Naruto's titular character goes through a lot of growth throughout his series. The number one hyperactive knuckle-headed ninja has a lot to learn, and this is what leads to many of his problems early on. In comparison, Sasuke, his friend, and rival is a prodigy who can master almost anything that is thrown at him. Naruto struggles for a long time as Sasuke constantly shows him up in missions.
However, Naruto perseveres, and as he learns and grows, his own skills and abilities begin to develop. Eventually, Naruto develops his own set of unique skills that differ greatly from Sasuke. Some of Naruto's greatest strengths come from his personality. Others develop along the way. Regardless of the way he obtains them, by the end of Naruto Shippuden, Naruto's skills he has learned and the battles he has won are huge accomplishments that show just how far he has come.
10 Use Kurama's Power
Naruto, being a Jinchuriki, has a special ability unique to him and his tailed beast: the many tails he can utilize in battle. While Sasuke can use his Cursed Form, Naruto is eventually able to use Kurama's power as he wishes. The ability to control Kurama and his own transformation manifest during his intense training with Killer B. This control gives him immense strength and speed, making fighting Naruto incredibly difficult and very dangerous for anyone who opposes him or Konoha. By learning to work with Kurama and maintain control, he gains an immense power that easily becomes one of Konoha's greatest weapons.
9 Maintain Bonds
Naruto is arguably the only person in his village whose ability to maintain his bond and feelings with people transcends time, events, and even betrayals. While Sasuke does everything he can to sever their bond, Naruto fights tooth and nail to preserve it. He dedicates several years of his life to finding Sasuke and bringing him home.
Naruto understands Sasuke's loneliness and anger more than anyone else, and it is precisely this that allows him to believe in Sasuke against all odds. In the end, Naruto's dedication to their bond trumps Sasuke's desire to destroy it.
8 Rasengan & Its Variations
Chakra control is a difficult concept for many ninja. For Naruto and Sasuke, it is something they need Sakura's help to develop. Yet, Naruto moves beyond this, becoming a master of his chakra to the point where he can utilize it in battle. Naruto's Rasengan attack uses his highly concentrated chakra to seriously injure his opponent (or blow up a water tower). While Sasuke has his Chidori attack, Naruto's Rasengan is a special ability belonging to only a select few ninja, and from this technique, he develops several other useful variations. Sasuke, despite having his own set of formidable abilities, is not able to harness this power.
7 Win Hinata's Heart
Although Sasuke is quite the ladies' man, whether he wants to or not, there is one girl he never won over: Hinata. Although Sasuke's skills are impressive, Hinata never showed an interest in him except when it benefitted Naruto, therefore caring by proxy. However, she has been interested in Naruto since the beginning of the series, eventually marrying him and having two children. Hinata cares for Naruto because of his unique characteristics, things that others overlook such as his earnestness, his perseverance, and his ambition. While Sasuke has many secret admirers in the village, Hinata was one heart that only Naruto could win.
6 His Six Paths Powers To Heal Instantly, Enter Six Paths Sage Mode, & Use Truth-Seeking Balls
When Naruto receives the Six Paths powers, he gains the ability to heal instantly, and can even regenerate organs and other body parts. He uses this to save Guy sensei's life during the Fourth Great Ninja War and to recover Kakashi's missing eye. Along with this, Naruto gains the ability to enter a Six Paths Sage Mode, which is far more powerful than any of his previous jutsu, is easier to maintain, and can be entered for longer than his previous Sage Mode.
Naruto also gains the ability to use Truth-Seeking Balls, which are extremely powerful concentrated forces that can decimate large areas. He freely uses these to attack, manipulating them into shapes such as a staff. Sasuke also gains Six Paths Powers, however, his are vastly different from Naruto's.
5 Producing & Maintaining Hundreds Of Shadow Clones
Shadow clones are durable, and using them is one of Naruto's most reliable tactics throughout both series. While there are many types of clones, shadow clones are very difficult to conjure. Naruto is not only able to learn the jutsu overnight, but he can also produce and maintain hundreds of shadow clones at a time with his boundless chakra. This tactic is useful in many fights, from shadow clones transforming into weapons, such as Naruto and Sasuke's combined attack on Zabuza, to dogpiling onto an enemy, to giving him a boost in the air. Naruto has ample use for this unique skill.
4 Sexy Jutsu
Naruto uses this jutsu several times throughout the series. The shock from seeing the transformation alone is enough to stop opponents in their tracks. However, Sasuke never uses this jutsu. Sasuke shows in episode one that he can use a transformation jutsu with no issues, but with his personality and values, transforming in this manner is simply not possible. With Sasuke's conservative personality, cold attitude, and serious nature, there is no way he could ever use such a tactic in a fight. With Naruto's carefree attitude and love for pranks, this jutsu is right up his alley, and he comes up with some very creative uses for it.
3 Summon Toads
Naruto goes to great lengths to gain his toad summons, and his efforts pay off when he gains the ability to summon multiple toads, each with their own unique skills. Naruto relies on this summon when fighting against large creatures, such as the Shukaku, or against multiple strong enemies such as the fight against Pain. He also uses this technique during the Fourth Great Ninja War to aid him in battle.
By summoning one or more of these creatures, Naruto gains allies that can help turn the tide in a fight. These same summons are also the ticket to Naruto learning how to use senjutsu, which he eventually masters.
2 Use Senjutsu
Naruto's contract with the toads eventually leads to him learning Senjutsu, a special type of Jutsu. Like his predecessor before him, Naruto learns how to harness the power of the natural world around him to fight. By taking in the energy around him, Naruto can enter his Sage Mode, a state that amplifies his power, reaction times, and ability to sense opponents and attacks. Although the training is long and difficult, this mode becomes extremely helpful in many of his fights going forward, including the fight against Pain. Sasuke may have the Rinnegan, but he is not able to use Senjutsu.
1 Lead A Village
By the series end, Naruto has proven why his positive attributes are so important in the ninja world. With his impressive skills and ability to bring people together, Naruto is a natural leader. Coupled with his dream of becoming Hokage, it is unsurprising that he becomes the next head of Konoha. Naruto's natural leadership skills contrast Sasuke's, creating a balance between the two characters. Naruto, who so naturally brings people together, is made to be a leader. Sasuke, who has always preferred to work alone, is unfit for this role. However, his power and loyalty make him a great right-hand man to the natural leader, Naruto.