Naruto’s 7 Most Unlikely Friendships, Ranked

Though Naruto Uzumaki isn’t exactly hard to get along with, there are definitely specific types of people who can rub him the wrong way. Whether it’s because someone acts all high and mighty, they belittle Naruto’s friends, or they act rather villainous in the story, there are plenty of reasons why the protagonist would want to avoid certain characters, which is why it becomes so surprising when, somehow, he ends up forming a close bond with them.

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At many points throughout the Naruto and Naruto Shippuden series, the plucky young ninja has developed some very unlikely friendships for one reason or another, even though it initially seemed like this was going to be virtually impossible. These characters below are the biggest examples of characters who, despite being opposed to him initially, ended up being close companions to the Nine Tailed Jinchuriki.

7

Teuchi

Everyone Ridiculed And Belittled The Host Of The Nine Tails, Except For Teuchi

• First Appearance: Episode 52

Due to being the child who inherited the dangerous Nine Tails Fox, Naruto would spend much of his childhood alone, with almost the entire village being told to keep their distance from him. Surprisingly though, Teuchi, the owner of the renowned ramen shop in Konoha, would form a close friendship with Naruto, despite it being seen as taboo by the other villagers.

This is such a strange and unlikely friendship that it has even sparked countless online discussions and debates on what the real motives are behind Teuchi showing such kindness to Naruto at a time when the boy was vilified. It seems most likely, though, that Teuchi is simply considerate enough to see that Naruto wasn’t all that scary in person, despite the immense power that he possesses.

6

Tsunade

To Say Naruto And Tsunade Got Off On The Wrong Foot Would Be Putting It Lightly

• First Appearance: Episode 83

The first time Naruto meets Tsunade, he is still a young and hot-headed ninja who hasn’t long been a student of Jiraiya’s. While there’s a few reasons why he butts his head with Tsunade almost as soon as he locks eyes on her, the main reason is because of how flippantly she tosses away the idea of becoming Hokage. Considering this has been Naruto’s dream for his entire life, he seems less than happy that Jiraiya is asking Tsunade of all people to take up the position.

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What really ends up changing Tsunade’s mind about Naruto, though, aside from his striking resemblance to her younger brother Nawaki, is how determined he is to protect those he cares about. Naruto puts everything on the line to defeat Kabuto by throwing out a Rasengan, which shows Tsunade just how willing he is to save others in need, even if he barely knows them. Despite the initial hostility, the two manage to form a close bond due to their shared desire to protect Konoha and its citizens from danger.

5

Sai

Naruto Originally Saw Sai As An Irritating Replacement For Sasuke

• First Appearance: Shippuden Episode 32

Considering Sasuke abandons Konoha at the end of the original Naruto series, it was understandable that Naruto and Sakura would be given a new teammate to fill in the gap. This new member was Sai, an Anbu Root division member who had about as much emotion as a plank of wood. Initially, Naruto saw Sai as nothing more than a step-in for Sasuke, and would find himself constantly getting irritated at the ninja’s serious and stoic persona, which ran opposed to Naruto’s carefree personality.

Over time, though, Naruto would come to appreciate Sai a lot more, eventually recognizing him as a close ally, despite treating him pretty harshly in the beginning. When Naruto ends up getting beaten up by Karui after Sasuke kidnaps Bee, Sai actually steps in to protect him, which ultimately marked the turning point in their friendship.

4

Neji

Neji’s Snobbery Encouraged Him To Distance Himself From Anyone He Saw As Inferior, Including Naruto

• First Appearance: Episode 21

As a proud member of the Hyuga clan, Neji starts off the series as an overconfident and arrogant ninja who sees everyone else as inferior to him and his “genius” intellect. This inevitably put him at odds with Naruto, whom he saw as a knucklehead ninja who seemingly would aspire to nothing of great importance. When the two went face-to-face in the Chunin Exams, Naruto barely managed to overcome Neji’s abilities with his Shadow Clones, proving to the Hyuga that people’s fates aren’t predetermined and that anyone can make something of themselves if they work hard enough.

From that moment on, the two form a rather unlikely friendship that only grows over the course of the series. Neji wouldn’t only be there to assist Naruto in the mission to retrieve Sasuke, he would even lay down his life to protect him in the final war, showing just how much he would come to respect Naruto, despite viewing him with disgust so many years before.

3

Gaara

Two Jinchurikis With Very Different Outlooks On The World

• First Appearance: Episode 20

Just like Naruto, Gaara is a Jinchuriki who has been forced to endure a pretty harsh upbringing because of his inner beast. After his mother died in childbirth, Gaara grew up in isolation, with his Shukaku constantly threatening to take over his body when he least expected it. All of this resulted in Gaara having a pretty bleak outlook on the world, having no remorse for the endless amount of suffering he inflicts with his powerful sand Jutsu techniques.

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This all changes, though, once Naruto and Gaara inevitably throw down after the Chunin Exams, where Naruto manages to break through to Gaara, convincing him that he’s not alone in the world. During Gaara’s fight with Sasuke later down the line, he would even admit that he did not expect to have such a close relationship with Naruto, but that it inevitably ended up completely changing the way he views his life and the people around him.

2

Kurama

The Ferocious Nine-Tailed Fox Didn’t See Naruto As A Worthy Successor Of His Power

• First Appearance: Episode 1

Kurama, the immensely powerful Nine-Tailed Fox that was sealed inside Naruto by his father, isn’t exactly all that thrilled about his new host. Kurama’s hatred of being locked away by Minato results in him and his master having a pretty frosty relationship, that is, until Naruto realizes that he needs to work with Kurama to grow and mature as a ninja.

During his training with Killer Bee, Naruto is finally able to reach out to Kurama, and, due to all the experiences they have already shared together, convinced Kurama to put his faith and trust in Naruto, even going as far as to call him a friend. Despite having their reasons for hating one another, Naruto and Kurama overcame their differences, forming a bond that would end up helping to save the world from being destroyed.

1

Sasuke

On The Surface, Sasuke Seems Completely Opposed To Naruto In Every Way

• First Appearance: Episode 1

They may have been placed in the same squad, but Naruto and Sasuke couldn’t be any more different as people. Sasuke is a mysterious, dark, and moody ninja, meanwhile, Naruto is as loud and expressive as can be. Despite that, they do still show that they care about one another, such as during the fight with Zabuza and Haku, where they are constantly going out of their way to protect the other person from harm’s way.

When Sasuke leaves the village and begins trying to bury his ties with Naruto, the protagonist continues trying desperately to bring him back to his senses despite Sasuke’s efforts to shake him off. Considering how dead-set Sasuke was on leaving this friendship behind, most people would assume it likely that the two would never be friends again, but in the end, after countless battles and near-death experiences, their bond only grows that much stronger.

Naruto

Release Date

2002 – 2007-00-00

Showrunner

Masashi Kishimoto

Directors

Hayato Date

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