8 Most Hated Naruto Characters, Ranked

Not all the characters in Naruto are loved equally by the viewers. See why the fans despises these eight shinobi villains and heroes.

Most Hated Naruto Characters, Ranked
Most Hated Naruto Characters, Ranked (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Love them or hate them, every great anime series has characters that make viewers’ blood boil. In the vast shinobi world of Naruto, some characters carry a special place in fans’ hearts – but not in a good way. These hated Naruto characters have sparked heated debates across forums for years. 

While the series gave us legendary heroes like Naruto Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake, it also supplied some of the most despised characters in anime history. These characters have managed to unite fans worldwide in collective disapproval.

8. Kabuto Yakushi

Kabuto meeting Obito
Kabuto meeting Obito (Source: Studio Pierrot)

What happens when you mix devotion with a severe identity crisis? You get Kabuto, one of the most hated Naruto characters whose journey to serpentine scientist left everyone rolling their eyes. At first, he was introduced as a skilled medical ninja. But Kabuto’s character devolved into an Orochimaru fanboy who seemed to exist solely to carry out his master’s twisted experiments. 

His obsession with “finding himself” led to increasingly erratic behavior, culminating in him injecting himself with Orochimaru’s cells and becoming a snake-powered menace. Kabuto’s constant identity shifts and desperate attempts to prove himself make him more annoying than threatening. His role in the Fourth Great Ninja War, where he abused the Reanimation Jutsu to torment our heroes with their dead loved ones, placed him among the most despised Naruto characters.

7. Tenten

Tenten using the Bashosen
Tenten using the Bashosen (Source: Studio Pierrot)

In a series packed with powerful shinobi wielding extraordinary abilities, Tenten stands out as one of the most hated Naruto characters for all the wrong reasons. Despite her supposed expertise with ninja tools and weapons, this kunoichi’s potential remained largely untapped throughout the entire series. Her most memorable moment? Getting demolished by Temari during the Chunin Exams – a battle that lasted mere seconds. 

While other side characters like Rock Lee and Neji received substantial character development, Tenten was relegated to the background. She becomes the poster child for wasted potential in the Naruto universe. Her appearances mainly consisted of summoning weapons that rarely hit their targets and expressing admiration for Tsunade. Her dream of that never materialized into anything meaningful. Fans resent how her character was reduced to occasional comic relief, making her one of the most underdeveloped members of the Konoha 11.

6. Karin

Karin during her investigation
Karin during her investigation (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Considering the most hated Naruto characters, Karin represents everything fans dislike about poorly written female characters in anime. As a member of Sasuke’s Taka team, her entire personality revolved around an obsessive crush on the Uchiha prodigy. She was from the prestigious Uzumaki clan and possessed unique healing abilities. Karin’s character was reduced to a lovestruck groupie who would forgive Sasuke even after he stabbed her through the chest. 

Her healing technique, which required others to bite her, often felt more like fan service than a legitimate ninja ability. Her potential as a Uzumaki clan member with rare sensory abilities was overshadowed by her one-dimensional portrayal as Sasuke’s stalker.

5. Kiba Inuzuka

Kiba as one of the most hated Naruto character
Kida as seen in Naruto (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Among the most hated Naruto characters, Kiba has his spot through sheer arrogance without the skills to back it up. He constantly proclaimed he would become Hokage and surpass Naruto. But his accomplishments remained remarkably underwhelming throughout the series. His most notable fight was losing to Naruto in the Chunin Exams – and that was to Naruto’s infamous “fart technique.” 

While his bond with Akamaru was endearing, Kiba’s character never evolved beyond being the loud-mouthed ninja who could talk big but deliver little. He despised for his tendency to belittle Naruto’s abilities even after the latter had proven himself repeatedly. His fighting style remained stagnant compared to his peers’ growth. What makes him one of the most hated Naruto characters is his inability to acknowledge his limitations.

4. Kaguya Oysutsuki

Kaguya Otsutsuki as seen in the series
Kaguya Otsutsuki as seen in the series (Source: Studio Pierrot)

If there’s one character that represents poor villain development in Naruto, it’s Kaguya Otsutsuki. As one of the most hated Naruto characters, her sudden introduction as the final antagonist felt forced and unnecessary. After hundreds of episodes building up Madara as the ultimate villain, Kaguya popped out of nowhere, effectively hijacking the series’ conclusion.

Being the progenitor of all chakra, her motivations remained shallow and poorly explained. Everyone despises how her appearance undermined years of crafted storylines and character development. Her godlike powers lacked the emotional weight that made other Naruto villains compelling. The revelation that she was essentially farming humans for an army made her seem more like a generic alien threat than a meaningful antagonist in the shinobi world.

3. Sakura Haruno

Sakura one of the most hated Naruto character
During the confronting Sasuke—Sakura (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Sakura consistently ranks among the most hated Naruto characters for her early behavior despite being a main character. While she eventually became a powerful medical ninja under Tsunade’s tutelage, fans couldn’t forget her initial treatment of Naruto and her obsessive devotion to Sasuke. Her infamous “fake confession” to Naruto drew fans’ hatred, as did her loyalty to Sasuke even after he became a legitimate threat to the village. 

However, what truly makes her one of the most hated Naruto characters is her perceived inability to grow beyond her initial characterization. Even then, she had numerous opportunities for meaningful development, but it didn’t matter. Even her moments of strength, like fighting Sasori, were often overshadowed by her emotional dependence on others.

2. Black Zetsu

Black Zetsu as seen in Naruto
The manipulative Black Zetsu as seen in Naruto (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Black Zetsu ranks among the most hated Naruto characters, placing him in universal contempt as the ultimate puppet master who manipulated centuries of shinobi history. Fans despise how this amorphous blob staged major events, including Indra Otsutsuki’s corruption and Madara Uchiha’s actions.

His revelation as Kaguya’s will felt like a cheap plot device that undermined the complex motivations of other villains. Being one of the most despised Naruto characters, his existence retroactively changed the entire series’ context, making many characters’ actions feel less meaningful. His smug personality and tendency to monologue about his grand plan only frustrated everyone with his character.

1. Danzo Shimura

Danzo's Wind Style
Danzo’s Wind Style (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Topping our list of most hated Naruto characters is Danzo Shimura, whose actions embody everything wrong with the shinobi world’s darker side. His twisted version of protecting the Leaf Village led to countless atrocities, including the Uchiha clan massacre and the emotional manipulation of many young ninjas. 

His despised nature comes from his hypocrisy – preaching about self-sacrifice while hoarding power and Sharingan eyes for himself. Danzo’s treatment of Itachi, manipulation of Kabuto, and attempts to seize power during Pain’s invasion showcase his ruthless opportunism.

Danzo is the most hated Naruto character because of his inability to acknowledge his evil, consistently justifying his actions as necessary for the village’s protection. In the meantime, he pursued his selfish agenda.


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