Highlights

  • Naruto Uzumaki, the eponymous protagonist, goes through a lot of growth and matures as both a fighter and a person throughout the series.
  • Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto's best friend and rival, is defined by the actions of his brother Itachi and undergoes significant changes throughout the story.
  • Sakura Haruno, the final member of Team 7, initially takes a backseat to Naruto and Sasuke but eventually becomes one of the best medical ninjas in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Naruto is one of the most well-known anime series and manga series around the world. While the manga originally ran from September 1999 to November 2014, the anime (part one) aired from 2002 through 2007. Later, Naruto: Shippuden (part two) was televised between 2007 and 2017.

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Part one of Naruto tells the story of ninja Naruto Uzumaki and his friends Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. They are part of a team, under the leadership of elite ninja Kakashi Hatake. Eventually, they meet Orochimaru, a wanted criminal whose sinister motivations are kept in the dark for quite some time. The team also meets Jiraiya, one of the three legendary ninjas.

Plenty of other characters play a role in their journey. They run into Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's brother and a shinobi of the Uchiha clan. There is also Hinata Hyuga, a kunoichi of Konohagakure and a member of another team. They face Gaara eventually, a shinobi of Sunagakure and their main rival, as well as Rock Lee, a shinobi of the Lee clan. All of Naruto's main characters serve a purpose in the story. For new and old viewers alike, here's some quick information on the heroes of this anime.

Updated February 16, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Naruto is a great shonen anime that needs no introduction. This epic series narrates the story of a boy who's been ostracized by his village but never gives up, continuing to get stronger and be acknowledged by everyone around him.

His pipe dream of becoming the Hokage becomes a reality in no time, with the series' many characters helping him achieve this goal by supporting him or opposing him, making this blond ninja even stronger in the process.

Naruto Statistics Chart

To make this data as accessible as possible, the ages, heights, and birthdays of all the included Naruto characters are listed below:

Name

Age

Height

Birthday

Naruto Uzumaki

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 15-17
  • Part 1: 146 cm (4'9")
  • Part 2: 166 cm (5'5")

October 10

Sasuke Uchiha

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 16-17
  • Part 1: 152 cm (5'0")
  • Part 2: 168 cm (5'6")

July 23

Sakura Haruno

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 15-17
  • Part 1: 149 cm (4'11")
  • Part 2: 161 cm (5'3")

March 28

Kakashi Hatake

  • Part 1: 26-27
  • Part 2: 29-31
  • 181 cm (5'11")

September 15

Might Guy

  • Part 1: 26-27
  • Part 2: 30-31
  • 184 cm (6'0")

January 1

Itachi Uchiha

  • Part 1: 17-18
  • Part 2: 21
  • Part 1: 175 cm (5'9")
  • Part 2: 178 cm (5'10")

June 9

Hinata Hyuga

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 16
  • Part 1: 148 cm (4'10")
  • Part 2: 160 cm (5'3")

December 27

Gaara

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 15-17
  • Part 1: 147 cm (4'10")
  • Part 2: 166 cm (5'5")

January 19

Rock Lee

  • Part 1: 13-14
  • Part 2: 17
  • Part 1: 160 cm (5'3")
  • Part 2: 172 cm (5'8")

November 27

Shikamaru Nara

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 15-17
  • Part 1: 151 cm (4'11.5") – 152 cm (5'0")
  • Part 2: 172 cm (5'8")

September 22

Ino Yamanaka

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 16-17
  • Part 1: 149 cm (4'11") – 151 cm (4'11.5")
  • Part 2: 162 cm (5'4")

September 23

Choji Akamichi

  • Part 1: 12-13
  • Part 2: 16-17
  • Part 1: 151 cm (4'11") – 156 cm (5'1")
  • Part 2: 172 cm (5'8")

May 1

Asuma Sarutobi

  • Part 1: 27-28
  • Part 2: 31
  • 191 cm (6'3")

October 18

Neji Hyuga

  • Part 1: 13-14
  • Part 2: 17-18
  • Part 1: 159 cm (5'2.5") – 160 cm (5'3")
  • Part 2: 172 cm (5'8")

July 3

Jiraiya

  • Part 1: 50-51
  • Part 2: 54
  • 191 cm (6'3")

November 11

Orochimaru

  • Part 1: 50-51
  • Part 2: 54
  • Part 1: 179 cm (5'10")
  • Part 2: 172 cm (5'7")

October 27

Tsunade

  • Part 1: 51
  • Part 2: 54–55
  • 163 cm (5'4")

August 2

Obito Uchiha

  • Part 1: 13
  • Part 2: 31
  • Part 1: 154 cm (5'1")
  • Part 2: 175 cm (5'9") - 182 (5'11.5")

February 10

Minato Namikaze

  • 24
  • 179 cm (5'10")

January 25

Madara Uchiha

  • N/A
  • 179 cm (5'10")

December 24

Hashirama Senju

  • N/A
  • 185 cm (6'0)

October 23

21 Naruto Uzumaki

The Eponymous Protagonist

Naruto Naruto
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 15-17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 146 cm (4'9") in Part 1, 166 cm (5'5") in Part 2
  • Birthday: October 10

Naruto Uzumaki is the anime and manga's main character. An orphan who was shunned by the Hidden Leaf Village during the early parts of his life, Naruto sought to become its Hokage to prove himself to everyone.

Naruto goes through a lot of growth throughout the series, maturing as both a fighter and a person. In part one of the show, he is between 12 and 13 years old, while in part two, he goes from 15 to 17 years old.

20 Sasuke Uchiha

Naruto's Best Friend And Rival

Naruto Sasuke
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 16-17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 152 cm (5'0") in Part 1, 168 cm (5'6") in Part 2
  • Birthday: July 23

Similar to Naruto, Sasuke is between 12 and 13 years old in the first part of the show, while he goes from 16 to 17 years old in Naruto: Shippuden. Sasuke is also a bit taller than the title character.

Sasuke's existence is defined by the actions of his brother, Itachi, and the young shinobi is far more conflicted than any of the other members of Team 7. Sasuke arguably goes through the most changes in Naruto, and while he commits some atrocities, he can also play the part of the hero.

19 Sakura Haruno

The Final Member Of Team 7

Sakura in Naruto
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 15-17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 149 cm (4'11") in Part 1, 161 cm (5'3") in Part 2
  • Birthday: March 28

Like the rest of Team 7, Sakura is between 12 and 13 years old in part one and goes from 15 to 17 years old during part two.

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Sakura tends to be overshadowed by Naruto and Sasuke, both of whom are shinobi prodigies; consequently, the pink-haired character often takes a backseat to her teammates. However, Sakura eventually finds her calling as a medical nin, developing into one of the best that Hidden Leaf Village has ever seen.

18 Kakashi Hatake

The Famous Copy Ninja

Kakashi Hatake in Naruto
  • Age: 26-27 (Part 1), 29-31 (Part 2)
  • Height: 181 cm (5'11")
  • Birthday: September 15

Throughout the first part of the show, Kakashi is between 26 and 27 years old, while he goes from 29 to 31 years old in the second anime series.

In Naruto, Kakashi is tasked with leading and training Team 7, and there is no other shinobi better suited for the job. Although his laissez-faire demeanor might suggest he is something of an uninterested pushover, Kakashi is actually an extremely talented ninja who knows when to take things seriously.

17 Might Guy

One Of The Most Powerful Taijutsu Users

Might Guy opening the Eight Gates
  • Age: 26-27 (Part 1), 30-31 (Part 2)
  • Height: 184 cm (6'0")
  • Birthday: January 1

Kakashi's self-proclaimed rival ended up showing what he was all about during the latter half of Naruto: Shippuden. Not only did he push Kisame to his very limits with his incredible taijutsu, but he also managed to give a super-powerful Madara a run for his money.

While this came at the cost of his legs, no one can deny that Might Guy is one of the most colorful characters on the show. He brings a beautiful energy into any scene he's featured in, making him an absolute gem to witness in Naruto.

16 Itachi Uchiha

A Man Who Sacrificed Everything For His Younger Brother

Naruto Itachi
  • Age: 17-18(Part 1), 21 (Part 2)
  • Height: 175 cm (5'9") in Part 1, 178 cm (5'10") in Part 2
  • Birthday: June 9

For the duration of part one, Itachi is between 17 and 18 years old, while in part two, he is 21. Although he takes a backseat for large chunks of the story, Itachi casts a long shadow that constantly looms over Sasuke.

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Itachi's legacy is that he murdered the Uchiha clan, leaving only Sasuke alive. This fuels the latter's existence, but the situation eventually reveals itself to be far more nuanced than just one shinobi exposing himself to be a monster.

15 Hinata Hyuga

Naruto's Love Interest

Hinata in Naruto
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 16 (Part 2)
  • Height: 148 cm (4'10") in Part 1, 160 cm (5'3") in Part 2
  • Birthday: December 27

Hinata Hyuga was born on December 27th. She is the same age as the protagonist, between 12 and 13 years old during the first part of the show and Hinata is 16 years old in the second part.

Hinata and Naruto bond over their loneliness; although not as isolated as the latter, the former grew up being told that she would not amount to anything. Encouraged by Naruto, Hinata pushed herself to prove everyone wrong, and she developed a crush on her inspiration.

14 Gaara

An Unhinged Jinchuriki Whom Naruto Converted

Naruto Gaara
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 15-17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 147 cm (4'10") in Part 1, 166 cm (5'5") in Part 2
  • Birthday: January 19

Gaara's birthday is January 19th. In part one of the show, he is between 12 and 13 years old. In part two, Gaara ages from 15 to 17 years old.

Gaara and Naruto share quite a bit in common, as both were feared by the residents of their villages. Their situations prompted opposite reactions; while Naruto craved companionship, Gaara grew to loathe the world and sought to eradicate everyone he could. Gaara's life changes for the better once he meets Naruto.

13 Rock Lee

A Taijutsu Expert

Naruto Rock Lee
  • Age: 13-14 (Part 1), 17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 160 cm (5'3") in Part 1, 172 cm (5'8") in Part 2
  • Birthday: November 27

Growing up alongside Team 8, Rock Lee is between 13 and 14 years old in Naruto. In Shippuden, he's 17. One of the most likable characters in the series, Lee is endearingly optimistic and relentlessly driven to prove to everyone that he can overcome any shortcomings.

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Incapable of mastering ninjutsu, Lee turned to physical martial arts instead, with Might Guy serving as his sensei. Even though he had a lower ceiling than the likes of Naruto and Sasuke, Lee made sure to become the strongest version of himself he could be.

12 Shikamaru Nara

One Of The Show's Smartest Characters

Shikamaru Nara as a chuunin in the Naruto anime
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 15-17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 151 cm (4'11.5") – 152 cm (5'0") in Part 1, 172 cm (5'8") in Part 2
  • Birthday: September 22

Shikamaru is one of the most intelligent characters in the show, with his laziness being a negative trait that he actually gets over following many notable moments in the series where he captured the limelight. He's one of the most likable characters in Naruto, with his intelligence allowing him to serve as the Hokage's adviser after Naruto achieved his lifelong dream.

A particularly strong moment for his character came after Asuma's death. He realized that he couldn't take things lightly anymore, using his brains to corner the man who killed his sensei and giving him a brutal burial where Hidan would remain trapped forever. His immortality would serve to only extend this torture.

11 Ino Yamanaka

A Boisterous Shinobi With Mind-Control Powers

Ino Yamanaka in Naruto
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 16-17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 149 cm (4'11") – 151 cm (4'11.5") in Part 1, 162 cm (5'4") in Part 2
  • Birthday: September 23

Ino seemed like a pretty unlikable character early on, with her schtick of berating and fighting Sakura becoming old quite fast. However, it's after her background with her rival is explored that fans get to see another side of her character.

It helps that her participation in the Ino-Shika-Cho trio was also pretty engrossing in its own right. Over time, she got over her hatred of Sakura, and the two rekindled a friendship that was stronger than ever before.

10 Choji Akamichi

The Most Powerful Member Of The Ino-Shika-Cho Trio In Terms Of Pure Strength

Choji in Naruto
  • Age: 12-13 (Part 1), 16-17 (Part 2)
  • Height: 151 cm (4'11") – 156 cm (5'1") in Part 1, 172 cm (5'8") in Part 2
  • Birthday: May 1

Many people wrote off Choji to be nothing more than comic relief who's a glutton, and nothing else. In fact, he himself thought that he wasn't fit to fight, which is what made it so satisfying to see Choji get his time in the spotlight by showing just how strong he really was.

Sure, most people would argue that he should have died multiple times throughout the show, but that's just a technicality given the plot armor that many Naruto characters enjoy. Without him, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio wouldn't have the oomph it needs to ace whatever they strive to accomplish.

9 Asuma Sarutobi

The Leader Of Team 10

Asuma Sarutobi Naruto
  • Age: 27-28 (Part 1), 31 (Part 2)
  • Height: 191 cm (6'3")
  • Birthday: October 18

Asuma is a relaxed jonin who leads Team 10, which consists of Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji. Despite looking rather laidback, Asuma isn't afraid to ramp things up a notch when things get serious.

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His death is an emotional moment for Shikamaru, who decides to take things seriously for once and avenge his sensei by burying Hidan alive. He helped Naruto uncover his Wind Chakra element too, making him an important character whose death had a huge ripple effect and ultimately led to the Akatsuki being whittled down after a clash for the ages.

8 Neji Hyuga

One Of The Most Talented Members Of The Hyuga Clan

Neji Hyuga in Naruto
  • Age: 13-14 (Part 1), 17-18 (Part 2)
  • Height: 159 cm (5'2.5") – 160 cm (5'3") in Part 1, 172 cm (5'8") in Part 2
  • Birthday: July 3

Neji is one of the best characters in Naruto, with his battle against the protagonist in the Chunin Exams being a highlight of the arc. This clash of ideals resulted in Neji finally accepting that destiny wasn't pre-determined — a message that was undermined when it was revealed that both Sasuke and Naruto were reincarnations of Asura and Indra, respectively.

It was a shame to see him die in Naruto after barely playing a major role post the time skip. It felt like a waste of a character who was pretty strong and memorable in the first half of the series, only to be shelved and killed in the War arc to make for an emotional moment.

7 Jiraiya

Naruto's Mentor And Father Figure

Naruto Jiraiya
  • Age: 50-51 (Part 1), 54 (Part 2)
  • Height: 191 cm (6'3")
  • Birthday: November 11

Jiraiya was born on November 11th. For part one of the show, he is between 50 and 51 years old. Come part two, he's 54. Often serving as comedy relief, Jiraiya might seem like an idiot on the surface, but he is one of the strongest shinobi in Konoha's history.

Jiraiya's eccentric personality sets him apart from the rest of Naruto's main characters; he is unapologetically silly, over-the-top, and inappropriate. However, if something threatens the Hidden Leaf Village, he would do anything to protect it.

6 Orochimaru

A Legendary Sannin Who Went Down A Dark Path

Naruto Orochimaru
  • Age: 50-51 (Part 1), 54 (Part 2)
  • Height: 179 cm (5'10") in Part 1, 172 cm (5'7") in Part 2
  • Birthday: October 27

Orochimaru, Naruto's main antagonist in the early going, was born on October 27th. Like Jiraiya, he is between 50 and 51 years old in part one and 54 in part two.

A contender for Naruto's greatest villain, Orochimaru spends his time trying to overcome mortality, which usually entails gruesome experiments. The character's backstory sheds some light on his initial driving force since he struggled to process the emotions he felt following a personal loss, but he eventually morphed into a twisted and dangerous figure.

5 Tsunade

The Fifth Hokage And A Medical Ninjutsu Expert

tsunade with blonde hair
  • Age: 51 (Part 1), 54-55 (Part 2)
  • Height: 163 cm (5'4")
  • Birthday: August 2

Kishimoto may have done a lot of things right in Naruto, but he wasn't the greatest when it came to writing women. While there's no denying that there are many memorable, beloved female characters in the series, a lot of them are written in a weird manner that makes them appear weaker than they are. There's no better example of this than Tsunade.

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Despite being the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade never wins a fight in the entire series. It's a shame, but Tsunade's cocky attitude and monstrous strength still make her a fun character to watch.

4 Obito Uchiha

Kakashi's Broken-Hearted Friend

Obito Uchiha from Naruto Shippuden
  • Age: 13 (Past), 31 (Part 2)
  • Height: 154 cm (5'1") in the past, 175 cm (5'9") - 182 (5'11.5") in Part 2
  • Birthday: February 10

Obito Uchiha, born on February 10, was one of Kakashi's closest friends who apparently lost his life before coming back as a central villain throughout Naruto: Shippuden. His reveal as an antagonist is pretty great, even though his motivations do have glaring holes in them.

During the Kakashi Gaiden, Obito is 13 years old before meeting what seems to be a grisly end. However, in Naruto: Shippuden, Tobi reveals his true identity as a 31-year-old Obito Uchiha. He was 5'1" in the Kakashi Gaiden, with his height varying between transformations in Shippuden.

3 Minato Namikaze

The Fourth Hokage And Naruto's Father

Naruto Minato Namikaze
  • Age: 24
  • Height: 179 cm (5'10")
  • Birthday: January 25

The revelation that Minato was Naruto's father was something fans saw coming a while before the reveal, but that doesn't mean people weren't happy to see this development anyway. Naruto's message about anyone being a hero does get muddied somewhat with this link, but it's a small price to pay for a cool moment.

Minato is one of the fastest shinobi in the series, using his technique to great effect as he teleports around with ease. The Rasengan he pulls off against Obito remains one of the best uses of this legendary jutsu in the series. He might have died before Naruto could grow up, but the protagonist was still able to spend some much-needed time with him during the Shinobi World War.

2 Madara Uchiha

A Hateful, Ambitious Member Of The Uchiha Clan

Naruto Madara Uchiha reanimated during the Fourth Great Ninja War
  • Age: N/A
  • Height: 179 cm (5'10")
  • Birthday: December 24

Madara Uchiha is a complex villain who has been a pain in the side of the Leaf Village due to his ravenous need for power and conflict. He was put to rest by Hashirama after a massive conflict, but it seems that even death wasn't enough to halt Madara's ambition.

His age hasn't been confirmed by official sources, although rumors say that he was around 80 years old at the time of his demise. His birthday is a day before Christmas, and his height is almost 180 centimeters.