12 Anime Like Naruto June 2026
Naruto fans love the underdog ninja who claws his way from outcast to hero through relentless training, fierce rivalries, and found-family bonds, all wrapped in a long-running shonen with sprawling lore and gut-punch emotional arcs. The shows below recreate that mix of zero-to-strength growth, hype battles, and heartfelt camaraderie. Every recommendation below appears across multiple independent "anime like Naruto" lists and community threads — consensus picks first, with the exact reason each one matches. Last verified June 12, 2026.
💖 The list, ranked
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1
One Piece
An underdog dreamer chases an impossible goal (Pirate King vs Hokage) with a fiercely loyal crew and decades-deep world-building.
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2
My Hero Academia
Widely called Naruto's spiritual successor: a powerless outcast trains into a hero amid mentor bonds and intense rivalries.
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3
Bleach
A teen with a hidden inner darkness gains soul-reaper powers and grows through arc after arc of escalating battles.
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4
Hunter x Hunter
A strategic, rule-based power system and brutal tournament-style fights reward skill and growth over raw strength.
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5
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Two brothers bound by sacrifice power a tightly plotted shonen full of found-family ties and devastating emotional payoffs.
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6
Black Clover
Asta, born without magic in a magic world, screams his way to strength through pure grit — a near one-to-one echo of Naruto's outcast climb.
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7
Demon Slayer
A kind-hearted hero endures relentless trauma without losing his heart, paired with stunning training arcs and god-tier animation.
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8
Jujutsu Kaisen
A darker, faster modern shonen with cursed-energy powers, hype fights and a sensei-student bond — often pitched as Naruto's edgier heir.
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9
Dragon Ball Z
The blueprint Naruto was built on: escalating power-ups, legendary rivalries, and tournament-driven training to ever-greater strength.
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10
Fairy Tail
A guild-as-family of mages fights for each other through a long, warm, friendship-powered run that mirrors Naruto's team bonds.
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11
Yu Yu Hakusho
A delinquent-turned-spirit-detective grows through tournament battles and rivalries — a foundational underdog shonen Naruto clearly drew from.
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12
Soul Eater
A trio of weapon-wielding students train at a combat academy, blending stylish fights with team camaraderie and steady power growth.
❓ FAQ
What is the closest match to Naruto?
My Hero Academia and Black Clover are the most cited closest matches: both center on an outcast underdog who trains relentlessly into a hero, fueled by rivalries, mentor bonds and found-family stakes — the exact formula Naruto popularized.
What other long-running shonen journeys are like Naruto?
One Piece (1100+ episodes), Bleach (366), Fairy Tail (328) and Dragon Ball Z (291) all deliver the same multi-arc, watch-the-hero-grow marathon with deep lore and big emotional payoffs.
Are there other ninja-themed anime like Naruto?
True ninja-centric anime are rare, but its own sequel Boruto: Naruto Next Generations continues the ninja world directly. Beyond that, fans turn to the stealth-and-clan intrigue threads across the shows on this list rather than pure ninja series.
What are the best found-family shonen like Naruto?
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Fairy Tail, One Piece and Soul Eater all build their emotional core around a chosen family fighting for one another — the same bond that makes Team 7 resonate.
Where should I go right after finishing Naruto and Shippuden?
Continue with Boruto for the direct sequel, then jump to My Hero Academia or Black Clover for the closest tonal successors, or start One Piece if you want another epic long-runner. For a darker modern hit, Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer are the top picks.
📚 Sources
Cross-checked against: CBR — best anime for Naruto fans · GameRant — best anime like Naruto · Anime-Planet recommendations. Last verified June 12, 2026.