Naruto's penultimate arc, the Fourth Great Ninja War, is one of the most beloved yet controversial arcs in shōnen, and while it did have some downfalls, the good far outweighed the bad. However, there is one underappreciated aspect of the storyline that made it stand out among other war arcs in shōnen, and it's not one that fans immediately recognize or acknowledge.

The 4th Great Ninja War was a war between the Allied Forces consisting of the Five Hidden Villages, and the remnants of the Akatsuki, together with Kabuto, the White Zetsu army, and the Edo Tenseis. The war was declared at the Five Kage Summit and the stage was set for the biggest conflict ever seen by the Shinobi world and with the highest stakes. Containing the series' best fights, emotional scenes, and overall moments, the Fourth Great Ninja War was a pivotal moment for the series, for good and bad.

Naruto's War Arc Was a Good Depiction of a Real War

Multiple Aspects Of Warfare Were Utilized

War arcs are quite common in shonen anime, but often the true essence of war and its complexities are not effectively portrayed. This is one reason why Bleach's Thousand-Year Blood War arc faces criticism. In contrast, Naruto successfully incorporated many aspects of a real war into its narrative. The arc began with ninjas gathering together, followed by a motivational speech delivered by Gaara to boost morale, which was met with a resounding war cry. This strong opening laid the groundwork for an engaging and well-executed arc.

The Allied Forces were organized into five divisions, each led by a commander, with Gaara at the helm of the entire army. Additionally, there were four ing divisions managed by captains. Within each division, teams specialized in a specific chakra nature. Each division also included sealing experts who played a crucial role in fighting the Edo Tensei resurrected shinobi. Furthermore, a centralized intelligence team was responsible for communication, while an on-the-field reconnaissance unit gathered intel and kept the Allied Forces informed.

There was a logistical unit, a medical unit, a surprise attack unit, a sensory division, and units that could attack from mid, long, and short ranges. There was also a protection unit that escorted high-ranking officials such as the Daimyo, headed by Mei Terumi, the Tsuchikage. What glued everything together was the headquarters that coordinated the troops and distributed the intelligence, with the leaders of the intelligence and sensory units, Ao and Inoichi, being present. As Chief Strategist, Shikaku devised tactics based on the intelligence gathered and quickly adapted to new developments, and his brilliance shocked the Raikage.

There was a lot of thought that went into preparing this arc, and while the setup for the war and the buildup to the real fights was very slow, it was worth it in the end. Kishimoto managed to bring together all the pieces that make a war, and it was really well executed.

Side Characters Were Given The Shine They Deserved

A Big Portion Of The War Was Dedicated To The Side Characters

Most of the war was dedicated solely to the Allied Forces and their fights against the Zetsus and Edo Tensei resurrected shinobi from the past. Even unnamed characters or characters never seen before were given a role, which mirrors how a real war plays out. The revival of many characters also provided great battles and moments of development, as well as showing the history of the Hidden Villages and their leaders.

The Allied Forces played a significant role in several battle scenes, including the Mist Ninjas who countered Madara's fire style, the sealing of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, and the use of multiple Mud Walls to block the Ten Tails' Beast Bomb. The shinobi also engaged in battles against the fragments of the Ten-Tails. Notably, characters who were less prominent in earlier parts, like the Konoha 11, had impressive fights; for example, Choji's battle against Asuma was an extremely emotional moment. The Konoha 11 also contributed to the fight against Ten Tails Obito, ultimately helping to land the final blow.

A good war arc should focus on low-level soldiers too rather than solely on the main or most powerful characters, and Naruto effectively accomplished this. In the first half of the arc, the Allied Forces received significant attention, and even when Naruto and Sasuke ed the battle, they remained integral during the Birth of the Ten-Tails segments. This approach helps viewers feel as though they were witnessing an actual war, and the effective use of side characters adds to the overall experience.

The Strategies Were All Brilliant

The Brilliance Of The Ninjas Was On Full Display

It wouldn't be a proper war without good strategies and tactics, and fortunately, Naruto's fights are known for their creativity and wit. The strategies by Shikaku and HQ were especially interesting and very realistic, as the arc constantly shifted to the headquarters and showed them reacting to new intelligence and instructing the ninjas. The terrain was also a key factor in the war, with the shinobi battling in locations like the beach, forest, desert, bridge, and more, and each strategy was different as the battleground was taken into .

Individual strategies by characters were also excellent and highlighted how intelligent the characters were. Naruto's fight with the Third Raikage, Sasuke and Itachi's team-up against Kabuto, Gaara and Onoki stopping Madara's meteor, and many more strategies were on full display. The entire battle against Kaguya was a callback to the bell test from the beginning of the series, and the way Guy, Kakashi, and Naruto worked together to unmask Obito was very creative and full of tactics fitting for battles of the highest levels.

While fans weren't pleased with a few developments like the appearance of Kaguya, Naruto's Fourth Great Ninja War accomplished many more things compared to its downfalls, and the way it managed to replicate many aspects of a real war shows the amount of thought and effort that went into it. From the fights, tactics, coordination, involvement of side characters, and villains, the war arc was a great way to conclude one of the biggest series to grace the manga and anime world.