Let me start by saying that Naruto chapter 583 is a full
chapter of flashbacks, though thankfully they all contain new material,
that being more of Kabuto’s past / backstory.
I said last week that I wanted more action, and while that hasn’t
changed, on this occasion I am not going to complain about not getting
what I was hoping for. In fact, this is kind of what I was also hoping
for, that being more info on Kabuto. I complained about the lack of info
we got from last week’s chapter considering what should be a long and
storied life for Kabuto, so this chapter definitely delivers more on
that which is something I am grateful for.
As I said, the whole chapter is flashbacks to Kabuto’s backstory, so
if you don’t like this type of chapter or if you don’t like Kabuto, then
you are probably going to find this pretty boring admittedly. It was
pretty interesting though I have to say, as we got to see both
Orochimaru and Danzo in their younger days (and working together), plus
we found out how Orochimaru first met Kabuto.
Danzo again showed in this chapter that he was willing to play dirty
to get what he wants, with this time him threatening to stop all funding
to the orphanage Kabuto was at unless Nonou (Kabuto’s “Mother”) agreed
to take part in a very long and risky mission to gather intelligence in
the hidden rock village. At first of course Nonou didn’t want to leave
the orphanage, and hence why Danzo resorted to the threats. Even after
she eventually agreed, Danzo told them that since one of the Root
members of his team died in the last mission, he would be taking a child
from the orphanage as a replacement. Of course there are objections to
that too, but Kabuto is outside and overhears the whole thing, and with
Orochimaru’s earlier words about how he would make a good shinobi still
clearly resonating inside of him, Kabuto volunteers himself to go so
that the orphanage won’t suffer.
It goes to show how much Kabuto valued his adopted family and home,
as despite having no interest whatsoever in becoming a ninja, he still
gave in and volunteered himself just so that the funding for the
orphanage wouldn’t be stopped. Oh, also slightly going back a bit, when
one of the other people in charge said that there was no way Danzo could
stop their funding because they had an agreement with the Third Hokage
himself, one of the hooded guys along with Orochimaru made a thinly
veiled threat by saying that it would be very easy for a ninja to sneak
in and rob the orphanage considering they couldn’t afford to hire a
bodyguard / security. It shows just what Danzo and Root were capable of,
and that’s why it’s no real surprise to me that Orochimaru once worked
alongside Danzo.
What really stood out to me though was one panel in particular, where
even after Kabuto put glasses on his mother (after she repeatedly asked
Kabuto who he was years later when Kabuto was there healing her, but of
course didn’t have her glasses on) she still didn’t recognise him. The
panel was brilliant, because it genuinely showed the moment where it
looked like Kabuto just broke inside. I mean, his whole life was a
mystery to him apart from his time at the orphanage and the love and
bonds he had developed with her, so when the person he cared about most
didn’t even recognise his face anymore, it’s no wonder he apparently
snapped / became broken like that. Shortly after that, when Kabuto was
looking in to a small puddle of water wondering why his own “mother”
didn’t even recognise him and what the point of his existance even was
anymore, Orochimaru appeared and told him that he remembers who Kabuto
is.
Of course I never covered every incident that happened in the
chapter, but those were the main focal points in any case. It was really
interesting actually having the chance to see Danzo and Orochimaru
together like that, as we knew from Tobi’s comments during Sasuke’s
fight with Danzo that they had some sort of previous affilliation /
relationship. Danzo once again proved that he was willing to do
absolutely anything for what he considered to be the greater good, and
also how Orochimaru first met Kabuto back when he was a boy, and how
years later they met again shortly after the whole incident with
Kabuto’s mother.
Since it was clear from the start of the chapter that Orochimaru had a
strong interest in Kabuto, some people are already speculating that
Orochimaru could well have played a hand in the later events too, saying
that he may well have put some kind of spell on Kabuto’s mother so she
would forget who he was, or even setting up the events leading to her
dying. Although nobody can say for sure, it would come as little
surprise if it did turn out to be the case considering how little regard
Orochimaru has for others, as well as his constant desire to recruit
people he sees potential in.
But yes, although not a fantastic chapter, I still found it quite
enjoyable just for getting to see how Orochimaru and Kabuto met, and
also seeing Danzo and Orochimaru together. Next week looks like it could
well be another flashback chapter too, and although seeing more of
Kabuto’s past would by no means be a bad thing, it is getting a bit
tiresome with every single chapter now being complete flashbacks. Decent
chapter though overall, and hopefully soon we can move back to
happenings and battles in the present.
