One of the most beloved characters in the Naruto series, Itachi Uchiha, is the subject of an ongoing debate that has reappeared among the community. Although fans have praised Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto for his detailed storytelling and complex character development, some feel that he made Itachi overly dependent on Mangekyo Sharingan’s skills.
A key component of Itachi’s fighting technique has always been the Mangekyo Sharingan, a potent Dojutsu that grants its users incredible abilities like Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and Susanoo. He is one of the most feared shinobi in the Naruto series because these skills are often seen as his trump cards in fights. However, some fans argue that Kishimoto may have overblown these skills to the point of overshadowing Itachi’s natural strategic and tactical excellence.
The Mangekyo Sharingan Debate and Overlooked Aspect of Itachi’s Skills
In a recent Reddit discussion, user Gremlin2471 raised a question about Itachi’s original powers with Mangekyo Sharingan. The debate around Itachi’s over-reliance on the Mangekyo Sharingan has generated numerous opinions online.
Many fans think that Kishimoto intentionally portrayed Itachi’s dependence on the Mangekyo Sharingan to emphasize the costs and sacrifices that come with having such power. Many fans think that Kishimoto purposefully portrayed Itachi’s dependence on the Mangekyo Sharingan to emphasize the costs and sacrifices that come with having such power. The high price Itachi had to pay for his strength is expressed by the fact that the Mangekyo Sharingan’s skills often result in blindness and extreme physical pain.
On the other hand, some fans expressed how people often undermine Itachi’s skills due to the display of his over-dependency on Mangekyo Sharingan. His strategic mind, quick thinking, and deep understanding of his opponents make him formidable even without his Sharingan. As a user stated,
I hate how people keep forgetting about battle IQ when assessing strength
Itachi’s battle intelligence is seen throughout the Naruto series. Beyond brute strength and powerful jutsu, his ability to predict attacks and outwit opponents, create detailed plans, and carry them out successfully, shows a degree of his strategic excellence.
The battle IQ of Itachi is displayed in several instances like fights against Kakashi, Sasuke, and Nagato. According to fans, he would also have more stamina without his Mangekyo Sharingan along with his amazing Genjutsu and Taijutsu skills.
The Legacy of Itachi Uchiha
It’s obvious that Itachi didn’t need the Mangekyo to be a top-tier ninja, His ability to read situations, understand his enemies, and make split-second decisions is what makes him truly dangerous. From a young age, Itachi displayed extraordinary talent and intelligence, quickly rising through the ranks of the Hidden Leaf Village’s ninja forces.
Despite the ongoing discussion on Itachi Uchiha’s dependence on the Mangekyo Sharingan, one certain thing is that his persona represents a combination of tragedy, intelligence, and power that fans find extremely attractive. The legacy of Itachi symbolizes the values of sacrifice, duty, and love. Due to the powerful narrative of redemption, Itachi has become one of the most cherished characters not only in Naruto but in the whole anime and manga community.
You can watch Naruto on Crunchyroll.