Top 10 Saddest Naruto Deaths

#10: Shikaku Nara & Inoichi Yamanaka

The fathers of Shikamaru and Ino, may not take the field in the final war against the Ten-Tails, but they have a vital role to play. At the allied HQ, Shikaku devises strategies and Inoichi transmits them to the battlefield. Unfortunately, Madara Uchiha has the Ten-Tails target headquarters with a massive attack. The duos calm resignation in the face of impending death is admirable, while the quiet of the distant, massive explosion really hits it home. Even so, its wonderful that they were able to contact their kids before they died, ensuring one last goodbye and that theyre able to pass on a plan to deal with the apocalyptic beast.

#9: Obito Uchiha

He may be the architect for a ton of terrible events that occur in the franchise, but Obito Uchiha isnt a cut and dry villain. He has a lot of parallels with Naruto and everyones favorite knuckle-headed ninja manages to show Obito the error of his ways. In the final battle with Kaguya tsutsuki, Obito sacrifices himself to save Naruto and Kakashi when she attacks them. As he crumbles away, he tells Naruto to follow his dream to become Hokage. We also see him reunite with Rin, he and Kakashis departed childhood friend, in the afterlife. One of Narutos biggest lessons is empathy for your enemies, and we do feel for Obito here.

#8: Neji Hyuga

The cousin of Narutos future wife, Hinata, Neji is initially at odds with both of them, as he finds his own station as a subservient part of his own family to be proof that fate cannot be chosen. Naruto proves him wrong and he becomes friendlier with both of them. During the final war, when Naruto and Hinata are nearly killed by an attack from the Ten-Tails, Neji throws himself in front of them both. Neji is the only one of Narutos peers to die during the war, but his death makes an impact. The fact that he chose his own fate, saving the people who showed him he could, is as poetic as it is tragic.

#7: Asuma Sarutobi

The sensei of Team 10, including Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji, Asuma gets into a battle with two members of Akatsuki along with Shikamaru. While skilled, neither of the two Akatsuki seem able to die. Hidan in particular is able to transfer damage from himself to someone whose blood hes ingested. This lets him deal a mortal blow to Asuma by stabbing himself. Shikamarus helplessness as his teacher is killed breaks our hearts. And when Asuma delivers his final words to his students, we tear up every time. Good thing its raining during this scene, thatll hide our tearsin real life

#6: Kurama

The Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside Naruto since infancy, Kurama has had a rocky relationship with his host, but they eventually come to understand each other and become friends. In the final confrontation with Isshiki tsutsuki, Kurama and Naruto activate Baryon Mode, a massive power-up with a heavy cost. Although Naruto is under the impression that it will kill them both, Kurama reveals that only he will die. Narutos tearful realization of whats happening is absolutely heartrending. If that doesnt get your waterworks going, then the flashbacks of their relationship over the years surely will.

#5: Zabuza Momochi & Haku

While several villain deaths are tragic, few have left their mark on the Naruto fanbase quite like Zabuza and Haku after all, they were the first. Haku gives his life to save Zabuza, taking a blow meant for him delivered by Kakashi. Although Zabuza initially appears unaffected by his partners death, Narutos impassioned speech drives even a hardened killer like him to tears, and leads to the crippled villain taking down his former employer in badass fashion before succumbing to his wounds. The duos deaths left a big impact on not only Naruto himself, but also his story in general and everyone who has experienced it.

#4: Itachi Uchiha

Itachi is one of the Naruto franchises most complex characters. Initially an object of hatred by his brother Sasuke for killing their clan, Itachi dies smiling after their fight, imitating a gesture he used to do to him when they were kids. Its later revealed that Itachi spared his brother out of love and that he was always loyal to the Leaf Village. While this revelation certainly makes his death sadder upon rewatch, it makes his second death even more of a tearjerker. Upon being resurrected, Itachi fights side by side with Sasuke. Upon undoing his resurrection, Itachi gets a proper goodbye with his brother, telling him how much he loves him.

#3: Hiruzen Sarutobi, the 3rd Hokage

The grandfatherly 3rd Hokage engages in a titanic final duel with his former student Orochimaru on a rooftop. After a lot of back and forth, Hiruzen uses the Reaper Death Seal to seal Orochimaru away. Ultimately, he only gets his arms, taking away his snakey students ability to use jutsu. Hiruzens vision fading and flickering to see his former pupil as a child hits hardbut not as hard as his funeral. Nearly everyone in the village turns up, and the tears pour nearly as much as the rain does. He may not be the 1st Hokage chronologically, but Hiruzen Sarutobi was the first one introduced to Naruto and to the audience, so he kind of epitomized the title for us all.

#2: Minato Namikaze & Kushina Uzumaki

The death of Narutos parents was always going to hit different, but no one is prepared for how tragic it is when they see it. During the Kuramas attack on the village, instigated by Obito, Kushina and Minato work together to contain the beast and drive Obito off. Unfortunately, both of them are impaled by the huge fox before they can seal him completely. Watching the two of them give dying words of advice to their infant son is so unbearably sad, especially knowing everything Naruto has gone through growing up. Only one death manages to elicit more tears than these two.

#1: Jiraiya

Teacher to both Minato and Naruto, Jiraiya is a father or avuncular figure for both of them. Unfortunately, while investigating Akatsuki, Jiraiya finds himself overmatched when facing another former student Pain. Outnumbered by Pains many bodies, Jiraiya suffers lethal wounds and even has his throat crushed. However, hes able to use a toad ally to deliver a final, coded message to help the village. As he sinks down into the water, Jiraiya thinks over his story, as well as his hopes for the future. And just when you think you cant sob any harder, his spirit touches Naruto on the shoulder. ALL. THE. FEELS.