Among all the villains in the Naruto anime and manga series, no one expected the entry of Kaguya Otsutsuki as the series’ final villain. However, upon analyzing the entire narrative, it becomes clear that she isn’t actually the final villain; it’s not even a living being, but an ideological concept that serves the final boss role.
Masashi Kishimoto‘s “Cycle of Hatred” concept keeps repeating itself throughout the story, even in the final part of the narrative. If we really put thought into it, Kaguya is the only exception to that philosophical concept, while Madara and the many other villains of the series were born from it.
Kaguya Was the Symbol of Control Born From Fear in Naruto
By the end of the Naruto: Shippuden anime series, fans were expecting an epic clash between the heroes and Madara Uchiha. However, Kishimoto caught all of us off guard and introduced the cosmic origin final boss, Kaguya Otsutsuki. While the narrative unfolded appropriately, the final fight always felt like it was missing something.
While Kaguya was undoubtedly a great twist in the narrative, the series’ core theme resonated more with Obito and then Madara Uchiha: the concept of the “Cycle of Hatred”. Kaguya represents the cosmic origin of power, not the emotional core of the story. She introduced chakra to the world, feared humanity’s violence, and tried to control everyone through the Infinite Tsukuyomi, which mirrors Madara’s forced peace through the illusion plan.
Madara’s plan mirrors the war’s never-ending trauma, piling up on individuals and leaders who fail to break the cycle. While Madara’s motive aligns better with the core theme, they both chose a similar path to achieve their ultimate goals. If we take sentiment into account, many fans feel Kaguya was abrupt as the final villain.
While this is structurally correct, she has her own thematic reason for making sense in the narrative. She carries the concept of control, the origin of chakra misuse, and the final escalation of a broken world. She is more like a completely different climax to the series, not the emotional climax that was needed.
Naruto’s Real Victory Was Rejecting the System That Made Kaguya
Sasuke and Naruto attacking each other from the anime | Credits: Studio Pierrot
If we really think about it, Naruto’s final fight shouldn’t have been against Kaguya; it should have been against Sasuke. Every major villain in the series represented some similar beliefs – people never change, the world will always be this way, peace requires domination, and pain is inevitable – which Sasuke embodies perfectly.
If we go by Sasuke’s narrative, he fits Kishimoto’s “Cycle of Hatred” concept perfectly. His entire narrative is the transition from trauma to isolation to power to control to revolution through fear. This is the very loop Naruto was determined to break, not through illusion, genocide, or force, but through connection. Additionally, the Shinobi System will always be the main villain in the series.
From child soldiers to clan hierarchies, the Shinobi system exploited individuals constantly, and the outcome was some of the most infamous villains of the series – Obito, Nagato (Pain), Kimimaro, Zabuza, and many more. Naruto’s real victory wasn’t sealing Kaguya; it was something he was already achieving throughout the story: rejecting the system that made people like her necessary.
TITLENaruto/Naruto: ShippudenSTUDIOStudio PierrotRELEASE DATEOctober 3, 2002 (Naruto)February 15, 2007 (Shippuden)IMDb RATING8.4/10 (Naruto)8.7/10 (Shippuden)MAL RATING8.02/10 (Naruto)8.29/10 (Shippuden)WHERE TO WATCHCrunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
What are your thoughts on the series’ final villain not being Kaguya, but rather the Shinobi system itself? Let us know your opinions in the comments below.
All episodes of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are available to watch on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.
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