Sharingan

The **Sharingan**, known as the "Copy Wheel Eye" in literal translation, is a special genetic trait called a dōjutsu kekkei genkai that is possessed by select members of the Uchiha Clan. It is considered one of the "Three Great Dōjutsu," alongside the Byakugan and the Rinnegan. While its abilities can be traced back to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Rinne Sharingan, the Sharingan in its distinctive form was initially awakened by Indra Ōtsutsuki (known as Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki in the anime).

## **Acquisition**

When individuals possessing the Kekkei Genkai undergo intense emotional experiences related to someone dear to them, their brain releases a unique form of chakra that directly affects the optic nerves, leading to the transformation of their eyes into the Sharingan. It is often referred to as an "eye that reflects the heart" (心を写す瞳, Kokoro o utsusu hitomi) due to this connection. These powerful emotional states can be both positive and negative, although the most common trigger for the initial activation is the loss of a beloved person to the bearer.

## **Abilities**

The Sharingan is known for possessing two unique, but broad abilities. These abilities are the "Eye of Insight" (洞察眼, *Dōsatsugan*) and the "Eye of Hypnotism" (催眠眼, *Saimingan*).

**"Eye of Insight"**

* The user can see chakra, giving it colour in order to distinguish it by its composition and source. Though not as capable in this regard as the Byakugan, it can see chakra through some (but not all) obstructions and detect irregularities in a person's chakra flow, such as those caused by genjutsu influence.

* The user is granted incredible clarity of perception, enabling them to read lips or mimic something like pencil movements. Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan was even able to see on a cellular level. In combat, this allows them to see fast-moving objects and, once fully developed, offers some amount of predictive capabilities: they can anticipate an opponent's next move based on the slightest muscle tension in their body and act accordingly to dodge or intercept. They can also read the enemy's hand seals to give them an insight of the performed technique's nature, regardless of the speed of performance, so long as the hands are not physically hidden from view. Although a Sharingan user can see these things, they also need the physical ability to actually act on the visual information. In the anime, it is shown that with advanced enough prowess, via eye contact, the user can even enter the target's mind to look through their memories., and even erase them within a long range for several targets.

* The user is able to copy almost any jutsu they see, memorising ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu with near-perfect accuracy. They can then either perform that jutsu or modify it to suit their needs, as when Sasuke Uchiha bases his Lion Combo on Rock Lee's Front Lotus. Again, Sharingan users need the prerequisite abilities before they can mimic a jutsu they have seen, and for that reason they cannot, for example, reproduce kekkei genkai abilities they do not have or nature transformations they haven't learned to perform.

**"Eye of Hypnotism"**

* The user can perform what is generically called Genjutsu: Sharingan. While there are various manifestations and purposes of the ability, the better known one is to, through eye contact, suggest thoughts and actions to a target, coercing them to divulge information or act in a particular way, potentially without the target's awareness. In extreme cases, the Sharingan user can take complete control of the target's body, forcing them to do exactly as the controller wishes; this control is visually indicated by the Sharingan's design appearing in the target's eye. The Uchiha are particularly infamous for using this ability on the tailed beasts, and in fact can enter its or a jinchūriki's subconscious to more precisely control the beast's chakra. Multiple targets can be taken control of in this way, though the more divided the user's attention is, the easier it is for targets to escape this control.

* While not an ability per se, the Sharingan user can appear as if they are able to "see the future". First, the user must perfectly mimic every move their opponent makes and possibly their thoughts and words through careful observation. Then, they suggest an action to the opponent such as hand seals for a technique that the opponent and Sharingan user already know and copy that. With these things done, the user can complete the action even before the opponent does, possibly using the Sharingan's Genjutsu to confuse or delay them.

In addition to these abilities there are two other jutsu that a Sharingan user can perform: Izanagi allows the user to warp reality for a short time, changing reality into illusion and illusion into reality, thus escaping death and rewriting destiny; Izanami traps the victim in an infinite loop disregarding the target's five senses, specifically designed as a reprimand for those who would abuse Izanagi. Use of either ability causes the Sharingan with which it is performed to be blinded afterwards, and for that reason the Uchiha classified them as Kinjutsu.

## **Also See**

* Uchiha Clan
* Mangekyo Sharingan