u/cengtry

It’s sad that his clan essentially formed his dependency on recognition; albeit, it seems subconscious. I know it probably wasn’t their intention, but a child’s mind is very malleable. Somehow, I always found myself empathizing and having a soft spot for arrogant characters. I assume it’s because I almost always view characters on a deeper level, stripped of their facade. That’s why his emotional reactions toward M*ki and Megumi felt humanly justified for me.

Imagine, a child who only sees one future of themself: being the head of an awesome clan. What would happen if that future gets destroyed? Their world would start falling apart, of course! Humans need certainty because it makes them feel safe, and Naoya lost all of that certainty because of a stupid will. Can y’all imagine how that must’ve felt internally? His father didn’t even have the courtesy to inform him the details of the will. If that were me, I would’ve lost all of my purpose in living. It would’ve been like all hell broke loose.

Thankfully, Naoya’s ego was both his shield from feelings of inadequacy and his source of willpower. Not only did he lose his highly-anticipated future, he also lost two battles (M*ki and Choso) in a short period of time. Nevertheless, he had the pride to fight for what he believed was truly his. It’s also admirable that he still had the gall to spout insults toward them whilst being defeated. Insecurity isn’t something he outright expresses, more so it’s something he projects.

Contrary to anti-Naoya propaganda, I don’t think he’s lazy, at least when it comes to his perceived role as the Zenin Clan heir. A cursed technique like Projection Sorcery is hard to master, as the user needs to be in tune with their body and environment. A small slip up in even one frame could cost them their lifetime. Naoya demonstrated his tactical adaptability in his fights with M*ki and Choso, who weren’t just any ordinary opponents. M*ki, who was trained under the Zenin Clan and obtained superhuman abilities after her sister’s demise; Choso, who has an amped-up version of a cursed technique from the Kamo Clan. Our Lord is anything but weak, lol.

Personally, a Naoya-redemption arc doesn’t seem like a far-fetched concept. At its core, all he needs is exposure to different viewpoints outside of his clan. I sensed he was 🤏 close to breaking the mold, considering the way he talks and dresses. His arrogance would still be an integral part of his character, but he would get acknowledged by the right people instead.

LMAO, the Zenin Clan ate their own fucking shit with Naoya. Bums had the audacity to rate the GOAT 0 out 5 and called him poop scum, as if they didn’t worship and raise him as a child.