Kabuto: The Unworthy Endgame Villain of Naruto

Summary

Kabuto was not a primary antagonist, making his role as an endgame villain weak.
Lack of originality in Kabuto’s techniques weakened his character as a final antagonist.
Kabuto lacked a compelling backstory and goals, diminishing his presence as a villain.

In the Naruto series, there’s an impressive roster of villains, and many of them are key players across different stages. Yet, among these, there’s one that stands out as unusual, especially when you consider his eventual role as a main antagonist in the final arc. Kabuto Yakushi, initially a pupil of Orochimaru, is this anomaly. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, he creates chaos with his horde of reanimated ninjas.

In the Naruto series, there’s much discussion about whether Kabuto truly deserved to be the final antagonist, given that he was primarily a supporting character to Orochimaru. Additionally, his objectives and background were not as compelling as those of other villains, which raises questions about his suitability for this role. In fact, many fans find it debatable and even controversial that Kabuto was chosen as the series’ final antagonist due to various issues with his character development.

Kabuto Was Initially a Background Villain

Kabuto Never Took Center Stage as an Antagonist

One problem with Kabuto’s portrayal as a villain in Naruto is that he wasn’t the main antagonist for most of the series. Instead, he often stood beside Orochimaru, acting as his assistant and student. This was evident through Kabuto’s work on reviving Orochimaru’s arms or improving his master’s abilities. Furthermore, when comparing him to other villains, Kabuto seems less formidable because he had been used as a spy on two occasions before becoming more of a significant adversary.

In Naruto Shippuden, it became clear that Kabuto was secretly working for Sasori of Akatsuki and spying on Naruto and Sasuke during the Chunin exams under the orders of Orochimaru. This background, however, seems incongruous with his later role as a significant antagonist in the series, as it’s hard to justify his rise to power given that he primarily obtained his strength by absorbing Orochimaru’s genetic material following his death. In essence, Kabuto appears more like a reincarnation or continuation of Orochimaru rather than an independent character in his own right.

A Weak Backstory And Shallow Goals

Kabuto’s Goals Lack Profundity

Initially overshadowed in the series as a villain, Kabuto stepped into the limelight following Orochimaru’s departure. However, unlike Orochimaru, Kabuto didn’t have a strong backstory or complex motivations that made him an engaging villain. Instead, he took on many of Orochimaru’s objectives and personality traits because he lacked his own ambition. It seems that Kabuto struggled with feelings of inadequacy and identity issues, which were intensified when Orochimaru was no longer around. Without his mentor, Kabuto found himself without direction and sought a new purpose.

You should know what it’s like, Naruto, the pain of not having a true identity.

Instead of creating his own unique character and purpose, Kabuto essentially adopted Orochimaru’s pre-existing persona. Yet, he surpassed his master in arrogance, striving to amass knowledge about every existing jutsu and unravel the mysteries surrounding the Sage of Six Paths. He even refined the techniques that Orochimar had been working on, such as enhancing the Edo Tensei so he could conjure thousands of reanimated ninja at will.

The depth of his past appeared less substantial, failing to match up with characters like Obito and Madara as final antagonists. Despite Kabuto’s role as a spy and sleeper agent for the Hidden Leaf Village, and subsequently losing his own identity, these events seemed not as impactful compared to his counterparts, resulting in minimal audience support for his character.

Kabuto Was Used as a Plot Device

Kabuto’s Was Merely Used to Move the Plot Forward

One point of contention regarding Kabuto’s portrayal as an endgame antagonist in Naruto is his seemingly abrupt introduction during the Fourth Shinobi World War. Prior to the war, Kabuto appeared to be absent from the storyline, only to reappear later when Obito announced his war against the Five Great Nations. This sudden inclusion of Kabuto seemed more like a plot device, serving to advance the story and give Obito an advantage in the conflict.

Though Kabuto initially held no personal interest in the conflict, external pressures compelled him to participate, boosting Obito’s prospects and stalling the Allied Shinobi Forces’ progress. His legion of resurrected soldiers significantly reduced their numbers and even impeded their advancements. Furthermore, he also contributed significantly to the reanimation of Madara and tipping the scales of war in favor of Obito. However, his role lacked depth and resonance, making these pivotal moments in the series feel somewhat contrived and shallow.

A Lack Of Original Techniques

Kabuto Has No Unique Jutsu Of His Own

Though Kabuto proved challenging for the Allied Shinobi Forces due to his immense power, his arsenal lacked variety, and he didn’t possess any unique techniques of his own. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kabuto primarily wielded the Edo Tensei, but it wasn’t an invention of his; instead, Tobirama Senju created it. Over time, the technique became associated more with Orochimaru because he enhanced it.

Go on! Tremble before my power! The power of a Sage!

During the war, Kabuto primarily adapted and employed techniques, but he didn’t bring anything unique to the table. His only significant skill was Snake Sage Mode, which was on display during his battles against Itachi and Sasuke. However, this ability seemed unimpressive and feeble due to its limited potential for innovation.

Interestingly, all of Kabuto’s abilities were not originally his; he merely replicated Orochimaru’s skillset. This lack of originality, combined with a small array of techniques, weakened his standing as a formidable final antagonist in the storyline.

A Lackluster Character

Kabuto Was Never a Compelling Enough Character

To make a villain captivating, they need to exude a threatening aura that leaves the heroes unsettled. Characters like Obito, Madara, and even Kaguya were powerfully intimidating, causing discomfort among the Allied Shinobi Forces, regardless of their powers. Unlike these formidable opponents, Kabuto failed to embody this essential quality of a villain.

Through the use of reanimated ninja via Edo Tensei, Kabuto indirectly carried out his orders without ever being in direct contact with the allied forces, thereby reducing his menacing presence as a main antagonist. Additionally, Kabuto’s weakness was evident, as he relied on strategic maneuvers and cunning tricks instead of brute force. In comparison to powerful figures like Madara and Obito, Kabuto did not make for an engaging villain in the Naruto series, leading some to question Kishimoto’s choice to position him as a final adversary.

Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.

2025-03-01 00:28