The titular protagonist of the Naruto universe is often regarded as one of the most iconic anime characters of all time. He embodies many shonen archetypes that have created a template for his series' successors and remains a massively popular character for millions of fans.
Despite this profound success, there were many instances where Naruto's behavior was unbecoming of a pragmatic and responsible hero. Through identifying instances where his judgment, strength, or both fell short, we can better understand his character flaws and the many ways they have impacted those around him.
10 He Let Karui Pummel Him
One of the strangest moments of Shippuden was when Karui stormed the Leaf, searching for Sasuke's whereabouts. She demanded that Naruto surrender useful information to her in spite of the fact that he had not seen his friend for several years.
Instead of simply telling her as such, he allowed her to pummel him until his face was smothered in contusions and her fists were bloody. If not for Sai's timely intervention, it's difficult to predict how far the Cloud Village shinobi would've gone in order to guarantee that Killer Bee was safe.
9 He Yearned For Sakura's Unreciprocated Affection
At the beginning of the series, Naruto was intrigued by Sakura as a prospective love interest. Not only was there nothing to indicate his ambitions might prove fruitful, but she actively spurned him, hoping to earn Sasuke's affection by doing so.
This relationship dynamic only began to change once the brooding Uchiha had left the village, and by then, Naruto's indifference was irrelevant (considering that Sakura no longer had any more attractive alternatives). Nonetheless, he was just as oblivious to Sakura's dismissal as he was to Hinata's attraction, preventing them from a tangible relationship for several more years.
8 He Needed To Be Saved From Pain
It's usually expected in anime (particularly shonen) that the main protagonist will save others. Despite this, Naruto failed in his battle against Pain and subsequently needed to be saved by Hinata.
His inadequacy was particularly appalling given the context of the fight. Not only was he empowered through Sage chakra, but most of Nagato's strength was also already expended either fighting Konoha's shinobi or destroying the village with his Almighty Push.
7 He Was Powerless Against Kisame & Itachi
When Kisame and Itachi infiltrated the village and sought to abduct Naruto, he was powerless to stop them. Moreover, he wasn't particularly keen on fleeing, making the headstrong hero an ample target for the Akatsuki to claim.
He did not capitalize on the distraction Sasuke provided and would have been kidnapped in broad daylight if not for Jiraiya's aid. Though this attests to how far Naruto has come by the conclusion of Shippuden, it was another instance where he was completely unable to save his own life and fulfill his responsibilities as a hero.
6 Losing Control & Harming Jiraiya
Realizing that Naruto would one day need to confront the Akatsuki himself, for how relentlessly he was being hunted down, Jiraiya trained him from the time gap between the original Naruto series and Shippuden. During this period, the hero tapped into Kurama's power too extensively and ultimately hurt his mentor.
Fortunately, the Sannin was prepared to account for his student's loss of control through a number of countermeasures. However, it was an appalling instance where Naruto not only failed to save others but also explicitly put them in danger.
5 He Heckled The Fourth Raikage Over Sasuke
In the Land of Iron and before the Five Kage Summit, Naruto begged the Fourth Raikage to have mercy on Sasuke despite the fact he nearly kidnapped Killer Bee. This was an irresponsible decision since it compromised Konoha's standing with the other villages (as he was its champion).
Moreover, Naruto's request would almost immediately be proven ill-advised by Sasuke himself after he attacked the gathering in search of Danzo Shimura. This exacerbated the contempt that the Raikage held for the rogue Uchiha and boded poorly for how Naruto's judgment can and should be perceived by others.
4 He Lost Control Again & Nearly Hurt Yamato
After uncovering Orochimaru's whereabouts, Naruto pursued him in order to reclaim Sasuke. Since the Sannin had an innate advantage for the vast jutsu at his disposal, Naruto was obliged to enter a feral state to defeat him.
Not only would he fail to capture or kill the scientist, but he was also once again unable to control his rage in the imperfect form he assumed. Fortunately, Yamato was nearby to seal him with Hashirama's release and chakra. If Yamato hadn't been around, Naruto may have harmed or even killed Sakura amidst his bloodlust.
3 He Was Humiliated By Rock Lee
While Sasuke's defeat by Rock Lee was decisive, Naruto's failure was even more lopsided. After charging the taijutsu master without assessing his abilities (as is standard for a shonen hero), he was promptly sent crashing into a wall and was incapacitated for the remainder of the fight.
Considering that Naruto is blessed with among the greatest innate gifts of the entire anime universe through the presence of Kurama and the fact that Rock Lee is incapable of ninjutsu, the hero's loss was notably pathetic.
2 He Got Neji Killed Because He Couldn't Protect Himself
During the escalation of the Fourth Shinobi War and amidst the battle against Madara's Gedo Statue, Naruto was caught off-guard by stray barbs coursing through the air. The spikes were massive and would have skewered him if not for Neji's intervention.
As noble as Neji's sacrifice may have been, it was yet another instance where Naruto failed to fulfill his duties in saving others (instead of being rescued himself). However, unlike the aforementioned instances of Hinata and Jiraiya, his unawareness cost his savior their life.
1 He Failed To Bring Sasuke Home Despite The Sacrifices Of His Friends
Shikamaru and his allies fought the Sound Four in order to give Naruto a chance of reaching Sasuke. Each of them put their lives on the line during the mission, with Choji and Neji critically hospitalized for the wounds they suffered and the extents they took in procuring victory.
Despite the sacrifices made, Naruto was defeated by Sasuke, making him the only member of the rescue team to fail in his mission. Because of the hero's inadequacy, Sasuke's power (and malice) would be cultivated under Orochimaru until he became one of the most lethal villains alive.
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