I looove Naruto because he's soo coooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like Shikamaru and Kimimaro the best. Shikamaru because he's proven himself not to be a mere one-dimensional character. He's highly analytical, yes, but under that facade, he's also sensitive, and he really does care for his allies and friends. He also keeps his composure in nearly all situations, and that's cool.
I like Kimimaro because he doesn't have just purely evil intentions for going against the good guys. He respected Orochimaru as a leader, and wanted to prove himself to gain his master's praise. He came across as a villain that we could all sympathize with, and I liked that. Sure, Nagato deserved our pity as well, but Kimimaro's story struck me on a more personal level.