Similar to many other shonen anime, theNarutoseries has a recurring theme of redemption, absolving antagonists of their villainous pasts and forgiving them for their misdeeds. Many notable characters have been redeemed after they vowed to give up their antagonistic goals,with Obito and Nagatobeing the prime examples of this controversial phenomenon. One such villain that received similar treatment is Kabuto Yakushi, the series’ end-game villain and the perpetrator of many heinous activities.
Despite his obvious misdeeds and horrid crimes, Kabuto was eventually redeemed of his actions. After the war and prevailing peace, Kabuto was assimilated into theHidden Leaf Village, and he ended up becoming a caretaker for an orphanage. With such horrible crimes under his belt, fans question the decision to redeem this controversial character, especially since it makes his actions seem quite inconsequential.
RELATED:Naruto: Villains That Don’t Deserve Redemption
Kabuto’s Past Crimes
Listing down all ofKabuto’s criminal offenseswould be next to impossible, as this rogue ninja has committed countless transgressions. While many associate Kabuto’s true villainy during his time as the series’ end-game villain, his actual crimes date way back, ever since he was taken under Orochimaru’s wing. From mass murder to unlawful experimentation, Kabuto’s endless crimes mark him as one of the most ruthless villains in anime history.
Being associated with a rogue ninja such as Orochimaru is more than enough to brand him as a villainous threat. However, Kabuto goes on to surpass even Orochimaru in terms of terrorizing innocent people and committing violations. In part 1 ofNaruto, Kabuto was nothing more than a henchman for Orochimaru, staying under his wing and assisting his villainous activities. After Orochimaru’s supposed demise, however, Kabuto turned into one of the worst villains in the entirety ofNaruto.
Afterabsorbing all of Orochimnaru’s chakraand learning Sage Mode, Kabuto turns into an unstoppable fiend with a quest of seeking revenge from the shinobi world. Desecrating the graves of those bygone and using innocent shinobi as vessels for his Reanimation Jutsu might be some of his greatest transgressions. However, nothing trumps his villainous crimes during the Fourth Great Ninja War, as Kabuto’s army of reanimated shinobi was responsible for mass casualties and unimaginable horror. He was solely responsible for reviving Madara Uchiha, and his actions almost resulted in the demise of all five Kage.
Kabuto’s Attempt at Redemption
Being redeemed after such an extensive criminal streak can only result from either the moral ambiguity behind the antagonist’s actions or performing an action of self-sacrifice that would prove their change of heart. In Kabuto’s case, however, neither option seemed to be at play. WhileKabuto’s tragic pastmay have pushed him towards juvenility and crime, it certainly does not justify his horrific actions of murder, terrorism, and abduction.
In terms of redeeming actions, Kabuto’s only saving grace was his act of healingSasuke after Madara had stabbed himthrough the heart. Kabuto’s timely appearance and swift healing resulted in Sasuke being able to fight on and eventually defeat the end-game villains. If it weren’t for Kabuto’s aid, Sasuke would have passed away long ago. However, one act of kindness is certainly not enough for a character to be redeemed from decades of questionable activities.
RELATED:Naruto: Villains That Were Rightly Redeemed
Some would consider renouncing villainous goals to be an act worthy of redemption. In Kabuto’s case, however, that would be the bare minimum as his atrocities and violations amounted to inconceivable damage, something that could never be undone with a simple retraction of villainous goals. His relinquishment also came off as quite shallow and superficial, as he only renounced his goals after being trapped forall eternity in Itachi’s Izanagi. If it weren’t for such an all-powerful technique stopping him, Kabuto would have likely never returned to the path of normalcy.
Final Verdict
Unlikeantagonists such as Nagato or Obito, Kabuto’s redemption clearly comes off as being shallow and hastily done. His redemption remains a point of contention among the series’ fandom to this day as many obviously disagree with the decision of letting Kabuto walk free with no consequences. His motivations and reasoning for becoming a war criminal had little to no profundity, and he lacked any semblance of humanity in the first place. While the show clearly tried to sway viewers with a heart-wrenching backstory, it was nowhere near enough to justify any of his past misdeeds.
Kabuto’s redeeming act of saving Sasuke’s life may have been crucial for winning the war, yet it still pales in comparison to his own crimes and transgressions. Overall, Kabuto did not deserve any sort of redemption, and redeeming such a horrid character taints theNarutoseries’ legacy, making it seem like any villain can get away with atrocious activities without any consequences. Kabuto’s absolvement is another example of hasty writing and a glaring mistake on the author’s part.
