A ninja used to refer to someone who was an covert agent or mercenary during the time of feudal Japan. With the introduction to Naruto to US audiences, the popularity surrounding the term explodedーhowever, there are many great ninja in anime that isn't Naruto.
In fact, ninja are essentially assassins, so it's normal for them to have cut a few lives short. But to truly gauge a ninja's ability, ranking them by kill count will display their skills as a ninjaーor a kunoichiーand show how much danger they can impose to others. Here's 7 of the best, ranked by kill count.
7 Kiriko Hattori (Dai-Shogun - Great Revolution)
Kiriko Hattori is a Iga Ninja and the heroine of Dai-Shogun - Great Revolution. She is a kunoichi who knows how to use her abilities extremely well. Not only is she cold-blooded, but she also doesn't seem to comprehend emotions.
Because of this, she can carry out any missionーas well as bring down any opponent she is ordered to fight against. She places her faith in the world Tokugawa Shogun family and her mission to the upmost loyalty, and in turn has brought down many people.
6 Gennosuke Kouga (Basilisk)
Gennosuke Kouga is a scholar first, ninja second. However, he is also the heir to the Kouga Manjidani Clan and has inherented a mighty dojutsu that is one that can even rival ones in Naruto.
His dojutsu allows him to turn an enemies murderous intent onto the enemy themselves, causing them to either kill each other or themselves. He also exexls in kenjutsuーswordplayーin case his eyes no longer work. The fact that Gennosuke has all of his tracks covered if he cannot rely on one not only is smart thinking, but beneficial. With his dojutsu turned on his enemies, it's a wonder how many people he has inadvertently killed with it.
5 Souei (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime)
Souei is one of the best debuts of a ninja, making a name for himself in an anime lead by an overpowered protagonist. Despite Rimuru taking the spotlight, Souei has some incredible abilities that make him quite the formidable ninja.
However, he does enjoy torturing his captives before ending their lives. Not only does he excel in creating multiple clones, but he has show to have the ability of Insta-Kill to bring death upon his enemies instantly. Thinking about these particular skills, Souei has racked up enough kills like his other fellow colleagues and Ogre who reside in Rimuru City. He certainly has a high kill count looming over his head.
4 Jubei Kibagami (Ninja Scroll)
Before Naruto made its debut, the famed anime movie Ninja Scroll paved a path for it to be successful. It also received a series later on, Ninja Scroll: The Series that aired in Japan in 2003. Despite this, many US fans do not know of the anime or the protagonist, Jubei Kibagami, a ninja who wishes to have a quiet break.
Before becoming a vagabond, Jubei used to work for the Tokugawa government, meaning he isn't above using dirty tricks to win a fight. Not only is he a master swordsman, but he also has honed an iaijutsuーsword techniqueーthat allows him to cut the very air itself, Wind Slash Technique. Whoever is in its path is doomed with certain death, which truly makes one wonder how many people have been on the other side of his blade.
3 Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)
Kakashi may be known as the carefree and laid-back sensei in Naruto, but an arc in Naruto Shippuden shed light on his dark past during his time in the Anbu. The Anbu is a covert force that protects the Hidden Leaf Village and the Hokage.
His past is dark, as his father took his life after the guilt of killing others. Kakashi joined the Anbu at a young age, and served alongside with Itachi. As the Anbu are more of assassins than the ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village, they obviously have a higher body count than othersーand Kakashi has more blood on his hands that some characters combined.
2 Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
Before Kenshin was known as the goofball he is in Rurouni Kenshin, he was known as the legendary assassin, the Hitokiri Battosaiーand he had already killed thousands for his age. Despite him not being an assassin any longer, there is no changing the lives he took.
Because of this, he know wields a reverse-blade sword and roams the land as a wandering swordsman. From the tales of him as the Hitokiri Battosai by the OVA, he became legendary because of how many people he had killed. The number is unknown, but he surely leads in number of bodies he has fell.
1 Utusro (Gintama)
Utsuro surely has the highest amount of bodies as he is immoralーand a potent threat to Gintoki and the rest of the main characters in Gintama. No matter how much damage he receives, he has the ability to absorb Altana and live on.
After he was released from prison, he went on to kill many people without mercy. His thirst for blood is insatiable, and his cruelty in taking others' lives brings him twisted satisfaction. Not only can he seemingly live forever, but he has killed many people, which makes his body count unfathomably high.