Narutohas some of the most poignant interpersonal relationships among its characters out of any anime or manga series, with a diverse cast of supporting characters who eventually befriend the protagonist. In the start, Naruto Uzumaki had difficulty getting along with his fellow Konoha villagers due to a horrific past associated with his existence, but his determination, tomfoolery, and golden heart win over even the most hardened of ninjas. While much ofNarutois spent featuring the protagonist’s attempt to reconcile with a defecting comrade and friend, many characters rank among Naruto’s best friends.
Friendship is hugely beneficial inNaruto, especially as the shinobi of the Five Great Countries and beyond traditionally operate as units rather than alone. This is especially the case as the series wears on, with nefarious organizations like the Akatsuki being too big for one hero to handle alone and Jinchūriki like Naruto being isolated as targets. Naruto had a habit of making friends with almost everyone he met,but aside from Sasuke, many were far more loyal from the startor soon after the series' first arcs.
10Chōji Akimichi
Among Konoha’s Most Wholesome Ninjas
Naruto ostensibly spends less time with Chōji throughout the series, with more lingering memories of their direct interactions in the filler arcs. While this is pretty hotly debated among fans, Naruto’s eventual bond in the series' main events is mainly unproblematic, even if Naruto’s poor choice of words makes for an awkward reunion in episode #33 ofNaruto Shippuden. Truthfully,Chōji is the best friend almost anybody in Konoha can ask for, being closest to Shikamaru Nara since childhood.
What’s fascinating about Chōji is that he’s a loyal and wholesome Konoha citizen, eager to lend a helping hand even inMirai Sarutobi’sNarutospinoff miniseries. He’s a loving father andstouthearted individual who frequently goes to barbecues with friends, cheers on his allies, and is one of Konoha’s fiercest defenders. While Chōji ranks relatively low among Naruto’s friends, he’s a precious ally to many others.
9Killer B
Tailed Beast Buddies
Killer B’s introduction is far later than practically all the characters Naruto befriends. Still, his most poignant impressions on the protagonist lie in his successful cooperation with Gyūki, the Eight-Tails. Killer B, in general, is a compassionate, energetic, and collaborative shinobi and ranks commonly among the most memorable characters from Kumogakure, the Village Hidden by the Clouds.Through Killer B’s teaching, Naruto can eventually befriend and work alongside Kurama, his Tailed Beast.
Killer B is also one of the most expressive friends inNaruto.His body language and gestures, namely, the fist bump, is a particular habit Naruto picks up, a sort of mutual acknowledgment as fighters. Killer B’s connection is also fascinating in that there’s never an enduring rivalry between the two, just a mutual understanding of their shared traits as Jinchūriki.
8Kiba Inuzuka
A Rocky Start Smoothed Over with Respect
Kiba was one of Naruto’s harshest critics among his peers, with their rivalry being particularly heated in the Chunin Exams Arc. However, in the third portion of the exams, the two fight in the preliminaries, with Kiba’s persistent underestimation of Naruto’s growth being a common theme. After Naruto successfully wins after refusing to back down,Kiba changes his tune, being among Naruto’s earliest cheerleaders, proudly recognizing his classmate after Naruto saved Konoha from Pain.
Kiba showed signs of getting along with Naruto in various filler episodes, spending time with him alongside Chōji and Shikamaru, suggesting his only issue was Naruto’s embarrassing ineptitude and obnoxious behavior.But after a humbling defeat, he’s one of the first friends Naruto wins over.He’s not an especially close friend, but no other character has weathered as much of Naruto’s flatulence in the face, which has to count for something.
7Neji Hyuga
Fated Friends
While Naruto initially gets a poor impression of Neji, witnessing his cruelty toward Hinata in the Chunin Exams, Naruto is also responsible forbreaking down Neji’s deep-seated, deterministic outlook. When Neji revealed the truth behind his frustration, Naruto merely wished to change this perception, believing Neji’s preconceived notions to be the true issue. Despite Neji wildly outclassing Naruto in skill, the protagonist’s grit and determination to push back against the gentle fist of fate finally lowered Neji’s barriers.
It’s after this moment inNarutochapter #105 that Neji suffers the greatest upset of his life as one of Konoha’s famed geniuses, choosing to abandon his previous beliefs and not be discouraged by his standing as a Hyuga branch family member. He becomes an elite Jonin, the first of Naruto’s generation to do so, andhis final moments in the series show him grateful to be acknowledged by Naruto. Neji’s impression was strong enoughfor Naruto to pay homage to when he named his son Boruto.
6Gaara
Misery Loves Company
Gaara was among the biggest surprises in terms of Naruto’s friends. After all, he begins the series with a cruel streak, his brutality so sharp thattheNarutoanime had to censor his violent brand of jutsu. Despite this otherwise horrendous first impression,Naruto begins to see the suffering and sadness beneath Gaara’s rage, as the two share similarly tragic childhoods as Jinchūriki, shunned by their villages.
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However, after rescuing Gaara from Sasori and persuading Chiyo to save him, Naruto demonstrates his concern for a fellow Jinchūriki. Gaara’s return in chapter #279 is a touching moment.Naruto made an important step in looking out for ninjas from other nations, something Chiyo’s generation could not achieve. Gaara’s handshake with Naruto and subsequent friendship would properly seal a mutual, unbreakable bond.
5Iruka Umino
Naruto’s First Supporter
While more of a big brother figure for Naruto as the series continues, Iruka’s friendship is a beautiful and wholesome bond that, while having less prominence later in the franchise, was vital in Naruto’s upbringing. Iruka was the first ninja to show that he cared about Naruto, despite him being the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox who once ravaged Konoha, an incident that claimed his parents' life. Despite a reasonable case for resentment,Iruka never hated Naruto; instead, he recognized him as a shinobi of Konoha, giving him his ninja headband and being his first true mentor.
Iruka’s role will diminish later in the series, but there are incredible moments whereIruka offers sage wisdom and companionship when Naruto needs it the most.Sometimes, it’d be shared over a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku; other times, it’d be splitting a popsicle while grieving one of Naruto’s gravest personal losses. Iruka is the big brother Naruto deserves and his first friend introduced in the manga, as shown in chapter #1.
4Kurama
A Hard-Earned Friendship for Naruto
Kurama’s bond with Naruto was nonexistent at the start of the series, instead being a latent source of chakra Naruto would hastily use in early moments, such as against Haku in the Land of Waves Arc or Neji in the Chunin Exams. But soon, as Naruto’s rage deepened, more of the seal holding Kurama’s power in check would open, resulting in some close calls. After Naruto at one point tamed Kurama to use his power, he soon learned more about the plight of the Tailed Beasts,wishing instead to help them and win over Kurama’s friendship.
Kurama would look past his resentment of being locked in Naruto’s body as he witnessed the boy’s altruism. He’d soon change his stance from being forcefully imprisoned by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, tobeing entrusted to the boy inNarutochapter #597.Their friendship would be unique inNaruto, mutually dependent on each other in battle, and fierce allies for one another.
3Hinata Hyuga
Love at First Sight
While Hinata’s bond with Naruto is naturally deeper than friendship, her admiration for the young shinobi, despite a constant and overly demure personality, leads her to strive for improvement. This includes small moments like offering Naruto ointment for his wounds after fighting Kiba in chapter #77 andmonumentalmoments like defending his life with her own against Pain. According to flashbacks, Hinata has admired and grown to love Naruto since childhood,easily the first of Naruto’s generation to look up to him.
But Hinata isn’t the only one positively affected. The two continue to empower each other, as Hinata shows remarkable courage when fighting Neji in the very next round of the Chunin Exams.Naruto is remarkably dense when it comes to her feelings for him but instantly recognizes her qualities as a friend. That it blossoms into a more beautiful bond as time passes is merely icing on the cake for fans.
2Sakura Haruno
A Beautiful and Complicated Bond
Naruto spends much of the series having a crush on Sakura, butthe two organically bond as teammates, friends, and confidants throughout the series. Sakura used to look at Naruto contemptuously, seeing him as their team’s weakest link. Still, as early as in the Forest of Death, she sees him as a courageous and stalwart ally, while Naruto sees her for her sharp intellect and increasingly amazing strength. Sakura cared enough for Naruto to falsely confess her feelings for him to deter him from pursuing Sasuke, believing he’d be at risk as a Jinchūriki.
Sakura soon grows into one of Naruto’s greatest advocates, cheering for him in his fights, calling on him in her darkest hours like in the Pain’s Assault Arc, and being happy to see him return to Konoha with Jiraiya after the time-skip. While Naruto would eventually move on from his feelings for Sakura, in their place, he’d develop a strong sense of respect for her. Sakura was a far better friend to Naruto than Sasuke was in their upbringing, despite initially bearing an immature hatred for him.
1Shikamaru Nara
Naruto’s Right-Hand Man
Naruto was initially dismissive of Shikamaru, as seen in the Chunin Exams, even calling him “dull and plain” in the anime but begrudgingly accepting his brilliance. But as the series continues, with Shikamaru shining more brightly as the dark horse of the arc,Naruto would soon meet the most brilliant mind and his generation’s first bona fide leader. This includes Shikamaru’s courage and tactics on the Sasuke Retrieval Mission Arc, his palpable compassion when said mission leaves the team considerably injured, and more.
But perhaps the moment when Shikamaru proved himself as Naruto’s best friend from his age group, and overall, was when Naruto was in his pit of despair about Jiraiya, only for Shikamaru to remind him what they’re fighting for. As the Fourth Great Ninja War Arc came to a close, Shikamaru even developed a sense of purpose for his future, wishing to see Naruto become Hokage and selflessly stand by his side as his trusted advisor. Shikamaru’s Will of Fire continues to push him to step up among thebest friends and characters inNaruto,far beyond his slacker origins.
Naruto
Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists' children and returning faces.
