The story focuses on Team 7, a group of ninja affiliated with the village of Konohagakure, and it is composed of the series' primary characters. Due to Sasuke Uchiha's departure from Konohagakure at the end of Part I, the team is disbanded. During Part II, the team is reformed with two new members, Sai, who occupies Sasuke's position, and Yamato, who acts as Kakashi's replacement when he is briefly incapacitated and later stays with the team when Kakashi returns.

Naruto Uzumaki (うずまき　ナルト, Uzumaki Naruto?) is the primary protagonist of the series. In the series, Naruto is a ninja affiliated with the village of Konohagakure, and has ambitions of becoming Hokage, or the leader of the village.


Sasuke Uchiha (うちは サスケ, Uchiha Sasuke?) is one of the members of Team 7. He was created by Kishimoto to be a rival to Naruto, as well as a "cool genius," which Kishimoto believed was an integral part of an ideal rivalry. He is one of the few remaining members of the Uchiha clan, his brother, Itachi Uchiha, having killed the rest of their family.


Sakura Haruno (春野　サクラ, Haruno Sakura?) is the sole female member of Team 7. During most of Part I, Sakura is infatuated with Sasuke, and spurns the advances of Naruto Uzumaki. After Sasuke leaves the village, she resolves to become stronger by training with Tsunade. In Part II, she displays highly developed skills from her training, and a more open disposition towards Naruto.


Kakashi Hatake (はたけ　カカシ, Hatake Kakashi?) is the leader of Team 7 and the sensei of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.