We discussed our favorite samurai girls before, so it’s only fair to take a look at some of the best ninja girls, or kunoichi as they’re also called. These lovely and deadly maidens can strike as fast as lightning, and disappear into the shadows as quickly as they appeared. They’re all over media, more famously as part of the Disgaea series, where Kunoichi is a perfectly great class. There’s also the Lady Samurai class, and I forgot to mention them as part of the samurai girls’ article. Winning the heart of such a girl is a true triumph, and guarantees a life of safety and happiness.
1. Kasuga — Sengoku Basara
Kasuga is a fierce and sexy ninja girl, who is also fiercely loyal to Uesugi Kenshin. She fawns over him at every given chance, and she’d be ready to disrobe for him at a moment’s notice, which wouldn’t take long.
Sengoku Basara is a long-running media franchise that stars super-powered warriors from the Sengoku period of Japan. Capcom released the first game on July 21st, 2005. The most recent entry, Sengoku Basara Sanada Yukimura-den, is exclusive to Japan and released on August 25th, 2016.
2. Misao Makimachi — Rurouni Kenshin
Misao is an incredibly skilled ninja, and absolutely loyal to Aoshi Shinomori. She is able to act as an undercover agent as part of the Oniwabanshu, which she briefly led. She has previously allied herself with Kenshin and his group, proving an invaluable ally. In addition to all of that, she is also one of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s favorite characters.
Rurouni Kenshin is an incredibly popular multimedia franchise. It began as a manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki beginning on April 25th, 1994 and concluding on September 21st, 1999, with a few additional arcs added to the narrative too. There are multiple video games, a couple of anime series, and even live-action movies.
3. Asuka & Homura — Senran Kagura
These two lovely ninja girls seem to be quite close, so let’s count them together. Asuka and Homura are rivals and best friends, though they attend different academies, Asuka’s Hanzo National Academy and Homura’s Hebijo Clandestine Girls’ Academy. The series is perfectly geared towards those who appreciate ninja girls that are as sexy as they are deadly, waging war in revealing outfits.
It is interesting to note that there is a ninja girl named Izumi in the Queen’s Blade series that really looks like Asuka.
Senran Kagura is a long-running multimedia franchise created by Kenichiro Takaki. The first game in the series, Senran Kagura: Skirting Shadows, was released on September 22nd, 2011. The most recent entry was Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars, which was released on September 16th, 2021.
4. Shizuka — Queen’s Blade
Queen’s Blade regularly features on these lists, because the series has so many sexy girls worth “appreciating” in a respectable manner. This time, it’s Shizuka, Tomoe‘s faithful ninja. She turned her back on the Kouma Ninja clan and denounced their evil ways, in favor of following her former enemy. There might be more to their relationship, as she is seen getting jealous of Tomoe’s relationship with Leina Vance.
Queen’s Blade first began its sexy tournament as a series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan. There are numerous manga, light novels, and anime adaptations that cultured fans could enjoy.
5. Sheena Fujibayashi (Shihna Fujibayashi) — Tales of Symphonia
Sheena is a skilled ninja from Mizuho, a hidden village that resembles Feudal Japan. She was originally tasked with assassinating the Sylvarant’s Chosen of Regeneration (Miko, or Divine Child), after discovering the nature of the two worlds. She later changes her mind after meeting and spending time with Colette, and decided to place her faith in Colette’s goal of finding a way for the two worlds to prosper together.
Sheena first appeared in the Bandai Namco GameCube title Tales of Symphonia, which was originally released on August 29th, 2003. She has also appeared in the manga adaptation and the anime version, which we covered here some time ago.
6. Shinobu — Ninja Nonsense (Ninja Nonsense: The Legend of Shinobu, Ninin ga Shinobuden, or 2×2 = Shinobuden)
A special ninja girl that appeared on the scene some years back. She’s cute, she’s kind, and she has a killer body. She, and the other ninja learn under Onsokumaru, a strange yellow being capable of transformation. She has very few actual ninja skills. Despite what the opening theme suggests, there are no real action or combat in the series, for it is all ninja nonsense. Her relationship with the normal human girl Kaede Shiranui is, by Shinobu’s own accounts, “more than friendship, but less than lovers.” Onsokumaru imagines them in yuri situations, of course.
Ninja Nonsense first cut a fine figure in a manga series written and illustrated by Ryoichi Koga. MediaWorks published Shinobu’s series between July 18th, 2000 and January 21st, 2006. Ufotable adapted the series to anime in 2004. In a plot twist only Onsokumaru could plan, the series began a sequel run in 2020 titled Ninin ga Shinobuden Plus, with two volumes released thus far.
7. Tsubaki Nakatsukasa — Soul Eater
This ninja girl doubles as her own weapon arsenal. While most demon weapons in the world only have one form, Tsubaki has a total of five: smoke bomb, shuriken, ninja sword, chain scythe, and the Uncanny Sword, a form she inherited from her brother Masamune. Her sixth form is a transformation, typically to her partner’s form. She is a very serious and brave girl, who happens to be incredibly loyal to a total goofball, Black☆Star.
Tsubaki took center stage in the legendary manga series written and illustrated by Atsushi Ohkubo. Square Enix published the series from May 12th, 2004 to August 12th, 2013, in a total of 25 volumes. Along with a spin-off manga, and anime adaptation, there were multiple video game adaptations. None of which we ever saw in the West.
8. Hinata Hyuga — Naruto
No list of ninja girls is complete without the Hyuga princess herself, Hinata. She is a shy girl with an immense crush on the titular character, Naruto. Cute, shy, powerful, and she grows up to have the best figure among all the girls in the series. Naruto was one lucky son of a gun. The boy smartened up and stopped chasing after Sakura to pay attention to the series’ best girl. She stood up to Nagato in the face of death and didn’t flinch, which cemented her legacy as best girl.
Hinata debuted in the legendary manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. Shueisha published the series from September 21st, 1999 to November 10th, 2014, in a total of 72 volumes. It was adapted to anime, video games, and numerous other formats. Also, we don’t talk about Boruto. The series ended in 2014.
9. Lan Fan — Fullmetal Alchemist
Lan Fan hails from the country of Xing, which takes inspiration from the real-world Chinese Empire. Lan Fan, along with her grandfather Fu, travel with their prince Ling Yao, as he travels to Amestris to uncover the secrets of the Philosopher’s Stone, and its ability to grant immortality. Their journey is not without issue, as they become embroiled in Father’s conspiracy with his homunculi. Lan Fan’s loyalty does not waver, proven when she removes her wounded arm to leave a false trail for Wrath, King Bradley, allowing them to escape his all-seeing eye. She gains a specialized automail arm, which she masters faster than Edward Elric mastered his own limbs.
Lan Fan began her travels with Ling Yao in the unforgettable manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. Square Enix published the series from July 12th, 2001 to June 11th, 2010, in a total of 27 volumes. It was adapted to anime twice, different movies and OVAs, video games, and more.
10. Kasumi & Ayane — Dead or Alive
It is literally impossible to have a ninja girl list without having Kasumi or Ayane on it. It’s just not done. Sadly, Dead or Alive was never adapted to anime, but that won’t stop us from worshipping the best kunoichi in history, will it?! No, it will not.
Kasumi left home to chase after her uncle Raidou to avenge her brother Hayate, which ran afoul of the Mugen Tenshin clan’s wishes. Ayane was tasked with killing her for this betrayal, but she too wished to avenge Hayate. This leads her to the nefarious DOATEC company, and MIST, and their goal of creating the ultimate fighter.
It’s worth pointing out that she’s also friends with the equally lovely ninja girl Mai Shiranui.
Dead or Alive was created by Tomonobu Itagaki as part of his Team Ninja group for Koei Tecmo. The first entry in the series was released on November 26th, 1996.
Who’s your favorite ninja girl? Vote in our Ninja Girl Showdown and let us know. Hajime!
Bonus. Asano Sisters Project
A group of three sisters and “Virtual Ninja Youtubers” who entertain the masses. The group has since whittled down to just Ruri, as Hikari retired in 2019, and Akane took an undefined hiatus in 2022. Ruri has continued on solo, and recently covered FictionJunction YUUKA’s song from .hack//Roots, Silly-Go-Round.
If you’re in the market for a more tangible way to express your love of ninja girls, J-List has you covered as always. The Let’s go! Kunoichi Otoha-chan B2 Tapestry features Otoha-chan from the popular doujinshi book Soreike! Kunoichi Otoha-chan.
Are you a fan of ninja girls? Who is your favorite? Did we leave her off of the list? Let us know in the comments below.
