Ep 131: Enlightenment, The Secret of the Mangekyou Sharingan

Naruto falls into the water. Sasuke watches as Naruto goes under, thinking no matter what how much darkness lies ahead he’ll obtain power.

Flashback (same scenes from ep 84) to Sasuke running home to empty streets. Itachi appears for a second on top of a pole back lit by the moon. Sasuke thought he saw something, then he realizes all the lights are out but it’s not that late yet. He sees the fronts of buildings covered with blood and ripped lanterns and weapons, then finds the bodies of his aunt and uncle. He runs home to find the house empty. He runs out to another part of the complex and finds Itachi in his Anbu outfit standing over the bodies of his parents with his sharingan activated. Itachi throws a shuriken at him and injures Sasuke’s shoulder. Itachi activates his mangekyou sharingan and Sasuke sees past events and falls to the floor. Sasuke asks why and Itachi replies “to measure my capacity.” Sasuke runs toward Itachi but gets punched in the stomach then he runs away in fear.

Flashback (new scenes): Sasuke says to Itachi “you’re not my brother” and Itachi replies that he continued to act as the brother he desired to verify his capacity. “You will become my opponent, as the one who will confirm my capacity. You carry that potential. You detested me and held a grudge against me. You continuously wished to surpass me. And that’s why I will let you live, for me. You are like me, one who is capable of awakening the mangekyou sharingan. However, there is a special condition, your closest friend…you must…kill him…just as I did. In the main building of the Nakano Temple, in the right corner to the rear of the room, under the seventh tatami mat, there lies the clan’s Commentary Scroll. Within its writing, the original purpose of the Uchiha Clan’s doujutsu is explained, as is its true secret…if you awaken it, there will be three people, including me, who have ever used the mangekyou sharingan. If that can happen, there is meaning in letting you live. But as you are now you aren’t even worth killing. Foolish brother. If you want to kill me, then blame me. Hate me. And live on in shame. Run and run and cling desperately to life. Then, one day, come before me with the same eyes I bear now.” Itachi activates his mangekyou sharingan and Sasuke faints.

Sasuke wakes in the hospital with a bandage on his left arm. He gets up and overhears two nurses saying he was the only one spared and his older brother’s whereabouts are unknown. Sasuke leaves the hospital and runs home. The main entrance to the Uchiha complex is taped off. He goes in and has a vision of his aunt and uncle but in reality the storefront is destroyed. It starts to rain. He walks along the deserted streets and thinks back to his conversation with his aunt about Itachi. He returns to his emtpy house and thinks of his mom and dad. He hears a noise and runs to the kitchen calling his mom, but it’s only a cat. Flashback to his conversation with his mom about his dad. Sasuke sees the outline of the bodies of his parents. He starts to cry and falls to his knees. The next day he goes to the Nakano Temple and reads the scroll his brother mentioned.

At the academy, Sasuke sits alone. Choji asks Shikamaru if he wants to go to the candy store after school. Shikamaru responds that he can’t since if his mom finds out he snacked after school it would be troublesome. Two boys behind Sasuke discuss how his clan was wiped out. Sasuke sits at the pier where his father showed him the fire technique. He thinks about his father and wonders what he said to his mom. He throws a stone into the water and his reflection turns into Itachi. He thinks back to Itachi’s last words to him and jumps into the water, thinking “In order to kill you, no matter how much darkness lies ahead, I wish push through it. No matter what I will obtain power.”

Back to present, Naruto thinks back to Neji’s last words to him and surfaces. He finally realizes that Sasuke is attacking him for real. Naruto asks him “Am I nothing to you? Not even a comrade?” Did everything we do as group seven have no meaning to you?” Sasuke responds, “No, it wasn’t meaningless. To me you have become my closest friend…that is why there is value for me in killing you.” Naruto doesn’t understand what he’s saying but knows he’s attacking for real. They run towards each other again for another round.

Review:

Some old flashbacks intermixed with new ones, but overall very touching, especially when Naruto finally realizes Sasuke is trying to kill him.

Notes:

In order to obtain the mangekyou sharingan, you must kill your best friend.

Thoughts:

“…there lies the clan’s Commentary Scroll. Within its writing, the original purpose of the Uchiha Clan’s doujutsu is explained, as is its true secret…” – what is the original purposed of the shraingan? Was it genetically engineered? Did reading this scroll drive Itachi over the edge?

“If you awaken it, there will be three people, including me, who have ever used the mangekyou sharingan” – this implies there is a third sharingan user who has already awakened the mangekyou or has the ability to obtain it.

How long did Itachi fake being a somewhat caring big brother?