5 Best Anti-Heroes In Naruto

Anti-heroes are a unique brand of character. They live on the edge of conventional morality’s constraints, without fully committing to either end of the spectrum. The morally gray shinobi world of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is filled with such individuals. Some were forced to make hard choices for the greater good, while others had their idealistic outlooks shattered by the consequences of war and deceit.

Despite the tragic circumstances they found themselves in, each of these characters was driven by a desire to bring about peace, even if their methods were far from ideal. Some of them learned from the mistakes and found redemption. Others made difficult decisions which came at a great cost, in order to prevent even worse horrors from taking place. On this note, here are the best anti-heroes in Naruto.

5 Obito Uchiha

Found Redemption After Realizing The Error Of His Ways

Manga Debut	Chapter #239
Anime Debut	Naruto Shippuden Episode #32

Starting out as a kind-hearted young shinobi, Obito dreamed of becoming Hokage, even as he was overshadowed by his teammate Kakashi Hatake. However, his apparent death in the Third Shinobi World War put distance between him, his friends, and the love of his life, Rin Nohara. This eventually led him down a dark path. He was rescued and rehabilitated by the elderly Madara Uchiha, who decided to break his spirit and groom him as his successor. Upon witnessing Rin’s death by Kakashi’s hand — an event orchestrated by Madara himself — Obito gave up on his dreams and devoted his life to Madara and the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Obito went on to manipulate the shinobi world from the shadows with the Akatsuki after Madara’s eventual death. He was the main antagonist for most of the Fourth Shinobi World War, even becoming the Ten-Tails’ jinchuriki at one point. Fortunately, Naruto brought Obito back to reality. The young shinobi’s own idealism reminded the jaded Uchiha of his younger self. From there, Obito played a huge role in the eventual defeat of both Madara and Kaguya. He sacrificed himself to save Kakashi and Team 7, and reunited with Rin in the afterlife.

4 Tobirama Senju

A Calculating Pragmatist Who Acted In The Village’s Interest

Manga Debut	Chapter #118
Anime Debut	Naruto Episode #69

Never one to sugarcoat his opinions, Tobirama Senju was blunt, ruthless, and calculating. He played a pivotal role in tempering the exuberant idealism of his elder brother, Hashirama Senju. After succeeding him as the Second Hokage, Tobirama worked tirelessly to improve Konohagakure’s standing and infrastructure, creating critical institutions such as the Academy and the Uchiha Police Force. Having grown up during the Warring States Period, Tobirama was never one to trust others easily. Despite his strong belief in the Will of Fire, he was prone to clashing with those who prioritized their own interests over those of the village.

This brought Tobirama into conflict with the Uchiha clan. He was widely perceived to hold prejudices against them, even if that was not the case. Although Tobirama’s methods were sometimes forceful and harsh, he always acted for the benefit of the village. He was more than willing to work with Uchiha who managed to overcome their Curse of Hatred. This was evident in how he trained and eventually sacrificed his life to save Kagami Uchiha and the rest of his subordinates in the First Shinobi World War.

3 Gaara

From A Homicidal Maniac To His Village’s Savior

Manga Debut	Chapter #35
Anime Debut	Naruto Episode #20

Made a jinchuriki even before his birth — an act that led to his mother’s death — Gaara was demonized by the entire village of Sunagakure. He had to fend off several assassination attempts arranged by his father, the Fourth Kazekage, while he was only a child. This warped his world view, and he began to see everything around him as a threat. This led Gaara to find purpose in killing those who dared to challenge his freedom and life. Gaara’s sociopathic tendencies and mental instability were evident at the time of his introduction during the Chunin Exams Arc. His struggle to control the One-Tail, Shukaku, sealed within him, only made the problem worse.

During the height of the Konoha Crush, Gaara fought a young Naruto, who was also a fellow jinchuriki. On seeing how Naruto was trying to befriend and understand him, Gaara realized that he still had a chance to mend his ways. After their meeting, he devoted his life to his village and people, rising to the post of Kazekage while he was only a teenager. Gaara played a critical role in the Fourth Shinobi World War. Since then, he has continued to protect Sunagakure while working alongside Naruto within the ranks of the Five Kage to maintain peace in the shinobi world.

2 Sasuke Uchiha

Overcame His Curse Of Hatred To Support Naruto’s Vision Of Peace

Manga Debut	Chapter #3
Anime Debut	Naruto Episode #1

Reception to Sasuke’s character varied throughout the series. He was originally a typical shonen rival, until his descent into darkness after learning the truth behind the Uchiha Clan Downfall added more depth to his development. That being said, Sasuke’s motives grew more and more confusing towards the end of Naruto. His warped idea of becoming Hokage is the prime example. His character has been described as both an anti-hero and an anti-villain, as his journey was an inverted parallel of Naruto’s own path.

Sasuke did not have an easy upbringing. He lost his family in the Uchiha clan massacre carried out by his own brother, Itachi. He devoted his life to obtaining revenge, even defecting from the village to train with Orochimaru. After finally battling Itachi, he learned the reality of what his brother had endured, and pledged to make the village pay for it after awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan. This led Sasuke to attack the Five Kage Summit and kill Danzo Shimura, making him a wanted criminal.

Sasuke later played a major part in ending the war, and was redeemed by Naruto after their final battle at the Valley of the End. Since then, he has supported Naruto’s reign as Hokage. He protects Konohagakure from external threats, embarking on his own journey of redemption in the process.

1 Itachi Uchiha

Sacrificed His Clan And Family To Protect The Village

Manga Debut	Chapter #139
Anime Debut	Naruto Episode #80

Itachi was viewed as a prodigy whose wisdom and talent exceeded his years. From a young age, he learned to put aside allegiances to his clan and think about the greater good of the shinobi world. Having joined Konohakagure’s Anbu Black Ops while only in his early teens, Itachi’s prowess earned him respect from the village and his clansmen. Unfortunately, the Uchiha clan faced ostracization from the village following the Nine-Tails’ attack. This sparked an internal rebellion, with Itachi and his family at the center of it. In response to the conflict, Danzo Shimura forced Itachi to choose between a huge civil war or wiping out his entire clan to save his brother Sasuke. Itachi decided on the latter.

Sullying his own reputation and becoming a wanted criminal, Itachi massacred his entire clan, including his parents, in a single night. He left the village and joined the Akatsuki as a spy, working to protect Konohagakure from within their ranks. Sadly, he contracted a terminal illness during this period, which was the cause of his death during his battle against Sasuke. After being revived by Kabuto in the war, Itachi worked alongside Sasuke to dispel the Edo Tensei. Afterward, he departed for the afterlife once again, pledging his undying love for his brother. One of the best written anti-heroes in shonen anime and manga, Itachi’s strength, intelligence, and tragic story are at the heart of why he is one of the most beloved characters in Naruto as a whole.