Although the most recent arc in Boruto has been about when not to fight, in the war-torn world of Naruto, fighting is a part of life. Children are conscripted into ninja armies as early as 12 years old and attacks from enemy villages can come at any time.
Ranging in scope from massive battles where the combatants could end a civilization with a single attack to smaller-scale battles contained to a single room, it’s hardly surprising that fans on Ranker are clamoring to find out which fights make the top 10.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
10 Shikamaru Vs Hidan
Shikamaru has proven to be a capable leader, with massive strategic intellect and Shadow Possession Jutsu. Hidan may not be as clever as Shikamaru, but he has a distinct advantage given that he cannot be killed.
This fight was unforgettable for fans, not only because Shikamaru was able to avenge his sensei, Asuma, but because this was Shikamaru’s first big win as a team leader after failing to stop Sasuke from leaving the village. This intense chess game of a fight cemented Shikamaru as the smartest character in Naruto.
9 Minato Vs Obito
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was so deadly that a “Flee on Sight” order was issued to the enemy ninja. While Minato has destroyed entire armies, Obito is responsible for the collapse of entire nations. His scheming led to the fall of Amegakure and the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Technically the first fight that Naruto fans saw, the battle between Minato and Obito directly resulted in Kurama being sealed inside of Naruto. While Obito may have successfully killed his sensei, Minato succeeded in saving the village and his son with his dying breath.
8 Hashirama Vs Madara
Hailing from enemy clans, Madara and Hashirama were destined to fight since their childhood. Madara’s Susanoo and command over the Nine-Tails pitted against Hashirama’s Wood Style and Sage Mode led to a battle on a scale that fans had rarely seen before.
Friends turned enemies, Hashirama and Madara’s relationship is a foil for Naruto and Sasuke’s. The former’s final battle created the Valley of the End, where the latter would have multiple fateful encounters. This further strengthens the link between the two pairs and turns Madara into a dark mirror of Sasuke’s future.
7 Jiraiya Vs Pain
In another battle between teacher and student, the Toad Sage and legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, took on the Six Paths of Pain, six undead shinobi, each with frightening abilities, and each controlled by Jiraiya’s former pupil Nagato.
While Jiraiya was successful in his intel-gathering mission, he was killed in the process and in so doing, he etched this battle into the memories of fans everywhere. While Naruto is no stranger to death, Jiraiya’s death may have hit him harder than any other.
6 Kakashi Vs Obito
Once childhood friends, Obito’s apparent death and Kakashi’s killing of their teammate lead the pair down very different paths. Paths that would converge in the Kamui’s Dimension where the former friends would meet, now as enemies, and battle once again.
The fight between Kakashi and Obito is nearly unique in that it has nearly no special hand signs or jutsu and is primarily hand-to-hand combat. The combination of choreography and Sakuga animation makes this battle one of the most beautiful fights in the entire Naruto series.
5 Sasuke Vs Itachi
One of the most poignant fights in Naruto, Sasuke’s battle with his brother Itachi left many fans dumbfounded. After an intense and emotional battle, Sasuke finally the revenge that he had been in search of since his debut in the second episode.
While fans were initially relieved to see Sasuke victorious, their joy was short-lived as they found out that Itachi’s true purpose in destroying the Uchiha Clan was to protect his brother. This twist of fate transformed Itachi from a heartless villain into one of the show’s greatest heroes.
4 Rock Lee Vs Gaara
During the Chunin Exams Gaara, the jinchuriki of Shikaku was pitted against Rock Lee, the ultimate underdog. Even though Rock Lee had no skill in ninjutsu or genjutsu, he went toe to toe with Gaara and nearly beat him with raw physical skill alone.
While this fight made Rock Lee a fan favorite due to his plucky determination, it also caused fans to see Gaara as an actual threat. Rock Lee beat Sasuke pretty handily before the Chunin Exams and to see him, in turn, get beaten by Gaara sets Gaara up as a nearly unbeatable monster.
3 Guy Vs Madara
Much like the battle between Lee and Gaara, this battle was between the biggest threat at the time and a man who was limited to what he could do through his physicality, determination, and the power of the springtime of youth.
Up until this point, Might Guy was seen mostly as a joke that could pack a punch, but it wasn’t until he opened the Eighth Gate and was the only shinobi that could stand up against Madara solo that he sealed himself as one of the greatest heroes in the entire series.
2 Naruto Vs Sasuke
In the final battle in Naruto: Shippuden, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha are finally able to throw everything that they have learned over the years at each other. Wielding the Rinnegan and the Six Paths Sage Mode, their battle was massive enough to destroy entire landscapes.
This was a battle that was 15 years in the making. The pair had been rivals since the beginning and it was only fitting to see how far each of them had come since their first major battle. And what better place to have than the Valley of the End, the site of the battle that sent them on separate paths in the first place.
1 Naruto Vs Pain
Two students of the same master, Pain and Naruto were two sides of the same coin. One side, Jiraiya’s greatest success, the other his greatest failure. But, where Jiraiya failed, Naruto succeeded by defeating Pain and helping Nagato find peace.
While the victory went to Naruto, the moral victory was Nagato’s. Nagato was the child of a nation ravaged by war and Naruto was the child of a nation that prospered on that death and destruction. It was from this battle that Naruto learned of the cycle of pain and vowed to put a stop to it.
Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
