Naruto Columns
02/10/2024
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Obito's Birthday on 2/10! Looking Back on the Shinobi Way of the Ninja Who Knows Both Hope and Despair!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about a man whose kind heart leads him down a path filled with conflict: Obito Uchiha!
Today we'll be reminiscing about a man whose kind heart leads him down a path filled with conflict: Obito Uchiha!
■Obito Uchiha
・Birthday: February 10th (Aquarius)
A Boy Full of Hope
Obito, who dreams of becoming Hokage, begins his ninja journey when he graduates from the Ninja Academy and is assigned to Team Minato alongside Rin and Kakashi.
"I'M FUTURE HOKAGE UCHIHA OBITO!!
AND I'M GONNA GET MY TRADEMARK GOGGLES AND MY SHARINGAN CARVED INTO MY MOUNTAINSIDE IMAGE!
THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO GLARE AT THE OTHER VILLAGES!!"
As a proud member of the elite Uchiha Clan, he spends his time training in preparation for the day his Sharingan awakens.
However, that ability continues to elude him.
"I AM OBITO, OF THE UCHIHA CLAN!"
He's always jumping in at the first sign of someone needing help, and these detours often cause him to be late. This even happens on his first day at the Ninja Academy and his initial meetup with Team Minato.
He also tends to put up a strong front, like when he claims to have only gotten dust in his eye after being brought to tears by an enemy attack.
This earns him a number of rebukes from Rin and Kakashi.
This earns him a number of rebukes from Rin and Kakashi.
His rival Kakashi is promoted to Jonin very early. On top of that, Rin—Obito's crush—has feelings for Kakashi. While Obito's antagonism towards Kakashi is clear, he also resents himself for being a "a big-mouthed washout".
"I'M ALL TALK...
...ALWAYS A BURDEN..."
Friends Bound by the Sharingan
The turning point in Obito's life comes during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
Having heard about Kakashi's tragic past from Minato, he slowly begins to cooperate with his rival.
Having heard about Kakashi's tragic past from Minato, he slowly begins to cooperate with his rival.
Just as their teamwork is coming together, Rin is taken captive by the enemy. Obito tries to go rescue her at once, but Kakashi stops him, prioritizing the mission. After hearing Kakashi insist on putting their objective over Rin's life, Obito responds:
"SURE, IN A NINJA'S WORLD, THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE RULES AND FAIL TO FOLLOW ORDERS...
...ARE LOWER THAN GARBAGE.
HOWEVER...
THOSE WHO DO NOT CARE FOR AND SUPPORT THEIR FELLOWS...
...ARE EVEN LOWER THAN THAT!"
He so strongly values his friends that even if he is scared, wants to flee, or has no chance of victory, he will risk his life to protect them.
Moved by Obito's words, Kakashi follows him to rescue Rin, but when shielding Obito from an enemy attack, his left eye is blinded.
Obito's frustration that his own weakness resulted in his friend's injury and his desire to protect those he cares for awaken his Sharingan at last!
Moved by Obito's words, Kakashi follows him to rescue Rin, but when shielding Obito from an enemy attack, his left eye is blinded.
Obito's frustration that his own weakness resulted in his friend's injury and his desire to protect those he cares for awaken his Sharingan at last!
Utilizing the Sharingan, he is able to smoothly coordinate with Kakashi, and the time to rescue Rin finally comes!
...However, tragedy strikes once more. This time Obito protects Kakashi, and half of his body is crushed beneath an enormous boulder. Accepting his death, Obito gifts Kakashi his left Sharingan as a belated present for his promotion to Jonin, and entrusts him with Rin's protection.
"I'M...GIVING YOU MY...SHARINGAN."
"LOOK AFTER RIN...FOR ME..."
Even while wishing they could all be together longer, he throws off Rin's hand, showing his determination to put his friends first till the very end.
Thus, his name comes to be engraved on the memorial stone alongside other fallen heroes of the Third Great Ninja War.
Awakening to a New Life, and to Despair
Though he is recorded as having valiantly fallen in the line of duty, Obito's story goes on. After the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, he is rescued by Madara Uchiha, who grafts synthetic Hashirama tissue onto his body. In order to reunite with Rin and Kakashi, Obito perseveres through extensive rehabilitation.
"JUST YOU WAIT, KAKASHI...RIN...!
I'M ALIVE!!"
Just as he is beginning to get used to his new body, Zetsu informs him that Kakashi and Rin are in danger. Desperate to protect them, he rushes straight to their location—but is greeted by a shocking sight.
Kakashi promised to protect Rin, but instead his right arm pierces through her chest. Losing someone so important to him overwhelms Obito with despair, and awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Obito discards everything—his name, his heart, his past—in pursuit of Project Tsuki no Me. By controlling all of humanity via genjutsu, he seeks to create a world where his beloved Rin still lives.
"RIN...
LET'S...
LET'S CREATE A WORLD WHERE YOU EXIST AGAIN."
A Faint Light in the Dark
However, the orchestrator of the incident that forced Kakashi to kill Rin and filled Obito with hatred is none other than Madara himself. He manipulates Obito's loving nature, convincing him to be a co-conspirator and the driving force behind the Fourth Great Ninja War.
During the war, Obito and Kakashi come face-to-face. Kakashi tries to talk him down, but dialogue proves meaningless.
"THERE IS NOTHING IN MY HEART!!
I DON'T EVEN FEEL PAIN ANYMORE!!"
Kakashi is unable to reach him, and the worst-case scenario comes to pass as Obito transforms into the Jinchuriki of the Ten Tails.
At first it seems like he will be overtaken by the incredible chakra of the Ten Tails, but he is able to pull through and fuse with it. In an ironic twist, it is the memory of Team Minato that gives him the strength to hold on to himself.
Unchanging Dreams
The one who is able to look into Obito's heart is Naruto, who shares the same dream that Obito once treasured.
Obito sees his younger self in Naruto, who speaks boldly of his dreams and always strives towards them, and slowly begins to remember those things he thought he had long discarded: his name, his heart, his past...
His dream of being Hokage.
His promise with Rin to save the world after becoming Hokage.
Realizing he has failed to achieve his dream and fulfill his promise, and instead has walked down a twisted path, Obito is filled with remorse.
What he feels is not solely regret, however. Simply picturing the fulfillment of his childhood dream seems to mend some of the damage to Obito's heart.
"IMAGINING THE VILLAGE, COMRADES...
...AND ME AS HOKAGE, EVEN AFTER ALL THAT'S HAPPENED...
JUST THE THOUGHT OF IT SEEMS TO FILL UP THE HOLE IN MY HEART."
Naruto and the Allied Shinobi Forces remove the Ten Tails from Obito, and both to atone for his crimes and to honor his childhood ideals, he uses the last of his strength to aid them, entrusting his dream to Naruto.
"YOU BETTER BECOME HOKAGE."
As his death approaches, Rin appears and takes his hand to lead him into the afterlife.
However, just as he did when he was trapped by a giant boulder, Obito shakes her hand off.
He then delivers his final will to his closest friend, Kakashi.
"YOU OUGHT TO BE SIXTH HOKAGE, KAKASHI.
I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN OFFICE YET, BUT I'M GIVING YOU YOUR GIFT NOW."
He and Kakashi exchange words as if they are young boys once more, and reconcile before Obito's life comes to its conclusion.
Perhaps even now, he and Rin are watching over Kakashi and the Hidden Leaf Village.
Article and Composition: Yu Kawasaki (Caramel mama)
That's all for Obito's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the dreams and dedication of Obito Uchiha!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the dreams and dedication of Obito Uchiha!
