Naruto: Unveiling Kabuto's Heartbreaking Origin Story - Prepare to Be Moved

Kabuto Yakushi has long been a controversial character among Naruto fans, especially since his introduction in the Chunin Exams Arc. With his unwavering loyalty to Orochimaru, cunning ways, and perpetual sneer, Kabuto always brought a sense of unease and tension to any scene he was in. Initially an Otogakure ninja who played a part in the Konoha Crush, Kabuto existed solely in Orochimaru's shadow as a faithful servant. However, everything changed when Orochimaru was seemingly killed by Sasuke, leaving Kabuto without a master for the first time in his life.

Uncovering his lack of personal identity, Kabuto played a pivotal role in the Fourth Shinobi World War by resurrecting numerous legendary ninja from the world of Naruto using the Edo Tensei. When he was ultimately defeated by Itachi, Kabuto renounced his old ways and returned to Konohagakure to work at the village's orphanage. Interestingly, Kabuto's own journey began in the very same orphanage, where he initially learned medical ninjutsu and assassination techniques that he would later master. His dark and tragic past heavily influenced his transformation into an antagonist, and had circumstances been different during his youth, his story may have turned out more positively.

The Boy With No Name

Unearthed in the wreckage of a war-torn city by Nono Yakushi, a caretaker at Konohagakure's orphanage, young Kabuto suffered amnesia due to a head injury sustained in the battle. He couldn't recall his own name or his place of origin. After Nono nursed him back to health, she brought him back to the village, where another orphan named Urushi protected him by placing a helmet on his head. Intrigued by his lack of a name, Nono bestowed upon him the name "Kabuto," which means helmet in Japanese.

Furthermore, Kabuto had poor eyesight, a condition Nono discovered when he arrived to express his gratitude for the new name, oblivious to the fact that it was already past bedtime for the orphanage residents. His impaired vision prevented him from accurately reading a clock. To address this problem, Nono selflessly offered her own glasses to Kabuto, and his heart overflowed with gratitude for her acts of kindness. Over time, Nono became a surrogate parent to Kabuto, providing him with the only sense of family he knew during his tumultuous youth.

A Medical Ninjutsu Prodigy

During his time in the orphanage, Kabuto received comprehensive training in medical ninjutsu from Nono, mastering the art with great proficiency. He not only assisted her in healing wounded Konoha shinobi, but also generated additional income for the orphanage. However, despite the village's primary funding, a critical juncture arose when Danzo Shimura visited the orphanage and insisted that Nono hand over orphaned children to the Root division of Konoha's Anbu, effectively returning to her past. Refusing to comply, Nono faced the threat of the orphanage losing its funding, jeopardizing the lives of the children. Overhearing the conversation, Kabuto defied Nono and Urushi's pleas, volunteering himself for recruitment.

His recruitment proved to be highly advantageous for the Anbu, as Kabuto swiftly developed exceptional skills in assassination, espionage, and deceit. The innocence he once possessed faded away, resulting in the emergence of a calculated and ruthless killer. Nono's prior experience in the Anbu and Root, where she undertook perilous and vital missions as a highly skilled kunoichi, played a significant role in Kabuto's transformation. Known by the codename "The Wandering Nun," Nono specialized in intelligence gathering, although she had abandoned her Anbu life to become a captain and jonin in the Medic Corps, maintaining her responsibilities at the orphanage.

Kabuto's involvement in the Anbu might not have come to be if it weren't for his connection with Nono. Despite her sincere intentions of caring for him as a son, it was this bond that led to his entry into the Anbu. Serving in this elite force, Kabuto skillfully infiltrated and engaged with the opposing forces of the four major hidden villages. Over time, he honed his abilities, becoming a seasoned and capable operative. However, his final mission, assigned to gather intelligence from Iwagakure, tragically unfolded, forever shaping the trajectory of his life in unimaginable ways.

Betrayed By Those He Admired

After infiltrating the village, Kabuto encountered a shinobi from Iwagakure who spotted him and launched an attack. However, Kabuto swiftly defeated his assailant using his chakra scalpel. To his dismay, he realized that the person he had incapacitated was none other than Nono, who had also been affiliated with Root in Iwagakure. Filled with remorse, Kabuto desperately tried to heal Nono, but his efforts proved futile as she succumbed to her injuries. What troubled Kabuto even more was that, in her final moments, she couldn't even recognize him, her own adopted family. This left the young Kabuto deeply perplexed, unable to comprehend how the person he considered to be his only kin could be oblivious to his identity.

Fleeing from Nono's backup, Kabuto encountered Orochimaru, who had been sent by Danzo to kill him. Orochimaru felt compassion for Kabuto, revealing that Danzo had manipulated Nono with false photos to prevent her from recognizing him. This allowed Danzo to pit Nono against Kabuto, eliminating two skilled operatives from Root at once. Disturbed by this revelation, Kabuto feared for his life and attacked Orochimaru, but the Sannin survived and offered him guidance, urging him to create a new identity. Kabuto, learning of Orochimaru's plan to establish a new hidden village, Otogakure, decided to join him. Together, they crafted a false story that portrayed Kabuto as the lone survivor of the Battle of Kikyo Pass in the Third Shinobi World War, raised by Nono.

Under this new identity, Kabuto managed to infiltrate Konohagakure as a genin, gathering information on behalf of Orochimaru about each year's participants. While serving Orochimaru, Kabuto encountered Sasori, who turned him into a sleeper agent for the Akatsuki. However, Orochimaru discovered this and freed Kabuto from Sasori's control, allowing him to infiltrate the Akatsuki as well. During his time with Orochimaru, Kabuto assisted in experiments and acquired DNA for the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation jutsu, as well as studying the abilities of the shinobi from Otogakure that he recruited.

Kabuto would prove to be an invaluable asset to Orochimaru over the years, undertaking various tasks. However, it was not until the Fourth Shinobi World War that he truly began to understand his sense of identity. Kabuto's life was a mix of villainous scheming and tragic circumstances, marked by significant losses. If not for the mistreatment he experienced during his youth, he might have even become a celebrated shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Naruto is available to stream on Crunchyroll.