Naruto’s Unexpectedly Weak Characters: From Legendary Hokages to Fallen Heroes

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Summary

  • Tsunade is powerful but never wins, hurting her credibility in battles.
  • Shino falls from grace, becoming a weak character in Boruto.
  • Hiruzen is the weakest Hokage, overshadowed by other powerful characters.

The Naruto series is overflowing with some of the most remarkable characters from the shonen genre, captivating fans with the journey of a resilient underdog protagonist, the enigmatic journey of his adversary, and the motivations driving every other hero and antagonist as they participate in epic battles that stand out among anime fights.

Some figures initially create a powerful initial impression, giving the distinct feeling they are bound for extraordinary achievements. However, unfortunately, their performance weakens significantly and fails to leave a lasting impact later on. It’s disappointing because it’s evident that audiences would have eagerly anticipated witnessing these characters in some of the most thrilling battles within the series.

8. Shino Aburame

Had Many Highlights Before The Time-Skip Only To Turn Into A Joke Later On

  • Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

It would be beneficial to delve into Shino’s decline, given his previous opportunities to excel prior to the time-jump. Instead of maintaining his confidence, he transforms into a self-doubting character upon growing older and fails to make significant contributions during battles.

In the series “Boruto,” his performance takes a significant dip, as he is portrayed as a less effective teacher who loses in combat against Mitsuki. This represents the lowest point in his character’s development and positions him among the weaker characters from the Naruto universe, despite his initial impressive showings.

7. Tsunade Senju

Despite Being Ridiculously Powerful, She Never Wins A Single Fight And Loses Credibility As A Result

  • Debut: Jiraiya: Naruto’s Potential Disaster! (Episode 83 of Naruto)

It cannot be argued that Tsunade is undeniably one of the strongest ninjas within Naruto, possessing an effortless ability to shatter bones. Yet, it should be noted that her battle record leaves much to be desired, as this Hokage has yet to secure a victory in any fight she’s engaged in.

It’s unfortunate as this incident has an impact on her reputation in critical circumstances, making her appear less formidable than her true strength suggests. Her humbling loss against Madara exposed her lack of familiarity with the situation, despite her healing abilities preventing the Kages from perishing at that crucial moment.

6. Hiruzen Sarutobi

Given How Powerful The Other Hokage Are, The Third Is Easily The Weakest Of The Bunch

  • Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

Initially, the Third Hokage established himself as a formidable ninja in the beginning of Naruto. However, it’s challenging not to notice the multitude of events that have transpired since then. Other characters have accomplished remarkable feats, while Hiruzen’s sacrifice in removing Orochimaru’s arms was overshadowed when he managed to swap his own body instead.

Considering everything we know, it’s challenging to be as awed by Hiruzen’s accomplishments as those of the other Hokages. In fact, he might be considered one of the least powerful ninjas to hold this position, an honor that isn’t sought after by many.

5. Tenten

A Weapons Expert Who Fails To Make An Impression

  • Debut: Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals (Episode 21 of Naruto)

It’s understandable that, given their significance in ninja battles, Tenten could have proven herself as a capable fighter. However, she hardly gets a chance to make amends for her defeat against Temari, and instead fades into obscurity as the series progresses.

In Naruto, Tenten’s initial potential seemingly disintegrated, leaving her as one of the least powerful shinobi. It’s a tragic situation that underscores Kishimoto’s struggle to create robust female characters within the series, a flaw that repeatedly surfaces.

4. Kurenai Yuhi

A Jonin With A Mastery Over Genjutsu Who Enjoys Has Moments To Shine

  • Debut: Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes? (Episode 3 of Naruto)

Kurenai is portrayed as an expert in the art of genjutsu, but her standing takes a significant hit when she is bested by Itachi. In a scenario where Itachi could have ensnared her in a terrifying genjutsu, Kakashi’s timely intervention prevented this from happening.

Throughout the story, Kurenai is one of the characters who remains in the background while other ninja have their moments to excel. Despite her significant role and the promise of her abilities, she rarely appears on-screen, even during Asuma’s tragic demise. This lack of screen time for her character is unfortunate, considering her potential.

3. Kaguya Otsutsuki

The Mother Of Chakra Is Done Away With In Her Very First Fight

  • Debut: Truth (Episode 458 of Naruto: Shippuden)

It’s only natural to assume that Kaguya, a character from Naruto, would possess immense power, capable of manipulating the world at will. Therefore, it feels somewhat underwhelming that she engaged in battle only once with Naruto and Sasuke before being sealed away, rather than having more significant interactions.

In simpler terms, her dimensional fights are impressive and portray her as strong, but getting caught off guard by weak attacks and then defeated by Sakura isn’t very flattering. In the end, she was primarily introduced to introduce the Otsutsuki clan and extend Naruto’s story beyond its natural ending, a decision that continues to spark intense discussions among fans.

2. Sakura Haruno

Despite Some Promising Flashes, She Lags Far Behind Her Teammates

  • Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

In the storyline, Sakura consistently demonstrates that she’s self-reliant rather than relying on others. A significant instance is when she chops off her hair during the Chunin Exams and later, following the time-skip, her increased power becomes evident. These events underscore a strong, independent Sakura who can engage in combat when necessary.

Unfortunately, her over-relying on Naruto and frequent defeat in battles doesn’t really back up that portrayal. Her medical ninjutsu abilities often served as a handy reason for Kishimoto to keep her out of the spotlight during battles, while other shinobi who excelled in combat took center stage, particularly during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

1. Ino Yamanaka

Her Mind-Body Switch Technique Is Useful But Leaves Her Defenseless

  • Debut: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! (Episode 1 of Naruto)

Ino’s mental abilities are truly remarkable, opening up vast opportunities for her character development. If she were able to seize control of opponents while maintaining control over her own body, she would prove to be an extremely challenging adversary in combat.

Rather than actively controlling enemies’ minds during combat, her abilities primarily involve transmitting information. However, this passive nature limits her true power and makes her less effective in one-on-one battles, reducing her reliance on the Mind-Body Switch technique.

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2025-02-01 09:57