A lovable protagonist, twisted and complicated villains, and heart-racing battles are just a few factors that have made Naruto one of the most popular shonen anime of all time. Naruto set itself apart by making its characters feel human, allowing fans to form long-lasting emotional attachments.

Many of the ninja viewers connected with were so well-written that they felt like real people. And just like real people, some of these characters fell in battle, many times through self-sacrifice. Heroic and emotional, these ninjas' deaths profoundly impacted fans. As expected, many of the saddest deaths in Naruto involved sympathetic heroes, but a few villain deaths were notably sad, too, showing how emotionally complex the Naruto story can be.

Updated on April 15th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of the saddest deaths in Naruto has been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards, including references to when the deaths occurred. It also includes new entries for other heartbreaking deaths in Naruto's anime.

20 Kimimaro Kaguya Died Fighting For His Beloved Master

Many villain deaths in the Naruto anime were a straightforward affair, with the villain being an excuse for a fight scene to entertain viewers. That was the case for the Sound Four's members, but their new ally, Kimimaro Kaguya, felt a little different. Fans wouldn't quite call him an anti-villain like Itachi Uchiha, but he did have his sympathetic side, if only barely.

Kimimaro was brutal, but not 100% evil, setting him apart from the likes of Hidan and Kakuzu. Kimimaro was a strong-willed shinobi who was fanatically loyal to Orochimaru, who meant everything to him. In fact, it was Kimimaro's willpower and devotion to Orochimaru that helped fight despite his serious illness, which shows how personal his servitude to Orochimaru was. That said, Kimimaro's death was only a little touching, so his demise ranks last among the saddest deaths in Naruto.

19 Utakata Died as the Six-Tails Was Removed From Him

During the Six Tails Unleashed arc, Naruto and Sai were tasked with escorting Hotaru safely home. Through her, they meet and Utakata, whom she's been trying to convince to be her master. Due to the violent nature of his past, Utakata wants nothing to do with being a master, but when his status as a fugitive comes to the light, he has no choice but to face the truth. He spent so much of his life believing his master was trying to kill him, which made him turn away from becoming a master to Hotaru.

Only after learning the truth, that his master was trying to remove the Six Tails from Utakata, was he able to let go of his anger and embrace becoming Hotaru's master. Unfortunately, as the pair were leaving together, Utakata was captured by the Akatsuki. He died when they removed the Six Tails from him, leaving Hotaru to believe he left her behind.

18 Shikaku Nara And Inoichi Yamanaka Gave Their Lives Fighting in the Fourth Great Shinobi War

Shikamaru Nara and Ino Yamanaka's fathers, Shikaku and Inoichi, played a significant role in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Shikaku was a brilliant tactician trusted to lead the Allied Shinobi Forces. As the Yamanaka clan's head, Inoichi's telepathic techniques were a great asset to mass communication.

Shikaku and Inoichi combined their abilities, posing such a threat that Madara changed his tactics. He was forced to act quickly, believing their loss would hugely affect the ninja forces. Aware that their defeat was moments away, Shikaku and Inoichi delivered touching messages to their children, advising them on how to live fully and reminding them of how loved they are.

17 Rin Nohara Let Herself Die to Protect the Hidden Leaf Village

Seeing Rin Nohara die by Kakashi's hand triggers Obito's descent into despair. Despite her limited screentime, she's revealed to have more of an impact on both her teammates than it seemed. Rin was a cheerful, level-headed medical ninja that Obito had feelings for.

She vows to watch over Obito until he grows stronger, but he "dies" before she can fulfill her promise. His reunion with Rin is unpleasant and devastating, as he's forced to watch Kakashi kill her for what seems to be no reason. He realizes much later that Rin was forced to become the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. Rather than be used as a tool to harm her village, Rin bravely steps in front of Kakashi's Chidori, forcing him to kill her.

16 Konan Gave Her Life Fighting For Good

Konan and her childhood friend Nagato both had a change of heart at the end of the excellent Pain arc, when Naruto Uzumaki convinced the two of them to do away with their evil ways. Konan protested at first, but then she accepted what was happening and bade her friend Nagato a fond farewell when he died. She gave him an elaborate funeral with papers, then gave Naruto a bouquet of paper flowers as a gesture of friendship.

That put Konan on the path to redemption, but unfortunately, the remaining Akatsuki members cut it short. Konan faced off against Obito/Tobi, only to lose her life fighting him, which was a real shame. Konan could have done a lot of good for the shinobi alliance later, but at least she died as the hero she always intended to be.

15 Nagato Sacrificed Himself to Undo His Horrific Deeds15

In his youth, Nagato believed in hipe, just like his friends Yahiko and Konan, but then disaster struck, and Yahiko died. Nagato grew bitter and became a true villain, using Yahiko's and other bodies to form the Six Paths of Pain persona, and he used it to destroy the Hidden Leaf Village. Then Nagato was treated to one of Naruto's talk jutsu sessions, and he had a change of heart.

Despite Konan's objections, Nagato gave his very life to undo all the damage he had done with his Leaf Village assault. He restored the lives of everyone who had just died by his hand, and that allowed him to die as he hero he had always wanted to be. Something similar would soon happen with his friend, Konan. Thus, Nagato's death has a place among the anime's saddest.

14 Hayate Gekko Didn't Deserve to Die at Baki's Hands

The original Naruto anime killed off relatively few characters, but starting in the chunin exam story arc, the anime was willing to kill off characters more often to create stakes and drama, or just tie up loose ends. A notable example is Hayate Gekko, who served as one of the exam's proctors. He oversaw the tower tournament matches, but he didn't live to see the exam's final phase.

Hayate Gekko ran afoul of a Sand ninja named Baki, and he attacked. Unfortunately, Hayate was totally outclassed, with his sword unable to deal a serious blow to Baki. Then, Baki used a wind-based jutsu to shred Gekko, killing him in an instant. Gekko's body was later found, and Yugao Uzuki vowed vengeance.

13 Lady Chiyo Gave Her Life to Revive Her Kazekage, Gaara

A Sand Village elder, Chiyo was understandably reluctant to help Team 7 upon their arrival. Chiyo had a complicated history with the Hidden Leaf Village as Kakashi's father, the White Fang, killed her son. However, when the Akatsuki kidnaps Gaara, the current Kazekage, Chiyo joins Team 7. Chiyo had a personal stake in this battle – her grandson Sasori joined the Akatsuki, and she wanted to end the suffering he caused.

Teaming up with Sakura, Chiyo was forced to end Sasori's life after coming face to face with what she helped create. To atone for that mistake, she volunteered to sacrifice her life to save Gaara. Collaborating with Naruto and his teammates opened her eyes to change, and she now believed she could pass her legacy on to the next generation.

12 Gaara of the Sand Couldn't Survive the One-Tail Shukaku's Extration

Gaara undergoes significant character development, evolving from a bloodthirsty killer into an honorable and capable Kazekage. Fans were devastated after Gaara's capture, Tailed Beast extraction, and death at the Akatsuki's hands. Gara's death wasn't seen on-screen, but in the episode "Kakashi Enlightened!", the heroes confirmed his death by finding his body.

The Kazekage died protecting the Sand Village from the terrorist bomber, Deidara. Seeing this was especially emotional, since Gaara had just turned over a new leaf. After meeting and fighting with Naruto, he became a more caring individual who could trust others. To see him die so early on had a profound impact on many Naruto fans.

11 Hiruzen Sarutobi Died With Some Satisfaction Fighting Orochimaru

The third Hokage and the Leaf Village's leader, Hiruzen Sarutobi was a wise and caring elder with legendary power. Hiruzen's role was complex, and he often had to make tough decisions to put the village's needs before anything else. When Orochimaru launched his attack on the Leaf Village, Hiruzen confronted the legendary Sannin.

He hesitated to fight his former student but did what he could to ensure Konha's safety. Using the Reaper Death Seal to seal Orochimaru's arms, Hiruzen sacrificed his life to atone for letting Orochimaru go years prior. Unfortunately, the sealing was undone later in the series, but it was enough to drive Orochimaru away for a time.

10 Asuma Sarutobi Fell to Hidan, Prompting Shikamaru's Revenge

Asuma Sarutobi was a skilled shinobi with a horrible cigarette addiction. Throughout the anime, he's seen nurturing his students – Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka — by giving them advice and encouragement. Although a difficult job, Asuma successfully brings out the best in his students. Additionally, he helps Naruto understand his wind transformation and is quick to help others without a second thought.

Despite his impressive skills as a Jonin, Asuma is brutally murdered by the Akatsuki member Hidan, who benefits from immortality. He dies in Shikamaru's arms, but not before leaving an encrypted message about protecting the "king." Shikamaru takes some time to contemplate his words before carrying out his revenge. He finally understands what Asuma means and continues his legacy as his daughter's mentor. Thus, Asuma Sarutobi's death ranks in the middle among Naruto's saddest deaths.

9 Kakashi Hatake Died When Pain Invaded the Hidden Leaf Village

Kakashi Hatake's death moved many fans to tears. The Jonin prodigy bravely fought against Pain to protect the village despite being outnumbered. Kakashi was determined to relay what he learned about Pain's ability. He gave his life to do so and instructed Choji to deliver the information to Tsunade with his last breath.

Fans were able to witness a rare moment through this tragedy. While in the afterlife, Kakashi reunited with his father and received some much needed closure. Naruto noticed he couldn't sense Kakashi's chakra once he arrived and asked Tsunade if he was away on a mission. Her silence diminished his small hope and confirmed Kakashi's death. Thankfully, Kakashi was revived after Naruto's battle with Pain, as Nagato used his Rinnegan Rebirth jutsu to resurrect those who died in the attack.

8 Fukasaku/Pa Toad Died When Pain Attacked Him

Fukasaku, commonly known as Pa Toad, become fond of Naruto very quickly. Naruto reminded Pa Toad of Jiraiya. After Jiraiya's death, Pa Toad asserted that he believed Naruto was the only one capable of avenging him and soon invited him to train on Mount Myoboku. Though Naruto's training was accelerated, Naruto and Pa Toad bonded. Naruto became acquainted with The Two Great Sage Toads after meeting Pa's wife Shima, or Ma Toad – he spent his downtime in their home.

Once Naruto mastered Sage Mode and entered the battlefield during Pain's Assault, Pa provided Naruto with support and backup. As a result, Pain labeled Pa Toad a "noisy frog" and murdered him. Fans were heartbroken as they watched Ma Toad call out to her husband and saw Naruto desperately try to save him. Luckily, Pa is also resuscitated when Pain has a change of heart.

7 Neji Hyuga Took a Mortal Blow to Shield Naruto and Hinata From harm

After meeting and battling Naruto, Neji Hyuga also went through impressive character growth. Like Gaara, he started off as an unlikeable minor antagonist. Arrogant but tactful, Neji resented being a member of the Hyuga clan's sacrificial branch family, leading to his bitter feelings towards his younger cousin, Hinata. During the Chunin Exams he learned from Naruto that he could change his destiny.

Thanks to this revelation, Neji promised to self-reflect, heal from his trauma, and work hard to become stronger and protect his loved ones. Neji became the strongest member of the Hyuga Clan on his own merits and died protecting Hinata and Naruto, the two people who taught him so much.

6 Itachi Uchiha Let Himself Lose to Sasuke

Itachi Uchiha has arguably the saddest storyline in Naruto. Itachi was initially depicted as a cold, heartless, and powerful warrior who massacred his entire clan simply because he could. He then left his baby brother alive and made him relive their clan's deaths via genjutsu. Fans anxiously awaited Sasuke's inevitable battle against his brother for years, and they were excited to see Sasuke take his revenge.

Their battle didn't disappoint. After an epic battle that showcased some of the Uchiha Clan's strongest abilities, Itachi died. However, Sasuke soon learned he didn't know his brother at all. In one of the biggest plot twists of the series, Sasuke discovered that Itachi killed his clan to protect Konoha from the coup they were planning. He was following the Hokage's orders and only agreed on one condition, that he let his little brother live. This brilliant revelation shocked fans and made what was intially a satisfying death, a tragedy.

5 Obito Uchiha Died a Hero After All

Whether he's a twisted villain or a manipulated antihero, Naruto fans still struggle to characterize Obito Uchiha. He starts off as an ambitious knucklehead who allows his pain to mold him into a murderous monster. However, by the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Obito wins viewers over with a final act of self-sacrifice.

Serving as Madara's pawn, the former Leaf Village ninja commits countless crimes, killing without a second thought. Naruto's diplomacy encourages him to seek redemption —he saves Kakashi's life and finally surrenders to the Allied Shinobi Forces. Following an emotional goodbye with Kakashi, Obito is reunited with Rin once more, finding peace for the first time in a long time. Obitio's first "death" was devastating on its own, and his second leaves fans in tears once more, thus Obito's demise ranks near the top among the saddest Naruto deaths.

4 Zabuza Momochi Died Fighting Off Gato's Thugs

Zabuza Momochi the rogue Mist ninja was one of the first Naruto characters to die on-screen, and his death was much sadder than fans might have expected at first. In the first battle, Zabuza felt like a scary yet generic villain who existed just to challenge Team 7, but by the end, Zabuza showed his humanity, and fans were interested.

Zabuza tried to act indifferent when Haku was killed, but Naruto's talk jutsu convinced Zabuza to show his true feelings of remorse, and Zabuza acted on those feelings when Gato arrived. Inspired, Zabuza leaped into action to fight Gato's many hired thugs, giving his very life to help defend Tazuna's bridge and Team 7 from the real villains. In so doing, Zabuza managed to die an antihero who finally did the right thing.

3 Haku Took a Mortal Blow to Defend His Master, Zabuza

Haku's death was the first that Naruto fans saw, taking place in the anime's first major story arc. That arc fleshed out shinobi lore by painting ninjas as mere tools for their clients and bosses, a dehumanizing idea that heroes like Naruto Uzumaki couldn't accept. Sakura even cited a part of the ninja code stating that ninjas should not show emotion in the line of duty, but that phase of the story was all about raw emotion.

Haku acted on his personal feelings when he intercepted Kakashi's Lightning Blade jutsu to save his master Zabuza, and he died. Everyone was shocked, and Naruto convinced Zabuza to show some emotion about what just happened. Thus, the main characters all defied their world's norms about emotionless, disposable ninjas, and it made for an interesting watch.

2 Kushina Uzumaki And Minato Namikaze Both Died on the Night Their Son Was Born

Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze would've been the best parents had they survived the Nine Tails' attack. They were powerful, well-loved ninjas when they were alive, passing their extraordinary abilities to their son. The two met in the Ninja Academy — Kushina, a new student from another village, and Minato, a Leaf Village native. Kushina hailed from the famed Uzumaki clan but was teased for her temper and bright, red hair.

Minato was the only person who treated her kindly, which made them fall in love. Unfortunately, Naruto never met his parents, as they sacrificed themselves to protect him. But they made sure to leave some sweet parting words before their deaths. They even sealed parts of their consciousness into Naruto's mind if the Nine Tails' transformation progressed too far, which allowed Naruto to meet his parents later on.

1 Jiraiya Fought to the End Battling His Former Student

A world-famous author, Legendary Sannin, and Toad Sage, Jiraiya was revered throughout the ninja world. The Sannin was Naruto's most influential mentor. Like a father figure, he guided Naruto through his complicated life and made him stronger. Jiraiya has an incredibly selfless side — raising three orphans, protecting Konoha from the shadows, and training Naruto. He lovingly named himself Naruto's godfather after Minato disclosed they named Naruto after one of the characters in his book.

Jiraya died battling Pain but successfully acquired the information he needed for his eventual defeat. In his dying moments, Jiraiya reflected on his life, believing he contributed little to the world before putting his faith in Naruto, "the chosen one." The ninja world wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Jiraiya the Gallant's sacrifice, making his the most emotional death in Naruto.