Naruto is one of the most well-known Shōnen anime and is globally recognized by millions of fans as the epitome of action and story in anime. The Naruto formula has been so good that it has inspired multiple other influential anime, and with 400+ episodes, there are a lot of stories in Naruto.
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Sometimes, these storylines can take a dark turn, and the storywriting team hasn’t been afraid to delve deep into complex and sometimes disturbing topics. Some of the lore in Naruto is downright tragic and exploring the fate of characters reveals a lot of sadness in the war-torn ninja world that this brilliant story is set in.
10
Naruto’s Birth
The Day Naruto Was Born Was A Day Full Of Death And Destruction
Naruto’s birth is one of the most tragic events in the series. On the day he was born, the village of Konoha was under attack by the Nine-Tailed Fox and Obito Uchiha, which led to countless deaths and widespread destruction.
To save the village, Naruto’s parents, Minato and Kushina, sacrificed themselves by sealing the beast within their newborn son, leaving him orphaned from the moment he entered the world. This tragedy set the stage for Naruto’s difficult childhood, where he faced loneliness and rejection from the village, a fate that set him up to fail and become a villain, but he endured regardless.
9
The Actual Ninja World
Team 7’s First Mission Showed Us The Reality Of The Ninja World
Team 7’s first real mission brought them face-to-face with the harsh reality of the ninja world. Assigned to protect a bridge builder in the Land of Waves, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were exposed to mercenaries, assassins, and morally complex situations that would make it tough to see who’s wrong and who’s right.
This mission showed the viewers that the world of ninjas was far from heroic; it was filled with violence, suffering, and people willing to kill for power and money. Zabuza was the perfect villain and Haku’s role during this arc was extremely heartwrenching.
8
Hidan’s Fate
Hidan’s Immortality Was A Nuisance In This Case
Hidan, a member of the Akatsuki, is cursed with immortality. While this grants him immense power, it also becomes a horrific burden. After killing Asuma, Hidan is captured and buried alive by Shikamaru in a pit, condemned to eternal suffering in one of the best revenge arcs in anime.
This fate showcases the darker, merciless side of revenge in the series, as Hidan remains trapped, unable to die, doomed to an eternity of being buried in rubble. Even the good guys in this series can be incredibly violent.
7
Sasuke’s Revenge Arcs
From Revenge On Itachi To Revenge On The Hidden Leaf
Sasuke’s life is driven by revenge from his initial quest to kill his brother, Itachi, whom he believes massacred their clan, to his later vendetta against the Hidden Leaf Village. These arcs reveal Sasuke’s descent into darkness as his anger and bitterness consume him, showing the cost of vengeance and the effects it has on him and those around him.
Even though Naruto’s life mission is to save Sasuke from going down the path of revenge, he keeps getting new reasons to expand his hatred and quest for vengeance.
6
Gaara’s Early Personality
Gaara In The Chunin Exams Was A Completely Different Person
Gaara’s transformation from a bloodthirsty, rage-filled child to a compassionate leader is one of the series’ most powerful arcs. During the Chunin Exams, Gaara is a terrifying villain, lashing out violently due to growing up in a society that hates him for being a Jinchuriki where he was seen as a monster by his own village.
His past trauma and isolation twisted his personality, turning him into a violent ninja, until Naruto’s influence helped him find a new path. But before that happened, Gaara was casually killing ninjas with his techniques and tried to take over the Hidden Leaf by releasing the One Tails.
5
Danzo’s Obsession With The Sharingan
Danzo Stole Many Sharingan During His Time
Danzo Shimura, a leader of the Hidden Leaf and brother to the third hokage, obsessively collects the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan eyes. He views the Sharingan as a tool to increase his power, regardless of the suffering he causes.
His ruthless anti-Uchiha mindset and the corrupt and morally gray sides of his leadership are done to achieve his vision of a stronger village. He goes to such great lengths that he steals Shisui’s eye so that Shisui doesn’t put the Uchiha clan into a genjutsu, which would effectively end the potential civil war, and instead forces Itachi to commit the massacre.
4
Kakashi’s Life Story
Kakashi’s Journey Is Filled With Tragedy And His Loneliness Spills Over
Kakashi’s life is marked by tragedy and loss. He lost his father, his friends, and his mentor, Naruto’s father and the fourth hokage, carrying the weight of survivor’s guilt and loneliness. These events molded him into the stoic we see in the anime, hiding his pain behind a calm demeanor.
Kakashi’s story shows the immense emotional burden borne by those who survive loss, and how he struggles to reconcile his past while mentoring a new generation of ninjas. Despite being gifted in almost anything he attempts, Kakashi carries the burden of his losses well into his adult life.
3
Nagato’s Life Story
Nagato’s Tragedy Led Him To Form The Akatsuki
Nagato was once a kind and hopeful child but turned into the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain, after experiencing immense suffering during the ninja wars that turned his village into a battlefield.
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His village was ravaged by war, and he lost his family and friends to violence. These events twisted his perception, leading him to believe that true peace could only come through shared suffering. His possession of the Rinnegan allowed him to establish the Akatsuki, a terror organization that ravaged the ninja world.
2
Orochimaru’s Experiments
Every Single One Of Orochimaru’s Experiments Is Sickening
Orochimaru, one of the most notorious villains in Naruto, conducts horrific experiments in his quest for immortality and power. He performed cruel tests on innocent people, including children, using them as disposable tools for his research.
These experiments show Orochimaru’s incredible lust for power, and his obsession with the Sharingan rivals that of Danzo. He essentially promises Sasuke power enough to defeat Itachi, but he is waiting for his chance to take over Sasuke’s body as well, using him as a disposable vessel only.
1
The Uchiha Massacre
An Essential Event To Prevent Further Loss Of Life
Perhaps one of the most tragic and complex events in the series, the Uchiha Massacre was a brutal decision taken to prevent a civil war within Konoha. Itachi, under orders, wiped out his entire clan, sparing only his younger brother, Sasuke.
This event casts a dark shadow over the series, showing the sacrifices made for the greater good, as well as the consequences of such a massacre. Though Itachi meant for this event to save the Hidden Leaf, he only achieves to fuel the hatred within his brother, Sasuke who decides to destroy the Hidden Leaf for these reasons.
