From Obito and Minato’s clandestine clash amidst the near-abandoned Hidden Leaf village to the series-closing and explosive battle between Naruto and Sasuke, Naruto and its subsequent chronicles, Naruto Shippuden, never fall short when it comes to epic earth-shattering, mind-bending, and skin-melting combat scenes.
It’s the characters, however, that pack the final punch.
Naruto’s Nine-Tailed Fox is only one of the series’ many combatants who decimate their opponents with unyielding intensity. But who is the strongest character in Naruto? There might still be 10 things you didn’t about Naruto. So, let’s dive into the archives to track down the most dynamic and powerful characters that make these anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto a true force of nature. Plus, the collectibles every Naruto superfan will get from our Naruto box.
#1 Hagoromo Otsutsuki (Sage of Six Paths)
As legend tells, the ninja arts began with Hagoromo Otsutsuki, a godlike figure who possessed two powerful chakras:
- The Sharingan – The Mirror Wheel Eye chakra enhances a ninja’s perception by generating overwhelming emotional states. This chakra is difficult to master. However, when Hagoromo awakens the Sharingan, he hones all three tomoe of the eye immediately, allowing him to skillfully perceive targets around him during battle.
- The Rinnegan – Also known as the Samsara Eye, the one who yields this power during times of conflict can reign down upon Earth as either the God of Creation or the God of Destruction. Using this force, Hagoromo saves the world from the Ten-Tails to eventually create Ninshu, the religion that centered around peace and mastering the chakras—which became a precursor to ninjutsu, the ninja techniques practiced by Earth’s shinobi force.
After mastering both Sharingan and Rinnegan, Hagoromo holds the Ten-Tailed Beast within him and creates the remaining Nine-Tailed Beasts.
What makes this Naruto character all-powerful: Without the Sage of Six Paths, Naruto’s Earth and the power held by the shinobi and kunoichi would simply cease to exist, making Hagoromo one of the most commanding presences within the Naruto universe.
#2 Naruto Uzumaki (The Seventh Hokage)
As the titular character, Naruto Uzumaki displays steadfast emotional and physical strength throughout the series. He’s a shinobi of the Uzumaki Clan, has been the holder of the Nine-Tails since his birth, and possesses immense chakra reserve.
In his pursuit to become the village’s Hokage, he hones this chakra and is able to share it with others during battle. He eventually claims a powerful life-force that grants him healing powers, stamina, and vitality. This allows him to:
- Fend off Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique
- Overload Delta’s chakra-absorbing eye with his Rasengan powers
- Defeat Sasuke with pure physical strength
What makes this character all-powerful: Equipped with the capabilities of the Nine-Tailed Beast, his powerful chakra reserve, and a mastery of the mystical taijutsu combat skills, Naruto annihilates his enemies with ease.
#3 Sasuke Uchiha
The cursed Uchiha Clan, which are descendants of Hagoromo, is reputed as the strongest of the village—and Sasuke is one of the last surviving members.
But what makes Sasuke one of the strongest Naruto characters? His expertise in both Fire and Lightning Release Techniques, as well as his mastery of the Sharingan—the Mirror Eye Wheel chakra first mastered by Hagoromo himself.
Eventually, Sasuke also comes to master the Rinnegan and receives a power-up from the Sage of Six Paths, cementing his reputation as the clan’s prodigy shinobi.
What makes this character all-powerful: As the reincarnation of Indra Ōtsutsuki, Sasuke’s power is strengthened by his desire to avenge his clan, which is only reinforced by his skillful chakra control and massive chakra reserves.
#4 Obito Uchiha (Tobi)
Known for his black eye that puddles across the left side of his face, Obito Uchiha is another surviving member of the Uchiha clan that was saved and trained by Madara, the clan’s legendary leader.
He’s a skilled ninja and effortlessly defeats the Four Hokage in battle. He also gains the Rinnegan and the Sharingan, granting him access to the capabilities of the Sage of Six Paths to eventually become the Ten-Tails Jinchuuriki during the Fourth Shinobi World War (The Great Ninja War).
Throughout the series, Obito effortlessly defeats a number of skilled enemies, including:
- Itachi Uchiha
- Nagato Uzumaki
- Hashirama Senju (First Hokage)
- Minato Namikaze (Fourth Hokage)
- Tobirama Senju (Second Hokage)
What makes this character all-powerful: Coupled with strong chakra and the ability to hone the Rinnegan and the Sharingan, the shinobi and Hokage are no match for Obito’s Sage of Six Paths superpowers.
#5 Hashirama Senju (The First Hokage)
The founder of the Hidden Leaf village, Hashirama is upheld for his exceptional ninja skills, mastering senjutsu, barrier ninjutsu, medical ninjutsu, fuinjutsu, and bukijutsu. As such, he’s esteemed as the God of Shinobi and known as one of the strongest warriors in history.
As a member of the Senju (meaning “a thousand skills”) Clan, his chakra is robust and dense enough that it releases powerful shockwaves without the need for hand seals. Plus, his life-force is so strong that he can fight nonstop for 24 hours and regenerate with no residual injuries.
Beyond that, he’s proficient in all five Nature Transformations, which he uses to:
- Build wood clones that were nearly identical to himself
- Produce flowering trees that would strike enemies unconscious
- Change the wooded landscape to ensnarl opponents
And when he enters Sage Mode, he’s absolutely formidable.
What makes this Naruto character all-powerful: This renowned shinobi uses his unmatched chakra to conjure a powerful punch in the face of each of his foes, specifically when faced against Obito.
#6 Madara Uchiha
Madara is, hands down, one of the most powerful shinobi in the history of the Naruto universe—he’s known as the strongest Uchiha, even four decades after his death.
His chakra is vile and wicked, but it’s strong. Even before he awakens his Sharingan, he defeats adult shinobi from the Senju Clan as a child and competes effortlessly against Hashirama after he’s given the title of Hokage. Like Hashirama, he can battle for an entire day before feeling depleted. However, unlike the First Hokage, Madara can enter Sage Mode with no prior training in senjutsu, making him a truly intimidating opponent.
What makes this anime character all-powerful: Madara is one of the series’ most notorious antagonists for good reason—he’s a skilled shinobi and can harness the power of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Ten-Tails, and Sage Mode for ultimate domination.
#7 Kaguya Ōtsutsuki
Who is the strongest character in the Naruto universe? It may very well be the matriarch of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
Kaguya harnesses her power from the God Tree. After eating its fruit, she becomes the first wielder of chakra on Earth and later merges with the tree to become Ten-Tails. As such, her powers are otherworldly, allowing her to:
- Interstellar travel
- Put enemies to sleep
- Hypnotize opponents
- Erase memories
- Unleash powerful shockwaves and chakra fists
- Use Byakugan for 360-degree vision
- Utilize her third eye, Rinne Sharingan, to heighten her perception
And she can fight, too—with lightning-quick speeds, she’s an expert in ninjutsu.
What makes this anime character all-powerful: Not only is Kaguya the Ten-Tailed Beast, but she’s also traced back to the origin of chakra, giving her strength of epic proportions.
#8 Might Guy
His name says it all—he’s mighty. After failing the entrance exam to the Ninja Academy, Might is taken in by Sakumo, who sees that Might possesses pure, unbridled physical strength. However, he soon becomes a powerful shinobi who’s skilled in both taijutsu and ninjutsu.
He later fights Six-Tails alone during the Fourth Shinobi World War and almost defeats Madara in his Ten-Tails form. His strength is nearly inhuman, allowing him to utilize a variety of skills, including:
- Strong Fist – As a taijutsu master, Might can use full force to break bones and physically dominate his opponents.
- Eight Inner Gates – After unlocking each gate, Might is able to harness unique physical and mental abilities that boost his chakra during battle.
- Night Guy – Might can utilize a single power-punched kick that distorts time and space.
What makes this character all-powerful: Once the eight gates are opened, Might Guy is a powerful character who can harness the power of the Front Lotus, Reverse Lotus, Morning Peacock, Daytime Tiger, and Evening Elephant to unleash a barrage of force against his opponents.
Unleash Your Shinobi Strength with CultureFly
The greats of the Naruto and Naruto Shippuden series certainly strike a chord within the fibers of the Naruto Universe—their all-powerful chakras unmatched, their shinobi powers polished, their power-packed punches at an all-time high.
Whether you’re rooting for the evil Madara Uchiha or cheering on Naruto’s Nine-Tailed form, who is the strongest Naruto character is a debate that’s certainly bound to be an inexhaustible one—perhaps just as endless as Hashirama’s life-force.
For an action-packed experience that’s just as unceasing, subscribe to CultureFly’s quarterly subscription Naruto Shippuden box. Each nerd box comes with a variety of new apparel, accessories, and collectibles that memorialize Naruto’s most noteworthy characters and moments.
Once it arrives, you’ll be able to teleport directly into the Naruto universe: Zip up a green military jacket akin to those worn at the Ninja Academy before chugging down a Nine-Tail water bottle to replenish your own life-force. You may also come across a collection of posters, decals, and pillows; mugs, tumblers, planters, and blankets; and replica props, tote bags, pins, and keychains.
With CultureFly, the journey has just begun. Charge your CultureFly chakra today.
Sources:
Narutopedia. Naruto Uzumaki. https://naruto.fandom.com/wiki/Naruto_Uzumaki
CBR. Naruto: 10 Strongest Characters At The End Of The Series. https://www.cbr.com/naruto-strongest-characters/
CBR. Naruto: 5 Characters You Didn't Know Obito Could Defeat (& 5 He Stands No Chance Against). https://www.cbr.com/obito-vs-naruto-characters-would-defeat-no-chance/
Narutopedia. Hashirama Senju. https://naruto.fandom.com/wiki/Hashirama_Senju#Abilities
Narutopedia. Madara Uchiha. https://naruto.fandom.com/wiki/Madara_Uchiha#Abilities