Naruto's complex ninja world introduces several unique clans. Many clans specialize in secret techniques that are taught and passed down the family line. Other clans carry rarer abilities known as Kekkei Genkai. Kekkei Genkai are inherited only by blood and DNA – or in some cases, transplants.
Due to these different qualities and traits across clans, shinobi with certain family names tend to hold prestigious positions and responsibilities based on their clans' power. A clan's name holds a lot of weight in the ninja world and often separates the elite from the weak. While each clan is strong in its own way, some clans are more powerful than others.
Updated on May 22nd, 2023 by Xandalee Joseph: The continuation of the shinobi world through Boruto: The Next Generations has given fans a closer look at some of their favorite clans. It's also allowed readers and viewers to speculate about new clans that may arise like the Ogata Clan from the original Japanese folklore, "The Talke of the Gallant Jiraiya." As such, we've updated this list with more information on the most powerful clans in the Naruto universe.
Inuzuka Clan
Fans are most familiar with this clan thanks to Kiba. He hasn’t been around much as an adult in Boruto, but his family is known for a very specialized skill. The Inuzukas raise ninken, which are ninja dogs.
Prominent Inuzuka Clan Members:
- Tsume Inuzuka, ninken: Kuromaru
- Hana Inuzuka, ninken triplets: Three Haimaru Brothers
- Kiba Inuzuka, ninken: Akamaru
- Akita Inuzuka, ninken: Chamaru
Ninken can partner with shinobi and perform jutsu on missions. Most members of the Inuzuka Clan have a ninken. Kiba's older sister, Hana, notably partners with ninken triplets, the Hairmaru Brothers, and his mother's ninken Kuromaru even talks.
Aburame Clan
Shino Aburame is the most notable member of the Aburame Clan. Shino makes up one-third of Team 8 alongside Kiba and Hinata Hyuga, making Team Kurenai an impressive unit with incredibly specific abilities. The Aburame Clan works with insects.
Prominent Aburame Clan Members:
- Shino Aburame
- Shibi Aburame
- Torune Aburame
They not only control insects with their jutsu, but they also create a symbiotic relationship with certain species of bugs that allow the bugs to share their chakra. With these special relationships, Aburame Clan members can use their insects to track other ninja, which makes them excellent at espionage. The insects' most deadly ability, however, is their ability to eat chakra and produce life-threatening poisons.
Kurama Clan
Though they share the same name, the Kurama clan, has nothing to do with the Nine-Tails. They are showcased in the anime as a clan with exceptional Genjutsu skills. The downside to this incredible ability to manipulate hallucinations is that the gift can be too powerful to control.
Prominent Kurama Clan Members:
- Murakumo Kurama
- Unkai Kurama
- Uroko Kurama
- Yakumo Kurama
If a clan member can't control their power, they can create Genjutsu uncontrollably. It is known that every few generations an overpowered Kurama Clan member is born with the ability to make their Gentjutsu real in the physical world, making whatever their victims experience real – even death.
Yamanaka Clan
The Yamanaka Clan makes up one-third of the traditional Ino-Shika-Cho trio. While the “Shika” and “Cho” parts of the trio are more about physical abilities, using shadows and strength to manipulate opponents, the “Ino” part of the trio uses the mind. The Yamanaka Clan is mainly known for using their minds to control their opponents by inhabiting their bodies, and communicating telepathically – but they can do much more than that.
Prominent Yamanaka Clan Members:
- Inoichi Yamanaka
- Ino Yamanaka
- Fū Yamanaka
- Inojin Yamanaka
As Ino's father demonstrated during Pain's assault, Yamanaka Clan members can also use the Mind Mody Disturbance technique. Unlike the Mind Transfer Jutsu, clan members can control multiple people at once and manipulate their bodies at will, forcing them to attack their teammates, all while staying in control of their original body. The Yamanaka Clan can also sense and track chakra. Yamanaka Clan members are typically in charge of security within the village. Ino is currently the head of Konoha's Barrier Team.
Nara Clan
The Nara clan is known for two things: high intelligence and shadow manipulation. Shikamaru Nara and his father Shikaku are two of the smartest minds to ever live in Konohagakure. The head of the Nara Clan sometimes serves as the advisor to the Hokage – Shikaku served as the advisor to the Third and Fourth Hokage, while Shikamaru serves as the advisor to the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki.
Prominent Nara Clan Members:
- Shikaku Nara
- Shikamaru Nara
- Shikadai Nara
The Nara Clan is most known for their Shadow Possession Jutsu, an ability that allows them to manipulate anyone's shadow. Once the jutsu makes contact, the individual or individuals are immobilized – they only move when the user does.
Akimichi Clan
While the Yamanaka Clan specializes in gathering intelligence and the Nara Clan specializes in tactical strategy, the Akimichi Clan is the main source of strength and offense in the famous Ino-Shika-Cho trio. The Akimichi Clan has a special ability – they can transform their calories into chakra. As a result, they can manipulate their bodies to perform powerful jutsu like the Human Bullet Tank, Expansion Jutsu, the incredible Butterfly Mode which grants the user chakra wings, and much more.
Prominent Akimichi Clan Members:
- Chōza Akimichi
- Choji Akimichi
- Chōchō Akimichi
Their physical strength is enhanced immensely through their chakra manipulation. They can push their bodies even further by using the Three Colored Pills. These pills use stored fat to give the user more chakra. These pills have a downside however, they risk poisoning and severe malnutrition.
Sand Village Clan
Although their actual clan name is unknown, Chiyo and Sasori come from the same family in Sunagakure and are two of the best puppet ninja in the Hidden Villages. Chiyo was the leader of the Puppet Brigade in the Sand Village. Sasori's parents were killed by Kakashi's father when he was young, and he was raised by his grandmother, Chiyo, who taught him the Puppet Technique.
Prominent Sand Members:
- Chiyo
- Sasori
- Kankuro
Puppet ninja manipulate puppets as an extension of themselves through chakra strings produced from the user's fingers. Sasori grew up to become a highly skilled and dangerous puppet master, he eventually turned himself into a puppet as well. He also killed the Third Kazekage and turned him into a puppet that could still use his most famous and dangerous jutsu, the Iron Sand. Though both of these users sadly perished, the Puppet Technique lives on in Kankurō.
Sarutobi Clan
The Sarutobi Clan has well-established roots and history in Konohagakure. From generation to generation, the Sarutobis use strong will and extensive chakra knowledge to continue to prosper and fight to protect their village. Though they don't have a specific Kekkei Genkai, members of the Sarutobi Clan have displayed impressive chakra prowess.
Prominent Sarutobi Clan Members:
- Hiruzen Sarutobi
- Asuma Sarutobi
- Konohamaru Sarutobi
- Mirai Sarutobi
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, possessed extraordinary ninja skills such as summoning the Shinigami used to enact the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. As one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, Asuma unlocked many ancient chakra techniques like the Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder. The Sarutobi Clan lives on with other elite ninja and future prospects like Konohamaru and Mirai.
Hatake Clan
Kakashi Hatake and his father Sakumo are the only two known members of the Hatake Clan. However, these two ninja alone are enough to make their clan one of the strongest. Kakashi was a child prodigy, graduating from the Ninja Academy at 5, passing the Chunin Exams at six, and becoming a Jōnin and team leader at 12. Kakashi later becomes the leader of Team 7 and the Sixth Hokage.
Prominent Hatake Clan Members:
- Sakumo "White Fang" Hatake
- Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi's aptitude for ninjutsu allowed him to master the Chidori and become adept at using the Sharigan which earned him his "copycat" ninja nickname. Sakumo was also a gifted shinobi known as the "White Fang" due to the White Light Chakra Sabre he used in battle. The White Fang also used kenjutsu, an ability that combines swordsmanship with the three main jutsu, Fūinjutsu, and chakra flow.
Hyūga Clan
The Hyuga Clan harbors the Byakugan. The Byakugan is not only a Kekkei Genkai, but also one of the strongest dojutsu out there along with the Rinnegan and Sharingan. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan has a connection to the Otsutsuki Clan, making them one of the most formidable clans in the shinobi world.
Prominent Hyuga Clan Members:
- Hiashi Hyuga
- Hizashi Hyuga
- Neji Hyuga
- Hinata Hyuga
- Hinabi Hyuga
Hyga Clan members receive the Byakugan at birth. Byakugan wielders can see almost everything surrounding them, and if they conquer their blind spot like Neji, they can obtain a 360-degree field of vision. The Byakugan allows its user to see through almost anything, they can even see chakra points which makes them difficult to defeat in battle. In addition to this famed dojutsu, Hyuga clan members are extremely proficient at taijutsu. Hygua members are taught several variations of the Eight Trigrams attack and different Gentle Fist moves.
Uzumaki Clan
Once a feared clan of Uzushiogakure for their immense chakra power, the Uzumaki were forced into disbandment after the destruction of their village. Scattered across the ninja world, the survivors of the Uzumaki grew up in different environments under different circumstances.
Prominent Uzumaki Clan Members:
- Nagato
- Naruto Uzumaki
- Kushina Uzumaki
- Karin Uzumaki
Naruto's mother, Kushina, moved to Konohagakure and was the designated Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails before Naruto's birth. Several Uzumaki clan members were selected to become Jinchūriki because of their unique chakra strength. Uzumaki Clan members can heal quickly and in some cases, like Karin, can heal others. They are also able to sense others through chakra and maintain excellent sealing abilities.
Uchiha Clan
The Uchiha Clan is known for its dojutsu, the Sharingan, and its stronger Mangekyo form. The Sharingan enhances the visual perception of the user and allows them to copy their opponent's movements. That gives them the upper hand in both defense and offense. Beyond the Sharingan, the Mangekyo Sharingan grants the user even more power such as Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi.
Prominent Uchiha Clan Members:
- Madara Uchiha
- Obito Uchiha
- Itachi Uchiha
- Sasuke Uchiha
- Shisui Uchiha
- Sarada Uchiha
The Uchiha's powerful dojutsu has led to some of the most important moments in shinobi history. Madara nearly conquered the entire shinobi world with his Double Rinnegan and Infinite Tsukuyomi, Itachi murdered the majority of the Uchiha Clan with his Mangekyo, and Sasuke earned himself a Rinnegan from the Sage of Six Paths to take down the destructive Kaguya Otsutsuki by teaming up with Naruto.
Senju Clan
The Senju Clan, along with the Uchiha Clan, was one of the founding clans of Konohagakure. Hashirama Senju is the First Hokage, and his brother Tobirama is the Second. Many years later, Hashirama's granddaughter, Tsunade, would revive the tradition and become the Fifth Hokage. Beyond the prestigious Hokage leadership role, Hashirama was one of the strongest shinobi to ever live.
Prominent Senju Clan Members:
- Hashirama Senju
- Tobirama Senju
- Tsunade Senju
He was so strong that he was always one step ahead of Madara, and his cells were highly sought after by many ninja including Orochimaru. Tobirama was also a genius who created the most sacred techniques like the Impure World Reincarnation and Shadow Clone Jutsu. The Senju Clan's Kekkei Genkai is the Wood Release Jutsu which is a nature transformation jutsu that uses the earth.
Otsutsuki Clan
The Otsutsuki are the main antagonistic force in the Boruto series. The existence of chakra and ninjutsu started with the Otsutsuki Clan. Kaguya Otsutsuki came to Earth to harvest chakra. She alone was able to stop wars and put the people of Earth in the Infinite Tsukuyomi with her Rinne Sharingan.
Prominent Otsutsuki Clan Members:
- Kaguya Ōtsutsuki
- Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki
- Hamura Ōtsutsuki
- Indra Ōtsutsuki
- Asura Ōtsutsuki
- Isshiki Ōtsutsuki
- Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki
Kaguya's sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, realized their mother's twisted sense of justice and used their combined power to seal her away. The Otsutsuki are also the ancestors of the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki clans. They are also responsible for creating the mighty Tailed Beasts. The Otsutsuki are alien-like beings that seek to plant God Trees on different planets and harvest the Chakra Fruit. Otsutsuki members are terrifying, ruthless, and remorseless creatures who do whatever is necessary to gain power.