The Dark Secrets of Naruto's Hidden Sound Village Unveiled

Founded by Orochimaru in his pursuit of mastering all forms of ninjutsu and pushing the limits of shinobi capabilities, Otogakure, also known as the Hidden Sound Village, serves as the personal hidden village of the Sannin. Shinobi aligned with this village played a significant role in the Chunin Exams Arc in Part I of Naruto. They later collaborated with Sunagakure in the Konoha Crush, a covert operation orchestrated by Orochimaru after he assassinated the Fourth Kazekage Rasa and assumed his identity. In Part I, the Sound Four, a group of shinobi from Otogakure, confronted the Sasuke Recovery Team, who were on a mission to retrieve Sasuke after he left the village to train under Orochimaru.

The village's establishment allegedly received support from the daimyo of the Land of Sound, who was compelled to yield to Orochimaru's demands after the Sannin conquered the entire country. Despite being portrayed as a traditional hidden village similar to those found in the Five Great Shinobi Countries, Otogakure actually operated as a decentralized network of secret hideouts utilized by Orochimaru and his subordinates to facilitate their activities before and after the Konoha Crush. Many of these bases also served as secure locations for the operations of Kabuto, as well as Sasuke and his group Taka, in Part II of Naruto.

A So-Called Haven For Shinobi

Orochimaru founded Otogakure with the intention of providing a sanctuary for skilled ninjas from all over, where they could find purpose and security without the fear of persecution. He painted it as a place free from the conflicts and rivalries of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, where practitioners could freely hone their knowledge of ninjutsu without external interference or the threat of invasion.

At first glance, this may have seemed like an overly idealistic portrayal compared to the traditional purpose of hidden villages, which was to train shinobi to serve as soldiers for their respective lands. Orochimaru's vision seemed to be devoid of the militaristic and warmongering aspects associated with the hidden village system. However, this was all a mere façade, as his true intent behind founding the Hidden Sound Village became evident during the Konoha Crush, where Otogakure's shinobi played a crucial role in the invasion.

The Truth Behind The Facade

The Hidden Sound Village was not a typical settlement, but rather a network of secret bases and laboratories scattered throughout the Land of Sound and neighboring nations. Orochimaru, Kabuto, and their subordinates established this system to further their research, after Orochimaru was banished from Konohagakure for his controversial experiments involving advanced kekkei genkai. The series showcases various hideouts, including the main Land of Sound Base, the Kusagakure Hideout, the Southern Hideout, the Northern Hideout, the Eastern Hideout, the Island Laboratory, and the Demon Island Laboratory.

Unlike other hidden villages that focused on specific forms of ninjutsu or Nature Releases associated with their territory, the shinobi of Otogakure employed a wide range of techniques that were mainly the result of Orochimaru's experiments. Rather than being a peaceful and accepting community, Otogakure consisted primarily of shinobi whom Orochimaru had either captured or recruited to his cause. This was revealed during the Chunin Exams and the subsequent Konoha Crush, where Orochimaru's teams, led by Team Dosu and Team Shiore, competed against Konohagakure and Sunagakure in the first stage of the exams.

Even the Sound Five, also known as the Sound Four after Kimimaro Kaguya stepped down as leader due to his illness, were initially prisoners forced to fight each other. The most powerful among them were handpicked by Orochimaru to serve as his personal bodyguards. These individuals became formidable adversaries for Naruto, Neji, Rock Lee, Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba during the Sasuke Recovery Mission Arc at the conclusion of Part I.

Redeemed After The War

Sasuke dedicated a significant amount of time to honing his skills and journeying between various hideouts under Orochimaru's guidance. Remarkably, even after seemingly vanquishing the formidable Sannin, he returned to some of the secret laboratories. It was during this period that he assembled Taka, a group consisting of Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo, who would remain his steadfast companions throughout Part II. Subsequently, Kabuto started utilizing the hideouts for his own research endeavors, further advancing Orochimaru's groundbreaking work, including his mastery of the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation technique. Ultimately, within the confines of the Island Hideout, Kabuto underwent a procedure where he infused Orochimaru's blood into his own body, effectively assuming the legendary ninja's position.

Following the war and the subsequent redemption of Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Sasuke, the Hidden Sound experienced a transformative period. It shed its previous association with the Sannin's plans and embarked on a new chapter. As a result, the village formed an alliance with Konohagakure and gained acknowledgment as a legitimate shinobi village. This newfound recognition extended to Mitsuki, Orochimaru's son, who was permitted to enroll in Konohagakure's Academy as a genin.