As the character in the series with the highest number of recorded fights, Naruto has more than a few close calls with exceptional opponents. Either using his various ninja skills or through the famous "Talk-No-Jutsu", the shonen protagonist has overcome countless obstacles on his way to becoming the future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Despite his power, there are several situations in which Naruto is saved from a crushing defeat seemingly through some odd or unusual method that would have easily killed a side character in the same situation. These victories seem rushed or unearned in cases, with fights only existing to further the character's personal development rather than an actual match of fighting power.
Updated on August 22nd, 2021 by Ritwik Mitra: When one talks about the greatest shonen anime of all time, it's only a matter of time before Naruto comes into the picture. The legendary shonen series is full to the brim with iconic moments across the board, including a slew of amazing fights that the titular protagonist has won with his strength and wit. That being said, one has to admit that Naruto's plot armor allowed him to win a number of these fights, with the following battles being especially egregious in this regard.
15 Naruto Vs. Sasuke
- Episode(s): 476, 477 (Shippuden)
It would be impossible to talk about Naruto's iconic fights without mentioning his duel with Sasuke. While the latter was the victor in the first battle, Naruto edged him out in the second one... although the manner of victory was rather questionable.
In fact, one can argue that Naruto should've been down for the count long before the battle reached its final conclusion. There were several moments when Sasuke should've obliterated Naruto... but these moments never came to pass.
14 Naruto Vs. Mizuki
- Episode(s): 1
Naruto's first-ever confrontation with a high-level ninja came against a Chunin by the name of Mizuki. After being manipulated by this shinobi to steal a Forbidden Scroll, Naruto found out that Mizuki actually had his own nefarious purposes.
In a bid to save his sensei Iruka from meeting an untimely demise, Naruto decided to pull out his patented Shadow Clone technique out of nowhere. One can only wonder how this knuckle-headed ninja managed to master such a high-level technique, especially after fans were well aware of just how weak his clone jutsu really was!
13 Naruto Vs. Orochimaru
- Episode(s): 42 (Shippuden)
While it's understandable that Orochimaru was rather weak when he faced off against Naruto, it's still hard to believe that he had such a hard time against Naruto. After all, this man was responsible for the demise of the Third Hokage!
Instead of witnessing his true power, we see Orochimaru trying his hardest to flee from a berserk Naruto who let the Nine-Tails hold a tighter grip over him. It's definitely a visual spectacle, but the end result was certainly rather disappointing for people who wanted to see Orochimaru's true power against Naruto.
12 Naruto Vs. Kakuzu
- Episode(s): 86-88 (Shippuden)
After perfecting the Rasenshuriken, Naruto decided to bring out this technique in a fight against one of the members of the Akatsuki. Given how powerful Kakuzu was shown to be, it was rather hard to imagine just how Naruto would best this imposing foe.
With his Rasenshuriken, Naruto was able to easily defeat Kakuzu. While the climax of this battle was certainly awe-inspiring, one can't help but wonder whether Kakuzu was taking it easy on Naruto.
11 Naruto Vs. Tailed Beasts
- Episode(s): 329 (Shippuden)
After finally reconciling with Kurama once and for all, Naruto and the Nine-Tailed Fox team up to unlock a whole new level of power. This allows them to fight against the possessed Tailed Beasts and bring them back to normal.
While this fight was a great way to show Naruto's powerful capabilities, the power level that is shown in this episode is a tad too unrealistic. From deflecting multiple Tailed Beast Bombs to defeating all the Tailed Beasts single-handedly, one has to wonder just how Naruto managed to accomplish the same with a power he was unfamiliar with!
10 Naruto Vs. Kimimaro
- Episode(s): 126
Kimimaro is a usual opponent and deadly considered how early in the series he made his first and only appearance. The ailing servant of Orochimaru is able to manipulate his own bones into weapons, creating a system of attacks with no blind spots and blindingly-fast striking ability.
Any attack Naruto threw at the ninja was met with a slew of bone spears that quickly exhausted his Shadow Clone Jutsu. A drunken Rock Lee was the only thing keeping Naruto from being defeated, and even then, Lee and Gaara merely had to wait out Kimimaro dying of a pre-existing illness to secure victory.
9 Naruto Vs. Neji
- Episode(s): 60-62
One of the many fights that served to further the storyline and development of characters rather than actual physical might. Neji, after previously defeating Hinata in a vicious fashion was in need of an attitude adjustment and Naruto was already displaying his ability to talk his way through tough fights. Neji was coerced to understand that fate isn't something a person is born into, rather each person makes their path in life by actions and behavior.
Logically, Neji was a far stronger fighter at this point and possessed a fully-released Bakugan ability that he easily used to defeat another member of his own clan prior to the fight. Someone whose sensory ability and visual prowess being taken out by a simple uppercut from below is a rushed ending to a fight that could have been far more intense for both characters.
8 Naruto Vs. Haku
- Episode(s): 13-17
Having a heavy-weight match early in the series both allowed Team 7 to establish a social dynamic between characters as well as hinting at the abilities of the Nine-Tailed Fox within Naruto. Haku clearly had the upper hand, and nearly wiped out the majority of the team before Naruto began to access his true power and display the beginning of his true capabilities.
That being said, pulling out the Jinchuuriki power this early on and in such a fashion was a bit of a cheap shot to end the fight that neither Naruto nor Sasuke had any real hope of winning.
7 Naruto Vs. Kabuto
- Episode(s): 94
After establishing Kabuto as a high-ranked criminal that managed to evade detection and escape capture by Kakashi, a celebrated ninja among the Leaf Village, his fight with Naruto is something that should be considered unfair. The fight served to display Naruto's new ability, the Rasengan, which would go on to become a staple in fights for Naruto for the rest of the series. Kabuto had been recently holding his own against Tsunade during the fight and had the ability to quickly slice through the body, muscles, and tissue to inhibit his opponents from moving.
Having Naruto not only be able to move with nothing connecting his muscles and tendons together is astonishing, but then also giving him a random burst of energy enough to construct a Rasengan to end the fight was also only to push the plot alone. Had the fight been based purely on skill, Kabuto would have had an easier time shredding the protagonist apart one muscle at a time.
6 Naruto Vs. Pain
- Episode(s): 166-169 (Shippuden)
Undoubtedly one of the most intense and exciting fights in Naruto, the ending of the fight is also one of the most potent uses of "Talk-No-Jutsu" during the show. Naruto fairly earned his victory against Pain, but then went on a search to find the real Rinnegan bearer, Nagato of the Hidden Rain Village. Upon arriving he is greeted by both Nagato and Konan.
Konan herself could have easily taken Naruto down in his weakened state, especially with a full display of her abilities in her subsequent fight against Obito. Instead of this, Naruto uses the symbology of his name and Jiraya's importance in both of their lives to bridge the gap with Nagato, convincing him to change his ways at the final moment.
5 Naruto Vs. Kiba
- Episode(s): 44-45
Kiba is a member of the Inuzuka Clan, and during the time of the Chunin Exams, he had excelled at working with his ninja hound, Akamaru. He was faster, stronger, and more intense of a fighter than Naruto. He had also attained a decent level of mastery over his transformation abilities with Akamaru, which was fully displayed during the fight.
Having Naruto win because of a fart that hurt Kiba's senses is a cheap way to win a fight during an exam that measures battle strength, but it allowed Naruto to go on and talk down other opponents in subsequent rounds.
4 Naruto Vs. Ten-Tails Obito
- Episode(s): 379-384 (Shippuden)
Something that was hinted at during the majority of the Fourth Great Ninja War is that becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuuriki was the ultimate power. Having the abilities of the Sage of the Six Paths would make any opponent unbeatable, and yet, Obito managed to lose in a match of morals to Naruto.
Even with the help of Sasuke, as well as the previous Hokages, Naruto was cornered for much of the fight. Once it was established that he was outmatched, Naruto began a battle of morals with the Uchiha to turn him over to fight alongside his old comrades and remember who he truly was.
3 Naruto Vs. Third Raikage
Episode(s): 301 (Shippuden)
This battle was made to establish Naruto entering the realm of Kage-level strength during his fight with the Third Raikage. The combat style itself also displayed Naruto's sharp increase in tactical thinking during a fight. Instead of the normal spamming of shadow clones and Rasengan techniques, the protagonist instead attempts to overcome opponents with seamless attack strategies and turn their own strength against them.
Although Naruto developed greatly during the Fourth Great Ninja War, this is a fight that wouldn't have been a victory if not for the help of Dodai and the Eight-Tailed beast. Not only did they tell him how to pierce his defenses, but the two also bought Naruto valuable time to fully work out his scheme to end the fight against the former Raikage.
2 Naruto Vs. Madara
- Episode(s): 392-393, 414-421, 424-427 (Shippuden)
Arguably one of the most tenacious fighters to date in the series, Madara Uchiha earned his place as one of the most fearsome opponents in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Not only did the former Uchiha Clan leader take on the bulk of the Allied Ninja forces, but also went against the combined might of the Five Kage and the 9 Tailed Beasts.
Once Madara employed the use of the Demon Statue to seal the Tailed Beasts and acquire their collective power for himself, Naruto would have fatally lost the battle against the Uchiha. Instead, Sakura kept his heart beating with her own hand, and was continuously supported until he could again receive a portion of the Nine-Tailed chakra again.
1 Naruto Vs. Kaguya
- Episode(s): 459-474 (Shippuden)
The mother of chakra had a nearly impossible ability to beat during this fight. Even with the help of the rest of his team and Obito, Naruto had to compete against a being that could shift dimensions at will and distort reality to her whim. While that alone should have been impossible to defeat, Naruto was the only one who could even begin to keep up her pace, and she quickly figured out the deception behind his shadow clones to discover his true hiding place.
At that point, she had countless opportunities to launch one of her All-Killing Ash Bones into his heart. Had Obito and others not countered these attacks on behalf of Naruto, he would have fatally lost the fight against the Otsutsuki.