Danzo Shimura is an antagonist of the Naruto series and among the most diabolical villains its main characters have ever contended with. The leader of the Foundation (otherwise known as Root), his cunning is matched only by his viciousness and the many jutsu he can deploy against his enemies.
The Sharingan arm he adorns makes him particularly deadly since he can harness the terrifying power of the Izanagi in order to turn any fight in his favor. However, in spite of his inhuman abilities and natural gifts as a warrior, his victory is not guaranteed against the series' most capable shinobi.
10 COULD BEAT: Temari Who Wouldn't Get A Chance To Use Her Wind Jutsu Against Him
Temari's skill with her fan makes her one of the series' most deadly kunoichi. It is capable of deflecting dozens of projectiles and carving through the boughs of trees with little effort, inflicting similarly high damage against human targets.
However, the Sand Shinobi requires solid footing in order to harness her special ability. Should Danzo summon the Baku and use its infamous vacuum, she would be swept off her feet and right into the Foundation leader's clutches. Given that he is a vastly superior melee combatant, she would never have another chance to use her wind jutsu against him.
9 WOULD LOSE TO: Jiraiya & His Toad Genjutsu
Arguably the strongest of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya's affinity with genjutsu is peerless. It was powerful enough to affect Nagato's paths of Pain, one of the most intelligent and dauntless shinobi of Shippuden.
Since Danzo is vulnerable to genjutsu despite the Sharingan he wields (demonstrated through how Sasuke successfully used it against him in their duel), it reasons that the Great Sage's techniques would be similarly effective. It would result in his demise, regardless of how many opportunities he had to reverse his fate.
8 COULD BEAT: Sakura Despite Her Outstanding Strength & Healing Abilities
Sakura's outstanding strength rivals Tsunade's, wielding enough sheer physical power to stagger Kaguya herself. The medical ninja's healing is equally remarkable, with similar regenerative properties to that of her mistress.
However, her advantages in endurance and her ability to mend wounds cannot account for a critical strike to the heart or brain. If she manages to connect a successful punch against Danzo, he would simply need to manifest behind her and deliver a fatal strike as he nearly did in his battle against Sasuke.
7 WOULD LOSE TO: Kisame & His Charka-Eating Blade
One of the most powerful members of the Akatsuki, Kisame's notorious chakra-eating blade was able to drain the energy of those it connected with. This entails that in a direct confrontation between he and Danzo, he is at a natural advantage even if the assassin can block all of his attacks.
As powerful as the Izanagi is, it takes an enormous amount of chakra to control (which is why Danzo uses Hashirama cells on his arm). In the inevitability that the shark ninja saps that power, he would deprive the Foundation leader of his greatest tool and kill him shortly thereafter.
6 COULD BEAT: Deidara & His Explosive Tricks
Deidara's clay detonations are fatal against most characters of the series. His unique gift for converting them into microscopic pieces and triggering them from inside his opponents' bodies are particularly lethal, with the only known way to subvert it through electricity.
However, Danzo's Izanagi allows him to survive the Akatsuki member's trick, using his air bullets and Baku in order to knock his opponent out of the sky. Deidara may attempt a final explosion in order to take his enemy out with him, though it would only cost Danzo a single Sharingan in order to survive.
5 WOULD LOSE TO: Orochimaru As The One Responsible For Danzo's Arm
Superficially, Danzo and Orochimaru are evenly matched. The former's wind jutsu and summoning poses a serious threat against the latter's extending body, hidden blades, and the many snakes at his disposal.
However, the fallen Sannin is directly responsible for creating Shimura's Hashirama arm. Given his dubious and distrustful nature, it follows that should the two turn on each other, the scientist would have a precaution in disabling it or possibly even turning it against its user. Given how it turned into a massive tree when the Foundation leader lost control over his cells, his opponent may be able to trigger a similar effect prematurely.
4 COULD BEAT: Mu Who Is Lacking In Melee Ability
Lord Mu was a former Tsuchikage of the Stone Village and a man who had mastered the particle style disintegration. It was potent enough to defeat most targets and even cleave through Madara's famed Susanoo.
However, he lacks much of Onoki's melee abilities, and considering that Danzo could close the distance between them through his Baku, he would be ill-prepared for the Foundation leader's subsequent usage of a paralyzing rune. This would provide Danzo enough time to seal him, resulting in a comfortable victory.
3 WOULD LOSE TO: Hiruzen Sarutobi With His Agility & Help From Enma
The frequent subject of Danzo's machinations, Sarutobi has displayed the intelligence and foresight to avoid his friend's schemes time and again. Though he may not possess Shimura's Sharingan, he wields a vast number of jutsu and is a superior fighter to his comrade (as ascertained by Tobirama directly).
He is agile enough to dodge Danzo's air bullets and can exploit the Baku's weakness to fire if Danzo attempts to summon him. If he invokes Enma to assist him, it would turn an already bleak encounter into one the Foundation leader could not hope to win.
2 COULD BEAT: Shino Whose Bugs Would Be Destroyed Before Reaching Danzo
Shino's insects may target Danzo's chakra and deplete his ability to use the Izanagi, but it would be difficult for his bugs to find their prey without being destroyed before they could reach him. The Baku is could inhale any beetles that Shino attempted to deploy, significantly inhibiting his ability to use them.
Even if he had managed to smother Danzo's entire body, the villain could undo it through his Sharingan directly (since it does not require death in order to activate). It would simultaneously put him closer to his enemy, allowing him to capitalize on the young man's absence of weaponry poor taijutsu, cutting him down where he stood.
1 WOULD LOSE TO: Naruto
Succeeding just as well as Sasuke, Naruto has a number of means by which to defeat Danzo. His sage jutsu and mastery over Kurama's chakra both provide him impervious defensive measures, ones that Shimura would struggle to avoid (demonstrated through his frustrations against the Susanoo).
This would make it particularly difficult to target him, especially since the future Hokage's Uzumaki healing could nullify most of whatever damage he managed to inflict. A handful of Rasengan wielding shadow clones would defeat Danzo decisively on account of his unimpressive reflexes and mobility.