
Leitmotif: Sāra sings the song "Hikari ni Wa" ("To Light" in the English dub) at different points during the film, typically as a Song of Solace and/or Grief Song when thinking of her mother. Lap Pillow: The first flashback concerning Sāra's mother features her playing a harp and singing while a young Sāra rests her head in her lap. Lack of Empathy: During the final confrontation, not only does Mukade/Anrokuzan reveal that he killed Sāra's mother, he actually mocks Sāra for not figuring it out sooner. Kid from the Future: Naruto becomes this when he's sent back in time and meets his father, Minato. I Own This Town: Anrokuzan boasts to Naruto and Sāra that he "controls this city.". Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Sāra's mother died after Mukade/Anrokuzan telekinetically flung a knife into her back. Horrible Judge of Character: Sāra firmly trusts Anrokuzan at first, adamantly refusing to believe Naruto and Minato's assessments that he's evil, only to be horrified and guilt-ridden when they turn out to be right about him. Heroic BSoD: Sāra undergoes one when she discovers that Anrokuzan really was using her for his schemes and that he was responsible for her mother's death. God Save Us from the Queen!: Due to her Puppet Queen status, Sāra is not very popular with the citizens of Rōran until the film's final act. It's left ambiguous as to whether or not he figured it out.
Futureshadowing: Before Naruto returns to his time, Minato hopes that he has a son just like Naruto in the future. From Nobody to Nightmare: Mukade/Anrokuzan goes from being a simple small-time rogue ninja to an Evil Chancellor who controls Rōran from behind the scenes. Exotic Eye Designs: Sāra has violet eyes with a small ripple-like pattern that bares a passing resemblance to Pain's Rinnegan. Evil Is Visceral: Anrokuzan is seen at one point sitting on an organic throne in a Womb Level-like chamber. Evil Chancellor: Anrokuzan, or Mukade, if you prefer. Dramatic Unmask: When Minato unmasks himself to Naruto. Diving Save: Naruto is first properly introduced to Sāra when she is pushed off of a high balcony and he saves her. Demoted to Extra: Sakura and Sai serve a small role in this movie, only appearing at the beginning and end. The young Kakashi lacks his Sharingan, having not gained it yet. The film takes place at some point in between Jiraiya's demise and Pain's attack on Konoha, as Naruto recalls the former while comforting Sāra over her mother. Complaining About Rescues They Don't Like: After he saves her life, Sāra initially assumes Naruto to be a villain and attacks him while demanding that he let her go, but she calms down and thanks him after he points out that he just saved her life.
Combination Attack: Naruto and Minato combine their Rasengan to create the Supreme Ultimate Rasengan.
Body Horror: During his time in Rōran, Mukade/Anrokuzan modifies himself into a living puppet, as shown when Naruto punches him and shatters his face.Naruto himself also does one, saving Sāra from falling to her death, as well as stopping her from being choked to death by Mukade's chakra strings.Likewise, near the end of the film, they show up to save Naruto and Sāra from being killed by Mukade/Anrokuzan after he goes One-Winged Angel. Minato and his squad first make themselves known to Naruto when they rescue him from being killed by an army of weaponized puppet soldiers.I am now Lord Minister Anrokuzan of Rōran and I control this city!" Anrokuzan: "Mukade, huh? I put that hoodlum's name behind me long ago.