Summary
- Naruto had unlikely friendships turned into close bonds, each displaying strong leadership and loyalty, resonating with fans.
- Asuma, Kakashi, and Might Guy were exemplary leaders who motivated and inspired their teams to great successes.
- Gaara, Naruto, and Hashirama were compassionate leaders who sacrificed for their people, fostering unity and growth.
Naruto is one of the greatest shonen anime of all time. Fans all over the world fell in love with Kishimoto's work, allowing them to follow the journeys of several ninja who learned from the best and accomplished great things in their lives.
Naruto's 7 Most Unlikely Friendships, Ranked
At first, it seemed like these characters would be Naruto's sworn enemies, but they ended up becoming close friends.
It goes without saying that every new generation of shinobi needed a leader they could rely on. Regardless of whether these characters led entire villages or a small team of genin backing them up, their leadership skills were extremely noticeable and deserve to be praised.
8 Asuma Sarutobi
Motivated His Team To Reach New Heights
- Leader of Team Ino-Shika-Cho, aka. Team 10
Asuma's death is heartbreaking in Naruto, especially for Team 10. He was a strong and competent shinobi, pushing Shikamaru to great heights while also motivating Ino and Choji whenever he could.
His passing was a sobering moment for the team, especially with Asuma refusing to pass away before being a reliable leader for the team one last time. His words of wisdom stuck with the trio, and they decided to hunt down both Hidan & Kakuzu and make them pay for their crimes.
7 Kakashi Hatake
A Prodigy Who Eventually Learned The Power Of Loyalty
- Leader of Team 7 & the Leaf Village
Kakashi certainly doesn't make a good first impression. His lack of punctuality, addiction to a series of cheap erotic novels, and goofy demeanor made it hard to gauge his competency. However, the moment he and Team 7 took on an escort mission to head to the Land of Waves, he showed his skills as a leader in impressive fashion.
He mentored both Naruto and Sasuke, two ninja who would go on to become stronger than ever. Eventually, his skills made him a reliable choice for the Sixth Hokage, and it's clear that Kakashi did a great job, given how much the village grew after the end of Naruto.
6 Might Guy
A Motivational Sensei Who Serves As An Example To His Students And Peers
- Leader of Team Guy
Might Guy is one of the most accomplished jonin in the series, motivating the people around him with the energy of youth. It's something that fans are constantly wowed by, especially when ninja like Rock Lee reach great heights under his tutelage.
Naruto: 5 Strongest Chidori Users, Ranked
Only a few characters in Naruto can use the powerful Chidori jutsu technique, but some are stronger than others.
Even though Neji and Tenten found his eccentricities odd, that never took away from the authority Might Guy boasted when things got serious. This taijutsu specialist made the strongest shinobi around bend to his will, showing why he deserved to be Kakashi's rival.
5 A (The Fourth Raikage)
His Men Are Fiercely Loyal, Showing Just How Inspirational He Is
- Leader of Iwagakure
Fans have seen their fair share of horrible Kage in the series who do nothing to save their village and become little more than a pawn for a greater evil. This is why A is such a fascinating character, displaying a deep love for his people and enduring great hardships to guarantee their survival.
There's a reason why everyone around the Fourth Raikage is so loyal to him. He leads by example and is clearly capable of rational thought, no matter how aggressive he may seem.
4 Hiruzen Sarutobi
The Third Hokage Gave His Life To Save His People
- Leader of the Leaf Village
Some of the greatest leaders in Naruto aren't afraid to make the ultimate sacrifice to save their people. This is precisely what makes Hiruzen so special, given that he had no problems using the Reaper Death Seal against the deadly trio of Orochimaru and the two revived Hokage.
Even before this sacrifice, the fact that the Third Hokage ruled over the Leaf Village all by his lonesome and did a great job is a testament to his leadership ability. Hiruzen was sorely missed after his demise, with several shinobi shedding a tear as they lamented the loss of a generational shinobi and a valiant leader.
3 Gaara
His Speech Convinced The Allied Shinobi Forces To Work In Harmony
- Leader of Sunagakure
It's amazing just how impactful Naruto was in Gaara's life. The One-Tails' Jinchuriki, who led a lonely life, finally learned the value of friendship and how oppressive loneliness could be.
8 Strong Characters Who Overpowered Naruto, Ranked
The following characters managed to overpower Naruto, at least temporarily!
Ever since this moment, Gaara has strove to be a worthy shinobi who acknowledges his peers, and he eventually became worthy of becoming the Kazekage. He was a strong and reliable leader who not only saved the village at the cost of his life but also motivated the Allied Shinobi Troops, who united under his leadership and confidently took on the Akatsuki.
2 Naruto Uzumaki
Gave Up On Precious Family Time To Lead The Village And Live Up To The Hokage Mantle
- Leader of the Leaf Village
No one expected a goofball like Naruto to become a competent leader, but that's precisely what makes his tale so special. He prioritized hard work above everything else and became stronger than ever, eventually being acknowledged by the village as their hero.
However, he didn't slack off after becoming the Hokage and toiled for hours to safeguard the village. While this caused him to be estranged from his family, it was the only misstep by a young prankster who otherwise grew to become one of the most powerful and decorated shinobi in the Leaf Village.
1 Hashirama Senju
The First Hokage Was A Natural And Charming Leader
- Leader of the Leaf Village
Long before the ninja villages were established, Hashirama from the Senju clan and Madara from the Uchiha clan were locked in a never-ending war. After numerous tragedies, Hashirama's quest for peace was finally achieved when a truce was established.
Given how likable and reliable Hashirama was, he was the clear-cut choice for Hokage. Even Madara could acknowledge that, even if his hatred never died and forced his best friend to engage in one last battle for the future of the ninja world he'd created and led into a new era.
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Naruto
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Naruto: Shippuden
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Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
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