A sensei's ultimate goal is to train their students until they reach the point where they are able to handle themselves out in the world. Kakashi Hatake makes it clear that team unity makes the difference between life and death on missions, while Might Guy taught his team to never quit and always become stronger than they were the day before.
As this generation of ninja evolved, they pushed themselves to the best of their abilities and reached their highest points of growth. Even though most of the sensei in the series were able to express the same sentiment Asuma did to his students during the Fourth Ninja War – that there wasn't anything else he needed to teach them – that didn't mean they'd reached a point where they were stronger than their teachers.
10 Choji Received Encouragement From His Sensei But Couldn't Match His Strength
Choji is a kind and lighthearted individual who didn't take his training very seriously at first. He was more concerned with playing pranks and eating constantly. He never took the time to develop his family's kekkei genkai, which allowed him to turn calories into chakra, even though the Multi-Size Technique demonstrated by his father Choza is very effective. While Choji has used his abilities to aid his comrades in battle, the energy it takes for him to execute super moves illustrates that he hasn't obtained the same strength his mentor has.
9 Rin Never Had The Chance To Reach Her Full Potential
Rin was the student of one of the strongest shinobi in Konoha. She displayed speed, agility, taijutsu skills, and medical ninjutsu skills. Rin was very strong-willed; after being kidnapped she was placed under a genjutsu and tortured by her captors in order to get information from her, but Rin did not break and stayed silent until she was rescued.
When forced to become the Three-Tails jinchuriki, Rin sacrificed herself by putting herself in the pathway of her teammate Kakashi's Chidori attack. Rin's dedication to her team showed that she had the potential to become a strong kunoichi. While fans didn't get the chance to see exactly how she would grow, it's highly unlikely that she would have ever surpassed her sensei, the Fourth Hokage.
8 Orochimaru Couldn't Defeat His Master In Their Ultimate Showdown
Orochimaru devoted an enormous amount of time and energy to trying to extend his own life. In addition to gaining vast knowledge on chakra, medical ninjutsu, and genetic abilities, Orochimaru is an exceptionally strong shinobi. He is one of the legendary Sannin and has mastered several techniques too numerous to list.
Even with all that he's accomplished and the strength that he's acquired, he still was not able to overpower his sensei, Hiruzen Sarutobi. In their iconic battle, it was the Third Hokage's choice to give his life to prevent Orochimaru from using his arms, and years before this intense encounter, it was also his choice to let Orochimaru go. Hiruzen passed up many opportunities to take down Orochimaru, and if he had taken any of them, Orochimaru would've been defeated very early on.
7 Sakura Learned From Her Mentor Tsunade Senju But Limited Her Own Abilities
Sakura had the honor of being trained by the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure, Tsunade Senju. Upon completing her training, she learned to deliver deadly chakra-infused punches and became a skilled medical ninja. Still, being trained by Tsunade didn't put Sakura on the same level as one of the legendary Sannin. Since Sakura was distracted by her continued obsession with Sasuke Uchiha, she never put as much effort into her training as her peers. That being said, it would be difficult for even the most dedicated student to reach the same physical level as a teacher like Tsunade, let alone pass it.
6 Asuma Believed In Ino's Capabilities But That Wouldn't Be Enough To Overpower Asuma's Chakra Control
Ino learned a lot from her sensei Asuma Sarutobi. He pushed her to be the best version of herself and she became a respectably strong kunoichi. As she grew, she learned to overcome her fears and used her kekkei genkai in extraordinary ways. Even so, Ino doesn't have the same chakra control and strength as Asuma. Asuma's training as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja allowed him to manipulate his chakra to create techniques that summon spirits of protection, and Ino, while skilled, doesn't have techniques as strong as her sensei's.
5 Kakashi Became A Legendary Ninja But Even He Couldn't Beat The Yellow Flash
Kakashi Hatake has been a skilled ninja since his early days at the Academy. He mastered his Chidori attack as a chunin level ninja, and was often given the role of the leader whenever they were left alone without their sensei, Minato Namikaze. He's one of the strongest shinobi in Konoha, and is renowned throughout the Hidden Villages as the copycat ninja capable of recreating the techniques of his opponents. He's also mastered several elemental techniques. With all that Kakashi has accomplished as a prodigy turned legendary ninja and Hokage, he's definitely giving his former sensei a run for his money. However, his abilities have yet to surpass the Yellow Flash.
4 Kabuto Desperately Tried To Imitate Orochimaru But Couldn't Unlock All Of His Master's Secrets
As a former spy, Kabuto learned how to manipulate his opponents and gather intel for his master Orochimaru. Though it seemed as if he was just Orochimaru's footman, it turned out that Kabuto was quite skilled at combat, experienced in medical ninjutsu, and even capable of developing his own senjutsu. He later played a huge role in the Fourth Great Ninja War, controlling several reincarnated beings. With all of the advancements he's made, he still wasn't able to control or defeat Itachi Uchiha. In his last battle as a villain, when the peak of his abilities were shown, it was obvious they didn't measure up to Orochimaru's.
3 Hiruzen Sarutobi Became A Great Hokage But Still Couldn't Obtain The Immense Power His Sensei Had
Hiruzen has a long history in the village of Konoha. He was taught by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and eventually grew to be a respected sensei, leader, and Hokage in his own right. He defended the Leaf Village against Orochimaru's attack, and just like the Hokage before him, sacrificed his life to save his village.
Tobirama was able to teleport, use all nature transformations, and use genjutsu. He was a legendary figure regarded as one of the strongest shinobi in history. As strong as Hiruzen was, the strength Tobirama possessed is still considered to be unmatched.
2 Sasori Became A Feared Puppet Master But None Of His Techniques Overpowered His Grandmother
Sasori was a feared member of the Akatsuki, capable of turning his victims into puppets imbued with chakra. His puppet mastery almost claimed Kankuro's life as his puppets were laced with a special poison. One of his most memorable puppets unveiled the mystery of the missing Third Kazekage, who Sasori had killed and now controlled. Sasori had a one hundred puppet technique, special poison attacks, and control of the Third Kazekage's iron sand technique. Despite all the puppets he created, he was still unable to defeat his grandmother, Lady Chiyo.
1 No Amount Of Training Could Make Obito Stronger Than The Men Who Trained Him
Obito survived what was thought to be one of the saddest deaths in the series. He was a member of Team Minato and unleashed his Sharingan while out on a dangerous mission with his team. After his accident, he was rescued by Madara Uchiha, who manipulated Obito through his training. Obito grew up to create the Akatsuki and was responsible for countless deaths by the end of the series.
His most advantageous ability was his Sharingan Kamui, which allowed him to seem untouchable. However, with both Minato Namikaze and Madara Uchiha as mentors, Obito's chances of surpassing his sensei were always extremely thin.