The goal of every student is to one day surpass their master and become the stronger, more capable inheritor of their generation. In anime, students often endeavor to gain more power, skill, and experience than their master to protect their loved ones or save the world.
It is not uncommon for students and protégés to take the things they learn from their mentor and turn them into new and improved iterations that push boundaries. While it is not always the case that students are able to succeed in surpassing their master or teacher, there are many anime students who did grow beyond the capabilities of their mentor.
10 Katara Became A Better Waterbender Than Master Pakku
Master Pakku was a member of the White Lotus and a waterbending master who taught Katara while she was in the Northern Water Tribe. At first, he refused to teach her because she was a woman and instead directed her to learn to heal.
However, by the end of the series, Katara not only masters traditional waterbending and healing, but she also learns bloodbending, making her one of the most formidable waterbenders in existence. She only gets stronger by the time of The Legend of Korra.
9 Naruto Surpassed Both Jiraiya & Kakashi In Naruto: Shippūden
By the end of the Naruto series, Naruto Uzumaki had mastered sage mode and the use of the nine-tailed fox spirit's energy. Thus, he and his friends were able to defeat Kaguya Otsutsuki. However, he was not always a super powerful character. In fact, he was seen as weak and incapable when he first began learning under Kakashi Hatake.
With Kakashi and later Jiraiya's help, he was eventually able to learn new skills, tap into his latent power, and master jutsu some only dream of. He eventually became the Seventh Hokage and is widely considered the strongest ninja around.
8 Sasuke Uchiha Also Surpassed Kakashi & A Legendary Sannin
On the other hand, Sasuke Uchiha began the Naruto series as somewhat of a prodigy. He was top of his class at the academy, and he was widely seen as the strongest rookie.
He eventually leaves the Hidden Leaf Village to learn under Orochimaru, and with Orochimaru's help, he unlocks the potential of his Sharingan, learns to summon giant snakes, and wielded the power of the curse mark. Even Orochimaru is in awe of his power by the series' close, and only Naruto is able to go toe-to-toe with him.
7 In Avatar: The Last Airbender Aang Had To Become Greater Than His Bending Masters To Fight Ozai
The entire objective of Aang's mission was to master all four elements and stop the Fire Lord before Sozin's comet reached the earth, giving firebenders seemingly unlimited power. In order to do this, he not only had to master the Avatar State, but he also had to surpass all of his bending masters.
Though it is difficult and time is of the essence, his power increases so much so that he becomes stronger than all of his masters, even if he has a little help from simply being the Avatar.
6 Jotaro Kujo's Stand Far Outpowers Joeseph Joestar's In Stardust Crusaders
Jotaro Kujo is the reticent and highly regarded grandson of Joseph Joestar, but when the series introduced Stands and retires the power of Ripple, Joseph lost his spot as the strongest character, as his Stand, Hermit Purple, does not have the firepower that many Stands do.
On the other hand, Jotaro's Stand, Star Platinum, is a Stand revered for its superspeed and unbeatable feats of strength. Jotaro quickly proved himself the most powerful Stand user, as well as one of the smartest characters, thus surpassing his grandfather and mentor.
5 Battle Tendency Protagonist, Joseph Joestar, Became A More Accomplished Ripple User Than Lisa Lisa
Joseph Joestar was also known for surpassing his master, Lisa Lisa, and his predecessors, Jonathan Joestar. In Battle Tendency, Joesph was forced to fight three ancient beings with almost unlimited power. He trained under Lisa Lisa, a master of Ripple, and eventually, he surpassed her, which is imperative for his fight against Kars.
Although he only technically defeated Kars (sending him into space rather than killing him), he was obviously the strongest Ripple user in the Jojo series, though this does not remain true when the show introduces Stands.
4 All Might Had To Be Better Than Grand Torino To Succeed In My Hero Academia
When Deku meets Grand Torino, he learned that All Might was not always the great hero he appeared to be. Just like all other heroes, he had to undergo a training phase, as well. During that time, he was mentored by Grand Torino, just like Deku.
However, All Might did reach the spot of Number One Hero and held onto it for a long time, so it is obvious that All Might surpassed Grand Torino at one point. Fans can be pretty sure that Deku will do the same, surpassing both Grand Torino and All Might.
3 Korra Became Greater Than Tenzin & The Avatars Before Her In The Legend Of Korra
Korra had to deal with events that no Avatar had dealt with since the days of the very first Avatar, and that was to fight with/against the embodied forces of good and evil, Rava and Vatu. Though Korra was regarded as a strong bender compared to many Avatars of the past, Korra had consistent trouble with more spiritual things.
Eventually, she had to confront this to succeed in her fight, and in doing so she not only surpasses her airbending master, Tenzin, she also surpasses many of the Avatars that came before her.
2 Natsu's Firepower Out-Rivals Igneel's In Fairy Tail
Natsu Dragneel was raised by the King of the Fire Dragons, Igneel, who passed on his knowledge of fire magic. One day, Igneel disappears, and Natsu is left on his own to join the Fairy Tail guild. However, when Acnologia rears his head and threatens the world, Igneel and many of the other dragons who had disappeared came back and fight with Acnologia.
Igneel dies, but in doing so, he is able to pave the way for Natsu to become even stronger and fight Acnologia, himself.
1 Sakura Haruno Was Not Left Out In Surpassing Sannin In Naruto: Shippūden
Not to be completely outdone by Naruto and Sasuke, her former team members, Sakura Haruno also trained under one of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade (who was also the Fifth Hokage). Tsunade passed on to her a deep knowledge of the most intricate and complicated medical ninjutsu, as well as a forbidden jutsu that allows her to become temporarily immortal.
By the Boruto series, viewers see that Sakura has begun to surpass Tsunade's medical prowess, making her one of the most impressive ninja in the world.
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