Post Authors: ssj sasuke and Silver Uchiha

If you’ve been a member on this site for a while, you probably know that me and Silver are die-hard Sasuke fans. I know things have looked grim for him recently, but we will not give up hope. Silver approached me a while ago and asked me to make this blog with her before she leaves, and I’d like to say, that it is my honor. We are here to take a look at the character that is Sasuke Uchiha, and hopefully try and turn some of you guys away from hating him so much. I read comments now-a-days and feel like I am reading Sasuke hate-mail. It saddens me to see such a misunderstanding of such a wonderfully articulated character. Anyways, I want to warn you that this will be a long blog, so read it when you’ve got a little free time on your hands. Here we go on the Sasuke analysis:

Is Sasuke a Hero or a Villain?:

Well, in my opinion, the real question is, “Is Sasuke an anti-hero, or an anti-villain?” because he will never be the cheesy, happy-go-lucky Goku figure, but he will never be a cold-hearted murderer like the Joker. He has conflicting values, that prevent him from ever locking into one end of the spectrum, but always swaying back and forth, with every influence lounged upon him.

First, evidence he is becoming a villain –

At the beginning of the series, Sasuke was a unique character; never fully with the Konoha-way of things. Even in their absence, the Uchiha clan ruled his mind, with nothing but the thought of revenge bending his actions and motives.

If Sasuke wants to remain loyal to the oath he made back then, then he has to do 2 things:

1.) He can not do what Itachi wanted. It was a promise he made his father, to not follow in Itachi’s footsteps. This could be further evidence that he really won’t try and protect Konoha, and this isn’t an act at all.

2.) He must pursue “vengeance” for all the Uchiha slain for “The good of Konoha.” This includes his whole clan, and Itachi.

These reasons do help the theory that Sasuke will truely attack Konoha, but this also might lead to him turning on Tobi. Afterall, if Madara hadn’t helped Itachi wipe out Konoha, they would never be in this predicament.

Sasuke’s Possible Goals:

A.) To kill the three elders: Likelihood – (Strong)

Sasuke truly means to kill Danzou, and the advisers (Homaru and Koharu). We truely believe he hates the elders, and blames them for the suffering and death of the only person that he ever loved with all his heart; Itachi.

Forgiving these elder’s lives (only punishing them with prison or something else) would mean to Sasuke the acceptance of his own responsibility for Itachi’s death; and I he is not ready for that. That is why he shows real hate when he openly states that he will kill them.

B.) To punish all ties to Senju; the citizens of Konoha. Likelihood – (Weak)

Sasuke seeks some kind of justice or compensation from the Senju. I don’t think that he plans to kill them all. It’s more likely that he wants them to understand his suffering, or make them suffer like him.

-Possible ways to do this-

** Sasuke performs a genjutsu that will cause Konoha to live a nightmare: an illusion of the destruction of Konoha and the massacre of many main shinobies or their families. This would require a genjutsu on a scale yet to be seen in Naruto. However, I believe if anyone is capable of this, it is Sasuke. It may be the power he claims to be able to take all of Konoha with. And the power Itachi gave Naruto may have been to escape something like that.

** He brings back to life the Uchiha clan (those that died on the night of the massacre) and shows it supremacy over the Senju, unlashing the coup d’état. (Unlikely)

Alright, now lets look at how and why he might be good:

I will be honest with you, I’m probably as stubborn as it gets on this topic. I believe Sasuke is good. Here may be why:

Every time Sasuke claims to crush Konoha, or kill everyone in it, he has his eyes closed or his sharingan activated. This might be Sasuke trying to keep Madara in the dark about his true intentions, although I don’t know how well it will work.

Some backing:

- Sasuke is being just as deceiving as his brother about his motives or goals. He is trying to fool the unthinkable; Madara. -

In chapter 402, page 17, Sasuke says “As Hawk, we have only one goal. We will (Activates his MS) crush Konoha.” Of course, Tobi is right there watching.

In chapter 404, page 11, Madara says “You said you want to destroy Konoha, but how do you actually plan on going about it?”

Sasuke answers “I’ll kill the elders… I don’t plan on targeting anyone else.” He can say this without an illusion from his Sharingan, because he really doesn’t want to hurt anyone else.

In chapter 416, in Madara’s flashback to Sasuke’s hatred speech, Madara says, “You must have contemplated following in his (Itachi’s) footsteps and protecting Konoha…”

Sasuke replies, ” Now, knowing the truth, there’s no way I can do as he wishes and protect Konoha.” (SU believes his hands and body language indicates some sort of suffering.) “The whole village is an accomplice, trading Itachi’s life for their peace and enjoyment.” He can say this with his eyes open because he isn’t lying about how he feels.

Madara asks if he isn’t just going to kill the elders.

When Sasuke says no, but that he only made that up in front of Hawk, he won’t look at Madara, his eyes are closed.

When Madara asks if Sasuke is willing to make Itachi’s sacrifice meaningless, he stares Sasuke down with his Sharingan.

Sasuke replies, “It’s like you said. The reason Itachi couldn’t kill me is because my life was more precious than the Village.” (Sasuke answered with the eyes closed) “I feel the same… Itachi’s life is more precious to me than the village… That’s all,” now with his eyes open.

He continues “…The elders who discriminates against Uchiha! Who ordered my brother to kill his own parents! Who then drove him to his own death! And the whole village who worship the Senju! There’re all nothing but a pile of shit” Sasuke is looking at Madara, it’s likely that this is close to how he truly feels.

“I want revenge on them all! Saying I should follow in Itachi’s footsteps is nothing but pretty words. It’s nonsense meant for those who don’t know hatred. If anyone wants to deny my way of living. I’ll kill everyone they ever cared about! Maybe then they will understand…” (Sasuke say this covering his face) “A little of my hatred!” Sasuke looks at Madara, but with his MS active.

In chapter 417, Sasuke does think to himself that he has a power strong enough to destroy Konoha, but he never thinks that he will, or even wants to. It is possible that he is only remarking to himself how strong this new power is or could be. I think this is a tool used by Kishi to throw us off in the future, where we will have to look back all these chapters and reanalyze the specifics.

- Sasuke still misses Team 7. -

Sasuke is full of hate and confusion, but also of love. He remembered team 7 during the battle against the eight tailed, and that made him realize his feelings for Hawk, triggering his emotional Amaterasu (414 -415), and allowed him to protect Hawk. I believe he wishes to protect Team 7 as well, or at least not harm them in any of his plans.

Also, there is always sadness in Sasuke’s face when he looks at Naruto. See Chapter 233, page 15 and 17, and chapter 307, page 14.

- Sasuke’s remark to Hawk. -

In chapter 411, page 15, Sasuke says “… we are the ones using Akatsuki. Get that into your heads.” He could say this without worrying about Madara listening in, or analyzing his words.

- Sasuke does not trust Madara. –

In chapter 403, page 15, Sasuke says to Madara “But it looks like you were telling the truth.” He admits that Madara gave a convincing speech, but he never says he believes him.

In chapter 417, page 7, Suigetsu asks, ” Are you really sure you’ll get the eight-tailed beast’s power, Sasuke?”

Sasuke replies ” Heh I have no idea,” (Meaning he doesn’t trust in how reliant Madara is.) “But I don’t think I’ll need to rely on it (symbolism for Akatsuki) anyway.”

- Hawk plans on fighting Akatsuki. -

In chapter 404, page 13, Sasuke says ” Suigetsu., there’s no way you can beat him (Kisame) yet anyway.”

In chapter 404, page 15, Madara says that if they betray Akatsuki, they are dead. Sasuke says “Heh” and smiles. Every time Sasuke says “Heh,” he has something planned in mind.

That is it for the argument of whether he will ultimately be good or bad. Now I’d like to analyze Sasuke from a psychological point of view:

Sasuke is basically what you get when you take a mass murder, add in the betrayal of a best friend/brother, and top it off with the pressure of living up to the title of “The last Uchiha,” and dump that all off on some poor little kid. The fact that he didn’t commit suicide at age 10 is something in itself.

At the beginning of the series, after graduating from the academy, Sasuke is an introvert, with one thing in mind, revenge. As his journey with Team 7 progresses, he slowly begins to find himself becoming… happy. This was a feeling Sasuke couldn’t cope with; the last time he got his hopes up like that, everything was torn down. He was afraid to let anything like that happen again, and always kept his guard up.

All was alright, until he received a reality check, from a certain Itachi Uchiha. All the progress he made with Team 7 was practically erased, scrunched up into the back of his mind. The main focus for him now was power, at any cost. You see, a lack of power was what he believed to be the reason his family was lost. It is a problem that many people in the real world face.

For example, children living in a rough area lose relatives or friends all the time. A friend of mine, back when I lived in New Orleans lost a brother due to gang related violence. That friend believed his brother died because he wasn’t there to protect him. He became obsessed with gaining power and respect. For a while he’d go everywhere with a gun, feeling invincible, like he had the power for once, like he could protect what was his for once. Eventually that gun was the end of him… He was involved in an altercation with somebody else carrying, and was shot in the back. He doesn’t walk anymore.

If Sasuke doesn’t stop obsessing over power, it will be the end of him too.

After leaving with Orochimaru, and training, the thought of revenge once again ruled Sasuke’s mind. He claimed to be ruthless, but for some reason, didn’t illustrate it. He could never bring himself to kill the innocent. This was the symbolic trait Kishi slipped in there as a source of hope; that no matter how thick the crust of hatred stacked upon him, and even if you can’t always see it, the light is always shining underneath.

When Sasuke got his revenge, he felt that he had finally avenged his clan. I believe that throughout his whole life, Sasuke had planned things that he would do after killing Itachi, but just never speaked of it. I think he would have tried to live a happy, peaceful life, considering that he never really sought violence, unless it was required to get to Itachi. But Tobi interjected, he wouldn’t let Sasuke live this peaceful retire that him, and Itachi may have wanted. No, he told Sasuke exactly what was necessary to make him take up sword again.

On an outsiders perspective, this whole being that is Sasuke is very saddening, to see what cruel events of life can do to someone with so much potential. One wonders what would happen if he was placed in a normal family, how he would be, what his goals would be. Don’t hate Sasuke, try to understand him, he is one of the realest, most tragic struggles Kishi will ever illustrate.

A side note from SU:

To me, Sasuke wrongly denies the value of his own life, because he only values the lives of those he once loved and now are gone, like Itachi and his clan. He always gives more value to those gone, first their parents, now Itachi. Is this why he denies bonds? To stop himself from the chance of loving and living then suffering new loses. All this made me think that he will give his life to revive the dead ones if there is a jutsu capable.

As for what he is really planning, there are too many theories to count, but we have a few:

Theories for future plans:

• The power Itachi transferred to Naruto (to stop Sasuke) has something to do with Sasuke’s left arm, and the wound Itachi gave to him the night of the massacre. Sasuke constantly is crushing the place of that wound. For example see Chapter 233, page 16.

• Sasuke may wait for Madara’s plans to continue on, and at the last moment, when Konoha, when the Senju fail to stop him, Sasuke will step in, to show Uchiha supremacy.

• To Revive the Uchiha:

- In chapter 403, page 17, Sasuke says “What Itachi wanted to see and what I will see, are two vastly different things. I know his thoughts, his wishes, that’s why I will follow my own path! I can’t do what he wanted. I will revive Uchiha my own way.”

- Maybe Sasuke plans on sacrificing himself, or maybe others (Konoha), to literally revive the Uchiha, or just Itachi. After all, Sasuke recently stated that Itachi’s life was more valuble than all of Konoha.

• Silver believes that Sasuke doesn’t plan on surviving after all his plans are through. “If he were intending to survive, he would have Itachi’s eyes transplanted into him. He knew about the blindness, and he is already loosing sight.”
  

• He could plan on ridding the world of all the bijuu’s. After seeing all the destruction and conflict they have caused, he may feel like it is his last great act to perform. (Unlikely)

• Sasuke might seek to place an Uchiha or Hyuga, or any non-Senju as the new Hokage or Daimyo, or stabalizing a new system where all the clans have equal power, like members of a senate; a democracy if you will.

• Among all other theories, right now it looks like Sasuke is just learning about Madara’s powers just as much as Madara is learning about him, possibly preparing for a fight in the future. Constant body language, and minor remarks make it seem like Madara despises the Uchiha, which will bring big conflict with Sasuke, who seeks to make Uchiha proud.

Now, it is time to examine what Sasuke means to Naruto, and the most important relationship in the series:

Naruto and Sasuke are the ying and yang of the shinobi world. Brought together by destiny, torn apart by the chains of fate, will there bonds ever be reunited?

I believe Sasuke loves and misses Naruto just as much as Naruto misses him. It has been said in the manga several times that Sasuke hates what he is going through right now, and what he is doing, but does it because he feels he has to; it is his duty. Shinobi place duty above all else, even emotion, and that is what sets Naruto and Sasuke apart.

Created as perfect rivals for one another, Sasuke and Naruto compliment, yet contrast each other in almost every aspect. With common goals, there is almost no limit to what they can accomplish. Even their moves compliment each other, as fire and wind elements cause massive destruction when combined.

Kishimoto gives Sasuke so much screen time because in a way, Sasuke is part of Naruto. He is every decision Naruto didn’t make, he is every ability Naruto couldn’t have, he is all the temptation Naruto might have wanted to take. In evolving the manga away from the “One super hero, who takes the all the spotlight, and always wins because he tries,” aspect of things, Kishimoto has created a complex tale, for all kinds of people.

Will Naruto ever recover his bond with Sasuke? I don’t know, but I do think it is something they both wish could happen one day…

That is it guys, a total analysis of the character of Sasuke. So please, don’t hate him, appreciate him like me and SU. Adios!

~To Silver Uchiha~

Silver, I’d like to tell you, since this is the last post I’ll get to do with you, and since you are leaving soon, that it has been an honor. Your theories were awesome for this post, and you have made Shannaro!!! an awesome experience for me. Your constant flow of theories, your unconditional kindness, and your untouched respect for others has really impacted me in a positive way.

You have added so much flavor to this site, a spice, that we will forever be missing when you leave. I don’t think I have ever talked to you, and not have been happy afterwords. Not to mention your my biggest buddy about Sasuke.

Hearing that you will leave has really stunned me. We have been losing Authors recently like its a regular thing, and unfortunately will be losing a couple more, but I have to admit that losing you has saddened me the most. I wish you the best of luck, as does all of Shannaro, and in response to your email, yes, I would be happy to! I don’t think I have ever said this before, and it’ll be a while before I say it again, but I’m going to miss you Senpai!

-ssj