Why Naruto was hated by his village during childhood: Explained

The world of Kishimoto in Naruto and Naruto Shippuden (and now notably Boruto: Naruto Next Generations) have given us a handful of Shinobi stories weaved with depth. The central figure, Naruto, becomes the toll of the events surrounding the village where he was born: Konoha due to the existence of the Nine-Tailed fox. Another central figure in this entire topic is the existence of Iruka Sensei in Naruto’s life.

It also translated as the Village Hidden in The Leaf. The village people – Naruto’s neighbors, the village’s merchants, housewives, passersby, and even his own classmates feared Naruto Uzumaki. Such was the tale of the person who later went on to become Hokage. But why?

For the uninitiated, this contains major Naruto spoilers. Proceed with caution. 

A gist of Konoha hating Naruto

Naruto in team 7
Naruto in team 7, snapped from Crunchyroll
  • Naruto Uzumaki was first told to be born an orphan. Adopted by the Third Hokage, Naruto grew up alone.
    • For food, he would have weeks worth of spoiled milk, bread, and instant noodles. His occasional trip to the Ramen shop did earn him some recluse every now and then.

  • Growing up Naruto realized that the people in his village seem to be scared of him. Yet unwary of the reasons why Naruto felt an inner resentment.
    • The famous scene of Naruto swinging in a swing while the rest of the village people look down at him is usually famous in the anime fandom.

Why Naruto is hated by the village hidden in the leaf

The origin of Kurama or the Nine-Tailed Fox in Naruto

Hiruzen in Naruto Konoha
Hiruzen Sarutobi the third hokage, via Crunchyroll

Naruto is actually the son of the Fourth Hokage. During the invasion of the nine tales which is the legend of Konoha, The Fourth Hokage gave his life to save his village. The true culprit behind the attack was a person claiming to be Madara Uchiha, who exchanged blows with The Fourth Hokage.

  • The goal of this self-acclaimed Madara was to capture the Nine-tailed and in the process also unleash it in the Konoha village.
  • During that time Kushina was the Jinchuriki of the tailed beast, who is also The Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze’s wife and Naruto’s birth mother. In Fourth Hokage’s attempt to save the village, he ends up having to seal the nine-tailed beast.
    • He seals half of the beast in Naruto and the rest in himself. Minato ends up dying when the nine tails retaliates and pushes its claws through Minato and Kushina’s hearts.

The reason why Konoha hated Naruto was that he carried the Nine-Tailed fox within him

Naruto Konoha Nine-tails Iruka Sensei
Naruto is abandoned by his village, via crunchyroll

The end result was a baby Naruto left orphaned and picked by the third Hokage. However, nobody got to know that Naruto was the son of the hero of the village hidden in the leaf. This was because Minato did not wish for his enemies to attack Naruto when he grows up. Everyone, however, knew that he was the vessel for the nine-tailed beast.

  • The invasion of the nine-tailed beast massacred a lot many people in the village. Traumatized by the event, people started to see Naruto as the scar that the beast left behind.
  • Afraid that the beast might be unleashed within Naruto at any time, everyone both discriminated against and dreaded him.

Concluding

Hero of the hidden leaf nine-tailed fox
Hero of The Hidden Leaf episode, after defeating Pain Naruto is finally acknowledged. Courtesy of Crunchyroll

One of the points where Naruto’s story truly touches is when it is revealed that in the invasion of the nine-tails, Iruka sensei lost both his parents too. Growing up, Naruto only had one friend – his mentor Iruka sensei. A point was first established by Iruka sensei who had all the reasons to hate Naruto but decided not to.

Iruka Sensei
Iruka Sensei, via crunchyroll

Therefore one of the ultimate philosophies that Naruto shadowed throughout the story was that one’s suffering does not justify him turning evil. This was a contrast to many of the villains, namely Obito, Sasuke, and Madara even.

Each of them had resentment in their hearts which turned them bitter toward the world. In their wish for salvation, these Shinobis attempted to change the world. The only thing Naruto tried to change was the hearts of others, and not will them to his bending.


Also Read: Official update hints at new Naruto Anime announcement in Jump Festa 2023

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