“I can see why it’s easy to empathize”: Masashi Kishimoto Insulted One of Naruto’s Best Characters Who Inspired an Entire Generation

Sometimes interesting tidbits about a character don't appear on-screen but from secondhand things like author's notes or interviews. In a 2006 interview with Shonen Jump (U.S.), Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, revealed some shocking information about two of the most popular characters of the superpowered ninja series. Of all people, Kishimoto was the most surprised by Sakura and Rock Lee's popularity in the U.S. He further stunned everyone by saying that he never intended for Sakura Haruno and Rock Lee to play a major role in Naruto. Kishimoto's Unexpected Response [caption id="attachment_265101" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke[/caption] When