Naruto: The 10 Best Underdogs, Ranked by Character Growth

Not all heroes in the world of Naruto were gifted from birth or came from powerful clans with well-known backgrounds. Some had to start off at rock bottom – with fear, failure, loneliness, or self-doubt that they would never be good enough. It is precisely for this reason that it was so satisfying to see how far they came.

Over the years, these characters changed through hard work, painful lessons, and moments that completely shaped their lives. Some turned into heroes, while others redeemed themselves and showed that perseverance can beat even the toughest odds. With that said, below are the top 10 Naruto underdogs ranked based on character development.

10 Believing in Himself Changed Choji Forever

At the beginning of the series, Choji Akimichi rarely believed in himself. He was kind and loyal, but he often thought he was the weakest member of Team 10. Because of that, he lacked the confidence to show what he was truly capable of.

Everything changed during the Sasuke Retrieval Arc when he faced Jirobo. Choji was willing to risk his own life by taking the Akimichi Clan’s Three Colored Pills to protect his friends. He did not just win a difficult fight. He finally stopped seeing himself as someone who would always fall behind. From that moment onward, Choji became a much more dependable shinobi who trusted his own strength.

9 Naruto Restored the Hope Nagato Had Lost

Nagato did not start out as a villain. As a child, he dreamed of bringing peace alongside Yahiko and Konan. But after losing the people he cared about during the wars, he became convinced that only pain could create peace. That belief eventually turned him into Pain during the Pain Assault Arc.

Naruto refused to answer hatred with more hatred. Instead, he listened to Nagato and shared Jiraiya’s dream of ending the cycle of revenge. That conversation changed everything. Nagato realized he had lost sight of the person he once wanted to be, and his final sacrifice to revive the people of Konoha became one of the series’ most emotional redemption moments.

8 Responsibility Turned Shikamaru Into Konoha’s Greatest Strategist

Shikamaru Nara always had a brilliant mind, but he preferred taking naps over taking responsibility. During the Chunin Exams, everyone could see his intelligence, yet he rarely pushed himself unless he absolutely had to.

That changed after Asuma Sarutobi’s death in the Akatsuki Suppression Mission. Losing his teacher forced Shikamaru to grow up quickly. His carefully planned battle against Hidan showed how much he had matured. Instead of running away from responsibility, he accepted it and slowly became one of Konoha’s most trusted leaders.

7 Sakura Earned Her Strength Without a Special Bloodline

Sakura Haruno was often overlooked during the early part of Naruto. While Naruto had Kurama and Sasuke had the Sharingan, Sakura did not have a powerful bloodline or a special ability that made her stand out.

Instead, she worked harder. After training under Tsunade, Sakura became one of the strongest medical ninjas in the series. Her fight alongside Chiyo against Sasori during the Kazekage Rescue Arc proved that she had become much more than a supporting teammate. Sakura earned every bit of her strength through effort, making her growth one of the most satisfying in the series.

6 Might Guy Proved Hard Work Could Rival Legends

Might Guy built his entire life around one simple belief: hard work can overcome natural talent. Unlike many of the strongest shinobi, he did not possess a famous bloodline or powerful dojutsu. He simply trained harder than almost anyone else.

That belief reached its greatest moment during the Fourth Great Ninja War when Guy opened all Eight Inner Gates to fight Madara Uchiha. Even Madara admitted that Guy was one of the greatest taijutsu users he had ever faced. It was the perfect reward for someone who spent his entire life proving that effort could stand beside genius.

5 Hinata Overcame Fear to Become a True Hero

Hinata Hyuga spent most of her childhood doubting herself. Constant criticism from the Hyuga Clan and constant comparisons with Neji made her believe she would never become a great ninja. Still, she kept trying because Naruto inspired her to never give up.

The most crucial moment for her took place when Pain was attacking Konoha. Even though Hinata knew that she could hardly win against him, she stood up to protect Naruto. It was not about defeating Pain. It was about finding the courage to stand up despite being afraid. That single moment showed just how far she had come.

4 Obito Found Redemption After Losing Everything

Obito Uchiha wanted to become Hokage, but he could never match up to Kakashi and struggled to keep up. After being crushed during the Third Shinobi World War while trying to save his comrades and later witnessing Rin’s death, he lost all hope and followed Madara’s path instead.

However, years later, when the Fourth Great Ninja War started, Naruto made Obito remember who he once was. After realising how much he had fallen from his initial beliefs, he betrayed Madara and ultimately sacrificed himself for Team 7. His past could never be forgotten, but his final choices made him a memorable character.

3 Naruto Helped Gaara Become a Beloved Leader

Gaara grew up believing that nobody would ever love him. Feared because he carried Shukaku, he slowly convinced himself that hurting others was the only way to survive. His life changed after losing to Naruto during the Konoha Crush Arc.

For the first time, Gaara met someone who had suffered just like him but had chosen a completely different path. Naruto’s words stayed with him long after their fight ended. By the time of the Kazekage Rescue Arc, Gaara had become the respected Kazekage of the Hidden Sand. His journey from feared monster to beloved leader remains one of the best transformations in the series.

2 Naruto Turned Rejection Into His Greatest Strength

Naruto Uzumaki spent his childhood alone. The people of Konoha feared him because of the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, even though he had done nothing wrong. Instead of giving up, Naruto decided he would earn everyone’s respect one day.

That determination shaped every major arc in the series. From defeating Neji in the Chunin Exams to refusing to give up on Sasuke and later ending the cycle of hatred after facing Pain and Obito, Naruto never lost faith in people. His greatest strength was never Kurama. It was his ability to keep moving forward no matter how many times life knocked him down.

1 Hard Work Made Rock Lee Defy Every Limit

No character represents the underdog spirit better than Rock Lee. He could not use ninjutsu or genjutsu, something almost every ninja considered essential. Most people believed he would never become a successful shinobi because of those limits.

Instead of accepting defeat, Lee trained harder than anyone else under Might Guy. His battle against Gaara during the Chunin Exams is still one of Naruto‘s greatest fights. Even though he lost, Lee earned everyone’s respect by opening the Fifth Gate and refusing to quit until his body gave out. He proved that real strength is not about natural talent. It is about getting back up, working harder, and never letting others decide what you can become.

Now the big question: Which Naruto character do you think had the best character growth, and who would you put at number one? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Naruto and Naruto Shippuden are both currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.