Who Is Naruto's Strongest Villain, Madara or Kaguya? (2024)

Naruto has introduced plenty of iconic and powerful villains throughout its series, and while some are doomed to be less powerful yet more impactful than others, everybody deserves a mention. However, two standout villains appear at the end of Naruto Uzumaki's main saga, Madara Uchiha and Kaguya Otsutsuki, each one a deadly and global-scale threat. In Naruto, though, it's a fair debate to bring up whether Madara or Kaguya is stronger and whether there's a greater point to this comparison.

Madara Uchiha is introduced as a crucial character in Naruto's lore, co-founding his home village of Konohagakure, while Kaguya Otsutsuki has more arcane origins. The two are formidable fighters with many talents. Still, it becomes interesting to discuss which one is the more powerful character and, perhaps more curiously, who is the better villain.

But in Naruto, power levels are not as concrete as in the early days of Dragon Ball Z, so it's important to look at the factors in play.

Comparing Madara and Kaguya's Raw Power in Naruto Is Unfair

The Two Villains Have Wildly Different Limits and Purposes

Kaguya Otsutsuki is overwhelmingly stronger than Madara Uchiha and any other character at the point of her introduction in Naruto, a sufficient final villain the heroes face before the saga's conclusion. She is the first of the Otsutsuki clan to land on Earth, the mother of Hagoromo and Hamura Otsutsuki, effectively making her the progenitor of the entire ninja world. Madara may be the most powerful human nemesis Naruto and his team have faced before this point. Kaguya's origins are more like an alien god by comparison, able to fight Naruto and Sasuke in their respective Six Paths transformations.

Kaguya's powers are legion, which, thanks to eating the fruit of the Divine Tree, allow her to wield chakra and cast jutsu without using hand signs, travel through time and space, possess the Byakugan eyes, and a third eye with the Rinne Sharingan trait. She wields various chakra-based non-ninjutsu attacks and can use genjutsu, Yin-Yang Release, and all five elemental natures. Perhaps most importantly in Naruto lore, the Infinite Tsukuyomi is Kaguya's way of creating a White Zetsu army to protect herself, and she is dubbed the superior Ten-Tails Jinchuriki in Naruto chapter #679, over Madara Uchiha.

Manifesting Kaguya Overwhelms and Consumes Madara

A Creative Choice That's Panned by the Fans

In addition to the raw power of Kaguya being demonstrably greater than Madara's, Madara is made to be the vessel for her chakra as she harvests it from the Infinite Tsukuyomi in Naruto chapter #679. The resulting burst of chakra is so overwhelming it causes Madara to swell to an enormous size before he is consumed, with Kaguya standing in his place. The main disputed point about whether Kaguya is truly stronger is that the two never have a chance to properly fight, with Black Zetsu executing the sneak attack for Kaguya that triggers Madara's transformation in Naruto.

Still, this doesn't mean that Madara is a pushover. Madara's feats include withstanding Might Guy's Eight Gates ultimate move, "Night Guy" and being fast enough to counter space-time ninjutsu. He also single-handedly beats all five Kage and the Tailed Beasts. Kaguya achieves similar feats, defeating entire armies of opponents single-handedly while rivaling Six Paths Naruto and Sasuke, something Madara wouldn't have achieved if not for awakening the Infinite Tsukuyomi. In fact, Kaguya's introduction is panned as an overpowered answer to Madara.

At this point in the series, Madara is strong enough to withstand legendary assaults, including a full burst of Might Guy's Eight Gates. It's undeniable that Madara's massive wealth of ninja-fighting experience makes him a more seasoned fighter. Still, his strength and advantages wane against Naruto and Sasuke's Six Paths-empowered abilities. Kaguya's advantages are clear, as she is shown to hold her own against Naruto and Sasuke far better than Madara, at times without lifting a finger, like in chapter #682. Despite Madara's might being built up over most of the series, Kaguya has superior chakra control and raw power.

Despite Power Differences, Madara Uchiha Is the Better Villain

Madara Has No Chance in a Fair Fight, but That's Not the Point

Madara Uchiha is typically more beloved than Kaguya Otsutsuki in Naruto because he is the more compelling villain, with more stories building up his presence in the world. Madara is also far more quotable than Kaguya, being influential and wise, though dramatically afflicted with the Uchiha clan's darkest family curse, spawning bitterness and hatred as his passion loses control when his brother, Izuna, dies. Madara's cleverness, ingenuity, and tenacity result in him living beyond his apparent death against Hashirama in Naruto, eventually assembling the building blocks of what would become Akatsuki.

While Kaguya represents the genetic and foundational makeup of the ninjas in Naruto, Madara influences many of the most crucial plot developments, having a hand in most of the series' affairs. Madara does well for himself despite not having as many genetic gifts. This includes Madara granting the Rinnegan eye to a young Nagato, the founder of Akatsuki, using the White Zetsu created by Kaguya for self-preservation, and using Hashirama's cells to tend to Obito's wounds. However, while Madara is more fascinating in Naruto's lore, Kaguya's introduction becomes more intriguing in the sequel series.

Madara and Kaguya Use the Same Methods for Different Goals in Naruto

Readers and Viewers Can Decide Which Motives Are More Compelling

Madara Uchiha and Kaguya Otsutsuki have a uniquely similar method for attaining their ultimate victory in Naruto: The Infinite Tsukuyomi, reflecting the Rinne Sharingan off the moon's surface, controlling the world's inhabitants. Madara sees this as an extreme way to attain peace through strict control, whereas Kaguya sees it as the means to a different end. It's revealed that Kaguya uses the Infinite Tsukuyomi, much like she did in the past, to enslave the world's population as White Zetsu, so they'd serve as her army if her clan comes to take her chakra away.

It turns out, Kaguya's methods are entirely for self-preservation, clinging to her godlike status on a planet that's not her home, despite being sent there to harvest its chakra and bring back the chakra fruit it produces. Instead, she eats the chakra fruit and betrays Isshiki Otsutsuki, who later seizes power as Jigen in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, carrying his legacy into Two Blue Vortex. Kaguya's selfishness makes her betray her clan, shifting her status from being a lowly tribute to the Ten-Tails, into the deadliest vessel for the beast seen at that point in Naruto.

Kaguya's True Legacy Is Found in Boruto

Madara Expands on Kaguya's Contributions

Whether or not fans liked her introduction, Kaguya is undeniably and inalienably Naruto canon, with her presence and connection to the Sage of the Six Paths enhancing the series lore, if only over time. Her introduction in the final arc of Naruto is a hasty one, and her fight, while aggressively showcased as a far tougher one than Madara's, lacks the same gravitas as the elder Uchiha. However, Kaguya's emergence into the series lore allows for unconceivable and terrifying threats to emerge, setting up Boruto and its plot.

Even as Boruto: Two Blue Vortex moves into a post-Isshiki plot with Code carrying on his will, his iteration of the Ten-Tails produces terrifying new enemies like Jura for Boruto to fight. The Otsutsuki clan is essentially to Boruto what the Akatsuki was to Naruto, a looming threat whose power levels are no secret. Madara may have a lasting legacy in the shinobi world and many of the events of Naruto. Still, his legacy is not nearly as prominent as the Otsutsuki, and Kaguya, in Boruto.