Orochimaru’s shocking freedom in Boruto: Why the Naruto villain was never punished

In the popular anime series Naruto, Orochimaru is known as one of the most dangerous characters. He was once a top ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village, but he turned against his people and became a major villain. Over the years, he did many terrible things such as performing experiments on humans, attacking villages, and even causing the death of the Third Hokage, one of the village’s leaders.
Despite all of this, Orochimaru was never truly punished. In the follow-up series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, which focuses on the next generation of ninjas, he returns and is allowed to live peacefully. He continues his scientific research and raises a child named Mitsuki, who is actually a human clone he created. Mitsuki is now a teammate of Boruto, the son of Naruto Uzumaki, the current leader of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Orochimaru was part of the legendary group called the Sannin, along with Jiraiya and Tsunade. After leaving the Hidden Leaf, he started conducting illegal experiments to gain eternal life and learn every jutsu. He joined the villain group Akatsuki and attacked the Hidden Leaf during the Chunin Exams, leading to the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
Despite all this, Orochimaru survived every battle and returned in the Fourth Great Ninja War, helping the Allied Shinobi Forces. After the war, he stopped fighting and slowly returned to a normal life. In Boruto, he now lives in his own lab and supports his "son" Mitsuki, who trains to become a good ninja.
The reason he is free is mostly political. After the war, the world needed peace. Leaders decided that as long as Orochimaru didn’t cause more trouble, he could stay under close watch. Naruto and other top ninjas believed that keeping him close and observing him was safer than trying to punish him and risk another escape.
In the Boruto series, Orochimaru is not shown as a hero, but he is no longer a threat. He is kept under surveillance by the Hidden Leaf Village. He is also watched by Yamato, a Leaf ninja who makes sure Orochimaru doesn’t return to his old ways.
Some fans believe this decision shows how the ninja world changed after the war. It focuses more on peace and second chances, especially if a person can still be useful. Orochimaru helps with science and ninja tools, and his son Mitsuki is loyal to the Hidden Leaf.
Even though he was once a feared villain, Orochimaru’s story shows how the ninja world now works. Instead of always choosing punishment, they sometimes choose peace even for someone with a dark past.