10 Naruto Deaths That Still Annoy Fans

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In general, the Naruto anime effectively tackled the subject of death, but for each memorable death in the Naruto universe, there tends to be an annoying or poorly executed one lurking nearby. Regrettably, many deaths in Naruto feel unsatisfying, particularly when they’re quickly undone and call into question the series’ reliance on plot devices that protect characters from harm.

Unfortunately, some character deaths in Naruto fall short of its usual high writing quality. Characters tend to lower their defenses too quickly, or are eliminated before fully demonstrating their full potential. The most disappointing deaths appear as mere plot twists for shock value rather than contributing to the development of the series’ characters, themes, and setting.

Among them all, it was only Dosu who truly produced substantial outcomes. Kin and Zaku both experienced their share of humility in that tower, but Dosu emerged victorious against his adversary, anticipating recognition for his commendable efforts. Sadly, the fans never got to witness Dosu’s reward; instead, he was tragically sacrificed off-screen as part of the Edo Tensei ritual, which was used to resurrect three former Hokage.

During that period, Dosu was one of the more intriguing villains, next to Gaara. Fans hoped he wouldn’t be offered as a sacrifice for Orochimaru’s winning streak, instead meeting a more spectacular end. While his sacrifice does highlight Orochimaru’s ruthless character, it’s still unfortunate.

Readers eagerly anticipated Konan triumphing in a significant conflict against the real antagonists, showcasing her impressive jutsu for noble deeds. Unfortunately, though, the storyline didn’t allow for that outcome; instead, Konan met a tragic end while battling Tobi/Obito.

Despite Konan’s fight seemingly being for a noble purpose, fans found themselves disappointed with the outcome. It seemed as though the storyline was seeking retribution against Konan for betraying the Akatsuki leaders, or perhaps tying up loose ends haphazardly. Even though her significance in the story may have waned by then, viewers wished for a more favorable ending for Konan than being fatally struck by a metal rod.

In the world of Naruto, one of the saddest and infuriatingly preventable deaths occurs. Hayate Gekko, who oversaw the Chunin Exam, sensed something suspicious about the Sand Village ninjas and decided to investigate further one evening. However, what Hayate did was take an imprudent risk, which led him directly into Baki’s line of sight.

In a manner exceeding his capabilities, Hayate found himself in a battle with Baki, and it was Baki who brought about an abrupt end to the fight using a powerful wind technique. At the moment, Hayate wasn’t the central character or one who evoked great emotion, but fans still empathized with his plight. Even today, dedicated Naruto enthusiasts continue to express disappointment over the hasty manner in which Hayate chose to confront his fate, when he had a viable option to escape the impending doom.

Reflecting on it now, Naruto fans found Kakashi Hatake’s demise in hindsight disappointingly straightforward rather than due to his departure from the narrative. By the time Naruto Shippuden reached its climax, the series was not shy about ending characters, but even so, the thought of parting ways with a character as integral as Kakashi seemed improbable. His invincible plot armor had been evident throughout the storyline, suggesting any attempt to take his life would have been met with an expected outcome, thus diminishing the impact of his death.

The narrative arc involving Pain effectively heightened the tension as he destroyed the Hidden Leaf Village and eliminated its protectors, but including Kakashi among the fallen felt questionable since it was predictable that he would eventually be resurrected, along with everyone else. The death of Kakashi seemed contrived because Naruto wouldn’t have allowed such an outcome for him. However, the deaths of Asuma and Jiraiya were permanent and carried significantly more weight and impact.

As an observer, I’ve noticed a unique characteristic about jinchuriki like Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara – they seem to possess an extraordinary resilience that makes them difficult to eliminate. This resilience, almost like an inherent plot protection, is so evident that even Kurama, the Nine-Tails, acknowledged it in Naruto’s case.

However, the Akatsuki managed to strip Gaara of this plot armor when they extracted the One-Tailed Shukaku from him. This left Gaara in a precarious position, needing an even more affordable form of protection to ensure his survival.

In Naruto Shippuden, I witnessed the profound emotional impact of Gaara’s demise early on, which amplified the looming peril surrounding the Akatsuki. However, when Chiyo sacrificed her life to resurrect Gaara with a somewhat artificial jutsu, it lessened the gravity of his death. The Akatsuki managed to secure the One-Tailed beast, but this event teetered on the edge of farce as the narrative seemed willing to go to any length to preserve Gaara’s life.

In the series, Rin’s personality seemed somewhat lackluster or questionable, as she primarily served as a female team member whose main purpose was to advance Kakashi’s personal storyline. This issue with Rin’s character development also carried over into her death scene.

Tragically, she passed away young, denying her the opportunity to develop into a valuable Leaf ninja and memorable character. Her existence was primarily utilized as a weapon and tragic plot device, necessitating Kakashi’s intervention to halt her. Although it was inevitable that Kakashi would secure victory, it came at the heart-wrenching expense of Rin’s life.

In simpler terms, many fans find Neji Hyuga’s death in the Naruto series to be both surprising and frustrating. The reason for this is that the anime writers seemed to manipulate the situation to result in a sad yet sweet death for Neji, using methods some viewers consider as shortcuts or cheap tactics. This portrayal of Neji acting out of character just to die makes it hard for fans to accept this event.

In a world where stronger anime characters usually don’t meet their end so easily, especially not through a common or weak attack, it was surprising that Neji perished suddenly. However, his untimely death seemed to serve as a plot device for him to have a poignant farewell with his adversary Naruto and the one he once saved, Hinata. This was an unexpected turn of events for his character.

In the anime series “Naruto Shippuden”, Madara Uchiha was initially conceived as the final antagonist, known for his pivotal role in the narrative and his overpowering strength. Essentially, Madara was constructed to serve as the main obstacle for Team 7 on their path to global tranquility, and this became particularly evident during their epic confrontation. However, when Madara had attained his zenith, Black Zetsu betrayed him in favor of Kaguya Otsutsuki.

In the Naruto anime, it was a common occurrence for the “villain within a villain” plot device to be excessively employed. Instead of focusing on one main antagonist, multiple characters would build up to their peak power and significance, only for the storyline to abruptly shift focus to another character who was even more powerful and sinister. This pattern seemed like it should have concluded with Madara, but the creators opted to introduce yet another villain lurking behind the first one. It would have been much more fulfilling if the heroes could defeat Madara through their own efforts, rather than defeating Kaguya in a similar manner.

Occasionally, the Naruto anime seemed overly preoccupied with inflicting strange diseases on its characters, which usually served as a means to eliminate them from the plot or elicit sympathy. These ailments often appeared as contrived story elements, and Kimimaro’s own condition resulted in one of the most poignant yet illogical deaths. His demise during his fight against Gaara and Rock Lee was solely due to his fatal illness.

It’s disheartening and frustrating when a storyline element like an unidentified illness takes the place of the typical feats of shonen protagonists. The most fulfilling moments are when underdog heroes triumph over adversaries like Kimimaro through diligence, creativity, and bravery. However, in this instance, Kimimaro’s illness prevented that outcome. Instead, just as Kimimaro was preparing to launch a lethal surprise attack on Gaara, his disease unexpectedly halted him.

I can’t help but feel a profound sense of fulfillment when I recall watching Itachi Uchiha engage in fierce battles against Leaf ninjas in the original Naruto anime and later against his brother Sasuke in Naruto Shippuden. Yet, his demise didn’t quite resonate as deeply as his life story or the depth of character he portrayed. Looking back, Itachi’s life journey, marked by his complex past and profound sense of guilt, has undeniably captivated fans. However, his death still leaves a slight feeling of dissatisfaction. Despite the inevitability of his passing, the circumstances surrounding it remain debatable at best.

Fans of Naruto may have felt frustrated as Sasuke’s hard work seemed pointless with Itachi intentionally allowing himself to be defeated by his brother during their fight. It was later revealed that Itachi wanted to lose, putting on a convincing act while engaging in combat. Additionally, Itachi was suffering from another disease common in the Naruto universe, which meant he was approaching the end of his storyline regardless. Essentially, Itachi’s tale fizzled out, leaving Sasuke with no choice but to witness its conclusion.

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2025-06-02 19:09