Any anime fan knows it’s hard not to dream up amazing crossover battles between the likes of Luffy, Naruto, Ichigo, and all their allies & villains.

Naruto, Gear 5 Luffy, and Ichigo

Just about every shonen action anime is filled to the brimg with exciting fights for fans to watch, from Luffy’s showdown with Kaido in One Piece, to Naruto’s legendary battle against Pain, and Ichigo Kurosaki’s grudge match against Grimmjow Jeagerjaques in Bleach. When fans are caught up in all the action, their imagination will naturally take over and go wild, picturing new matchups between their favorites to see what would happen in all-new fights. This naturally extends to crossover fights between major series like the shonen big three.

In many ways, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach are counterparts as shonen giants, and their characters are all roughly on par with one another as far as power levels go. It’s easy to dream up crossover battles between the likes of Luffy, Naruto, Ichigo, and all their allies & villains. Most likely, the heroes of these series would actually get along quite well if they somehow ever met, but if they and their fellow cast members were destined to fight, it’s hard not to pair certain characters against each other in battles that would surely make any anime fan shake with excitement.

10Naruto Uzumaki vs Monkey D. Luffy is a Shonen Showdown Everyone Wants to See

Naruto Uzumaki boldly returns with new power in Naruto Shippuden Naruto prepares to throw a Rasengan in Naruto anime luffy holds his thumb up to his mouth luffy bares his teeth while using snakeman formNaruto Uzumaki boldly returns with new power in Naruto Shippuden Naruto prepares to throw a Rasengan in Naruto anime luffy holds his thumb up to his mouth luffy bares his teeth while using snakeman form

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Naruto Uzumaki
Rasengan, Shadow Clone jutsu, biju cloak
Junko Takeuchi
Maile Flanagan

Monkey D. Luffy
Gears 2-5, Haki
Mayumi Tanaka
Colleen Clinkenbeard

The hypothetical battle between Naruto and Luffy is one of the anime fandom’s most popular matchups, aside from Goku vs Saitama from Dragon Ball and One Punch Man respectively. Naruto Uzumaki and Monkey D. Luffy are both hugely popular characters and are quite similar as energetic, Goku-inspired shonen superstars. Both of them are colorful heroes with dazzling powers of all kinds, and they only grow stronger throughout the course of their series.

Naruto’s best assets are his various jutsu and the sheer power of Kurama, which would help him stand up to Luffy’s strongest techniques, those being Gear 4 and the more recently acquired Gear 5. If Naruto goes all-out with his biku cloak, then Luffy would need Gear 5’s full strength with toon force to show Kurama that cartoon physics can stand up to a legendary monster. Naruto may have the edge on a good day, but Gear 5 Luffy is a force to be reckoned with.

9Ichigo Kurosaki vs Naruto Uzumaki is a Battle of Half-Other Heroes

Key art from Season 2 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War features Ichigo Kurosaki ichigo kurosaki has a partial hollow mask on Naruto Uzumaki holding chopsticks and winking in Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki holds a scroll in his mouth and casts hand signs for jutsuKey art from Season 2 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War features Ichigo Kurosaki ichigo kurosaki has a partial hollow mask on Naruto Uzumaki holding chopsticks and winking in Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki holds a scroll in his mouth and casts hand signs for jutsu

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Ichigo Kurosaki
Tensa Zangetsu, Hollow mask, Getsuga Tensho
Masakazu Morita

Johnny Yong Bosch

Naruto Uzumaki
Rasengan, Shadow Clone jutsu, biju cloak
Junko Takeuchi
Maile Flanagan

At a glance, Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach is nothing like Naruto. Ichigo is a tsundere punk with a sword and black robes, contrasting sharply with Naruto’s orange outfit and himbo-esque personality, but they do have one key similarity as shonen leads — each of them embodies the half-other anime trope. Ichigo is a “jinchuriki” for his powerful inner Hollow, a bloodthirsty beast driven by instinct.

Ichigo may not have a Tailed Beast’s power, but his inherited Hollow and Soul Reaper powers are formidable, and he is much faster than Naruto can handle. When Ichigo blends his Soul Reaper and Hollow powers with his bankai, he becomes nigh-unstoppable, though Naruto’s full biju cloak could definitely stand up to it. Ichigo vs Naruto would be a showdown to see whether a sharp blade or a souped-up Rasengan is the stronger shonen weapon – and it could honestly go either way.

8Monkey D. Luffy vs Ichigo Kurosaki Is a Contrast of Serious and Silly

luffy holds his thumb up to his mouth Luffy is falling happily from the sky in One Piece Ichigo Kurosaki makes a decision in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Ichigo Kurosaki has his zanpakuto in the Bleach anime.luffy holds his thumb up to his mouth Luffy is falling happily from the sky in One Piece Ichigo Kurosaki makes a decision in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Ichigo Kurosaki has his zanpakuto in the Bleach anime.

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Monkey D. Luffy
Gears 2-5, Haki
Mayumi Tanaka
Colleen Clinkenbeard

Ichigo Kurosaki
Tensa Zangetsu, Hollow mask, Getsuga Tensho
Masakazu Morita
Johnny Yong Bosch

Shonen fans want to see every combination of the big three’s main characters fighting one another, so that only leaves the Luffy/Ichigo matchup. Ichigo Kurosaki has even less in common with Luffy than he does with Naruto, since Luffy has no half-other powers and is a loud goofball with big dreams that Ichigo can’t relate to.

As for their own battle, Ichigo and Luffy would entertain viewers with their sheer contrast, since Luffy favors blunt attacks with his various Gears while Ichigo uses precise cutting attacks with his bankai. Sharp vs blunt is a classic contrast, and what’s more, Ichigo’s final forms make him more serious, while Luffy’s transformation into Gear 5 makes him goofy, subversive, and incredibly powerful. The fight will come down to whether or not Ichigo’s slices can cut through Luffy’s rubber body.

7Sosuke Aizen vs Madara Uchiha Would be a Showdown of Shonen Supervillains

Sosuke Aizen is talking while a purple line glows behind him in Bleach Sosuke Aizen looks smug and triumphant in Bleach anime Madara stares ominously in Naruto. Madara during the War Arc of Naruto Shippuden.Sosuke Aizen is talking while a purple line glows behind him in Bleach Sosuke Aizen looks smug and triumphant in Bleach anime Madara stares ominously in Naruto. Madara during the War Arc of Naruto Shippuden.

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Sosuke Aizen
Kyoka Suigetsu, various kido
Sho Hayami
Kyle Hebert

Madara Uchiha
Mangekyo Sharingan, Rinnegan, Gunbai
Naoya Uchida
Neil Kaplan

Anime fans always want to know what would happen if the strongest villains were pitted against one another, using the full extent of their powers without getting stymied by a protagonist’s plot armor. It’s inevitable that anime villains will lose to the hero in the end – that’s just the nature of the shonen genre – but anything can happen if they fight one another instead.

Sosuke Aizen and Madara Uchiha are both smart, cunning, and tricky villains who use all kinds of illusions and ploys to take down their enemies, but they’re also capable of brute force. Aside from perfect illusions, Sosuke Aizen can use elite swordplay and devastating kido to fight, while Madara Uchiha has the Susano’o and wood release jutsu on his side, among other high-end techniques. Both are vastly overpowered antagonists, so their fight would truly be anyone’s game.

6Toshiro Hitsugaya vs Admiral Aokiji Pits Ice Against Ice

toshiro hitsugaya looks to the side. Toshiro hitsugaya holds his zanpakuto in Bleach Admiral Aokiji Covers His Body In Ice Using His Devil Fruit Powers in One Piece admiral aokiji aka kuzan has ice on part of his facetoshiro hitsugaya looks to the side. Toshiro hitsugaya holds his zanpakuto in Bleach Admiral Aokiji Covers His Body In Ice Using His Devil Fruit Powers in One Piece admiral aokiji aka kuzan has ice on part of his face

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Toshiro Hitsugaya
Hyorinmaru
Romi Park
Steve Staley

Admiral Aokiji
Chilly-Chilly Fruit
Takehito Koyasu
Jason Douglas

Elemental match-ups are always a treat when they show up in anime, especially when they can synergize like ice vs ice. Such is the case for Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya going up against the frigid Admiral Aokiji/Kuzan, each of whom are the strongest ice users in their respective stories. They are also high-ranked officers with a serious reputation.

Toshiro’s unique advantage is his incredible swordplay, being a prodigious master of the blade who will only get stronger as he grows up. Admiral Aokiji, meanwhile, has eaten a Logia-type Devil Fruit and is thus the embodiment of his element, which makes him difficult to injure withou Haki — and Hitsugaya certainly doesn’t have Haki. Aokiji would likely take the wing against Hitsugaya with this in mind, but it’d be a chilling fight either way.

5Itachi Uchiha vs Byakuya Kuchiki Would Be a Complex and Intense Clash

Itachi Uchiha prepares to fight in Naruto as crows circle in the background. Itachi Uchiha wearing his Anbu mask in Naruto; Shippuden Byakuya Kuchiki confidently holding his zanpakuto in Bleach. Byakuya looks over his shoulder in BleachItachi Uchiha prepares to fight in Naruto as crows circle in the background. Itachi Uchiha wearing his Anbu mask in Naruto; Shippuden Byakuya Kuchiki confidently holding his zanpakuto in Bleach. Byakuya looks over his shoulder in Bleach

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Itachi Uchiha
Mangekyo Sharingan, Shadow Clone jutsu, fireball jutsu
Hideo Ishikawa
Crispin Freeman

Byakuya Kuchiki
Senbonzakura, flash step, various kido
Ryotaro Okiayu
Dan Woren

From a narrative standpoint, Itachi Uchiha and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki are similar as they are both cool, aloof antagonists who later showed their heroic side and ultimately redeemed themselves. They also represent immense natural talent, are widely respected by their peers, and both have a wide variety of techniques to use in battle.

Itachi can use all powers in the Mangekyo Sharingan, primarily Susano’o and the Tsukuyomi, along with Shadow Clones, the fireball jutsu, and conventional genjutsu all backed up by a clever mind. Byakuya, meanwhile, has one of the fastest flash steps in the world to enhance his extreme swordplay. His shikai and bankai allow him to shred his enemies with countless petal-blades, and he is also an accomplished user of kido, such as Riku Jokoro and Byaku Rai.

4Sanji Vinsmoke vs Rock Lee is a Must-Watch Melee Showdown

Sanji has an angry expression in Thriller Bark in One Piece Sanji smiles happily in One Piece's Zou Arc A determined Rock Lee is in a stance during a fight in the arena in Naruto Rock Lee raises his hands to defend himself in NarutoSanji has an angry expression in Thriller Bark in One Piece Sanji smiles happily in One Piece's Zou Arc A determined Rock Lee is in a stance during a fight in the arena in Naruto Rock Lee raises his hands to defend himself in Naruto

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Sanji Vinsmoke
Black Leg Style
Hiroaki Hirata
Eric Vale

Rock Lee
Taijutsu, Inner Gates
Yoichi Masakawa
Brian Donovan

Pitting Sanji against Rock Lee is a thematic battle of martial artists, as both are known for their powerful kicks and remarkable agility in battle. Sanji is also genetically modified as a child of the Germa 66 nation, but he relies more on training and technique than the power of science to fight.

Rock Lee is a taijutsu specialist who is not only fast and strong, but also capable of opening the Inner Gates to gain immense power at the cost of physical strain. He never scored a major victory in Naruto, but he just might defeat a Straw Hat martial artist like Sanji to make Might Guy proud.

3Sasuke Uchiha vs Uryu Ishida Pits Two Shonen Rivals Against Each Other

Sasuke Uchiha gets winded and looks dirty Sasuke Uchiha stares in blank shock in naruto shippuden Uryu Ishida Looking Stern In Bleach a closeup of Uryu Ishida about to attack.Sasuke Uchiha gets winded and looks dirty Sasuke Uchiha stares in blank shock in naruto shippuden Uryu Ishida Looking Stern In Bleach a closeup of Uryu Ishida about to attack.

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Sasuke Uchiha
Mangekyo Sharingan, Rinnegan, Chidori
Noriaki Sugiyama
Yuri Lowenthal

Uryu Ishida
Heilig Bogen, The Antithesis, Ransotengai
Noriaki Sugiyama
Derek Stephen Prince

Sasuke Uchiha and Uryu Ishida are both the smart, dark-haired right-hand man of their respective heroes, and by chance, they even have the same Japanese voice actor. They also nurse shonen-style rivalries with Naruto and Ichigo, capable of advanced techniques that neither Naruto or Ichigo could never dream of. Sasuke, for example, wields both the Sharingan and Rinnegan, and he even wielded a curse mark for a time.

Uryu Ishida is a Quincy who can easily absorb spirit energy to perform devastating ranged attacks, and he is nearly as quick as Ichigo, which is saying a lot. Later in Bleach, he even obtained the power of The Antithesis, which would be his best weapon against Sasuke in a fight. With that power, Uryu can reverse anything that just happened between two items or people, such as himself and his enemy.

2Gaara of the Sand vs Sir Crocodile is All About Sandy Powers

Gaara fights Kimimaro with his sand in Naruto Gaara with sand flying out of gourd - Naruto. Sir Crocodile with a scar on his face and smoking a cigar in One Piece. Crocodile Smiles and Transforms His Eye Into Sand Using His Devil Fruit Powers in One PieceGaara fights Kimimaro with his sand in Naruto Gaara with sand flying out of gourd - Naruto. Sir Crocodile with a scar on his face and smoking a cigar in One Piece. Crocodile Smiles and Transforms His Eye Into Sand Using His Devil Fruit Powers in One Piece

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Gaara of the Sand
Sand Burial, Shukaku form, Armor of Sand
Akira Ishida
Liam O’Brien

Sir Crocodile
Sand-Sand Fruit
Ryuzaburo Otomo
John Swasey

Gaara vs Sir Crocodile is another elemental matchup between, with sand being their common element. Gaara is a jinchuriki, the living vessel for the one-tailed Shukaku, and he can use that immense power to create foolproof defenses and offensive jutsu alike. He can also fall asleep to bring out the Shukaku’s true form, a massive creature with hard-hitting wind release jutsu.

Sir Crocodile ate the Sand-Sand Fruit to gain his desert-themed powers, a Logia-type fruit that turns him into living sand and thus making him immune to most attacks. It would be fascinating to see whether Gaara could use his powers to control and defeat Crocodile, or whether a Logia fruit’s power is beyond a jinchuriki’s reach.

1Ichigo Kurosaki vs Roronoa Zoro Would Be Anime’s Best Sword Duel of All Time

Bleach's Ichigo Kurosaki confidently stands with his sheathed zanpakuto against a red background. Ichigo Kurosaki looks down while wearing a cool jacket Zoro from One Piece's Wano Country Arc holds the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth. Roronoa Zoro with a sword in his mouth in One Piece.Bleach's Ichigo Kurosaki confidently stands with his sheathed zanpakuto against a red background. Ichigo Kurosaki looks down while wearing a cool jacket Zoro from One Piece's Wano Country Arc holds the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth. Roronoa Zoro with a sword in his mouth in One Piece.

Fighter Name
Weapons/Techniques/Traits
Japanese Voice Actor
English Voice Actor

Ichigo Kurosaki
Tensa Zangetsu, Hollow mask, Getsuga Tensho
Masakazu Morita
Johnny Yong Bosch

Roronoa Zoro
Katanas, Haki
Kazuya Nakai
Brian Zimmerman

Sword battles are always fun to watch, and Ichigo got into plenty of sword duels during his time in Bleach, such as against Byakuya Kuchiki in the fondly-remembered Soul Society story arc. While Roronoa Zoro may not have half-other powers or bankai, he does have superhuman strength and endurance, and he has trained incredibly hard to hone his technique, giving him a real fighting chance against Ichigo.

It also helps that Zoro can use Haki, a supernatural combat system that would allow Zoro to bridge the gap between him and Ichigo somewhat. This matchup may seem to favor Ichigo Kurosaki, but Roronoa Zoro has surprised One Piece fans before with his incredible durability and persistence, such as when he learned to cut steel while fighting Mr. 1.