Top 20 Jutsu in the Naruto Series
Script written by Jonathan Alexander
#20: Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu
Ohnoki’s not as spry as he used to be, but he’s still a walking example of why you should respect your elders. He doesn’t win fights the normal way; instead, he uses Particle Style to flat-out disintegrate any opposition at a molecular level. It’s just a good thing the old geezer has a handle on it, else the jutsu could easily atomize half a Tailed Beast. With how astonishingly effective it is, it makes sense that only the second and third Tsuchikage have ever been able to master the unstable chakra.
#19: Mind Transfer Jutsu
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The Yamanaka clan's trademark attack is the absolute epitome of the phrase “stop hitting yourself.” Bulging muscles are actually a weakness here, since Ino and the others can vacation in their opponent’s minds and let their fists do the work. That’s not the end of “Mind Transfer’s” usefulness, either; the real might of the technique is its telekinetic prowess. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Ino’s clan almost single handedly kept the entire Alliance up to date due relaying info straight to the brain. This jutsu’s capability both on and off the battlefield is invaluable, especially since skilled ninja can eventually learn to inhabit multiple minds at once. Talk about herd mentality.
#18: Tengai Shinsei
Madara Uchiha was one of the most infamous ninjas to ever live, but even still, few could have anticipated he possessed a jutsu quite literally out of this world. In a devastating display of might, he reaches for the stars…and then brings one down courtesy of a giant-ass comet set to devastate all caught underneath. But sharing is caring, and when Madara realized one meteor wasn’t enough, he decided to give a second one, too. With unparalleled destructive capabilities, this legendary Uchiha didn’t just meet expectations, he utterly shattered them.
#17: Infinite Tsukuyomi
Unless there’s a jutsu that can take out the moon, this attack will bring the entire world to its knees. At the very least, the chakra of nine Tailed-Beasts is a steep asking price, and they’re rarely on sale. But, it pays off with a technique that reflects off the moon itself, casting the unblockable genjutsu to the far corners of the planet. As it lulls everyone into a false, idealized reality, their physical bodies become chakra packets for Kaguya. That’s right, this also has the nasty side effect of resurrecting the evil founder of all ninjutsu. Both the cause and the symptom make it clear this is no dream, it’s a nightmare.
#16: Rinnegan
These eyes are more than a cool pair of purple contacts. For one, they were formed by the Sage of Six Paths himself, and secondly, the ocular upgrades come with some massive perks. In need of some quick maneuvering? Just trade places with your foe. Want to snatch a far distanced foe? Use the Rinnegan’s push and pull ability. Really, its effectiveness in battle is only limited to its users' imagination. So far, Sasuke’s been a great brand representative in proving why this is one of the three greatest ocular jutsu in shinobi history.
#15: Flying Raijin Jutsu
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The Fourth Hokage may not have invented this jutsu, but the nicknamed “Yellow Flash” of the Leaf definitely helped it soar to popularity. All it takes is the proper seal, and then the caster can instantly teleport back to that spot at will. It’s great for zipping across the village, and also for confusing enemies with attacks from different directions. Even more, it isn’t confined to just teleporting the user. If need be, it can warp weapons, enemies, or even entire Tailed Beast Bombs. With this, Minato gets the job done, and looks cool doing it.
#14: Kirin
Never let it be said that Sasuke doesn’t know how to bring the thunder. While this technique is only viable in the middle of a storm, the results are cataclysmic. This chakra-efficient thunderbolt is the natural culmination to Sasuke’s lightning-based jutsu up to this point. Plus, since it strikes the ground in one-thousandth of a second, this technique has a pretty flawless hit rate. The Uchiha avenger already had plenty of iconic jutsu, but in this case, lightning did strike twice.
#13: Almighty Push
It’s safe to say the Hidden Leaf Village was already feeling the pain by the time the Akatsuki leader unleashed his ultimate move. After using it to nullify any opposing attacks, Pain took to the skies to prove Almighty Push was more than a defensive jutsu. Then, with one, heart-wrenching blow, he collapsed the entire village like it was a house of cards. At this point in the series, nothing had ever unleashed this kind of devastation. Turning the village into a crater was a different kind of pain than expected, but one that hurt just the same.
#12: Shadow Possession Jutsu
Despite its name, this Nara Clan specialty doesn’t require an exorcism. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not terrifying in combat. Instead of going for the obvious strike, this jutsu seeks out the one thing no one can defend - their shadow. Once attached, the enemy becomes a puppet unable to escape their hold. The only real counter is to dodge, but that’s easier said than done when a single punch is checkmate, too. Whether by fist or jutsu, being bound is more a matter of when, not if.
#11: Summoning Jutsu
Because why make the effort of forcing yourself to spit up flames when you conjure up a giant monster to do it for you? Whether it be a toad, a fox, a slug, a snake or anything in between, these creatures are capable of defense, healing, or combat on a massive scale. It’s just refreshing to spice up the jutsu-slinging with some kaiju-sized carnage. The endless variety means you neve know what you’re going to get whenever that seal is revealed. Though chances are someone is about to get trampled.
#10: The Eight Inner Gates
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Rock Lee and Mighty Guy share more in common than a bowl cut. Using the undisputed power of youth, these two taijutsu practitioners are able to utilize the eight gates, which in turn allows them eight utterly absurd leaps in strength. However, these things have limiters for a reason, since going beyond them can cause permanent bodily harm. The eighth of these, aptly called the Gate of Death, even costs the user their life, though chances are the user is also taking down their foe with them!
#9: Sand Coffin
Gaara has a habit of turning fights into funerals with this one. By just willing it, the Jinchuruki completely encases his opponent in a bed of sand. But, this dirt is more than just annoying; it’s strong enough to crush bone. Frighteningly, escaping this jutsu with just a couple of shattered ligaments is actually getting off easy. Once the sand finds its target, the coffin usually becomes a full-on burial. If Gaara’s in a particularly bad mood, it’s the messy kind, too.
#8: Byakugan
The Hyuga don’t technically have eyes in the back of their head, but this is the next best thing. This ocular jutsu possesses a near 360 degree field of vision at a distance over 800 meters. It’s not just a great cover for blindspots, but also grants them the sight to peer into a target’s inner chakra network. It pairs exceedingly well with the Hyuga’s Gentle Fist style of combat, which targets specific chakra points to limit the opponent’s jutsu. From the strongest clan in the entire Hidden Hidden Leaf Village, the Byakugan is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
#7: Sexy Jutsu
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In the face of ninja arts that can rain meteors, destroy villages, or completely atomize enemies, a scantily-clad transformation doesn’t seem all that impressive. But, don’t count this technique out; it’s the primary cause of the village’s incurable nosebleed epidemic, after all. It doesn’t seem to have any practical use, but it’s not supposed to. The number one most unpredictable ninja only created this technique to play pranks on his superiors. However, it’s served him surprisingly well across the years, and not just for cheeky gags. In a battle to decide the fate of the world, it managed to distract the Mother of all shinobi herself. If even Kaguya isn’t immune, then Naruto definitely deserves the last laugh.
#6: Mangekyo Sharingan
The blood-soaked sequel to the Uchiha’s infamous eyes comes with more than a new pupil design. The new Sharingan comes with a slew of unique genjutsu and combat capabilities, some of which could threaten the entire world. Impressively, it doesn’t take any real training to unlock these, either. Though, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. An Uchiha must suffer intense trauma to activate the evolution, usually in the form of a lost loved one. Overusing the eyes can lead to blindness, but as long as the eyes are open, they’re certainly a sight to behold.
#5: Amaterasu
Remember when we said the Mangekyo Sharingan brought a ton of overpowered abilities with it? Well, this would be one of them. Without the need of hand signs, just one look from these Uchiha eyes will burn them to nothing. It may cause severe eye strain, but at least the flames themselves don’t blaze hot and fast. Instead, they last until the caster douses the jutsu, or the target is reduced to ash. It’s basically a fiery insta-win. This thing can even burn through other flames! It’s that hot!
#4: Shadow Clone Jutsu
When no one expected a thing from this knuckle-headed ninja, Naruto gave them a compelling reason to reconsider. Even as early as the very first episode, Naruto’s first real jutsu became an iconic part of the character. He’s only continued to hone it over the years, and now, there’s a few hundred reasons to reassess his potential, what with him able to instantly create hordes of sentient duplicates, all capable of crafting their own jutsu on the fly. Basically, it turns Naruto into an ever-improving, one-man army.
#3: Susanoo
Who needs a Tailed Beast when you can just make your own village-stomping avatar? Another ability specific to the Mangekyo Sharingan, this serves as the absolute peak of the Uchiha’s strength. It decks out the user with a blazing sentient that’s impervious to almost any kind of jutsu. Alongside that, its massive appendages are capable of ripping through entire armies with a single strike. Just a ribcage can deflect all manner of attacks, and that’s not even mentioning the utter possibilities of the Perfect Susanoo. As an absolute defense and a devastating attack at the same time, this almighty technique makes a case of Uchiha supremacy.
#2: Chidori
Even though Sasuke learned it from Kakashi, this lightning lariat has become synonymous with his character over the years. It’s deceptively simple in execution: a large culmination of chakra that manifests in a running fist of electricity. But, its straightforward execution hasn’t stopped it from becoming Sasuke’s signature attack since its debut. After literally shocking the village with it during the Chunin Exams, he would continue to refine it into all manner of deadlier forms. While it’s not his strongest jutsu anymore, he still saw it fit to pass it down to his daughter, Sarada, who has since made it her own.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Kamui
Summoning Jutsu: Reanimation
Karma
Kotoamatsukami
Mitotic Regeneration: The Hundred Healings
#1: Rasengan
From Minato to Jiraiya, Jiraiya to Naruto, and Naruto to Boruto, this iconic technique has quite literally followed the franchise through the years. The spiraling mass of chakra has been at the center of some of the hypest clashes in the entire franchise. It’s as much a part of the titular character as his shinobi headband, though packing way more of a punch, since both it and its ascended forms have destroyed countless foes by trapped them within its ferocious vortex. The generational aspects of this jutsu prove it’s more than just a move; it’s a legacy.
