Naruto is known as one of the "Big Three" in the anime world, and what's not to appreciate about it, from the well-written tale to the wonderful character development, not to mention the never-ending filler? (Although, much of the filler contributes to the story's backdrop.)

However, one of the best elements about Naruto is the villains, whom we loathe but still love. The following are the top ten most powerful Naruto villains (spoilers ahead):

10. Kisame Hoshigaki

My massive blade, Samehada, doesn't slice... It streds to ribbons! 

Kisame was a powerful swordsman from the Village Hidden in the Mist. Kisame murdered his mentor while still a member of the village after realizing that he was selling secrets to other villages and tricking Kisame into killing members of their own village. He'd then seize Samehada (one of the seven legendary swords) and join the Seven Swordsmen. Kisame later joined Akasaki and was teamed with Itachi Uchiha.

Naturally, they killed and captured everyone they needed to in order to achieve the Akasaki's goals. Kisame was dubbed the "tailless beast" because he possessed the same amount of chakra as a tailed beast. After TAKA failed to capture the eight tails, Kisame went after the eight tails himself but was stopped by Might Guy.

When Kisame realized he would lose the battle rather than being captured alive and interrogated, he ordered three sharks to kill him.

Why is Kisame Powerful?

• One of the seven swordsmen
• Joined Akatsuki
• Partners with Itachi
• Killed hundreds of people from various villages
• Chakra levels close to tailed beast
•  Fought Might Guy (loss)

Kisame fight scene:

 Might Guy vs Kisame

9. Danzo Shimura

Emotion leads one to hate... and hate leads one to conflict and war

Danzo was a member of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, but his track record shows that all he did was solely for his own benefit. He was the leader of the Hidden Leaf's secret organization, ROOT, and is responsible for much of the series' destruction. ROOT was a highly selective, covert organization that was trained to carry out operations for the greater cause of the Hidden Leaf at any cost. 

Danzo was only concerned with becoming Hokage and demonstrating the power of the Hidden Leaf. Danzo even attempted to assassinate the third Hokage (who was meant to be his friend) because he believed he was too weak for the role. Danzo is responsible for instructing Itachi to slaughter his entire clan; following that, Danzo grabbed several Uchiha Sharingan from the dead bodies and implanted them inside his body to use. 

So it's only fair that Danzo died at the hands of Sasuke, the sole surviving member of the Uchiha clan.

Why is Danzo Powerful?

• Worked with Orochmaru on experiments  
• Leader of ROOT
• Gave the order for the assassination attempt on the third Hokage
• Ordered Itachi to massacre his clan
• Kept the ROOT organization running even after third Hokage disbanded it 
• Gave all ROOT members a curse seal under the tongue  that would paralyze  the body instantly so they wouldn't be able to revealed secrets of the organization 
• Harvested dead Uchiha eyes for his own power

Danzo fight scene: 

 Sasuke vs. Danzo - Full Fight | English Dub [1080p]

8. Kabuto Yakushi

Go on! Tremble before my power! The power of a Sage

Kabuto was a major enemy in Naruto; he betrayed the Leaf, experimented on individuals, and set in motion the events that would lead to the Fourth Great Ninja War. Kabuto wasn't born in the Hidden Leaf. He was brought in as an orphan and taught Medical Ninjutsu before becoming a spy for Danzo and Orochimaru.

Kabuto decided he needed to discover an identity for himself, so he went into hiding. When he returned, he had transformed his body, mastered sage mode, and was ready to launch war on the ninja world.

Why Is Kabuto Powerful?

• Used the second Hokage’s forbidden Jutsu (Reanimation Jutsu) to start a war
• Perfected Sage mode on his own
• Experimented and killed people when working with Orochimaru (legendary Sannin)
• Practices Medical Ninjutsu

Kabuto fight scene:

Sasuke and Itachi vs kabuto full fight hd

7. Orochimaru

The body ages, but the mind is immortal

Orochimaru comes from the Hidden Leaf and is highly renowned throughout the globe as one of the Legendary Sannin who helped bring the Third Great Ninja War to a close. However, he later began taking over bodies, joined a terrorist organization, attempted to destroy the town, and manipulated people into supporting him. That is why Sasuke sought him out in the first place; Orochimaru bit and cursed him. 

Orochimaru, in my opinion, is one of the most bizarre antagonists in the series. Why are you biting the necks of 12-year-olds? This guy was bad news all around.

Why is Orochimaru Powerful?

• One of the Legendary Sannin
• Researched every Jutsu out there to gain more power
• Joined the Akasuki
• Attempted to destroy the Hidden Leaf
•  Mastered Sage mode
• At one point was an ANBU Black Ops member
• Trained Sasuke Uchiha

Orochimaru fight scene:

Naruto vs Orochimaru Full Fight (English Sub )  

6. Pain

This world shall know Pain

Pain was the Akatsuki's leader, and their main purpose was to capture all tailed beasts and dominate the world. The Akatsuki was made up of ten S-class rogue ninja who went on missions in two-man squads. Pain was able to establish the six paths of Pain because he possessed Rinnegan eyes.

This allowed him to control six bodies at once (dead corpses) and create massive devastation. When Pain decided it was time to capture the nine-tailed fox, he demolished the Hidden Leaf and slaughtered many in order to get Naruto.

Why is Nagato/Pain Powerful?

• Leader of Akatsuki
• Successfully destroyed the Hidden Leaf (unlike #7)
• Six paths of Pain
• Possessed the Rinnegan

Pain fight scene:

 Pain VS Jiraya English sub Full fight

5. Obito Uchiha

I am noone, I don't want to be anyone

Obito Uchiha was a Hidden Leaf ninja who was presumed to have died on a mission. Madara Uchiha protected him and then misled him into joining project Tsuki no Me. Obito assisted Itachi Uchiha in his assassination of the Uchiha clan.

He attempted to destroy the Hidden Leaf, but the fourth Hokage stopped him. Obito later became the Akatsuki's shadow leader, using them to acquire everything he required for the infinite Tsukuyomi. During the fourth Great Ninja War, he successfully became the ten tails Jinchuriki, but was deceived by Madara, who desired the power for himself.

Why is Obito Powerful?

• Madara Uchiha trained him
• Helped to kill all the Uchiha clan
• Tried to destroy the Hidden Leaf and fought the Fourth Hokage
• Declared the start of the Fourth Great Ninja War
• Unlocked the Mangekyo Sharingan
• Became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki

Obito fight scene: 

Kakashi vs Obito Full Fight English Dub

4. Itachi Uchiha

It is foolish to fear what we have yet to see and know

Itachi Uchiha was a talented Hidden Leaf ninja who, at the age of twelve, became a captain in the ANBU Black ops. At the age of thirteen, he betrayed his village and murdered his whole clan with the assistance of Obito Uchiha. After that, he became a member of the Akatsuki and went on numerous missions, killing people and capturing tailed creatures. 

Later in the story, Itachi has an all-out fight with his brother Sasuke in which he dies (Itachi was already sick before the fight so that also helped Sasuke win).

Why is Itachi Powerful?

• Awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan at eleven
• Youngest ANBU captain at twelve
• Killed the Uchiha clan at thirteen
• Joined the Akatsuki
• Able to create a perfect Susanoo
• Fought his brother Sasuke 

Itachi fight scene:

It is foolish to fear what we have yet to see and know

3. Madara Uchiha 

Thinking of peace whilst spilling blood is something that only humans could do

Madara was the proud leader of the Uchiha clan. He enjoyed fighting and killing others at heart. He helped establish the village Hidden in the Leaves, but he finally abandoned it in search of power and what he thought would bring genuine peace.

Madara fought the first Hokage and faked his death in order to devise a plot to be resurrected years later. He prepared Obito Uchiha to carry out his Infinite Tsukuyomi plan. During the fourth great ninja war, Madara was reanimated, and he single-handedly eliminated all five Kage, in addition to eliminating thousands of members of the allied shinobi forces.

In the end, Madara was successful in acquiring the power of the ten tails Jinchuriki that he desired, but Black Zetu tricked him into bringing Kaguya back.

Why is Madara Powerful?

• Leader of the Uchiha Clan
• Fought the first Hokage (loss)
• Faked his death
• Plan Infinite Tsukuyomi
• Fought the Five Kage (Won)
• Killed thousands during the Fourth Great Ninja War in seconds
• Fought Might Guy  (almost died)
• Became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki

Madara fight scene:

Madara vs Guy - Naruto Shippuden - English Subbed

2. Sasuke Uchiha

I have long since closed my eyes, My only goal is in the darkness

Sasuke Uchiha is the Uchiha clan's sole survivor. His older brother Itachi killed the clan and only left him alive; Sasuke then proceeded on a road of vengeance to kill his brother. This included betraying the Hidden Leaf, chasing after Orochimaru for power, killing his brother, and finally joining the Akatsuki. 

Sasuke had a significant role in bringing the battle to an end, but he desired to create a new world, and the only way to do so was to kill and erase the past. As a result, Sasuke decided to confront Naruto at The Valley of the End for the sake of the world's future.

Why is Sasuke Powerful?

• Trained by Orochimaru but Sasuke killed him (when he tried to take his body, I told you something is wrong with that guy)
• Killed Itachi Uchiha at sixteen years old
• Killed Danzo
• Last surviving Uchiha
• Unlocked the Mangekyo Sharingan
• Unlocked the Rinnegan in one eye
• Amaterasu (Black flames)
• Beat Kaguya Otsutsuki (with Naruto’s help)
• Fought Naruto for the fate of the future (and loss)

Sasuke fight scene:

Naruto Vs Sasuke Full Fight HD 60FPS Max Quality English Dub Final BattleEnding 1080pFH 1

1. Kaguya Otsutsuki

The time when all shall become one has come

Kaguya is the Naruto series' last boss; with GOD-like powers, she is the most powerful. She was the first person in Naruto's universe to have Chakra after eating fruit from the God Tree. So, in Kaguya's view, all Chakra belongs to her, causing her to engage in an all-out struggle with her sons. 

They were successful in sealing her away, and Kaguya transformed into the moon depicted in the Naruto series. Right before that, she created Black Zetsu, who is shown throughout the series but no one knows what his true objectives were, which were to bring Kaguya back.

Why is Kaguya Powerful?

• Mother of chakra
• Created Black Zetsu before she was sealed the first time and he is the reason for most of the cycle of hate and corruption in the series  
• Took Control of her son and forced him to fight his brother
• Use the God Tree to make hundreds of thousands white Zetsu’s (slaves to fight for her)
• Can move herself and anyone around her to one her six dimensions (one of them is just a sea of acid)
• Became the Ten tails in an attempt to kill her sons 
• Byakugan 
• Rinne Sharingan
• Killed Obito
• Black Zetsu kills Madara to revive Kaguya the second time 

Kaguya fight scene:

The final battle Kaguya Vs. Naruto,Sasuke,Sakura,Kakashi and obito

You may also be interested in:

• Naruto Best Attacks That Are Powerful
• 15 Most Powerful Naruto Characters
• The 50 Best Naruto Cosplays We've Ever Seen (Most Beautiful/Best Looking)