Worst Naruto Characters

The Top Ten

Sakura

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's growth wasn't fake, it's just quieter and more gradual compared to Naruto or Sasuke, so some people overlook it. She starts as an insecure, crush-driven girl, but over the series she becomes a top-tier medical ninja, a strong fighter in her own right, and someone capable of making tough decisions under extreme pressure. Her growth is about improving, learning from failures, and developing both skill and emotional maturity. By Shippuden and the war arc, she's clearly a strong, competent ninja who saves lives, strategizes under pressure, and proves herself in battles like against Sasori. Her feelings for Sasuke aren't just mindless obsession, they reflect her emotional depth, loyalty, and empathy. She also balances that with supporting Naruto, protecting her friends, and stepping up in ways that require actual skill and courage. Sakura's actions often look emotional, but they're grounded in care, responsibility, and growth.
Karin

Karin's fixation on Sasuke is canon and explicit, weird for kids who are watching the show to see this horrible character thrown at them. Her attraction often overrides her judgment, even after he attempts to kill her during the Kage Summit arc and neglects her. Compared to more layered characters, she is a one-note Uzumaki, why is she one if it does nothing in the series? By nothing, I mean her being an Uzumaki? Nobody cares for her and her bloodline, that's the straight up truth. She does heal and use sensory, but even then, those abilities aren't unique and sensory is common in the series.
Her love for Sasuke ruins her character and she should have been explored more with Naruto, not Sasuke and her crush on him is shallow at best. Karin loving Sasuke doesn't really change the story's outcome, it doesn't significantly impact Sasuke's decisions or growth. Karin's feelings feel non-essential to the main narrative.
Danzo Shimura

Danzō Shimura is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto. He appears in both the manga and anime adaptations as a high-ranking ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village. Known for leading the secretive organization Root, Danzō plays a central role in the series' political... read more

Danzo's actions are hypocritical, cowardly, and manipulative actions, which he masks as "serving the Leaf Village." He is responsible for orchestrating the Uchiha clan massacre, causing the deaths of Shisui and Yahiko, and manipulating events to gain power, often avoiding direct conflict while acting out of selfishness. Danzo forced Itachi into killing his own family and took Shisui's eye to prevent a peaceful resolution, all for his own selfish gain. His actions directly led to the creation of Akatsuki (via tricking Hanzo) and the degradation of Kabuto (killing his mother figure). He often hid during major crises (like Pain's attack on Konoha) to protect his own skin, despite claiming to sacrifice everything for the village. How can someone hate Sakura more than him? She's a good character!
Sasuke

Sasuke Uchiha is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Naruto, 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 path is mostly trauma-driven. He lost his entire clan at age 7, had a complex family situation, and was put in situations where his choices were manipulated (especially by Itachi, and later Tobi/Obito). He isn't inherently cruel, he was groomed by many older figures in his life. Itachi chose to live with the guilt of slaughtering his clan and manipulating Sasuke for the village's sake. Sasuke reacts impulsively to grief and perceived betrayal. Itachi's morality is proactive, Sasuke's is reactive. Unlike Naruto, who wears his heart on his sleeve, Sasuke hides his attachment under anger and pride. His "cold" exterior is mostly a defense mechanism from trauma (losing his clan and being manipulated by Itachi). After the war, he finally actively protects Konoha and checks in on Team 7 members.
Kaguya Otsutsuki

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is portrayed as the first wielder of chakra and is the mother of Hagoromo and Hamura Ōtsutsuki. Kaguya serves as the final antagonist of the original series.

Kaguya was an interesting concept but one of the worst characters in Naruto, I can respect her but I hate her. Unlike villains with significant development (Pain, Obito, Madara), Kaguya was introduced very late in the War Arc, no introduction, no nothing. Her motivations were simply to retrieve chakra and protect her "nursery" lacking the personal stakes or tragic backstory that made other villains compelling. Kaguya was heavily reliant on Black Zetsu to act as her voice and strategist, which made her feel less like an independent mastermind and more like a tool or program controlled by her son.

Unlike Obito or Madara, who were foreshadowed for hundreds of chapters, Kaguya was barely mentioned before her appearance, how can people connect to her? Kaguya is portrayed as almost entirely emotionless and robotic, often acting as a passive "program" controlled by Black Zetsu rather than a nuanced villain with her own agency. While her backstory (in the anime) suggests she was corrupted by power and feared her clan, her primary motivation feels simple, she wants her power and chakra back. Her fights involved switching dimensions and using one-shot kill moves (All-Killing Ash Bones) rather than engaging in the thrilling, high-speed combat that Naruto is known for. The only reason she existed as a villain was because Kishimoto wrote himself into a corner by making Madara way too powerful to beat.
Tenten

Tenten is one of the main supporting characters in the Naruto anime and manga series, as well as in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. She is a skilled kunoichi from Konohagakure and a member of Team Guy alongside Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee. Tenten specializes in weapon-based combat and uses scrolls to summon... read more

"TenTen can't fight in close combat" This is flat out false. This one is especially stupid because it contradicts multiple canon moments. TenTen is trained by Might Guy, a taijutsu-first sensei, who made her spar with Lee and Neji regularly. She's not a taijutsu monster like Lee, but saying she "can't fight up close" is just people confusing specialization with incapability. People saying she can't aim is objectively false, it was said by her team that she had precise aim. She uses trajectory control, timing, and suppression. Kurenai has one fight. TenTen has multiple war engagements. She contributes consistently in group combat, which is what ninja warfare actually is. Objectively, TenTen does more. People do care for her as well, she has one of the healthiest team dynamics in the series. She's not elite, but she's absolutely not useless.
Kabuto

Kabuto Yakushi is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He initially appears as a medical-nin and spy working for Orochimaru. Kabuto later becomes a major antagonist during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

He doesn't see individuals as individuals. He sees even kids as subjects, tools, and data points. Even Orochimaru, who is monstrous, has moments of genuine fascination or twisted affection. Kabuto has none. His interactions are clinical. Kabuto gets too close to people, he happens to infiltrates groups pretending to be harmless and manipulates vulnerable individuals (like the children in the orphanage)! The bastard even dares to use medical knowledge to harm, not heal. He's the kind of villain who gets close to you, learns everything about you, and then uses it against you. You know why he kills? He kills because it's interesting! There's something uniquely disturbing about someone who can dissect a person's body or mind and treat it like a science project.
Choji

First off, Choji's whole shtick is eating nonstop and crying over little things like losing a snack or feeling left out. Like, we get it, you love food, but can you do anything else besides munch and pout? Sometimes it feels like his entire personality is just "hungry kid who gets emotional over stuff."
And don't get me started on his fighting style. Yeah, the Butterfly Mode was cool at first, but after a while, it's just the same fat-expansion trick every time. Where's the variety? The hype? Choji fights like he's stuck in slow-mo, while other characters are out here pulling off insane combos and flashy jutsu.
Also, his whining and insecurity get old fast. Dude's always doubting himself, and half the time it's like "Bro, just chill and trust your friends already." Watching him overthink and cry every five minutes? Nah, pass.
Ino

In OG Naruto, Ino is written to fill a role, not to be a person. She can not be the best girl if she was introduced as a concept, not a character. Ino's roles were Sakura's rival, the Sasuke fangirl, and the popular mean girl type. None of these roles have emotion, depth, detail, internal conflict, and personal goals. Her rivalry with Sakura is shallow and underdeveloped, especially since Sakura knew Sasuke, Ino did not. Their Chunin Exam fight gives Sakura character, it made Ino look pathetic. Ino had zero long-term goals, conflicts, enemies, or emotional journey. Sakura's story is self-growth, Tsunade's is going through her past, Hinata's is confidence and power, Temari's is political, and TenTen's was a realistic view of a ninja. Ino's whole arc was, "I want to be pretty."
Hinata

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 known for her gentle personality and Byakugan ability. Over the series, she grows from a shy ninja into a confident fighter and later marries Naruto Uzumaki... read more

She risked her life in the Chuunin Exams arc to protect Naruto against Neji, even though she could have just run away, she was weaker than Neji but still wanted to save Naruto, so what do you mean she never did anything for Naruto? Hinata even saved his life during the Pain Arc and stopped him from getting corrupted during the War Arc. Her growth isn't flashy like Sasuke's or Naruto's, but that doesn't mean she's weak. It's consistent skill-building, which is canonically established. She trained under Hiashi Hyuga, mastering the Gentle Fist style and by the time of Shippuden, she's a capable Jonin-level fighter. Naruto himself repeatedly acknowledges that Hinata's care is genuine and supportive, showing it's not obsessive in a harmful way.

The Newcomers

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Menma Uzumaki

Menma Uzumaki is a character from "Naruto," featured in the alternate universe movie "Naruto: Road to Ninja." He is the dark counterpart of Naruto Uzumaki and serves as an antagonist in the film, working under the influence of Tobi.... read more

He's basically an alternate version of Naruto, but without any of the charm, growth, or likeability. Instead of being inspiring or interesting, Menma just comes off as a loud, whiny copycat who serves zero real purpose beyond stirring drama and confusion. His whole "I'm the real Naruto" vibe is tired and redundant.
The series could have easily skipped him without losing anything meaningful, and honestly, most fans agree he's just filler nonsense who doesn't add depth or excitement. Menma's presence feels like a forced attempt to create tension but ends up annoying everyone instead.

He's like a copy-paste version of Naruto but with none of the charm or personality. Instead of bringing fresh energy or interesting conflict, he just clutters the story and feels totally unnecessary. Honestly, if Menma just disappeared, no one would miss him, and the series would probably be better off without that pointless subplot.
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Himawari Uzumaki

She is VERY overrated. Especially in terms of how people view her powerwise. Himawari is THE character who gets every power handed to her, but in her case, it seems to be fine, but when it came to anyone else, they get hate? What exactly is "goat" about getting powers for free and not even getting a proper explanation for it? Let alone without any effort or drawbacks? Byakugan: It just happened, no former training and Kurama came through plot bs.

Himawari is literally a non existent character that shares some characteristics like her parents, but she can't compare to Naruto, Hinata or Boruto in any way, even her timeskip is overrated! She was already hyped before she stopped being a comfort character with no flaws and the most bland person in the series. Kurama resurrected inside Himawari due to her Uzumaki/Hyuga heritage? That was so stupid!

The Contenders

Sai

Sai is actually pretty funny...especially when he's dissing his teammates (mostly sakura) and the fact that he uses artwork for his attacks is pretty cool too. He may not be the strongest but he sure is cool and his back story is pretty sad compared to others...I mean working under Danzo (who's a prick) and meeting a brother like guy who you eventually gotta kill is pretty scaring I mean sasuke killed his awesome brother Itachi but that was out of hate and basically a misunderstanding...Sai on the other hand had to kill his brother because it was kill or be killed and plus Sai loved his brother so that's pretty sad for the kid. And the way he's so fake is laughable cause it's just so stupid but cool I guess anyway Sai is sick to me anyway he shouldn't really be on the list along with Naruto, Hinata and others!
Naruto

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

Naruto's "Talk no Jutsu" isn't just empathy, it is guilt-tripping, trauma-mining, and refusing to accept someone's boundaries. He decides his interpretation of someone's pain is the correct one, even when he barely knows them. If any other character did this, they'd be called toxic. He has a savior complex that borders on obsession! He harasses Sasuke, treats Sasuke like a personal project, and makes Sasuke's redemption about himself. Naruto preaches empathy, but dismisses viewpoints that don't match his own and mocks people who don't "believe" like he does. Naruto constantly says ""I suffered too" or "We're the same." Even when the other person's trauma is completely different or far worse. Naruto's entire identity is built on being acknowledged, being praised. It's a red flag that the story frames as inspirational.
Madara

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 the Naruto: Shippuden anime adaptation as one of the main antagonists.... read more

Madara is viewed as a narrative force with unmatched charisma, presence, and a cool factor that makes him a premier antagonist. He represented the ultimate peak of power, whereas Obito's power was often questioned or restricted by the plot. While Obito was the "big bad" for a long time, it was revealed that he was manipulated by Madara and essentially functioned as his pawn. This diminished his status as the mastermind compared to the true, returned Madara. Madara provided a more traditional, thrilling "final boss" experience during the Fourth Shinobi World War, making him more popular among fans looking for epic confrontations rather than emotional, thematic connections, which were stronger with Obito.
Konohamaru

Konohamaru is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the grandson of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and aspires to become Hokage himself. Throughout the series, Konohamaru evolves from a comedic side character into a capable ninja and... read more

It's kind of disappointing that Konohamaru was supposed surpass all jonin from previous generation including Kakashi and Guy. He was supposed to, but never did. I'm at least glad he surpassed the likes of Kurenai, and he did surpass Asuma, but he's only solid-tier. Konohamaru is too little to be introduced to battles. Little battling kids usually have a cooler and sinister aura around them, like Haku, but Konahamaru was not that kid.

He's everything annoying about Naruto amplified. I think the main reason is because the rasengan is supposed to be an extremely powerful and hard to master jutsu, and then some kid just comes along and does it so well it beat Temari easily, and killed a path of Pain!
Yukimaru

Why is he here? He's innocent and pure but really, out of all the characters, he's hated? I have never seen people hating him online, almost ever.

He's just too innocent for his own good, people just use him.
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 definitely as a character is overrated. He had the weakest motivation to become a villain, he did it over a damn girl who never liked him back. He dared to play victim and act like Rin was the only "pure" person in the world. His character quality dropped, turning a mysterious villain into a subordinate/mid-boss under Madara, then his turn to good was idiotic. Obito had a relatively peaceful upbringing compared to Nagato or Madara, then the idiot acted like he had it the worst.

He was once good but how the heck did that make him a broken hero? His actions, such as causing the Fourth Great Ninja War, killing millions, and orchestrating other atrocities, are seen by many as unforgivable, regardless of his trauma. His story is more often described as a cautionary tale of how a trauma can lead a person to commit evil acts, rather than a redemption arc. His desire to create an ideal world, which he believed would save his loved ones, was motivated by a selfish obsession with Rin, who did not reciprocate his feelings. Obito's actions sparked and fueled the fire that eventually led to the Uchiha clan massacre, and he even participated in it.
Guren

Guren is the definition of filler hype with no lasting value.
She gets this dramatic entrance, flashy Crystal Release, and a tragic mini-arc, and people act like she's some lost S-rank powerhouse. Let's be real: she's flashy, not formidable. Her entire purpose was to be a temporary mid-boss in a filler arc, and once she served her purpose, poof—gone like she never existed. She's also ugly

The most useless filler villain in all of Shippuden, uglier version of Yugao as well.

Guren was so useless and none her actions even mattered.
Killer B

Killer Bee is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, and is known for his rapping, energetic personality, and formidable combat skills. Killer Bee becomes an important ally to Naruto in the Fourth... read more

He's the host of the Eight-Tails, a top-tier jinchūriki, and one of the strongest fighters in the Naruto universe. His loud, goofy personality doesn't make him any less powerful. He can tank massive attacks, obliterate enemies with his sword and ink techniques, and even go toe-to-toe with Akatsuki members.Being loud or eccentric doesn't make a character "useless." If that logic held, Naruto himself would be "useless" for screaming all the time, or Guy would be "useless" for shouting and doing dramatic poses. Killer B combines raw strength, intelligence, and combat versatility. His energy is part of what makes him unpredictable in battle.
Killer B being loud is not a weakness, it's part of his character. He's one of the most powerful, skilled, and competent ninjas in Naruto, and anyone calling him useless clearly isn't paying attention to his feats, versatility, and raw battle IQ.
Zetsu

Zetsu is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is composed of two beings, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, merged into a single entity. Zetsu serves as a spy for the Akatsuki organization, with Black Zetsu acting as the will of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and... read more

Black Zetsu being revealed as "Kaguya's will" manipulating history for a thousand years is widely one of the worst plot decisions ever! Madara was built up for hundreds of chapters. Then Black Zetsu backstabs him, says "I've been manipulating you since birth," and the story pivots to Kaguya! He's not a tragic villain, not a charismatic villain, not a thematic villain, he is such a plot device! Oh, now White Zetsu was pure annoyance. White Zetsu is goofy, unserious, and not a real fighter. The Akatsuki are stylish, tragic, intimidating, or iconic. Zetsu is… a plant blob who argues with himself. Zetsu makes the story feel less about human choices and more about a cosmic parasite puppeteering everyone.
Suigetsu

Suiegstu had an ineresting motive but he was just pushed aside for Sasuke's revenge arc. He was comedic relief, that was most of is purpose but I will admit, he's not useless like Kiba and I did like him more than Jugo and Karin.

I have lost my faith in humanity due to him being on this list. He just needed a little more character development, ya know?

He's not a coward, well depends on the situation; but he wasn't one when he was facing super Killer B!
Yota

He's an annoying little crap, I'm so glad we don't see him again because this ahh had to be in the war arc, this ugly thing. His screaming is also damn annoying!

Yota's moments were so shallow and brief, mostly just there to fill in awkward gaps and add forced drama about Naruto's childhood struggles. Unlike Hinata and Shikamaru, who had real connections, growth, and meaningful interactions with Naruto, Yota felt like a background NPC who got temporarily promoted because the writers needed some filler "nice kid" to contrast with the bullies.
Boruto Uzumaki

Boruto Uzumaki is a fictional character created by manga author Masashi Kishimoto. He first appears in the final chapter of the Naruto manga as the son of Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga. Boruto is the central protagonist of the sequel series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, which continues the story... read more

Let's not even sugarcoat it. He's basically the poster child for "entitled brat with miraculous luck." He cries, complains, and sulks about literally everything, yet somehow always gets saved by plot armor the moment things get remotely dangerous.
Enemy too strong? Suddenly he finds some new jutsu, conveniently knows the secret technique, or someone swoops in at the last second. It's like the writers wrote him as a kid who never learns consequences. Boruto could literally get hit by a meteor, and the story would pause for him to dramatically discover some new secret power or for some conveniently timed ally to swoop in. He survives fights he should've been obliterated in, and somehow every "impossible" situation bends around him. Like, congratulations, you're Naruto's kid, the entire universe bends for you. Try being someone beyond that.
And don't get me started on his personality. He's selfish, whiny, overconfident, and then somehow "redeemed" every arc just because he remembers family values for a second. He doesn't earn respect. He demands it because the writers won't let him fail long enough to actually grow.
Orochimaru

Orochimaru is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is known 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

He's such a creep and such a freak who grooms people! He is a necromancer who dissects people and grows other people in jars. In particular, he is obsessed with a child's supple body and literally wants to wear his skin as his own. He is literally the lyrics, "He was the one that made us, you'll be the one to save us." And "His voice means to deceive you, my voice just wants to lead you. Below the surface, in with no purpose." Because this man literally made Kimimaro's life evolve around him, he is the only reason why Kimimaro is living, same with Sound 4.

How is he this low? He also engaged in grooming, abduction, and experimentation on Sasuke, as well as harboring a strong desire to destroy Konoha. The Iburi Clan had a unique ability to turn into smoke but struggled to control it. Orochimaru exploited their weakness, promising to help them control their power with cursed seals. In return, he used their children for experiments. When that wasn't sufficient, Orochimaru nearly wiped out the clan to gain their smoke-transforming ability, leaving only one survivor, Yukimi. That's only just the start of this monster.........
Chojuro

He is frequently considered one of the weakest Kages in the history of the Five Great Nations, lacking the overwhelming power, presence, or reputation established by his predecessors. During the early Boruto era, he was shown struggling against lower-level opponents (like the new Seven Swordsmen), which damaged his credibility as a Kage, in my opinion!

He's literally always a mess around Mei! Chojuro was portrayed as shy, timid, and lacking confidence. He did this for a while! He's so bland and trash.
Konan

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

She had no major goals outside of tagging along to the men in her life, she is highly dependent on men! She had ZERO impact on the plot compared to other villains. Everything important about her, her backstory, ideals, and motivations, was framed through Nagato or Jiraiya. Konan never won a significant fight in the series. She was defeated by Jiraiya fairly quickly. While she nearly defeated Obito, she did so with massive preparation time and still ultimately lost.

People calling Konan the "weakest Akatsuki member" clearly don't understand her role, her feats, or how she actually fought. It's wild how people act like Konan is "the weakest Akatsuki member" just because she's quiet, elegant, and not throwing tailed beasts around. She did not need to brag, she showed off her skills silently. Konan's fight wasn't flashy because her strength lies in strategy, setup, and intelligence. Her paper techniques are some of the most creative and deadly in the series. She could turn the entire terrain into a trap, move silently, and launch explosives with mathematical precision. People also forget that Konan was literally Nagato's right hand. She stood beside the Rinnegan wielder himself, not as his servant but as his equal and moral compass.