Goku and Naruto’s Parenting Failures

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poor parenting. However, it’s not just about bad parenting; there’s a deeper layer to these characters that sets them apart. Both Goku and Naruto are multidimensional figures with unique inner traits, suggesting that their approaches to child-rearing come from different backgrounds. The idea that wearing an orange gi and having yellow hair equates to saving the world while neglecting your family is not far-fetched, but these characters offer more complexity than that simplistic notion.

Goku and Naruto share numerous resemblances, making them iconic characters in the shonen genre. They’re both lively personalities who prioritize their friends deeply and fight fiercely for their protection. Their powers and life journeys exhibit striking similarities too. However, while Naruto takes on a leadership role in his village, which comes with significant responsibilities that limit his family time, Goku tends to immerse himself in training or dangerous situations, often leaving his family behind. In essence, the contrast lies in Naruto’s duty-bound role as Hokage versus Goku’s impulsive pursuit of power and training.

Goku as a Father

In Dragon Ball Z’s Saiyan arc, we meet Goku’s firstborn, Gohan, who serves as an early exploration of how being a hero might influence Goku’s parenting skills. Gohan is abducted by Goku’s brother Raditz, and in rescuing Gohan, Goku sacrifices his life to defeat Raditz. Before departing, he entrusts Piccolo, a long-standing adversary, with the task of training the four-year-old Gohan, preparing him for defending Earth against the other two approaching Saiyans. This marks the start of a concerning pattern in which Goku often subjects Gohan to intense training to confront enemies that are beyond his years. The rare instances when Gohan is free from the constant strain of facing Goku’s adversaries occur only when Goku is deceased for ten years following the Cell Saga. It is Goku’s insistence on pushing Gohan to tap into new power levels against Cell that eventually necessitates Goku himself intervening to save the planet when Android sought self-destruction.

Over a decade since his resurrection at the end of Dragon Ball Z, Goku’s second child, Goten, made his appearance in the world. Despite being his son, Goku has barely spent time with Goten compared to his elder son, Gohan. After coming back to life, most of Goku’s time has gone into training alongside Vegeta and exploring other planets, leaving Goten largely neglected. However, it’s important to note that much of Goku’s parental behavior might be due to his alien origins. As a pure-blooded Saiyan, Goku belongs to an alien race known for their martial prowess and planet conquest. This species is often characterized as ruthless and battle-hungry. In fact, young Saiyans were frequently sent alone to conquer planets, which explains why Goku fits this pattern quite well.

Naruto the Father Who Is Too Busy

Across the spectrum of parenting in Naruto’s case, he isn’t an extraterrestrial but a foster child, whose life’s purpose was to become Hokage, thereby gaining recognition. His singular focus was achieving this position and demonstrating his worth, as well as safeguarding everyone, including those who disliked him. Initially, we learn about Naruto’s parental shortcomings in the series “Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.” Here, we see that due to his responsibilities as Hokage, he scarcely spends time with his children and instead sends shadow clones home to be with them. The most egregious instance is when a clone attends his daughter Himawari’s birthday party, and its dissipation spoils the entire mood of the event. Understandably, Boruto, Naruto’s son and eldest child, feels frustrated by his father and the leniency shown to him by the village.

In a deeper exploration of Naruto’s feelings towards his fellow villagers, it becomes apparent when he adopts a child named Kawaki and declares that they, along with everyone else in the village, are his family, whom he will always safeguard. This dialogue offers insight into Naruto’s character, revealing to us as viewers that despite never experiencing genuine parental affection himself, Naruto is willing to defend those under his care. While there may be no justification for this, it’s evident that when push comes to shove, Naruto stands by his children, particularly in protective roles. However, a lingering concern arises as we understand that Naruto would respond similarly to anyone within the village, not just his child. This suggests that Naruto’s devotion may sometimes lead him to be absent from his children’s lives. Essentially, Naruto, due to his loyalty, has unintentionally made his children feel neglected.

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2025-04-18 20:10