Summary
- There is a captivating variety of villains in Naruto, from rogue ninjas to alien beings, each with depth to justify their existence.
- Minor villains like Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo left their mark on the series, showcasing ambition, unrequited love, and dual personalities.
- Sasuke's impressive villain arc, culminating in his willingness to sacrifice friends, shows the depth and development of characters in Naruto.
The tale of Naruto Uzumaki is not the most heartwarming, but it is a daring one, to say the least. Since their graduation from the Ninja Academy, Naruto and his fellow ninjas have faced off against many powerful foes, the likes of which have rarely been seen in anime.
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One of the major appeals of the Naruto series has always been its wide variety of villains, each of which had enough depth to their characters to justify their existence in the show. From rogue ninjas to terrorists, and even alien beings, the best villains in Naruto are in a league of their own.
Updated January 11, 2025, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Continuous growth is a key trope in Naruto, as Naruto and his companions evolve throughout the series, becoming stronger both in strength and character. This growth could be prompted by friends, sensei, or simply innate desires. But more often than not, it is a terrifying villain standing in their way. These villains’ strengths usually exceed the heroes at the time of their encounter, forcing them to find a solution to the current stumbling block in their path. The villains also have their story or motivation that fuels their drive for violence, and while they might turn a new leaf or die with their ambition, they remain extremely valuable to the Naruto series.
29 Jirobo
The Brute Strength Behind The Sound Four
- Debut Episode: Naruto Episode 68
Jirobo might not have been the strongest in the Sound Four but his physical strength was supreme. He also uses Earth-Release Jutsu which compliments his strength such as creating domes capable of entrapping multiple people to siphon their chakra and throwing boulders. His fight with Choji was one of the best examples of duels based on raw physical strength instead of jutsu.
Jirobo really displayed his strength in this fight, overpowering Choji and forcing him to use his clan’s Colored Pills to unleash his inner strength and be on equal footing. He played a significant role in the series, especially in Choji’s development as he pushed him beyond his limits, facing his demise in Choji’s hands.
28 Kidomaru
The Spider Mastermind
- Debut Episode: Naruto Episode 68
The fan-favorite among the Sound Four, Kidomaru’s appearance and abilities seem to be appealing to some, despite the common fear of spiders. His strength does not lie in his extra limbs and spider abilities alone, although they do give him extra dexterity, strength, and web-related techniques.
The strategic mind one requires to deduce the pros and cons of the Byakugan is immense, and Kidomaru did this within minutes. He gains joy in playing with his opponents, understanding their abilities just to toy around with them. While he did push Neji to his limit and got defeated, fans believe his demise to be a wasted potential.
27 Sakon & Ukon
Twin Terror Of The Sound Four
- Debut Episode: Naruto Episode 68
Conjoined twin brothers and leaders of the Sound Four, these two were a menace to deal with. They were like the yin and yang of violence, with one preferring to play with his opponents and the other much more quick-tempered. Although their methods were different, they had a certain balance to them.
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Their skills as a duo were unmatched. They would perform seamless combinations with one another, adding extra limbs where needed and attacking as one. Their skills at the beginning of their fight with Kiba and Akamaru made it look like Kiba had no chance of winning. Kiba did come out victorious in the end but nearly lost his life in the process.
26 Tayuya
The Enchanting Flute-Wielding Strategist
- Debut Episode: Naruto Episode 68
Tayuya is the only member who stuck with the group’s theme, using sound as a means of attack. She makes use of a demonic flute, controlling ogre-like creatures and performing sound-based genjutsu that had a wide range and power. Although not up to Shikamaru, she was very intelligent and could easily formulate strategies.
She is also the only one among the Sound Four who was not defeated in a one-on-one battle. She was in control of the fight against her and Shikamaru, completely dominating him even though he did all he could. If not for Temari, this fight would have most likely been his end.
25 Suigetsu
Ambitious With An Inclination For Violence
- Debut Episode: Naruto Shippūden Episode 115
As a ninja who seeks to collect all seven swords passed down from generation to generation to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Suigetsu Hozuki is a capable combatant. After achieving his goal of collecting all seven swords, Suigestsu plans to become the leader of the group he’ll create.
Unfortunately for the young ninja, he has gotten sidetracked from his true goal many times, particularly after his brother died and after he was captured by Orochimaru to be experimented on. As an individual, Suigestu is known to have a talent for murder, as he finds joy in killing others wantonly and unprovoked.
24 Karin
Unrequited Devotion To A Villain
- Debut Episode: Naruto Shippūden Episode 115
As a non-combatant member of Taka, Karin’s role in Sasuke’s life was similar to Sakura’s role in Naruto and Sasuke’s life. However, unlike Sakura, she bore all the risk while being treated unfairly and didn't get the man. As a member of the Uzumaki clan and someone who worked and performed experiments for Orochimaru, Karin was initiated into Taka after Orochimaru’s death.
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Despite caring for Sasuke, he sacrificed her to kill Danzo, showing that he had become a full-fledged villain. Sasuke never cared much for Karin, but she was obsessed with him, and that obsession led her to stay by his side even through his villainous acts.
23 Jugo
A Villain With A Dual Personality
- Debut Episode: Naruto Shippūden Episode 116
Unlike many other villains in the series, Jugo isn't a "matter-of-fact villain," but someone who performs villainous acts anytime he loses his temper. After losing his temper, the relatively kind and cowardly Jugo could even take to murder entire villages. Known as Judo of the Scales, this ninja had a dual personality, which led him to Orochimaru, who experimented on him to use his power for himself.
After Sasuke makes short work of Orochimaru, he recruits Jugo into Taka to take down his brother Itachi. As a member of Taka, fans got to see who Jugo truly is, and while he performs villainous acts alongside Sasuke, whether or not he is truly a villain at heart or a struggling individual is something to be debated.
22 Sasuke
The Villainy Of A Deuteragonist
- Debut Episode: Naruto Episode 1
While Uchiha Sasuke eventually found the light, his villain arc was nothing short of impressive. As a villain, Sasuke caused havoc in many places and gave Naruto a hard time. Because of how he initially hated Naruto, Sasuke and Naruto were always fated to be rivals. However, as many arcs came and went, Sasuke always found more and more reasons to be at loggerheads with Naruto and the Hidden Leaf Village.
While he did plow the anti-hero route, Sasuke didn't stop there. He got to the point where he was more than willing to sacrifice his friends and allies for his goals. And in those moments, Sasuke showed just how much of a villain he can be.
21 Kakuzu
This Akatsuki Member Killed For Money
- Debut Episode: Naruto Shippuden Episode 71
As a member of the legendary Akatsuki, Kakuzu was an S-rank missing-nin. Like his partner, Hidan, Kakuzu was considered unkillable as he had five hearts, and he could only be killed if all five were destroyed. Because of his five hearts, Kakuzu also has access to all five elements, making him a master ninja.
Apart from brawn, Kakuzu also had brains, as he was considered a master analyst who always devised ways to counter his opponents' techniques. As a villain, Kakuzu only took on missions that gave him a profit, as he mainly killed for money, calling it the most dependable thing in the world.
20 Gaara
From Evil Jinchuriki To Kazekage
- Debut Episode: Naruto Episode 20
Although Gaara became Suna’s Fifth Kazekage at the end of the series, his early days were filled with villainy. As a child Jinchuriki, Gaara grew up as an outcast, with nobody in Sunagakure trying to connect with him. He was viewed as a weapon and object of destruction by many, causing many more to fear him and distance themselves.
With the treatment he received, Gaara began to hate society and personify the monster that many others took him for. As he grew to hate the world, Gaara became increasingly brutal and dangerous, and his exceptional control over sand gave him the power to do as he liked, up until he met Naruto.