The Otsutsuki Clan in Naruto sucks.
Completely random opening I know but yesterday after I made my post about the anime that I used to watch on Adult Swim growing up I started thinking about all the other anime I that I watched growing up and my general feeling towards them and how they ended and honestly all I could really think about is how much the ending for Naruto with the introduction to Kaguya the alien ninja sucked so much that to this day a piece of me really just refuses to accept that it happened, even though I read it and have watched scenes from it, cause no I didn't watch it, cause reading it took so much of my sanity that watching it would have lead me to lose the rest of it.
I hate her so much, I hate the idea of nigh-omnipotent-godlike-alien-ninjas, just writing down those words together makes me annoyed.
Sadly though that's the reality of Naruto and it's sequel Boruto, that I have long since stopped reading and watching since they introduced more members of the Otsutsuki Clan, so you know since the beginning, and no I didn't droop it the moment I saw the new alien ninjas I did actually give it a chance but my God even though they were dealt with them quickly enough they then introduced more members of alien ninja clan and then a secret order of ninjas that are either dealing with them or work for them or have Powers from them for some reason, honestly it's been so long I can't even remember, and Boruto had such a good opening sequence but then it totally lost me with the FUCKING ALIEN NINJAS!!!!; it both angers and exhaust me that the Otsutuki Clan exist as they do.
Not only because of the lost potential with Madara, who the series built up to be this huge and dangerous bad-ass that took on and beat a huge sloth of the United Ninja Army and then proceeded to wipe the floor with the four Kage, the strongest ninjas of each leading nation mind you, and then proceeded to nearly win the whole war the he orchestrated for decades, ONLY TO THEN END UP BECOMING THE FINAL PIECE IN KAGUYA OTSUSUKIS' GRAND MILLENNIA SANDING PLAN, I know for a fact I'm not the only Naruto fan that has a massive problem with that just as I know this is probably not the only rant related to the whole ALIEN NINJAS thing. (No I can't let it go)
But also cause the Otsutsuki could have been introduced better and been something so much amazing than what we got.
Alright I have undoubtedly for the last few hundred or so words, might be more, might be less I don't care, been relieving my displeasure by taking the proverbial bat and hitting a made up clan in an anime/manga but still for as much as I dislike the ninja alien thing about the Otsutski they could have actually been something interesting and even cataclysmic, yes I know they already are with all those powers but that makes them feel like a forced threat.
Aright now come with me as I take you through how I think the Otsutsuki could have been done in a more narratively cohesive manner.
-The GIF up top has nothing to do with this rant but after I wrote down the beginning of the last part this just got stuck in my head and now it's probably in yours, ENJOY!-
Alright let's begin with how I think the Otsutsuki could have been introduced in a more natural, less forced manner, which is obviously through the Sage of Six Paths, son of Kaguya, brother of Hamura (had to look up his name cause honestly I don't think I ever knew, it which shows how forgettable they made him), father of Indra and Ashura and one of the most important people in Naruto, even if he was introduced so badly, Hagoromo Otsutsuki.
Now the Sage of The Six Paths is massively important in the story of Naruto even though he's become more a myth used to explain the known origins of chakra by the time the story starts, if I'm remembering that correctly, but as the old saying goes there's some truth to the origins of myths, or something like that I don't know anymore it's late I'm tired and I wont be able to fall asleep until I get this all out so bear with me.
Hagoromo is an Otsutsuki, at least through his mother Kaguya, but through the original Naruto narrative he was once nothing more than a man who became a legend and who's name then became forgotten through the passage of time and who's existence has became questioned more and more as the years passed, and those facts could have been used to start setting up his mother and the rest of her clan.
So through a quick google search and some quick looks at Reddit and other forum sites I've learnt that the Hagoromo was first mentioned the story by Orochimaru and the Third Hokage during Chuunin exams, now the internet could be lying to me I don't know honestly right now, don't care that much cause even if it is, that would have been the perfect time in the story to mention him since that's when the story really starts growing beyond just the Hidden Leaf, by not only introducing another major village but also smaller ones and characters like the aforementiond Orochimaru but also Gara and with him another one of the tailed beasts.
It's really important to remember the tailed beast are some the very few beings in Naruto that are old enough to know that Hagoromo truly existed, even without the fact that they saw him as a father, they know he's and they know his story as well as that of his family but the have a bad relationship with humans who they see as nothing more than their jailers so they obviously don't mention him straight out unless they find a human worthy, like Shikaku did with his first jinchuriki Bunpuku.
I've always loved that moment.
Not only because it shows how much the tailed beast, the most apparently vicious and uncaring creatures in Naruto do infact care, but also shows how big of an impact Hagorom had on them.
Now back to the matter at hand, with the increase in the world view that the chunin exam gave it also allowed for a more expanded view in the greater lore of the world, from which more information on Hagorom could have been added, such as the fact he had a brother and then later children, how he formed the first known clan and infighting between his sons lead to it demise but even with it's end pieces of his knowledge and deeds were preserved by members loyal to him, that then went on to form their own clans but time and war slowly wiped many of them out and those that remained slowly lost the pieces and story's their ancestors kept and so his name was lost to time and war but his deeds were to grand to ever be forgotten even if they became nothing more than myths to most people, while those that attempted to could learn about him but never get the full picture.
One such person being Orochimaru, who could have easily been the best begining point for information on Hagoromo since he wants so badly to find a way to achieve immortality, for then characters like Hinata and Nenji who as Hyugas descended from Hamura Otsutsuki to add more lore into the story by speaking of their ancient founder and the ties the Hyugas have with the moon, yes I know they don't actually have any in the story I'm just giving an example of what could have been done, and obviously Sasuke who as an Uchiha descends from Indra and we know the Uchiha are one of the oldest clans in the world of Naruto and unlike many clans have been able to keep story's form the time of Hagoromo and so when he enters his rut after getting soundly beat by his brother show him trying to find more information on the sharingan through the old Uchiha Texts that could mentioned Indra and the rinnegan, while finally using Tsunade to introduce Ashura while not mentioning him by Jiraiya mentioning to Naruto how the Uchiha and Senju had once been mortal enemies standing back all the way to their ancestors before Hashirama and Madara brought peace between the two clans and then proceeded to make the Hidden Leaf Village, the very first of the great villages.
All of those things would add to greater lore of the story a mixing between perceived myths and known reality. By adding to the lore readers are informed about Hagoromo, Hamura, Indra and Ashura, the conflict that crated the Hidden Leaf as well as being introduced to the Rinnegan in the first part of the story so that by the time Sasuke and Naruto leave the village we know something about this worlds history.
These characters could have added their own pice of historical lore to the story in a natural way that would only make the world more lived in while teasing readers with information that would have become important later in the story.
Now after the time skip we still have all the characters I talked about but we're also introduced to new characters like Jugo, Nagato, Karin and Bee as well as getting more information on characters we were introduced to but didn't spend much time with, Itachi, Kisame, and Tsunade, while introducing us to the other great Villages as well as the perceived villains of the story the Akatsuki, I'm not saying that some of it's members aren't outright monsters but they aren't the main antagonist of the story instead serving as unknowing cover for Madara and Obito., but in the end all these characters can be used to add more to the history of the world.
Beginning with those I think would add the least amoun Tsunade and Kisame, now honestly the reason I'ma saying these two could add the least amount is for no other reason that I can't really see them going on about some story they were told years ago, obviously Tsunade can add more info on the whole Senju Vs Uchiha part of the story, mentioning Hashirama, Tobirama and Madara while adding how it all started when her ancestors Ashura was chosen as the next head of her clan, obviously not knowing that the founders of both clans were once members of another clan and that their fighting is what lead to their founding, while Kisames backstory and flashbacks could tell us how the seven swords used by the swordsmen were created in ancient times after the Sage of Six Paths died and during the rising conflicts seven swords with own unique purpose were created in the image of the treasured tools of the Sage of Six Paths that could be welded without the need of monstrous chakra but instead skill.
Now in the grand scheme of things they wouldn't add much to the over arching lore other then mentioning Ashura, unknowingly mentioning Indra and Hagoromo along with the brothers ancient conflict and how their are still objects related to Hagoromo in existence in the modern day, like I said not much but still something as small as it might be.
While Jugo, Nagato, Karin, Itachi and the Akatsuki could add more to world history I think separately it wouldn't be all that much together it could be the foundations of Kaguyas introduction to the story.
First up Jugon and with him Kimimaro, our best known member of the Kaguya clan, a clan we know next to nothing about but Jugon could change that since he was close to Kimimaro the last known member of that clan he could tell us about the Kaguya Clan from what he was told, again like with the Hyugas and Uzumaki clan later none of this is canon and instead an example of how I think this could have been done, so let's say that Kimimaro tells Jugon at some point about his clan how their legends say they had once been the protectors of the Moon Goddess Kaguya who had gifted them long ago their kekkei genkai until one day her twin sons rebelled against her and her rule, sealing away her body in ancient tree husk and her soul in the moon itself and how the only way to release her was through sacrificing the enemies of their clan so their goddess could day return and rule the lands as she had before with their clan as her ever loyal guards, again totally non-canon but it introduces Kaguya while making her nothing more than a myth to a dead clan as well a serving as an explanation for their name and power which would be useful later on in the story.
Next Nagato, Karin could be used to grant more information on the legend of Kaguya, let's say that since both Nagato and Karin are members of the Uzumaki Clan their parents could have told them stories passed down in their clan like that of the Blood Moon Goddess, a woman that ruled through unmatched power after having eaten a cursed fruit only for her sons to one day realize the horrors of their mothers actions and so they went in search of a way to stop her from scourging the lands only to find that the only way to defeat her was through a technique used long ago by their own ancestors through the power of the Sun and Moon to seal her away in darkness beneth stone, and with her defeat came a time of prosperity but eventually that ended when the sons of the elder brother began to fight leading the end of one clan and the begining of two and eventually three when the daughter of one of the sons split away from the conflict once she learnt the seal that had been used on the Blood Moon Goddess could be undone, and if it ever was she wished to creat one that not even a wicked goddess as she could undo. Again while being nothing more than a legend that doesn't even have names, it grants more information to the readers and Naruto could have learnt it from Karin on their way to Hidden Leaf after Sasuke tried to kill her so our main character could have learnt something about the clan who's name he caries and also once more serving as explanation as to why only the Uzumaki could produced a seal strong enough to properly deal with the tailed beasts, why their sealing techniques were the best in the ninja world, and their connection to the Senju Clan.
Now the Akatsuki, who have already given us a lot of exposition in the story but a part of me wishes they could have granted more at least through Obito and Black Zetsu after the rest were defeated, honestly I don't fully know how they could have done it without spoiling some secrets important to the plot but I would have at least like something that could have made Black Zetsu motives come into question a bit after all he is his own being even if he was created through Kaguyas will.
Then we have Itachi, our favorite tsundere bro-con ninja, now he's stated by multiple people in Naruto to be a genius and we later learn someone who hated bloodshed but understood that it was an unavoidable part of the ninja world, now we also more importantly learn that he wanted to learn why things had to be such a way so that one day he could change them and considering that one of the biggest reasons for the way things were was the ancient conflict between the Uchiha and Senju after leaving the village joining tha Akatsuki it wouldn't be that surprising if Itachi decide to learn more about the conflict and it's origins in the process learning about Indra and Ashura, the sons of the last known head of the Otsutsuki clan Hagoromo more commonly known as the Sage of Six Paths. So no story for Itachi just a bloody history missing one piece the reason as to why it truly started, as for both the readers and characters could learn about all of this well it's simple really his final fight with Sasuke, having learnt the origins of his clan lie in the broken bones of brotherhood he could have easily told Sasuke it while fighting him for the last time how by deleting him he would take his eyes and unlock the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan and from there the Rinnegan. Sounds crazy I know but by the end he was acting like flown blown megalomaniacal villain only reverting back to his true self when he neared death for one final goodbye with his brother.
So all the characters I have mentioned could have added to the world lore in natural way, at least to me, that would have let reader and character learn about The Otsutsuki in a slow natural way as well as given the world a much needed expansion through stories of clans within it.
But the one I thing could have helped in the introduction of the Otsutsuki more than any mentioned is the one the only, you know him, you might love him, you might hate him, but it don't matter cause he's to cool for you, ladies, gents and anime fans of all age I give you KILLER BEE!!!!
-My brain is nearly fried but I'm almost done so just stay with me yeah?-
Killer Bee, one the three main Jinchuriki we know, brother and partner of A and most importantly here friend to Gyuki, the eight tails, whom he could have learnt so much about Hagoromo, Kaguya and the Ten Tails from. Now yes I know Bee is more off a joking fun time character but he does have his important serious moments and if the ancient beast you have sealed away within you whom you're friends with start talking to you about the man he saw as a father and the journey he went through before even his millennium behind was born I think even Bee would shut up and listen, allowing him to share that info with Naruto since as another Jinchuriki it also involves him allowing for the reader and Main character to learn the near definitive truth to the world. But we didn't get that nor did we get Naruto meeting Hagoromo during is training in the Falls of Truth.
Now as for how the story should have gone with the introduction of Kaguya, well that's simple enough Madara reveals he'd been doubting Black Zetsus motives after dodging his attack, cause you can't tell me he couldn't have, for many years but he was t useful to rid himself of until now, he then kills him, the eye of the Moon plan continues but Madara uses a seal he found in the Land of Whirlpools created by the Uzumaki to keep Kaguya sealed within the Moon, Hagoromo contacts Naruto and Sasuke using the connection he has with the tailed beasts to tell them how their greater chakra carries a piece of his sons whom souls lie in Purgatory having wished the fighting between their blood to end and can only reach the Pureland once this happens but since they carry a piece of his sons they can also carry the seals jutsus he and his brother Hamura carried to defeat Kaguya, they defeat Madara release the Tailed beast from within him and he has his final moment with Hashirama, Naruto and Sasuke proceed to have one final fight before happy ending, or at least that's what everyone thinks since in truth the seal that kept Kaguya under has infact began to weaken and waiver and so she becomes the Villain of Boruto where we learn that her clan were the once that found the God Tree in ancient and bloodied times where they ate the fruits it bore and gained powers far beyond those they knew eventually becoming revived as Gods while continuing to eat the fruit to grow in power only to start dying out because of that very consumption only to have their souls stuck in the mortal world, only able to pass on after granting powers to others by binding their souls together inorder to pay for their sins.
That's me right now after having finished this, it took two days, my brain is fired, I'm sure I lost the plot on multiple occasions, I don't know if what I wrote down makes any sense put together or put apart and I really don't care cause I wrote down 3,463 words (Thank you WordCounter), learnt I can only put 10 images in a post, created 3 simple collages and finally got everything with the whole Otsutsuki plot out of me so, if you've read all of this thank you really truly thank this wasn't supposed to be this long but it is and the fact you read it all means a lot, now I'ma gonna do like Leonard and lay face down in exhaustion but in my bed.
