In the Naruto series, some characters get overshadowed because the series is packed with many powerful shinobi. Hence, the spotlight usually falls on the likes of Naruto, Sasuke, Jiraiya, and Madara, among others.
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These overshadowed characters are pushed to the sideline despite being strong and significant, but they left their mark in the grand scheme of things and deserve more recognition. Some of Naruto’s most underrated characters shaped significant events, likethe Fourth Great Ninja War, influenced the protagonists in one way or another, or possessed unique abilities.
Also, the characters did not get adequate screen time to establish themselves. Here are some of the series' underrated characters that deserve recognition.
10Shino Aburame
The Jutsu Of The Aburame Clan
Shino is one of the series' underdeveloped characters. He is skilled in the insect jutsu of the Aburame clan, and people often underestimate him.
His battles often lack flashy jutsu, unlike characters like Naruto or Gaara, but he is consistently proven to be a reliable Konoha shinobi. He easily dominated Kankuro during the Chunin exam and used his exceptional tracking skills in the Sasuke retrieval arc.
Even though Shino is quiet, his presence and demeanor in Naruto speak volumes. If he had been given more screen time, there is no doubt he would be regarded as one of Konoha’s most dangerous shinobi.
The Hardworking Underdog Of Konoha
Rock Lee is a vivid portrayal of hard work in the series, yet he remains underrated. He was born without the ability to use ninjutsu or genjutsu, which should have made him irrelevant in the shinobi world.
However, through strong will and relentless training under Mighty Guy, he turned what should have been a weakness into strength. Despite proving time after time that hard work can rival natural talents, Rock Lee never got the recognition he deserved because of many characters with powerful jutsu.
He fought againstthe powerful Kimimaroand held his fort even though the enemy possessed a complex jutsu.
The Unsung Master Of Wood Release
The wood-release shinobi had many contributions to the Naruto series, but despite this, he is never given the respect he deserves. He could use wood release due to Orochimaru’s experiments.
In this vein, fans saw him as a knockoff ofthe great Hashirama Senju. Yamato was not just a poor imitation because he could use the wood technique that no one else could use, but he used it effectively.
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His wood release was also crucial in containing Uzumaki Naruto’s nine tail transformations, something even Jiraiya struggled with. Without Yamato, Naruto’s training and control over Kurama would have been much harder if not possible.
A Warrior Feared, Yet Forgotten
If you think about it, Hanzo is one of those series characters whose legacy was quietly brushed aside. He fought toe-to-toe with the legendary sanin, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade, and they lost.
Another reason he is underrated is that his downfall overshadows his prime. However, his downfall is a great disservice to who he used to be.
He had to be assassinated through political deception because it was risky to confront him head-on. Let’s not forget that his actions shapedthe paths of Akatsukiand even future conflicts in the series.
6Danzo Shimura
The Necessary Evil Of Konoha
Danzo is one of the most loathed characters in Naruto and, thus, the most underrated. He is known to be the orchestrator of the Uchiha massacre, manipulated Konoha and hoardedthe Uchihas Sharinganlike a tyrant.
However, looking at how he operates, he is essential to the village’s survival by eliminating threats before they escalate. His methods were ruthless, but in his mind, he was doing the right thing to protect the village.
In a way, he was right because Konoha survived because of some of his actions, even if they came at a terrible cost. Danzo’s legacy is not one of admiration, but that does not mean he was not important because he made a choice no one was willing to make.
The Mastermind Behind The Edo Tensei
Most fans see Kabuto as Orochimaru’s lackey or someone who went too far trying to prove himself. However, he turned out to be one of the most influential characters in the Fourth Great Ninja War by mastering the Sage Mode and the Edo Tensei.
Without Kabuto’s interference, the war would have turned out differently because some reincarnated shinobis, like Minato, Hashirama, and Tobirama, among others, helped the Allied Shinobi Force. Madara and Obito took the spotlight during the war; hence, his name rarely comes up when fans talk about the war’s biggest threat.
His entire journey was about trying to find his identity; however, fans of the series tend to forget just how much he actually did.
The Religious Zealot
The Akatsuki member, Hidan, was immortal, and this was a feat no character in the series could claim. His ritual technique guaranteed defeating his opponent, and with the immortality factor, he could fight without worrying about any damage.
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Hidan’s fighting stylegives him an advantage that most characters would never be able to counter. However, one reason he is underrated is how he was taken out. His fight against Shikamaru was one of the series’ most satisfying moments, and Hidan was outsmarted in the end.
Asuma’s death changed Shikamaru forever, adding real stakes to Akatsuki’s conflict. Hidan might not be the strongest, but he deserved way more recognition than he had in terms of impact, especially on Shikamaru.
The Spy Silent Growth
Sai was introduced as Sasuke’s replacement in Team 7, and in a way, he is compared to one of the most important characters in the series. He was an elite Root operative, trained to be emotionless.
Yet, despite his violent upbringing as a ruthless spy, he breaks free from Root operatives and develops a real bond with his teammates. Also, his ink-based jutsu is versatile but does not scream raw power like Rasengan or Chidori.
Hence, just because he did not have a major one-on-one fight does not mean he was not a threat. He exposed Danzo’s scheme and played a role in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
More Than Just A Supporter
As the only female in the Akatsuki group, Konan was often overshadowed by the bigger powers around her. Konan fought against Obito and nearly killed him.
Konan figured out how Obito’s Kamui worked and prepared many paper bomb traps that would have killed him. If not for the Izangi technique, Obito would not have survived the fight.
She was also part of the group’s founder; despite this, she is rarely talked about in the discussions ofthe strongest Akatsuki members. Maybe it is because she was not outwardly ruthless like the others, or she was always by Negato’s side, so fans do not see her as her own person.
1Iruka Umino
The Pillar Behind The Protagonist
It is easy to overlook someone like Iruka in a world with many powerful shinobi. However, if not for his role in the protagonist’s life, Naruto might not have become the hero we all know.
Naruto grew up completely alone and hated by the villagers because of the nine tails, but Iruka was the first to see Naruto as a kid who just wanted to be accepted. Iruka was not just Naruto’s teacher; he was the first person who believed in him, even though the nine tails also killed his parents.
And when Naruto was about to get married, the person he wanted to call his father was Iruka. Iruka is most likely underrated because fans might overlookthe emotional aspect of the seriesin favor of the big fights and power scaling.
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