Naruto: Strongest Characters

Naruto is one of the most famous battle shonen series of all time. The manga created by Masashi Kishimoto has gained a great deal of popularity because of its great story and characters. As a battle shonen series, it is filled with a myriad of characters who are powerful enough to take down entire armies.

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While some characters were inherently blessed with unimaginable abilities, others had to work hard to become stronger and reach the same level. The tradition of having powerful characters has continued in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. So, this list will include the strongest characters from Naruto and its sequel.

Updated March 31, 2025, by Suzail Ahmad: As a battle shonen, powerful characters are one of the main focal points of Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto tried his best to come up with unique abilities that got the audience talking. But with time, the powers began to feel underwhelming, so the author was forced to put in more effort and come up with something even better.

In the final stretch of the manga, Kishimoto’s creativity was at its peak, and he wasn’t just showcasing new abilities but also creating outrageously powerful characters. The introduction of so many strong characters even helped Kishimoto paper over some plot holes as fans were too busy discussing who among the debutants was the strongest.

32

Tsunade

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

Tsunade was trained by Hiruzen Sarutobi, so it’s hardly surprising that she ended up becoming one of the greatest ninjas of all time. She was highly intelligent and capable of solving problems in next to no time. Tsunade wasn’t greedy for attention, so she had no problem giving the spotlight to the younger generation.

Tsunade’s biggest asset was definitely her knowledge of the human body. She was able to heal serious wounds and keep her allies alive. Tsunade had also mastered the Creation Rebirth technique, which allowed her to stay on the battlefield even after sustaining multiple injuries. She was even complimented by the legendary Madara Uchiha. In addition to her skill as a medical ninja, Tsunade has obscene strength. She could shatter the ribs of a human being with a single punch.

31

Kakuzu

Affiliation: Hidden Waterfall, Akatsuki

Kakuzu was the oldest member of the Akatsuki, meaning he had more fighting experience than anyone else. He joined the organization with the sole purpose of earning money. It didn’t matter what kind of job he had to do as long as he was getting paid.

Kakuzu was born during the same era as Hashirama Senju. In fact, Kakuzu was ordered by his village elders to assassinate the Hokage, but he failed. Despite suffering serious injuries, Kakuzu did not die, all thanks to his secret technique. He was able to steal the hearts of his opponents, which allowed him to extend his lifespan. This technique also enabled Kakuzu to steal their jutsu.

30

Orochimaru

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

Orochimaru is arguably among the best villains in Naruto. Despite training under Hiruzen, he ended up taking the wrong path and was eventually chased out of the village. Orochimaru felt no remorse towards his opponents, and he would kill them mercilessly.

He was knowledgeable about all kinds of different techniques, which made it nearly impossible to catch him off guard. Orochimaru could switch bodies, which granted him pseudo-immortality.

29

Jiraiya

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

• Greatest Power: Toad Sage Mode

Jiraiya was one of the Legendary Sannin, one of the greatest trios of all time. As a child, Jiraiya hardly showed any promise. He was the weakest in the trio, but his trip to Mt. Myouboku changed everything. Jiraiya trained with the toads, who helped him improve his chakra control.

He even learned to use the Toad Sage Mode, albeit the imperfect version. With the Sage Mode active, Jiraiya was able to defeat several bodies of Pain. What makes this accomplishment even more astounding is that he had no information about the Rinnegan and how it functioned.

28

Hanzo

Affiliation: Hidden Rain

• Greatest Power: Salamander Poison

Hanzo’s name is often left out of powerscaling debates, mainly because he is hardly mentioned in the story. However, it is unfair to leave him out completely. Hanzo was the leader of the Hidden Rain Village. He ruled with an iron fist, and no one dared to question his authority.

In battle, Hanzo would summon a giant salamander and would use its poison to fight against his enemies. Once they were inflicted with the venom of the salamander, it was lights out for them. A good example of Hanzo’s strength in his prime is how he managed to best Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru at the same time.

27

Onoki

Affiliation: Hidden Stone

• Greatest Power: Dust Release

Onoki was the third Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone. He was an old man who always kept the best interests of his fellow villagers in mind. Despite being old, Onoki was still strong enough to fight against a reanimated Madara Uchiha.

Onoki was one of the two users of the Dust Release, which was a Kekkei Tota. By using Dust Release, Onoki could reduce the strongest of enemies to mere dust. At full health, he managed to destroy 25 clones of Madara Uchiha. Aside from Dust Release, Onoki was also proficient in the four basic nature transformations. Overall, he was one of the strongest ninjas of his time.

26

Third Raikage

Affiliation: Hidden Cloud

• Greatest Power: Impenetrable Defense

The Third Raikage was the leader of the Hidden Cloud Village. He possessed incredible physical strength, with which he was able to subdue the Eight-Tails. Whenever the beast tried to run amok, the Third Raikage would arrive on the scene and stop it in its tracks. He also possessed insanely high stamina, as evidenced by his capacity to fight against thousands of ninjas for several days.

The Third Raikage was so adept at using Lightning Release that he created nigh indestructible armor. He believed that no attack was strong enough to bypass it. He showed off his power in the Fourth Great Ninja War after he was reanimated by Kabuto Yakushi.

25

Killer B

Affiliation: Hidden Cloud

• Greatest Power: Tailed Beast

Killer B was the jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails. After the tailed beast was sealed inside him, Killer B took the time to train and gain control over it. The process was arduous, but he remained steadfast and, eventually, became a perfect jinchuriki.

This gave Killer B complete access to the power of the Eight-Tails. He could launch a tailed beast bomb that was potent enough to destroy an entire army platoon. Killer B could also use the tailed beast chakra mode, which greatly enhanced his speed and strength.

24

Itachi Uchiha

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf, Akatsuki

• Greatest Power: Mangekyou Sharingan

Itachi Uchiha is widely considered the biggest prodigy in Naruto. Born to Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha, Itachi showed high intellect at an early age. In fact, it was said that he thought like a Hokage.

Besides his intelligence, Itachi was superb at fighting. He excelled in ninjutsu, taijutsu, shurikenjutsu, and genjutsu. Itachi’s genjutsu skills in particular were very impressive. He could cast genjutsu by simply pointing at his target. Once they were trapped, he would subject them to insane mental torture, leaving them incapacitated. Even a ninja of Kakashi caliber had to be hospitalized for days before he could make a full recovery.

23

Might Guy

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

• Greatest Power: Eight Inner Gates

Might Guy is a Jonin from the Hidden Leaf Village. He was not proficient in ninjutsu or genjutsu, so he had to train a lot harder than his rivals. Might Guy was taught by his father, Duy, who was an expert in taijutsu.

Under his father’s tutelage, Guy learned how to use the Eight Inner Gates. Guy’s taijutsu skills enabled him to beat Kisame Hoshigaki without breaking a sweat. However, Guy demonstrated his true strength in the fight against Madara. The Jonin unleashed the eighth gate, and a single attack nearly tore Madara in half.

22

Tobirama Senju

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

• Greatest Power: Flying Thunder God

Tobirama became the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf after the death of his elder brother. Under his leadership, the village prospered a lot. He created many new establishments that helped to make the village more sustainable.

As a descendant of Ashura Otsutsuki, Tobirama possessed a great deal of chakra. He was also a smart individual who was responsible for the creation of some of the most powerful techniques in the series.

21

Minato Namikaze

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

• Greatest Power: Flying Thunder God

Minato Namikaze became the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf after his achievement in the Third Great Ninja War. He was feared throughout the world because of his strength. It reached the point where nations began to issue flee-on-sight orders.

Minato was a prodigy who breezed through the academy. He managed to improve Tobirama’s Flying Thunder God technique and made it his own. Minato also learned how to use the Sage Mode, and he even tamed the other half of the Nine Tails.

20

Hiruzen Sarutobi

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

• Greatest Power: Intelligence

Hiruzen Sarutobi showed glimpses of his potential at a very young age. He was trained by Hashirama and Tobirama, who ensured that he would become a great ninja. Hiruzen arguably had the most balanced skillset out of all the Hokage.

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He was extremely smart and had a great penchant for learning. By the time he hit adulthood, Hiruzen managed to learn about every jutsu in the Hidden Leaf. Despite being over 70 years old, Hiruzen managed to defeat Orochimaru, Hashirama, and Tobirama at the same time. Given his achievements, it’s hardly surprising why he was called the God of Shinobi.

19

Hashirama Senju

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

• Greatest Power: Wood Release

Hashirama Senju was the first Hokage of the Hidden Leaf. He was the leader of the Senju Clan and the most powerful ninja of his generation. Hashirama possessed Wood Release, a strong Kekkei Genkai that allowed him to produce massive structures made out of wood. Hashirama’s Wood Release enabled him to overwhelm the tailed beasts effortlessly.

He also had ridiculously high chakra reserves, with which he was able to battle for long periods of time. He could even use the Sage Mode, which enhanced his physical abilities and granted him additional chakra. His ability to recover from damage was incredible, and it was similar to Tsunade’s Creation Rebirth technique. Hashirama managed to beat Madara several times, which is a huge testament to his power.

18

Nagato Uzumaki

Affiliation: Hidden Rain

Nagato Uzumaki and his family lived happily near Amegakure. But his joy was short-lived when some ninjas killed his parents. This event forced him to awaken the Rinnegan and use its power to kill the ninjas. Nagato and his friends founded the Akatsuki to promote peace; however, their progress was hindered by Hanzo and Danzo.

Over time, Nagato mastered the use of the Rinnegan. He created six different bodies and used them to carry out various missions. The six bodies of Pain were able to overwhelm and murder Jiraiya. The collection of so many powers made Nagato the most powerful member of the Akatsuki.

17

Kakashi Hatake

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

• Greatest Power: Mangekyou Sharingan

Kakashi Hatake was initially the Jonin leader of Team 7. He guided the team in many missions, and under his tutelage, all three of his students became incredible fighters. Aside from his leadership qualities, Kakashi is an outstanding ninja in his own right. Despite being a non-Uchiha, he mastered the Sharingan and used it better than most Uchiha.

He even learned to utilize Kamui, but it drained his chakra expeditiously. Kakashi reached the peak of his powers in the Fourth Great Ninja War when Obito gave him both eyes and Six Paths chakra. The combination of the two allowed Kakashi to use full-body Susanoo that was armed with Kamui shurikens. Upon contact, these weapons would seal anything within the Kamui dimension. It is fair to say that this particular ability made him stand out in the Fourth Great Ninja War.

16

Obito Uchiha

Affiliation: Akatsuki

Obito Uchiha used to be a member of Team Minato. He was a compassionate boy who tried to help the people around him. Following the death of Rin, he had a change of heart and decided to follow in Madara’s footsteps and complete Project Tsuki no Me.

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Obito controlled the Akatsuki from the shadows until he successfully captured all the tailed beasts and revived the Ten-Tails. Ultimately, Obito became the jinchuriki of the monster and gained Six Paths abilities. Obito couldn’t handle two Rinnegan, so he opted to use just one. His power allowed him to overwhelm most of the characters in the war. Sadly, Obito couldn’t test out the true extent of his power as Naruto persuaded the Uchiha to change his ways.

15

Madara Uchiha

Affiliation: None

Madara Uchiha was the legendary leader of the Uchiha Clan. He was born during the Warring States Period, a time when every clan was at each other’s throats. Madara led the Uchiha against the mighty Senju Clan, but after losing all his siblings, he decided to settle down and create a peaceful village.

Unfortunately, Madara was treated as an outsider, which turned him into a rogue ninja. Eventually, Madara decided to entrust Obito with his plan. Madara was reanimated in the Fourth Great Ninja War, and he managed to achieve his goal of becoming the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails. He was able to wield both the Rinnegan and Six Paths powers, which allowed him to nearly wipe out the entire Shinobi Alliance. Needless to say, he is one of the strongest characters in Naruto.

14

Delta

Affiliation: Kara

• Greatest Power: Destruction Beam

Delta used to be an Inner of Kara, and she was created by Amado. She was fiercely loyal to Jigen and the organization. Delta would often go to great lengths to ensure the success of a mission. Her short temper made her extremely dangerous, as she did not hesitate to go all out against weaklings.

Delta’s heavily enhanced body allowed her to fight against Naruto Uzumaki. She also possesses the Destruction Beam, an attack capable of overpowering all kinds of regenerative abilities. With so many different abilities, Delta is a force to be reckoned with.

13

Kashin Koji

Affiliation: None

• Greatest Power: Sage Mode

Kashin Koji was created by Amado in an attempt to kill Jigen. Amado used Jiraiya’s DNA to create Kashin Koji, and he made several modifications to increase his power. Kashin Koji worked as an Inner for many years before finally revealing his true intentions to Jigen.

Kashin Koji’s physical abilities made him stand out from the rest of Kara’s members, save for Jigen. His power was further enhanced when he used the Sage Mode. During his fight with Jigen, Kashin Koji was able to put up an excellent performance, which is a testament to his power.