieve in the war, seeking his sincere thoughts.Naruto humbly admits his ignorance compared to Ashura but emphasizes his understanding of friendship and his desire to protect his friends.

This is his simple yet profound answer.In a symbolic gesture, Hagoromo addresses both Naruto and Sasuke, expressing regret for neglecting Indra in the past and entrusting them with his power. He asks them to extend their dominant arms, bestowing his power upon them—Naruto with the sun symbol and Sasuke with the moon symbol, representing their respective roles. Hagoromo emphasizes that the future is now in their hands, as Naruto affirms his belief in achieving peace through friendship, despite not being real brothers with Sasuke.

Hagoromo’s power transfer marks a pivotal moment, showing Naruto with a yellow sun symbol on his palm and Sasuke with a blue moon symbol, highlighting their unity and shared destiny.

That we have free will and what we do with it has consequences. There is no higher being who can intervene for us and stop us from destroying the world. The force that exists in us is here to be controlled by us. And even when someone manages to concentrate as much power as Madara and Kaguya, everyone’s union for the greater good will always be stronger.Naruto and Sasuke’s union is like Yin and Yang, the energy of the sun, hot and strong, Yang and the energy of the moon
Cold and calm, Yin. Karin had already observed this, when she was brought to the leaf village as an informant prisoner. She compared Naruto and Sasuke’s energy, as Sasuke had a cold chakra and Naruto had a warm chakra, which makes you want to be close to him. Obviously, metaphorically we are saying that Naruto and Sasuke complement each other, because Ashura and Indra are two portions of a whole, as the same as the yin Yang symbol.