Who is Tobi in ‘Naruto?’

Naruto is the story of a young ninja who dreams of becoming not only the strongest ninja, but also earning the title of Hokage. The anime follows his journey to become the leader of his village Konohagakure – also known as the Hidden Leaf Village. Divided into two main parts — Naruto and Naruto Shippuden — the series follows Uzumaki Naruto who is an energetic yet mischievous orphan. Inside him, Naruto carries a very powerful and dangerous Nine-Tails Fox demon which was sealed within him at birth. This causes him to be ostracized by the people of the village since the demon had attacked the village before and caused many deaths. 

The masked puppeteer: Akatsuki’s Tobi

The Naruto universe is a world brimming with complex characters and riveting narratives. Very few figures have managed to capture the attention of fans as much as Tobi. Tobi is a character with a mysterious identity that veils his true identity and motives. This multifaceted and puzzling character left a lasting mark on the overall story. His presence weaves an intricate tapestry that combines deception, ambition, and tragedy. 

Tobi first appears in the series as a member of the Akatsuki organization, a notorious group with several rogue ninjas who aim to harness the power of the Tailed Beasts to alter the world. Tobi presents himself as a clumsy and incompetent fool which causes him to be underestimated by both his peers and enemies. He hides his face behind a mask of a swirling vortex which gives a physical representation of his ambiguous nature. With this carefully constructed illusion, he is able to precisely operate in the shadows without facing suspicion. As the story progresses, Tobi’s true motives and intentions begin to unravel.

Beneath the façade: Tobi’s true identity

Behind the mask and the façade lies Uchiha Obito. Obito was believed to have died while on a mission with his teammates – Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin. His survival and miraculous recovery are all thanks to the manipulative schemes of Uchiha Madara. Traumatized by the loss of his friends and being crushed under debris, Obito became vulnerable and open to embracing the distorted version of reality that Madara fed him. Madara is an ancient and extremely powerful figure whose motives are also initially unknown. He manipulates and shapes Obito into the vengeful and cunning character that is Tobi who serves as Madara’s pawn. Obito’s transformation into Tobi is a harrowing and haunting tale filled with tragedy, deception, and manipulation. 

Tobi’s unique abilities and tactical expertise help him become involved with the Akatsuki. He can phase through objects and attacks using his intangibility technique – which makes him almost untouchable in battle. This — combined with his adept use of chakra — renders him a truly formidable opponent. While his presence as a member of the Akatsuki is viewed as being a seemingly compliant underling, as the story progresses, his true manipulative demeanor as a mastermind is unveiled. His nature becomes more evident in his interactions with characters like Zetsu and Nagato.

Obito’s redemption and atonement

Tobi’s character is not only defined by his cunning and malicious intentions, however. Beneath his façade, we catch glimpses of how he’s still vulnerable and struggling with conflicting emotions. While facing Naruto, Tobi comes in contact with the youngster’s steadfast belief in friendship and his convictions start to waver. We watch as cracks form in his persona and doubts pop into his mind. Obito is revealed to be a character with a fractured mind who struggles with the weight of his actions while wearing the mask of Tobi. The memories of the time before he became Tobi haunt him. 

As Tobi’s story reaches a crescendo, the world inches closer to the brink of destruction following Madara’s plan to kickstart the Fourth Great Ninja War and put everyone under the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Tobi’s alliance with Madara is exposed to the world and everyone sees the extent of manipulation that had guided his actions. In a satisfying twist of fate, Obito’s good nature resurfaces and he makes an attempt to atone for all his past sins by protecting Naruto and the rest of the world. Tobi’s story becomes a reminder that even the most enigmatic characters are born out of the complexity of human experiences.