The Most Underrated Characters in Naruto: From Shino to Anko

Dante

Editor-in-Chief at BrandAnime

Dante is Editor-in-Chief (Lord Hokage), which means he runs editorial and operations at BrandAnime. That means this whole thing was his idea, and he spends...

Last Updated on March 3, 2025 by Dante

For a series as massive and influential as Naruto, it’s no surprise that some characters fell through the cracks.

With a huge cast, epic battles, and deep lore, not everyone could get the spotlight they deserved. Some were hyped up only to be sidelined, others had great potential but were never developed, and a few were just plain forgotten.

But today, we’re showing some love to the unsung heroes, wasted potential, and forgotten legends of Naruto. These are the most underrated characters in the series, and honestly, Kishimoto could’ve done them way better.

Neji Hyuga – The Genius Who Got Done Dirty

Let’s start with the biggest waste of potential in Naruto—Neji Hyuga.

Neji started off strong in the Chunin Exams, where he was introduced as a cold, calculated prodigy who exposed the darker side of the Hyuga clan. His entire character arc was built around the struggles of the Branch Family, his resentment toward the Main Family, and his destined battle against fate.

And to be fair, his fight with Naruto was legendary. It was the first time we saw Naruto not just win with raw power, but actually change someone’s outlook on life. Neji’s growth afterward was great—he embraced his potential, became a loyal ally, and pushed past the limits placed on him.

But then… Shippuden happened.

After all that character development, Neji became a background character. He had zero major fights, was barely relevant outside of a few moments, and then was unceremoniously killed off in the war arc.

His death wasn’t even necessary—it felt more like a forced emotional moment rather than a meaningful conclusion to his story.

Neji deserved more. Simple as that.

Shino Aburame – The Guy Who Had Main Character Energy but Never Got It

Shino was one of the most interesting characters in the original Naruto series. The dude had cool abilities, a mysterious vibe, and was always calm and in control.

The Aburame Clan’s insect-based jutsu was one of the most unique fighting styles in the series. Shino could drain chakra, send microscopic bugs to destroy opponents from the inside, and had literal biological warfare at his disposal.

His battles in the original series were tactical and brutal—the fight against Zaku during the Chunin Exams was a perfect example of how effective he was.

And then, Shippuden completely forgot about him.

Shino was hyped up as one of the strongest members of his generation, but when the war arc came around, he was barely relevant. His abilities should’ve made him perfect for taking on White Zetsu clones, but instead, he was pushed into the background.

The worst part?

In Boruto, they turned him into a teacher with zero impact on the story. How do you go from a tactical, silent killer to a goofy, forgotten side character? Shino deserved at least one big moment in Shippuden, but nope—he just disappeared into obscurity.

Anko Mitarashi – Why Was She Even Introduced If She Wasn’t Going to Matter?

Anko had one of the coolest introductions in the entire series. She was a former apprentice of Orochimaru, had a mysterious past, and had a similar Cursed Seal to Sasuke—implying she might be just as important to the story.

But after the Chunin Exams? Nothing.

She had all the setup to be a major player in the Orochimaru arc, but instead, she was barely relevant, and we never even got a proper look at her past with him.

And Boruto? BORUTO?! They completely butchered her character. Anko went from being a badass, edgy kunoichi to a comic relief character who just eats a lot. That’s not even exaggeration—her entire role in Boruto is to be the “lazy, overweight teacher” stereotype.

Why even introduce her if she was going to be reduced to nothing? Anko deserved at least one major fight or backstory episode. Instead, she was just another wasted opportunity.

Kiba Inuzuka – The Guy Who Thought He Was a Main Character

Kiba had potential. He was Naruto’s self-proclaimed rival, had one of the best animal-based combat styles, and his feral, aggressive fighting techniques made him stand out.

In Part 1, Kiba was relevant. His fight against Naruto in the Chunin Exams was brutal, and while he lost, it still showed his strength and determination. But after that? He became a walking joke.

Kiba spent all of Shippuden as comic relief. He kept boasting about becoming Hokage, but the series never gave him anything to back that up. He was completely irrelevant in the Fourth Great Ninja War, and even in Boruto, he barely exists.

What’s frustrating is that Kiba’s combat style was unique, and the Inuzuka Clan could’ve had some deep lore—but nope. He ended up as Naruto’s overconfident, loudmouthed rival who never actually mattered.

Haku – A Tragic Story That Deserved More

Haku is one of the saddest characters in Naruto, and his fight against Naruto and Sasuke is one of the most emotional moments in the series.

Haku’s Ice Release was unique, his backstory was heartbreaking, and his devotion to Zabuza added so much depth to the story. His fight against Naruto was legendary, not just because of the action, but because of what it meant for Naruto’s character development.

But the biggest issue?

Haku was killed off way too soon.

Imagine if he had survived the Land of Waves arc. Imagine if he fought alongside the Akatsuki or was brought back during the war arc with actual relevance. Instead, he was revived just to be defeated again, making his return feel completely wasted.

Haku had so much potential, but Naruto never let us see what he could’ve become.

So Much Wasted Potential…

Naruto gave us some of the best character arcs in anime, but at the same time, it left a lot of great characters in the dust.

Some of them were introduced with major plot points, only to be forgotten about entirely. Others had amazing abilities and compelling backstories, but were never given the fights or development they deserved.

If Kishimoto had expanded on these characters, Naruto could have felt even richer than it already does. But sadly, in a series with so many moving parts, some characters were always going to get left behind.

Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate their moments of greatness. They might not have gotten the screen time they deserved, but to Naruto fans, they’ll always be legends in their own right.

DanteEditor-in-Chief at BrandAnime

Dante is Editor-in-Chief (Lord Hokage), which means he runs editorial and operations at BrandAnime. That means this whole thing was his idea, and he spends his time making stuff work and covering the latest anime and games. When he's not doing 100 things at once, he's usually... watching anime or playing games. His life isn't that interesting, honestly.

Latest Posts by Dante