Summary

  • Madara Uchiha annihilated an entire division of the Allied Shinobi Forces, showcasing his god-like power by defeating thousands.
  • Minato Namikaze, known as the Yellow Flash, took down 1000 Hidden Stone Shinobi alone in the Third Great Ninja War, ending the conflict.
  • Sasuke Uchiha defeated 1000 opponents without killing them during his training with Orochimaru, showcasing his unparalleled prowess.

The Naruto series is teeming with overpowered characters who boast feats that deem them far above the rest. From Naruto’s very own feat of putting an end to the Fourth Great Ninja War to Kakashi’s thousand copied techniques, each major character has attained a remarkable achievement that remains synonymous with their namesake. However, one specific attainment that is limited to a select few is truly the epitome of power in the shinobi world — defeating 1000 ninja.

While taking on a thousand opponents and walking out triumphant is certainly not an official metric of power, the rarity of such a feat pegs it as a revered deed that only those with true power can obtain. A total of four shinobi boast this achievement in the entirety of Naruto, with each character’s victory being a testament to their unrivaled strength.

Featured Best Fights in Naruto Sasuke
The 24 Best Fights in Naruto, Ranked

The Naruto series is filled with amazing fights. These stand out as the absolute best ones shown throughout its run.

1

A, The Third Raikage

Fought 10,000 Ninja to Buy Time for His Comrades

The Third Raikage takes on 10,000 enemy Ninja during the Third Great Ninja War in Naruto: Shippuden.
The Third Raikage takes on 10,000 enemy Ninja during the Third Great Ninja War in Naruto: Shippuden.

The Raikage are well-known for being a fierce bunch, yet the Third Raikage is arguably the strongest one out of these brutes. However, raw power wasn’t his only strength, as he went down with comradery as his final virtue. During the Third Great Ninja War, the Third Raikage fought 10,000 opponents for three consecutive days and nights, all without a moment’s respite.

In order to save his comrades… he used himself as a decoy and fought 10,000 enemy troops alone.

In the end, he succumbed to the exhaustion of fighting shinobi with no end in sight. While an exact number was never stated, it’s likely that he ended up defeating more than a thousand ninja. The mettle to take on 10,000 ninja alone is a testament to his iron spirit, though he proved his brute strength too by defeating his fair share of ninja.

Minato Namikaze

Took Down 1000 Hidden Stone Shinobi During the Third Great Ninja War

Minato Smiling With His Kunai During War In Naruto

Known as the Yellow Flash of the Leaf, Minato Namikaze's feats on the battlefield are renowned throughout the shinobi world. With his untraceable speed and space-time ninjutsu, Minato became a feared foe among the Five Great Nations, even forcing the Hidden Stone Village to instate a Flee-on-Sight order for him during the Third Great Ninja War.

It was during the same conflict that Minato cemented his revered status by taking on a thousand Stone shinobi. With his Flying Raijin Jutsu, Minato opposed a behemoth of an army, and his feat single-handedly put an end to the long-drawn Third Great Ninja War. Minato had several notable feats during this war, yet this victory alone played a significant role in his appointment as the Fourth Hokage of the Leaf.

With our pride on the line, we sent 1000 of our shinobi, and I hear it took just one of them, namely the Yellow Flash, to put a stop to the invasion.

Sasuke Uchiha

Defeated 1000 Opponents as Part of His Training

Sasuke’s feat of defeating 1000 ninja is often brushed off compared to the other characters that boast the very same feat. During Sasuke’s training with Orochimaru, he was ordered to take on a thousand opponents, and he did so without killing a single one. Considering the fact that Sasuke took down every single opponent without landing a lethal blow, it won’t be wrong to state that his trial was much more arduous than his counterparts. The condition of defeating the opponents without killing them wasn’t imposed by Orochimaru, rather it was Sasuke’s own wish to showcase his prowess through such means.

Sasuke's Amenotejikara in Naruto
Naruto: Sasuke's Amenotejikara, Explained

With the power to warp space-time and swap spaces instantly, Amenotejikara is one of Sasuke's most powerful Rinnegan abilities.

Since this achievement took place during his training with Orochimaru during the early parts of Shippuden, most forgot about this iconic moment in Sasuke’s journey. Moreover, this battle never took place during a major conflict, meaning it was bound to recede to the background sooner or later. Still, the feat remains a testament to his unprecedented power, which becomes all the more impressive considering he achieved it without the Mangekyo Sharingan and the Rinnegan he received later on.

You stand before a thousand enemies, and yet… you don’t even blink slightly to the idea of fear.

Madara Uchiha

Annihilated an Entire Division of the Allied Shinobi Forces

Madara Rushes to Fight Allied Forces

As one of the end-game antagonists of Naruto, Madara Uchiha’s power is eons above any foe seen before. Naturally, this strength was accompanied by the feat of defeating more than 1000 ninja, though he ended up massacring more than this meager number. The Fourth Division of the Allied Shinobi Forces was unfortunate enough to fight Madara head-on, and the result was rather clear from the beginning. The Fourth Division of the Shinobi Forces comprised well over several thousand shinobi, and Madara was able to wipe out more than half in an instant.

Is this the power of a god?

Madara took on the entire division and killed most of the several thousand shinobi comprising it, with only a few survivors who later rejoined the war effort. While Madara defeated hundreds of shinobi through mere taijutsu, the bulk of the casualties were a result of his Tengai Shinsei, a meteor that eliminated most of the division, and severely weakened two of the Five Kage. Madara went on to defeat more shinobi later on, though his battle against the Fourth Division is the only instance of him defeating more than 1000 ninja in one go.

Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.

Madara Uchiha strongest Naruto characters
Naruto: Why Madara's Defeat Had To Be Disappointing

Many felt Madara's eventual defeat in Naruto was disappointing, but there was no other way for him to go.

Naruto
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A popular shonen anime based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga, Naruto follows its eponymous shinobi's journey as he goes from his town's outsider to its hero.