Despite his broken kekkei-genkai, Kimimaro was thoroughly underutilized in Naruto. He was wasted and frittered away for plot development, but that didn’t stop fans from appreciating him. His abilities made him a force to reckon with and, while he may have had enemies fans found his arch-nemesis after all.
Not Zabuza, but an Akatsuki member is menacing and completely on par with the Sound Four member. The fight would be nothing short of intense considering the stakes and aftermath which brings us to the question of the hour. What is the true extent of this arch nemesis’ strength?
Kimimaro’s true arch-nemesis in the series
Wasted characters equal wasted opportunity and Masashi Kishimoto’s series is no exception to that. In this case, this has to do with the mangaka squandering Kimimaro’s potential merely for plot development. To this date, fans argue that he deserved more screen time.
With no agency of his own, he was blatantly gaslighted and reduced to Orochimaru’s pawn. His fate is tragic and heartbreaking on most levels, especially with his childhood. With no one to turn to, his character deserved a redemption arc, but that is not all there is to it.
Kishimoto’s nerf culture ended up being a cripple in most sense. His illness is the worst thing to happen to the character apart from his death. We know how overpowered his ability truly was. To be able to maneuver bones is gnarly and eerie, but he may have found his nemesis after all, as fans pointed out.
On Reddit, users discussed the possible outcomes of the showdown between him and Hidan.
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Come to think of it, Hidan would need to play this out strategically during his duel. And we’re talking about a healthy Kimimaro which would rule out the nerf in this case. It would mean that the fight would be intense as well as evenly matched but it could potentially end the bone guy.
Why? Well, Hidan isn’t someone to be taken lightly, especially with his fiendish qualities. He indeed was defeated by Shikamaru in one of the most satisfying scenes in Naruto. But his feats and the extent of his power are one of the pressing questions yet to be answered.
How strong is Hidan in Naruto?
Hidan is one of the strongest characters in the series. His bloodlust and apathy run parallel to his skills and strength. He is partnered with Kakuzu and this is where we would expect him to be friendly, but no. The character wouldn’t hesitate to unalive his partner.
If Bloodlust had a face, it would be his, and Kishimoto outdid himself in creating a menacing character such as his. But how strong is he? Well, he is a devoted follower of the cult of Jashin, who requires death and destruction. The sacrifices reiterate the meaning of true pain and suffering.
This explains his ungodly and unsavory deeds in the series. His countless “sacrifices” are tied to his immortality being a transactional exchange. In some cases, fans have theorized that Jashin might be an Otsutsuki clan member. This theory, however, hasn’t been validated so far, but one thing is certain.
Hidan is powerful, yes, but not indomitable in any case, as seen when he was outmaneuvered by Shikamaru. Nonetheless, his jutsu is lethal, which makes him a daunting opponent in every sense.
Naruto is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
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