The Hidden Gem of Konoha 11: Naruto's Most Underrated Member

Highlights

Naruto's extensive character roster has led to the neglect of supporting characters like Tenten, who has received minimal screen time and seems like a forgotten side character.

Tenten's potential within the Konoha 11 has been eclipsed by more powerful members like Neji and Lee, leading to a setback in her growth and advancement.

Tenten's exceptional skills as a kunoichi specialized in weapon-based ninjutsu have played against her, as Naruto's storyline downplayed the significance of ninja tools, thus minimizing the importance of her impressive arsenal.

Long-running shonen anime often face the problem of bloating their character rosters, resulting in neglect or even forgetting of most characters. With over 700 episodes, the Naruto series is notorious for its extensive lineup of characters. As a consequence, many of Naruto's supporting characters have very little screen time, sometimes appearing as one-off characters.

The Konoha 11 exemplify this issue, as these secondary characters receive minimal recognition they rightly deserve. Within the group, Tenten is particularly sidelined, with only three canon battle scenes to her name. Among the Konoha 11, Tenten arguably suffers the most neglect. Kishimoto, the creator, has acknowledged his difficulty in properly developing female characters, but Tenten's treatment seems almost intentional.

Tenten’s Place Within Konoha 11

Tenten's initial portrayal as a skilled kunoichi excelling in a unique form of ninja art lost its impact after her first battle against Temari in the Chunin Exams. Unlike the other members of Konoha 11 who learned from their defeats and proved their worth in subsequent missions, Tenten never had the chance to redeem herself. The Sasuke retrieval mission excluded Tenten and other Kunoichi from Konoha 11, relegating them as weak and insignificant. While Sakura, Ino, and Hinata found their place in the series' narrative, Tenten struggled to assimilate herself into the storyline.

Tenten’s Limited Screen Time

Tenten's progress was further overshadowed by being paired with Neji and Lee, two of the strongest members of Konoha 11. The Sasuke retrieval mission highlighted their significant contributions, leading to their well-deserved celebration. Unfortunately, Tenten's growth and development paled in comparison, leaving her feeling like a forgotten side character.

Among the many characters in Naruto's story, it's impossible to give every single one an equal amount of attention. Unfortunately, Tenten from the Konoha 11 seems to have been overlooked, as her canon screen time amounts to only a few hours. While she does have around 10 hours of screen time in anime-only content and filler episodes, this is still minimal compared to other members of the Konoha 11.

An Unconventional Ninjutsu

Tenten's appearance on the screen revolves mostly around anime-specific material, suggesting that she was completely left out of the anime's manga adaptation. Nonetheless, her limited presence can be attributed to her lack of direct interaction with Naruto. It is only reasonable for a character who doesn't engage with the main protagonist to receive minimal screen time.

Tenten's distinctive skills proved to be a hindrance rather than an advantage. In the Naruto universe, where unconventional methods often steal the spotlight, weapons and ninja tools are regarded as insignificant and ineffectual. Consequently, Tenten's vast array of armaments became utterly futile and meaningless.

Kishimoto also overlooked exploring Tenten’s unique fighting style, while her squad members, Neji and Lee, underwent extensive training arcs and power-ups. As ninja tools became irrelevant in the storyline of Naruto, Tenten's role in the series naturally diminished. The author had the opportunity to delve into her creative techniques, however, her Fuinjutsu was merely used as an excuse to sideline her.

Tenten’s Role in Boruto

Tenten was completely neglected in both Naruto and Shippuden, and unfortunately, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations continues this trend. Fans had hoped that the sequel would finally give Tenten the attention she deserved, but instead, her character is once again sidelined as a simple weapons shop owner. While this role could have been significant in Shippuden, the era of peace in Boruto has led to a decline in the necessity for ninja tools.

Tenten's struggling ninja tools business is keeping her stagnant, with little chance for growth. It appears that the author intentionally minimized Tenten's role, despite her unique ninjutsu that could have been utilized elsewhere. While the other members of Konoha 11 have taken on important roles in the Hidden Leaf Village, Tenten remains forgotten and lost.

Additionally, Tenten is the only kunoichi in Konoha 11 without a partner. Initially paired with Neji in the Naruto series, it seems that her character had no future after his death. While marriage isn't necessarily the ultimate goal for these characters, it would have added depth to Tenten's story. Unfortunately, Kishimoto failed to provide this for her. Ultimately, it seems that Tenten's role will remain unchanged, making her the most neglected member of Konoha 11.

Naruto is available to stream on Crunchyroll.