The Ultimate Powerhouses: Ranking the Top 10 Unpromoted Naruto Chunins!

Naruto takes place in a world with various countries and villages, each with their own system for evaluating the prowess of shinobis. The shinobis are categorized and ranked based on their combat abilities.

The Chunin rank serves as a fundamental milestone, as most shinobis must attain it in order to receive missions. Surprisingly, despite numerous opportunities, many characters in the series failed to advance within the ranking system.

Naruto: Ranking the Chunins that never became a jonin during the course of the series

10) Iruka

Iruka sensei (image via Studio Pierrot)

While Iruka is considered one of the least powerful characters on the list, his strength lies not in his shinobi abilities, but in his role as an instructor. Demonstrating all the qualities of a good teacher, he has the necessary skills to educate the students at the academy. However, his combat prowess is not as extensive, as evidenced by his difficulties when facing Mizuki in the early stages of the series.

9) Mizuki

Mizuki from the Naruto series (image via Pierrot)

Mizuki received little screen time and only fought against Iruka and Genin Naruto, betraying the village in the process by tricking Naruto into stealing a forbidden scroll. However, his fighting skills were subpar as he was defeated by both Iruka and Genin Naruto, revealing his weakness. Notably, he never achieved the rank of Jonin throughout the series.

8) Kotetsu

Kotetsu, featured in the Naruto series (image via Pierrot), is an experienced shinobi responsible for protecting the gates of Konohagakure. While his combat abilities have not been prominently showcased, he possesses a superior skill in genjutsu, which necessitates proficient chakra manipulation to manipulate the target's senses. Despite achieving the rank of chunin, Kotetsu has not made significant progress within the ninja hierarchy. During the chunin exams, he even utilized genjutsu to assess the strength of Sasuke and launched an attempted attack.

7) Ino

Ino Yamanaka (image via netflix)

Ino, an influential character in the Naruto series, possesses extraordinary sensory perception and wields three nature transformations. Additionally, she specializes in utilizing her clan's technique. Employing her Mind Transfer technique proves advantageous for team operations, thereby highlighting her crucial role in the Ino-Shika-cho team. Due to her remarkable abilities, she can detect even the faintest traces of chakra in her surroundings.

6) Tenten

Tenten, the character in Naruto, was unfortunately underutilized by its creator. Despite being a skilled weapons expert with exceptional combat versatility, her true potential remained untapped. With the ability to engage in both close and long-range battles, Tenten proved herself to be on par with an elite Jonin-level ninja. However, throughout the series, she never managed to ascend beyond the Chunin level.

5) Kiba

Kiba Inuzuka (image via Pierrot)

Kiba is another formidable character whose skill was demonstrated during the chunin exams. In combat, he relies on the assistance of his loyal companion, Akamaru, an agile ninja canine. Kiba specializes in taijutsu and combines his quickness and power with Akamaru's attacks. If it weren't for Naruto's remarkable resilience, Kiba could have emerged victorious in their clash, but the protagonist surprisingly defeated him. Like Naruto, Kiba did not attain the rank of jonin and instead became a local TV celebrity in Boruto.

4) Choji

Choji Akimichi (image via Pierrot) is an incredibly powerful character on this roster. His clan possesses a remarkable ability to convert calories into chakra, which is why they are frequently seen indulging in meals. Choji, in particular, had a deep love for food and would occasionally prioritize satisfying his hunger over training. Nevertheless, Choji showcased his immense strength when he valiantly battled the formidable Gedo Statue during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Despite his outstanding capabilities, Choji surprisingly remained at the chunin rank, never advancing to the esteemed jonin level of a shinobi.

3) Shino

Shino Aburame from the Naruto series (image via Pierrot)

2) Hinata

Known for his expertise in manipulating chakra-devouring insects, Shino Aburame possesses a diverse skill set as a shinobi, excelling in both combat and reconnaissance. Despite not ascending to the rank of jonin, in the Boruto series, he assumes the role of an esteemed instructor at the academy. Maintaining his chunin rank, Shino appears to revel in his position as a mentor within the academy, relishing the opportunity to guide and educate future generations of shinobi.

Hinata fans may not be thrilled with a filler-less remake (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Hailing from the esteemed Hyuga clan, Hinata possesses the remarkable Byakugan dojutsu. This extraordinary ability allows her to perceive the flow of chakra and pinpoint its exact pressure points, making her a formidable opponent in combat. With her mastery of the Gentle Fist technique, she can disrupt the vital chakra pathways of her adversaries, effectively immobilizing them. Furthermore, her expertise in taijutsu grants her a near-360-degree vision, enabling her to engage in battle with unparalleled awareness. Despite her undeniable strength, she made the conscious decision to put her ninja career on hold when she married Naruto and became a proud mother of two.

1) Obito

Obito Uchiha (Image via Studio Pierrot)

There is no doubt that Obito, originating from the Uchiha clan, stands as the most dominant character in this compilation. Graduating from the academy and succeeding in the chunin exams, Obito's climbing of the ninja ranks was cut short when he was presumed deceased at the age of 13. However, his role as one of the primary antagonists in the series and his pivotal contribution to the Fourth Great Ninja War cannot be overlooked. Obito's remarkable abilities were showcased through his adept mastery of the Sharingan.

In summation

These ten Chunin distinguish themselves in the Naruto universe through their exceptional abilities, unique talents, and unwavering allegiance to their communities and allies. While their tales may not revolve around achieving the Jonin rank, they play a vital role in their respective teams' triumphs and contribute significantly to the overarching storyline.

Stay tuned for further Naruto updates as the anime makes its long-awaited comeback after a hiatus of over ten years. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original anime's premiere, the studio is reissuing four episodes, scheduled for release in the coming months.

This article was modified on Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 AM.