Female ninjas, also known as kunoichi, are a fan favorite among anime enthusiasts. While the trope often entails kunoichi who weaponize seduction, in both their wardrobe and their actions, anime has come a long way. Now, they range from tsunderes and danderes to cute ditzy types and cold-blooded killers alike, though their character design is often still sexualized.

With the popularity of ninja shows like those of the Naruto franchise, kunoichi are easy enough to find. That being said, there are some legendary kunoichi that often get overlooked by fans due to the abundance of female ninjas in the anime world.

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10 Sarutobi - Gintama

Sarutobi is a ninja, but an assassin and a server by trade. She works at the Kunoichi Café when she's not stalking Gintoki or killing people. Her skills include precision with kunai knifes as well as weaponized glasses in later arcs. Her backstory is vague, though it is known that she's from the Oniwabanshuu, and that her eyesight is bad.

She first appears in episode one, but doesn't return until episode 22 when she becomes a regular supporting character.

9 Sango - InuYasha

Though Sango might not be given the title of ninja in InuYasha, her techniques and skill-set are very kunoichi. She trained in a village of demon slayers and eventually became one of the strongest in her village. Her skills include smoke bombs, poison, and most notably, a giant boomerang called Hiraikotsu.

Her first appearance was in episode 24, and she became a regular cast member throughout the series after joining forces with Inuyasha and Kagome.

8 Konan - Naruto Shippuden

Konan is an underrated character in Naruto Shippuden that has one of the coolest jutsus in the entire franchise. She controls paper, so much so that she can make paper clones, mimic the environment with paper, and choke out rival ninjas with paper.

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She was trained under Jiraiya, along with Nagato and Yahiko, and co-founded the Akatsuki. Her first appearance in Naruto Shippuden was in episode 125.

7 Kagero - Ninja Scroll Movie

Kagero is a poison specialist, working as the poison tester for the Mochizuki clan. Because of this, she has become so filled with poison that her body is toxic to all who try to sleep with her or get intimate in any way with her. She is also mostly immune to poison, and is also known for her excellent combat skills.

Kagero is on of the main protagonists in the Ninja Scroll (1993) movie.

6 Yoruichi - Bleach

Not only is she a retired soul reaper, but her skill set makes Yoruichi a kunoichi master. As the ex squad captain of the 2nd division, she has incredible power and stamina. Her skills vary, and many are unknown, but some notable ones include turning into a cat, super strength, and superior hand-to-hand combat abilities.

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Her first appearance is in episode 15, where she becomes a supporting character that aids Ichigo and Urahara throughout the series.

5 Shinobu - Ninja Nonsense

Shinobu is a ninja in training that can't quite get her ninpou right. This comedy anime makes for a ton of laughs as Shinobou attempts different ninja techniques. While she might not be the strongest kunoichi on this list by far, her hilarious trials and tribulations of ninja school make her well worth the watch.

She is the main protagonist of Ninja Nonsense, and debuts in episode one. This show makes a farce of the kunoichi trope and ninjas in general, allowing for a new perspective on the genre.

4 Tsubaki - Soul Eater

Tsubaki is a student at Death Weapon Meister Academy and a member of the Especially Advanced Talent (EAT) class. She has various skills including being able to turn her body into different weapons, martial arts, excellent reflexes and hand-to-hand combat, as well as notable intelligence. She first appears in episode two and becomes a regular supporting character through multiple significant arcs.

3 Tsunade - Naruto & Naruto Shippuden

Tsunade is the fifth hokage in Naruto and one of three of The Legendary Sannin. She is a medical ninja, the best at that, and has immeasurable physical strength. Her temperament is hot-headed, but she has a soft spot for her underlings, especially Naruto. She first appeared in Naruto in episode 83, and became a regular cast member throughout Naruto and Naruto Shippuden.

2 Yuzuriha - Hell's Paradise

Yuzuriha might not be a favorite among Hell's Paradise fans, as she is quite manipulative at times, but as the show goes on her character growth allows us to see a softer side of her. As one of the few ninjas in the show, Yuzuriha shows off her ninpou well, taking on the Tensen with her ninpou-infused bodily fluids and excellent reflexes. Yuzuriha first appears in episode two, and follows the seductress kunoichi cliché to the bone.

1 Oboro - Basilisk

Oboro is possibly the most iconic kunoichi of her time. Though she states that she is not good with a sword or in hand-to-hand combat, and is especially unfit for ninpou, she has a secret weapon called Mystic Eyes that sets her apart from other ninjas. This power allows her to stop the technique of any opponent by making eye contact. She first appears in episode one of Basilisk, and is one of the main protagonists of the show.

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