Content: Tsukuyomi, one of the Mangekyo Sharingan kekkei genkai abilities wielded by Itachi Uchiha in Naruto, is widely regarded as one of the most powerful genjutsu in the shinobi world. It allows Itachi to quickly overpower opponents who are much stronger than him. As a pacifist, Itachi prefers using genjutsu in battle before resorting to physical combat, making Tsukuyomi a perfect fit for his fighting style. This technique has proven to be devastating, as Itachi has easily defeated formidable shinobi like Kakashi Hatake, leaving them bedridden for an extended period due to the severe mental trauma inflicted. This demonstrates the immense power of Tsukuyomi in Part I of Naruto.
Unlike Itachi's other genjutsu, which can be activated with a simple movement of his finger, Tsukuyomi requires direct eye contact, even if it's just for a moment. Once trapped in Tsukuyomi, Itachi can transport his victims to a realm of his choosing. In this realm, he has complete control over time, able to stretch it to extreme lengths and subject his opponents to prolonged torture or force them to relive traumatic events from their past. It is this unparalleled ability to manipulate a victim's perception of reality that sets Tsukuyomi apart from other genjutsu in Naruto. Classified as Yin Release, Tsukuyomi represents the highest level of projecting one's imagination through ninjutsu, completely distorting a victim's sense of reality and potentially even causing their death if Itachi infuses enough chakra into the technique.
Named For The Moon God
Tsukuyomi is derived from the Shinto religion and Japanese mythology, taking its name from Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the moon god. Despite limited information about this deity, including their gender which has been referred to as male in some texts, Tsukuyomi follows the same naming tradition as other abilities of Mangekyo Sharingan, such as Amaterasu, Susanoo, Izanagi, and Izanami, all named after deities in the Shinto religion.
According to the tale, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto came into existence when Izanagi-no-Mikoto, the creator deity of the Shinto religion, purged himself of his sins while bathing, having escaped from the underworld and the fury of his sister Izanami. One version of the story suggests that Tsukuyomi was born when Izanagi washed his right eye, while another version explains that they emerged from a white copper mirror held in Izanagi's right hand. Similarly, Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and Itachi's right Mangekyo Sharingan ability, came to be when Izanagi washed his left eye, and Susanoo, the god of storms, emerged when he washed his nose.
Unending Pain In An Instant
When activated, Tsukuyomi manipulates the surroundings of a target, transforming them into a fabricated illusion crafted by Itachi. Within this realm, Itachi has the power to inflict immense torment upon his victims, as demonstrated by his treatment of Kakashi. Under this genjutsu, Kakashi experienced the agonizing sensation of being continuously stabbed while restrained on a cross, unable to defend himself. Apart from the actual physical pain, the overwhelming feeling of helplessness gradually consumes those subjected to this manipulation, rendering them unconscious or potentially even nearing death once the ordeal concludes. In the animation, Tsukuyomi's illusions are typically depicted in an inverted grayscale with a red moon looming over a blood-red sky, evoking a nightmarish realm. Generally, victims remain comatose following the completion of the illusion, although most Sharingan users can temporarily resist succumbing to unconsciousness. However, highly skilled users like Sasuke possess the ability to break free from its control, although the full extent of the genjutsu's impact that Itachi employed against Sasuke during their encounter is not entirely known.
One of the most horrifying aspects of Tsukuyomi is its capacity to manipulate an individual's perception of time, expanding it to unimaginable proportions. For instance, Itachi can subject his victims to days' worth of torture in a matter of seconds or even shorter durations, rendering them incapacitated without any physical contact. Moreover, the speed at which Itachi can cast this genjutsu and the formidable power of the Mangekyo Sharingan make it nearly impossible for even ordinary Sharingan users to counter or dispel. Only a few, if any, members of the Uchiha clan possess the resilience to overcome such an experience, and those who emerge without lasting damage are left emotionally shattered for an extended period of time after falling victim to this genjutsu.
The Pitfalls Of Overuse
Both Kakashi and Sasuke lapsed into comas, saved only by the intervention of Tsunade, a highly skilled medical-nin, who prevented them from succumbing to the mental anguish inflicted by the genjutsu. In the case of Sasuke, Itachi compelled him to relive the harrowing moments of the Uchiha Clan Downfall, vividly experiencing the darkest chapters of his life through Tsukuyomi. This ability was also employed by Itachi on Izumi Uchiha during the Uchiha Clan Downfall, as depicted in Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night. However, instead of subjecting her to torment, Itachi showed her an entire lifetime within a fleeting moment, where they married, had children, and eventually aged together, culminating in her demise in the illusion and her passing away in his embrace in the real world.
Considering all these factors, Tsukuyomi can be easily classified as one of the most formidable abilities in the Naruto series. If it weren't for certain drawbacks, countering it would nearly be impossible. To utilize Tsukuyomi, a Mangekyo Sharingan is needed, which gradually loses its vision over time due to prolonged usage. Itachi experienced this during his time with the Akatsuki and was on the verge of blindness before his demise. It's worth noting that his terminal illness only exacerbated the situation, as even without it, the deterioration of his vision would have been inevitable. The strain on his eyes was evident as he would bleed from them whenever he utilized Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu in rapid succession.
Casting Tsukuyomi requires a significant amount of chakra, making it unwise to use against multiple opponents. It is best utilized as a surprise attack on formidable adversaries in one-on-one or small team battles to effectively neutralize threats. However, using Tsukuyomi drains Itachi's chakra reserves, making it challenging for him to continue fighting. Despite its power, Itachi had to carefully choose when and how to employ this technique against opponents. Nevertheless, shinobi worldwide feared Itachi and considered him one of the most skilled genjutsu users of his era.
