It goes without saying that Naruto is one of the most iconic shonen series of all time. The fact that it has managed to remain relevant even after the main show finished should be more than indicative of just how popular Naruto is. While the quality of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations might be debatable, it's still highly watchable simply because of the familiar and endearing setting.

The manga/anime's titular protagonist is widely beloved by the majority of fans, but there are still a few detractors who aren't completely sold on Naruto's position as the centerpiece of the show. Some even argue that Naruto would have benefited from focusing on Sasuke instead.

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So, let's take a look at these arguments and highlight five reasons why Sasuke should've been the protagonist of Naruto — ironic enough in itself — coupled with five reasons why the No. 1 hyperactive, knucklehead Ninja was the perfect fit all along.

10 SASUKE IS BETTER: A Motive For Revenge

Sasuke Scolded By Kakashi

Sasuke's character was interesting from the get-go, with an intense introduction that cut no corners when it came to his no-nonsense personality and attitude.

The fact that Sasuke was part of a once-thriving clan that was annihilated by his own brother is something that would've been highly interesting to explore further from his point of view.

9 NARUTO IS A PERFECT FIT: A Loner Who Never Gave Into His Fate

Naruto and Sakura upset

However, one might argue that Naruto's backstory is just as tragic as Sasuke, if not more. An orphan who had the Nine-Tails sealed within him moments after birth, Naruto was consequently ostracized and vilified by the village throughout his childhood.

This never dampened Naruto's spirits, who strived to become Hokage and have the entire village love him — a goal that he eventually reached, to the elation of most Naruto fans.

8 SASUKE IS BETTER: Powerful & Gifted From Birth

Sasuke's natural talent as an Uchiha was beyond compare. As his clan's sole survivor — at least, that's what it seemed like at the time — Sasuke was able to use incredibly powerful and effective ninjutsu as a child.

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While we're not saying that Sasuke didn't have to put any effort to hone his skills, the fact that he had the mettle to easily sharpen his abilities could've made for enjoyable training montages and thrilling fights. At least, more so than what we were privy to.

7 NARUTO IS A PERFECT FIT: Worked Hard To Achieve His Skills

While Sasuke was a natural when it came to being a shinobi, Naruto had to fight at every step of the way to improve his skills. His efforts to constantly break his own ceiling was appreciated by the fans and Hinata alike.

This unrelenting pursuit to become better at everything was just one of the many reasons why Naruto became such a fan-favorite over the course of the show's run.

6 SASUKE IS BETTER: Smart, Cold, & Calculating

Sasuke's personality is incredibly mysterious and intriguing, with fans always left guessing when it came to what was going through his mind. This notion was especially true after Sasuke defeated Itachi, with his motives becoming hidden to the point that no one could gauge what he was actually thinking.

However, one thing that can be assumed is that Sasuke's smart, cold, and calculating personality would've made for an intriguing protagonist. Just take a look at Senku from Dr. Stone, who shares similar characteristics and is easily the best character in that series.

5 NARUTO IS A PERFECT FIT: Trustworthy, Influential, & Headstrong

Familiarity can go a long way in ensuring that a character is as relatable as can be. Naruto is no exception to this, with the shinobi being the quintessential shonen lead that most people have seen time and time again.

That said, Naruto's somewhat cliched personality isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, being an influential individual with strong ideals who can both trust and be trusted easily is interesting in every sense of the word.

4 SASUKE IS BETTER: Logical In His Decision-Making

One thing that Sasuke should definitely be commended for is his logical attitude when it comes to making important decisions. Whether it be a simple choice or one made in the heat of battle, Sasuke would never think of something that was completely wrong or illogical.

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This personality trait could've turned Sasuke into an incredibly interesting main character, with an inner monologue that could rival that of intelligent characters like Light Yagami in terms of sheer entertainment value.

3 NARUTO IS A PERFECT FIT: Emotional & (As A Result) Endearing

Naruto Himawari

While Sasuke might be an incredibly intelligent character, his emotions were a bit too bottled up for him to be a great shonen protagonist. Naruto has no problem in this regard, with his emotional outbursts coming out at pretty much every instance.

Whether it be appreciating Ichiraku's ramen or having a genuine heart-to-heart with his enemies, Naruto never shied away from letting people know what he truly felt.

2 SASUKE IS BETTER: Would've Been Cooler To Focus On Him

Let's face it, no matter what people might say against Sasuke's character, one can't deny that he just emanates coolness from every pore. Girls fall head-over-heels for him, most guys can't do anything against his power, and his overall demeanor is just way too alluring.

Positioning Sasuke as the protagonist of Naruto would've completely changed the tone of the entire show and allowed fans to witness in more detail what could have been an excellent arc for the main character.

1 NARUTO IS A PERFECT FIT: An Integral Part Of The Underdog Story Kishimoto Wanted To Convey

Hinato and Naruto Fourth Shinobi War

However, at the end of the day, it was clear that Masashi Kishimoto wanted to write a classic underdog story. With this being the case, no one could've transcended Naruto as the perfect protagonist for such a tale.

While Kishimoto might've written himself into a corner by making Naruto a descendant of Ashura as opposed to a ninja who worked hard to stand on his own two feet, there's no denying that Naruto's transformation from an underdog into one of the most powerful ninjas of all time was an absolute treat to watch.

NEXT: Naruto: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Naruto Uzumaki