Naruto Really Robbed Us of One of Konoha's Best Ninja, And I Will Never Get Over It

The Naruto franchise is home to some of the most powerful ninjas in history. The abilities and strength demonstrated by characters like the titular protagonist, Sasuke, or Kakashi, have turned them into icons of anime. Yet, fans are aware that many of the most intriguing cast members were not given the spotlight they deserved.

One of the best examples of this is Genma Shiranui, who is by far one of the most interesting side characters in the series. Despite his extremely brief screen time, this elite warrior proved himself to be one of Naruto’s cast members with the most potential. It is a true shame that he was not allowed to shine at his full potential throughout the series.

Genma Was Among Konoha’s Strongest

His Abilities Made Him Stronger Than Many Main Characters

A former member of Choza Akemichi’s team and one of the Special Jonin of Konoha, Genma was a minor side character who made several appearances in Naruto. While not on the same level as some of the best characters, like Mighty Guy, who used to be his teammate, he was by no means a weak fighter. Little is known about Genma’s early life as a ninja, aside from what team he was a part of, but he was a valuable asset to the Hidden Leaf Village.

When captured birds grow wiser, they try to open the cage with their beaks. They don't give up, because they want to fly again.
-Genma Shiranui.

According to the official Naruto guidebook, Shiranui completed over 900 missions, being one of the few characters with such an impressive record. He is a masterful fighter and tactician, able to fight against imposing characters like Orochimaru’s guards, and the Sound Four. His physical strength is also far superior to most other characters, as proven by the fact that he can spit a senbon with enough force to redirect a kunai that was launched by hand. This is a monumental task that many of the shinobi alive would not be able to achieve.

Most impressive of all was his role as one of Minato’s elite guards, always ready to help the Fourth Hokage in case of an enemy attack. He is one of the few characters in the entire franchise to learn a version of one of the strongest Jutsu in the series, the Flying Thunder God Technique. Although Genma did prove to be a proficient fighter during the few battles he was a part of during the series, his contributions did not allow fans to see the true level of such an elite fighter.

Genma’s Skills Could Have Been Much Better Utilized

Such an Interesting Character Deserved More Screen Time

Konoha's Special Mission Platoon, composed of Genma, Raido, Iwasi, and Shizune.

Even though an argument can be made about Genma not being as powerful as iconic characters like Naruto or Kakashi, the series does hint at him being among Konoha’s best. Before becoming the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze acquired a long list of enemies who resented his actions during the Third Great Ninja War. The fear of him and his family becoming targets of one of these impressive opponents was so great, that even after his death the truth about Naruto being his son was kept hidden. The ninjas selected as their guards should be among the strongest the village had to offer.

Genma being one of them hints at him being at least capable of holding these enemies down while the Fourth Hokage and his family were evacuated. This is no small task, as Naruto fans know that the strongest villains in the series could defeat any average shinobi without breaking a sweat. Lamentably, Genma was never given a true opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, as besides his battle against the Sound Four, he was not relevant in almost any other important battle.

Genma’s Existence Helped the Naruto World Feel Alive

Although Disappointing, His Lack of Relevance Is Realistic

Genma during a fight, spitting a senbon with impressive strenght.

Besides Genma, the Naruto series has a long list of amazing characters who could have been greatly helped by a little more screen time. Due to its extensive cast, there would have been no way for the series to give all its complex and enticing ninjas the same amount of attention. While this might be disappointing for viewers, it does help the world feel realistic. Having other powerful warriors work in the background as the protagonists make the plot move along proves that there is much more to Naruto’s universe than what fans see.

Genma might not have the level of recognition such an incredible character deserves, but his presence in the Naruto franchise greatly helped the series. Nevertheless, there is no denying that many fans would love to know more about his story and adventures in a future spin-off.