Orochimaru (RW109)

Orochimaru
Alias(es)	Snake Sannin (蛇仙人, Hebi Sennin), Phantom of the Village (里の怪人, Sato no Kaijin), Orochimaru of the Snakes (蛇の大蛇丸, Hebi no Orochimaru)
Kanji	大蛇丸
Debut
Novel	Naruto: A Shinobi Story
Appears in	Novel
Character Status
Status	Deceased
Birthdate	October 27
Height	Part I: 1.79-1.72 m Part II: 1.72-1.80 m
Weight	Part I: 63.9–57.3 kg. Part II: 57.3-67.5 kg.
Blood Type	B
Home Country	Land of Fire(Formerly) Land of Sound
Affiliation(s)	Otogakure Ryūchi Cave
Previous Affiliation(s)	Konohagakure Akatsuki Root
Classification	Missing-Nin S-rank Sannin
Team	Team Hiruzen Team Orochimaru Team Dosu
Partner(s)	Kabuto Yakushi
Previous Partner(s)	Sasori
Kekkei Genkai	Wood Release Jūgo’s Kekkei Genkai
Nature Type
Wind Release(Affinity) Earth Release Water Release Wood Release Yin Release Yang Release
Jutsu
Shinobi, Kekkei Genkai, & Kinjutsu Techniques: Binding Snake Glare Spell, Body Fluid Shedding Technique, Chakra Draining Seal, Eight Branches Technique, Five Elements Seal, Five Elements Unseal, Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes, Fūinjutsu Trap, Genjutsu Binding, Hidden Doorway Technique, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, Hideout Destruction Trap, Hiding in Surface Technique, Jūgo’s Kekkei Genkai, Living Corpse Reincarnation, Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, Orochimaru’s Juinjutsu, Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique, Power of the White Snake, Regeneration Ability, Shadow Clone Technique, Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, Slithering Snake Mode, Snake Clone Technique, Snake Mouth Bind, Snake Reconnection Technique, Soft Physique Modification, Sound Wave Technique, Space–Time Technique Formula: Underworld Turnover, Substitute Technique, Summoning Technique (Snakes), Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, Summoning: Rashōmon, Summoning: Triple Rashōmon, Sword of Kusanagi: Longsword of the Sky, Temporary Paralysis Technique, Three-Seal Barrier, Twin Snakes Mutual Death Technique, Vanishing Facial Copy Technique, White Snake Possession Sage Art Techniques: Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation, Sage Art: White Rage Technique, Sage Mode, Sage Transformation Wind Techniques: Fire Leaping Windhole, Wind Release: Breakthrough, Wind Release: Gale Palm, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough Earth Techniques: Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique, Earth Release: Shadow Clone Water Techniques: Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique, Water Release: Water Bullet Technique, Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique
Weaponry
Mind Awakening Pill, Poison, Sword, Sword of Kusanagi

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Orochimaru (大蛇丸) was one of Konohagakure’s legendary Sannin. With a life ambition to learn all about the world’s secrets, Orochimaru seeks immortality so that he might live all the lives necessary to accomplish his task. After being caught red-handed performing unethical experiments on his fellow citizens for the sake of immortality, Orochimaru defected from Konoha rather than be persecuted for his ambitions. For many years, he sought the village’s destruction to take revenge and demonstrate what he had learned.

Background

Orochimaru as a child.

Orochimaru and his team being dubbed the "Sannin" by Hanzō.

Orochimaru would go on to fight in the Third Shinobi World War, with his performance in the war being so great that he was considered as a candidate for Fourth Hokage alongside fellow war heroes Minato Namikaze and Toshirō Shunsoku.

Orochimaru working under Danzō as a Root operative.

Hiruzen discovers Orochimaru’s criminal activities.

Orochimaru attacks Itachi.

After leaving the Akatsuki, Orochimaru continued to build up his network of hideouts, eventually culminating in the formation of Otogakure which greatly grew in influence after just a few years.Orochimaru had also been on a lifelong search for the Sword of Totsuka, an ethereal sword, but was unaware that it was in the possession of Itachi’s Susanoo.

Personality

Orochimaru mourning over Tsunade’s loss.

Appearance

Orochimaru’s original appearance.

Orochimaru’s most conspicuous characteristic is his snakelike appearance: he has very pale skin, golden eyes with slitted pupils, purple markings around his eyes and fanglike teeth. He also has pronounced cheekbones and straight waist-length black hair with some locks covering and framing his face or to his shoulders. The various bodies he takes over have each been modified to resemble his original form, except for the height differences.

Orochimaru's Akatsuki appearance.

Orochimaru usually wears plain grey garbs with a black polo and pants underneath, a thick purple rope belt tied in a large knot behind his back, blue tomoe-shaped earrings, and shinobi sandals with bandages around his calves. He is seen wearing a kimono with different colors on several occasions, shown usually in flashbacks or inside his hideouts. During his time with Akatsuki, he wore the standard red and black Akatsuki robes with a slate blue ring, which bears the kanji for “sky” or “void” (空, kū), on his left pinky finger.

Abilities

Orochimaru using his most powerful technique, the Eight Branches Technique.

Orochimaru is an exceptional shinobi, recognized as one of the strongest to ever exist. One of the only people who could compete against Hanzō in his prime, he became a Sannin. At the same time, amongst his team, Orochimaru stood out the most in sheer aptitude as a natural prodigy and the best of his generation, earning praise from even Hashirama Senju. Easily Kage-caliber, Orochimaru was once a candidate to be Fourth Hokage. His power was feared throughout the world, such that Akatsuki, which he was once a member, saw him as a threat. Following the Konoha invasion, while failing, Orochimaru’s actions left the village crippled for years and the Third Hokage dead. Even crippled and gradually weakening, Orochimaru remained extremely formidable, able to compete against either of his fellow Sannin and even toy with a Version 2 jinchūriki respectively.

Chakra and Physical Prowess

Orochimaru’s killing intent was powerful enough to paralyze Kakashi with fear.

Orochimaru has large reserves of strong chakra, powerful enough to stir up winds and crack stone. Likewise, the intensity of his killing intent can reduce most foes petrified in fear. He can absorb chakra through physical contact, which also grants him their skills and knowledge. His chakra control is very advanced, excelling in various chakra applications. Even with his hands sealed, leaving him unable to perform hand seals, he can use various powerful techniques with ease. Orochimaru is very adept in taijutsu, able to overwhelm Sasuke in Part I despite his Sharingan-enhanced clarity. He is very strong, able to knock down a tree with a single kick, and temporarily stunned a four-tailed Version 2 Naruto with his punch. He is also blazingly fast, able to move with such sudden change in direction to leave his opponent’s disoriented.

Body Modifications

Orochimaru’s regeneration technique.

In his quest for immortality and the perfect body, Orochimaru gained numerous modifications over the years. He can heal from most damage in short periods of time. For more grievous injuries, like bisection, he can reconnect himself or regurgitate a new, fully healed body. Orochimaru’s body is also able to stretch and manipulate its form for greater maneuverability. His durability allows him to endure being stabbed by the giant Sword of Totsuka and shrug the damage off, and even resist multiple solidly landed enhanced punches from the already-super strong Tsunade Senju essentially unharmed.

Orochimaru’s true form after many experiments.

Orochimaru’s modifications have resulted in his true form becoming a giant white snake and a body composed of many smaller snakes that can attack. Its blood is poisonous, evaporating in the air to paralyze all who inhales it. This form is used for the Living Corpse Reincarnation, letting him transfer his soul and physical essence into a new body by swallowing that person whole, thereby gaining control of all the new body’s abilities while retaining his previous abilities and extending his lifespan. This can only be used once every three years. The souls of the bodies he has taken remain in Orochimaru’s subconscious and he can modify his body as he sees fit.

Ninjutsu

Orochimaru’s depth of knowledge and skill in ninjutsu is greater than any other shinobi in history, leading to him wielding a vast and unmatched arsenal of styles and techniques. His proficiency with the Transformation Technique can let him stay undetected for long periods; his fūinjutsu skill includes the ability to use the Five Elements Seal to seal off a person’s chakra; he can summon Rashōmon gates to protect himself from enemy attacks; he can hide within surfaces to avoid damage, or use juinjutsu to temporarily paralyze targets, and has an advanced prowess clone techniques, medical ninjutsu, and barrier ninjutsu.

Orochimaru’s kenjutsu.

Orochimaru is masterful in wielding the legendary Sword of Kusanagi, able to compete against his former teacher while wielding his mighty bō-staff. The blade can extend great distances, cut through almost anything, and even be remotely controlled. He normally keeps the blade within a snake’s mouth inside his own throat and retrieves it by having it turn into a snake after use.

Nature Transformation

Orochimaru using Wind Release.

Orochimaru can use three of five basic nature transformations, along with Yin and Yang Release. With Wind Release, he can create a powerful gust of wind and with Earth Release can travel underground and create mud-based clones. With Fire Release he can easily unleash powerful fire streams. After taking over the body of a White Zetsu clone, modified with Hashirama’s DNA, Orochimaru gained access to the latter’s Wood Release — a simultaneous mixture of earth and water.

Summoning

Orochimaru summons Manda.

Orochimaru has an affinity for snakes, using the unique arm tattoo to quickly summon them for assistance, his largest and strongest being Manda. He can eject snakes from his sleeves or mouth to strike with; the snakes can sprout blades from their own mouths for deadlier effect. He can even turn his lower body into a snake’s tail, increasing his speed and mobility in battle. Orochimaru’s ultimate snake-related technique is the Eight Branches Technique, where he transforms into an eight-headed, eight-tailed giant serpent with size superior to that of Manda.
Orochimaru was the original inventor of the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, later classified as a kinjutsu shortly after Konoha’s invasion. Upon reviving the dead, he can implant them with special tags that erase their personalities and/or free will, granting him complete control over their actions. Despite being the creator of technique, Orochimaru’s reincarnated soldiers were still considerably diminished in overall capacities compared to when they were alive. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Orochimaru further developed the technique to where anyone revived has their full power and used Hashirama’s cells to strengthen his control over them.

Senjutsu

Main article: Senjutsu

Orochimaru’s juinjutsu.

During his research of Jūgo’s kekkei genkai Orochimaru eventually tracked down the power source at the Ryūchi Cave and senjutsu. Although his host body was not strong enough to enter Sage Mode, Orochimaru developed another use for senjutsu chakra: his cursed seals. These seals contain some of Orochimaru’s senjutsu chakra mixed with the enzyme produced by Jūgo, triggering a change like Sage Transformation, but with different side effects. These cursed seals also enhance the power of one’s techniques, and serve as an extension of and anchor to Orochimaru’s consciousness, allowing him to observe events through anyone branded by the seal. He also created the Mind Awakening Pill to help speed up the cursed seal’s progression.

Intelligence

Orochimaru performing an experiment to study jutsu.

Orochimaru has acquired a vast amount of information of the shinobi world from his time with organizations such as Root and Akatsuki, having set up a network of fully supplied hideouts throughout various countries. He has great charisma, enough to manipulate people into becoming his willing servants, providing insight into their past and promising them power to gain their loyalty. In battle, he can quickly deduce the workings of an enemy’s fighting style and respond accordingly.

Orochimaru’s Sage Mode.

Wanting to decipher all the world’s secrets, Orochimaru has conducted extensive research and numerous experiments on himself and the DNA of other individuals to comprehend, attain, or reproduce their abilities. Research of abilities such as Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release and Jūgo’s Sage Transformation have allowed him to recreate those same abilities, or at least produce techniques based off of them, into other people.

Part I

Chūnin Exams (Arc)

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Chūnin Exams (Arc)

Orochimaru branding Sasuke.

Konoha Crush (Arc)

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Konoha Crush (Arc)

Orochimaru summons Hashirama and Tobirama.

Orochimaru’s arms being sealed by Hiruzen.

Search for Tsunade Senju

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Search for Tsunade Senju

Orochimaru battling Jiraiya.

Sasuke Recovery Mission

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Sasuke Recovery Mission

Orochimaru’s body rotting.

Orochimaru after possessing Gen’yūmaru.

Part II

Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission

Orochimaru vs. Naruto.

Land of Whirlpools (Arc)

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Land of Whirlpools (Arc)

Orochimaru tests Sasuke's abilites against a thousand shinobi.

Sasuke attacks Orochimaru.

Sasuke defeats Orochimaru.

Itachi Uchiha Pursuit Mission

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Itachi Uchiha Pursuit Mission

Orochimaru pierced by the Totsuka Sword.

During the battle with Itachi, Sasuke ran low on chakra and Orochimaru was able to emerge from his cursed seal using his signature Eight Branches Technique. He marveled at the fact that he would finally have the chance to take over Sasuke’s body, but was immediately pierced through by the blade held by Itachi’s Susanoo. At first Orochimaru boasted that it would take more than that to kill him, but he soon realized that he had been pierced by the Totsuka Sword that he himself had been searching for. Orochimaru was then sealed away by Itachi’s Susanoo. Three white snakes escaped from Orochimaru’s body as he was sealed, but at least one of these snakes was subsequently killed by the black flames of Amaterasu while the remaining two slithered underground.

Five Kage Summit (Arc)

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Five Kage Summit (Arc)

Kabuto revives Orochimaru.

Fourth Shinobi World War (Arc)

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Fourth Shinobi World War (Arc)

Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki

Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki

Trivia

• The name “Orochi” literally means “great snake” (大蛇) while “maru” (丸) is a common suffix in male names.
  • It is possible that Orochimaru has a last name since both of his parent’s names are written with two words; however, reading them is impossible due to the kanji’s quality.
• Orochimaru borrows heavily from Japanese myth and literature:
  • Literature — Orochimaru’s name, as well as those of Jiraiya and Tsunade, come from the The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya (児雷也豪傑物語, Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari). The Orochimaru in that story was originally a student of Jiraiya's called Yashagorō, until he was corrupted by snake magic and took on the name Orochimaru.
  • Myth — Yamata-no-Orochi (八岐大蛇, Eight-forked Giant Snake), a giant eight-tailed, eight-headed snake killed with the Totsuka Sword by the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who found the Kusanagi Sword in one of its tails. This mirrors almost exactly how Itachi Uchiha using Totsuka Sword wielding Susanoo sealed Orochimaru, while in his Yamata form and wielding the Kusanagi Sword kept inside of him.
• In the English VIZ translation of chapter 49, Orochimaru introduces himself to Sasuke as “Orochimaru, the Giant Snake”. This was not present in the original version.
• The symbolism of Orochimaru’s snake affiliation can also be tied to how many cultures, Eastern and Western, perceived snakes as symbols of immortality and rebirth via the shedding of their skin.
• Orochimaru shares his blood type with his former teammates, Jiraiya and Tsunade.
• After the preliminaries conclude, he is never shown again wearing an Otogakure forehead protector.
• Studio Pierrot’s Settei sheets of Orochimaru show that he was 153 cm when he was part of Hiruzen’s genin team, and as an adult he is always 179.5 cm even after taking bodies, even though the databook puts him as 179.4 cm.
• According to the databook(s):
  • Orochimaru’s hobby was creating techniques.
  • Orochimaru wished to fight those with techniques that can be used in the future.
  • Orochimaru’s favorite food are eggs (likely a gag to his snake motif), while his least favorites are anything cold.
  • During his time as a Konoha-nin, Orochimaru has completed 1,468 official missions in total: 16 D-rank, 332 C-rank, 521 B-rank, 491 A-rank, 108 S-rank.
  • Orochimaru’s favorite words are “destroy” (破壊, hakai) and “chaos” (混沌, konton).
• In the fourth databook, kekkei genkai is not listed among Orochimaru’s special characteristics, despite his current host granting him Wood Release.
• In Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Bonds, Orochimaru claimed that Shinnō had taught him many Reincarnation Ninjutsu.
• Throughout the anime adaption of Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Orochimaru makes comedic cameos throughout Konoha while being pursued by Yamato.

Quotes

• (To Kabuto) “You just don’t have enough information to explain yourself yet. Your glasses, your name, being someone’s child is not something that can show who really you are. But that is fine. If you’re not happy on what you have now…you can just find new things to find up.…You see, I also want to find who I really am. That’s why I’m collecting a bit of everything.”
• (To Hiruzen) “I want to obtain all the techniques and gain a true understanding of everything in this world. The first one to mix blue and yellow called the new color “green”. I want to do something similar to that. If blue is the chakra, then yellow is the seal, and green is the technique… Just as there is no end to the variety of colors, there are so many thousands…tens of thousands of techniques in the world as well. But in order to obtain every possible technique and truth, it would require an eternity. Only one who understands everything after spending such time on this can be fittingly called the Ultimate Being.”
• (To Hiruzen) “Fine, let’s bring back the memories…of when I was your student.”
• (To Hiruzen) “What nonsense! In the grand scheme of time, you’re nothing more than a trivial footnote in the brief history of a cluster of huts called “Konoha”! In time, the Hokage Stone Faces will crumble and be worn down to nothing…”
• (To Kimimaro) “Maybe, just maybe, there is no purpose in life. But if you linger a while longer in this world, you might discover something of value in it, like how you discovered that flower. Or, how I discovered you one fateful night.”
• (To Kabuto, talking about Tsunade) “The best medicines always taste bitter.”
• (To Naruto) “This child…intrigues me to no end!”
• (To Sasuke) “When I watch this boy, I look back to the time I was called a genius, and think how ridiculous it was.”
• (To Sasuke) “I refuse…to let this happen! I am Orochimaru! I am immortal! I will not die here! Destined to discover the true meaning behind everything! Destined to take control of everything in this world!!”

References