Top 10 Best Naruto Characters

Naruto is undoubtedly one of the most popular and iconic anime series of all time, and its legion of devoted fans can attest to its immersive and captivating storytelling. With a vast array of memorable and unique characters, it's no wonder that fans have been debating who the best Naruto character is for years. From the fearless ninja Naruto Uzumaki to the seductive kunoichi Temari, each character brings something special to the table, whether it's their fighting skills, their unique backstory, or their quirky personality.

But what exactly makes a great Naruto character? Is it their impressive jutsu techniques, their unwavering determination, or their relatable flaws and vulnerabilities? Perhaps it's a combination of all of these factors that make a character truly unforgettable.

1. Itachi Uchiha

   

   Itachi Uchiha is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Naruto, which was created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the Uchiha clan and plays a key role in the series' storyline. Itachi is widely recognized for his complex character and significant influence on the plot.

   I always loved and liked this character for many reasons. Then, when I finally had the chance to read about him, it just made me love him even more. Knowing that you'll risk it all just to save your little brother and your heart for the Hidden Leaf Village is truly amazing.

   He's also mighty strong and has many tricks up his sleeve. Not to mention, his intelligence is far better and greater than others, which is truly something.

   His story was tragic but heroic, just what you want out of a legendary character. He was. I have many other characters in mind who are cool and amazing in their own way, but by far, Itachi is my most favorite one of them all! Love the Naruto anime. Great show!

2. Naruto Uzumaki

   

   Naruto Uzumaki is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the anime and manga series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He first appeared in 1999 in Weekly Shōnen Jump and has since become one of the most iconic characters in anime and manga. Naruto's journey from a mischievous outcast to... read more

   What! Second place! What's Naruto doing in second place? The show wouldn't be called Naruto if he wasn't the main character. It's not called Itachi. It's called Naruto. Naruto!

   I don't know if you have or haven't seen some of the latest episodes of Naruto, but in those episodes, Naruto becomes friends with the Nine-Tails, and the Nine-Tails allows Naruto to use all of his power. And Naruto does use it multiple times throughout the series. It wasn't just a one-time thing.

   So what I'm saying here is that Naruto is not only the main character of the anime Naruto, but he can easily beat the crap out of Itachi any time, any day.

   First of all, Itachi could not beat Naruto in Sage Mode. Itachi is not even close to being as strong as Naruto. He's got the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and the full Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, which could literally destroy Itachi in the blink of an eye.

   The only way you could think that Itachi is better than Naruto is by being a huge fanboy. I mean, the show is literally named after Naruto himself. Do you really think the author would let Naruto lose to someone who's barely even been in the series of Naruto?

   But I do agree that Itachi would've beaten Sasuke if he wasn't half-blind during their death battle. And that's all.

3. Kakashi Hatake

   

   Kakashi Hatake is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He serves as the leader and mentor of Team 7, which includes Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Kakashi is known for his mastery of the Sharingan and his calm, analytical approach... read more

   He is such a cool character! Kakashi's Sharingan is a tactical tool, not just something used for flashy moves. It's used for reconnaissance, predicting enemy actions, and even copying techniques in mid-combat! He has copied over a thousand jutsu, from elemental ninjutsu to taijutsu combinations! Kakashi's arc shows his growth from a young, arrogant ninja to a selfless leader who makes sacrifices for his village and students!

   Kakashi is the best sensei in the series because of his leadership of Team 7, his ability to mentor Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, and his emphasis on teamwork over individual strength!

4. Sasuke Uchiha

   

   Sasuke Uchiha is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the Uchiha clan and one of the main characters in the series. Sasuke is portrayed as Naruto Uzumaki's rival and follows a complex path throughout the storyline.

   His coldness is a coping mechanism, not a personality trait. The Uchiha are repeatedly described as a clan that "loves the hardest," meaning their emotional intensity is canonically extreme. People calling him emo in Shippuden are idiots.

   Naruto antagonized Sasuke way more than the reverse early on, yet Sasuke still treated him like a teammate he valued. His relationships with Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and even Team Taka are meaningful. His inability to communicate doesn't erase the emotional weight of those connections. He's a traumatized child soldier who was manipulated by multiple adults (Itachi, Danzo, Orochimaru, Obito).

5. Gaara

   

   Gaara is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Shukaku and possesses the ability to manipulate sand, which he stores in a large gourd carried on his back. Gaara later becomes the Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure.

   Gaara is amazing and deserves a good spot for many reasons. Not only is he powerful, but he is also tactical in his fights (except for when Shukaku took over).

   Gaara would have won that fight with Deidara if he hadn't protected the village, but the fact that he did shows his good character. In the beginning, he was a bad guy due to his terrible past, which is worse than Sasuke's, but he changed for the better and worked hard to become Kazekage.

   Gaara got my vote not only because of his powerful and incredible fighting style but mostly because of his story, personality, and how he changed and grew.

   Gaara is amazing and deserves a good spot for many reasons. Not only is he powerful, but he is also tactical in his fights (except for when Shukaku took over).

   Gaara would have won that fight with Deidara if he hadn't protected the village, but the fact that he did shows his good character. In the beginning, he was a bad guy due to his terrible past, which is worse than Sasuke's, but he changed for the better and worked hard to become Kazekage.

   Gaara got my vote not only because of his powerful and incredible fighting style but mostly because of his story, personality, and how he changed and grew.

6. Madara Uchiha

   

   Madara Uchiha is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto. He first appears in Part II of the manga and its Naruto: Shippuden anime adaptation as one of the main antagonists.

   Madara is a legendary leader of the Uchiha clan and a co-founder of Konohagakure... read more

   Madara is such an interesting character! Hashirama was one of the most important people in Madara's life. Before they knew each other's identities, they shared a genuine friendship and a dream of ending the endless cycle of war. Hashirama wasn't just a rival. He was someone Madara believed truly understood him.

   Izuna's death doesn't create Madara's distrust on its own, but it intensifies his belief that the world inevitably destroys what people love. People underestimate how paranoid Madara became. After repeated losses, Madara increasingly assumes that betrayal is inevitable and that human beings cannot sustain cooperation.

7. Shikamaru Nara

   

   Shikamaru Nara is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a shinobi of Konohagakure and a member of Team 10 who is known for his prodigious intelligence and lazy demeanor. Over the course of the story, Shikamaru rises through the ranks to become... read more

   Shikamaru is one of the best personalities in the series. He doesn't have a traumatic background like others such as Gaara, Itachi, Sasuke, or Naruto himself, which shapes them into the interesting characters they are. But he sure doesn't need it!

   He's just a normal guy, or at least that's what he wants to be, up until Asuma's death when he decides he wants to be a cool grown-up. That is probably what makes him so relatable. He aims for averageness, yet, as he grows up, his life moves farther away from being average as he is the most intelligent person in Konoha.

   Shikamaru isn't particularly strong, but he manages to not only survive but lead his teams and accomplish his missions just out of strategies and a bravery he doesn't recognize in himself. That also makes him interesting: he's usually confident, but he doesn't brag or look down on others, unlike Sasuke's cool nobody-deserves-me attitude.

   Shikamaru is down to earth and he would give his life to protect his village and his friends. He really is a good friend, even if he could seem careless, he's actually pretty sensible, helpful, and loyal. And he does all this without wanting to stand out, in a discreet way. Truly a genius and a genuinely good guy.

8. Nagato (Pain)

   

   Nagato, also known by his alias "Pain," is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise. He was created by Masashi Kishimoto and serves as a major antagonist in the series. Through his leadership of the Akatsuki organization, he plays a significant role in several of the series' major... read more

   Pain's design is arguably the coolest in all of Naruto. He absolutely rocks the Rinnegan best, and his presence and vibe are nearly unmatched. The nuance of his character is comparable to Obito's, but his design and the surface-level things which make characters so engaging are executed at the highest level for him. He's this tragic, falsely divine figure whose power made him stagnant and angry.

   The loss of Yahiko and the extinguishment of their dream led him down a path where he lost the standard he promised to hold himself to. He found himself succumbing to the cycle he promised to break. Instead of trying to break it as an individual, he resolved to become a catalyst for the world: an enforcer of pain, completely defined and consumed by it.

9. Hinata Hyuga

   

   Hinata Hyuga is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is a member of the Hyuga clan and is known for her gentle personality and Byakugan ability. Over the course of the series, she grows from a shy ninja into a confident fighter and later marries... read more

   I do feel like there should have been at least one or two scenes of Naruto and Hinata hanging out and starting to maybe have a relationship before the war though. She sacrifices herself to save Naruto against Pain, but then she disappears, and Naruto doesn't even look at her until halfway through the war. It feels like there are a few scenes missing in between to make her character arc and her relationship with Naruto feel complete. The Last movie does a lot of heavy lifting to fix all that.

   I like her. She's cute, her growth and endurance are inspiring, and she has a few good fights.

   She was shy and lacked confidence. Not the most original character flaw, but it was handled well. Seeing her too scared to even look at Neji and then slowly building the confidence to confront a vastly superior opponent was awesome. Neji looked scary and was looking right through her, speaking nothing but the truth with psychological warfare, and yet she still acted in spite of her fear. That's true courage. She owed it to herself to try, or she would always be a scared, weak, pathetic ninja.

10. Rock Lee

    

    Rock Lee is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a ninja from the village of Konohagakure and a member of Team Guy. Lee is known for his dedication to taijutsu because he is unable to use ninjutsu or genjutsu.

    Rock Lee is a very unique, funny, interesting, and overall powerhouse of a character. Lee has charm in his personality and has been my favorite character ever since I first saw him. People like him are why the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover" exists.

    Although he looks weak, he's incredibly strong. He can't use any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu and doesn't need to because he is really that strong, arguably being the best Taijutsu ninja ever. Lee was so strong that he was the second-strongest Genin Leaf ninja (he took down Sasuke with ease, plus he doesn't count as a Leaf ninja anymore since he left the village). Overall, he is an amazing character!

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Koji Kashin

    

    As a clone, Koji uses iconic abilities like Toad Summonings and the Rasengan, providing a strong emotional anchor to the classic Naruto seriesAs a clone, Koji uses iconic abilities like Toad Summonings and the Rasengan, providing a strong emotional anchor to the classic Naruto series.

    Koji fits the "cool, stoic, mysterious" archetype perfectly. He feels like a tribute, not a replacement too, connected to Jiraiya without copying his personality.

    He is immensely powerful, Koji is Jiraiya with scientific ninja tool enhancements.

12. ?

    Hoheto Hyuga

    
The Contenders

13. Jiraiya

    

    Jiraiya is a fictional character in the Naruto anime and manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. Introduced in the first part of the series, he was a student of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. He is also one of the "Legendary Sannin" alongside Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade, who were his former teammates... read more

    How is he not in the top ten? He's one of Naruto's first genuine parental figures! Once he commits to mentoring Naruto, Jiraiya doesn't just teach him techniques. He gives him confidence, believes Naruto can change the world, and ultimately dies while trying to gather information that will help protect him and the village. He's portrayed as someone who carries a lot of regret beneath his goofy exterior.

    He gave Naruto his name. He was a grandfather to him. He made him the hero. And he came back from the dead to write the numbers on the back. He was the man who trained the 4th Hokage and is a player at the age of 50.

    And he also had to conserve as much chakra as he possibly could because he knew absolutely nothing about Pain, while gathering information about him/them at the same time. And they were his students, so he is much stronger than that. He even killed one of them, and Jiraiya had not mastered Sage Mode.

    And he was like, "Oh, Itachi and Kisame, I will kill you now," and they even ran away. He could have beaten Pain if he wanted to. So why is he in 15th place? He was the best.

14. Minato Namikaze

    

    Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves and the man responsible for sealing the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox inside Naruto Uzumaki at the time of Naruto's birth. Doing so cost him his life, and before dying, he asked that the villagers not see Naruto as the monster within him... read more

    In reality, his composure is a tool for protecting his loved ones and the village, not a sign of a lack of empathy. His deep bond with Kushina, his selfless sacrifice during the Nine-Tails attack, and his willingness to risk his life for Naruto all show strong emotional investment! Some fans dislike that Minato is so good at everything without a tragic flaw that drives the plot. However, his strengths and virtues are part of what makes him a compelling character, and his legacy as the Fourth Hokage is significant in its own right.

    Minato is one of the most misunderstood, under-analyzed, and under-credited men in the entire series. Besides the hype for his power or looks, Minato is historically important, emotionally mature, politically competent, strategically brilliant, and morally consistent. He's the only genius who uses his intelligence to uplift others, not belittle them.

    Minato is the only Hokage who was chosen unanimously. Hashirama HAD to be chosen (he literally made the place), Tobirama was given Hokage as Hashirama's brother, Hiruzen was chosen because Tobirama needed someone after he died, Tsunade was a desperate choice, Kakashi was chosen through transition, and Naruto becoming Hokage was obvious. Minato? EVERYONE wanted him. EVERYONE respected him. He had no enemies, no political opposition, and no controversy.

15. Obito Uchiha

    

    Obito Uchiha, also known by his alias Tobi, is a fictional character from the Naruto universe. He was created by Masashi Kishimoto and is a central antagonist in the series. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime, movies, OVAs, video games, and various forms of merchandise.

    Obito is the escalation of Pain thematically. Whereas the latter simply despises the human condition and tendency towards suffering, Obito despises fate itself. He sees it as a trap designed to break people's dreams, and instead of looking at suffering constructively, he wallows in it. It's unfortunate because his trauma and the influence of Madara made it so he could never escape the downward spiral he began.

    His hopeful luster got extinguished because of his inability to cope with the loss of his dream. His immaturity and childishness caused him to idealize Rin, and her death catalyzed a one-dimensional perception of the world which only magnified. Obito was never given a different perspective, and the culmination of his purpose under the flawed Shinobi system led him to categorize it by its wrongdoings.

16. Neji Hyuga

    

    Neji Hyuga is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the Hyuga clan and is recognized for his Byakugan ability, which grants him nearly 360-degree vision. Neji plays a significant role in several story arcs and is known for his disciplined... read more

    Neji's whole skill set level is nothing but pure beast. He dominates in both offense and defense, and hey, not to mention, he's a pure genius. Naruto, although I do love him, and Sasuke both have extra powers that they can call on, whereas Neji just fights with his God-given skill set and is still beastly!

    Naruto has the Nine-Tails, and Sasuke has the dark power from that awful Orochimaru, which gives both of them immense power. Neji just has his own skills. If Neji were to go up against Naruto and Sasuke without their extra powers, Neji would be victorious. That's why Neji reigns supreme over every Naruto character!

    On a side note, Temari should have been on here. She is the best girl in Naruto, hands down!

17. Might Guy

    

    Are you kidding me? Might Guy at 29? This guy is the reason Kakashi never succumbed to darkness. He gave Rock Lee a purpose in life, who then inspired Naruto that hard work can also yield results. He proved that hard work can beat talent. In spite of having minimal chakra, he went head-to-head with Kisame and Madara - Kisame, who was the tailless Tailed Beast, and Madara, who had all the Tailed Beasts inside him, plus the Rinnegan.

    Why on earth is he not number 1? Naruto would've only been half as good as it was without him. Naruto had willpower, but he also had talent. It's true, he really did.

    Might Guy, on the other hand, had absolutely nothing going for him, and he'd still give Naruto a good fight. Might Guy's life and character are the real testament to what can be achieved with effort and persistence, not Naruto.

18. Orochimaru

    

    Orochimaru is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is portrayed as one of the series' most powerful and dangerous antagonists, obsessed with gaining immortality and mastering forbidden jutsu. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies... read more

    His design, voice, movements, and jutsu all reinforce one thing: he's unsettling in the most stylish way possible. Orochimaru has that theatrical villain energy! Orochimaru doesn't rely on raw power. He wins through knowledge, experimentation, and preparation. He's the only villain who created his own village and killed a Hokage while doing it! He's one of the few characters whose actions ripple across the entire series. Orochimaru is one of those characters who steals every scene he's in.

    Orochimaru might be twisted, but at least he's consistent and original. He doesn't blame the world for his pain. He doesn't go, "My crush died, so now everyone else deserves to suffer."

    His hunger for knowledge and immortality is pure ambition. Obito? He's like a knockoff villain cocktail: Madara's ideology, but watered down with teenage angst, Sasuke's edge without the trauma and detail, and Karin-level simping but deadly. That's why he feels so weak in comparison. His whole mental state is just "rinrinrin" on repeat. He's not cold and calculating like Orochimaru. He's unstable and impulsive.

    And instead of carving his own path, he clings to Madara's shadow while pretending it's his master plan.

19. Deidara

    

    Deidara is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the Akatsuki organization and uses explosive clay-based techniques in combat. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime, movies, soundtracks, OVAs, video games, and a wide range of merchandise and... read more

    He broke into Gaara's house and dragged him out like a rat!

    "Alright, Gaara. You're coming with me!" "No, no! Sand coffin! Sand coffin! Sand coffin!" "Eh, shut up." (Bombs Gaara). "Alright, Sasori. Sorry for keeping you waiting for like thirteen hours. I got the desert rat out of its hole. Let's go?"

    I love Gaara. He's a really cool character! I just found it funny how a jerk like Deidara just walks into Gaara's village and steals him as if there were no tomorrow. Plus, Deidara and Tobi were really funny together!

    Art is an explosion! Anyone with four mouths, blond hair, blue eyes, and the ability to blow up anything they want is amazing. To whoever thinks Sasuke killed Deidara, you are wrong. It is clearly obvious Deidara sacrificed himself to kill Sasuke (though Sasuke doesn't deserve it).

    Deidara gives a whole new meaning to going out with a bang! Pyromaniacs for the win!

20. Kiba Inuzuka

    

    Kiba Inuzuka is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of Team Kurenai and is known for his partnership with his ninja dog, Akamaru. Kiba is part of the Inuzuka clan, which specializes in canine-based jutsu and tracking techniques.

    Why is Kiba so low? He's a cool guy. He's my favorite character from when I was a kid because of his relationship with Akamaru.

    He was kind of a rival to the protagonist, so obviously sometimes he seems obnoxious. But he's actually a good friend to Naruto. Jealousy and everything considered, as he watches Naruto who was a loser when they were kids go farther in life than him, has to be tough. Give him a break.

    I think most of the times he says he's going to be Hokage instead of Naruto, he's honestly just kind of joking. He isn't mean-spirited towards Naruto, just a little bratty, but Naruto gives it right back. They enjoy each other's company, especially as they grow up.

    He's also a good friend to his team! He tries to bond with Shino even when they're opposites and he's very sweet when taking care of Hinata. And of course, he's best friends with Akamaru since childhood and that's just wholesome.

21. Tsunade

    

    Tsunade is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise. She was created by Masashi Kishimoto and is one of the Legendary Sannin. Tsunade is known for her medical skills, superhuman strength, and leadership as the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.

    Tsunade needs more credit as Hokage! When Tsunade became Hokage, the village was in one of its worst states ever since the Hokage died. The Hidden Leaf was physically devastated after Orochimaru's invasion, and Danzo was running things behind the scenes! Instead of inheriting a strong village, she inherited a broken one.

    Even so, Tsunade made having a medical ninja in every squad the standard and established advanced treatment systems that dramatically improved survival rates. Her reforms saved countless lives long-term. Tsunade constantly had to make high-stakes decisions during her time as Hokage, like weighing Naruto's safety against Akatsuki threats. She played a key role in shifting the ninja world toward unity, even if she doesn't get the spotlight for it.

22. Hashirama Senju

    

    Hashirama Senju is a fictional character from Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga and anime franchise. He was the powerful and respected leader of the Senju clan and played a key role in founding the Hidden Leaf Village, known as Konohagakure, alongside his rival Madara Uchiha. After the village was established... read more

    Hashirama is much more than warm and sweet. Some analyses suggest that his emotional displays, like comforting Madara or calming tense situations, could be manipulative rather than purely altruistic. He sometimes used his sensitivity to gain an advantage or maintain control, especially in his interactions with Madara.

    Madara's refusal to return to peace was shaped by his own bitterness and worldview, not Hashirama's inability to change him. Hashirama's unwavering belief in peace and the Will of Fire was central to his leadership. Even when faced with resistance, he chose to protect the village and its children, which aligns with his moral code.

23. Temari

    

    Temari is a fictional character in the Naruto anime and manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is a ninja from the Hidden Sand Village and is known for wielding a giant iron fan that produces powerful gusts of wind in battle. Temari later moves to the Hidden Leaf Village, marries Shikamaru Nara... read more

    She efficiently manages battles, such as in her quick victory over Tenten and her analytical fight against Shikamaru, where she maintained distance. She is often shown to be one of the first to understand complex situations, such as identifying when Wind Release techniques are being used or when a Tailed Beast Bomb is being charged. Temari acts as a pragmatic, often harsh, voice of reason for her brothers, particularly as they navigated their loyalty to Sunagakure and Gaara.

    While her early development was tied to Gaara, she did not live in his shadow. She developed her own path as a Jonin and a key diplomat, often acting as a bridge between the Sand and Leaf villages.

24. Sakura Haruno

    

    Sakura Haruno is one of the primary heroines of the series Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. She is the only female ninja in Team Seven, which originally consists of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and their sensei Kakashi Hatake. Her family includes her mother, Mebuki Haruno, and her father, Kizashi Haruno... read more

    Sakura doesn't hide her feelings behind bravado or denial. She admits fear, frustration, jealousy, love, and guilt. That honesty is what allows her to grow instead of stagnating. Unlike many characters, Sakura owns her flaws. She recognizes when she's being immature, when she's relying too much on others, and when she needs to change. Her growth is self-driven, not plot-driven.

    She's one of the few people who truly understand Naruto's loneliness and Sasuke's pain. She listens, comforts, and supports others without needing to be the center of attention. Whether it's shielding villagers during the war, healing soldiers nonstop, or risking her life for her teammates, Sakura's instinct is always to protect.

25. Konan

    

    Konan is a fictional character from the Naruto universe, created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is a founding member of the Akatsuki organization and its only female member. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime series, original video animations, feature films, video games, and collectible merchandise... read more

    Konan is absolutely one of the strongest examples of how to write a serious, attractive, competent, non-sexualized female villain in modern shonen. She's not framed like Daki, who is intentionally designed around vanity, seduction, and cruelty. Konan's design communicates maturity and resolve. She's visually appealing because of who she is, not because the story pushes her into fan service.

    Konan is one of the few female characters in shonen who fights on equal footing with top-tier male characters and nearly kills a major villain, Obito. She's not evil for the sake of being evil. She's a product of the world's cruelty.

26. Tobirama Senju

    

    Tobirama Senju is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the younger brother of Hashirama Senju and the Second Hokage of Konohagakure. Tobirama is known for creating several important techniques and institutions within the village.

    He makes decisions based on what will keep the village stable in the long term. His policies, like the Academy, Police Force, and ANBU, come from a desire to prevent chaos, not to control people. He's fiercely protective of the Senju and Konoha. Even when he's harsh, it's because he refuses to let the people he cares about fall into the same cycles of violence he grew up in.

    Tobirama feels things deeply, as he lost multiple brothers, but he channels his pain into structure and action. He's the opposite of someone who lets trauma turn into bitterness. He judges people by their actions, not their clan. His respect for Kagami Uchiha and his trust in Hiruzen show that he values merit over prejudice, despite how fans oversimplify him.

27. Sasori

    

    Sasori is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the criminal organization Akatsuki and is known for his mastery of puppetry techniques. Sasori is a powerful rogue ninja who turned his own body into a puppet to enhance his combat... read more

    Although Sasori was only around for a bit, he was honestly one of my favorite villains so far. They did a really good job of slowly revealing his abilities, and there was an aura of mystery about him up until his last fight. He had a legitimately good character, having become an evil psychopath because of the death of his parents and the Sand Village's training.

    How he died was also a lot more interesting, since it seemed like he chose to lose and be killed when he could have won. After seeing Chiyo sacrifice herself for Sakura, I think he realized that living only for himself and the pursuit of power wasn't worth it. In my opinion, this was a way better way to end the fight than if he'd just been beaten.

    Also, his fight was pretty entertaining to watch, and there was something deeply unsettling about how he turned himself into a puppet.