The Big Three, something with which many of us grew. And among the Big Three is a knucklehead, clumsy ninja called Naruto Uzumaki, a character who was probably synonymous with mischief and mistakes. And just because he is a knuckleheaded ninja who is not so quick with his mind does not mean they don’t come with valuable lessons.
Naruto, though not the longest-running anime, it still is one of those anime that most grew up watching. With most of the characters introduced early on in the show, they all became a part of our lives as we watched the show; some characters stayed with us even after the show ended.
The series taught us the value of friendship and family and that not all relationships are a cakewalk; it taught us that you never really know what the other person is going through; more than anything, it showed us that dreams are never too big. The same series taught a guy to pull himself back from the depths of falling grades to the top again, and this is his tale of how Naruto helped him do just that.
Name: Anonymous
Lives In: India
I've always been a cartoon enthusiast since childhood, so I bought second-hand comics to read when I grew up and started saving. And when I got internet access, my full-time anime journey began. (Most Indians born in the 90s mostly got stable internet connection during the 2010s or even later on average). Fast forward to when things were not going right in life, love was failing, and grades were dropping. These things hit pretty hard for someone who's been a topper in school and high school. Felt like the world was falling, and I felt suicidal all the time. I was trying to work on myself but failed miserably to recognize the difference, wasn't able to comprehend the results, and was highly demotivated. In the winter holidays, during graduation, I got my hands on the anime called Naruto (It was still hard to get big downloads done back in 2016, considering the daily limit and slow internet, lol). I started watching Naruto as I had watched a few episodes in my childhood on the cartoon network, which they out of nowhere, stopped airing. I was watching and watching and watching every day at whatever speed I could. And in one episode, Naruto said, "Once you question your own belief, it's over." It hit me. It hit me so hard that I didn't watch Naruto for a week. I didn't do anything at all for a week. I kept thinking about why I was demotivated when I was doing my best. And one week later, I processed all my thoughts. I kept this quote at the side of my heart and brain, and I stopped questioning my beliefs. I started aiming for better and working hard towards my goals and watched the rest of Naruto too. Fast forward to 2022. I had another heartbeat. The body is in bad shape. But I'm doing great at work and doing fantastic in academics too. I'm one of the respected colleagues at my work. I've learned to take things slowly but seriously. To work on what's more important first and other things later, and not to badmouth myself or hate me for not focusing on less priority things. Naruto wanted to be Hokage, so he didn't care about Sakura not loving her, and later found out that Hintana loved him too. That's my boy, and that's my Ninja way. Focus on major things, and the minor will settle someday.
Key Takeaways
#1 Two Sides of A Coin
Thanks to the internet, the world of anime has become a part of many, though a little “unlawfully,” don’t worry. We won’t report you.
Many began downloading and streaming anime, and the sheer beauty of the anime became known to many outside Japan. And like the tale, anime may offer great escapism, but you might end up on the wrong side of the rabbit hole; you can learn and pick yourself up or drift further and further away from reality.
Anime is a great motivator, but in the end, you have to pick yourself up all on your own!
#2 The Gift of Perseverance
Efforts rarely fail, and when efforts crumble, the most sort-out reason is not putting faith in oneself. Like Naruto said, “Once you question your own belief, it’s over.”
Another character who showed us the value and the essence of dedication, hard work, and perseverance was Might Guy. He showed us that with proper efforts, anything is possible – from being a person with no particular trait to being called the strongest by Uchiha Madara.
#3 Find Your Ninja Way
“Once you question your own belief, it’s over.” Naruto has inspired many of us and many of the characters too. So much so that Jiraiya, who was hailed as Legendary Sannin, adopted Naruto’s ninja way.
Uchiha clan had a nindo of exacting revenge on their enemies. The right ninja way will pave your way to a brighter future. As the dust settles, you will get to see the true beauty of life; so focus on things that matter, and all issues will settle down as dust particles eventually.
We’re glad you stuck with us to the end of this tale. We hope it inspires you to do better. Do let us know your thoughts in the below comments, and share this tale with your friends.
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