- I have picked characters based on characterization -
- Sasuke - I don't think I need to justify my choice here. Sasuke has everything in terms of depth and complexity that Naruto has always lacked. His idealism is ethereal and doesn't make him look any less of a petulant fool.
- Madara - He is a very interesting character. It's only now after facing Hashirama that Kishimoto decided to ruin his character completely. He is a man who lost everything in life - honour, family, clan. They ousted him, Tobirama killed his last surviving brother, and he was made into a villain by the Senju themselves.
His harshly ironic fate is poetically rueful and gives one a clear perspective into Senju's dodgy and utterly cruel political dealings - all benighted by the equally wanton 'Will of Fire' generational message and the overall political infrastructure. It's a shame this author NEVER bothered himself to explore this. The manga clearly displayed not long ago, this hideous side of Senju Love that I for one, never ignored. Again, truly a shame. Madara is just one of the many things completely side-lined in the manga.
Hashirama is ... let's just say he's a chimp on acid. Stupid through and through. Not all that different from Naruto. In fact, he's a million times worse. At least despite his idealism, Naruto has stood by his friend. I cannot even remotely suggest the same for Hashriama who allowed who handpicked his brother for Hokage seat and killed democracy there and then. I wonder who are truly responsible for this mess.
- I absolutely loathe Minato. The guy is basically a paper clip with literally no characterization t0 back up his horrendously stale and rubbish personality. This 'personality' and 'character' are empty terms if one even tries to create some kind of dichotomy between them. He personally grates with me and is stupendously laughable as far as depth goes - that cannot be deeper than a cat taking a piss on the pavement.
Itachi is at least, marginally bearable. As he has that psychotic jingoistic personality to back up his actions. Albeit his entire fate is beyond mercy, even he isn't as laughably poor as Minato.
- Hinata and Sakura are equally worse. I cannot decide who is more poor as a character. They have literally no core or independent personality and Christ Almighty, Hinata still stutters. Sakura still blushes for some odd reasons and her own self-created one-sided adoration for a man, who never even once thought about taking this Rigor-Mortis out of her life or existence. Corpses, both of them. Throw in Ino and Tenten ... and we have a set of 'Useless Females' complete.
- I cannot decide between Sasori and Deidara. But if I delve a little, Sasori's characterization is quite meticulous and brilliant. I mean, he's an alive immortal man within a dead doll - a lifeless object holds a living being. It reminds me of Ghost in the Shell a bit, even though the overall connotations in both of these stories are quite different. I pick Sasori. As far as characterization goes, he beats the entire Akatsuki bar Nagato.
