50 Best Naruto Quotes — Itachi, Jiraiya, Kakashi & The Ninja Way of Pain, Hatred & Bonds

"I never go back on my word. That's my ninja way."

— Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto (Chapter 4 / Episode 1) — The promise that defines every arc.

"It's not the face that makes someone a monster, it's the choices they make with their lives."

— Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto — Said to Gaara during the Chunin Exams.

"Hard work is worthless for those that don't believe in themselves."

— Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto — The lesson from both Iruka and Jiraiya.

"I'll become Hokage. Believe it!"

— Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto (Chapter 1 / Episode 1) — The first promise, kept 700 chapters later.

"A dropout will beat a genius through hard work."

— Rock Lee (taught to Naruto), Naruto — The Konoha philosophy passed to every underdog.

"If you don't share someone's pain, you can never understand them."

— Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto — The thesis of the Pain Arc.

"People live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true. That's how they define reality."

— Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — Itachi's epistemology in one line.

"Those who forgive themselves, and are able to accept their true nature... they are the strong ones!"

— Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — Spoken to Kabuto during the Edo Tensei arc.

"No matter how strong you get, never try to carry everything on your own. If you do, you will surely fail."

— Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — Itachi's warning to his younger brother.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke... there won't be a next time."

— Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden (Chapter 590 / Episode 339) — The last forehead poke.

"You don't have to forgive me. Whatever you do from here on... know this. I will love you always."

— Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — The brother who killed a clan for his brother.

"It is not wise to judge others based on your own preconceptions and by their appearances."

— Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — A caution that applies to Itachi himself.

"The true measure of a shinobi is not how he lives, but how he dies."

— Jiraiya, Naruto Shippuden — The sannin's final thought, in his own death scene.

"A man gains strength by making what he believes in his own."

— Jiraiya, Naruto — The creed he passed to Naruto.

"When people are protecting something truly special to them, they truly can become as strong as they can be."

— Naruto Uzumaki (echoing Jiraiya), Naruto — The sannin's lesson internalized.

"The tale of the world's greatest, most hyperactive, knuckle-headed ninja... yeah, I like that."

— Jiraiya, Naruto Shippuden — Jiraiya's final narration, titling his last book.

"If you believe in your students, they'll find a way."

— Jiraiya, Naruto Shippuden — The reason the Gallant Jiraiya trained three legends.

"In the ninja world, those who break the rules are trash, that's true. But those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."

— Kakashi Hatake, Naruto (Chapter 5 / Episode 3) — Taught by Obito, repeated to every student.

"My first friend, Obito gave me this power. Telling me to protect the things I loved."

— Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Shippuden — The origin of the Sharingan Kakashi.

"A wound you can't see is always deeper than any other wound."

— Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Shippuden — The lesson from Team Minato's loss.

"Sorry I'm late. A black cat crossed my path..."

— Kakashi Hatake, Naruto — A running joke that also hides a daily visit to the memorial stone.

"I have long since closed my eyes... my only goal is in the darkness."

— Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — The Curse of Hatred articulated.

"Thanks... Naruto."

— Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden (Chapter 699) — Two words, thirteen years earned.

"I have always hated you."

— Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto (Chapter 220 / Episode 134) — The Valley of the End, meaning the exact opposite.

"I will take revenge... that is my purpose of existence."

— Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto — The declaration that became his prison.

"When a person has something important they want to protect... that's when they can become truly strong."

— Haku (and echoed by Naruto), Naruto (Chapter 30 / Episode 17) — The Land of Waves lesson.

"Just by living, people hurt others without realizing it. So long as humanity exists, hate will also exist."

— Nagato (Pain), Naruto Shippuden — The Pain Arc thesis.

"Maybe you are right... maybe it is foolish to seek peace in this cycle of hatred. Naruto, you just might be the answer."

— Nagato (Pain), Naruto Shippuden (Chapter 449 / Episode 175) — The villain's final gift.

"Wake up to reality! Nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world."

— Madara Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — The Moon's Eye Plan begins.

"In this world, wherever there is light, there are also shadows."

— Madara Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — The Uchiha curse in one line.

"Obito... you were my friend. And I am proud of you."

— Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Shippuden — The redemption of the mask.

"There is no such thing as peace in this pure world. The only real peace is found in genjutsu."

— Obito Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — The Akatsuki's despair, pre-redemption.

"The loneliness of those who have people connected to them by blood... that's something I'll never understand."

— Gaara, Naruto — The Sand ninja's pre-redemption confession.

"I want to walk with you, Naruto-kun. I want to walk beside you!"

— Hinata Hyuga, Naruto Shippuden — The shy heiress finds her courage in the Pain arc.

"A bird in a cage would rather fly free than die inside."

— Neji Hyuga, Naruto — The Hyuga branch family curse, finally rejected.

"You were the one who taught me that I'm not just a tool for the main branch."

— Neji Hyuga (to Naruto), Naruto Shippuden — Before dying to protect Hinata.

"Youth is an incredible thing!"

— Might Guy, Naruto — The eternal rival's battle cry.

"This is the Eighth Gate. Guy-sensei's final technique!"

— Rock Lee watching, Naruto Shippuden — Might Guy's Night Guy against Madara.

"Rasengan!"

— Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto Shippuden — The technique of three generations: Minato, Jiraiya, Naruto.

"If you think of me as trash, that's fine. As long as I can protect my precious people, I'll be the trashiest trash there ever was."

— Naruto Uzumaki (echoing Kakashi), Naruto Shippuden — The Team 7 code internalized.

"A Hokage is someone who has acknowledged by the entire village as the strongest."

— Iruka Umino, Naruto — The Third Hokage's definition, taught early.

"No matter what day it is, you can find a reason to celebrate... as long as you have precious people."

— Hiruzen Sarutobi (Third Hokage), Naruto — The village patriarch's quiet wisdom.

"I am proud of you, my son."

— Minato Namikaze (Fourth Hokage), Naruto Shippuden — Meeting Naruto after 16 years.

"I love you, Naruto."

— Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto Shippuden — The mother's final words, delivered through time.

"A person grows up when he's able to overcome hardships. Protection is important, but there are some things that a person must learn on his own."

— Jiraiya, Naruto Shippuden — The teaching philosophy of the Toad Sage.

"The moment people come to know love, they run the risk of carrying hate."

— Obito Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — The Curse of Hatred's inverse.

"Even the strongest of opponents always has a weakness."

— Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Shippuden — The strategist's creed.

"You're always stronger than you think you are."

— Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto Shippuden — The Hokage's promise to his village.