Throughout the Naruto series, the sins of the older generations often come back to haunt Naruto and his peers. In witnessing the juxtaposition of multiple generations all fighting and striving toward their definition of peace, highlighting how complicated the world of ninja is, it's interesting to see how the shinobi measure up to their older or younger kin.
Some families not only share hidden jutsu and kekkei genkai but also appearances, personalities, and dreams. Alternately, some characters endeavor to break away from the patterns set by their clans — whether they succeed or not.
10 Same: Choji Shares The Kind Heart Of The Akimichi Clan
The Akimichi clan is known for their powerful expansion jutsu and their tell-tale face paint. In flashbacks, the anime reveals that the kids of the village look down on Choji, but that he's always focused on helping others.
In Naruto episode 114, "Good-bye Old Friend...! I'll Always Believe In You" a flashback sees Choji's father remark on the importance of friendship and belief in oneself. This becomes Choji's philosophy, and during his fight with Jirobo, it's obvious just how much he cares for his friends.
9 Different: Gaara Protects The Hidden Sand Village His Own Way
Gaara's father, the Fourth Kazekage, was notable for the cruelty he showed his family. He sealed the One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku, within his own youngest son — killing his wife in the process — and subsequently distanced himself from Gaara and even arranged for his death.
After the events of Naruto, Gaara gains control over Shukaku and becomes the Kazekage himself. However, as seen in his fight with Deidara in the first arc of Naruto: Shippuden, Gaara's approach is to protect the village with love, kindness, and his own strength rather than by amassing power.
8 Same: Naruto Uzumaki Replicates Kushina's Will of Fire and Minato's Kindness
Kushina Uzumaki's personality is characterized by loud passion and a strong will, which meshes well with Minato's coolness. We see flashes of both shining through Naruto in the series. While Naruto is often referred to as a "knucklehead" and starts as a chaotic individual, he's more led by extreme passion and care for his comrades' well-being.
In the moments when he connects with his opponents, we see moments of Minato's kindness, and, as Sakura notes on occasion, these are the moments where Naruto actually seems cool.
7 Different: Itachi Proves His Village Takes Precedent Over His Clan By Stopping The Uchiha Rebellion
Itachi is one of the most tragic characters in Naruto. He was forced to kill his entire clan to stop the planned Uchiha Rebellion and the subsequent destruction of the Hidden Leaf Village, and he was forced to leave the village and observe the Akatsuki from within their ranks.
While his father, Fugaku, was focused on the status of the Uchiha clan, Itachi was willing to do whatever it took to protect the village as a whole. In the end, it's Itachi's quiet kindness and selflessness that set him apart from his father.
6 Same: Neji Hyuga Follows In The Footsteps Of His Late Father
Neji spends the first part of Naruto locked in a cycle of hatred for the Hyuga clan and the concept of destiny, which he feels he's unable to break free of. However, after his upset against Naruto, he learns that his father, Hizashi, died not because he was controlled by the Hyuga, but because he wanted to take destiny into his own hands and save his brother and leader of the Hyuga clan, Hiashi. This leads Neji to change his mind and follow a similar path his father did.
5 Different: Hinata Hyuga Refuses To Perpetuate The Hyuga Sins
As a genin, Hinata disappoints the Hyuga clan, as she's not as powerful or skillful as her cousin, Neji, and she also has too soft of a heart, something unhelpful for the Hyuga heir to have.
However, despite her family's disapproval, Hinata refuses to give up, and rather than seeking power for power's sake, she fights to protect the ones she loves. We see this both in her fight with Neji during the Chunin Exam preliminaries and during her fight with Pain.
4 Same: Shino Aburame And His Family Share The Same Hidden Technique and Temperament
Shino Aburame and his father Shibi are alike in more than just the sound of their name. They share the same style, jutsu, and temperament. Both characters wear glasses, a coat that covers the lower half of their face, and have a calm, cool, and collected attitude.
Both characters also play host to a species of parasitic beetle that they have reached a sort of symbiotic contract with. Thus, these two "bug tamers" have become skilled fighters and covert agents that are a force to be reckoned with.
3 Different: Asuma Has A Rebellious Streak And Often Disagrees With His Father's Philosophy
Asuma Sarutobi's relationship with his father, Hiruzen, better known as the Third Hokage, was not always an easy one. In fact, it was often strained. Besides their polar-opposite temperaments and aesthetics — Asuma being a laid-back and gritty smoker and Hiruzen being a well-poised and proper Hokage — the two had different views on what it meant to be a shinobi.
In "The Quietly Approaching Threat," Asuma thinks back to the moment Hiruzen slighted him most by not acknowledging his saving the king, and he begins to understand his father.
2 Same: Kakashi Knows The Value Of Human Life Like His Father
Kakashi's late father, Sakumo, was ostracized by the Hidden Leaf village for choosing his comrades' lives over his mission. This ultimately led Sakumo to commit suicide. After being killed by Pain, Kakashi has a chance to speak with his late father and finally communicates that he understands why his father chose to save his friends.
In "Hero of the Hidden Leaf," Kakashi tells Sakumo that he's proud of him, thus hinting that Kakashi has now changed his own philosophy of what it means to be a shinobi.
1 Different: Sasuke Uchiha Almost Repeats His Father's Mistakes, But Naruto Sets Him Straight
When Sasuke decides to exact revenge upon the Hidden Leaf Village, it appears that he's bound to follow the same path as his father. One can understand his anger at the Hidden Leaf, who forced Itachi, Sasuke's only brother, to kill the entire clan, leaving them orphaned and alone. All the energy he spent seeking revenge against his brother for the destruction of the Uchiha redirected him onto the entire village. However, after his final fight with Naruto, he decides to protect the village and Naruto's dream for it.