Summary
Narutois filled to the brim withadult role modelsthat people can look up to. Characters like Iruka, Jiraiya, and Kakashi are just a few of the many father figures who managed to embody this dad energy even though they never had children of their own.
Of course, there are more than enoughNarutocharacters who are excellent fathers in their own right. Despite their missteps, these dads did everything in their power to ensure that their children grew up to become competent and respectable shinobi.
Characters will be ranked based on their paternal instincts and how involved they were in their children’s lives.
8Hagoromo Otsutsuki
Tried To Be Fair With His Sons But Accidentally Kickstarted A Generational Rivalry Instead
The Sage of the Six Pathsmay be a legend, but this shinobi can’t help but blame himself for one major misstep. After seeing the attitudes of both Indra and Asura, he decided to bequeath his teachings to his younger son instead.
He planned to hammer in the importance of hard work and companionship, but this backfired when Indra took offense at being looked over. This kickstarted a war between siblings that has lasted for generations, with his sons being reincarnated as legendary figures who were destined to battle each other to the death every time.
7Sakumo Hatake
Kakashi Idolized His Father Before The White Fang Was Vilified By Konoha
Kakashi always looked up to his father, but there was a time when he actively went against his father’s ninja way. However, a rousing speech from Obito knocked some sense into him, making him realize that the White Fang was a shinobi worth his weight in gold who didn’t deserve to be treated like a villain for prioritizing his ninja comrades over the mission.
It’s a shame that the White Fang took his life after losing his way, with his regret causing him to be stuck in purgatory. It’s not until he gets to interact with his son in the afterlife that he can finally apologize for his actions, leading to a tearful reunion with his son for a fleeting moment before he can move on.
6Inoichi Yamanaka
The legendary Ino-Shika-Cho trio has lasted for generations, with the team of Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji being effective for all the right reasons. It helped that all three of them had wonderful father figures who looked out for them at all times.
Inoichi was a powerful member of the Yamanaka clan, whose skills were invaluable in delivering valuable intel and relaying critical information. It’s heartbreaking to see this man bid a tearful farewell to his daughter after the Ten-Tails launches a Tailed Beast Bomb at the intelligence headquarters.
5Choza Akimichi
Choji’s Supportive Father Helped Him Grow Into A Competent Warrior
Choji’s jovial attitude and love for food is something that has been passed down through the Akimichi clan. It helped that he looked up to his father, a lovable man who tried to be a stand-up dad.
He taught Choji the tricks of the trade and helped his son grow into a powerful shinobi. It’s a shame that Choji barely gets to shine inShippudensince he could’ve shown more of what his father taught him instead of just being relevant during a fight against a reincarnated Asuma.
4Gaara
Adopted A Son And Ensured That He Received All The Love And Care In The World
The sheer number of atrocities that Gaara faced during his childhood is heartbreaking, turning him into a psychotic and unfeeling bratbefore his encounter with Naruto. The battle against the protagonist cemented the importance of bonds in his heart, leading to his personality doing a 180 as he became one of the best heroes in the series.
He’s taken his lessons to heart as a father, with his adopted son, Shinki, receiving the love that Gaara had been missing all his life. This is why Shinki has grown up into a stand-up shinobi who looks up to his father and embodies the strength that Gaara boasted at his age.
3Minato Namikaze
Sacrificed Himself To Save Naruto But Managed To Meet His Son Even After His Demise
Despite dying on the very day that Naruto was born, Minato has done more than most fathers in the series. He implemented a safeguard on Naruto’s seal that caused him to appear when his son was about to let Kurama loose, leading to a reunion a long time in the making.
While he was punched by his son for being absent from his life, they eventually hugged and made amends as Minato reinforced how proud he was of Naruto. What made things better was thatNaruto got to interact with Minato during the Fourth Shinobi World Wartoo, allowing them to bond one final time before the Edo Tensei technique was finally reversed.
2Shikaku Nara
Helped Shikamaru Get Over His Trauma And Ensured That His Son Would Be A Stand-Up Shinobi
To this day, watching Shikamaru break down after Asuma’s death is a hard pill to swallow. However, fans were glad that this shinobi had a supportive father who strove to understand and support his son after this traumatic moment.
The game of shogi they played proved just how well Shikaku understood his son, giving him some breathing room to process his feelings. It was heartbreaking to see Shikaku bid farewell to his son moments before his demise at the hands of the Ten-Tails, but Shikamaru was able to do justice to his father’s sacrifice by assuming the role of the head of intelligence in no time. This showed how good a father Shikaku was, even if his son was frustratingly lazy as a child.
1Might Duy
Made The Importance Of Hard Work Clear To His Son Time And Time Again
Despite his debut coming at the tail end ofShippuden, Might Duy wasted no time in proving just how good a father he was. Despite being the Eternal Genin, he taught Might Guy everything he knew about taijutsu and sacrificed his life to protect his child.
The fact that Might Guy grew up to become a powerful sensei is a testament to how well his father raised him. Despite being a Genin, Might Duy’s immense taijutsu skills allowed him to take out four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist before he breathed his last.
