The original Naruto anime made it clear who the most powerful fighters were in each story arc, .

such as Kimimaro dominating the Sasuke Retrieval Mission Arc and Kakashi coming out on top in the Land of Waves Arc. Fans can approach the Naruto Shippuden anime the same way, meaning a handful of characters emerge as the anime's strongest at one point or another.

Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission Arc: Sasuke Uchiha

Sasuke Said He Could Kill Naruto on a Whim

As of the Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Arc in Naruto Shippuden, Sasuke Uchiha was the most powerful fighter on the scene. It was also the first time Sasuke made a substantial appearance ever since the original Naruto anime ended, so fans were eager to see what Naruto's former teammate was capable of after all that time. Sasuke lived up to all expectations as a Sharingan-toting rogue who could stand up to Team 7 all by himself.

Rescue Gaara Mission Arc: Sasori

Sasori is an Entire Army of Ninjas in One

The first major story arc kicked off Naruto Shippuden with dire personal stakes as Deidara and Sasori of the Akatsuki abducted the young Kazekage in his own home. Naruto fans were shocked to see Deidara handily defeat the seemingly unbeatable Gaara and his sand jutsu, yet Deidara pulled it off -- and Sasori is even stronger than that.

The power level gap between Sasori and Deidara is a fairly narrow one, with both ninjas being worthwhile members of the Akatsuki. If fans had to name one as the arc's top fighter, that distinction goes to Sasori, as Sakura and Chiyo can attest to. That's because Sasori is an entire army of ninjas in one thanks to his 298 puppets, which include the Third Kazekage and his fearsome iron sand jutsu. Sasori is an expert in using his vicious puppets as a battalion of fighters, making it a miracle that Sakura and Chiyo ever defeated him.

Akatsuki Suppression Mission Arc: Kakuzu

Kakuzu is an Immortal Warrior With Extensive Experience

Unsurprisingly, several members of the dreaded Akatsuki organization ended up being the strongest fighters in the various arcs and phases of Naruto Shippuden. Even scarier than Deidara and Sasori was the nigh-immortal Kakuzu, who shared Sasori's concept of being several fighters in one. While Sasori was a puppetmaster with his organs in a special container, Kakuzu had an organic-only approach by combining several ninjas' hearts into his own flesh.

Itachi Pursuit Mission Arc: Itachi Uchiha

Itachi's Genjutsu and Mangekyo Sharingan Are Fearsome Weapons

Another powerhouse member of the Akatsuki gang, Itachi Uchiha was clearly the most powerful character found in the short and personal Itachi Pursuit Mission Arc. Notably, the surviving Uchiha brothers had nearly reached parity by that point as shinobi, since Sasuke had learned to use the Mangekyo Sharingan, just like Itachi. That was the least Sasuke could do to keep pace with his dying prodigy brother.

Sasuke deserved to share the battlefield with Itachi and deserved to be taken seriously, but in the end, he was still not that arc's #1 fighter. Slowly and surely, Sasuke fell behind in the battle, and he only won because Itachi was about to die from his illness and didn't even want to win. That's what made Itachi more intriguing as a character, since he's less about slinging cool jutsu and is more about the secret tragedy of why he did what he did, and Sasuke's ironic response to it all.

Pain Arc: The Six Paths of Pain

Pain is an Elite Squad With Seamless Teamwork Via the Rinnegan

The famed Pain Arc showed Jiraiya at the peak of his power by using Sage Mode with the support of the Fukusaku and Shima, but not even that was enough to take down the Six Paths of Pain. Disaster struck when Jiraiya lost to Pain's full power in the Hidden Rain Village, and then Pain turned his wrath on the Hidden Leaf Village next. With such mammoth strength, Pain destroyed Naruto's home to teach every Leaf ninja a heartbreaking lesson.

Kage Summit Arc: Onoki

The Elderly Tsuchikage Might Have Killed Sasuke

By the time Naruto Shippuden arrived in the Kage Summit Arc, the power scaling had reached astonishing new heights. Whether for good or ill, the jutsu combat system was a little less about cunning tricks and more about blistering offensive firepower, making Naruto Shippuden feel even more like its Dragon Ball Z inspiration. Thus, the competition was fierce in the Kage Summit Arc, and one ninja narrowly emerged as #1.

Fourth Great Shinobi War Arc: Kaguya Otsutsuki

Madara Didn't Expect Kaguya to Replace Him as the Big Bad

Naruto Shippuden fans expected Madara Uchiha to be the strongest supervillain in the huge final arc, and indeed the entire series, but Kaguya Otsutsuki's arrival changed all that. As mighty and terrifying as Madara was, Kaguya still had him beat as the mother of all chakra, an otherworldly being with abilities beyond what any human could muster.

Understandably, it felt jarring and even unfair for Kaguya to pop in as the ultimate fighter in Naruto Shippuden's last major arc, yet she did so, and no one can question her supremacy on the battlefield. Kaguya's abilities tower over what even the most talented human ninjas can do, and that is why it was all Team 7 could do to merely seal her away. The world needed Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to combine their titanic power just to scrape a narrow win, and that properly honors Kaguya as the strongest character of all in this arc.

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