The 1990s and 2000s are considered the golden age of shonen manga, with many iconic series emerging. However, only One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach managed to create an iconic concept known as the Big 3 Shonen.
Although this term was coined by fans, there’s no denying these three series shaped an entire generation of readers worldwide. One Piece is currently heading toward its conclusion, Bleach is wrapping up its story with the Thousand-Year Blood War anime, and Naruto continues with its sequel, Boruto.
Beyond the main characters, each series features a final villain with nearly godlike power. When it comes purely to combat ability, here is the ranking of the Big 3 final bosses.
3. Kaguya Otsutsuki (Naruto)
At the bottom of the list is Kaguya Otsutsuki, one of the most controversial characters in Naruto’s history.
Kaguya suddenly appeared near the story’s end, replacing Uchiha Madara as the final antagonist. This decision sparked backlash from fans who felt her introduction was too abrupt. Still, in terms of raw power, Kaguya is nearly immortal.
After consuming the God Tree’s fruit, she became the first being to possess chakra on Earth. Besides teleporting across multiple dimensions, Kaguya uses the Expansive Truth-Seeking Orb technique, capable of erasing entire dimensions.
Even after Naruto and Sasuke received powers from the Sage of Six Paths, they couldn’t defeat Kaguya, only manage to seal her.
However, compared to the other two universes, Naruto’s world is considered to have a lower power scale, placing Kaguya third here.
2. Imu (One Piece)
Although One Piece is still ongoing, most fans believe Imu will be the final villain Luffy faces. First appearing in chapter 906 in 2018, Imu remains the most mysterious character in the entire series. Only during the Final Saga has Eiichiro Oda begun revealing the true identity and power of the “World King.”
According to recent manga developments, Imu is Saint Nerona Imu, the true ruler behind the World Government who has existed since the era of the 20 Kingdoms. The scariest part is Imu appears immortal and possesses abilities far beyond any other character introduced.
Even Luffy’s Gear 5 has yet to show any effect against Imu. While Oda hasn’t fully revealed Imu’s powers, what’s been shown suggests Imu could be the greatest threat in One Piece history.
If the Final Saga continues expanding Imu’s power scale, this character’s ranking could change in the future.
1. Yhwach (Bleach)
Topping the list is Yhwach, Bleach’s final villain and one of the strongest characters in shonen manga history.
Yhwach’s most terrifying ability comes from The Almighty. Not only can he see the future, but he can also alter it at will, turning any unfavorable outcome into one that benefits him.
He even destroyed Ichigo’s Tensa Zangetsu sword from the future before their battle truly began. And that’s not all.
Yhwach can steal the power, memories, experience, and abilities of others simply by touching them. After absorbing the Soul King, his strength reached an almost cosmic level, surpassing nearly every character in the Big 3.
Ultimately, Yhwach was only defeated thanks to a long-term plan by Ryuken Ishida, the combined efforts of the entire Soul Society, and his own arrogance.