THIS ESSAY IS NOT MINE IT'S FROM A GUY CALLED GENESIS FROM ANOTHER FORUM but i thought it was a great essay and post it here


The purpose of this thread is really to draw attention to certain individuals and in particular, profound characters from the past. A lot of people disregard those such as the Shodai and Sakumo, stating they're people merely of the past. In this essay, i'll highlight why such characters are so important along with the current generation and their links to the past.

Yes, as the title hints, it revolves around the will of fire. It's priniciples and evolution through the generations. The quotes i used are all from the manga and the information about personalities is from the databook.

0. Prologue; the will of fire

I. Heroes of the past
I.1. Shodai’s vision
I.2. Konoha’s White Fang; his tragedy
I.3. Uchiha Obito; the importance of a comrade
I.4. The Yondaime; a sacrifice ignored

II. Generations later, the promised ones
II.1. Uzumaki Naruto; leading by experience
II.2. Uchiha Sasuke; walking the path of an avenger
II.3. Haruno Sakura; it’s time to move forward
II.4. Nara Shikamaru; wanting to be average
II.5. Yamanaka Ino; flourishing flower
II.6. Akimichi Chouji; a common person in a noble clan
II.7. Hyuuga Neji; fighting against destiny
II.8. Tenten; aspirations to be great
II.9. Rock Lee; the honour and pride in effort
II.10. Aburame Shino; silent on the outside
II.11. Hyuuga Hinata; the ability to care
II.12. Inuzuka Kiba; violent but passionate

III. Steps already taken
III.1. The importance of the Konoha 12’s unity
III.2. Konoha’s development
III.3. Sunagakure and its Kazekage

IV. Conclusion; a vision which wasn’t foolish


0. Prologue; the will of fire

“All the ninjas in the hidden village of Konoha have a will of fire; the strong will to protect Konoha. As long as they have that will of fire, everyone in this village is family.” – Sandaime

The principle behind the ideology of Konoha was of unity; to make everyone come together as one. To be able to risk your lives to not only protect your home, but the people who live within. It was this philosophy that has been passed through generations and carried by every Hokage with pride. It was a message of peace and recognising the importance of remaining united.

“Protect the ones who love the village and believe in you.” – Nidaime

I. Heroes of the past

I.1. Shodai’s vision

“My grandfather and the Nidaime, they wanted peace over anything else.” - Tsunade

The first Hokage was undoubtedly a great man with an ambition which may have been considered ignorant at the time of Konoha’s birth. The foundation of the village was in an era of war, one where parties fought to create jinchuuriki’s to increase their strength amongst other things. The Shodai was an inhabitant of Fire Country and it was he who gathered a group of people, venturing through the land and creating what would come to be known as Konoha.

“The comrades in Konoha are parts of my body. The village believes in me, and I believe in everyone. That is what a Hokage is supposed to do.” – Shodai Hokage

When one part of the body is hurt, the whole anatomy feels the effect. This is what the Shodai Hokage was trying to relay to the people; understand the importance of your comrades. He was respected for his loving personality and his companions trusted him above all. He was a true leader, one with heart. But in a time where the men and women were used to conflict and placing their own survival above everything, it wasn’t an easy task for his message to be accepted.

Through the generations though, there would come those who embodied the spirit of his dream and the true essence of the will of fire.

I.2. Konoha’s White Fang; his tragedy

“I believe the White Fang was a true hero.” – Uchiha Obito

The warrior, whose skills overshadowed even those of the legendary sannin, was different from his generation of shinobi; he was always concerned about his mission and his comrades. His battles and feats have left behind countless legends. However, his accomplishments would come to mean naught when he made the fatal decision of placing his comrade’s lives above the success of a mission.

Sakumo chose his friend’s lives as being more valuable, but it was this very action which cost him everything. He was shunned and abandoned by all, even the ones he saved. This banishment caused him to dwell on his life and become depressed to the point where he was a mere shadow of his former self. The spiral of actions eventually caused him to take his own life.

Why did Konoha abandon a comrade? Did the Shodai Hokage not place importance in the people above all? The truth is that the teachings and dream of the founder were not reaching everyone. If anything, by this example, it was shown that there were few who understood the will of fire.

But even in death, Sakumo has left his mark on the progeny of Konoha and caused them to think of their way in life. And indeed, there would come one who understood the honourable motive behind the White Fang’s action.

I.3. Uchiha Obito; the importance of a comrade

Inspired by the story of the White Fang, Obito showed where his allegiances lie. The mission, when compared to the life of a friend, means little.

“Those in the ninja world who break the rules and regulations are considered trash, but those who don't care about their companions... are even lower than trash.” – Uchiha Obito

It was these words which would come to live on through the boy he gave his sharingan; a grave reminder of his past and what he had learnt from it.

Obito, lacking in skill, was prepared to give it his all to rescue a cherished team mate. He went to the aid of Rin, and in the process lost his life. A successor of the Shodai Hokage and Sakumo, he held within him the same spirit they did. Even though he died young, he left behind a legacy in the man who would come to teach the most important people of all.

What’s most remarkable is that this was an Uchiha who gave his life for someone outside of the clan. The clan system in Konoha tries to coexist with the village but has its own purposes and agendas. Sasuke was loyal to his clan above all and the Hyuuga pride themselves on being noble. There is a distinction of sorts between the clans and the common folk.

But from one of the noblest clans, came a boy who held everyone as an equal. This is what allowed him to lay his life on the line.

I.4. The Yondaime; a sacrifice ignored

“If you compare with the Yondaime, everyone comes up short. Because as a shinobi, he was the best in history.” - Jiraiya

He went by the name of Namikaze Minato, a young man who displayed great skill and became Hokage soon after. Considered a genius, he was calm and thoughtful. He was the leader of Kakashi’s team when they went on their critical mission, and demonstrated that he understood them. His words helped Obito appreciate his comrade and set him on his path. Minato possessed the qualities of a leader and this was recognised by the people who were his allies on the battlefield. He was the quiet lion who raised heroes.

His unrelenting will and spirit saved Konoha from its greatest threat; the Kyuubi. He gave his life in doing so and left behind a son to carry the burden. This was a true display of courage, that he was able to give his life and place a demon within his son. Jinchuuriki’s receive terrible treatment and this was something he must have known, hence his last wish was for Naruto to be seen as a hero. However this wasn’t meant to be. The people, shaken from their loss and unable to discern the difference, shunned his child.

Nonetheless fate served that this turned out favourably, because in his time of need Naruto looked to the Yondaime for inspiration. The stories of a hero who was known for his wise, honest and generous nature would fuel the man who will become pivotal in establishing the Shodai Hokage’s dream.

II. Generations later, the promised ones

This section is simple; highlight the parts of a character that we’ve seen which links them to the will of fire, whether it is by their actions or their character itself.

II.1. Uzumaki Naruto; leading by experience

Through the main protagonist, Kishimoto has conveyed one message; experience equals understanding. Naruto’s life of loneliness and hate drive him to be able to recognize others, to a degree far better than the average person. His past, although sad, serves to propel him forward in his quest.

“I’m going to receive the title of Hokage one day, and become greater than any of the Hokages.” – Uzumaki Naruto

The initial driving force behind Naruto’s dream was to gain the acknowledgment of the village. He wanted to prove his worth and existence to them. Knowing of the valour of the Yondaime, he wanted to be the same.

How fitting was it then, that he displayed his will of fire before any of the other younger generation. When faced with the prospect of losing Iruka, he moved forward and fought for him; wanting to protect his precious person. But he was still immature and didn’t fully grasp the reasoning and logic behind what he did.

Over time though, his trials would make it clearer.

“He gave his life for you! He died, without any of his dreams ever coming true. To die as his tool; that's…too much…too cruel...” – Uzumaki Naruto

The death of one of Naruto’s enemies served as the first time his character went through significant growth. He was faced by an opponent who had been alone like him; who had eventually been given a purpose by someone. Haku placed the seeds for the will of fire within Naruto, stating that he would become strong by protecting those precious to him.

At the time Naruto didn’t understand, being forced to recognise that the world isn’t completely black and white. Haku only wanted to protect a precious person, much like he was doing with Team 7. This experience would only serve to strengthen him for the future.

“I understand now, I’m not alone.” – Uzumaki Naruto

The most important fight Naruto had faced so far came in Gaara; someone who was exactly like him but ended up on the other end of the rope. He personified what Naruto feared he would become, had it not been for Team 7 and Iruka. This was the occasion where he would face a true test and have to show his heart.

Haku’s words and the experience made him realise something very important. Above all else and even his dream, it was his bonds which made him happy and made life worth living. One of his precious people, Sakura, was facing possible death. It was the fact that he couldn’t afford to lose her which drove him to fight, even if he died in the end.

This was the most essential point in Naruto’s growth so far, making him realise that his bonds were his driving force. They were what really mattered and were worth fighting for until the very end. If Gaara represented the darkness, then by beating him he’d prove that he could overcome it and accept the light.

Even though he would pass this trial, his greatest one would come because of his actions in this fight.

“What do you know about me, when you have no parents or siblings? What do you know, when you've been alone from the start? Huh? We suffer because of our bonds! Can you understand what it's like to lose everyone?” – Uchiha Sasuke

Sasuke’s words ringed truer than ever; Naruto didn’t understand what it meant to lose someone. Confronted by the person who he admired from a young age, he had no real response. His loss on that day has tested him for years. Because of that battle and his failure, he now understands Sasuke’s pain.

In essence, this is Naruto’s greatest test; can he bring back a person who he’s lost? He could give up on him and carry on his path to become Hokage. After all, that was his dream wasn’t it?

“Like there’s a chance someone, who can’t even save a friend, could become Hokage.” – Uzumaki Naruto

Naruto is different and has grown from the boy who ran through streets claiming he’d become Hokage. He is placing his bond as his priority and willing to give up on his dream for it. But it only shows how right he is for the leadership of Konoha.

His inability to let go of Sasuke shows his compassion towards his friends, and wanting to bring him back to Team 7 displays that unity. There hasn’t been a person, who by his actions has shown the ideals of the Shodai Hokage running through himself, like Naruto has.

“The only thing that can save a fire from dying and give it even more power…is wind.” – Uzumaki Naruto

Why doesn’t Naruto let go of Sasuke? Because he knows that he’s walking a path which will leave him with no satisfaction at the end of it. Sasuke may be willing for this but Naruto refuses to let him go through pain once more. He doesn’t want to bring Sasuke back to prove who’s right and who’s wrong; it’s about helping someone and protecting them.

Whether he is successful on this journey will prove if he is fit to lead Konoha. His life and experiences led to his way of thinking which is, ultimately, the embodiment of a Hokage. When the time comes, he won’t stand as the leader because he has gained acknowledgment, it’ll be because he wants to protect everyone.

II.2. Uchiha Sasuke; walking the path of an avenger

He’s the current driving force behind Naruto and the person who has contributed most to his growth. Being as important as he is, it was only sensible that he was the second person out of the younger generation to display the will of fire.

The massacre of his family by a person he admired caused Sasuke to isolate himself. In fear of multiple things, he didn’t want to let anyone close to him ever again. Unfortunately for him, with the formation of Team 7, this was impossible.

“I don’t know…my body just moved on its own.” – Uchiha Sasuke

How does a person, who tries his hardest not to get close to someone, end up doing so anyway? The truth is; he does it without realising. That’s exactly what happened with Sasuke at the land of Wave. His training with Naruto formed a bond between them that even he didn’t realise. His mind was closed but his heart had already opened up to him. When the time came and he saw a friend in need, he threw his life on the line.

What would have become of him if that was indeed his death? He would have given up a dream for a precious person, what Naruto is doing at the moment. Of course, there would come a time when he would consciously make this decision, knowing the possible consequences.

“I once lost everything, so now I don’t want to see my most cherished companions die in front of me again.” – Uchiha Sasuke

Sasuke’s time with his team during the chuunin exams would help him finally open up and accept them as his friends. His urge for vengeance, although he didn’t know it, was beginning to fade away. When faced with Gaara, he was taken to his limits. He asked Naruto to take Sakura and run; he would remain behind and hold off their enemy.

What did he think would happen? He didn’t have the energy or power to defeat Gaara. During the Wave incident, he told Naruto that he didn’t want to die until he killed Itachi. Yet, a few months later and because of his growth, he once again placed his bonds above his dream. If he stayed behind to hold off Gaara, he would die. It was this act which fuelled Naruto’s courage and made him confront Gaara too.

Sasuke displayed his bravery and the will of fire many times. But with the return of his brother, his thirst for vengeance would overcome him. Having witnessed his family’s demise again thanks to Itachi’s Tsukuyomi, he needed to gain power. He was reminded of his past and the path he had initially taken. For that, he made his decision to sever his bonds. He had nearly died for them twice, they were hindering him.

With his reappearance in Part 2, we’ve seen that Sasuke isn’t beyond being brought back. He still recognises his bonds and he still holds memories of his time with Team 7. His encouragement to Naruto to continue with his dream and the gazing at the bridge in Wave Country shows that his bonds do mean something to him. But he doesn’t want them coming between him and his vengeance again.

“The future is not where my dream is. It’s in the past…that’s where it’ll always be.” – Uchiha Sasuke

There will inevitably come a time when he will have to make another decision between his bonds and his vengeance. Like Naruto, his experiences only serve to make him stronger and there’s no doubt he’ll be reunited with Team 7 again. It’s only fit that the leader of Konoha has the person who contributed to his growth the most with him. Sasuke does have a future; he just doesn’t know it yet.


II.3. Haruno Sakura; it’s time to move forward

Sakura could be considered the odd person in her team. With her two friends who’ve led lives with dreadful experiences, hers’ was relatively normal. She was bullied as a young girl and soon developed a crush on the popular boy. Nevertheless, it is also this fact which makes her growth that significant.

She was placed out of her element and had to deal with pains which she didn’t understand. She was shallow and it seemed she didn’t care much for the life of a ninja. There would come a time though, when she would have to stand on her own feet and prove this notion wrong.

“All I’ve been doing is watching you two from behind…now; get a good look at my back.” – Haruno Sakura

Sakura’s test comes in the chuunin exams when she was forced to defend her team by herself. Both Naruto and Sasuke were unconscious and she was confronted by an enemy much more skilled than her. It was during this vital time that she able to draw the courage to stand up and fight for her friends. She had the ability to overcome her fear and put everything on the line. This was her showing of the will of fire and she would go on to do it again when stepping in front of Sasuke to defend against Gaara.

“A flower is meaningless until it blooms, right?” – Yamanaka Ino

Sakura, unlike her team, didn’t have any experience to grow from. Instead, it was the time she spent with her team that placed values in her. She learnt, from both Naruto and Sasuke, the true meaning of being a ninja. Soon, because of her bonds, she would go to Tsunade and become her apprentice. It was that desire to become stronger and protect the people precious to her which drove her to one of the legendary sannin. Sakura was weak at a time but is now blossoming more beautifully than most.

There have been many instances in the manga where Sakura has shown her compassion for her team. Taking care of Sasuke constantly and worrying that he wouldn’t be able to overcome his curse seal. Running towards Naruto when he lost himself to the monster within and then crying at her inability to help him.

The powerful force behind Sakura is the wish to protect her precious people and whenever she fails, it’s painful. Her mistakes and flaws are what defined her; making her change into such a powerful character so significant. She is at the forefront of the new generation with her team and the will of fire runs deep within her.

II.4. Nara Shikamaru; wanting to be average

For a secondary character, Shikamaru’s growth is amazing and rightly so. When you first see him, you don’t get a lasting impression from the Nara; he wants to be average and doesn’t have any grand objectives. We’re soon made to realise that he is an intelligent individual whose intellect surpasses most peoples. But Shikamaru’s greatest strength is his reasoning and his understanding of everything around him, regardless of his own background.

Shikamaru is sent with Sakura and Naruto, to back up Sasuke against Gaara, but he goes unwillingly. Along the way, he devises a plan to ward off the shinobi following them. He stays behind and holds them off, knowing it would end in his death. He was prepared to sacrifice his life in order for Sakura and Naruto to move forward. It’s clear from there that Shikamaru isn’t your average ninja even if he wants to be.

“Sasuke’s not a very close friend of mine nor is he someone important. However! He is a fellow shinobi from the Hidden Leaf, just like me and you. He is a comrade! This is why we’ll risk our live for him. This is the way of the Leaf.” – Nara Shikamaru

If there was ever a time that it was highlighted that Shikamaru is great, it was that moment there. He clearly showed that he understood the principles of Konoha and held them close to his heart. He was willing to go to all lengths to bring back a comrade; a stark contrast from the time of Sakumo where the Hatake was scorned for such a way of thinking, even though it was along the same lines of the Shodai Hokage.

The mission would ultimately be unsuccessful and Shikamaru would experience his greatest failure. He nearly lost someone dear to him and it brought him to tears. His character path was the only one left hugely open. During part 2, he is revisited and is able to finish his pathway.

He would take part in a mission to stop Akatsuki but would lose his mentor in the process. Before dying, Asuma would teach Shikamaru the importance of the future generation; to be willing to lay your life on the line so that the future prospers. It was with these teachings in his mind that Shikamaru set out on his greatest mission, and once again as the leader.

“You did well Shikamaru. My will of fire, I entrust it to you.” – Sarutobi Asuma

He confronted Hidan and defeated him for his will of fire. It was about proving that he could lead a mission successfully and protect his comrades. He finished what his mentor had started. He has shown why he is one of the promised generation’s most valuable ninjas.

II.5. Yamanaka Ino; flourishing flower

Ino is a character largely misunderstood, which is a shame really. She treasures her friends above all which is already a plus. When she was younger, she approached Sakura and helped her break out of her shell. This was her strongest friendship but it was also one which was broken because of a rivalry over a boy. The Ino we see fawning over Sasuke is largely different from the young girl we see helping Sakura. It was because of her rivalry with Sakura that she attempted to annoy the pink haired ninja. But this rivalry was proof that she still held Sakura dear to herself.

In the chuunin exams, she could have assisted Sakura or simply walked away. Her choice reflected her heart; she put her life on the line for a friend. Her team followed her and they attempted to rescue Sakura from the Sound-nin. Again, it’s that sense of unity and compassion for your comrades which the Shodai Hokage preached.

Another notable characteristic of Ino’s is that she is always nagging her team; whether it is Shikamaru for his laziness, who’s now going to be more of a ninja in his own words, or Chouji to take care of himself. She does it because she cares for them and they’re her friends.

II.6. Akimichi Chouji; a common person in a noble clan

The Akimichi are one of the 4 noble clans in Konoha. Looking at Chouji, you’d be surprised to know of that fact. He doesn’t carry himself as if he’s great or better than everyone else. He didn’t even have any friends when he was young and was bullied.

It was the events of being bullied which helped him grow up the way he has. He was befriended by Shikamaru, his only friend for years after. Due to this, Chouji cherished Shikamaru’s companionship. When the rescue Sasuke mission came along, he showed exactly how much.

Because he wanted Shikamaru to succeed, because he wanted to show that he’s changed, because he wanted to prove that he’s useful, he was prepared to sacrifice his own life. He took the red pill, which would’ve spelt his death, and defeated his opponent. It’s this act which shows why, even though Chouji may not stand out from the rest of his generation, that he’s a special individual.

The ability to be selfless and protect your comrades is one which Chouji upholds with a passion.


II.7. Hyuuga Neji; fighting against destiny

He’s the definition of the term genius. Neji is talented in so many ways it’s remarkable. He recreated main house techniques, holds the potential to become the greatest Hyuuga ever but his past hindered him. Due to what he believed about his father, and himself being labelled as a branch house member, he began to hate and accepted that he couldn’t change.

“Destiny can’t be changed, stop whining about stupid crap like that…since you’re not a loser like me.” – Uzumaki Naruto

The fight with Naruto is the turning point for Neji’s character; he begins to view things with more of an open mind. It is also because of this fight that Hiashi humbles himself before him and asks for forgiveness. The combination of these two events propels the thought in Neji that there is always hope; something which is reflected when he like many before him, displays the will of fire.

“No matter how much stronger the enemy is or how battered my body gets, I cannot lose. I have a reason why I cannot lose!” – Hyuuga Neji

On a mission to bring back a runaway comrade, Neji gave it his all. He was prepared, like the rest of the team, to die in order for the mission to be successful. This fight shows how much Neji has changed. He was faced with an enemy who talked down to him and told him he would lose, akin to how he himself was previously. But Neji refused defeat and won because he had the courage to go the extra mile.

In the end, he asked Naruto go on ahead and save Sasuke. He stayed behind and did whatever was necessary to beat Kidoumaru. Why? Because he also embodies the will of fire and recognises the need to be able to sacrifice yourself for the greater good. This was a fight against destiny for him, and by winning he proved that he was changing his own perceived fate.

II.8. Tenten; aspirations to be great

Little is known about Tenten due to her lack of appearances in the manga however the few times we do see her, we can make a pretty good guess as to what kind of person she is. Her aspiration is to be as great as the legendary Tsunade. She wants to prove that women can be excellent ninjas and considering that she has the respect of Neji and Lee, she’s probably well on her way there already.

Tenten has shown that she cares about her team. She praised Neji during his fight, highlighting his strengths. She also tried to get him to open up by inviting him to spend time with his team, away from training. She always has a carefree smile across her face which shows how different she is from the rest of the Konoha 12.

As far as we know, she has no terrible past but being under the tutelage of Gai, and the team mate of two people who are great in their own regards, has certainly rubbed off on her. Now that Tsunade is the Hokage, she trains much harder in order to be like her. By taking in the theme and talent of the current generation, she’ll probably achieve her dream too.

II.9. Rock Lee; the honour and pride in effort

There are many ways to describe Lee; passionate, vibrant, determined, but the one which suits him most is honourable. Lee never gives up and continues to inch towards his dream through pure effort and hard work. It reminds you of a certain blonde, no? Lee will always do what is right and often places others before himself.

“A genius will be surpassed with hard work.” – Rock Lee

The core of his character is to put as much effort as possible into whatever you do. He trains with his mentor, Gai, in a variety of ways. This training moulded the kind of person he is. During the chuunin exams, he steps up for Sakura even though there was no need to. She wasn’t a part of his team nor was her survival important for his own team’s success. But he did it anyway because it was the right thing to do. He put his life on the line to help a fellow comrade of Konoha.

Lee’s hardest challenge comes when he is injured by Gaara. He was literally destroyed and had a hard decision to make; try and build another path for himself or take the life threatening operation to continue towards his dream. What Lee did here by taking the risk to continue towards his dream was display his courage. Courage is the backbone of every great ninja we know of, Minato, Sarutobi, the Shodai, and Sakumo.

Right after his operation, Lee joined his fellow shinobi on their mission to rescue Sasuke. He went up against the strongest person standing in the way, Kimimaro. He was willing to fight so that Naruto could go ahead and retrieve Sasuke. It shows how much pride he takes in being a ninja and how much courage he truly possesses; to be able to come back from an operation which threatened his existence and rush to save an ally.

Like Shikamaru, Lee shines as an example of the will of fire and why the new generation are the promised ones.

II.10. Aburame Shino; silent on the outside

Part of the Aburame clan and silent unless it’s necessary to speak; Shino is a serious ninja who has displayed why you should look underneath the underneath. He often shows concern over Hinata, his friend, and acts as the reasonable person of his team.

Shino’s display of the will of fire occurred during the invasion of Konoha; he followed Naruto’s group without letting anyone know. When they were intercepted by Kankurou, he stepped in to make sure he wouldn’t be an obstacle. It was in this battle that he was prepared to fight to the death. He would have died had it not been for his father helping when he did.

Shino has displayed many times that he cares about his team. He was disappointed that they didn’t make it to the finals of the chuunin exams with him but at the same time didn’t want to let them down. He always tries to help Hinata or Kiba when he thinks they need it.

Later on, he is disappointed that he couldn’t go on the mission to rescue Sasuke with everyone else. Why be disappointed? Because he could’ve helped. It also showed that even if he’s silent, he understands perfectly what’s going on around him. He is one of the more mature shinobi of the Konoha 12.

II.11. Hyuuga Hinata; the ability to care

Hinata’s greatest asset is not holding grudges. She doesn’t let herself come to dislike or hate anyone. She may not have displayed the will of fire but she has the tools necessary to show that she can; the first of those being that she tries to help people.

A key example of this is Neji who hated her and the main house with a passion. At the end of her fight with him, she confronts Neji and tells him what she thinks is the problem. She does it because she sees that he’s destroying himself and his future. There was ultimately no need for her to say anything to Neji in regards to his way of thinking, unless she wanted to help him in some way.

She cares deeply about her comrades and has a strong bond with them. Her tenure in Team 8 helped her by giving her honest friends. This was the first time she had really been a part of something and they all support each other.

Her greatest accomplishment, aside from her ability to care for others, is her talk with Naruto. Granted it was only a few minutes but this talk highlights, more than anything, Hinata’s own character. She gives Naruto another way to interpret his way of the ninja where he never gives up. It doesn’t matter whether Naruto will be successful but the fact that he can keep on standing up if he fails. What she did here is display that she understood the importance of courage. It takes courage to come back from failure and that is what she believes is Naruto’s strength.

This understanding combined with her concern for her comrades shows that she would also be able to give it her all, like some of her friends have previously.

II.12. Inuzuka Kiba; violent but passionate

Kiba is rude, cocky and arrogant. At least, that’s the first impression we get from him. This viewpoint is completely destroyed with his act in the rescue Sasuke mission, but there is a time before this that shows Kiba isn’t like that. His loss to Naruto helps him acknowledge the blonde and he shows that he’s able to overcome his pride.

In the retrieval arc, he displays that he isn’t as rough as he previously appeared to be. When he fights with Sakon/Ukon, his best friend gets injured. Akamaru had been with him for as long as he could remember and they formed an extremely strong bond. He had lost the fight against Sakon/Ukon and Akamaru was left close to death.

He escapes with Akamaru and keeps him with himself. If he had only feared for his life, he could have ditched the dog and escaped. But he didn’t because he places value in his comrades and Akamaru is his greatest ally. He was prepared to stay with him until the very end.

The way he shows concern over Akamaru and his condition displays that Kiba would never place a mission or task before his ally. This is a thinking which echoes the way of Sakumo. There’s no doubt that Kiba will become a great shinobi.

III. Steps already taken

III.1. The importance of the Konoha 12’s unity

Why was all this necessary? What need was there to display what the Konoha 12 have done? Because it shows that they have the principles of the will of fire ingrained within them. Their acts and tests have caused them to display their courage.

“Below courage, there’s nothing.” – Hatake Kakashi

The will of fire requires courage since without it; you won’t be capable of taking the ultimate step and be prepared to sacrifice yourself if necessary. More importantly than that, the Konoha 12 have shown unity. This is a generation full of talented individuals who are connected in one way or another. Their empathy for each other shows that they know what is important and would place bonds above everything else.

This factor ensures that Naruto, when he takes the position of Hokage, will have strong individuals behind him who uphold the right ideals. His own strength, combined with their backing, makes sure that a tragedy like Sakumo’s won’t ever occur again. Their unity is something that they’ll have to spread to the rest of Konoha. And with such a talented and strong group, that looks more possible now than it ever did in the past.

III.2. Konoha’s development

How do we know that Konoha has been developing? Well, there are hints and of course, word from Kishimoto himself.

If we take a look back on what we know about Naruto, he was hated and left alone because he contained the Kyuubi. There was no one there for him; this is emphasised and that’s the reason why Team 7 and Iruka are so important to him.

The time we clearly see that Konoha has developed is the fight between Neji and Naruto. The fight between these two was symbolic of Naruto’s fight against destiny. Naruto wanted to prove that he could overcome his own fate of being a loser, and by beating Neji that is what he was going to accomplish.

The important part is what happens right after he wins. The whole of the stadium erupts in applause for him. These people used to hate him yet here they cheered for him. Naruto had won them over with pure effort and hard work. His bloodied hands by digging through the earth painted a nice picture, since he was clawing his way into people’s hearts.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Masashi Kishimoto, Databook Interview
The reason that people accept Naruto is because it is the village people themselves who have developed.
III.3. Sunagakure and its Kazekage

This is a very important connection for the future.

Gaara is the Kazekage. What Naruto showed him through his fight was that there is a possible path for jinchuuriki’s to take. Because of this and his recent resurrection, there is a strong link between him and Naruto. There is no doubt that Gaara would go to great lengths for his friend at this point in time.

This works out extremely well, since Naruto will have a powerful and honest ally when he becomes Hokage. Not to mention that Gaara wants to be like Naruto and the philosophy behind Naruto is that of the will of fire. There is a strong chance that the will of fire may not only be restricted to Konoha but rather, spread throughout Suna thanks to its current Kazekage.

If you look at Chiyo’s comments, she believes alliances with other villages don’t really help; going as far as to call them fabrications. This comment is highly contrasted from when she sees how useful the team from Konoha was when rescuing Gaara. She even praises Naruto and says he will become the greatest of all Hokages. This change is one all of Suna could possibly go through. And if it does, then there’s one person who will be the cause of it; Sabaku no Gaara.

The future, indeed, holds a lot of potential.

IV. Conclusion; a vision which wasn’t foolish

Konoha hasn’t even existed for a century and it has already been through countless trials and tribulations. Great people have come and gone, some have died with honour yet others have died in vain. Its foundation was on the dream of one man, and during his era that wouldn’t have seemed like a possibility realistically. But time served to be the greatest ally. Generations came and went which included people who had been seemingly moulded from the spirit of the Shodai Hokage.

Right now, the time is more ripe and important than it has ever been before. A promised generation has come where the people at the forefront embody all which the Shodai placed importance in. The value of comrades, the importance of unity, being able to protect your people as if they were your family; these morals gush from the Konoha 12.

“Fire will burn where the leaves dance. The shadow of the fire will light the village and the leaves will sprout again.” – The Sandaime

The dying thoughts of the beloved Hokage were of the future. He died knowing that that there would be people who continued with the ideology of Konoha within their hearts. Little did he know that the current generation would be the most important and the answer to a visionary’s dream. The Shodai could be considered foolish for such a grand aim and objective, but right now that dream looks to be taking its final steps into becoming a reality

Thats a very interesting read.

Sounds like someone was doing an academic piece on Naruto Characters.
You should have this on the introduction to Naruto Page.[Not that it actually exists]