The biggest change between Naruto manga and anime

Key takeaways

• The Naruto manga introduces the genin naturally, while the anime introduces spaced-out introductions, giving the character depth.
• In the manga, Chidori surrounds the user's hand with electricity; It's not just a force like in the anime.
• Sakura shows concern for Naruto in the manga, while the anime portrays her as mean.

Naruto One of the greatest shonen anime of all time, it captured the attention of fans worldwide as the title character proved everyone wrong and became the Hokage of Leaf Village. The story is a slow burn that pays off with a satisfying conclusion, die-hard fans find something to love about the series with the sequel, Boruto.

While the anime adaptation is very faithful to the manga in many respects, there are some changes between both versions. Naruto Which is worth highlighting. Some of these changes were for the better, while others left fans confused.

8 Genins are presented more naturally in the manga

Some characters are introduced later

The manga introduces Naruto's classmates early on, making their inclusion in later arcs feel more natural. However, the anime decides to pace these introductions so that fans are not overwhelmed by the wealth of new characters at the beginning of the series.

This can either be a great or bad decision depending on a fan's subjective view. Sure, it was easier to remember the characters with these spaced-out introductions, but it left viewers confused about the depth of the bond Naruto shared with his classmates.

7 Chidori is believed to surround the arm in lightning

It forms a force of lightning in the anime to serve as a parallel to the Rasengan

• It appears in:Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden

Chidori is one of the best techniques NarutoFaced with the Rasengan again and again in the series. The lightning ball the ninja held in his hand seemed to be the perfect counter to the ball of energy swirling in Naruto's patented technique.

However, there is a notable difference in Chidori's iteration of the manga. Instead of a force of electricity, this technique coats the user's entire arm with this jutsu, allowing them to strike enemies with powerful energy for devastating results.

6 Tenten and Temari's fight is more detailed in the anime

The manga presents this battle in the background as Ino and Sakura have a conversation

After Sakura and Ino fight to a draw and both fail the Chunin Exams, they have a heart-to-heart while Temari and Tenten begin their battle. In the manga, this conversation is so important that readers don't even get to see the final battle of the Chunin Exams.

The anime didn't need to limit itself to just one scene, however, and fleshed out the fight, making it clear how easily Temari was able to defeat Tenten. This is a good inclusion that ensures all the fights Naruto Feel important even if some take up too much screen time.

5 Team Boy gets a rare moment to shine during the Kazekage rescue arc in the anime

The scene where they fight the clones is completely original

• It appears in:Naruto: Shippuden

After the time skip, manga readers were saddened to see Team Guy relegated to the sidelines and never getting a moment to shine. The anime tries to rectify this by adding an original fight during the Kazekage rescue, though the impact of this scene is up for debate.

Team Boy ends up fighting their clones as they try to remove a certain seal, the battle seems impossible to win until the group realizes they need to be better than they ever were to best their identical enemies. It might be a little silly, but fans will take it if it means characters like Neji and Lee get a chance to be useful.

A great way to give more importance to Shikamaru's character

In the manga, Shikamaru is promoted to chunin rank behind the scenes, while Naruto is busy searching for Tsunade with Jiraiya. However, the anime changes this sequence to add more weight to Shikamaru's character.

As the team decides to track down Sasuke after he is taken by Orochimaru's friends, Tsunade informs Shikamaru that she has been promoted to chunin and will lead the rescue effort. It's a small but noticeable change that makes Shikamaru's promotion even more effective.

3 Shikamaru's breakdown and subsequent revelation is an anime-original scene

One of the best inclusions in customization

• It appears in:Naruto: Shippuden

The Naruto The adaptation has been criticized several times for relying too much on meaningless filler. However, that doesn't mean the anime didn't have the ability to add some meaningful scenes when the situation called for it.

This was the case when Shikamaru broke down in front of his father after Asuma's death, before finally experiencing a strategic breakthrough that made him want to lead an attempt to avenge his sensei's death. It's a powerful scene that feels right at home NarutoAnd many fans were surprised to learn that this entire sequence was anime-only.

2 Sakura shows concern in the manga when Naruto is struggling with a written exam

For some reason, she is mean and laughs at Naruto in the anime

It's easy to see why Naruto Viewers are not big fans of Sakura's character. The anime doesn't help change her reactions to the critical scene, which makes her haters seem more despicable.

While Naruto is struggling with the written exam, Sakura is really worried for her team member and wonders how he will be able to pass such a difficult exam. However, the anime turns Sakura into an insufferable character who laughs at Naruto's misery and secretly hopes he fails.

1 Naruto taught Konohamaru the Rasengan before the time-skip

In the anime, Naruto and Konohamaru are aged when the latter is taught this trick

• It appears in:Naruto: Shippuden

Konohamaru didn't get much screen time after the time skip, so fans were happy to see him become relevant again when he used the Rasengan to take out one of Pen's corpses. The timeline of when he learns the Rasengan changes slightly between the manga and anime.

The manga makes it clear that Naruto taught Konohamaru the Rasengan before he left time on his journey with Jiraiya. Meanwhile, the anime clearly shows that both characters are old when training begins, for a small but noticeable change.

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  Naruto: Shippuden

  Release date

  February 15, 2007

  Seasons

  22

  Studio

  Pierrot

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  Naruto

  Release date

  October 2, 2002

  Seasons

  5

  Studio

  Pierrot