The path of a shinobi is filled with pain. Naruto and his companions, as well as his enemies, discover this repeatedly throughout Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. For some, this reality made them stronger characters. However, for others, the backstory never clicked, or when the role did start to click it was too little too late. On top of this, some characters are just too compelling to be intriguing or get boxed into a role that hurts the overall story expectations.

The entire manga and anime became a feast or famine for any new character. Fans are strict with expectations and characters that did not live up to expectations hurt the show. On the other hand, when a character rose above their purpose and surprised the audience in a meaningful way, the decision saved the series at times. This balance is part of what makes Naruto so intriguing to watch. When things become unbalanced, the series becomes less entertaining.

This list aims to dissect the impact some of those shinobi. Shinobi who hurt the series are defined by their lack of impact or flatlined involvement in the plot. The shinobi who save the series is defined in the exact opposite way. All shinobi are considered for their full impact throughout both series, but no movies or other outside sources are discussed.

Here are 10 Shinobi That Hurt The Show (And 10 That Saved It).

Hurt: Sasori

The Akatsuki entered fans’ hearts early in the show and never left. The group had personality and mystery. Almost every member became a character worth ing—almost. Sasori turned into a real bummer.

Listen, his backstory is muddled and overly complicated. It became too much too quickly to start a new series. Sasori is the first member fans see a fight in Shippuden. At the time it worked well enough, however, as time progressed, viewers forgot the fight. Sasori lacked real intrigue in the long run which made him the odd man out in this group.

Saved: Jiraiya

Boy, Naruto’s progress moved slowly in the early seasons. Seriously, go back and watch it. Naruto takes a long time to be the shinobi fans know now. Plus, many forget the legend that got him training seriously.

Jiraiya brought a new tone to the series. His antics and his power were fresh. The second of the three legendary sannin audiences met became the guide into a new age. Naruto needed to grow up, and so did the fans; Jiraiya helped make that happen.

Hurt: Kimimaro

The writers should have named Kimimaro “plot device” because ultimately that is all he is in the grand scheme. Seriously, Kimimaro went out with a whimper, and some fans cannot it that. Sure, he helped propel the plot forward, but his whole story felt forced.

Fans do not want to feel tricked. Kimimaro is supposed to be this ultimate machine, who, sadly, got awfully ill. The whole backstory felt like a character that had cool powers, so they forced him into the story to serve the plot. Seriously, Kimimaro seems only to exist to explain the vessel exchange and keep Naruto from fighting Sasuke sooner.

Saved: Zabuza

If the series missed on the first villain, this list would not exist (some may be okay with that). Luckily, this scenario wasn’t the case. The series survived, and the first conflicting shinobi met expectations.

Zabuza will not hold up to the test of time. In comparison to other significant villains throughout both shows, he is not as strong. That being said, the demon of the mist proved to be formidable at the time. His deadpan, deadly delivery left a mark on viewers. Without Zabuza there is no other villain, he saved the series. The argument is that simple.

Hurt: Hidan

Sometimes the enemy has too much going on. The series created some characters that were just overloaded with talent. On top of this, most of their personalities were frustratingly grotesque. Hidan fit this bill, and it hurt the series.

Hidan is immortal. That ability alone made him an annoying opponent. The battle between him, Asuma, and Shikamaru felt frustratingly hopeless. No fan likes seeing an enemy that will only be defeated by a technicality. Immortality is a risky business, and the power should be used selectively. Hidan had an obnoxiously rude personality, and his fighting style showed that immortality breeds ignorance. It’s safe to say Hidan became an example of the worst kind of rogue shinobi.

Hurt: Asuma

Young genins need strong jonin leaders. The early seasons leaned heavily on creating sympathetic genin by utilizing jonin with strong personalities. Kakashi and Guy are memorable. Even now, fans can conjure up clear feelings for both these characters. This rule is partly why Lee, Neji, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke receives iration from fans.

Now the rule is not entirely true, but Asuma definitely did not fit this ideal. As a leader his skills were generic, and his guiding presence did not help his squad grow in fans eyes. Sadly, team 10 grew more after his ing. That fact stings and says something about how flat the impact of his character is.

Saved: Gaara

For a long time, Naruto was the only known jinchuuriki in the series. His backstory felt isolated, and the potential for other tailed beast remained a mystery. The manga had to meet fans expectations and deliver a real threat with their next jinchuuriki.

Gaara delivered on all fronts. The sand demon felt like a real threat. He displayed the potential Naruto had inside him, but also highlighted the splinters in Naruto’s path. Gaara then continued to help the series develop as a converted hero figure. This Swiss Army knife usefulness made him one of a kind.  

Hurt: Choji

A real ninja shows courage in the face of danger. Now it is true that no shinobi is perfect, but this entry is about developing a character too late in the series. Choji lives in this awkward middle ground.

Choji never amounts to much. He seems to skate by in early episodes without much effort. He is shown to be cowardly and lazy unless provoked. This backstory took time to develops and when it did it never mustered up an impact. The result is a half-baked ninja with a faulty completion to an uninspired character arc.

Saved: Itachi

Few characters ever carry an entire arc emotional weight. The expert design enlightens fans and helps them appreciate the planning that went into the story. So, when Itachi proves he is the backbone of Sasuke’s life and that his actions show his care for his little brother, fans gained a new appreciation for the gifted Uchiha brother.

Itachi filled the narrative with mystery and intrigue. His actions reverberated through multiple story arcs. Few characters had such clear weight in the progression of the plot. It’s safe to say Itachi holds his own amongst his peers and is worth the praise he gets for his use in the story.

Saved: Shikamaru

Actions need consequences. Characters need to grow. Without these two fundamental rules, a story cannot survive a long development. One of the best characters to exemplify this ideal is Shikamaru.

As a genin, Shikamaru shows no promise. However, the story unravels around his character and circumstances force him to change his perspective. Shikamaru exploits the way a student can grow into a shinobi, unlike any other character. That reason, alone, is why he deserves a spot on this list.