The Best Friendships In Naruto

Summary

• Naruto features strong character relationships and bonds that are integral to the storyline.
• Fortune smiles upon certain characters despite facing adversity in Naruto.
• Emotional battles showcase the deep bonds and friendships between characters in the series.

Naruto is a series full of amazing characters and brilliant writing that turned it into a household name. While the eponymous character is certainly the star of the show, the supporting cast also gets their time to shine.

Fans love seeing their favorite Naruto characters bond throughout their adventures. Some friendships may be more impactful or get more screen time than others, but fans will love seeing these bonds blossom as the series goes on.

8

Shikamaru Nara & Choji Akimichi

A Friendship That Blossomed Quite A Bit Pre-Time Skip

• Became steadfast friends as a part of Team Ino-Shika-Cho

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio has been a constant in Naruto across multiple generations, with these three characters teaming up to cover each others’ weaknesses and pull their weight in battle. During the Sasuke Retrieval arc, Choji decides to stay behind and deal with the first of the Sound Four.

During this emotional fight, he reflects on his bond with Shikamaru and how he wanted his best friend to rely on him for once. It’s a great battle that shines a light on the relationship between the duo, and it’s a shame that this bond didn’t evolve more over the course of the series.

7

Sakura Haruno & Ino Yamanaka

A Tumultuous Friendship Where The Duo Eventually Reconciled Their Differences

• Became friends at a young age before their infatuation over Sasuke turned them into rivals

Fighting over boys may be an overdone cliche at this point, but that didn’t stop fans from being invested in the bold between Ino and Sakura. The two rivals seemed like their only source of motivation was their crush on Sasuke, only for their battle in the Chunin Exams to shine more light on the history they shared.

Fans were glad to see that Sakura and Ino reconciled over time. It helped that Ino had found another boy to fawn over in the form of Sai, whom she eventually married at the end of the series.

6

Naruto Uzumaki & Gaara

Gaara Finally Understood What Companionship Meant After Interacting With Naruto

• After their confrontation, Gaara understood the true value of friendship

Gaara was a Jinchuriki who had seemingly been abandoned by everyone close to him, causing him to recede into his loneliness and develop a psychotic personality. However, this changed after Naruto’s doggedness forced Gaara to see the light and understand how important friendship was in a person’s life.

This was hammered in at the start of Naruto: Shippuden, where Naruto’s emotions took over as he tried to stop the Akatsuki from squeezing Gaara’s life out of him by any means necessary. He initially fails in his goal but gives Lady Chiyo vast reserves of his chakra to help his friend revive and live to see another day.

5

Itachi Uchiha & Shisui Uchiha

Steadfast Friends Whose Bond Ended On A Tragic Note

• Friends in a troubled time who supported each other through thick & thin

Itachi is one of the most compelling characters in Naruto, with his sacrifice being essential to preserving peace in the Leaf Village. Killing his entire clan was easier said than done, but the support of his closest friend helped him go through this heinous act.

After being targeted by Danzo, Shisui decided to entrust his remaining eye to Itachi and take his own life. The loss of his closest friend awakened Itachi’s Mangekyo Sharingan and allowed the Uchiha to regain control of his body after being revived with Edo Tensei. The fact that Shisui helped Itachi even after his death shows how deep their bond is.

4

Jiraiya & Tsunade Senju

A Jovial Friendship With Its Fair Share Of Goofy And Emotional Moments

• The legendary Sannin have shared numerous bonding experiences

Jiraiya is one of the most jovial characters in the series, with his pervy antics getting him in trouble more than not, especially when it comes to his teammate. He received a vicious beating at Tsunade’s hands after trying to peep at her, which makes it all the more impressive that they’ve been steadfast friends despite his antics.

The depth of their bonds could be seen after Tsunade wept for his friend following the news of his demise. As members of the legendary Sannin, the duo shared many experiences and deepened their bond, which is why Jiraiya’s death affected Tsunade emotionally.

3

Hashirama Senju & Madara Uchiha

A Rivalry With Friendly Undertones That Was Unfortunately Marred By Madara’s Relentless Pursuit Of Power

• War put them on opposing sides after they bonded as children

Naruto‘s anti-war message is clear from the very moment Madara and Hashirama become friends despite not knowing about their families. After becoming steadfast friends, the duo met on the battlefield numerous times and eventually went on to lead their respective clans.

While they eventually reconciled and formed the Leaf Village, Madara’s quest for power was too great. He reneged on this alliance and was defeated by Hashirama, who rued the loss of his closest friend.

2

Kakashi Hatake & Obito Uchiha

Could’ve Been A Beautiful Friendship Had It Not Been For Numerous Tragedies

• Formed a bond as a part of Team Minato

After the White Fang of Konoha’s name was besmirched in the Leaf Village following his inability to follow orders, Kakashi became so duty-bound that he was willing to abandon his friends for the sake of the mission. This prompted a resounding speech from Obito, who chastized Kakashi by saying that those who left their allies behind were worse than trash.

This marked the start of a brief yet powerful friendship that ended after Obito’s apparent demise, only for this character to re-appear as the mastermind behind the Fourth Shinobi World War. The clash between him and Kakashi shows how deep the friendship and rivalry between the duo is, making for one of the most emotional battles in the entire series.

1

Naruto Uzumaki & Sasuke Uchiha

A Relationship That Served As The Focal Point Of Naruto

• Sasuke was hell-bent on killing his best friend to recede into a dark, oppressive loneliness

It would be impossible to talk about Naruto‘s best friendships without mentioning the tumultuous bond between the eponymous character and his rival, Sasuke. The fact that this surviving Uchiha was adamant about killing Naruto to eliminate the one friend he had shows just how much Sasuke cares about his friend, despite his actions.

Naruto’s relentlessness to save his friend from the dark side culminates in a hellacious battle that ends with Sasuke finally admitting defeat. The two friends reconcile and team up to defeat several threats, making for an amazing sight after fans had seen them at odds with each other time and time again.