Obito Uchiha, better known as Tobi, is one of the most interesting Naruto characters. Masashi Kishimoto did not fail to give him a goosebumps-inducing tragic background, and fans could not believe the things Obito had to suffer.
The Uchiha was introduced as an antagonist, and slowly it was revealed that he helped Itachi massacre the entire Uchiha clan. However, the motivation behind his actions as well as his incredible strength, made fans wonder about him.
Is Obito a Weak Character in Naruto?
After the massacre of the Uchiha Clan, as well as the other atrocities committed by him, one would expect Obito to excel at all forms of jutsu. However, the reality is quite different. Unlike his kin like Sasuke, Shishui, or Itachi, Obito virtually never used genjutsu in battle.
Rather, Obito relies on a more direct approach, and he anticipates and calculates the attacks of his opponents. Once his opponent has committed to a move, he phases them and completely wastes their plan. Obito primarily relies on taijutsu and Kamui, but his ranged tools are problematic. This was evident when he went against Naruto and Sasuke, characters who are skilled at long-range battles.
His durability also leaves much to be desired, as Kakshi could easily defeat him with basic ninjutsu and taijutsu techniques. When Minato’s Rasengan hit Obito, he was taken out of the fight quite instantly, proving his low durability. However, under no circumstances can Obito be called weak. He used his Mangekyo Sharingan to the best of his abilities, and despite over-relying on it, he still managed to destroy people.
Why Obito/Tobi Had the Most Broken Mangekyo Sharingan in Naruto
A fan theory states that the Mangekyo Sharingan manifests in users according to their life experiences as well as desires. It is a reflection of one’s deepest wants combined with the branch of Shinobi arts they excel at. For example, Sasuke was obsessed with revenge and power, so when his Mangekyo Sharingan awakened, it gave him the most destructive and death-bringing abilities.
Itachi’s Mangekyo Sharingan awakened on the precipice of the Uchiha Clan massacre. He needed to protect his village as well as his baby brother. However, he failed miserably. He was granted Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu that could trap the opponent’s mind in an illusory world. He used it on Sasuke to make him hate his elder brother.
Now, coming to Obito, some of his worst fears stem from almost dying under a boulder as well as Rin’s death. In his early life, Obito was trapped under a collapsing cave in an attempt to save Kakashi. The whole right side of his body was crushed, and Obito had almost given up on his life. It was later revealed that Obito was rescued by White Zetsu.
As Obito recuperated, he was informed about Rin’s whereabouts as she was in danger. However, he could not save her and had to witness the death of the woman he loved. These tragic events together might be the reason why Obito’s Mangekyo Sharingan allowed him to perform space-time ninjutsu, Kamui.
Obito could teleport himself anywhere at will by using Kamui. He used this ability quite heavily in the series. It is maybe because of his past experiences that his Mangekyo Sharingan took such a route. It is an ability that can save him from being trapped with no escape, and by using Kamui, he can save almost anyone, even if he is far away from the place physically.
Naruto is available to read on Viz Media, and the anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
