The Craziest Retcons in Naruto

Summary

This video script discusses significant retcons in the anime 'Naruto,' exploring how the series adapted its lore over time. It delves into the Tailed Beasts' origins, the Third Hokage's strength, and the Reaper Death Seal's implications. The script also addresses Naruto's upbringing, Minato's Sage Mode, and the impact of Naruto being the 'Child of Prophecy.' It acknowledges the complexity of maintaining continuity in long-running series and praises 'Naruto's' narrative coherence.

Takeaways

• 📚 The complexity of the 'Naruto' series, with its extensive lore and numerous episodes, inevitably leads to some inconsistencies and retcons.
• 🔄 Initially, Naruto was presented as the Nine Tailed Fox himself, but the story later retconned this to Naruto being the host of the Nine Tailed Fox sealed within him at birth.
• 🐉 The concept of Tailed Beasts as a distinct group was not clearly established early in the series, leading to confusion about their nature and origins.
• 👴 The Third Hokage was introduced as the strongest ninja ever, a title that was later challenged by the introduction of other powerful characters like Hashirama.
• 🗝️ The Edo Tensei plot point involving the Third Hokage's fear of the Fourth Hokage's casket introduced a continuity issue that was never fully resolved.
• 🌸 Sakura's early display of talent in breaking a Genjutsu was set up as a potential plot development but was never revisited, despite her training under Tsunade.
• ⚔️ The Reaper Death Seal, initially presented as irreversible, was later retconned to be reversible by the Uzumaki masks, impacting the narrative's consistency.
• 🔮 The revelation that Naruto is the 'Child of Prophecy' was seen by some as undermining his underdog journey, though it can also be viewed as a commentary on overcoming predetermined fate.
• 💪 Despite the presence of the powerful Nine Tails, Naruto's story is more about his struggle against prejudice and his growth as a character.
• 👶 Naruto's upbringing and the decision to give him the Uzumaki surname introduced a retcon about the Uzumaki clan's past and power.
• 🧙 The introduction of Sage Mode for Minato in the War Arc raised questions about why it wasn't used during the Nine Tails' attack on the Leaf Village.

Q & A

What is a retcon in the context of the Naruto series?

A retcon, short for 'retroactive continuity,' refers to the alteration of previously established facts in the storyline of a fictional work, such as Naruto, to fit new narrative elements introduced later in the series.

How does the script describe the initial presentation of Tailed Beasts in Naruto?

Initially, Tailed Beasts were not presented as a set of 9 monsters. The audience was told that Naruto is the Nine Tailed Fox in the form of a young boy, and the Nine Tails disappeared when Naruto was born.

Why was Naruto given the surname Uzumaki instead of Namikaze?

Naruto was given the surname Uzumaki to protect him from danger associated with being the Fourth Hokage's son. It was later revealed that the Uzumaki clan was also powerful and feared, which should have made bearing the name Uzumaki just as dangerous.

What was the significance of the Third Hokage being referred to as the 'God of Shinobi'?

The title 'God of Shinobi' was used to emphasize the Third Hokage's strength and to make his death more meaningful and impactful. It was later revealed that he was strong but not as powerful as initially portrayed.

How did the script address the inconsistency regarding the Third Hokage's strength compared to the First and Second Hokage?

The script suggests that the villagers might have been hyping up the Third Hokage due to recency bias and that his strength was later scaled down as the power ceiling was raised in Shippuden.

What is the Edo Tensei and its significance in the Orochimaru vs Hiruzen fight?

Edo Tensei is a forbidden jutsua that allows the user to resurrect the dead. In the fight between Orochimaru and Hiruzen, Orochimaru used it to summon the First and Second Hokage, and a third casket implied to be the Fourth Hokage, which led to confusion and plot inconsistencies.

Why was Sakura's talent for Genjutsu not further developed in the series?

The script suggests that Sakura's talent for Genjutsu was not developed further, possibly due to her limited screentime compared to Naruto and Sasuke, and the focus on Sharingan Genjutsu instead.

What is the Reaper Death Seal and how was it retconned in the series?

The Reaper Death Seal is a technique that permanently seals away the user's soul. It was initially presented as irreversible, but later in the series, the Uzumaki masks were introduced, which have the power to undo the Reaper Death Seal.

How does the revelation that Naruto has only half of the Nine Tails affect the narrative?

The revelation that Naruto only has half of the Nine Tails raises questions about the strength disparity between the Nine Tails and the other Tailed Beasts, and it affects the logic behind various events and decisions made throughout the series.

What is the significance of Naruto being the 'Child of Prophecy'?

Naruto being the 'Child of Prophecy' suggests that he was destined for greatness from the start, which some fans feel invalidates his struggles as an underdog. However, the script argues that Naruto's journey is more about confronting people's hate and proving them wrong.

How does the script view the overall handling of retcons in the Naruto series?

The script praises the Naruto series for handling its retcons well, considering the complexity and length of the story, and acknowledges the challenges of maintaining continuity in long-running series.