Energetic-Nova said:I was a jerk who hated Naruto without watching in the 00's when I was in middle and high school. Especially in high school when the anime hit the states.
Being an Inuyasha fan, I was pretty set on defending my chosen shonen to the death. XD
It didn't help that they called Naruto "yaoi" when it absolutely wasn't. And I was a mature person who had already seen lots of porn. XD
Hot damn I was butthurt.
Flashfoward to me being an actual adult and not giving a shit about what fandom is bigger anymore like a dick measuring contest and being kinda a shut in, my old friend since elementary school asked me to cosplay Naruto because they felt I was super like Naruto.
"oh I haven't seen it, but I would be happy to."
Then I was kinda worried. Because honestly, I thought Naruto was supposed to be really stupid. And probably some Goku-protag I could never relate to really.
But Naruto is much deeper than Goku-clone. Least for me.
As someone who idenitfies heavily with Shinji, to be compared to a much more outgoing, special, friendly, but still lonely protag with no friends until later, really made me happy....
I always compare my friend who suggested that I am most like Naruto to be most like "Yugi" from Yugioh. Which should pretty much say how good of friends we are. And how sensitive and sweet, and kind, and not the kind of friend who would ever betray you at all but possibly has a dark side that they hide from most people, but I can see.
I donno, I think being compared to Naruto after I have seen a good chuck of the original and do vaguely know what happens at the end.... is such a huge complement... (I won most inspirational and spirited in school.... but, I never actually believed in myself the way Naruto does... but other people believe in me, that is for sure.) Outward perceptions of me feel so uncomfortable sometimes do to how I feel about myself.
But Naruto on the swing by himself is something I identify with...
But my friend sees me as a person who makes a lot of jokes, is determined, is outgoing, and tries their best. And maybe has a one track mind style interest level. XD
TL;DR-
I love Naruto, and I really don't know what you are talking about. I am fairly certain now that I have seen it, I am pretty sure other haters just didn't bother watching it, or just hate longer shows on a whole.
But I guess I am not most anime fans. I like Shinji Ikari after all.