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Naruto characters are some of the most diverse in anime and manga history. A huge reason for this is the size of the world, as the anime has more than five different lands and over ten villages. In addition, each Naruto arc offers viewers an opportunity to be introduced to new characters.
Most of these characters become useful in the arc and go on to grace the screen on further occasions, while some are just good at that moment. Here are five Naruto characters who are irreplaceable in the story and five who could be easily swapped.
Disclaimer: This list solely reflects the writer's opinion and may contain spoilers.
5 Naruto characters who are irreplaceable
1) Naruto
Naruto is the protagonist of the anime and the central character around whom the entire world is built. His unique combination of wit, determination, charisma, and bravery sets him apart from all other characters. Without Naruto, the entire anime becomes dull. His relatability also means viewers can live through him.
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Naruto has one of the most beautiful come-up stories in the anime, from him being powerless to being one of the strongest at the end. His journey is also shown step by step, just at the right pace.
2) Sasuke
Sasuke and Naruto serve as antagonists and protagonists of the entire Naruto. Sasuke's life is parallels to Naruto's, and that is what makes him one of the most important characters. He is an orphan, but unlike Naruto, whose parents' death was orchestrated by something beyond him, Sasuke's parents were killed by his brother, a close relative.
Viewers follow Sasuke's journey and watch how he develops in contrast to Naruto. When Sasuke avoids love, Naruto accepts it. Sasuke gives the story balance, making him one of the irreplaceable Naruto characters.
3) Hinata
Although Hinata had only a little screen time in the entire Naruto, she greatly impacted the entire anime. Her fight with Neji inspires Naruto to achieve one of the most unexpected victories in Naruto. She is also one of the few characters who loves Naruto unconditionally.
Hinata's actions in Naruto Shippuden played a crucial role in helping Naruto defeat Pain, as it enabled him to tap into his Jinchuriki powers. She stands as a symbol of kindness in the Dark Hyuga family. Without her, Uzumaki would have lacked a partner in his journey.
4) Shikamaru
Shikamaru's intellect is seldom spoken about in the anime, but he comes pretty close to being a heavyweight like Light Yagami of Death Note and Lelouch of Code Geass. When it comes to analysis, Shikamaru is second to none in Naruto. Not only does he overpower high-ranking villains like Tayuya and Hidan, but He is also tasked with being the chief strategist of the entire Allied Shinobi Forces.
He is good at using Fuinjustu and has used scrolls to seal elemental releases and unseal them during a battle. He is most adept at using the shadow technique, which he can perform without hand seals and imbue chakra into.
5) Kakashi
Kakashi's copy ability served so many uses in the entire Naruto till he lost it. It was an ability birthed from Obito's Sharingan, and it is most viewers' first introduction to the Sharingan. Kakashi's role in Naruto was simple yet powerful.
Apart from being a guide to young Sasuke and Naruto, his copy of jutsu also shows viewers how far the anime has gone by reintroducing viewers to old jutsu that they may have forgotten. His exploits in the Fourth Ninja War also helped defeat many villains.
5 Naruto characters who could be easily swapped
1) Kiba
No matter how much Kiba is shown in Naruto, his character never becomes a mainstay in the entire anime. While he shares many similarities with Naruto in terms of will and charisma, he lacks the ninjutsu potential of many other characters.
This leads his character to look like a poor man's version of Naruto. He can easily be replaced with any other Inuzuka, and the entire Naruto won't be affected. This problem was also encountered by many Naruto characters who lacked ninjutsu mastery as they were sidelined as Naruto progressed.
2) Ebisu
Ebisu is another Naruto character who has constantly been around important characters but has been of little to no importance. He was in the same team as Might Guy as a genin, and as a jonin, he prepared Naruto for the chunin exam. Even his appearances in Shippudden were not memorable enough, except for his monologue during a battle against a Path of Pain. The battle ended with Konohamaru saving his life.
Ebisu was called the best teacher in the entire Konoha by Kakashi but had little to no memorable moments like his peers—Kakashi, Guy, and Asuma. While his character worked well in a supporting role, another Jonin could have easily done the same.
3) Karui
Karui's character introduction in Naruto occurred at a pivotal moment in the anime. The Akatsuki and the Hidden Cloud attacked Killer Bee, which led the Hidden Cloud to send a team to conduct an investigation in Konoha. Karui was part of that team, and the most noteworthy thing she did was attack Naruto, one of the most beloved Naruto characters.
Since then, her involvement in the anime has been minimal. Even in the Fourth Shinobi War, she did not have any major achievements, and she remained a bland Naruto character throughout.
4) Anko
Anko Mitarashi should have been one of the most important Naruto characters, but she barely makes any strong impression, even when she is onscreen. Some fans argue that her character was underutilized, but others claim that she has had just enough screen time.
The viewers see Anko for the first time during the Chunin exams. She is a former student of Orochimaru who feels responsible for his evil actions. Throughout the anime, Anko fails to stop Orochimaru, and eventually, she gets captured by his protege, Kabuto. At the end of the anime, she acts as a vessel to bring Orochimaru back to life.
5) Ten Ten
Ten Ten, along with Rock Lee, is one of the most underutilized Naruto characters. Unlike Rock Lee, who had huge roles in certain arcs, Ten Ten barely played any significant role, except for the Fourth Shinobi War, where she was involved in a handful of battles.
Ten had a unique skill set of Fuinjutsu, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to make her character stand out. She paled in comparison to the other female Naruto characters due to her lack of charisma and the ability to stand out.
Final thoughts
The beauty of Naruto lies in its ability to have multiple characters shine at the same time. While many Naruto characters are irreplaceable, their introductions to the anime added to the plot. Ten Ten's story shows that Shinobi without Taijutsu and Ninjutsu mastery can still function, and Ebisu's story depicts the importance of empathy.
The existence of these Naruto characters allows others to shine; Anko's subplot helps viewers understand Orochimaru's character, and Kiba's recurring role helps viewers understand how truly diverse Konoha can be.
Also Read:
- Naruto's true successor has finally appeared, and it's not Boruto or Kawaki
- Not Madara but Naruto and Sasuke broke the "cycle" of the Shinobi world
- Orochimaru's plan for Sasuke's body in Naruto makes perfect sense
