10 Most Reckless Characters in Naruto, Ranked

Naruto Uzumaki is a widely beloved and boisterous protagonist whose reckless nature defines his character and overall journey. Since his adventure began in Naruto, the brash young shinobi has routinely rejected the status quo in favor of his own ideals, resulting in a chaotic fighting style and a truly unshakable optimistic perspective by the end of Naruto: Shippuden. However, Naruto Uzumaki is not the only reckless character in the dangerous shinobi world.

Jiraiya, the legendary Sannin, and some of Naruto’s other mentors influence his foolhardy nature as he trains in the ninja arts. In turn, Naruto inspires Konohamaru Sarutobi and many other peers to fully believe in themselves and have faith in the risks they must inevitably take as shinobi. Among the colorful cast of characters in Masashi Kishimoto’s classic shonen story, few come across as reckless in their nature and actions as Naruto Uzumaki.

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10 Jiraiya’s Courageous Spirit Lives on in Naruto

Jiraiya the Sannin

Jiraiya earned his reputation as a fierce Sannin of the Hidden Leaf Village after surviving the Second Great Ninja War with Tsunade and Orochimaru. Decades later, Jiraiya’s experience as a top Konoha shinobi and mentor has tempered his wild spirit with wisdom. The mentorship of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, has an important influence on Jiraiya’s discipline, but training Naruto Uzumaki resonates with the reckless side of the Sannin.

History repeats itself when Jiraiya begins training Naruto as the Sannin endures the challenges of instructing a shinobi as reckless as he once was. Naruto’s unwavering resolve to keep his word resonates with Jiraiya’s motto of never giving up, and their resulting similarities bring out the edge in them both. Jiraiya’s unique blend of wisdom and daring is on full display during his dramatic last stand against the Six Paths of Pain. From his decision to confront Pain alone to the carousel of techniques he employs throughout the fight, Jiraiya lives up to his legacy by masterfully taking the right risks at the right time.

9 Suigetsu’s Impulsive Nature Holds Him Back

Suigetsu Hozuki

Suigetsu Hozuki has an incredible sense of ambition that could rival even Naruto Uzumaki, but he doesn’t share the Jinchuriki’s dream of becoming a Kage. Instead, Suigetsu seeks vengeance for the death of his brother by collecting all seven blades from the fearsome Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. These fierce swordsmen are widely known and just as feared, challenging Suigetsu’s ambitions to defeat them as a less experienced young fighter. Suigetsu is naturally a risk taker, but leaning into this trait instead of curbing it sets him apart from more successful characters.

Suigetsu’s fatal flaw is the impulsivity that drives him to challenge powerful opponents with little consideration. Despite being warned against it, Suigetsu eagerly challenges the Akatsuki’s fearsome Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, as soon as their paths cross. Failing to temper his impulsivity results in taking needless risks that hinder Suigetsu from reaching his greater ambitions. Without the discipline to be less rash, Suigetsu struggles to stay on track to gather the coveted collection of swords, recklessly getting in the way of his own success.

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8 Konohamaru Takes After Naruto’s Reckless Nature

Konohamaru Sarutobi

Konohamaru Sarutobi enjoys the benefits of being related to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in ways Naruto Uzumaki misses out on in his own life. Being part of a younger era of shinobi and having certain privileges enables Konohamaru to lean into reckless behavior. He’s known for defiantly taunting Naruto and other elders in the Hidden Leaf Village, but he eventually embraces the lessons they teach as he matures.

Events starting with the death of the Third Hokage spanning to the devastating Fourth Great Ninja War mature Konohamaru beyond his childhood brashness. Brave acts by strong shinobi like Naruto Uzumaki teach Konohamaru to act boldly with calculated risks. Konohamaru courageously attacks the Nakara Path alone to save a comrade, choosing to act more boldly than ever — and not a moment too soon. Maturity balances Konohamaru’s wild spirit over time, but sharing this innate disposition with Naruto continues to connect them deeply as mentor and pupil.

7 Kiba’s Hot-Heated Nature Drives Impulsive Decisions

Kiba Izunaka

Among the diverse cast that makes up the rookie Konoha 11, Kiba Izunaka stands out as one of the group’s most intense characters. Kiba is notoriously hot-headed and impatient, routinely urging him to act more recklessly than he should. As intense as he can be, Kiba’s deep loyalty to his family and shinobi peers is a grounding force that helps balance his impulsive nature.

Kiba has close relationships within the community of the Hidden Leaf Village, but perhaps the most significant is his bond with Akamaru, his fearless canine companion. When these bonds are threatened, Kiba’s emotionality can get the better of him, leading him to take reckless risks in the heat of conflict. Arrogance famously undercuts Kiba during the Chunin Exams when he interferes with other teams and underestimates Naruto Uzumaki as his opponent. Kiba has a notoriously short fuse and lives for the fight much more than others, but his defining fearlessness ultimately empowers his ability to protect those he cares about.

Rock Lee

Rock Lee is the bold young shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village who famously takes after his instructor, Might Guy. Shamelessly following in the footsteps of his beloved mentor, Rock Lee emulates Might Guy’s uninhibited optimism and chaotic fighting techniques. Rock Lee is restricted to using only the physical combat art of taijutsu, and in a world dominated by chakra-based ninjutsu, his trademark technique complements his brazen ambition.

Might Guy’s influence on his lookalike pupil is evident in Rock Lee’s reckless fighting style and absolute conviction. While Rock Lee may not be as reckless as his mentor, he’s absolutely unpredictable on the battlefield. Rock Lee bravely fights powerful chakra users with no ninjutsu techniques of his own, but such courageous acts regularly put him in grave danger. Lee’s iconic drunken fist technique is the most chaotic version of his fighting style, but the Eight Gates technique is his most powerful ability at the cost of his health, perhaps making it even more reckless than the former.

5 Might Guy’s Reckless Optimism Is Inspiring

Might Guy

Might Guy’s unique brand of relentless optimism inspires bravery in many characters, but most notably in his favorite pupil, Rock Lee. As a jonin shinobi who puts his life on the line with reckless conviction, Might Guy is an undeniable source of inspiration to his fellow shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village. Might Guy’s fierce self-confidence empowers his emotionally-driven fighting style that inspires Rock Lee, Naruto, and more to have faith in themselves and each other no matter the circumstance.

In one of Might Guy’s most controversial acts, the optimism that empowers his faith in his peers shines through after Rock Lee gets severely injured by Gaara at the Chunin Exams. When Rock Lee is faced with the choice to give up shinobi life or undergo a surgery that has equal odds of healing or killing him, Might Guy encourages the reckless decision to proceed on the grounds that risking his future is worth chasing his dream. While it may not have been in Rock Lee’s best interest to move forward with such a dangerous procedure, the situation highlights the acute boldness that defines Might Guy.

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4 Deidara Takes Huge Risks & Suffers Huge Loses

Deidara

The infamous Akatsuki is a villainous organization full of dangerous rogue shinobi, and Deidara is one of its most unpredictable members. Deidara’s deeply held belief that true art is explosive in nature influences the chaotic use of his trademark clay-inspired jutsu. Even among a group of several powerful villains, Deidara stands out for his reckless disposition and risky combat methods, and some of his gambles fail to pay off.

Deidara’s unchecked ego and arrogance quickly undercut him after hasty decision-making costs him dearly while capturing Gaara, the Fifth Kazakage, to extract his Tailed Beast. Deidara loses one arm to the Kazekage and the other to Kakashi Hatake over the course of the attempt to abduct Gaara, but he recklessly continues fighting despite the obvious detriment to his odds of success. Carelessness and impulsivity are Deidara’s greatest limiting factors, and these qualities make him deeply unreliable to the rest of the Akatsuki.

3 Obito & Naruto Are Similarly Reckless Spirits

Obito Uchiha

Before Obito Uchiha becomes the notorious masked mastermind behind the evil Akatsuki, he’s a young shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village with a reckless streak like Naruto Uzumaki. Obito and Naruto both develop intense rivalries with teammates, use impulsive fighting styles, and have brash demeanors. However, the two intense shinobi eventually face off against each other during the climax of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Obito’s identity is in flux throughout his story, but he acts boldly from a young age until the end of his life.

Obito becomes far more cautious than the younger version of himself once he joins forces with Madara Uchiha, but his hot-blooded nature still lives close to the surface. When Madara’s carefully laid plans begin falling apart, Obito is rushed to make increasingly risky decisions that expose his emotionality. Naruto successfully draws Obito into this more vulnerable state during their Fourth Great Ninja War battle, and their ability to relate to each other changes the future of the shinobi world for the better.

2 Sasuke Recklessly Pursues Power At Any Cost

Sasuke Uchiha

Sasuke Uchiha’s reckless decisions define his difficult journey from start to finish as he develops an ever-intensifying rivalry with Naruto Uzumaki. In order to keep up with Naruto and achieve his ambition to take revenge on the Hidden Leaf Village, Sasuke resolves to acquire more power at any cost. Sasuke goes to great lengths to train and transform himself, even willingly giving himself up to Orochimaru for experimentation to gain more abilities despite the obvious threat to his longevity. In his quest to keep up with Naruto’s progress, Sasuke recklessly sacrifices almost everything to achieve his dark ambitions.

From a young age, Sasuke uses his powerful abilities against others with little restraint. Sasuke’s first use of the Chidori against Naruto during the battle atop the hospital and his overuse of the Mangekyo Sharingan are among his most famous examples of irresponsibly wielding jutsu. The selfish desire to become more powerful leads Sasuke to abandon every ally he makes once he acquires more strength, whether they serve the Hidden Leaf Village, Orochimaru, or the Akatsuki. Ultimately, Sasuke abandons the reckless irrationality that once motivated him, turning a new leaf as a disciplined Konoha shinobi.

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1 Naruto is the Epitome of Recklessness

Naruto Uzumaki

The epitome of recklessness in the Naruto franchise is none other than the boisterous main character himself. From the very beginning, Naruto Uzumaki sets the bold tone for the entire series with his unpredictable nature and chaotic fighting style. A certain level of Naruto’s unchecked impulsivity is a result of his upbringing as an isolated orphan feared by the rest of the Hidden Leaf Village. However, Naruto’s so-called reckless approach to the ninja lifestyle transforms the greater shinobi world.

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha famously compete in an unrelenting rivalry to surpass one another as the strongest, routinely risking their lives by pushing themselves to the absolute limit. However, Naruto’s riskiest technique is his Talk No Jutsu approach to confronting his opponents with the cold truth of their actions. For anyone else to wield such blind optimism would be ridiculous, but fortune somehow falls in Naruto’s favor repeatedly, most famously when convincing Nagato to restore the lives lost in Pain’s Assault. Against all odds and despite all protests, Naruto’s unconventional style makes him the world’s favorite foolhardy shinobi.

Naruto

Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village’s leader and strongest ninja.

Created by

Masashi Kishimoto

Latest Film

Boruto: Naruto the Movie

First TV Show

Naruto

First Episode Air Date

September 21, 1999

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Noriaki Sugiyama , Yuri Lowenthal , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Dave Wittenberg

Video Game(s)

Naruto Ninja Council 3 , Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja , Naruto: Path Of The Ninja , Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm , Naruto x Boruto: Ninja Voltage , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact

Manga Release Date

August 6, 2003

Manga Volumes

72

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