1. Second Hokage: The Second Hokage, the younger brother of the First Hokage, is recognized as the strongest ninja below the Six Paths Sage. Despite his limited screen time, he was on par with the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha in the era of the Warring States.

2. Might Guy: Might Guy stands out as a unique ninja who relies on taijutsu. His fight against Madara Uchiha showcased his impeccable physical abilities, and he could have potentially defeated Madara if he hadn't acquired the power of the Six Paths.

3. Dual Susanoo: Madara Uchiha's Mangekyou Sharingan is the strongest form of the Sharingan. If Madara had possessed both eyes, his power would undoubtedly be ranked at the top.

4. Jiraiya: Jiraiya was the first to use Sage Mode, which proved effective against the power of the Rinnegan. His defeat against Pain was largely due to his lack of information and no one could guarantee a 100% victory against him.

5. Kabuto Yakushi: After mastering the Edo Tensei and Snake Sage Techniques, Kabuto proved his strength during the Fourth Great Ninja War. He maintained the upper hand against both Sasuke and Itachi, defeating Itachi multiple times despite their possession of the Mangekyou Sharingan.