Naruto Characters | Team 10
Team 10
Team 10 is a group of Konohagakure ninja led by Asuma Sarutobi. The fathers of Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, and Ino Yamanaka were also on a team together, and both generations refer to their team using the moniker “Ino-Shika-Cho.” During Part II, Asuma is slain in an encounter with members of Akatsuki, and Kakashi Hatake briefly assumes leadership of the team to hunt down those responsible for Asuma’s death.
Choji Akimichi
Choji Akimichi is a member of Team 10 typified by his deep love for food, to the extent that he continually has some sort of snack with him during his appearances in the series. Though his habit of always eating gives him a relatively large appearance, Choji insists that he is not fat, instead using explanations like being “big-boned.” If someone refers to him as fat, Choji instantly becomes hostile, and his resolve to battle grows stronger.Shikamaru Nara has never found an issue with Choji’s weight, instead choosing to look upon Choji’s inner strength. Because of this, Choji regards him as his best friend, stating on one occasion that he would willingly give his life to defend Shikamaru. In battle, Choji can increase the size of his entire body or specific parts of his body to improve the amount of damage his strikes deal upon impact. His seiy? in the Japanese anime is Kentaro Ito, and his English voice actor is Robbie Rist.
Shikamaru Nara
Shikamaru Nara is one of the members of Team 10. Kishimoto has noted that he “likes” Shikamaru due to his easygoing nature despite being a genius, and contrasted him against Sasuke Uchiha’s intelligent but abrasive personality. Shikamaru’s intelligence is such that Asuma Sarutobi, Team 10′s leader, has never been able to defeat Shikamaru at games such as shogi or go, and he can devise complex strategies even in the heat of battle. Despite his intelligence, his laziness and unwillingness to work frequently prevent him from applying his intelligence. Shikamaru is longtime friends with Choji Akimichi, his fellow Team 10 member, as he chose to look upon Choji as a person rather than only considering his large girth. In battle, Shikamaru can manipulate his shadow, and by extending it into another person’s shadow, can force the target to mimic his movements. In the Japanese anime, Shikamaru is voiced by Showtaro Morikubo, although Nobutoshi Canna acted as a stand-in for Morikubo in episode 141. His English voice actor is Tom Gibis.
Ino Yamanaka
Ino Yamanaka is the only female member of Team 10. She has known Sakura Haruno since they were children, befriending and helping her to develop her own identity. When they discovered that they both liked the same boy, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura ended their friendship so they could properly compete for his affection. The two eventually make amends and rekindle their friendship, but they still maintain a competitive attitude towards each other.[90] In the anime, when Sakura begins to excel in healing techniques, Ino becomes her surrogate apprentice, hoping to be more useful to her friends and teammates as an able medical ninja. In terms of combat abilities, Ino specializes in mind-altering techniques. To use these techniques, Ino transfers her consciousness to her target’s mind, gaining control over their body, which she can then use to attack their allies uninhibited. In the Japanese anime, she is voiced by Ry?ka Yuzuki, and her English voice actor is Colleen O’Shaughnessey.
Asuma Sarutobi
Asuma Sarutobi is the leader of Team 10 and the son of the Third Hokage. He had a falling out with his father when he was younger, and briefly left Konohagakure in protest. The two had not completely reconciled by the time of the Third’s death. Asuma is usually seen smoking a cigarette, but will temporarily drop the habit when something is bothering him, such as when his father died. Among all his students, Asuma shares a particularly close relationship with Shikamaru Nara, and the two frequently play shogi or go together; however, Asuma has never been able to win any of these matches due to Shikamaru’s intelligence.
Asuma frequently appears alongside Kurenai Yuhi, leading many characters to assume the two are a couple. Both deny this, and they promptly try to change the subject whenever it is brought up. During Part II of the series, however, Kurenai is revealed to be pregnant with Asuma’s child. In battle, Asuma wields unique brass knuckles equipped with blades that can be infused with his chakra. When infused with his wind-based chakra, Asuma can extend the blades to sword-like length and easily pierce through rock. After Asuma is killed by Hidan, a member of the criminal organization Akatsuki, these brass knuckles fall into Shikamaru’s possession, and he uses them to defeat Hidan and avenge Asuma. Asuma’s seiy? in the Japanese anime is J?r?ta Kosugi, and he is voiced by Doug Erholtz in the English adaptation of the anime.
