This manhwa made Naruto’s Kurama the respected hero he always deserved to be

As two of the most popular titles for martial arts manga and anime fans, Naruto And The god of high school have a lot in common. Outside the action, fighting and combat techniques, one of the most interesting similarities between the titles is the inclusion of the nine-tailed fox. However, while the fox has historically been depicted as a troublemaker in the Naruto– Versus, it has a much more positive and wholesome vibe to it The god of high school.

Originally, the nine-tailed fox appeared in Chinese folklore as Jiuweihu (九尾狐). The image of the shape-shifting “nine corners” in the early reference casts it as neither benevolent nor royalty. Instead, it was largely described as being mainly concerned with its own interests. Accordingly, if the fulfillment of its interests requires it to act positively, it will. On the other hand, it was not against “doing evil” if the situation demanded it.

As a result of the cultural links between China, Japan and Korea, The “nine tails” are also spelled in Japanese and Korean culture, respectively. Just like in China, the nine corners is a more selfish, rather than a purely evil entity that can – depending on the circumstances – be a blessing or a curse to the humans who come across its path.

The god of the nine corners of high school is the fox who dreams big

Without forgetting the traditional dichotomy of the nine-pointed persona, Naruto’s Kurama generally leans into his “dark side”. This is most clearly illustrated in the history of death, destruction, hatred and chaos it has caused over the years. It’s only after decades of “living with” Naruto as a jinchuriki that Kurama seems to show a modicum of kindness. But even then, his first instinct is not an open effort to protect the masses. Instead, it has a more “personal” interest in protecting and helping Naruto – the man it has grown to admire.

On the contrary, in The god of high schoolThe “Nine Tailed Guardian” or, as he is also known in history – Kumiho, is the purest version of ​​the Tailed Entity. It is the epitome of loyalty, perseverance, courage, and sharp justice. While there is a God now, this is not always the case. As in the original Chinese mythology, the nine-tailed guardian began as a supernatural being – or one of those who lived in The god of high schoolSage Realm.

However, not satisfied with its life as a demon, it trained for a millennium to finally become a god. However, once given the almost impossible attainment of godhood, Kumiho was not simply accepted as a peer. Instead, he was elevated to the position of personal bodyguard of the Jade Emperor – the undisputed king of the gods and one of the most powerful beings among gods, demons, and humans. In that position, Kumiho was a top-tier presence in all three realms that make up The god of high school Universe. The end result is that Kumiho could easily be among the best anime fox spirits.

In The God of Middle School, Nine-Tails played a different role

A protector that the gods turned against

Kumiho’s self-interest fueled his rise from demon to god. Furthermore, once its godhood was obtained and its position by the Jade Emperor’s side was secured, it put its immense powers and ability to use as a protector and peacekeeper. That is until he was betrayed. The gods and especially his boss – the Jade Emperor – began to fear Kumiho. As they saw it, if a demon could become a god, nothing would stop it from becoming the most powerful god. As a result, they turned on him. Escaping to the human realm, he hid for centuries until he found the right ship to own.

as in NarutoThe ship was Park Il Pyo – a young boy of extraordinary talent and morals. But whereas Kurama and Naruto had a tumultuous relationship for the longest time, Kumiho and Park had a healthy relationship from the beginning. As a result, Park is quickly able to master the powers that Kumiho allowed him to access. In turn, this helped Park become one of the best fighters in Korea.

While both NarutoS Kurama and The god of high schools Kumiho are, in essence, the same being, it is Kumiho that conforms to the more positive version of ​​the original Chinese Jiuweihu Tailed Beast. As such, he is celebrated as a hero rather than reviled as a demon. It is a subtle distinction that marks at least one difference between the many similarities between Naruto And The god of high school.