Is Kabuto good or evil in Naruto? Explained

Modified Jun 30, 2024 03:10 GMT

Kabuto Yakushi, one of the major characters in the Naruto series, often sparks discussion about his alignment in the fandom. Is Kabuto good or evil in Naruto? has been a topic of debate among many fans of the series. The story of Kabuto is characterized by manipulation and a lack of authentic guidance, causing him to take a path that may not be the best. He was initially portrayed as an obedient servant to Orochimaru, who is popularly recognized for his antagonistic role.

Conversely, the actions and decisions of Kabuto were heavily influenced by people close to him such as Orochimaru. He used Kabuto's skills and weaknesses for his own purposes. Although it might seem like he did wrong things, at his center, Kabuto is not evil, but a character who has been greatly influenced and controlled in his life.

He was a result of situations, always getting utilized by others for their own goals. This formed his distorted viewpoint and actions. The intricate point of view indicates that Kabuto, rather than being bad, was only a part of the larger plot because he had to discover himself and belong somewhere.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Naruto. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

Kabuto's origins in Naruto

Young Kabuto Yakushi as seen in Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Kabuto was discovered as a little child with no recollection of his past, and Nono Yakushi, the caretaker of the village's orphanage brought him to the Konoha Orphanage. When he was young, Kabuto struggled with poor vision until Nono gave him her glasses. Together, they used their medical skills to support the orphanage.

However, Danzo Shimura put its funding in danger by making Kabuto join Root for spying purposes. In one mission, Kabuto mistakenly ended up causing the death of Nonō. She couldn't recognize him because of what Danzō did to his appearance. Feeling deep sorrow, Kabuto turned to Orochimaru, who gave him a fresh name and reason for living anew. This led Kabuto to infiltrate different groups and help in wicked experiments.

Kabuto's crimes and his penance in Naruto

As per Danzō's direction, Kabuto employed his abilities in medical ninjutsu to accumulate information by acting as a spy among numerous ninja villages. He first showed his loyalty to Orochimaru when he assisted in conducting unethical experiments such as those involving humans and forbidden techniques.

Kabuto Yakushi as seen in anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Kabuto acted like a hidden agent within Akatsuki, but later turned against them, which shows how he used this group for his own reasons, aligned with Orochimaru's plans. Especially in the Fourth Shinobi World War, he was responsible for bringing back dead fighters as lifeless troops using the Impure World Reincarnation method.

After the war was over, Kabuto went back to the orphanage and committed himself to taking care of the children there. He used all of his medical skills for good instead of evil, in an attempt to correct his past wrongdoings. He left behind his old connections and opted for a regular life.

Kabuto Yakushi as seen in Boruto (Image via Studio Pierrot)

At the start, Kabuto was loyal to Orochimaru and driven by a search for identity and acceptance. This pushed him into activities such as spying or conducting unethical experiments.

Although he caused much damage through his skills in Edo Tensei, it was during the Fourth Great Ninja War that we saw his real character come out. When Itachi Uchiha's genjutsu hit Kabuto, he confronted his past and decided on a way of redemption where he saved lives and became dedicated to caregiving.

Final thoughts

Kabuto Yakushi's story in Naruto is a deep study of who he really is and how he finds forgiveness.

At the start, we see him as a tool used by characters such as Orochimaru and Danzo. His motivations were usually guided not by wickedness but by an attempt to fit in and discover his role.

Also, Kabuto's involvement in spying, unethical experiments, and war crimes indicates that his character is not straightforward. Yet, he aimed to repent for his wrongdoing. when he committed himself after the war to take care of orphaned kids, utilizing his medical skills toward healing instead of harming.