Masashi Kishimoto crafted one of the most well-known manga of all time when he created Naruto. Throughout the series' 14 year serialization in Shounen Jump, it reached the pinnacle of popularity in the early 2000s in Japan, and the mid-2000s overseas with help from Cartoon Network's Toonami program that introduced fans to the world of anime.

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Despite the series having ended years ago, there have been various facts and easter eggs shared by Masashi himself—such as the character's designs and original scripts. Here are some of the most interesting and unknown facts about the creation of the large Naruto franchise.

10 Konoha Is Based On Okayama Prefecture

Konoha

Masashi has stated that choosing the setting for Naruto to take place in wasn't that difficult in an interview.

He said the idea for Konoha came to him without much thought, although as he continued to draw the beloved place, the scenery gradually became more akin to his home in Okayama prefecture.

9 Masashi Considers Sasuke's Design The Most Memorable

Sasuke

Sasuke was originally designed to be Naruto's opposite, so he had quite a difficult time coming up with an idea for him.

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Because his design went through so many changesーincluding removing accessories and necklacesーit is amazing to think that Sasuke's current design fits his character so well.

8 Kakashi Was Originally Made To Be A Harsh Teacher

Kakashi from Naruto

It would be difficult to imagine Kakashi as a harsh teacher, so this is a change fans would have been better without. At first, Masashi had a strict teacher in mind for Team 7 but ultimately decided on making him more laidback instead.

Masashi instead crafted Kakashi as a generous and calm teacher so he would be well-liked by his students, which is why he also admits to giving Kakashi a few feminine traitsーsuch as the way he speaks in Japanese, and his face that went unknown for 14 years.

7 Masashi Considered Including Modern Technology

Seventh Hokage Naruto

The first time technology was referenced in Naruto was perhaps the omake in which Naruto stated he could finally afford a TV, but the aspect ratio changed to be in HD when Naruto Shippuden debuted in the mid-2000s.

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Masashi stated he thought about including modern technology such as planes but didn't for plot reasons.

6 The Reason Behind Ditching Naruto's Original Googles

Naruto and Sasuke fighting

Early fans remember Naruto wearing his signature green googles before he was promoted to a genin in the first episode of the anime.

However, Naruto only sported these googles for a mere one episode because of how time-consuming it was to draw them. In flashbacks, Naruto sports them, but it is an otherwise unimportant accessory when not used.

5 The Pain Arc Paved The Half-Way Point For The Series

Pain speaking with Tsunade in the Leaf Village in Naruto

The Pain Arc was regarded as one of the best arcs in Naruto, as well as in shounen for the importance behind the message and the effect it had on characters.

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Masashi had always wished to end the manga with a fight between Naruto and Sasuke but did not believe they would be equals when they fought. This is why he decided to create the Pain Arcーas well as killed Jiraiya, so Naruto would understand Sasuke's pain of his clan being massacred, as well as making them equals.

4 Sakura Was Originally Made To Be A Comic Relief Character

Sakura smiling and waving in Boruto

In shounen manga, there is an unfortunate trend of women not receiving as much attention as the men, as shounen is targeted toward men as the main fanbase. As such, Masashi initially created Sakura to be a comic relief characterーeven giving her the gag of "Inner Sakura" and hitting Naruto for comedic effect.

As the manga continued, Sakura became the series' female lead, despite Masashi not intending for this to happen.

3 The Zodiac Hand Signs Originate From The Chinese Zodiac

Naruto Hand Sign Chart

To Western fans, this may not be as apparent. The hand signs in Naruto were inspired by the Chinese zodiac, as well as Chinese astrology.

There are a total of 12, and each originates from an animal sign in the Chinese zodiac. Although it is never explicitly explained in the anime, it was in a collector's edition of Naruto.

2 Masashi Thought Of Romance Plotlines Once Hinata Appeared

naruto cleaning hinatas hair naruto

Masashi has stated he is not that fond of writing romance, and it can be seen as he never emphasized on the couplings in the series. This is why he had help from Maruo Kyozuka, a romance screenwriter. Masashi stated he began to emphasize the romance part of the series starting with the 28th volume of Naruto, which is the beginning of Naruto Shippuden. 

He also stated he chose Hinata for Naruto's partner, as she always supported him from the beginning of the manga.

1 Naruto's Design Was Created To Appeal To Western Audiences

Naruto's Design

It would be difficult to imagine Naruto appearing any other way than in his signature orange sweater and yellow hair. Masashi's initial time designing Naruto consisted of drawing him in different clothes, so he could appeal to Western audiences as well as making him easier to draw overall.

As he had to draw Naruto weekly, he did everything he could to make him easier to drawーsuch as removing his signature googles.

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