Naruto, a beloved anime and manga series, has introduced us to a vast world of ninjas and their unique abilities. These characters, with their distinct jutsu and power levels, have fascinated audiences for years. While strength in the Naruto universe is a mix of raw power, intelligence, battle experience, and even the will of the fighter, some characters stand out for their exceptional abilities. Let’s take a look at the top 10 strongest Naruto characters, counting down from impressive to near god-like.
#10 – Might Guy
Starting our list at number ten is Might Guy, a master of taijutsu – the ninja art of hand-to-hand combat. Exhibiting extraordinary physical prowess, Guy has dedicated his life to perfecting his technique. He might lack in ninjutsu and genjutsu, but his mastery of the Eight Inner Gates – a risky technique that removes the brain’s limitations on the muscles at the cost of extreme damage to the user’s body – allows him to temporarily achieve power beyond that of any normal ninja. At its height, he can open the Eighth Gate, known as the Gate of Death, which temporarily gives him strength on par with the series’ most potent foes. His performance in this state during the Fourth Great Ninja War against the formidable Madara Uchiha cements him as one of the series’ most powerful warriors.
#9 – Kakashi Hatake
Known as the “Copy Ninja,” Kakashi Hatake is famed across the ninja world for his sharp mind, versatility, and the use of his Sharingan – a gift from his late friend Obito Uchiha. With this eye, he can copy nearly any jutsu used against him, predict his opponent’s movements, and perform powerful genjutsu. Kakashi has mastered over a thousand jutsus and demonstrates immense skill in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Additionally, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, he briefly gained the power of both of Obito’s Sharingan eyes, allowing him to use the Susano’o, a gigantic ethereal avatar, providing him with an extraordinary power boost. Even without the Sharingan, Kakashi remains one of the sharpest and most powerful tacticians and fighters in the series.
#8 – Itachi Uchiha
A prodigy of the Uchiha clan, Itachi’s prodigious talents and incredible intellect rendered him a shinobi of renown. At a very young age, he mastered the Sharingan and went on to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, granting him access to powerful techniques like the Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. Itachi was also a user of Izanami and Izanagi, forbidden Uchiha jutsus with the ability to manipulate reality at the cost of the user’s sight. Despite his short life and illness, Itachi’s strength and achievements are legendary, which include single-handedly wiping out most of his own clan to prevent a coup d’état that would have led to war.
#7 – Obito Uchiha
Obito Uchiha’s journey from a hopeful child to an antagonist termed as the “masked man” is as compelling as his power is formidable. His Sharingan evolved into Mangekyo Sharingan after the trauma of witnessing Kakashi accidentally kill their teammate Rin, granting Obito the ability to use Kamui, a space-time ninjutsu that can make him intangible. He later becomes the host for the Ten-Tails, becoming its Jinchuriki and acquiring overwhelming strength that let him wage war against the entire ninja world. Obito’s abilities, combined with his intelligence and manipulation skills, make him one of history’s most dangerous and powerful ninjas.
#6 – Sasuke Uchiha
Sasuke, one of the central characters of Naruto, is known for his intense drive and the profound development of his abilities throughout the series. From a genius child with a talent for ninjutsu and taijutsu, he evolved into a fearsome ninja after obtaining the eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and later, the Rinnegan. Sasuke’s eyes grant him an extensive range of abilities, including the power to manipulate space-time with Amenotejikara, control attractive and repulsive forces with Deva Path, create inextinguishable black flames with Amaterasu, and more. His diverse skill set, strategic mind, and ruthlessness in battle earn him a high ranking among the strongest in the Naruto universe.
#5 – Naruto Uzumaki
As the main protagonist of the series, Naruto Uzumaki’s growth from the village outcast to its greatest hero is nothing short of extraordinary. Initially possessing raw talent and stamina, paired with the immense reserves of chakra granted to him as the host of the Nine-Tails, Naruto’s strength and mastery over his powers expand vastly. Through intense training and battles, he gains control over the Nine-Tails’ power, learns sage mode from the Toads of Mount Myoboku, and eventually receives a significant part of the chakra of all Tailed Beasts, allowing him to access its joint powers. Alongside his inherent Uzumaki Clan vitality and his unwavering spirit, Naruto becomes one of the most formidable shinobi ever.
#4 – Hashirama Senju
Known as the “God of Shinobi,” Hashirama Senju was the First Hokage and the co-founder of the first ninja village, Konoha. His power was so immense that it led to the end of the era of constant warring states. Hashirama’s legacy is marked by his unique Wood Release abilities, allowing him to create forests and manipulate them for offensive and defensive purposes. He could also summon giant wooden constructs and control tailed beasts, treating them like pets. Combined with his creation of the deep forests that characterizes the landscape of the Hidden Leaf Village, his ability to use Sage Mode only adds to his already unbelievable strength, making him one of the most potent shinobi of all time.
#3 – Hiruzen Sarutobi
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was a disciple of both the First and Second Hokages and held in high regard as a “Professor” due to his vast knowledge and aptitude for all forms of jutsu. In his prime, he was considered to be the strongest Kage. His prowess in battle, incredible chakra levels, and mastery of countless jutsu, including all five nature transformations and Yin-Yang release, made him nearly unstoppable. Hiruzen’s reputation as a powerful and wise leader, one who could use nearly every technique in Konoha, solidified him as a key figure in shinobi history and easily one of the mightiest ninjas ever to live.
#2 – Madara Uchiha
Madara Uchiha was one of the legendary figures in the Naruto world and the primary antagonist for a considerable portion of the series. His reputation was built on his extraordinary achievements, which include founding Konoha alongside Hashirama Senju. Madara was a master of the Sharingan, the Rinnegan, and various forms of the Susanoo, capable of decimating armies. His mastery of ninjutsu and genjutsu was unparalleled, and he was able to go toe-to-toe with the world’s most powerful shinobi and emerge victorious. His resurrection and enhancement through forbidden jutsu only served to amplify his already formidable capabilities. Madara’s ultimate goal was to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu potent enough to trap the entire world, which is a testament to his awesome might.
#1 – Kaguya Otsutsuki
At the pinnacle of power stands Kaguya Otsutsuki, the progenitor of chakra and the most powerful being in the Naruto universe. A celestial being who consumed the fruit of the God Tree, Kaguya gained incomprehensible powers that far exceeded those of any other character. Her ability to manipulate dimensions, her Byakugan and Rinne Sharingan eyes, and her unrivaled command over all chakra natures, plus her creation of the Expansive Truthseeking Ball – a technique with the power to obliterate entire landscapes – render her nearly invincible. Kaguya’s strength was such that it took the combined efforts of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi, along with the spirit of the past Kages, to seal her away, rather than defeat her outright. Her legacy and the power she wielded make her the strongest character in the Naruto series.
Throughout the series, we witness a myriad of other incredibly strong characters, each with unique abilities and their own right to fame. However, these ten ninjas stand out for their incredible power, influence on the Naruto world, and their battles which have consistently pushed the boundaries of what it means to be strong in the shinobi realm. Whether through raw power, cunning strategy, or profound mastery of their abilities, they have earned their places in Naruto’s pantheon of the mightiest.