Naruto Shippuden Should Have Ended With the Pain Arc

The inconsistencies found in the Fourth Great Ninja War present a compelling argument for Naruto to have concluded immediately following the Pain's Assault arc.

The Pain's Assault arc in Naruto: Shippuden holds a special place in the hearts of fans for numerous reasons. It showcased the enigmatic and seemingly all-powerful Pain, whose presence had been teased since the beginning of the sequel series. With Jiraiya's tragic demise and the declaration of war that prompted Naruto to embark on his most perilous training yet, the timing of Pain's attack couldn't have been more fitting. The arc skillfully tied together the loose ends of Shippuden, creating a climactic battle that felt like a grand finale, even if it wasn't intended as such. At that point, Naruto had reached the pinnacle of its greatness.

Pain's assault on the Hidden Leaf Village was expedited by his eagerness to swiftly capture Naruto and the Nine-Tails. By provoking the Leaf through Jiraiya's defeat, Pain effectively forced them into a position where retaliation became imminent. Allowing the Leaf to strategize and plan their defense could have proven fatal for the Akatsuki leader. Hence, their surprise attack caught the Leaf off guard, resulting in significant casualties before their defenses could effectively counter the guerrilla tactics employed by Pain's Six Paths. Yet, throughout the turmoil, the Hidden Leaf Village remained resolute and unwavering.

The Pain Arc Was Naruto at Its Very Best

During the Pain Arc, the stakes in Shippuden reached their most critical point. Despite other villages being visited by Pain, the Hidden Leaf Village still represented the heart of the ninja world for many viewers. The village's vulnerability had been showcased before with the Nine-Tails' rampage and Orochimaru's invasion, but Pain's threat carried an unprecedented weight. If he succeeded, it would essentially spell the end for the world of Naruto.

The potential destruction of the Leaf Village added to the palpable tension of the arc. Viewers were well aware of the village's vulnerabilities, yet it remained a symbol of resilience and unity. The clash of ideals between Naruto, the series' protagonist, and Pain was the climactic centerpiece of the arc. However, Naruto's absence from the initial stages of the battle only heightened the anxiety. While Naruto perfected his Sage Mode at Mount Myoboku, the Six Paths of Pain had to contend with the brave shinobi defending the Hidden Leaf Village. This presented an opportunity for them to witness the indomitable Will of Fire that bound the village together. Even in the face of death, none of the villagers were willing to reveal Naruto's location to the invader.

The defense of the Leaf Village during this arc was filled with crowd-pleasing moments. Beloved characters who had grown throughout the series faced their most significant challenge yet, and for a time, they appeared to be winning. Even Sakura, who had seen her relevance diminish after her impressive fight with Sasori, once again took center stage by organizing and managing the relief efforts for the injured villagers. Previous Leaf invasions showcased the village's response to external threats, but Tsunade's decision to prioritize saving lives demonstrated how the village could handle internal threats as well.

When Naruto and Pain finally confronted each other, the young shinobi had gained a deep understanding of the villain's controversial philosophy. Naruto returned to the Leaf Village shortly after Pain's Almighty Push had reduced his home to rubble. Pain believed that true comprehension of another's pain could only be achieved through experiencing similar hardships. The destruction of the Leaf Village offered Naruto his first real taste of the suffering caused by the Third Great Ninja War. However, it was Hinata's apparent sacrifice that pushed him over the edge, leading to his loss of control over the Nine-Tails.

Following his victory over Pain, Naruto's choice to forgive the villain demonstrated his triumph over the cycle of hatred. Despite acknowledging that Pain was responsible for the loss of his father figure and numerous innocent Leaf Villagers, Naruto opted to spare his life, aiming to break the destructive cycle once and for all. This unexpected resolution proved to be pivotal, as it deeply moved Nagato, the wielder of the Rinnegan. Nagato used his powers to resurrect all the lives lost during his assault, paying the ultimate price in the process. In that transformative moment, Naruto truly became the hero of the Leaf Village. He was finally accepted and celebrated by those who had initially rejected him, bringing him one step closer to his goal of becoming Hokage.

Naruto: Shippuden Changed After the Pain Arc

Although the Naruto story continued beyond the conclusion of the Pain's Assault arc, there are noticeable differences between the pre-Pain and post-Pain narrative. While some additions to the saga were relatively harmless, select fans consider a few changes to be detrimental to its legacy. Notably, the perception of the ninja world expanded rapidly after years of stagnation to accommodate the scale of the Fourth Great Ninja War. New and returning allies took the spotlight, leading to debates on whether they enhanced or overshadowed the story. Moreover, since Naruto had achieved his goal of acceptance from the Leaf Villagers, his focus shifted primarily to rescuing Sasuke and mastering control over the Nine-Tails within him.

Consequently, many fans expressed disappointment with the direction taken in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Although Naruto and Sasuke did experience some character development during this period, it was often interspersed among copious amounts of filler content. Certain battles took days to resolve, and the war's uneven pacing made the viewing experience feel unnecessarily lengthy. While Naruto's final arc showcased some thrilling fights, its overall perception was marred by the excessive use of filler episodes and flashbacks, which earned the series an infamous reputation.

The Pain arc provided a satisfying conclusion for Shippuden before the story became excessively convoluted. Had the series ended after Pain's defeat, Naruto might have been regarded even more highly than it is today. The first half of Shippuden was characterized by minimal filler, effective pacing, and, most importantly, the absence of surprising alien villain twists that confused long-time fans. Even without the inclusion of Kaguya and the Otsutsuki storyline, Naruto's legacy would have remained unshakable, and it might have been even stronger if they had been excluded.