Strongest Anime Ninjas Not From Naruto

There is an entire generation of anime fans who pretended to be ninjas because of Naruto. This is not surprising considering most of the ninjas in Naruto had cool designs and could use various jutsu techniques. Many anime fans believe that the strongest ninjas only exist in the Naruto universe, but there are several powerful ninjas from other anime that deserve recognition, too.

Ironically, several of the strongest anime ninjas, not from Naruto can use ninjutsu or similar abilities. One anime ninja in particular would have an overpowered ocular Kekkei Genkai if he were in Naruto. It goes without saying that all of these anime ninjas possess enhanced physical abilities, but a few have superhuman speed and reflexes, and others have powers that border on the supernatural.

10

Edgeshot

Image via Studio Bones

Shinya Kamihara, otherwise known as Ninja Hero: Edgeshot, was once ranked No. 4 on Japan’s Pro Hero Chart, making him one of the country’s best and most popular Pro Heroes. His costume adapts the appearance of a traditional ninja, and he will sometimes use handsigns similar to those seen in Naruto. Like most Pro Heroes in My Hero Academia, Edgeshot has enhanced physical abilities, and he is a gifted tactician and strategist.

Edgeshot possesses the Foldabody Quirk, which is easily one of MHA‘s best body manipulation Quirks. With it, he can flatten his body and limbs to the point he can turn himself into a very long, razor-sharp string. This process occurs at the speed of sound. Edgeshot can use his Quirk to slip through tight spaces and launch surprise attacks. As a string, Edgeshot can take out multiple opponents at the same time by piercing their bodies and temporarily cutting off their blood flow. Like many ninja in Naruto, Edgeshot can use the Substitution Jutsu to switch places with a log.

9

Utsuro

Image via Bandai Namco

Gintama may be set in a sci-fi version of feudal Japan, but it is filled with ninja like Utsuro. He founded the Tenshouin Naraku, a secret group of assassins, and is now part of the Tendoshu, who secretly rule large parts of the Gintama universe. Utsuro absorbed a large amount of Altana during his youth, and as a result, he has become an immortal ninja with high-speed regeneration.

Utsuro has become fearless and emotionless because of his long life and frequent “deaths”. He has also become a master swordsman and hand-to-hand fighter with enhanced physical strength, speed, reflexes, and senses. He can easily fend off three highly skilled swordsmen at once, and his punches can produce an explosive amount of force if he releases enough of his inner energy.

8

Tengen Uzui

In Demon Slayer, the Hashira are considered the strongest swordsmen within the Demon Slayer Corps. Tengen Uzui held the Sound Hashira title until he was forced to retire from active duty. He was born into a hardcore ninja clan that forced siblings to kill each other as part of their training. He became disgusted with this lifestyle and left the clan before being forced to fight his last remaining brother.

Tengen created Sound Breathing himself, and it incorporates his heightened sense of hearing, ninja skills, dual Nichirin cleavers and his anti-demon bombs. It also utilizes his Musical Score Technique, which involves deconstructing an enemy’s attack patterns into a predictable rhythm. Tengen is undoubtedly one of the strongest sound users in Shonen anime. His Sound Breathing allowed him to fight on par with an Upper Moon Demon, a being whose power surpasses that of most of the Akatsuki from Naruto.

7

Gabimaru

Image via Studio MAPPA

Gabimaru is the main protagonist of Hell’s Paradise, and he was feared throughout the country for his ruthless killing style and lack of human emotion. The chief of Iwagakure trained Gabimaru to be the perfect ninja killing machine, which is why he was able to kill multiple hardened criminals while his hands were bound. He can also fight on equal terms with members of the Tensen, who are the equivalent of Otsutsuki Clan members from Naruto.

Thanks to his training, Gabimaru is a taijutsu master who can use various types of flame-based ninjutsu during combat. He can cover his body in flames, and burn his opponents with projectiles or direct physical strikes. He can even produce attacks similar to Naruto’s Fireball Ball Jutsu. The Naruto franchise has its own version of Iwagakure, and if Gabimaru found himself inside Naruto‘s Ninja World, he would automatically become one of Iwagakure’s strongest ninja.

6

Saizo Kirigakure

Image via Studio Sakimakura

Saizo becomes the leader of the Sanada Ten Braves, the core group of brave warriors who fight for Yukimura Sanada in the Brave 10 anime. Each Brave represents a different element, and although Saizo has a seemingly uncaring and cold personality, he represents light. Saizo is an Iga ninja, but he chooses to make his living as an assassin because he distrusts most lords, who seemingly only view their vassals as tools.

Saizo’s weapon of choice is a large kunai called the ‘Mari-Blade’, but he also carries traditional kunai, throwing knives, hidden blades, and explosives. He may not be able to use ninjutsu, but he has mastered several ninja arts. By bending light, Saizo can conceal throwing knives and create afterimages of himself. He can use his Mari-Blade to perform powerful slashes, and he can use it to reflect an opponent’s projectiles.

5

Higan

Image via Sola Entertainment

It may only have 13 episodes currently, but Ninja Kamui has already proven to be one of the best ninja anime outside of Naruto. It is a dark and violent series that follows Higan, a former elite ninja who returns to his previous life to avenge his wife and son. Unlike most of the ninja in Naruto, Higan has to deal with ninja who have augmented their bodies and techniques with advanced technology.

Higan was trained in hand-to-hand combat, espionage, and stealth. He can wield various types of weapons with incredible skill as well. Higan was so skilled that he was entrusted with a forbidden technique called “The Secret Art”. With it, he can push his physical abilities to the limit by harnessing vast amounts of spiritual energy. While in this state, he can decimate multiple ninja in seconds. Higan has mastered the art of the silent takedown, and he can produce a shadow-like mass to conceal his presence and amplify his attacks.

4

Speed-O’-Sound Sonic

Image via Studio Madhouse

Speed-o’-Sound Sonic is a recurring villain in One Punch Man, and he has found himself in a one-sided rivalry with Saitama. Unfortunately, Saitama is one of anime’s most overpowered main characters, so he has come up on the losing side of each meeting. Speed-o’-Sound Sonic was born into a ninja village and was trained in the ninja arts from birth. He seems calm, but Sonic loves combat and will often become motivated by bloodlust.

Sonic is a veteran ninja and assassin whose power rivals that of an S-Rank Hero. Thanks to all his training, Sonic possesses superhuman speed and agility. While using his swords, he can cut down a dozen targets in the blink of an eye. Based on his speed, it is fair to assume that Sonic can keep up with the Fourth Raikage and Minato Namikaze, two of the fastest ninja in Naruto.

3

Sui-Feng

Sui-Feng is the Captain of Squad 2, making her one of the strongest Soul Reapers in Bleach. She is also the Commander of the Soul Society’s Stealth Force, which functions as a ninja unit that specializes in covert operations like espionage and assassinations. Sui-Feng is an expert hand-to-hand fighter, and she has mastered both Shunpo and Shunko, which makes her one of the fastest characters in the series.

Sui-Feng may not possess one of Bleach‘s most broken Bankai, but it is still powerful. She does not like her Bankai because it is a large homing missile, but she is very fond of her Zanpakuto’s Shikai, which is more in line with her speed-based fighting style. If she stabs anyone in the same spot twice with her stinger-like blade, their body will be destroyed in seconds.

2

Recca Hanabishi

Image via Viz Media

Recca Hanabishi has always been obsessed with ninjas, so he nearly lost his mind when he discovered he was part of The Hokage, a ninja clan that is renowned for creating mystical weapons. Like other members of The Hokage, Recca can create fire, which he uses in tandem with small incendiary devices and smoke bombs.

Recca can access the special ability of each former Hokage leader through his flames, and by the end of Flame of Recca, he masters each ability. As a result, Recca can produce flame blades from his wrists, and shoot multiple fireballs at once. He can create whips and barriers out of fire, and blast enemies with intense flares and beams of fire. Recca can also produce illusions through formless flames and summon a flaming dragon that can disintegrate souls. If Recca were in Naruto, he would likely be one of the best Fire Style users.

1

Gennosuke Koga

Image via Studio Gonzo

In Basilisk, Gennosuke Koga is the heir to the Koga Manjidani, a historical ninja clan that has been forbidden from using its ninja abilities during times of war. Gennosuke is a man of peace, but if he is left with no other choice, he will kill anyone who threatens his clan. Thanks to his enhanced senses, Gennosuke is still a dangerous swordsman even if he is temporarily blind.

Like other members of his clan, Gennosuke possesses a power called “Dojutsu”. This ocular ability allows Gennosuke to reverse the killing intent of anyone nearby. This means he can make his enemies take their own lives instead of killing him. Unlike other clan members, Gennosuke does not need line of sight to activate this power, and he can turn it off whenever he likes. There are several powerful Dojutsu in Naruto, and Gennosuke’s power would rank above several of them.

Naruto

Release Date

2002 – 2007-00-00

Showrunner

Masashi Kishimoto

Directors

Hayato Date

Writers

Masashi Kishimoto

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