Determining who the greatest shinobi of all time is has sparked many debates among fans of the Naruto series. With so many powerful ninja to choose from, it can be difficult to decide who stands above the rest. In this article, we will examine some of the top contenders for the title of greatest shinobi and look at their skills, accomplishments, and overall impact on the shinobi world.
What Makes a Great Shinobi?
When evaluating the greatest shinobi, there are several factors to consider:
- Strength and fighting abilities
- Mastery of ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, and other techniques
- Strategic and analytical skills
- Leadership and ability to inspire others
- Impact on the shinobi world and legacy
A truly great shinobi excels in all of these areas. They possess incredible power, finesse, intelligence, and influence that sets them apart from their peers. Of course, any ranking of great shinobi is somewhat subjective. But by looking at these factors, we can evaluate who stands out as the best of the best.
The Sannin: Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru
Few shinobi in history can compare to the legendary Sannin, the three ninja trained by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. Consisting of Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, the Sannin were undoubtedly some of the most powerful ninja of their time. They displayed prodigious talent even as genin and chunin, quickly mastering complex jutsu and fighting at a higher level than most jonin. The name “Sannin” actually stems from their survival against Hanzo of the Salamander, a feat deemed so incredible that Hanzo granted them the title.
Each of the Sannin stand out in their own right:
- Tsunade revolutionized medical ninjutsu and eventually became the Fifth Hokage, known for her immense strength, skills as a healer, and leadership of the village.
- Jiraiya was a seal master, sage, and spymaster, also training the Ame Orphans and Fourth Hokage.
- Orochimaru was a prodigy obsessed with learning all jutsu, though his twisted experiments made him a legendary villain.
Though they went down very different paths, all three Sannin possessed the power and skill to potentially claim the title of greatest shinobi. Even in old age, they remained Kage-level fighters. Ultimately, the Sannin set the benchmark for what the next generation would need to surpass.
The Hokage Candidates
The Hokage stand above all other shinobi in a village, so many of history’s greatest have come from their ranks. Here are some of the top Hokage candidates for the title of greatest shinobi:
Hashirama Senju
Hashirama was the First Hokage and founder of Konoha alongside Madara Uchiha. Wielding the incredible Wood Style kekkei genkai and mastering senjutsu, Hashirama was arguably the most powerful shinobi of his time. His powers were so great that people thought they were merely myths and exaggeration. In reality, Hashirama could summon massive forests, heal fatal injuries, and subdue the Nine-Tails fox demon. His strength was instrumental in ending the Warring States period. However, he failed to fully resolve the Uchiha’s status in Konoha, sowing seeds of future conflict.
Tobirama Senju
The Second Hokage and younger brother of Hashirama, Tobirama was a brilliant inventor of ninjutsu. He created important techniques like the Shadow Clone Jutsu and Flying Thunder God Technique, which would influence shinobi combat forever after. A skilled leader and tactician, Tobirama also established Konoha’s organizational system and various institutions like the Academy, ANBU, and Chunin Exams. However, like his brother, Tobirama harbored some prejudice towards the Uchiha clan.
Minato Namikaze
Becoming Fourth Hokage at a young age, Minato Namikaze was regarded as one of the most gifted shinobi ever. His speed was unmatched, earning him the moniker “Yellow Flash of the Leaf” and allowing him to defeat entire platoons single-handedly. He was also incredibly bright, creating the Rasengan and mastering senjutsu. As Hokage he inspired great loyalty and morale. Tragically, Minato died young protecting the village from the Nine-Tails attack, so his ultimate potential went unrealized.
Hiruzen Sarutobi
The Third Hokage trained the Sannin and led Konoha through three separate tenures. Known as “The Professor” for mastering all jutsu in the village, Hiruzen was both incredibly powerful and wise. His knowledge and experience allowed him to advise multiple generations of villagers. However, Hiruzen made the fateful mistake of showing mercy to Orochimaru after discovering his twisted experiments. Nonetheless, he remained fiercely devoted to the village up until his death against Orochimaru.
Prodigies of Their Era
Here are some other once-in-a-generation prodigies that stand out when discussing the greatest shinobi:
Kakashi Hatake
As a young child, Kakashi Hatake became a jonin and joined the ANBU. His skills earned him recognition across the shinobi world, giving him the moniker “Kakashi of the Sharingan” after receiving Obito’s eye. Kakashi mastered over 1000 jutsu, created the Chidori, and copied techniques with his Sharingan with ease. Under his leadership, Team 7 nurtured legends like Naruto and Sasuke. Although he admits he made mistakes with Sasuke, Kakashi’s capabilities and reputation are undeniable.
Itachi Uchiha
Itachi Uchiha was an Uchiha prodigy who became an ANBU captain by 13. He possessed exceptional talents in all shinobi arts and had masterful analytical ability. Driven by his desire to protect the village, Itachi took on the burden of slaughtering his clan to prevent civil war. Afterwards he joined the Akatsuki as a double agent, all while battling a fatal illness. Were it not for his early death, Itachi may have surpassed all other Uchiha.
Sasuke Uchiha
Driven his entire life by his brother Itachi’s actions, Sasuke Uchiha sought the power to avenge his clan. He absorbed Orochimaru’s abilities and later obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, mastering the flames of Amaterasu. His ocular powers even exceed Itachi’s, and he can control the Nine-Tails with his Rinnegan. However, Sasuke’s vengeance led him down a dark path of defection, limiting the full extent of good he could have done for the shinobi world.
Might Guy
Though lacking any kekkei genkai or special abilities, Might Guy became one of the strongest taijutsu specialists through hard work alone. Guy pushed his physical training to the utmost limit, being the only shinobi able to open all Eight Gates. Doing so allowed him to fight toe-to-toe with even Madara Uchiha for a time despite Madara’s divine powers. Guy’s dedication reveals that with enough training, genius talent can be matched through sheer force of will.
Younger Generation Candidates
The latest generation of shinobi also boasts many outstanding talents who may one day take the title of greatest. Here are some of the most likely candidates:
Naruto Uzumaki
Hero of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto Uzumaki is the current Seventh Hokage and strongly in contention for greatest of all time. He mastered the Nine-Tails’ chakra and senjutsu transformations, can use incredibly complex techniques like the Rasenshuriken, and knows advanced fuinjutsu. After gaining Half of the Nine-Tails’ chakra and Six Paths power, Naruto reached demigod levels of strength. His charisma and empathy also earned him deep admiration across the world. Naruto has surpassed all expectations for a former dead-last of the Academy.
Sakura Haruno
Though often overshadowed by her teammates, Sakura Haruno became one of the greatest medical ninja in history under Tsunade’s tutelage. Her strength rivals Tsunade’s, she mastered the Creation Rebirth technique to heal fatal wounds, and leads the medical teams of Konoha. She even acquired the Strength of a Hundred Seal. Sakura provides critical support on the frontlines with her skills. While not the greatest fighter alone, her abilities bolster those around her immensely.
Shikamaru Nara
With an IQ over 200, Shikamaru Nara is undoubtedly one of the smartest shinobi in history. His strategies have turned the tide of battles and wars. Though initially unmotivated, Shikamaru grew into his duties and became a pivotal advisor to Naruto, even temporarily leading the Shinobi Alliance forces against the Ten-Tails. For all his laziness, Shikamaru has the complete trust of Konoha’s leadership thanks to his tactical brilliance.
Rock Lee
Much like his teacher Might Guy, Rock Lee has no natural special talents. Yet through incredibly arduous taijutsu training, Lee became a supreme hand-to-hand fighter. He was the only genin able to fight on par with Gaara during the Chunin Exams. Later Lee could wield several of the Eight Gates and battled the resurrected Madara using the Drunken Fist. Though still lacking ninjutsu or genjutsu abilities, Lee continues to work tirelessly to maximize his taijutsu.
The Ultimate Candidates
After examining many of the greatest shinobi in history, two names stand out as the ultimate contenders for the title:
Hashirama Senju
Hashirama Senju possessed such unrivaled power that many thought he had divine blessings. His Wood Style jutsu could suppress even the Nine-Tails, and in battle he was virtually unbeatable. None could match his prowess during his lifetime. Hashirama laid the foundation for modern shinobi villages, realizing a long-held dream of peace and stability. Though the era of the Warring States ultimately resumed, Hashirama was instrumental in temporarily halting the nonstop violence.
Naruto Uzumaki
What puts Naruto Uzumaki on the same level as Hashirama is his combination of phenomenal power with positive influence. Like Hashirama, Naruto gained abilities rivaling the Sage of Six Paths himself. He forged bonds of trust with the tailed beasts and united the entire shinobi world against threats like Obito, Madara, and Kaguya. His empathy and charm turned former enemies into allies. As Hokage, Naruto guides Konoha and the world into a new era. In many ways, he is the “reincarnation” of Hashirama’s dreams.
Conclusion
Choosing who stands above all other shinobi is no easy task, but Hashirama Senju and Naruto Uzumaki make the strongest cases. Both achieved godlike power that cemented them as the strongest of their eras. However, Naruto advances Hashirama’s mission for peace further than anyone, truly unifying ninja together after centuries of conflict. For this reason, Naruto Uzumaki can be considered the greatest shinobi in history at this point in time. Of course, only time will tell whether Naruto’s legacy endures and if a new shinobi ever surpasses the legends of the past.