Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-12509038-20140830021423/@comment-1514283-20140830045900

EternalMangekyoSharinnegan wrote:

The worst development of a villain, Obito. I'm sure 95% of this wikia's editor population can concur.

And I would vehemently and adamantly disagree with all 95% of you. I think Obito is a villain. My criticism for Obito lies only with the fact it took so long and that the reveal was poorly handled, which ties into my belief that Naruto, as a series, is ultimately a victim of its own success.

I think it's unfortunate a rather large, ignorant number of readers summate his character as a "friendzoned loser" rather than the catalyst of calamity he truly is. People have already forgotten how he is the one that manipulated everyone from the beginning.

In many ways he is the most clear antithesis of Naruto and the most accurate representation of what Naruto could have become. And I know, Kishimoto has done parallels and mirrors to death already, but it is what is, and I am well aware that sounds like a lazy dismissal, but that's how I feel about it.

fake edit; I'll also readily agree Obito's redemption should have been handled much better than it was.