Tsukuyomi is a Mangekyō Sharingan dōjutsu and the most powerful genjutsu in existence.[2] Said to represent the "Spiritual World and Darkness" (精神界と闇, Seishinkai to Yami), it is the antipode to Amaterasu.[1]
Overview
After making eye contact with a target, Itachi Uchiha traps them in an illusion of his design. Through his unprecedented ability to alter targets' perception of time,[3] he uses Tsukuyomi to subject victims to days' worth of torture in a matter of seconds; examples include continual stabbing or reliving traumatic events over and over.[4][5] Tsukuyomi's illusions are usually represented as an inverted grey scale; in the anime, there is usually also a red moon in a red sky. Because of the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan and the speed with which Tsukuyomi works, normal methods of countering genjutsu are ineffective against it.[6]
Using Tsukuyomi requires a great deal of chakra, making it inadvisable for Itachi to continue fighting after using it.[6] Like all Mangekyō Sharingan abilities, Tsukuyomi also places strain on Itachi's eyes when performed, blurring his vision.[7] However, victims of Tsukuyomi have it far worse, as they are ordinarily rendered comatose as soon as Tsukuyomi's illusion is completed. Sharingan users can briefly resist unconsciousness,[4] but only particularly skilled Sharingan users that are blood-related to Itachi can actually break free of Tsukuyomi's influence.[7][8] Tsunade is the only person known to be capable of healing the psychological damage caused by Tsukuyomi.[9] In Akatsuki Hiden, Itachi theorises that victims can regain consciousness by using love to mend their spirits.
In Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night, Itachi uses Tsukuyomi on Izumi Uchiha, causing her to live through decades of a happy life in the span of a few moments. When she dies of old age within the illusion, her actual body dies as well.
Influence
Pulling from the ancient Japanese myth of Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo, where when Izanagi washed his face after escaping the underworld his right eye became Tsukuyomi, the Moon god. Interestingly, as Tsukuyomi is the Moon, he is also associated with the passing of time, and at times cited to be the God of Time (or at least of the calendar), fitting the genjutsu's ability to alter the perception of the passing of time.
Trivia
- In Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, Itachi uses Tsukuyomi by having the red moon crush the opponent while the image of the moon warps into a copy of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tō no Sho, pages 252-253
- ↑ Naruto chapter 389, page 1
- ↑ Naruto chapter 478, page 3
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Naruto chapter 142, pages 15-18
- ↑ Naruto chapter 147, page 15
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Naruto chapter 257, pages 7-8
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Naruto chapter 388, pages 13-15
- ↑ Naruto Chapter 142, page 15
- ↑ Naruto chapter 172, page 15
