The Best Naruto Characters (As Voted by Fans)

Written by Shiggins

It's been two years since our beloved franchise ended...

So to celebrate the series that got so many of us into anime and manga in the first place, and helped create the blog you're on right now, I created a poll and asked for viewers to vote for their favourite characters. Much like the past two poll articles, which involved the women and penises of Fairy Tail, this does not follow my own opinion but rather the opinion of you and your fellow dorks. So what I'm going to do is explain why some, including myself, like these characters and then you, the reader, can tell me if I'm wrong. See you in the comments!

8. Sakura Haruno and Orochimaru

I don't really know how to respond to this one. On the one hand, I love Orochimaru dearly and I see Sakura as a very underappreciated character, but on the right hand that I don't write with... Orochimaru is amazing! He should be so much higher than this! However, that's just my personal feelings.

Sakura? Well, her Part 1 design is actually very cute, with the smile and the eyes and the pinchable cheeks. She's often underused, which can cause many people to feel sorry for her. However, my main reason for liking her is the Sasori Arc, where she used amazing healing jutsu to save lives, and fought against Sasori in a surprisingly badass fight. For viewers, this was a big shock to see Sakura suddenly be able to fight head-to-head with an Akatsuki member, and I for one actually respected that.

Orochimaru? He's the best villain ever, that's why! He's cunning and cruel and slimy and slithers around the floor literally. He's got such a creepy voice, and he was the one who turned Sasuke to the Dark Side, all while focusing on his own malevolent schemes and tricks. His quest for science is disturbing, as we see the lengths he'll go to, and he has the power to literally spit out a sword! What's not to love?


7. Madara Uchiha, Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga and Tsunade

This is an odd foursome.

Madara? Before Kaguya, this was the big bad of the series. The master manipulator who made Obito into Tobi, who made the Akatsuki who made Pain who made everyone feel pain. Madara is a very cool individual, cold and clever. His powers are beautiful, and his design is iconic. He's the king of Uchiha, and easily deserved to be the second-final boss far more than that stupid... moving on.

Rock Lee? Part 1 was amazing, that's why! His fights with Gaara, and Kimimaro? Unbelievable! It was powerful and brilliant. The situations he goes through, with his Bruce Lee-inspired hair and injury, are emotional and really connected to readers. It's tragic that he's so rarely used in Part 2, and that's why he's probably not higher on the list.

Neji? Well, everyone loves an antagonist-turned-good story. And Neji's was a very interesting one, which was handled very well. Again, in Part 1. In Part 2, his role as a character was heavily downsized and we rarely got to see his brain, his powers or even his wit used in a meaningful way. There's also... his ending scene. That scene got us all, I think.

Tsunade? Besides being the toughest female around (with the exception of Kaguya and maybe one or two others... maybe...), she's a lot of fun. She's a very flawed, funny character who wants to avoid work and waste time gambling, while making her poor life partner Shizune do the papers for her. However, she's also strong. Both physically and mentally. She can persevere in the toughest situations, and she'll gladly take a bullet to protect one of her own. There is a reason she's Hokage, after all.


6. Gaara

Gaara? What's not to love? His backstory is tragic, and his development through the series is one of the best. He's one of the few great characters of Part 1 to actually be a heavy player in Part 2 as well, by being the unexpected but undeniably epic Kazekage. Almost every battle he is in, from Rock Lee to Deidara to Sasuke to Madara, is enjoyable and tense. Gaara has tons of fans, and it's immediately obvious why.


5. Jiraiya and Hinata Hyuga

Deep down, I think they're both perverts. Just saying.

Jiraiya? Well, he's hilarious. Everyone loves a wise mentor who gets along brilliantly with the protagonist, and his relationships with characters like Tsunade, Pain and even Orochimaru are all great. He was just such a fun character, and not much more needs to be said. Jiraiya, all the respect!

Hinata? She married Naruto-kun and had his babies and had his sex! She's cute and shy and has genuine moments of standing up for herself, and she really should have been more used in Part 2 so we could have experienced her growth so much more. When we did see her though, it was great. She stood up to Pain, she snapped Naruto out of turning to Obito's side, and she has big boobs. So of course people like her!


4. Shikamaru Nara

Shikamaru? Smartest of the smart and laziest of the lazy. We all want to be the Shikamaru who has a natural talent for brains and we all are the Shikamaru that has a natural talent for sitting on his arse all day and not caring about the events of the world. His relationship with Temari is one of the few relationships that felt truly earned in Chapter 700, and he's a perfect example of never judging a book by it's lazy-ass cover.


3. Sasuke Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha

Wow, these two seem similar. I wonder if they're related...

Sasuke? Well... He's strong. And his bromance with Naruto is lovely and fairly unique. Ever since Naruto came out, every manga have wanted their own Sasuke. He's moody and dark and full of angst and has a tragic backstory that gets talked about 2000 times in the series. I'm personally not a huge fan of his, but I do admit to liking how he was in the final chapters of the series. It was a good ending for a character I am indifferent to.

Itachi? Have you ever seen an Itachi fan?! They're crazy in love with this guy! His dark brooding attitude, his intelligence and self-sacrifice, and of course his relationship with his little brother. Some fans of Itachi are actually quite rabid, saying he's literally unable to be defeated by Kaguya or Madara, while even still to this day making up bullcrap theories about how he faked his death or other nonsense. I enjoy Itachi, but I've not got enough love in my heart to make it to the level some of the internet do.


2. Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto? The protagonist! The man of the hour and the entire series! The one who got so much attention, that so many other characters almost had zero lines during Part 2... Poor Shino and Tenten... Anyway, how can you not live Naruto? He's got humour, heart, development from a whiny obnoxious brat into a true hero into a bastard Hokage (yes, still bitter over Boruto manga. Come at me!) into a decent Hokage. He has almost all the best fights, and is easily one of the best protagonists in manga today. If Naruto the character had failed, Naruto the manga would have failed.


1. Kakashi Hatake

Kakashi? He's the best. He is the one who saved me from giving up on Naruto, since previous episodes had focused on diarrhoea and Konohamaru. I was seconds away from leaving Naruto, and never looking back on anime ever again, but then Kakashi arrived. Kakashi with his wit, his powers, his love of books, his stern command... Oh, he's just wonderful. He's the leader of Team 7 and for good reason. His friend Obito gave him the Sharingan and for good reason. He's the most popular Naruto character, and for the best damn reason ever; He's Kakashi sensei!



Any other polls/articles you wish for? Or just want to give your thoughts? Comment below!

Shiggins:[Admin]
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Born under the stars of the Dark Gods, Shiggins owns the power of the Great Eye and is utterly magnificent in his omniscience. If you dare to discover more about someone as great as him, then go ahead. And to all my friends and family members, YOU are wrong and I should be disappointed! Not the other way round!,. You can find out about him or ask him stuff on ask.fm/shigginsishere or go to his tumblr page http://otakugajeel.tumblr.com/