10 Major Plot Holes Naruto Left Open That We Need Answered ASAP
Naruto has garnered positive and constructive criticism throughout the years, with some fans praising its strengths in story-telling and others pointing out the filler episodes that many believe detract from the viewer's experience. Nevertheless, both sides of the debate can agree thatit is a classic and globally recognized series that has established a standard for many of its successors. The show's impact on the anime industry is undeniable, and its memorable characters, intense battles, and unique abilities have solidified its place in the hearts of fans. However, as a long-running series, Naruto has not been without its issues.
With its sprawling storyline, countless characters, and evolving power systems, plot holes became an inevitable problem that was often overlooked due to the show's hundreds of episodes. These inconsistencies have left fans questioning the smallest to the largest aspects of the series. While flashbacks and character development added layers to the narrative, they also introduced new complexities that didn’t always align with earlier or later events featured. Despite its legacy, Naruto still has major plot holes that remain unanswered, making it an intriguing subject of discussion among fans even today.
10 Kakashi's Age is Confusing
He Should Not Have Been Part of Team Minato with Rin and Obito
Kakashi Hatake is one of the series' most significant characters, serving as Naruto Uzumaki's sensei, Minato's student, the mentor of teams other than just Team 7, and the Sixth Hokage. He played a crucial role in shaping the story and fulfilling key plot points throughout the series. Aside from his signature mask that hides his face, Kakashi received little criticism as a character, with his compelling backstory and intense battles showcasing his true prowess. However, with his frequent appearances and major contributions to the plot, fans have noticed inconsistencies—particularly regarding his age.
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Kakashi was considered a genius who mastered incredible abilities, but his age appears to have been mixed up during the writing process. He was initially said to have become a Chunin at six years old, yet he's depicted in the same age bracket as his teammates, Rin and Obito, during their childhood. While the databook insists they were all the same, it contradicts key details in the story—since Obito should have become a Genin at nine. Being in the same team batch despite these discrepancies creates inconsistencies in the timeline of their youth, leaving fans questioning how they truly align.
9 Itachi’s Age and the Akatsuki Timeline
Kisame May Have Mixed Up His Numbers, Causing Inconsistencies
Itachi Uchiha was introduced as a once-in-a-lifetime genius, but unlike Kakashi, his path was shaped by tragic circumstances. Forced to betray his own clan, he assassinated his parents, causing a rift between him and his younger brother, and joined the infamous villain group, the Akatsuki. These events unfolded while he was still young, leading fans to notice inconsistencies in his timeline. One of the biggest contradictions comes from Kisame, Itachi’s Akatsuki partner, who mentioned that ten years ago Orochimaru left the group after being defeated by Itachi.
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If this timeline were accurate, Itachi would have been only 11 years old when he joined the Akatsuki, which contradicts the established canon that he massacred the Uchiha clan at 13 and joined the group afterward. This discrepancy makes Kisame’s statement inaccurate unless the "ten years" was a writing oversight or an exaggeration. To align with the correct timeline, the time frame should have been adjusted, or Kisame’s recollection should have been clarified if not stated to be factually incorrect. This inconsistency remains one of the notable errors regarding Itachi’s history in Naruto.
8 Konohamaru’s Accurate Transformation of Post-Timeskip Sasuke
He Was Only Close to Naruto and Sakura, Not Sasuke
Konohamaru, grandson of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, may have claimed to be Naruto’s rival, but he was more like a younger brother to him. His role in the series was not particularly deep, as he was mostly featured during lighthearted moments, often challenging Naruto to duels or competing over their Ero Jutsu skills. While Konohamaru’s appearances were mostly comedic, fans still noticed an issue regarding his knowledge of certain characters. One notable contradiction arises in his interactions with Team 7.
Recall that Konohamaru was close to Naruto and had interacted with Sakura, yet he never met or spoke with Sasuke before he left the village to become a rogue ninja. This inconsistency became evident when the young protege used the Transformation Jutsu to replicate Sasuke’s form. The jutsu requires a solid visual reference of the person being copied, yet Konohamaru transformed into the rogue's post-time skip appearance—despite no known opportunity to have seen him.
How Sasuke looked after the time skip was not common knowledge, as he had been absent from the village for years at this point, and no one had encountered him until Naruto’s new Team 7 finally met him at Orochimaru’s lair. This raises the question of how Konohamaru knew Sasuke’s exact appearance, making it one of the minor but noticeable inconsistencies in the series.
7 Hashirama's Comment on Sakura's Strength
The First Hokage Believed Sakura Uchiha Surpassed Tsunade Senju
Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage and founder of Konoha, is also the grandfather of the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju. However, he was never a direct influence in her life, as he passed away long before she became the legendary ninja she is known as today. Based on the timeline presented in Naruto, Hashirama would have only seen Tsunade’s potential when she was still a child. Yet, an interesting inconsistency arises during the Fourth Great Ninja War, where his knowledge of her strength is brought into question.
In Naruto: Shippuden Episode #373, during the war, Hashirama was reanimated by Orochimaru and aided the Allied Shinobi Forces. This was also the moment when the original Team 7 reunited, and Sakura demonstrated her immense abilities using the Strength of a Hundred Seal Jutsu. Upon witnessing this, Hashirama remarked that Sakura might even surpass Tsunade in strength. However, this comparison seems questionable, as Hashirama was never alive to witness his granddaughter in combat, making his statement feel like an oversight in the writing.
6 Obito Surviving After Being Fatally Crushed by a Rock
Madara Uchiha Saves Obito Even Without Medical Ninjutsu
All along, Kakashi believed that Obito had died in the accident, unaware that Madara Uchiha, along with White Zetsu, had saved him. They treated his severe wounds, and after several days, Obito woke up, revived by the power of Hashirama's cells. Madara used his influence to graft these cells onto Obito's body, significantly enhancing his healing and stamina. However, the Hashirama cells are notoriously difficult to control, and it's established that only individuals with medical expertise like Tsunade have been shown to handle them effectively.
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The fact that Obito was able to withstand the grafting and not suffer from overwhelming side effects raises questions. Medical ninjutsu is usually needed to control the cells and ensure they don’t take a toll on the user’s body. Yet, Obito seemed to recover with little difficulty, which has led some fans to wonder how he managed the process without medical assistance. This might not be a direct plot hole, but the gap in explanation leaves a degree of ambiguity in Obito’s survival and the ease with which he adapted to the powerful cells along with Madara's expertise in medical ninjutsu.
5 Minato Not Recognizing Obito During Their Battle
He Failed to Recognize His Own Student’s Fighting Style
In another universe, Minato Namikaze could have had a deeply emotional and tragic reunion with Obito, if only he had recognized him. Minato, the Fourth Hokage, was not only a mentor to Kakashi, Rin, and Obito but also shared a bond with them similar to that of Team 7. However, their paths took a tragic turn after Rin's death, and presumably Obito’s, during the mission to save her. Now aligned with the enemy years later, he ends up fighting his former teacher during the Nine-Tails attack, with a much older appearance underneath his mask.
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Despite their shared past, Minato failed to recognize Obito during their battle. While Obito knew exactly who he was fighting, the Fourth Hokage's inability to identify his former student has been a point of contention among fans. Some argue that he should have recognized Obito’s fighting style, skills he may have taught or helped hone when Obito was still his student. This lack of recognition has puzzled viewers, but it could also be seen as a deliberate plot twist, intended to be revealed later in the series as a shocking revelation.
4 The Uchiha Massacre’s Lack of Intervention
Itachi Might Have Spared His Clan if the Situation Was Handled Differently
The annihilation of the Uchiha clan was one of the biggest twists in Naruto and served as a major driving force until the very end. While the Uchiha’s coup d'état was their own decision, some fans believe the situation could have been handled differently. The people of Konoha blamed the clan for the Nine-Tails' destructive attack, which ultimately led the village’s higher-ups—particularly Danzo Shimura and the Third Hokage—to see them as a threat. Instead of seeking negotiations, the drastic decision to entrust Itachi with the massacre forced him into a mission that destroyed his family and changed his life forever.
While the clan’s demise played a crucial role in shaping the story, especially in Sasuke’s character development, it wasn’t the most rational decision. Konoha had a strong military structure with the ANBU and several formidable clans, yet the village higher-ups chose to handle the issue internally rather than seeking alternative resolutions. Given that the Uchiha's were one of Konoha’s most powerful clans, their complete eradication without any form of compromise seems extremely unrealistic. Fugaku Uchiha, the clan leader, was not a man driven by violence, and if proper communication had taken place, a less tragic outcome might have been possible.
3 Kakashi Forgetting the Shadow Clone Jutsu
Kakashi’s Inconsistent Reaction to Naruto’s Shadow Clone Jutsu
Kakashi Hatake has always been recognized as one of the Hidden Leaf Village's greatest prodigies, thanks to his exceptional skills and ability to master various techniques at a young age. In Naruto episode #4, during the bell test with Team 7, Kakashi was visibly surprised when Naruto successfully used the Shadow Clone Jutsu, a technique categorized as forbidden. This reaction highlighted Naruto's unexpected potential, as it was acknowledged by an exceptional ninja. However, the series later revealed that Kakashi had already mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu at the age of 13 during the Third Great Ninja War.
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This revelation made many fans question the inconsistency in Kakashi's knowledge and experience, as his surprise at Naruto’s use of the technique contradicted his past abilities. Given his expertise, it seemed unlikely that he would be so taken aback by Naruto's mastery of the jutsu. Some argue that his reaction was more about Naruto's growth rather than the technique itself. However, it remains a hot topic still debated among fans, as it challenges the continuity of Kakashi’s established skills.
2 Jiraiya’s Delayed Recognition of Naruto Uzumaki
He Did Not Entirely Fulfill His Duty as a Godfather
Jiraiya was one of the closest people to Naruto’s parents, Minato and Kushina. As Minato’s teacher and a trusted figure in their lives, he was not only a mentor but also Naruto’s godfather. However, after the tragic death of Naruto’s parents left him orphaned, Jiraiya was noticeably absent from his life. It wasn’t until Naruto was around 12 to 13 years old that Jiraiya finally stepped in, raising questions about why he had been missing for so long.
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Since Jiraiya became a father figure to Naruto, it was strange why he was never there for his late student’s only child in the first place. Some fans would argue that the plot hole lies in the Sannin’s inability to recognize Naruto when they first met, though this could have been an intentional act on his part. The franchise needs to take accountability for Jiraiya, who has been confirmed to have deep connections to Minato and Kushina, not taking a more active role in Naruto’s upbringing. Instead, he left the young protagonist to endure years of loneliness and hardship.
1 The Uzumaki Clan’s Absence in Naruto’s Life
The Clan Was Greatly Unexplored in the Series
The Uzumaki clan was not originally from the Hidden Leaf Village, yet some of its most vital members—Mito, Kushina, and later, Naruto —grew up there. While fans know that the once-prominent clan from Uzushiogakure eventually fell, leading to the decline of many members, a few surviving Uzumakis, such as Nagato and Karin, were introduced in the series. This suggests that there are still scattered members of the clan, though their existence was never fully explored. Despite the clan’s famed sealing techniques and remarkable life force, their village was destroyed, leaving only a handful of survivors.
Given Naruto’s status as an Uzumaki, it is surprising that no other members sought to guide him, and instead, both Nagato and Karin became his opponents at different points. Some fans question why the clan’s legacy was not revived, especially with Naruto’s influence and growing power. One possible explanation is that the survivors were too young when the clan fell, leaving them unaware of its true significance. As a result, their patriotism faded over time, leading the story to largely move past the Uzumaki legacy rather than making it a central theme.
- Latest Film
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- First TV Show
- Naruto
- Latest TV Show
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
- First Episode Air Date
- October 3, 2002
- Cast
- Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei
