Naruto's True Best Friend Said More In One Line Than Sasuke Or Sakura Ever Could

Published Sep 6, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com. His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023. Sign in to your ScreenRant account In fiction and in life, there's always more to learn when it comes to propping up the future while finding one's purpose in the world. In the words of Confucius as drawn from the Analects, "When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them." As originally written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto often embodied Confucian principles like this, with a steady focus on learning from others. And, while Naruto Uzumaki walked among two others in Team 7 and learned plenty about rivalry, the importance of maintaining one's promises, and a sense of found family, he found plenty of pain as well. But truthfully, things changed once Naruto's teammate Sasuke left the Hidden Leaf Village, and not in all ways for the worse. Naruto's friend group remained supportive, with fellow shinobi having his back as always. But one character who consistently rose to the occasion and showed rapid growth and maturity by the time of Naruto: Shippuden's era was none other than Shikamaru Nara. The two shared a similar underachiever wavelength in their earlier days, and each even took on a flawed mentor. But when even their trauma began to sync up, Shikamaru offered some prized advice that proved invaluable to Naruto, propping him up like nobody else could at the time. Naruto Has Always Had One Perfect Friend & Kindred Spirit There are plenty of moments illustrating Shikamaru's loyalty as a friend to Naruto, from their earlier days at the Academy to their numerous shared tasks, including the Sasuke Recovery Mission. But beyond saving each other in the battlefield or sound tactical choices keeping each other alive, Shikamaru helped repair Naruto's shattered psyche following the news of Jiraiya's death. It was clear it needed to happen, especially with a uniquely memorable exchange with Naruto's first real mentor, Iruka, pulling him from his emotional abyss. But in helping Naruto not only recover himself fully and look to the future, it really had to be someone like Shikamaru, who'd just gone through his own loss, as he reminds Naruto they're both growing up and will soon take on students of their own. After making a visit to Shikamaru: That child will be my student. Asuma entrusted that child to me. I heard about Lord Jiraiya. I lost my teacher, so it's not like I don't understand what you're going through. But whining and sulking isn't going to make things better. We're way past that point in our lives. Naruto: What do you mean? Shikamaru: My teacher entrusted me with many things. Some important, some petty. All sorts of things. You too, right? In fact, you must have a ton of stuff. So don't you think it's time for us to step up? Naruto: Time for what? Shikamaru: Time for us to become the ones who entrust. It's a pain, but we can't keep complaining. You will eventually be the one treating to ramen, and you'll be called Naruto-sensei, or something. We can't stay brats forever...if we wanna become super cool ninja like Asuma and Lord Jiraiya, that is. It's a far cry from the slacker Shikamaru once was, and shows he's truly embraced his role as a leader more wholeheartedly in the wake of Asuma's death. But Shikamaru's words still ring true to his earliest days in this exchange from Naruto: Shippuden episode 153, itself adapting Naruto chapter 406. He still sees the added responsibilities as a drag, but realizes it's his duty to carry them as he grows into the role his mentor once had. Time for us to become the ones who entrust. It's a pain, but we can't keep complaining. This quote shows Shikamaru is aware of his own proclivities, and chooses not to ignore them while moving forward, knowing this is how he must first master his own discipline. He sees Naruto giving into his grief and growing insular like he once did, and walks his friend through the tragedy he personally overcame, knowing what Naruto ultimately craved to hear: that moving on can genuinely mean becoming an amazing mentor for somebody else to idealize. Amusingly enough, Naruto may never have predicted the one who'd look up to him the most would be a young Sarada Uchiha, though. Naruto's Confucian Themes Are Reflected Nicely By Shikamaru Beyond the typical qualities like an overall sense of right and wrong, and virtues prized by virtually any moral philosophy or religious movement like empathy, Shikamaru learned directly from Asuma about Konoha's Will of Fire, and who his village's "King" truly is. These principles align strongly with forward-thinking Confucian ideals about community, and how it must protect itself while fostering the next generation. The "King" as given in Asuma's shogi metaphor is that same next generation of shinobi, made all the more important that he left this message for his prized student, as he'd soon not be around for the birth and raising of his own daughter. Shikamaru has since gone on to mentor Asuma and Kurenai's daughter, as well as offer key guidance to the new generation of shinobi in the years to come, while ultimately securing the position placing him a heartbeat away from being Hokage. He does this all for the good of his village and the friend whom he has simultaneously inspired and been inspired by. The best part is, the Naruto franchise has been pretty good about keeping these qualities true, albeit more complicated, under Mikio Ikemoto and Kishimoto's direction in the latest Boruto chapters and side stories. Shikamaru Walked His Talk By Becoming An Ideal Mentor & Leader Plenty has already been said here about Shikamaru standing by Naruto as a loyal friend, remaining resolute even at death's door in the Fourth Great Ninja War. But it's another matter to put those words to work, and in the case of raising and mentoring Mirai Sarutobi, he honored Asuma's dying words, with moments such as Naruto: Konoha's Story—The Steam Ninja Scrolls showing that Mirai took Shikamaru's words to heart, at points embodying her late father's aura in the process. She did all this while, adorably, being just as lousy at shogi as Asuma was back when he was Shikamaru's teacher. But it also can't be forgotten that Shikamaru is obviously far more than merely a mentor to Mirai. By the time of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, he fulfilled his promise to Naruto, becoming his right-hand man as advisor to the Seventh Hokage, handling much of the administrative responsibilities while himself getting ready to become the village's leader should the occasion ever come. For anybody even remotely following the series for the past three years, that time very much has come, too, by the time of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Boruto's New Era Puts Shikamaru's Leadership To The Test Despite an initially rocky start including clashing with Sarada Uchiha, who has remained steadfast as Boruto Uzumaki's friend while the young runaway is branded a traitor following the Omnipotence Arc, Shikamaru is demonstrating his remarkable pragmatism as the Eighth Hokage. His position isn't even permanent, at least for the time being, but that hasn't stopped Shikamaru from consistently chasing down leads on what exactly happened three years ago, leading him to suspect Boruto is, in fact, not the Otsutsuki menace he was branded to be. Suddenly, Shikamaru must weigh the possibilities and impacts of every action, and now doubly so, given he is directly connected to someone who can see all possible futures. Hidden Leaf Village · Chunin Exam NarutoTrivia Challenge 🔥 Jinchūriki Believe it! 🔴 Sharingan Copy ninja 🌀 Jutsu Rasengan! 🌿 Village Will of Fire ⚡ Bonds Unbreakable BELIEVE IT! → 01 Naruto Uzumaki carries an immense burden — a powerful Tailed Beast sealed inside him since birth by the Fourth Hokage. This fox demon’s chakra gives Naruto extraordinary power but also makes him an outcast. What is the name of this Nine-Tailed Beast? AShukaku BMatatabi CKurama DGyuki ✓ Correct! Kurama is the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage. Initially a source of fear and hatred, Kurama eventually becomes one of Naruto’s closest allies. Their bond is one of the most emotional arcs in the entire series. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kurama. Shukaku is the One-Tail sealed in Gaara, Matatabi is the Two-Tails, and Gyuki is the Eight-Tails sealed in Killer Bee. Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, is Naruto’s legendary partner. NEXT → 02 Naruto’s greatest rival is a prodigy from a prestigious clan who possesses a powerful eye technique called the Sharingan. Consumed by a desire for vengeance against his older brother, he defects from the Hidden Leaf Village. Who is this rival? ANeji Hyuga BSasuke Uchiha CGaara DRock Lee ✓ Correct! Sasuke Uchiha is Naruto’s eternal rival and best friend. After the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke’s obsession with killing his brother Itachi drives him to leave the village and seek power at any cost. Their rivalry is the emotional backbone of the entire series. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Sasuke Uchiha. Neji is a Hyuga clan genius with the Byakugan, Gaara is the Sand Village’s jinchūriki, and Rock Lee is the taijutsu specialist. Only Sasuke wields the Sharingan and defects to join Orochimaru. NEXT → 03 Naruto’s signature jutsu is a spinning sphere of concentrated chakra formed in the palm of his hand. Originally created by the Fourth Hokage and taught to Naruto by Jiraiya, it becomes the foundation for many of his most powerful attacks. What is this technique called? ARasengan BChidori CShadow Clone Jutsu DSage Art: Lava Rasenshuriken ✓ Correct! The Rasengan is a pure chakra manipulation technique that doesn’t require hand signs. Created by Minato Namikaze and passed down through Jiraiya to Naruto, it evolves into many variations including the devastating Rasenshuriken with added Wind Release nature transformation. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is the Rasengan. The Chidori is Sasuke and Kakashi’s lightning technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu is a different Naruto staple, and the Lava Rasenshuriken is a late-series variant. The base Rasengan is Naruto’s iconic spinning chakra sphere. NEXT → 04 Team 7’s leader is a mysterious, mask-wearing jonin known as the “Copy Ninja” for his ability to replicate over a thousand jutsu using his borrowed Sharingan eye. He’s always reading a certain novel. Who is this legendary sensei? AMight Guy BAsuma Sarutobi CJiraiya DKakashi Hatake ✓ Correct! Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of the Sharingan, leads Team 7 (Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura). His Sharingan was a gift from his dying friend Obito Uchiha. Always cool under pressure and perpetually reading Make-Out Paradise, Kakashi eventually becomes the Sixth Hokage. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kakashi Hatake. Might Guy leads Team Guy, Asuma leads Team 10, and Jiraiya is one of the Legendary Sannin who later trains Naruto. Only Kakashi is the masked Copy Ninja with a borrowed Sharingan who leads Team 7. NEXT → 05 Sasuke’s older brother massacred nearly the entire Uchiha clan in a single night, then joined the criminal organization Akatsuki. It was later revealed he did it all on orders from the village to prevent a coup — sacrificing everything to protect his brother. Who is this tragic figure? AMadara Uchiha BItachi Uchiha CObito Uchiha DShisui Uchiha ✓ Correct! Itachi Uchiha is one of Naruto’s most complex characters. A pacifist genius forced into an impossible choice, he bore the hatred of the entire world — including his beloved brother Sasuke — to protect the Hidden Leaf from civil war. His final words to Sasuke remain iconic. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Itachi Uchiha. Madara is the legendary clan founder, Obito is the masked man behind much of the war, and Shisui was Itachi’s best friend. Itachi alone carried out the massacre to prevent the Uchiha coup and protect Sasuke. NEXT → 06 From the very first episode, Naruto declares his lifelong dream to earn the respect of his village and prove his worth. He vows to achieve the highest rank in the Hidden Leaf — its supreme leader. What is this title that Naruto dreams of? AKazekage BJonin Commander CHokage DAnbu Captain ✓ Correct! Hokage is the title of the Hidden Leaf Village’s leader, and Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage drives the entire series. After years of struggle, he finally achieves his dream and becomes the Seventh Hokage in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hokage. The Kazekage leads the Sand Village, Jonin Commander is a military rank, and Anbu Captain leads black ops. The Hokage is the Hidden Leaf’s supreme leader — and Naruto’s lifelong dream since he was a lonely academy student. NEXT → 07 Naruto’s father was the Fourth Hokage, known as the “Yellow Flash of the Leaf” for his incredible speed using the Flying Thunder God technique. He sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails inside his newborn son. What is his name? AMinato Namikaze BHiruzen Sarutobi CTobirama Senju DHashirama Senju ✓ Correct! Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage and Yellow Flash, sacrificed himself using the Reaper Death Seal to seal Kurama inside baby Naruto. His love for his son and faith in Naruto’s potential made him one of the series’ most selfless characters. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen Sarutobi is the Third Hokage, Tobirama Senju is the Second, and Hashirama Senju is the First. Minato, the Fourth Hokage, is Naruto’s father who sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his own life. NEXT → 08 A shy, kind-hearted kunoichi from the Hyuga clan admired Naruto from afar since their academy days. She boldly confessed her love while fighting Pain to protect him, and eventually became his wife. Who is this character? ASakura Haruno BIno Yamanaka CTemari DHinata Hyuga ✓ Correct! Hinata Hyuga went from a timid girl who could barely speak around Naruto to a fierce warrior who stood against Pain to protect him. Her confession during the Pain arc is one of the series’ most emotional moments. They marry in The Last: Naruto the Movie and have two children, Boruto and Himawari. ✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hinata Hyuga. Sakura is Naruto’s teammate who loves Sasuke, Ino is Sakura’s rival from the Yamanaka clan, and Temari is a Sand Village kunoichi who marries Shikamaru. Only Hinata loved Naruto from the very beginning. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Complete Your Ninja Record / 8 Are you Hokage material — or still at the academy practicing clone jutsu? ↻ RETRY MISSION Suddenly, in many cases, Shikamaru is not doing so much imparting as he is directly cooperating with allies like Boruto and his small coalition of Konoha shinobi. It's right on time, as he was around their age when he started having to make impactful decisions and take on more significant missions more regularly for his village. But even in the face of mounting investigations into his work as Hokage, Shikamaru is staying the course, putting his own position of power at risk as he seems to recognize Konoha's current trust in Kawaki is built on a lie. One can still see small glimpses of his desire to label this whole affair a pain, but Shikamaru's dedication to protecting his village would absolutely get Naruto's seal of approval, even if he took some darker directions in the Land of Wind. TV Show(s) Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Video Game(s) Naruto: Clash Of Ninja Revolution 3, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (2003), Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja, Naruto: The Broken Bond, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, Naruto Shippuden Dragon Blade Chronicles, Naruto: Path Of The Ninja, Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections First Film Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow First TV Show Naruto Cast Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei Latest Film Boruto: Naruto the Movie