In Naruto: Shippuden , Kabuto was defeated by , who trapped him in a mental loop called Izanami . To escape, Kabuto had to acknowledge his true self and renounce his desire for stolen power. Following this redemption:
Kabuto does not physically die in the series, but he undergoes a profound "death of the self."
In the era of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations , Kabuto has fully transitioned into a protagonist role: He serves as the director of the Konoha Orphanage.