Chakra is arguably the most important thing in Naruto, as it is needed to perform ninjutsu. Those who have higher chakra reserves can perform the strongest techniques without any problems, giving them a massive edge over the rest.

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However, there are some characters who managed to make a name for themselves even though they did not have a great deal of chakra. They were able to achieve this feat by being extra careful and not rushing recklessly without planning. These Naruto characters had low chakra reserves but could go toe-to-toe with almost anyone.

7 Kurenai

Specialty: Genjutsu

Kurenai was a Jonin in the service of the Hidden Leaf. She was also the leader of Team 8, which was composed of Hinata, Shino, and Kiba. Kurenai made sure to give them the right training so that they would become great ninjas in the future.

When it came to combat, Kurenai specialized in Genjutsu. According to the Hidden Leaf ninjas, she was the best Genjutsu user in the entire village. But she could not compete with someone like Itachi.

6 Tenten

Specialty: Weapons

Tenten was a member of Team Guy. Tenten admired Tsunade and wanted to become like her, but she didn't have the necessary skills. Ultimately, she realized that she had a penchant for using different weapons, so she made them her passion.

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Over the years, Tenten collected a plethora of weapons, which she would rely on in battle. While Tenten could effortlessly use regular weapons, she did not have the necessary chakra reserves to use special weapons. In the Fourth Great Ninja War, she couldn't handle using the tools of the Sage of Six Paths.

5 Shikamaru Nara

Specialty: Outsmarting Enemies

Shikamaru Nara was considered a prodigy of the Nara Clan. He managed to learn the special techniques of the clan in no time. The techniques enabled him to manipulate shadows, which he used in a variety of ways. However, what made Shikamaru truly special was his intelligence.

He had a ridiculously high IQ, which he used to great effect. Shikamaru could formulate a strategy minutes after assessing his opponents. Two of the best examples of Shikamaru's intellect are the fights with Temari and Hidan. Both times, his opponents were physically superior and also had more chakra than Shikamaru. Despite the disadvantage, Shikamaru managed to beat them, and it was all because of his superior intellect.

4 Rock Lee

Specialty: Taijutsu

Rock Lee was considered a not-so-bright student, and nobody had any high expectations for him. He couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, which were the basics for becoming a ninja. Lee's chakra reserves weren't impressive either. However, Lee didn't give up, and under the guidance of Might Guy, he reached a different level.

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Rock Lee learned about the Eight Inner Gates and he mastered them quickly. With this technique, Lee could easily overwhelm and beat most of the characters in Naruto. However, Guy made him promise to use the Eight Inner Gates only when there was an emergency.

3 Hiruzen Sarutobi

Specialty: Being Able To Use All Types Of Ninjutsu

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf. He was given the role after Tobirama sacrificed himself to protect his squad. Hiruzen's reign was quite controversial, with many people believing that he was the worst Hokage in the history of the Hidden Leaf.

While his political skills may be polarizing, Hiruzen's fighting skills were awe-inspiring. He had mastered all kinds of ninjutsu, and could use them without any problems. As he grew older, Hiruzen's chakra reserves plummeted, and he could no longer fight for too long. This became evident in his fight against Orochimaru, where the Hokage struggled to gain the upper hand.

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2 Kakashi Hatake

Specialty: Sharingan, Taijutsu, Ninjutsu

For the vast majority of the series, Kakashi Hatake served as a Jonin of the Hidden Leaf. His talent was recognized by his peers and teachers, and they knew he was destined for greatness. Kakashi breezed past every test in the Academy, so he received a head start over the other ninjas of his age.

Kakashi was able to use all the basic Nature Releases which made it rather difficult for his opponents to beat him. Furthermore, he was an extremely clever ninja who could come up with strategies in next to no time. Kakashi had decent chakra reserves, and they would have served him nicely for the rest of his life. However, after receiving the Sharingan, Kakashi's chakra would get drained at an alarming rate. Therefore, he could not use the Sharingan for a prolonged period of time.

1 Itachi Uchiha

Specialty: Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, Sharingan

Itachi Uchiha was a member of the Akatsuki. He joined the organization after leaving the Hidden Leaf. Itachi was a talented ninja who could do anything that he set his mind to. He was smart, and he put a great deal of thought behind every decision.

Itachi's intelligence was only surpassed by his ninjutsu skill. Itachi was able to perform complicated techniques at a young age, and he became more proficient as he got older. He also possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, which enabled him to use Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.

Both of these techniques were strong, but Itachi couldn't use them continuously, as it caused immense pain in the eyes and because he didn't have a lot of chakra. Itachi's mysterious illness also affected his overall chakra reserve, thus limiting his potential. Needless to say, if he had not been sick, Itachi would have been even stronger.

Naruto: Shippuden

Action

Adventure

Release Date

February 15, 2007

Studio

Pierrot

Creator

Masashi Kishimoto

Streaming Service(s)

Amazon Prime Video , Crunchyroll , Hulu