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The statements Masashi Kishimoto attached to Naruto’s characters continue to resonate among fans, cementing Naruto as a timeless shōnen series. Whether villain or hero, the profound observations made throughout the series still linger on, even years after the manga and anime have moved on to the next generation of ninja heroes. As one of Shippuden’s most tragic villains, Obito Uchiha is one of the series’ most complicated characters, and the many statements he made still hang heavy in the air today.
From his traumatic childhood to the unimaginable acts he committed, Obito is easily one of the most controversial and complex characters in Naruto. His mentality and behaviors were often inconsistent. He made countless statements that ranged from nihilism and humility to expressing his version of philanthropy at times. Obito’s ideals throughout the series were ever-changing, but he was brought back to his core values before his end.
Updated on July 4, 2025, by Natasha Elder: Obito Uchiha proved to be one of the main antagonists in Naruto: Shippuden, significantly influencing many of the major events. As such, it is no surprise that he has many memorable quotes, whether as Tobi, the villainous Obito, or a young child with hopeful ambitions. This article was updated with more of the best Obito quotes and to reflect CBR’s current publication standards.
25 "I'm Sorry I'm Late!"
Season 7, Episode 386, "I'm Always Watching"
I’m sorry I’m late!
There are many times when Obito Uchiha has said this memorable line, particularly when his backstory is revealed, but in Episode 386, it carries a special weight. In this instance, he is running late to a team event for the Chunin Exams, very nearly causing the entire team to get disqualified. However, he isn’t running late for no reason. He stopped to help a Konoha citizen, demonstrating that he cares for the people of the Hidden Village to such an extent that he is willing to risk delaying a personal ambition. Thus, this quote emphasizes the caring nature that Obito had lost over the years, while simultaneously revealing his kind, hidden side.
Additionally, Kakashi adopted a version of this line in the wake of Obito’s supposed death as a way to emulate the teammate he thought so highly of. This replication also demonstrates the intrinsic link between this Obito quote and his personality. This phrase that so annoyed those around him while he was alive became one of the ways those close to him fondly remembered him after his «death.» While this line doesn’t have quite the same impact as some of his later speeches, which is why it ranks at the bottom of the list, it’s still one of Obito’s best quotes.
24 "I'll Scare the Hell out of Them With My Sharingan Stare"
Season 7, Episode 362, "Kakashi's Resolve"
The Sharingan is well-known to be one of the most formidable dojutsu in the Naruto franchise. Additionally, at the time Obito was a child, the Uchiha clan was thriving. Many members were respected, or even feared, figures, so it makes sense that Obito would boast about the power of the Sharingan, even before he awakened his own. This quote also indicates how naïve he was, though. Though his heart was in the right place, his Sharingan alone wouldn’t be enough to dissuade opponents.
I’ll scare the hell out of them with my Sharingan stare and no one will dare attack our village!
Moreover, this reveals a glimpse into Obito’s psyche. Even as a relatively green shinobi, Obito was more focused on gaining power and frightening his enemies rather than uniting Konoha. Again, this comes from a good place, as Obito truly cares for the citizens of the Hidden Leaf Village and wants to protect them. However, this quote is more about his ability to effect change on his own, rather than the best interests of the village.
23 "…There's No Need to Protect [Your Comrades], Right?
Season 7, Episode 371, "Hole"
Given that Obito once called those who abandoned their friends «scum,» this quote demonstrates just how far he has strayed from the philosophies he once believed in. An interesting series of flashbacks illuminates Obito’s backstory, including the moment when he yells at Kakashi for being willing to abandon Rin. In complete opposition to this, Obito mocks Naruto’s attempts to protect his comrades, as well as Naruto’s retort about his bond with those he fights alongside.
If the pain of your comrades’ death is part of your bond, there’s no need to protect them, right?
The cruelty of this comment underscores how little Obito truly cares for the citizens of the Hidden Leaf Village, despite his claims. The damage in his past prevented him from empathizing with Naruto’s situation, at least at first. The many years of Madara’s influence undoubtedly contributed to Obito’s shifting mindset as well. Madara further manipulated Obito into turning against the village.
22 "Reality Is Cruel."
Season 7, Episode 372, "Something to Fill the Hole"
Like many characters in the Naruto franchise, Obito had a pretty tragic backstory. As such, it is no surprise that he holds the view that reality is cruel. Moreover, he spent many years with a man who certainly reinforced the idea that life is unfair, a notion that Rin’s death further reinforced. More than that, though, Obito believes that everyone will eventually feel the same way, as life will inevitably let them down.
Reality is cruel. This hole is only going to get bigger. Things don’t always go the way you want them. Nor does help always get there in time. Just like how it was with me! Just like how I couldn’t get there in time. Wouldn’t you agree, Kakashi?
In this bit of dialogue, Obito also puts a new spin on his infamous line about being late. Being late, while relatively harmless in training, had significant and even deadly consequences outside of it. People end up hurt and killed because others are too late to save them. Obito’s pointed question to Kakashi hammers home that Kakashi, of all people, knows this, as he had once lost everyone he cared about. Ultimately, this reveals the source of Obito’s motivation.
21 "I'm Going to be the Hokage!"
Season 7, Episode 362, "Kakashi's Resolve"
Like the titular protagonist, Obito had at one point wanted to become Hokage of Konoha. In fact, he is so confident of the fact that he loudly declares not only his ambition but his specifications for his stone carving upon introducing himself to his genin team. Moreover, he reveals the fact that he not only wants a stone carving to honor him as Hokage, but to glare over the neighboring countries, and in that way still scare them away from the Hidden Leaf Village residents.
I’m going to be the Hokage! My name’s Uchiha Obito! For my Great Stone Face, make sure my trademark goggles and Sharingan are nicely carved out! So I can glare over the neighboring lands!
The most important part of this quote is how much it contrasts with the villain that Obito eventually becomes. Rather than striving to be a great leader that wants to defend those around him, he becomes one of the biggest threats to not only Konoha, but the other villages, as well. He doesn’t even retain the iconic goggles he was so proud of as a child, emphasizing the loss of innocence consequent of everything he went through.
20 “You Have Such a Short Fuse.”
Season 6, Episode 9, “Assemble”
They’re extremely strong, that team. No wonder Deidara got pummeled by them. Your limit? Just calm down, Deidara. You mean you’ll get explosive, right? As we all know, you have such a short fuse. Ha! You got in trouble with our leader.
Comic relief is an integral part of many shows that tackle heavy themes, including Naruto. At the time Obito was introduced and parading under the alias of «Tobi», he was a comical character whose humor lightened the mood of the scenes he appeared in, while simultaneously making the Akatsuki less menacing and more relatable. Obito intentionally got under Deidara’s skin when they were partners, his playfulness often causing one of the more carefree Akatsuki members to take on an almost uncharacteristically stern role.
While the above quote is a model example of Obito and Deidara’s relationship dynamic, these words also serve as a testament of Obito’s fluctuating personality. It can be deduced that Obito’s playful personality was a case of superficial charm, since he was only acting that way until certain conditions were met. Obito’s calculative and deceptive approach laid the groundwork for the major antagonist he was built up to be later on in Naruto, and this is a great example of foreshadowing what will come. However, other quotes are funnier or reveal more about his philosophies, which is why it is listed at #20.
19 “Ninja Art: Whack-A-Mole Jutsu!”
Season 6, Episode 22, “Banquet Invitation”
The Fated Battle Between Brothers Arc is one fans had been anticipating since Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha’s family feud came to light in early Naruto. Their conflict sparked other events, such as the Itachi Pursuit Mission and Kisame Hoshigaki’s fight with Suigetsu Hōzuki. Crucial characterization of Sasuke and shocking information about Itachi and the Leaf Village’s elders marked a turning point in the series. Obito played a key role in this arc as well.
Oh, I’ve got it! I’m going to name this jutsu… Ninja Art: Whack-A-Mole Jutsu.
Instead of finding Itachi, the Itachi Pursuit Team found themselves being stalled by Obito. This encounter between Obito and the leaf ninja was entertaining due to Obito’s mysterious intangibility and him evading all of their attacks, along with his humor, such as the “Whack-A-Mole Jutsu”, which just consisted of him popping out of various places and swatting the leaf ninja with a stick. Obito masterfully leaned into the trope of the most dangerous characters having a silly personality.
18 “He Must Also Bear the Risk of Feeling Hate.”
Season 8, Episode 1, “Somber News”
In Naruto, the Uchiha can only awaken their Sharingan in times of intense emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one. Consequently, the Curse of Hatred was an ideal unique to members of the Uchiha Clan. According to Tobirama Senju, the Uchiha feel emotions more intensely than others and as a result of this, the hatred they feel can be overwhelming enough to get them fixated on things such as revenge, or it could instantaneously drive them to awaken the Sharingan, which is a formidable visual power that only occurs in select members of the Uchiha clan.
When a man learns to feel love, he must also bear the risk of feeling hate.
The Uchiha were a Naruto clan that amassed strength through painful emotions. According to neuropsychology, love and hate are closely linked due to them sharing a significant overlap in brain activity. While Obito’s words are scientifically correct, the harmful aspects of these intense emotions are depicted through the Uchiha, whose volatile nature made the two extremes of emotions a calamity. An illustration of this is the Uchiha Massacre, the Fourth Great Ninja War and Sasuke’s unyielding pursuit of vengeance.
17 “It Is Too Late for Regret.”
Season 15, Episode 22, “Secret of The Transportation Technique”
Obito’s traumatic experiences forced him to, «Wake up to reality» as Madara Uchiha said. In the past, Obito had a cheerful personality that was similar to the main protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki. Sadly, Obito was shown firsthand the cruelties of the ninja world. Eventually, he lost himself and was remodeled in Madara’s image. Even his body had properties that didn’t belong to him. Obito dwelled mentally in the past, a place he could never quite escape.
It is too late for regret. Reality just keeps cruelly moving forward. You have seen reality, so you ought to know, not one wish gets granted in this miserable world. That is why I shall guide it toward the dream of Infinite Tsukuyomi. I shall create a world where it won’t be necessary for a hero to pathetically make excuses in front of a grave.
When Obito experienced the grief and trauma of losing Rin Nohara during the Third Great Ninja War, he rejected it. At the time of Rin’s death, Obito finally accepted Madara’s cynical worldview as truth, since he had witnessed the sickness of the ninja world in a way that broke him. He wanted Rin’s fate to be an illusion, but as time passed, more violence ensued and the body count continued to rise, while her fate didn’t change. Obito also expressed resentment and sympathy towards Kakashi Hatake, who he watched grieve at his and Rin’s graves regularly. Obito felt the costs of war were unnecessary, and he pursued Project Tsuki No Me to remedy it.
16 “I'm in Hell.”
Season 15, Episode 25, “I’m in Hell.”
A prime example of the Uchiha’s Curse of Hatred is exhibited by Obito’s massacre of the Blood Mist platoon. After witnessing the death of his childhood best friend, Obito awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan due to his heightened emotional state. Although the mist ninjas weren’t directly responsible for Rin’s death, they were Kakashi and Rin’s aggressors at that moment. In turn, they became the object of Obito’s hatred and the emotional suffering he felt became physical torment for the mist ninjas.
“I get it… I’m in Hell.”
Obito’s annihilation of the mist ninjas is one of the most brutal and horrifying scenes in Naruto. The aftermath of his rampage caused him to re-evaluate himself and the world around him. The world where ninjas were constantly at war with each other and his friends became martyrs or casualties wasn’t a world Obito wanted to live in. The excessive amount of suffering, destruction and violence present in the ninja world is what he perceived as hellish.
