Dragon Ball’s World Martial Arts Tournament is without a doubt one of the most iconic traits of the series. It was throughout this competition that the original series, and a vast part of Z, could demonstrate the might of its characters and introduce new adversaries for Goku. Akira Toriyama’s tournament arc format, while not the first attempt at the trope, became the norm for many decades.

Although iconic, there is one series that took everything great about Toriyama’s competition and elevated it: Naruto. The Chunin Exams are considered by most anime fans as the epitome of what a tournament arc needs to be. Masashi Kishimoto’s version of this trope became revolutionary, with many series adopting its rules afterward.

Naruto’s Chunin Exam Is the Best Tournament Arc

Kishimoto Used This Trope to Greatly Advance the Plot

For many decades, the World Martial Arts Tournament in Dragon Ball was considered the best example of how to use a competition to tell a story. Toriyama used this trope to demonstrate the results of the training Goku and his friends went through beforehand, making sure to showcase their abilities to the fullest. Due to the nature of the event, the author did not have to rush the final battle. Instead, he made his characters fight small but entertaining side characters, letting fans get acclimated to the ultimate antagonist of the arc.

Years later, the Naruto series demonstrated how one could follow the format coined by Toriyama and make it stand out more by changing a few things. For example, while the tournament aspect of the trope was still present, Kishimoto expanded it by giving the characters a chance to show their other skills. The first part of the Chunin Exams, despite being introduced as a written exam, had an amazing and innovative twist by revealing that the actual test was gathering information as discreetly as possible. The second portion revolved around their survival skills and ability to work as a team.

Thanks to these additions, by the time the actual tournament arrived, fans already knew what to expect from the fighters, making each of the following twists much more effective. It also gave readers enough time to get to know the participants better, making them more than just small side characters who would never be seen again after their elimination. Many of the Genin who attended the Chunin Exams, despite not winning any of the many amazing battles of the competition, left a mark on fans, like the beloved Rock Lee.

The Chunin Exams Helped the Plot Advance Smoothly

Big Storylines Did Not Interfere With Each Other

Another amazing improvement that came from the Chunin Exams was how this arc handled important events. While Dragon Ball’s story relied heavily on the tournament, with almost no major fights occurring outside them, Naruto’s competition made sure to separate the exams from the overarching plot. As the protagonist and his friends tried to survive inside the Forest of Death, one of the best but most horrifying villains in the series, Orochimaru, was preparing to invade Konoha. Naruto did meet the antagonist, as he looked for his team, but this encounter did not derail the exams.

Having a couple of weeks between the preliminary tournament and the finals was also an amazing move, as it gave fans a chance to breathe for a moment. Readers were not forced to follow a long set of battles to see the story progress or the characters become stronger, as they had a designated time to do so. To a lesser degree, the series also used the test to expand the lore of certain characters, like Gaara, whose tragic past ended up being vital for the ending of the Chunin Exams arc.

Naruto Was Not the Main Focus

Other Characters Had a Chance to Shine

After Goku became an adult and his Saiyan strength began to develop, he became one of Dragon Ball’s most powerful warriors, meaning that many other characters became irrelevant. Whenever a new villain was introduced during a tournament arc, fans already knew that Kakarot would be the one to get to the finals and defeat him in a memorable battle. Even though the Naruto series focused greatly on the protagonist, he was by far not the most important fighter in the tournament. The perfect example of this is the fact that his battle against Neji was not the most important.

The series makes it clear that the fight most spectators wished to see was between Sasuke and Gaara, the two most promising Genin. Naruto and Neji’s match is universally considered one of the best in the entire series and has become an iconic part of the franchise. Nonetheless, it does not progress the actual story. It is not until Sasuke puts Gaara in a corner and forces him to awaken Shuukaku that the actual finale of the arc commences. This decision helped the series give almost every participant an important role, instead of focusing solely on the protagonist.

The Ending Had Lasting Consequences

The Finale of the Arc Had Long-Lasting Repercussions

Another incredible advancement to the tournament arc trope found in the Naruto franchise is the addition of an emotive and plot-important epilogue. Due to its villain-centric story, the Dragon Ball World Martial Arts Tournament tended to end with the villain either dead or redeemed, while the heroes went away to train for the next year. The events of Kishimoto’s Chunin Exams caused a significant change in not only the protagonist’s life but also the entire Shinobi World. The Third Hokage sacrificed himself to stop Orochimaru, Gaara had a change of heart, and Naruto had to temporarily leave home.

Moreover, the protagonist did not manage to the exam, with the only character promoted to Chunin being Shikamaru. This development was the beginning of Sasuke’s descent into darkness, as he realized that he was no longer the strongest of Konoha’s Genin. Despite how small these changes might have seemed at the time, they became pivotal to the overarching plot of the manga, with its repercussions being felt years later. Considering that this arc really catapulted Naruto to success, it's amazing to think that Kishimoto was forced to create it by his editor.

Naruto’s Chunin Exams will continue to be regarded as one of the best examples of a tournament arc done right. Nevertheless, Dragon Ball’s version of this competition should not be overlooked, as it is still an iconic and beloved part of the franchise. Both iterations have their strengths and weaknesses, but still, they should be celebrated equally.