Dante
Editor-in-Chief at BrandAnimeDante is Editor-in-Chief (Lord Hokage), which means he runs editorial and operations at BrandAnime. That means this whole thing was his idea, and he spends...
Last Updated on June 4, 2025 by Dante
So, why did Kabuto turn evil in Naruto?
Kabuto turned evil because he lost his sense of identity and spent his entire life being used by others.
After years of being a spy, a tool, and a follower, he chose to embrace darkness in order to become “somebody” — powerful, feared, and in control.
Kabuto Was Repeatedly Manipulated
Kabuto started out as an orphan, taken in by a kind woman named Nono Yakushi who raised him at a Konoha orphanage. But Kabuto was later forced into Root by Danzo — a group known for stripping away names, emotions, and individuality.
From a young age, Kabuto became a tool used by others. He was good at it — too good.
He changed faces, infiltrated villages, and even fought Nono without knowing it — a moment that shattered him. The one person who gave him love and identity? He nearly killed her without recognizing her.
Orochimaru Didn’t Save Him — He Fed the Void
Orochimaru took Kabuto under his wing, but not out of love. He saw Kabuto’s talent and used him. Kabuto, craving purpose, latched onto Orochimaru’s vision.
But even then, he wasn’t himself — he was just Orochimaru’s shadow, an assistant, a stand-in.
After Orochimaru’s downfall, Kabuto finally snapped. He experimented on himself, implanted Orochimaru’s remains into his body, and modified himself with the powers of others — all to prove that he could be everything and everyone.
He wanted recognition. Power. Identity.
Kabuto’s Evil Was Desperation
Kabuto wasn’t evil because he wanted destruction. He was evil because he had nothing else to hold onto.
He tried to build an identity out of power and control — through Edo Tensei, through war, through domination. It was a desperate, broken attempt to make the world acknowledge that he existed.
Redemption Was Possible
What makes Kabuto tragic is that his villainy wasn’t rooted in malice — it was rooted in loss, confusion, and a deep need to belong. That’s why his story ends the way it does: not in death, but in reflection.
Itachi didn’t kill him — he showed him the truth. Kabuto eventually gives up violence and becomes a caretaker at the same orphanage where his life began.
Dante is Editor-in-Chief (Lord Hokage), which means he runs editorial and operations at BrandAnime. That means this whole thing was his idea, and he spends his time making stuff work and covering the latest anime and games. When he's not doing 100 things at once, he's usually... watching anime or playing games. His life isn't that interesting, honestly.
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