Naruto Characters Who Ended Up Being Surprisingly Weak

Summary

• Tsunade is powerful but never wins, hurting her credibility in battles.
• Shino falls from grace, becoming a weak character in Boruto.
• Hiruzen is the weakest Hokage, overshadowed by other powerful characters.

Naruto is a series full to the brim with some of the best characters in shonen history. Fans love the struggles of the underdog protagonist, the dark path his rival walks, and the motivations of every other hero and villain as they engage in some of the best fights in anime.

Some characters end up making a strong first impression and seem destined for great things, only to falter and barely make an impact later on. It’s a shame since there’s no denying that fans would’ve loved to see these characters get their time of day in some of the most epic battles in the series.

8

Shino Aburame

Had Many Highlights Before The Time-Skip Only To Turn Into A Joke Later On

• Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

Shino’s downfall needs to be studied, especially since this character had numerous moments to shine before the time-skip. He turns into an insecure character who constantly questions himself after getting older and doesn’t play a major role in any battle.

His biggest downgrade comes in Boruto, where he’s a weak teacher who gets bested by Mitsuki in battle. It’s the lowest he’s ever been and makes him one of the weaker Naruto characters despite being so impressive early on.

7

Tsunade Senju

Despite Being Ridiculously Powerful, She Never Wins A Single Fight And Loses Credibility As A Result

• Debut: Jiraiya: Naruto’s Potential Disaster! (Episode 83 of Naruto)

There’s no denying that Tsunade is one of the most powerful ninjas in Naruto and can break bones with ease. However, her track record in battle is horrible, to the point where this Hokage hasn’t won a single fight she’s participated in.

It’s a shame since this hurts her credibility in do-or-die situations and makes her look weaker than she is. Her humiliating defeat against Madara showed just how out of her element she was, even if it was her healing powers that saved the Kages from dying in that moment.

6

Hiruzen Sarutobi

Given How Powerful The Other Hokage Are, The Third Is Easily The Weakest Of The Bunch

• Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

While the Third Hokage cemented his place as a powerful ninja at the start of Naruto, it’s hard to ignore the numerous events that have passed since. Other characters have achieved immense feats, while Hiruzen’s sacrifice to take away Orochimaru’s arms was rendered meaningless when he simply changed his body.

Given all this context, it’s hard to be impressed by Hiruzen’s achievements compared to the other Hokage. He’s possibly the weakest ninja to assume this role, which isn’t a title anyone would want.

5

Tenten

A Weapons Expert Who Fails To Make An Impression

• Debut: Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals (Episode 21 of Naruto)

Given how important weapons are in ninja combat, it’s easy to see why Tenten could’ve become a reliable ninja in combat. Instead, she barely gets any time to redeem her humiliating loss to Temari and becomes a forgotten character as the show goes on.

Whatever promise she had was ground into dust, turning Tenten into one of the weakest shinobi in Naruto. It’s a crying shame that highlights Kishimoto’s problem with writing strong women in the series, an issue that rears its ugly head over and over again.

4

Kurenai Yuhi

A Jonin With A Mastery Over Genjutsu Who Enjoys Has Moments To Shine

• Debut: Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes? (Episode 3 of Naruto)

Kurenai is a character who’s built up as a masterful genjutsu user. However, her reputation suffers a crushing blow when she’s outclassed by Itachi, who could’ve trapped her in a horrifying genjutsu had it not been for Kakashi’s interference.

As the story progresses, Kurenai is yet another character who is left behind as other ninja get their time to shine. Aside from expressing grief at Asuma’s untimely death, this jonin gets no screen time to display her skills, which is unfortunate given her potential.

3

Kaguya Otsutsuki

The Mother Of Chakra Is Done Away With In Her Very First Fight

• Debut: Truth (Episode 458 of Naruto: Shippuden)

One would expect Kaguya to be one of the strongest characters in Naruto, someone who could easily bend the entire world to her will. So, to see her clash with Naruto and Sasuke just once before being sealed is rather disappointing.

Sure, this dimension-hopping battle is epic and makes her seem like a strong character, but the fact that she was distracted by amateurish attacks, and then beaten down by Sakura as well, isn’t a great look. Ultimately, she existed only to introduce the Otsutsuki and to help Naruto‘s story continue after its natural conclusion, which is a decision that fans still hotly debate to this day.

2

Sakura Haruno

Despite Some Promising Flashes, She Lags Far Behind Her Teammates

• Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

Sakura has tried to prove time and time again that she doesn’t need to rely on anyone in the series. The moment when she cuts her hair in the Chunin Exams and her enhanced power after the time-skip show a glimpse of Sakura at her very best, casting her as someone who can bring the fight to her opponents if the situation calls for it.

Unfortunately, her over-reliance on Naruto, coupled with the numerous times she was outclassed in battle, doesn’t exactly support that depiction. Her medical ninjutsu powers gave Kishimoto a convenient excuse to push her to the sidelines as other battle-focused shinobi played a major role during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

1

Ino Yamanaka

Her Mind-Body Switch Technique Is Useful But Leaves Her Defenseless

• Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

Ino’s mind control powers are quite impressive and make her a character with a ton of potential. If she could possess opponents without losing control of her body, then she could become one of the trickiest shinobi to take on in battle.

Instead, her powers are more passive and are used for relaying information rather than dominating the minds of her opponents in battle. This prevents her from reaching her full potential and turns her into a weak character who can’t rely on her Mind-Body Switch technique in a solo fight.

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  Naruto
  

  
  

  Release Date

  2002 – 2006

  Showrunner

  Masashi Kishimoto

  Directors

  Hayato Date

  Writers

  Masashi Kishimoto

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Naruto: Shippuden
  

  
  

  Release Date

  February 15, 2007
  

  Network

  Adult Swim

  Directors

  Hayato Date, Masaaki Kumagai, Yasuaki Kurotsu, Osamu Kobayashi, Chiaki Kon

  Writers

  Junki Takegami, Satoru Nishizono, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Yasuaki Kurotsu, Masanao Akahoshi

  
  
  
  

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