Best Naruto Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs

Best Naruto Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs

Highlights

  • Naruto‘s world-building rested heavily on engaging supporting characters in key story beats.
  • Dedication of story arcs to specific cast members added depth to the narrative.
  • Some characters like Shino, Rock Lee, and Konan deserved more exploration and screen time.

As a long-time fan of Naruto, I must confess that there are certain characters whose stories were left somewhat untold, and Onoki is one such character. With a reign as Tsuchikage spanning decades, his impact on the shinobi world was immense. Yet, his screen time was limited primarily to crucial arcs like the Five Kage Summit and the Fourth Shinobi World War.


As a dedicated fan of the Naruto franchise, I can’t help but appreciate how the creator, Masashi Kishimoto, skillfully integrated the supporting cast into pivotal moments within the storyline. While Naruto and Sasuke’s paths took center stage, numerous side characters played significant roles in molding the narrative at different junctures.

In crafting the Naruto storyline, Kishimoto utilized a unique method by allocating specific storylines to individual characters, as demonstrated in arcs like the Kazekage Rescue Mission, Jiraiya’s Gallant Tale, and the Fated Brothers Battle. However, there were several intriguing characters whose importance to the overall Naruto narrative was underplayed, and unfortunately, some of these characters never received the dedicated storylines they arguably deserved.

1 Shino Aburame

Never Got The Spotlight His Character Deserved

Best Naruto Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Manga Debut Naruto Chapter #34 “Intruders?!”
Anime Debut Naruto Episode #1 “Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!”

Even though Shino had an unusual character, he showed remarkable skills as a ninja when he first appeared in Part I of Naruto. He defeated Zaku Abumi and fought Kankuro to a stalemate, revealing himself as a hidden powerhouse. His strength, distinct fighting style, and strategic prowess made him a formidable adversary for those involved in the Chunin Exams.

As Naruto progressed, Shino’s screen time diminished because his character development was minimal due to limited focus on him throughout Part II. Although Shino had some roles and the unique ninjutsu skills of the Aburame clan were hinted at, they weren’t fully explored as they could have been, leading to a lack of growth for Shino that persisted until Boruto began—at which point he turned into a humorous character.

2 Rock Lee

Failed To Live Up To His Explosive Debut And Immense Potential

Best Naruto Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Manga Debut Naruto Chapter #36 “Sakura’s Depression!!”
Anime Debut Naruto Episode #21 “Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals”

Although much of the spotlight was on Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara, and Neji during the Chunin Exams Arc in Part I, it was Rock Lee who ultimately stole the show during the Preliminaries. The reveal of his immense raw speed and ability to unlock several of the Eight Inner Gates made him a formidable combatant, as seen in his epic confrontations with Gaara in the Chunin Exams Preliminaries, as well as his later face-off with Kimimaro Kaguya during the Sasuke Recovery Mission Arc.

Initially, Lee’s character took a backseat after the initial storyline of Part II, and he primarily appeared in supporting roles for the rest of Naruto. Despite mastering the Eight Inner Gates with exceptional skill during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Lee didn’t receive as much attention as characters like Shikamaru, who had an entire arc dedicated to his mentor-student relationship. Although Lee made a significant contribution to the war, he ultimately failed to meet the high expectations set for his character at the beginning.

3 Konan

Perpetually Overshadowed By Her Two Closest Friends

Best Naruto Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Manga Debut Naruto Chapter #363 “Sasuke’s Death…!!”
Anime Debut Naruto Shippuden Episode #125 “Disappearance”

Konan played a significant part during the “Pain’s Assault Arc,” but her character development was less extensive than that of her companions Yahiko and Nagato, whose bond was instrumental in shaping the emotional essence of this storyline. Primarily, she functioned as a secondary character while the trio of Amegakure orphans undertook their perilous journey to resolve the recurring conflicts among the Five Great Shinobi Nations.

In the events leading up to the Fourth Shinobi World War, Konan briefly gained some attention, but it wasn’t so much about exploring her character as it was showcasing her adversary’s power through an impressive battle scene. Despite her intricate connections with Yahiko and Nagato, and her distinctive fighting style, Konan deserved more screen time and emphasis in the Naruto series, given that her portrayal was relatively limited for a shinobi of her skill level.

4 Onoki

The Tsuchikage’s Lengthy Reign And Achievements Were Glossed Over

Best Naruto Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Manga Debut Naruto Chapter #454 “Enter the Five Kage…!!”
Anime Debut Naruto Shippuden Episode #199 “Enter the Five Kage!”

For numerous decades, Onoki held a pivotal position as Tsuchikage in Iwagakure, navigating countless tempests and disputes that resonated throughout the shinobi community at large. In the world of Naruto, his presence was significant, particularly during the Five Kage Summit Arc and the heart of the Fourth Shinobi World War. However, much about him remained undisclosed, leaving fans curious about his backstory.

From his victories and setbacks throughout his tenure as Tsuchikage to his bond with his mentor and predecessor Mu, Onoki’s backstory wasn’t delved into deeply, leaving many intriguing questions about him unresolved at the conclusion of the series. Specifically, we never got a glimpse into Onoki’s adventures in his younger days or his peak strength, which would have enriched our understanding of his character development if we had more insights into the kind of individual he was in the past.

5 Tobirama Senju

His Enduring Influence On Konoha Was Just Briefly Explained

Best Naruto Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Manga Debut Naruto Chapter #118 “Confinement…!!”
Anime Debut Naruto Episode #69 “Village in Distress: A New A-Ranked Mission!”

Tobirama Senju, the founder of numerous significant institutions in Konoha such as the Academy and the Konoha Military Police Force (governed by the Uchiha clan), played a pivotal role in establishing the village’s framework at the beginning of Naruto. His contributions extended far beyond his administrative duties as the Second Hokage, as he was also an incredibly powerful shinobi who stood among, if not atop, the list of the strongest Kage during his era.

Regrettably, Tobirama often found himself overshadowed by his elder brother Hashirama, who was renowned for being one of the strongest shinobi ever known. His term as Hokage also received minimal coverage in the series, with many flashbacks focusing on the conflict between Hashirama and Madara Uchiha during Konoha’s formative years.

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2024-08-17 12:33