10 Naruto Characters With the Strongest Spirit, Ranked from Genin to Kage
Who would you put at the top of the list?
There have already been dozens, if not hundreds, of articles and polls about who is the strongest character in Naruto. But we believe that what is inside is more important than what is outside, and therefore rank the characters of the cult anime according to their deep inner world and their personal stories.
Because Naruto without overcoming yourself is not Naruto.
10. Iruka Umino
Iruka is the absolute positive character that is present in almost every series or anime. Iruka was the first to see Naruto as just a small boy in need of care and looked after him. All of this becomes especially valuable when we remember that the Nine-Tailed Fox that lives in Naruto killed Iruka's parents.
Iruka became a true mentor to Naruto, teaching him to believe in himself and to never give up.
9. Rock Lee
The most tenacious and hardworking of all ninjas, Rock Lee, made us want to have a chic hairstyle, as if a big black cup had been placed on our heads.
Deprived of ninja skills from birth and surrounded by great masters from noble families, Rock Lee suffered and fought bravely for his happiness and place among the greatest. And his affection for his teacher, Guy, inspires nothing but boundless respect.
8. Kabuto Yakushi
Raised in the Konoha Orphanage, Kabuto eventually became a spy and a master manipulator capable of fooling anyone. This forced him to ask the existential question of who he really was.
Listening to the words of Orochimaru, Kabuto went from friend to enemy, experiencing many breakdowns. You can at least respect him for the fact that he eventually returned to the orphanage to support it and help orphans like himself find their place in the world.
7. Tsunade
Tsunade is perhaps the strongest female character in the whole anime. She is one of the greatest shinobi and the best medical ninja in the world. Because of her outstanding abilities, she was given the title of the fifth Hokage and the title of the legendary Sannin.
Tsunade has a difficult destiny, an iron will, and incredible abilities. She also became a mentor to Sakura, showing her the path of truth and prudence.
6. Sasuke Uchiha
Naruto's best friend and worst enemy, Sasuke is the true strength of the entire story. However, he eventually turned into a major villain who betrayed everyone who loved him. Since childhood, he had mastered the art of ninja to an advanced level, which eventually made him too proud.
Arrogance became his main feature that took away Naruto's best friend and Sakura's loved one. Sasuke always felt that he alone should be the Hokage, and that the only way to bring peace to the people was to destroy. And that’s not the best logic, to be honest.
5. Itachi Uchiha
Itachi is the best example of a guy you curse and hate until you find out his whole story. Slaughtering his entire clan is a surefire way to earn the title of one of the most dastardly villains in Konoha.
It turns out, however, that he is not so much a villain as a victim of circumstance and even a bit of a hero. Not only did Itachi protect the world from the clan that wanted to turn society upside down, but he also protected it from himself.
4. Nagato/Pain
Nagato was born a kind boy who tends to sympathize with anyone who suffers, but when his parents were murdered, he lost almost everything that made him kind.
Nagato believes that sacrifices must be made to bring peace to the planet, so destroying a few ninjas is just another ordinary Tuesday for him. Obsessed with the idea of universal peace and well-being, Nagato proclaims himself a god named Pain and becomes cruel and bloodthirsty.
After Naruto's speech, everything changes: Nagato realizes his mistakes, and to atone for his sins, he resurrects all those he has killed and dies himself – with a smile on his face.
3. Gaara
Gaara's path has many similarities to Naruto's – at least in that both lived as outcasts with demons inside them.
But what changed Gaara from a selfish hermit to a man of high purpose and love for society was a heart-to-heart conversation with Naruto, in which the sacred secret of living with a demon was revealed to him.
From that moment on, he began to respect humanity and became obsessed with the idea of becoming a Kazekage and gaining the respect of the villagers, which he eventually did.
2. Naruto
Naruto faced endless enemies, made new friends, and became only stronger. He was a collective character – Naruto embodied Iruka's compassion, Kakashi's ability to make the right choices, Shikamaru's creativity, Rock Lee's perseverance, and seasoned it all with his own tenacity and undying hope for the best.
An interesting fact is that in some fan groups, as well as in polls on forums, this character usually does not reach the top. A common reason for such a result is Naruto's excessive naivety (which is also why he did not take the first place on this list).
1. Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi is a multi-faceted character whose wisdom, calmness and devotion have won countless hearts. And if a few hundred more episodes had been devoted to his story, we would not have regretted our time with him.
Despite the fact that Kakashi's jealousy initially crossed all reasonable boundaries, he always cared for his friends – even to the point of sacrificing his life to save Akimichi Choji from Pain.
