In the Naruto series, the titular protagonist has two goals: to become the Hokage and to bring back his friend, Sasuke, who left the village. Does this mean that Sasuke is Naruto’s first friend?
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Aren’t Shikamaru and Choji Naruto's First Friends?
Many fans believe that Naruto’s first friends were Shikamaru and Choji.
In Naruto Episode 178, Choji, Naruto, and Shikamaru were shown together buying candy. They even had a small adventure themselves.
Since they were living in the same village, Naruto was able to meet the other characters.
However, since Naruto is a Jinchuriki, many people were against him.
Kids stayed away from him, and some even feared him, except for Choji and Shikamaru. This means that the two could be Naruto's first friends.
However, it was later revealed that while Shikamaru and Choji did not want to avoid Naruto, they did not want to be friends with him either.
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So, Is Sasuke Really Naruto’s First Friend?
Naruto encountered other characters as a child, such as Hinata, Sakura, and Kiba.
But when Naruto and Sasuke were placed in the same group as members of Team 7, they had a bond unlike any other.
Their relationship was similar to that of cats and dogs as they bicker about everything (probably since they consider each other rivals).
Sasuke differs from Choji and Shikamaru because he and Naruto went through a lot together.
Through various missions, Naruto and Sasuke stayed together and did everything they could to help one another.
In fact, when Team 7 faced Haku and Zabuza (Naruto Episode 9), Sasuke protected Naruto from the crystals.
Sasuke will never admit it, but this was the first sign that they acknowledged and understood each other.
Ironically, he considered Naruto his friend when he was determined to kill him to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Why Naruto, though? Itachi told Sasuke that the only way to acquire Mangekyō Sharingan was by killing one’s closest friend.
The two fought at the Valley of the End where Naruto revealed that he was stopping Sasuke from leaving the village because he is his first connection.
This proves that Sasuke is Naruto’s first bond and explains why Naruto went to great lengths to bring Sasuke back.
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