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Masashi Kishimoto has written one of the most influential series in history withNaruto,creating an era of people around the globe recognizing anime as a creative form of storytelling. It became one of the blueprints of the shonen genre, inspiring other mangaka in return.Narutois undeniably incredible with its high-stakes action, rivalries, and lore. However, Kishimoto is notorious for not doing his female characters justice.
The most glaring example is Sakura Haruno, who anime fans who haven’t even watchedNarutohate for no reason. Her arc lacks any development and she becomes reduced to a love interest for Sasuke Uchiha. However, Kishimoto’s flaw extends to other female characters as well.
Though not hated or as slandered as Sakura, there’s a member of the Uzumaki clan that even Naruto has never met and it’s Kishimoto’s characterization of her that’s at fault. Karin might share a clan ancestry with the protagonist but she has shown all of her interest in his rival, Sasuke. It’s almost as if Kishimoto might have a penchant for sidelining Sasuke’s love interests or setting them up for failure as likable people.
Karin’s Connection To Naruto Should’ve Explored
Karin’s initial allegiance lies with Orochimaru after failing her Chunin Exams but the young Kusagakure genin fell in love with Sasuke from that moment itself. Despite not recognizing him later on, she becomes infatuated all over again and eventually joins his rogue team, Hebi. She often gets physically close to Sasuke, wanting his attention. This caused fans to debate whether Sasuke should’ve ended up with Sakura or Karin. However, Karin was subsequently sidelined and forgotten overall, thanks toMasashi Kishimoto.
Fans Vote for Best Naruto Girl: Even Masashi Kishimoto Couldn’t Have Anticipated How Much Competition Hinata is Getting from Another Female Character
Known for her healing abilities and sensory perception, Karin was a fascinatingNarutocharacter in her own right. However, like Sakura, she became another female character solely defined by her love for Sasuke, underestimating her unique talents and effectively making her backstory forgettable. Kishimoto could’ve given Karin a more independent personality. Some fans even seem upset that Sasuke didn’t return her feelings.
Kishimoto wrote the female relationships with sasuke and Naruto so terribly. Sasuke pity fucks Sakura over Karin even though she’s saved his life multiple times, Naruto gets genjustued into a fake past with Hinata and told his love for Sakura is like his love for Ramen…which is…
Another important aspect of Karin that was completely forgotten was her Uzumaki lineage. This could’ve been the perfect opportunity to build a connection with Naruto, despite them possibly just being distant cousins. It would’ve given her higher emotional stakes to the overall story and given Naruto a familial bond but alas, female characters aren’t for anything more thanromantic interests in Kishimoto’s world.
Kishimoto’s Neglect For Karin Was a Missed Opportunity
Had the mangaka addressed Karin’s heritage, it could’ve been a pivotal moment inNaruto. The protagonist and she would’ve found a kindred spirit in each other. It could’ve brought her character to a full circle and also possibly given Naruto more depth and strength.
Naruto Fans Defend Sasuke Against ‘Edgelord’ Criticism: “His character is entirely revolving around healing the trauma”
For Naruto, it would have fulfilled a lifelong desire to connect with his family and learn more about his roots. For Karin, it could have provided a chance to step out of Sasuke’s shadow and establish her identity as a powerful Uzumaki. She could’ve been one of the most powerful had it not been forKishimoto’s struggle with writing women.
Narutois available on Crunchyroll.
Bidisha Mitra
Articles Published :802
Bidisha is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with over 700 published articles. With over 7 years of writing experience, she’s versatile and adept. When she’s not writing, she’s also a voice actor on the side.Bidisha is currently continuing to learn Japanese and gets more fluent everyday. Her expertise is One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu, but has been watching anime for over a decade. She was previously a Content Writer reviewing the latest Kpop music.
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Masashi KishimotoNarutoNaruto Uzumaki
