Highlights
- The Sharingan’s copying ability allowed users to copy any jutsu with perfect accuracy, but it faded into the background as the series progressed.
- The power to copy jutsu was overshadowed by stronger Mangekyo abilities and became non-existent in the base Sharingan.
- The copying ability had limitations, including the need for the user to possess the required nature transformations and enough chakra to execute the technique. It couldn’t copy Kekkei Genkai or Hiden techniques.
Right from the beginning of Naruto, the Sharingan has been touted as a jutsu capable of incomprehensible feats, easily taking the position of the strongest Dojutsu in the series. The Sharingan is known for many powerful abilities, yet its initial hype revolved around its ability to copy any jutsu witnessed by its users. Some even dubbed the Dojutsu as the ‘Copy Eye,’ cementing this ability as one of the Sharingan’s strongest powers.
However, this narrative was only present during the initial parts of Naruto, with the entire concept of copying jutsu eventually fading by the end of part 1. It’s certainly odd for such a hyped concept to suddenly recede to the background, and many viewers still question this peculiarity. While this discrepancy could be attributed to Kishimoto’s hasty writing, there are a few in-universe explanations that clarify this oddity.
What Was the Sharingan’s Jutsu Copying Ability?
The Sharingan’s copying ability was one of its first powers to be introduced, yet its immediate redaction led many viewers to forget this power ever existed. The copying ability of the Sharingan is a legitimate power, allowing the user to copy any taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu with perfect accuracy. This is achieved through the Sharingan’s ability to track enemy movements, sense chakra, and view how that chakra is being kneaded.
Since hand signs are the foundation of most ninjutsu, the Sharingan can simply track these hand movements almost instantaneously, granting the user knowledge of that technique. All of these abilities combined result in the user being able to copy their opponents’ jutsu. Genjutsu can be copied in a similar way as the Sharingan can sense chakra and how it’s being molded, giving the user insight on how to cast the technique themselves.
Where Did the Copying Ability Go?
Despite being an integral part of the Sharingan’s arsenal, this copying ability fell off during the early parts of Naruto. The only few instances of its usage are Kakashi’s fight with Zabuza and Sasuke copying Rock Lee’s Front Lotus to form his own Lion Combo. Apart from these instances, the series has dubbed Kakashi as the ‘Copy Ninja,’ stating that he has copied over a thousand jutsu during his lifetime. After such hype around the power, it’s certainly odd to see this power disappear. Even with multiple Sharingan users present in the series, the copying ability was never really brought back.
In Shippuden, the base Sharingan itself became obsolete, and the Mangekyo Sharingan took center stage. With stronger Mangekyo abilities taking precedence, there was no need for the copying ability to be brought back, removing it from the Sharingan’s arsenal entirely. However, a few in-universe reasons also exist that explain why the copying ability became non-existent as the series progressed.
The Copying Ability Has Plenty of Limitations
The Sharingan’s copying ability may initially seem a bit too overpowered, yet this power is rather balanced and counterable. For the user to copy a jutsu through the Sharingan, they must possess the nature transformations required for the jutsu, along with enough chakra to execute the technique. Since most shinobi possess only one or two nature transformations, most jutsu are automatically excluded. Kakashi was able to copy a thousand jutsu since he has access to all five nature transformations, though the same cannot be said for any of the other Sharingan users.
Moreover, all Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tota are immune to being copied through the Sharingan. Hiden techniques or secret techniques that are passed down within specific bloodlines are also more or less impossible to copy. This decreases the pool of jutsu eligible for copying tremendously, leaving behind only a handful of techniques that can be mimicked.
Decrease in Usage of Non-Kekkei Genkai Jutsu
Part 1 of Naruto was mostly populated by basic ninjutsu techniques that required minimal chakra usage. This made it easy for the Sharingan to be used for copying techniques, as witnessed in the few instances of Kakashi and Sasuke using their Sharingans. However, Shippuden witnessed a significant decrease in regular jutsu, with all-powerful Kekkei Genkai and Dojutsu taking over Naruto’s power system entirely.
Shippuden also had a steep power creep, especially with the introduction of the Rinnegan and Mangekyo Sharingan. This made regular techniques obsolete in the narrative, leaving only a handful of Kekkei Genkai as a counter to these god-like powers. With Tailed Beasts taking center stage and jutsu of wide-scale destruction becoming the norm, the Sharingan’s copying ability became completely useless.
The Sharingan itself underwent several upgrades, and the introduction of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan brought about new powers for this Dojutsu. With such unparalleled power already present within the Sharingan, a jutsu copying ability was no longer needed. This explanation is in line with how the events in Shippuden unraveled, forcing the once-hyped copying ability to recede to the background forever.
Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.
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