Top 10 Smartest Naruto Characters

When it comes to Naruto, the battles and action-packed moments might steal the spotlight, but let's not forget how much strategy and intelligence play a role in shaping the story. Some of the most memorable characters aren't just strong fighters. They're also brilliant tacticians, planners, and masterminds.

This list is all about ranking the smartest characters in Naruto. You'll find everyone from strategic geniuses to those who can pull off mind-bending schemes without breaking a sweat. These are the characters who could always figure out the best way to get out of tough situations, plan ahead of their enemies, or simply outwit everyone around them. Some are legendary for their intelligence on the battlefield, while others are known for their ability to manipulate entire nations or groups to achieve their goals.

The Top Ten

Itachi Uchiha

Itachi often feels like he has a higher "battle IQ" or "situational awareness" compared to Shikamaru, who is more of a strategist, but both are considered geniuses. Unlike Shikamaru, Itachi's intelligence can plan years ahead and come into use at any time. Itachi was stated by Hiruzen to have the mindset of a Hokage at age seven.

Yes, he is the smartest Naruto character. Graduating from the academy at only six years old, he was already recognized as having the mind of a Hokage. At eight years old, he defeated an ANBU with his analytical prowess. He was a genius from the beginning.
Joining the Akatsuki was part of his plan, allowing him to leak information about the organization to the village. Even though he killed his clan, he understood it was for the sake of the village and his brother.
His plans excel in analytical and strategical battles. Moreover, his fight with Sasuke was only to free him from Orochimaru's curse, knowing that it would be his last fight. He is a remarkable character: smart, strong, and loyal to his village.
Shikamaru Nara

Shikamaru Nara is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a shinobi of Konohagakure and a member of Team 10 who is known for his prodigious intelligence and lazy demeanor. Over the course of the story, Shikamaru rises through the ranks to become... read more

He defeated Hidan despite being weaker than him! He easily identified how Hidan's fighting style and powers worked, as well as permanently neutralized an effectively immortal opponent. At around age 12 or 13, he was allowed to lead groups of people and adapted when plans fell apart. Even when he got older, he assisted with alliance strategy and even became Hokage!

I don't know why people keep saying Itachi is so smart. He failed at keeping the village safe from Pain and failed at changing Sasuke.
I think having an IQ over 200 at the age of 7 is much smarter than having the wisdom of a Hokage at the same age. No Kage in the history of Naruto has had an IQ anywhere near 200. Additionally, the Nara Clan is to superhuman intelligence what the Uchiha Clan is to Sharingan.
It's an ability, not a trait. So genetically, Shikamaru is way smarter than Itachi.
Madara Uchiha

Madara Uchiha is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto. He first appears in "Part II" of the manga and the Naruto: Shippuden anime adaptation as one of the main antagonists.... read more

He did not just dream of a peaceful world. He engineered a complex, multi-generational conspiracy. He factored in his own death, the manipulation of the Uchiha and Senju lineages, and the corruption of key figures. He perfectly orchestrated Obito Uchiha's trauma and descent into darkness, conditioning him to act as Madara's proxy, revive the Akatsuki, and execute his resurrection protocol. Upon being reanimated and blinded, he accurately deduced the nature of the Edo Tensei release, manipulated Nagato, and quickly calculated how to force his own revival at the perfect moment.

Madara's manipulation is terrifying because it wasn't loud, flashy, or obvious. It was quiet, patient, generational, and perfectly targeted. Madara's greatest weapon is the half-truth. He does not tell the full truth, but he does not lie. He gives you the truth about the cycle of violence and the truth about war, then he twists the conclusion. He waits until people are at their lowest, then offers a solution. He even used Hashirama in a way, and he used the entire world after decades of conflict. He manipulates people he hasn't even met.
Shikaku Nara

Shikaku Nara is the most overlooked genius in the entire Naruto universe. He was literally the brain behind the Allied Shinobi Forces, coordinating five nations in the middle of a world-ending war as if it were just another strategy game.
Shikaku was saving lives with nothing but raw IQ and flawless battlefield analysis. And the disrespect he receives is unacceptable. People treat him like just "Shikamaru's dad," but he was outsmarting Kage-level threats before most of the cast even finished puberty.
He strategized in real time against immortal zombie generals, coordinated tailed beast threats, and made life-or-death decisions with no chakra flex at all, just cold and calculated brilliance.
Give this man his credit. Shikaku did not need flashy jutsu or legendary bloodlines. He was the mind behind the war. Without him, half the cast would have been dead before Madara even arrived.
Orochimaru

Orochimaru is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is known as one of the series' most powerful and dangerous antagonists, obsessed with gaining immortality and mastering forbidden jutsu. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies... read more

Orochimaru could master most forbidden jutsu at a young age, something most adults couldn't even do. He was the one who developed body-switching immortality techniques and was even able to use Hashirama's cells on his subjects. He literally achieved something close to synthetic human creation with free will once he made Mitsuki. Orochimaru has a deep understanding of chakra mechanics along with genetics. He's obsessively knowledgeable!

He becomes a formidable force under the Third Hokage's tutelage. Orochimaru ultimately defects from the Hidden Leaf Village and demonstrates his proficiency with multiple jutsu on his vile quest to become immortal. Orochimaru experiments on several people, including children, to test out the curse seal he develops in an attempt to create the perfect vessel.
His despicable actions allow him to conduct countless inhumane experiments. These result in his vast knowledge regarding jutsu and DNA. His intellect, combined with his manipulative nature, helps him establish the Sound Village, mastermind a vicious attack on Konoha with the Sand Village's help, utilize Edo Tensei to resurrect the First and Second Hokage, and master Snake Sage Mode.
Obito Uchiha

Obito Uchiha, also known by his alias Tobi, is a fictional character from the Naruto universe. He was created by Masashi Kishimoto and is a central antagonist in the series. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime, movies, OVAs, video games, and various forms of merchandise.

He's shrewd and cunning. He always had something devious in mind, and it was not our idea of what is good. His ideals were too far-fetched, and he was quite skilled in manipulation.
He is a charismatic character who would use everyone for his own benefit. He was smart enough to learn the ways of the shinobi world and brave enough to crush the system that allowed kids to go to war, even if it meant destroying the village he sought to protect.

He was deviously cunning enough to unleash the Kyubi on the Hidden Leaf Village, causing massive destruction and indirectly leading to the deaths of his sensei and his wife. This, in turn, set the stage for the Uchiha clan massacre, all while he manipulated the shinobi world disguised as Uchiha Madara.
He controlled the leader of Kirigakure, operated in the shadows of the Akatsuki organization, and carefully planned the downfall of the Leaf for a second time.
Kabuto Yakushi

Kabuto Yakushi is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He initially appears as a medical-nin and spy working for Orochimaru. Kabuto later becomes a major antagonist during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

He was a fantastic spy and probably one of the most true-to-name "ninjas" in the show in regard to tactics and demeanor. It's pretty safe to say that he's the only person who has shown abilities and feats close to, and arguably even more intelligent than, Shikamaru in the series. Keeping track of a billion newly reorganized neurons in a few seconds is pretty comparable to keeping track of a thousand plans.
The first six points show he's at least above the level of intelligence of the Sannin and Kakashi, but the last one makes it reasonable to suggest his IQ is above 200. His intelligence is more than one-dimensional. It incorporates calculations, analysis, keen observations, predictions, insight, intuition, intellect, professional knowledge, situational comprehension, cleverness, quick thinking, memory, ingenuity, and adaptiveness. It's more than just an offshoot of his medical talents. If anything, his medical talents likely emerged as a result of his intelligence combined with his upbringing as the son of the medical unit leader.
Tsunade Senju

Tsunade is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise. She was created by Masashi Kishimoto and is one of the Legendary Sannin. Tsunade is known for her medical skills, superhuman strength, and her leadership as the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Yes, Hashirama Senju had extraordinary healing abilities. Madara specifically praised Hashirama's ability to heal without hand seals, but it's Hashirama. Nobody came close to him without power boosts or plot armor. Tsunade still developed advanced medical techniques used throughout the village, perfected the Strength of a Hundred Seal, and modernized medicine!
Tsunade also repeatedly tried to protect Naruto because she understood he was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. In fact, one of her biggest political conflicts was resisting attempts to treat Naruto as a mere military asset. Canonically, Tsunade is portrayed as one of the smartest characters in the series. Not necessarily on the level of pure scientific researchers like Orochimaru or Tobirama, but she's unquestionably an elite strategist, administrator, physician, and teacher.
Minato Namikaze

Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves and the man responsible for sealing the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox inside Naruto Uzumaki at the time of Naruto's birth. Doing so cost him his life, and before dying, he asked that the villagers not see Naruto as the monster within him... read more

Minato is a top-tier genius with elite combat IQ, high-level analytical intelligence, and exceptional jutsu innovation! Obito has one of the most broken abilities in the series, intangibility, yet Minato could observe the timing of Kamui in seconds and counter it on his first attempt. A, the Raikage, is one of the fastest characters alive, but you guys saw how Minato could react to and read his movements easily.

He mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique (Hiraishin) and even improved it beyond what Tobirama Senju, its creator, was able to do. This required extremely sharp spatial awareness and an understanding of time-space ninjutsu.
He developed the Rasengan entirely on his own, showing innovation and deep chakra control. Minato also devised counterstrategies in high-pressure scenarios within seconds, such as when he deduced Obito's teleportation jutsu mechanics mid-battle and used his own technique to outmaneuver him.
His analytical skills, calm demeanor under stress, and ability to think several steps ahead even during life-or-death situations show his tactical brilliance. As a Hokage, he possessed not only raw power but also the intellect to protect and lead his village with precision and foresight.
Hiruzen Sarutobi

Hiruzen Sarutobi is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the Third Hokage of Konohagakure and is known for his mastery of all forms of ninja techniques. Hiruzen served as Hokage during multiple generations and was a mentor to several key... read more

Hiruzen Sarutobi was very smart, both in terms of battle intelligence and overall wisdom. However, his intelligence was often overshadowed by his failures as a leader, especially later in life. He was known as "The Professor" because he mastered every jutsu in Konoha and was said to know over a thousand jutsu, including all five chakra natures. He managed to maintain peace in the village through multiple wars and transitions of power. He was smart enough to make the Third Hokage appear weak in public to reduce assassination risks and create a false sense of vulnerability.
His intelligence did not help when he failed Naruto in major ways. He left him isolated, unloved, and uneducated about his parents or the Nine-Tails. He also allowed Danzo to gain power and let Orochimaru escape.

The Newcomers

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Izuna Uchiha

He was less soft on the Senju clan compared to his brother Madara. I found that he was so loyal that he rejected medical help from Hashirama just for the Uchiha clan.
The Senju in the war had killed most of the Uchiha, and Tobirama had spread rumors about Madara from the start. Izuna was right to be careful and jumpy around the Senju. Sure, the Senju did not go around abusing Uchiha kids, but they still killed Izuna's loved ones.

We didn't see much of Izuna, but I could tell he was very bright! He mastered most combat skills, sword fighting, and the Sharingan as a child!
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Sai Yamanaka

His Root conditioning taught him to masterfully read subtle physical tells. He could easily detect hesitation, lies, and hidden loyalties simply by watching a person's facial expressions or body language. His signature Super Beast Scroll required not only vast creativity to bring ink to life but also high situational awareness, as he constantly adapted his drawings to the tactical needs of the battlefield. His profound analytical abilities earned him a leadership role. He eventually became the Chief of Konohagakure's Anbu and the head of the village's analysis department, acting as a crucial advisor and strategist.

The Contenders

Danzo Shimura

Danzō Shimura is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto. He appears in both the manga and anime adaptations as a high-ranking ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village. Known for leading the secretive organization Root, Danzō plays a central role in the series' political... read more

Hate him all you want, but he's a highly smart man. He secretly built and directed Root, a ruthless, emotionless ANBU division that operated entirely outside the Hokage's oversight. He easily engineered the Uchiha Clan massacre, covertly aligned with Orochimaru for illegal biological experiments, and ignited the very conflicts that created villains like Pain and Kabuto. While he claimed to love and protect Konoha above all else, his power-hungry nature made him deeply selfish, causing massive internal damage to the village's military and social fabric.

Danzo's nefarious deeds make him the most calculated villain in anime history. Danzo works tirelessly behind the scenes to facilitate his own rise to power. Though he commits unspeakable crimes to complete his plans, he truly believes it is for the good of his village. While Danzo's actions are inexcusable, they are undoubtedly brilliant.
Danzo manages to obtain 10 Sharingan, regulate the Uchiha massacre, found the Anbu Black Ops, dismantle the original Akatsuki, and nearly become the Sixth Hokage. Danzo's schemes lead to several murders and assassination attempts. He also establishes villains like Pain. His dubious and manipulative ploys result in immense suffering, but they are nothing short of brilliant.
Kakashi Hatake

Kakashi Hatake is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He serves as the leader and mentor of Team 7, which includes Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Kakashi is known for his mastery of the Sharingan eye and his calm, analytical approach... read more

Trained Itachi. Trained Sasuke. Studied with the Third and Fourth. Advised the Fifth on many matters. Kakashi had unrestricted access to Konoha's library. The man invented techniques based on theoretical principles that actually work.
Side note: Does anyone else in the manga even read besides Kakashi? I acknowledge Minato and Jiraiya as readers, but they are dead, and the Fifth reads scrolls along with Orochimaru. Although Kakashi spends his free time reading kissing tactics - ah, I didn't make a good point there... but he is a real smart aleck!

I'm disappointed that he is lower than Sasuke because Kakashi is the one who taught him all about his Chidori, which is one of his most powerful moves. Not only that, but Kakashi is smart enough to know how to use his Sharingan even when he isn't part of the Uchiha clan.
Kakashi was also taught by the Fourth, who is brilliant too. So I don't know how you could put him lower than someone as awful as Sasuke. That is totally backstabbing Kakashi.
Tobirama Senju

Tobirama Senju is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the younger brother of Hashirama Senju and the Second Hokage of Konohagakure. Tobirama is known for creating several important techniques and institutions within the village.

He could be one of the smartest characters in the show besides Shikamaru. Tobirama Senju is the smartest Hokage there ever was. Not only was he smart enough to lead his village during the First Great Ninja War, but he also created some of the strongest Jutsu in all of Naruto.
To name a few, Tobirama created the war-starting Reanimation Jutsu, the Flying Thunder God Jutsu which was later popularized by Minato, the Shadow Clone Jutsu famously used by Naruto, and many more. When Tobirama was reanimated during the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Allied Shinobi Forces benefited greatly from it.
Sure, his brother and First Hokage Hashirama Senju is also a powerful force in battle, but there are not many characters in all of Naruto who are smarter than Tobirama.
Shisui Uchiha

Shisui Uchiha is a fictional character in the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He was a member of the Uchiha clan and a close friend of Itachi Uchiha. Shisui was known for his powerful genjutsu, particularly the Kotoamatsukami, and played a key role in the series' backstory... read more

He was a prodigy and classed as one of the greatest Uchiha to have ever lived. He had what I believe was the correct idea behind the philosophy of being a Shinobi at age 10. At that age, he set the guidelines for Itachi on how he would aid the Leaf:
"Nameless individuals who maintain peace from the shadows. I believe that is a true Shinobi."
And that was exactly what Itachi, and later Sasuke in Boruto, would become.
So, in my eyes, he was an absolute genius. Philosophically, in terms of talent, and logically overall. During the time when he and Itachi, who was eight years old, went on a mission to find a fugitive before they were confronted by Anbu, he demonstrated incredible ability to trace the fugitive using the smallest of clues and excellent problem-solving skills.
I firmly believe that he had a very high IQ. But an actual number? We do not know. The only confirmed IQ in the show is Shikamaru's, which is over 200. We can safely assume that Shisui's was also very high.
Sasuke Uchiha

Sasuke Uchiha is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the Uchiha clan and one of the main characters in the series. Sasuke is portrayed as Naruto Uzumaki's rival and follows a complex path throughout the storyline.

Sasuke consistently shows extremely sharp combat intelligence, which is one of the hardest forms of intelligence to portray because it happens in real time. During fights, he is constantly analyzing abilities, adapting on the fly, and exploiting weaknesses within seconds. A clear example is his fight with Deidara, where he doesn't just overpower him but actually studies how Deidara's explosions work, deduces the weaknesses related to Lightning Release, and counters accordingly. That kind of rapid analysis under pressure is not something an average fighter in the series can do.
He also demonstrates strong pattern recognition and deduction, especially when dealing with unfamiliar opponents. When he first encounters Itachi's genjutsu techniques or later faces characters like Killer Bee, he is actively testing limits, checking patterns, and adjusting his approach instead of relying on brute force. Even when he loses or struggles, it is rarely because he fails to understand what's happening. It is usually because the opponent has overwhelming advantages or hax abilities.
Sasuke also has a form of strategic intelligence, though it's more subtle and often overshadowed by his emotional decisions. He is capable of long-term goals and calculated moves, such as aligning himself with Orochimaru to gain power, later turning on him at the right moment, and then navigating alliances and betrayals within Akatsuki and beyond. The issue is that his decisions are sometimes influenced by trauma and revenge, which makes people assume he lacks intelligence, when in reality, he is making calculated decisions based on a flawed emotional framework.
Sasori

Sasori is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the criminal organization Akatsuki and is known for his mastery of puppetry techniques. Sasori is a powerful rogue ninja who turned his own body into a puppet to enhance his combat... read more

He didn't just create puppets, he preserved abilities and even managed to turn his own body into a puppet while retaining control.

He's recognized as a genius in puppet-making and combat strategy. He created some of the most powerful and complex puppets in the series, including himself, which was a huge feat that made him practically immortal.
Sasori's strategic skills are also evident in battle, as he's able to anticipate his opponents' moves and control multiple puppets at once. He even defeated and killed the Third Kazekage, known as the strongest Kazekage of his time, which required a high level of intelligence and skill.
Sasori's knowledge of poisons and medicine also highlights his intellect, as he created potent toxins that were nearly impossible to cure. His strategic thinking is evident in his combat style, where he manipulates puppets to confuse and outmaneuver opponents. Sasori's intelligence, combined with his skills and innovation, made him one of the most dangerous members of the Akatsuki.
Jiraiya

Jiraiya is a fictional character in the Naruto anime and manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. Introduced in the first part of the series, he was a student of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. He is also one of the "Legendary Sannin" alongside Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade, who were his former teammates... read more

Haha, yeah, Jiraiya definitely had that "wild sage" vibe. He was brash, goofy, and sometimes downright clueless, especially when it came to women or subtle social cues. He was the ultimate lovable idiot who would crack a joke or make a ridiculous pervy comment right before dropping some serious ninja wisdom. His goofy antics sometimes made him look like he wasn't taking things seriously, which fooled a lot of people.
But underneath that goofy exterior, Jiraiya was sharp as hell. He was a brilliant strategist, a legendary Sannin, and one of the smartest shinobi of his time. He trained some of the strongest ninjas ever - Naruto, Minato, and even Nagato - helping shape their skills and ideals.
Kaguya Otsutsuki

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is portrayed as the first wielder of chakra and is the mother of Hagoromo and Hamura Ōtsutsuki. Kaguya serves as the final antagonist of the original series.

Creating the Infinite Tsukuyomi system was all on Kaguya! Kaguya didn't just cast a jutsu, she created an entire global control system.

Alright, I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but Kaguya, even though she is so hated, was a boring final villain, and lost as soon as she was on-screen, was pulling the strings on everyone. I mean, Madara, Pain, etc.
Shikadai Nara

Shikadai Nara is one of the smartest members of the new generation, but unlike his father, Shikamaru Nara, he hasn't had a single "Hidan-level" legendary IQ showcase yet. Most of his intelligence feats are spread across missions and exams. Much like young Shikamaru, he often seemed several moves ahead of his opponents, but he's better at reading emotions. Against Yodo, he identified that her hearing was the key to her combat style and exploited the weakness once he understood the mechanism. He's frequently treated as one of the more reliable thinkers among the younger shinobi anyway.

He analyzes situations calmly and picks efficient, low-effort solutions from the moment we saw him!
Black Zetsu

This one's an obvious pick. He's been the mastermind behind all of Shippuden. He's been around for 1,000 years, watched the entirety of human history, manipulated both Madara and the SO6P, and seemed to know pretty much everything, even prior to being revealed as Kaguya's will. When we watch Sasuke vs. Itachi, he somehow knows everything about Itachi's Susanoo. He's also the Akatsuki's spy, so he's very knowledgeable about the Five Great Nations.

He is one of the longest-running manipulators in the series and has been doing it for decades! Black Zetsu also has ancient knowledge of chakra history and awareness of hidden truths most characters don't know!
Hashirama Senju

Hashirama Senju is a fictional character from Masashi Kishimoto's manga and anime franchise Naruto. He was the powerful and respected leader of the Senju clan and played a key role in founding the Hidden Leaf Village, known as Konohagakure, alongside his rival Madara Uchiha. After the village was established... read more

Hashirama is criminally underrated when it comes to IQ. People get so caught up in his chakra monster status and goofy personality that they forget this man was not just strong. He was brilliant.
This is the guy who founded the Hidden Leaf Village, negotiated with Madara (a walking nuke with a God complex), and managed to unite warring clans who had been killing each other for generations. He came up with the idea of the Kage system, which literally shaped how the entire ninja world operates. He balanced power structures between clans while still promoting peace and cooperation, all while keeping Madara from burning the village down every week.
Konan

Konan is a fictional character from the Naruto universe, created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is a founding member of the Akatsuki organization and the only female member in the group's original core. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime series, original video animations, feature films, video games... read more

Konan is a strategic thinker. She developed Paper Jutsu, one of the most unique and versatile chakra transformations, which requires deep imagination and chakra control.
She single-handedly devised a trap to kill Tobi using 600 billion paper bombs, calculating his exact time limit of intangibility (five minutes). She also hid Nagato's real body so well that almost nobody could sense or locate it.
Although she was loyal, she was not blind. When she realized Tobi was manipulating Nagato's ideals, she turned on him with a carefully layered ambush.

She is definitely one of the smartest characters in the series. From the beginning of the Akatsuki, she knew what would happen but stayed only because of Nagato/Pain. When he died, she immediately left the Akatsuki. She was aware that Tobi/Madara would come and try to get the Rinnegan.
And then the fight. She knew exactly how and when he would attack and prepared the perfect counter-attack. I believe that she might have even been able to beat him if she had seen Izanagi and all his techniques before. But she didn't, and that led to her demise.
This shows how amazing a strategist she is, and compared to the others, even number five would be underestimating her.
Neji Hyuga

Neji doesn't receive much credit, but he is highly intelligent. He is the only one in his class to become a jonin and is the most talented and strongest of the Hyuga clan.
Neji was highly aware of his blind spot yet managed to overcome this. He may not be the strongest, but his intellect surpasses even Sasuke's.

Neji is intelligent, and he most definitely surpasses Naruto. He thinks of many ways to beat his opponents. He had to learn all his skills by himself.
He even mastered one of the rarest skills of his clan.
Deidara

Deidara is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is a member of the Akatsuki organization and uses explosive clay-based techniques in combat. The Naruto franchise includes manga, anime, movies, soundtracks, OVAs, video games, and a wide range of merchandise and... read more

Deidara has a lot of tricks up his sleeves! He knows how to trick and trap most of the people he's against. Unlike Tsunade, Temari, and Choji's pathetic attempts to fight Madara, Deidara thought outside the box and actually injured him.
Choji and Temari were both foolish, as they tried to jump at him. Madara even found Temari weak as hell and said that her and Choji's attacks didn't do a thing! At least Tsunade wasn't being stupid, but Madara still whooped her.

Deidara stole a forbidden jutsu from his village when he defected, and it allowed him to mold clay with mouths on his hands and chest.
He used those mouths to mold the clay into animals and other things that he was able to control and detonate. Because of these clay creations, he was able to trick and misdirect his opponents.
Shino Aburame

Shino Aburame is one of the main supporting characters in the Naruto anime and manga series, as well as in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. He is a member of the Aburame clan, known for their use of insects in combat. Shino is recognized for his calm demeanor and tactical intelligence.

He should easily be in the top 10. If we had seen more of him, we could have fully understood his true potential, including the fact that he wasn't driven by power like Sasuke nor as reckless as Naruto.

Why did Neji beat Shino? Neji is only good at analyzing, and he has the Byakugan too. But Shino usually does something badass and wins the fight before anything major happens, like hiding a bug or something.

Don't get into a fight with Shino. He always wins before the fight starts, all because of his brain. Remember his fight with Kankuro or with Torune? He's just awesome.