Who is the smartest character?

[Im Still Robin]

Shikimaru is hands down one of the smartest people in the entire manga, if not the smartest.

People confuse his intelligence -- He is a strategist, not a quote on quote "Genius" in terms of Einstein for creating equations to benefit mankind.

However in the shinobi world he takes it hands down, I have yet to see someone who excels in his category. What Shikamaru does not excel is his power, that is what makes him so lack luster. Give Shikamaru an actual fighting chance, and he could singlehandily take down his opponent: Remember he can think up to what ... how many steps ahead again, 100(estimating might be wrong)? Or remember when Asuma said he could devise at least how many battle plans again to take down a single person?
What broke his character is Kishimoto, no one was proven to be as smart as him. Uchiha's get the most screen time and they are never displayed "unintelligent."

A lot of characters don't get to shine in this manga.

Blah, idc. He isn't that smart.

Little smart feats here and there don't make him close to the smartest.

 

[Narutohokage324]

Blah, idc. He isn't that smart.

Little smart feats here and there don't make him close to the smartest.

The manga tells us Shikmaru is a genius. To put it this way:

Sasuke/Madara analytical abilities are above the average normal shinobi.

Shikamaru on the other-hand will perform the same way, except at the same time he devised; Plans, strategies, and formulas to take down his opponent in further steps than a normal man could (Manga stated he had thought up to 1 - 100 ways to defeat a single person). Even with intelligence, no one in this manga lives up to that.

 

[Dannie]

Orochimaru and Sasuke

 

[SoulKiller]

Lord Aizen soloes.

 

[karl uchiha]

I think its Itachi.

 

[elitenoob94]

Shikamaru and Shino are the most intelligent in my opinion.

 

[YellowFang]

Highest tier of smart@$$es consists of,
- Minato
- Kakashi
- Tobirama
- Itachi

 

[KingHashirama]

Highest tier of smart@$$es consists of,
- Minato
- Kakashi
- Tobirama
- Itachi

Shikaku has more experience than Itachi and has better intelligence.

 

[Uzumaki Bolt]

1. Jiraiya
2. Minato
3. Tobirama
4. Itachi
5. Kakashi
6. Darui
7. Oonoki
8. Shikaku/Shikamaru
9. Sasuke
10. Neji/Shino

 

[Scryed]

Shikamaru is probably the best strategist unless he hasn't surpassed his father Shukaku.

Itachi has battle smarts.

Obito and Madara are good at long-term planning. (Apparently BZ too or Kaguya if she actually did intruct BZ on what to do)

Hagoromo is wise.

I guess.

 

[Ken Kaneki]

1) Black Zetsu
2) Kakshi
3) Madara
4) Obi to
5) Itachi
6) Mianto
7) Tobirama
8) Orochimaru
9) Tsunade
10) Shikaku
Shikamaru lacks feats

 

[Chazzi]

Itachi is at least a few tiers above the rest.

 

[1Told]

Shikamaru and Orochimaru.

 

[DroGGz0r]

Not any particular order:

Madara
Itachi
Shikamaru
Minato
Tobirama
Sasuke
Kakashi
Orochimaru
Neji

 

[Kaguya Rabbit Goddess]

Madara and Minato

 

[BlacLord™]

In no particular order...

Tobirama (all-rounder)
Minato (battle strategy)
Shikaku (Overall cognitive ability)
Shikamaru (Overall cognitive ability)
Itachi (all-rounder)
Sasuke (all-rounder)
Kakashi (all-rounder)
Sakura (Memory/booksmart)

 

[Xāvî1]

Honestly its shikamaru

 

[Ansatsuken]

1. Uchiha Madara
2. Senju Tobirama

 

[maniaoqan]

Kakashi. He is great analyzer. He thinks fast on his feet.

 

[Ambivalence]

Classifying them according to their specialties (examples only):

-Grandmaster planning - Madara, Black Zetsu
-Future prediction and wisdom - Itachi
-Manipulation - Tobi
-Analyzation of opponent's abilities - Shikamaru, Sasuke, Tobirama
-Battle strategy - Shikaku, Kakashi
-Overall knowledge on the world/jutsus - Orochimaru, Kabuto