Narutofinished more than a decade ago, but its villain’s twist near the end of the story remains controversial to this day.Many fans consider that the introduction ofKaguya Otsutsuki as the main villain ofNarutowas a last-minute retconthat damaged the series finale by taking away from the development of Madara Uchiha and causing a clash of genres in the story, passing from a war between ninjas to fighting divine beings from outer space.
However, although many readers believe that Kaguya was first mentioned in the final stages of the Fourth Ninja War Arc, Masashi Kishimoto had carefully sowed the seeds to connect her character way before.Several hints throughoutNaruto’s story reveal that the Otsutsuki weren’t an afterthoughtto extend the final arc ofNaruto, as they foreshadow Kaguya’s final role in part one of the manga.
The First Mention of Kaguya in Naruto Happened Much Earlier Than Many Realized
A Mysterious Clan Was Related to the Otsutsuki
While Kaguya Otsutsuki was officially named for the first timeinNaruto’smangachapter #646, with her first appearance being in chapter #679. However, those who have revisited the story may have realized thatKaguya’s existence was foreshadowed way earlier by the Kaguya Clanin chapter #216. Although it wasn’t confirmed in the story, there are many similarities that point out that the Kaguya Clan were descendants of the first Otsutsuki and related to Kaguya.
Not only is the clan’s name a direct reference to her, but also their Kekkei Genkai, which allow them to modify their bone structure at will, the Shikotsumyaku, are similar and may have been derived from the All-Killing Ash Bones jutsu that Kaguya uses in the chapter #684. Additionally, the Kaguya Clan members also share many physical traits with Kaguya, like the same pair of dots on their foreheads and a zigzag pattern in their hair. In the case of Kimimaro, who is the only one seen using the Kekkei Genkai in Naruto, he also shares the same hair color.
Nagato Hinted at Kaguya’s Existence Since the Pain Assault Arc
Kaguya Otsutsuki Is Based on a Classic Japanese Folktale
Another moment that best foreshadowsKaguya’s controversial twisthappens in chapter #439 when Nagato tells Konan that the Sage of the Six Paths sealed something inside the moon with the same jutsu he used to seal Naruto when he underwent the Six-Tails transformation, the Chibaku Tensei.This is a major hint at someone powerful being sealed on the moon, which will later be revealed to be Kaguya, who had merged with the Ten-Tails and the husk was the Gedo Statue.
The Gedo Statue itself appears in the story in chapter #254when it is revealed that Pain could summon it to seal a tailed beast. Also, in chapter #602, when Madara introduces himself to Obito, the Gedo Statue appears inside an unbloomed blossomin the background, which is later revealed to being used as a catalyst to cultivate Hashirama’s living clone.
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Later, after Madara gets the rinnegan and summonsthe Gedo Statue, it appears sitting on an open flower blossom, which is similar to the bamboo shoot that Kaguya sitson in “The Tale of The Bamboo Cutter”, also known asThe Tale of Princess Kaguya. This naturally fits into the story, asNarutohas always been full of symbolismfrom Japanese folklore, as the fact that Kaguya Otsutsuki was sealed on the moon is also a direct reference toThe Tale of Princess Kaguya, where she wasn’t from Earth and had to return to the moon.
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The Otsutsuki Were the Best Way To Explain the Sage of Six Paths
Another instance that proved that Kaguya’s role in the story wasn’t out of nowhere happened inNarutochapter #626 after the fight between Madara and Hashirama, where the latter sensed a presence above him watching them, who would be later confirmed to be Zetsu. This proves that Zetsu didn’t represent Madara’s will and had other hidden intentions,teasing another looming threat more than 50 chapters before Kaguya’s introduction, which represented more than a year duringNaruto’s serialization.
Likewise, it was confirmed by Tobi in chapter #467 that the Sage of the Six Paths was a divine figure whose powers extend beyond humanity, as being able to create the moon isn’t a feat that earthlings are capable of. This shows that Kaguya being from another planet wasn’t far-fetched. Also,her character was necessary to explain the origins of the Sage of Six Pathsas well as the Byakugan, since it was revealed the Sharingan was derived from it in chapter #78. This way, the Otsutsuki became the connection of both dojutsu since they came from Kaguya, who originally had the Byakugan.
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Nevertheless, while many fans can still argue that many of these instances that foreshadowed Kaguya are retcons made by Kishimoto, it’s clear that her introduction wasn’t something planned in the latest chapters of the manga, but thatthe author carefully visualized the ending ofNarutoby integrating the Otsutsuki. This way, contrary to what many think, the Otsutsuki didn’t makeNaruto’s story worse but rather deepened the lore of the series and became the bridge toits sequelBoruto, where they play a major role.
Naruto
Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists' children and returning faces.
