Naruto, like many other manga series, often hosts popularity polls on social media. Not only does this help access the reader preferences but also shows how a character’s fanfare has increased or decreased following the closure of certain arcs.
Sakura Haruno had the most surreal rise in respectability this year. Previously thought to be the ‘punching bag’ of the series and a woman ‘toxically obsessed’ with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura has gained admiration in the eyes of Naruto fans after the release of Boruto. They even shared clips of her fights from the series and artwork to celebrate her inclusion in the ‘top three’ list.
Masashi Kishimoto was ‘shocked’ after seeing the response to Sakura Haruno’s character. He also felt proud that the pink-haired woman was finally getting the attention that she deserved.
Also Read: Sakura is the Most Accomplished Member of Team 7 in One Aspect
Masashi Kishimoto Reacted To Sakura Haruno Getting The Third Place In The Latest Poll
Over the years, Sakura has consistently been placed in the Top 15 list of the over 400 characters that are featured in the popularity poll. That wasn’t the case during the ‘Naruto99 poll’ that was held in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Naruto. Haruno obtained the third position and even surpassed her husband, Sasuke, who used to defeat her in most polls.
The Naruto99 popularity poll was held between December 18, 2022 to January 31, 2023. An estimated 4,600,000 votes were cast from regions that included Asia, Africa, America, and the Middle East. Sakura Haruno bagged 489,619 votes, massively surpassing the fourth position obtained by Shinsui Uchiha (279,062 votes).
Masashi Kishimoto thanked Naruto fans for participating in the poll. According to an official message from the mangaka that is featured on the Naruto99 website, Kishimoto “was shocked to see Minato at the top for all regions, and the fact that Sakura is so beloved by many people around the world.”
Previously, the mangaka revealed that he had struggled to depict woman characters properly in Naruto. He always took their agency while relegating them to submissive beings in control of male characters. Sakura Haruno being the first woman to feature in the ‘Top 3’ of a Naruto fan popularity poll made him proud as a writer.
As for the writer, Kishimoto was rooting for the Tailed Beast named Kurama to win the fan contest. He also revealed that Minato Namikaze, who won the 1st position, will get a manga of his own. The one-shot based on the Fourth Hokage is titled Naruto: The Whorl Within The Spiral.
Naruto99 Popularity Poll Results
Minato Namikaze was one of the most likable characters in the series. Unfortunately, he died after becoming a Hokage at the hands of Nine-Tails-powered Obito Uchiha in the Third Great Ninja War arc. In most popularity polls, the character who is written off unexpectedly gets the votes.
Topping the chart with a surreal 792,257 votes, Minato is followed by Itachi Uchiha who gained 505,014 votes. The 5th position is held by Kakashi Hatake – the teacher of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura since the early chapters of Naruto. Surprisingly, Naruto Uzumaki is in the 6th position while Sasuke Uchiha is in the 8th position in the list.
#NARUTOP99 速報発表！
投票総数は早くも100万票突破！
栄えある速報1位を獲得したのは・・・？最終結果はまだまだ分からない！
引き続き投票をお待ちしています↓https://t.co/KpGO3QIp7U pic.twitter.com/pIuJWQyAE9
— NARUTO・BORUTO【原作公式】 (@NARUTO_kousiki) December 23, 2022
Both Naruto and Sasuke had brief roles in the Boruto series. They have disappeared since the time-skip, with Uzumaki locked in another dimension by Kawaki and the fate of Uchiha being surrounded by mystery. The manga currently highlights the struggles of the next generation – Boruto Uzumaki, Sarada Uchiha, Kawaki, and Mitsuki.
