Ranking of 10 Popular Kunoichi in Anime

Kunoichi, as portrayed in anime and popular culture, are often depicted as female ninjas who possess formidable combat skills. Their missions may require them to be ruthless killers, showing no mercy to their targets.

Some kunoichi in anime use the guise of an innocent woman to deceive their opponents and appear defenseless. However, others prefer a more direct approach and eliminate their targets without hesitation.

Finding a truly talented Kunoichi in the anime medium can be a challenge due to the versatile nature of their definition. As a result, this article has curated a list of the top 10 most popular Kunoichi in anime, ranging from those who may have slipped from fans’ memories to those who are still widely recognized and remembered today.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Ranking of 10 Kunoichi in Anime from Least Popular to Most Popular

Tsubaki – In the Hearts of Kunoichi Tsubaki

Tsubaki as seen in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

Tsubaki, the central protagonist of the Dog Squad and the series, is widely recognized as one of the most renowned kunoichi in anime. While she may have a more selective fanbase in terms of popularity, she remains a highly acclaimed kunoichi.

Tsubaki is renowned as one of the most formidable kunoichi in anime, possessing mastery over a vast array of jutsu techniques. Despite her formidable abilities, her story often delves into her fascination and attraction towards the opposite sex, a trait that is impossible for her to conceal from those around her.

Tsubaki – Soul Eater

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

Despite being able to transform into various ninja weapons, Tsubaki is renowned in the anime world for her exceptional skills and being the chosen weapon of the protagonist, Black Star. As one of the main protagonists of the series, she is also known as a highly skilled kunoichi.

As a highly skilled kunoichi in anime, she excels at both assassination and shapeshifting. However, her forgiving nature could be considered a vulnerability, as she is quick to forgive others for their actions.

Character Profile: Soifon from Bleach

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

Soifon, the captain of the second division of Soul Society and the successor of Yoruichi, is renowned as one of the most skilled kunoichi in anime. Despite being underestimated by her predecessor, she remains one of the strongest female characters in Bleach.

Despite her status as a shinobi, Soifon wields a powerful weapon known as a Zanpakuto. Her specific Zanpakuto, Suzumebachi, is adept at poison attacks, while her Bankai, Jakuhou Raikouben, is a concentrated surge of Reiatsu that can defeat even the most formidable foes.

Ayame Sarutobi – Character from Gintama

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

Ayame, one of the famous kunoichi in anime, has a crush on the protagonist, Gintoki. Her most notable characteristic is her poor eyesight, which often causes her to mistake people based on their appearances.

Despite her lively nature, she possesses a respectable set of skills such as shooting lasers from her eyes and transforming into an angel. While these abilities may not be typically associated with a kunoichi, she still embodies the spirit of a proud ninja.

Tsunade’s Character Development in Naruto

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

Despite her unconventional personality, Tsunade is widely recognized as one of the most renowned kunoichi in anime. Her willingness to risk everything on gambling, despite her lack of skill in the sport, only adds to her fame.

In addition, her position as one of the Legendary Sannin, along with Jiraiya and Orochimaru, solidifies her as one of the most formidable kunoichi in anime. Her expertise in medical jutsu is widely regarded as the most powerful in the Naruto universe, as she successfully healed the entire Hidden Leaf Village during the devastating Pain attack.

Shinobu – One Piece

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

Shinobu, one of the supporting characters in the Wano arc of One Piece, is widely recognized as one of the most renowned kunoichi from the land of Wano in anime. Her proficiency in ninjutsu and ninja techniques, coupled with her unique devil fruit abilities, solidify her position as one of the strongest kunoichi in the anime world.

During the Wano arc, she consumed the Ripe-Ripe devil fruit, granting her the power to rapidly age individuals into their advanced years. She used this ability to transform Mononosuke into a teenager, a crucial factor in Monkey D Luffy’s eventual victory over Kaido.

Yuzuriha and Hell’s Paradise

Yuzuriha as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Despite being a newly introduced kunoichi in anime, Yuzuriha of Keishu is already considered one of the strongest and most popular characters in the series.

Although she possesses the overall skillset of a kunoichi, what sets her apart is her unique ninjutsu technique known as Slime String. This technique involves secreting acid that has the ability to dissolve her opponent’s body into pieces.

Hinata Hyuga – Naruto

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

Despite starting off as a supporting character with a crush on the protagonist, Hinata Hyuga quickly became a fan-favorite and one of the most prominent kunoichi in the world of anime. Her heroic actions during the Pain arc propelled her to an iconic and powerful status, solidifying her as one of the strongest characters in the entire Naruto series.

Additionally, she is known for possessing one of Hidden Leaf Village’s most powerful doujutsu, the Byakugan. This grants her the ability to see through any hidden objects or illusions that are not visible to the human eye.

2) Yoruichi Shihouin as a Character in Bleach

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

Yoruichi, renowned for her intelligence, was the previous captain of the second division in Soul Society. She relinquished her position to join Keisuke Urahara on Earth, making her one of the most valuable assets to the Soul Society even after her departure.

Similar to Soifon, she also possessed a Zanpakuto during her time in Soul Society, although she rarely utilized it. It was also disclosed that she attained Bankai back then, but presently, she relies on her other techniques, solidifying her position as one of the most powerful female ninja.

Sakura Haruno – Naruto

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

Sakura Haruno is not only the highest-ranking female character in the Narutop99 poll but also one of the most well-known kunoichi in anime. As a successor to the Legendary Sannin Tsunade, she is considered one of the strongest characters in Naruto.

Despite having many impressive skills, such as exceptional chakra control, Sakura’s medical jutsu technique, taught to her by Tsunade, may even surpass that of her mentor. She has the potential to be considered one of the most powerful female characters in the world of anime.

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