Naruto has gained a reputation for having poorly written female characters. But with hundreds of episodes and countless characters introduced, even Naruto got it right occasionally. Whether it's Anko, Temari, or Tsunade, fans have grown attached to more than a few of Naruto's female characters and admire their depth and complexity.
They may not be perfect, but some have been wonderful additions to Naruto. These characters all have varying power levels, screen time, and narrative importance, but no one can deny their adoration from fans.
10 Shizune Is An Assistant Extraordinaire
Shizune was introduced during the Search For Tsunade arc as the companion, and assistant to the legendary gambler. Unlike her boss Tsunade, who stood out immediately with a bombastic personality, Shizune was more mild-mannered.
But when their simple mission evolved into a battle of Sannin, Shizune never ran from the fight, busting out an impressive tool used for senbon combat. Shizune didn't get a ton of screen time throughout the anime, but the hints of her battle prowess intrigued fans nonetheless.
9 Anko Literally Burst Onto The Scene
Anko made her mark on Naruto fans when she quite literally, burst onto the scene during the Chunin Exams. The exam proctor made a great first impression with her strong, domineering attitude and a skillset more than capable of backing it up.
She was Naruto's first emotional connection with Orochimaru, who would go on to become one of the series' most iconic villains. Though she faded into the background as the series progressed, her fight with Orochimaru was a turning point in the arc.
8 Mei Was A Strong Mizukage
Mei is a latecomer to the Naruto franchise. She was introduced shortly before the series' climactic War arc. Mei made an impression on viewers by being the only other female Kage, aside from Tsunade. Mei led the Village Hidden in the Mist as its Fifth Mizukage.
She rehabilitated her village's image from the previously nicknamed "Bloody Mist." Fans were charmed by Mei's desperate need to find a good husband and found her unique lava-style techniques fascinating. With her involvement in the Ninja War, it's hard to deny the progress she made towards fixing her village.
7 Hinata Is The Fan-Favorite Waifu
Hinata is a fan-favorite because for her obvious connection to Naruto. While Naruto was primarily focused on Sakura, fans remained hopeful throughout the years that his final romantic interest would be Hinata instead.
Their prayers were answered when she finally managed to confess her feelings in both the Pain Invasion arc and the Fourth Shinobi War. While it took the entire anime, and a sequel movie to solidify their love for each other, fans were ecstatic to see the two marry and live a happy life.
6 Sakura Is Better Than People Think
Sakura is a controversial figure among Naruto fans. Most viewers find her character absolutely unappealing and wish she were written out of the story early on.
But throughout the course of the manga, Sakura consistently ranked high on character popularity polls, indicating that despite the memes, many still found her to be an interesting and well-rounded character. While she never reached Naruto or Sasuke's power levels, Sakura did manage to climb her way to being one of the most powerful ninjas in Naruto.
5 Kushina Was Even Nicer Than Fans Expected
The identity of Naruto's parents was one of the biggest mysteries in the series. While many fans picked up on the clues from the first chapter, it would be a long time before the anime confirmed Naruto's parentage.
Kushina was introduced in the form of a chakra spirit while Naruto trained with Killer Bee. Fans immediately fell in love with Kushina for her caring personality, contrasted with a comedic short temper. Many aspects of Naruto that fans adored, were traits passed down by his mother, making her an easy to love.
4 Temari Nearly Won The Chunin Exams
Temari was initially an antagonist during the Chunin Exams. She stood out from many of the women in Naruto by carrying an intense aura of intimidation. Her association with the other Sand ninja brought a sense of power.
That power would later be confirmed in the final exam where she consistently displayed unique jutsu and a keen mind in combat. Her battle with Tenten solidified her as a foe to be avoided, and while she was bested by Shikamaru, she still managed to impress viewers with how well she matched up.
3 Konan Was The Akatsuki's Second-In-Command
Konan was a figure shrouded in mystery for most of the Naruto series. As the right-hand to Pain, she was one of the Akatsuki's leaders and likewise, one of its most dangerous members. Her was a tragic backstory as an orphan during one of the Great Ninja Wars, was in direct contrast to her immense power.
Konan was a child that fans empathized with, which shined an emotional light on Akatsuki. Her short battle with Obito was one of the most impactful battles in the series.
2 Chiyo Sacrificed Herself To Bring Gaara Back
Chiyo was a part of one arc, making her time in the Naruto short. Despite her brief time on screen, Chiyo played an important narrative role.
She was the emotional core in Sakura's fight with Sasori and was the assistance Sakura needed to win the battle. After their victory, her sacrificial revival jutsu brought Gaara back to life. Without Chiyo, the future of Naruto would be vastly different.
1 Tsunade Is A Complex Survivor
Tsunade has stood out since her introduction as one of the most powerful and charismatic women in Naruto. While many fans were drawn to the character's beauty initially, they would go on to learn Tsunade had a surprising amount of depth to her character as well.
More than just a drunk gambler, Tsunade was a woman torn with grief. She survived one of the most horrific wars in history, and lost many of her closest allies and loved ones. Yet when the Leaf Village needed her, she came back and dutifully served her people as the Fifth Hokage.