The 7 Biggest Mistakes The Naruto Series Made

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As a huge fan, I always consider Naruto one of the best anime ever, and it’s easy to see why! The story, starting with the original Naruto, then Shippuden, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and now Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, just keeps going, which is amazing. Over all these years, we’ve seen so much character development and power-ups, but let’s be real, there were a few missteps along the way. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve put together a list of what I think are the seven biggest mistakes the series made, looking at both the anime and the manga.

7.) Too Much Filler

Early on, the Naruto anime quickly became incredibly popular, successfully bringing Masashi Kishimoto’s manga to life. However, the manga eventually fell behind the anime’s production schedule, forcing the animation studio, Pierrot, to create original stories to maintain weekly releases. For many years and across hundreds of episodes, these original additions were produced, and while some were enjoyable, many didn’t measure up to the quality of the source material. More recently, Studio Pierrot shifted to a less rushed production schedule, and this has ultimately benefited the Naruto anime.

6.) Sasuke & Sakura Becoming a Couple

From the beginning of the Naruto series, a romantic connection between Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura always seemed unlikely, largely because Sasuke was so focused on revenge. He often treated Sakura poorly, and while she persistently tried to help him change and find redemption, it never really resonated in the main story. Though their relationship was touched upon in extra content, it wasn’t fully developed in the manga or anime. Considering Sarada’s birth, it’s fair to question whether Sasuke and Sakura truly earned that outcome as a couple. This isn’t the only instance where Sasuke’s actions are brought into question.

5.) Sasuke Uchiha’s Redemption

Sasuke was a much more compelling character as a rival than as a hero. Throughout Naruto: Shippuden, he largely acted as a villain, driven by a desire for revenge against his brother and, ultimately, the Hidden Leaf Village. Even after becoming a mentor to Boruto, Sasuke could have maintained a villainous edge, which might have actually made their dynamic more captivating. Trying to introduce so many new characters while also having Sasuke become a ‘good guy’ felt like it diminished his potential and complexity.

4.) Orochimaru & Kabuto Surviving Shippuden

Kabuto and Orochimaru are two of the most villainous characters in the entire Naruto series. Surprisingly, both survived the original series and Naruto: Shippuden, and were ultimately forgiven thanks to Naruto’s compassion and the efforts of the Hidden Leaf Village. While forgiveness is a common theme in this type of anime, many fans feel these two deserved a harsher fate. Even though Kabuto isn’t seen often now, the fact that Orochimaru still lives in the Hidden Leaf Village is shocking. Though they weren’t killed off in Shippuden, some hope they might still face consequences, though that seems unlikely in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

3.) Itachi’s Secret Mission

After Itachi Uchiha died, the truth came out: he hadn’t been a villain, but a hero who secretly eliminated his own clan because they were becoming dangerous, acting on orders from the Third Hokage. This revelation dramatically changed how fans viewed Itachi and painted the entire Uchiha clan in a negative light. The idea that the Uchihas were always destined for evil was difficult to accept, especially considering Sasuke managed to break that cycle. It felt unnecessary to rewrite the history of the Uchiha clan just to explain Itachi’s actions; a touching final moment between the brothers could have been achieved without such a dramatic backstory change.

2.) The Tobi/Obito Reveal

Obito Uchiha’s story, especially his death alongside his friends and giving Kakashi his Sharingan, is complex. His initial appearance as Tobi was also compelling – presented as the newest member of the Akatsuki, Tobi could have been a fascinating villain independent of Obito’s Uchiha background. However, revealing Obito as Tobi didn’t have the impact it could have, and attempting to redeem him later in the series diminished the reveal even further.

1.) The Otsutsuki

The story of Naruto was always strongest when it focused on the world of ninjas, but introducing the extraterrestrial Otsutsuki clan weakened the series. While Naruto had many exciting moments, these alien characters didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story. The sudden reveal of Kaguya as the ultimate villain, and her quick defeat of Madara Uchiha, felt rushed and disappointed many fans. The Otsutsuki simply haven’t reached the same level of popularity or impact as the Akatsuki, who are still considered one of the best villain groups in anime.

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2026-03-08 00:40