Kabuto’s crimes in Naruto and role in the Fourth Ninja War earned eternal hate, making his peaceful redemption in Boruto frustrating for fans.
SUMMARY
Kabuto Yakushi, one of Naruto’s most vicious villains, was responsible for countless de@ths and chaos throughout the series.
His role in the Fourth Great Ninja War, where he used the Impure World Reincarnation to unleash destruction, led to the massacre of thousands of shinobi.
Despite his heinous crimes, Kabuto’s redemption in Boruto, where he becomes a caretaker at an orphanage, has left many fans frustrated and questioning the logic behind it.
Unless you’ve been completely out of the loop, you’re likely aware of the rivalry between Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece and Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto fans. One Piece and Naruto are two of the most iconic franchises in anime history. While some fans claim One Piece is top tier, others have supported Naruto since day one.
Obito’s mask during the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox’s Attack in Naruto. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]
Amidst all the fan rivalry, the enigmatic and multifaceted villains that challenge the protagonists at every turn are central to the charm of these two series. In One Piece, villains represent complex ideologies and power struggles, while in Naruto, their motivations, traumas, and redemption arcs shape the ninjas’ destinies.
While some fans claim Naruto has superior villains to One Piece, there’s one Naruto villain whose redemption in Boruto, following their immoral acts in the past, left many fans disgusted.
One of Naruto’s most hated villains receives unlikely redemption in Boruto
Over the years, Naruto fans have not only experienced the heartbreaking d3aths of beloved characters but also explored the darker aspects of the ninja world in depth. During the Fourth Shinobi World War in Naruto: Shippuden, the great shinobi nations united for the first time to fight the Akatsuki, now led by Obito.
Obito and Madara in the Fourth Ninja War | Credits: Studio Pierrot
Despite their alliance, the battle was heavily tilted in the Akatsuki’s favor due to Kabuto Yakushi’s mastery of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, which revived powerful shinobi at the height of their abilities, many of whom came back at the peak of their abilities or with newly granted boons like Sharingan and Rinnegan implants.
Kabuto was a main enemy in the Fourth Great Ninja War, even surpassing his former master. Nevertheless, Kabuto is like that fly that won’t go away throughout the entire Naruto series; he continues to find ways to meddle in the Shinobi world and cause chaos.
Kabuto during the Fourth Ninja War | Credits: Studio Pierrot
Kabuto Yakushi’s intellect is characterized by his unmatched medical prowess and strategic genius. He perfected advanced ninja medical arts at an early age and outgrew the ability of most veterans of those arts.
Combining his analytical thinking and strategic foresight, Kabuto Yakushi is one of the brightest Naruto characters.
After Orochimaru’s d3ath, Kabuto took over his legacy, gaining new powers that shaped the course of the Fourth Shinobi World War in pursuit of Sasuke. Kabuto’s actions in the Fourth Ninja War led to the massacre of thousands of shinobi, leaving fans with a lasting hatred for him, even after the series ended.
Despite his obvious misdeeds and horrid crimes, Kabuto was eventually redeemed for his actions. After the war, Kabuto returns to the orphanage where he was raised—his long-forgotten true home—and takes on the role of a caretaker.
Kabuto from Boruto | Credits: Studio Pierrot
With all the heinous crimes under his belt, fans question the decision to redeem this controversial character, especially since it makes his actions seem quite inconsequential. Masashi Kishimoto brought redemption arcs to many iconic villains in the Boruto sequel.
However, fans still struggle to accept how Kabuto, responsible for the d3aths of thousands of shinobi, received a peaceful ending. At the same time, beloved characters like Itachi and Jiraiya faced heartbreaking fates that left the fandom in tears.
Naruto VS Sasuke: The epic showdown Kishimoto planned ahead of the conclusion
Although the Fourth Great Ninja War was the biggest highlight of the Shippuden series, the mangaka planned the anime’s ending even before the anime production began.
Naruto vs Sasuke in Naruto: Shippuden. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]
The epic rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke back when they were just kids captivated many fans throughout the series. Kishimoto once revealed that he desired to conclude the series with an epic showdown between the most beloved characters.
The mangaka always wanted his audience to have a cinematic experience, and the anime’s epilogue beautifully showcased the two rivals’ contrasting ideologies and beliefs.
