Was Sasuke ever stronger than Naruto? Here's what the Anime tells us
The rivalry between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha has driven one of anime's most beautifully animated, smoke-puffing, emotional and action-packed storylines. Fans still argue today: Was Sasuke ever really stronger than Naruto?
Picture this In the world of anime, no rivalries rival the strength and tenacity of Naruto and Sasuke's.
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These two iconic characters from the award-winning, record-breaking, global phenomenon series Naruto grew up together as spirited rivals and soul mates. His and the rest of the Takarazuka founders' journey from childhood to adulthood is what would ultimately create the story behind one of the world's most popular anime franchises.
Was Sasuke ever stronger than Naruto … a question that continues to rage in a divided fandom.
The answer isn't that straightforward — it all depends on when you ask.
Why Sasuke was clearly more powerful in early Naruto Shippuden
After Sasuke defected from the Hidden Leaf Village to train with Orochimaru, he returned with some seriously strong new skills. When Naruto and Sasuke finally did encounter each other again in Naruto Shippuden, Sasuke was decisively ahead. He had fully controlled the Curse Mark, learned devastating advanced jutsu such as Kirin, and he wielded the infamous Kusanagi sword.
Naruto's training with Jiraiya didn't advance him like that. In fact, some fans go so far as to claim Jiraiya didn't do enough to teach Naruto how to face the challenges that await him.
Sasuke's sharigan techniques, speed, precision all made him a legitimate physical threat — even to Naruto. In the story so far, Sasuke was obviously the more powerful of the two.
Naruto took the lead with sage mode and the nine-tails
Everything flipped upside down when Naruto trained with Toad Sages on Mount Myoboku.
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He mastered Sage Mode, a strong technique that greatly enhanced his physical strength, speed, and sensory abilities. Then, by learning to control the chakra of his mentor (enemy, friend) the Nine-Tails (or Kurama), Naruto increased his speed, strength and ability to take damage.
The greatest turning point came when Naruto was given the Six Paths Sage Mode from Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths. This god-tier power made Naruto the ultimate balancer of ninjutsu.
It unleashed Truth-Seeking Orbs, sensed invisible enemies, and accelerated his natural energy control to nonsensical proportions. With these improvements, Naruto was playing at an elite level.
Naruto vs Sasuke, Who was the final battle's stronger shinobi
During the conclusion of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto and Sasuke fought against each other one final time. Their last fight was a draw, with both leaving the ring after losing an arm. If you look more closely Naruto clearly proved stronger.
Sasuke was fighting to kill, Naruto was trying not to hurt his friend — saving his friend. Nevertheless, Naruto was able to keep up with Sasuke blow for blow. Either Sasuke wouldn't have made it out of the fight if Naruto had fought him at full strength.
Final verdict: Naruto surpassed Sasuke
While Sasuke may have been stronger during certain parts of the story, Naruto eventually surpassed him in nearly every way. His growth as a ninja, and as a person, was unmatched.
By the end of Naruto Shippuden, and especially in Boruto, Naruto's strength, heart, and leadership made him the clear winner of this long-standing rivalry.
Why it still matters
The Naruto vs Sasuke debate is more than just a power-level discussion. It represents two different paths — one of pain and revenge, and the other of hope and perseverance. Their friendship, despite all the fighting, continues to resonate with fans across the world.
So whether you're team Naruto or team Sasuke, one thing is clear: their story is one of the most unforgettable in anime history.
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