‘Naruto’ fans are almost in every part of the world. Each one of them has their own favourite character from the anime series. It’s not just about Naruto Uzumaki. The series, focuses on many characters and even dwells into their past, present and future to give us the overall view of the character.
This enormous character building has sure left the fans to have their own favourites. Apart from the titular character, some fans even like the antagonists of the series. That’s the extent to which the writer has made the story of every character. Now, let us dive in to find out the top 10 favourite characters of fans from the anime series, ‘Naruto’.
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Top 10 Fan Favourite Characters From The Series ‘Naruto’
1) Naruto Uzumaki
Naruto Uzumaki the titular character has a great story arc. He becomes more mature as the story progresses and learns what it truly means to be a hero. The best part of his characterization is his emotional development, although it takes a long time for the audience to understand that.
2) Itachi Uchiha
I could even say that for some loyal fans of the anime series, they would definitely have Itachi as their titular character. The audience spends more time hearing about his part in Sasuke’s childhood than they do with the actual character. He’s portrayed as the villain for much of his story, and it’s the turn that tells the audience the truth that makes his character so compelling. Itachi cares about his little brother so much that he’s the only member of the Uchiha clan he spares in a bloodbath that wipes them out. His time with the Akatsuki is undercover work to protect his village. He’s, quite possibly, the most tragic hero in the entire franchise.
3) Kakashi
The leader of Team 7 is a fan favorite from almost the moment he begins training them. His bell test, really a test of teamwork, is one of the most entertaining team bonding sessions in the series. Kakashi is smart and powerful, just like Jiraiya. The audience gets to see him progress from someone who doesn’t want to show his emotions to someone who cares deeply for his students. Later, the audience also joins to celebrate when he became the village leader. From his history with his father to his friendship with Mighty Guy, Kakashi is a great character. Period.
4) Minato
Minato doesn’t get nearly as much screen time as other characters do. That’s largely because the Fourth Hokage is already dead and gone when the series begins. Also because his identity as Naruto’s father isn’t made clear right away since Naruto’s parents are only hinted at initially. Minato’s skills are often referenced, as he’s one of the fiercest fighters, which certainly makes him intriguing to fans. The flashbacks to him sacrificing himself for his family and his village are definitely tear-jerkers as well.
5) Jiraya
Some fans are conflicted about Jiraiya simply because his characterization reflects a style of humor not looked favorably by all audience members. Jiraiya, however, is still beloved because of his theatrical nature and his commitment to help change the world for the better through Naruto. Though he seems like a mentor who could care less about his students, he cares a lot about them. When he first begins teaching Naruto, it becomes clear that’s just a tactic to get his student to try a little harder. His fight against Pain, and his subsequent demise, is one of the saddest deaths in the Naruto franchise.
6) Shikamaru
The smartest guy in the anime series, has to be one of fan favourites. He has wit, skill and look at him, he’s looks! His initial laziness makes Shikamaru an incredibly relatable character. He’s also not shy about the fact that he’s smarter than all of his friends. It takes a tragedy in the village to make him step up as a leader, but he becomes the best strategist in the show, even advising the Hokage and an entire army as a teenager.
7) Gaara
One of the reasons fans love Gaara so much is because he’s a mirror version of Naruto. Gaara was made into a weapon by his community, surrounded by family who didn’t know how to deal with him. The result is that Gaara and Naruto became very different teenagers with abilities they couldn’t entirely control. It’s not until they meet (and fight) that Gaara realizes Naruto has somehow become a more well-adjusted shinobi than he has, and he resolves to change. It’s one of the show’s best and quickest character turns as Gaara and his siblings become incredibly powerful allies for Naruto’s community.
8) Pain
Pain is the most compelling villain than Orochimaru. The arc involving his confrontation with Jiraiya, and later Naruto, includes some of the most popular episodes in the series. His story, from a young boy orphaned during a war to one of the founding members of the Akatsuki, is the most fascinating one. What’s great about Pain’s episodes is that the fight scenes are just as engrossing to watch as Naruto’s “talk-no-jutsu” attempting to reason with him. Pain even eventually comes to his senses and restores most of the people and places he’s damaged. He then pursues a life of peace.
9) Kurama
When introduced to the audience, the nine-tailed fox was not given a clear picture. He’s portrayed as an out-of-control enemy that some of the strongest jinchuriki have contained. However, that’s not entirely true. Kurama isn’t inherently evil rather he has been controlled by evil people in the past. As the series progresses, Naruto develops a friendship with Kurama. The audience gets to see him as more of a protector than a destroyer. It’s a long journey for Naruto to get there, but it makes Kurama one of the most interestingly developed characters in the franchise.
10) Mighty Guy
Of all the teachers in the franchise, Mighty Guy is certainly a fan favorite. After all, he doesn’t have access to the same powerful abilities as everyone else in the series. However, he still holds his own by utilizing hand-to-hand combat against more powerful enemies. His enthusiasm for life, his community, and his colleagues is pretty infectious. It’s clear that he’s instilled that same enthusiasm into Rock Lee. Fans enjoy watching him turn nearly every meeting with Kakashi into a competition. He’s incredibly fun to watch, and his abilities are no joke.
