Naruto: Don’t Expect Masashi Kishimoto to Give His Verdict on Sasuke Despite His Numerous Crimes That Makes Him a War Criminal
In the rich and intricate world of Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha is a constant source of intrigue and debate among fans. A resurfaced quote by Naruto‘s creator, Masashi Kishimoto, revealed his opinion on whether the iconic character, Sasuke, is a hero or a villain.
Sasuke Uchiha was once a member of the heroic Team 7, which also included Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. However, Sasuke was corrupted by his grief and fixation with vengeance, and easily manipulated by outside influences like the villainous Orochimaru and Obito.
Sasuke’s Sense Of Morality Has Always Been Dubious
A fan account of Masashi Kishimoto (@kishimotomasshi) shared a quote from Kishimoto that appeared in 2014’s Weekly Shonen Jump #108 (via Screen Rant), where the mangaka labels Sasuke as, “not good or bad, he’s just pure.” He said:
Sasuke is basically a very pure person who doesn’t think about whether what he does is good or bad.
He just does what he wants to do, which causes trouble for others. He’s very self-centered, only concerned with himself.
Some people might think that what he’s doing is good…
Kishimoto has always portrayed Sasuke as Naruto’s adversary, going as far as to say that Sasuke is the yin to Naruto’s yang. However, his statement regarding his purity indicates that he does not necessarily see him as a threat to Naruto’s hero status, which is significant given Sasuke’s actions and motivations.
Kishimoto’s description of Sasuke as “just pure” could mean that he is a real force of nature, a manifestation of unadulterated human instinct, which drives him to act in accordance with his moral convictions.
Sasuke’s depiction in Naruto has always kept the fandom divided; while some see him as an unrepentant brat and an irredeemable villain, others see him as an inspirational antihero who is committed to upholding his family’s tradition and finally comes to regret his actions. His morality shifts constantly during the Naruto series, especially when he learns about the tragic story of the Uchiha clan and his older brother, Itachi Uchiha.
The Eternal Debate: Is Sasuke a Hero Or a Villain?
According to Kishimoto, the answer to the highly complex topic of whether Sasuke is “good or bad” depends on the viewers’ personal moral convictions and conceptions of what is “good.” His unwavering devotion to revenge and his self-centeredness may be seen by some as intrinsically “bad,” while others may argue that his courage and loyalty make him an admirable antihero.
Sasuke was consumed with the thought of revenge for many years, with a pure distillation of emotion that drove him to do whatever he believed was necessary to achieve his goals. Sasuke Uchiha is simply too complex of a character to label him as black or white. Instead, he occupies a grey region that identifies him neither as a hero nor a villain.
You can read Naruto on VIZ Media and watch the anime on Crunchyroll.
