Itachi Uchiha, also known as the Clan Killer, is one of the Uchiha clan's finest memebers in Naruto. Ever since Itachi was a kid, he excelled at everything, be it ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu, and he had a sharp mind for tactics and clever ploys, too. As one of the youngest Uchiha ever to awaken the Sharingan, Itachi made sure to take his skills to the pinnacle and being the pacifist that he was, his goal was to bring about peace.
At just seven years old, Itachi had the wisdom of a Kage, making him one of the smartest characters in the entire series. To surpass such a shinobi would prove to be an arduous task for anyone, yet there are few who have achieved this feat. There aren't too many shinobi in the world of Naruto who can even compare to Itachi Uchiha's prodigious talent, but a small handful of them are indeed stronger than him, and a few others come close, but don't quite measure up.
Updated on April 19th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of the twenty shinobi stronger or weaker than Itachi Uchiha has been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards and has new information on why each character is either stronger or weaker than Itachi is. There are many factors to consider, from kekkei genkai and ninjutsu to intellect, taijutsu, and more.
There Are Plenty of Ninja Weaker Than Itachi Uchiha
Sakura Haruno Has Impressive Medical Jutsu But Limited Offensive Power
While Sakura Haruno was often lamented as a weak and useless character in the ninja world, she was present and took part in the final epic battle against Kaguya and was pivotal in the final victory in the Fourth Great Shinobi War. She proved a true successor to Tsunade Senju and a peer for Sasuke and Naruto.
However, she was nearly caught in the Endless Tsukuyomi and needed to be rescued in order for her to join the fight against Kaguya. Itachi is a skilled practitioner of Genjutsu and could easily pacify the physical and close combat-based Sakura with his dominion over ranged techniques – those that affect both the body and the mind. Sakura Haruno has come a long way and got an excellent glow-up in Naruto Shippuden, but excepting medical jutsu, in no category is Sakura stronger than Itachi, or even close to his level.
Mei Terumi is the Powerhouse Fifth Mizukage
As one of Naruto's Kage, Mei Terumi is one of the strongest ninja in history, and thanks to her, the Mist Village was able to do away with its bloody reputation and reestablish diplomatic relations with other nations. She was proficient in Water Release, to the point that she could extinguish Madara's Fire Release.
Mei Terumi could use Lava Release to create acidic mud, and she could create corrosive mist with Boil Release. This mist is capable of melting a Susanoo's ribcage. That being said, she is weaker than Itachi Uchiha. Itachi's Susanoo holds the Yata Mirror, and Mei has no way to counter his Amaterasu. She also lacks powers like the Sharingan and isn't as clever and quick-thinking as the brilliant Itachi Uchiha is. That said, Mei has better leaderships skills as a Kage than Itachi would have had in such a position.
Kakuzu Wields Many Elements, But Has No Uchiha-Worthy Jutsu
While Itachi was one of the Akatsuki's youngest members, Kakuzu was its oldest. When he was younger, Kakuzu was tasked with killing the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and when he failed, his village punished and shamed him. This caused Kakuzu to leave the Waterfall Village, and he killed the elders, stole their hearts, and took the village's forbidden techniques for himself.
Thanks to the Earth Grudge Fear Technique, he could use the hearts of other ninjas like his own, thus giving him a form of immortality. He could even use their Nature Transformations. Kakuzu may be older, but he is weaker than Itachi Uchiha simply because he lacks any top-tier techniques to compete with the Susanoo, Amaterasu, or the like. He may wield several elements at once, but not even that makes him the world's #1 ninja -- it just makes him more flexible. That's impressive, but not a game-changer.
Killer Bee/B Is a Brute-Force Jinchuriki
Killer B is the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and he had complete control of his Tailed Beast. He could transform at will, and fire Tailed Beast Bombs whenever he needed to. During his fight with Sasuke, B used an unorthodox sword style that even the Sharingan could not keep up with.
During the 4th Great Ninja War, B had a brief exchange with Itachi, and Itachi came out on top. Even if B transformed, Itachi would have the upper hand because of his Mangekyo Sharingan and the Amaterasu. Sasuke defeated B with the black flames, and Itachi would too. Killer B is an example of a Naruto character who can gather a massive chunk of chakra and strength to overcome most foes with brute strength, but not even that can surpass Itachi Uchiha's best jutsu, because Itachi fights on an entirely different level. There are a few exceptions to that rule, but Killer B isn't one of them.
Pain/Nagato is a Team United With the Rinnegan
The Rinnegan is a unique dojutsu made Pain/Nagato a frighteningly powerful shinobi. He had access to six bodies and six different sets of abilities that allowed him to single-handedly destroy the Hidden Leaf Village with devastating jutsu during the famed Pain arc in Naruto Shippuden.
There's no doubt that Pain is one of Naruto Shippuden's strongest characters, and his Almighty Push can deal more damage than anything Itachi Uchiha can muster. Still, there are more ways to measure a ninja's power than sheer force or damage done. Itachi, as an elite Uchiha ninja, can use incredible jutsu that no one outside his family can use, putting him a tier above most shinobi, even Pain. Itachi may lack the Rinnegan's coordination, but his Mangekyo Sharingan and tactical intellect make up for it and then some.
Kisame Hoshigaki is a Brute-Force Shark Warrior
Also known as the Tail-less Tailed Beast, Kisame was as strong as a regular shinobi could get. Being one of the Akatsuki members, Kisame was held in high regard even among all the S-ranked criminals in their ranks. He was partnered with Itachi Uchiha, and although some believe that they were equal, Kisame was, in fact, weaker than Itachi.
Even among the Akatsuki, nobody knew the true strength that Itachi possessed. His fighting prowess was phenomenal, and while Kisame was physically stronger, Itachi's Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi can devastate foes in ways that no Shark Bomb jutsu ever could. Kisame is physically tougher than Itachi and can steal chakra with his living sword Samehada, but that's just brute force, which doesn't compare well to Itachi's prodigious abilities.
Tsunade Pioneered the Use of Medical Jutsu
Tsunade is the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju and the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. Blessed with immense talent, she became the finest medical ninja of her time and did an excellent job in raising the one who came after her.
As a member of the Legendary Sannin, there's no denying that Tsunade Senju is strong, but in comparison to Itachi, her strength withers away. Itachi is leagues above her in terms of skill. Orochimaru, another Sannin who is stronger than Tsunade, openly declared that Itachi was stronger than he was. Therefore, there isn't much of a threat that Tsunade poses to Itachi. In Tsunade's defense, she is an excellent medical ninja who can use the Cell Activation Technique and can deliver incredible blows with taijutsu, but that still can't compare to Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Orochimaru Admitted That He Was Itachi's Inferior
One of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru was arguably the strongest shinobi of his time. His knowledge about ninjutsu was such that he had mastered all the five elemental natures and several Forbidden Jutsu on top of that. Orochimaru was a menace, but against Itachi, he could do nothing but admit his inferiority.
When the two fought, Itachi didn't even bother looking at him and he had him beat. After losing to Itachi, Orochimaru sought the body of his younger brother, since he believed it possessed even more potential than Itachi. Even as a Sannin, the gap between Orochimaru and Itachi was vast. There's no particular reason to believe that even years later, after Orochimaru gained new jutsu and ideas, he had become stronger than Itachi. However, unlike Itachi, Orochimaru can grant new strength to other people, such as with his Curse Seals.
Kabuto Yakushi Stands No Chance Against Itachi Uchiha
Kabuto Yakushi was a disciple of Orochimaru who eventually went on to surpass him. After slowly absorbing Orochimaru, and many other Kekkei Genkai, Kabuto began to gain tremendous strength. Seeking even more power, he went to Ryuchi Cave and learned the Snake Sage Mode there.
While he believed himself to be close to the Sage of Six Paths, the truth couldn't be further than that. Kabuto, while strong, was easily defeated by Itachi. Although Itachi did have backup from Sasuke during that fight, much of it was needed just to set up the Izanami. It is also important to note that Itachi wasn't going all-out against Kabuto because he needed him alive to release the Edo-Tensei. Thus, Kabuto is one of those Naruto characters who can keep assembling new jutsu and forms, but will never surpass the prodigious gifts of shinobi like Itachi. It takes more than a pile of jutsu and special forms to overcome the likes of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Kakashi Hatake Has Copied Many Jutsu But Can't Surpass Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan
Kakashi Hatake was a prodigy, and he wielded the Sharingan that Obito gave him for most of the series, but he still struggled against Itachi Uchiha. Even with the Sharingan, Kakashi was trapped within Itachi's Tsukuyomi. Thanks to this powerful genjutsu, Kakashi endured what felt like three full days of torture in a matter of seconds. He nearly died from this experience.
In Shippuden, Kakashi and his team managed to beat Itachi. Unfortunately, it was actually a clone that possessed just 30% of Itachi's chakra. It is true that Kakashi used a Susanoo in the battle with Kaguya, but it would not stand a chance against Itachi's. With the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror, Itachi's Susanoo was said to be invincible. In many ways, Kakashi made himself on par with the Uchihas, but he's not quite a prodigy the same way Itachi is.
The Ninjas Stronger Than Itachi Are Legends In Their Own Right
Jiraiya Was the Famed Toad Sage and Coached Naruto and Minato
Jiraiya was an exceptionally competent shinobi, and he was the only member of the Legendary Sannin who could actually beat Itachi. He was trained by the Third Hokage, and learned how to use Sage Mode while training with the toads of Mount Myoboku.
When Itachi and Kisame first appeared, they had a standoff with Jiraiya. Kisame wanted to fight, and Jiraiya stated that he could kill both of them. Itachi convinced Kisame to retreat because he knew Jiraiya was not joking. Even though he had the Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and presumably the Susanoo at his disposal, Itachi knew that he could not overcome Jiraiya's strength. Still, it's only a narrow gap between Jiraiya's power and Itachi's own.
Might Guy Shows the True Potential of Taijutsu
To many, Might Guy is not very bright as a total anime himbo, but Itachi knows just how strong he really is. Guy may not favor ninjutsu or genjutsu in battle, but he is a taijutsu master, and more importantly, he developed a way to fight against Sharingan users by looking at their feet instead of their face.
Ordinarily, ninjas cannot surpass an elite Uchiha like Itachi with sheer force or straightforward jutsu, but Might Guy's power is so extreme, he managed to become an exception. He can open the eight inner Gates to surpass any Kage and seriously threaten the likes of Madara Uchiha, and Naruto fans know that Madara is more powerful than Itachi is. So, no matter his straightforward methods, Might Guy beat the odds and became stronger than a prodigy like Itachi Uchiha.
Shisui Uchiha Was Itachi's Friend and Equal
Shisui was considered the most skilled Uchiha of his generation, and even Itachi himself admitted that Shisui was always slightly stronger than him, which is saying a lot. Shisui mastered the Body Flicker Technique to the point that he left no trace behind, which means that even Itachi's eyes would not be able to follow him.
Shisui could use the the Susanoo as well, but it was not as strong as Itachi's. When it came to genjutsu, however, Shisui held a slight advantage thanks to the Kotoamatsukami – which allowed him to enter someone's mind and control their actions. He could make Itachi fall for a trap, and Itachi would think he did it willingly. However, all that ended up being a moot point, since Shishui died in Naruto's backstory, leaving Itachi to live on as the Uchiha clan's #1 ninja.
Sasuke Uchiha Gathered More Power than Itachi Could Have Dreamed Of
Widely recognized as the strongest Uchiha of all time, Sasuke is Itachi's younger brother. Just like Itachi, Sasuke's fighting ability is frightening, and few can hope of standing up to him. In his case, he surpassed Itachi during the 4th Great Ninja War, where he gained the power of the Rinnegan, along with the Six Paths Yin chakra. Consequently, Sasuke became one of the strongest characters in the entire series, with Naruto being the only human capable of matching him.
Similar to characters like Kakuzu and Orochimaru, Sasuke spent years collecting new jutsu and new forms to keep powering up, but unlike them, Sasuke had the benefit of the Mangekyo Sharingan and later, the Rinnegan as well. That put him on equal ground with his older brother, and after a point, Sasuke had actually eclipsed his late brother. He combined his elite dojutsu with formidable taijutsu, solid genjutsu, his Chidori, and much more.
Naruto Uzumaki Became the World's Greatest Shinobi of His Time
Naruto Uzumaki is the strongest shinobi in the history of the series, even surpassing the likes of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju. Naruto was powerful enough to fight Obito Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, Kaguya Otsutsuki, and then Sasuke Uchiha all in one day. Naruto can credit much of his success to his half-other status, being the jinchuriki of the most powerful tailed beast. He can wield juggernaut power that no other shinobi could even dream of, and he pushed it to the next level with his creative, resourceful thinking.
As such, there's no way Itachi is stronger than him. His abilities, when combined with his undying spirit, make him a force to be reckoned with. By adulthood, Naruto has fought and defeated characters such as Momoshiki Otsutsuki, who is considered to be a God of the verse. To date, he remains the greatest ninja in the series, and so, he's undoubtedly stronger than Itachi.
Hashirama Senju Was the Legendary Co-Founder of the Leaf Village
The Senju and Uchiha clans battled constantly during the Warring States period, and Hashirama fought Madara on numerous occasions. This means that he has a great deal of experience fighting against the Sharingan and Mangekyo Sharingan. Hashirama has a lot of powerful jutsu at his disposal, and he can use Sage Mode.
Itachi may have his Susanoo, but Hashirama was able to overpower the combined strength of Madara's Susanoo and the Nine-Tails. Thanks to his Wood Release, Hashirama can restrain Itachi or put him to sleep. Wood Release is also capable of absorbing Itachi's chakra, suggsting that if they ever fought, Itachi would be in big trouble. Also, the sheer power of Wood Release helps explain why multiple characters in Naruto made an active effort to get it for themselves, making use of Hashirama's cells to perform some of the strongest jutsu around.
Madara Uchiha Faced an Entire Army of Ninjas Alone
One of the founders of the Hidden Leaf Village and the leader of the Uchiha clan, Madara Uchiha's talent was boundless. Ever since he was a kid, he could beat an average Senju warrior, and as an adult, even the combined power of the Five Kage wasn't enough to defeat him.
While there's no denying that Itachi is powerful, Madara is simply stronger. With the powers of the 10 Tails and the Six Paths at his disposal, Madara is miles ahead of Itachi, and there's no way the latter can even put up a fight. Also, unlike Itachi, Madara Uchiha is perfectly willing to use lethal force, including taijutsu, to massacre his enemies. He has the stamina and strength to face an entire shinobi army without any of his Mangekyo Sharingan powers, a feat that Itachi Uchiha could never replicate.
Obito Uchiha Went From Zero to Powerhouse Villain
Obito was once a knucklehead ninja when he was a kid, and his skills were largely unpolished. Under Madara's tutelage, however, Obito grew drastically, and by 16 years of age, he could put up a fight against Minato Namikaze, which is saying a lot.
While still weaker than an adult Itachi at that point, Obito continued to excel, until he reached the point where he became the second Jinchūriki of the ten-tails, Hagoromo Otsutsuki being the first. One look at him, and even the strongest of characters, such as Hashirama, couldn't help but admit they were weaker. Itachi is no different, and he would feel the same way if he were ever to cross paths with ten-tails Obito. Even if he wasn't born a prodigy, Obito found a way to eclipse his fellow Uchiha, Itachi.
Kaguya Otsutsuki is the Mother of Chakra
The progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Otsutsuki is one of the strongest characters in the entire verse so far. She came to earth along with Isshiki Otsutsuki, who for some reason, wasn't seen in Naruto.
Nonetheless, Kaguya maintained absolute control over humanity. Her strength was such that her sons had to combine their strength to seal her away, which took months to accomplish. Itachi would be nothing more than a speck of dust to someone like Kaguya, who has enough power to wipe out an entire star. She can also perform astonishing jutsu like the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, and posssesses mammoth chakra as the mother of all chakra. She is more like a deity than a mortal being, even when compared to the Uchiha clan's best.
Momoshiki Otsutsuki Wields All Dojutsu and Can Stand Up to Sage Mode
Momoshiki was the main villain of Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and he goes on to appear in the Boruto saga, where he attacks Naruto and the Leaf Village during the Chunin Exams. He is a descendant of the unfathomably powerful Kaguya that could only be stopped by the combined powers of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
As part of the Otsutsuki Clan, Momoshiki has access to the powers of Rinnegan, Sharingan, and Byakugan. If he wanted to, he could absorb all of Itachi's ninjutsu with ease and fire them back at him. At full power, Momoshiki can contend with both Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode and Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan.
