Highlights
- In Naruto, power can be attained through innate potential, effort, or inheriting abilities like the Rinnegan or Sharingan.
- Characters like Nagato, Kakashi, and Sasuke inherited powerful abilities, leading to major conflicts in the series.
- Inherited will and powers, from Indra and Asura Otsutsuki to kekkei genkai, played crucial roles in Naruto’s major conflicts.
In Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto, there are several paths to attaining incredible power, with some gaining it through their innate potential, others through sheer effort, and a few through the process of inheriting abilities. In the latter case, some of the strongest abilities, techniques, and transformations in the series were passed down by their original users, to worthy successors, as seen in the case of both Naruto and Sasuke, the series’ main rivals.
This process also illustrates the concept of inherited will that runs through the story. From the various reincarnations of Indra and Asura Otsutsuki to the many kekkei genkai abilities passed down over generations, inherited powers have been a deciding factor in some of the series’ major conflicts, including the Fourth Shinobi World War itself. Hence, here are some of the characters who inherited powers in Naruto.
1 Nagato (Pain)
Implanted With Madara’s Rinnegan As A Child
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #372 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Shippuden Episode #128 |
Through unknown means, Nagato was implanted with Madara Uchiha’s Rinnegan when he was very young and grew up without any knowledge of his abilities. Nagato first used his dojutsu to kill the enemy shinobi who were responsible for the murder of his parents.
Later on, he joined a band of orphans from Amegakure including Yahiko and Konan, who were trained by Jiraiya, and went on to found the original version of the Akatsuki. Upon Yahiko’s unfortunate death, Nagato assumed leadership of the group and took on the alias of “Pain.” While his prowess with the Rinnegan was exceptional, he admitted that it was only an imitation of the eyes’ true power.
2 Kakashi Hatake
Given The Sharingan Through Obito Uchiha’s Left Eye
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #3 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Episode #3 |
During the Battle of Kannabi Bridge in the Third Shinobi World War, Kakashi lost his left eye while trying to protect Obito Uchiha from enemy ninja who had abducted their teammate Rin Nohara. While the duo succeeded in finding Rin, they found themselves in the middle of a cave-in triggered by their opponents.
Struck in his blind spot, Kakashi was struggling to escape, which was when Obito pushed him out of the way of a boulder, which fell onto him. On the verge of death, Obito bequeathed one of his Sharingan to Kakashi, to replace the eye he had lost. In the years that followed, Kakashi distinguished himself as one of the village’s elite jonin, with the aid of Obito’s dojutsu.
3 Madara Uchiha
An Indra Otsutsuki Reincarnation Who Awakened The Rinnegan
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #370 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Shippuden Episode #130 |
Born during the volatile Warring States Period, Madara grew up in a time of constant conflict. In his childhood, he developed a close friendship with a young Hashirama Senju, until both of them learned that they belonged to rival clans. Renouncing his bond with Hashirama, Madara distinguished himself as an exceptional warrior, aided by his innate talent as a reincarnation of Indra Otsutsuki.
In time, Madara awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, and later, the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan by taking the eyes of his late brother, Izuna. He went on to build Konohagakure but defected from the village on seeing the Senju’s dominating influence. After fighting Hashirama and nearly dying, Madara acquired some of his DNA, with which he awakened the Rinnegan towards the end of his life.
4 Hashirama Senju
A Reincarnation Of Asura Otsutsuki
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #118 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Episode #69 |
As the eldest of his siblings, Hashirama grew up in the Warring States Period, during which time he forged a bond with a young Madara Uchiha, due to the dream of peace they shared. Sadly, Madara renounced their friendship once he realized that Hashirama belonged to the rival Senju clan.
By virtue of being a reincarnation of Asura Otsutsuki, Hashirama possessed incredible chakra reserves and vitality, to the point where he could fight non-stop for an entire day and remain fit for battle. He also had a unique kekkei genkai in the form of Wood Release and could heal virtually any injury through his immense regenerative abilities.
5 Asura Otsutsuki
Inherited His Father’s Bodily Power And Vitality
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #462 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Shippuden Episode #203 |
The younger son of the Sage of Six Paths, Asura Otsutsuki spent his youth in the shadow of his elder brother’s talent, as he displayed very limited aptitude towards ninshu, or its weaponized form known as ninjutsu. Fortunately, Asura persevered in the face of all these difficulties and continued to apply himself.
Through years of dedicated effort, he proved himself to be a late bloomer and eventually managed to awaken his father’s incredible life force and physical energy, along with Six Paths Senjutsu. With this, Asura was finally able to rival Indra’s power, as he inherited his father’s will and teachings. He was also the common ancestor of the Senju and Uzumaki clans.
6 Indra Otsutsuki
Inherited His Father’s Intellect And Eyes
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #462 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Shippuden Episode #203 |
Viewed as a prodigy very early on in his life, Asura invented hand seals and developed ninshu into its modern variant, ninjutsu, after observing his father, the Sage of Six Paths, molding chakra. He also inherited his father’s dojutsu, the Sharingan, and harnessed its power to further his exploits with ninjutsu.
Initially, it was widely believed that he would succeed his father as the leader of ninshu, but when his father chose his younger brother, Asura, Indra felt betrayed and refused to accept this decision. Turning against his father and the order of ninshu, Asura fought his brother as they reincarnated over successive generations. As the ancestor of the Uchiha clan, Asura’s descendants all inherited his Curse of Hatred, alongside his powerful dojutsu.
7 Hamura Otsutsuki
Inherited His Mother’s Byakugan
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #670 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Shippuden Episode #420 |
Son of Kaguya Otsutsuki and the fraternal twin brother of Hagoromo, Hamura was one of the first individuals to wield chakra on Earth. From his mother, Hamura inherited the Byakugan, and his version of the dojutsu was said to be especially pure due to his lineage as a descendant of the Otsutsuki clan.
Alongside his brother Hagoromo, Hamura fought against their mother, Kaguya, managing to successfully seal her on the Moon. Hamura’s chakra was also incredibly powerful, to the point where he could manifest a physical form to transcend time and speak to his descendants. In addition, he inherited Six Paths Senjutsu and also awakened the Tenseigan later on in his life.
8 Hagoromo Otsutsuki
The Sage of Six Paths Who Inherited His Mother’s Power
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #572 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Shippuden Episode #329 |
Revered as a god-like figure due to his role in teaching humans how to wield chakra, Hagoromo Otsutsuki was once known as the Sage of Six Paths, and he played an instrumental role in defeating his mother Kaguya, along with his brother Hamura. Due to his lineage, Hagoromo inherited his mother’s powerful chakra along with a version of her dojutsu in the form of the Sharingan.
Over time, his eyes matured and evolved into the Mangekyo Sharingan, before eventually becoming the Rinnegan. He was also the first person to seal the Ten-Tails within his body after defeating Kaguya, becoming the first jinchuriki in history. Just like his brother, Hagoromo could use Six Paths Senjutsu and was able to perform jutsu without the need for hand seals.
9 Sasuke Uchiha
Indra’s Reincarnation Who Inherited The Rinnegan And Six Paths Yin Power
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #3 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Episode #1 |
The only survivor from the Uchiha clan’s downfall perpetrated by his brother Itachi, Sasuke Uchiha endured loneliness for most of his childhood, but he distinguished himself as a genius among the young shinobi in Konoha. Having inherited the Sharingan due to his Uchiha heritage, Sasuke also gained incredible chakra reserves and a keen intellect due to his status as Indra’s reincarnation.
After awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan as a teenager, he would go on to gain the Rinnegan and Six Paths Yin Power from Hagoromo Otsutsuki at the height of the Fourth Shinobi World War. He played an instrumental role in ending the war and was eventually redeemed by his closest friend and rival, Naruto, after their final battle at the Valley of the End.
10 Naruto Uzumaki
Asura’s Reincarnation Who Inherited The Nine-Tails And Six Paths Senjutsu
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Manga Debut |
Naruto Chapter #1 |
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Anime Debut |
Naruto Episode #1 |
Made the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails on the day of his birth — just like his mother Kushina — Naruto was ostracized by the entire village for this very reason in his early years, and he was isolated for a long time. Harboring dreams of being acknowledged and becoming Hokage, Naruto worked incredibly hard to earn his place in the village and eventually became a hero to the people of Konoha.
Beyond inheriting the power of the Nine-Tails, Naruto is also a reincarnation of Asura Otsutsuki, and he gained Six Paths Senjutsu from Hagoromo during the war, along with chakra from all the other tailed beasts. By the end of Naruto‘s storyline, he had more than proved himself, after saving the world and achieving his dream of becoming the Seventh Hokage.
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