Naruto Anime Analysis (Season 5)

Season 5: Episode 211

Source: Wikipedia

"Memory of Flames"

"Todoroki states that he would go as far as killing Naruto to get to Gantetsu. When another member of the Ninja Dropouts attacks Naruto and Todoroki, capturing Gantetsu, it is revealed that the other members want to capture Gantetsu to find the money he stole with them. Naruto's group learns that Akio, Todoroki's brother, is alive, and he and his other orphans have been cared for by Gantetsu, who is seeking to atone for his crimes. The group fights and defeats another Ninja Dropout member, but Akio is kidnapped and taken to the Ninja Dropout base."

Analysis

The episode served as a resolution where all the mysteries of the plot were unravelled. First, the relevance of the title of the episode, "Memory of Flames," refers to Todoroki's memories of when his family was killed by the Ninja Dropouts. Yet Todoroki was not yet aware that his younger brother, Akio, was alive. Second, it is revealed that Gantetsu took the kids who were killed by his gang under his care because he was seeking to atone for his crimes. In other words, it is a falling action when the events and complications begin to resolve themselves and tension is released. More details will be revealed in the analysis.

At the beginning of the episode, dramatic music with a mix of electric guitars plays in the background. It starts by showing Sakura and Rock Lee facing trouble with orphans who were hiding behind the bushes, wielding their weapons. Moreover, it showed the scene when Todoroki planned to kill Gantetsu but was stopped by Naruto. At that moment, he told Naruto that Gantetsu murdered your whole family, and Gantetsu even confirmed it.

More details about Todoroki's memories.

As the scene progresses, Todoroki remembers how his mansion was set on fire during the night. He said it happened five years ago when Gantetsu was inside, holding Akio hostage. Afterwards, when Todoroki got out, he held on to a bag that had some books and papers. However, one that stood out the most was a fish key chain that belonged to his younger brother, Akio. Furthermore, the next day, which was around daytime, he saw the ruins of his mansion. While it was sunset, he would train with his sword while slicing the wooden dummies. After he sliced them, he would cry out loud, and to finalise his training, he tossed his sword at the last wooden dummy, which was sliced into two. Thereafter, he cried out, and this time he called out his brother's name. The element of pain and suffering is evident here because he believed he lost the person who was most precious to him, which brings out a sad atmosphere.

After some time, Todoroki was told that it was the ninja dropouts who killed his family. He was told they were ruthless because, after they robbed their victims, they massacred everyone in the house so that no witnesses were left behind. The last time he was told these words, "Your parents' bodies were recovered, but the fire was so fierce and Akio was so small, there were no traces of him left. I'm sorry, but you have to let your little brother go."

Back to the present, Todoroki touches the burnt keyfish chain that was hanging under his sword and says, "The irony of it is that I can finally avenge my family and make him pay for what he has done to us, except that I must escort him safely to the capital." Moreover, he said, "I know where my duty lies; I know it's my mission; I should be satisfied that he'll no doubt be sentenced to death, but seeing him now within reach with a calm expression on his face, the face of the man who destroyed my family, who took the life of my little brother," After Gantetsu heard his story, he seemed a bit surprised that his younger brother had died, which caused Todoroki to run in his direction and kill him. Luckily, Naruto jumped and stopped Todoroki, which caused them to fall to the ground. The sword also dropped to the ground. Despite Naruto begging him to stop his pursuit of revenge, Todoroki was adamant about killing Gantetsu.