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The Leaf Village in Naruto has a strong sense of community to it. The early episodes of the series give us a peek into the daily lives of Konoha’s residents. The occasional get-togethers at Ichiraku or the chase around the village to see Kakashi’s face, are some moments that reflect the beautiful relationship between the characters and their homeland. The mere thought of even one of these characters not being there is quite jarring.
Might Guy | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd. As unsettling as this thought is, it could have been the reality if Masashi Kishimoto had gone with his initial plan for one of the strongest Naruto characters. This character is none other than the fan-favorite Might Guy. Kishimoto had different plans for his character that could have significantly altered the story.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Initial Plans for Might Guy
Guy during the fight against Madara Uchiha | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd. Most fans are aware that Masashi Kishimoto’s initial vision for Naruto was vastly different from what came to be. During an interview, Kishimoto revealed (via translation on Narutopedia) that the story would be about missions where Naruto meets different teams of four members. These teams would be from different villages, and that included Might Guy and his team as well.
The head of this team was supposed to be Kakashi’s rival. Eventually it was decided that it would be better if the rival was from the same village. It also proved to be the better choice as we see how Guy and his team affected the story, during the Chunin Exam. Neji and Guy also played important roles during the final war. Looking back, any other origin story for Guy wouldn’t have been as compelling.
Might Guy’s Importance in the Story
Young Guy | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd. It might not be as apparent, but being from the Leaf Village significantly contributed to Guy’s character. His determination and his personality were the embodiment of the Will of Fire. In the face of adversities, Guy always smiled and pushed through. He trained hard in Taijutsu to compensate for the lack of talent in Ninjutsu. His hand-to-hand combat skills were unparalleled and recognised by the likes of Madara. Guy’s impact on the story was most evident through Kakashi’s character arc.
Without Guy, Kakashi wouldn’t have been able to cope with the many difficulties he faced. At one point, Guy was the only friend he had. Everytime he challenged Kakashi to silly duels, Kakashi was able to snap out of his sadness. He kept Kakashi grounded in many ways. As a Jonin from the Leaf Village, he was aware of the responsibilities Kakashi shouldered. His interactions were always mindful of them. Beyond the jovial exterior, Guy understood the severity of affairs and supported the village as best as he could.
Kakashi and Guy | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd. If he had been from a different village, he wouldn’t have been able to interact with the main characters as much. That would have led to a disconnect in his relationship with the characters and the fans. His character was also the most aligned with one of the key themes of Naruto. This key theme being the ‘power of hard work’. He imbued the same intent and dedication into Rock Lee, and that gave us the best duo in Naruto.
Naruto is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
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