Warped Naruto Theory (WARNING: HEAVY SPOILERS)

[Cap'n Nick]

This isn't so much from evidence as from sheer "wouldn't it be AWESOME!?" but I've become rather fond of a theory that I've seen floating around, that is, that the fourth Hokage is not Naruto's father or other relative, but Naruto himself. In addition to the obvious similarity in appearance and attitude, consider that both Naruto and the Yondaime know Rasengan and can summon toads. These are not one but two relatively uncommon ninja techniques, meaning that this parallel is probably significant. The story is intentionally ambiguous about the fourth Hokage's name. Note that it is also ambiguous about the names of his teammates.

However, these facts would not keep the fourth Hokage from being Naruto's father or even a simple story parallel completely unrelated by blood. What really gives this theory weight in my opinion is the nature of the Demonic Soul Seal (Fuuinjutsu Shiki Fuujin). When Sarutobi used the Demonic Soul Seal, the seal appeared on his stomach. Wouldn't it be logical then that the person who now bears the seal is the one who performed the technique? Granted, this does nothing to explain why he would become a baby instead of dying like The Third, but as far as we've seen the seal is nontransferrable.

I have not read the manga; all of my opinions are based on the anime. Would anyone that's current on the manga be able to provide any information for or against this? One possible problem I gleaned from reading manga summaries is that the fourth Hokage supposedly took three years to develop and perfect Rasengan. If he were Naruto one would assume that he would already know it. This could be explained by the fact that Naruto has not yet perfected Rasengan - it still takes a great deal of concentration and timing, diminishing its usefulness in battle. It could indeed take him three years to pass from competency to mastery. And I also saw from the manga summaries that the story suddenly fast forwards two and a half years. Can anybody tell me if Naruto can use Rasengan more easily after this interval?

And also, this is all assuming that Naruto becomes the fourth Hokage when it could be that the fourth Hokage becomes Naruto. Think about this - Yondaime seals the demon fox, but because the entity being sealed is demonic and perhaps beyond the power of Death, The Fourth is instantly reincarnated instead of destroyed.

It's a lot of speculation but I personally think Naruto and Yondaime's Excellent Adventure would be a crazy cool way to end the series. I also have some cracked out theories about how things would get to this point, but this is getting long so I'll leave it at this for now. What do you all think will happen?

[kazekami]

intresting theory. But I think the manga says that they sealed it in a newborn baby. And if he was the 4th become a baby why would everyone hate him so much?

[Cap'n Nick]

It's not like people go around sealing demon foxes every day. If The Fourth was transformed (or reincarnated) when he used the Demon Seal, would people know that's what happened? They'd just assume he got a baby from somewhere to put the demon in. And that's the other thing - why would they seal it in a baby?! A strong ninja with knowledge of how to control the demon would be a much more logical choice. In any case, it's obvious from what we do know that the villagers misunderstand Naruto's role in carrying the demon fox - they see him as a curse rather than the person that stands between them and the power of the demon. If the Hokage voluntarily placed the demon into a baby, wouldn't this role be more obvious? Their misunderstanding makes the spontaneous appearance of the child more likely.

Also note that as far as we know, the seal is not transferable. Nothing we have seen indicates that it would even be possible to seal something inside a person other than the one that executed the technique.

[Kaligraphic]

Ah, but the reason that the fourth hokage's name isn't really mentioned much is simple. It's the same reason we went so long without knowing the third's name.

Respect. Respect for the strongest ninja in the village. And our beloved mangaka was trying to think of a good name for him.

But the fourth's name is here revealed - his name is Aloysius! Yamagata Aloysius. His parents were somewhat drunk when they named him.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

the manga isn't that far ahead the anime... so none of that stuff appers yet

intresting, ive heard this before, but the thing is.... could of yondaime performed the seal on someone else? Thus giving his own life to the demon thingy?

[Cap'n Nick]

Hmm, that would make sense - give your own life and use someone else as a container for the captured soul. But then, why would he do that? I think it would make more sense to try to take the demon fox to the spirit world or whatever happens when the grim reaper guy takes them. I hear that in the recent manga chapters they attempt to extract the sand demon from Gaara. I think that could give us some insight into how those kinds of beings operate.

I think what it boils down to is that it's totally weird that a baby is involved in this situation at all. There has to be some reason it's there and hopefully this reason is something other than so Naruto can have the demon fox in him and make the premise for the series.

[uc pseudonym]

As I see it, the manga made it fairly clear that Naruto and the 4th Hokage are seperate entities, physically. Spiritually you could make an argument. It seems that the technique the 4th Hokage used binds the spirit of the user as well, so it is theoretically possible that he exists in some form.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Hmm, that would make sense - give your own life and use someone else as a container for the captured soul. But then, why would he do that? I think it would make more sense to try to take the demon fox to the spirit world or whatever happens when the grim reaper guy takes them.

maybe yondaime knew the awesomness of the demon fox and wanted naruto (possibly son) to Hokage?

[Kaligraphic]

You can't pull one of the tailed demons into the spirit world or anything like that.

Remember the explanation of the eight gates related to the lotus maneuvers Gai and Lee use? Well, most likely, the fourth simply had to open all eight gates to power the seal. That, of course, overloaded his body and killed him. Naruto would have been used because all of the fourth's energy would be going to power the seal. If Naruto was the son of the fourth hokage, he would've been treated better - so that's out. Probability would suggest that he was the son of two ninja killed in battle - probably by the fox.

[Kaori]

And that's the other thing - why would they seal it in a baby?! A strong ninja with knowledge of how to control the demon would be a much more logical choice.

Well, for one thing, the story would be completely different if they had sealed the demon in an adult ninja. Naruto is largely a coming-of-age story, and a great deal of the conflict early in the series comes from the fact that Naruto had to overcome adversity (in the form of the villagers' hostility). The fact that he is cheerful despite his rough childhood is a huge part of what makes him distinctive as a character.

It's possible that Kishimoto might not even have an explanation of every detail of Naruto's birth and the sealing process; after all, he is human too. However, I believe the most likely explanation is that the baby was an orphan of parents killed in the battle with the fox, as Kaligraphic suggested.

[Cap'n Nick]

Argh. I was hoping the reason would be something other than the same reason why the majority of crack mecha pilots are between the ages of 12 and 16.