Sasuke Uchiha is one of the central characters in the Naruto anime and manga series. He starts off as a rival to the main protagonist Naruto Uzumaki, but later becomes an ally and eventual friend. Sasuke is known for his visual prowess with the Sharingan eye technique inherited through his Uchiha clan bloodline. However, Sasuke loses the use of his left Sharingan eye during the course of the story. This leads to an ongoing debate among fans – is Sasuke’s left eye completely gone or does he still have its remnants?
What Happened to Sasuke’s Left Eye?
During Sasuke’s fight with Naruto at the Valley of the End in Part 1 of the story, he awakens his Mangekyo Sharingan after believing he has killed Naruto. The intense trauma of nearly killing his best friend unlocks this enhanced stage of the Sharingan in both eyes. However, extensive use of the Mangekyo causes deterioration of vision and eventually blindness.
Sasuke overuses his Mangekyo abilities frequently throughout Part 2 of the story, causing his eyesight to fade. After Itachi’s death, Sasuke takes his brother’s eyes to gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and restore his vision. This works for a while, but the overuse of Amaterasu flames against the Fourth Raikage A further damages his left eye.
The final blow comes during the climactic battle with Naruto at the end of the series. Both shinobi unleash their strongest attacks – Naruto’s Sage Art: Massive Rasenshuriken and Sasuke’s Indra’s Arrow. The collision of these techniques costs Sasuke his Rinnegan eye and leaves a scar over his left eye socket, which appears completely gone.
Evidence That Sasuke’s Left Eye May Still Exist
While Sasuke’s left eye appears destroyed after his final fight with Naruto, there are hints it may have persisted in some capacity:
- Sasuke is still able to wield the power of the Rinnegan in his left eye socket after the battle, using Amenotejikara to teleport and swap places with objects or people.
- When Sasuke reflects on his past battles, he is shown with both Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan eyes in flashbacks after losing the Rinnegan.
- The scar on Sasuke’s left eye socket periodically glows red, implying some Uchiha power remains.
- Sasuke claims he chooses to keep his left eye closed out of penance for his past sins, suggesting something exists behind the lid.
- Advanced Sharingan abilities require both eyes, so Sasuke may have remnants of his left eye too damaged to properly use.
The above hints indicate Sasuke’s left eye may not have been completely annihilated, even if too damaged to actively utilize its full power anymore. Small amounts of Uchiha cells could persist allowing limited ocular powers.
Counter Evidence That Sasuke’s Left Eye Is Fully Destroyed
However, there are also credible reasons to think Sasuke’s left eye is completely gone after his final clash with Naruto:
- No remaining eyeball or tissue can be seen in Sasuke’s left socket – it appears fully emptied.
- Advanced Mangekyo techniques like Susanoo require both eyes to use, but Sasuke can no longer access them.
- Sasuke relies entirely on his right Eternal Mangekyo for ocular powers like Amaterasu flames.
- The glow from Sasuke’s left socket could come from chakra, not actual Uchiha cells.
- Sasuke’s reflection with both eyes in flashbacks could just be symbolic, not literal.
- Sasuke never explicitly states remnants of his left eye persist.
With no visible eye, loss of Mangekyo techniques, and reliance solely on his right eye, strong evidence indicates Sasuke’s left eye was likely annihilated completely in his final battle.
Conclusion
The debate around Sasuke’s missing left eye splits the Naruto fandom. There are compelling points on both sides of the argument. Those advocating Sasuke retains remnants of his left eye can cite hints of its persisting power and convenient flashes of two eyes in reflections. However, the physical absence of an eyeball, loss of iconic techniques, and singular reliance on his right eye make a strong case for Sasuke’s left eye being fully destroyed.
Absent an explicit statement from the writer Masashi Kishimoto, the truth remains open to interpretation. Perhaps future anime fillers, video games, or canon releases will provide clarity. Until then, the mystery of whether traces of Sasuke’s left eye remain or not continues to intrigue Naruto fans.
While the eye’s status is debatable, the broader symbolism of its loss is clearer. Sasuke’s missing left eye represents his quest for redemption and shedding his hatred and darkness. The literal and figurative empty socket reminds Sasuke of his troubled past choices. Yet it also spurs him towards a more selfless future, making amends through compassion, humility and service to the greater good.
Sasuke’s Abilities After Losing His Left Eye
The loss of Sasuke’s left eye significantly impacts his ocular powers and abilities. Here is a comparison of Sasuke’s skills before and after:
| Ability | With Both Eyes | With Right Eye Only |
|---|---|---|
| Amaterasu | Yes | Yes |
| Susanoo | Yes | No |
| Genjutsu Prowess | Very High | Moderate |
| Mangekyo Techniques | Multiple | Very Limited |
| Enhanced Perception | Yes | Moderate |
As seen in the table, Sasuke retains simpler Mangekyo techniques like Amaterasu in his right eye, but loses access to more complex abilities requiring two eyes. His ocular powers are reduced overall, though he remains formidable with strategic usage of his right eye.
Notable Techniques Lost
- Susanoo – Sasuke can no longer manifest his Susanoo chakra armor and warrior.
- Inferno Style – Sasuke loses access to combining Amaterasu with other chakra natures.
- Full-Body Susanoo – Sasuke’s lesser Susanoo pales in comparison to his full-power version.
Techniques Still Usable
- Amaterasu – Sasuke retains the ability to conjure black flames from his right eye.
- Genjutsu – While weakened, Sasuke’s illusions remain formidable with just one eye.
- Amenotejikara – Sasuke can still teleport by switching places with objects or people.
Despite his left eye’s loss, Sasuke remains an incredibly powerful shinobi thanks to his prodigious skills and tactical use of his right Rinnegan and Sharingan abilities.
Sasuke’s Rinnegan Eye
An important distinction is that Sasuke lost his original left Sharingan eye as a child. The eye he later loses against Naruto is actually a Rinnegan eye attained from the Sage of Six Paths.
Here is a quick history of Sasuke’s left eye transformations:
- Normal Sharingan – Sasuke first awakened his 2-tomoe Sharingan as a child in his left eye before obtaining the Mangekyo.
- Eternal Mangekyo – After transplanting Itachi’s eyes, Sasuke gained the Eternal Mangekyo in both eyes.
- Rinnegan – Sasuke’s left Eternal Mangekyo evolved into a Rinnegan after receiving half of Hagoromo’s chakra.
So technically, Sasuke’s original left Uchiha eye was lost long before his final fight with Naruto. Only his left Rinnegan eye was destroyed then, not his original Sharingan from birth. This makes the debate about his eye’s status more complex.
Impact on Sasuke’s Character Arc
Beyond the practical impact on Sasuke’s abilities, losing his left Rinnegan eye also completes his emotional character arc in the story. The loss of the eye symbolizes Sasuke’s rejection of his hatred and avenger path.
Some key ways this event impacts Sasuke’s character growth:
- It ends his temptations towards darkness and vengeance.
- It humbles Sasuke and reminds him of his past arrogance.
- It spurs him to find new purpose through atonement.
- It represents his bond with Naruto surpassing clan history.
For Sasuke, the empty left socket serves as an indelible reminder of his struggles and motivates him towards redemption through compassion, wisdom, and service to others.