Summary
Pick a side, as it’s time to fan the flames of theNarutofandom! One of the OG “Big 3” manga,Narutoset the benchmark for the typical shonen protagonist. Kishimoto’s less-than-desirable handling of most of the large cast in his definitive manga is a touchy subject. Awesome side characters were hardly featured, while the majority of the focus shifted to Naruto’s rival, Sasuke.
This rivalry was pretty much the heart of the entire series. Their interactions weren’t just comedic, they had plenty of emotionally charged moments too. And let’s not forget the insane power-ups they gained just by pushing each other to the limit. That said, there were certain things one could do that the other couldn’t. Since Naruto was the main character, fans mostly saw things from his perspective. Fortunately, Sasuke was no weakling.
1The Try-Hard Tough Guy Act
Sasuke’s Composed, Distant, And Silent Nature Was A Major Draw
Way back when the manga was ongoing — no,Borutodoesn’t count —Narutohad a colorful cast of characters. Naruto himself was a loudmouth, brash, and often clumsy little brat. In fact, Kakashi, his mentor, described Naruto as “the number one hyperactive, knuckle-headed ninja of the leaf.” Compare that with Sasuke’s cold, calm, and often rude persona, and the difference is night and day.
Sasuke’s stoic demeanor was a result of self-imposed restraint to avoid forming bonds with others. Sasuke believed that emotional attachments were only going to slow him down on his path to achieving strength. It’s something Naruto couldn’t even fathom, let alone do. But for Sasuke, it was second nature, and he did it unapologetically.
2Precision & Finesse
The Level Of Control And Elegance In His Physical Movement And Chakra Control
Unlike Sasuke, Naruto was not a prodigy. This fact becomes abundantly clear when the two get paired with Sakura as part of Team 7 for their training. Naruto’s chakramanipulation and understanding of ninjutsu(and its application) often required strenuous training and unconventional methods. These moments made for quirky antics and satisfying payoffs for Naruto, but they also highlighted how talented Sasuke was.
Sasuke shined from the start! It took him no time to master the Chidori, the cursed mark, or the Sharingan. Sasuke’s movements were precise and fast, and his tactical thinking allowed him to stay ten steps ahead. For evidence, just look at how he outsmarted everyone coming after him post-time skip. Sasuke’s display of skill at such a high level is something Naruto could never match.
3The Rebel Lifestyle
Leaving The Hidden Leaf Village Was No Small Feat, And Naruto Would Never Do It
Naruto spent the entirety of the manga fostering bonds with everyone around him in the hidden leaf village — including Sasuke — even though a lot of them didn’t like him. Anddespite their odd rivalry-friendship dynamic, Naruto had come to cherish the memories with Sasuke (some would say, to a very extreme point). So, when Sasuke did the unthinkable and abandoned his village to pursue power, it left fans shocked. Naruto wouldn’t be caught dead doing such a thing.
Sasuke did it coldly and left without a warning. He severed his ties with everyone in one fell swoop without batting an eyelash. Orochimaru may indeed have acted as a catalyst, but it was entirely Sasuke who made the jump to the dark side.
4Manipulate Others Selfishly
Sasuke’s Self-Serving Single-Mindedness Often Put His Taka Comrades In Danger
With the pursuit of power and vengeance overcoming all other rationales, Sasuke ironically became simple-minded like Naruto. However, the key difference is that Naruto’s obsession stemmed from his pure and bleeding heart. He wanted his friend back, no matter what. For Sasuke, anunhinged and cold-blooded desire for revenge spurred him on. To that end, Sasuke, after obliterating Orochimaru, forms his own posse, the Taka.
Sasuke selfishly manipulated the members of Taka just to further his own goals without any care for their wellbeing. He kept preying on Karin’s crush on him and just kept her around for her healing ability. Jugo held Sasuke in childishly obsessive high regard, and Sasuke didn’t hesitate to use his destructive power for his gain. Jugo was nothing more than a distraction or shield for Sasuke. Naruto, unlike Sasuke, wouldn’t even dream of doing such shrewd things to his comrades.
5Fight The Five Kages
One Of The Most Awesome Moments In The Series That Won’t Be Duplicated
Fans love epic showdowns inNaruto, and it is a magnificent spectacle whenever powerful shinobi clash. Among its many battles, one of itsmost fan-favorite bouts is the Sasukevs. the Five Kages. The rebel ninja —- he’s a super saiyan at this point —- basically overpowered and outwitted all five leaders of the hidden villages individually. He essentially just wielded Susanoo’s power and was pretty much fully aware that it was his plot armor at this point.
Naruto also had several upgrades by this point in the story, including his mastery of Sage mode. Theoretically, Naruto could have matched Sasuke’s feat, but he would never have fought his allies and friends. So, out of principle, Naruto would never scrap with the five Kages and best them like Sasuke — even though he totally could.
6Technically Defeat Itachi Uchiha
Kind Of Stretching It, But It Is Something Only Sasuke Did And Not Naruto
One of the most compelling characters inNarutois that of Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke’s elder brother. Initially, Sasuke blamed Itachi for the massacre of the clan, which was the primary motivation for his revenge. Later, it was revealed that Itachi’s actions were based on the orders of the village Elders. Nonetheless, Sasuke managed to achieve the level of power he felt was enough to kill Itachi. The two brothers clashed, and… Sasuke came out as the victor. That’s the official version.
In truth, Itachi was handicapped and physically ill when the two fought, and he still managed to throw Sasuke around. This is a scary thought, as until then, Sasuke had outclassed everyone he fought. After Itachi succumbed to his condition, he technically made Sasuke the winner of the fight. It is an extremely rare achievement that no one will ever achieve, including Naruto.
7Mastery Of His Kekkai Genkai
Base, Mangekyou, Eternal Sharingan, Rinnegan, Indra’s Lineage
Sasuke’s Uchiha bloodline has overpowered abilitiesthat are exclusively tied to the lineage. There’s the simple base sharingan to its evolved version, the Mangekyou Sharingan, and its final form, the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. All three are accompanied by a host of other powerful jutsus like the Amaterasu, the Susanoo, and the Tsukyoumi. As if those weren’t enough, Sasuke gets even more souped up on power thanks to the Rinnegan.
The power-up party enters the grand finale with the bombshell that Sasuke is a descendant of the elder son of the Sage of the Six Paths, Indra Otsutsuki. Sasuke has the ultimate destruction jutsu, Indra’s Arrow. Neither Naruto nor anyone else can use these abilities –– it’s the Sasuke show, basically.
8Marry Sakura
Sasuke Got The One That Got Away From Naruto, Kind Of
Naruto’s first love, or crush, however fans wish to call it, was Sakura. Don’t shoot the messenger for simply stating the facts! Hinata was his destined love, but Naruto was head over heels for Sakura. It was one-sided, though, as Sakura held similar feelings for Sasuke, but Mr. I’m-too-good-for-you didn’t reciprocate these feelings. It was aweird infatuation triangle going on, but ultimately — much to the dismay of NaruSaku shippers — Sasuke was the one who got Sakura.
Naruto comes to terms later on that Sakura wasn’t the one for him, especially after Hinata’s beautiful confession. With Sasuke and Sakura now hitched, it’s now impossible for other ships to happen, including the one with Naruto.
