Nagato's Ideal: The Atomic Bomb

Isabel 2022-10-01 14:43:51

Nagato's goal is to collect tailed beasts and turn them into the ultimate power that crushes all power. This will deter all ninja villages by force, resulting in eternal peace.

The destructive power of the tailed beast is similar to the nuclear weapons in today's world.

During World War II, the United States took the lead in developing the atomic bomb, which accelerated the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II. In 1949, the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb was successfully detonated. In 1952, the "alloy tube" plutonium bomb developed by the United Kingdom exploded successfully. In 1962, France detonated its first atomic bomb in French Polynesia. In 1964, China conducted a successful nuclear explosion test.

Since then, the five permanent members of the United Nations have all possessed atomic bombs and the ability to strike nuclear weapons. For the past half century, the world has maintained overall peace, despite a few local conflicts.

Behind the peace lies the deterrence of nuclear forces. Any nuclear state can destroy the entire planet. Therefore, a balance of power is formed, and neither side dares to act rashly.

Returning to Nagato, his ideal is to use the power of the tail beast as a final deterrent, to prevent wars from happening with weapons that can easily destroy any country.

Nagato's starting point is a good one. But even if he does succeed in collecting all the tailed beasts, can it really bring about permanent peace?

It's hard. Contrasted with the world situation today, peace can be maintained because there are multiple nuclear forces, and any one of them can destroy the earth. After Nagato collects the tailed beast, there is only one superpower, which means that the party with the tailed beast can unilaterally destroy all other powers. What will this bring? Absolute power brings absolute corruption. Nagato may be able to hold the world in his heart for life and maintain world peace. What about his successor? Who can guarantee that a "ruler" with a single destructive power does not breed self-interest?

Learn from history. The position of "Emperor" has been passed down from generation to generation, and soon there will be a so-called "Son of Heaven" who will take the world as his private property, fish the common people, and ruin their lives. The world is in danger.

Continuing for several generations, the ruler with the tailed beast is repeatedly decadent, and finally may lose control of the tailed beast, and the world will return to a state of chaos.

Nagato's ideal is, after all, the moon in the water and the flower in the mirror.

View more about Naruto: Shippûden reviews

Extended Reading

Naruto: Shippûden quotes

  • Sasori: No matter how strong a puppet seems, it is only as strong as it's weakest joint.

  • [repeated line]

    Sasori: I hate waiting.