The Naruto franchise is well known for its diverse cast of villainous threats, including Pain and Madara. In the first series, Naruto Uzumaki faces a long and difficult journey to become the Hokage, a village leader sworn to protect the people. The powerful ninja often goes on dangerous missions with various political ramifications. On the way, Naruto and his friends must face off against murderous criminals and finally bring peace in the wake of large-scale wars.
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Whether they are frontline soldiers in a war, or puppet masters pulling the strings from the shadows, Naruto villains will often vary in power levels. What remains consistent, though, is the mark they left on the series. The medley of distinct villains serves as memorable conflicts for the heroes to overcome. Boruto faces much the same in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations when he comes across various members of the Otsutsuki family, bringing in even more unforgettable villains.
Updated on October 25, 2024, by Natasha Elder: A compelling antagonist is just as important as a captivating protagonist in making a great story. The Naruto franchise, luckily, has no shortage of great villains, from Orochimaru at the very beginning to Isshiki in the Boruto series. We have added more incredible villains that have greatly impacted the Naruto franchise, and have added images to illustrate the power that they hold.
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15 Kaguya Otsutsuki 's Arrival Was Controversial Among Fans
Despite This, Her Influence is Undeniable
Kaguya was a divisive villain when she was introduced, largely due to the fact that her introduction into the story felt forced rather than organic. However, the awkward way that she was introduced doesn't detract from her overall importance in the story. In fact, her legacy is such that she not only serves as the final villain in Naruto: Shippuden, but also is related to the events that occur in Boruto, albeit indirectly. The significant impact that she has had on the narrative is thus worthy of acknowledgment.
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Additionally, Kaguya served as a good vessel through which to show just how strong the original Team 7 had become by the end of the series. Such a powerful villain necessitated each member of Team 7 using their most powerful attacks, in the process clearly displaying not only their individual development, but also their newfound teamwork. Even discounting all that, Kaguya's formidable power is notable, as is her victory over almost all other shinobi. However, the circumstances of her arrival are odd enough to keep her in the lowest spot on this list.
14 Karin Was One of Sasuke's Biggest Supporters
Her Unique Relationship with Chakra Makes Her Stand Out in Taka
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Karin had something of a career as an evil kunoichi upon her introduction, having first served under Orochimaru and then as part of Taka, the group Sasuke Uchiha formed. While she can, at times, be quite flirtatious with Sasuke, she is ultimately a violent shinobi that took pleasure in assisting her villainous leaders. Her unique ability to sense the quality of other’s chakra makes her a unique character, particularly as she then serves to offer insight into those around her, including Sasuke.
Additionally, Karin is part of the Uzumaki clan, the same as Naruto and his mother. Having this glimpse into the techniques that were passed through the clan was interesting. In this way, Karin also showed what Naruto’s attacks may have been like had his mother survived the release of the Nine-Tails. Her immense chakra reserves, superb healing abilities and impressive Adamantine Sealing Chains technique combine to make her a memorable and strong foe.
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13 Kabuto Yukichi is Criminally Underrated
It's Not Hard to See Why He Became a Villain in The First Place
Kabuto is among the earliest Naruto villains to leave behind a legacy. A seemingly unskilled novice in the ninja arts, he surprised viewers in the Chunin Exams when he revealed he was Orochimaru’s right-hand man, and took charge of the Konoha Crush. Kabuto is both deceptive and dangerous, given his excellent medical expertise and mastery of scientific ninjutsu. He’s only behind Tsunade as the world’s best medicinal practitioner.
Kabuto held a strong belief that name and identity come from true power. He was particularly resentful of both Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha for that very reason. He grew up a poor orphan with very little purpose in life. After the death of his master, Kabuto played a pivotal role in Madara’s resurrection and even led an undead army of powerful ninja in the final war, making him one of Naruto’s best villains.
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12 Momoshiki Otsutsuki Has a Lot of Potential
He Hasn't Fulfilled it Out Yet, Though
Momoshiki is an interesting case. He was defeated through the joint efforts of Boruto and Naruto in a seemingly permanent manner, before it is revealed that his conscience lived on in Boruto. After implanting a Kāma on the titular character of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Momoshiki became an ever-present threat just waiting to exploit a moment of weakness in Boruto. His patience in achieving his goal of taking over Boruto’s body is a much more nefarious reflection of Naruto’s early relationship with Kurama.
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As he is always a part of Boruto, the danger that Momoshiki poses is never truly forgotten. Moreover, he isn’t showing any signs of changing his villainous ways. Even though he has done some good things, such as saving Boruto, it was clearly done because of his own, selfish motivations rather than any true good will. He isn’t quite as powerful as some of the other Otsutsuki Clan members, but given time he just might prove to be the most insidious.
11 Isshiki Otsutsuki is a Menacing Threat on a Global Scale
The Moon God Strikes Fear to Even The Likes of Sasuke Uchiha
The Boruto sequel might be a divisive successor to Naruto, but there are a few major villains that live up to their potential. Like most of the Otsutsuki Clan, Isshiki is a remorseless and irredeemable monster with a major god complex. Scarily, he can back up his boasts simply with the power of shrinking objects. He makes very quick work of Naruto and Sasuke in their first encounter, since they no longer have any seals to deal with his clan.
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Jigen is seemingly the leader of the secret criminal society Kara, but Isshiki acts like a parasitic host to control his imperfect body. Amado Sanzu outright states that Isshiki would be invincible with a more suitable body, which is what makes him so frightening in the first place. Isshiki is a terrifying villain that needs a handicap for the heroes to survive.
10 Deidara Makes an Explosive Impact
The S-Rank Missing-Nin is Known For His Surprise Attacks
The Akatsuki has quite a colorful assortment of Naruto villains, some of which proved to be the strongest villains in Naruto: Shippuden. Kishimoto deserves credit for making each of them stand out in terms of personality and powers. Deidara is a madman who is truly dedicated to his artistic craft of blowing everything up. He brings a lot of life into his performance over the course of Part II with his joyful destruction of his enemies.
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Unlike other members of the Akatsuki, however, Deidara was taken in by force, and he still holds a vicious grudge towards Itachi Uchiha. It only makes sense that he would be a dangerous opponent for Sasuke given his connection to Itachi. Additionally, Deidara’s death scene is a particular highlight given that he goes out the only way he knows how, with a huge explosion in an attempt to take out his enemies. Given his relatively small role, though, he remains at rank ten in this list.
9 Kisame Hoshikage is Sadistic Yet Smart in Battle
He is The ''Monster of the Hidden Mist'' For a Reason
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Kisame is like a shark that smells blood in the water. He will aggressively strike his enemies at the first opportunity. A key member of the morally ambiguous Akatsuki, he truly believes in survival of the fittest and will not hesitate in demonstrating his strength. Kisame wields a rough skin weapon known as Samehada, which he can fuse with to become a monstrous shark. His water release techniques also give him access to clones.
What truly differentiates Kisame from other Naruto villains is that he remains firm in his convictions. He’s deeply loyal to the Akatsuki cause and will not falter a single inch. Rather than give up valuable information to Might Guy, he bit off his own tongue and trapped himself in a Water Prison Technique, so he could be devoured by his own sharks.
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8 Hidan Made it Clear How Dangerous the Akatsuki Were
His Ceremonial Killings Set Him Apart
Hidan was one of many powerful members in the Akatsuki, but he stands out because he successfully killed Asuma while working alongside Kakuzu. By killing Asuma, Hidan immediately made it clear exactly how dangerous the members of the Akatsuki could be. His seeming inability to be killed only further contributed to the feeling of despair Asuma’s death invoked in Naruto fans and characters alike. Seeing the impact of Asuma’s death on Team 10 in particular was devastating.
Hidan’s devotion to Jashin adds another layer of depth to Hidan. Religion is not often brought up as a theme in the Naruto franchise, so Hidan’s fervent devotion to Jashin distinguishes him from almost every other character in the series. The ritualistic way that Hidan kills his enemies is singularly haunting due to the unique markings that appear in the appearance of a skeleton over his face and body. Ultimately, Hidan’s ceremonial actions are eerie yet captivating, perfectly foreshadowing the haunting and deadly result.
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7 Zabuza Momochi Reveals Flaws of The Ninja System
He Was Merely a Societal Tool For The Power Hungry
Zabuza has the honorable distinction of being the first major threat in the Naruto series as a whole. The missing-nin fled the Hidden Mist Village after his disastrous attempt at a coup, and later fights Kakashi Hatake and Team 7 in the prologue, ''Land of Waves.'' The ''Demon of the Hidden Mist'' lives up to his name with his water jutsu and gigantic metal sword proving to be a formidable threat.
He’s a tragic villain in the sense that he became exactly what he was supposed to be. Zabuza was nothing more than a weapon, forced to suppress his emotions, so he could successfully complete dangerous missions. However, with the heroic and tragic sacrifice of his subordinate Haku, the villain realizes the error of his ways. Just before he dies, he takes out his personal handler and corrupt smuggler Gato.
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6 Gaara's Redemption Arc is One of the Best
However, He Was a Terrifying Villain Prior to His Change of Heart
While Gaara is rightfully acknowledged as one of the protagonists of the Naruto series, he was by far one of the most threatening villains when he was first introduced. His fight against Rock Lee has become one of the most memorable moments in Naruto, but he had much more impact than in that one fight. In fact, he fought hard enough to necessitate Naruto summoning Gamabunta. Without the summon, Naruto would have been in trouble.
Eventually, Gaara’s sympathetic background is revealed, though. While this doesn’t excuse his actions, it does explain why he was barely clinging onto control when he was first introduced, and creates room for forgiveness. Gaara ended up being one of Naruto’s most complex characters as the series went on, but there is no denying how terrifying he was as a Naruto villain.
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5 Madara Uchiha Destroys Everybody and Everything
Most Fans Consider Him The Ultimate Villain in Terms of Power
In terms of story importance, the legendary Uchiha clan have a stranglehold on the Naruto saga. Key plot events are often the direct result of their own doings. Infamous clan leader Madara Uchiha is the primary and overpowered antagonist of the series. He awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, mastered all five nature transformations, possessed nearly unlimited chakra, and could summon meteors at will, among several broken abilities.
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Fans will forever remember Madara as the monster shinobi who can take on several kage and nine-tailed beasts all by himself, proving to be one of the best villains not only in Naruto, but also in anime in general. The co-founder of Kohnoha was dead long before the start of the series, although he was later revived by Kabuto to enact the Eye of the Moon Plan. Nearly invincible, Madara intended to use the illusionary powers of Infinite Tsukuyomi to force peace at the cost of free will, a goal backed up with enough force to earn him the number 5 spot.
4 Itachi Sacrifices Himself For The Sins of His Family
Sasuke's Brother Stands Center Stage Under a Tragic Spotlight
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A skilled ninja with powerful illusionary techniques, Itachi Uchiha remains decidedly popular within the Naruto fandom, to the extent that he always ranks highly in polls. The ace of the Akatsuki organization, he was a wanted criminal for the complete massacre of his entire clan, save for his younger brother Sasuke. As the story progresses, it’s clear that Itachi had some heroic motives, despite going down a villainous route to achieve them.
Itachi knew his family would stage a coup d'état against Konoha that would result in a bloody civil war, so he wiped them out before it could happen. He also took on the role of a villain so that Sasuke would eventually defeat him and become a hero. Unfortunately, his plan was deeply flawed and he instead drives Sasuke to near insanity.
3 Obito is a Death Seeker That Lost His Way
He Does Get a Chance at Redemption in The Very End
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Obito is an unfortunate victim of his clan’s hateful curse. He was completely broken after the death of his love interest Rin as a child. Under the alias ''Madara Uchiha,'' he was the secret mastermind behind the Akatsuki. Obito is a significant driving force in the Naruto series. Not only did he assist Itachi with the Uchiha clan massacre, he also later summoned the Nine-Tailed Fox that murdered Naruto’s parents, proving to be remarkably powerful.
Sasuke and Naruto had their entire childhoods ruined as a result. Some may argue Obito is more of a tragic figure than a villain, since Madara corrupted his true personality by taking advantage of his grief. Regardless, he was responsible for several conflicts that led to the Fourth Shinobi World War. He does get a chance to redeem himself in the end. Obito heroically lays down his life against Kaguya Otsutsuki so Naruto and Sasuke can save the world.
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2 Orochimaru is The Scariest Villain in the Beginning of Naruto
He Does What He Does Just Because He Can
Unlike most villains in the Naruto series, Orochimaru is pure evil in every sense of the word. He’s a mad scientist forever hungry for power, as well as willing and able to trick others into doing his bidding. Orochimaru regularly transfers his souls into other hosts via Living Corpse Reincarnation. With his snake eyes and pale skin, his nightmarish appearance will send chills down spines. Luckily for the heroes, Orochimaru never quite achieves full strength due to weak hosts and powerful seals.
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Orochimaru is best known for his strategic invasion of Konoha in Part I. More importantly, he also made Sasuke leave his own village in the pursuit of power. As the series progressed into Part II, Orochimaru’s role greatly diminished, but unlike most villains that are long dead, he’s still around by the Boruto sequel. He will forever be remembered for his creep factor and dark manipulations of multiple Naruto characters.
1 Nagato Believes in Any Means Necessary
Pain is The Peak Naruto Villain
Masashi Kishimoto captured the overwhelming destructiveness of Madara, the complex belief system of Obito, and the nightmare fuel of Orochimaru, and put it all together into one villain. Naruto fans will never forget the first time Nagato used Shinra Tensei to lay waste to Konoha. In a matter of a few minutes, he did what Orochimaru couldn’t in 15 years. Nagato lives up to his fearsome reputation in order to ensure his version of ''peace.''
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The apparent leader of the Akatsuki could manipulate up to six corpses via the Six Paths of Pain, each with a distinctly cool design that makes him stand out. He’s also a master of all five elemental releases, and with the power of the Rinnegan, he gains access to a versatile and incredibly strong fighting style via the Six Paths Technique. Nagato is best known for his punishingly brutal philosophy, in that one must experience pain to fully understand it. His compelling philosophy in combination with his overwhelming power makes him the best villain in the Naruto franchise.
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Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.
- Created by
- Masashi Kishimoto
- First Film
- Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
- Latest Film
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- First TV Show
- Naruto
- Latest TV Show
- Boruto
- First Episode Air Date
- September 21, 1999
- Cast
- Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Noriaki Sugiyama , Yuri Lowenthal , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Dave Wittenberg
- Spin-offs
- Boruto
- TV Show(s)
- Naruto , Naruto: Shippuden
- Video Game(s)
- Naruto Ninja Council 3 , Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja , Naruto: Path Of The Ninja , Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm , Naruto x Boruto: Ninja Voltage , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact
- Manga Release Date
- August 6, 2003
- Manga Volumes
- 72
- Genre
- Shonen , Anime , Manga , Action-Adventure