Top 10 Smartest Naruto Characters

The Top Ten
1 Itachi Uchiha

Yes, he is the smartest Naruto character. Graduating from the academy at only 6 years old, he was already recognized as having the mind of a Hokage. At 8 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.

2 Shikamaru Nara Shikamaru Nara is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto.

I don't know why people keep saying Itachi is so smart. He failed at keeping the village safe from Pain. He also 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. Also, 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.

Itachi has first place? You have got to be kidding me. Itachi has first place in almost all of the positive categories because of Itachi fanboys. Shikamaru is literally remembered because of his insane intelligence. Itachi is remembered because he's an Uchiha, and that gives him an automatic tragic backstory, amazing good looks, and... ugh.

3 Madara Uchiha Madara Uchiha is a fictional manga and anime character in the Naruto series created by Masashi Kishimoto. He appears for the first time in "Part II" of the manga and the Shippuden anime adaptation, as a major villain.

He has learned all his power by himself. He has lived more than once. Everything he does has a thought behind it.

Madara is way more intelligent than Itachi. It's not even a contest.

Come on, he planned his revival after death and always had backup plans during the Fourth Ninja War.

4 Shikaku Nara

He should be a lot higher than this. I mean, he is the FATHER of Shikamaru and he is the one who came up with all of the strategies for the war, and ALL of them worked. He is also high up BECAUSE of his BRAINS!

He planned out strategy after strategy for everything in the Fourth Ninja War. He's too smart.

He basically saved the world with his strategy to win the war! And he is the father of Shikamaru.

5 Orochimaru Orochimaru is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles.

Come on, this guy knows the way in and out of everything, the genius of his generation, and the favored pupil of his sensei, even after turning evil.

The plethora of intel he has cannot be surpassed by anyone, adding to the mastery of almost every ninjutsu. He's the only guy who can join an organization like Akatsuki and come out of it alive even after betraying them.

So many labs, filthy rich, and a mass of willing followers. He is one of a kind and a true genius even praised by the God of Shinobi.

Everyone who commented above actually watch and read Naruto. Orochimaru is definitely a genius. I don't know how in the world Sasuke is 6? Makes no sense.

6 Obito Uchiha Obito Uchiha, also known by his alias Tobi, is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles.

Obito Uchiha, the Juubi Jinchuuriki, Kamui Sharingan user, the one who persuaded Yahiko to form the Akatsuki, defeated Konan, Team Minato's most powerful and strongest team member, and the one who gifted Kakashi the Sharingan. He saved Naruto's life at the brink of death and for the second and final time saved his former old comrade (Kakashi) and the 7th Hokage (Naruto). He temporarily lent Kakashi his DMS. Obito's Susanoo and powers were key in sealing Kaguya, and he got the girl (Rin) in the end. All hail the one and only greatest in the Uchiha bloodline. He embodies the will of fire, the legendary Uchiha Obito.

7 Minato Namikaze Minato Namikaze was the fourth Hokage of Village Hidden in the Leafs and the man responsible for sealing the nine-tailed demon fox inside Naruto Uzumaki when he was born. Doing so cost him his life, and before dying he asked that the villagers not see Naruto as the monster within him, instead wanting... read more

1. Created the ultimate shape transformation. Earned praise for his exploits with the Flying Thunder God from the technique's creator, Lord Second himself. Was able to attain Kyubi mode right after Edo Tensei. These do seem to stem more from talent. But without an unnatural level of intellect, this would have been impossible.

2. Was very intuitive, observant, and planned strategies in advance. During a fight, he was able to correctly deduce the mechanism of a technique, its pros and cons, often from limited evidence, and use that to his advantage. This was evident during his fights.

3. During a fight, he used to mark opponents with the smallest contacts, thus showing his strategic nature. He also placed safe houses in the outskirts of Konoha to which he could teleport at will, also proving to be a brilliant move during the Nine-Tails attack.

4. During the fight with Tobi, he correctly concluded that he was a harbinger of trouble in the future, thus sealing Yang Kyubi inside his son, giving him the power to protect Konoha for such a time. He knew intuitively that Naruto would be able to master that power and not succumb to it directly or indirectly in any way.

Though not possessing a super-normal IQ like Shikamaru, he does resemble the Sherlock Holmes of the Naruto universe.

There are more points to be made, but I think I have made my point.

8 Tsunade Tsunade is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.

Tsunade, the greatest medic ninja of all time, is well known for healing injuries considered lethal and impossible to cure, as well as psychological damage caused by genjutsu. She likely knows every antidote and concoction known to mankind. Tsunade created the Strength of a Hundred Seal and Technique, and her Creation Rebirth, which most likely required many years of research and a profound knowledge of how the human body works.

Tsunade runs the village and chooses specific teams for specific missions. She created the Medical Ninja system. Known for her ability to diagnose a person's ailment just by looking at them, she has taught Shizune and Sakura, making them the next two greatest medical ninjas from Konoha. Quick to pick up on an opponent's fighting style by observing their body, she is a master at evasion thanks to her quick learning and thinking as the greatest medical nin in the series.

9 Hiruzen Sarutobi

Hiruzen was so smart that he defeated Orochimaru at age 75. Orochimaru summoned the first and second Hokage, but that didn't stop him. He defeated the first and second Hokage and sealed them, which prevented Kabuto from summoning them during the fourth great ninja war. He also sealed Orochimaru's hands.

He was called the "Professor". Although Hiruzen isn't the strongest Hokage, he is definitely the smartest Hokage. He was also very wise. He didn't want to slaughter the Uchiha clan and tried to end it peacefully. He knew a war with the Uchiha clan was the last thing they wanted.

10 Kabuto Yakushi Kabuto Yakushi is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.

Kabuto Yakushi was outsmarting the person this list has ranked as number one while that same person was receiving help. He possesses five different chakra natures while most people have two or three. He also knows a very wide range of jutsus. He was the strategist of the Akatsuki side in the war and was also the first person to perfect Edo Tensei.

He was messing with Kakashi. Orochimaru taught him well, and now he is even stronger than Orochimaru. If Itachi wasn't an Edo Tensei zombie, Kabuto would have defeated Itachi and Sasuke easily. And since Itachi is at the top of this list, Kabuto should be at least in the first five.

The Contenders
11 Danzo Shimura Danzō Shimura is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles.

Although I hate this guy with a burning passion, he seems very smart.

12 Kakashi Hatake Kakashi Hatake is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto. In the story, Kakashi is the teacher of Team 7, consisting of the series' primary characters, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.

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 off 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!

13 Tobirama Senju Tobirama Senju is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.

Easy Top 5... way too much bias from people here. Not only is he the creator of so many Jutsu, but he is also the creator of Konoha as a functioning society. He seems to have knowledge of seemingly every jutsu he sees, including even jutsu used by the Sage of the Six Paths, and has knowledge of the ninja world (like identifying the toads of Mount Myoboko) or even knowing about the Sage of Six Paths.

Finally, he is shown time and again to develop tactics and strategy on the fly and to work with others to utilize them.

14 Shisui Uchiha

Shisui, along with Itachi at a young age, took on ANBU black ops, an incredible feat for them. He understood and calculated his and Itachi's power for their missions. He was one of the few Uchiha who understood what was going to happen and the seriousness for their clan's sake. If we could've seen more of him, he would probably be one of the smartest on this list. Sadly, he died as a young man still developing, and he already gets a spot on this list. Impressive...

This guy is as smart and strong as Itachi! And he should be in the second maybe first place! I'm crazy about Itachi but the truth should be told.

15 Sasuke Uchiha Sasuke Uchiha is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.

Sasuke is the smartest. Have you seen the latest manga? It is awesome! He wants to become Hokage. I mean, that is the best goal if he wants to restore his clan! Nevertheless, make Konoha acknowledge his clan as the kind people they were!

Well, Sasuke's goals are great, and when he fights, he always knows how to move, and he acknowledges his opponent quickly. All his fights have just been amazing to watch. This is due to the fact that he really thinks it through before he does anything!

Sasuke is even smarter than Shikamaru. He graduated at the top of his class, recognized as the best student. I think that's enough evidence to show how smart he is!

16 Sasori Sasori is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.

Why is he so low? He is very intelligent! He turned his body into a puppet without dying. He killed the strongest Kazekage in history and he was the greatest puppet master in the Shinobi world! How can he be that low?!

17 Jiraiya Jiraiya is a fictional character in the Naruto anime and manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. Introduced in the series' first part, he was a student of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and one of the three "Legendary Sannin" along with Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade, his former teammates.
18 Kaguya Otsutsuki Kaguya Otsutsuki is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.

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

19 Izuna Uchiha
20 Shikadai Nara
21 Black Zetsu

He is the smartest. He is more than 1000 years old and has a photographic memory. He manipulated the entire Uchiha clan, Akatsuki, and even Madara and Itachi. Itachi didn't even notice Black Zetsu's true intentions. If Itachi knew Zetsu's true plan, then he would easily stop Black Zetsu, or the people of Konoha would be transformed into White Zetsus, and all the sacrifices Itachi made would be in vain.

Zetsu is weak in power (that's why he needed people to work for him to bring his mother back), but I am sure he is the smartest Naruto character ever.

22 Konan Konan is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles.

She is definitely one of the smartest characters in the series. From the beginning of the Akatsuki, she perfectly 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 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 5 would be underestimating her.

23 Hashirama Senju Hashirama Senju is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He was a legendary shinobi who led the Senju clan prior to and after forming Konohagakure with his rival, Madara Uchiha. After the founding of Konoha, he became the First Hokage.
24 Neji Hyuga

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

25 Deidara Deidara is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles.
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