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{{looking for|the character|the manga chapter|Itachi Uchiha!!}}
 
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{{translation|'''Itachi Uchiha'''|うちはイタチ|Uchiha Itachi}} was a [[shinobi]] of [[Konohagakure]]'s [[Uchiha clan]] who served as an [[Anbu]] Captain. He later became an international criminal after [[Uchiha Clan Downfall|murdering]] his entire clan, sparing only his younger brother, [[Sasuke]]. He afterwards joined the international criminal organisation known as [[Akatsuki]], whose activity brought him into frequent conflict with Konoha and its ninja — including Sasuke who sought to avenge their clan by killing Itachi. Following his death, Itachi's motives were revealed to be more complicated than they seemed and that his actions were only ever in the interest of his brother and village, making him remain a loyal shinobi of Konohagakure to the very end.
{{translation|'''Itachi Uchiha'''|うちはイタチ|Uchiha Itachi}} was [[Sasuke Uchiha]]'s older brother, an S-class [[missing-nin]] from [[Konohagakure]] and a prominent member of [[Akatsuki]] who was partnered with [[Kisame Hoshigaki]].
 
   
 
== Background ==
 
== Background ==
[[File:Uchiha's.PNG|thumb|left|A young Itachi with his family. From left to right: [[Fugaku]], [[Sasuke]], [[Mikoto]], Itachi.]]
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[[File:Infant Sasuke and Itachi.png|thumb|left|Itachi and Sasuke moments before the Nine-Tails' attack.]]
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Itachi was the first child born to [[Mikoto]] and [[Fugaku Uchiha]]. His early childhood was marked with violence: when he was four years old, the [[Third Shinobi World War]] waged and he witnessed first-hand many of the war's casualties. The death and destruction he experienced at such a young age traumatised Itachi and made him a pacifist,<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 400, page 4</ref> leading to him training non-stop to achieve his dream of becoming a ninja among ninja in order to erase fighting from the world.<ref name="BrightLightc1">''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'' chapter 1</ref> At age 5, after becoming a big brother to Sasuke, Itachi was approached by [[Shisui]], who offered to train together. Soon, the two became best friends, forming a brother-like bond as they continued to teach the other new tricks. During the [[Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack]], he was home alone looking after Sasuke, followed by Itachi rescuing Mikoto from falling debris,<ref>''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'' page 27</ref> and in the anime seeking shelter with [[Izumi]].<ref name="NS452">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 452</ref> The Nine-Tails' attack had soured relations between Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha, the former believing the latter to be responsible. The Uchiha were relocated to the edge of the village, isolating them from the rest of the village and making it easier to monitor them.
Itachi was born into the [[Uchiha clan]] and was praised by all as the best of his generation - a genius above all others. Even by the standards of the battle-adept Uchiha clan, Itachi's prowess far outshone them. However, not even his family, friends, or teachers could understand him. When he was only 4, Itachi had already witnessed countless lives lost due to the [[Third Great Shinobi World War]], which emotionally traumatized him and turned him into a pacifist. At age 7, he graduated from the [[Ninja Academy]] at the top of his class after only one year, mastered the [[Sharingan]] at age 8, passed the [[Chūnin Exams]] at age 10, and became an [[ANBU]] Captain at age 13.
 
[[File:Itachi_as_a_child.jpg|thumb|right|Itachi as a child.]]
 
He was praised highly by his father, who saw the family's future in Itachi, hence neglecting his youngest son, Sasuke. However, during this time Itachi showed great affection towards his little brother and even encouraged his father to come to the Academy enrollment ceremony for Sasuke, something their father had otherwise forgotten, by saying that he would not go to an important mission that would establish Itachi a place in the ANBU ranks, otherwise.
 
   
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At age 6, Itachi enrolled into the [[Academy]], where he consistently scored the highest in each subject and quickly learned any skill taught to him, resulting in him being praised as the best his teachers had ever seen.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 221, page 5</ref><ref name="BrightLightc1" /> After four months, achieving perfect grades from the start, his teachers unanimously agreed let him take the graduation exam early due to Itachi being more than advanced enough for genin-level, which he passed later that month.<ref>''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'' page 47-60</ref> During this time, he began seriously studying the history of the world, gaining a great appreciation for it. On the day he graduated as the youngest post-[[Third Shinobi World War|war]] graduate, he was approached by [[Danzō Shimura]], who assessed Itachi's thinking.<ref>''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'' page 62</ref>
When the Uchiha began planning to overthrow Konoha, Itachi, as an ANBU, was tasked with spying on the village. Knowing that a coup d’état would only lead to another Ninja War; Itachi began spying on the Uchiha instead, passing on information to the Third Hokage and the other Konoha elders. During this time he began to act strangely, not attending the clan meetings, speaking out against the clan, and becoming the prime suspect for the murder of his best friend, [[Shisui Uchiha]]. Due to this the clan lost hope in Itachi and his father began shifting his focus to Sasuke instead. Meanwhile, the Third's attempts to negotiate a bloodless end to hostilities between the two parties were proving ineffective so, against the Third's wishes, [[Danzō Shimura]] and the [[Konoha Council]] ordered Itachi to wipe out the Uchiha.
 
   
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Joining [[Team 2]], Itachi began honing his skills to [[chūnin]] level, drawing the attention of Konoha's leaders. Meeting the [[genin|criteria]], Fugaku allowed him to sit in on clan meetings in the [[Naka Shrine]] basement.<ref>''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'' page 74-80</ref> Nearly a year since graduating, Itachi had mastered [[ninjutsu]] to the extent his missions went too easy, though [[Yūki Minazuki]] didn't recommend him for the [[Chūnin Exams]]. After turning eight, as Team 2's genin had distinguished themselves the most during the year, they were tasked with guarding the [[Fire Daimyō (Part I-II)|Fire Daimyō]] during his annual trip to Konoha. During the mission, the convoy was attacked by a [[Obito Uchiha|masked individual]], who killed [[Tenma Izumo]] before Itachi, resulting in him awakening his [[Sharingan]], which he mastered at the same age.<ref name="achievements">''Naruto'' chapter 145, pages 9</ref> In the anime, Itachi accompanied his friend Shisui on a three-part training exercise, only to interrupt a battle between the Third Hokage's Anbu and [[Root]]. After having driven out the Root ninja, Itachi learned from Shisui about having his own sense of morals from various viewpoints instead of one.<ref name="NS454">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 454</ref> At age 10, Konoha allowed Itachi to compete in the Chūnin Exams alone, which he passed and became a chūnin.<ref name="ItachiShinden"/>
Before the fateful night arrived, Itachi discovered the existence of [[Madara Uchiha]], who was attempting to rekindle the flames of war in Konoha. In return for not attacking Konoha, Itachi offered to help Madara claim vengeance against the Uchiha for turning their backs on him decades earlier; Madara agreed. Itachi slaughtered his entire clan overnight, sparing only Sasuke as Sasuke's life was worth more than the village to Itachi, and he could not follow through with the orders to kill him as well. Instead, he made himself out as a villain, who had killed their innocent family only to test his abilities. By doing so, he wanted Sasuke to take vengeance on him and become a hero to Konoha, thus redeeming the Uchiha name. He tortured Sasuke with his [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] and encouraged him to become strong enough to kill him and avenge their family. Hoping that his beloved little brother would someday be powerful enough to kill him, Itachi left the village as a traitor. According to [[Madara Uchiha]], Itachi also had a lover, whom he killed during the Uchiha clan massacre.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 401, page 10</ref>
 
   
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{{ImgRight|Uchiha Anbu.png|Itachi as an Anbu.}}
Knowing that Konoha would still want to eliminate Sasuke, Itachi pleaded with the [[Hiruzen Sarutobi|Third Hokage]] to keep Sasuke safe. He also threatened Danzō to not harm Sasuke or risk him revealing everything he knew about Konoha's secrets to enemy countries. Sasuke's safety was therefore secured and Itachi returned to his original plan of becoming infamous for his slaughter of the Uchiha clan.
 
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At age 11, Itachi joined the [[Anbu]] as its youngest member.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 220, pages 15-16</ref> In the anime, Itachi is assigned to [[Team Ro]], working alongside [[Tenzo]] and with [[Kakashi Hatake]] as their captain. During his mentorship, Itachi became acquainted with Kakashi and showed interest in the Sharingan he possessed despite not being an Uchiha. At one point, they both worked together in a two-man squad following an exchange between Konohagakure and the [[Prajñā Group]] of the [[Land of Woods]]; killing the latter party after an attempted betrayal.<ref name="NS357">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 357</ref> They would work together for two years until Itachi is promoted to a new Anbu team under Danzō's authority.<ref name="NS359">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 358</ref>
   
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Itachi's accomplishments were a source of great pride for his family, his father viewing him as proof of the Uchiha's future prosperity and his brother viewing him as a model to live up to. Itachi spent a great deal of time with Sasuke, training with him (though rarely actually training him) and giving him the recognition their father did not. However, for all the attention he received, few truly understood Itachi,<ref name="achievements" /> believing his isolation to be a result of the gap between his abilities and theirs and not his dissatisfaction with the shinobi's life of conflict. Eventually, disdain for the villages unfair treatment of the Uchiha clan led them to plan a coup d'état. Fugaku, head of the Uchiha and the coup's chief conspirator, encouraged Itachi's advancement into the Anbu's ranks as a means of spying on the village. Itachi, however, knew an Uchiha coup would lead to intervention from other villages and ultimately start another World War, something he could not support. He instead became a double agent, reporting the Uchiha's actions to the [[Third Hokage]] and the [[Konoha Council]] in the hopes it would help them find a peaceful resolution.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 400, page 2</ref>
Itachi joined [[Akatsuki]] in order to keep an eye on the organization, along with Madara Uchiha, in case either ever acted against Konoha, all the while planning for his death at Sasuke's hands. While a member of Akatsuki, Itachi was approached by [[Orochimaru]], who tried to steal his body to gain the Sharingan. Itachi trapped him in a genjutsu and severed his left hand as punishment, forcing Orochimaru to flee the organization. Sometime after joining Akatsuki and forcing Orochimaru to flee, Itachi helped recruit [[Deidara]], by beating him in battle, to which Deidara swore vengeance against Itachi.
 
   
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[[File:Shisui's Parting Gift.png|thumb|left|Itachi accepting Shisui's eye.]]
At some time, Itachi contracted a fatal illness, to which he kept himself alive through the intake of various medicines, in the hopes of living long enough to die by Sasuke's hands.
 
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Itachi shared the burden of betraying his clan with Shisui. But as time went on it became increasingly clear that peace could not be achieved. Shisui intended to use his [[Kotoamatsukami]] on the Uchiha's leaders to compel them to negotiate, but his right eye was stolen by Danzō before he had a chance. His own options exhausted, Shisui entrusted his remaining eye to Itachi and begged him to protect the village and their family name before drowning himself in the [[Naka River]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 590, page 6</ref> Itachi was anguished by Shisui's death, awakening his [[Mangekyō Sharingan]]. The following day some Uchiha, already suspicious of Itachi, accused him of murdering Shisui and staging a suicide; Itachi lost his composure and attacked them, defeating them easily.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 222, page 1-10</ref> A rift was created between Itachi and his family, and his warnings to them to reconsider what they were doing fell on deaf ears. At age 12, he was promoted to Anbu Captain, with his publicly disclosed promotion age being 13 due to Danzō's request and Hiruzen's acceptance.<ref name="c142p12">''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 12</ref><ref>Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night, page 68</ref><ref>Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night, page 114</ref> In the anime, Itachi was also given command of his own three-man squad. Itachi would confront his father in the [[Naka Shrine]] basement, who revealed that he had awoken his own Mangekyō Sharingan during the [[Third Shinobi World War]]. Having read the [[Stone Tablet]] and learned the truth of the Mangekyō Sharingan's power, Fugaku calls for Itachi's aid in restraining the higher-ups in a bloodless coup; resisting calls from the clan's more popular favour of controlling the [[Nine-Tailed Fox]]. Instead, Itachi would return back to the [[Konoha Council]] to report the clan's imminent revolt.<ref name="NS455">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 455</ref>
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Although the Third Hokage still wished to negotiate with the Uchiha, Danzō Shimura believed that there was no longer an outcome that could see the Uchiha clan's survival. He explained this to Itachi and left him a choice: support the Uchiha's coup and have the whole clan, including Sasuke, killed in the ensuing conflict, or accept the assignment to wipe out the clan before the coup started and be allowed to spare Sasuke. Itachi chose his brother.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 590, pages 8-10</ref> Having made his choice, Itachi was tormented by guilt, emphasized by the belief that Shisui would most likely not forgive his choice to destroy the clan.<ref>Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night, page 146</ref> However, remembering the words of his father to not let other's decide things for his life, he resolved to continue his path. While making final preparations, Itachi discovered [[Tobi|a masked man]] sneaking around Konoha. From observing him, he came to believe the man was truly [[Madara Uchiha]] bent on provoking some new conflict. Itachi approached him with an offer: he would assist "Madara" with wiping out the Uchiha, taking vengeance against them for abandoning him decades earlier, if Madara would spare the village, to which he agreed.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 590, page 11</ref>
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[[File:Uchiha Clan massacre.png|thumb|Itachi spares Sasuke after massacring their clan.]]
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In one night Itachi and Tobi slaughtered the entire clan. Itachi took it upon himself to personally execute his parents. Despite his betrayal, they bore him no ill-will, instead telling him in the moments before they were killed that they were proud of him and requesting that he take care of Sasuke.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 590, page 12-13</ref> Racked by grief following his actions, Itachi saw Sasuke as the only person suitable to punish him. In order to set Sasuke on this road he cast himself as the villain, done by allowing Sasuke to find him standing over their parents' bodies and using [[Tsukuyomi]] to torment him with visions of their murders. Sasuke fled, fearing his for his life, but Itachi chased him down to divulge the lie he had concocted: he killed their family to test his mettle and now wanted to test himself against the only remaining challenge to him, the little brother he had never loved. He encouraged Sasuke to become strong enough to kill him and take revenge, and to that end suggested he acquire a Mangekyō Sharingan of his own. Itachi left, but was surprised to find Sasuke already pursuing him with a newly-awakened Sharingan. Sasuke's attempt at vengeance failed and he passed out, but not before seeing Itachi cry with remorse.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 403, page 16</ref>
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Afterwards, he disguised a [[crow clone]] as a member of [[Root]] to threaten Danzō he would leak Konoha's secrets to enemy villages if Sasuke was harmed, having realised Danzō could not be trusted to keep his promises. For his final business in the village, Itachi visited the Third Hokage and reported his mission completed, much to the Third's surprise and disappointment. Itachi requested that the Third look after Sasuke, which the Third vowed to do.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 400, page 13</ref> Itachi left the village publicly a traitor but secretly with a new mission: to infiltrate Tobi's organisation, Akatsuki, and keep it from moving against Konoha.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 401, page 6</ref> In the anime, Itachi was ambushed by his former Anbu squad under orders from Danzō, only to trick them into killing each other using genjutsu. At some point after joining Akatsuki, he was initially partnered up with [[Jūzō Biwa]].<ref name="NS455"/> While growing accustomed to his new setting and working well with his partner, the duo was eventually given a mission in the [[Land of Water]]. After completing it, they were ambushed by a [[hunter-nin]] squad led by [[Yagura]]. While initially pressed by the perfect [[jinchūriki]], Itachi was able to defeat him with [[Amaterasu]], but not before Jūzō was slain.<ref name="NS456" />
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[[File:Orochimaru's failed attempt.png|thumb|left|Itachi effortlessly overpowers Orochimaru.]]
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Sometime later, Orochimaru tried to steal Itachi's body in order to gain the Sharingan, but Itachi easily overpowered him, trapping him inside a paralysis genjutsu and severing his left hand to prevent him from dispelling it.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 345, page 9</ref> In the anime, Itachi expressed his disgust at Orochimaru for his inhumane experiments and was about to kill him when Kabuto saved Orochimaru but they were both forced to leave Akatsuki. Later, Itachi was partnered with [[Kisame Hoshigaki]], with whom he bonded over their shared notoriety for killing their own countrymen.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 508, page 6</ref> To find a replacement for Orochimaru, Itachi helped recruit [[Deidara]], whose art he defeated with his Sharingan's [[genjutsu]]; Deidara would forever after swear vengeance for the humiliating defeat.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 359, pages 7-15</ref> In the anime, Itachi also aided in the recruitment of [[Hidan]]. [[Pain]] eventually caught wind of Orochimaru's attempt to destroy Konoha and requested a team to investigate, which Itachi immediately volunteered for out of concern for Sasuke's safety.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 457</ref>
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At some point, Itachi contracted a terminal illness. He kept himself alive through the years with medicine and sheer willpower so that he could live long enough to die by Sasuke's hand.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 401, pages 14-15</ref>
   
 
== Personality ==
 
== Personality ==
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From a young age, Itachi was calm and insightful, showing noticeable maturity for his age and knowledge on how to deal with every situation. For all his accomplishments, talent, and fame, Itachi was a rather humble man. Never arrogant about his own abilities nor underestimating others, most things he said would be unbiased and accurate. If an opponent exceeded his expectations or posed a legitimate challenge to him or his allies, Itachi would freely admit it.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 5</ref> As a seven-year-old, his reasoning was on par with a [[Hokage]]. Having studied history, not just of his clan or his village but of the world, he gained a broader appreciation of what was important. Learning so much enabled him to understand how events of the past came to happen and, when he applied that same understanding into the future, he became concerned for where things were going.<ref name="chpt619">''Naruto'' chapter 619, page 9</ref> At the same time, Itachi was still fairly naïve as a child in many real-world scenarios and as such was willing to learn from his peers on how to differentiate situations.<ref name="NS454" /> He lived at a distance, observing individuals and ideas without getting directly involved so that he could fully understand them.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 145, page 8-9</ref>
Ever since his first appearance, Itachi had always been mysterious, and had acted as though he was hiding his true self. While flashbacks to his past showed that he was a compassionate brother and person, his later acts and claims made it seem that this was mostly just an act. But, surprisingly, he genuinely was the compassionate brother he had once claimed to be, although he hid this from the rest of the Akatsuki to protect Sasuke.
 
   
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Although this approach prevented him from becoming close with many people, it enabled him to think and act without prejudice or preconceptions, instead evaluating things strictly on their own merits. In the anime, Itachi unintentionally gained many friends and admirers for his genuine concern for others despite his passive nature.<ref name="NS452" /> He would think about shinobi and origins of the village and its future.<ref name="chpt619" /> For this reason, he never became arrogant about his own abilities or accomplishments; to which, most views or statements he made were usually well-based, seeing the situation for what it was. From this he had no self-righteous loyalty to his clan that was [[Curse of Hatred|so common among the Uchiha]]; though he loved his family and wanted the best for them, he knew there were more important things than the Uchiha's personal aspirations. Itachi's dream was to become [[Hokage]], though he kept it hidden from others. <ref name="ItachiShinden" /> Itachi was also one of the few villagers of Konoha to hold no grudge against Naruto Uzumaki, believing Naruto to be the greatest victim of the Nine-Tails attack and showed him kindness whenever they met by chance.<ref name="darknight">''Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night''</ref>
As a member of Akatsuki, he possessed incredible self-control of his emotions. He constantly displayed an emotionless personality. He only showed surprise when opponents proved more powerful or skilled than he had expected, and even then he didn't lose his composure. He did not possess any arrogance, and fully justified any statements he made about his power, even complimenting his opponents at times on their abilities.
 
   
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[[File:Itachi cries.png|thumb|Itachi crying as he is about to kill his parents.]]
In addition to being an extremely powerful ninja, Itachi had equally impressive intelligence, and was shown to be very wise. He was exceedingly sharp and observant to any situation at hand, as he was rarely surprised or caught off guard. He also displayed great intuition, as he was almost never deceived and even then almost instantly realized the truth. Despite his status as a wanted criminal, and having wiped out his clan, Itachi took no enjoyment in violence or combat, instead preferring to avoid battle or, if this was not possible, end it as quickly as he could.
 
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A pacifist at heart, Itachi did not actually like fighting and would avoid it when he could. As such, he preferred to rely on Genjutsu as a first option, ending fights with as little damage as possible. When he couldn't avoid actual combat, he would end the fight as quickly as he could, all the while holding back as much as possible. Despite this, Itachi felt his own needs were secondary to the greater good's and to that end he became a [[shinobi]]. He trained tirelessly to improve himself as quickly as he could and subjected himself to all of the shinobi life's inconveniences without complaint for the simple motivation of being useful to others. His commitment borderlined recklessness, due to training privately using extremely deadly methods such as dodging a barrage of kunai in the anime.
   
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Being so accomplished as a ninja enabled Itachi to approach problems less violently than others would, satisfying his peace-loving nature. These two extremes of his personality came into conflict as events moved toward the [[Uchiha Clan Downfall]]; he did not want to harm his family and sought a peaceful resolution, but knew that the path with the least bloodshed would be the clan's extermination. When the Uchiha Clan refused to deter from their plans, Itachi was pushed over the edge and his normally polite attitude to his clansmen became more violent, criticising them openly and lashing out at them for the choices that sealed their fates and his own. Despite this, at his heart, Itachi truly hated what he had to do for sake of preserving peace, trembling with hesitation as he prepared to kill his parents and crying upon doing it. With Izumi, valuing her companionship, and aware of her feelings for him, Itachi opted to put Izumi under a powerful Tsukuyomi to allow her to live the life she'd always dreamed with him, allowing her death to be quick and peaceful.
Itachi's only initial interest was in Akatsuki's goals, and his only loyalties appeared to be to the organization and its members, seeming to put the organization's success and secrecy before everything else.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 143, page 08</ref> As such, Itachi got along with his partner, Kisame, much better than most other Akatsuki members did with their own partners. Kisame appeared to have a deep loyalty to Itachi, immediately doing as he instructed and constantly looking out for his well-being. Itachi treated all of his fellow Akatsuki members to this same, more respectful personality, although his courtesy was rarely returned by the other members.
 
   
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While at heart still a pacifist, in the wake of slaughtering his own clan, Itachi displayed a wrathful and merciless side, particularly to those who wronged or attempted to the people he cared for. In revenge for [[Yashiro Uchiha]]'s cowardly manipulations of his father from the shadows and helping to provoke war against Konohagakure while keeping free of responsibility himself, Itachi used his Tsukuyomi to force him to experience days of torture in an instant after making Yashiro realise how weak he was. Itachi would later use Tsukuyomi, followed by Amaterasu to execute the helpless Root member [[Sugaru]] in revenge for Sugaru poisoning Shisui.<ref name="darknight" /> He even threatened Danzō that he would reveal all the classified information he had on Konoha to foreign forces should the elder renege on his promise of sparing Sasuke, despite the potential damage this could inflict to the village.
However, when he was in a genjutsu duel during his fight with Sasuke, he cruelly claimed he had only let Sasuke live so that he could take Sasuke's eyes and obtain his own Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, after which he then claimed the Uchiha clan had been nothing but tainted and evil, since many members would kill their friends to gain the Mangekyō Sharingan, and would take another Uchiha's eyes to make its power permanent. Once the genjutsu was released, he called it his true self, implying his calm, emotionless personality was also a facade. This persona was later revealed to be only an act to ensure that he would die by Sasuke's hands, his love for his younger brother being the fundamental aspect of his personality.
 
   
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Despite the traumas he endured from killing his own family, Itachi did not blame those among Konoha's leadership who gave him the mission; though he did not trust Danzō on a personal level, he knew Danzō only had the village's best interests at heart. But Itachi – partly out of the necessity of his assignment to join Akatsuki – was greatly changed after the massacre, rarely if ever showing emotion. He became more prone to displays of force and permitted certain violent habits of his partner, Kisame, under the pretence that it furthered Akatsuki's goals.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 143, page 8</ref> After learning everything that Itachi endured, Hashirama openly considered Itachi a greater shinobi than himself.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 620, page 5</ref> Itachi could not and would not fully shake his pacifistic ways, and would run from confrontation or rein in Kisame if the likelihood of collateral damage became too high for themselves or others. In addition, Itachi would continue to show his morality at times, as he expressed disgust at Orochimaru's lack of care for human life. While Kisame would sometimes protest, he considered Itachi a good friend and would listen to his instructions. Itachi also had a decent partnership with his previous partner Jūzō, showing respect to him and after his death, placing the remains of [[Kubikiribōchō]] in Jūzō's hand. While warning his new partner Kisame that being comrade killers meant they are destined to an unpleasant end, he disagreed with the former's premature determination that they are both terrible people, believing that humans only recognise what they truly are at the end of their lives.
In the end, Itachi put all of his faith in Naruto, who he notes as the person most determined to save and protect Sasuke. After hearing Naruto's answer to keep protecting Sasuke and everyone in Konoha, Itachi gave him some of his power. He was very grateful towards Naruto's determination to save Sasuke, and was smiling after hearing Naruto's response. Itachi even trusted him enough to bring Sasuke back to the light.
 
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[[File:Itachi pokes Sasuke.png|thumb|left|Itachi poking Sasuke's forehead, his way of showing affection.]]
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Konoha's peace and protection was always forefront in Itachi's mind,<ref name="mykonoha">''Naruto'' chapter 581, page 13</ref> but it was his dedication to his brother, Sasuke, that took priority in every situation. From the time of Sasuke's infancy, Itachi tasked himself with looking after him. In the anime, Itachi even correctly guessed Sasuke's gender before his younger brother's birth.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 451</ref> They'd spend whole days together in the woods around Konoha having adventures and accomplishing self-appointed missions. When Itachi became an accomplished ninja and took much of their father's attention, Itachi would make special time to fill their father's shoes for Sasuke's benefit, at times even refusing his father's wishes in order to make Sasuke happy. In turn Sasuke wished to be just like his older brother and would often ask Itachi to train him in the ninja arts. Itachi would almost never do so, poking his forehead and promising to train him some other time. Unfortunately, none of these promises were ever kept.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 145, page 5-8</ref>
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[[File:Itachi crying.png|thumb|Itachi shedding tears as he leaves Sasuke.]]
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It was Sasuke's safety that ultimately convinced Itachi to go through with killing the rest of the Uchiha, believing his own damnation was worth it if it ensured Sasuke's survival. Even though he did it for Sasuke, Itachi wanted to be punished for his crimes and selected Sasuke as the one to take vengeance against him. To push Sasuke in this direction, Itachi withheld the true reason for his actions and instead took on the persona of a man who had no love for his younger brother. Per the persona, Itachi cared about Sasuke only because of the eyes that he could take to gain [[Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan]]. His actions in Akatsuki were meant to reinforce this persona, and whenever he met Sasuke over the years he would taunt his weakness and encourage him to get strong enough to kill him. His plan was that, once he had been killed, Sasuke would be hailed as a hero. Itachi never wanted Sasuke to learn the truth surrounding the Uchiha's massacre, and if he did he hoped the memory of a hateful older brother would cause him to not believe it. Itachi's constant pursuit of peace, coupled with the paramount secrecy of his missions and his capacity to care about those around him, led Itachi to take on every burden himself, believing he needed no help from comrades.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 582</ref>
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After he died and was [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnated]], Itachi discovered that his plans largely failed; Sasuke is not a hero, he did find out the truth about what Itachi did, and now he aimed to destroy Konoha for its role in Itachi and the Uchiha clan's suffering. He then began to see the flaw in his original plans: he had been trying to manipulate Sasuke rather than be honest with him and trust in his own strength.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 549</ref> Acknowledging the mistakes, Itachi was free to be himself instead of the persona he fabricated, being openly kind to others and displaying a dry sense of humour even in stressful situations.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 579, page 3</ref> He put his trust in [[Naruto Uzumaki]] to stop Sasuke from proceeding further down the path of darkness, and after Naruto proclaimed that he will stop the war himself, warned Naruto against forgetting the value of his friends like he himself and "Madara" did, reminding him how those he loved helped him come so far. Itachi later even showed empathy to his enemy Kabuto Yakushi, likening Kabuto's arrogance and belief in nothing being beyond him to Itachi's own living self, telling him that such a path can only lead to failure, at the same time seeing finally acknowledging his true self for who he is and forgiving himself for his mistakes. Itachi further displayed a reflective side, refusing Sasuke's claims that he was perfect and telling him that perfection can never be obtained by one individual. Itachi came to believe sometimes two people of completely opposite personalities are two sides of the same coin; that when they learn to work together, they can succeed in things they are unable to accomplish alone, a possible reference to how he and Kisame were complete opposites but were capable of compensating for each other's weaknesses. He was also finally open and honest with Sasuke during their final meeting, admitting what he did and even sharing information Sasuke did not already know. He apologised to Sasuke for failing in his responsibilities as an older brother, wondering if being up front with Sasuke from the beginning might have allowed them to avoid the Uchiha's destruction. In their final moments together, Itachi told Sasuke he did not need forgiveness and that he will always love him no matter what.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 590, page 23</ref>
   
 
== Appearance ==
 
== Appearance ==
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<gallery type="slideshow" position="left" widths="250" hideaddbutton="true">
[[File:Itachi Appearence.PNG|thumb|Itachi's appearance]]
 
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Itachi Child OL.png|Itachi's appearance as a child.
Despite his status as an infamous shinobi, his appearance was not the most intimidating, apart from the intensity of his eyes. While living in Konoha, he would regularly have a gentle and caring look in his eyes, especially directed towards his younger brother. After joining Akatsuki, he would regularly have a stern look to them.
 
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Itachi_ANBU_Online.png|Itachi's appearance as a member of the ANBU.
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Itachi Akatsuki Mobile.png|Itachi's Akatsuki attire.
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Itachi Mobile.png|Itachi's appearance underneath his Akatsuki attire.
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Edo Itachi NXB.png|Itachi's appearance after being reanimated.
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</gallery>
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Itachi was a fairly tall man of fair complexion. He had black eyes, under which were long, pronounced tear-troughs. He had jet-black hair that was pulled back in a low ponytail and his face was framed with centre-parted bangs that extended to his chin; the ponytail and bangs grew longer over the years. His overall appearance was very similar to Sasuke's.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 145, page 1</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 365, page 9</ref> Even more, like his brother, he was considered very handsome as many girls became infatuated with him.<ref name="NS452" /> When he lived in Konoha, his casual clothes consisted of a black shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol on the back, bandages around his ankles, and black sandals. He wore tan pants with a weapons pouch strapped to his back. When on duty, he would wear the standard Anbu uniform complete with arm guards, a flak jacket, and a porcelain mask which was fashioned to resemble a weasel with a red, triangular marking on top.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 590, page 7</ref>
   
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As a member of Akatsuki, he wore the standard Akatsuki cloak and a slashed Konoha forehead protector to symbolise his broken ties with the village. The cloak's high collar would obscure his ponytail. He would sometimes unbutton his cloak to mid-chest and rest his left arm there, rather than in the sleeve. Under his cloak he wore clothes similar to the rest of Akatsuki: mesh armour with navy accents under an identical T-shirt with a simple white belt around the waist and dark blue pants. On his right ring finger was his Akatsuki ring, which was red and bore the kanji for {{translation|"vermilion"|朱|shu}}. He wore light blue nail polish on his fingers and toes and a necklace that had three silver rings with red gems inside them.
He, like all members of his clan, possessed dark gray eyes, black hair that hung near his cheeks to frame his face and a long ponytail in the back of his hair; later obscured by his Akatsuki cloak after joining the organization. Being brothers, Itachi and Sasuke had a similar appearance, but with subtle differences. Itachi's hair color appeared slightly duller and with a softer flow to it; his skin was also slightly darker. Itachi's most distinguishing characteristics were the long pronounced creases under his eyes.
 
   
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After being reincarnated by Kabuto with the Impure World Reincarnation technique, he was seen wearing a maroon long sleeved cloak like the other reincarnated ninjas and retained his dark blue pants and black open-toed sandals. His skin became pale white with linings on his face, his hair became dark grey and had soulless onyx eyes minus the irides.
When he lived in Konoha, his casual clothes would consist of a black shirt with a large Uchiha clan symbol on the back, and black pants with a weapons pouch strapped to them. When on duty, he would wear the traditional ANBU uniform, although he was never shown wearing a mask. As a member of Akatsuki he wore the traditional Akatsuki cloak and usually kept the center of it buttoned down. After his cloak was incinerated by Sasuke's Kirin during their fight in Part II, it was revealed that he still wore his casual clothes underneath it. Like almost all members of Akatsuki, he wore the headband of his home village with a horizontal line gouged through it to symbolize his broken ties with the village. On his right ring finger was his Akatsuki ring, which bears the kanji for {{Translation|''Vermilion''|朱|shu}}.
 
   
 
== Abilities ==
 
== Abilities ==
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[[File:Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson.png|thumb|Itachi's fire-enhanced shurikenjutsu.]]
Even at a young age, Itachi's intellect and talent showed their brilliance in everything he did, as even his teachers said his progress hardly required any help. In the few battles he had been seen in since the start of the series, Itachi was shown to be an incredibly powerful ninja, as demonstrated by his ability to easily defeat the likes of [[Deidara]], [[Sasuke Uchiha]], [[Kakashi Hatake]] and [[Orochimaru]]. Despite his pride in his abilities, [[Kisame Hoshigaki]], Itachi's partner in [[Akatsuki]], acknowledged Itachi as the stronger of the two. Even Madara said that Itachi never ceased to amaze him.
 
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Even within the famed and battle-adept Uchiha clan, Itachi was a genius of such talent, never before seen in Konoha's history.<ref>''Itachi Shinden Book of Bright Light'' pages 37, 46, 50, and 80</ref> Despite his young age, he became one of the strongest shinobi Konoha ever produced. Well-known for consistently showing prowess far beyond his years, he quickly rose through the ranks; graduated from the Academy in 4 months at age 6, earned the fastest time in completing the second test of the Chūnin Exams while competing solo at age 10,<ref name="ItachiShinden">''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light''</ref> and became an Anbu captain at age 12. He was highly proficient in all three main ninja skill sets, effortlessly learning new techniques from simple observation, and gained praise from allies and foes alike; [[Orochimaru]], one of the [[Sannin]], openly admitted Itachi was stronger than him,<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 140, page 5</ref> and Shisui, well-regarded as the strongest Uchiha of their time, viewed Itachi as stronger.<ref>''Itachi Shinden Book of Dark Night'' pages 81, and 97</ref> Danzō considered him the kind of shinobi one sees maybe once a century.<ref>''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'' pages 113-114</ref> Despite being weakened from illness, while Sasuke had trained under and [[Living Corpse Reincarnation|absorbed]] Orochimaru's power, Itachi could have killed Sasuke during their final battle if he wanted to.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 401, page 1</ref> Even when restraining himself, Itachi still pushed a 3-man team of elite jōnin to their limits.<ref name="c142p12" />
   
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=== Chakra and Physical Prowess ===
Being a pacifist due to his traumatic experiences from the [[Third Great Shinobi World War]], Itachi did not actively take part in battle, typically only acting in self-defense and trying to incapacitate his enemies instead of killing them if possible. It can also be said that in every one of his battles, Itachi's true strength is never displayed, either because of his nonviolent nature or the terminal illness that plagued him.
 
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[[File:Itachi's Taijutsu.png|thumb|left|Itachi clashing with Naruto.]]
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As an Uchiha, his chakra was naturally strong. Even from his youth, Itachi showed very advanced chakra control, able to channel chakra to enhance his strikes, even shattering a boulder large enough to crush several people.<ref>''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'', chapter 2</ref> However, his actual reserves were affected by his terminal illness. During the Uchiha Massacre, Itachi was able to use his [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] five times without suffering much exhaustion.<ref>''Itachi Shinden Book of Dark Night'' pages 148, 157, 163, 171, and 172</ref> In the years following, just three uses of his Mangekyō Sharingan in a single day rendered him unable to even use the Sharingan, and then require significant rest to regain his strength. This also prevented him from participating in prolonged battles.
   
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Itachi was very skilled with [[taijutsu]], easily defeating three members of the [[Konoha Military Police Force]] at the age of 11.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 222, page 13</ref> He had exceptional speed and reflexes, able to compete with Shisui and Naruto while clad with the [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]], two shinobi well-famed for their speed. His quickness was particularly noted with his hand movements, able to make [[hand seals]] too fast to be perceived normally; even skilled [[Sharingan]]-users had difficulty following him.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 9</ref> Similar to Shisui, his usage of the [[Body Flicker Technique]] could move great distances in an instant as if by displacing himself, giving his opponent little chance to react or initiate a counter-attack.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 141, pages 16-17</ref> Itachi also had remarkable fortitude. Despite spending years afflicted with a crippling disease, he was able to maintain his composure at all times and still battle at near-perfect form.
=== Jutsu ===
 
[[File:Crow Clone.PNG|thumb|left|The usage of crows in Itachi's techniques]]
 
Itachi was a master of all the Uchiha clan's techniques, along with the [[Sharingan]], and had great prowess with all of the three main types of [[jutsu]]. When battling against Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma, Kakashi commented that Itachi wasn't fighting with even half of his strength.
 
   
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=== Ninjutsu ===
Itachi was also noted to be very fast, particularly with his hand movements. This extended to weaving [[hand seals]] and throwing weapons, as he was able to reveal a set of shuriken with one hand and then suddenly attack the opponent with a form of ninjutsu. In terms of mobility, he is able to close considerable distances fast enough to appear like teleportation. His speed was such that neither Sasuke nor Kakashi, who are both very adept at using the Sharingan, could follow his movements in either case. Itachi's techniques also often involved usage of crows, both in ninjutsu and genjutsu. This is seen amongst others with his creation of a [[Crow Clone Technique|clone]] that dissolves into crows and using crows to hide shuriken in them.
 
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[[File:Crow Clone.PNG|thumb|Itachi's Crow Clone Technique.]]
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Itachi could [[Summoning Technique|summon]] [[wikipedia:crow|crow]]s, which he would typically call forth in flocks to swarm opponents and distract them. He even integrated crows into clones of himself to draw opponents' attention. He likewise could create [[shadow clone]]s and from which [[Clone Great Explosion|detonate]] them for large explosions. Itachi was also well-versed in [[fūinjutsu]], able to particularly those that would activate in the presence of a specific person's Sharingan.<ref name="Tensha">''Naruto'' chapter 397, pages 8-11</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 550, pages 10-13</ref> From his time in Anbu, Itachi became proficient in stealth, infiltration, and assassination.<ref name="NS456" />
   
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==== Bukijutsu ====
As traditional to the Uchiha clan, Itachi could use [[Fire Release]] techniques. He was also shown to use [[Water Release]] techniques.
 
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As a fully-trained Konoha [[Anbu]], Itachi was skilled with a sword, which was his primary weapon during the Uchiha Clan Downfall. Like many Uchiha, he specialised in [[shurikenjutsu]], which he was especially advanced at. Even as a child, Itachi could perfectly hit an intricate set of eight targets, one of which was hidden in a blind spot, by accurately deflecting his projectile off another one to redirect both projectiles' path in mid-air.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 220, pages 3-6</ref> His throwing speed was imperceptible, enough to negate the advantages of the [[Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creation]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 387, pages 4-7</ref> He was equally comfortable with [[kunai]], able to use them to spar with opponents wielding swords. In the anime, he learned advanced sleight-of-hand from Shisui to give his opponents even less time to react.<ref name="NS452" />
   
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==== Nature Transformation ====
Despite his extensive use of genjutsu, Itachi appeared to be quite skilled in taijutsu as well, as demonstrated when he easily dispatched three fellow Uchiha and when he stopped Sasuke's [[Chidori]] with one hand and brutally beat the latter during their reunion in the [[Land of Fire]] despite Sasuke's extensive taijutsu training for the Chūnin Exam. He was also very proficient wielding a sword, in the same way as throwing shuriken and kunai.
 
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[[File:Grandfire Ball.PNG|thumb|left|Itachi using the Great Fireball Technique.]]
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Itachi's [[nature transformation]]s included [[Fire]], [[Water]], [[Wind]], [[Yin]], and [[Yang Release]].<ref name="d4" /> As an Uchiha, he had a natural affinity for Fire Release, mastering the clan's [[Great Fireball Technique]] at a very young age. He could [[Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson|coat shuriken with fire]] to increase their offensive capacities.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 549, page 12</ref> With Water Release, Itachi could perform the [[Water Dragon Bullet Technique]] without an external water source,<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 587, page 11</ref> as well as shape existing water into [[Water Release: Water Fang Bullet|tendrils]] to strike his opponents from all directions.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 8</ref>
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{{-}}
   
=== Sharingan ===
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=== Genjutsu ===
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[[File:Tsukuyomi.png|thumb|Itachi using Tsukuyomi on Kakashi.]]
Being of the Uchiha Clan, and as noted by Kakashi, Itachi was a true successor of the [[Sharingan|Sharingan Eye]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 03</ref> From a stationary position, he would study an opponent's movements with his Sharingan and respond accordingly, often with a [[genjutsu]]. He could cast a genjutsu by merely pointing at or looking at someone, and could similarly turn an opponent's genjutsu against them with [[Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 141, page 15</ref> Itachi had trained so much with his eyes that he had reached the stage where he could have his Sharingan activated ''all'' the time, with minimal drain on his [[chakra]] levels.
 
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Having pacifist ideals, Itachi specialised in genjutsu, which often involved crows. Itachi could use genjutsu to share information or psychologically disable opponents, letting him end the fight instantly. Regarded as one of Konohagakure's best users, rivalling Shisui himself, as even without the aid of his Sharingan, his illusions had remarkable potency and were able to seamlessly affect his targets without them realising it - despite the target being on guard. He could also perform them by merely [[Ephemeral|pointing at]] his target. [[Ao]] noted that Itachi had such a high aptitude with long-range genjutsu that he could control multiple individuals outside the range of an entire [[Sensor Division]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 540, page 13</ref>
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  +
=== Dōjutsu ===
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==== Sharingan ====
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[[File:Itachi's Sharingan.png|thumb|left|Itachi's Sharingan.]]
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Itachi awakened the [[Sharingan]] at age 8,<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 3</ref> after witnessing his team-mate Tenma Izumo's death, manifesting two tomoe in each eye. Soon after, he fully matured and mastered his dōjutsu. From a young age, he demonstrated skill and power superior to most members of his clan.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 222, page 7</ref> In the anime, his prowess and exploits with it earned him great fame as {{Translation|"'''Itachi of the Sharingan'''"|写輪眼のイタチ|Sharingan no Itachi}}.<ref name="NS456" /> He tended to keep his Sharingan active near-constantly with minimal drain on his chakra levels. The Sharingan allowed Itachi to see the flow of chakra, predict movements, as well as facilitate his use of [[Genjutsu: Sharingan|genjutsu]]. Against other genjutsu users, he could [[Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change|turn their genjutsu against them]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 141, page 15</ref> Also with the Sharingan, he could perform [[Izanami]], a counterpart to the more dangerous [[Izanagi]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 581, pages 14-16</ref>
   
 
==== Mangekyō Sharingan ====
 
==== Mangekyō Sharingan ====
[[File:ItachiMangekyōSharingan.jpg|thumb|Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan]]
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[[File:Itachi Using Genjutsu.png|thumb|Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.]]
Itachi possessed the [[Mangekyō Sharingan#Itachi Uchiha|Mangekyō Sharingan]], which increased his already great power, and enabled him to use his most powerful techniques. With his left eye, he could use [[Tsukuyomi]], a genjutsu that traps an opponent's mind in an illusory world, torturing them for what seems like days in a matter of seconds.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 17</ref> With his right eye he could use [[Amaterasu]], a [[ninjutsu]] which allowed him to create a black flame that he could direct by moving his eye to burn through seemingly anything in its path, including fire itself. His final technique was [[Susanoo]], the "Raging God of Battle"<ref>Third Databook</ref>, a technique that uses both eyes to manifest itself as a spectral being. It wielded the Totsuka Sword, an ethereal sword with the ability to seal anything it pierces into the gourd that serves as its hilt, and Yata's Mirror, a shield that could reflect any attack. [[Zetsu]], a fellow Akatsuki member, stated that Itachi's mastery of the Sharingan, combined with the legendary weapons of [[Susanoo]], made him invincible.
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Itachi awakened the [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] after witnessing Shisui's suicide. Its design was three spiralling curves around the pupil. With his right eye he could use [[Amaterasu]], igniting whatever he looked at with black flames that would burn anything, including fire itself, and at will extinguish Amaterasu.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 390, page 7</ref> With either eye, he could use [[Tsukuyomi]], a genjutsu that trapped opponents' minds in an illusory world of his own design capable of altering their perception of matter, space, gravity, and even time.<ref>Second Databook, pages 252-253</ref><ref name="c142p17">''Naruto'' chapter 142, page 17</ref><ref name="NS338">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 338</ref> Itachi could cast sophisticated and elaborate illusions, forcing the target to experience an entire lifetime in an instant. Likewise, while genjutsu normally cannot kill, with Tsukuyomi Itachi could cause enough mental damage to kill the victim if he wanted to.<ref>''Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light'', chapter 6</ref> Even survivors have shown to be hospitalized for extended periods of time.
   
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[[File:Susanoo.png|thumb|left|Itachi's armoured Susanoo wielding the Yata Mirror.]]
Despite his mastery of the Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi suffered greatly from its side effects. Each of the techniques bestowed by the Mangekyō Sharingan required vast amounts of chakra to perform, and they left Itachi fatigued afterward, to the point of requiring him to deactivating his Sharingan altogether, something that he did not usually need. The other side effect was that his eyesight would worsen as time passed since the awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the degradation would only increase after every time he used it, which would lead him to eventually go blind from its power, with his Sharingan forever sealed away.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 385, page 16</ref> By the time Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan during his final fight with Sasuke, Itachi's eyesight is so badly damaged, that Sasuke appeared to be only a messy blur. Itachi was so close to blindness that by the time he activated Susanoo in his final fight, both Sharingan had lost the Mangekyō design in them, with only the red iris remaining.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 390, page 14</ref> Despite the stress his body was under that was slowly killing him he was still able, in his last moments, to perform his own [[Transcription Seal: Amaterasu|Fūinjutsu]].
 
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Having awakened the Mangekyō in both his eyes, Itachi could also use [[Susanoo]]. With its simplest manifestations, he could produce extra arms or bones to improve his options in a fight. When used in full, Itachi was surrounded by a spectral warrior that would protect him from damage.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 391, pages 16-17</ref> In addition to the chakra swords and [[Yasaka Magatama]] common to all Susanoo, Itachi's Susanoo wielded the [[Sword of Totsuka]] – an ethereal sword with the ability to seal any person it pierced into its gourd—hilt – and the [[Yata Mirror]] – a shield that was said to reflect any attack by changing its chakra nature to counterbalance an attack. The simultaneous use of both weapons made Itachi's Susanoo essentially invincible.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 393, page 9</ref>
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Using any of these techniques required large amounts of chakra, as used too often would deactivate his Sharingan altogether. The longer Itachi used his Mangekyō Sharingan, the more his eyesight deteriorated. Early uses of the Mangekyō would only cause his eyes to bleed, but by the end of his life he reached the point where he was nearly blind, only able to see mere blurs.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 390, page 14</ref> He did not suffer these shortcomings after his [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnation]] and could use all his Mangekyō techniques as often as he desired unhindered.
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=== Intelligence ===
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[[File:Sasuke Amaterasu.png|thumb|As a precaution, Itachi programmed Sasuke's Sharingan to react to Tobi's.]]
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Itachi was a highly intelligent individual, having the second highest scores in the history of the Chūnin Exams written test behind [[Minato Namikaze]], without resorting to cheating.<ref name="ItachiShinden" /> Composed and observant; he thought very quickly and remained calm in a fight, enabling him to respond with maximum efficiency and with the smallest likelihood of misjudging circumstances. Even at a young age, he was always calculating and methodical in his approach to the situation at hand, leaving little room for error. He took several precautions for Sasuke and against [[Tobi]] that he planned would activate after his death. Even Tobi admitted if he didn't keep some secrets from Itachi, he would have been killed by Itachi's trap.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 397, page 10</ref> During his infiltration of Konoha, Itachi was also able to subtly leak Akatsuki's goals to Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, and Jiraiya without arousing Kisame's suspicions.
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{{-}}
   
 
=== Stats ===
 
=== Stats ===
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== Part I ==
 
== Part I ==
=== Search for Tsunade arc ===
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=== Search for Tsunade ===
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{{Main|Search for Tsunade}}
[[File:Itachi and Kisame Debut.jpg|thumb|Itachi and Kisame's debut.]]
 
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[[File:Team Itachi Kisame.png|thumb|left|Itachi and Kisame sneak into Konoha.]]
After the [[Invasion of Konoha]] and the death of the Third Hokage, Itachi and Kisame infiltrated the Konoha to find [[Naruto Uzumaki]], the container of the [[Nine-Tailed Demon Fox]]. Before searching for Naruto, the two quickly stopped for tea after a suggestion from Kisame. While there, however, their uncommon clothes drew the attention of [[Kakashi Hatake]], who had [[Asuma Sarutobi]] and [[Kurenai Yūhi]] follow them. Itachi and Kisame nearly managed to escape village, before Asuma and Kurenai managed to catch up with them in time.
 
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After the [[Konoha Crush]] and the death of the [[Third Hokage]], Itachi and [[Kisame]] use Itachi's prior experience as an Anbu to infiltrate the village undetected.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 419, page 3</ref> They are nevertheless noticed by [[Kakashi Hatake]], who sends [[Asuma Sarutobi]] and [[Kurenai Yūhi]] after them to determine their identities and purpose. Itachi and Kisame lead them to an isolated location and reveal themselves. Asuma and Kurenai engage them but pose little challenge and it is only due to the timely arrival of Kakashi that they are saved. Itachi and Kakashi duel with their Sharingan but Itachi quickly proves to be the superior and uses [[Tsukuyomi]] to render Kakashi helpless, but is surprised that Kakashi not only remains standing afterwards but that he knows they and [[Akatsuki]] are seeking the Nine-Tails. Itachi instructs Kisame to capture Kakashi to find out what else he knows and kill the others, but Kisame is parried by [[Might Guy]]. With things escalating, Itachi and Kisame decide to withdraw.
   
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[[File:Young Sasuke vs Itachi.png|thumb|Itachi choking Sasuke.]]
When the two revealed their identities, Itachi and Kisame were quick to battle Asuma and Kurenai after they refused to leave. Despite their high ranks of [[Jōnin]], Asuma and Kurenai stood little chance against the two Akatsuki members. However, the arrival of Kakashi managed to keep Asuma and Kurenai from receiving any major injuries. After a short skirmish with Kakashi, Itachi activated his [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] and used [[Tsukuyomi]] to attack Kakashi's mind and spirit, which afterwards left the latter confined to bed for several days. After Kakashi revealed he had knowledge of Akatsuki, Itachi ordered Kisame to kidnap Kakashi and to kill Asuma and Kurenai. However, [[Might Guy]] then showed up, revealing that he had already told the [[ANBU]] about the two Akatsuki members' presence. Itachi and Kisame retreated, saying that they didn't want to start a war.
 
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After confirming Sasuke's safety, Itachi pretended to pursue Naruto to covertly let Konoha know about Akatsuki's goals. Itachi and Kisame track the Nine-Tails' [[jinchūriki]], [[Naruto Uzumaki]], to [[Shukuba Town]]. Because Naruto is under the protection of [[Jiraiya]], Itachi uses a genjutsu on an [[Emi|attractive woman]] to draw Jiraiya away. They confront Naruto and contemplate how to apprehend him. Before they can make a decision they are interrupted by Sasuke, who heard about Itachi's return and attacks him with [[Chidori]]. Itachi easily deflects it and then breaks Sasuke's wrist, but Jiraiya returns before things can go further. Not wishing to get drawn into a fight with Jiraiya but confronted by his younger brother's overwhelming desire for revenge, Itachi effortlessly overpowers Sasuke, taunts Sasuke's weakness, incapacitates him with Tsukuyomi, and then makes to escape. Jiraiya attempts to stop them with [[Summoning: Toad Mouth Bind]], but Itachi uses [[Amaterasu]] so he and Kisame can break through.
   
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Despite his seeming intentions to capture Naruto, Itachi's only real reasons for returning to Konoha were to, in the wake of the Third's death, remind [[Danzō Shimura]] and the rest of the [[Konoha Council]] that he was still out there and that they should not do anything to harm Sasuke.
Itachi and Kisame tracked Naruto to a hotel where he was staying with [[Jiraiya]] at the time. Uninterested in provoking a [[Sannin]], Itachi used a genjutsu on a pretty woman to draw Jiraiya away from Naruto. Taking the chance, Itachi and Kisame confronted Naruto, although, at the very same moment, Sasuke arrived to seek vengeance on his brother. Itachi handled his brother with ease while Kisame and Naruto watched, although Jiraiya arrived in time to save the two boys, having not fallen for the hypnotized woman's charm as he knew that pretty women did not usually show interest in him.
 
   
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=== Sasuke Recovery Mission ===
Jiraiya immediately asked Itachi and Kisame if their real goal was kidnapping Naruto. They confirmed this and Itachi understood that Jiraiya was the one who had told Kakashi about Akatsuki. Although Jiraiya wished to fight them himself and prevent others from getting hurt, he honored Sasuke's feelings, and allowed him to fight Itachi instead. Itachi, however, only proved Jiraiya wrong in letting Sasuke fight by using his [[Mangekyō Sharingan]] on his younger brother, thus reaffirming his need to get stronger. Jiraiya saved Sasuke in time by using the [[Summoning: Toad Mouth Bind]], which transformed the entire hotel hallway into a toad's esophagus to trap Itachi and Kisame. Despite Jiraiya's claim that no-one had escaped this technique before, the two Akatsuki partners managed to evade capture and death using Itachi's [[Amaterasu]], which left him exhausted.
 
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{{Main|Sasuke Recovery Mission}}
 
  +
Itachi and the rest of Akatsuki assemble to discuss the progress of their plans as well as Sasuke's recent alliance with [[Orochimaru]].
Although he was actually supposed to capture Naruto, Itachi's only reason for returning to Konoha after the death of the Third Hokage was to remind Danzō and the other two village elders that he was still alive and not to harm his younger brother.
 
   
 
== Part II ==
 
== Part II ==
=== Rescue Gaara arc ===
+
=== Kazekage Rescue Mission ===
  +
{{Main|Kazekage Rescue Mission}}
While Akatsuki was sealing the [[One-Tailed Shukaku]], they discovered that [[Team 7]] and [[Chiyo]] were en-route to their location. Itachi volunteered to distract them, so [[Pain]] used the [[Shapeshifting Technique]] on [[Yūra]] to create a body-double for Itachi. The lookalike, under Itachi's control, engaged the Konoha ninja. He was impressed by Naruto and Kakashi's improvements in strength but, because the clone had only a portion of his ordinary strength, it was killed by Naruto's [[Great Ball Rasengan]]. Nevertheless, he had bought enough time.
 
  +
[[File:Itachi & Kakashi Face-off.png|thumb|left|Itachi and Kakashi clash.]]
  +
While sealing the [[One-Tail]], Akatsuki learns that Konoha ninja are converging on their location. Just as Kisame volunteers to delay [[Team Guy]], Itachi volunteers to delay [[Team Kakashi|Team 7]]. [[Nagato]] uses his [[Shapeshifting Technique]] to make [[Yūra|a body-double]] of Itachi that he controls remotely, which he uses to intercept Team 7. Team 7 coordinates against him and Itachi is impressed by Naruto's growth, but he still manages to catch him in a genjutsu. He torments Naruto for his failures to protect his friends, specifically Sasuke, until the genjutsu is broken by Naruto's teammates. Itachi, his body-double running out of his chakra, is eventually defeated by Naruto's [[Big Ball Rasengan]]. He nevertheless succeeds in buying enough time to complete the One-Tail's sealing.
   
=== Hunt for Itachi arc ===
+
=== Itachi Pursuit Mission ===
  +
{{Main|Itachi Pursuit Mission}}
As Sasuke was defeating Orochimaru, Itachi sensed something odd. Kisame asked him what was wrong, to which Itachi replied, "No, it's nothing." Following Kisame's capture of the [[Four-Tailed Monkey]], Itachi and Kisame met with the rest of Akatsuki. There, they discovered that Sasuke, after being trained by [[Orochimaru]] for two and a half years, had killed his teacher. Sometime after the Four Tails was sealed, [[Zetsu]] informed them that Sasuke had been killed by [[Deidara]]'s [[C0]]. Kisame asked Itachi if he was upset that Sasuke's death had left him as the only Uchiha because in the rain he looked as if he were crying. However, Itachi remarked that Sasuke wasn't dead, and alluded to the fact that there was still another [[Madara Uchiha|Uchiha]] regardless.
 
  +
After Kisame captures the [[Four-Tails]], Akatsuki convenes to seal it. Before the sealing gets underway they are informed that Sasuke has killed Orochimaru after two-and-a-half years of training with him and is now coming after Itachi. [[Deidara]] and [[Tobi]] go after Sasuke following the Four-Tails' sealing, and Akatsuki later receives reports that all three have been killed. Kisame consoles Itachi afterwards for now being the last Uchiha, but he replies that Sasuke is still alive. Even had he died, he says there is still another Uchiha, alluding to Tobi's survival as well.
   
  +
=== Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant ===
Knowing that his end was near, one of Itachi's [[Shadow Clone Technique|shadow clones]] confronted Naruto, who was looking for Sasuke. Although he claimed he wished only to talk, Itachi was forced to defend himself against Naruto's attacks. After fending off Naruto, Itachi asked why he showed so much interest in Sasuke, a traitor to Konoha. Naruto replied that he was more of a brother to Sasuke than Itachi had ever been, and that he would do whatever it took to bring Sasuke home. This causes Itachi to give a small smile, followed up by asking if he would always feel that way, even if Sasuke attacked Konoha. Naruto replied only that, if that happened, he would stop Sasuke without killing him ''and'' protect the village. Content with this answer, Itachi gave some of his power to Naruto, by forcing him to swallow one of his crows, and hoped he would never have to use it.
 
  +
{{Main|Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant}}
  +
[[File:Itachi's Genjutsu.png|thumb|Itachi talking with Naruto.]]
  +
Knowing that his end is near, Itachi sends a [[shadow clone]] to find and meet with Naruto. When Naruto attacks him, Itachi insists he only wants to talk. He asks Naruto what Sasuke means to him and what he will do if ever Sasuke moves against Konoha. Naruto replies that he is Sasuke's brother – a better brother than Itachi is – and that if Sasuke ever attacks the village he will defend it without killing Sasuke. Itachi is happy with this answer and gives Naruto some assistance for this purpose: a [[Itachi's Crow|special crow]] that he stores within Naruto's body. (He does not tell Naruto the crow's purpose, but the crow, implanted with [[Shisui]]'s [[Mangekyō Sharingan]], will react to seeing Itachi's eyes and [[Kotoamatsukami|compel]] whoever has the eyes to protect Konoha. Since he expects Sasuke will take his eyes at some point if he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and by extension learned the truth, the plan is for the crow to reestablish Sasuke's loyalties to the village after Itachi is dead.) Having business elsewhere, the shadow clone disperses.
   
  +
Another shadow clone allows Sasuke to track him to one of Akatsuki's lairs. Sasuke attacks him, displaying the new abilities he's learned, and in doing so convinces Itachi that he has gotten strong enough. The shadow clone arranges to meet with Sasuke at the [[Uchiha Hideout]] before it disappears. While Itachi waits for Sasuke, he has Kisame patrol the hideout's perimeter and permit nobody but Sasuke to enter.
After his business with Naruto was done, another of Itachi's shadow clones went to meet with Sasuke. Sasuke displayed a dramatic improvement in his abilities during their confrontation, so Itachi agreed to have their final battle at the [[Abandoned Uchiha Stronghold]]. He waited there for Sasuke's arrival, instructing Kisame to not let the other members of Sasuke's [[Hebi|team]], interfere with their battle. Itachi and Sasuke met face-to-face and, while exchanging genjutsu, had a conversation about the Uchiha, Madara, and Itachi's "''true''" motives of wanting to take Sasuke's eyes. When Sasuke managed to escape Itachi's [[Tsukuyomi]], the genjutsu battle ended and the ninjutsu battle began.
 
   
  +
=== Fated Battle Between Brothers ===
Itachi used Amaterasu, but Sasuke shielded himself by [[Body Shedding|shedding his skin]], a technique he was able to use because of Orochimaru being sealed within him. Using the shed skin as a decoy Sasuke went below and fired a [[Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique]] at Itachi's direction above although he only managed to burn away one of Itachi's sleeves. Out of chakra, he tells Itachi about his final jutsu that like Amaterasu it is impossible to avoid. Sasuke then used his [[Kirin|trump card]], on Itachi, who had his Akatsuki cloak burned off as a result.<ref>''Naruto'' Chapters 390 - 391</ref>
 
  +
{{Main|Fated Battle Between Brothers}}
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[[File:Amaterasu vs Fire Ball.PNG|thumb|left|Itachi and Sasuke clash.]]
  +
When Sasuke arrives they start by trading genjutsu. At Sasuke's request Itachi tells him about Tobi, who also goes by [[Madara]], as well as the mysteries of the Mangekyō Sharingan and the even more powerful [[Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan]]. Itachi expresses his disappointment that Sasuke has not gained his own Mangekyō, but says he can use Sasuke's eyes to gain an Eternal Mangekyō all the same. The genjutsu exchange ends when Sasuke breaks free of Itachi's Tsukuyomi, thus beginning the real fight. The volleys of ninjutsu quickly spill outside, where Sasuke and Itachi compare their [[Great Fireball]]s. When Sasuke's starts to pull ahead, Itachi uses Amaterasu. While trying to hit Sasuke he ends up igniting the surrounding forest, but does finally manage to catch Sasuke. Sasuke [[Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique|sheds his skin]] to escape the flames and performs multiple [[Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique]]s while Itachi is off-guard. Itachi avoids them, but Sasuke informs him that Itachi wasn't his target.
   
[[File:Eight Branches Technique.JPG|thumb|left| Itachi faces Orochimaru's Eight Branch Technique.]]
+
[[File:Itachi sealing Orochimaru.png|thumb|Itachi sealing Orochimaru.]]
However, Itachi managed to survive by using [[Susanoo]] to defend himself. With Kirin having expended all of Sasuke's chakra, Orochimaru was able to break free and violently appear through his [[Eight Branches Technique]]. However Itachi was easily able to cut off the seven snake heads, leaving only one behind whose mouth Orochimaru appeared out of and thanked Itachi for pushing Sasuke so far thus setting him free and allowing him to take control of Sasuke's body. Itachi, however, stabbed Orochimaru with the Totsuka sword to seal him away with Susanoo thereby removing the [[Orochimaru's Juinjutsu|cursed seal]] from Sasuke's body.
+
After Sasuke's attack, storm clouds gather and lightning brews, allowing Sasuke to attack Itachi with [[Kirin]]. Although the hideout is destroyed, Itachi survives thanks to his [[Susanoo]]. With his Susanoo active, Itachi approaches Sasuke. Having used all his chakra to perform Kirin, Sasuke activates his [[Cursed Seal of Heaven]] and out of desperation to defeat Itachi unleashes Orochimaru. Orochimaru springs from Sasuke's body using the [[Eight Branches Technique]] and states his intentions to take finally take Sasuke's body for his own. Itachi, having prolonged the battle in order to draw Orochimaru out, pierces him with Susanoo's [[Sword of Totsuka]], sealing Orochimaru away and removing Sasuke's cursed seal.
   
[[File:Last Smile.PNG|thumb|Itachi's last smile to his little brother, Sasuke.]]
+
[[File:Last Smile.PNG|thumb|left|Itachi smiles to Sasuke before dying.]]
  +
Itachi resumes his approach, telling Sasuke his resolution to now take his eyes, and Sasuke makes futile attempts to keep him away. Susanoo continues to protect Itachi, but it degrades as he labours near and Itachi starts coughing up blood. Itachi began approaching Sasuke, claiming he wanted Sasuke's eyes. When he finally reaches Sasuke, Itachi appears to grab for his eyes but instead only pokes his forehead. (The poke [[Transcription Seal: Amaterasu|seals Amaterasu]] in Sasuke's eyes, set to activate against Tobi's Sharingan in order to protect Sasuke from him.) In a similar manner to how he described death to Kisame, Itachi died unable to maintain his disguise of wanting Sasuke's eyes, he genuinely smiles to Sasuke and apologises to Sasuke and says this is the end before succumbing to his disease and falling dead with a smile on his face.
As Itachi began to weaken, thus weakening Susanoo, Sasuke saw an opportunity to strike, but in vain, as Susanoo was still able to protect Itachi. His last option gone, Sasuke was pushed against a wall and left helpless as Itachi walked up close to him and seemed to be reaching for Sasuke's eyes. However, he instead poked Sasuke's forehead and smiled before saying, "Forgive me Sasuke... ...It ends with this" a reference to Itachi constantly poking of Sasuke on the head when they were younger. With that act Itachi finally gave in to his fatal illness, which he had been using medication and sheer willpower to fend off, and died.
 
   
=== Fourth Shinobi World War arc ===
+
=== Power ===
  +
{{Main|Power (Arc)|l1=Power}}
Itachi was summoned by [[Kabuto Yakushi]] through the [[Summoning: Impure World Resurrection]], along with [[Nagato]], [[Kakuzu]], [[Sasori]], and [[Deidara]] as a demonstration of power to [[Madara]].<ref>''Naruto'' manga; Chapter 489, pages 18-20</ref>
 
  +
In the anime, [[Kabuto Yakushi]] [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnates]] Itachi to be used against Team 7. The summon fails almost immediately afterwards, causing Kabuto to wonder if the Impure World Reincarnation was still incomplete.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 290</ref>
  +
  +
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown ===
  +
{{Main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown}}
  +
When the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]] looms, Kabuto approaches Tobi – who survived the implanted Amaterasu – offering to join forces. To that end he reincarnates Itachi and four other dead members of Akatsuki as offerings for Tobi's war plans.
  +
  +
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation ===
  +
{{Main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation}}
  +
[[File:Itachi and Nagato.png|thumb|Itachi and Nagato en route.]]
  +
When the Fourth Shinobi World War begins, Itachi is mobilised with the rest of Kabuto's collection of reincarnated ninja. Itachi is paired with Nagato, who he carries because of Nagato's damaged legs. They discuss Akatsuki and how little they, particularly Nagato, actually knew about the organisation; both were only pawns kept by Tobi because of their [[dōjutsu]], and now they've been revived so Kabuto can use them for the same reason.
  +
  +
Itachi and Nagato are found by Naruto and [[Killer B]]. Itachi learns several things as Kabuto forces him to fight them: Naruto's [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]] indicates he's finally gained control of the Nine-Tails; B's use of [[Samehada]] is proof Kisame is dead; Naruto tells him that Sasuke now works with Akatsuki to destroy Konoha due to having been told the truth of the [[Uchiha Clan Downfall]] by Tobi, much to Itachi's horror and dismay. Itachi and Nagato continue attacking but give advice to Naruto and B about how to evade them. When he has an opening, Itachi calls out the crow he planted in Naruto before his death and allows it to use its genjutsu on him, overriding Kabuto's control with its pre-programmed mission to protect Konoha.
  +
  +
[[File:Itachi Saves Naruto and B.png|thumb|left|Itachi saves Naruto and B.]]
  +
Now free to do as he wishes, Itachi joins Naruto and B against Nagato, using Amaterasu on him and his [[Rinnegan Summoning|summon]]s. Itachi continues to eliminate Nagato's summons and also saves B and Naruto from being killed by Nagato himself. Nagato uses [[Chibaku Tensei]] to try and restrain them, but the three join forces to destroy it. Itachi stabs Nagato with the Sword of Totsuka before the dust settles, sealing him away and ending the battle. Itachi then decides to personally take care of Kabuto in order to end the Impure World Reincarnation. Before leaving, he destroys the crow and Shisui's eye with Amaterasu so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands and entrusts Sasuke's reform to Naruto.
  +
  +
=== Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax ===
  +
{{Main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax}}
  +
[[File:Kabuto vs Uchiha.png|thumb|Itachi and Sasuke join forces.]]
  +
Nagato had been able to locate Kabuto's location while they were together, and Itachi now moves on a direct course there. He inadvertently crosses paths with Sasuke along the way. Feeling he is unworthy of Sasuke, Itachi tries to avoid him and his questions. When Sasuke persists, Itachi admits that he made a mistake manipulating Sasuke along a path that he wanted, which has put Sasuke in a worse position than he ever intended. As they near Kabuto's lair Itachi tries one last time to shake him, only to be disappointed when Sasuke joins him shortly after he confronts Kabuto. Sasuke moves to kill Kabuto, but is blocked by Itachi, who explains that Kabuto must be kept alive if the Impure World Reincarnation is to be broken. Sasuke offers to help on the condition that Itachi will finally talk to him afterwards. Itachi agrees.
  +
  +
[[File:Itachi attacks Kabuto.png|thumb|left|Itachi attacks Kabuto.]]
  +
Kabuto obscures his vision to prevent being caught in a genjutsu and attacks. Itachi and Sasuke block with their Susanoo, only to find that they have lost track of Kabuto. Itachi realises that Kabuto has achieved [[Sage Mode]] and quickly defends Sasuke before he can come to harm in Kabuto's sneak attack. Itachi reminds Sasuke of a mission they went on as children to hunt a boar, which they reenact with their Susanoo against Kabuto. Kabuto avoids them and commandeers [[Sword of Kusanagi (Sasuke Uchiha)|Sasuke's sword]], which he uses to attack Itachi. Itachi takes the sword back from him and uses it to cut off the tip of one of Kabuto's horns.
  +
  +
Kabuto tries to turn Sasuke against Itachi, pointing out all the lies and distrust Itachi has been showing Sasuke for years. Itachi admits his faults, but promises to tell Sasuke something after he's performed his [[Izanami]]. Kabuto is confident that he cannot be defeated since they can't kill him and because of the precautions he's taken to avoid genjutsu. He [[Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation|manipulates the cave]] to confine them and uses [[DNA]] to perform a variety of other ninja's long-range jutsu, trying to create an opportunity to access Itachi's head and regain control of him. Sasuke becomes increasingly earnest to kill Kabuto, but Itachi pleads for him to wait until Izanami is ready.
  +
  +
[[File:Edo Tensei Kai.png|thumb|Under Itachi's control, Kabuto releases the Impure World Reincarnation.]]
  +
While Itachi and Sasuke deal with Kabuto's recreation of Orochimaru, Kabuto [[Chakra Scalpel|bisects]] Itachi. Itachi's reincarnated body regenerates and he uses Sasuke's sword to cut off even more of the same horn as before. This creates a sensory loop independent of vision that traps Kabuto in eternal battle; that is Izanami. Kabuto has the chance of escaping Izanami by accepting the fate he now tries to fight by taking on others' powers, Itachi's gift to him because of their perceived similarities. He raises the [[Wikipedia:Brille|brille]] that cover Kabuto's eyes and uses a genjutsu to make Kabuto perform the hand seals that will end the Impure World Reincarnation.
  +
  +
[[File:Itachi's farewell.png|thumb|left|Itachi imparts his final words to his brother.]]
  +
While Kabuto performs the hand seals, Sasuke tells Itachi that he won't forgive Konoha for coercing Itachi the way that he was and that he will continue to conspire against the villages despite Itachi's wishes. Itachi listens without response. When he is engulfed in light and the Impure World Reincarnation begins to break, he faces Sasuke and admits to everything Sasuke has been told about him, even imparting some of his own memories to Sasuke to fully dispel the lies he's told. He reaches for Sasuke, seemingly meaning to poke his forehead again, but instead gives Sasuke a head bump, symbolising he no longer saw Sasuke as a child, but an equal. He tells Sasuke that he wants no forgiveness and promises that he will love Sasuke no matter what he decides to do. His reincarnated body dissolves and his soul returns to the [[Pure Land|afterlife]].
  +
{{-}}
   
 
== Legacy ==
 
== Legacy ==
  +
By his own design, Itachi had a profound influence on Sasuke’s life. His instructions on the night of the [[Uchiha Clan Downfall]] for Sasuke to gain the power necessary to defeat him caused Sasuke to isolate himself from other people and avoid companionship. When Sasuke realised that he was getting attached to the members of [[Team Kakashi|Team 7]] and, from his perspective, failing to get stronger because of them, he defected from Konoha and left to train under [[Orochimaru]] — propelling him along the path towards Itachi's death. Following the brothers' battle, Itachi's plans started to fail due to the interference of [[Tobi]], who refocuses Sasuke's hatred that Itachi had engineered for himself, to be used against Konoha, turning Sasuke into a criminal against Itachi's intentions. Itachi is able to make amends with Sasuke upon his [[Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnation]], using his Sharingan to convey his memories to his little brother so that he could understand why Itachi chose the path he did. He also wiped Sasuke's prejudices clean and encouraged him to start deciding things for himself.
Madara collected Sasuke, tended to his wounds, and tried to befriend him when he awoke. When he removed his mask while doing the latter, Sasuke reflexively used Amaterasu on him. After quelling the flames, Madara explained that the Amaterasu had been inserted in Sasuke by Itachi, intended to protect him from Madara and whatever he might say. Sasuke was perplexed, so Madara went onto detail the history of the Uchiha clan, and the truth behind Itachi's life. Towards the end of his story, he explained that Itachi had been dying of disease, but had kept himself going with medicine so that he could die by Sasuke's hands, stating that if Itachi had battled with all his strength they wouldn't be having that conversation. He also stated that Itachi had pushed Sasuke to his limits during their battle to draw out Orochimaru, so that he could remove the latter's influence from his beloved little brother.
 
   
  +
Itachi's eyes would prove to be of immense importance for Sasuke, as not only did it grant Sasuke the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, but Sasuke would later awaken the Rinnegan with one of Itachi's eyes.
Sasuke was unwilling to believe the story. Madara persisted, saying that Itachi had entrusted the Uchiha name to Sasuke, hoping he would rebuild the clan on a new foundation of honor and nobility. For the sake of Konoha, and for Sasuke, he had been willing to die as a traitor and criminal. He had traded honor for disgrace and Sasuke's love for his hatred, and even then he had died smiling. Finally accepting the truth, Sasuke was crushed to find that the brother he had hated had actually been looking out for him all along. Upon realizing the truth, he resolved to take vengeance against Konoha for the massacre of his clan and the fate they placed on his brother, regardless of Itachi's attachment to the village. He also agreed to start working with Madara and, as a result, is classified as an international criminal, something Itachi had tried to prevent.
 
   
  +
Upon learning the entire truth about Itachi, Sasuke regains the great admiration he had for him when they were children and follows in his brother's footsteps. He does not want to see Konoha, the village Itachi sacrificed so much for, destroyed and therefore works against Tobi and Madara to end the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 627, page 9</ref> He also sees the reason in Itachi's decision to make difficult choices and be hated for them, and for that reason gives himself the task after the war is concluded to become the world's darkness, using his power to force peace and unapologetically kill any that threaten it. Though this is again a great divergence from Itachi's plans, another of Itachi's plans redeems him: [[Naruto]], at Itachi's insistence, eventually convinces Sasuke of the errors he has made without killing him after their final battle. In the war's aftermath, Sasuke adopts Itachi's habit of poking others' foreheads as a sign of affection, in particular his wife, [[Sakura Haruno]], and their daughter, [[Sarada]]. He also had a habit of neglecting his daughter in favour of his duties of protecting the village and her, although he realises this mistake later on and chose to spend time with his family before continuing his mission. Sasuke would continue to protect the village for many years to come — ultimately causing Itachi's wishes for his brother to finally be realised.
Sasuke initially refused to transplant Itachi's eyes into his own sockets, due to the two of them having completely different visions of the future. However, after his reckless overuse of his own [[Mangekyō Sharingan#Sasuke Uchiha|Mangekyō Sharingan]] from battling [[Killer Bee]], [[A]], [[Danzō Shimura]] and [[Team Kakashi|Team 7]], Sasuke's eyesight had greatly deteriorated. As such, he decided to abandon his refusal, and take Itachi's eyes to use them to destroy Naruto at full power. The transplant was then commenced by Madara, and Sasuke felt Itachi's power flowing through him.
 
  +
  +
In the years following the World War, Naruto attempted to restore some of Itachi's honour by telling the world of Itachi's actions during his period of reincarnation. Without mentioning the truth about the "crimes" he committed while alive, Naruto gave Itachi's name as someone who supported him. Though not an easy thing to accept, no one challenged Naruto's word on the matter.<ref>[[Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise]] ''page 66''</ref>
  +
  +
Itachi's influence also extended beyond Sasuke: [[Danzō Shimura]], despite his difference of opinions with Itachi, believed him an unsung hero of Konoha who worked selflessly for the village's good; Naruto is reminded by Itachi that the Hokage's strength comes from their acknowledgement by others, and thus he must never forget those who helped him become strong; the five [[Kage]], despite not knowing about Itachi's involvement, hailed him as the world's saviour for dispelling the Impure World Reincarnation technique;<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 591, page 4</ref> [[Kabuto Yakushi]] remembered who he truly was as a result of Itachi's [[Izanami]] and, inspired by him, resuscitated Sasuke when he was on the verge of death.
  +
  +
In the anime, Hiruzen realised kind-hearted people should never be in the Anbu because of the nature of their missions. After the Uchiha Clan Downfall, Hiruzen was determined not to do the same with Kakashi and chose to retire him as an Anbu and made him commander of a team of genin in hopes it would help restore his light and kindness and eliminate his darkness.
  +
  +
Itachi had an influence on one of Orochimaru's experiment subjects, [[Shin Uchiha|Shin]]. Shin became intrigued by the Uchiha clan, especially Itachi, and adopted the clan name and customary garb for himself. It was because of his fascination of Itachi that Shin held a grudge against Sasuke for causing his older brother to die, and attempted to kill him in revenge. However, Sasuke noted that Shin's social darwinism and warmongering goals indicate he did not understand Itachi at all.
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  +
== In Other Media ==
  +
=== OVAs ===
  +
==== Sunny Side Battle! ====
  +
{{main|Sunny Side Battle!}}
  +
Itachi Uchiha heads downstairs into the kitchen of his former house at the Uchiha Compound in Konohagakure and proceeds to put on his Akatsuki outfit, along with an Akatsuki-themed apron. After putting a tea kettle to boil and setting bread in a toaster, he grabs a carton of eggs from the fridge and attempts to cook one sunny-side up, only to find his first attempt foiled by an errant piece of eggshell on the egg. Further attempts yield the same results, with various things going wrong with the eggs, such as the yolk breaking, Itachi's sweat getting onto the eggs, and so on. Itachi even resorts to making a plate of scrambled eggs, although after a moment of thought he dismisses the idea and starts again.
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  +
=== Movies ===
  +
==== Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie ====
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{{main|Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie}}
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In the [[Genjutsu World|alternate world]], the Akatsuki are hired by Konoha to assist Naruto in the battle against [[Menma]]. Itachi rescues a captured Sakura during the fight.
  +
  +
=== Video Games ===
  +
{{playable in}}
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== Creation and Conception ==
  +
[[File:Itachi Concept.png|thumb|Scrapped concept art of Itachi.]]
  +
In ''[[Jin no Sho]]'', Kishimoto revealed that Itachi was originally conceived (before the series began) as the leader of Konoha's Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, dubbed the {{translation|Itachi Squad|イタチ隊|Itachi-tai}}, which would have been a 70-man group divided into four teams, specialising in assassination and other illicit operations. In Kishimoto's original rough sketch, Itachi wore a bandana-style [[forehead protector]], a skin-tight t-shirt, gloves, a coat tied around his waist, and had several scars including an x-shaped scar on his chin. Elements of this concept were later incorporated into [[Danzō Shimura]] and the [[Anbu]].
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{{-}}
   
 
== Trivia ==
 
== Trivia ==
  +
{{youthwiki|Itachi Uchiha}}
* {{translation|''Itachi''|鼬}} can be translated as "weasel".
 
  +
* The name "Itachi" means {{translation|"weasel"|鼬}}, while his family name "Uchiha" is another way of pronouncing {{translation|"[[Wikipedia:Hand fan#East Asia|uchiwa]]"|団扇|paper fan}}, which is actually the [[Uchiha clan]]'s symbol. Uchiwa can be used to fan flames, making the flame hotter — referring to the fact that the Uchiha is a clan of [[Fire Release]] users.
* According to Pain, Itachi's reason for joining the [[Akatsuki]] was "ideology".
 
* Itachi ranked highly in the ''Shonen Jump'' popularity polls for the series, continuously placing in the top ten and reaching sixth place once.<ref name="PopularityPoll1">''Naruto'' chapter 245, pages 08-09</ref><ref name="PopularityPoll2">''Naruto'' chapter 293</ref>
+
* Itachi consistently ranks highly in the [[Naruto Character Popularity Polls|''Shōnen Jump'' popularity polls for the series]], his highest to-date position being fifth most popular character.
  +
* Itachi and Kisame made a brief cameo appearance in the ''[[Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival!]]'', where they were standing in line to use the bathroom, along with many other random characters.
* He and Kisame were the first active Akatsuki members to appear.
 
  +
* Itachi's nickname {{Translation|"'''…of the Sharingan'''"|写輪眼の…|Sharingan no…}} is also held by Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha.
* Itachi and Kisame made a brief cameo appearance in the Konoha Sports Festival OVA, where they were standing in line to use the bathroom, along with many other random characters.
 
  +
* Studio Pierrot's Settei sheets of Itachi show that he was 125 cm as an Academy student, 130 cm as a genin, 148 cm when he became an Anbu, and 170 cm around the time of the Uchiha Clan Downfall.
* According to the Third ''Naruto'' Databook:
 
  +
* Itachi noted that his specialties in ninja skills are genjutsu, Fire Release, and shurikenjutsu.<ref name="NS456" />
** Itachi's hobby was visiting traditional Japanese cafes.
 
  +
* According to the databook(s):
** Itachi's favorite foods were [[wikipedia:Cabbage|cabbage]] and [[wikipedia:Onigiri|onigiri]] with seaweed in it, while his least favorite was [[wikipedia:Steak|steak]].
 
  +
** Itachi's hobby was visiting traditional Japanese cafés.
  +
** Itachi wished to fight Sasuke.
  +
** Itachi's favourite foods were [[Wikipedia:Cabbage|cabbage]] and [[Wikipedia:Onigiri|onigiri]] with seaweed in it, while his least favourite was [[Wikipedia:Steak|steak]]. Itachi was also very fond of sweets, [[Wikipedia:Dango|dango]] being his favourite.
 
** Itachi had completed 340 official missions in total: 53 D-rank, 152 C-rank, 134 B-rank, 0 A-rank and 1 S-rank.
 
** Itachi had completed 340 official missions in total: 53 D-rank, 152 C-rank, 134 B-rank, 0 A-rank and 1 S-rank.
** Itachi's favorite word was {{translation|"peace"|平和|heiwa}}.
+
** Itachi's favourite word was {{translation|"peace"|平和|heiwa}} (shared with [[Dan Katō]]).
*Itachi had always poked his younger brother, [[Sasuke Uchiha]], in the forehead when they were younger, saying {{translation|''"Forgive me Sasuke... Again, next time"''|「許せサスケ…また今度だ」|"Yuruse Sasuke... Mata kondo da"}}. This is referred to very poignantly with Itachi's last words, as he pokes his brother's forehead again and says, {{translation|''"Forgive me Sasuke... ...It ends with this"''|「許せサスケ……これで最後だ」|"Yuruse Sasuke... ...Kore de saigo da"}}
+
* Itachi had always poked his younger brother, [[Sasuke Uchiha]], in the forehead when they were younger, saying {{translation|''"Forgive me Sasuke… Again, next time"''|「許せサスケ…また今度だ」|"Yuruse Sasuke… Mata kondo da"}}. This is referred to very poignantly with Itachi's last words, as he pokes his brother's forehead again and says, {{translation|''"Forgive me Sasuke… …It ends with this"''|「許せサスケ……これで最後だ」|"Yuruse Sasuke… …Kore de saigo da"}}
  +
* Itachi is tied with Jiraiya for having the highest stat total in the databooks.
   
 
== Quotes ==
 
== Quotes ==
  +
* (To an infant [[Sasuke]]) "''Don't cry, Sasuke. Your big brother is here to protect you, no matter what happens.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 502, page 2</ref>
* (To Younger Sasuke) {{translation|''"Forgive me Sasuke... Again, next time"''|「許せサスケ…また今度だ」|"Yuruse Sasuke... Mata kondo da"}}
 
  +
* (To Yashiro, [[Tekka]], and [[Inabi]]) "''You hold onto the organisation and your clan name. These things limit us and limit our capacities… These things deserve to be shunned. It is foolish to fear what we've yet to see and know!''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 222, page 12</ref>
* (To Sasuke) "''You and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for.''"
 
  +
* (To Sasuke) {{translation|"''There is no value in killing the likes of you… My foolish brother… If you want to kill me… curse me! Hate me! And live a long and unsightly life… Run away… run away… and cling to your pitiful life. And then some day, when you have the same eyes as I do, come before me.''"|「貴様など…殺す価値も無い。…愚かなる弟よ……。このオレを殺したくば、恨め!憎め!そして みにくく生きのびるがいい………。…逃げて逃げて…生にしがみつくがいい。そして何時か、俺と同じ目を持って、俺の前に来い!”」|"Kisama nado… Korosu kachi mo nai. …Orokanaru otōto yo…… Kono ore o koroshitakuba, urame! Nikume! Soshite, minikuku ikinobiru ga ii……… …Nigete nigete… Sei ni shigamitsuku ga ii. Soshite itsuka, Ore to onaji me wo motte… Ore no mae ni koi!"}}<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 225, page 5</ref>
* (To Uchiha Clansmen) "''I've had enough, there's no hope left for this pathetic clan.''"
 
  +
* (To Sasuke) ''"...People live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true… that is how they define reality. But what does it mean to be correct or true? Merely vague concepts… their reality may all be an illusion."''<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 385, page 6</ref>
* "''The people of this clan are all the same. You focus on the trivial, and lose sight of what's most important. Change is impossible, in this fog of ignorance. How can we evolve when regulation is all we know?''"
 
  +
* (To [[Kisame]]) ''"Those who kill their own comrades are sure to die a terrible death."''<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 508, page 8</ref>
* (To Sasuke) ''"Foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me. And yet survive in an unsightly way. Run, run and cling to life."''
 
  +
* (To Kisame) ''"We don't know what kind of people we truly are until the moment before our deaths. As death comes to embrace you, you will realise what you are. That's what death is, don't you think?"''<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 508, page 9</ref>
* (To Sasuke) "''People live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true. That's how they define "reality". But what does it mean to be "correct" or "true"? Merely vague concepts ... their "reality" may all be a mirage. Can we consider them to simply be living in their own world, shaped by their beliefs?''"
 
  +
* (To [[Naruto]]) "''You don't become the Hokage to be acknowledged by everyone. The one who is acknowledged by everyone becomes the Hokage."''
* (Last words) {{translation|''"Forgive me Sasuke... ...It ends with this."''|「許せサスケ……これで最後だ」|"Yuruse Sasuke... ...Kore de saigo da."}}
 
  +
* (About [[Konoha]]) "''The village does have its dark side and its inconsistencies, but I'm still Konoha's Itachi Uchiha.''"<ref name="mykonoha" />
  +
* (Last words to Sasuke after reincarnation) "''If I had been open with you from the start… and looked you straight in the eyes and told you the truth, then I wouldn't have had to stand before you, from above, as a failure, telling you all of this. So this time, I want to impart this truth to you… You don't ever have to forgive me. And no matter what you do from here on out, know this… I will love you always.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 590, page 16</ref>
   
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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[[he:איטאצ'י אוצ'יהא]]
 
[[he:איטאצ'י אוצ'יהא]]
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[[id:Itachi Uchiha]]
 
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Latest revision as of 03:33, 4 March 2024

This article is about the character. For the manga chapter, see Itachi Uchiha!!.
editItachi Uchiha Camera font awesome Browse Information[1][2][3][4]
Itachi
うちはイタチ Uchiha Itachi

  • Itachi of the Sharingan (写輪眼のイタチ, Sharingan no Itachi, literally meaning: Itachi of the Copy Wheel Eye)
    [5]
    Clan Killer Itachi (一族殺しのイタチ, Ichizokugoroshi no Itachi)[5]
Debut
Manga Naruto Chapter #139
Anime Naruto Episode #80
Novel Akatsuki Hiden: Evil Flowers in Full Bloom
Movie Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie
Game Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2
OVA Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival!
Appears in Anime, Manga, Novel, Game, Movie
Voice Actors
Japanese
English
Personal
Birthdate Astrological Sign Gemini June 9
Sex Gender Male Male
Age
  • Part I: 17–18
  • Part II: 21
Status Deceased
Height
  • Part I: 175.2 cm1.752 m <br />5.748 ft <br />68.976 in <br />
  • Part II: 178 cm1.78 m <br />5.84 ft <br />70.079 in <br />
Weight
  • Part I: 57.1 kg125.884 lb <br />
  • Part II: 58 kg127.868 lb <br />
Blood type AB
Kekkei Genkai
Classification
Occupation
  • Anbu Captain (Former)
Affiliation
Team
  • Team 2 (Anime and Novel only)
Partner
Clan
Rank
Ninja Rank
Ninja Registration 012110
Academy Grad. Age 7
Chūnin Prom. Age 10
Family
Nature Type
Jutsu

Tools

Itachi Uchiha (うちはイタチ, Uchiha Itachi) was a shinobi of Konohagakure's Uchiha clan who served as an Anbu Captain. He later became an international criminal after murdering his entire clan, sparing only his younger brother, Sasuke. He afterwards joined the international criminal organisation known as Akatsuki, whose activity brought him into frequent conflict with Konoha and its ninja — including Sasuke who sought to avenge their clan by killing Itachi. Following his death, Itachi's motives were revealed to be more complicated than they seemed and that his actions were only ever in the interest of his brother and village, making him remain a loyal shinobi of Konohagakure to the very end.

Background

Infant Sasuke and Itachi

Itachi and Sasuke moments before the Nine-Tails' attack.

Itachi was the first child born to Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha. His early childhood was marked with violence: when he was four years old, the Third Shinobi World War waged and he witnessed first-hand many of the war's casualties. The death and destruction he experienced at such a young age traumatised Itachi and made him a pacifist,[6] leading to him training non-stop to achieve his dream of becoming a ninja among ninja in order to erase fighting from the world.[7] At age 5, after becoming a big brother to Sasuke, Itachi was approached by Shisui, who offered to train together. Soon, the two became best friends, forming a brother-like bond as they continued to teach the other new tricks. During the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack, he was home alone looking after Sasuke, followed by Itachi rescuing Mikoto from falling debris,[8] and in the anime seeking shelter with Izumi.[9] The Nine-Tails' attack had soured relations between Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha, the former believing the latter to be responsible. The Uchiha were relocated to the edge of the village, isolating them from the rest of the village and making it easier to monitor them.

At age 6, Itachi enrolled into the Academy, where he consistently scored the highest in each subject and quickly learned any skill taught to him, resulting in him being praised as the best his teachers had ever seen.[10][7] After four months, achieving perfect grades from the start, his teachers unanimously agreed let him take the graduation exam early due to Itachi being more than advanced enough for genin-level, which he passed later that month.[11] During this time, he began seriously studying the history of the world, gaining a great appreciation for it. On the day he graduated as the youngest post-war graduate, he was approached by Danzō Shimura, who assessed Itachi's thinking.[12]

Joining Team 2, Itachi began honing his skills to chūnin level, drawing the attention of Konoha's leaders. Meeting the criteria, Fugaku allowed him to sit in on clan meetings in the Naka Shrine basement.[13] Nearly a year since graduating, Itachi had mastered ninjutsu to the extent his missions went too easy, though Yūki Minazuki didn't recommend him for the Chūnin Exams. After turning eight, as Team 2's genin had distinguished themselves the most during the year, they were tasked with guarding the Fire Daimyō during his annual trip to Konoha. During the mission, the convoy was attacked by a masked individual, who killed Tenma Izumo before Itachi, resulting in him awakening his Sharingan, which he mastered at the same age.[14] In the anime, Itachi accompanied his friend Shisui on a three-part training exercise, only to interrupt a battle between the Third Hokage's Anbu and Root. After having driven out the Root ninja, Itachi learned from Shisui about having his own sense of morals from various viewpoints instead of one.[15] At age 10, Konoha allowed Itachi to compete in the Chūnin Exams alone, which he passed and became a chūnin.[16]

Uchiha Anbu

Itachi as an Anbu.

At age 11, Itachi joined the Anbu as its youngest member.[17] In the anime, Itachi is assigned to Team Ro, working alongside Tenzo and with Kakashi Hatake as their captain. During his mentorship, Itachi became acquainted with Kakashi and showed interest in the Sharingan he possessed despite not being an Uchiha. At one point, they both worked together in a two-man squad following an exchange between Konohagakure and the Prajñā Group of the Land of Woods; killing the latter party after an attempted betrayal.[18] They would work together for two years until Itachi is promoted to a new Anbu team under Danzō's authority.[19]

Itachi's accomplishments were a source of great pride for his family, his father viewing him as proof of the Uchiha's future prosperity and his brother viewing him as a model to live up to. Itachi spent a great deal of time with Sasuke, training with him (though rarely actually training him) and giving him the recognition their father did not. However, for all the attention he received, few truly understood Itachi,[14] believing his isolation to be a result of the gap between his abilities and theirs and not his dissatisfaction with the shinobi's life of conflict. Eventually, disdain for the villages unfair treatment of the Uchiha clan led them to plan a coup d'état. Fugaku, head of the Uchiha and the coup's chief conspirator, encouraged Itachi's advancement into the Anbu's ranks as a means of spying on the village. Itachi, however, knew an Uchiha coup would lead to intervention from other villages and ultimately start another World War, something he could not support. He instead became a double agent, reporting the Uchiha's actions to the Third Hokage and the Konoha Council in the hopes it would help them find a peaceful resolution.[20]

Shisui's Parting Gift

Itachi accepting Shisui's eye.

Itachi shared the burden of betraying his clan with Shisui. But as time went on it became increasingly clear that peace could not be achieved. Shisui intended to use his Kotoamatsukami on the Uchiha's leaders to compel them to negotiate, but his right eye was stolen by Danzō before he had a chance. His own options exhausted, Shisui entrusted his remaining eye to Itachi and begged him to protect the village and their family name before drowning himself in the Naka River.[21] Itachi was anguished by Shisui's death, awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan. The following day some Uchiha, already suspicious of Itachi, accused him of murdering Shisui and staging a suicide; Itachi lost his composure and attacked them, defeating them easily.[22] A rift was created between Itachi and his family, and his warnings to them to reconsider what they were doing fell on deaf ears. At age 12, he was promoted to Anbu Captain, with his publicly disclosed promotion age being 13 due to Danzō's request and Hiruzen's acceptance.[23][24][25] In the anime, Itachi was also given command of his own three-man squad. Itachi would confront his father in the Naka Shrine basement, who revealed that he had awoken his own Mangekyō Sharingan during the Third Shinobi World War. Having read the Stone Tablet and learned the truth of the Mangekyō Sharingan's power, Fugaku calls for Itachi's aid in restraining the higher-ups in a bloodless coup; resisting calls from the clan's more popular favour of controlling the Nine-Tailed Fox. Instead, Itachi would return back to the Konoha Council to report the clan's imminent revolt.[26]

Although the Third Hokage still wished to negotiate with the Uchiha, Danzō Shimura believed that there was no longer an outcome that could see the Uchiha clan's survival. He explained this to Itachi and left him a choice: support the Uchiha's coup and have the whole clan, including Sasuke, killed in the ensuing conflict, or accept the assignment to wipe out the clan before the coup started and be allowed to spare Sasuke. Itachi chose his brother.[27] Having made his choice, Itachi was tormented by guilt, emphasized by the belief that Shisui would most likely not forgive his choice to destroy the clan.[28] However, remembering the words of his father to not let other's decide things for his life, he resolved to continue his path. While making final preparations, Itachi discovered a masked man sneaking around Konoha. From observing him, he came to believe the man was truly Madara Uchiha bent on provoking some new conflict. Itachi approached him with an offer: he would assist "Madara" with wiping out the Uchiha, taking vengeance against them for abandoning him decades earlier, if Madara would spare the village, to which he agreed.[29]

Uchiha Clan massacre

Itachi spares Sasuke after massacring their clan.

In one night Itachi and Tobi slaughtered the entire clan. Itachi took it upon himself to personally execute his parents. Despite his betrayal, they bore him no ill-will, instead telling him in the moments before they were killed that they were proud of him and requesting that he take care of Sasuke.[30] Racked by grief following his actions, Itachi saw Sasuke as the only person suitable to punish him. In order to set Sasuke on this road he cast himself as the villain, done by allowing Sasuke to find him standing over their parents' bodies and using Tsukuyomi to torment him with visions of their murders. Sasuke fled, fearing his for his life, but Itachi chased him down to divulge the lie he had concocted: he killed their family to test his mettle and now wanted to test himself against the only remaining challenge to him, the little brother he had never loved. He encouraged Sasuke to become strong enough to kill him and take revenge, and to that end suggested he acquire a Mangekyō Sharingan of his own. Itachi left, but was surprised to find Sasuke already pursuing him with a newly-awakened Sharingan. Sasuke's attempt at vengeance failed and he passed out, but not before seeing Itachi cry with remorse.[31]

Afterwards, he disguised a crow clone as a member of Root to threaten Danzō he would leak Konoha's secrets to enemy villages if Sasuke was harmed, having realised Danzō could not be trusted to keep his promises. For his final business in the village, Itachi visited the Third Hokage and reported his mission completed, much to the Third's surprise and disappointment. Itachi requested that the Third look after Sasuke, which the Third vowed to do.[32] Itachi left the village publicly a traitor but secretly with a new mission: to infiltrate Tobi's organisation, Akatsuki, and keep it from moving against Konoha.[33] In the anime, Itachi was ambushed by his former Anbu squad under orders from Danzō, only to trick them into killing each other using genjutsu. At some point after joining Akatsuki, he was initially partnered up with Jūzō Biwa.[26] While growing accustomed to his new setting and working well with his partner, the duo was eventually given a mission in the Land of Water. After completing it, they were ambushed by a hunter-nin squad led by Yagura. While initially pressed by the perfect jinchūriki, Itachi was able to defeat him with Amaterasu, but not before Jūzō was slain.[5]

Orochimaru's failed attempt

Itachi effortlessly overpowers Orochimaru.

Sometime later, Orochimaru tried to steal Itachi's body in order to gain the Sharingan, but Itachi easily overpowered him, trapping him inside a paralysis genjutsu and severing his left hand to prevent him from dispelling it.[34] In the anime, Itachi expressed his disgust at Orochimaru for his inhumane experiments and was about to kill him when Kabuto saved Orochimaru but they were both forced to leave Akatsuki. Later, Itachi was partnered with Kisame Hoshigaki, with whom he bonded over their shared notoriety for killing their own countrymen.[35] To find a replacement for Orochimaru, Itachi helped recruit Deidara, whose art he defeated with his Sharingan's genjutsu; Deidara would forever after swear vengeance for the humiliating defeat.[36] In the anime, Itachi also aided in the recruitment of Hidan. Pain eventually caught wind of Orochimaru's attempt to destroy Konoha and requested a team to investigate, which Itachi immediately volunteered for out of concern for Sasuke's safety.[37]

At some point, Itachi contracted a terminal illness. He kept himself alive through the years with medicine and sheer willpower so that he could live long enough to die by Sasuke's hand.[38]

Personality

From a young age, Itachi was calm and insightful, showing noticeable maturity for his age and knowledge on how to deal with every situation. For all his accomplishments, talent, and fame, Itachi was a rather humble man. Never arrogant about his own abilities nor underestimating others, most things he said would be unbiased and accurate. If an opponent exceeded his expectations or posed a legitimate challenge to him or his allies, Itachi would freely admit it.[39] As a seven-year-old, his reasoning was on par with a Hokage. Having studied history, not just of his clan or his village but of the world, he gained a broader appreciation of what was important. Learning so much enabled him to understand how events of the past came to happen and, when he applied that same understanding into the future, he became concerned for where things were going.[40] At the same time, Itachi was still fairly naïve as a child in many real-world scenarios and as such was willing to learn from his peers on how to differentiate situations.[15] He lived at a distance, observing individuals and ideas without getting directly involved so that he could fully understand them.[41]

Although this approach prevented him from becoming close with many people, it enabled him to think and act without prejudice or preconceptions, instead evaluating things strictly on their own merits. In the anime, Itachi unintentionally gained many friends and admirers for his genuine concern for others despite his passive nature.[9] He would think about shinobi and origins of the village and its future.[40] For this reason, he never became arrogant about his own abilities or accomplishments; to which, most views or statements he made were usually well-based, seeing the situation for what it was. From this he had no self-righteous loyalty to his clan that was so common among the Uchiha; though he loved his family and wanted the best for them, he knew there were more important things than the Uchiha's personal aspirations. Itachi's dream was to become Hokage, though he kept it hidden from others. [16] Itachi was also one of the few villagers of Konoha to hold no grudge against Naruto Uzumaki, believing Naruto to be the greatest victim of the Nine-Tails attack and showed him kindness whenever they met by chance.[42]

Itachi cries

Itachi crying as he is about to kill his parents.

A pacifist at heart, Itachi did not actually like fighting and would avoid it when he could. As such, he preferred to rely on Genjutsu as a first option, ending fights with as little damage as possible. When he couldn't avoid actual combat, he would end the fight as quickly as he could, all the while holding back as much as possible. Despite this, Itachi felt his own needs were secondary to the greater good's and to that end he became a shinobi. He trained tirelessly to improve himself as quickly as he could and subjected himself to all of the shinobi life's inconveniences without complaint for the simple motivation of being useful to others. His commitment borderlined recklessness, due to training privately using extremely deadly methods such as dodging a barrage of kunai in the anime.

Being so accomplished as a ninja enabled Itachi to approach problems less violently than others would, satisfying his peace-loving nature. These two extremes of his personality came into conflict as events moved toward the Uchiha Clan Downfall; he did not want to harm his family and sought a peaceful resolution, but knew that the path with the least bloodshed would be the clan's extermination. When the Uchiha Clan refused to deter from their plans, Itachi was pushed over the edge and his normally polite attitude to his clansmen became more violent, criticising them openly and lashing out at them for the choices that sealed their fates and his own. Despite this, at his heart, Itachi truly hated what he had to do for sake of preserving peace, trembling with hesitation as he prepared to kill his parents and crying upon doing it. With Izumi, valuing her companionship, and aware of her feelings for him, Itachi opted to put Izumi under a powerful Tsukuyomi to allow her to live the life she'd always dreamed with him, allowing her death to be quick and peaceful.

While at heart still a pacifist, in the wake of slaughtering his own clan, Itachi displayed a wrathful and merciless side, particularly to those who wronged or attempted to the people he cared for. In revenge for Yashiro Uchiha's cowardly manipulations of his father from the shadows and helping to provoke war against Konohagakure while keeping free of responsibility himself, Itachi used his Tsukuyomi to force him to experience days of torture in an instant after making Yashiro realise how weak he was. Itachi would later use Tsukuyomi, followed by Amaterasu to execute the helpless Root member Sugaru in revenge for Sugaru poisoning Shisui.[42] He even threatened Danzō that he would reveal all the classified information he had on Konoha to foreign forces should the elder renege on his promise of sparing Sasuke, despite the potential damage this could inflict to the village.

Despite the traumas he endured from killing his own family, Itachi did not blame those among Konoha's leadership who gave him the mission; though he did not trust Danzō on a personal level, he knew Danzō only had the village's best interests at heart. But Itachi – partly out of the necessity of his assignment to join Akatsuki – was greatly changed after the massacre, rarely if ever showing emotion. He became more prone to displays of force and permitted certain violent habits of his partner, Kisame, under the pretence that it furthered Akatsuki's goals.[43] After learning everything that Itachi endured, Hashirama openly considered Itachi a greater shinobi than himself.[44] Itachi could not and would not fully shake his pacifistic ways, and would run from confrontation or rein in Kisame if the likelihood of collateral damage became too high for themselves or others. In addition, Itachi would continue to show his morality at times, as he expressed disgust at Orochimaru's lack of care for human life. While Kisame would sometimes protest, he considered Itachi a good friend and would listen to his instructions. Itachi also had a decent partnership with his previous partner Jūzō, showing respect to him and after his death, placing the remains of Kubikiribōchō in Jūzō's hand. While warning his new partner Kisame that being comrade killers meant they are destined to an unpleasant end, he disagreed with the former's premature determination that they are both terrible people, believing that humans only recognise what they truly are at the end of their lives.

Itachi pokes Sasuke

Itachi poking Sasuke's forehead, his way of showing affection.

Konoha's peace and protection was always forefront in Itachi's mind,[45] but it was his dedication to his brother, Sasuke, that took priority in every situation. From the time of Sasuke's infancy, Itachi tasked himself with looking after him. In the anime, Itachi even correctly guessed Sasuke's gender before his younger brother's birth.[46] They'd spend whole days together in the woods around Konoha having adventures and accomplishing self-appointed missions. When Itachi became an accomplished ninja and took much of their father's attention, Itachi would make special time to fill their father's shoes for Sasuke's benefit, at times even refusing his father's wishes in order to make Sasuke happy. In turn Sasuke wished to be just like his older brother and would often ask Itachi to train him in the ninja arts. Itachi would almost never do so, poking his forehead and promising to train him some other time. Unfortunately, none of these promises were ever kept.[47]

Itachi crying

Itachi shedding tears as he leaves Sasuke.

It was Sasuke's safety that ultimately convinced Itachi to go through with killing the rest of the Uchiha, believing his own damnation was worth it if it ensured Sasuke's survival. Even though he did it for Sasuke, Itachi wanted to be punished for his crimes and selected Sasuke as the one to take vengeance against him. To push Sasuke in this direction, Itachi withheld the true reason for his actions and instead took on the persona of a man who had no love for his younger brother. Per the persona, Itachi cared about Sasuke only because of the eyes that he could take to gain Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. His actions in Akatsuki were meant to reinforce this persona, and whenever he met Sasuke over the years he would taunt his weakness and encourage him to get strong enough to kill him. His plan was that, once he had been killed, Sasuke would be hailed as a hero. Itachi never wanted Sasuke to learn the truth surrounding the Uchiha's massacre, and if he did he hoped the memory of a hateful older brother would cause him to not believe it. Itachi's constant pursuit of peace, coupled with the paramount secrecy of his missions and his capacity to care about those around him, led Itachi to take on every burden himself, believing he needed no help from comrades.[48]

After he died and was reincarnated, Itachi discovered that his plans largely failed; Sasuke is not a hero, he did find out the truth about what Itachi did, and now he aimed to destroy Konoha for its role in Itachi and the Uchiha clan's suffering. He then began to see the flaw in his original plans: he had been trying to manipulate Sasuke rather than be honest with him and trust in his own strength.[49] Acknowledging the mistakes, Itachi was free to be himself instead of the persona he fabricated, being openly kind to others and displaying a dry sense of humour even in stressful situations.[50] He put his trust in Naruto Uzumaki to stop Sasuke from proceeding further down the path of darkness, and after Naruto proclaimed that he will stop the war himself, warned Naruto against forgetting the value of his friends like he himself and "Madara" did, reminding him how those he loved helped him come so far. Itachi later even showed empathy to his enemy Kabuto Yakushi, likening Kabuto's arrogance and belief in nothing being beyond him to Itachi's own living self, telling him that such a path can only lead to failure, at the same time seeing finally acknowledging his true self for who he is and forgiving himself for his mistakes. Itachi further displayed a reflective side, refusing Sasuke's claims that he was perfect and telling him that perfection can never be obtained by one individual. Itachi came to believe sometimes two people of completely opposite personalities are two sides of the same coin; that when they learn to work together, they can succeed in things they are unable to accomplish alone, a possible reference to how he and Kisame were complete opposites but were capable of compensating for each other's weaknesses. He was also finally open and honest with Sasuke during their final meeting, admitting what he did and even sharing information Sasuke did not already know. He apologised to Sasuke for failing in his responsibilities as an older brother, wondering if being up front with Sasuke from the beginning might have allowed them to avoid the Uchiha's destruction. In their final moments together, Itachi told Sasuke he did not need forgiveness and that he will always love him no matter what.[51]

Appearance

Itachi was a fairly tall man of fair complexion. He had black eyes, under which were long, pronounced tear-troughs. He had jet-black hair that was pulled back in a low ponytail and his face was framed with centre-parted bangs that extended to his chin; the ponytail and bangs grew longer over the years. His overall appearance was very similar to Sasuke's.[52][53] Even more, like his brother, he was considered very handsome as many girls became infatuated with him.[9] When he lived in Konoha, his casual clothes consisted of a black shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol on the back, bandages around his ankles, and black sandals. He wore tan pants with a weapons pouch strapped to his back. When on duty, he would wear the standard Anbu uniform complete with arm guards, a flak jacket, and a porcelain mask which was fashioned to resemble a weasel with a red, triangular marking on top.[54]

As a member of Akatsuki, he wore the standard Akatsuki cloak and a slashed Konoha forehead protector to symbolise his broken ties with the village. The cloak's high collar would obscure his ponytail. He would sometimes unbutton his cloak to mid-chest and rest his left arm there, rather than in the sleeve. Under his cloak he wore clothes similar to the rest of Akatsuki: mesh armour with navy accents under an identical T-shirt with a simple white belt around the waist and dark blue pants. On his right ring finger was his Akatsuki ring, which was red and bore the kanji for "vermilion" (, shu). He wore light blue nail polish on his fingers and toes and a necklace that had three silver rings with red gems inside them.

After being reincarnated by Kabuto with the Impure World Reincarnation technique, he was seen wearing a maroon long sleeved cloak like the other reincarnated ninjas and retained his dark blue pants and black open-toed sandals. His skin became pale white with linings on his face, his hair became dark grey and had soulless onyx eyes minus the irides.

Abilities

Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson

Itachi's fire-enhanced shurikenjutsu.

Even within the famed and battle-adept Uchiha clan, Itachi was a genius of such talent, never before seen in Konoha's history.[55] Despite his young age, he became one of the strongest shinobi Konoha ever produced. Well-known for consistently showing prowess far beyond his years, he quickly rose through the ranks; graduated from the Academy in 4 months at age 6, earned the fastest time in completing the second test of the Chūnin Exams while competing solo at age 10,[16] and became an Anbu captain at age 12. He was highly proficient in all three main ninja skill sets, effortlessly learning new techniques from simple observation, and gained praise from allies and foes alike; Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, openly admitted Itachi was stronger than him,[56] and Shisui, well-regarded as the strongest Uchiha of their time, viewed Itachi as stronger.[57] Danzō considered him the kind of shinobi one sees maybe once a century.[58] Despite being weakened from illness, while Sasuke had trained under and absorbed Orochimaru's power, Itachi could have killed Sasuke during their final battle if he wanted to.[59] Even when restraining himself, Itachi still pushed a 3-man team of elite jōnin to their limits.[23]

Chakra and Physical Prowess

Itachi's Taijutsu

Itachi clashing with Naruto.

As an Uchiha, his chakra was naturally strong. Even from his youth, Itachi showed very advanced chakra control, able to channel chakra to enhance his strikes, even shattering a boulder large enough to crush several people.[60] However, his actual reserves were affected by his terminal illness. During the Uchiha Massacre, Itachi was able to use his Mangekyō Sharingan five times without suffering much exhaustion.[61] In the years following, just three uses of his Mangekyō Sharingan in a single day rendered him unable to even use the Sharingan, and then require significant rest to regain his strength. This also prevented him from participating in prolonged battles.

Itachi was very skilled with taijutsu, easily defeating three members of the Konoha Military Police Force at the age of 11.[62] He had exceptional speed and reflexes, able to compete with Shisui and Naruto while clad with the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, two shinobi well-famed for their speed. His quickness was particularly noted with his hand movements, able to make hand seals too fast to be perceived normally; even skilled Sharingan-users had difficulty following him.[63] Similar to Shisui, his usage of the Body Flicker Technique could move great distances in an instant as if by displacing himself, giving his opponent little chance to react or initiate a counter-attack.[64] Itachi also had remarkable fortitude. Despite spending years afflicted with a crippling disease, he was able to maintain his composure at all times and still battle at near-perfect form.

Ninjutsu

Crow Clone

Itachi's Crow Clone Technique.

Itachi could summon crows, which he would typically call forth in flocks to swarm opponents and distract them. He even integrated crows into clones of himself to draw opponents' attention. He likewise could create shadow clones and from which detonate them for large explosions. Itachi was also well-versed in fūinjutsu, able to particularly those that would activate in the presence of a specific person's Sharingan.[65][66] From his time in Anbu, Itachi became proficient in stealth, infiltration, and assassination.[5]

Bukijutsu

As a fully-trained Konoha Anbu, Itachi was skilled with a sword, which was his primary weapon during the Uchiha Clan Downfall. Like many Uchiha, he specialised in shurikenjutsu, which he was especially advanced at. Even as a child, Itachi could perfectly hit an intricate set of eight targets, one of which was hidden in a blind spot, by accurately deflecting his projectile off another one to redirect both projectiles' path in mid-air.[67] His throwing speed was imperceptible, enough to negate the advantages of the Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creation.[68] He was equally comfortable with kunai, able to use them to spar with opponents wielding swords. In the anime, he learned advanced sleight-of-hand from Shisui to give his opponents even less time to react.[9]

Nature Transformation

Grandfire Ball

Itachi using the Great Fireball Technique.

Itachi's nature transformations included Fire, Water, Wind, Yin, and Yang Release.[4] As an Uchiha, he had a natural affinity for Fire Release, mastering the clan's Great Fireball Technique at a very young age. He could coat shuriken with fire to increase their offensive capacities.[69] With Water Release, Itachi could perform the Water Dragon Bullet Technique without an external water source,[70] as well as shape existing water into tendrils to strike his opponents from all directions.[71]

Genjutsu

Tsukuyomi

Itachi using Tsukuyomi on Kakashi.

Having pacifist ideals, Itachi specialised in genjutsu, which often involved crows. Itachi could use genjutsu to share information or psychologically disable opponents, letting him end the fight instantly. Regarded as one of Konohagakure's best users, rivalling Shisui himself, as even without the aid of his Sharingan, his illusions had remarkable potency and were able to seamlessly affect his targets without them realising it - despite the target being on guard. He could also perform them by merely pointing at his target. Ao noted that Itachi had such a high aptitude with long-range genjutsu that he could control multiple individuals outside the range of an entire Sensor Division.[72]

Dōjutsu

Sharingan

Itachi's Sharingan

Itachi's Sharingan.

Itachi awakened the Sharingan at age 8,[73] after witnessing his team-mate Tenma Izumo's death, manifesting two tomoe in each eye. Soon after, he fully matured and mastered his dōjutsu. From a young age, he demonstrated skill and power superior to most members of his clan.[74] In the anime, his prowess and exploits with it earned him great fame as "Itachi of the Sharingan" (写輪眼のイタチ, Sharingan no Itachi).[5] He tended to keep his Sharingan active near-constantly with minimal drain on his chakra levels. The Sharingan allowed Itachi to see the flow of chakra, predict movements, as well as facilitate his use of genjutsu. Against other genjutsu users, he could turn their genjutsu against them.[75] Also with the Sharingan, he could perform Izanami, a counterpart to the more dangerous Izanagi.[76]

Mangekyō Sharingan

Itachi Using Genjutsu

Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after witnessing Shisui's suicide. Its design was three spiralling curves around the pupil. With his right eye he could use Amaterasu, igniting whatever he looked at with black flames that would burn anything, including fire itself, and at will extinguish Amaterasu.[77] With either eye, he could use Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu that trapped opponents' minds in an illusory world of his own design — capable of altering their perception of matter, space, gravity, and even time.[78][79][80] Itachi could cast sophisticated and elaborate illusions, forcing the target to experience an entire lifetime in an instant. Likewise, while genjutsu normally cannot kill, with Tsukuyomi Itachi could cause enough mental damage to kill the victim if he wanted to.[81] Even survivors have shown to be hospitalized for extended periods of time.

Susanoo

Itachi's armoured Susanoo wielding the Yata Mirror.

Having awakened the Mangekyō in both his eyes, Itachi could also use Susanoo. With its simplest manifestations, he could produce extra arms or bones to improve his options in a fight. When used in full, Itachi was surrounded by a spectral warrior that would protect him from damage.[82] In addition to the chakra swords and Yasaka Magatama common to all Susanoo, Itachi's Susanoo wielded the Sword of Totsuka – an ethereal sword with the ability to seal any person it pierced into its gourd—hilt – and the Yata Mirror – a shield that was said to reflect any attack by changing its chakra nature to counterbalance an attack. The simultaneous use of both weapons made Itachi's Susanoo essentially invincible.[83]

Using any of these techniques required large amounts of chakra, as used too often would deactivate his Sharingan altogether. The longer Itachi used his Mangekyō Sharingan, the more his eyesight deteriorated. Early uses of the Mangekyō would only cause his eyes to bleed, but by the end of his life he reached the point where he was nearly blind, only able to see mere blurs.[84] He did not suffer these shortcomings after his reincarnation and could use all his Mangekyō techniques as often as he desired unhindered.

Intelligence

Sasuke Amaterasu

As a precaution, Itachi programmed Sasuke's Sharingan to react to Tobi's.

Itachi was a highly intelligent individual, having the second highest scores in the history of the Chūnin Exams written test behind Minato Namikaze, without resorting to cheating.[16] Composed and observant; he thought very quickly and remained calm in a fight, enabling him to respond with maximum efficiency and with the smallest likelihood of misjudging circumstances. Even at a young age, he was always calculating and methodical in his approach to the situation at hand, leaving little room for error. He took several precautions for Sasuke and against Tobi that he planned would activate after his death. Even Tobi admitted if he didn't keep some secrets from Itachi, he would have been killed by Itachi's trap.[85] During his infiltration of Konoha, Itachi was also able to subtly leak Akatsuki's goals to Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, and Jiraiya without arousing Kisame's suspicions.

Stats

Databook Ninjutsu Taijutsu Genjutsu Intelligence Strength Speed Stamina Hand seals Total
Third 5 4.5 5 5 3.5 5 2.5 5 35.5

Part I

Search for Tsunade

Main article: Search for Tsunade

Team Itachi Kisame

Itachi and Kisame sneak into Konoha.

After the Konoha Crush and the death of the Third Hokage, Itachi and Kisame use Itachi's prior experience as an Anbu to infiltrate the village undetected.[86] They are nevertheless noticed by Kakashi Hatake, who sends Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yūhi after them to determine their identities and purpose. Itachi and Kisame lead them to an isolated location and reveal themselves. Asuma and Kurenai engage them but pose little challenge and it is only due to the timely arrival of Kakashi that they are saved. Itachi and Kakashi duel with their Sharingan but Itachi quickly proves to be the superior and uses Tsukuyomi to render Kakashi helpless, but is surprised that Kakashi not only remains standing afterwards but that he knows they and Akatsuki are seeking the Nine-Tails. Itachi instructs Kisame to capture Kakashi to find out what else he knows and kill the others, but Kisame is parried by Might Guy. With things escalating, Itachi and Kisame decide to withdraw.

Young Sasuke vs Itachi

Itachi choking Sasuke.

After confirming Sasuke's safety, Itachi pretended to pursue Naruto to covertly let Konoha know about Akatsuki's goals. Itachi and Kisame track the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki, to Shukuba Town. Because Naruto is under the protection of Jiraiya, Itachi uses a genjutsu on an attractive woman to draw Jiraiya away. They confront Naruto and contemplate how to apprehend him. Before they can make a decision they are interrupted by Sasuke, who heard about Itachi's return and attacks him with Chidori. Itachi easily deflects it and then breaks Sasuke's wrist, but Jiraiya returns before things can go further. Not wishing to get drawn into a fight with Jiraiya but confronted by his younger brother's overwhelming desire for revenge, Itachi effortlessly overpowers Sasuke, taunts Sasuke's weakness, incapacitates him with Tsukuyomi, and then makes to escape. Jiraiya attempts to stop them with Summoning: Toad Mouth Bind, but Itachi uses Amaterasu so he and Kisame can break through.

Despite his seeming intentions to capture Naruto, Itachi's only real reasons for returning to Konoha were to, in the wake of the Third's death, remind Danzō Shimura and the rest of the Konoha Council that he was still out there and that they should not do anything to harm Sasuke.

Sasuke Recovery Mission

Main article: Sasuke Recovery Mission Itachi and the rest of Akatsuki assemble to discuss the progress of their plans as well as Sasuke's recent alliance with Orochimaru.

Part II

Kazekage Rescue Mission

Main article: Kazekage Rescue Mission

Itachi & Kakashi Face-off

Itachi and Kakashi clash.

While sealing the One-Tail, Akatsuki learns that Konoha ninja are converging on their location. Just as Kisame volunteers to delay Team Guy, Itachi volunteers to delay Team 7. Nagato uses his Shapeshifting Technique to make a body-double of Itachi that he controls remotely, which he uses to intercept Team 7. Team 7 coordinates against him and Itachi is impressed by Naruto's growth, but he still manages to catch him in a genjutsu. He torments Naruto for his failures to protect his friends, specifically Sasuke, until the genjutsu is broken by Naruto's teammates. Itachi, his body-double running out of his chakra, is eventually defeated by Naruto's Big Ball Rasengan. He nevertheless succeeds in buying enough time to complete the One-Tail's sealing.

Itachi Pursuit Mission

Main article: Itachi Pursuit Mission After Kisame captures the Four-Tails, Akatsuki convenes to seal it. Before the sealing gets underway they are informed that Sasuke has killed Orochimaru after two-and-a-half years of training with him and is now coming after Itachi. Deidara and Tobi go after Sasuke following the Four-Tails' sealing, and Akatsuki later receives reports that all three have been killed. Kisame consoles Itachi afterwards for now being the last Uchiha, but he replies that Sasuke is still alive. Even had he died, he says there is still another Uchiha, alluding to Tobi's survival as well.

Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant

Main article: Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant

Itachi's Genjutsu

Itachi talking with Naruto.

Knowing that his end is near, Itachi sends a shadow clone to find and meet with Naruto. When Naruto attacks him, Itachi insists he only wants to talk. He asks Naruto what Sasuke means to him and what he will do if ever Sasuke moves against Konoha. Naruto replies that he is Sasuke's brother – a better brother than Itachi is – and that if Sasuke ever attacks the village he will defend it without killing Sasuke. Itachi is happy with this answer and gives Naruto some assistance for this purpose: a special crow that he stores within Naruto's body. (He does not tell Naruto the crow's purpose, but the crow, implanted with Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, will react to seeing Itachi's eyes and compel whoever has the eyes to protect Konoha. Since he expects Sasuke will take his eyes at some point if he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and by extension learned the truth, the plan is for the crow to reestablish Sasuke's loyalties to the village after Itachi is dead.) Having business elsewhere, the shadow clone disperses.

Another shadow clone allows Sasuke to track him to one of Akatsuki's lairs. Sasuke attacks him, displaying the new abilities he's learned, and in doing so convinces Itachi that he has gotten strong enough. The shadow clone arranges to meet with Sasuke at the Uchiha Hideout before it disappears. While Itachi waits for Sasuke, he has Kisame patrol the hideout's perimeter and permit nobody but Sasuke to enter.

Fated Battle Between Brothers

Main article: Fated Battle Between Brothers

Amaterasu vs Fire Ball

Itachi and Sasuke clash.

When Sasuke arrives they start by trading genjutsu. At Sasuke's request Itachi tells him about Tobi, who also goes by Madara, as well as the mysteries of the Mangekyō Sharingan and the even more powerful Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Itachi expresses his disappointment that Sasuke has not gained his own Mangekyō, but says he can use Sasuke's eyes to gain an Eternal Mangekyō all the same. The genjutsu exchange ends when Sasuke breaks free of Itachi's Tsukuyomi, thus beginning the real fight. The volleys of ninjutsu quickly spill outside, where Sasuke and Itachi compare their Great Fireballs. When Sasuke's starts to pull ahead, Itachi uses Amaterasu. While trying to hit Sasuke he ends up igniting the surrounding forest, but does finally manage to catch Sasuke. Sasuke sheds his skin to escape the flames and performs multiple Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Techniques while Itachi is off-guard. Itachi avoids them, but Sasuke informs him that Itachi wasn't his target.

Itachi sealing Orochimaru

Itachi sealing Orochimaru.

After Sasuke's attack, storm clouds gather and lightning brews, allowing Sasuke to attack Itachi with Kirin. Although the hideout is destroyed, Itachi survives thanks to his Susanoo. With his Susanoo active, Itachi approaches Sasuke. Having used all his chakra to perform Kirin, Sasuke activates his Cursed Seal of Heaven and out of desperation to defeat Itachi unleashes Orochimaru. Orochimaru springs from Sasuke's body using the Eight Branches Technique and states his intentions to take finally take Sasuke's body for his own. Itachi, having prolonged the battle in order to draw Orochimaru out, pierces him with Susanoo's Sword of Totsuka, sealing Orochimaru away and removing Sasuke's cursed seal.

Last Smile

Itachi smiles to Sasuke before dying.

Itachi resumes his approach, telling Sasuke his resolution to now take his eyes, and Sasuke makes futile attempts to keep him away. Susanoo continues to protect Itachi, but it degrades as he labours near and Itachi starts coughing up blood. Itachi began approaching Sasuke, claiming he wanted Sasuke's eyes. When he finally reaches Sasuke, Itachi appears to grab for his eyes but instead only pokes his forehead. (The poke seals Amaterasu in Sasuke's eyes, set to activate against Tobi's Sharingan in order to protect Sasuke from him.) In a similar manner to how he described death to Kisame, Itachi died unable to maintain his disguise of wanting Sasuke's eyes, he genuinely smiles to Sasuke and apologises to Sasuke and says this is the end before succumbing to his disease and falling dead with a smile on his face.

Power

Main article: Power In the anime, Kabuto Yakushi reincarnates Itachi to be used against Team 7. The summon fails almost immediately afterwards, causing Kabuto to wonder if the Impure World Reincarnation was still incomplete.[87]

Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown

Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown When the Fourth Shinobi World War looms, Kabuto approaches Tobi – who survived the implanted Amaterasu – offering to join forces. To that end he reincarnates Itachi and four other dead members of Akatsuki as offerings for Tobi's war plans.

Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation

Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation

Itachi and Nagato

Itachi and Nagato en route.

When the Fourth Shinobi World War begins, Itachi is mobilised with the rest of Kabuto's collection of reincarnated ninja. Itachi is paired with Nagato, who he carries because of Nagato's damaged legs. They discuss Akatsuki and how little they, particularly Nagato, actually knew about the organisation; both were only pawns kept by Tobi because of their dōjutsu, and now they've been revived so Kabuto can use them for the same reason.

Itachi and Nagato are found by Naruto and Killer B. Itachi learns several things as Kabuto forces him to fight them: Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode indicates he's finally gained control of the Nine-Tails; B's use of Samehada is proof Kisame is dead; Naruto tells him that Sasuke now works with Akatsuki to destroy Konoha due to having been told the truth of the Uchiha Clan Downfall by Tobi, much to Itachi's horror and dismay. Itachi and Nagato continue attacking but give advice to Naruto and B about how to evade them. When he has an opening, Itachi calls out the crow he planted in Naruto before his death and allows it to use its genjutsu on him, overriding Kabuto's control with its pre-programmed mission to protect Konoha.

Itachi Saves Naruto and B

Itachi saves Naruto and B.

Now free to do as he wishes, Itachi joins Naruto and B against Nagato, using Amaterasu on him and his summons. Itachi continues to eliminate Nagato's summons and also saves B and Naruto from being killed by Nagato himself. Nagato uses Chibaku Tensei to try and restrain them, but the three join forces to destroy it. Itachi stabs Nagato with the Sword of Totsuka before the dust settles, sealing him away and ending the battle. Itachi then decides to personally take care of Kabuto in order to end the Impure World Reincarnation. Before leaving, he destroys the crow and Shisui's eye with Amaterasu so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands and entrusts Sasuke's reform to Naruto.

Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax

Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax

Kabuto vs Uchiha

Itachi and Sasuke join forces.

Nagato had been able to locate Kabuto's location while they were together, and Itachi now moves on a direct course there. He inadvertently crosses paths with Sasuke along the way. Feeling he is unworthy of Sasuke, Itachi tries to avoid him and his questions. When Sasuke persists, Itachi admits that he made a mistake manipulating Sasuke along a path that he wanted, which has put Sasuke in a worse position than he ever intended. As they near Kabuto's lair Itachi tries one last time to shake him, only to be disappointed when Sasuke joins him shortly after he confronts Kabuto. Sasuke moves to kill Kabuto, but is blocked by Itachi, who explains that Kabuto must be kept alive if the Impure World Reincarnation is to be broken. Sasuke offers to help on the condition that Itachi will finally talk to him afterwards. Itachi agrees.

Itachi attacks Kabuto

Itachi attacks Kabuto.

Kabuto obscures his vision to prevent being caught in a genjutsu and attacks. Itachi and Sasuke block with their Susanoo, only to find that they have lost track of Kabuto. Itachi realises that Kabuto has achieved Sage Mode and quickly defends Sasuke before he can come to harm in Kabuto's sneak attack. Itachi reminds Sasuke of a mission they went on as children to hunt a boar, which they reenact with their Susanoo against Kabuto. Kabuto avoids them and commandeers Sasuke's sword, which he uses to attack Itachi. Itachi takes the sword back from him and uses it to cut off the tip of one of Kabuto's horns.

Kabuto tries to turn Sasuke against Itachi, pointing out all the lies and distrust Itachi has been showing Sasuke for years. Itachi admits his faults, but promises to tell Sasuke something after he's performed his Izanami. Kabuto is confident that he cannot be defeated since they can't kill him and because of the precautions he's taken to avoid genjutsu. He manipulates the cave to confine them and uses DNA to perform a variety of other ninja's long-range jutsu, trying to create an opportunity to access Itachi's head and regain control of him. Sasuke becomes increasingly earnest to kill Kabuto, but Itachi pleads for him to wait until Izanami is ready.

Edo Tensei Kai

Under Itachi's control, Kabuto releases the Impure World Reincarnation.

While Itachi and Sasuke deal with Kabuto's recreation of Orochimaru, Kabuto bisects Itachi. Itachi's reincarnated body regenerates and he uses Sasuke's sword to cut off even more of the same horn as before. This creates a sensory loop independent of vision that traps Kabuto in eternal battle; that is Izanami. Kabuto has the chance of escaping Izanami by accepting the fate he now tries to fight by taking on others' powers, Itachi's gift to him because of their perceived similarities. He raises the brille that cover Kabuto's eyes and uses a genjutsu to make Kabuto perform the hand seals that will end the Impure World Reincarnation.

Itachi's farewell

Itachi imparts his final words to his brother.

While Kabuto performs the hand seals, Sasuke tells Itachi that he won't forgive Konoha for coercing Itachi the way that he was and that he will continue to conspire against the villages despite Itachi's wishes. Itachi listens without response. When he is engulfed in light and the Impure World Reincarnation begins to break, he faces Sasuke and admits to everything Sasuke has been told about him, even imparting some of his own memories to Sasuke to fully dispel the lies he's told. He reaches for Sasuke, seemingly meaning to poke his forehead again, but instead gives Sasuke a head bump, symbolising he no longer saw Sasuke as a child, but an equal. He tells Sasuke that he wants no forgiveness and promises that he will love Sasuke no matter what he decides to do. His reincarnated body dissolves and his soul returns to the afterlife.

Legacy

By his own design, Itachi had a profound influence on Sasuke’s life. His instructions on the night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall for Sasuke to gain the power necessary to defeat him caused Sasuke to isolate himself from other people and avoid companionship. When Sasuke realised that he was getting attached to the members of Team 7 and, from his perspective, failing to get stronger because of them, he defected from Konoha and left to train under Orochimaru — propelling him along the path towards Itachi's death. Following the brothers' battle, Itachi's plans started to fail due to the interference of Tobi, who refocuses Sasuke's hatred that Itachi had engineered for himself, to be used against Konoha, turning Sasuke into a criminal against Itachi's intentions. Itachi is able to make amends with Sasuke upon his reincarnation, using his Sharingan to convey his memories to his little brother so that he could understand why Itachi chose the path he did. He also wiped Sasuke's prejudices clean and encouraged him to start deciding things for himself.

Itachi's eyes would prove to be of immense importance for Sasuke, as not only did it grant Sasuke the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, but Sasuke would later awaken the Rinnegan with one of Itachi's eyes.

Upon learning the entire truth about Itachi, Sasuke regains the great admiration he had for him when they were children and follows in his brother's footsteps. He does not want to see Konoha, the village Itachi sacrificed so much for, destroyed and therefore works against Tobi and Madara to end the Fourth Shinobi World War.[88] He also sees the reason in Itachi's decision to make difficult choices and be hated for them, and for that reason gives himself the task after the war is concluded to become the world's darkness, using his power to force peace and unapologetically kill any that threaten it. Though this is again a great divergence from Itachi's plans, another of Itachi's plans redeems him: Naruto, at Itachi's insistence, eventually convinces Sasuke of the errors he has made without killing him after their final battle. In the war's aftermath, Sasuke adopts Itachi's habit of poking others' foreheads as a sign of affection, in particular his wife, Sakura Haruno, and their daughter, Sarada. He also had a habit of neglecting his daughter in favour of his duties of protecting the village and her, although he realises this mistake later on and chose to spend time with his family before continuing his mission. Sasuke would continue to protect the village for many years to come — ultimately causing Itachi's wishes for his brother to finally be realised.

In the years following the World War, Naruto attempted to restore some of Itachi's honour by telling the world of Itachi's actions during his period of reincarnation. Without mentioning the truth about the "crimes" he committed while alive, Naruto gave Itachi's name as someone who supported him. Though not an easy thing to accept, no one challenged Naruto's word on the matter.[89]

Itachi's influence also extended beyond Sasuke: Danzō Shimura, despite his difference of opinions with Itachi, believed him an unsung hero of Konoha who worked selflessly for the village's good; Naruto is reminded by Itachi that the Hokage's strength comes from their acknowledgement by others, and thus he must never forget those who helped him become strong; the five Kage, despite not knowing about Itachi's involvement, hailed him as the world's saviour for dispelling the Impure World Reincarnation technique;[90] Kabuto Yakushi remembered who he truly was as a result of Itachi's Izanami and, inspired by him, resuscitated Sasuke when he was on the verge of death.

In the anime, Hiruzen realised kind-hearted people should never be in the Anbu because of the nature of their missions. After the Uchiha Clan Downfall, Hiruzen was determined not to do the same with Kakashi and chose to retire him as an Anbu and made him commander of a team of genin in hopes it would help restore his light and kindness and eliminate his darkness.

Itachi had an influence on one of Orochimaru's experiment subjects, Shin. Shin became intrigued by the Uchiha clan, especially Itachi, and adopted the clan name and customary garb for himself. It was because of his fascination of Itachi that Shin held a grudge against Sasuke for causing his older brother to die, and attempted to kill him in revenge. However, Sasuke noted that Shin's social darwinism and warmongering goals indicate he did not understand Itachi at all.

In Other Media

OVAs

Sunny Side Battle!

Main article: Sunny Side Battle! Itachi Uchiha heads downstairs into the kitchen of his former house at the Uchiha Compound in Konohagakure and proceeds to put on his Akatsuki outfit, along with an Akatsuki-themed apron. After putting a tea kettle to boil and setting bread in a toaster, he grabs a carton of eggs from the fridge and attempts to cook one sunny-side up, only to find his first attempt foiled by an errant piece of eggshell on the egg. Further attempts yield the same results, with various things going wrong with the eggs, such as the yolk breaking, Itachi's sweat getting onto the eggs, and so on. Itachi even resorts to making a plate of scrambled eggs, although after a moment of thought he dismisses the idea and starts again.

Movies

Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie

Main article: Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie In the alternate world, the Akatsuki are hired by Konoha to assist Naruto in the battle against Menma. Itachi rescues a captured Sakura during the fight.

Video Games

Itachi Uchiha is a playable character in the following video games:

Game nameJapanese releaseEnglish release
Naruto Mobile20162016
Naruto RPG 2: Chidori vs. Rasengan14 July 2005
Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 317 November 2009
Naruto Shippūden: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! EX22 February 2007
Naruto Shippūden: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! EX 229 November 2007
Naruto Shippūden: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! EX 327 November 2008
Naruto Shippūden: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! Special2 December 2010
Naruto Shippūden: Kizuna Drive15 July 201022 March 2011
Naruto Shippūden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising6 October 2009
Naruto Shippūden: Ninja Council 419 July 20072 June 2009
Naruto Shippūden: Ninja Destiny 224 April 200815 September 2009
Naruto Shippūden: Ninja Destiny 328 April 2009
Naruto Shippūden: Shinobi Rumble22 April 20108 February 2011
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja 45 April 200724 March 2009
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja 520 December 200727 November 2009
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Blazing14 July 201624 August 2016
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 310 December 200911 May 2010
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Impact20 October 201118 October 2011
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 221 October 201019 October 2010
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 318 April 20135 March 2013
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 44 February 20169 February 2016
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations23 February 201213 March 2012
Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution11 September 201416 September 2014
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker30 August 201831 August 2018
Naruto x Boruto: Ninja TribesJune 2019June 2019
Naruto x Boruto: Ninja Voltage22 November 201722 November 2017
Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections16 November 202317 November 2023
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution23 October 2007
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 221 October 2008
Naruto: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! 320 November 2004
Naruto: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! 421 November 2005
Naruto: Ninja Council 327 April 200622 May 2007
Naruto: Ninja Destiny14 December 200620 March 2008
Naruto: Path of the Ninja 213 July 200614 October 2008
Naruto: Shinobi Collection2014
Naruto: Shinobi Collection Shippū Ranbu27 July 2015
Naruto: The Broken Bond18 November 2008
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 230 September 200412 June 2007
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 322 December 200525 March 2008
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes28 August 2007
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress30 March 200624 June 2008
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Online14 April 201320 July 2016
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm15 January 20094 November 2008
Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 216 November 20064 September 2007

Creation and Conception

Itachi Concept

Scrapped concept art of Itachi.

In Jin no Sho, Kishimoto revealed that Itachi was originally conceived (before the series began) as the leader of Konoha's Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, dubbed the Itachi Squad (イタチ隊, Itachi-tai), which would have been a 70-man group divided into four teams, specialising in assassination and other illicit operations. In Kishimoto's original rough sketch, Itachi wore a bandana-style forehead protector, a skin-tight t-shirt, gloves, a coat tied around his waist, and had several scars including an x-shaped scar on his chin. Elements of this concept were later incorporated into Danzō Shimura and the Anbu.

Trivia

Springtime of Youth
The Springtime of Youth wiki has an article about this topic:
  • The name "Itachi" means "weasel" (), while his family name "Uchiha" is another way of pronouncing "uchiwa" (団扇, paper fan), which is actually the Uchiha clan's symbol. Uchiwa can be used to fan flames, making the flame hotter — referring to the fact that the Uchiha is a clan of Fire Release users.
  • Itachi consistently ranks highly in the Shōnen Jump popularity polls for the series, his highest to-date position being fifth most popular character.
  • Itachi and Kisame made a brief cameo appearance in the Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival!, where they were standing in line to use the bathroom, along with many other random characters.
  • Itachi's nickname "…of the Sharingan" (写輪眼の…, Sharingan no…) is also held by Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha.
  • Studio Pierrot's Settei sheets of Itachi show that he was 125 cm as an Academy student, 130 cm as a genin, 148 cm when he became an Anbu, and 170 cm around the time of the Uchiha Clan Downfall.
  • Itachi noted that his specialties in ninja skills are genjutsu, Fire Release, and shurikenjutsu.[5]
  • According to the databook(s):
    • Itachi's hobby was visiting traditional Japanese cafés.
    • Itachi wished to fight Sasuke.
    • Itachi's favourite foods were cabbage and onigiri with seaweed in it, while his least favourite was steak. Itachi was also very fond of sweets, dango being his favourite.
    • Itachi had completed 340 official missions in total: 53 D-rank, 152 C-rank, 134 B-rank, 0 A-rank and 1 S-rank.
    • Itachi's favourite word was "peace" (平和, heiwa) (shared with Dan Katō).
  • Itachi had always poked his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha, in the forehead when they were younger, saying "Forgive me Sasuke… Again, next time" (「許せサスケ…また今度だ」, "Yuruse Sasuke… Mata kondo da"). This is referred to very poignantly with Itachi's last words, as he pokes his brother's forehead again and says, "Forgive me Sasuke… …It ends with this" (「許せサスケ……これで最後だ」, "Yuruse Sasuke… …Kore de saigo da")
  • Itachi is tied with Jiraiya for having the highest stat total in the databooks.

Quotes

  • (To an infant Sasuke) "Don't cry, Sasuke. Your big brother is here to protect you, no matter what happens."[91]
  • (To Yashiro, Tekka, and Inabi) "You hold onto the organisation and your clan name. These things limit us and limit our capacities… These things deserve to be shunned. It is foolish to fear what we've yet to see and know!"[92]
  • (To Sasuke) "There is no value in killing the likes of you… My foolish brother… If you want to kill me… curse me! Hate me! And live a long and unsightly life… Run away… run away… and cling to your pitiful life. And then some day, when you have the same eyes as I do, come before me." (「貴様など…殺す価値も無い。…愚かなる弟よ……。このオレを殺したくば、恨め!憎め!そして みにくく生きのびるがいい………。…逃げて逃げて…生にしがみつくがいい。そして何時か、俺と同じ目を持って、俺の前に来い!”」, "Kisama nado… Korosu kachi mo nai. …Orokanaru otōto yo…… Kono ore o koroshitakuba, urame! Nikume! Soshite, minikuku ikinobiru ga ii……… …Nigete nigete… Sei ni shigamitsuku ga ii. Soshite itsuka, Ore to onaji me wo motte… Ore no mae ni koi!")[93]
  • (To Sasuke) "...People live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true… that is how they define reality. But what does it mean to be correct or true? Merely vague concepts… their reality may all be an illusion."[94]
  • (To Kisame) "Those who kill their own comrades are sure to die a terrible death."[95]
  • (To Kisame) "We don't know what kind of people we truly are until the moment before our deaths. As death comes to embrace you, you will realise what you are. That's what death is, don't you think?"[96]
  • (To Naruto) "You don't become the Hokage to be acknowledged by everyone. The one who is acknowledged by everyone becomes the Hokage."
  • (About Konoha) "The village does have its dark side and its inconsistencies, but I'm still Konoha's Itachi Uchiha."[45]
  • (Last words to Sasuke after reincarnation) "If I had been open with you from the start… and looked you straight in the eyes and told you the truth, then I wouldn't have had to stand before you, from above, as a failure, telling you all of this. So this time, I want to impart this truth to you… You don't ever have to forgive me. And no matter what you do from here on out, know this… I will love you always."[97]

References

  1. First Databook, page 37
  2. Second Databook, pages 36-41
  3. Third Databook, pages 34-39
  4. 4.0 4.1 Fourth Databook, pages 38-41
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Naruto: Shippūden episode 456
  6. Naruto chapter 400, page 4
  7. 7.0 7.1 Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light chapter 1
  8. Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light page 27
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Naruto: Shippūden episode 452
  10. Naruto chapter 221, page 5
  11. Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light page 47-60
  12. Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light page 62
  13. Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light page 74-80
  14. 14.0 14.1 Naruto chapter 145, pages 9
  15. 15.0 15.1 Naruto: Shippūden episode 454
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light
  17. Naruto chapter 220, pages 15-16
  18. Naruto: Shippūden episode 357
  19. Naruto: Shippūden episode 358
  20. Naruto chapter 400, page 2
  21. Naruto chapter 590, page 6
  22. Naruto chapter 222, page 1-10
  23. 23.0 23.1 Naruto chapter 142, page 12
  24. Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night, page 68
  25. Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night, page 114
  26. 26.0 26.1 Naruto: Shippūden episode 455
  27. Naruto chapter 590, pages 8-10
  28. Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night, page 146
  29. Naruto chapter 590, page 11
  30. Naruto chapter 590, page 12-13
  31. Naruto chapter 403, page 16
  32. Naruto chapter 400, page 13
  33. Naruto chapter 401, page 6
  34. Naruto chapter 345, page 9
  35. Naruto chapter 508, page 6
  36. Naruto chapter 359, pages 7-15
  37. Naruto: Shippūden episode 457
  38. Naruto chapter 401, pages 14-15
  39. Naruto chapter 142, page 5
  40. 40.0 40.1 Naruto chapter 619, page 9
  41. Naruto chapter 145, page 8-9
  42. 42.0 42.1 Itachi Shinden: Book of Dark Night
  43. Naruto chapter 143, page 8
  44. Naruto chapter 620, page 5
  45. 45.0 45.1 Naruto chapter 581, page 13
  46. Naruto: Shippūden episode 451
  47. Naruto chapter 145, page 5-8
  48. Naruto chapter 582
  49. Naruto chapter 549
  50. Naruto chapter 579, page 3
  51. Naruto chapter 590, page 23
  52. Naruto chapter 145, page 1
  53. Naruto chapter 365, page 9
  54. Naruto chapter 590, page 7
  55. Itachi Shinden Book of Bright Light pages 37, 46, 50, and 80
  56. Naruto chapter 140, page 5
  57. Itachi Shinden Book of Dark Night pages 81, and 97
  58. Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light pages 113-114
  59. Naruto chapter 401, page 1
  60. Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light, chapter 2
  61. Itachi Shinden Book of Dark Night pages 148, 157, 163, 171, and 172
  62. Naruto chapter 222, page 13
  63. Naruto chapter 142, page 9
  64. Naruto chapter 141, pages 16-17
  65. Naruto chapter 397, pages 8-11
  66. Naruto chapter 550, pages 10-13
  67. Naruto chapter 220, pages 3-6
  68. Naruto chapter 387, pages 4-7
  69. Naruto chapter 549, page 12
  70. Naruto chapter 587, page 11
  71. Naruto chapter 142, page 8
  72. Naruto chapter 540, page 13
  73. Naruto chapter 142, page 3
  74. Naruto chapter 222, page 7
  75. Naruto chapter 141, page 15
  76. Naruto chapter 581, pages 14-16
  77. Naruto chapter 390, page 7
  78. Second Databook, pages 252-253
  79. Naruto chapter 142, page 17
  80. Naruto: Shippūden episode 338
  81. Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light, chapter 6
  82. Naruto chapter 391, pages 16-17
  83. Naruto chapter 393, page 9
  84. Naruto chapter 390, page 14
  85. Naruto chapter 397, page 10
  86. Naruto chapter 419, page 3
  87. Naruto: Shippūden episode 290
  88. Naruto chapter 627, page 9
  89. Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise page 66
  90. Naruto chapter 591, page 4
  91. Naruto chapter 502, page 2
  92. Naruto chapter 222, page 12
  93. Naruto chapter 225, page 5
  94. Naruto chapter 385, page 6
  95. Naruto chapter 508, page 8
  96. Naruto chapter 508, page 9
  97. Naruto chapter 590, page 16