Yamato is a member of the ANBU, and a Konohagakure ninja of the same rank as Kakashi Hatake. He appears during the second part of the anime. In addition, he was the temporary leader of Team 7. His real name is unknown. Among the characters introduced in Shippuden, Yamato is certainly one of the most interesting ones, which is why we are writing this article for you. Namely, in it, we are going to tell you why Yamato keeps following Orochimaru after the events of Shippuden.
After Orochimaru was pardoned for all of his past crimes, Yamato was chosen, alongside a surveillance team, to watch over him in case he attempted again to act against the Five Great Nations. During this period, Yamato was told to not make direct contact with Orochimaru unless such an incident actually happened. Over time, Yamato became famous among his team as the only one who could directly approach Orochimaru without any fear.
The rest of this article is going to further elaborate on the story between Yamato and Orochimaru. You’re going to find out how the two of them are connected and why Yamato was the one chosen to follow Orochimaru around. If you’re not up to date with the story of Naruto, this article might contain some spoilers.
Why is Yamato following Orochimaru?
After Orochimaru was pardoned for all of his past crimes, Yamato was chosen, alongside a surveillance team, to watch over him in case he attempted again to act against the Five Great Nations. During this period, Yamato was told to not make direct contact with Orochimaru unless such an incident actually happened. This is the direct and short answer, but we do have to explain a lot of the circumstances regarding why Yamato was chosen for this task.
First of all, let us explain Yamato’s skills and abilities so that you know why he was chosen for this task and not someone else. As a member of the ANBU, Yamato is highly proficient in multiple areas, including spinning and setting traps. During his test, he demonstrated considerable taijutsu ability and clever use of diversionary tactics. Also, thanks to his ANBU training, Yamato has reflexes allowing him to react quickly to threats.
Sharing the same DNA as the first Hokage, Yamato possesses the Shodai’s signature, the Mokuton. This kekkei genkai allows him to combine the Doton in his right hand and the Suiton in his left hand to create trees. These trees can be grown, not only from the soil and pre-existing flora, but also from one’s own body, transforming its cells into a different life form. He also masters Doton and Suiton separately, as seen when he created a gigantic stunt for one of Naruto’s workouts.
Yamato has the power to suppress the power of Tailed Beasts. It was thanks to this legendary ability that Hashirama Senju was named the first Hokage, and he was greatly coveted by Orochimaru. Although the First Hokage had the ability to suppress all the power of Tailed Beasts, Yamato admitted to not being as skilled as him, so the limits of his suppression ability are unknown. However, he was able to remove four of Kyūbi’s nine tails within seconds. He also added a seal that works with the Hokage’s Necklace.
On his hand appears a number, which corresponds to the number of tails that Kyûbi has already managed to pull out when he takes possession of Naruto. After the necklace was destroyed, Yamato hinted that he could no longer help remove the Tailed Beasts’ hold so effectively. During Naruto’s journey to the Falls of Truth, however, he attempted to do so. Yamato can also use his abilities to suppress chakra from human beings. He notably used them to subdue Kisame Hoshigaki after his defeat.
As you can see, Yamato has proven his skills on multiple occasions and has rightfully been assigned to this difficult mission. He has the powers to combat Orochimaru if needed, as well as the skills to follow him around. But, is there a personal connection between them as well? Shortly after his birth, Yamato was kidnapped by Orochimaru and became one of sixty children chosen to be the latter’s test subjects.
These were injected with the DNA of the First Hokage, with the intention that they could reproduce the First’s ability to use Wood Release techniques, as well as the ability to control Bijūs. In the anime, it was revealed that Danzō teamed up with Orochimaru in this project in order to fulfill the aforementioned.
Yamato had the privilege of being the only survivor of all, in addition to the fact that he developed the Kekkei Genkai of the Wood Element, which led him to be an outstanding ninja. Due to his great talent as a ninja, he graduated from the academy at the age of six and also became a Chūnin. Afterwards, Danzō observed Yamato’s potential and decided to join him in his organization the Root of him, becoming an ANBU in his service, receiving the code name “Kinoe”, and personally trains him along with a Hashirama scroll.
Apparently, all of this happened without Orochimaru noticing. Years later, he was introduced when Kakashi Hatake had decided to enter Root at Danzō’s persuasion. He decides to attack Kakashi with his Wood element, but he uses his Chidori to counter it. Kakashi is then shocked to learn that Kinoe was not a normal boy; he was nothing short of a Mokuton user aside from the First Hokage.
As you can see, Yamato’s story is closely connected to Orochimaru in many ways. This is why Yamato was chosen to follow Orochimaru and not someone else. He has the necessary skills to do the task, he is powerful enough to initiate a fight with Orochimaru, and the two of them are connected through a shared history which has given Yamato better insight into Orochimaru’s psyche than anyone else would have. And this answers all of our questions and explains why Yamato was chosen to follow Orochimaru.
