Chapter 20 tells the story behind Inari's despair. A remembered father figure, a flooded land, and a public execution explain why hope died in the Land of Waves, and why Naruto refuses to let it stay dead.
Summary
The chapter reaches back into Inari's past to an outsider named Kaiza who once came to the Land of Waves. A bond formed between them until Inari looked on the man as a father. When a season of violent storms threatened to burst a dam and drown the region, Kaiza gambled his own life to plug the breach, an act that made him a hero to everyone there.
Key Events
The turning point comes with Gatō, who seizes control of the country's trades and industries. Kaiza openly defies him and pays for it with a public execution, an event that drains the hope from Inari and his neighbors alike. Naruto, resolved to rescue the Land of Waves and to show Inari that hope has not truly vanished, throws himself back into his training.
Notes
Appearing in early 2000 as chapter 20 of Volume 3, this installment belongs to the Prologue set in the Land of Waves. It supplies the emotional backstory for Inari's bitterness and grounds Naruto's determination in a personal stake. Viz published it under the title The Land that Had a Hero…!!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the Naruto chapter "The Country that Had a Hero…!!"?
In "The Country that Had a Hero…!!", the story reveals Inari's backstory with Kaiza, an outsider who became a father figure to him in the Land of Waves. Kaiza sacrificed himself to plug a bursting dam during a violent storm, making him a hero, until Gato had him publicly executed for defying his control.
Who was Kaiza and why did Inari look up to him?
In "The Country that Had a Hero…!!", Kaiza was an outsider who came to the Land of Waves and became a father figure to Inari. He risked his life to stop a dam from bursting during a storm, earning the admiration of the entire region.
How did Kaiza die in this chapter?
In "The Country that Had a Hero…!!", Kaiza is publicly executed by Gato after openly defying Gato's control over the Land of Waves' trade and industries. His death drains the hope from Inari and the rest of the community.
How does Naruto respond to Inari's story in this chapter?
In "The Country that Had a Hero…!!", after learning what happened to Kaiza, Naruto resolves to save the Land of Waves and show Inari that hope has not truly vanished, throwing himself back into training.
What arc and volume does "The Country that Had a Hero…!!" belong to?
"The Country that Had a Hero…!!" is chapter 20 of the Naruto manga, part of the Prologue arc set in the Land of Waves, collected in Volume 3. It was published in Japan on March 6, 2000, and Viz Media released it as "The Land that Had a Hero…!!".
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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