Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie

Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie 6 is the sixth Part II/Shippūden film and ninth overall Naruto movie. It is also the first film with the story created by the original series creator, Masashi Kishimoto. Kishi has poured his profound ideals and morals into the Naruto series from Day 1 and Road to Ninja has pretty big ones. The movie has good action, comedy and drama and is interestingly and steadily paced.

Ya know that classic plot thing where the character resents the way their life is, gets a taste of life when he gets what he wants and hates it, then things return to normal and he's grateful for what he has, RTN uses this but it goes much deeper. The film relates to the canon plot more than any other anime movie I've seen, except some DB movies. Fans of Naruto will get this, knowing how Naruto's parents died at his birth and the 9-tailed fox was sealed into him, causing him to be alone and the love he should have gotten replaced with hate and shunning. He has a sincerely happy attitude in the series, but it hits him hard in the movie which is plot-constructive. Sakura has parents but resents their annoying her all the time. Also in relation to the main plot, one of the series' main antagonist, Tobi, tests his Infinite Genjutsu on them with a prototype. The IG's goal is to make a fantasy world, making Naruto and Sakura perfect test subjects.

The movie follows the jinchūriki and kunoichi learning what life would be like if they received what they wanted: Sakura's parents dead and Naruto's parents alive. The movie faces the two with the choice of running away in a dreamland or facing the harshness of life as it is and accepting reality. Naruto has what he's wanted and deserved for so long after enduring 26 or so years of hardship. That's also a main theme of the film and why it is called "Road To Ninja". One of the lines at the start of the movie is Naruto recalling what it means to be a Shinobi or Nnja, recalling his master saying, "a ninja is one who endures".

It's Hilarious to see the main characters in these new personalities and dynamics and the action and emotion is top-notch as well and there's sufficient character-development. This is hands down one of the best Naruto films and like the series itself, any viewer can watch this and take something from it. Nice job Kishi. He shows that despite how we all love these characters, their Shinobi and ninjas are meant to endure, being why he puts them through this. Keep enduring guys! 10/10.

The plot is very basic and with some gaps, the secondary characters are little explored, but the strength of this film is the emotional part, the way is explored the alternative of the naruto had parents is magnificent and the saddest I've seen in series, the soundtrack is beautiful as always, but this can be more emersive, magical and the song "no home" is the best I've heard in my life. It is for me, still the best naruto film, the most emotive and the most wonderful.

Imagine that in your life, you have never met a family and one day you meet your surviving family. it's hard to forget, but because the world is different it has to be forgotten

Although I have watched this movie last year, I can't help share my thoughts on how awesome this movie is. This is by far the best among the Naruto movies. For fans of the series, like me, this is the ultimate treat. With great action sequences, plot, new takes on the characters, and some big emotional kick, this movie has it all. For the newcomers, it's just easy to catch up with the happenings. Or if you still couldn't catch up, just ask a friend who's a fan of the anime and he'll easily fill you in.

I'm 18 now but I still can't stop myself from having teary eyes over this movie and that's the reason why I really loved Road to Ninja and the whole series itself.

Road to Ninja is arguably one of the most emotionally ambitious Naruto films, and for good reason-series creator Masashi Kishimoto was directly involved in writing the story. This 2012 movie explores an alternate universe where Naruto's deepest wish (and fear) is brought to life: a world where his parents are still alive, but everything else is turned upside down.

Strengths: At its core, Road to Ninja is a character-driven story. Unlike many of the other Naruto movies that rely heavily on external threats and bombastic battles, this one focuses more on identity, loss, and belonging. The alternate reality setting allows the film to experiment with the personalities of the familiar cast-Hinata becomes aggressive and bold, Shikamaru is a womanizer, Sasuke is flirty and attention-seeking, and so on. These twisted versions of beloved characters add a refreshing layer of humor and intrigue.

The real heart of the film, though, lies in Naruto's interaction with Minato and Kushina. The emotional weight of seeing his parents alive-and being treated like a normal son-hits hard. It's a powerful "what if" scenario that digs into Naruto's loneliness and desire for connection. Kushina especially steals several scenes with her warmth and maternal energy.

Visually, the movie is polished, and the fight scenes, particularly Naruto vs. Menma (the alternate version of himself), are intense and well-animated. The soundtrack also elevates emotional moments, with melancholy themes underscoring Naruto's internal struggle.

Weaknesses: While the character drama is strong, the actual plot is somewhat thin. Tobi's use of the limited Tsukuyomi to trap Naruto in this dream world isn't fully explained, and the logic of how Naruto breaks free leans more on emotion than solid storytelling. The final battle, though well-animated, ends up being standard Naruto movie fare-Kurama rage mode, a big explosion, and heartfelt declarations of self-worth.

Menma, the alternate Naruto, had the potential to be a really compelling antagonist, but his motivations aren't clearly fleshed out, and he ultimately becomes more of a plot device than a real character. Additionally, fans hoping for deeper exploration of the other AU characters may feel shortchanged-they're mostly used for comic relief.

Final Verdict: Road to Ninja is a standout Naruto movie for its emotional depth and alternate universe creativity. It offers a rare chance to see Naruto confront his greatest longing and face the bittersweet reality of what he's lost. Though the plot structure stumbles at times and the villain lacks impact, the film shines in its quieter, more personal moments. It's a must-watch for fans who love Naruto not just for the action, but for the heart.

Rating: 7.9/10.