With Lionsgate’s live-action Naruto movie gaining momentum, one major question remains unanswered: Which part of Masashi Kishimoto’s legendary manga should the first film adapt?

While fans have plenty of ideas, many believe the Chunin Exams arc strikes the ideal balance between introducing the world of Naruto and delivering a blockbuster-worthy story.

A live-action film has one major limitation: runtime. Unlike a multi-episode television series, a theatrical movie typically has just two hours to tell its story. That means the filmmakers must carefully choose which parts of the manga to adapt instead of trying to recreate every early chapter.

Many fans point to Netflix’s One Piece as the gold standard for anime live-action adaptations. However, the comparison isn’t entirely fair. One Piece benefited from an eight-episode season, allowing it to faithfully adapt the East Blue Saga under Eiichiro Oda’s close supervision. The Naruto project, by contrast, is being developed as a feature film, meaning significant condensation will be unavoidable.

If the movie strictly follows the manga’s opening chapters, its primary antagonists would likely be Zabuza Momochi and Haku. While the Land of Waves arc is beloved by longtime fans and plays a crucial role in Naruto’s development, many believe its relatively small-scale conflict may not provide enough spectacle for a major Hollywood blockbuster. The story is emotionally impactful, but it doesn’t fully showcase the expansive ninja world that has made Naruto a global phenomenon.

The Chunin Exams arc offers a much stronger foundation for a first live-action movie. It is the first storyline that truly expands the Naruto universe, introducing viewers to the broader ninja world while establishing many of the franchise’s most beloved characters. With careful adaptation, the film could still develop the relationship between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, while naturally introducing fan favorites including: Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, Hinata Hyuga, Choji Akimichi, other young Leaf Village ninja and rival genin from neighboring villages. This would make the world feel much larger while laying the groundwork for future installments.

One of the Chunin Exams’ biggest strengths is that it introduces two iconic antagonists: Gaara and Orochimaru.

Initially portrayed as Naruto’s dark reflection, Gaara shares many similarities with the protagonist. Both carry tailed beasts sealed within them, both grew up isolated and feared, yet each responds to loneliness differently. While Naruto chooses friendship and hope, Gaara embraces hatred and violence. This contrast creates one of the franchise’s strongest emotional conflicts.

Orochimaru presents an entirely different kind of threat. Rather than serving as simply another powerful enemy, he has deep ties to the Hidden Leaf Village’s history and quickly establishes himself as one of the most dangerous and mysterious villains in the series. His appearance would also provide plenty of unanswered questions that future films could continue exploring.

One mistake the filmmakers should avoid is trying to introduce every major storyline at once. Naruto features one of anime’s richest worlds, with decades of lore and hundreds of characters. Attempting to squeeze too much into a single movie could result in a rushed narrative that sacrifices emotional depth. For that reason, major storylines involving: Akatsuki, Madara Uchiha, The Otsutsuki Clan and The Sage of Six Paths should be saved for future installments if the franchise continues.

Instead, the first film could simply tease the wider world by giving supporting characters such as Rock Lee, Neji, Hinata, and Choji brief but memorable appearances.

If Lionsgate wants to launch a successful Naruto film series, choosing the right starting point will be critical. The Chunin Exams arc delivers everything a first movie needs: memorable characters, high-stakes battles, emotional storytelling, and two unforgettable villains in Gaara and Orochimaru. At the same time, it introduces the wider ninja world without overwhelming newcomers.

Rather than trying to adapt too much too soon, beginning with the Chunin Exams could give the live-action Naruto the perfect balance between blockbuster entertainment and faithfulness to Masashi Kishimoto’s beloved manga.

Sources: GameK