12 Days of Anime Christmas - Day Six

Day six- End of Naruto

                Naruto has a very old connection for me. I’ve told this story before, but I first found manga through Shonen Jump. I was obsessed with Yugioh, and I saw Yugi on the cover of a strange magazine and I had to get it. But in that magazine I discovered so many new things. I read One Piece, my manga series of all time. I found Sand Land, a mange done by the incredible Akira Toriyama. And I found a little manga about a ninja in orange with a fox demon in him. I discovered Naruto 12 years ago. And this year it just ended. 

                The end of Naruto is something that I have long since waited for. I stopped reading Naruto for a little while, I just felt like I didn’t want to keep up with it anymore. But a few years ago I heard a rumor that it had started its final arc, and I realized that I had to read it. I started Naruto and I had to finish it. So I started reading it and it was great. While it had changed so much in the short time I stopped reading it, and had changed even more from when I had started reading it, but at the same time it was exactly the same. It brought me back to when I picked up my first manga, my first Shonen Jump. And so I kept reading it, starting from right before the ninja zombie war, to the big final battle with Madara Uchiha, to the battle with the Moon Princess. Each battle built on the intensity and insanity of the previous ones. A part of me was critical and wanted to complain about every little thing, but another realized just how fun and crazy it all was and the childhood part of me loved it. And then the final battle came. Just as it started, it ended with Naruto verses Sasuke. And while they both lost the fight, Naruto won the war. Also they both lost their arm. But Naruto won. His head strong attitude and overall optimism, something that has inspired me as a child, won out against pessimism and defeatist attitudes. It was honestly kind of amazing to watch. Something that has been a part of my life for so long has ended this year, and it was a surprisingly good ride. Looking back at Naruto, it was worth it. I am glad that 11 year old me first decided to read this manga. It was a wild ride, but it is one that I am glad to have taken, and I am willing to take it again. 

                The ending of Naruto is one of my 12 things from the past year. But we still have six more days of anime things from the past 12 months. So until tomorrow, keep on watching.