Naruto is full of antagonists with complicated and heartfelt backstories that set them on the path of villainy. Akatsuki contains a number of antagonists who, had the story progressed differently, could have fought for the side of good. Then, there is Hidan. The fanatic, scythe-wielding warrior stands out among the rest with an unwavering driving force of carnage and destruction, basing his entire characterization on the amount of suffering he can cause. That is what it appears to be on the surface, but Hidan’s wild tongue is far more disastrous than any of his actions.
There is not a lot of canon information on Hidan, and his appearance within the Naruto anime is brief. However, within that momentary timeframe, Hidan kills one of the Konoha Jōnin and teacher of Team 10 — Asuma Sarutobi — faces off with Kakashi Hatake, Shikamaru Nara and the rest of Team 10, and captures the Two-Tailed jinchuriki, Yugito, alongside his partner, Kakuzu. Within these feats of battle, there is a running theme with Hidan’s characterization: he announces the suffering he will cause, only to inflict as little as possible.
Hidan Is Shown to Be Merciful in Battle Throughout Naruto
Within Hidan’s two major battles, his observed behaviors do not match up with his supposed intentions. When he fights against Asuma and the protagonists learn about his power of damage done to him also being inflicted on his foe, Hidan follows a routine. He enters his blood circle, taunts with a line like, “let’s savor the utmost of suffering together!” and then immediately strikes at his heart to end the battle. Asuma’s arm was burned from his own ninjutsu; Hidan stabbed his own leg to stop Asuma’s charge, and the scythe striking Hidan’s torso was from Asuma dodging the attack. When Hidan had control of the situation and had all the time to prolong the painful experience, he chose to end it.
This is further shown in the skirmish with Shikamaru. Hidan had previously clashed in a battle with multiple ninjas, so it could be argued he wanted to end this fight quickly. When he believed he had caught Shikamaru alone and within his jutsu, he wasted no time in aiming for his heart once again. So, the question becomes: is Hidan simply using his taunts as intimidation?
Yet, that would make little sense unless he gained a pleasure out of trying to scare someone before ending their lives. His scythe is designed for small nicks to commence his jutsu, and his killing weapon of choice is a spiked shaft, both useful for their purpose and not inflicting unbearable amounts of pain like the shredding of Samehada.
Naruto’s Hidan Isn’t Sadistic – He Is a Masochist
The reality of Hidan is that he cares very little for the pain he is inflicting on others, for their death is the pain he needs. He is a vessel of that final moment, in which he seems to find pleasure. A stab through the heart is not completely without pain, but the act would end a life fairly quickly. If Hidan truly desired a prolonged agonizing death of his foe to enjoy himself, there are more favorable ways to commit the act, but he never does so. For Hidan, there is a feeling of euphoria upon the victim’s death, not the act of causing surface-level pain.
This implies the bravado of his taunting about the amount of suffering he intends to cause is directed more to himself. Actions reveal more than words; due to his own inability to die, Hidan’s actions are more of a desire for self-gratification through the act of death coursing through his own body. While he is still a twisted character, the view he creates of being a torturer in Naruto is a falsehood. His true inclination is to experience death, for the concept is forever just out of his reach.
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