Since Naruto's debut, the titular character has always remained at the top of popularity charts and is highly regarded as one of the most lovable anime protagonists. Popularity aside, Naruto Uzumaki's rival bests him in character development. From his very first scene, Sasuke Uchiha has remained the most critical source of drama, emotion, and relatable motivation that moves the plot forward.
With many titles attached to his name, Sasuke is introduced as a ninja prodigy, the sole survivor of the legendary Uchiha clan, and Naruto's biggest rival. With a great deal of intrigue, Sasuke at first appears to fit in the typical anime trope of rival to the main hero, but Sasuke proves over time to be so much more than that. With a role just as important as the protagonist and a remarkably crafted and believable personality, Sasuke shows the greatest depth, making him the best character.
Sasuke's Important Role
Early on, one of the biggest aspects of Sasuke's role is his Uchiha ancestry. The tragedy of the clan's massacre is not only the biggest motivation in shaping his character, but it is also a critical part of the plot. The Uchiha clan takes a significant role in shaping the lore and the plot of this anime. This clan's history dates all the way back to the start of the Ninja era and has ties to the wars and politics that have shaped the ninja world. Society's history of bloodshed is a key subject that ties full circle into the series' biggest theme; love versus hate. As one of the most powerful clans in history, the Uchiha have often leaned heavily on hatred to fuel their immense strength, but this doesn't make them the simple villains. Ironically enough, that hatred is often fueled by love, especially by the most powerful Uchiha.
As a member of such a critical and complicated group, Sasuke's role takes on the deeply complex history and philosophy of his clan. His and the Uchihas' hatred then becomes a symbol of the culmination of hatred fostered by the cruel ninja society. Serving the role of someone who continues the cycle of hatred, Sasuke is set on a dark path and guided by some of the worst enablers (i.e., Itachi Uchiha, Orochimaru, and Obito Uchiha). He could have easily been written as a villain right from the start, however, creator Masashi Kishimoto is clever in introducing Sasuke as a complicated hero who turns to darkness over time. Sasuke's example shows the gradual steps of how anyone without the right influence can become heartless and add to the cycle of hatred. If anything, this central focus of his character and the actions he takes to impact the plot makes him arguably a great protagonist, and although Naruto Uzumaki certainly becomes the character for everyone to follow, Sasuke doesn't make it easy for Naruto to maintain the spotlight.
Without question, Naruto has the key role of protagonist. His actions cause a change in everyone around him and he is still directly tied to many central aspects of the series – most notably as the bearer of the Kyuubi and with deep ties to the impactful Senju clan among other details. Naruto's journey toward becoming Hokage becomes tied with him making positive changes for the ninja society, one of the biggest changes is saving Sasuke from the fate of dying as a villain. In this way, Naruto's role is fairly to the point while Sasuke's is far more complex. The story gradually centers on Sasuke's character as the most important detail of the entire series. The question of Naruto saving Sasuke is at the crux of all the conflicts. This is why the battle between Naruto and Sasuke is so important and why it is saved for the end of Shippuden. In the end, even in Boruto, the most pressing detail is Sasuke's character journey.
A Carefully Crafted Character
Though there are some traits that Sasuke has always had, there is no way to simply describe his character. Unlike most fictional characters, Sasuke goes through a lot of extreme changes and, surprisingly, every version of his character is believable given his circumstances at the time. After his childhood trauma, Sasuke's brief time as an upbeat and optimistic character is swiftly over and he spends the next several years losing connections with others and falling deeper into his hatred. The first part of Naruto is marked by Sasuke's development from a hero to an anti-hero and reflects how the cycle of hatred begins, especially in someone who loves deeply and is greatly pained by grief. Shippuden reveals how one can be saved and how complicated that can be, posing as the protagonist Naruto's greatest challenge. Just as Sasuke appears to be beyond saving, Naruto proves that even the worst villains can be redeemed – though the emphasis is still on Sasuke's pivotal character.
Along Sasuke's journey, his fall from grace is understandable given his trauma, the manipulations by villains, and the mistakes of even the most noble heroes. This is not to say that a character has to turn to villainy to be considered well-written, it's more about how carefully the character's development is handled regardless of their moral alignment. There's no question of how great Naruto's character is or many of the other characters in the series. However, there is something impressive about how Sasuke's complex, layered, and fleshed-out personality is handled with care and deep thought, especially when it goes through so many changes. More than being a tragic character, there is a reason for this development that serves to build up a wholly relatable character and uphold the core themes of the overarching plot.
While there is a clear indicator of who the real hero is in Naruto, this is not just a series about that lead character. The series would never have been as impactful and successful with viewers without the tense balance of strength and emotion coming from both Naruto and Sasuke. That being said, while Naruto may best Sasuke in battle and in philosophy, Sasuke's centralized role and impressively crafted character make him win in the art of character writing. With deep complexities and a riveting story to unfold, Sasuke is essential as the best character in Naruto.