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Learn about Juzo Biwa in Naruto, a key member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen whose skills left a lasting impact.
Naruto is full of main characters whom we know and acknowledge to be powerful Shinobi. The story mainly keeps its focus on characters like Naruto, Sasuke, and other main cast. Meanwhile, we have characters like Juzo Biwa, who was a member of the legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and was very powerful, but due to his lack of screentime, ended up being a side character. During his prime, everyone feared Juzo Biwa due to his skills and ruthless way of fighting.
Let us discuss who Juzo Biwa was and how his presence made a difference in the grand story of the series.
Who Is Juzo Biwa?
Juzo Biwa in Naruto was part of an elite shinobi group called the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He was from the Kirigakure village, which came under one of the great five shinobi countries. Juzo did not like to be associated with this as he had chosen to run away from his village. As a skilled swordsman, he wielded the Kubikiribōchō. This sword was known to have the ability to restore itself by absorbing Iron content from human blood. He remains a mysterious figure in the series as he mostly comes up in flashbacks.
To wield this sword, its primary requirement was brute strength due to its massive size. Juzo was a nice match to the requirement. He had shark-like teeth, was as tall as the sword, and was a muscular man. Notably, traits like these were common among swordsmen from his village.
Role in the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist
Each member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had unique and powerful swords. The organization selected only those who wielded blades and had a second prerequisite that limited its active number of members to seven at a time, hence the name. Each generation inherited these swords from the previous one. Juzo Biwa was part of the “Bloody Mist” era.
They were known to be ruthless under the training they went through in Kirigakure. Juzo had to go through a battle of death with his friends to reach this position, which deeply affected him and also made him a ruthless killer. His earning a position as one of the seven swordsmen speaks to his power level in the series. As a swordsman, his mastery of Kubikiribocho placed him among the most feared shinobi of his generation.
He participated in multiple missions, and in every one of them, he ended up spreading chaos and death, causing a tumultuous time in his reign.
Juzo’s Personality and Motivations
In the series, we do not get to explore a lot about his personality outside of him in a fight. Just like he was trained, Juzo was ruthless and efficient in combat and also showed a willingness to engage with brutal tactics if needed.
We get to see a glimpse of him outside fights, where he interacts with Itachi. Juzo is laid-back and sometimes seen to be cracking jokes. When there were any recruits in Akatsuki, he was patient enough to make them understand how the organization functioned.
After joining Akatsuki, he demonstrated loyalty by obeying every order Pain (Nagato) gave without question. Everyone in the organization respected and acknowledged him for his ability and stoic nature.
The story never truly revealed his motivation, but his actions suggest that a sense of duty and loyalty drove him. During his time as part of the Seven Swordsmen, he completed every mission assigned to him. Even in Akatsuki, he willingly worked with Itachi, disregarding their age difference. While most would feel superior, he viewed Itachi as an equal. This reflects Juzo’s sense of honor and professionalism.
Juzo’s Fate in Naruto
After partnering with Itachi, he intertwined his fate with him. Their leader assigned them a mission in the Land of Water, which did not sit well with Juzo, yet he reluctantly agreed. Both of them faced Yagura Karatachi, the three-tailed Jinchuriki, and the Fourth Mizukage. This battle was challenging as the opponent they faced was strong.
Both of them gave a tough fight to Yagura and his team of hunter-nin. While fighting the team of hunter-nin down, Yagura transformed into his beast form and attacked Juzo with no time for him to deflect it. This attack left him wounded; he was unable to resume the fight. Itachi then defeats the three-tailed Jinchuriki without his partner and hurries to look after Juzo.
Knowing he could not make it, Juzo accepts his death. Just one fact haunted him, that he was dying in the very place he despised. Itachi lays the remains of Kubikiribocho on Juzo as a sign of respect. Eventually, the people of Kirigakure reclaim the sword.
Juzo’s Role in the Fourth Great Ninja War
Reincarnation is common in Naruto if they have the body of the dead person. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kabuto Yakushi used this forbidden technique called Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei) to bring back numerous powerful shinobi which also included Juzo Biwa.
He was brought back to fight against Allied Shinobi Forces, and once again we could see him wielding his Kubikiribocho. His presence was for a short time, as his reanimation was to remind the audience of the fearsome opponent he could have been as a swordsman and to show us the growth that has taken place after all the time has passed after his death.
The Allied Forces sealed Juzo before he could do any actual damage, bringing his storyline to a conclusion once and for all.
The Impact of Juzo Biwa in Naruto
If we ignore the lack of screen time in the series, Juzo Biwa had a significant presence during this time. His connection to Itachi Uchiha provided insight into Itachi’s early days in the Akatsuki and his development as a character. His character adds depth to the portrayal of the Seven Swordsmen, showing us that even the most ruthless shinobi can possess a sense of honor.
Furthermore, his reanimation appearance during the Fourth Great Ninja War highlighted the strength and legacy the Seven Swordsmen had left in their world. It reminded the audience of their fearsome reputation and cautioned us of the threat that could have posed if he had been able to continue partaking in the war. His presence, though limited, contributed to the overall narrative, and indirectly he helped with the plot progression of characters like Nagato and Itachi.
Conclusion
While his story was brief, Juzo Biwa’s impact on Naruto was undeniable. He served as a reminder that even in a world filled with powerful characters, they could face their downfall if they chose the path of darkness. His character also helped us understand that in a story the supporting characters play an important role in shaping the narrative, which we saw happen in the series of Naruto.
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