Ultimate Naruto Guide
Naruto has a colorful cast of characters, from aspiring heroes to terrifying villains, and of course, a whole lot of side characters. With that in mind, here are some of the best and the worst characters Naruto has to offer.
1. Itachi
Itachi might be the most selfless brother in the entire Naruto universe. After he was presented with an impossible choice, he managed to save his brother and give his girlfriend an illusion of a full and happy life, even if it was only inside his Tsukuyomi. While he had the potential to be one of the strongest ninjas in the world, he let his brother take a chance at wielding that power instead.
2. Naruto
The main and goofy character of the series, Naruto is one of the best and most likable characters in the series. Following his growth from being an orphan who wanted so desperately to become a ninja, to actually becoming the Hokage, Naruto’s life journey is tough but in so many ways relatable. Of course, the frenemy relationship with Kurama helps build an even more interesting character.
3. Kakashi
Kakashi of the Sharingan, the Copy Ninja, is one of the most famous shinobi in the Naruto universe. It is said that he copied over 1000 Jutsu with his Sharingan, while also inventing his own overpowered one that he called “Raikiri.” Kakashi is one of the smartest and most powerful Jonin in his village, with his name and reputation well known by others as well.
4. Hinata
A shy and likable girl from the Hyuga family, Hinata is not quite a fighter when compared to the rest of her ninja friends. This does change in the later Shippuden series, when she finally tells Naruto that she loves him and always has, right before jumping in to save his life in the fight against Pain. Hinata definitely has incredible potential as a ninja, but it is her personality and character that makes her so likable.
5. Rock Lee
Rock Lee is the definition of hard work paying off. A ninja that has absolutely no Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, Lee had to train 100 times harder just to keep up with the rest of the ninja world, and it shows in his training routine. Unlocking the power of opening the Eight Gates, Lee quickly became one of the best Taijutsu masters in the ninja world.
6. Deidara
Deidara is one of the more chaotic, but definitely fun characters in Naruto. His love for the Art of a Single Moment made him the amazing and unique ninja that he was. While his clay art was his own undoing, this doesn’t change the fact that Deidara lived life exactly how he wanted to, making art, enjoying the moment, and passing from this world doing exactly what he loves in one final act.
7. Neji
Neji Hyuga was Hinata’s cousin and one of the branch families in charge of guarding and protecting the main house of the Hyuga. He felt bitter that his training and potential was so far ahead of Hinata’s, and yet she was the one who was the heiress to the clan. In the end, he overcame these feelings and fulfilled his duty as the guardian of the main house by saving Hinata’s life in place of his own.
8. Gaara
Gaara of the Sand is one of the most iconic characters in this universe. Being one of the Jinchuriki, Gaara has the One Tailed Beast, Shukaku, trapped inside of him. While he did show himself as a very edgy and out of place character, his friendship with Naruto made him accept the Tailed Beast inside of him as a part of himself, which made him thrive and become the Fifth Kazekage.
9. Shikamaru
Shikamaru is one of the most intelligent people in the ninja world, with his sensei determining that he has an IQ of over 200. Despite that, Shikamaru is one of the laziest people in the world and he constantly finds ways of not doing anything while just lounging around. Shikamaru knows that he can do what he needs to do incredibly fast, so he takes as much time off as he can and does the work in a fraction of the time.
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10. Madara
Madara is one of the most powerful ninja in the entire world. He is the only ninja who pushed Hashirama, the first Hokage, to his absolute limits in their final battle. Having one of the strongest handlings of his chakra, Madara was the strongest Uchiha to have ever lived, with his full potential being shown in the Fourth Ninja War, where he took on the four Kage, Guy, Minato, Sasuke, and Naruto all at once.
Now that we talked about some of the best characters in Naruto, here are 10 of the worst.
1. Sakura
Sakura has become the least likable character in Naruto amongst the fanbase over the years. From her obsession with Sasuke, lack of contribution in combat, lack of skills, and the only unique things being her pink hair and short temper, she contributes next to nothing to Team 7. While she does become stronger in the Shippuden series, she never reaches anything close to the level of Naruto or Sasuke.
2. Danzo
Danzo was one of the most morally grey, borderline malicious people in the Hidden Leaf Village. He ordered the extinction of the Uchiha clan for his own personal gain and collected the Sharingan of fallen Uchiha members just so that he could attempt to become immortal. He tried to become the Hokage and take Hiruzen’s place, but failed to do so due to his selfish actions and lack of prioritizing the wellbeing of the Village.
3. Karin
Karin is often considered to be like Sakura but worse. While Karin does have a somewhat useful purpose when it comes to keeping Sasuke alive, she obsesses over Sasuke just as much, if not more than Sakura does, all while screaming what she is trying to say and punching her teammate for no reason. It’s almost as if she took all of Sakura’s most disliked characteristics and exaggerated them beyond belief.
4. Tobi
Tobi, while actually being Obito in disguise, had to cover the fact that he is who he is so that his plan with Madara can come to fruition. During his time as part of the Akatsuki, Obito pretended to be Tobi, a goofy and childish character, so that nobody would suspect his actual plans and motives. While he does play a major role in setting up the Fourth Ninja War, it doesn’t change the fact that Tobi as a persona is the definition of the word “annoying.”
5. Ino
Ino was in a constant spat with Sakura over who likes Sasuke more. This led to her character being perceived as immature and annoying, all while not really having any character development until much later. While she does have potential to be a very strong utility ninja, her fangirl personality and bossy attitude made her less likable than most.
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6. Black Zetsu
Many fans have been upset with the role that Black Zetsu played towards the end of the series. In one single line of dialogue, Black Zetsu completely diminishes Naruto’s importance by revealing his plan was to use everyone, especially Madara, just to bring Kaguya back. On top of that, his arrogant way of talking in combination with gloating about his own intelligence makes him even more annoying.
7. Rasa
Rasa was the Fourth Kazekage and Gaara’s father in the Naruto universe. By sealing the One Tailed Beast, Shukaku, inside his own unborn son Gaara, he proved his lack of care or emotional connection with his own son by cursing him with an unfortunate fate of immense trauma and pain, not to mention the tragic end of his wife’s life. This earned Rasa two titles in one go, the worst father in the world, as well as the worst husband in the world.
8. Kiba
Kiba is a character that has the classic bully mentality throughout the early seasons of Naruto. While he does have the cool factor of having a dog that fights alongside him, Kiba’s overconfidence and constant insults towards Naruto made him seem a bit more villainous than he actually is. In many ways, Kiba is all of Naruto’s flaws amplified.
9. Konohamaru
Being the grandson of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi, Konohamaru was not shy in showing that he feels entitled to certain treatment and titles. Although he did eventually grow up to be an amazing and humble ninja, the early ages of Konohamaru are filled with nothing but arrogance, jealousy, and just a hint of brattiness. While he is part of an exclusive club of ninja who eventually mastered the Rasengan, he is just a nuisance for the longest time.
10. Kabuto
Kabuto is one of the most manipulative and insincere ninjas out there. He is known as the double agent that switches sides almost at random, but he always has his own best interest in mind. He eventually became Orochimaru’s follower and even the main antagonist, but his personality stayed the same annoying thing, just a power hungry, disloyal, cowardly, and morally questionable person.
