The Akatsuki built its reputation by hunting jinchuriki, infiltrating hidden villages and wielding techniques that could overwhelm experienced shinobi. But later events in Naruto introduced fighters whose abilities went beyond what the organization had shown during its campaign to capture the tailed beasts.
The Fourth Great Ninja War brought legendary shinobi back to the battlefield and gave Naruto and Sasuke access to extraordinary powers. Among the characters who rose above the Akatsuki’s level were Hashirama Senju, Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Kakashi Hatake in a temporary empowered form, and Madara Uchiha.
Hashirama’s title as the God of Shinobi is backed by his victory over Madara at the Valley of the End, where Madara fought with both his Susanoo and the Nine-Tails. Hashirama’s vast chakra reserves, Sage Mode and enormous wooden constructs made him capable of confronting tailed-beast-level power. The source also highlights his endurance and battlefield control as advantages against Akatsuki specialists, including Obito, whose Kamui would still present a challenge.
Sasuke’s strength changed dramatically after receiving Hagoromo’s power, which gave him a Rinnegan. Combined with his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, this allowed him to use a complete Susanoo and Amenotejikara, a space-swapping technique. He fought against Six Paths Madara and Kaguya, and later demonstrated the ability to restrain the tailed beasts with genjutsu and Chibaku Tensei. While Itachi would remain a difficult opponent, the account argues that Sasuke’s speed and reserves put him beyond the organization’s individual members.
Naruto’s victory over Pain was a major achievement, but it was his Six Paths form that placed him clearly above the Akatsuki. Six Paths Sage Mode, Kurama’s chakra and contributions from the other tailed beasts gave him exceptional speed, perception and offensive options. His shadow clones could also serve as powerful additional combatants. Pain’s destructive techniques, Itachi’s ocular abilities and Obito’s intangibility would pose problems, but are not described as enough to stop him in this form.
Kakashi is included only in his temporary form during the fight against Kaguya. Empowered by Obito’s chakra and possessing two Mangekyo Sharingan, he gained Six Paths chakra, a complete Susanoo and a formidable range of Kamui abilities. Those powers let him attack from a distance, use intangibility defensively and manipulate space-time. His contribution against Kaguya marks a sharp contrast with the Kakashi who struggled with the demands of a single transplanted Sharingan.
Madara was already portrayed as stronger than the Akatsuki before becoming the Ten-Tails’ jinchuriki. His battle against the Allied Shinobi Forces and confrontation with the Five Kage showcased his physical skill, ocular powers and ninjutsu. His complete Susanoo further demonstrated the scale of his strength. Becoming the Ten-Tails’ host widened the gap, with Six Paths abilities, regeneration and Limbo clones adding to his threat. Even an attack from Might Guy that severely damaged him failed to finish the fight.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.