Why does Gaara still have dark circles around his eyes?


It is stated that Gaara has his dark circles around his eyes because Shukaku
won't let him sleep because Gaara will lose control if he does.

After the extraction of Shukaku, Gaara still has these circles around his
eyes. Why? Is it only _style_ or does he still suffer from insomnia?




I'm more inclined to agree with [SingerOfTheFall's
answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/1951/49).  
Upon Gaara's birth ( _Shipuuden_ episode 297 and _Naruto_ chapter 547, page
4), he already had his dark rings around the eyes.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UwfEcm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UwfEc.png)

I know he already had the Shukaku sealed inside him, but I find it a bit odd
that he was born suffering from insomnia.  
Plus, the translation I read of chapter 135 does not refer to the dark rings,
but rather to the 'bags under his eyes' (although this could be a problem with
the translation...):

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6r9mGm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6r9mG.png)

Furthermore, as SingerOfTheFall said, there are several other Suna shinobi
that have dark rings around their eyes, including [Gaara's father when he uses
his Gold Dust](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Fourth_Kazekage#Appearance):

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cFjnSm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cFjnS.png)

* * *

On a side note, I think it can also be the influence of the tanuki ([the
'inspiration' for the Shukaku](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/795/49)) in
the character conception, since the tanuki too has dark rings around his eyes.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OY51pm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OY51p.jpg)

So this trait could be somewhat similar to the whiskers Naruto has from the
Kyuubi. He had these whiskers even prior to being the Kyuubi's host:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3CVPFm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3CVPF.png)

This could mean that the dark circles are a character trait (conceived upon
character design) that were a result of the Ichibi being sealed in Gaara even
before his birth, thus being present even after the Bijuu's extraction.




I'm more inclined to agree with [SingerOfTheFall's
answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/1951/49).  
Upon Gaara's birth ( _Shipuuden_ episode 297 and _Naruto_ chapter 547, page
4), he already had his dark rings around the eyes.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UwfEcm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UwfEc.png)

I know he already had the Shukaku sealed inside him, but I find it a bit odd
that he was born suffering from insomnia.  
Plus, the translation I read of chapter 135 does not refer to the dark rings,
but rather to the 'bags under his eyes' (although this could be a problem with
the translation...):

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6r9mGm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6r9mG.png)

Furthermore, as SingerOfTheFall said, there are several other Suna shinobi
that have dark rings around their eyes, including [Gaara's father when he uses
his Gold Dust](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Fourth_Kazekage#Appearance):

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cFjnSm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cFjnS.png)

* * *

On a side note, I think it can also be the influence of the tanuki ([the
'inspiration' for the Shukaku](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/795/49)) in
the character conception, since the tanuki too has dark rings around his eyes.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OY51pm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OY51p.jpg)

So this trait could be somewhat similar to the whiskers Naruto has from the
Kyuubi. He had these whiskers even prior to being the Kyuubi's host:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3CVPFm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3CVPF.png)

This could mean that the dark circles are a character trait (conceived upon
character design) that were a result of the Ichibi being sealed in Gaara even
before his birth, thus being present even after the Bijuu's extraction.

