7 Times the Naruto Manga Was Better Than the Anime

Reading the Naruto manga is the best way to truly enjoy the story. Kishimoto’s original writing and art capture the raw emotion and core of the narrative. It’s the purest form of Naruto, free from issues with pacing or unnecessary changes that sometimes appear in other versions.

Sometimes, watching the anime can feel like a slog, even though the voice acting, music, and action scenes are good. It’s just bogged down with a lot of unnecessary content and slow pacing that really drags things down. If you want to experience the true Naruto story, the manga is the way to go. The anime is fine for quick highlights, but it doesn’t compare to the original manga.

7. The Pacing of the Fourth Great Ninja War

The Fourth Great Ninja War is much better presented in the Naruto manga than in the anime. The manga’s battles are fast-paced and focused on moving the story forward, while the anime drags things out with a lot of unnecessary filler and extended fight scenes. The manga’s artwork also powerfully captures the war’s intensity, showing both the desperation of the ninja alliance and the immense power of Madara and Obito, making every moment feel important.

6. Madara Uchiha’s Introduction

Madara Uchiha’s first appearance in the Naruto manga is iconic. He immediately demonstrates incredible power by effortlessly defeating an entire division of the Shinobi Alliance, establishing him as a major villain. The manga’s presentation of this scene is masterful, using striking artwork to highlight his control and the helplessness of his opponents. His calm and ruthless fighting style is both terrifying and impressive. While the anime adaptation features visually exciting action, it exaggerates the scene with overly elaborate movements and prolonged sequences, diminishing the raw, impactful feeling conveyed in the manga.

5. The Death of Neji Hyuga

Watching Neji die in the manga was truly heartbreaking, but also incredibly meaningful. It really highlighted the story’s themes of self-sacrifice and the strong bonds between friends. The author taking the risk to kill off such a popular character felt brave, and it was handled with a lot of emotional impact. His last words to Naruto and Hinata, combined with what his death represented, stayed with me long after I read it. It wasn’t a long scene, but it packed a huge punch.

The anime unfortunately loses some of its impact in this scene by adding too much unnecessary drama and lingering on reactions. Although animating the event does make it more tragic, the pacing feels slow, and the emotional weight is lessened by overly explaining the importance of the character’s death.

4. Naruto and Sasuke’s Final Battle

The final battle between Naruto and Sasuke at the Valley of the End is a truly unforgettable scene in the series, and the manga portrays it with incredible power. Creator Masashi Kishimoto’s artwork brilliantly shows the intense feelings, desperation, and underlying respect between the two rivals as they face off one last time. The fight’s imagery and the characters’ injuries cleverly reflect their shared history, making the conclusion to their long-standing rivalry feel deeply rewarding. Although the anime version features impressive visuals, it sometimes overemphasizes action, sacrificing the emotional impact of the story.

3. Itachi’s Backstory

Itachi’s story is one of the most moving parts of the Naruto manga, expertly told with a mix of sadness and surprising truths. We learn about why Itachi did what he did through Sasuke’s eyes, and the author, Kishimoto, brilliantly crafts a tale of love, self-sacrifice, and eventual forgiveness. The story unfolds at just the right speed, making every detail of Itachi’s life feel important and giving readers a deep understanding of who he was.

The anime expands on Itachi’s history with extra scenes that, although engaging, lessen the power of his important revelations.

2. Jiraiya’s Death

Jiraiya’s death is a prime example of powerful storytelling in the manga. The events leading up to his battle with Pain, the immense challenges he faces, and the way his final moments are depicted are all incredibly well done. Kishimoto’s artwork beautifully conveys Jiraiya’s pain and resolve, and his last message to Naruto is a deeply moving and emotionally resonant scene.

The anime version of the fight looks and sounds great, with exciting animation and music. However, it drags on too long in places and includes flashbacks that aren’t needed. In the manga, Jiraiya’s death feels more genuine and powerful because it’s presented more directly, without the over-the-top drama that sometimes appears in the anime.

1. The Pain Invasion Arc

The Pain Invasion arc is widely considered a highlight of the Naruto manga, and it’s brilliantly done. From the moment Pain attacks Konoha to Naruto’s powerful arrival in Sage Mode, the arc is filled with intense moments and thrilling action. The story moves at a perfect pace, and the artwork effectively portrays both the widespread destruction caused by Pain and Naruto’s development as a hero. Importantly, the meaningful philosophical debate between Naruto and Pain is given the attention it deserves, making their battle both impactful and thought-provoking.

While the anime has some beautifully animated moments, particularly scenes like Pain’s “Almighty Push,” the animation quality in this story arc is generally inconsistent. Some of the more important, emotional parts of the fighting are unfortunately weakened by animation errors and added scenes that don’t move the story forward.

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2025-12-27 23:46