Although the two-part anime ended in 2017, Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto still lives and continues to attract Gen Z to anime.
According to Diamond Lobby, Naruto is the most popular anime in the world right now, beating the likes of One Piece, Attack on Titan, Pokemon, and others.
No one can question Naruto’s popularity and the impact it had on anime culture, but people do wonder about the reason behind it.
And everyone seems to agree on one thing- the characters. Some label the premise as a bit of a cliche, but no one can question the authenticity and complexity of Naruto characters.
These characters are the true essence of the Naruto saga.
As they fight their individual and collective battles, viewers resonate with them on a whole new level. That’s why we still see so many different Naruto character debates pop up everywhere.
So we decided to help settle some of these debates.
Read on as we answer some of the hottest questions about the most popular Naruto characters, starting with a sad list and ending with a fun little game about Naruto character zodiac signs.
So, let’s jump in.
Who has the saddest backstory in Naruto?
When it comes to sad backstories, no other anime comes close to the Naruto characters. From the main protagonist to the deadliest of antagonists, it’s hard to find someone with a jolly past. But, the ones listed below have the saddest backstories in Naruto.
1. Kakashi
- Age: 31
- Clan: Hatake
- Status: Dead
From losing his parents and becoming a child soldier at 5, Kakashi has the saddest arc out of all the Naruto characters.
After losing his mother at a very young age, Kakashi only had his father, Sakumo. But after the village shunned Sakumo, he took his own life.
But the deaths didn’t stop there.
Kakashi then lost one of his oldest friends, Obito. As both of them were trying to save Rin, Obito gets crushed under a rock while trying to protect Kakashi. Living without a friend is one thing, but the guilt of knowing that they died protecting you is unbearable.
After that, Kakashi only had Rin left, and he promised Obito that he would protect Rin forever. But, as fate would have it, he killed Rin.
And to top it all off, Kakashi lost his only companion after Minato’s death.
2. Itachi
- Age: 21
- Clan: Uchiha
- Status: Dead
One of the strongest and saddest- it’s hard to find a more complex Naruto character than Itachi Uchiha. His longing for a peaceful life pushed him to do the darkest of deeds as he wiped out the entire Uchiha clan because they were planning a coup.
But that wasn’t the only motive behind his actions.
Danzo gave Itachi a choice to either kill the entire clan and save himself and his younger brother or let the village annihilate everything. And we all know what he did. He managed to kill every single member of the Uchiha clan, including his parents.
All this to preserve peace and save his younger brother, who’d end up hating him for killing their parents.
3. Naruto Uzumaki
- Age: 17
- Clan: Uzumaki
- Status: Alive
Although Naruto’s backstory is quite sad, we still think he’s had it easier than the Uchiha brothers. Plus, his story is more ironic than sad because he would have had the happiest of backstories if only the villagers understood.
Naruto was orphaned on the night of his birth. As the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked and laid waste to the village, Naruto’s parents captured and sealed the fox inside their newborn. Naruto’s parents die, the Fox gets sealed within Naruto, and the village starts to hate their savior.
The whole village seems to believe that Naruto is the Nine-Tailed Fox, and they start hating the orphan.
Naruto only wants recognition, but he only gets cold eyes.
4. Sasuke
- Age: 17
- Clan: Uchiha
- Status: Alive
Sasuke’s backstory isn’t as sad as it is tragic. If you consider his childhood, Sasuke had everything until that fateful night. But, coming home and watching your whole clan butchered and thrown into the street, including your parents, is a harrowing sight.
And the fact that his older brother did it all makes it even worse for Sasuke.
After that, Sasuke was never the same. Living alone in the same place where he lost everything made Sasuke the cold and silent boy we see throughout the series. And learning the truth about his brother’s actions further increased his trauma.
Even Kakashi couldn’t help him too much.
5. Nagato
- Age: 35
- Clan: Uzumaki
- Status: Dead
Before becoming Pain, Nagato was a happy child living in a small village, Amegakure, with his simpleton parents. But then he saw 2 Konoha ninjas break into their house and kill his parents.
That’s when he experienced pain for the first time.
He spent a good part of his life alone until he met Konan and Yahiko. At one point, Jiraiya took all three under his wing and trained them in basic ninjutsu.
After Jiraiya moved on, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko formed Akatsuki. Things were looking good until another Shinobi War took Yahiko’s life. That was the breaking point for Nagato.
6. Tsunade
- Age: 55
- Clan: Senju
- Status: Alive
The Fifth-Hokage elect has lost everyone she has ever loved, and the saddest part is that she blames herself.
During the Second Shinobi War, Tsunade lost two people she loved the most in this world. The first casualty was her younger brother, Nawaki, who died fighting. However, the death of her first love, Dan, was the most traumatic.
Tsunade was supposed to be the greatest medical ninjutsu in the world. But when Dan was bleeding out in her hands, she couldn’t do anything to save him. As Dan died, so did Tsunade’s will to change the ninja world.
That’s also when Tsunade developed her fear of blood.
7. Konohamaru
- Age: 12
- Clan: Sarutobi
- Status: Alive
Because of his eccentric behavior, fans tend to overlook just how sad Konohamaru’s story really is.
He was the grandson of the Third Hokage and everyone looked after him but no one really recognized him, just like Naruto. For the whole village, he was just the grandson of the Third Hokage and nothing else.
Konohamaru lost his parents at a very young age, then Orochimaru killed his grandfather, and later on, Akatsuki killed his uncle. All this while Konohamaru was still in training and couldn’t do anything to protect anyone.
By the time he graduated, Konohamaru was all alone.
8. Kabuto
- Age: 24
- Clan: – Yakushi
- Status: Alive
Nono Yakushi found Kabuto in a war-stricken village. Kabuto was only a child and had suffered amnesia because of a head injury. So, Nono took him to the Konoha orphanage.
As he trained in the orphanage, Kabuto developed great medical ninjutsu skills. So, Danzo recruited him for the Root organization as a spy/medical-ninjutsu.
During one of his missions, Kabuto ended up killing the woman who saved him, nurtured him back to life, and gave him his name. However, in her last moments, Nono failed to recognize Kabuto because Danzo had been giving her someone else’s photographs.
This broke Kabuto and he decided to join Orochimaru in his missions to try and carve a new identity for himself.
9. Konan
- Age: 35
- Clan: –
- Status: Dead
Konan is another one on the long list of people who lost their all during the Second Shinobi War. Born in the Hidden Rain Village, Konan saw her parents perish during the war. The orphan somehow survived and returned to life after she met Yahiko. The duo then formed Akatsuki after saving Nagato’s life.
As the trio grew up, Konan and Yahiko fell in love.
The news of Akatsuki’s power and influence started spreading throughout Amegakure, and Hanzo felt threatened. Hanzo kidnaps Konan and asked Nagato to kill Yahiko in order to save Konan.
Nagato couldn’t bring himself to do it, so Yahiko stabbed himself in front of Konan. That’s when the Akatsuki died, and Konan and Nagato became mercenaries for hire.
10. Yamato
- Age: 27
- Clan: Ibura
- Status: Alive
Yamato’s backstory is on-par with Sasuke when it comes to trauma.
As a child, Yamato was one of the 60 children that Orochimaru experimented on. All 60 children were injected with First Hokage’s DNA, and Yamato was the only survivor. He saw every single one of the 59 children pass away.
As he escaped Orochimaru’s facility, trouble followed him too.
Danzo took in Yamato and turned him into a child soldier of Root. In the end, Yamato’s survival instincts got him out of that too as he eventually joined the Anbu.
Who is the best Naruto character other than Naruto?
Naruto is a decent protagonist with a kick-ass backstory and an engaging development arc. But what if we take him out of the equation?
Who is the best Naruto character after Naruto?
Well, to each their own, but we choose the Dark Knight- Itachi Uchiha. And here’s why.
The Hero In Disguise
Itachi was presented as the most hateful and deadly villain of Naruto, but as it turned out, he was a hero no one knew about. Itachi slaughtered his own people just to protect the innocent civilians.
Preserving the Uchiha Clan
Everyone thinks of Itachi as the destroyer of the Uchiha clan, but the truth is that he saved his clan from a horrid fate. The Uchiha clan would have lost all its pride had they attacked the village according to plan.
So, Itachi killed them all, made them martyrs, and took the whole blame.
But that’s not all. Itachi spared his younger brother and seeded hatred in his heart. He wanted Sasuke to kill him so that he’ll redeem the Uchiha clan.
Strength, Skill, & Wisdom
Apart from the various sacrifices, Itachi was one of the most skilled Shinobi who awakened his Mangekyuo Sharingan at only 13 years of age. He also has the best Genjutsu.
But perhaps the most impressive thing was his coming back from the dead to defeat the Reanimation Jutsu and end the Fourth Shinobi War.
There’s no way any other Naruto character could have done all this by himself. The man did unfathomable things just to protect the Shinobi world.
If that doesn’t make him the coolest, most bad-ass Naruto character, then nothing will.
10 Most Popular Naruto Characters
Moving on from facts and opinions, now’s the time to list your favorite Naruto characters. Here are the 10 most popular Naruto characters as voted by fans on Ranker.
1. Itachi
- Age: 21
- Clan: Uchiha
- Status: Dead
A highly misunderstood character for the most part of the series turned into a fan favorite as soon as the truth was revealed.
It’s hard to find a Naruto fan who doesn’t like Itachi. The man practically saved the Shinobi world with his last sacrifice. And not to mention the role he played in forming another fan-favorite character, Sasuke Uchiha.
2. Kakashi
- Age: 31
- Clan: Hatake
- Status: Dead
Kakashi has one of the most tragic childhoods but it didn’t stop him from becoming the coolest sensei to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. The mystery around Kakashi washes away as the series progresses, and fans fall in love with him.
Plus, his journey from the most reserved Shinobi to the village leader was heartening to experience.
3. Naruto
- Age: 17
- Clan: Uzumaki
- Status: Alive
We were surprised to see Naruto at number 3, but it is what it is. The voters have chosen, and so the main character around whom the whole series revolves is only the third most popular character in Naruto.
It is understandable, to be honest. Being the main character, Naruto edges close to being OP which can be off-putting to some.
Also Read: All Naruto Hand Signs & Seals: Meanings & How-To Guide
4. Minato
- Age: 24
- Clan: Namikaze
- Status: Dead
Naruto’s father, the Fourth Hokage, is already dead before the series begins. For a long time, no one knew that he was Naruto’s father. He was just mentioned as a legend of the village who defeated the Nine-Tailed Fox and sealed it inside Naruto.
That one battle and plenty of talk about his skills made the fans fall in love with Minato.
5. Jiraiya
- Age: 54
- Clan: Ogata
- Status: Dead
Although Jiraiya had a twisted/perverted sense of humor, he was still monumental in shaping Naruto.
He was the one who helped Naruto unlock his true physical prowess. Jiraiya was also the first mentor of the Akatsuki. He trained the three orphans and then left as if he didn’t know them.
The seemingly carefree attitude masked his deep love for all his students, and the fans love him for that. Of course, others just love his sick sense of humor. Not us, though.
6. Shikamaru
- Age: 17
- Clan: Nara
- Status: Alive
Frankly, we thought Shikamaru would be a little higher up on the list. He was the only one, apart from Hinata, who’d hang out with Naruto.
As the story progresses the two become close friends, and he still remains Naruto’s right-hand man.
But there’s another reason fans love Shukamaru so much. He is one of the smartest Shinobi. Watching the teenager instruct the Hokage and his army was a treat for Shikamaru fans.
7. Gaara
- Age: 17
- Clan: Kazekage
- Status: Alive
Want to know what would have happened if everyone accepted Naruto instead of leaving him on his own? Look at Gaara.
Gaara houses the one-tailed beast, and instead of helping him, Gaara’s family turns him into a formidable weapon. Through training, Gaara eventually controls his inner beast just like Naruto. And after their fight, Gaara joins forces with Naruto along with his siblings.
He also played a vital role in the Fourth Shinobi War, and fans adore this dangerous yet compassionate fighter.
8. Pain
- Age: 35
- Clan: Uzumaki
- Status: Dead
From an orphan to the founding member of Akatsuki, it’s hard not to love the fascinating Pain.
Although he didn’t start out as a villain, we saw his transformation into one. Losing his best friend was hard on him. Eventually, he did let go of his inner darkness after his fight/talk with Naruto, but not before killing Jiraiya.
Fans love him for his journey more than anything else.
9. Kurama
- Age: 1000+
- Clan: –
- Status: Alive
Fans did not have the best of introductions to the Nine-Tailed Fox, but we got to see its true self later on. As Naruto and Kurama’s relationship developed, fans saw that Kurama is far from the destroyer it was portrayed as at the start of the series.
The truth is that the Fox is a handy ally for Naruto and bails him out on several occasions.
Spoiler Alert – Kurama will die in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
10. Might Guy
- Age: 31
- Clan: –
- Status: Alive
While Might Guy was portrayed as the goofy sensei in Naruto, Madara Uchiha considered him the strongest Shinobi of all. And even though he wasn’t a natural, Guy managed to master Taijutsu through sheer hard work.
But all that fades away against Kakashi. Fans love his interactions/competitions with Kakashi.
And those scenes along with his infectious energy is why we believe Might Guy made the top 10 list above characters like Sasuke, Hinata, and others.
We’re not done quite yet. How’d you like to find your Naruto twin?
Read on for a list of Naruto character zodiac signs and birthdays for a fun little game.
Main Naruto Characters Names & Birthdays
Instead of listing all Naruto characters, and giving you the longest list of characters ever, we decided to help you find your Naruto twin.
Here’s a list of 90+ male and female Naruto character birthdays and zodiac signs.
Male Naruto Characters – Birthday & Zodiac Signs
| Character | Birthday | Zodiac Sign |
| Naruto Uzumaki | October 10 | Libra |
| Itachi Uchiha | June 9 | Gemini |
| Kakashi Hatake | September 15 | Virgo |
| Sasuke Uchiha | July 23 | Leo |
| Shikamaru Nara | September 22 | Virgo |
| Jiraiya | November 11 | Scorpio |
| Minato Namikaze | January 25 | Aquarius |
| Gaara | January 19 | Aquarius |
| Madara Uchiha | December 24 | Leo |
| Might Guy | January 1 | Capricorn |
| Pain | September 23 | Virgo |
| Obito Uchiha | February 10 | Aquarius |
| Rock Lee | November 27 | Sagittarius |
| Neji Hyuuga | July 3 | Cancer |
| Deidara | May 5 | Taurus |
| Orochimaru | October 27 | Scorpio |
| Sasori | November 8 | Scorpio |
| Sai | November 25 | Pisces |
| Shisui Uchiha | October 19 | Libra |
| Hidan | April 2 | Aries |
| Kiba Inuzuka | July 7 | Cancer |
| Zabuza Momochi | August 15 | Leo |
| Kisame Hoshigaki | March 18 | Pisces |
| Hashirama Senju | October 23 | Scorpio |
| Tobirama Senju | February 19 | Pisces |
| Killer Bee | May 15 | Taurus |
| Kankurou | May 15 | Taurus |
| Shino Aburame | January 23 | Aquarius |
| Kimimaro | June 15 | Gemini |
| Kakuzu | August 18 | Leo |
| Kabuto Yakushi | February 29 | Pisces |
| Asuma Sarutobi | October 18 | Libra |
| Yamato | August 10 | Leo |
| Iruka Umino | May 26 | Gemini |
| Konohamaru Sarutobi | December 30 | Capricorn |
| Chouji Akimichi | May 1 | Taurus |
| Teuchi | August 10 | Leo |
| Yahiko | February 20 | Pisces |
| Danzou Shimura | January 6 | Capricorn |
| Hiruzen Sarutobi | February 8 | Aquarius |
| Darui | January 6 | Capricorn |
| Utakata | June 16 | Gemini |
| Izuna Uchiha | February 10 | Aquarius |
| Indra Otsutsuki | January 4 | Capricorn |
| A | June 1 | Gemini |
| Omoi | December 26 | Capricorn |
| Shiranui Genma | July 17 | Cancer |
| Gekkou Hayate | November 2 | Scorpio |
| Hagoromo Otsutsuki | August 6 | Leo |
| Shikaku Nara | July 15 | Cancer |
| Sakon | June 20 | Gemini |
| Yagura | April 3 | Aries |
| Dosu Kinuta | June 12 | Gemini |
| Juugo | October 1 | Libra |
| Sakumo Hatake | September 3 | Virgo |
| Kotetsu Hagane | July 21 | Cancer |
| Fugaku Uchiha | August 16 | Leo |
| Ebisu | March 8 | Pisces |
| Izumo Kamizuki | November 25 | Sagittarius |
| Yashamaru | May 23 | Gemini |
Female Naruto Characters – Birthday & Zodiac Signs
| Character | Birthday | Zodiac Sign |
| Hinata Hyuga | December 27 | Capricorn |
| Sakura Haruno | March 28 | Aries |
| Tsunade | August 2 | Leo |
| Temari | August 23 | Virgo |
| Konan | February 20 | Pisces |
| Kushina Uzumaki | July 10 | Cancer |
| Ino Yamanaka | September 23 | Libra |
| Haku | January 9 | Capricorn |
| TenTen | March 9 | Pisces |
| Suigetsu Hozuki | February 18 | Aquarius |
| Kaguya Otsutsuki | August 15 | Leo |
| Rin Nohara | November 15 | Scorpio |
| Anko Mitarashi | October 24 | Scorpio |
| Karin | June 20 | Gemini |
| Hanabi Hyuuga | March 27 | Aries |
| Terumi Mei | May 21 | Gemini |
| Tayuya | February 15 | Aquarius |
| Yuuhi Kurenai | June 11 | Gemini |
| Mikoto Uchiha | June 1 | Gemini |
| Chiyo | October 15 | Libra |
| Fuu | August 8 | Leo |
| Shizune | November 18 | Scorpio |
| Samui | January 7 | Capricorn |
| Yugito Nii | July 24 | Leo |
And that brings us to the end.
We hope this settles some of your debates about Naruto characters or heats them up some more.
Do let us know who you think is the saddest Naruto character and who should top the popularity charts.