Orochimaru

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Orochimaru (大蛇丸)
Gender	Male
Age	Approximately fifty during the battle over Sasuke 184
Affiliation	Formerly Konoha; later Akatsuki; subsequently allied with Obito Uchiha against Akatsuki 79 82 196
Occupation/Role	Ninja, forbidden-technique researcher, human experimenter; one of Konoha’s Legendary Sannin 79 80 102
Rank	S-Rank Missing-nin 80
Status	Alive after the war; brought to Konoha by Shirou Emiya’s group following Kabuto’s pursuit 236
First Appearance	Chapter 49, “Orochimaru” 49

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Konoha’s leading wartime ninja	76 102	Fights alongside Tsunade and Jiraiya against Salamander Hanzo during the Second Shinobi World War. Later identified as a Legendary Sannin with military merits from two wars.
Immortality-technique research	78	While searching Konoha’s forbidden-technique chamber for Impure World Reincarnation, discovers a different immortality technique. Learning it is described as exceptionally difficult.
Successful Impure World Reincarnation	81	Revives Shirou Emiya using a Hidden Sand ninja as the sacrificial vessel, seeking knowledge of the Rinnegan and help with his own body.
Soul-backed Heavenly Cursed Seal	92	Revealed to have placed a soul fragment in a disciple’s seal before leaving Konoha. It offers a chance of resurrection, but its timing and success are uncertain.
Reaper Death Seal research breakthrough	137	Discovers records explaining how a Death God Mask can summon the Death Reaper and allow its body to be opened, advancing his effort to retrieve Minato Namikaze.
Three former Hokage reincarnated	162	Successfully summons Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze for his operation against Akatsuki.
Additional reincarnated Kage deployed	183 184	Reveals Fourth Mizukage Yagura and Fourth Kazekage Rasa as reserves. Their defeat exposes that Kabuto’s reincarnation technique has surpassed his own.

Background / History

Childhood and Konoha Service

As a child, Orochimaru experiments with cooking to investigate what makes people weak. The resulting food poisoning sends him to Konoha Hospital, where five-year-old Tsunade correctly diagnoses him. Her medical knowledge catches his interest 49.

He becomes a disciple of Sarutobi Hiruzen and a teammate of Tsunade and Jiraiya. During the Second Shinobi World War, the three help Konoha hold back Salamander Hanzo. Tsunade’s rapidly growing strength—particularly the powers associated with Shirou Emiya’s Curse Mark—intensifies Orochimaru’s desire to obtain greater power 76.

Orochimaru earns numerous military merits across two Shinobi World Wars and nearly becomes Konoha’s Fourth Hokage. Although immortality eventually matters more to him than the office, he retains resentment over Hiruzen choosing Minato Namikaze 82 102.

The Crystal Coffin and Defection

After Nawaki’s death, Tsunade considers using the Crystal Coffin to revive her brother but decides against disturbing his rest. Orochimaru instead resolves to learn the forbidden resurrection technique to obtain power from the man preserved within it: Shirou Emiya 77.

His search for Impure World Reincarnation leads him to another immortality technique. He admires Tobirama Senju’s forbidden research and dismisses moral objections to methods that can produce strength 77 78.

After the Third Shinobi World War, Hiruzen discovers Orochimaru’s concealed human experiments. Orochimaru leaves Konoha as a rogue ninja, abandons his promise to Tsunade, and takes the Crystal Coffin she had entrusted to him 79 82.

Reviving Shirou Emiya

Orochimaru joins Akatsuki partly for its generous experimental funding and the opportunity to obtain its leader’s Rinnegan. He secretly diverts funding into his own immortality research and expands his experimental base 83 89.

After deciphering Shirou’s testament on the Crystal Coffin, he uses Impure World Reincarnation to resurrect him. To secure Shirou’s cooperation, Orochimaru falsely claims that his defection was a Konoha mission to infiltrate Akatsuki. He asks Shirou to help recreate Hashirama’s Wood Release as a counter to Pain’s Rinnegan 81 82.

The deception backfires when Shirou takes control of Akatsuki. Orochimaru’s own claim convinces its members that he is a Konoha spy. He attempts to flee, but Shirou repeatedly intercepts his escape techniques, wounds him with Chakra Scalpel, and seals his Chakra 90 91 92.

Orochimaru bargains with intelligence about Danzo and offers to spy on him. Shirou allows him to survive under surveillance and decides to recover the soul-bearing Curse Mark as collateral against further betrayal 91 92.

Rebellion and the Chunin Exams

At his new base in Rice Country, Orochimaru is watched by Obito, Itachi, and Anko. He agrees to renew contact with Danzo while privately intending to create additional resurrection safeguards and escape Akatsuki’s control 108 110.

He and Obito begin conspiring against Shirou. Orochimaru investigates stronger reincarnated bodies, researches the Reaper Death Seal, and pursues Shirou’s cloning-and-body-replacement theory as a possible route to true immortality 115 134 137.

During the Chunin Exams, he infiltrates the Forest of Death with Obito, defeats Sasuke, and gives him a Heavenly Cursed Seal. He regards Sasuke as a possible future vessel rather than an immediate replacement 150 152 154.

Later, Orochimaru reveals that he has been impersonating Fourth Kazekage Rasa and summons three former Hokage. He attempts to turn Konoha against Shirou by exposing Akatsuki’s plan to create a devastating tailed-beast weapon, then slips away as the confrontation escalates 162 168.

Sasuke’s Defection and Kabuto’s Betrayal

Learning that Sasuke might eventually awaken the Rinnegan makes Orochimaru more determined to obtain him. He proposes luring Sasuke away rather than killing him, and Sasuke willingly leaves Konoha after being promised greater power for his revenge 179 183.

Kabuto opposes the escape using reincarnated Second Tsuchikage Mu and Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki. Orochimaru counters with Yagura and Rasa, only to discover that Kabuto’s reincarnations can wield far greater power. He nevertheless exploits Kabuto’s limited combat experience, uses an Earth Clone as a decoy, and seals Gengetsu 183 184.

Kabuto’s subsequent deployment of Madara overwhelms Orochimaru, Itachi, and Kisame. They survive, but Madara takes Sasuke away 186 188.

Alliance Against Akatsuki and Aftermath

Orochimaru and Obito move their resources into the Kamui Dimension to evade Akatsuki’s intelligence network. Orochimaru persuades Tsunade to cooperate with a plan combining Konoha’s defense, Kakashi’s Kamui, infiltration of Akatsuki’s base, and a united shinobi offensive. Obito’s concealed objective is to seize the tailed beasts for himself 196.

Orochimaru later prepares to support Obito’s transformation into the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki while considering taking Obito’s body through Living Corpse Reincarnation. He also transplants Itachi’s eyes into Sasuke, enabling Sasuke to obtain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan 206.

His control over the reincarnated Hokage does not last: Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato free themselves from his technique 210.

After the war and Obito’s death, Orochimaru continues evading Kabuto with a reincarnated Itachi beside him, seeking allies against Shirou. Kabuto’s strength and Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode thwart his escape routes. Shirou’s group eventually brings Orochimaru to Konoha 236.

Appearance

• Snake Eyes — repeatedly described as dangerous, with his gaze revealing curiosity, greed, or hostility 82 110 183.
• Extended tongue — frequently licks his lips when anticipating research opportunities or a desirable vessel 92 150 183.
• Hoarse voice — a recognizable feature of his speech 148.
• Conical hat — worn while observing Team 7 during his Chunin Exams infiltration 150.
• Serpentine transformations — can replace his legs with a snake tail or emerge from a snake’s mouth 91.

Personality

Orochimaru places immortality above village loyalty, political office, and personal promises. He wants enough time to acquire knowledge and power without limit, and treats forbidden research and human experimentation as acceptable means to that end 77 79 92 116.

His treatment of subordinates depends heavily on usefulness. Unproductive followers can become experimental material, while exceptionally useful ones receive patience, generosity, and almost parental warmth. His respect for Shirou’s knowledge is genuine even when his explanations and intentions are deceptive 80 82.

He is patient, perceptive, and skilled at manipulating emotions. Anko remembers that he knew her preferences and could make others feel safe around him. When conspiring with Obito, he waits for the right opening rather than immediately acting on the other man’s dissatisfaction 99 115.

His skepticism extends to peace itself. He believes shinobi will eventually return to greed, deception, and conflict regardless of temporary reform. Yet he still values Tsunade’s friendship and trusts her commitment to protecting comrades, even while knowingly betraying her trust over the Crystal Coffin 82 89.

Abilities & Skills

Impure World Reincarnation

A forbidden technique used to summon the dead into sacrificial bodies 81.

• Revives Shirou Emiya using a Hidden Sand ninja as the vessel 81.
• Summons Hashirama, Tobirama, and Minato during the Chunin Exams operation 162.
• Keeps Yagura and Rasa as additional combat reserves 183.
• Is surpassed by Kabuto’s version, which allows reincarnated Kage to wield Chakra close to their living strength without losing control 184.
• Cannot permanently contain the former Hokage, who eventually free themselves 210.

Living Corpse Reincarnation

An immortality technique attributed in this novel to Tobirama Senju. Orochimaru uses it to take other people’s bodies and seeks to perfect the theory behind it 83 110.

• Covets bodies with valuable abilities and bloodline limits 89 116.
• Selects Sasuke as a possible replacement vessel, with the prospect of a future Rinnegan increasing his interest 150 179.
• Considers Obito’s body as another vessel during preparations for the Ten-Tails’ revival 206.
• Recognizes Shirou’s proposed cloned-body replacement as a potentially better route to immortality, but is still researching it during the Chunin Exams period 110 148.

Curse Marks and Soul Preservation

Orochimaru adapts Natural Energy-based Curse Marks to preserve fragments of his soul 92.

• Leaves a high-level Heavenly Cursed Seal on a disciple as a resurrection safeguard before defecting 92.
• The safeguard offers only an uncertain chance of revival; he cannot choose when it will occur 92.
• Places a Heavenly Cursed Seal on Sasuke during the Forest of Death encounter 152 154.
• Shirou can identify the soul fragment and suppress Sasuke’s seal by enclosing it within his own Curse Mark 92 154.

Orochi-ryū Substitution and Serpentine Recovery

Orochimaru can discard a damaged body and emerge in a replacement body, sometimes through a snake 91 183.

• Escapes an explosive attack by producing a snake that releases another Orochimaru 91.
• Reconnects his severed upper and lower body with numerous small snakes 91.
• Uses body shedding to survive Mu’s surprise stabbing attack 183.
• Is not truly invulnerable: Shirou’s repeated attacks cause pain, blood loss, and exhaustion despite these recovery methods 91.

Snake Summoning and Attacks

Uses snakes for combat, movement, and concealment 91 184.

• Summons a brown python against Sasori, who cuts it apart with Chakra threads 91.
• Hides within a white snake during his attempted escape from Akatsuki 91.
• Extends his neck to attack an opponent behind him 184.
• Uses a swarm of snakes to restrain the reincarnated Gengetsu 184.

Face Stealing Technique

Melts away a victim’s face and fuses it onto the caster’s own, allowing identity-based infiltration 150.

• Used in connection with his infiltration of the Chunin Exams 150.
• Leaves distinctive faceless corpses that allow Jiraiya to recognize his involvement 150.

Earth Clone and Sealing Tactics

Combines decoys, underground movement, and restraint to overcome stronger summons 184.

• Tricks Kabuto’s reincarnated Kage into attacking a mud-bodied clone 184.
• Emerges beneath Gengetsu and seals him while Kabuto is distracted by Sasuke’s safety 184.
• Exploits Kabuto’s inability to use his summoned Kage’s strength effectively in battle 184.

Scientific Research and Surgery

Specializes in human experimentation, forbidden techniques, soul research, and body replacement 80 81 137.

• Conducts unsuccessful Hashirama-cell experiments and seeks Shirou’s help understanding their compatibility 82.
• Studies the Reaper Death Seal to recover Minato for reincarnation 137.
• Investigates cloning as an alternative to repeatedly stealing bodies 110 137.
• Transplants Itachi’s eyes into Sasuke after Sasuke awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan 206.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Crystal Coffin — contains Shirou Emiya’s preserved body and testament. Entrusted to Orochimaru by Tsunade, taken during his defection, and destroyed when he revives Shirou 79 81 82.
• Reincarnation coffins — used to deploy his stored reincarnated shinobi, including Yagura and Rasa 183.
• Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s corpses — supplied to him by Kabuto; their later use becomes a major complication for Akatsuki 206.

Relationships

• Sarutobi Hiruzen — teacher and former Hokage. Discovers Orochimaru’s human experiments and later resolves to kill him rather than repeat his earlier hesitation 79 145.
• Tsunade — childhood acquaintance, longtime teammate, and valued friend. Orochimaru trusts her loyalty to comrades but betrays her custody of the Crystal Coffin; they later cooperate against Akatsuki 49 77 82 196.
• Jiraiya — former teammate. Orochimaru disparages him compared with Tsunade, while Jiraiya eventually prioritizes stopping his threat to Konoha 82 145 150.
• Tobirama Senju — admired predecessor whose forbidden techniques exemplify Orochimaru’s willingness to pursue strength without moral restraint 77 78.
• Shirou Emiya — resurrected research subject, desired source of knowledge, coercive superior, and eventual enemy. Orochimaru’s effort to manipulate him instead leaves Orochimaru under his control 81 82 92 110.
• Yakushi Kabuto — trusted research assistant and intermediary who eventually chooses Shirou’s side. Kabuto surpasses his reincarnation technique and pursues him after the war 80 110 184 236.
• Anko Mitarashi — former disciple, later monitor and would-be assassin. Her connection to his resurrection safeguard makes her leverage for Shirou 99 108 110 124.
• Shimura Danzo — secret Konoha ally and research patron. Orochimaru considers using him to support his false spy identity, then offers intelligence on him to save himself 82 91 116.
• Sasori of the Red Sand — hostile Akatsuki partner and temporary overseer. Disdains Orochimaru’s immortality ambitions and repeatedly advocates his execution 89 91 92.
• Obito Uchiha — assigned monitor who becomes his co-conspirator against Shirou. Their alliance rests on mutual need and Orochimaru’s fascination with Obito’s secrets; Orochimaru also covets his body 110 115 196 206.
• Sasuke Uchiha — prospective vessel whom Orochimaru marks, recruits, and later operates on. His potential to awaken the Rinnegan makes him especially desirable 152 179 183 206.
• Itachi Uchiha — initially a monitor and later a cooperating conspirator. Orochimaru retains a reincarnated Itachi as a companion after the war 110 181 236.

Notable Quotes

“For power—There is nothing wrong with stopping at nothing.” 77

“I'm actually not a Konoha spy at all, merely a rogue ninja from Konoha. Would you believe me?” 90

Trivia

• The Konoha-spy claim is a lie, not his original assignment. Orochimaru invents it to gain Shirou’s trust, only for Akatsuki to treat his own story as evidence against him 82 84 90.
• The Danzo transaction is an impersonation. The apparent Orochimaru who negotiates for Kotoamatsukami and provides Danzo’s eleven-Sharingan arm is revealed to be Shirou Emiya in disguise. The arm, destruction of the eye, and resulting mission rewards therefore are not Orochimaru’s accomplishments 113 114.
• Anko detects Shirou’s earlier impersonation through small personal mistakes. The impostor does not know Konoha’s roads and offers sugarcane juice rather than the red bean soup her actual teacher would have chosen 99.