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Ask any fan ofNarutofor a villain the series has let down and they might give quite the unanimous answer: Orochimaru. The snake-themed villain has practically achieved He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named levels of notoriety in the early parts of the series, especially when he became Sasuke Uchiha’s “best choice” of a power source to kill his brother Itachi. When all hope seemed lost after Orochimaru took Sasuke under his wing, the Sannin… didn’t really deliver much. Kabuto sabotages Orochimaru’s plans and takes “his body” for his own use, and Pain’s arrival paved the way for older, more existential threats.
The end of Naruto marked a subdued Orochimaru who chose to watch Sasuke out of sheer curiosity, and Boruto came with Orochimaru’s son obsessing over Naruto’s son the way the former villain treated Sasuke. All hope for Orochimaru getting a more focused character arc seemed lost when newcomer Jura took to the stage as the villain ofBoruto: Two Blue Vortex. However, it’s precisely the arrival of the Otsutsuki that might set the stage for Orochimaru’s reinvestment in his original mission.
The Obsession With All Things Forbidden
It’s Not Just About Immortality
A lot of people often associate Orochimaru with his quest to obtain eternal life, but many forget the reasonwhyhe wants to live forever: to research andobtain Forbidden Jutsu. It’s for this reason that Orochimaru became rather infamous for his Impure World Reincarnation, and how the Third Hokage’s solution against Orochimaru in the Konoha Crush was to disable his hand-sealing capabilities - as killing him has gotten too impractical with his advanced regeneration. Such was Orochimaru’s tactical importance that bringing the Hokage back for Sasuke’s personal mission turned the tide on the Fourth Great Ninja War once these leaders also took to the front lines.
If I Take An Interest In Something, I Research It Quite Thoroughly.
It’s also for this reason that fans thought Orochimaru seemed rather “tame” inBoruto, as his best “representation” in the series was a clone who had just achieved independence (Mitsuki). Not to mention, fans need to remember that Orochimaru’s “change of heart” has been mostly to observe Sasuke’s moves after learning about Konoha’s true history. With Sasuke out of the picture, Orochimaru learning about Amado and his knowledge about Shinjutsu - perhaps the pinnacle of Ninjutsu for being its precursor - could inspire the former villain to pursue his older goals yet again.
The New Shinjutsu Endgame
Why Refuse To Take Otsutsuki Power To New Heights?
Newcomer Amado Sanzu turns into Boruto’s Orochimaru equivalent for having “created” Kara’s Inners - practically “cyborgs” infused with both Shinobiware and the DNA ofOtsutsuki ancestor Shibai. All should be well and good in this regard, as Orochimaru doesn’t hold the monopoly of scientific knowledge and innovation in Naruto’s world. Except Orochimaru especially deals in Forbidden Jutsu - techniques that defy the premise of Ninjutsu and are often reserved to be used for nefarious means. And what better way to explore Forbidden Jutsu than the “ability” that started it all - Shinjutsu, courtesy of god-like Shibai?
The arrival of the Human God-Trees is a completely new territory for Amado, and Hokage Shikamaru being pushed to the brink of protecting Konoha might turn to Orochimaru for scientific guidance. It’s interesting to see how Orochimaru might react to such a revelation, especially with no Naruto and Sasuke to stop him should he go AWOL. Even if not for nefarious purposes, could Orochimaru’s scientific curiosity really be set aside with the discovery that all-powerful techniques could be performed without the need for hand signs?
Amado Is Not As Interesting As Orochimaru
The Cunning Act Could Only Go On For So Long
It seems aNarutoseries couldn’t be considered as such without their equivalent of a Mad Scientist - and whereas Orochimaru struck fear into the hearts of Konoha’s citizens in Part 1, Amado Sanzu became his manifestation inBoruto.Initially only designated as the genius scientist behind the cyberization of Kara’s members with Shinobiware, it’s revealed his “true” agenda is the successfulrevival of his daughter- even if it means giving her the body of the alien Otsutsuki. This fatherly side isn’t something Amado readily shows, however. Instead, he’s often portrayed to rather enjoy his long cons and smug displays of tactical acuity - especially the plot to kill Isshiki Otsutsuki with Kashin Koji, the mental gymnastics with Shikamaru Nara, and even establishing himself as an asset worthy enough of political asylum in Konoha.
Unfortunately for Amado, his feats of scientific prowess akin to Orochimaru’s doesn’t make him as compelling a character - after all, Isshiki effortlessly defeats Kashin, while Amado often had to resort to his “hidden knowledge” card to save his neck in situations where he overestimated his hand. In these cases where Amado’s value is more or less that of an expository figure for Otsutsuki lore, one would just miss the hardcore ferocity and ruthlessness of OG Orochimaru.
Is This Long Enough For Change?
A Heartwarming Quote Can Be Foreboding
WhenTsunade reminisces about Jiraiya with Orochimaru, she asks him what Jiraiya might have said if he saw the former villainous Sannin on Konoha’s side. Orochimaru simply retorted that,“Either people change or they die before they do - it’s one or the other.“And while it’s presumptuous to take Orochimaru’s quote to be quite literal, some fans can’t be faulted for it being foreboding - after all, Orochimaru hasn’t died yet and he’s changed. Is this a long enough period of time for him to change again?
Even Naruto thinks this is the case, as when questioned as to why even let Orochimaru - more so his “child” - stay in Konoha, Naruto answers they can’t easily dismiss the value of his research, and it’s easier to keep an eye on Orochimaru from within Konoha’s borders. With Naruto’s watchful eye gone, it’s really up to Orochimaru’s conscience whether or not he’s going rogue again - which in itself isn’t really something that inspires confidence given the character’s history.
No Sasuke And Naruto Means No Raison D’être
Sasuke’s Path Was Orochimaru’s Original Anchor
When Tsunade asks Orochimaru in the Fourth Great Ninja War if he’ll betray them again, the Sannin simply answers:“The range of things that interest me has expanded. Before, I wanted to become the wind and turn the windmill myself. But now I know the pleasure of waiting for someone else’s wind, one that is unpredictable.”This refers toOrochimaru deciding to step back to the sidelinesto see what the likes of Sasuke - forcibly orphaned and required to save the very Village that betrayed his family - would do to “shape” his own path in ways the Sannin couldn’t. The assumption here was that Sasuke would become such a radical figure in Konoha’s history that the mere sight of his moves could entertain Orochimaru enough to submit.
Which can make it quite intriguing to find out what Orochimaru might think that Sasuke, as Sasaukage, had practically been delegated as Badass Diplomat Spy and student of Naruto’s son - in a lot of ways “tame” than the winds of change Orochimaru had expected. Not to mention the final part of his statement to Tsunade - “I don’t want that wind to get sealed before I can enjoy it,”which makes it all the more intriguing, indeed, to see Orochimaru’s reaction to Sasuke becoming a rogue nin only to be anticlimactically sealed. With his wind (temporarily) turning into a whiff, would Orochimaru start moving on his own again?
The Pieces Are Already In Place
Mitsuki’s Obsession With The Sun
When Mitsuki first achieves “true freedom” from Orochimaru, the first thing he looks for is his “Sun” - a fitting concept for his theme and namesake relating. At first, he focuses on Boruto and his efforts to step into his own light away from the Hokage’s Shadow. But when Boruto and Kawaki switch lives with Omnipotence, Mitsuki naturally gravitates towards Kawaki - much to the latter’s chagrin, and the former somehow noticing something quite “off” with his own version of loyalty.
While Mitsuki’s concept of “the Sun” could truly just be the story’s way of getting the character an “out” to Omnipotence, it’s not improbable for this coincidental obsession with Naruto’s son to be manufactured. After all, if Orochimaru orchestrated Mitsuki obtaining his own freedom, it’s not out of character for Orochimaru’s genetic code to also “plug” Mitsuki with an inclination to seek and study power. At worst, Orochimaru may have programmed Mitsuki as an unknowing observer to keep tabs on these new… affairs while Orochimaru is monitored. And should things get out of hand,Mitsuki can use his advanced transformationto keep things in check.
