10 Naruto Storylines That Are Better in the Anime (2024)

For over 15 years, Naruto has been airing and has become one of the most well-known pieces of work. Along with One Piece and Bleach, it is one of the Big Three anime. However, manga can only go so far when it comes to still black and white pages.

In the anime, some aspects it excels in are the soundtracks, flashbacks, dialogue and color usage, specifically fight scenes where movements are brought to life. Although the manga is a masterpiece, these are ten things that the anime did better.

10 Asuma Sarutobi's Death Is More Family Friendly In The Anime

Shikamaru’s Smoking Absence in Naruto Makes the Series Family-Friendly

While fighting two members of the Akatuski, Asuma took a fatal blow from Hidan when he stabbed him in the chest. Seeing his mentor in this condition, Shikamaru rushes to his side with tears in his eyes. His final words to his student were to take care of his child. This scene was so emotional in the anime because his last moments with his pupils and the advice he gave each of them had them all crying, showing the bond they shared with their sensei and reinforcing that death can come unexpectedly.

Some think it makes sense that Shikamaru picked up Asuma's habit of smoking after his death. In the anime, he doesn't start smoking, which makes the show more family friendly, since he starts smoking in the manga. In this way, the series is open to a wider variety of audience than the manga is. This storyline takes the last spot on the list because it isn't as noticeable of a difference compared to the others.

9 Gaara's Childhood Was Full of Pain And Suffering

Gaara was Betrayed By His Caretaker and Lost Control Of His Jinchuriki

Out of all the characters in Naruto, Gaara suffered the most trauma. Similarly to Naruto, the citizens of the Sand Village fear him because he has the One-Tail sealed inside of him. The difference is that Uzumaki had others that cared about him, while Gaara was completely isolated. In the show, he tries to play with other children who get scared of him and run away. It got to the point where his own father didn't even let him play with his siblings, Kankuro and Temari.

As a result of his mother dying during childbirth, he was taken in by her brother, Yashamaru. Getting his hopes up, he thought that he had finally found someone who cared about him. In an unfortunate turn of events, Yashamaru tries to assassinate Gaara on orders from his father. The anime adds drama to the scene as he freaks out when he realizes that the assassin was the only person he trusted.

8 The Final Battle Symbolizes The End Of Naruto And Sasuke's Rivalry

Flashbacks and Sound Effects Make Naruto’s Valley of the End Battle Unforgettable

See Also

25 Things Jiraiya Did Before The Start Of Naruto

At the Valley of the End, Naruto and Sasuke face off during their final battle. This duel is so unique in the anime because the series utilizes flashbacks to present the two of them as children and the two of them currently to show how many things have changed, but their rivalry hasn't. In the manga, readers don't get to see that comparison as the fight is taking place.

With the incredible animation, the Uchiha's Chidori and Uzamaki's Rasengan collide in an explosion of light. Also, the sound effects add impact to their punches and kicks, intensifying the fight. Watching how fast they move shows viewers how skilled they have become, which is harder to portray on black and white pages. When Naruto enters Six Paths Sage Mode and Sasuke activates his Susanoo, it displays the magnitude of their attacks on screen.

7 Team 7 Takes On Kaguya With The Help Of Obito

Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura's Battle Against Kaguya is in Full Vibrant Colors

In the fight against Kaguya, Obito has flashbacks to his past with Rin that are shown in black and white. Unlike the manga, this color choice is effective because it shows the difference between the past and present. One specific aspect that stands out are the Dimensional Portals where Team 7 was transported from a cave filled with boiling lava to an icy wasteland. The Otsutsuki member separated them in alternate dimensions, giving them the challenge of having to regroup.

The ominous music, specifically the soundtrack, "The Lament of Kaguya Otsutsuki," adds to the looming threat at hand. In addition, the glowing yellow light of Naruto's Six Path Sage Mode cloak, Sakura's pink aesthetic and Sasuke's purple Chidori have a stark contrast with Kaguya's pale skin and white hair in the anime. The use of colors is an advantage that anime has over manga.

6 Rock Lee's Fight Against Kimimaro Provides Comic Relief

Kimimaro's Internal Dialogue and Rock Lee's Drunken Fist Make It A Better Experience On Screen

Since Rock Lee becomes unstoppable when he drinks sake, his battle against Kimimaro is hilarious. Even though reading it is a fun experience, seeing it on screen is more comedic. Fans get a laugh out of him performing his famous Drunken Fist.

Heavily intoxicated, Rock Lee stumbles around and slurs his words, making his opponent wonder what "medicine" he's taking. On top of that, there is a lot of internal dialogue, so it's easier to tell whether it's spoken or not when watching the anime.

5 The Chunin Exams Reveals Rock Lee's Unwavering Resolve

Rock Lee Pushes His Body Beyond Its Limits in His Fight Against Gaara

Rock Lee versus Gaara is one of the most popular fights in the Naruto anime. During the Chunin Exams, they are paired up against one another. Going into the fight, the Leaf Ninja was the underdog, but when his leg weights hit the ground in an explosion, the tides shifted.

The standout aspect of watching the battle on screen is Lee's determined nature to fight despite the disadvantage he was at. It's hard to portray emotion in manga, whereas it's clear in the show that he isn't going to give up. This entry lands at the middle of the list because the fight shows the taijutsu master's unbreakable will.

4 Sakura Has More Screentime To Show Off Her Skills In The Anime

Sakura Became a Powerhouse and a Skilled Medic After Training With Tsunade

From part one of Naruto to Naruto Shippuden, Sakura demonstrates amazing character growth. In the beginning, she struggled to keep up with the other ninjas because she didn't inherit powers from a specific clan. After meeting Tsunade, she trains under her to become a medical ninja as well as improve her skills on the battlefield. By the end of the show, Sakura surpasses her mentor.

In the anime, she becomes exponentially stronger, showcased in her battle against Sasori, an Akatsuki member. Even though she was poisoned by his stinger, she brought an antidote that she created beforehand which saved her during the fight. Since the battle lasted eight episodes of the show, she was given more screen time in the anime to prove how talented she has become.

3 Pain Made A Grand Entrance Before Destroying The Leaf Village

The Frightening Soundtrack Hinted at Pain's Threat Against Konoha

The manga panel of Pain first arriving in Konoha is iconic. However, it is brought to life in the anime with vibrant colors and a threatening soundtrack. Bearing a similar resemblance, the Six Paths of Pain that attack the village all have orange hair to pay homage to Nagato's dear friend, Yahiko. During the arc, he destroys the Hidden Leaf Village and kills many people. In the anime, the fights are elongated, showing the grief they are put through in the fights, such as the death of the fan favorite, Kakashi Hatake.

The anime shows the true destruction that Pain inflicts upon the Leaf Village. The arc starts with the invasion of Konoha and ends with Naruto saving the village with Talk No Jutsu. During these episodes, Pain (Nagato) and Konan's backstory is fleshed out as to why they joined the Akatsuki. To save the civilians, Nagato uses the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique and in return, gives up his own life.

2 The Battle Between Konan And Tobi Has Stunning Visuals

Konan's Paper Wings And Tobi's Kamui Powers Are Brought To Life In The Anime

With a goal to steal Nagato's Rinnegan to become more powerful, Tobi asked Konan where his body was. Refusing to tell him, a battle ensued, and she was able to cut off his arm, but unfortunately, was defeated. In the manga, it's hard to display Konan's power since the panels are static whereas the show displays the fluidity of her ability.

When her body forms out of blank sheets of paper, they slowly turn into color, revealing her purple hair, piercings and Akatsuki cloak. With Tobi's Kamui, he appears and disappears in real time. In the anime, it's captivating to watch the transformation of paper into a person.

1 Naruto's Backstory Pulls At The Viewers' Heartstrings

The Anime's Soundtrack Adds Emotional Impact To Naruto's Lonely Childhood

With the Nine-Tailed fox sealed inside of him, Naruto was ostracized as a child and ignored by the village. When he walked around Konoha, people whispered insults and avoided interacting with him. The anime showcases the intense hatred that the citizens have for the lonely child, even showing a store owner throwing a mask at him and yelling at him to leave the shop.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen, promised Minato and Kushina that he would take care of their child, but he avoids Naruto's question when he asks why he doesn't have parents. None of the families would let their children play with him either. Combined with a melancholy and nostalgic soundtrack, the notable scene of him sitting on the swing all alone is heart-breaking, securing the top spot on the list.

Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.

Created by

Masashi Kishimoto

First Film

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Latest Film

Boruto: Naruto the Movie

First TV Show

Naruto

Latest TV Show

Boruto

First Episode Air Date

September 21, 1999

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Noriaki Sugiyama , Yuri Lowenthal , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Dave Wittenberg

Spin-offs

Boruto

TV Show(s)

Naruto , Naruto: Shippuden

Video Game(s)

Naruto Ninja Council 3 , Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja , Naruto: Path Of The Ninja , Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm , Naruto x Boruto: Ninja Voltage , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact

Manga Release Date

August 6, 2003

Manga Volumes

72

Genre

Shonen , Anime , Manga , Action-Adventure