Naruto: 7 Characters Who Can Defeat Madara Uchiha (& 7 Who Can’t) (2024)

Madara Uchiha is, undoubtedly, one of the strongest characters in the entire Naruto series. As the leader of the legendary Uchiha Clan, Madara Uchiha was an exceptionally talented shinobi, the likes of which could only be matched by Hashirama Senju during their era.

Although Madara was already strong, his thirst for power saw him craft an elaborate plan that would ultimately lead to him becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. With tremendous power at his disposal, including Hashirama's own wood release style, few could've possibly stood against Madara in battle and even fewer could've defeated him. Madara could easily vanquish almost any shinobi who challenged him, but not even he was truly unbeatable. With the right justsu and tactics, there's a small handful of Naruto shinobi who could trounce him.

Updated on May 7th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of ninjas who can defeat Madara Uchiha, and those who almost can, has been updated with more information and now suits CBR's current publication standards. There's plenty more to know about the ninjas who can take on Madara Uchiha and those who would lose, but still give him a good fight.

Characters Who Can Beat Madara

Hashirama Senju Can Overcome Madara With His Wood Release

The legendary First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, was known as the "God of Shinobi" for a reason in the pre-village era. He was the only one capable of defeating Madara Uchiha during the latter's early life. After his death and resurrection, Madara gained access to powers he could never gain in life.

However, the First Hokage did famously beat and seemingly kill Madara in a duel at the Final Valley. This, of course, was proven to be a fake death, but it certainly counts in the First Hokage's favor. Hashirama Senju made history when he helped found the Hidden Leaf Village, but that's not all he's known for. His wood release jutsu is a rare and poweful art that only a few characters like Yamato could use in later years, mostly by borrowing Hashirama's cells.

Kaguya Otsutsuki‎ is the Mother of All Chakra

Kaguya Otsutsuki‎ came from seemingly nowhere to become the true final boss of Naruto: Shippuden, effectively usurping Madara's shot at dominance as the Fourth Great Shinobi War reached its ultimate climax. Kaguya is a celestial being with nigh-limitless power, chakra, and abilities. She has access to the Byakugan, Rinnegan, and Sharingan.

In battle, Kaguya can use some truly outlandish jutsu that not even Madara Uchiha can use. For example, she can warp both herself and her opponents to wherever she wishes in an instant. Kaguya was also the first to wield chakra and become the Ten-Tailed Beast. Kaguya and her clan have attained immeasurable power, and her legacy includes the creation of the ninja world. Madara wouldn't stand much of a chance fighting such a being, whether he intended to destroy or capture her.

Naruto Uzumaki is the Hero Who Saved the World

One of the strongest shinobi to have ever existed, Naruto Uzumaki is one of the few characters in the entire series who can defeat Madara Uchiha, and he has come a long way since his days of the entire Leaf Village hating him. During the 4th Great Ninja War, Naruto Uzumaki and Madara Uchiha clashed for a long time and Naruto was, more or less, able to keep up with him without any significant problems.

Over the years, Naruto Uzumaki has grown several times stronger than that, and the power he has now ensures that he surpasses Madara Uchiha in terms of strength. There's no doubt that Madara is an exceptionally powerful character, but Naruto eclipses him in nearly every way as the world's mightiest jinchuriki.

Sasuke Uchiha Has Surpassed His Legendary Uchiha Forebear

Sasuke Uchiha is the strongest known Uchiha to ever exist in Naruto, which makes him stronger than Madara. Sasuke asserted his dominance over Madara Uchiha during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Over the years, Sasuke honed his abilities considerably and was able to grow to a level where he was equal to Naruto in terms of combat. As a testament to his prodigious strength, Sasuke Uchiha fought and matched the likes of Momoshiki Otsutsuki in a fight.

While some fans believe Madara to be the strongest known Uchiha, that's nothing but a misconception because Sasuke is certainly stronger than him. Sasuke already had a strong start as Naruto's gifted shonen-style rival, and he only got stronger from there, using a stunning variety of jutsu, weapons, and even summoned animals like Manda to become a true powerhouse. It's fortunate that unlike his forebear Madara, Sasuke eventually became good again.

Jigen is a Centuries-Old Being Who Modified His Body For Greater Power

As Isshiki Otsutsuki's vessel, there are few characters in Naruto capable of standing up to Jigen in the Boruto era of the Naruto franchise. The undisputed strongest character in the entire Narutoverse, Jigen stands tall as an antagonist that even Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha couldn't defeat.

Naruto and Sasuke can easily defeat Momoshiki Otsutsuki, but Jigen is much stronger than both of them combined. Further, Jigen's highly modified body further enhances his already formidable prowess and chakra. In fact, Jigen has survived over a millennium simply because he's too strong to be put down. Jigen can defeat Madara without much effort, proving that the power scaling in the Boruto era has become even more aggressive with villains like this.

Momoshiki Otsutsuki is on Par With Kaguya

Momoshiki Otsutsuki is one of the most powerful characters in both Naruto and Boruto. Although he might not have been among the strongest initially, his powers grew dramatically after consuming his partner Kinshiki. Momoshiki is, indisputably, a character capable of matching Naruto and Sasuke in battle.

Momoshiki is someone comparable to Kaguya Otsutsuki herself, whose power was said to be several times greater than Madara's. Although Momoshiki can defeat Madara Uchiha, it goes without saying that this fight certainly won't be easy for him. Just giving an Otsutsuki a serious fight shows how formidable Madara Uchiha is as a mere human being compared to that celestial clan.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki is the Sage of Six Paths

Hagoromo Otsutsuki is quite easily one of the strongest characters to ever exist in Naruto. Being Kaguya Otsutsuki's son, Hagoromo has great powers that can only be compared to a few characters in the series. He has enough stamina to fight against his mother for months without resting, demonstrating his relentless attitude and limitless endurance.

What's more, his powers further increased after beating Kaguya Otsutsuki, thanks to becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. Hagoromo is someone Madara Uchiha can't beat, no matter how much stronger he gets. Characters of legend like him tend to be in a league of their own, serving more as plot devices than a proper part of the combat system.

Characters Who Can't Beat Madara

The First Hokage Revived is Weaker Than His Past Self

Although Hashirama Senju could beat Madara at first, he proved unable to stand against the revived Madara Uchiha during the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Madara proved to be Hashirama's superior in single combat and went on to attain, however briefly, increasingly greater powers between the Mangekyo, Rinnegan, and Ten-Tailed Beast.

The First Hokage is one of the most powerful shinobi to have ever lived, but Madara kept improving himself in life and after his resurrection. Madara became like a god, and Hashirama was left in the dust, feeling more like an obsolete relic than ever in that form.

The Six Paths of Pain Can't Beat Madara Even With Six Bodies

Despite the power of the Rinnegan as well as the access to five different bodies, Nagato, more commonly known as Pain, would be no match for Madara Uchiha. Between Madara's own Rinnegan, Mangekyo Sharingan, and the Susano'o, Madara has powers that Pain could never attain.

While Pain is certainly overpowered when compared to most fighters in Naruto, any battle against Madara would turn into a war of planetary devastation and mini-fights between summoned beasts. All things considered, Madara would ultimately win the day with his various ninjutsu, cunning, and ruthlessness. Still, even if Pain loses this fight, Naruto fans still admire him a the centerpiece of the best story arc in the anime, the Pain arc.

Tobirama Senju Invented the Shadow Clone Jutsu

Tobirama Senju was the second Hokage of the Hidden Laef Village, taking up the leader's role following the death of Hashirama Senju. Tobirama was an incredibly powerful shinobi for his time. In fact, he was able to slay Izuna Uchiha in combat pretty easily, demonstrating just how powerful he really was. Fans should also note that it was Tobirama Senju who invented the famed Shadow Clone jutsu, which helped him leave his mark on history.

Even though Tobirama Senju was strong, there was a considerable power gap between him and his brothers. Consequently, there would be a drastic difference between his and Madara Uchiha's abilities as well. To put it simply, Tobirama was certainly not powerful enough to defeat Madara Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha is Gifted, But He Can't Take Down Madara Uchiha

Sasuke's gifted older brother Itachi Uchiha was just as great a shinobi as Sasuke is today, albeit not nearly as powerful. While Itachi was strong in his own right, he certainly wasn't even close to Madara's level. With the Six Paths Powers at his disposal, there's absolutely no way for Madara to lose to Itachi, no matter what happens during their fight.

Although some viewers believe that Itachi is stronger than Madara Uchiha, there's hardly anything in the series that backs this claim up. Itachi may be powerful, but he doesn't have even half of Madara's godly powers, no matter his prowess with the Mangekyo Sharingan's abilities, such as his powerful Susano'o.

Kabuto Yakushi Wielded Powerful Medical Jutsu

A man who nearly achieved the power of the Sage of Six Paths, Kabuto Yakushi acquired powers that even Orochimaru failed to gain. He was strong enough to fight against Itachi Uchiha during the Great Ninja War, cementing him as one of Naruto's greatest combatants. What's funny is that when Kabuto made his debut in the Chunin Exam story arc, everyone thought he was a mediocre Leaf Village ninja with few special powers. No one realized just how powerful and villainous he really was until it was too late.

Although defeating Itachi could've been possible for him, beating Madara was certainly not something that he could've ever achieved in the series. When it comes to Madara Uchiha, the difference in power between the two is just way too massive. Nonetheless, Kabuto could've at least provided a decent fight for Madara in Naruto Shippuden, especially after he started using Orochimaru's own forms and jutsu to power up.

Might Guy is at the Apex of Taijutsu

Might Guy is a master at hand-to-hand combat, and he's shown that countless times throughout Naruto. Not only has Guy fought against the likes of Kisame and absolutely decimated them in battle, but he's also clashed against Madara Uchiha during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Using the Eight Inner Gates, Guy was able to overwhelm Madara in a fight, not giving him even an inch.

In fact, Might Guy nearly killed Madara with his Night Guy technique, which is an astonishing feat by any measure. Unfortunately, the toll that the Eight Inner Gates take on Guy's body is way too much for him to use this technique for long, which is why it inevitably fell short. Like his student Rock Lee, Might Guy proved that intense training with taijutsu alone could bridge the gap between those with talent and those without talent, but some forms of talent require more than kicks to overcome.

Minato Namikaze Is Fast, But He Won't Defeat Madara Uchiha

Also known as Konoha's Yellow Flash, Minato was a once-in-a-generation prodigy who went on to become the Hokage of his village at a very young age. Using his skills, he was single-handedly able to end the Third Great Ninja War, which goes to show how impressive his abilities were.

Despite all that, Minato's skills are far inferior to Madara Uchiha's and this was proven multiple times during the war. Since Minato struggled to fight against 10-Tails Obito, beating Madara Uchiha is certainly not possible for him. Thankfully, Minato's son would grow up to be much stronger than him. In fact, Naruto fans admire Minato less as the Fourth Hokage and more as a fond father who was denied the right to be there by his son's side as Naruto grew up. Fans don't need Minato to defeat the strongest Uchiha to be a great ninja and human being.

Naruto

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.

Release Date

September 10, 2002

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Kate Higgins

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Creator

Masashi Kishimoto

Production Company

Pierrot, Staralis Film Company

Number of Episodes

220