Naruto characters that would have been better protagonists than Naruto Uzumaki

Masashi Kishimoto put a lot of work into creating Naruto Uzumaki. After all, he is the titular character of Naruto manga. Kishimoto gave Naruto plenty of powerful abilities with which the hero could take down his enemies. Naruto's personality and ideology was another driving factor in his immense popularity among readers.

Family

Naruto: Each main character's age, height and birthday

Naruto's main characters are among the most iconic in anime, so let's go through their birthdays, heights, and ages.

There's no denying that Naruto is an excellent protagonist, but he has several flaws that give other characters a chance to shine. In fact, some individuals would make for better protagonists than Naruto Uzumaki.

6

Itachi Uchiha

Ripe beyond the years

• Kekkei Genkai: Mangekyou Sharingan

Itachi was a gifted ninja who came from the Uchiha clan. After being exposed to so many deaths in his childhood, Itachi realized that the world was brutal and harsh. The experiences shaped Itachi's thinking, and he became a pacifist who actively tried to avoid fights. His mentality was also why he chose the hidden blade over the Uchiha clan.

As a protagonist, Itachi would have lived longer, and he wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself in the fight against Sasuke. Without his illness, Itachi wouldn't have to hold back, so he could have taken down any enemy that threatened him or those closest to him. Another plus point of having Itachi as the protagonist was that he would offer a different perspective than Naruto's.

5

Minato Namikaze

A genius who terrified entire armies

Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Blade. He was promoted to the position after his exploits in the Third Great Ninja War, during which he struck fear into the hearts of enemy ninja. The opposing nations were so afraid of him that they issued escape on sight orders to their ninjas.

Family

Naruto: The 29 Best Villains, Ranked

From rogue ninjas to terrorists and even alien creatures, the best villains in Naruto are in a league of their own.

Minato would shine as a protagonist for countless reasons. First, he was a compassionate person who understood emotions even at a young age. Second, Minato was a genius who broke past every degree in the academy. Finally, he did not come from a notable lineage, unlike the most powerful ninjas in the story. A one-shot revolving around Minato was released by Kishimoto not too long ago, so there's a good chance he could choose Yellow Flash as the star of a Naruto prequel.

4

Neji Hyuuga

A genius born in the wrong family

Not many scored as strong as Neji did in the Chunin Exams. The Hyuuga genius lit up the competition with his talent and ruthlessness. Neji dominated most of his opponents, including Naruto. The latter would also have lost the fight if it weren't for the Nine Tails. Despite his huge showing, Neji was sidelined for the rest of the story, which wouldn't have happened if he was the main character.

Neji, who is the main character, would have shown a different side of the Naruto world, where being born into the wrong family meant living as a slave. Born into the branch family of the Hyuuga clan, Neji was treated as an inferior being. A story that would focus entirely on Neji as he broke through the shackles of the Hyuuga hierarchy would make for an interesting watch. Also, Kishimoto could have easily tied Neji's story to the Otsutsuki clan.

3

Hashirama Senju

Born with one of those rare powers

Hashirama Senju was the first Hokage of the Hidden Blade and one of the strongest ninjas in history. In his prime, there was no ninja who could beat him in battle. Even the legendary Madara Uchiha tried to kill him several times but failed. Hashirama's main strength was Wood Release, a Kekkei Genkai strong enough to stop the tailed beasts.

Family

Naruto: 6 Most Senseless Victims in the Series, Ranked

These characters ended up making sacrifices that ended up being completely pointless in Naruto.

As the main character of the series, Hashirama would have been given more screen time, allowing fans to learn more about him. Hashirama's past would have been covered in more detail, especially the early parts of his life when the hidden blade had not been established. With Hashirama at the helm, the story had also become shorter and more exciting.

2

Nagato Uzumaki

Had a more realistic approach

When it comes to villains, not many were better than Nagato Uzumaki. His appearance changed everything. He was a phenomenal fighter and leader who took Akatsuki to new heights. Nagato liked to talk a lot, but he could back it up with his monstrous strength.

Nagato had a realistic ideology that people could not change without knowing the pain themselves. It was a little radical, but almost everything in Naruto showed that most people didn't feel compassion, even for a child. A good example is how most people in The Hidden Leaf treated Naruto terribly and wanted him gone, when he hadn't done anything at all. It's safe to say that Nagato with his ideology and strength would have made a great protagonist.

1

Jiraiya

Much more adventurous than Naruto

Jiraiya served as a mentor to many great ninjas, and he helped them grow as people and ninjas. Jiraiya, also known as the Toad Sage, traveled all over the world to complete missions and interact with people. His travels also helped broaden his perspective and helped him learn more about the world.

If Kishimoto had chosen Jiraiya to lead the series, the story would be very different. It wouldn't have a primary setting, so it would let fans understand the culture of other villages, both big and small.

Naruto

Release date

2002 – 2007-00-00

Showrunner

Masashi Kishimoto

Directors

Hayato date

Author

Masashi Kishimoto

• 

•