Naruto was the second anime I've ever watched from beginning to end. And from it, I started to look at anime with a new appreciation. Before I even started watching anime, my life was pretty simple. To the point where I just sort of drifted through life and didn't know what exactly my goal or inspiration in life was. I knew what I desired in life, but I still couldn't put my finger on it and really accomplish my goals because I was still unsure about it. So when I finally discovered a website where I can watch anime, the first thing I started watching was Naruto.
Naruto had taught me a lot of things, and it made me who I am today. He's the most inspiring in the whole series because his character is relatable, flawed, and more human than ever. I fell in love with his character because of his flaws, not despite them. For instance, Naruto is good to a fault, he is tenacious to a fault, and he is loyal to a fault. He never gives up on what he believes in because that's his Nindo- the ninja way. To never give up on what he says.
He taught me that I don't always have to be strong. I am allowed to break down as long as I pick myself back up and continue moving forward. When life had me pinned and my insecurities got the better of me, I learned to open up and let my friends be there for me and to encourage me. I let them in and they helped pull me out of the darkness. Even in my most hopeless hour, Naruto showed me that I must have strength. Some days I don't believe in myself as much as I should but he let me see that I am remarkably strong and capable of anything I set my mind to. Watching Naruto grow up, from childhood to adulthood in the series was a great experience. His passion to make a difference in the world was incredible. He puts his heart and soul into every silly and serious expedition and managed to exceed any personal goal he could have set for himself, through blood, sweat, tears, and laughter. Watching him do what he loves and watching him make a difference in the lives of others was inspiring. The way his face lights up even in the midst of defeat was breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion and he has. Seeing how Naruto grew up and how he would never give up taught me to never give up myself. When I did the things that I really loved to do and then watch someone else my age do it better than I could. I usually would just accept what I lacked and never do anything to improve myself. But seeing Naruto never give up on what he loves and what he truly wants to fight for, encouraged me to be both a better person and strive to achieve things I never thought I could have before.
Naruto's not perfect, but he's always aspiring to do right by those he loves and those he has sworn to protect. He doesn't just adore his newly-formed family or village anymore. His love has evolved to encompass everyone. He can relate and associate with most people. Because of that, Naruto has matured and grown wise. The biggest question he faced was, 'How best do you kill an enemy when that enemy is Hatred?' and his answer was always, 'Love.' Naruto loves humanity, no matter how evil people proved themselves to be. He can find good deep inside them and if not, he aspires to help make them discover the good hidden inside.
This series really promotes positive change. In Naruto, the main character is continuously embedding positive messages in every person he meets and searching for the good in people. If he can find one good thing about that person, he does his best to show them that they are better than the darkness inside them. He is always hopeful that people can change. Redemption is a major theme of this manga/anime. That is the MOST inspiring message of the entire series.
Naruto, himself, is proof that people are capable of change for the better in the face of adversity and undeserved hatred. I don't know what I would be doing if I haven't seen Naruto. I'm glad that I've watched this anime because it made me what I wanted to be today, an overcomer. It taught me many lessons in life and to be the hero that I want to be. I also know the whole purpose of what a hero truly is. Heroes are people who simply save others for the sake of being good and the kindness of their hearts, but that's in a nutshell. Heroes are the ones who will keep fighting for what's right and what they want to protect in their lives. Even if they may fail over and over, they always get back up again. Well, that's it. That's how Naruto shaped me in my life.
