The Edo Tensei was a ritual in the Naruto universe invented by Tobirama Senju. It was able to bring the dead back to life and make their bodies effectively indestructible against most conventional means.

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While introduced during Orochimaru's attack on Konoha, the Edo Tensei played a much more prominent role in the Fourth Great Ninja War. The strongest ninja in history were resurrected to do battle against one another on both sides of the conflict.

10 Deidara

Deidara Smiling As He Detonates C4 Against Sasuke Uchiha in Naruto: Shippuden

Once a proud member of the Akatsuki, Deidara was among the few of Obito's former comrades impressed into Kabuto's service. He possessed all the strength of his previous life and the versatility his clay sculptures afforded.

While his explosions may not be insurmountably lethal against resilient targets, he can dice his creations into microscopic charges and weave them into his enemies' skin. When detonated from the inside, it is virtually impossible to survive them without lightning skills (such as Sasuke's chidori) that are capable of disarming the bomb.

9 Mu

Mu trying to use Dust Release

Mu possessed the power of the particle style, a jutsu frequently practiced by Onoki and a favorite among the many Tsuchikage of the Stone Village. It allowed him to concentrate a brilliant beam of light against his opponents, one that would evaporate anything caught within it.

As a result, it could compromise targets even as durable as Madara's Susanoo if it successfully connects. This made him a deadly adversary to face since he could kill the Allied Shinobi Forces' most talented warriors in a single targeted hit. Fortunately, Onoki was able to defeat him before he had unleashed considerable havoc.

8 The Third Raikage

A The Third Raikage one of the strongest Raikage

The Third Raikage shared much of the power, speed, and vitality of his descendant. Capable of rushing at lightning speed and delivering staggeringly devastating blows, he was among the most physically capable of Kabuto's forces.

He was one of the few threats to require Naruto's direct attention in order to defeat (unlike the other raised ninja, who were mostly manageable through the ability of his allies). This spoke to his outstanding combat prowess, especially since his aggressive, melee oriented combat style had only been enhanced through his immortal new body.

7 Tobirama

Tobirama Senju second Hokage smiling in Naruto

Tobirama was the second Hokage of the Leaf village and who had experienced the Edo Tensei twice (especially ironic, given that he was its inventor). A natural genius at jutsu, he had also invented shadow clones, a skill which Naruto had employed throughout his journeys.

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Most frequently, Tobirama uses water-based attacks in order to apprehend his opponents. His physical skill enabled him to fight (albeit briefly) against Madara, demonstrating how the many campaigns he had fought in served him well. He balances versatile jutsu with decades of experience in order to be one of the most formidable warriors of the Fourth Shinobi War.

6 Nagato

Nagato Uzumaki Has Large Reserves Of Chakra

In life, Nagato had distributed his paths of pain to six different vessels, puppeteering them in order to make for a one man fighting force. After his resurrection, all of his powers were concentrated into a single body, arguably making him even deadlier than before.

He was able to employ his jutsu with fluency against Naruto and Killer Bee alongside Itachi, being one of the only shinobi capable of facing down two Jinchuriki (especially considering the reluctance of his ally). This evinces that death has not curbed his immense skill as a ninja.

5 Itachi

Itachi breaks himself out of kabuto's edo tensei with a black crow on his shoulder

Fiercely intelligent and perhaps the greatest genjutsu user to have ever lived, Itachi was the only Edo Tensei resurrection not only to have resisted his master's programming but to have also changed sides through his own free will.

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Despite the massive strides Kabuto had made in his jutsu since the original series, he was able to outsmart him, trapping the scientist within the humbling prison of the Izanami. He would say his final goodbyes to Sasuke shortly after, but they did little to quell the rage in his younger brother's heart.

4 Hiruzen Sarutobi

Hiruzen Sarutobi Naruto

Once considered the greatest shinobi of his time, Hiruzen was capable of dealing with Hashirama, Tobirama, and Orochimaru simultaneously. Like the second Hokage, he had an enormous number of jutsu at his disposal, but was an even more effective melee fighter through the power of the staff he carried with him.

In death, Sarutobi was equally ready to defend the Leaf from Madara's invasion and was instrumental in protecting the Allied Shinobi Forces. Through his service, he proved that his will of fire burned even from beyond the grave.

3 Minato

minato namikaze

Minato was considered the fastest shinobi alive at the time, surpassing even the Fourth Raikage's legendary speed. He did this through laying tags across any surface that he could emerge from at a whim.

As a result, he was one of the most capable Hokage to defy Madara, especially since he was equipped to evade his attacks. Although he would lose an arm during the melee, he imbued Naruto with a gift that would ensure the victory of his allies – the second half of Kurama's chakra that had presumably died with him.

2 Hashirama Senju

Hashirama Senju Death

Considered the God of Shinobi and possessing one of the strongest Kekkei Genkai in existence, Hashirama was the only ninja to not only have confronted Madara in the past, but also to have defeated him (in spite of Kurama's assistance).

Though he would pose an admirable threat to the fallen Uchiha in death, he would ultimately be unable to withstand his former friend's onslaught. As a consequence, he depleted much of the first Hokage's chakra and took it as his own, rendering him an even more serious threat against Naruto and Sasuke. Nonetheless, he remains one of the Leaf's most powerful champions, especially evinced through the versatility dormant in his coveted cells.

1 Madara Uchiha

Madara absorbing Naruto's rasenshuriken with his rinnegan in Naruto.

Madara Uchiha's strength decisively eclipsed everyone else's. Directly after his rebirth, he dominated an entire army of shinobi by himself and had only grown stronger ever since.

His body made it so that ninjutsu was not particularly effective on him and was capable of healing from the damage taijutsu might inflict. Should Black Zetsu not have betrayed the man in the final hour, it would be uncertain whether or not Naruto and Sasuke could have defeated him even with their combined effort in staunching his vision.

NEXT: Naruto: 5 Ways Madara Was Right To Betray The Leaf (& 5 He Wasn't)