The Konoha 11 were the genin introduced to the Naruto series prominently at the beginning of the Chunin Exams. Ever since, they have had varying degrees of development, though each character has overcome their primary flaw in one regard or another.
It was in spite of the fact that Shippuden was notorious for leaving many of the original cast members undeveloped to better focus on Naruto and Sasuke. Through analyzing their weaknesses and how they overcame them, we can best appreciate the subtle but important ways in which the supporting characters have grown.
11 Kiba Overcame His Insecurity About Becoming Hokage By Naruto's Actions
When it comes to matters pertaining to Hokage aspirations, one might think of Naruto, Sasuke, or possibly even Obito. However, it was also Kiba's objective, as seen through his dreams while inside the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Though he would not completely abandon his aspirations to become the next leader of the Leaf, Naruto's actions had demonstrated time and again (partially through saving his life) that he was worthy of the office. This allowed him to move past his insecurity and accept Konoha's latest leader with open arms.
10 Shino Got Over His Reclusiveness By Realizing What Isolation Looked Like
After the conclusion of the Fourth Shinobi War, Shino was lost in a mystical forest that was destined to confuse and vex its victims. It preyed off his insecurity, especially through his (often unpronounced) feelings of estrangement from his other Konoha colleagues.
The forest's beekeeper attempted to exacerbate this effect, using their similar affinities for insects to justify why Shino should stay. However, the ninja would realize how empty his existence became without his friends and expediently found his way out of the elusive maze he had been trapped inside.
9 Hinata Found Her Courage Because Of Naruto
Hinata struggled with willpower and courage at the beginning of the series. Her timid nature garnered the disgust of her father and contempt of Neji for how unworthy she was to become the clan's successor.
However, Naruto's example proved an inspiration for the young woman, and she would demonstrate her bravery and loyalty to him during Pain's assault on the village. Using an enhanced version of her gentle fist technique, she confronted the Akatsuki member and held her own long enough for the Jinchuriki to get back on his feet.
8 Naruto Taught Neji That Nothing Is Set In Stone
Many suspected the battle between Naruto and Neji in the Chunin Exams to be disturbingly one-sided. The servant of the Hyuga told his opponent that he was going to win on account of his superior "destiny" and the Jinchuriki's lack thereof.
However, the result of their duel was something else entirely. After Naruto publicly humiliated his opponent, he told him that he was going to change the way of the Hyuga clan and that his adversary should take his fate into his own hands. This would be a philosophy that Neji remembered for the rest of his life.
7 Asuma Tempered Choji's Kindness With Conviction
Choji's gentle and kindhearted nature may have made him an amicable person to get along with, but it was also a vulnerability in battle. During the Fourth Shinobi War, Asuma was resurrected through the Edo Tensei and was forced to confront his former student.
Despite the fact that Team 10 well overpowered their teacher, the expanding ninja struggled to muster the conviction to harm him. It was only with the jonin's permission - and the explicit knowledge that his friends would be harmed if he didn't - that he managed to strike Sarutobi down and seal him again.
6 Asuma's Death Motivated Shikamaru
Shikamaru lacked motivation before Asuma's death to such a debilitating degree that he even forfeited the Chunin Exams since it was becoming too much effort. Though it may have been played for laughs at the beginning of the series, it also became a serious problem.
Asuma's death would motivate him to become the greatest shinobi he would, starting with avenging his demise. He tracked down Hidan and lured him into a trap, becoming the only chunin to defeat an Akatsuki member by himself.
5 Rock Lee Became A Splendid Shinobi Despite His Difficult Start
Rock Lee once struggled with his inability to use genjutsu or ninjutsu. Though his taijutsu was peerless, it didn't seem as if it would be sufficient against his enemies through his fateful battle against Gaara at the Chunin Exams.
However, he would contend with even greater threats ever since, as he battled Kimimaro, Kisame, and was even one of the few shinobi to directly assist against the malevolent power of Madara Uchiha. This placed him well above many of his jutsu-wielding peers and defined him as a splendid ninja.
4 Ino Moved On From Sasuke
At the beginning of the series, Ino's obsession with Sasuke put her at odds with Sakura. Both of them had desired the intrepid Uchiha since childhood, willing to destroy their own friendship for an opportunity to win his heart.
However, Sasuke's delinquent and destructive actions turned Ino away from him. Unfortunately, Sakura would not feel similarly, and her quest to retrieve her paramour nearly resulted in her brutal and heartbreaking demise. This evinced the sound judgment Ino practiced when deciding to pursue a healthier relationship with Sai.
3 Tenten Proved She Wasn't Useless During The Infinite Tsukuyomi
Tenten was often haunted by feelings of inadequacy for how little she had accomplished throughout the series. Her jutsu was oriented around ninja tools, weapons that were notoriously inefficient compared to their elemental counterparts.
However, there was one instance that Tenten's utility drastically eclipsed that of her peers. She was able to look past Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi and was one of the few characters that "woke up" from it while still inside its pernicious embrace. It evinced a hidden talent that would make her an exponential asset against genjutsu users.
2 Sakura Mastered Medical Jutsu & Proved Herself To Team 7
Like Tenten, Sakura initially struggled with feelings of inadequacy. She stated as much throughout the Land of Waves arc and desperately attempted to correct this during the Forest of Death, where she held her ground against Team Dosu (until she was saved by Rock Lee and later Sasuke).
In Shippuden, her skills would come into their own under the tutelage of Tsunade. Not only did her medical jutsu allow her to save lives (including Naruto's, Kankuro's, and hundreds of Allied Shinobi Forces ninja), but her strength also enabled her to fight Kaguya without Hagoromo's blessing.
1 Naruto Achieved His Dream Despite Persecution
Since the beginning of the series, Naruto has dreamt of becoming Hokage. These ambitions were frequently met with derision and animosity since his reputation as a scoundrel made him an unlikely choice (and especially because of Kurama's precarious influence).
Despite the unfortunate reputation he accrued, Naruto proved himself time and again. This was demonstrated through his victory over Gaara, his triumph over Pain, and most importantly, his successful endeavor to return Sasuke to Konoha - the latter of which was decisively his most impressive accolade yet.