NINKU: The Ultimate Power Level Guide! Who is the Strongest Among the Eto-nin?

Yo, NINKU fans! You guys know the drill—the high-octane battles between Fusuke, Toji, and Aicho are legendary. In the world of NINKU, where the legendary captains of the "Ninku Corps" and enemies who might even surpass them collide, the power scaling gets absolutely insane.

With so many specialized abilities and deadly ultimate techniques, the question "Who is the strongest?" is a constant debate on Reddit and beyond. Today, I'm deep-diving into the manga from the First Stage through the conclusion of the Second Stage. I've analyzed battle records, Feats, and direct statements to bring you the definitive Strongest character ranking TOP 20. Let's countdown to the top of the food chain!

NINKU: Strongest Character Ranking TOP 20

No. 20: Rihoko

Toji's younger sister and the heart of the early adventure. As a civilian with zero training in Ninku, her combat power is non-existent. She’s essentially a non-combatant, but her Lore significance is huge—she’s the main reason our heroes keep fighting. Still, on a power list, she’s sitting at the bottom.

No. 19: Shuga

A member of the Koshu Family with a total trash personality. He claims to be a Ninku user but mostly relies on a shuriken cannon. Fusuke clapped him effortlessly, and even his boss, Koshu, finished him off for being useless. He’s the literal floor for "active combatants."

No. 18: Matsumasa

The No. 2 of the Koshu Family and a former Ninku vice-captain assistant. He uses Snake-style Ninku and the "Ku-gen-ja" (Sky Phantom Snake) for high-speed strikes. However, Fusuke roasted him for being "terrible" and dropped him with a single punch. He’s better than the fodder, but he’s nowhere near the elite level.

No. 17: Hiroyuki

Toji's pet penguin. Don't let the cuteness fool you; this bird has serious raw strength and agility. While he doesn't have many big fights, his physical Feats are arguably higher than average humans or unskilled thugs. He’s the Goated mascot who can actually scrap.

No. 16: Pochi

A dog trained to guard the Ninku Village who can somehow talk. Being trained in the Ninku Village gives him a tactical edge over Hiroyuki. He’s a legit guard dog with actual combat training, putting him a step above the wild penguin.

No. 15: Koshu

A former 6th squad vice-captain and user of "Ku-dai-gen-ja." He went rogue after the war but got wrecked by Fusuke. Compared to Toji, his Snake-style skills are clearly second-rate. He has the base stats of a former officer, but he gets Power cliffed hard by the Eto-nin captains and the High Priests.

No. 14: Mimyo the High Priest

A monk from the Kozen sect. He uses a specialized technique called "Koten" to induce hypnosis and manipulate muscle density. He actually gave Fusuke a run for his money in their first encounter, exhausting both of them. His hax is strong, but his overall stats fall just short of the heavy hitters.

No. 13: Juko

A former 8th squad member who trained with the "Ninku Wolves" to reach Eto-nin levels. He kidnapped Rihoko and faced Fusuke before Aicho finished the job. He’s stated to be around Eto-nin level, meaning he has enough raw power to likely bulldoze through a priest's hypnosis, earning him this spot.

No. 12: Fuji

Mimyo's younger brother and a superior Koten user. He’s the strongest of the monks and even managed to corner Kozumi for a moment. However, he hit a brick wall against Rinkei’s steel body. He’s a threat, but there's a clear ceiling between him and the elite captains.

No. 11: Baku

One of the Ninku Wolf leaders and a former 2nd squad member. He manipulates the iron in his own blood to turn his body into a literal iron slab. He’s terrifyingly strong, but in the manga, Kozumi froze him solid before Genbu ended him. He can threaten an Eto-nin, but he lacks the final "boss" energy of a Captain.

No. 10: Suzaku

Another Ninku Wolf leader, formerly of the 1st squad. He fought almost on par with Aicho and actually cornered him in some scenes. He’s in the same tier as Baku, but making an elite Eto-nin sweat that hard earns him a spot in the Top 10.

No. 9: Shigure (The Dog)

Captain of the 11th squad, the "Inu-nin." He specializes in stealth and vocal manipulation. While his direct combat Feats are fewer, as an Eto-nin Captain, he scales above the Wolf Leaders. He’s a master of guerrilla warfare, though he lacks the raw destructive power of the frontline brawlers.

No. 8: Kokuro (The Boar)

Captain of the 12th squad, the "I-nin." A water manipulator who is basically a god in his element. He had a legendary clash with Mark of the Four Heavenly Kings. In water, he’s easily Top 3, but for general versatility across all terrains, he sits at 8.

No. 7: Seima (The Monkey)

Captain of the 9th squad, the "Saru-nin." He uses the "Ku-rai-sho" to manipulate lightning. His speed and offensive destruction are insane, evidenced by how he dismantled high-level bioweapons and the Heavenly King Meruki. He’s one of the fastest attackers in the corps.

No. 6: Midori (The Sheep)

Captain of the 8th squad, the "Hitsuji-nin." She’s a master of illusions and plants. She helped take down Meruki with a variety of tricky moves. Her "Ku-ke-bo" technique allows her to control memories and the mind—which is way more terrifying than raw physical power.

No. 5: Rinkei (The Ox)

Captain of the 2nd squad, the "Ushi-nin." This guy is a tank. He turns his entire body into steel and possesses monstrous strength. His defense is arguably the best in the series, often acting as the ultimate support for other Eto-nin. He's the guy you can't knock down.

No. 4: Yamabuki (The Rabbit)

Captain of the 4th squad, the "U-nin." As Rinkei’s daughter, she awakened to the power of light. She has insane speed-reading and clairvoyance, and her power spike toward the end of the manga was incredible. She’s an all-rounder who can scout, support, and nuke with light energy.

No. 3: Karu (The Tiger)

Captain of the 3rd squad, the "Tora-nin." He hears the spirits and controls their power. He soloed Hobe of the Four Heavenly Kings and was clutch in the final battle against Alex. His scale of power when channeled through spirits is on a completely different level compared to standard ninjutsu.

No. 2: Seishi

Reishu’s brother and a total monster whose power is said to surpass even his sibling. He protected the "Proof of Buddha" for 10 years in suspended animation. His strength is borderline "inhuman," and he completely overwhelmed Fusuke before our hero reached his final awakening. He’s a tier above the Eto-nin system.

No. 1: Fusuke (The Rat)

The Goated protagonist himself, Ne-nin Fusuke! When it comes to the Strongest character ranking, it has to be him. From the jump, he was taking down rogue captains, and by the end, he fully inherited the "Proof of Buddha." With mastery over air pressure, wind bullets, and the devastating "Ku-kyoran," he took down the ultimate threat, Doshu.

A Note on Doshu: Many fans argue Doshu is the strongest in terms of pure destruction and fire-power, and the manga even hints at it. However, Fusuke won that final showdown while burdened by his "No-Kill" vow. He broke Doshu's spirit without having to take his life. That peak growth and final victory seal Fusuke as the undisputed No. 1.

Conclusion: Fusuke is the Wind King!

So, what do you guys think? Fusuke taking the top spot after surpassing Doshu is the only way the story could end. The variety of abilities in NINKU makes the Power scaling a blast to analyze. If you haven't finished the manga, you definitely need to go see these Feats for yourself!

Unranked Sleepers: The Legendary Master Reishu

We can't talk power levels without mentioning Reishu. He’s the founder of the Ninku Corps and the master of both Fusuke and Doshu. In his prime, he’s a shoe-in for No. 1, but since he was defeated by Doshu mid-story (partly due to his role in passing the torch), he’s hard to rank among the current fighters. Pure skill-wise, he remains the peak of the verse.

Eto-nin Attribute & Ability Quick Reference

The Ninku Captains are all based on the Chinese Zodiac. Here’s a quick breakdown of their OP characters attributes:

Zodiac	Name	Attribute / Feature	Signature Move
Rat (Ne)	Fusuke	Wind / Acceleration	Ku-atsu-ken
Ox (Ushi)	Rinkei	Mineral / Steel Body	Ku-ko-sai
Tiger (Tora)	Karu	Spirit / Nature Voice	Ku-rei-dan
Rabbit (U)	Yamabuki	Light / Clarity	Ku-ko-dan
Dragon (Tatsu)	Doshu	Flame / Destruction	Fire Dragon
Snake (Mi)	Toji	Earth / Earthwork	Ku-shin-kyaku
Horse (Uma)	Kozumi	Ice / Freezing	Ku-hyo-dan
Sheep (Hitsuji)	Midori	Plant / Illusions	Ku-ke-bo
Monkey (Saru)	Seima	Lightning / Speed	Ku-rai-sho
Rooster (Tori)	Aicho	Sky / Kick Mastery	Ku-kyaku-ki
Dog (Inu)	Shigure	Wild / Animals	Voice Phantom
Boar (I)	Kokuro	Water / Underwater Combat	Ku-ryu-ha

Hypothetical: How Strong is Fusuke Without His Vow?

Fans often wonder—what if Fusuke stopped holding back? His air pressure punches are normally dialed down to just knock people out. If he let loose with lethal "Vacuum Waves," his range and speed would be almost impossible to block. Part of his strength is that he stays at the top of the Power scaling while choosing not to use his full lethality.