Obito Uchiha, a character from the Naruto franchise, has garnered both immense popularity and strong criticism within the post-time-skip storyline. While some fans consider Obito their favorite character in Masashi Kishimoto's original manga series, others have raised significant concerns regarding his characterization and his unquestioning acceptance of Madara Uchiha's philosophy. Additionally, certain fans point out Obito's perceived foolish actions, such as declaring war on the five shinobi nations.
However, there might be a valid and logical explanation for Obito appearing unintelligent in his adult years. Although it may have gone unnoticed by fans previously, this perspective significantly reshapes our understanding of Obito's subsequent actions, reducing the frustration they may have caused. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the writer.
Obito’s childhood brain injury explains all of his “dumb” actions and decisions in Naruto
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During the Third Shinobi World War in the Naruto universe, Obito, a young child at the time, endured a traumatic injury that severely damaged the right side of his body. While his head and face were also affected, the impact was less severe. Nevertheless, it is evident that Obito's head experienced some impact from the blow.
Although it is challenging to apply real-life medical concepts to an anime and manga series, it can be inferred that Obito suffered a severe concussion from the powerful force. Furthermore, it is likely that his brain suffered some degree of damage, indicated by the lasting damage depicted on the right side of his face.
However, it is believed that Obito experienced far greater suffering than what is apparent on his face. Many fans speculate that the true damage was inflicted upon his actual brain, rather than just his facial injuries. Some even go so far as to claim that Obito's brain function and power were essentially halved in that moment, despite the fact that the full extent of the damage to the right side of his head was not depicted in any iteration of Naruto.
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In the anime series, Minato refers to Obito as a "half-brained" fanatic in the English dub, providing some evidence to support this claim. Although not as strong as evidence from the Japanese version or the manga, it is still worth considering when discussing Obito's questionable choices.
A study published in February 2004 examined the effects of a hemispherectomy and found that 34 out of 53 patients experienced a drop in IQ of less than 15 points. Although this may seem insignificant on its own, it could have had a much larger impact on specific individuals. Considering that a young Obito struggled with grasping shinobi lessons, this change could have been quite significant for him.
The speculation regarding this remains at the end of the day. Unless confirmed by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto himself, which appears unlikely for now. Nevertheless, this explanation sheds light on Obito's questionable decisions in the series and strengthens the portrayal of Obito's injury and its lasting impact by Kishimoto. Stay updated with the latest news on the Naruto franchise, as well as general anime, manga, film, and live-action updates throughout 2023.