Naruto Shippuden: Top 5 fights where the stronger shinobi lost after their opponents discovered one weakness that completely changed the battle

Naruto: Shippuden is full of battles where power alone does not decide the winner. Some shinobi have better abilities, greater experience, or seemingly impossible advantages, yet still end up on the losing side because their opponent finds the right opening. That is what makes these fights so memorable.

From Shikamaru turning Hidan's immortality into a weakness to Naruto using the Third Raikage's own attack against him, these battles are less about simply overpowering an enemy and more about finding the one thing that can bring them down.

Kisame was one of the most dangerous close-range fighters in the Akatsuki. His enormous chakra reserves earned him the nickname "Tailless Tailed Beast", while Samehada could absorb chakra and replenish its wielder. Against most shinobi, that combination could completely change the course of a fight.

Guy, however, was a terrible matchup for him. The battle eventually forced Guy to open the Seventh Gate and use Daytime Tiger, an attack based on compressed air pressure rather than a conventional chakra blast. That was important because Kisame's Great Shark Bullet could absorb chakra-based attacks, but it could not simply swallow Guy's physical attack. The Daytime Tiger overwhelmed Kisame, leaving him defeated. Kisame had the more dangerous toolkit for many opponents, but Guy's taijutsu-heavy fighting style removed one of his biggest advantages.

Sasori had almost everything going for him in this fight. He was an experienced Akatsuki member, had transformed himself into a human puppet, and could fight through an enormous collection of puppets. His use of the Third Kazekage puppet and Iron Sand made the battle even more difficult for Sakura and Chiyo.

Sakura and Chiyo survived because they were unusually well prepared for him. Chiyo's knowledge of puppet techniques allowed her to understand Sasori's movements, while Sakura's medical training helped her deal with his poison. They eventually survived the Hundred Puppets and reached Sasori's core, but there is an important twist to the victory. Chiyo later realised that Sasori had read her final attack and apparently chose not to dodge it. Sasori had the superior individual arsenal, but Chiyo's experience, Sakura's preparation and their teamwork gave them the tools to overcome him.

The Third Raikage was not an opponent Naruto could simply overpower. His Lightning Release Chakra Mode gave him an almost absurd level of durability, while his Hell Stab could pierce targets that other attacks could barely scratch. Even the Allied Shinobi Forces struggled to find a way through his defence.

Naruto eventually noticed the key detail: the Raikage had a scar that came from his own attack. Once Naruto understood that the Third Raikage's strongest weapon could also penetrate his own body, he used Sage Mode and redirected the One Finger Hell Stab back into him. The Raikage was ultimately injured by his own technique and could then be sealed. He did not beat the Third Raikage through superior strength. He solved the fight like a puzzle and turned the Raikage's greatest weapon against him.

In a straight fight, Shikamaru had little business beating Hidan. The Akatsuki member was physically stronger, possessed a bizarre form of immortality and could use his Jashin ritual to transfer injuries from himself to his opponent. Once Hidan obtained someone's blood, the fight could become deadly very quickly.

Shikamaru knew that trying to beat Hidan at his own game would be pointless. After studying the ritual, he separated Hidan from Kakuzu and led him into the Nara clan forest, where he had already prepared a trap. Shikamaru ultimately blew Hidan apart and buried him deep underground, leaving the immortal shinobi unable to return to the battlefield. He realised he did not have to kill Hidan. He only had to make sure Hidan could never fight him again.

On paper, Itachi should have been the favourite. He had years of experience over Sasuke, possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan and had access to techniques such as Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu and Susanoo. His Susanoo also carried the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror, giving him both an incredibly dangerous weapon and formidable defence.

But this was never a normal fight between two brothers trying to kill each other. Itachi was already seriously ill and was deliberately pushing himself towards the end of his life. He used the battle to remove Orochimaru's presence from Sasuke, test his brother, and ultimately allow Sasuke to believe he had achieved his revenge. By the time Itachi reached Sasuke, his body was failing, and he collapsed after touching his brother's forehead. Sasuke technically won, but Itachi's objective was never to walk away victorious. His physical condition and his decision to let Sasuke have the victory completely changed the meaning of the battle.