Highlights

  • The anime adaptation of Naruto improved upon certain aspects of the manga, such as enhancing the portrayal of characters and improving the quality of fight sequences.
  • Characters like Jiraiya and Asuma Sarutobi were portrayed in a more likable and meaningful way in the anime, with their flaws toned down and their backgrounds explored in depth.
  • Hinata and Sakura also saw improvements in their character development in the anime, with Hinata becoming more assertive and Sakura being given more moments to shine and showcase her abilities.

For the most part, the anime retelling of Narutois a fairly faithful rendition of its manga source material, barring the ever-present issue of its massive volume of filler. When considering the canon content in the anime, there were quite a few moments that elevated or even surpassed the experience of the manga's story, especially concerning the quality of the animation during significant fight sequences.

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On this note, some of the main ways in which Naruto's anime diverged from its manga were in its depiction of gore and violence, as well as the characterization of certain members of the series' cast. While some of these changes diminished the original depiction of these characters, others helped enhance their portrayal to make their struggles resonate better with the viewer. In this vein, here are some characters from the series who fared better in the anime when compared to the manga.

1 Jiraiya

A Reduced Fondness For His Vices

Jiraiya
  • Manga Debut Chapter: 90
  • Anime Debut Episode: 52

Make no mistake, Jiraiya was far from a saint, and his proclivity towards vices often led Naruto into trouble. In fact, the Search for Tsunade Arc in Part I of the manga was filled with a lot more gambling than its anime counterpart. Additionally, Jiraiya's less-than-respectable behavior, such as his tendency to pickpocket strangers or lewdly chase after women, was more prominent in the manga.

Toning down these aspects of his character in the anime certainly helped in making him more likable as a mentor figure to Naruto, and also enhanced the impact of his guidance on the series' protagonist in later story arcs. Additionally, Jiraiya was a bit more standoffish and moody in the manga, where he was more reluctant to take Naruto under his wing compared to his anime depiction.

2 Asuma Sarutobi

Granted Time To Flesh Out His Past And Ideals

Asuma Sarutobi Naruto
  • Manga Debut Chapter: 34
  • Anime Debut Episode: 3

While filler was a hindrance that viewers had to contend with regularly, there were certain moments where it helped to flesh out aspects of the series' world-building and characters in a way that the manga could not. In turn, this also helped to broaden the audience's understanding of a character, making their role in the story more meaningful. One such instance came in the Twelve Guardian Ninja Arc, which dove into the past of Asuma Sarutobi, a jonin of Konohagakure and the son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen.

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This arc explored the relationship between father and son, as well as the clash of ideals that erupted due to Asuma's rebellious nature in his youth. While it did have its fair share of faults, this extra content about Asuma's beliefs gave him more of a purpose than that of being a mentor to Team 10. It also made his eventual defeat in the subsequent Akatsuki Suppression Mission all the more harrowing and meaningful, lending further weight to how his pupil, Shikamaru Nara, carried on his will.

3 Itachi Uchiha

Provided A Greater Understanding Of His Struggles

Itachi Uchiha Naruto Susanoo
  • Manga Debut Chapter: 139
  • Anime Debut Episode: 80

Itachi Uchiha's journey in Naruto was one fraught with difficult choices where there was no right answer and very little margin for error. Having displayed immense maturity and strength from an early age, Itachi was seen as a genius among the Uchiha clan and became the youngest member of Konohagakure's Anbu Black Ops.

Although much of his portrayal in both versions of the story remains the same, the additional anime-only content loosely adapted from the Itachi Shinden light novels offered a much more detailed glimpse into Itachi's youth and mindset in his early years. These episodes also tracked him during his time in the Anbu, as well as the circumstances behind his horrific decision to carry out the Uchiha clan massacre. Unlike Sasuke's recollections of the event, these episodes highlighted Itachi's mental anguish, as well as his relationship with his friend and mentor Shisui Uchiha, which granted a more well-rounded understanding of his character.

4 Hinata Hyuga

Given A More Assertive Persona

Close-up of Hinata Hyuga standing in a forest
  • Manga Debut Chapter: 34
  • Anime Debut Episode: 1

Hinata's defining trait throughout a fair portion of the series was her timidity, which stemmed from a lack of self-confidence, despite her position as the heiress of the Hyuga clan. Initially, she had a hard time standing up to more forceful people such as Neji, Sakura, or even members of her team. This aspect of her persona was even more evident in the manga when compared to the anime.

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Later on, as Hinata began to come into her own, the anime did a slightly better job of highlighting her growth, from showing her sparring with Neji to her desperate attempt to save Naruto when he was held hostage by Pain. Hinata's confession of love for Naruto was a much more poignant moment in the anime, where she struggled to save him and even landed a hit on Pain — unlike the manga where she went to attack the Deva Path and was struck down in the process.

5 Sakura Haruno

Given More Moments To Shine

sakura a girl with pink hair
  • Manga Debut Chapter: 3
  • Anime Debut Episode: 1

Unlike her manga counterpart, Sakura was gradually shown as less of a damsel in distress and was often able to hold her own against more powerful opponents in dire circumstances. This came as a stark contrast to her general portrayal, which has been a major source of the backlash involving the development of female characters in the series as a whole.

Sakura even protected herself from the Ten-Tails' rampage in the anime, as opposed to having Kakashi save her in the manga, which outlined how far she had come by the time of the Fourth Shinobi World War. These minor alterations contributed to a fairly stronger depiction of her character as a whole, but it still might not have been enough to redeem how she was written in comparison to her male teammates.