As one of the most prominent Shonen Jump manga-turned-TV series in history, Naruto Has more than its fair share of iconic fights. Considering the incredible power in most of the main cast’s fingertips, no character is ever safe from a sudden and tragic death.
With 720 episodes between Naruto And Naruto: Shippuden Taken together, the deaths hit even harder when the characters have been built and endeared to audiences over the years. While the series does its fair share of fake-out deaths, it also kills important characters, maintaining the high-stakes atmosphere of the brutal ninja world.
15
Rin Nahara
Chapter #305, Shippuden Episode #345
Finally, the full backstory of Kakashi and Obito is revealed, and how Kakashi came to kill Rin is shown. After Obito finds out his two friends are in danger, he rushes from his bed and onto the battlefield, but what awaits him is shocking. He had several visions of Rin dying by Kakashi’s Sharingan but dismissed them. It wasn’t until he arrived on the scene that he saw Kakashi’s Chiduri pierce through Rin’s chest, killing her.
Rin’s death was heroic to say the least, as she was harboring the three tails that were set to rampage once she entered Konoha.That she was lying in front of an enemy that Kakashi was attacking and accidentally killed her. What made the death even sadder was Obito going berserk killing every enemy in sight, and Kakashi getting PTSD and incredible guilt from killing her.
14
Utakata
Shippuden Episode #151
Although this arc is not canon and not present in the manga, it still gave fans one of the most emotional moments and relationships in the series. The Six Tails Unleashed arc centers around Utakata, the Jinchuriki of the Six Tails, and Hotaru, his student. Their bond was incredibly deep, and Utakata, despite his nonchalant attitude, was protecting Hotaru with all his might.
However, their time together was cut short when Pain found and attacked Utakata, seeking to extract the tailed beast within him. Although he found it valiant, he was unable to gain the power of Pain and was subsequently killed. The sad thing about Yutakata’s death isn’t that he can’t be with Hotaru anymore. But that she waited and expected him to come back, not knowing that her master was already dead.
13
Shikaku and Inoichi
Chapter #613, Shippuden Episode #363
With the Ten-Tails now under the control of Madara and Obito, the allied forces had one last battle to face, and this was the most challenging. However, the ninjas coordinated very well and morale was high. This is when Obito makes the ten-tailed fire tailed beast bombs, and at first it seemed random, but Ao realizes one of them is heading straight to headquarters. Realizing that there is no escape, Shikaku and Inoichi decide to communicate with all the ninja One last time and give a strategy that will help them.
The death was particularly gruesome and reminded the audience that this is indeed a war where anyone can die at any moment, no matter how far they are. The fact that Shikamaru and Ino continued to fight despite their grief was another heartbreaking moment that gave weight to their parents’ deaths, even if they didn’t get a lot of screen time. The death of Shikaku and Inoichi is one of the best executed deaths in the series and a major turning point in the arc.
12
Nagato
Chapter #449, Shippuden Episode #174
Despite being one of Naruto’s Main villains and responsible for the death of the beloved Jiraiya, Nagato has a very emotional send-off. After Naruto defeated the 6 Paths of Pain, he finds where Nagato and Konan are hiding, but instead of killing him and executing revenge for all his fallen comrades, Naruto inquires how Nagato came to be and why he does what he does. This is when Nagato shared his goals of peace and how the shinobi world, especially Konoha, took everything he loved from him.
After listening to Nagata’s words and story, Naruto decided that he would end the cycle of hatred despite wanting revenge, and affirmed that he would seek a solution to the injustice. Nagato’s ideals were shattered, as his beliefs hinged on humans being unable to escape hatred, especially when they lose everything. He decides to trust Naruto and to try and atone for his sins, Nagato revives the Konoha residents he just massacred in exchange for his life. It was truly a perfect conclusion to a restless man, and
11
Conan
Chapter #511, Shippuden Episode #253
After the intense pain arc and the resolution of Nagato’s conflicts and ideals, Konan transported the dead body of her childhood friend back to their home, but Tobi/Obito did not allow this to happen. He was interested in taking Nagato’s Rinnegan in order to fulfill his plans, and it was here that he revealed that it was originally Madara’s eyes and not Nagato’s. Konan wasn’t going to let Nagato’s body be dissected though, as she took on the Uchiha and actually killed him. However, Obito had a trump card that brought him back to life, and he ambushed and killed Konan.
What really makes Conan’s death even sadder is that she was planning to go live in peace in her villageand buried Nagato. Finally, she saw her friends find peace and hope, but her moment of joy was short-lived. As her body was floating in the ocean, a flashback to her days with Nagato, Yahiko and Jiraiya made the scene even more heartbreaking and reminded fans of the trio’s tragedy of the Hidden Rain.
10
Neji
Neji has been one of the most interesting characters since his introduction in the Chunin exams, given a prominent character development arc and a heartbreaking backstory. The crux of his character was free will and defying destiny, and while he did overcome his toxic ideals in the same arc, it was in the Fourth Great Ninja War that showed just how much his character developed.
During the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Neji sacrifices himself to protect Naruto and Hinata from the Ten-Tailed Beast. Although some fans were disappointed to see him die somewhat anti-climactically, victory over Madara and Obito would never have been possible without Neji’s sacrifice. His death was symbolized by a bird breaking free from a cage, a good choice considering how Neji always considered himself a slave to fate and servitude to the main family. Although Neji had died for a member of the main family, this time was differentAs it was his choice to lay down his life.
9
Grandma Chio
Chapter #280, Shippuden Episode #31
Chiyo loved fans by giving them one of the best action scenes ShipudenAs she teams up with Sakura to fight the Akatsuki puppet master, Sasori. Not only did Sakura finally get to participate in some high-quality action, but the fan-favorite puppets also got a chance to be tested to their fullest extent in a back-and-forth exchange. Furthermore, her development from someone wary of Konoha to hatred to opening her heart to Sakura, Gaara, and the next generation of shinobi made her death even harder.
Her character arc was completed when she gave her own life to bring Gaara back from the deadA move that supports the restoration of her hope for the world.
8
Hiruzen was one of the first great dead
Chapter #139, Naruto Episode #80
While Hiruzen is one of the most divisive characters for his incompetence as a Hokage, he was still liked at the beginning of the series, and as the strongest at the time, was very important. One of the reasons why the hunin exams were memorable was because of the exciting fight at the end where the village is attacked and Hiruzen is strapped up. It’s unusual for the strongest character to fight and die so early, but the unpredictability is well-earned.
Hiruzen’s death was especially hard to swallow due to the fact that it came at the hands of his one time apprentice, Orochimaru. The villain was not destined to become a future Hokage, as Hiruzen wished, but his last moments would be spent ensuring that Orochimaru could never harm anyone in the village by sealing his hands and causing him excruciating pain. He was later brought back into the war arc and proved to be an important asset in the victory.
7
Obito
Chapter #687, Shippuden Episode #472
As the mastermind behind the formation of the Akatsuki and the primary antagonist through much of the series, Obito was one of those villains that was hard to root for. His relationship with Kakashi directly parallels that of Naruto and Sasuke, so his story is hard not to get emotionally invested in. His backstory, identity crisis and flaws made him likable, and his charm skyrocketed when he saw the error of his ways and decided to try to undo the wrongs he had done.
Obito’s road to redemption was slow, and it wasn’t until the end that Naruto was able to coax him into a different path. After finding out that Madara orchestrated Rin’s death all those years ago, a last stand alongside his former team before joining Rin in the afterlife was a beautiful moment to wrap up the series. His conclusion was one of the best, passing his dreams of becoming Hokage And entrusting it to Naruto.
6
Asuma
Chapter #328, Shippuden Episode #80
Son of Hiruzen, Asuma is the second member of the Sarutobi bloodline that we witness to suffer a tragic death. Best known as the leader of Team 10, Asuma mentored Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji into one of the most beloved trios in the entire series.
In the war against the Akatsuki, Asuma was killed by the immortal Hidan. While Shikamaru was forced to look on, his former team leader was bested in battle. During his last words with the former members of Team 10, he delivered farewell messages that would forever stick in the minds of his former team and viewers.
5
Itachi
Chapter #393, Shippuden Episode #138
After committing horrific crimes and tearing down his family’s bloodline, Itashi was content to distance himself from his little brother Sasuke and die with the world still believing him to be the villain. many years later, Itachi would eventually be killed by the same brother, finally giving him release from the regrets of the past..
The relief would not last long, however, as Kabuto would reincarnate Itachi to use as a pawn in his plans to destroy Konoha. Once reunited with his little brother, Itachi and Sasuke would team up to take down Kabuto for good. As his reincarnated body dissipates, Itachi is finally given the chance to show the love he feels for his brother as the two get the send-off they always deserved.
4
Kakashi
Chapter #424, Shippuden Episode #159
During Paine’s invasion of Konoha, Kakashi was one of the main defenders of the Leaf Village. Kakashi depletes his chakra in a duel against Pain and expends the last of it to save Chōji’s life, dying soon after. While fans were treated to a scene of Kakashi in the afterlife, chatting with his father, it wouldn’t be long before he was ripped back into reality.
Related
If Kakashi’s death was final, it would undoubtedly have the biggest impact and rank even higher on the list. Fortunately, Kakashi was revived and the fan favorite would go on to have a pivotal role in the series’ final confrontation against the remaining Akatsuki and its founder, Obito.
3
Zabuza and Haku
Chapter #32, Naruto Episode #18
As the first primary antagonists of the series, Zabuza and Haku introduced Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura to the biggest threat they had ever faced. Zabuza was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and was prolific with both weapons and jutsu. Meanwhile, Haku possesses one of the most interesting Kekei Genki of the series and would push the Leaf Genin to their limit.
While Zabuza was portrayed as a cruel man with a cold exterior, this comes crashing down after Haku gives his life to protect his master. Zabuza is also the first villain that Naruto is able to overcome by talking, instead of fighting, making the heroic moment where Zabuza takes Gato down with him all the more emotional. The death scene expressed the duality of characters perfectly, and the idea that no one is pure evil would guide many of Naruto’s decisions in the future.
2
Jiraiya
Chapter #382, Shippuden Episode #133
Over the course of the series, Jiraiya’s strange and often perverted personality made him a strange but lovable figure. Despite his reputed immense power, Jiraiya never took himself too seriously and ultimately made a perfect mentor for Naruto to come into his own. As the first person to suffer the wrath of the entire Six Paths of Pain, Jiraiya held his own in one of the longest one-on-one duels in the series.
Related
Despite managing to incapacitate three of the Paths, his ignorance of the remaining three Paths and their abilities would ultimately result in Jiraiya’s death by Nagato in one of Narutos greatest betrayals. As he dies, he ponders what Naruto would have done, and manages to send a message that would help prepare Konoha for the arrival of Pain. While Jiraiya spends much of his life believing himself to be a failure, he succeeds in this one final task and gives a heart-wrenching farewell to the beloved character.
1
Minato and Kushina
Chapter #607, Shippuden Episode #350
Without the final sacrifice of Minato and Kushina, Naruto Can’t even exist. Although Naruto Uzimake’s origin and reasoning behind the death of his parents are not discovered until later, Minato and Kushina’s struggle against Obito and the rampaging Nine-Tails is one of the highlights of the series. in NarutoThe main characters often fight with a great hatred of sacrifice before their death, and the fate of the two lovers is no different.
The case is particularly bittersweet, however, as the great Fourth Hokage himself is forced to not only sacrifice himself in order to stop the beast known as Kurama but also must seal his power away in his newborn son. Had Minato not sacrificed himself for the greater good, Naruto and the Leaf Village as a whole would have been defenseless against Obito’s plot.