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The clash between Naruto and Sasuke at the Valley of the End marks the culmination of a storyline developed across hundreds of episodes.
The ultimate showdown between Naruto and Sasuke at the Valley of the End is often seen as the climax of the Naruto series. This final confrontation amalgamates all that Naruto and Sasuke have learned over more than 500 episodes, resulting in a spectacular battle with grand fight scenes and visually stunning displays of various jutsu techniques.
What's surprising is that Masashi Kishimoto's initial concept for this battle was vastly different from what viewers witnessed. In an interview with Fuji TV, Kishimoto revealed that his original idea was for the two characters not to use jutsu in the final battle. Instead, the fight would focus on hand-to-hand combat.
However, this concept was altered due to pressure from the Shueisha editorial board, leading to a compromise. The battle would commence with physical blows and gradually incorporate more complex jutsu, such as Sasuke's Kirin. Ultimately, the fight concludes dramatically, with both combatants exhausted and Sasuke admitting defeat after both lose a hand.
Clearly, according to Kishimoto's initial concept, this would have been not a showcase of outstanding ninja skills but a more realistic and grim battle.
This is not the only instance where Kishimoto had to alter his plans for the series due to pressure from the editorial board. He was also encouraged to include the Chunin Exam arc in the initial part of the series.
Shueisha always maintains strict regulations for publication, especially for highly successful series like Naruto. In both cases of proposed changes, editorial intervention proved beneficial for the series. The Chunin Exam arc was highly regarded, as was the final battle, which became a fan favorite.
So, would the final showdown between Naruto and Sasuke be just as captivating if Kishimoto's original idea were retained? In Naruto, there have been notable battles with minimal or no jutsu usage. For instance, the clash between Kakashi and Obito in episode 375 of Naruto Shippuden.
The emotional intensity and sound effects of this battle demonstrate that a fight without jutsu can still be memorable. If Kishimoto's initial plan were realized, the atmosphere of the final showdown between Naruto and Sasuke would certainly be different, but perhaps equally magnificent.
