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As one of the strongest shinobi in existence, Naruto Uzumaki is the titular hero of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, as well a major supporting character in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. The Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village saved the world multiple times and earned his village's respect by possessing strength and talent that surpassed his peers.
Shonen Jump heroes are generally known for their ridiculous strength; however, One-Punch Man's Saitama is on a completely different level. Renowned for being able to end almost any fight in one punch, he just might be able to defeat Naruto — or any other shonen protagonist — in a one-on-one fight.
Updated on January 21, 2023 by Kennedy King: As both Boruto and One-Punch Man continue to push their narratives to new places, their most powerful heroes — Naruto and Saitama, respectively — steadfastly demonstrate their overwhelming strength. Few characters in any anime series could stand up to the pair, which naturally leads fans to draw comparisons between them. While an official crossover between the two may never happen, there is plenty of evidence to discuss their comparisons.
Signature Move
The Rasengan Defeats Numerous Major Villains
Through grueling efforts and training, a young Naruto mastered the Rasengan — an A-rank ninjutsu beyond the capabilities of most shinobi. The move is a spiraling ball of chakra that, when used on an opponent, causes devastating damage to their body.
As Naruto's signature move, the technique eventually evolved into the Rasenshuriken: a Rasengan infused with wind chakra that can be thrown and manipulated. Though impressive in its power, the Rasengan's main strength lies in versatility. Naruto can combine the Rasengan with his shadow clones for a multi-strike, augment it with Sage Mode, and combine it with the attacks of his allies.
Saitama's Normal Punch Levels Even The Strongest Opponents
Normal Punch is Saitama's go-to technique when faced with a threat, especially when he wants to end the fight quickly. The attack has defeated many seemingly overwhelming enemies, including Dragon-Level threats, which are monsters that are classified as being capable of wiping out entire cities.
Unlike most shonen attacks, the Normal Punch doesn't look like anything special — it's just a punch. However, what it lacks in flashiness, it more than makes up for with effectiveness.
Verdict: Tie
Although Normal Punch may be stronger, Naruto's mastery and creativity with the Rasengan just barely allow him to be evenly matched with Saitama in this category.
Strongest Move
Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken Harnesses The Power Of The Ten Tails
Naruto's strongest technique is almost certainly the Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken. This technique has only been used a single time during the series: in his fight against Kaguya Otsutsuki to save humanity. The technique involves Naruto creating eight shadow clones with his Bunshin-No-Jutsu technique, or clone technique, while in Six-Paths Sage form.
After entering Six-Paths Sage form, Naruto and his clones all create a Rasenshuriken — each imbued with the powers of a different tailed beast. After doing so, Naruto and his clones launch the technique at their foe, resulting in massive elemental destruction.
Serious Punch Could Split The Earth
Boros, the alien pirate who miraculously survived Saitama's Normal Punch, required a heavier hand in order to be defeated. During their fight, Saitama was forced to pull out a technique that he never thought would be necessary: the Serious Punch.
Despite looking the same as a Normal Punch, the Serious Punch is much more impactful. Aside from parting the clouds across the planet, the Serious Punch also split Boros's Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon, which almost took out the Earth, in half.
Verdict: Saitama Wins
Naruto barely scratched Kaguya with his ultimate technique, so despite its visual splendor, the Super Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken doesn't seem to be unfathomably powerful. On the other hand, Saitama's attack obliterated Boros, an otherworldly threat comparable to the level of Kaguya.
Most Impressive Feat
Naruto Takes Down Kaguya Otsutsuki
While on the brink of losing everyone they knew and loved, Naruto and the rest of Team 7 were able to defeat and seal away Kaguya Otsutsuki. Although Kaguya was stronger than any foe they had ever faced, Naruto and his allies overcame the progenitor of chakra herself.
With complete mastery over all five elemental chakras, the ability to absorb the technique and chakra of anyone she touches, regeneration, and nearly unlimited chakra, Kaguya posed a threat to the entire world. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of Naruto's Six-Paths Sage form, Sasuke, and Sakura, they were able to overcome Kaguya and save humanity.
Saitama Saves The World From Boros
Boros, a Dragon-turned-God-level threat to the entire world, knocked on Earth's door, seeking someone to satiate his desire for a worthy opponent. Even while wearing armor to seal his full strength, Boros was able to survive Saitama's normal punch, an accomplishment thought incomprehensible up to that point.
Despite Boros's immense strength, speed, regenerative abilities, and his Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon (capable of destroying planets), Saitama was still able to defeat Boros while in space. Boros even remarked that during the killing blow, Saitama still held back.
Verdict: Saitama
Kaguya and Boros could be argued to be on the same level of threat, and it required the combined efforts of Naruto and his closest allies to defeat the former. In contrast, Saitama didn't even seem to struggle when fighting Boros all by himself.
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Naruto's Taijutsu Is Extremely High-Level
Naruto is a prodigal student of Frog Kata, which is the fighting style he uses while in Sage Mode. Utilizing Senjutsu, or natural energies, Naruto is able to fight hand-to-hand with enhanced strength and stamina, as well as extend his strikes.
Though physically strong, Naruto's secret energy is his enigmatic nature. Known as the Ninja-Maverick, Naruto's approach to fighting is extremely creative, even for a Shinobi. He is known to have created solutions out of hopeless situations many times in his career, and this creativity is his greatest weapon in battle.
Saitama Uses Punches And Kicks To Defeat Galactic Threats
Saitama is peerless in combat without question. His speed far surpasses that of Speed O' Sound Sonic, who is one of the fastest characters in One-Punch Man, and in a sparring session with his self-appointed student Genos (an S-Rank hero), the android prodigy couldn't land a single strike.
Saitama is the perfect fighter, very rarely wasting movement, and when he executes, he is swift, often ending the fight before his opponent knows what is happening. Whereas most of his peers rely on over-the-top abilities when fighting, Saitama's simple skills somehow result in unbelievable power.
Verdict: Saitama
Though creative, Naruto's technique is nothing compared to Saitama's raw power and speed. For all Naruto's hand-to-hand prowess, the gap between him and Saitama in this department is unbelievably wide.
Overall Strength
Naruto Saves The Ninja World On A Regular Basis
Naruto's strongest form is his Six-Paths Sage form, which grants him near-unlimited chakra, access to his elemental ninjutsu techniques, and unparalleled movement and perception. In this form, not only are Naruto's techniques enhanced, but his physicality is as well. Being able to move at near-light speeds, Naruto's Six-Paths Sage form possesses the fastest movement of any character in his series.
Naruto regularly goes toe-to-toe with the like of characters like Madara Uchiha and the Otsutsuki clan, and his combat IQ is unbelievably high for his age. Taking these factors into account, he's one of the most well-rounded combatants in shonen history.
Saitama Effortlessly Defeats Anyone Placed In Front Of Him
Saitama is the strongest character in his own series without question, but there's a legitimate chance that he could defeat any other character in shonen history. He decimated scores for each physical test in the hero's association exam and has shown to be able to leap to the moon from Earth, as well as survive the vacuum of space.
The problem with measuring Saitama's combat capabilities is that no one has pushed him to his limit yet, and it seems that whenever a stronger threat emerges, Saitama simply overpowers them. Still, it seems clear that he could hold his own against the best that the universe has to offer.
Overall Winner
Saitama
Saitama has no power ceiling as of yet, and based on what he has shown in One-Punch Man's first two seasons, there is no reason to expect that he will anytime soon. Despite Naruto's impressive resume, he has demonstrated that he has clearly defined limits. This results in Saitama taking the final round, as well as the whole match.