Naruto: Surprisingly Underwhelming in the 4th Great Ninja War

Article Key Points

Shino, Neji, Hinata, Tenten, Kiba, and Rock Lee were all disappointing in the Fourth Great Ninja War, as they didn't get the attention or showcase their true potential.

The characters, including Rock Lee, had the potential to greatly impact the war, but the author's neglect of their development led to disappointing performances.

The Fourth Great Ninja War stands as one of the most disastrous incidents in the Naruto universe. It pitted the Akatsuki, aligned with Kabuto, against the Shinobi Alliance, resulting in the largest-scale conflict ever witnessed. Shinobi from across the globe united in the face of a shared adversary.

Although numerous formidable ninjas achieved great renown in this war, there were those who regretfully failed to meet fans' expectations.

6. Shino Aburame

Strongest Enemy Fought: Torune

As a member of Team 8, Shino proved to be one of the most formidable Chunin in Konoha during this period. In Part 1 of Naruto, Shino emerged as a dark horse, never stealing the spotlight but surpassing all expectations with his immense strength and abilities.

5. Neji Hyuga

However, sadly, in Part 2 of Naruto, Shino's importance was undermined and as a result, his strength was significantly weakened. He played a negligible role in the 4th Great Ninja War, resulting in a major letdown. Even if his character was completely disregarded during the war, it wouldn't have made much difference, highlighting his insignificance in the conflict.

Strongest Enemy Fought: Ten Tails

Neji, a prominent character in Naruto, gained immense popularity during Part 1. As a member of the Hyuga's Branch family, his captivating storyline revolved around his struggle against predetermined fate. While this narrative had the potential to thrive in Part 2, the author unfortunately did not prioritize its development. During the 4th Great Ninja War, Neji carried a heavy burden of responsibility, yet like many other characters, he was not given adequate opportunity to showcase his true capabilities.

Perhaps the most significant contribution Neji made in the war was sacrificing his life, although the author's treatment of his death was severely lacking. It almost seemed as if the author intended to eliminate this character in order to highlight moments between Naruto and Hinata, which has indeed been confirmed.

4. Hinata Hyuga

Strongest Enemy Fought: Ten Tails

A member of Team 8, Hinata belongs to the Main Family of the Hyuga clan. During the war, Hinata's involvement was limited. Although she engaged in some battles sporadically, she did not participate in any remarkable acts that would be etched in fans' memories for years.

Hinata's role in the war mainly consisted of providing emotional support for Naruto. Unfortunately, her character's potential was not fully realized by the author. Ultimately, she ended up disappointing fans in the Fourth Great Ninja War, highlighting the missed opportunities for Kishimoto to develop her character further.

3. Tenten

Strongest Enemy Fought: Reanimated Ninjas

Tenten has consistently remained an insignificant character throughout both Part 1 and Part 2 of Naruto. It is evident that Kishimoto struggles with successfully portraying female characters, with Tenten ranking among the least developed. From the start to the very end of Naruto, Tenten has remained insignificant.

During the war, Tenten's contribution was minimal, limited to briefly utilizing the Tools of the Sage. Similar to many other characters on this list, her absence from this arc would have little impact on the overall story.

2. Kiba Inuzuka

Strongest Enemy Fought: White Zetsu

In the initial stages of Naruto, Kiba displayed significant potential. Although it was evident that he wouldn't attain the same level of greatness as the main characters, he still showcased admirable ninja skills, particularly in his ability to keep up with Naruto to a certain extent. Kiba's performance during the mission to retrieve Sasuke was commendable, solidifying his position as the future hope of his clan.

However, as Naruto progressed, his significance dwindled. During the 4th Great Ninja War, he became inconsequential. What exacerbates the situation is that Kiba ended up being reduced to a mere joke, with his presence in the war being solely obligatory. Apart from that, he failed to achieve anything substantial and undeniably left the fans feeling let down.

1. Rock Lee

Strongest Enemy Fought: N/A

Rock Lee, in the Fourth Great Ninja War of Naruto, proves to be the most disappointing character despite his immense potential. From his introduction, it was evident that he would resonate with many fans, and his performances in Part 1 of Naruto were nothing short of impressive.

However, in Part 2, Rock Lee's character gradually waned, and during the war, he struggled to make any significant impact. If the author had given him the attention he deserved, Rock Lee could have become one of the standout characters in Naruto. Unfortunately, the author's lack of interest in him led to a great disappointment for both Rock Lee and his fans.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the performance of these Shinobi in the Fourth Great Ninja War. On one hand, I understand that the author had to focus on the main characters and couldn't give every character the attention they deserved. On the other hand, I feel that some of these characters had the potential to make a bigger impact on the war and it's a shame that they were sidelined.

I think the biggest disappointment for me was Rock Lee. He is a fan-favorite character and has shown time and time again that he is a capable fighter. However, in the Fourth Great Ninja War, he was largely absent. He didn't have any major fights and didn't really contribute to the overall story. I think it was a missed opportunity to not use Rock Lee's skills more effectively.

Overall, I think the Fourth Great Ninja War was a bit of a letdown in terms of the character development for the supporting characters. I understand that the author had to focus on the main characters, but I think he could have done a better job of giving the other characters more to do.