The Fourth Shinobi War was the final major conflict in the Naruto anime. It involved the Five Nations' struggle against Kabuto's edo tensei army, the remnants of the Akatsuki, and later, even the supernatural forces of the Otsutsuki clan itself.
Given the magnitude of the conflict and the important characters involved, it makes sense that it would have massive implications for the series. The arc changed the series in many consequential ways, making it a worthy conclusion to one of the most beloved stories ever written in the eyes of many fans.
10 Sasuke Got Closure With Itachi
Previously, the relationship between Sasuke and Itachi ended on a horrible note. The former killed the latter under the misunderstanding that he committed the Uchiha massacre for no reason. Sasuke only learned the truth after his brother had long since passed away.
Fortunately, Kabuto's edo tensei allowed Sasuke to reunite with Itachi and join forces against him. This gave Sasuke an enormous amount of closure, especially since it was never his brother's intent to turn him against Konoha. As a result, he was more willing to see reason when consulting with the resurrected Hokage.
9 The Five Nations Joined Forces
The Five Nations struggled against one another for generations. However, after Obito's proclamation of war at the summit in the Land Of Iron, they agreed to put aside their differences and fight toward a common goal. Although there was still bad blood between the army's ranks, they quickly looked past their differences when defeating their undead adversaries.
Fortunately, this alliance continued after Madara's defeat, effectively creating world peace among shinobi. The only remaining conflicts were against rogue organizations and the machinations of the Otsutsuki clan. However, the armies of the world resolved to aid one another as necessary.
8 Naruto Met His Parents
Growing up, Naruto had no parents and faced a life of isolation. However, he met Kushina midway through the Fourth Shinobi War, finally having a discussion with her as mother and son. When Sasuke forced Orochimaru to resurrect the Hokage, Naruto also had a chance to meet with his father, Minato.
In addition to being a massive credit against Madara's remaining forces, Minato served as an inspiration and baseline for Naruto's own parenting well into the future. Without the edo tensei, it's unlikely that he ever would have received the closure he desperately needed.
7 Gaara Surpassed His Father
Gaara understandably had a difficult relationship with his father, Rasa. In addition to attempting to assassinate him, many residents of the Sand Village did not view Gaara as a proper leader due to the fear spread by the previous kazekage.
When Gaara defeated his father, he proved that he had overcome his need for Shukaku and hatred for the world. Ironically, Gaara was ultimately the one defending his people from a monster and not the other way around. This helped the Sand Village embrace him fully as a leader.
6 Kabuto Permanently Transformed Himself
Eager to advance himself however possible, Kabuto unlocked the secrets behind snake sage jutsu. This resulted in a serpentine transformation where his body was irrevocably altered. As a result, Kabuto could not hide from his monstrous nature even after being a "rehabilitated" member of the Leaf.
However, the sacrifice was worthwhile. In exchange for becoming a monstrosity, he wielded the power of several competent shinobi and even managed to overwhelm Sasuke and Itachi in a fight. They only prevailed due to a rare genjutsu that Kabuto struggled to break free from.
5 The Uchiha Clan Was Finally Defeated
The Uchiha clan were the main antagonists of Shippuden. Obito carried out Madara's will until his master could be properly resurrected. From there, the two terrorized the rest of the world with such unimaginable power that not even the five kage could defeat them.
However, the Fourth Shinobi War put an end to the Uchiha's thirst for world domination. Naruto convinced Obito to change sides while Zetsu pacified Madara completely. Though it gave rise to an entirely new threat, the Uchiha's downfall finally put their rivalry with the Senju clan to rest, which made the potential for Kaguya's next return low.
4 Naruto Made Peace With Kurama
Since the series began, Naruto had a tenuous relationship with Kurama. Though granting him the power to defeat multiple opponents like Neji and Orochimaru, Kurama struggled to dominate his host completely.
However, Naruto learned to make peace with Kurama under the instruction of Killer Bee. Over time, the Nine-Tailed Fox came to realize that Naruto was not like Madara. He did not seek to exploit or enslave him, instead hoping that they could harness their power as a single entity. Kurama and Naruto both became much greater as a result of their new bond.
3 Kaguya Otsutsuki Made Her Move
Kaguya Otsutuki was the original progenitor of chakra. Having deeply regretted giving it to shinobi for the way they betrayed her, she attempted to entrap the world within the Infinite Tsukuyomi. This had a number of consequences both for the Fourth Shinobi War and the overarching series.
It entailed Madara's betrayal so that she could take his place and posited the possibility that many more Otsutsuki might threaten the ninja world as she once did. Regardless, Kaguya proved a worthy final opponent who Naruto and Sasuke joined forces to defeat.
2 Sasuke & Naruto Received Enhancements From Hagoromo
Alarmed by Kaguya's return and desperate to prevent it, Hagoromo summoned Sasuke and Naruto into his presence. He told them that they were reincarnations of past selves that had been feuding since the beginning of the ninja world.
By imbuing them with his gifts, Hagoromo hoped to mend the rift between the two young men while giving them the strength to stop Kaguya. These gifts remained with them well after her defeat and continued to assist them against the future enemies of the Leaf Village. It even helped Naruto remain a viable fighter after losing Kurama.
1 Sasuke Was Finally Redeemed
The final conflict between Naruto and Sasuke was a fateful one. Although no longer obsessed with the Leaf Village, Sasuke now convinced himself that the world must be run through fear and dominion. Despite holding back throughout the entire fight, Naruto managed to beat Sasuke to a standstill.
As they lay broken at the bottom of the valley, Sasuke finally agreed to abandon his hatred and fully return to Konoha's good graces. As a result, the series' most significant dramatic tension was resolved, and the village regained one of its greatest allies.