Naruto: Why Didn’t Tobi Go Blind Even After Using the Mangekyou Sharingan So Much?

Published on March 30, 2022
Written by:
Samona Punjabi
Samona Punjabi
Anime News & Guide Writer
SPOILER WARNING!

The following article contains spoilers if you haven't watched until episode 343 of the War arc in Naruto: Shippuden.

In the years after Naruto: Shippuden finished airing, viewers have had several questions about the show. The world of Naruto is immense, and so naturally, it isn't easy to keep count of every single detail that has ever been revealed. Tobi AKA masked Madara AKA fake Madara AKA Obito Uchiha is no exception to this issue.

As the Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden series progressed, we learned several things about the history of the Uchiha and their powerful visual prowess. Because of this, we are all aware that the Mangekyou Sharingan is one of the most powerful doujutsus of the series. However, like most things in the Naruto-verse, the power comes with a catch: overusing the Mangekyou Sharingan will eventually turn the user blind.

While no Uchiha is an exception to this rule, except maybe the originator Indra himself, fans have wondered why Obito never went blind. Here's what we think was the reason.

Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan: Kamui.
Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan: Kamui.

Why Didn't Obito Go Blind Because of His Mangekyou Sharingan? How Did Obito Avoid Blindness Despite Using Kamui So Much?

Obito Uchiha was first introduced during Kakashi's backstory arc, where he sacrificed himself to protect our favorite masked sensei. As Obito "died," he gave his one remaining eye as a final gift to Kakashi, who eventually became well known as Kakashi of the Sharingan. For a long time, Obito was assumed dead; however, what many didn't know was that not only did Obito survive, but he was secretly saved by none other than Madara Uchiha!

Uchiha Madara and his Zetsu companion tended to Obito's wounds, eventually healing him with the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju's cells. Naruto buffs will remember that Hashirama's cells are a saving grace for anyone who wants to achieve anything in the series without dying. His cells are so overpowered that they get more attention than the characters who use them. However, this did not happen with Obito, as people often forget that he possesses Hashirama's cells.

Obito after having Hashirama's cells transplanted.
Obito, after having Hashirama's cells transplanted.

After watching Kakashi drive his Chidori through Rin's heart, Obito awakens the Mangekyou Sharingan. Since its awakening, Obito has used his visual prowess more than any other Uchiha on the show as he constantly uses Kamui to pass through objects and enemy attacks. We also know that overusing the Mangekyou can cause the strongest users to go blind, without discrimination, since at some point, even Madara had to implant his brother Izuna's eyes to gain the Eternal Mangekyou.

While battling his younger brother, Itachi's vision is already on the brink, and Sasuke has Itachi's eyes implanted to cure his failing sight, forming the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Even Kakashi revealed he was struggling to see through his borrowed Sharingan towards the end of Naruto: Shippuden!

Obito using Kamui.
Obito using Kamui.

While the inner workings of the First Hokage, Hashirama's cells are never fully explained, we are aware of how powerful they are since they managed to keep a fatally injured and young Madara alive enough to live until old age. Even though the series creator, Masashi Kishimoto, has not confirmed this, several fans believe that the Hashirama's cells didn't just heal Obito's boulder injuries but also prevented the blindness that usually comes with overusing the Mangekyou Sharingan. 

Since the fact has never been confirmed, we can't say anything for sure. However, Hashirama's cells have made Obito so overpowered that he never needs to eat or drink. If the First Hokage's cells can bestow such wondrous properties to Obito, we believe bypassing Uchiha blindness shouldn't be a big deal.

Obito fixes his hand without medical ninjutsu.
Obito fixes his hand without medical ninjutsu.

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