The Naruto series is beyond the many great fights orpowerful jutsusbecause behind some of our favorite characters are leaders who mentored them. Hence, these leaders shape their students and challenge them to fulfill their ambitions.
10 Naruto Characters Who Failed to Live Up to Their Expectations
Explore 10 Naruto characters who didn’t meet their potential. Find out who fell short of expectations in this iconic anime series and why.
There are certain examples of the best team leaders in Naruto, because their roles are not just to teach the students jutsu, but to make them great shinobi. Choosing the best team leaders in Naruto means that we have to consider their impact on their students, how far they pushed them to reach their full potential, and the pivotal role these students later played in the shinobi world.
In other words, these leaders are architects of the next generation of shinobi, so here is a list of the best team leaders in Naruto.
8Tobirama Senju
Students: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homira Mitokado, Koharu Utatane
There was chaos following the founding of Konoha village, andTobirama laid the foundationfor the administrative sects and security forces. He also trained Sarutobi, who became a hokage, and the two elders of Konoha, who both played a role in making decisions for the village.
Tobirama was often labeled as cold, and this could be deduced from his reaction to Sasuke’s affront in Konoha during the Fourth Great Ninja War. He was a leader who could not afford to rule with emotions.
Hence, the fact that he trained three students who used to be at the helm of Konoha’s affairs for some time cannot be overlooked. Even if we did not see him lead the students on a mission in the series, the students' role in the decision-making process of Konoha, whether in a good or bad way, only shows that Tobirama influenced them to become leaders.
Students: Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro
What I personally respected Baki for was how he managed to lead Gaara even though he was unstable. During the chunin exam, he did not show that he was afraid of Gaara, but of course, he did not dismiss the fact that he was a threat.
During the Sand Village support mission, Baki believed his team to carry out the assigned mission even though they doubted themselves. Also, during the Akatsuki assault on the Sand Village, which led to the kidnapping of the Kazekage, he quickly ordered offensive measures to get Gaara back.
Baki might not be one of the major characters in the story, but he played a role in Gaara’s life and growth, and that is a big plus.
6Minato Namikaze
Students: Kakashi Hatake, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha
What always stood out to me about Minato was his composure. Even though one of his students, Rin, died young, his other two students, Kakashi and Obito, became powerful shinobis in the future.
Minato nurtured and molded his students on the basis of their strengths and weaknesses. Kakashi was brilliant but rigid, Obito was emotional and impulsive, and Rin was like the balance the two young boys needed.
Minato taught them how to think and care for each other, and this element was portrayed when Obito gave Kakashi his Sharingan during a mission that went wrong. Minato assumed responsibility for the failed mission and blamed himself for not being there in time.
A great team leader is always accountable, and Minato showed this during his time with his students. Also, his sacrifice to save Konoha showed that he would give his life for his students without giving it a second thought.
5Kakashi Hatake
Students: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno
Kakashi never had it easy as a shinobi; hence, who would blame him if he did not turn out to be an ideal leader. However, Kakashi did not let his past trauma define his future, and he shaped the lives of the most powerful ninja in the shinobi world.
10 Best Naruto Episodes
These ten episodes hit like a Rasengan to the heart, the moments I still replay in my head.
He led Team 7 and gave his students room to fail, and most importantly, to learn from it. The first mission he gave his team was to steal two bells from him, which they failed many times until they learned to cooperate.
Consequently, in this simple way, he taught them the importance of unity. He became a Hokage, and this is because he was fit enough to lead.
4Hiruzen Sarutobi
Students: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru
Hiruzen might be famously remembered as a hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, but let us not forget that he trained three legends of Konoha, known as the legendary Sannin. He made somemistakes as a hokage, and leaders are usually prone to mistakes because they are humans too.
However, he was definitely a great team leader for mentoring three legendary shinobi. He saw a spark beneath the foolishness of Jiraiya, nurtured Tsunade’s medical prowess, and acknowledged Orochimaru’s brilliance because he hoped to guide him away from darkness.
His true leadership goes beyond the nurturing of the three great ninjas because he also became a hokage. He sacrificed his life for the Hidden Leaf so he could protect the next generation of shinobi.
3Mighty Guy
Students: Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji
If you want to understand Guy’s leadership and mentorship, just look at Rock Lee. He saw himself in Rock Lee and taught him resilience and hard work to enhance his taijutsu skills.
Under Guy, the brooding Neji also nurtured his talent of the byakugan, and even though we did not see much of Tenten, she fought during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Guy’s taijutsu mastery is unmatched in this series, and his god-tier action against Madara Uchiha is still one of my favorite moments in Naruto.
He showed true leadership in the darkest hour to buy time for the allied shinobi forces, and, of course, his students watched their teacher flourish at that moment.
2Asuma Sarutobi
Students: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka
Asuma is the son of the third hokage, Hiruzen, and he was more than a teacher to his students; he was more like a father figure. Their team is one of the first to understand unity, unlike the likes of Team 7, and this is definitely due to the great mentorship of Asuma.
His final stand against anAkatsuki member, Hidan, was one of the most heartbreaking in the series. Particularly, his death broke Shikamaru, and to honor and avenge his teacher, Shikamaru took down Hidan in the most brutal way.
Asuma lives on through his students, even though he did not watch them grow to be outstanding shinobis.
Students: Sai, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno
Yamato was the temporary leader of Team 7 after Kakashi was out of commission. He played a key role in helping Naruto retain the powerful tailed beast sealed within him.
Also, he respected Sakura and gave Sai room to grow into the team. Most importantly, as the Akatsuki group became more dangerous, the lingering trauma of Sasuke’s defection, andNaruto’s struggleto control the nine tails, Yamato still created balance in the team.
He had a military background that greatly helped the team, especially his wood release jutsu. People often talk about Jiraiya’s and Kakashi’s influence on Naruto’s growth, but let’s not forget the pivotal role Yamato also played and the times he stepped in when Naruto was so close to losing himself.
Naruto: 10 Most Tragic Backstories In The Series
From Sasori to Haku, here are the most tragic backstories in Naruto, where the tragedy of the past shapes the characters' lives in the series.
