Highlights
- Zabuza learned the value of emotional connections after losing Haku.
- Nagato conceded that violence isn’t the way to bring about peace.
- Orochimaru became obsessed with Sasuke and the Sharingan after losing to Itachi.
Naruto is filled with intense battles, rivalries, and personal struggles that test the limits of its characters. The ninja world is no easy place to live due to the cycle of hatred that continues to plague its inhabitants. The plethora of characters who are born of these situations constantly clash with one another and influence each other’s lives and ideals through the exchange of blows.
Some of these clashes end in defeat, which leaves lasting impacts on the lives of these characters – particularly the losers – be they physical, emotional, or mental. Here are some of the Naruto characters whose lives took an unexpected turn after they lost a battle.
7 Zabuza
Learned The True Value Of Emotional Connections
- Episode: 265
Zabuza was one of the infamous Seven Swordsmen of the Mist who became a mercenary following a failed coup attempt on the Mizukage Yagura. As such, he was a cold and ruthless killer with no regard for human life as long as it could be used to achieve what he wanted. He and his subordinate, Haku, crossed paths with the Kakashi-led Team 7.
During this battle, Haku died protecting Zabuza, who was seemingly unfazed until he received a stern lecture from Naruto about the emotional connection Haku shared with him. This moved Zabuza to tears, and motivated him to die fighting their shared enemy as his own way of repenting and finally dying side by side with him, hoping they end up in the same place if there is an afterlife.
6 Nagato
Conceded That Violence Is Not The Way To Bring About Peace
- Episode: 174 (Shippuden)
The attack on the Hidden Leaf Village by the Six Paths of Pain, and the battle that ensued between them and Naruto, were more a battle of ideals than anything else. As Nagato tried to use brute force to bring about an end to the cycle of hatred, Naruto fought to protect his loved ones and himself.
Following the climax of their battle, Naruto found himself face-to-face with Nagato, and the fact that he was willing to forgive him for killing their sensei and not avenge him despite being in a position to do so made Nagato realize the error of his ways.
5 Orochimaru
Becoming Obsessed With Sasuke And The Sharingan
- Episode: 114 (Shippuden)
Orochimaru’s obsession with Sasuke began after his encounter with Itachi. He had been obsessing over Itachi’s prowess with the sharingan beforehand, and had been plotting a way to acquire it from him. He eventually decided to try a surprise attack on Itachi, but unfortunately for him, Itachi had put him in a genjutsu before he realized what was going on, effectively defeating him without lifting a finger.
This made Orochimaru resort to going after Sasuke to train and groom him in hopes of taking over his body someday, believing he has the potential to become stronger than Itachi.
4 Guy
Lost The Use Of His Legs Following The Battle
- Episode: 421 (Shippuden)
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, following Madara’s evolution into the Six Path form after becoming the jinchuriki of the Ten Tailed Beast, the Shinobi Alliance was boxed into a corner, as ninjutsu proved to be ineffective against him, leaving Taijutsu and Senjutsu as the only options. Guy stepped up and channeled the Eight Inner Gates to give Madara the fight of his life. He pushed Madara to the wall and was on track to actually be one of the few characters to overpower him and make him fear for his life.
Ultimately, he was unable to finish the job, and was going to die from the repercussions of using the gate before Naruto saved him, but he could not recover the use of his legs. Although he did not lose to Madara, he did not win either.
3 Deidara
Succumbed To The Power Of The Sharingan
- Episode: 123 (Shippuden)
Deidara and Itachi clashed once during their younger days in an attempt by the Akatsuki to recruit the young explosion expert. Deidara seemed to have the upper hand for most of the battle, but right before he was about to blow Itachi up, it was revealed that he had been trapped in Itachi’s genjutsu from before the fight even started, and was in fact about to deliver the decisive blow to himself.
In that moment, Deidara described Itachi as the pinnacle of art, and like Orochimaru, she began to fear anyone with those eyes.
2 Sasuke
Finally Accepted The Olive Branch Extended To Him
- Episode: 478 (Shippuden)
Although his final battle with Naruto came down to a stalemate, Sasuke lost the battle of ideals and failed to “liberate” himself by killing Naruto and detaching himself from the world. This decisive battle shaped Sasuke’s future going forward, as he finally decided to view the world in a different light and accept his role alongside Naruto, guarding the Hidden Leaf village from the shadows.
He also learned that having emotional connections to people is not a weakness, but rather helps channel strength in order to protect the things he cherishes, which is why he was never able to overcome the strength of Naruto’s connections towards him.
1 Gaara
Learned To View The World In A Different Light
- Episode: 80 (Shippuden)
Gaara was a menace as a child, feeding into the demon child narrative that surrounds young jinchuriki and embracing the destructive tendencies of the One-Tailed Beast. Gaara played a role in Orochimaru’s destruction of the Hidden Leaf Village, as he went on a rampage that ended in a showdown between him and Naruto.
As someone who went through similar circumstances, Naruto was able to defeat him in a battle of ideals and resonate with him emotionally, doing something no one else has been able to do. This defeat was integral to Gaara’s development into one of the best Kage (and characters) ever.
