When one talks about some of the greatest and most influential anime of all time, then it goes without saying that Naruto Shippuden would definitely be a part of this conversation. The show is arguably one of the most popular anime of all time, and regardless of what one may feel about the overall quality — and length — of the final arc, there's no denying the fact that Shippuden was still an excellent addition to the legacy of Naruto that fans still look back fondly on to this day.
Of course, a big part of what made Naruto Shippuden such an enjoyable show was definitely its vast swath of characters, each of whom helped further the overall narrative while simultaneously developing their own personas through their character arcs. That being said, even the most loving fans have to admit that some character arcs were simply more well-developed than others, and this list will take a look at ten main characters by ranking them in terms of the overall quality of their character arcs.
10 Sakura
While ripping on Sakura is something that most fans are pretty much tired of at this point, there's no denying the fact that her character arc experienced a permanent swing downwards post Sasuke's betrayal of Konoha.
She had a highlight of her own during the initial moments of Shippuden when she engaged in a battle with Sasori, but that was the only highlight for a character who was woefully ignored for a major chunk of Naruto.
9 Obito
The idea of Obito being the final antagonist was a novel one, and the history he shared with Kakashi definitely lent to the idea that he could definitely be a highly intriguing villain for the final arc of the series.
However, as the series progressed, it was clear that Obito's motivations didn't really make a ton of sense. It's one thing to be heartbroken and disillusioned with life after finding out that your best friend killed the person you loved — it's another thing entirely to exact their revenge on the entire world by forcing them into a permanent illusion... even after knowing that the circumstances that lead to Rin's death were completely accidental!
8 Hinata
Hinata might've taken a backseat to the majority of events in Naruto, but the manner in which she still ended up as Naruto's wife was still quite natural and something that was written quite well.
She might have her fair share of highlights in Shippuden, but one has to admit that it's in Boruto that she truly shines as a character.
7 Madara
The legacy that surrounded Madara made him a perfect pick to be the final antagonist of Naruto Shippuden. After all, here was a person who never could let his pride go away and let his ambitions get the better of him... only for his power-hungry nature to bring him back from death once again to take over the shinobi world.
However, Madara's overall character was definitely affected by the fact that he was easily double-crossed by the black Zetsu in order to revive Kaguya Otsutsuki — a character that pretty much no one cared for until her backstory was explained in excruciatingly long detail a few moments before she made her presence known.
6 Hashirama
The First Hokage is easily one of the most legendary figures in Naruto, and anyone who's seen the show can attest to why this is the case.
His rivalry with Madara is the stuff of legends and makes their rematch during the Fourth Shinobi World War all the more entertaining to witness, as a result.
5 Minato
However, while Hashirama might be more important for the creation of the Leaf Village as a whole, it's the Fourth Hokage's relation to the main character that makes his character all the more enjoyable.
He's easily one of the most likable characters on the entire show, with the sacrifice that he and Kushina make to protect Naruto easily being one of the most emotional moments in the entire series.
4 Kakashi
It would be impossible to rank the personal story arcs of everyone in Naruto without mentioning the brilliance of Kakashi as a character. Initially coming off as nothing more than a lackadaisical teacher whose priorities seemed to be quite mysterious, the manner in which his character is further elaborated upon as the series progressed was quite incredibly indeed.
From the manner in which the suicide of his father affected him to the bond he formed with Obito — there's no denying the fact that Kakashi is one of the most complex and entertaining characters in Naruto Shippuden.
3 Sasuke
The sole survivor of the Uchiha Clan is one of the greatest anime characters of all time, with Sasuke's journey into the depths of hatred and malice being a truly fascinating watch.
From finding out about his brother's true intentions to the immensely riveting dynamic he shares with Naruto — there's no denying the fact that Sasuke's character is extremely well-written and serves as a great persona to explore the darker side of Naruto Shippuden.
2 Naruto
The main character of the show might fall victim to some of the trappings that have plagued shonen protagonists for the longest time, but there's no denying the fact that Naruto is still a brilliant character despite these cliches.
The manner in which he develops from a bumbling ninja to one of the most powerful figures in Konoha is a fascinating watch, and fans can't help but root for Naruto throughout his encapsulating journey.
1 Itachi
But of course, there was only one character that would take over the mantle of being the best character in Naruto Shippuden, and that is Itachi Uchiha.
Initially coming off as nothing more than a ruthless backstabber who laid waste to his entire clan and left his brother with immense trauma, Itachi slowly came into his own as a character before the truth about his actions was revealed in a definitive fashion.
Finding out that a character who was supposed to be a bonafide villain actually was nothing more than a selfless person who was looking out for his younger brother is one of the biggest shocks that the show has delivered, instantly turning Itachi into one of the best characters in the entire series.
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