Naruto Columns
10/27/2023
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Orochimaru's Birthday on 10/27! Looking Back on One Member of the Legendary Three's Search for Eternal Life and Knowledge!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the shinobi whose power rivals that of fellow Legendary Three members Jiraiya and Tsunade, but whose life choices led him down a much darker path: Orochimaru!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the shinobi whose power rivals that of fellow Legendary Three members Jiraiya and Tsunade, but whose life choices led him down a much darker path: Orochimaru!
■Orochimaru
・Birthday: October 27th (Scorpio)
・Favorite Food: Eggs
Orochimaru's Time in Konoha
As a Genin, Orochimaru is taught by the Third Hokage Hiruzen, who is revered as "The Professor" for his vast knowledge of all existing Konoha jutsu.
The boy shows such promise that Hiruzen hopes for Orochimaru to inherit his will and strength.
The boy shows such promise that Hiruzen hopes for Orochimaru to inherit his will and strength.
After becoming a full-fledged shinobi, Orochimaru proves to be a skilled instructor himself, training excellent ninja such as the future Special Jonin Anko Mitarashi.
He also fights alongside his former teammates Jiraiya and Tsunade during the Third Great Ninja War, including a fierce battle where the three hold their own against Amegakure's leader Hanzo.
Their prowess earns Hanzo's respect, and he dubs them "The Three Great Shinobi of Konoha".
Their prowess earns Hanzo's respect, and he dubs them "The Three Great Shinobi of Konoha".
Descending into Darkness
After the war's conclusion, the time comes to select a Fourth Hokage to succeed Hiruzen.
Despite his many wartime accomplishments, misgivings about Orochimaru's ideology cause him to be passed over for the position.
Despite his many wartime accomplishments, misgivings about Orochimaru's ideology cause him to be passed over for the position.
Perhaps spurred on by this rejection, Orochimaru begins conducting inhumane experiments to further his research.
Meddling with the cells of First Hokage Hashirama, acquiring the forbidden Reanimation Jutsu developed and then banned by Second Hokage Tobirama, and performing countless experiments on fellow villagers in the name of jutsu development... Orochimaru forges onward unperturbed by the mounting cost in lives.
Seeking Eternity
The forbidden jutsu Orochimaru is so desperate to obtain that he will stoop to any means is known as the Art of Immortality.
"IN ORDER TO OBTAIN EACH AND EVERY JUTSU THAT EXISTS,
AND THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND THEM, I NEED A LONG, LONG TIME...
AND HE WHO MASTERS ALL IS TRULY WORTHY OF THE TITLE 'THE ULTIMATE BEING'...
FOR ME, THE LIFESPAN OF THE FLESH IS MUCH TOO SHORT..."
Having completed a jutsu that will allow his consciousness to exist in perpetuity by transferring to new bodies as needed, Orochimaru leaves Konoha, disappearing into the shadows of the shinobi world.
"I REPEATEDLY EXPERIMENT ON AND INSPECT THESE THINGS THAT I'VE COLLECTED A LITTLE AT A TIME...
...AND STORE THE GAINED KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES WITHIN MYSELF.
AND THEN, I UNDERGO REBIRTH, EVER EVOLVING...
...TOWARD A NEW, MORE PERFECT ME."
Joining the Akatsuki: The Hunt for the Uchiha
After convincing Kabuto to defect from Konoha as well, Orochimaru joins the Akatsuki, an organization composed of rogue ninja from various lands.
He has Kabuto pose as a subordinate to Sasori—Orochimaru's partner in the organization—to gain intel on the group's inner workings.
The purpose of all this is to take over the body of Akatsuki member Itachi Uchiha and obtain the vaunted Uchiha blood and Sharingan. However, when Orochimaru makes his move, he finds he has vastly underestimated his opponent.
Giving up on Itachi, he leaves the Akatsuki.
Building Strength from the Shadows
Upon leaving the Akatsuki, Orochimaru establishes research facilities in various lands to continue his human experiments on an even larger scale.
He also founds the Village Hidden in the Sound and proceeds to rapidly expand its ranks and power in just a handful of years.
Disguising himself, Orochimaru leads Kabuto and other Sound ninja in an infiltration of the Chunin Exams taking place in Konoha, setting a nefarious plan in motion!
Attacking Konoha and Facing Hiruzen!
Orochimaru first makes contact with Team Seven during the second part of the Chunin Exams, his sights set solely on Sasuke Uchiha.
He leaves his "curse mark" on Sasuke to forcibly tether the boy to himself.
He leaves his "curse mark" on Sasuke to forcibly tether the boy to himself.
Orochimaru then launches an all-out assault on the village during the main rounds of the third exam!
"I ENJOY WATCHING MOVING OBJECTS.
IT'S BORING WHEN THINGS STAND STILL, DON'T YOU AGREE...?
A MOTIONLESS PINWHEEL ISN'T WORTH WATCHING...
THEN AGAIN, WHEN IT'S STOPPED IT CAN SOMETIMES BE SENTIMENTAL TOO...
EITHER WAY...
I WANT TO MAKE THE PINWHEEL SPIN WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF KONOHA RIGHT NOW..."
He gets in close to ambush the Hokage, Hiruzen, by taking the form of the Kazekage whom he had murdered earlier. Orochimaru engages his former teacher in a duel inside a sealed area to prevent outside interference.
Using the Reanimation summoning jutsu, he revives the First Hokage Hashirama and Second Hokage Tobirama, setting the stage for an intense showdown between the current and former Hokage.
Prepared to sacrifice his life for the village, Hiruzen activates the Reaper Death Seal, successfully sealing the revived Hokage along with both of Orochimaru's arms.
Robbed of his arms, and therefore his jutsu, Orochimaru is unable to achieve his goal of destroying Konoha.
Forced to retreat, he focuses on recovering and preparing for his next move.
Forced to retreat, he focuses on recovering and preparing for his next move.
Pursuing His Lost Jutsu, and His New Vessel
Orochimaru tracks down Tsunade and proposes a deal, asking her to treat his arms.
Unfortunately for him, negotiations quickly break down.
Jiraiya also arrives on the scene, and the Legendary Three are reunited—this time locked in battle with each other!
Jiraiya also arrives on the scene, and the Legendary Three are reunited—this time locked in battle with each other!
"SHINOBI TALENT LIES IN WHETHER OR NOT ONE CAN USE AND MASTER ALL THE JUTSU IN THE WORLD.
AS THE NAME SUGGESTS...
A NINJA IS ONE WHO WIELDS NINJUTSU."
During the fight, Orochimaru speaks about what it means to be a ninja, expressing what can perhaps be considered his shinobi way.
Shortly after this confrontation, Orochimaru manages to lure Sasuke to his side with the promise of greater power.
Over roughly three years, he fulfills this promise by training Sasuke, but before he can achieve his true goal of obtaining the young Uchiha's body, his protégé revolts!
The Snake Devoured by the Hawk
Sasuke ambushes Orochimaru when he knows his teacher will be weakest.
Fighting for his life, the snake shinobi reveals his true form...
Fighting for his life, the snake shinobi reveals his true form...
As a result of the treatments and experiments he did on his own body, Orochimaru no longer appears remotely human.
Despite being overpowered by the younger ninja, Orochimaru begins forcibly executing the ritual to transfer his consciousness into Sasuke.
However, Sasuke's eyes allow his will to erode both Orochimaru and the universe inside him where the transference ritual takes place...and he absorbs his teacher.
However, Sasuke's eyes allow his will to erode both Orochimaru and the universe inside him where the transference ritual takes place...and he absorbs his teacher.
Resilient as a Snake, Orochimaru Lives On!
Though the curtains may appear to close on Orochimaru, he always slithers his way back on stage...
First he revives during the duel between Sasuke and Itachi, taking advantage of his former student's depleted chakra to escape from inside him.
But Itachi is prepared—having predicted Orochimaru's reemergence—and seals him away.
His second revival takes place during the Fourth Great Ninja War, when Sasuke unseals him to gain access to certain information.
His second revival takes place during the Fourth Great Ninja War, when Sasuke unseals him to gain access to certain information.
While the members of Taka are apprehensive about joining the ongoing war, Orochimaru states he has "absolutely no interest" but is willing to go along with whatever Sasuke decides.
"RIGHT NOW, I'M MERELY CURIOUS ABOUT SASUKE'S DIFFERENT LIFE PATH..."
Seeing the failure of Kabuto, who emulated his own method of accumulating everything possible, Orochimaru becomes curious about the very different path his younger disciple is choosing.
Perhaps he merely wishes to sit back and enjoy watching Sasuke make the pinwheel spin.
Perhaps he merely wishes to sit back and enjoy watching Sasuke make the pinwheel spin.
Following the Fourth Great Ninja War, Orochimaru seems to suppress his more heinous inclinations, and even occasionally cooperates with Sasuke and Naruto as he continues his days of research and discovery.
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Orochimaru's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on his battles and schemes!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on his battles and schemes!
