Highlights
- The Legendary Sannin in Naruto are powerful shinobi with unique strengths, but Jiraiya emerges as the strongest among them.
- Jiraiya's mastery of Sage Mode and his unrivaled battle acumen set him apart from Tsunade's strength and Orochimaru's forbidden techniques.
- Jiraiya's feats in battle, including forcing Itachi and Kisame to retreat, solidify his position as the most powerful Sannin in Naruto lore.
Naruto is host to a number of all-powerful characters that can be deemed the strongest in all of shonen, and one group of shinobi that has accumulated a myriad of heroic feats is the Legendary Sannin. Dubbed as the “Sannin” during the Second Great Ninja War, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade quickly rose to prominence within the shinobi world as legends. With remarkable feats dotted throughout the series, the Sannin have cemented themselves as some of the strongest ninja in all of Naruto.
The Sannin are often deemed equal in power, especially since the Three Way Deadlock points to a stalemate of power between the three. However, the three shinobi boast mastery over different arts of ninjutsu, leading to a disparity in their overall fighting prowess. By examining their strengths and feats throughout Naruto, it’s certainly possible to pinpoint the strongest of the three Legendary Sannin.
Naruto: Deidara's Explosive Clay, Explained
Capable of wiping out entire villages, Deidara's Explosive Clay is the epitome of both art and power.
The Strength of Each Sannin
The Sannins' reverence stems from their exceptional prowess in utilizing the ninja arts to their fullest capacities. From Jiraiya's mastery over Senjutsu to Tsunade's brute force, each Sannin possessed a power that granted them a ledge over the others. However, all three Sannin exceeded in separate domains of their own, meaning their strengths vary to a considerable degree.
For instance, Orochimaru’s taijutsu skills were almost non-existent, yet he was skilled at fighting from the shadows using his arsenal of forbidden techniques. Tsunade’s case is the complete opposite, as her ninjutsu repertoire was severely limited, though she makes up for it in terms of raw strength.
Orochimaru Relied on Forbidden Techniques and Surprise Attacks
Orochimaru’s fighting style represents his personality — evasive and unpredictable. Throughout Naruto, Orochimaru has been one of the most promising shinobi in terms of the versatility of his techniques. As an immortal, Orochimaru is already an invinvcible being, yet the extent of his abilities further extends to Senjutsu, snake summoning, and even forbidden techniques such as the Reanimation Jutsu.
You're no longer human... you're a demon!
Out of the three Sannin, Orochimaru arguably has the most feats in battle, with his greatest, albeit controversial, achievement being his kill-streak comprising two Kage. However, it’s worth noting that the Fourth Kazekage was taken down by a surprise attack, and Hiruzen took himself out using the Reaper Death Seal, all while sealing Orochimaru’s arms and techniques along with him. The feat further becomes watered down considering Hiruzen was able to fend off two Hokage in the process. Orochimaru was even defeated by Sasuke in Shippuden, and that too, without his Mangekyo. Orochimaru may have slithered away from death in every battle, yet he rarely ever came out on top.
Tsunade’s Strong Suit Is Brute Force And Healing
Being the Fifth Hokage of the Leaf is already a testament to Tsunade’s power, though she backs up her revered status with feats of incomprehensible nature. Despite being a medical-nin, Tsunade possesses raw physical strength that can shred through mountains with a single punch. However, Tsunade’s true strength lies in her Hundred Healings Mark, a seal that grants her a form of pseudo-immortality.
Simple strength isn't everything. It's something passed on to me, and continues to flow from the First Hokage. That is my true power!
Tsunade was the only one out of the Five Kage to leave a dent in Madara’s Susanoo, and she left viewers baffled after being torn in half yet surviving the entire ordeal. However, apart from her brute strength and healing that makes her immune to damage, Tsunade possesses limited techniques. Her ninjutsu capabilities pale in comparison to those of Jiraiya and Orochimaru, severely limiting her fighting capabilities.
Jiraiya Is One of the Greatest Users of Sage Mode
Many remember Jiraiya as an eccentric character with perverted antics, yet this was merely a facade that hid his shrewd nature. With spy networks spread throughout the Five Great Nations, Jiraiya kept the Hidden Leaf safe, all while hiding in the backdrop. Jiraiya’s true power came from his Sage Mode, as his mastery over Senjutsu imbued his ninjutsu with nature energy, empowering all of his techniques with the sage arts.
Naruto: 7 Smallest Characters In The Series, Ranked
Despite being a lot smaller than their comrades, these Naruto characters are still incredibly powerful and more than capable of holding their own.
Jiraiya’s fight against the Six Paths of Pain reflected every single one of his strengths, from his unfathomable ninjutsu prowess to his sharp wits and acumen. Despite facing a foe with unknown abilities for the very first time, Jiraiya was able to discern the true power of the Pains, even defeating the Animal Path in his fight. Jiraiya was even offered the role of Hokage three times in his lifetime, a testament to his superior power.
Who Is the Strongest Sannin?
Fans of the Naruto series hold mixed sentiments regarding the relative strength of the Sannin, often concluding that the three are largely equal in strength. However, dissecting their strengths and feats in battle showcases one Sannin who clearly eclipses the other two in terms of overall strength. With a versatile arsenal and battle acumen far above the rest, Jiraiya stands as the strongest of the Legendary Sannin. While Tsunade and Orochimaru are impressive in their own right, Jiraiya has the upper hand with unrivaled strength in terms of both ninjutsu and genjutsu.
His strength is backed by his feats, coupled with the testaments of those he fought. His mere presence once forced Itachi and Kisame to retreat, forgoing their mission entirely. Even Nagato concluded that Jiraiya would have taken him down if he had prior knowledge of the workings of the Paths of Pain, yet Orochimaru was miserably defeated by Pain when he tried to steal the Rinnegan, and Tsunade was put in a coma by Pain’s assault. Being the strongest of the Sannin is certainly befitting for the master of both the Fourth and Seventh Hokage, with remnants of his legacy even trickling down to Boruto.
Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.
Naruto: 7 Smallest Characters In The Series, Ranked
Despite being a lot smaller than their comrades, these Naruto characters are still incredibly powerful and more than capable of holding their own.
Naruto
A popular shonen anime based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga, Naruto follows its eponymous shinobi's journey as he goes from his town's outsider to its hero.
