Few creators are held in as high regard as Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto in the manga industry. Responsible for One Piece and Naruto respectively, these two legendary authors have not only shaped the modern Shonen landscape but also have become cultural icons in their own right. As these series successfully started to evolve, Oda and Kishimoto developed a casual rivalry that was fueled by mutual respect and admiration.

Naruto and Sasuke’s final battle | Credit: Studio Pierrot

However, despite starting at almost similar times, they faced very different paths by the mid-2010s. Kishimoto, having successfully completed Naruto manga in 2014 after a 15-year run, was able to step away from the grueling demands of weekly serialization. In contrast, Eiichiro Oda is still working tirelessly on One Piece, with no signs of slowing down.

The End of Naruto and Its Impact on Eiichiro Oda

Naruto had already become one of...