Narutois an anime that doesn’t just thrive on epic battles and intense power-ups but has built up a lasting fandom through its heartbreaking and well-written backstories, as well as character growth that is rarely seen in other anime. The series remains one of the longest-standing and best classics, largely due to its strong characters and compelling storylines. However, despite its many accomplishments,Narutois not without its flaws. While the shōnen is packed with thrilling action and memorable characters, it also includes moments that were harder to watch than others.
AlthoughNarutofeatures some of the most powerful and iconic fighters in anime,it also embraces lighthearted comedic moments that bring balance to the series. For some viewers, these humorous instances provide relief, but for others, certain moments go a bit too far, crossing the line from funny to cringeworthy. Despite its greatness,Narutohas moments that still make everyone cringe, even years after its release.
10Hashirama Telling Madara to “Wait” During the Fourth Great Ninja War
Naruto: Shippuden Episode #372 and 374
Narutois filled with rivalries that elevate the storyline, and it’s not just Naruto and Sasuke’s long-standing feud that keeps fans invested. Even side characters have their own rivalries, each fueled by personal motivations to survive and grow stronger. One of the most legendary rivalries is between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, the founders of Konoha. The two powerful shinobi grew up together, dreaming of peace as best friends, but their opposing clans ultimately tore them apart, leading to one of the most tragic yet iconic conflicts in the series.
Who Is Naruto’s Strongest Villain, Madara or Kaguya?
Naruto boasts many memorable villains throughout its franchise run, but two of its final villains, Madara and Kaguya, can spark debates.
Though Hashirama seemingly defeated Madara in their final battle, the Uchiha secretly survived by faking his death and using Hashirama’s cells to extend his life. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Orochimaru reanimated the previous Hokages, allowing Madara and Hashirama to face each other once again. However, instead of an immediate showdown, Hashirama told Madara to “wait”, completely shutting him down mid-battle inNaruto: Shippudenepisode #372.
The moment was both hilarious and embarrassing for Madara, who had spent years preparing for this rematch only to be dismissed so casually. Madara’s reaction—calling it “Classic Hashirama”—only made the moment funnier. Even in episode #374, when Hashirama was too busy saving the Allied Shinobi Forces, he sent his clone to fight Madara instead, further frustrating him, proving that even themost fearsome villain couldn’t escape being sidelinedby his former friend.
9Sasuke Boldly Declaring He Wants to Be the Next Hokage
Naruto: Shippuden Episode #372
Naruto: Shippudenepisode #372 marked the long-awaited return of Team 7, delivering one of the most epic scenes in the series. This episode highlighted the complex relationship between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—a trio whose connection has evolved over the years. While the main storyline had focused on Naruto and Sakura’s shared mission to bring Sasuke back after he left to become a rogue ninja, the deeper, individual growth of both Naruto and Sakura eventually led them to confront Sasuke’s heinous actions. At one point, Sakura even considered taking Sasuke’s life before the start of the Fourth Great Ninja War, showing how far their relationships had come and how conflicted their feelings were.
Sorry, Naruto, But Sasuke Is the Hidden Leaf’s Most Knuckleheaded Ninja
Even though Naruto has his moments, Sasuke constantly puts himself in danger throughout the series
The intensity of their reunion, however, took an unexpectedly embarrassing turn when Sasuke boldly declared his intention to become the next Hokage. Sasuke stunned everyone, including his friends Kiba, Ino, Choji, Shino, and Shikamaru, who couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of his goal. The awkwardness of the moment was evident, as Sasuke’s once-declared path of destruction now seemed out of place amid the lighthearted responses of his friends. While Naruto, having understood the true weight of Sasuke’s intentions through Itachi’s final words, took his declaration seriously, it was hard not to cringe at how out of touch Sasuke seemed with the others’ reactions, making the moment both embarrassing and humorous.
8Kiba Thinking He Could Rival Naruto for Hokage (When No One Cared)
Kiba has always been one of the funniest characters inNaruto, bringing a lighter tone to intense moments with his snarky remarks that barely conceal his soft-hearted nature. As part of Team 8 alongside Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame, with Kurenai as their mentor, he carried himself with an inflated ego, especially in the early parts of the series. While he never stood out in terms of sheer strength like Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, or Shikamaru Nara, his headstrong attitude, deep connection with his clan, and bond with Akamaru still made him a beloved character. However, his confidence sometimes went overboard, and despite anyone having the right to dream of becoming Hokage, Kiba was just never taken seriously.
Boruto: 13 Things Fans Don’t Know About Kiba
Like many past-generation ninja, Kiba’s moved forward with his life. Between his girlfriend, dogs, and police work, he’s a very busy man in Boruto.
Kiba had once declared his desire to become Hokage earlier in the series, butit became even more embarrassing when he repeated the same ambition during the Fourth Great Ninja War. InNaruto: ShippudenEpisode 372, while Sasuke’s sudden declaration to become Hokage was shocking, Kiba’s was downright humiliating—especially because Shino instantly shut him down. Without hesitation, Shino dismissed Kiba’s dream, making it painfully clear that nobody cared, especially after Sasuke’s dramatic return and bold statement about becoming Hokage. The scene was hilariously awkward, serving as an unexpected comedic break amid the war’s intense battles and emotional revelations.
7Itachi Casually Catching Sasuke’s Full-Speed Chidori After His Dramatic Speech
Naruto Episode #84
Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha have always shared a complex relationship, especially after the annihilation of their entire clan, which shattered their bond as siblings. Before the tragedy, Sasuke idolized his older brother; however, Itachi’s mission to eliminate their clan, including their parents, left Sasuke orphaned and full of hatred. Despite forming friendships with Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi, Sasuke’s sole focus remained on avenging his family, leading him down the path of a rogue ninja.His desire for revenge overshadowed everything else, pushing him further into isolation.
InNarutoEpisode 84, Itachi and Kisame were on a mission to capture Naruto as part of the Akatsuki’s plan, but things took an unexpected turn when Sasuke suddenly appeared, determined to avenge his clan. Before attacking with his iconic Chidori, Sasuke delivered a dramatic speech, but instead of being an epic showdown, the moment felt embarrassingly one-sided. His overconfidence made it cringe-worthy to watch, as he completely underestimated Itachi, who effortlessly deflected his attack. If not for Jiraiya’s intervention, both Naruto and Sasuke could have landed themselves in even bigger trouble.
6Sakura’s Cringe-Worthy Confession of Love to Naruto
Naruto: Shippuden Episode #209
Naruto and Sakura have always been each other’s greatest friends, especially after Sasuke left the village. They not only grew stronger individually but also became closer, yet their shared motivation to bring Sasuke back never wavered. However, Sakura eventually realized thatNaruto’s safety mattered more, leading her to fake a love confession in an attempt to stop him. Naruto had always been vocal about his feelings for Sakura, but she was too focused on Sasuke to acknowledge them, making the moment feel forced and awkward.
Naruto May Be Obsessed With Sasuke, But That’s Not Really His Best Friend
His bond with Sasuke may be Naruto’s most well-known friendship, but one other character supported Naruto through every high and low, without absence.
InNaruto: ShippudenEpisode 209, Sakura and their friends made a drastic decision to eliminate Sasuke when given the chance—excluding Naruto from the plan to prevent him from chasing after him.This moment only fueled more criticism of Sakura’s character, as even Naruto, Yamato, and Kakashi weren’t convinced by her actions. While her intentions were noble, her execution was so forced that it became more cringe-worthy than heartfelt. Instead of easing Naruto’s burden, the scene made things more uncomfortable, further proving that her attempt at deception was unconvincing from the start.
5Kurenai Making the Mistake of Using Genjutsu on Itachi
Naruto Episode #82
The Uchiha clan, known for their Sharingan, has always been recognized as the most skilled users of genjutsu, as their eyes enhance their abilities. Even after the annihilation of the Uchiha clan and Itachi’s defection, genjutsu remained a powerful tool in battle. Among Konoha’s strongest genjutsu specialists,Kurenai was hailed as the village’s most skilled user, a title that was not given lightly. However, while Kurenai did not participate in many major battles, the one fight she did engage in left a lasting impression—not because of her victory, but because of how one-sided it was.
Confident in her abilities, Kurenai boldly faced off against Itachi and Kisame alongside Asuma, believing her genjutsu could be effective. However, her technique failed miserably, asItachi effortlessly reversed the illusion back onto her, trapping her in her own genjutsu. What made this scene even more embarrassing was Itachi’s cold remark:“A genjutsu of that level doesn’t work on me.“In an instant, Kurenai’s reputation crumbled, and Kakashi had to step in to save her, making the whole moment as humiliating as it was unforgettable.
4Sakura Trying and Failing to Kill Sasuke With a Kunai
Naruto: Shippuden Episode #214
Sakura was always seen as someone who chased after Sasuke, but as she grew up, her priorities changed. She realized that protecting Naruto and doing her job as a ninja were more important, so she agreed to a plan to stop Sasuke. Just like when she faked a love confession to Naruto, inNaruto: Shippudenepisode #214, she tried to trick Sasuke too. She thought that pretending to join him would give her a chance to kill him, using only a poorly hidden kunai.
However, her plan was both embarrassing and useless. Sasuke was too smart to fall for it and quickly turned the situation against her. Thinking she could fool him with such a simple trick made the whole scene hard to watch. If it weren’t for Naruto saving her, Sakura would have been in grave danger, making this one of her most humiliating moments in the series.
3Naruto Defeating Kiba in the Most Disrespectful Way—With a Fart
Naruto Episode #45
Naruto and Kiba have always had a competitive relationship, especially during the Chunin Exams. Kiba was confident in his speed, strength, and partnership with Akamaru, making him believe he had the upper hand against Naruto. However, Naruto, often underestimated by his peers, managed to turn the fight around in the most unexpected and embarrassing way. Just as Kiba was about to land a decisive blow, Naruto accidentally farted in his face, catching him off guard and allowing Naruto to strike back.
Naruto’s New Sequel Gives A Fan-Favorite Character His Due
Thanks to Naruto’s sequel, Konoha’s Story, fans now know that Kiba’s skills with ninja hounds have actually earned him the recognition he deserves.
This moment became one of the most humiliating defeats inNaruto, makingKiba’s loss even harder to swallow. For someone as proud as Kiba, losing to Naruto—especially in such an absurd way—was a massive blow to his ego. The scene was both hilarious and secondhand embarrassing, proving thatNarutodidn’t always rely on power-ups or grand strategies to win. While it was far from a traditional victory, it was still an unforgettable moment that showcased Naruto’s unpredictability.
2Naruto Bowing to the Raikage to Save Sasuke
Naruto: Shippuden Episode #200
Naruto has always been willing to go to extreme lengths for Sasuke, but his actions inNaruto: Shippudenepisode #200 took things to a whole new level. In a desperate attempt to save Sasuke from execution, Naruto bowed to the Raikage—something completely out of character for someone as headstrong as him. The moment was painful to watch, not just because of Naruto’s humiliation, but because Sasuke, at that point, had done nothing to deserve such loyalty. He had already attacked Killer Bee, declared war on the Hidden Leaf, and was consumed by hatred, making Naruto’s plea seem hopeless and one-sided.
What made this even worse was how unaffected the Raikage was, brushing off Naruto’s request as if it meant nothing. Seeing Naruto, the boy who once swore to never give up, lower himself for someone who had long abandoned him felt frustrating. It was clear Sasuke wasn’t the same person Naruto once knew, and yet, Naruto still clung to the past. This moment didn’t just make him look desperate—it made it painfully obvious thathis loyalty to Sasuke was more of a burden than anything else,
Naruto: Shippuden Episode #153
InNaruto: Shippudenepisode #153, Kakashi’s struggle to read Jiraiya’s final message through the Icha Icha Tactics book was so embarrassing that it momentarily shifted the tone of the scene. Despite being known for constantly hiding behind his book, Kakashi couldn’t contain his flustered reactions to the inappropriate content of Jiraiya’s message.This hilarious moment was a brief distraction from the tragedy of Jiraiya’s death, making it seem like the weight of the moment had been forgotten for a second. It highlightedNaruto’s ability to inject humor, even in the darkest times, reminding us that a touch of comedy can ease the tension, even in sorrowful moments.
Face It: Naruto’s Greatest Duo Has Nothing to Do With Sasuke
The Naruto franchise features one of the most wholesome and amazing friendships in anime, and the series' protagonist is not even a part of it.
The awkwardness of Kakashi trying to read the message with a red face made viewers forget the seriousness of the situation, and his usual composure was thrown out the window. Seeing the usually calm and composedKakashi so embarrassedmade it even funnier, and the moment stuck with viewers. Naruto proved once again that, even in a world full of intense battles and heartbreak, there’s always room for a little lightheartedness. Kakashi’s reaction was a reminder thatNarutonever failed to balance humor with the gravity of the situation.
