Naruto Uzumaki(Japanese: うずまきナルト, Hepburn: Uzumaki Naruto) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a shinobi from Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village) and a member of the Uzumaki clan. On the day of his birth, Naruto became the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, a powerful tailed beast, which led to him being ostracized by the villagers throughout his childhood.

  After joining Team Kakashi, Naruto worked hard to earn the acknowledgment of the village while pursuing his dream of becoming Hokage, the leader of Konohagakure. Over time, he faced numerous challenges and became a skilled ninja, eventually earning the title of “Hero of the Hidden Leaf” (木ノ葉隠れの英雄, Konohagakure no Eiyū). Naruto played a crucial role in winning the Fourth Shinobi World War, which ultimately led him to fulfill his goal of becoming the Seventh Hokage (七代目火影, Nanadaime Hokage), the village’s highest-ranking shinobi.

  Early Life Naruto Uzumaki was born on the night of October 10th to Minato Namikaze (the Fourth Hokage) and Kushina Uzumaki (the second jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails). Named after Naruto Musasabi, the protagonist of Jiraiya’s first book, Jiraiya became his godfather. The Third Hokage arranged for Minato to protect Kushina’s seal containing the Nine-Tails while she gave birth in a remote location with midwives and Anbu. However, the masked man Tobi discovered their location, killed the midwives and Anbu, and captured Naruto. Minato quickly intervened, rescuing Naruto and teleporting him to a safe house. With Minato away, Tobi captured Kushina and released the Nine-Tails, causing it to devastate Konohagakure. Minato eventually returned to save Kushina and defeated Tobi, freeing the Nine-Tails from his control. Realizing that the only way to prevent further destruction was to seal the Nine-Tails within Naruto, Minato sacrificed his life to split the beast’s chakra into two halves: the Yin half within himself and the Yang half within Naruto. After expressing their love for Naruto, Minato and Kushina succumbed to their injuries. Early Years and Social Isolation Orphaned and without guardians, Naruto received a monthly stipend from the village to cover his basic needs. Growing up unaware of his parents’ identities and bearing only his mother’s surname, Naruto was isolated by the villagers who resented him for containing the Nine-Tails, which had caused significant damage and loss of life. The Third Hokage, in an effort to protect Naruto from prejudice, forbade mentioning the Nine-Tails, hoping the younger generation would not inherit the hatred of their parents. Despite this, Naruto faced continued ostracism, leading him to seek recognition through pranks. Ninja Academy On his first day at the Ninja Academy, Naruto met Hinata Hyūga, who was being bullied by three classmates. Despite not knowing her, Naruto defended Hinata but was overpowered and left unconscious. The bullies also damaged his red scarf. When Naruto awoke, Hinata thanked him and returned the scarf, which he chose to let her keep. This moment marked the beginning of Hinata’s growing affection for Naruto, which he was unaware of at the time. During his time at the Academy, Naruto was a student of Iruka Umino, who acted as a surrogate older brother, helping him to stay disciplined and work hard. Naruto also met Sasuke Uchiha, with whom he developed a one-sided rivalry, driven by jealousy of Sasuke’s skills and popularity. Naruto’s goal was to prove himself as an equal to Sasuke and earn his acceptance. Additionally, Naruto became a regular at Ramen Ichiraku, where he formed a close bond with the owner, Teuchi, and his daughter, Ayame.

  Naruto Uzumaki is known for his boisterous, exuberant, and unorthodox personality, which mirrors that of Hashirama Senju. He inherited his mother’s verbal tic, often ending his sentences with “Dattebayo!” (だってばよ!) when he is emotional. Although he is competitive and unafraid to seek help, Naruto is relatively naïve and slow to understand complex principles or situations, often needing oversimplified analogies to grasp explanations. He can be forgetful but is also observant, picking up on details that others might miss. Naruto’s early life of social isolation and hatred has shaped his character. He is casual about formality and social status, often addressing people by nicknames rather than honorifics, though he matures slightly in this aspect by adulthood. He has a particular fondness for ramen and a perverted side that occasionally leads him to attempt to peep into women’s baths, though these instances are rare. Despite being labeled as the ultimate problem child, Naruto’s personality attracts others to him, inspiring friendship and loyalty through genuine acts of kindness. His kindness is seen as a special gift, capable of changing people’s worldviews and even saving Kurama from its hatred. Naruto’s desire for acknowledgment is a significant part of his personality. His childhood pranks were driven by a need for recognition, even if it meant receiving scolding. This desire motivated his dream of becoming Hokage, the ultimate symbol of acknowledgment and respect in the village. Naruto’s philosophy, or nindō, is to never go back on his word. This belief in hard work and perseverance is the foundation of his self-confidence, guiding him through his challenges and shaping his goal to help and protect those close to him. Over time, his aspiration to be Hokage evolved from seeking recognition to a genuine desire to assist and safeguard his loved ones. After the death of his mentor Jiraiya and conversations with his father Minato and Nagato, Naruto developed a deeper understanding of the destructive cycle of hatred. He vowed to break this cycle and bring true peace to the world. His participation in the Fourth Shinobi World War exemplified his commitment to protecting his friends and ending the world’s hatred. Through his actions and leadership, Naruto inspired the Allied Shinobi Forces to continue fighting and became a role model for many. Naruto’s relationship with Hinata Hyūga began during their childhood. Hinata admired Naruto’s kindness and courage, which eventually grew into love. Naruto, initially oblivious to her feelings, considered her “weird” due to her shyness. Their interactions increased during the Chūnin Exams, leading Naruto to appreciate Hinata as a friend. In Part II, Hinata’s willingness to risk her life to protect Naruto led him to recognize her strength, and he subconsciously developed feelings for her. It wasn’t until The Last: Naruto the Movie that Naruto acknowledged and reciprocated Hinata’s love. This realization made him more aware of his own feelings and led him to adopt healthier lifestyle choices. As an adult, Naruto becomes wiser and more mature but retains some of his casualness regarding honorifics. While achieving his dream of becoming Hokage, the demands of the role often overwhelm him, affecting his time with his family. Naruto’s upbringing as an orphan contributes to his uncertainty about interacting with his children. Despite his busy schedule, he deeply loves his family, creating shadow clones to assist them, protecting them, and taking pride in their achievements. Naruto adopts Hiruzen’s philosophy that everyone in the village is his family, valuing love over blood relations. He remains loyal to those close to him, even in the face of their mistakes. Recognizing the impact of his responsibilities on his family’s happiness, Naruto learns to balance his duties as Hokage with spending quality time with his family, restoring a healthy relationship.