He really is one of the best characters in the show. But is he worth losing your life to? I mean, with all due respects to the boy: on top of being physically strong, he was just as strong mentally. Because he carried  a huge secret with him all the way down to his grave, and was at peace with being regarded as a villain when he was actually a hero. His secret was also the reason behind his death, which he knew would eventually happen. I think this kid should have thought about that.  

This summer, I read blog posts by Yume and Yamaguchi, where they discussed how emotionally involved some fans become with anime. Yume stated how she deals with the story creators’ decisions with the plot and characters, and Yamaguchi mentioned his nonchalance toward those who express their attachment to characters. It really got me thinking about my own feelings toward the Naruto series, because I love it so much and I learn a lot. But even though I have been detached from the outcomes in the anime, there was one time where my heartstrings were tugged at strongly, and that was the death of Neji.

When Neji’s death in the manga flooded the internet—which was a spoiler for me at the time—I was so shocked and became a bit angry (more about the spoiler than the death, actually). I wasn't the only one: everything I read, and all the fan-made visuals I saw were fans expressing their deep sorrow and anger. It was such a huge uproar that people began stating that Ino or Sakura should have been the ones to die instead, considering that they’re “useless”. The reason behind our anger was that we didn't understand why Kishimoto would choose to kill a character that’s so loved and who had made it so far in his young life as a ninja. It’s not the first time he does this, but this time was very unexpected.

Now that I’ve settled down, I’ve accepted Kishi’s decision. So, I guess for me, I’m able to draw the line and not get wrapped up in Kishi’s made-up reality, but some of us do take it too far: some of us bash the mangaka, make fun of those who like the characters we don’t, and I guess others are so engulfed in the series to the point where it becomes their life. I’m talking about the boy who had committed suicide because of Itachi’s death: last year, around fall, a 14 year-old Russian boy decided to jump off his apartment block after having witnessed the death of Itachi at the hands of his own brother Sasuke. His father had stated that his son was always watching TV, to the point where he couldn’t distinguish reality from fiction anymore. Poor boy wasn’t reading the manga, for if he had, he would have known that Itachi comes back to life through Edo Tensei in his greatest glory.

Itachi comes back to life.

With all due respect to this boy, I think it’s very sad that he took his love for Itachi to this degree. When I think of him, what immediately comes to my mind are the type of fans who like to instigate arguments about which characters are best & better than others, because they’re done out of complete vain. This boy’s suicide was done out of that exact kind of vainness. However, maybe there was more going on with him. TV must have been an escape from reality for him. He probably never spoke to anybody about the problems he was having, and Itachi must have been the only one whom he felt could understand him, so he identified with him. This must be the same mentality others who are very attached to their favorite characters have. Even myself and perhaps even you, but the differences in our love lies in the degree. I think the level at which you choose to involve yourself emotionally within any show, anime or western fiction, has to do with your life experiences, but also how long the series runs as well.

Regardless of how much we love an anime, it shouldn't lead us to the point where we bash the anime, and those behind its production. Not even to the point where we stop watching it, or commit suicide. I mean, I think it’s important to take a step back if our feelings are so strong, and ask ourselves if we’re getting out of line.