In real life, ninjutsu is a Japanese martial art notable for users purportedly prioritizing stealth, camouflage, sabotage, and espionage over physical strength and honest combat. In Naruto, ninjutsu is joined by taijutsu and genjutsu as the techniques collectively known as jutsu. Practitioners of jutsu are known as ninja or shinobi.
Even though a destructive character like Chōji is technically a ninja, he doesn't seem to consider stealth in the jutsu he uses. There are many techniques used by the ninja in Naruto that are designed for espionage and assassination, but there are just as many that are far from subtle.
10 Stealthy: Shino’s Bugs Are Almost Unnoticeable
Shino is a member of the Aburame clan, meaning since he was born, his body has been a living hive for special bugs called Kikaichū. The Aburame clan uses these bugs to provide highly specialized techniques on ninja missions.
The Kikaichū can be used for practically any situation, but they are especially useful for covert operations and subterfuge. The bugs can spread across a large area, while appearing to be nothing more than wild insects, to gather and relay information on enemies or targets within the area. The bugs also carry the chakra of the host body while scattering, which can confuse enemy ninja who try to track the host by their chakra.
9 Not Stealthy: Sasuke's Chidori is As Loud & Bright as it is Powerful & Precise
The Chidori was a jutsu invented by Kakashi Hatake as a sort of electric counterpart to the wind-based Rasengan. The jutsu causes bright lightning to emit from the user's hands while the sparks of electricity supposedly make the sound of a thousand birds chirping.
Luckily, the Chidori is known to be incredibly quick and its effects do not linger. A skilled ninja would be able to use this technique for assassinations and escape before anyone shows up to investigate. Conversely, if the Chidori fails to defeat the opponent in one hit and a fight begins, the Chidori might have alerted everyone in the area that an assassin is close.
8 Stealthy: Shikamaru’s Shadow Possession Jutsu Is Nearly Perfect, If You're Smart
Shadow Possession jutsu allows the user to stretch their shadow until it connects with their target's shadow. Once the shadows touch, the user's actions will be mirrored by the target until the connection is severed. This jutsu can only be used as long as the user and target have visible shadows, causing it to be situational. Skilled users, like Shikamaru, have used the sun's position, fire, and other methods to create or increase the size of shadows.
This Jutsu is stealthy because it is entirely silent. As an attack, it isn't especially effective, but having teammates attack in Shikamaru's stead has proven effective, as shown with the Ino-Shika-Cho combination attacks.
7 Not Stealthy: Summoning giants like Gamabunta Should Be Naruto's Last Resort
Seeing awesome new animal summons was always a treat for Naruto fans. Some prominent summoned giants have been Gamabunta and his son, Gamakichi, as well as the unfortunate Manda and the mysterious Katsuyu.
Giant animals were used during some of the most important events in Naruto but were typically used to fight large threats like Tailed Beasts and other giant animals. There were also times, like Naruto being thrown into a pit by Jiraiya, when the giant animals were used to scale heights or travel long distances. Giant summons are typically the last resort, or at least circumstantial, and are not used when a ninja wants to remain unseen. It should probably stay that way.
6 Stealthy: Kakashi's Summoning Jutsu Is Incredibly Versatile
Regular summoned animals have proven to be more versatile than summoning giants. Smaller animal summons are also generally more useful for stealth and reconnaissance. A group of animal summons that proved to be especially helpful for normal ninja missions were Kakashi's Ninken. These eight talking ninja dogs used their speed and heightened senses to outperform humans in tracking operations. Being ninja themselves, Kakashi's dogs were also adept at stealth and combat when necessary.
Many other summoned animals assist their summoners just as Kakashi's dogs do, like various birds that scan entire battlefields. There are other jutsu, like Naruto's Shadow Clone jutsu, that let the user be in more than one area but without the specialization provided by summoned animals.
5 Not Stealthy: Subtlety Was Never A Consideration with Tailed Beast Transformations
Tailed Beast transformations throw subtlety away entirely in favor of pure destruction because stealth is never their purpose. The Jinchuruki who controls the tailed beasts, like summoners of giant animals, only use Tailed Beast transformations as a last resort or because of their lack of control.
The Jinchurukis tap into Tailed Beast chakra or even entirely transform into Tailed Beasts when their lives are threatened. These transformations are hundreds of feet tall, making them highly visible and highly imposing. Their size isn't even the least subtle thing about them since they often use an attack called the Tailed Beast Ball that explodes with the appearance of a nuclear blast.
4 Stealthy: Rock Lee's Taijutsu Is Only As Loud As He Wants It To Be
Taijutsu is simply hand-to-hand combat. Taijutsu can be more effective when combined with ninjutsu or weapons, but taijutsu can stand on its own without using any chakra. Rock Lee's fight against Gaara showed fans that ninjutsu was not the only way to be an effective fighter.
Since taijutsu is just the user making the most of their physical abilities, there is nothing inherently loud or flashy about it. When Rock Lee dropped his leg weights during the Chūnin Exams, he became faster than Gaara could perceive. Rock Lee's speed, strength, and training made him a silent, nearly invisible threat who could dismantle any unaware opponent with only his bare hands.
3 Not Stealthy: Susanoo Is The Uchiha Clan's Ultimate Ability
Susanoo users are lucky that its flames protect the user because they would not be hiding from anyone while using this ability. Susanoo is only available to members of the Uchiha Clan who witness the death of a loved one, which is a great cost. Susanoo is still an incredibly powerful technique that shields the user and fights on their behalf.
The Susanoo itself is a warrior inspired by a Shinto god of the same name. It is usually seen as just a torso in Naruto but the user can achieve new Susanoo forms through mastery, like a full human body with armor and even wings.
2 Stealthy: Mū’s Dustless Bewildering Cover Makes Him Completely Disappear
Many jutsu help the user remain unseen, but Dustless Bewildering Cover is a technique used by the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, that lets him turn completely invisible. The technique is so effective that it even hides his chakra, so there is no way to track him unless he briefly becomes visible to attack.
It took the combined efforts of Naruto, Onoki, and Gaara to defeat Mū. They only succeeded because they were able to watch each other's backs while waiting for Mū to strike and Mū would have likely defeated any of them if it were a one-on-one fight.
1 Not Stealthy: Madara's Tengai Shinsei Might Be The Least Subtle Jutsu Ever
Madara achieved many unbelievable feats during the Fourth Great Ninja War but the Tengai Shinsei meteors went beyond anything Naruto fans thought was possible. Normal ninja would not be capable of this Jutsu but Madara's strength was enhanced by his Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan. This powerful attack might only be feasible for Uchihas since Madara's Susanoo has to perform hand signs alongside Madara to use Tengai Shinsei.
This Jutsu is possibly the least subtle one in the entirety of Naruto but its wide range of destruction means witnessing it is a death sentence. In a morbid way, Tengai Shinsei is not stealthy but would still not give away the user's identity (if the user survives using it).