Minato Namikaze, a renowned shinobi in the world of Naruto, gained legendary fame despite his short life. Although his presence in the original Naruto series was limited due to his death, fans only obtained glimpses of his prowess through others' accounts until his brief return during the 4th Great Ninja War.
However, Kishimoto seized the opportunity with the Minato one-shot to present an immersive tale of Minato's youth. For the first time, fans witnessed this legendary ninja leading his own story, captivating their hearts. This one-shot not only provided an exceptional explanation for the creation of the Rasengan but also enhanced the Fourth Hokage's legend, while giving much-needed depth to Kushina Uzumaki's character.
Minato's Legend In The Original Story
In the original story, Minato was depicted as a legendary shinobi who possessed immense strength, able to rival the Nine-Tails and ultimately seal it away within Naruto. He was introduced early on as one of the primary characters in the retelling of the day Kurama attacked Konoha. However, Minato's presence in the story is limited, with only sporadic mentions of him as a legendary figure. The Third Hokage, a significant source of information on Minato, believed him to be a once-in-a-generation, legendary ninja. His teacher, Jiraiya, even went so far as to consider Minato the greatest shinobi of all time. Through Kakashi's flashbacks during the Third Great Ninja War, fans got a deeper look into Minato's skills and abilities, witnessing his rise to become Hokage and his ability to effortlessly battle even formidable Kage-level Shinobi. It is evident that Minato's status as the Fourth Hokage was highly revered in the original story, and his triumphant return during the Fourth Great Ninja War further solidified his greatness.
Minato In The One Shot
In the Minato one-shot, fans witnessed the impressive journey of this legendary shinobi. At the start, Minato appeared to be far from his full potential, as he was still part of a ninja cell led by Jiraiya. He faced off against two Jinchuriki who displayed formidable control over their beasts. Despite not reaching his peak, Minato managed to save his team, including his sensei. Additionally, he astoundingly created the Rasengan after only one observation of the Tailed Beast Ball.
The training process for the Rasengan proved to be incredibly arduous. Most would find it nearly impossible to master, yet Minato discovered a way that even amazed Jiraiya. Jiraiya acknowledged Minato as a once-in-a-generation shining shinobi, further validating his remarkable abilities. As the story progressed, Minato demonstrated his expertise in Sealing Jutsu, mastered from Kushina, and even faced off against the Nine-Tails with the aid of his partner. Matching a Tailed Beast Ball with his Rasengan was an extraordinary feat. The one-shot clearly illustrated Minato's path to greatness, implying his eventual rise to Hokage due to his unparalleled skill. And if there was any doubt remaining, Kishimoto himself confirmed Minato's power level when he clashed against Kurama.
Minato Compared To The First Hokage
During Minato's training for the Rasengan, Kushina approached him, stepping out of the seal barrier that contained her. This caused the beast within her to overpower her, resulting in severe injuries to Minato. Despite not being a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Minato reinforced the seal, surprising both Kushina and the beast. Kurama, the beast, acknowledged Minato's actions as extraordinary and compared him to the First Hokage, emphasizing his immense strength.
In the Naruto world, the First Hokage is recognized as the God of Shinobi, alongside the Third Hokage. By being considered on par with the First Hokage, Minato solidifies his position as one of the most powerful Hokage in history, surpassed only by a few, including his own son. This comparison to Hashirama, a legendary figure, highlights Minato's exceptional skills and aptitude. Furthermore, it is important to note that this comparison was made before Minato even reached his full potential as a Shinobi.
Minato's Peak
Minato Namikaze died prematurely, at only 24 years old, indicating that he had immense potential for growth. Despite his early demise, Minato was already formidable enough to simultaneously face Obito and Kurama. In the Fourth Great Ninja War, he further increased his power by becoming the Jinchuriki of the Yin half of Kurama, effortlessly taming the beast within seconds, a feat that took Naruto years to achieve. This display of genius solidifies Minato's status as one of the most powerful Shinobi ever, comparable to Hashirama Senju. However, it is clear that the only Hokage to surpass Minato is Naruto Uzumaki, whose strength exists on a whole different level. Nonetheless, Kishimoto successfully portrays Minato as one of the strongest and most talented ninjas in his one shot, reminding fans of the immense impact the Fourth Hokage had on the ninja world.
