The biggest changes between the Naruto manga and the anime

Key conclusions

• The Naruto manga introduces the genin in a natural way, while the anime has spaced introductions that add depth to the character.
• In the manga, Chidori surrounds the user's hand with lightning; it's not just a ball like in the anime.
• Sakura shows concern for Naruto in the manga, while the anime portrays her as mean.

Naruto is one of the best shonen anime of all time, capturing the attention of fans worldwide as the main character proves everyone wrong and becomes the Hokage of the Leaf Village. This story is a slow burn that pays off with a satisfying ending where hardcore fans find even more to love about this series with the sequel, Boruta.

While the anime adaptation is fairly faithful to the manga in most aspects, there are some changes between both versions Naruto which should be highlighted. Some of these changes have been for the better, while others have left fans baffled.

8 Genins in the manga are presented more naturally

Some characters are introduced much later

The manga introduces Naruto's classmates quite early on, making their inclusion in later arcs more natural. However, the anime chooses to keep fans from being overwhelmed with tons of new characters at the very beginning of this series.

This can be a great or bad decision depending on the fan's subjective point of view. The characters were certainly easier to remember with such spaced-out introductions, but it also left viewers confused about the depth of Naruto's bonds with his classmates.

7 Chidori should surround the hand with lightning

He forms ball lightning in the anime to serve as a parallel to the Rasengan

• Appears in:Naruto & Naruto: Shippuden

Chidori is one of the coolest techniques in the world Narutofacing the Rasengan over and over again in the series. The ball lightning that the ninja summons in his hand looks like the perfect counter to the ball of swirling energy in Naruto's patented technique.

However, the manga iteration of Chidori has a notable difference. Instead of just ball lightning, this technique covers the user's entire arm with this jutsu, allowing them to strike enemies with powerful energy for devastating results.

6 Tenten and Temari's fight is more detailed in the anime

The manga puts this fight on the back burner as Ino and Sakura have a conversation

After Sakura and Ino are tied and both fail the Chunin Exams, they have a heart-to-heart while Temari and Tenten start a fight. In the manga, this conversation is so important that readers don't even see the final battle of the Chunin Exams.

However, the anime didn't have to limit itself to just one scene, and this battle was fleshed out, showing how Temari was able to outmatch Tenten with ease. It's a nice inclusion that makes sure all the fights are included Naruto feel important, even if some take up more screen time.

5 Team Guy gets a rare moment to shine during the Kazekage rescue arc in the anime

The scene where they fight their clones is completely original

• Appears in:Naruto: Shippuden

After the time skip, manga readers were disappointed to see Team Guy sidelined and not get a single moment to shine. The anime tries to remedy this by adding an original fight during the rescue of the Kazekage, though the impact of this scene is debatable.

Team Guy ends up fighting their clones as they try to remove a certain seal, and the battle seems impossible to win until the group realizes that they need to be better than they were before in order to defeat their identical enemies. It might be a little silly, but fans will appreciate it if it means characters like Neji and Lee get a chance to be useful.

A great way to add more value to Shikamaru's character

In the manga, Shikamaru is promoted to Chunin behind the scenes while Naruto is busy searching for Tsunade with Jiraiya. However, the anime changes this sequence to add more weight to Shikamaru's character.

While choosing the squad to track down Sasuke when he is captured by Orochimaru's lackeys, Tsunade informs Shikamaru that he has been promoted to Chunin and will lead the rescue. It's a small but noticeable change that makes Shikamaru's promotion more impactful.

3 Shikamaru's destruction and subsequent revelation is an original anime scene

One of the best inclusions in the adaptation

• Appears in:Naruto: Shippuden

The Naruto the adaptation has been repeatedly criticized for relying too heavily on pointless filler. However, that doesn't mean the anime didn't have the potential to add some meaningful scenes when the situation called for it.

This was the case when Shikamaru breaks down in front of his father after Asuma's death, before eventually making a strategic breakthrough that leads him to lead an effort to avenge his sensei's death. It's a powerful scene that feels right at home Narutoand most fans were surprised to learn that this entire series was only included in the anime.

2 Sakura shows concern in the manga when Naruto struggles with the written exam

For some reason she is angry and laughs with Naruto in the anime

It's easy to see why some Naruto viewers are not big fans of Sakura's character. It doesn't help that the anime changes her reaction in a critical scene to make her more despicable to the haters.

As Naruto struggles to pass the written exam, Sakura genuinely worries for her team member and wonders how he will be able to pass such a difficult test. However, the anime turns Sakura into an insufferable character who laughs at Naruto's suffering and secretly hopes that he will fail.

1 Naruto taught Konohamaru the Rasengan before the time skip

In the anime, Naruto and Konohamaru become older when the latter is taught this move

• Appears in:Naruto: Shippuden

Konohamaru didn't get much screen time after the time skip, so fans were happy to see him become relevant again after he used the Rasengan to destroy one of Pein's bodies. The timeline of when he finds out about the Rasengan changes is slightly different in the manga and anime.

The manga makes it clear that Naruto taught Konohamaru the Rasengan before traveling with Jiraiya before the time skip. Meanwhile, in the anime, it's clear that both characters are getting older when their training begins, making small but noticeable changes.

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  Naruto: Shippuden

  Release date

  February 15, 2007

  Seasons

  22

  Studio

  Pierrot

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  Naruto

  Release date

  October 2, 2002

  Seasons

  5

  Studio

  Pierrot