Like many manga in and out ofShōnen Jump, the new fantasy mangaIchi the Witchhas some notable overlap withNaruto. Both stories feature dimwitted protagonists abandoned by their families who are initially unable to use the superpowers of their respective settings properly, although compared to Naruto’s relationship with ninjutsu, it’s much less of a problem for Ichi thanks to his other skills and his general ignorance of magic.
The similarities betweenthe new fantasy mangaIchi the WitchandNarutoare largely superficial so far, butIchi the Witchchapter #2 introduced another one that feels far more blatant.Narutois one of the most well-known stories to deal with its main character living with a powerful monster sealed inside them, andIchi the Witchdoes something similar,with a far more comedic take on Naruto’s dynamic with Kurama. That continues to add to the story’s uniqueness, and it’s bound to lead to a far different take on that sort of plot later down the line.
Ichi The Witch Makes A Joke Out Of Naruto’s Most Iconic Dynamic
A New Twist On A Classic Manga Dynamic
Ichi the Witchchapter #2 revealed that King Uroro didn’t disappear after Ichi defeated him, ashe now lives inside Ichiand can manifest as a blob-like mass growing from his body. There’s a clear parallel to Naruto and Kurama’s dynamic, especially with both Kurama and Uroro being antagonistic toward their hosts.
However, while Kurama could antagonize Naruto and maintain an air of menace in their interactions,Ichi the Witchmakes it clear thatIchi’s bizarre mindset makes it impossible for King Uroro to antagonize him, especially since Ichi can stab his physical form if he gets out of line.
Something also different between is how the protagonists’ actions affect the monsters sealed inside them. While Kurama was mostly indifferent to what Naruto did, Uroro is constantly annoyed with Ichi’s impulsiveness and how he can’t stop him from hunting other Majiks, something Uroro draws the line at, and his protests are always played for laughs whenever they pop up.
All in all, everything about Ichi and Uroro’s dynamic can be seen asa far more comedic take on Naruto and Kurama’s, and even if that wasn’t intentional, it’s an engaging parallel, nonetheless.
Shōnen Jump’s New Fantasy Series Can Completely Change A Classic Naruto Arc
One problem with Naruto and Kurama’s dynamic is thatNarutodidn’t spend a lot of time with it and never truly developed it until the final arc, but since Uroro will likely be a more constant presence,Ichi and Uroro’s dynamic can be fleshed out far more than Naruto and Kurama’s was, and that can make it far more engaging because of that.
WhatIchi the Witchwill do with that is unclear, but with that comedic take on the classicNarutodynamic, there’s even more reason to be excited aboutShōnen Jump’s latest hit series.
Naruto
Cast
Naruto is an action-adventure anime series based on the manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. The titular Naruto Uzumaki is a fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit sealed inside him, which once wreaked havoc on his village. Shunned by his community yet determined to earn their respect, Naruto dreams of becoming the greatest ninja, the Hokage. This series follows his journey through the Ninja Academy as he continues to train and grow, hoping to prove himself to his peers- and himself.
