The Kage of the Naruto world are some of the strongest characters in the story. As the leaders of their respective villages, they have a huge responsibility on their shoulders, which ranges from ensuring the wellbeing of the people to defending the village from any incoming threats.
While a Kage isn't necessarily the strongest of the village, they need to possess a certain level of strength to attain their position. Over the years, the Naruto world has seen many characters step up to the position of the Kage and others, who are just as capable but work under them.
Updated April 18, 2022, by Rei Penber: The Kage are generally known to be the very strongest in the Naruto world; however, over the years, quite a lot of non-Kage ninjas have proven their worth and shown the fans that they can be just as skilled, if not more, than the Kage. While the original version of this list already highlighted some of the most impressive Naruto characters who aren't Kage, there are several others who fit the category perfectly as well. With that in mind, this list has been expanded, adding more characters. Note that this list isn't ranked by strength, as it's difficult (if not often impossible) to objectively judge characters' power against each other, considering they all have their own strenghs and vulnerabilities.
14 Shisui Uchiha, The Jonin Of Konoha
Shisui Uchiha was one of the strongest Uchiha clan members to ever live. As a Jonin of Konoha, Shisui carried tremendous potential from a very young age. By the young age of ten, he was known to have had acquired the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Growing up, Shisui became strong enough to a point where regular jonin were no match for him in combat. Without a doubt, he's one of the strongest ninjas to ever live.
13 Kisame Hoshigaki, The Akatsuki's Strength
Known to be one of Kirigakure's strongest, Kisame Hoshigaki was an incredibly powerful ninja who defected from the village and ended up joining the Akatsuki. With the powerful Samehada at his side, he was quite difficult to stop in battle.
Kisame possessed tremendous control over Water Release ninjutsu, and his chakra levels were so incredible that they could be compared to those of a Tailed Beast. Being one of the Akatsuki's strongest, Kisame certainly had Kage-level fighting power.
12 Deidara, Thief Of The Forbidden Jutsu
Deidara hailed from Iwagakure and was one of the most skilled ninjas that the village ever produced. At some point, he stole the forbidden jutsu of his village and defected. Eventually, his mastery of his powers became so strong that the Akatsuki sought him out and recruited him for their cause.
Deidara is one of the very few characters who fought a Kage in Gaara and managed to defeat them. It goes without saying that he was one of the very strongest in the story.
11 Nagato Uzumaki, Akatsuki Leader
The head of the Akatsuki, Nagato Uzumaki was an incredibly skilled ninja with the power of the Rinnegan at his disposal. Using his ability, he created the Six Paths of Pain, all of which were incredibly powerful.
Together, Pain could defeat even Jiraiya in combat, and when they attacked Konoha, they were able to wipe it off the map entirely. Nagato's skill far exceeded that of a Naruto Kage, and he remains to be one of the most powerful ninjas to ever live in the world.
10 Orochimaru, The Legendary Sannin
Orochimaru was one of the most powerful characters of his generation in Naruto. As a student of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru held tremendous potential and according to his teacher, he was strong enough to become a Kage in the future.
Sadly, Orochimaru went down the wrong path and his malicious ways ensured that he never got to become a Kage. Despite being up for the position of the Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru was rejected. Regardless, he was every bit as capable as Minato Namikaze.
9 Jiraiya, The Toad Sage
Jiraiya was another member of the Legendary Sannin, just like Orochimaru. He was also a student of Hiruzen Sarutobi and although he didn't have as good a showing as Orochimaru, he managed to surpass him eventually.
Jiraiya worked hard to train his body and mind. At some point, he also learned the power of Sage Mode and surpassed the likes of Orochimaru. Jiraiya was offered the position of Hokage several times, meaning he was capable of taking over the role, however, he refused all of them.
8 Sakura Haruno, The Incredible Medic
Sakura Haruno is one of the members of Team 7 and an extremely capable fighter. Although she certainly isn't as strong as Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, she is special in her own way and the things that she can do can hardly be pulled off by any other ninja.
Sakura is stronger than Tsunade Senju, the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure, making her a Kage-level ninja. At her best, she proved herself to be strong enough to survive against Madara Uchiha and even land a blow on Kaguya Otsutsuki.
7 Killer Bee, The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki
Killer Bee is the Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails and Kumogakure's strongest shinobi in Naruto. Despite not being a Kage, Bee possesses strength that can be considered greater or, at the very least, equal to that of Ay.
As a perfect Jinchuriki, he is powerful enough to take on any shinobi in combat and fare well against them. He has a tremendous amount of chakra and was strong enough to defeat the likes of Team Taka all by himself. Undoubtedly, Bee is a Kage-level ninja.
6 Itachi Uchiha, The Sharingan Genius
Itachi Uchiha was a generational shinobi whose talents surpassed all expectations in Konoha. He was considered to be a genius who had the wisdom of a Kage at the age of 7. Itachi was also tremendously powerful.
His Mangekyo Sharingan powers made him capable of fighting the likes of Pain and Obito. Despite being sick and almost blind, he was able to overwhelm Sasuke Uchiha in combat. After being reanimated, Itachi could go head-to-head with Naruto Uzumaki's nine-tailed chakra mode without much trouble. Undoubtedly, he was as strong as a Kage at his best.
5 Obito Uchiha, The Fallen Hero
Unlike most Uchiha, Obito was never considered to be a genius. It took years for his potential to blossom and when it did, he immediately suffered from a major injury. Thankfully, Obito was saved by Madara Uchiha and under his guidance, he became a splendid ninja.
By the age of 14, Obito could fight Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and give him the idea that he was Madara Uchiha, which is a tremendous feat. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, he even ascended to Six Paths level by becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.
4 Rock Lee, The Genius Of Hardwork
Rock Lee was a member of Konohagakure's Team Guy and is currently a Jonin of the village. Although he had no talent as a shinobi, he trained incredibly hard and ended up becoming a Taijutsu expert.
Lee mastered the Eight Inner Gates and by adulthood, he's strong enough to open the Eighth Gate of Death as well. Lee's power should be just as great as Might Guy, at the very least, making him stronger than most characters in the story.
3 Might Guy, The Noble Green Beast
Might Guy is known to be one of the most powerful characters in the Naruto world. Just like Lee, Guy is a master of Taijutsu. Although he does possess little skill in terms of ninjutsu, he is heavily reliant on Taijutsu, making him a unique shinobi.
Guy was strong enough to open all Eight Inner Gates and match up to Madara Uchiha in the war. His strongest attack almost killed Madara which just goes to show that he was truly just as magnificent as a Kage, if not more.
2 Madara Uchiha, The Second Six Paths
A legendary Uchiha, Madara was a monstrously powerful ninja from the days of the Warring States Era. He was the rival to Hashirama Senju and a reincarnation of Indra Otsutsuki. Madara possessed tremendous power which only enhanced with time.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, he proved himself to be strong enough to defeat all the Five Kage with ease. What's more, he then went on to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, getting even stronger in the process. Despite never being a Kage, Madara certainly had strength that exceeded their capabilities.
1 Sasuke Uchiha, The Other Hokage
Sasuke is one of the main characters of Naruto, and a shinobi known to be equally as powerful as Naruto Uzumaki. Ever since he was a kid, he was considered to be a genius and by the Fourth Great Ninja War, he had already acquired the strength to match up to the Kage.
Sasuke then went a step further by attaining the Six Paths powers and awakening the Rinnegan. By adulthood, he's known to be one of the two strongest shinobi to ever exist, making him just as capable as a Kage without actually being one.
