Is it a good story?

The film’s emotional climax hinges on the nature of sacrifice. The tragedy of Hozuki Castle is revealed to be rooted in Mui’s guilt. Years ago, he used the Box of Ultimate Bliss—a mythical artifact that grants a wish in exchange for a human sacrifice—to resurrect his daughter Muku. The Box twisted his wish into a curse, creating a parasitic demon that now devours the souls of prisoners to sustain her artificial life. Mui’s tyranny is thus a desperate, fatherly lie. The resolution rejects a simple victory. Naruto, understanding the pain of losing a loved one (a feeling he knows through his loneliness and his connection to Sasuke), does not kill Mui. Instead, he facilitates a true sacrifice: Muku, the real Muku, willingly returns to the afterlife, shattering the demon’s power. Simultaneously, Maroi sacrifices himself to destroy the Box, revealing he was a Leaf spy who had come to atone for his past sins. The film posits that meaningful sacrifice is not a transaction with a demonic box, but a conscious, loving act of self-annihilation for the sake of others. Naruto’s refusal to let anyone else die—his signature "I'll break the curse" declaration—redefines heroism not as winning a fight, but as bearing the unbearable weight of others’ pain.

Studio Pierrot delivered high-quality animation for this film. The fight choreography is fluid, and the character designs (specifically Mui and the prisoners) feel distinct from the standard ninja designs, giving the film its own identity.

This is the biggest criticism. Naruto is thrown into prison for attempting to assassinate the Raikage . The movie takes place after the Fourth Great Ninja War has begun in the manga continuity, yet the nations are acting strangely suspicious of one another. It breaks immersion for long-time fans because the timeline doesn't fit anywhere logically.