10 Heartbreaking Deaths In Anime

With a diverse cast of characters all boasting unique abilities and backstories, Naruto, along with its time skip series, Naruto Shippuden, was always a joy to watch. Though there were some tragic back stories like Sasuke’s entire clan being killed by his brother, Rock Lee’s ineptitude for Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, and the title character being an outcast orphan, the series was always filled with enough comedy and energy to go along with the harder hitting notes.

One of the bigger influences of this levity was Jiraiya - one of the legendary students to the Third Hokage, and known to some as the Toad Sage (while being know to Naruto as the “Pervy Sage”), Jiraiya was introduced partway through the original series. His antics and undeniable skills quickly found him a place in the hearts of many viewers.

His story became linked very closely to Naruto’s, becoming both a teacher and reminiscent of a familial relationship - something that Naruto had desperately been searching for since the beginning of the series. Through the series, further development of Jiraiya’s backstory (delivered in flashback format) disclosed how closely link Jiraiya was to Naruto and his parents.

This revelation, however, was the perfect catalyst in adding emotional punch to Jiraiya’s death. Squaring off with his former pupil and leader of the guerilla group, The Akatsuki, Jiraiya fought valiantly but was ultimately overpowered in one of the best animated and expertly choreographed fights the series has to offer.

Rubbing salt in the wound, Nagato, or Pain as he called himself while leading The Akatsuki, shared similarities to Naruto and served as a negative reflection of what Naruto himself could have become if not for characters like Jiraiya and others.

In a series that toys with the resurrection of powerful figures, Jiraiya’s death being permanent holds so much more weight to the characters and the events that follow.