[Discussion] Was Kabuto a Pointless Replacement for Orochimaru?

[poopieface]

This is from a purely objective and literary point of view. In terms of plot, Kabuto could have easily been replaced by Orochimaru if Sasuke had simply never managed to absorb him completely. It's not hard to imagine that, though I feel like Kishi at that point was completely done with Orochimaru for some reason. Maybe Kishi felt he wasn't complex enough?

I mean, he really went to great lengths to just get rid of Orochi as quickly and pathetically as possible, especially with Itachi one-panel-sealing him.

I guess I just feel like instead of switching to Kabuto, Kishi could have added more depth to Orochimaru's character. If you think about it, right now Orochimaru is the villain who's been least characterized. Even Sasori had more depth. Or Zabuza. You name it.

Also, if Orochimaru had been the one to start the war, he would have been Izanami'd by Itachi and then legitimately turned to a good guy, with his character finally resolved. Now Kishi still needs to resolve his character, and it seems like we'll either get a boring old "meh, I'll just be good now, sorry for murdering/torturing/experimenting on a bunch of dudes LOLZ" or he'll be one paneled by Sasuke or one-panel-TNJ'd by Naruto.

What do you guys think?

 

[kageking]

...No. Your definition of him being pointless is that if the story had happened another way kabuto would not have been necessary. That in itself is a pointless statement because you can make that argument about any charcter/plot in the manga.

 

[poopieface]

...No. Your definition of him being pointless is that if the story had happened another way kabuto would not have been necessary. That in itself is a pointless statement because you can make that argument about any charcter/plot in the manga.

I'm saying that Kabuto had the same intentions and ambitions as Orochimaru, same motivation (learn all jutsus, become strongest), and Kabuto even tried to copy Orochi's power as much as possible. Their characters were almost identical, so his replacement was pointless because the story could have been exactly the same, yet with more characterization of Orochimaru, a Sannin, taught by the Third, comrade of Jiraiya, murderer of his own Sensei and the biggest bad guy before the time skip.

 

[Daakioso]

You're absolutely right. There is nothing more to say about this. Unless maybe one thing, maybe Orochimaru wouldn't have summoned Madara.

 

[Six Paths of Logic]

...No. Your definition of him being pointless is that if the story had happened another way kabuto would not have been necessary. That in itself is a pointless statement because you can make that argument about any charcter/plot in the manga.

/Thread

I'm saying that Kabuto had the same intentions and ambitions as Orochimaru, same motivation (learn all jutsus, become strongest), and Kabuto even tried to copy Orochi's power as much as possible. Their characters were almost identical, so his replacement was pointless because the story could have been exactly the same, yet with more characterization of Orochimaru, a Sannin, taught by the Third, comrade of Jiraiya, murderer of his own Sensei and the biggest bad guy before the time skip.

And that's why when Orochimaru was revived, he realized what he was doing was wrong.
Kabuto was necessary for the plot i.e.; a better impure resurrection, getting involve in the war, his fight vs. Itachi and Sasuke, etc.

 

[Kurama2012]

I'm saying that Kabuto had the same intentions and ambitions as Orochimaru, same motivation (learn all jutsus, become strongest), and Kabuto even tried to copy Orochi's power as much as possible. Their characters were almost identical, so his replacement was pointless because the story could have been exactly the same, yet with more characterization of Orochimaru, a Sannin, taught by the Third, comrade of Jiraiya, murderer of his own Sensei and the biggest bad guy before the time skip.

their characters aren't identical kabuto wanted an identity as he didn't know who he was so he took as many as possible and the main one he took on was orochimaru
and it wasn't pointless it was a way for kishi to resolve kabutos story not that many cared or expected it but whatever