My friends wonder why I watch Naruto. Or do they? Actually they dont give a rat’s ass. Only maybe 3 people in my college. But 272 episodes, 4 movies & 394 manga chapters with the story still going strong, Masashi Kishimoto has created one of the most memorable characters in the history of Anime and Manga to have capture the imagination of a generation. The manga weaves folklore with the story of a boy, Uzumaki Naruto. A childlike, brave, simple and stupid boy who always sees the positive side of things. He forms bonds and leaves an unforgettable impression on anyone he meets.

People’s fascination with the character lies partly in how you think he’s all cheer and fun but in reality his upbringing is very harsh. He has a dark past and without parents and animosity from the villagers, he strives with single minded determination to become the strongest ninja and leader of the village and protect it with his life. Upon accepting and understanding his past hardships, he still keeps going forward with all that positive energy.

My interest in the series is perhaps best described with a short clip of one of the episodes.