Most Emotional Battles In Naruto

Summary

• Most Naruto fights involve emotional clashes between fighters with opposing viewpoints.
• Rock Lee impresses by breaking Gaara’s absolute defense in a spectacular battle.
• Naruto refuses to give up on Sasuke and Gaara, emphasizing friendship and companionship.

Naruto is one of the greatest shonen anime of all time, introducing viewers to a rich and immersive world where ninjas undertake high-risk missions and serve their village however they can. Power scaling is handled properly in Naruto, with the final arc being the only point where the ninja get a bit too superpowered for their own good.

This means that most of Naruto‘s confrontations involve a battle of both the body and mind, leading to some emotional clashes as fighters with opposing viewpoints duke it out to establish their dominance.

8

Rock Lee VS Gaara

Lee Shows His Grit As A Taijutsu Master

• Takes Place In: Chunin Exams

Fans never expected the fight between Rock Lee and Gaara to be so incredible, with the taijutsu master showing the fruits of his training in a spectacular display of power. Gaara is taken aback as his absolute defense is broken several times, only for the Jinchuriki’s facade to break as his savage side takes over.

Despite Rock Lee’s best efforts, he is beaten and almost crippled by Gaara. Even after this fight is well and truly over, Rock Lee’s unconscious body stands strong and refuses to admit defeat as his sensei is brought to tears. Might Guy couldn’t have been prouder of his pupil at that moment if he tried.

7

Naruto VS Gaara

Naruto Refuses To Let Gaara Be Consumed By His Loneliness

• Takes Place In: Konoha Crush

Despite how monstrous Gaara is, Naruto can’t help but feel for him after realizing that he’s also a Jinchuriki. It was clear that they both were walking down the same path, but Naruto had friends to rely on while Gaara was hated by everyone around him, including his father.

After he arrives in the nick of time to save Sasuke and Sakura from Gaara, Naruto shows off just how much he has grown as a ninja. He executes advanced summons and uses his sheer grit to knock Gaara unconscious in this amazing fight. Even after attaining victory, Naruto refuses to let Gaara recede into his loneliness, crawling toward him to hammer in just how important companionship is as he strives to befriend a ninja who had forgotten what it was like to trust people.

6

Naruto VS Sasuke (First Fight)

Naruto’s Desperation To Bring Sasuke Back To The Leaf Is Palpable

• Takes Place In: Sasuke Recovery Mission

After Sasuke decides to defect from the village, Naruto chases him down and refuses to let his friend recede into the darkness. However, after realizing that Sasuke was fighting to kill, Naruto decided that he wouldn’t hold back and proclaims that he’ll break every bone in Sasuke’s body to achieve this goal.

It’s a chilling statement that leads to one of the most brutal and emotional fights in Naruto. Unfortunately, the protagonist fails to attain victory, and Sasuke evades capture as he leaves the Leaf Village behind to embark on a path of darkness.

5

Naruto VS Pain

Despite All The Hurt Nagato Has Inflicted, Naruto Refuses To Let His Rage Dictate His Actions

• Takes Place In: Pain’s Assault

Nagato used to be Jiraiya’s student, only to form the Akatsuki and kickstart a diabolical plan to trap the world in an eternal genjutsu. His childhood was full of war and strife, but that was no excuse to kill his former master and raze the Leaf Village. After Naruto masters Sage Mode and comes back to the village, he’s incensed to see the state of his hometown. To make things worse, Pain impales Hinata after she proclaimed her love for Naruto and stepped in to save him, causing his emotions to boil over as he almost lets Kurama free.

Thankfully, an encounter with his father calms him down just enough to take out Pain’s final body with a resounding Rasengan. However, the fight still isn’t over, and Naruto uses the story of The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi to show Nagato the love Jiraiya had for him and why he was the inspiration for this tale, finally making Nagato regret the path he walked on as he used the Rinne Rebirth jutsu to revive everyone who died during this assault.

4

Kakashi VS Obito

Two Former Friends Duke It Out In A Fistfight For The Ages

• Takes Place In: Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax

Sometimes, words aren’t required to convey emotions. Instead, an emotional melee with some choice flashbacks are enough to hammer in how emotional an encounter is, and such is the case in the battle between Kakashi and Obito.

It’s one of the best fights in Naruto where the emotions are at an all-time high. Even though Kakashi may get the better of this exchange, it still takes a while for Obito to be convinced that he was on the wrong side of the war.

3

Sasuke VS Itachi

The Brothers Clash In An Emotional Battle A Long Time In The Making

• Takes Place In: Itachi Pursuit Mission

Throughout his life, Sasuke harbored a deep hatred for the brother he once loved and spent his entire life planning his revenge. So, when he finally faced Itachi in an emotional conflict, Sasuke was shocked to hear his brother’s final words as he poked his forehead one last time and passed away.

It’s not until his conversation with Tobi that Itachi’s true motives came to light, causing Sasuke to tear up and swear vengeance on the Leaf Village for the atrocities they forced his brother to commit.

2

Naruto VS Sasuke (Rematch)

A Much-Awaited Rematch Where The Emotions Of The Two Fighters Spills Over

• Takes Place In: Kaguya Otsutsuki Strikes

After Sasuke declares his intentions to take out the Kages and rule the world from the shadows as a figure everyone can unite against, Naruto realized that they needed to settle their differences with their fists. What follows is a rematch a long time in the making as the former friends put it all on the line in an emotional confrontation. With every clash of their fists, their debate furthers as Sasuke strives to kill the one person he’s formed an attachment to and Naruto beats some sense into his best friend.

Even after their chakra is depleted, the two fighters just end up brutalizing each other before Naruto launches an uppercut counter that causes Sasuke’s rage to boil over. He desperately asks Naruto why he’s so stubborn, only for him to proudly declare that he never gives up on a friend. Most people agree that Sasuke conceded at this very moment, with his exasperation clear to see as he charges up one final Chidori to end this battle for good.

1

Jiraiya VS Pain

The Ending Is A Tearjerker That’s Hard To Get Through

• Takes Place In: Tale Of Jiraiya The Gallant

Jiraiya may be a bit too pervy at times, but fans can’t help but love his jovial attitude and fatherly demeanor toward Naruto. When he embarks on one final mission to take out his student and make amends for past mistakes, no one expected this to be the final time they’d see his face.

He tries to figure out how Pain’s abilities work, figuring out the secret a bit too late. His throat is crushed and his body is impaled by the bodies of Pain, but Jiraiya refuses to give up and takes a page from his student’s doggedness as he carves the answer to Pain’s abilities on Fukasaku’s back before breathing his last in one of the most emotional moments in Naruto history.