Susanoo is a technique that creates a spiritual being resembling a yamabushi. It wields the sacred Yata no Kagami (八咫鏡, Eight Span Mirror), a mirror that's considered one of the three sacred treasures capable of reflecting all attacks, as a shield in its left hand. In its right, the legendary Totsuka no Tsurugi (十拳剣, Ten Hands Long Sword), also known as the Sakenagi Longsword (酒刈太刀, Sakenagi no Tachi, Sake Cutter Longsword), is held. The Totsuka no Tsurugi, commonly sheathed in a sake jar held by a third hand growing from Susanoo's right forearm, is an ethereal weapon with an enchanted blade capable of sealing anything it pierces in an eternal dream-like illusion, and is described as the perfect counter to Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.[2]. Sasuke also showed the use of a similar sword while using Susanoo, but it's unknown if it's the Totsuka no Tsurugi. Like the Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, Susanoo is an ability of the Mangekyo Sharingan. Zetsu said that Susanoo's Totsuka Sword combined with the Yata mirror essentially makes Itachi invincible. Susanoo has been labeled as the "Raging God of Battle".[1]
The Sword itself can be presumed as an extension added to the technique as Zetsu mentioned that no matter where Orochimaru searched for it, he could never find it. It is also possible the Mirror can be another extension, as Zetsu also mentioned that it is another legendary item, on par with the Sword.
Like the other Mangekyo Sharingan techniques, Susanoo comes with its own risks. To keep Susanoo sustained in the physical realm, the user must act as a medium for the deity, allowing it to consume their life force energy. This puts a severe strain on the user's body and prolonged use will lead to their death.
Sasuke has also been shown to use Susanoo's bones to protect himself from the Current Raikage's Liger Bomb. Though Sasuke managed to survive the impact, one of Susanoo's rib bones snapped.[3] Sasuke has also combined Susanoo with Amaterasu for defensive maneuvers, wrapping himself with the black flames of Amaterasu as a shield while protecting himself from it with Susanoo.[4] Sasuke's version is slightly different in appearance, horns being the most noticeable difference as well as having a darker, evil looking aura surrounding it. It wields a blade in its left hand. Unlike Itachi, Sasuke has yet to show any strain on his own body for prolonged usage of Susanoo.
Influence
- Similar to other Mangekyo Sharingan abilities, Susanoo was taken from Japanese mythology. Susanoo, the god of sea and storms, was the brother of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, with Susanoo born from Izanagi washing his nose.
- The Totsuka Sword is the sword used by the god Susanoo to slay the eight-headed and eight-tailed snake, Yamata no Orochi, just like it was used by Itachi's Susanoo to defeat Orochimaru's Eight Branches Technique (八岐の術, Yamata no Jutsu).
- The Yata no Kagami (八咫鏡, Eight Span Mirror) is one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan (三種の神器, Sanshu no Jingi), together with the Kusanagi no Tsurugi (草薙劍, Grass Cutter Sword) and the Yasakani no Magatama (八尺瓊曲玉) Jewel necklace.
- The Totsuka no Tsurugi (十拳剣, Ten Hands Long Sword) is the sword used by Izanagi to kill his newborn son, Kagu-Tsuchi, after his birth burned his mother, Izanami, to death. From the blood of the Totsuka no Tsurugi, eight new Shinto gods were born.
See Also
References