Since its inception, the Naruto franchise has emphasized the importance of togetherness and teamwork. Shinobi are primarily seen in three-man squads that train and carry out missions together. Although Konohagakure, aka Hidden Leaf Village, mostly utilizes the system, other villages did not take long to implement it. While the method of selecting candidates has been unclear, the results have always been fantastic.
Each squad was created with a specific balance to compensate for the weaknesses of the other members. Throughout the entire series, there have been many phenomenal squads. The Hidden Leaf Village, in particular, has witnessed the emergence of some of the most powerful teams in the series. With that said, this article looks at the strongest three-man squads in the series.
Team 7
They are the strongest three-man squad in the entire Naruto franchise. Even in the beginning, the team’s potential was already evident. However, their instructor’s legendary copy ninja, Kakashi Hatake, was the cherry on top. Due to their unique circumstances, Naruto and Sasuke were able to become stronger at a steady pace throughout the series. Sakura took some time to become relevant.
However, after training under Tsunade, Sakura became arguably one of the strongest kunoichi in the series and the top medical ninja, surpassing her predecessor. Despite their initial constant bickering, the team showcased their teamwork in their fight against Kaguya Otsutsuki. The iconic team name was revered even after Naruto, as the name still commanded respect in the Boruto series.
The Legendary Sannin
Their name alone implies how revered this team is in the Naruto franchise. Despite being powerhouses individually, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade together were among the strongest forces the Hidden Leaf Village has ever seen. Tsunade revolutionized medical ninjutsu, while Orochimaru made several scientific breakthroughs. On the other hand, Jiraiya mastered the Sage jutsu and became an expert in espionage.
Their prominence was such that both Jiraiya and Tsunade were approached to become the fifth Hokage, which was later bestowed on the kunoichi. Even as they grew older, their feats continued to grow as each of them later went on to train the members of Team 7.
Team Guy
Team Guy, under the guidance of Might Guy, was the perfect combination of brains and brawn. It was led by the village’s leading Taijutsu expert and produced some of the greatest martial artists in the franchise.
Neji’s mastery of the Gentle Fist technique made him a force to be reckoned with among his peers. While Rock Lee went on to master the same Eight Inner Gates as his mentor, he was unmatched in terms of physical progress. Simultaneously, Tenten’s weapon mastery and intuition made her an asset to the team.
Ino-Shika- Cho
Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji are a memorable trio of shinobis in the Naruto franchise. Actually, they are more significant than that. The three are the sixteenth iteration of the Ino-Shika-Cho teams formed by their respective clans.
Unlike most teams, the Ino-Shika-Cho team is set in stone and is a testament to the friendship between the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans. Due to the numerous formations at their disposal, the Ino-Chika-Cho team is the strongest in terms of tactical prowess.
Team Minato
The iconic team was led by Minato, the fourth Hokage. The team consisted of Kakashi, Rin, and Obito. While Kakashi was constantly praised as a genius shinobi, Obito struggled to catch up with his fellow mates.
However, Kakashi’s inherent talents were shown in the heat of battle when he unlocked his Sharingan. Despite that, the team never reached its full potential after the incident on the Kannabi Bridge. However, fans later came to see strong Kakashi and Obito went on to be in the latter part of the Naruto franchise.