Fans often consider the introduction of the Otsutsukis towards the end of Naruto a ‘sudden’ and controversial move. Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus has always been about the struggle of ninjas and the fight for their way of life. However, the shift from shinobis to aliens gave everyone a non-surprising whiplash.
Kishimoto is famous for creating marvelous villains, whose backstories can make you cry. Yet, he shifted the game towards super-powerful aliens, who later became the main antagonists of Boruto.
The seemingly “out of the blue” introduction of the Otsutsukis has been criticized by many. But was it really that sudden? Here are some of the instances when Kishimoto foreshadowed the Otsutsukis in Naruto.
The Gedo Statue in Naruto Episode 10
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, also known as the Gedo Statue, is the husk of the Ten-Tails that remained after its chakra was separated from its body. Hagoromo and Hamura Otsutsuki sealed it inside the moon, where it stayed until Madara Uchiha summoned it.
Kaguya was brought from the moon and inside a tree, mirroring the folklore.
— ʀᴀʏ 暁⚡️ (@SixPathsRay) April 3, 2024
This is peak foreshadowing because the Gedo Statue is literally the body of Kaguya (plus the tree). pic.twitter.com/bPoIhmXrBO
The statue itself sits on an open blossom, much like Kaguya in The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Princess Kaguya came from the moon and was born inside a bamboo shoot, much like how the statue is portrayed. The Gedo Statue itself was first introduced in episode 10 of Naruto: Shippuden.
The Sage of the Six Paths in Naruto: Shippuden Episode 329
First introduced in episode 329 of Naruto: Shippuden, the Sage of the Six Paths was initially depicted as a silhouette. His spiky hair, goatee, and other features later matched Hagoromo Otsutsuki’s appearance.
The Sage was hailed as a God and claimed to have created the Moon, further proving his status as something other than an earthly entity. Later, it was clarified that the Sage was actually Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the son of Kaguya.
Nagato also reveals that the Sage of the Six Paths created the moon, and his feat of sealing the Nine-Tails is nothing compared to that. This was a foreshadowing of Kaguya’s imprisonment in the moon.
The Kaguya Clan in Naruto Chapter 216
Kaguya Otsutsuki was foreshadowed years before her appearance. The first foreshadowing is in chapter 216, when Kimimaro uses kekkei genkai in a battle against Gaara and Rock Lee. This was because he was a descendant of the barbaric Kaguya clan. Kaguya herself later displayed this ability toward the end of the anime.
The Kaguya clan appears in the anime and looks very similar to Kaguya, its founder. Their short eyebrows and zigzag-patterned heads are inspired by their founder, who also lends her name to the clan.
Of course, it’s impossible to know if Masashi Kishimoto planned the Kaguya clan’s name beforehand or if it was a last-minute improvisation.
Reference to the Hyuga Clan in Naruto
Early on in the series, it was revealed that the abilities of the Uchiha clan were inherited from the Hyuga Clan. The Hyuga Clan are descendants of the Otsutsuki clan (Hamura Otsutsuki). Members born into the clan could use Byakugan, a kekkei genkai ability that the Otsutsukis first possessed.
Black Zetsu in Naruto Episode 134
First introduced in episode 134 of Naruto, Black Zetsu is the physical manifestation of Kaguya Otsutsuki’s will. It instigated many shinobi world events from the shadows and posed as Madara Uchiha‘s will.
Masashi Kishimoto is a clever crafter of plot, and while some elements were introduced a bit late, he still made the best of it and even used references from the manga’s early stages to justify the alien Otsutsukis.
If you plan on rewatching Naruto to discover the subtle hints about the Otsutsukis, you can watch it on Crunchyroll. You can read the manga on Viz Media and MangaPlus.
