Biggest Changes Between Naruto Manga and Anime

Key Takeaways

• The Naruto manga introduces the genin automatically, while the anime shows elaborate introductions, affecting the character's depth.
• In the manga, Chidori surrounds the user's arm with lightning; not just a ball like in the anime.
• Sakura shows concern for Naruto in the manga, while the anime portrays him as evil.

Naruto is one of the best shonen anime of all time, capturing the attention of fans worldwide as the title character proves everyone wrong and becomes the Hokage of the Leaf Village. This story is a slow burn that builds to a satisfying conclusion, with hardcore fans finding more to love about this series with the sequel, Boruto.

Although the anime adaptation is faithful to the manga in most respects, there are a few changes between the two versions. Naruto which is worth highlighting. Some of these changes were for the better, while others left fans confused.

8 Genin are introduced more naturally in the Manga

The introduction of some characters happens later

The manga introduces Naruto's classmates very early on, making it more natural to introduce them in later arcs. However, the anime decides to speed up these introductions so that fans are not overwhelmed by the wealth of new characters at the beginning of this series.

This could be a great or bad decision depending on the fan's perspective. Of course, it was easier to remember the characters with these elaborate introductions, but it left viewers confused about the depth of the bond Naruto shared with his classmates.

7 The Chidori should surround the arm with lightning

It creates a ball of lightning in the cartoon to match the rasengan

• Appears on:Naruto & Naruto: Shippuden

Chidori is one of the most beautiful techniques Narutocollide with the Rasengan again and again in the series. The ball of lightning that the ninja carried in his hand seemed to be a perfect match for the spinning ball of energy in Naruto's patented technique.

However, the manga's rendition of Chidori has a distinct difference. Instead of just being a ball of lightning, this technique coats the user's arm with this jutsu, allowing them to hit enemies with powerful energy for devastating results.

6 Tenten and Temari's Battle is more detailed in the Anime

The Manga puts this fight on the backburner as Ino and Sakura have a conversation

After fighting with Sakura and Ino and both failing the Chunin exams, they share a heart to heart while Temari and Tenten start the fight. In the manga, this story is so important that readers don't even see the final battle of the Chunin Exams.

The anime didn't need to limit itself to just one scene, however, and staged this fight, explaining how Temari was able to take down Tenten with ease. It's a good introduction that guarantees every fight Naruto feel important, even if few take more screen time.

5 Team Guy gets a rare chance to shine during the Rescue Kazekage Arc in the Anime

The scene where they fight is completely original

• Appears on:Naruto: Shippuden

After the passage of time, manga readers were saddened to see that Team Guy was pushed to the sidelines and didn't get a chance to shine. The anime attempts to rectify this by introducing an early fight during Kazekage Rescue, although the impact of this scene has been debated.

Guy's team ends up fighting them when they try to remove a seal, with the battle seemingly unwinnable until the group realizes they need to be better than before in order to to get the same enemy. It might sound a little silly, but fans will appreciate it if it means players like Neji and Lee get a bonus.

It's a great way to give more value to Shikamaru's character

In the manga, Shikamaru is promoted to Chunin behind the scenes while Naruto is busy looking 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 captured by Orochimaru's soldiers, 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 more impactful.

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

One of the best introductions to Adaptation

• Appears on:Naruto: Shippuden

the Naruto the adaptation has been repeatedly criticized for relying too much on pointless filler. However, this does not mean that the anime did not have the opportunity to add some important scenes when the situation demanded it.

This is what happened when Shikamaru fell before his father after Asuma's death, before he experienced a strategic breakthrough that wanted him to lead an effort to avenge Sensei's death. A powerful show that feels right at home with Narutoand most fans were surprised to find that this entire series was an anime introduction only.

2 Sakura shows concern in the Manga when Naruto struggles with the written exam

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

It's easy to see why some Naruto Viewers are not really fans of Sakura's character. It doesn't help that the anime changes his mood in critical areas, making him even more despicable to his haters.

As Naruto struggles with the written exam, Sakura worries about her team members and wonders how they can pass such a tough test. However, the anime turns Sakura into an insufferable character who laughs at Naruto's plight and secretly hopes he fails.

1 Naruto taught Konohamaru the Rasengan before the time lapse

In the Anime, Naruto and Konohamaru are old when the latter is taught this move

• Appears on:Naruto: Shippuden

Konohamaru didn't get much screen time after the time lapse, so fans were happy to see him become relevant again after he used a Rasengan to take down one of Pain's bodies. The timeline of when he discovers his Rasengan transformation is different from the manga and anime.

The manga explains that Naruto taught Konohamaru the Rasengan before he left with Jiraiya before the time lapse. Meanwhile, the animation makes it clear that both characters are old when they start training, making small but noticeable changes.

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  Naruto: Shippuden

  Date of publication

  February 15, 2007

  season

  22

  Studio

  Pierrot

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  Naruto

  Date of publication

  October 2, 2002

  season

  5

  Studio

  Pierrot