Naruto Characters With The Most Character Development

Naruto is one of the most iconic Shōnen manga and anime of all time, without question, and a big part of the reason why the series managed to grab viewers and maintain their attention is through the diverse cast of characters.

While not every character introduced throughout the series is given the opportunity for a fully fleshed-out arc, there are plenty of characters who undergo such significant development that they are hardly recognizable by the time the series finishes. But which of these characters has the most satisfying arc of all?

8

Neji

Shifting World View

Unlike most of the Konoha ninjas we meet throughout the Chunin Exam arc, Neji is the most outwardly hostile and antagonistic, being Naruto’s biggest rival for the majority of the arc (at least until Gaara swoops in).

Neji is shown to be obsessed with destiny, and while this seems to be a frustrating side of his character, it’s properly explained and made understandable thanks to his backstory covering the unique dynamic of the Hyuga clan. Following his conflict and subsequent defeat by Naruto, it seems like Neji might have been sidelined, but he still has some enjoyable fights following this and gets a good amount of attention following the time skip, too.

7

Hinata

Strength From Within

Through a less forgiving lens, it’s easy to write off Hinata after first impressions for being defined by her crush on Naruto. And while it’s undeniable that her arc does revolve largely around our hero (it is his series after all), her ability to see the good in Naruto before most other people did is part of what makes her kindness stand out.

But she isn’t just passive and kind, waiting for Naruto to notice her, instead, she puts in the work, realizing through her hardships that she wants to be the best version of herself, to feel worthy of the person she admires. If you dismiss Hinata after just meeting her, then you’ll miss out on one of the more subtle, but enjoyable character arcs in the series.

6

Sai

Post-Time Skip Substitute

Sai had big shoes to fill as Sasuke’s eventual substitute, joining Naruto and Sakura in Team 7, and even the most untrained eye could tell that there was something wrong with him from the beginning.

While it takes a while to uncover the true nature of Sai, it’s enjoyable to watch as he puts genuine effort into unveiling his suppressed emotions, and the bonds that he forms thanks to this. Even though Sai’s arc is fun to see develop, it does feel like he gets a little lost within the wider cast after this point, but this doesn’t take away from his strong initial arc.

5

Sakura

Underappreciated Hero

As the tertiary protagonist behind Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura is often seen as overshadowed by just how much attention is given to the other two members of Team 7. Unfortunately, this sometimes distracts from the genuinely strong development she does have throughout the story.

Unlike other characters who tend to have their arc strongly linked to specific characters and events, Sakura is one of the more flexible characters, narratively speaking, developing in meaningful ways thanks to the various strong relationships she forms throughout the series. Whether it’s her first big step with Ino, her mentorship with Tsunade, or her recurring complex relationship with Naruto and Sasuke — Sakura always has something on her plate. But she’s not a chameleon, retaining her strong spirit, while still leaving room to grow.

4

Naruto

Road To Hokage

With shōnen protagonists, it’s sometimes tricky to pick up on the subtleties of character development since we spend so much time following them. It can be easy to miss more gradual changes. At his core, Naruto is still the brash and outgoing character at the end of his series as he is at the start, but what does change is his naivety, and how the events he fights through not only build his fighting skills but the compassion he needs to achieve his goal of Hokage.

One of the strengths of Naruto as a series is that it feels like at the end of every arc, especially pre-time skip, Naruto walks away having learned something important and being ever closer to his goal. He doesn’t let the weight of what he’s experienced drag him down, but instead pushes him forward, and this positive attitude is why he’s such an easy character to want to follow.

3

Gaara

Naruto’s Parallel

Introduced as a threatening antagonist in the Chunin Exam arc, it feels like the Gaara we know and love by the end of the main series is a completely different person. Usually, such a drastic shift in personality would be hard to believe. But thanks to the attention given to Gaara during his introductory arc, and new details learned with every subsequent appearance of his, the more calm and caring but equally as powerful character he becomes is not only believable but enjoyable to watch.

Positioned as a parallel to Naruto, it’s interesting to watch not just how they interact during their initial conflict but how the two characters progress at such different paces and inspire each other.

2

Shikamaru

Lazy Development

The Chunin Exam arc is so well-liked not just for its fast-paced structure and plot developments, but for how it widened the cast of Naruto. We are formally introduced to Team 7’s rivals within Konoha, and while they all have at least a small chance to shine throughout the arc, arguably the biggest prize it can take is the introduction of Shikamaru.

Introduced as unmotivated and lazy, Shikamaru’s development is kickstarted during his iconic showdown against Temari, and from that point onwards he becomes one of the most enjoyable (and relatable) characters to follow. His story only becomes even more engaging following personal tragedy after the time skip, but in the end, it serves to make him a deeper character.

1

Sasuke

Rival To Anti-Hero Pipeline

While the whole series is called ‘Naruto’, it could be argued that there are plenty of moments and even entire arcs where rival turned anti-hero Sasuke Uchiha takes just as much of a central role. That can be seen in how much his character develops throughout the length of the series.

Driven by revenge from an incredibly young age, Sasuke works as a perfect foil to Naruto throughout the entirety of the main series. While it’s easy for the audience to get frustrated by some of Sasuke’s more regrettable decisions (and allegiances), the way his journey eventually serves to develop his character is satisfying, especially when compared to Naruto’s parallel journey, too.