Naruto’s Next Anime Will Officially Crown Sakura As Team 7’s Strongest Ninja, And It’s Not Close

Naruto’s Next Anime Will Officially Crown Sakura As Team 7’s Strongest Ninja, And It’s Not Close

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Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Boruto’s Omnipotence Arc and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex!

For years in the Naruto franchise, the running understanding about its central ninja cell, Team 7, was that Naruto and Sasuke quickly seized the top two spots, excluding Kakashi as their leader, while Sakura languished at the bottom. It was undeniable, and although team changes like temporary leader Yamato and Sasuke’s replacement, Sai, certainly shook things up, it wasn’t until the Fourth Great Ninja War, particularly chapter #631-632, that Sakura showed real signs of keeping up. But even then, with Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s bestowal of Six Paths Sage Mode and Six-Tomoe Rinnegan to Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura still lagged behind.


But things are different in the wind-up to the next anime in the Naruto franchise. The Omnipotence Arc will dramatically shift the status quo, especially following Naruto’s loss of Kurama and Sasuke’s Rinnegan being destroyed. Despite her companions still boasting incredible abilities of their own, though, Sakura is the only one seemingly proceeding in the franchise unhindered, gathering strength even while playing support largely in the background. But in the next Boruto anime, Sakura will become indisputably the strongest active member of Team 7, with some important caveats.

Sakura Will Become The Strongest Active Team 7 Member In The Next Naruto Anime

Following the already dramatic loss of Kurama and the Rinnegan, Naruto and Sasuke are still capable of plenty of tricks in the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations series. Naruto still has Sage Mode at his disposal alongside enormous chakra reserves, while Sasuke, with his trusted Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, is still capable of plenty of shenanigans like Amaterasu and Susanoo. But in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter #77, Naruto is sealed away in Kawaki’s Daikokuten, while Sasuke is shown to have been captured by Code’s Claw Grimes, serving as the chakra template for Hidari in Two Blue Vortex. By technicality, Sakura is the strongest active member of the three.

This is a fair technicality in Sakura’s favor. After all, to use a tennis metaphor, Jannik Sinner holding the #1 ATP ranking isn’t always followed by the disclaimer of “because Djokovic backed out of the French Open with an injury.” Sakura is still immensely powerful, and arguably reached greater heights than ever due to continuous chakra accumulation over the past three years. To claim she’s only the strongest active member because her teammates are out of play is to undermine her in bad faith. She’s hardly unleashed the full potential of her Byakugo even after close to two decades of access to it, without needing to dip into its reserves to preserve her youth like Tsunade did.

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Even other participating members of Team 7 pale in comparison to Sakura. Sai’s abilities, while immensely useful for mobility and reconnaissance, falter in the face of one punch from Sakura’s chakra enhanced strength, with Yamato’s Wood Release likely not doing much better. Sakura is a poor match for either, capable of outlasting and overpowering them with relative ease.

The only real competition outside of Naruto and Sasuke is Kakashi, who after losing his Double Mangekyo Sharingan and related abilities at the end of the final Naruto arc. This means no Kamui or Susanoo, and even his new Purple Lightning technique would hardly likely keep up with Sakura’s extreme regeneration abilities. Not that it matters; Kakashi is terminally absent from the manga, and this entire comparison is based on the faulty premise of these characters ever needing to fight to the death. But even then, Sakura remains the strongest active member of the old Team 7 cell, yet even she doesn’t seem to be concerned, finding greater purpose as a leading medical ninja.

Boruto Has Sakura Serving A Different, Yet Vital Role

Sakura in Boruto Two Blue Vortex

Sakura has certainly not always actively participated in manga-canon Boruto moments, although she’s certainly had more presence in the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga than either Sasuke or Naruto lately. From overseeing Moegi’s recovery in chapter #25, to her most recent appearance in chapter #34, Sakura has remained the best kunoichi in Naruto history, while confidently heading the Medical Department and overseeing Konoha’s various hospitalized shinobi. Despite also being the strongest active member of Team 7 on a technicality, Sakura is more concerned with villagers in need of her care, as well as giving vital guidance to her daughter.

This led to one of the most consequential, memorable moments for Sakura in quite some time. Seeing herself in Sarada, Sakura knew she wouldn’t sway her daughter’s loyalty to Boruto despite him being branded an enemy to Konoha, mirroring how she felt by still loving Sasuke despite all he’d done. It’s a moment where Sakura recognizes Sarada’s immense inner strength even despite the young Uchiha’s own recent immense achievements on the battlefield.











































Hidden Leaf Village · Chunin Exam
Naruto
Trivia Challenge


Jinchūriki
Believe it!


Sharingan
Copy ninja


Jutsu
Rasengan!


Village
Will of Fire


Bonds
Unbreakable

01

Naruto Uzumaki carries an immense burden — a powerful Tailed Beast sealed inside him since birth by the Fourth Hokage. This fox demon’s chakra gives Naruto extraordinary power but also makes him an outcast. What is the name of this Nine-Tailed Beast?




✓ Correct! Kurama is the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage. Initially a source of fear and hatred, Kurama eventually becomes one of Naruto’s closest allies. Their bond is one of the most emotional arcs in the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kurama. Shukaku is the One-Tail sealed in Gaara, Matatabi is the Two-Tails, and Gyuki is the Eight-Tails sealed in Killer Bee. Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, is Naruto’s legendary partner.

02

Naruto’s greatest rival is a prodigy from a prestigious clan who possesses a powerful eye technique called the Sharingan. Consumed by a desire for vengeance against his older brother, he defects from the Hidden Leaf Village. Who is this rival?




✓ Correct! Sasuke Uchiha is Naruto’s eternal rival and best friend. After the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke’s obsession with killing his brother Itachi drives him to leave the village and seek power at any cost. Their rivalry is the emotional backbone of the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Sasuke Uchiha. Neji is a Hyuga clan genius with the Byakugan, Gaara is the Sand Village’s jinchūriki, and Rock Lee is the taijutsu specialist. Only Sasuke wields the Sharingan and defects to join Orochimaru.

03

Naruto’s signature jutsu is a spinning sphere of concentrated chakra formed in the palm of his hand. Originally created by the Fourth Hokage and taught to Naruto by Jiraiya, it becomes the foundation for many of his most powerful attacks. What is this technique called?




✓ Correct! The Rasengan is a pure chakra manipulation technique that doesn’t require hand signs. Created by Minato Namikaze and passed down through Jiraiya to Naruto, it evolves into many variations including the devastating Rasenshuriken with added Wind Release nature transformation.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is the Rasengan. The Chidori is Sasuke and Kakashi’s lightning technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu is a different Naruto staple, and the Lava Rasenshuriken is a late-series variant. The base Rasengan is Naruto’s iconic spinning chakra sphere.

04

Team 7’s leader is a mysterious, mask-wearing jonin known as the “Copy Ninja” for his ability to replicate over a thousand jutsu using his borrowed Sharingan eye. He’s always reading a certain novel. Who is this legendary sensei?




✓ Correct! Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of the Sharingan, leads Team 7 (Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura). His Sharingan was a gift from his dying friend Obito Uchiha. Always cool under pressure and perpetually reading Make-Out Paradise, Kakashi eventually becomes the Sixth Hokage.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kakashi Hatake. Might Guy leads Team Guy, Asuma leads Team 10, and Jiraiya is one of the Legendary Sannin who later trains Naruto. Only Kakashi is the masked Copy Ninja with a borrowed Sharingan who leads Team 7.

05

Sasuke’s older brother massacred nearly the entire Uchiha clan in a single night, then joined the criminal organization Akatsuki. It was later revealed he did it all on orders from the village to prevent a coup — sacrificing everything to protect his brother. Who is this tragic figure?




✓ Correct! Itachi Uchiha is one of Naruto’s most complex characters. A pacifist genius forced into an impossible choice, he bore the hatred of the entire world — including his beloved brother Sasuke — to protect the Hidden Leaf from civil war. His final words to Sasuke remain iconic.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Itachi Uchiha. Madara is the legendary clan founder, Obito is the masked man behind much of the war, and Shisui was Itachi’s best friend. Itachi alone carried out the massacre to prevent the Uchiha coup and protect Sasuke.

06

From the very first episode, Naruto declares his lifelong dream to earn the respect of his village and prove his worth. He vows to achieve the highest rank in the Hidden Leaf — its supreme leader. What is this title that Naruto dreams of?




✓ Correct! Hokage is the title of the Hidden Leaf Village’s leader, and Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage drives the entire series. After years of struggle, he finally achieves his dream and becomes the Seventh Hokage in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hokage. The Kazekage leads the Sand Village, Jonin Commander is a military rank, and Anbu Captain leads black ops. The Hokage is the Hidden Leaf’s supreme leader — and Naruto’s lifelong dream since he was a lonely academy student.

07

Naruto’s father was the Fourth Hokage, known as the “Yellow Flash of the Leaf” for his incredible speed using the Flying Thunder God technique. He sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails inside his newborn son. What is his name?




✓ Correct! Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage and Yellow Flash, sacrificed himself using the Reaper Death Seal to seal Kurama inside baby Naruto. His love for his son and faith in Naruto’s potential made him one of the series’ most selfless characters.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen Sarutobi is the Third Hokage, Tobirama Senju is the Second, and Hashirama Senju is the First. Minato, the Fourth Hokage, is Naruto’s father who sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his own life.

08

A shy, kind-hearted kunoichi from the Hyuga clan admired Naruto from afar since their academy days. She boldly confessed her love while fighting Pain to protect him, and eventually became his wife. Who is this character?




✓ Correct! Hinata Hyuga went from a timid girl who could barely speak around Naruto to a fierce warrior who stood against Pain to protect him. Her confession during the Pain arc is one of the series’ most emotional moments. They marry in The Last: Naruto the Movie and have two children, Boruto and Himawari.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hinata Hyuga. Sakura is Naruto’s teammate who loves Sasuke, Ino is Sakura’s rival from the Yamanaka clan, and Temari is a Sand Village kunoichi who marries Shikamaru. Only Hinata loved Naruto from the very beginning.

Mission Complete
Your Ninja Record


/ 8

Are you Hokage material — or still at the academy practicing clone jutsu?

Despite Sakura’s utterly fantastic combat moments, like in her fight against Shin Uchiha, and the absurd feats of strength she pulled off against him in the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime, Sakura still does not need to go all-out. Instead, she has been maintaining her immense chakra-boosted strength without having to exhaust or likely even properly tap into her Byakugo reserves in the process. She’s not necessarily the ultimate ace in the hole, but in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Sakura has only gotten stronger, while Naruto and Sasuke’s growth has remained static by default.

  • Naruto (2002) TV Show Poster

    First Film

    Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

    Latest Film

    Boruto: Naruto the Movie

    First TV Show

    Naruto

    Latest TV Show

    Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

    First Episode Air Date

    October 3, 2002

    Cast

    Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei

    Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists’ children and returning faces.


  • Boruto Two Blue Vortex Volume 1 Cover

    Writer

    Masashi Kishimoto

    Writers

    Masashi Kishimoto

    Penciler(s)

    Mikio Ikemoto

    Inker(s)

    Mikio Ikemoto

    Colorist(s)

    Mikio Ikemoto

    Publisher(s)

    Viz Media

    Years after fleeing his village with Sasuke, Boruto returns to confront the dark changes that have occurred. With memories altered and Kawaki now seen as the hero, Boruto faces a world where he is the outcast. The two rivals must settle their differences as their Otsutsuki powers grow more dangerous.


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