15 Naruto Characters Who Deserved Their Own Mini-Arc

There are plenty of side characters in ‘Naruto’ and ‘Naruto Shippuden’ whose histories, clans, and specialties only show up in brief scenes before the story moves on. A focused mini-arc for each of them could have explored techniques, village politics, or past missions that shaped who they are today. These characters already connect to major events and teams throughout the series, so there is a lot of material sitting in plain sight. Here are twenty figures with backgrounds and ties that the main story only skims.

Shino Aburame

Shino comes from the Aburame clan of Konoha, a family known for symbiotic contracts with kikaichu insects. He competes in the Chunin Exams and joins several retrieval and escort missions where his tracking skills prove vital. The clan’s secret insect breeding and hive management traditions are mentioned but rarely shown in depth. His mentoring of younger students at the Academy further hints at responsibilities beyond front line missions.

Tenten

Tenten specializes in weapon summoning through scrolls and precision tools that appear in several battles. She trains under Might Guy alongside Rock Lee and Neji and participates in the Chunin Exams and the Fourth Great Ninja War. A weapons shop and research angle is implied by her arsenal but her sources and training methods are not detailed. Her encounters with legendary ninja tools during the war suggest knowledge that the story leaves unexplored.

Kiba Inuzuka

Kiba fights with his ninken partner Akamaru using combination transformations and enhanced senses. He represents the Inuzuka clan, a Konoha family that raises ninja dogs and practices teamwork based taijutsu. Missions like the Sasuke Retrieval showcase tracking and pursuit techniques that reflect clan traditions. The breeding, training, and selection of ninken for human partners are referenced without much explanation on screen.

Anko Mitarashi

Anko is a Tokubetsu Jonin who trained under Orochimaru and carries the remnants of his cursed seal research. She appears during the Chunin Exams and later during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Official records and interrogation scenes connect her to Konoha’s investigation of Orochimaru’s experiments. The transition from pupil to investigator and her role in monitoring forbidden jutsu remain mostly in background notes.

Yamato

Yamato is a former Root operative with Wood Release derived from Hashirama’s cells, which allows him to suppress tailed beast chakra. He serves as temporary captain of Team Kakashi and provides infrastructure support on missions using Wood Release techniques. His past under Danzo and the ANBU chain of command is acknowledged but only briefly. He later monitors Orochimaru and research sites, indicating ongoing duties that are not shown on screen.

Kurenai Yuhi

Kurenai leads Team 8 and is renowned for genjutsu expertise that rarely receives technical breakdowns in the series. Her relationship to the Sarutobi family through Asuma and their child places her at the center of village life. She appears during the Konoha Crush and later scenes but usually steps back from front line fighting. The Yuhi family background and advanced genjutsu training routines are referenced without detailed coverage.

Shizune

Shizune works as Tsunade’s aide and chief medic, coordinating hospital operations and field triage plans. She participates in examinations after the Konoha Crush and helps manage antidotes and supply chains. As acting leader during the Pain assault she oversees emergency response protocols. Her training lineage from Dan and Tsunade ties medical ninjutsu to Konoha policy in ways the series only summarizes.

Hanabi Hyuga

Hanabi is the younger sister of Hinata and a Byakugan prodigy within the Hyuga clan. She appears in family meetings that touch on the Main House and Branch House structure without full explanation. Her sparring and guard assignments suggest early leadership grooming. The clan’s internal instruction for Gentle Fist variations and clan succession procedures are shown only in short scenes.

Konohamaru Sarutobi

Konohamaru is the grandson of the Third Hokage and a student who emulates Naruto’s tactics. He forms the Konohamaru Corps with Moegi and Udon and later becomes a Jonin. His training in Rasengan and the development of leadership skills connect him to village administration. The shift from prankster to instructor and mission leader is noted but not followed step by step.

Temari

Temari represents Sunagakure and uses wind release with a war fan that demonstrates large scale battlefield control. She serves as an ambassador to Konoha and later marries into the Nara clan, linking two villages through diplomacy. Her tactical work during the Chunin Exams and the Fourth Great Ninja War shows experience with command roles. The political duties she balances between Suna and Konoha appear in passing without procedural detail.

Kankuro

Kankuro is a puppet master from Sunagakure who inherits and adapts Sasori’s designs after the rescue of Gaara. He leads squads in the Fourth Great Ninja War and coordinates countermeasures against poison and traps. His workshop practices, puppet maintenance, and collaboration with Suna engineers are implied in brief scenes. The exchange of techniques between Suna puppet users and allied forces remains largely off screen.

Shisui Uchiha

Shisui is known for mastery of Body Flicker and the Kotoamatsukami genjutsu, which has long cooldown restrictions. His friendship with Itachi and attempts to prevent clan conflict are documented through flashbacks. The circumstances of his eye removal and measures taken to protect the village appear in fragments. Uchiha policing duties and covert missions near the end of the clan’s tenure in Konoha are not fully chronicled.

Fugaku Uchiha

Fugaku serves as head of the Uchiha clan and a leader within the Konoha Military Police Force. He manages the clan’s response to surveillance and political isolation after the Nine Tails incident. Family scenes show him as a father to Itachi and Sasuke while balancing official responsibilities. The detailed operations of the Police Force and internal clan councils are noted but not depicted in full.

Karin

Karin is an Uzumaki with sensory abilities and advanced vitality who joins Sasuke during his independent missions. Her healing through bite marks and chakra detection range are described in tactical terms during combat. Records tie her past to Orochimaru’s facilities and to border security work. The history of Uzumaki survivors and their relocation paths appears only in short references.

Suigetsu Hozuki

Suigetsu hails from the Hozuki clan of the Hidden Mist and can liquefy his body for mobility and defense. He seeks the swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and travels with Sasuke in Taka. Family notes reference Mangetsu Hozuki and connections to Mist training regimens. The logistics of sword recovery and the politics of the Swordsmen lineage are not shown in sequence.

Share the characters you would add to this list in the comments and tell us why they should get the spotlight next.