The Uzumaki Clan in Naruto: A History of Power and Peril
In the anime Naruto, the Uzumaki clan is known as a powerful and feared clan in the Naruto universe. However, due to their strength, they were ultimately destroyed and considered a threat. The Uzumaki clan, along with the Uchiha and Senju, were not a privilege but rather a danger. This raises the question of why Naruto was given the surname Uzumaki instead of Namikaze.
Naruto’s surname was taken from his mother’s clan, Kushina Uzumaki, who was an outsider from Konoha and later joined the shinobi of Konoha. Meanwhile, Naruto’s father, Minato Namikaze, was the fourth Hokage who died along with Kushina to save Konoha and Naruto.
The likelihood of choosing Uzumaki instead of Namikaze may be due to Minato’s status as the fourth Hokage, which is stronger than Kushina’s. As a Hokage and Shinobi who fought in the Third Great Ninja War, Minato had many enemies outside of Konoha and from within the village as well. Therefore, to protect Naruto, he was given the surname Uzumaki instead of Namikaze.
The history of the Namikaze clan is not explored in Naruto, including Minato’s past. However, Minato Namikaze was known for his power as an individual rather than being part of a powerful clan such as the Uchiha, Uzumaki, or Senju. While Kushina was also a skilled and tough female shinobi, she is more well-known as a member of the Uzumaki clan rather than as an individual.
As a newcomer to Konoha, not many non-shinobi residents were aware of the true power of the Uzumaki clan. Most of the residents of Konoha likely knew about Namikaze, who was probably one of the clans in Konoha. Therefore, choosing the surname Uzumaki was deemed safer.
In order to protect Naruto’s identity as the son of the fourth Hokage, Sarutobi chose to use the surname Uzumaki instead of Namikaze. This was also likely related to the reason why Sarutobi did not adopt Naruto and chose to protect him secretly instead of revealing his existence to the public.
Sarutobi knew the cost of maintaining Naruto’s safety and upbringing because without his biological parents, Naruto would have been left to grow up alone, causing him to be naughty and making everyone hate him. Sarutobi could have adopted Naruto or at least given him protection publicly, but he did not do so to protect Naruto’s identity and safety.
In conclusion, the Uzumaki clan played a significant role in Naruto’s life and history. While their strength ultimately led to their downfall, Naruto’s connection to the clan through his mother’s lineage helped to shape the course of his life. Moreover, his surname played a critical role in his identity, safety, and protection as the son of the fourth Hokage.
