The role of clans in Naruto is often overlooked as fans tend to forget that being a part of a certain clan grants access to some absurdly powerful abilities. It has been made clear several times that abilities such as Kekkei Genkai are only passed down within a specific clan.

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Before the ninja villages were formed, the clans in Naruto were constantly engaged in war. This led to shorter life expectancies, but after the formation of ninja villages, the clans gave up fighting and settled down. While this method wasn't 100% effective, it did reduce the number of casualties. Over the course of the series, many strong clans were introduced, but only a few managed to stand out.

Updated on May 18th, 2024, by Suzail Ahmad: Clans play an important role in Naruto. Depending on what clan a person is born into, they may inherit some of the strongest abilities in the series. Or they may become targets of the vendetta of other clans. With so many powerful clans in Naruto, it is hard for an individual to stand out. Most of the time, the clansmen hardly get a chance to shine. But there have been certain characters who have made the most of the tools given to them. They have mastered their abilities and made sure that history remembers them. So, here are the most noteworthy ninjas from the strongest clans in Naruto.

12 Nara Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

The Nara clan has many members who left a great impression on the viewers. Some of the more notable characters from the clan are Shikaku, Shikamaru, and Shikadai. All three members have displayed an incredible level of intelligence, but it seems that all the members of the Nara clan are generally wise.

The Nara clan members are known for their knowledge of medicine. They keep a record of all the medicines that can be found in the Hidden Leaf, including secret pills of the Akimichi clan. Another thing unique to the clan is their ability to manipulate shadows, which they are able to achieve with the help of Yin Release.

Most notable ninja: Shikamaru Nara mesmerized the fans with his guile in Part 1. He used his intelligence to outsmart opponents and swing the pendulum in his favor. Shikamaru has continued to rise through the ranks and become one of the most respected ninjas in the world.

11 Raikage Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Cloud

The Raikage clan is not named in the series, but it consists of extremely powerful members. The clan belongs to the Hidden Cloud Village, and it has produced some of the most amazing ninjas in the series. The Raikage clan consists of the Third Raikage, Lightning A, and Killer B.

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The Third Raikage had the reputation of being the strongest ninja in the history of the Hidden Cloud. Lightning A is his son, and he succeeded him in the position. A was known for his ridiculous speed, and it was almost impossible for ordinary ninjas to avoid his attacks. When A was still young, his father adopted Killer B after he passed a test. Killer B was then made the jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails.

Most notable ninja: Killer B may not have been the biological son of the Third Raikage, but he definitely made him just as proud as A. Killer B mastered the power of Eight-Tails, and became a perfect jinchuriki. He also played a key role in Naruto overcoming his inner doubts and harnessing Kurama's power.

10 Aburame Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

The Aburame Clan is one of the four noble clans of the Hidden Leaf. They are often overlooked in power debates because they do not have any flashy jutsu. The members of this clan are known for raising insects and using them in combat. These insects are different from regular ones in that they are trained to attack and kill their target. The members of this clan use chakra-eating insects that can cover the entire body of a person and consume their chakra reserves completely.

They can also use insects that can inject the target with poison, which can cause paralysis. The Aburame clan members can also use another insect species that destroys the cells of the target. Needless to say, it is almost impossible to defeat a member of the Aburame clan without a proper strategy.

Most notable ninja: Shino Aburame was often overlooked in power-scaling debates, but the reality is that he is one of the finest ninjas that the Hidden Leaf has ever produced. As a member of the Aburame clan, Shino mastered the use of insects, allowing him to take down enemies quickly.

9 Hatake Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

The Hatake Clan has only two known members, but both of them have gone on to achieve great things. These are Sakumo and Kakashi Hatake. Sakumo Hatake was known as the "White Fang of the Hidden Leaf." He was considered to be on the same level as the Legendary Sannin.

Kakashi, on the other hand, managed to become an elite Jonin and then went on to become the Sixth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf. The members of the Hatake clan seem to have white hair, although it is possible that it may just be a trait unique to Sakuma and Kakashi.

Most notable ninja: It is not easy to choose between Kakashi and Sakumo, as both of them have created immense legacies. However, Kakashi has accomplished more than his father. So, he is the more renowned of the two.

8 Kaguya Clan

Affiliation: None

The Kaguya clan is an extinct clan that was known for its thirst for war. The clan only cared about fighting and slaughtering others. They were the descendants of Kaguya Otsutsuki. Due to this reason, some of the clan members awakened the Shimotsumyaku, a lesser version of Kaguya's All Killing Ash Bones technique.

They used this Kekkei Genkai to kill their opponents and assert dominance. Ultimately, the clan's longing for bloodshed led to their demise. When they were confronted by the forces of Kirigakure, they had the option of surrendering peacefully or fighting to the death. Naturally, they chose to fight and were wiped out, leaving behind only Kimimaro, who had no interest in wars.

Most notable clan: Kimimaro was an incredibly powerful fighter who earned the respect of others with his skill. He had the potential to become a Kage-level ninja, but illness prevented him from achieving his goals.

7 Kazekage Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Sand

The Kazekage clan is the strongest clan in the Hidden Sand Village. The clan's original name remains unknown, and it doesn't seem that it will change in the future. The clan has produced the last two Kazekage, namely Rasa and Gaara.

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The members of this clan also seem to have the potential to awaken the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai, which makes the clan a force to be reckoned with.

Most notable ninja: In a very short time, Gaara managed to build a solid reputation for himself. Even after losing Shukaku, Gaara was a formidable ninja with the power to control sand at will.

6 Sarutobi Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

The Sarutobi clan is one of the oldest clans in the Hidden Leaf. They were among the first clans that joined the Senju-Uchiha alliance. The clan has produced some of the most splendid ninjas of all time, with the most famous being Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The members of this clan seem to have very strong willpower, and most of them are strong believers in the Will of Fire. The Sarutobi clan members also seem to hold a lot of high positions within the village.

Most notable member: The Sarutobi clan didn't get the same amount of attention as the other groups, so there's very limited information on their history. The Sarutobi clan's biggest success story was Hiruzen. He had unbelievable talent, and the first two Hokage acknowledged it. With his hard work and skill, Hiruzen became the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.

5 Hyuuga Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

The Hyuuga clan is arguably the most well-run clan in the entire series. The clan is divided into two houses; the main house and the branch house. The leader of the clan is chosen from the main house, while the branch house exists to protect the clan.

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The Hyuuga are known for their Byakugan, which is one of the "Three Great Dojutsu." It grants its user X-ray vision and allows them to see the chakra pathway system of another individual. To maximize the potential of this Kekkei Genkai, the Hyuuga created the Gentle Fist, which allows them to hit the Tenketsu effectively, rendering their opponent useless.

Most notable member: The disparity between the two houses within the Hyuuga clan ensured that the main family would have the advantage. However, Neji broke this cycle, as his talent far exceeded that of any member of the main house.

4 Senju Clan

The Senju are the descendants of Asura Otsutsuki, the youngest son of Hagoromo Otsutsuki. The Senju clan was considered to be the strongest clan during the Warring States Period, and the only clan that was comparable to its strength was the Uchiha clan.

The two clans finally made a truce, which resulted in the creation of the Hidden Leaf. The Senju has produced more Hokage candidates than any other clan. The most famous members of the clan are Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Tsunade Senju.

Most notable member: Hashirama Senju was known as the God of the Shinobi, and he was the strongest ninja of his generation. So, it is hardly surprising that he is the most notable member of the clan.

3 Uzumaki Clan

Affiliation: Uzushiogakure (formerly), Hidden Leaf (current)

In the distant past, the Uzumaki clan used to be the strongest clan in the world. They were known for their sealing techniques and incredible vitality. The other clans feared their power, so they decided to band together to destroy the clan. The members of the clan were slaughtered, and the survivors ran away from Uzoshiogakure.

The Uzumaki are related to the Senju clan, but the former has better chakra reserves. For the majority of the series, only two Uzumaki clan members were actively involved in the story, and one of them was Naruto Uzumaki.

Most notable member: The Uzumaki clan was a victim of its own success. Ultimately, the fame and power that they had accumulated led to their downfall. Fortunately, the Uzumaki clan managed to survive, and now it's thriving. The most noteworthy member of this clan is Naruto Uzumaki. He surpassed everyone and became the strongest Hokage of all time.

2 Uchiha Clan

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf

No other clan in the series has had a wider variety of ninjas than the Uchiha clan. The clan has birthed some of the most talented ninjas in the series, which include the likes of Itachi, Sasuke, Madara, and Obito. The Uchiha are known for their Sharingan, which is one of the Three Great Dojutsu. The clan was led by Madara Uchiha during the Warring States Period. However, after losing many people that he was close with, Madara decided to form an alliance with the Senju clan, which led to the creation of the Hidden Leaf.

Even after settling in the Hidden Leaf, the Uchiha faced many problems. In fact, not long after the reign of Tobirama Senju, the clan was annihilated by Itachi and Obito.

Most notable member: From being one of the most dominant clans to nearly being extinct, the story of the Uchiha clan is definitely tragic. Despite the clan being treated as highly volatile, it has birthed some incredible ninjas over the years. Keeping in mind his achievements and powers, Sasuke is by far the strongest Uchiha.

1 Otsutsuki Clan

The Otsutsuki clan is unquestionably the strongest clan in the series. They are extraterrestrial beings who came to the Earth hundreds of years ago, and the first among them were Kaguya and Isshiki. The members of the Otsutsuki clan are knowledgeable about all kinds of abilities.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations has a lot more Otsutsuki than its prequel, which indicates that the authors plan on taking the story in a different direction.

Most notable member: The Otsutsuki clan is home to some of the most dangerous characters in the series. With so many prominent names, it is not easy to make a decision. However, Kaguya Otsutsuki is a bit more popular than the rest of the Otsutsuki clan members.

Naruto: Shippuden

Action

Adventure

Release Date

February 15, 2007

Studio

Pierrot

Creator

Masashi Kishimoto

Streaming Service(s)

Amazon Prime Video , Crunchyroll , Hulu