Naruto features some of the most compelling characters in anime of all time. From Naruto Uzumaki, who inspired countless fans to chase their dreams no matter how impossible they seemed, to Gaara, who went from villain to respected leader, the series created by Masashi Kishimoto is full of incredible characters that made each of its story arcs unforgettable.

Naruto: Kishimoto's Original Plans For His Main Character Have Been Revealed

Kishimoto's original plans for Naruto were completely different. The story might have failed if it had stayed that way.

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By Rei Penber

However, Naruto is far from a flawless series, despite its strengths. The series also features characters who ruin some of the story arcs instead of lifting them. For many fans, these characters have committed the crime of wasting their potential, creating pointless drama, and turning unforgettable moments into forgettable scenes. Here’s a look at those characters in Naruto who completely ruin the series.

Danzo Shimura

Danzo Shimura is one of the most effective villains in Naruto, whose actions against Konoha and the Uchiha Clan have earned collective hatred from fans. From being a wannabe Hokage obsessed with power and control to orchestrating massacres behind the scenes, Danzo’s schemes are truly the worst of all.

While Danzo had all the makings of a perfect villain for setting up the most amazing arcs in Naruto, his character went from a calculated, intimidating presence to a mediocre, power-hungry villain whose final battle felt flat and underwhelming. Spamming Izanagi against Sasuke isn’t entertaining to watch; it turns what should have been a thrilling life-or-death showdown into a non-flashy fight.

Sakura Haruno

Next to Danzo, Sakura Haruno probably gets the most hate from the fanbase despite her huge role in Naruto. Understandably, Sakura’s personality isn’t the most likable, and her lack of incredible feats gave fans the impression that she’s incompetent, poorly written, and overly dependent on Naruto and Sasuke.

Moreover, Sakura had a constant obsession with Sasuke, which irked the fans in ways that made her character shallow and frustratingly repetitive. Even when Sasuke was willing to kill Sakura, she couldn’t care less about her safety and well-being. Not to mention, Sakura even misled Naruto at some point by lying to him that she loves him, which tripled the backlash.

Tenten

In comparison to the other female characters in Naruto, Tenten usually receives the least amount of screentime in both the manga and anime. She may be a recurring character, but there’s hardly any chance for her to shine despite her huge potential as a weapons master. From beginning to end of the series, Tenten only became a slot-filler for team Neji, while her comrades consistently got memorable fights and emotional arcs.

As a result, Tenten underperformed as a kunoichi, leaving fans frustrated that such a talented ninja who had a huge belief in herself never got a chance to show the full extent of her abilities. In the end, she came off as someone who never walked the talk.

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Neji

Within the Hyuga Clan, Neji is probably the most-loved member next to Hinata despite his unlikable personality during the Chunin Exams. After losing to Naruto, Neji seemingly received a wake-up call that changed his perspective on life. During the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, Neji started showing real growth, earning the appreciation of fans.

Unfortunately, no matter how amazing Neji has grown, the fact that he died an unnecessary death in the Fourth Great Ninja War ruins the emotional payoff of his character. Most fans believe that his death was only used as a plot device to strengthen the chemistry between Naruto and Hinata. To this day, his death still pains fans, as Boruto and Himawari lost the chance to meet an amazing ninja like him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi

Much of the hate that Hiruzen Sarutobi received from the fans is mostly due to the fillers in the Naruto anime, which painted him as overly neglectful and indecisive, so much so that he failed to properly handle what was supposed to be his most critical responsibility as the Third Hokage.

No wonder Hiruzen was dubbed as the worst Hokage of Konoha for not only breaking his promise to care for Naruto Uzumaki as a parent but also allowing Danzo to influence his decisions and operate unchecked behind the scenes. He ruined what could have been strong, decisive leadership, leaving the village vulnerable to hate and corruption.

Kaguya Otsutsuki

When everyone thought that Madara was the final villain of Naruto Shippuden, then came an overpowered alien who changed everything fans know about the series. Kaguya Otsutsuki’s sudden introduction in the Fourth Great Ninja War robbed Madara Uchiha of his long-built menace and dramatic exit from the series. Her appearance also turned what should have been the epic conclusion of the ninja wars into a confusing, god-tier spectacle that nobody expected to happen compared to the introduction of her children.

In addition, Kaguya Otsutsuki came off as a dull character due to her rushed introduction in the series. She wasn’t built up properly, leaving fans with little connection to her backstory, motives, and personality.

Karin

For many fans, Karin embodies all of Sakura Haruno’s worst traits, almost as if she was only created solely to deflect the backlash from Sakura. She had no redeeming qualities, as her defining characteristics, from her brash personality to her over-the-top affections for Sasuke, made her grating and unnecessary to the story.

Thankfully, the Boruto series is doing a better job in portraying Karin as a close friend to the Uchiha family. She is happy with Sasuke’s choices, and she’s even showing her supportive side to Sakura and Sarada. She’s also grown, emerging as the voice of reason within her team. Had Naruto handled Karin’s character better, fans could have wanted him to end up with Sasuke rather than Sakura.