Masashi Kishimoto Draws Inspiration from Hunter x Hunter for the Latest Naruto, Here’s What He Had to Say!
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RAVE COMIC - The Chunin Exams stand out as one of the most recognizable storylines in Naruto, yet the arc was not originally part of Masashi Kishimoto's long-term plan.
Former Naruto editor Kousuke Yahagi has now shared further details on how this iconic tournament arc came to be, revealing that Kishimoto had no concrete idea of what should follow the Land of Waves arc.
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Yahagi discussed the manga's development in a recent interview with YouTuber Mugen, explaining that he asked Kishimoto about the next storyline during one of their editorial meetings. According to Yahagi, the creator had not yet decided what would happen next.
“I asked the author about the next storyline, and he said he hadn't thought of anything yet, so I had to sit down with him and discuss ideas from scratch.”
These comments offer a different perspective on the creation of one of Naruto's most pivotal arcs, especially given previous accounts suggesting that the tournament was largely pushed onto Kishimoto by his editors.
Hunter x Hunter Helped Inspire the Chunin Exams
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Yahagi’s suggestion was influenced by his work with Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator of Hunter x Hunter. At the time, Yahagi was also involved with Hunter x Hunter during its Hunter Exam arc, which provided him with a clear model for a competitive exam storyline.
Yahagi explained that the timing made the connection feel natural. Since Hunter x Hunter had recently featured its own exam arc and Kishimoto had no immediate plans for the next Naruto storyline, he suggested adapting that basic concept to the ninja world.
“It hadn't been long since the Hunter Exam. [Kishimoto] told me he hadn't thought about what would happen after the Land of Waves arc, so I suggested the 'Chunin Exams' to him.”
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The idea eventually evolved into a storyline that introduced Naruto and his classmates to a much larger group of young ninja, while simultaneously expanding the series beyond its initial missions.
Interestingly, Kishimoto had previously offered a somewhat different explanation regarding the development of that storyline. In an old interview, he said that his editors urged him to create a tournament because they wanted him to introduce numerous characters and villages more quickly, whereas he preferred a series of slower-paced missions.
