Is Anyone Truly Evil?

[Kenshin37]

Ok, here goes nothing. This is my first new thread posting. I'm going to do my best here not to break any major protocols. I want this to be an open forum for character discussion though. So I want both the manga and anime to be used as resource.
This thread is for the discussion and debate on the nature of evil in the world of Naruto.There are a rich wealth of complex antagonists in the both the show and the manga. Some characters who started as villians have later turned into heroes but good and evil can often be a matter of perspective. Someone may perform an act that could be viewed as evil that they truly believe is for a greater good. Is labelling someone evil mean that idividual is malicious or that they severely disturb the status quote? Do the antagonists of Naruto simply share a different ideologies and philosophies that clash with each other? Are there any characters that are truly evil?
I would really like to see serious replies on this topic. I welcome theories as well as posts that really think outside the box. Take a hard look at the good guys as well. Considering the number of characters Naruto deals with I would suggest chosing only one to focus attention but feel free to use others for reference and comparison. As far as Manga/Anime issues such as spoilers, I really feel if you are posting on this thread then you have read the manga. I think the anime would be more the problem here because of the filler story arcs that exist outside the books. I would say stick more to the manga but if you have a truly great post for a character from a manga unrelated anime arc then go for it. Above all be respectful to each other on replies to idividual posts. If you don't have anything intelligent to say then don't say anything at all. I look forward to reading what everyone comes up with and I'll have a few of my own as this thread progresses.

[Gymnopedie]

Sorry for being off topic, but I think this was made already.

[tyler]

Orochimaru.

[ZigZag]

Orochimaru for sure.

[Brooke Logan]

I don't really think so, I think it's the environment they were brought up in. They were trained from childhood to be killers, and the world they lived in pretty much glorified the killing of the enemy. Let's face it, it wasn't seen as a bad thing when for example Chouji killed Jiroubou, or the Sand siblings killed Tayuya and Sakon, in fact they were proud of their kills and they didn't know those people from Adam. The Sound Four were not evil, they were doing their jobs same as the other ninja, they were just from a different village.

People have said that Hidan is evil because he joined Jashinism after his village cast off shinobis because it glorified killing. But in all honesty, his previous lifestyle glorified killing, and he had lived "all his life" as a shinobi, existing in a world that taught him to kill and that killing was good (because yes, shinobi life does say that in so many words). Then they decided "oh we don't need that anymore", and their tools like Hidan were cast aside or expected to cast off years of psychological training and act like they were never raised that way.

There's no wonder an environment like this produced Hidan's ways.

I wonder if Deidara's belief in destruction as art was a result of his being a shinobi as well.

As for Orochimaru, he was also brought up in this environment. His actions are evil, I don't think I'd say he is. Raised somewhere else, he might have been fine.

[King Of Gamesxx]

No one is truly evil in shounen. No just kidding. But for realz, Orochimaru is probably the only real evil dude, seeing as he's the only ninja to kill a hokage and not feel any regret afterwards.

Some other evil people include: Hidan, Kakazu, Madara, and Zabuza before he kinda changed towards the end.

This is only my opinion though.

[Sarutobi Asuma]

No one is born evil. Good and evil are different for each individual and what the terms mean. To be evil, you mold into one. It's a process. You're not born evil.

[Kenshin37]

I have a feeling alot of folks are going to say Orochimaru is just plain bad but he always has seemed more amoral then malicious. He desires power but to what ultimate end is only eluded to. He seems to believe he has some hire truth that he alone can show the world and thus he must remain living to do so. I would compare him in some ways to Galactus in the Marvel universe who believes he has some greater role to play at some point that will justify the destruction he causes. It seems from both the anime and the manga that Orochimaru has felt deep sorrow. He has concluded that this sorrow is a result of humanity's fragile mortality. I see his actions as someone who has become inhuman to escape the pain of mortal tragedies. He could also be compared to the Joker. A trickster figure who causes chaos to bring change. Did he really want to destroy Konoha and kill his old master out of revenge or was he attempting to free himself from his own past and create change in the world at the same time. I believe it was more the latter. The great thing about the villians in Naruto is that their motives are never singular. They are all multi-layered and sometimes even conflict with each other. That's what makes them so great.

[Kenshin37]

I'm sure someone has come at this topic from another other angle. I want this thread to allow for anyone who wants to go deeper into character theories. This goes for the heroes as well as those established as villians. Sometimes the best intentions can have destructive results. Many of the villians of Naruto have resulted from the actions of the so called good guys. That's why I don't want any opinions here to be taboo. Stay on topic but feel free to use outside references for examples. If you have a good argument why a villian may actually be a hero or vice versa by all means please post it. I only request that everyone be respectful of each other. I want to see some healthy debate but no bashing on each other.

[Sarutobi Asuma]

Kenshin, if you have more to add to a post,
use the edit button instead of double posting.

[Izumi]

Nope. No one.
Okay fine, maybe Orochimaru.

[Sarutobi Asuma]

Nope. No one.
Okay fine, maybe Orochimaru.
Not even Oro was born evil. :/

[Sexy]

Kakuzu? D:

[Sarutobi Asuma]

Kakuzu? D:
Since this is a fictional series, Kishi can make someone evil from birth. But if we're going to talk realistically about it, then the answer is still no. No one is born good or evil. Those terms differ from person to person. Your environment and the people around you mold and shape you into what you become.

[Laex]

i would think hidan

he's a immortal sadist :lmao

immortal sadist = pure evil <3

[Pervy Fox]

:hmmWhat about the Kaguya clan Kimimaru was from? They were pretty ruthless

[Buzz Killington]

Orochimaru, but even he had some humanizing moments; it was shown he was touched and saddened by the deaths of Nawaki and Dan.

Gatou was purely evil; he was nothing more than a gangster who didn't care who lived or died as long as he made money extorting the Land of Waves.

Most all the filler and movie villains were plain evil-Raiga, Renga, Akahoshi, the Ninja Dropouts (except for Gantatsu), those who tried to capture Gaara, the monk in the ghost arc, Dotou, Haidou, Shabadaba, Shinou...none of them had any redeeming qualities.

In the Akatsuki, Hidan and Kakuzu were certainly evil. One was a devout follower of a murderous cult, and the other only cared about money. I'm not sure if Kisame or Zetsu have shown any humanizing qualities yet.

[RyuKen-O]

Of course there is. Orochimaru is one of the few Kishi said is pure evil.

[Mindgames]

Orochimaru, but even he had some humanizing moments; it was shown he was touched and saddened by the deaths of Nawaki and Dan.

Gatou was purely evil; he was nothing more than a gangster who didn't care who lived or died as long as he made money extorting the Land of Waves.

Most all the filler and movie villains were plain evil-Raiga, Renga, Akahoshi, the Ninja Dropouts (except for Gantatsu), those who tried to capture Gaara, the monk in the ghost arc, Dotou, Haidou, Shabadaba, Shinou...none of them had any redeeming qualities.

In the Akatsuki, Hidan and Kakuzu were certainly evil. One was a devout follower of a murderous cult, and the other only cared about money. I'm not sure if Kisame or Zetsu have shown any humanizing qualities yet.

Kisame seemed sad when he thought Tobi was dead. As for Zetsu, I don't think he has.

[.:Mario:.]

orochimaru

and danzou

are evilmotherfuckers who deserve to die painfully(oro is not dead:zaru)

[Sarutobi Asuma]

Of course there is. Orochimaru is one of the few Kishi said is pure evil.
Kishi said that? Then why did he humanize him
in the flashback at his parents grave? Hmm?

[Paptala]

Naruto's discussion with Minato really touched on a lot of what you're asking. Minato explained that he thought it was the ninja system that made Pein the way he is. Also, Kishi went out of his way to show in a flashback that Orochimaru only started acting weird after his parents were killed. That can change anyone for the worse, especially if you're really smart like he was.

I don't think that anyone is evil, they just commit evil acts. Their enviornments shaped them, and they feel fully justified in their actions.

Also, not all the good guys are really fully good. Kishi's been teasing us with this, but really spelt it out for us by revealing the darker sides to Konoha. Danzo, Root, and even Mizuki from the very beginning of the chapter. I think it's more presented in shades of gray than just black and white. There's really a lot to support this in the manga.

[Kyasurin Yakuto]

Orochimaru for sure.


No. I mean, he had a soft spot for his parents. He was not always evil.

Honestly nothing is black and white...just shades of gray.

Of course I guess since anime isn't real, it's possible to make a character either totally evil or totally good but it's less realistic when characters like that are made.

[oléhonchô]

The animal lover in me says that the Fire Lord's wife is truly evil. I mean come on, look at the fear in that cat's eyes.
http://media.onemanga.com/mangas/00000004/000100862/05.jpg
That, and she's a politician's wife.

Seriously, even with Hidan, no villain ever thinks that they are evil. They justify their actions and can do atrocious things without blinking.

[Laex]

i would think hidan, he's a immortal sadist

immortal sadist = pure evil <3