Why Hagoromo Could Be a Weaker Final Villain Than Kaguya According to Naruto’s Plot

Hagoromo from Naruto played a pivotal role in ending the Fourth Great Ninja War and confronting Kaguya Otsutsuki. His choice to bestow his chakra upon Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha was monumental, enabling these two heroes to defeat the series’ ultimate antagonist and liberate the world from the nightmarish dreams of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

But what if Hagoromo had been the main antagonist instead of his mother? Many fans speculate that he could have posed an even greater challenge than Kaguya, given the extensive lore surrounding his character. Tobi had previously infiltrated the Five Kage Summit, detailing the dread surrounding the Sage of the Six Paths, thus casting a shadow over Hagoromo’s potential role as a villain.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Naruto: Examining Hagoromo as the final antagonist of the series

Hagoromo and Hamura as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot) — Hagoromo and Hamura as depicted in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Hagoromo Otsutsuki, also known as the Sage of the Six Paths, was the son of Princess Kaguya Otsutsuki and Tenji. He is notable as the father of Nishu, the founding figure of the shinobi world, and the first jinchuriki, holding the Ten-Tails within himself.

Upon his birth, Kaguya became consumed by her obsession with chakra, even desiring to devour her own children, Hagoromo and his twin brother Hamura. Thankfully, the brothers united to seal their mother, preventing further violence from occurring.

Unfortunately, Kaguya’s role as a villain lacked sufficient narrative development; her character was introduced abruptly as the final antagonist, with only vague references throughout the series, which failed to establish her as a credible threat.

The Five Kage Summit as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot) — The Five Kage Summit illustrated in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

In contrast, Hagoromo’s character was deeply rooted in lore. During the Five Kage Summit arc, Tobi disrupted the proceedings, using Kamui to appear among the village leaders. Claiming he meant no harm, Tobi unveiled the reason behind the Akatsuki’s pursuit of the tailed beasts, tracing the origins of the Sage of the Six Paths.

He spoke of a grand entity present since the dawn of time and the connection to the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails, shocking the assembled leaders since knowledge of the tailed beasts was limited at that time.

Tobi at the Five Kage Summit (Image via Studio Pierrot) — Tobi at the Five Kage Summit as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Tobi disclosed the Akatsuki’s aim to revive the Ten-Tails by collecting all nine tailed beasts and triggering the Infinite Tsukuyomi, a technique believed to guarantee happiness for all. Given this rich context, Hagoromo would have made an excellent choice for the series’ final antagonist.

Additionally, as the Sage of the Six Paths, Hagoromo would have been a formidable opponent for Naruto and Sasuke, especially considering that they may not have possessed the Six Paths chakra during their confrontation. This alteration could have significantly shifted the dynamics of the Fourth Great Ninja War, potentially shortening the overall narrative.