Understanding Naruto's Forgiveness towards Obito: In-depth Analysis

Obito Uchiha is considered one of the most well-developed characters in the Naruto series and anime in general. Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, initially portrayed Obito as a carefree and fun-loving child who simply wanted to enjoy life to the fullest.

Unfortunately, Obito faced a tragic accident that led to his untimely death, witnessed only by his teammates. However, he was rescued by Madara and was determined to conceal his death from his friends. Tragically, upon reuniting with his friends, Obito witnessed the death of Rin at the hands of Kakashi, which deeply affected him emotionally. This event compelled Obito to declare war on the world in Rin's honor.

Naruto's parents perished due to his unleashing of the Nine-tails, causing him to endure a lifetime of suffering. Despite consistently obstructing Naruto throughout the series, he eventually switched sides during the Fourth Great Ninja War. In a selfless act during the war, he sacrificed himself for his past transgressions. The lingering question remains: Did Naruto forgive him before his demise?

Discovering whether Naruto forgave Obito for his crimes or not

Obito being crushed by rocks as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot) - Discovering whether Naruto forgave Obito for his crimes or not

Obito Uchiha, a member of Team Minato with Kakashi Hatake and Rin Nohara, harbored feelings for Rin but hesitated to confess due to the fear of rejection. During a mission in the Third Great Ninja War, Obito was tragically crushed under rocks. The poignant scene was depicted in the anime by Studio Pierrot.

Kakashi and Rin attempted to rescue him from the falling rocks, but their efforts were futile. However, just as more rocks began to cascade down, Minato arrived to save Rin and Kakashi. Eventually, Obito regained consciousness inside a cave, facing an elderly man. The man revealed himself as Madara Uchiha, the Uchiha Ghost, who had saved Obito from certain death.

Madara disclosed his intention to allow Obito to live under his name until he could be reborn. Unimpressed by Madara's words, Obito decided to leave and reunite with his teammates outside. Due to his weakened state, it took him some time to exit the cave. Before departing, Madara ominously warned Obito that he would return without fail.

Upon reaching his teammates, he was shocked to witness Rin being stabbed by Kakashi. This unexpected event deeply affected him mentally. After Kakashi departed, Obito's emotions spiraled out of control, leading him back to Madara. He ultimately agreed to live as Madara Uchiha and later initiated the Fourth Great Ninja War.

As Kushina's seal weakened during Naruto's birth, Obito saw an opportunity to infiltrate the Hidden Leaf Village.

Obito as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Obito as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Minato released the Nine-Tails onto the village, causing havoc. To halt the chaos, he sealed half of the beast inside Kushina and the other half in their newborn, Naruto.

During the process, the Nine-Tails attacked Naruto, but Kushina and Minato sacrificed themselves to protect their son. Witnessing this, Obito departed, leaving the Third Hokage to shoulder the responsibility of the protagonist.

Obito as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Obito as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Later on, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Obito encountered the protagonist multiple times, urging him not to halt the war. Despite Obito's warnings, Naruto stayed steadfast and did not heed his advice.

Tragically, the Fourth Great Ninja War commenced, leading Obito to realize that he had been manipulated by Madara. In a twist of fate, Obito chose to align himself with Naruto and ultimately sacrificed himself to protect the protagonist from Kaguya Otsutsuki. This act served as his atonement for the countless lives he had taken during the war.

An X account claiming that the protagonist didn't forgive Obito (Image via X/Twitter)

An X account claiming that the protagonist didn't forgive Obito (Image via X/Twitter)

The question of whether Naruto forgave Obito for all sins remains unanswered as there was no direct dialogue exchange between the two characters in the series. In contrast, during the Pain arc, the protagonist forgave Nagato for his actions after he revived everyone, despite the lives he had taken.

In Obito's case, the protagonist did not forgive him for involving numerous individuals in his selfish quest to change the world alone. However, it is possible that Naruto could have forgiven Obito for his sins, following his belief in ending the cycle of hatred whenever possible. This is evident when Naruto referred to Obito as 'cool,' a term he would not use for someone he held a grudge against.

Read also:

Why did Naruto call Obito the coolest guy? Explained

Why Obito pretended to be Madara Uchiha? Explained

Why did Obito act differently as Tobi? Explained

Is Obito Uchiha the son of Madara Uchiha?

Did Obito have bad eyesight?

Editor's P/S:

This article delves into the intricate character of Obito Uchiha, exploring his transformation from a carefree youth to a vengeful antagonist. The author skillfully weaves together key moments from the Naruto series, highlighting the profound impact of Obito's tragic experiences on his psyche. The article also raises the intriguing question of whether Naruto ultimately forgave Obito, leaving readers with a sense of contemplation.

One aspect of the article that particularly resonates is the examination of Obito's motivations. Driven by the desire to create a world where his loved ones would never experience pain, he ultimately embraced a misguided path. The author effectively conveys the complexity of Obito's character, allowing readers to understand the inner turmoil that led him to make such destructive choices.