Why doesn't Kabuto Yakushi have the curse mark?


I have not seen the curse mark on Kabuto. (I have watched till episode 120).
Why didn't Orochimaru give the curse mark to Kabuto? Is it because Kabuto is
already powerful?




Let's begin by analysing people who Orochimaru marked with Cursed Mark and
what they have in common.

**Jiroubo, Ukon, Sakon, Tayuya, and Kidoumaru**

They are granted the Cursed Mark not because Orochimaru wanted to use them as
their vessel, but rather as an experiment on how far the cursed mark can
improve someone's fighting capability and what are the side effects. They are
also granted the Cursed Mark as a mean of improving their fighting capability
so that they can serve Orochimaru better.

**Kimimaro**

He was supposed to be the container for Orochimaru. He was chosen for he has
the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai which enables him to use his bone as weapon.
He was the last one of his clan, which makes his Kekkei Genkai unique.
However, since he was sickly, he lost his position as the next container for
Orochimaru to Uchiha Sasuke who possessed the Kekkei Genkai Sharingan. While
Sharingan was not as rare as Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai, Uchiha Sasuke was in
good health. Kimimaro was barely hanging alive, having to rely on machineries
to keep himself alive as long as possible. The thing is, the dojutsu that
Orochimaru used to transfer his soul to another body ([Furou Fushi no
Jutsu](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Living_Corpse_Reincarnation) or Living
Corpse Reincarnation in English) has a limitation of 3 years cooldown before
it can be used again. If during those 3 years the vessel dies out, he won't be
able to escape death. Thus, Kimimaro lost his position as the next vessel to
Sasuke.

**Uchiha Sasuke**

Originally, it was not Sasuke that Orochimaru wanted. It was Uchiha Itachi,
Sasuke's elder brother. However, since Itachi is far too strong for Orochimaru
to handle (Orochimaru did tried to attack Itachi, only to fall to the latter's
genjutsu and was unable to break free at all), Sasuke was chosen.

## Now, why is it that Yakushi Kabuto didn't get any Cursed Mark?

**First** , at that time, Kabuto was Orochimaru's assistant. He is necessary
for Orochimaru to help with his research, and to help him prepare the next
vessel for his Incarnation jutsu. Orochimaru needed **his brain more than his
body**. Of course if Orochimaru was in a dire need of a new vessel right away
and no one else was around for him to transfer to, undoubtedly, he would have
consumed Kabuto for the sake of his own survival and Kabuto would definitely
give his body gladly, seeing how devoted he is to Orochimaru. However, such a
condition was never the case for Orochimaru, and thus there is no need for him
to give Kabuto a Cursed Mark since Cursed Mark only increase fighting ability
and not intelligence.

**Second** , while Kabuto were said to be around Kakashi's level (Kakashi is
in Special Jounin level and the fact that he was nominated to be a Hokage
means that he was one of the strongest in Konoha), Kabuto possessed no Kekkei
Genkai. In other words, he was not a potential vessel as far as Orochimaru is
concerned.

**Third** , based on the [trivia](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Sound_Four),
the seal that was given to the Sound Four was based on cardinal direction.
Since all 4 of the basic cardinal directions was filled, and that Heaven and
Earth seal was used on Sasuke and Kimimaro, there is no other seal for
Orochimaru to use on Kabuto.




Let's begin by analysing people who Orochimaru marked with Cursed Mark and
what they have in common.

**Jiroubo, Ukon, Sakon, Tayuya, and Kidoumaru**

They are granted the Cursed Mark not because Orochimaru wanted to use them as
their vessel, but rather as an experiment on how far the cursed mark can
improve someone's fighting capability and what are the side effects. They are
also granted the Cursed Mark as a mean of improving their fighting capability
so that they can serve Orochimaru better.

**Kimimaro**

He was supposed to be the container for Orochimaru. He was chosen for he has
the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai which enables him to use his bone as weapon.
He was the last one of his clan, which makes his Kekkei Genkai unique.
However, since he was sickly, he lost his position as the next container for
Orochimaru to Uchiha Sasuke who possessed the Kekkei Genkai Sharingan. While
Sharingan was not as rare as Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai, Uchiha Sasuke was in
good health. Kimimaro was barely hanging alive, having to rely on machineries
to keep himself alive as long as possible. The thing is, the dojutsu that
Orochimaru used to transfer his soul to another body ([Furou Fushi no
Jutsu](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Living_Corpse_Reincarnation) or Living
Corpse Reincarnation in English) has a limitation of 3 years cooldown before
it can be used again. If during those 3 years the vessel dies out, he won't be
able to escape death. Thus, Kimimaro lost his position as the next vessel to
Sasuke.

**Uchiha Sasuke**

Originally, it was not Sasuke that Orochimaru wanted. It was Uchiha Itachi,
Sasuke's elder brother. However, since Itachi is far too strong for Orochimaru
to handle (Orochimaru did tried to attack Itachi, only to fall to the latter's
genjutsu and was unable to break free at all), Sasuke was chosen.

## Now, why is it that Yakushi Kabuto didn't get any Cursed Mark?

**First** , at that time, Kabuto was Orochimaru's assistant. He is necessary
for Orochimaru to help with his research, and to help him prepare the next
vessel for his Incarnation jutsu. Orochimaru needed **his brain more than his
body**. Of course if Orochimaru was in a dire need of a new vessel right away
and no one else was around for him to transfer to, undoubtedly, he would have
consumed Kabuto for the sake of his own survival and Kabuto would definitely
give his body gladly, seeing how devoted he is to Orochimaru. However, such a
condition was never the case for Orochimaru, and thus there is no need for him
to give Kabuto a Cursed Mark since Cursed Mark only increase fighting ability
and not intelligence.

**Second** , while Kabuto were said to be around Kakashi's level (Kakashi is
in Special Jounin level and the fact that he was nominated to be a Hokage
means that he was one of the strongest in Konoha), Kabuto possessed no Kekkei
Genkai. In other words, he was not a potential vessel as far as Orochimaru is
concerned.

**Third** , based on the [trivia](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Sound_Four),
the seal that was given to the Sound Four was based on cardinal direction.
Since all 4 of the basic cardinal directions was filled, and that Heaven and
Earth seal was used on Sasuke and Kimimaro, there is no other seal for
Orochimaru to use on Kabuto.

