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Given the sheer length of the Naruto series, fans have been introduced to a huge array of characters. While some characters, including the protagonist, might not be the sharpest tools in the shed, there are those that are exceptionally smart.
Some of them have shown just how good their strategies can be during battle. In this article, we look at some of the smartest characters in the series.
Smartest characters in the Naruto universe
10) Obito Uchiha
Obito Uchiha may not be the smartest character in the Naruto series but his intelligence is definitely above average. He was manipulated by Madara to an extent that caused the Fourth Great Ninja War. However, being the leader of the Akatsuki, he showed just how meticulous his plans could be if he tried. He also controlled the Fourth Mizukage and manipulated an entire village.
9) Sasuke Uchiha
Sasuke gets overlooked at times due to the sheer number of characters that are also quite smart. However, he too was considered to be a gifted shinobi who excelled in every aspect of being a ninja. Sasuke aced all of his tests and proved his intelligence during numerous important missions. While he can act rash at times, Sasuke is a smart individual who has killed Kage-level characters such as Danzo in the Naruto series.
8) Madara Uchiha
Madara Uchiha is one of the strongest characters on this list. He was quite smart as well, since he succeeded in manipulating Obito, and his intelligence was usually showcased on the battlefield. He is a gifted fighter, intelligent enough in pinch situations, which is quite rare for someone like Madara. He certainly isn’t the smartest character in the series, but his overall intelligence is above average.
7) Orochimaru
Orochimaru was quite smart and caused a lot of trouble for Konohagakure due to his devious plans. He sought knowledge about some of the most terrifying jutsus that would give him power over others. He was smart and used his knowledge to utilize another person’s body in order to give himself an extended life. Orochimaru was smart enough to decipher the fact that the Sharingan was derived from a more powerful Doujutsu called Rinnegan.
6) Tobirama Senju
Owing to his temper, Tobirama Senju seems like the kind of person that jumps in and attacks without giving it much thought. However, he is extremely smart when it comes to combat. Not only that, he also created some of the most advanced and powerful ninjutsus in the Naruto universe. Tobirama is credited with creating jutsus like the Flying Raijin, Edo Tensei and Shadow Clone. He is extremely smart and is a well-rounded shinobi who specializes in Water Release.
5) Kakashi Hatake
Since Kakashi was used as a metric to gage other characters in Naruto, his full potential wasn’t really explored in the series. While he might be laid back, he has the ability to take the best approach to any mission. He is extremely calculative and factors in every variable before taking a step. Even Yamato realized how smart and persuasive Kakashi could be at times.
4) Itachi Uchiha
Itachi Uchiha is another smart character in the series who could be on par with the likes of Minato and Shikamaru. He was considered a prodigy and was said to have Hokage level wisdom at a young age in the Naruto series. Despite not being the leader of the Akatsuki clan, he was able to lead and plan some of the steps that Akatsuki took as a group. Itachi was an Anbu Black Ops Captain at the tender age of 12, which shows just how smart and skilled he was as a shinobi.
3) Minato Namikaze
Since the Yellow Flash didn’t receive much screen time, it is easy to forget just how smart he was. Minato played a huge role in lending Konoha the win in their previous wars, and his excellent ninjutsu skills aren’t the only reason. Jiraiya even mentioned that people like Minato are prodigies who are born once every 10 years. Minato was good at thinking on the fly; he was able to analyze situations and come up with the most optimal steps to counter the problems. His ability to take on Kurama and save the village was a prime example of his intelligence.
2) Shikamaru Nara
Shikamaru has been praised by many for his intelligence and battle tactics. In a way, his ninjutsu is such that it forces the user to constantly think before engaging; which could have played a huge role in his developmental stages. When Konohagakure faced threats from enemies, Shikamaru was often summoned by Tsunade and considered his opinions on how to fortify the village’s defense. Even at a young age, he was able to beat Asuma in Shogi. His fight against Temari was another example of how good he is when it comes to thinking under pressure.
1) Shikaku Nara
Shikaku Nara is arguably the smartest character in the Naruto series. Members of the Nara clan are smart but Shikaku is a cut above the rest. He always beat Shikamaru in Shogi, a board game based on battle strategy. Shikaku Nara was also appointed as the chief strategist of Konohagakure during the Fourth Great Ninja War. These are just some of the reasons why Shikaku is at the top of this list.
