>>534906941
True, but the themes of kids being used as fuel for fucked up military dictatorships, and everyone being orphans from all the warfare became less overt over time (they were still there, but it was glossed over). The Sound Four were the last time that Naruto and the others killed fellow brainwashed child soldiers (and it was treated triumphantly). I think the editors told Kishi to tone it down after that arc.