‘Kishimoto definitely wasted the character’: The Only Character Who Deserved to Mentor Naruto After Jiraiya’s Death Was Killed Too Soon to Favor Itachi

SUMMARY

• Masashi Kishimoto created many great characters in Naruto, and Konan is undoubtedly one of them, whether it's her strength or her unique fighting style.
• A Reddit user pointed out how Kishimoto wasted Konan’s potential by killing her off too soon when she could have been a wonderful addition to the war arc.
• Her presence and involvement in the final war would have led to many emotional and exciting moments, that would have been better than the mandatory Itachi inclusion.

Masashi Kishimoto created many compelling characters in Naruto, leaving fans wanting more. However, it’s a shame that the ‘more’ they are so intrigued about hardly gets explored. Konan is the best example of this, as she was a great character who was killed off too soon. She deserved more screen time, and there were many instances where her contribution to the story would have made more sense than some other characters, for instance, Itachi. 

Konan in Naruto Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

It’s a common belief among Naruto fans that Kishimoto has a special preference for Itachi. There was one moment that could have benefited more from Konan’s presence compared to Itachi. But, as you must have guessed, she was already dead by that point and Itachi was there instead. It’s a pity that Konan was sidelined for Itachi when both characters could have coexisted with ease. 

Konan was an interesting character who was killed off too soon 

From her introduction to her backstory, Konan was an exceptional kunoichi. She trained under Jiraiya, then honed her techniques on her own alongside Yahiko and Nagato. As a result of her capabilities, she served as Amegakure’s guardian angel. Even though Konan was strong and sensible, her life was plagued with tragedy. Whether it was the fight against Jiraiya or the one against Tobi, Konan’s abilities were put on a great display. 

Konan during her fight against Tobi | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

Her conversation with Naruto after Nagato’s passing revealed a more amiable side of her. Her character arc could have progressed in multiple directions from there on. Her fight against Tobi proved her brilliance, she had amazing defensive and offensive techniques.

She deserved to win that fight or both of them should have fled from that fight. However, she was killed off and all her potential was wasted for no reason at all, as this Reddit comment explains.

This Reddit user has pointed out some great points about Konan’s character, but the highlight is definitely the relationship between Konan and Naruto. After their last interaction, we didn’t get any follow-ups on their shared dynamics, or the promise Naruto made to her. 

This scene would have been much better with Konan’s involvement 

During the war, seeing reincarnated Nagato and Itachi together was undoubtedly exciting. However, Konan’s presence in that scene would have been an emotional event. Her reunion with Nagato and a potential fight between them would have been much more rewarding. If not during that scene particularly, Konan could have helped Naruto and the others come up with a better strategy to fight against Tobi.

Nagato and Itachi meet Naruto and Killer Bee during war | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

She nearly managed to kill Tobi, and her assistance would have worked out extremely well. Moreover, Itachi already had his moment with Sasuke and the face-off with Kabuto. Masashi Kishimoto could have easily let Konan have her moment, but we get it, Itachi over everyone else! And that’s probably the truth of life Naruto fans need to accept. 

Naruto Shippuden is available to stream on Netflix. 

Written by Laveena Joshi

Articles Published: 429

Laveena holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with a keen interest in entertainment journalism. Known to defend Naruto with her life, her love for anime has turned into great appreciation for the Japanese Culture. Besides considering herself a veteran weeb, she's also a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. Better if the perfect brew is paired with a random video essay from YouTube. Blending her love for anime with the know-hows of content writing, she is now an anime content writer at FandomWire.