Naruto may be the most important character in the series Naruto, but that doesn’t mean the series isn’t chock-full of other amazing characters. From the Kage to the Shinobi Sensei and Naruto’s other classmates, Naruto is full of characters for all fans to fall in love with.
Even though Naruto takes up most of the spotlight, every once in a while, the side characters are given their moment to shine. Someone who may seem like comic relief at first but ends up doing a lot for the series is Choji Akimichi. He’s a character who loves food and can act like a scaredy-cat at times, but his big heart and will to help his friends makes him incredibly fun to root for.
10 He Helped Save Sakura Even though He Was Scared
Team Seven really struggled during the Chunin Exams. Not only were they forced to defend themselves against giant bugs and other creatures, but they were forced to fight one of the three Sannin Orochimaru. In the aftermath of that fight, both Sasuke and Naruto were out of commission, leaving Sakura to protect them but against a team of Sound Ninja. Luckily for her, Choji’s team appeared. He may have been less than willing to participate, but when push came to shove, he protected his friends in the best way he could and bought them the time Sasuke needed to wake up.
9 He Did His Best During the One-On-One Battles
While his best friend Shikamaru hates fighting because it’s “such a drag,” Choji hates conflict in general. When it was finally his turn to fight, he almost bowed out, but some encouragement from his teammates and his Sensei, Asuma, gave him the courage he needed. If he had fought anyone else, he might have won, especially with Ninjutsu as unique as his. However, his opponent proved too much for him and he eventually lost. Despite that, his match was fun to watch for fans of the series and definitely showed off how cool he is as a character.
8 The Sasuke Retrieval Arc Showed How Powerful He Is
What’s great about the Sasuke Retrieval Arc is that it gave some of the lesser-known side characters an opportunity to step into the spotlight. This is especially true for Choji, who really showed his stuff in his fight against Jirobo. Not only did fans learn more about his background and his Ninjutsu, but the fight revealed how loyal he is to his teammates.
On top of that, Choji was able to come out of his shell and show that he’s not just the fat comic relief after all. He is a powerful ninja who will risk it all to make sure his teammates succeed. Considering how epic a moment Choji’s fight was, it makes sense that his character would go on to inspire the creation of other characters like Fatgum from My Hero Academia.
7 His Struggles and Kind Heart Are Easy To Relate To
Choji’s character is a bit of a contradiction considering he’s a Shinobi and a pacifist at heart. Despite the fact that it takes him a lot to jump into a fight, he is a strong person who is perfectly suited to support his comrades. His kind heart makes him a more interesting character because he isn’t obsessed with power or getting stronger like some of the other characters in the series. He’s the most average compared to the other characters, but that ultimately makes him the easiest to relate to and the one character fans tend to root for the most.
6 He Is Incredibly Loyal To Shikamaru
It’s fun to watch the drama of Naruto’s rivalry with Sasuke, but sometimes, fans want to see two characters who are equals and share a strong bond. It’s obvious that Choji and Shikamaru share a deep connection that isn’t just about their clan’s connections to each other. During the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, Naruto and Kiba often questioned Shikamaru’s decisions while Choji fully trusted Shikamaru’s abilities. The level of loyalty Choji felt towards Shikamaru despite the situation really showed how cool of a character he is.
5 He Was Key In Sealing Away Asuma
The Fourth Great Shinobi Was hard for everyone, but it was especially hard for those who were forced to fight their reanimated loved ones. After finally coming to terms with Asuma’s death, Team 10 was forced to face him again, and this time, he was their enemy.
Choji especially struggled because of his love for Asuma and his need to protect those important to him. Fans were able to see how pure Choji’s heart is and how vital he is to Shinobi’s as a whole. Once he came to terms with seeing Asuma again, he practically protected everyone on the battlefield by himself.
4 He Helped Protect The Coast With His Father
Naruto played a major role in the Fourth Great Ninja war, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the Naruto characters were sitting back and doing nothing. While Ino was helping to relay information and Shikamaru was creating battle strategies, Choji was playing a major part in fighting back against the enemy. When the Shinobi forces were protecting the bay, it was Choji and his father who carried the battle. Without him, not only could more lives have been lost, but their mission to protect the coast probably would have failed as well.
3 Choji Showed How Versatile He Is During The Second Chunin Exam
During the first Chunin Exams, many of the characters were unable to achieve the rank of Chunin. In fact, Shikamaru was one of the only members of the Konoha 11 who achieved the rank of Chunin, and because of that, many of the characters were forced to take the Chunin exams for a second time.
Without Shikamaru, Ino and Choji needed someone else so they picked Sakura to be their third team member. Despite the fact that they never worked together before, the three of them did amazing as a team. Choji especially excelled and not only showed how great he is in battle but that he knows when to sit back and listen. It’s pretty clear that Choji is someone who works well with almost anyone, and he really showed that during his second Chunin exam.
2 Choji Became Stronger During The Time Skip
A lot of things changed during the time skip from Naruto to Naruto Shippuden. Not only were the characters older but they were stronger. When Naruto returned from saving Gaara, he met up with several of his former classmates including Shikamaru and Choji. They were attacked by Sai, and Choji was able to show off several of his new techniques including the fact that he could expand parts of his body. He took out Sai’s attack, instantly impressing Naruto and the fans with his new techniques.
1 He Helped Get Revenge For Asuma’s Death
Losing Asuma was a crushing blow for the Leaf Village, and Asuma’s former students weren’t about to take that lying down. With Kakashi’s help, they were able to locate Hidan and Kakuzu and perfectly executed a plan to take the Akatsuki members down. Once again, Choji showed how much he trusts Shikamaru, but he also showed how strong-willed he is by taking on an Akatsuki member. The fact that Choji wasn’t afraid to fight just shows how much he’s grown since the first series.
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