Naruto Gave a Heartfelt Shoutout to One Piece With its Very Last Panel

It’s no secret that the legendary manga creators behind Naruto and One Piece are actually good friends. As the masterminds behind two of Shonen Jump’s biggest hits ever, Masashi Kishimoto and Eiichiro Oda have consistently defied all expectations that they would be rivals. While One Piece had its tribute to Naruto, the latter series actually used its very last panel to give a shout-out to its sister series.

Both starting in the late ’90s, the two series are an important part of manga history. Along with Bleach, they formed what was known among fans as the big three. These three manga and their respective anime adaptations were huge hits, not just in Japan, but globally as well. It’s no understatement to say that these three, along with their spiritual predecessor Dragon Ball, are singlehandedly responsible for making manga and anime the global sensation that they are today. Given the unparalleled popularity of their work, it only makes sense that Kishimoto and Oda would be fast friends. When Naruto ended in 2014, One Piece’s 776th chapter opened by depicting Naruto and Luffy eating a meal together with the caption, “Thanks for the great run, Naruto!”  Kishimoto would subsequently repay Oda’s tribute with the last panel of his seminal series.

For its 700th, and final chapter, Naruto jumped forward fifteen years. Though modern readers will be more than familiar with this time jump as it contains the cast of Boruto, these characters were completely new at the time. Readers are treated to seeing many of their favorite characters as adults ready to raise the next generation. In an amusing bit of irony, Naruto’s son Boruto is much like his father and goes to paint graffiti on Hokage Rock. Though Naruto catches and scolds him, Boruto already succeeded in defacing every single face. The series officially ends with the reveal that Boruto painted the Straw Hats logo onto Naruto’s part of Hokage Rock.

While it may be surprising to see Naruto end with a subtle shoutout to another series, it’s actually quite a heartfelt tribute. In the back of chapter 776 of One Piece, Oda thanks Kishimoto for creating Naruto and being such a good friend. While it’s impossible to know for sure, the two men’s work makes it clear that they have a great deal of respect for each other. Seeing Naruto use its last panel to express respect and admiration for a colleague is almost as touching as the series’ actual ending.

Though some might see Masashi Kishimoto and Eiichiro Oda as rivals, their shared success coupled with the stresses of being a mangaka must have given them a certain kinship. Truly there is no greater honor that Naruto could have paid to One Piece than saving its shoutout for the very last panel.

About The Author

Evan Mullicane
(362 Articles Published)

Evan D. Mullicane is an editor, critic, and author based out of California’s Bay Area. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from San Francisco State University in 2016. In his free time, he enjoys reading graphic novels and writing fantasy.

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