Kishimoto Confirms the Strongest Sharingan User — and It's Not Madara Uchiha
Madara Uchiha may be the fan-favorite Sharingan titan, but the true top wielder isn’t an Uchiha at all—it’s Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths.
Hot take that probably should not be a hot take: if we are talking pure Sharingan supremacy in Naruto, Madara is not number one. The actual top dog is not even an Uchiha. It is Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths.
Wait, the Uchiha GOAT is not the GOAT?
Madara Uchiha is the franchise poster child for terrifying eye hacks. Sasuke and Itachi are right there too, but Madara is usually treated as the peak of Uchiha power. The twist: once you start tracking where the Sharingan actually came from and who used it at the highest level, Madara is not the ceiling.
Where the Sharingan really started
The Sharingan traces back to Kaguya Otsutsuki. Her power passed to her son Hagoromo, then to his elder son Indra, and from Indra came the Uchiha line. In other words, the Uchiha did not invent the Sharingan; they inherited it.
Anime-only note, but still interesting: Hagoromo awakened his Sharingan after discovering the body of his love interest, Haori. From there, he eventually pushed it all the way to the Rinnegan. He also unlocked the Mangekyo Sharingan and could use Susanoo at a level said to be strong enough to challenge Kaguya and the Ten-Tails — the same monster power-up Madara needed to hang with the gods. Even though we barely see Hagoromo flex these specific Sharingan abilities on-screen or on-page, the intent is pretty clear: Kishimoto framed Hagoromo as the absolute apex Sharingan user.
What Hagoromo can actually do
Hagoromo is widely regarded as the most powerful figure in Naruto history besides his mother, Kaguya. He was the first human born with chakra and the first to truly grasp what chakra is. His reserves are absurd, and his chakra naturally developed into Yin–Yang Release.
Combining that power with his Kekkei Mora, he founded Ninshu — essentially the philosophical ancestor to ninjutsu. On top of that, he mastered all five elemental nature transformations (Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, Lightning). Visually, he is credited with having the strongest Susanoo in the series, manifested alongside his Mangekyo Sharingan. He is also believed to be the only person to fully master the Rinnegan, while commanding all five chakra natures. If you are keeping score, that is the full set.
So is Hagoromo the strongest Sharingan user?
If we are sticking to lineage, stated feats, and the way the story positions him, yeah — Hagoromo wears the crown. Madara is the most iconic Uchiha, but Hagoromo is the source and the ceiling.
The basics if you want to revisit Naruto
- Title: Naruto / Naruto: Shippuden
- Studio: Studio Pierrot
- Genre: Adventure, Martial Arts
- Release dates: October 3, 2002 (Naruto); February 15, 2007 (Naruto: Shippuden)
- IMDb ratings: 8.4/10 (Naruto), 8.7/10 (Shippuden)
- MAL ratings: 8.02/10 (Naruto), 8.28/10 (Shippuden)
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll (all episodes of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden)
Your turn
Agree that Hagoromo is the real strongest Sharingan user, or do you still ride for Madara? Drop your take — and receipts — in the comments.