13 Naruto Characters Who Deserve To Be As Important As Sasuke (2024)

The Naruto anime introduced a stunning variety of characters over time, giving the entire franchise an ensemble cast for fans to meet. Naturally, protagonist Naruto Uzumaki is the most important characters, since his action and words drive the plot in a big way, and he gets a lot of screen time, too. The Naruto anime also has room for major supporting characters like Sasuke Uchiha, who went from Naruto's shonen-style rival to nemesis and back to friendly rival. All throughout the Naruto anime, Sasuke Uchiha was the story's second-most important character, especially in Naruto Shippuden.

Sasuke became a wandering antihero with his own goals and team, like the leader of a twisted Team 7. With so much screentime, anime fans often wonder if Sasuke hogged the spotlight a little too much, denying other worthwhile characters from fully developing their own arcs. Other Naruto characters had the right stuff to be the series' second-most important character, with rich personal development and a chance to impact the plot in bigger ways. Some of them were almost as important as Sasuke but not quite, while others definitely deserved to be far more prominent in the story.

Updated on November 11, 2024 by Jenny Melzer: It's been years since Naruto and Sasuke's rivalry launched into full gear. With their final showdown still lauded as one of shonen anime's best battles, some fans can't help wondering how things might have been if other characters in Naruto and Shippuden might have been given a chance to shine outside of Sasuke's shadow. This list has been updated to include more characters who deserved as much attention as Sasuke Uchiha, as well as to adhere to CBR's most current standards for formatting.

13 Kiba Inuzuka Wanted to Be Naruto's Rival So Badly

Kiba Eventually Became Comic Relief

Naruto's friend group was full of interesting characters. Among them, Kiba Inuzuka was a strong contender for a powerful rivalry with the main character. Not only did Kiba also want to become Hokage someday, but the pair of them were both complete goof-offs. Filler episodes showed them skipping class with their friends to mess around at the park, rather than putting the time into their studies and training they needed in order to become strong ninjas.

There was some suggestion at times that Kiba had a crush on Hinata, often teasing her when Naruto was nearby because he knew how she felt about the other boy. With that in mind, Kiba was seen putting in extra training after Naruto began demonstrating just how powerful he was, hoping to match and surpass him. As a character, Kiba became more comical than serious over time, with his character appearing in early episodes of Boruto as someone who still hasn't quite gotten his life together. Was he cooler than Sasuke Uchiha? Maybe not, but he could have been with a little more development.

12 No One Took Shino Aburame Seriously

But He Could Have Contributed So Much More

When Naruto came back from the timeskip after training with Jiraiya, a running joke began about him forgetting Shino even existed in the first place. Maybe it was because Shino was quiet and introverted that he never stood out, but there was so much to him that could have been explored. Not only is his insect-based technique one of the most unique and interesting, but his dedication and attention to detail make him one of the smartest shinobi of his year.

Though his rivalry with Team 8 teammate, Kiba, brought about some funny moments, the fact that he held a grudge for ages about Naruto forgetting about him during the timeskip could have made him a dangerous rival. The fact that Shino is so quiet, however, makes him an unlikely candidate for a solid rivalry to match the Naruto and Sasuke dynamic, but using his technique as a villain could have been an interesting turn of events.

11 Sakura Haruno Was a Bud Who Never Fully Blossomed

Sakura Never Got the Chance to Shine

In the current version of the Naruto franchise, Sakura Haruno is fairly unpopular as a character due to limited power and iffy writing. If the Naruto anime balanced Team 7 more fairly, Sakura would have had a zero-to-hero arc to rival Naruto Uzumaki's own. That would have proven Ino right about Sakura being a bud waiting to finally blossom.

Sakura did get a decent glow-up in Naruto Shippuden, but her glory didn't last long. She soon fell behind once again as the series kept powering up, and Sakura even admitted to herself a few times that she was powerless and irrelevant. Given her role in the team and the anime's need for a major female hero, Sakura should have been just as important as Sasuke and just as relatable as Naruto.

10 Choji Akimichi Could Have Been Much Stronger and More Helpful

Choji's True Potential Was Ignored

In the Chunin Exam story arc, Naruto fans were introduced to every member of the Konoha 12, which later became the Konoha 11 after Sasuke ran away. Many of the Konoha 12's members could have been shonen protagonists or a protagonist's best friend, with Choji Akimichi being one of them. He was Shikamaru's best friend, but he should have been Naruto's, too.

Choji was often misunderstood and sometimes mocked, but he had the heart of a true hero and was determined to make something of himself. He could have had a larger role in the story as Naruto's good friend and rival, each determined to distance themselves from their miserable ninja academy days.

9 Shikamaru Nara Should Have Been Naruto's Tactical Advisor From the Start

Shikamaru's a Strong Enough Character for His Own Story

Shikamaru Nara was one of the best characters introduced in the Chunin Exam story arc, mainly because of the memorable blend of his lazy attitude and genius-level IQ. Over time, Shikamaru gradually became more important and prominent as a leader. By the Boruto days, he was Naruto Uzumaki's advisor, making him one of the most important people in Naruto's life.

The Naruto anime should have done even more, and done it sooner, to make Shikamaru an indispensable part of Naruto's ninja career. Teams 7 and 10 could have undergone more missions together to help Shikamaru lead Naruto in battle, & Shikamaru could have become one of Naruto's best friends who greatly shaped his career and life.

8 Tsunade Needed More Screen Time as the Fifth Hokage

Despite Her Tenure as Fifth Hokage, She Didn't Get Near Enough Attention

To her credit, the slug princess Tsunade proved herself an exemplary Hokage in the wake of Hiruzen Sarutobi's death, and she shone alongside her fellow Kage in the fight against Madara Uchiha in the Fourth Great Shinobi War. She also mentored Sakura Haruno, making that genin much more powerful. That said, Tsunade had a more limited relationship with Naruto himself.

Tsunade was inspired when Naruto treated her to a "talk no jutsu" to encourage her to become Hokage. But after that, she and Naruto had a limited connection, which was a wasted opportunity. Tsunade's fellow Sannin, Jiraiya became a father figure for Naruto, so ideally, Tsunade would have become his mother figure and nurtured his personal growth much more.

7 Jugo Was a Redeemable Villain Who Deserved a Bigger Role

There Was So Much to Explore With Jugo

Jugo was one of several rogue ninjas who joined Sasuke Uchiha's team partway into Naruto Shippuden. While Karin was an obnoxious tsundere and Suigetsu wasn't very interesting to start with, Jugo was an intriguing character who embodied rage and violence but preferred peace and nature instead.

Jugo was turned into a weapon and test subject for the curse mark for Orochimaru's benefit, but he could have become someone and something far greater or more inspiring, even if he wasn't a Leaf Ninja reveling in the power of friendship. His arc would have been better if he wound up in Naruto's inner circle as a redeemed hero who could give everyone a new perspective on the balance of peace and war.

6 Hinata Hyuga Should Have Stood by Naruto's Side the Whole Time

She's a Force to Be Reckoned With Who Deserved More Recognition

Hinata Hyuga was relevant in Naruto Uzumaki's life and helped define the anime's themes, but she could have done more. Hinata didn't truly play a central role in the saga until The Last: Naruto the Movie, which was too little, too late. Given Hinata's positive connection to Naruto, she should have played a major role in his personal development.

Her fondness for Naruto was the sort of thing Naruto needed in his life all along, and if Hinata expressed it sooner, Naruto's personal arc could have been different – and for the better. There's little doubt that Hinata would have soothed Naruto's insecurities and fears and helped him embrace who and what he was before long. Of course, Naruto would have done the same for her.

5 Neji Hyuga Deserved an Arc About Reforming the Hyuga Clan

In a Lot of Ways, Neji Got a Bad Deal

The Naruto anime had a strong theme of talent vs hard work, along with themes of people rejecting destiny to create their own futures, a positive message for any shonen anime to have. In the Chunin Exam story arc, Neji Hyuga toyed with those themes, making it a turning point when Naruto defeated him as the underdog despite the power of Neji's Byakugan eyes.

After that, Neji became far less important, even when he took part in the Sasuke retrieval mission. He was even casually killed off in the Fouth Great Shinobi War, which fans didn't like. Given Neji's thematic weight, he deserved more screen time so he could have an arc roughly similar to Naruto's own, which would probably involve reforming his twisted family.

4 Gaara Needed More of What Made Him So Compelling

Fortunately, Gaara of the Sand was written to be fairly important and interesting in the Naruto anime, but he wasn't quite on Sasuke's level. That may have been because Gaara lived in a different village than Naruto, while Naruto and Sasuke were both Leaf ninjas in Team 7. Still, Gaara is a fan-favorite as a redeemed villain, and he was owed a little more screen time.

Right after Gaara's resurrection early in Naruto Shippuden, he should have been a regular ally and friend for Naruto Uzumaki, more so than characters like Yamato and Sai. Gaara did stand alongside his fellow Kage and helped lead the shinobi coalition, but his arc would have been better if he had Sasuke-level importance to Naruto himself.

3 Sai Was Brought Onto Team Kakashi to Replace Sasuke

And Naruto Disliked Him Immediately for It

When they brought Sai onto Team 7 as Sasuke's replacement in Shippuden, Naruto wasn't having it. It was like he knew right away exactly what they were trying to do, and there was no replacement for his best friend, so far as he was concerned. Even Sakura and Ino have moments where they look at him and quietly wonder if he's a worthy replacement for Sasuke, which was absolutely unfair to him as a character.

His emotionless and sometimes blunt demeanor didn't do much to endear him to his new teammates. Naruto was fired up and ready to fight the moment they met. At first, that showed promise, but over time it became clear that no matter how much depth Sai's character was given, he'd never live up to the legacy of Sasuke Uchiha. The fact that he was also just sort of second best in Naruto's eyes wasn't lost on anyone, most especially Sai.

2 Konohamaru Sarutobi Was a Better Rival For Naruto Than Sasuke

Considering the Role He Plays In Naruto's Life, He Deserved More Screen Time

It may sound odd for a side character like Konohamaru to be roughly as prominent and important as Sasuke Uchiha, given Konohamaru's limited powers compared to Sasuke. That said, Konohamaru had a strong personal connection to Naruto early on, since they were both competitive boys who were desperate to stand out as individuals.

Konohamaru feared that no one would admire or recognize him as an individual -- all they saw was the Hokage's grandson. But Naruto, who was too used to loneliness, accepted Konohamaru as a friend and rival, which made both boys happier. If Konohamaru were written a little more substantially, he actually could have had Sasuke-level importance for Naruto on a personal level.

1 Rock Lee Lost His Chance to Show Hard Work Beating Talent

He Bounced Back In a Big Way, and That Makes Him Infinitely Cooler than Sasuke

Even more so than Naruto Uzumaki himself, Rock Lee the martial artist represented the virtue of hard work in the absence of talent or innate half-other powers. That made Rock Lee compelling in the Chunin Exam arc for a time, but then he quickly became less relevant and prominent, even when counting his cool fight against Kimimaro. Naruto fans may agree that the story treated him rather unfairly.

Like several other side characters in Naruto, Rock Lee could have been Naruto Uzumaki's best buddy and friendly rival, giving Naruto some much-needed support as a ninja and as a person. Naruto was setting himself up for some serious drama and problems by trying to forge that kind of bond with Sasuke, rather than with someone like Rock Lee.

• 

  Naruto

  Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.

• 

  Naruto: Shippuden

  Naruto Uzumaki, is a loud, hyperactive, adolescent ninja who constantly searches for approval and recognition, as well as to become Hokage, who is acknowledged as the leader and strongest of all ninja in the village.