10 best Kunoichi in anime, ranked from least to most popular

Kunoichi in anime and popular culture are often portrayed as female ninjas. These women can be ruthless killers who won't spare anyone if they are given a mission to assassinate them.

Sometimes, these assassins take the demeanor of an innocent woman to fool their opponent into thinking that they are defenseless, only to get close and eliminate the opponent in this way. On the other hand, some kunoichi in anime don't like to take the roundabout way and just straight away go and kill their targets.

The definition of a Kunoichi is very versatile, making it hard to find such talent in the anime medium. So, this article will compile 10 of best Kunoichi in anime, starting from the ones that are present in the back of fans' minds to the ones that fans still remember to this day.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this article solely belong to the author.

Top 10 best ranked Kunoichi in anime including Tsunade and Yoruichi

10) Tsubaki - In the Hearts of Kunoichi Tsubaki

Tsubaki, as seen in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

The leader of the Dog Squad and the central protagonist of the series, Tsubaki, is one of the most famous kunoichi in anime. Although she has a selective fandom when it comes to her popularity, she is still one of the famous kunoichi.

Tsubaki is also one of the strongest kunoichi in anime, having a proper hand in any kind of jutsu technique. However, her storyline often explores her curiosity and interest in the opposite gender, which can never be hidden from others.

9) Tsubaki - Soul Eater

Tsubaki Nakatsukasa, as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Tsubaki is one of the main protagonists of the series and the assigned weapon of the protagonist, Black Star. Despite having the capability to transform into any ninja weapon, Tsubaki is also one of the most famous kunoichi in anime due to her unique skillset of technique.

Being one of the strongest kunoichi in anime, she is adept in the art of assassination and transformation into anyone. Her only weakness could be her forgiving personality, as she tends to forgive anyone for any act.

8) Soifon - Bleach

Soifon, as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The captain of the second division of Soul Society and the successor of Yoruichi, Soifon, is one of the most famous kunoichi in anime. She is often underestimated by her predecessor, but she is still one of the strongest female characters in Bleach.

Despite being a shinobi, Soifon also possesses the crown jewel of a swordsman, the Zanpakuto Her Zanpakuto, Suzumebachi, is closely related to poison attacks, and her Bankai, Jakuhou Raikouben, is a concentrated blast of Reiatsu capable of taking down the strongest enemies.

7) Ayame Sarutobi - Gintama

Ayame Sarutobi, as seen in the anime (Image via Sunrise)

The woman who has a crush on the protagonist Gintoki, Ayame, is one of the famous kunoichi in anime. Her most prominent feature is her weak eyesight, which makes her sight so bad that she mistakes people on their appearances.

Despite being high-spirited, she does have a decent skillset of techniques like shooting lasers from her eyes and transforming into an angel. Although these abilities may not generally be considered that of a kunoichi, she still qualifies as a proud ninja.

6) Tsunade - Naruto

Tsunade as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Tsunade is one of the most famous kunoichi in anime due to her peculiar personality. She is willing to bet her life's worth on gambling, even though this is the only sport she is bad at.

Moreover, what makes her one of the strongest kunoichi in anime is her status as one of the Legendary Sannin, alongside Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Her medical jutsu technique is, arguably, the most potent one in Naruto, as she single-handedly healed the entirety of the Hidden Leaf Village during the Pain attack.

5) Shinobu - One Piece

Shinobu, as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One of the most famous kunoichi in anime from the land of Wano, Shinobu is one of the supporting characters of the Wano arc from One Piece. What makes her one of the strongest kunoichi in anime, despite her mastery of ninjutsu and ninja techniques, is her devil fruit powers.

She ate the Ripe-Ripe devil fruit, which gives her the ability to mature anyone into their old age. She aged Mononosuke to a teenager during the Wano arc, which later became a key to the defeat of Kaido at the hands of Monkey D Luffy.

4) Yuzuriha - Hell's Paradise

Yuzuriha, as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

One of the strongest kunoichi, also referred to as Yuzuriha of Keishu, she is a newly introduced kunoichi in anime. But despite her new arrival, she is among the most popular kunoichi in anime.

She has the general skillset of a kunoichi, but what differentiates her is her ninjutsu technique, Slime String. This technique secretes acid that can dissolve her opponent's body and reduce it to pieces.

3) Hinata Hyuga - Naruto

Hinata Hyuga, as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Hinata Hyuga is among the fan-favorite characters from Naruto and is also one of the most famous kunoichi in anime. Her journey started off as a supporting character who had feelings for the protagonist, but after the Pain arc, her heroic acts made her one of the strongest characters in the series.

She also possesses one of the strongest doujutsu in Hidden Leaf Village, the Byakugan. This gives her a penetrative vision that can see anything hidden from the plain view of humans.

2) Yoruichi Shihouin- Bleach

Yoruichi, as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Yoruichi is the former captain of the second division of Soul Society before Soifon, who abandoned her rank to work with Keisuke Urahara on Earth. Known for her intelligence, she was one of the most valuable assets to the Soul Society.

Just like Soifon, she also possessed a Zanpakuto during her time in Soul Society, but she hardly ever used it. It was also revealed that she achieved Bankai during her time in Soul Society, but in the current time, she relies on her other techniques, which make her one of the strongest kunoichi.

1) Sakura Haruno - Naruto

Sakura Haruno, as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The highest-ranking female character in the Narutop99 poll and the most famous kunoichi in anime, Sakura Haruno is one of the strongest characters in Naruto and the successor of the Legendary Sannin Tsunade.

Among her many abilities, including chakra control, her medical jutsu technique, which she learned from Tsunade, could even be greater than her master. Sakura could rank among the strongest female characters in anime.

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Edited by Gayatri Chivukula