How old is Naruto? Explaining his timeline
Naruto is a long way away from the troublemaking kid he used to be.
Naruto Uzumaki is pivotal in the turn of the millennium's anime character roster. His distinguishable features – canary hair, whiskers and forehead protector – are instantly recognisable, as is his undeniable dent in the shonen world as a whole. What is less clear, even to an avid fan, is how old Naruto is.
His might was tested against the strongest characters in the Naruto anime but he always came out on top with a cheeky smile to boot. There are several moments our protagonist steps away from the spotlight in order to hone his skills but he always returns ready for more.
When watching the Naruto series in order, from the original Naruto series and its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden, several years pass. The shift signals drastic character development, which is backed by key moments in his life.
Naruto starts off as a troublesome kid before moving on to become a moody teenager, wrapping things up as a fully realised adult. Here's Naruto's exact age throughout the series.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
How old is Naruto at the start of the anime?
Naruto's adventure begins with him enrolling at Konoha's Ninja Academy, with the titular character being 12 years old when he graduates from the academy. He spends the majority of his youth here after being abandoned as an orphan, training under his new adoptive father figure Iruka Umino to become the greatest shinobi in the land.
After the academy, he joins a squad known as Team 7 with fellow graduates and ninjas-in-training Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno.
The anime follows Naruto's adventures with Team 7 but only one canon year passes in his reality. This sets Naruto as only 13 years old by the time the show wraps.
Read more:
- Naruto and Naruto Shippuden filler list: The episodes you can miss
- Naruto fans crown most popular character – and he's getting a spin-off
- Is Naruto dead: What happened in Boruto?
How old is Naruto in Naruto: Shippuden?
The events of Naruto: Shippuden take place two and a half years after the original anime, meaning Naruto is 15 years old during the series.
Naruto stepped away from the limelight to focus on his training under Jiraiya but later returned to Konoha Village at 15 years old. His goofy demeanour has taken a back seat for the typical composure of a moody teenager, which kickstarts a dramatic shift in character and tone for the rest of the series.
During the Pain arc, Naruto is explicitly noted to be 16 which adds a very brief but vital piece of information when mapping out his age against the timeline of events.
Naruto: Shippuden takes place over the course of two years which sees the fourth great ninja war or fourth shinobi world war take place. Coming out on the other end of two masterpiece arcs, Naruto sits on the verge of adulthood at 17 years old.
How old is Naruto in The Last: Naruto the Movie?
The Last: Naruto the Movie is set just before the finale of Naruto, meaning all the gang are young adults by this point.
Naruto himself is 19 years old, and the group’s older dynamic allowed the writers to focus more on the romantic relationship between Naruto and Hinata.
It’s in the finale of this film where the next blonde-haired troublemaker, Boruto, is born - by the time we see him though, he’s already 5 years old.
How old is Naruto is Boruto: Naruto Next Generation?
Boruto: Naruto Next Generation focuses on Boruto 15 years after his father's original journey, setting a massive change in tone, pacing and the world in general. The once hot-headed teenager we all fell in love with is now a mature parent coming in at 32 years old.
He passes the torch on to his son after successfully becoming Hokage of Konoha Village and one of the greatest shinobi that ever lived.
And for those curious to know, Boruto is 12 when we initially join him on his adventure, but when we flash forward to see Boruto given the Karma Seal to become the vessel of Momoshiki Otsutsuki, he’s aged up to 16 years old.
With the second part of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations announced to be in development, we could see Boruto age into fatherhood - and maybe even Naruto into grandfatherhood!
Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
