10 Strongest Characters in Naruto Ranked

One of the best things about Naruto was its complex yet logically sound power rankings. The battle system was so good that it largely stayed in tact for the entirety of its massive run of 720 total episodes (including Naruto and Naruto Shippuden). And while there are plenty of powerful ninjas presented throughout, these are the top 10 strongest characters in Naruto ranked.

Spoilers Ahead

10. Jiraiya

Jiraiya was not only a powerful ninja – his significance spans well beyond this thanks to his role as legendary teacher. In fact, there was a prophecy that he would one day teach someone who would either destroy or save the world.

Throughout his career, Jiraiya had three students of note: the first being the legendary Fourth Hokage, Nagato, and Naruto.

Additionally, Jiraiya was himself quite an accomplished ninja, named one of the Three Legendary Sanin.

9. Might Guy

Although Might Guy is well known for being the rival of the well loved Kakashi, he is also a powerhouse in his own right. Wielding taijutsu and favoring hand to hand combat, Might Guy is capable of opening the hidden gates, granting him tremendous power. Although we only ever see him access the full extent of his power once, there’s a reason that Kisame of the Akatsuki is too afraid to fight him when they first meet.

8. Minato

Of course, Minato would eventually exceed his master. Not only was he so powerful that he became the Fourth Hokage at an early age, he was feared throughout the entire world. Ninja were even ordered to flee away from him on sight.

Minato was extraordinarily fast, and the inventor of the powerful Rasengan ninjutsu technique.

In battle, any Shinobi but the absolute best would lose to him pretty much automatically.

7. Kakashi Hatake

Kakashi is the first powerhouse ninja we are ever introduced to. But the way the story handles this is expert – we don’t realize Kakashi is really all that special when we meet him. We don’t even realize how powerful he is when he faces Zabuza. However, we do see that no matter what Zabuza does, he’s just not on the same level as Kakashi. Kakashi still manages to manhandle him.

Still, the fact that Zabuza was able to face Kakashi and even be something of a challenge means that Zabuza is a lot more powerful than we give him credit for – not a lot of Shinobi would be capable of this. Given a few more years, Zabuza might have grown into an even more powerful enemy.

However, this is supposed to be about Kakashi – and there is plenty to say about him. He was conscripted into the Anbu Black Ops at age 13 (two years older than Itachi Uchiha was when he himself joined).

Kakashi was able to use multiple styles of ninjutsu, and even invented the hyper powerful Chidori, or Lightning Blade, technique.

It’s no wonder that Kakashi would eventually wind up becoming the Hokage – there wasn’t a single better choice for the role at the time.

6. Itachi Uchiha

Itachi is an enigma. Once hailed by the Naruto creator as the single most powerful ninja alive, even after the series end it is hard to fully comprehend the scope of his ability. Additionally, many point to the fact that Itachi lost to Sasuke as a mark against him. But, of course, it seems quite clear that Itachi was the master of that battle the whole time, carefully engineering his defeat at Sasuke’s hand.

Itachi’s powers include the unbelievable and fully realized effect of the Mangekyō Sharingan, as well as the Susanoo. Perhaps no other ninja alive has such a terrible grasp on genjutsu and ninjutsu as Itachi Uchiha.

5. Obito Uchiha

As it turns out, the main antagonist of the entire Naruto show happens to also be the childhood friend of Kakashi. That’s right. The very same guy who gave Kakashi his mysterious Sharingan is the main bad guy of the series. He is also one of the most powerful. Being an Uchiha, and a particularly powerful one at that, Obito was also a student of Minato’s, alongside Kakashi.

Obito would later study under none other than Madara Uchiha, and it was under his tutelage that he would access his true power. Obito was able to effectively control the Nine Tailed Fox, pose a threat to the great ninja nations, lead the Akatsuki from the shadows, and ascertain almost limitless power before the end.

He’s one tough act to follow.

4. Madara Uchiha

The original Uchiha badass, Madara is arguably the strongest Uchiha in history (before Sasuke). Strong enough to challenge the original “god of the Shinobi”, Madara is thought to be one of the principle antagonists throughout the Naruto series. Of course, in the controversial Great Shinobi War Arc, Madara ascertains even greater, unmatched power through his acquisition of the Rinnegan, and even eventually the Ten-Tailed beast’s Jinchuriki.

3. Hashirama Senju

Besides the two to come on this list, Senju was the original “god of the Shinobi” and founder of the Hidden Leaf Village. He was strong enough to beat Madara Uchiha when Uchiha was in his prime, and possessed the widely sought after ability to manipulate wood. This ability, manifested in the Senju clan, was a rare blood trait, or kekkei genkai, strong enough to rival the kekkei genkai of the Uchiha – that being the Sharingan.

2. Sasuke Uchiha

As heir to perhaps the strongest clan in history, Sasuke Uchiha had a lot to live up to. And, just like his older brother, Itachi, he was an inherent genius. The foil to Naruto, everything came easy to Sasuke, but that didn’t do much to help his attitude. In fact, Sasuke is a pretty big jerk for the majority of the show, seeking power at the expense of all else. In the end, he does gain enough power to rival Naruto, but Naruto is still the original OG badass.

1. Naruto Uzamaki

Who else could be number one? I mean, the show is named Naruto after all. Naruto goes through quite the adventure to get to the top spot on this list. He starts out as the number one knuckle headed ninja, unable to do the simplest of techniques, and having something of an attitude that pegs him as an eventual burnout.

However, through hard work, determination, and an ocean-sized amount of chakra courtesy of the Nine Tailed Fox, Naruto is eventually able to exceed any other ninja of his time, and in history.

He’s also one heck of a guy, too.