“Naruto is the main character, so there’s similarities between us.
I love ramen. I didn’t do well in school and felt a sense of inferiority.
When Naruto said “I’ll become Hokage!” people around him made fun of his dream.
When I was a child, I said “I’ll become a mangaka!” without any basis. People told me “there’s no way that’s happening!”
But unlike Naruto, I didn’t have the confidence to respond with “it definitely will!”
instead, I just whispered to myself “But, it might actually happen…” — Kishimoto
“I started the manga without Sasuke, but the story didn’t go anywhere… I thought, if I don’t do something, the manga will be over in 10 weeks! [laughs]
My editor suggested giving Naruto a rival. That person became Sasuke.” - Kishimoto 🔥
@kishimotomasshi I feel bad for Sakura, as she has to stuff her true feelings for Sasuke and had to decide to eliminate him and not hurt Naruto in the process. It's totally agonizing