Power Ranking Naruto Uzumaki's Notable Teachers

Naruto Uzumaki, known for his tenacity and unpredictability, conquered numerous hardships to gain the trust of the Nine Tails, which had been sealed inside his body since birth. Through realizing his full potential, the young ninja achieved incredible feats that ultimately led to him becoming the Seventh Hokage.

Despite being initially perceived as a troublesome failure, Naruto earned the respect and admiration of his peers and fulfilled his dream of becoming the Hokage. His unwavering determination played a crucial role in his development, as did the guidance and support of the many teachers who aided him along his journey.

The complete list of Naruto Uzumaki's sensei, ranked from weakest to strongest

8) Ebisu

Ebisu (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Ebisu, the personal instructor of Konohamaru Sarutobi, is a Special Jonin with extensive expertise in ninja skills. He is a highly specialized trainer, and Kakashi has praised him as one of the best teachers in the Hidden Leaf. Kakashi personally selected Ebisu to train Naruto in preparation for the Chunin Exams.

Ebisu, with his expertise in chakra control and hand seals, attempted to help Naruto improve, but their relationship did not lead to progress. When Pain attacked the Hidden Leaf, Ebisu drew the attention of one of the Six Paths of Pain, but he was ultimately overpowered after a brief confrontation. The Naraka Path demanded Naruto's location from Ebisu, and threatened to kill him if he did not comply. Despite this, Ebisu, who had come to admire Naruto's courage and determination, refused to betray him. Fortunately, Konohamaru arrived in time to rescue Ebisu.

7) Iruka Umino

Iruka (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Iruka, like Naruto, lost his parents when the Nine Tails attacked the Hidden Leaf village. He knew what it was like to feel alone and understood Naruto's pain of being shunned by his peers and the community. Despite failing Naruto in his final academy exam, Iruka risked his life to protect him from Mizuki's plans. This act of bravery led to Naruto tapping into the power of the Nine Tails and defeating Mizuki with a powerful technique.

Iruka, the first person in the story to recognize Naruto as a capable ninja and good person, always had faith in his former student. Naruto, in return, held him in high regard, viewing him as a father figure.

As a Chunin, Iruka is skilled in Fire and Water Style techniques and can use Yin Release. He is also adept in barrier ninjutsu, able to execute the String Light Formation Jutsu, a technique that even Naruto struggled to break free from without entering Sage Mode.

6) Asuma Sarutobi

Asuma (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Asuma, a former member of the Land of Fire's Twelve Guardian Ninjas, served as the leader of Hidden Leaf's Team 10, along with Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino. Son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Asuma trained to become a highly skilled Jonin.

Known for his expertise in close-range combat, Asuma had the ability to enhance his trench knives with Wind Style, making them sharp enough to cut through large trees, rocks, and even metal. Additionally, he could extend the reach of his slashes beyond the physical range of his weapons by creating chakra blades.

Asuma, a specialist in Wind Style, instructed Naruto in the fundamentals of this elemental chakra affinity. He was also skilled in Fire Style and could execute the Ash Pile Burning Technique to produce a powerful explosion using gunpowder-infused ash.

Despite ultimately being defeated and killed by Hidan, a member of the Akatsuki, Asuma's ability to hold his own in battle while also protecting his comrades demonstrated his exceptional combat skills.

5) Yamato

Yamato (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Yamato, also known as "Tenzo," is often regarded as Kakashi's right-hand man. As a prominent Anbu Captain and Jonin from the Hidden Leaf, Yamato was infused with Hashirama Senju's DNA, granting him the ability to use Wood Release. Despite acknowledging that he does not measure up to the legendary First Hokage, Yamato's skill with Wood Release still makes him a noteworthy user of ninjutsu. His ability to generate vegetation from any surface, for both offensive and defensive purposes, sets him apart as a formidable force, albeit on a smaller scale than Hashirama.

He has the ability to construct wooden domes and cages, manipulate trees from his arms, and ensnare or subdue his enemies with plant life. Additionally, he has the skill to create powerful duplicates of himself out of wood and transform them into seeds to pursue targets. He is also capable of utilizing Water and Earth Style techniques.

In Kakashi's absence from Team 7, Yamato, who possessed the Wood Release ability to control the Nine Tails, was selected to temporarily lead the squad in place of the Sharingan user. Eventually, Yamato remained with the team to support Kakashi and Naruto as necessary.

4) Fukasaku

Fukasaku (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Renowned as the "Two Great Sage Toads," Fukasaku and his wife, Shima, are highly skilled and experienced users of Sage Mode. Fukasaku is able to flawlessly gather natural energy and meld it with his own chakra to create senjutsu chakra, which is far more powerful than standard chakra.

This technique greatly enhances his speed and grants him remarkable physical strength and resilience. Despite his diminutive size and advanced age, Fukasaku is capable of moving colossal statues and lifting and throwing Gamabunta, a giant toad. Together with Shima, he can execute a formidable sound-based genjutsu.

3) Jiraiya

Fukasaku, a former teacher of Jiraiya, stepped in to guide Naruto after Jiraiya's tragic death. He trained Naruto in Sage Mode, teaching him the Frog Kata martial arts style and helping him become much stronger. Fukasaku also provided assistance during Naruto's difficult battle against the Six Paths of Pain.

Jiraiya (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Jiraiya played a pivotal role in Naruto's life, serving as the mentor to his father, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze. He held a special place in Naruto's heart, treating him as a beloved godson whom he deeply cared for.

Jiraiya taught Minato and Kushina's son the Rasengan, which became his signature jutsu and set him up for developing even stronger techniques. He also passed on the ability to summon toads and instilled his beliefs about being a shinobi.

Despite Jiraiya's unfortunate death in battle against Pain, his legacy guided Naruto to become the admirable person he is. As Jiraiya's pupil, Naruto was revealed to be the Child of Prophecy, with the potential to either save the world or bring about its destruction based on the teachings he received from Jiraiya.

2) Killer B

Jiraiya, one of the Three Legendary Ninjas of the Hidden Leaf, was a highly skilled shinobi who was even considered for the position of Hokage. Known for his versatile techniques, he was able to enhance them using Sage Mode. Although he did not fully master this advanced ability, Jiraiya still demonstrated his strength by overpowering Konan, a member of the Akatsuki.

Killer B (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Killer B, the ideal host for the Eight Tails, is able to harmonize with the powerful Tailed Beast. With expertise in martial arts, Lightning Release techniques, and swordsmanship, B can enhance his abilities, like the Lariat, by channeling the chakra of the Eight Tails through different mediums.

B, in his most powerful state, has the ability to create tornadoes, utilize ink-based techniques, and unleash the devastating Tailed Beast Bomb. He demonstrated his formidable combat skills by pressuring Akatsuki member Kisame and managing to corner Mangekyo Sharingan Sasuke in a 1v4 battle.

With the assistance of Kushina, who appeared in her son's subconscious, B instructed Naruto on how to access the power of his Tailed Beast without the risk of being overtaken, ultimately helping him to achieve the Nine Tails Chakra Mode, which he later transformed into the complete Tailed Beast Mode.

1) Kakashi Hatake

Following his mentorship of Naruto, B also provided support in the battle against Obito. Despite not making significant progress during the fight and encountering multiple setbacks, B made a concerted effort to aid the young ninja, fulfilling the role of an older brother to him.

Kakashi, known as the "Copy Ninja" and feared around the world, is a formidable fighter known for his speed, intelligence, and adaptability. Proficient in Lightning Release techniques, Kakashi has also achieved mastery of the Mangekyo Sharingan, allowing him to transport any target to the Kamui dimension with such skill that even Madara Uchiha is impressed.

Kakashi, Naruto's main mentor, emphasized the value of teamwork and pushed him to improve on the battlefield by presenting tough challenges early on. Despite his stern demeanor, Kakashi genuinely cares for his students.

Additionally, Kakashi, who is capable of using the Rasengan, helped Naruto develop a more powerful version of the jutsu called the Rasenshuriken, which became one of Naruto's most formidable techniques. He also provided crucial support to Naruto during the Fourth Ninja War when they fought against Obito and his jinchuriki.

Kakashi decisively assisted Naruto and Sasuke in their battle against Kaguya, using Obito's Six Paths chakra and full-powered Mangekyo Sharingan to fend off the goddess and allow his students to seal her. At his peak, Kakashi was the series' strongest Sharingan and space-time ninjutsu user, earning praise even from the Sage of Six Paths. Despite losing the Sharingan, Kakashi developed new powerful techniques and eventually became the Sixth Hokage, later appointing Naruto as his successor.

Final thoughts

Naruto's mentors, listed in decreasing order of power, from left to right (Image via Studio Pierrot)From the ordinary ninjas to the iconic figures who achieved global recognition, each of the Seventh Hokage's teachers contributed significantly to his remarkable development.

True to the concept that the next generation will surpass the previous one, Minato and Kushina's son earned exceptional powers throughout his path, emphasizing hos determination and willpower.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan of Naruto, I find the power ranking of Naruto's notable teachers to be an interesting perspective on the characters who have shaped his growth and development. It's fascinating to see how each teacher has contributed to Naruto's journey, from Ebisu's focus on chakra control and hand seals to Iruka's unwavering belief in Naruto's potential. Asuma's expertise in close-range combat and Wind Style techniques also played a significant role in Naruto's training.

I appreciate the recognition given to Iruka, who, despite Naruto's initial struggles, saw his potential and acted as a father figure to him. His act of bravery in protecting Naruto from Mizuki's plans is a testament to his dedication as a teacher and his understanding of Naruto's pain. Iruka's faith in Naruto and his skills as a Chunin further highlight his importance in Naruto's journey. Overall, this power ranking provides valuable insights into the influential teachers who have guided Naruto on his path to becoming a true shinobi and the Seventh Hokage.