Yuffie Kisaragi is an optional character in Final Fantasy 7, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake has teased enough information to hint at her imminent presence in FF7 Remake Part 2. The young shuriken-wielding ninja thief is known for her affinity for Materia, her brash cockiness, and her patriotism for her home nation of Wutai.
Similar to Vincent Valentine in FF7, Yuffie, her backstory, and her associated sidequests can all be avoided if players don't follow specific steps to make her a playable character. Yet despite their optional party status in FF7, Yuffie and Vincent have both become such fan favorites over the years, especially since they've each received more depth and growth in spin-off FF7 titles like Crisis Core, Dirge of Cerberus, and others, that it's unlikely the FF7 creators will let all of the development of these endearing characters go to waste.
Additionally, FF7 Remake is planting seeds and building up a Yuffie-related story element that was mentioned in the original game, but not near as prevalent as its turning out to be in FF7 Remake: the Wutai War and its aftermath. FF7 players may not have even noticed the conflict between Shinra and Wutai if they never added Yuffie to their party. Visiting Wutai itself is also completely optional in FF7; but political tension between it and Shinra is hard to ignore in the 2020 title.
[Warning: SPOILERS for Final Fantasy 7 & Final Fantasy 7 Remake Below]
Yuffie Kisaragi In Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2
FF7 portrays the Wutai War as one that's been settled and a thing of the past. Wutai lost and became a tourist resort, much to the dismay of Yuffie - a proud Wutai loyalist who dreams of restoring glory to her great nation. Although the Wutai War was expanded upon in Crisis Core, it's an easily missed story element in FF7; yet FF7 Remake frequently hints that the war is far from over. In fact, when trying to infiltrate the Shinra building in FF7 Remake's Chapter 16 "The Belly of The Beast," Tifa comments that security is looking tight and Cloud says he thinks it could be for Avalanche or even Wutai. Barret responds, "Can't be for Wutai. What about the cease-fire?" and Cloud confirms, "that only put the war on pause."
Moreover, Shinra propaganda constantly fuels hostility towards Wutai, as seen when President Shinra and Heidegger accuse Barret's Avalanche cell of conspiring with Wutai terrorists. Even minor character and slum resident Kyrie Canaan gets on her soapbox to regurgitate how Avalanche is to blame for the Sector 7 plate collapse, claiming Wutai is responsible for funding their activities. Although the delinquent's reasoning for this is to receive gil in exchange for information, Kyrie's plan backfires as the undercity residents become frantic about another war breaking out. This is a stark contrast from FF7 where Wutai is barely mentioned in Midgar except when Aerith's adoptive mother Elymra mentions her husband was sent to some far away place called Wutai during the war about 15 years ago.
It makes sense for FF7 Remake to give more backstory to the Wutai War, yet it deviates once again by portraying rising tensions and the possibility of more international conflict breaking out. As Yuffie is not only fiercely proud of her nation but also the daughter of Godo Kisaragi - Wutai's leader - it seems one reason FF7 Remake is building up the war to give her a more concrete and permanent role than she had in FF7. Wutai is also where ing antagonist and crime lord FF7 when he captures Yuffie and Elena of the Turks at Wutai's Da-chao Statue. Apart from this scene giving more use to Corneo's character model in Final Fantasy 7 Remake 2, it would also expand on his and Leslie Kyle's story, as one of the last scenes with Leslie shows him telling the party he'll track down Coreno eventually.
