Itachi Uchiha

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Itachi Uchiha
Original Name	宇智波鼬
Species/Race	Uchiha
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Uchiha Clan; Konohagakure; ANBU
Occupation/Role	Uchiha shinobi; former ANBU operative; head of Konoha's independent ANBU
Status	Active
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
ANBU operative	4	Graduates from the Ninja Academy and joins the ANBU while still young.
Two-tomoe Mangekyō Sharingan	5	Awakens after Obito kills two of his mission companions; Fugaku values the awakening over the deaths.
Three-tomoe Sharingan	5	His eyes evolve further as he resolves to use power to protect those still alive, especially Sasuke.
Kaleidoscope / Mangekyō Sharingan	7	Awakens at age ten after Shisui gives him his remaining eye and leaps from a cliff.
Crimson half-body Susanoo	20	Manifests a crimson half-body Susanoo during the Uchiha delegation's negotiations with Konoha.
Third Power, Susanoo	76	Joins Fugaku in deploying Susanoo against Naruto's rampaging Nine-Tails chakra.

Background / History

During the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Itachi evacuates and protects his infant brother Sasuke. He views Minato Namikaze's death as a worthwhile sacrifice because it saves Konoha, but questions why the Third Hokage did not use the Reaper Death Seal himself. He also rescues his classmate Uchiha Izumi during the disaster. 2 3

After graduating from the Ninja Academy, Itachi joins the ANBU. The pressure of clan expectations, Uchiha political ambition, and Konoha's suspicion leaves him increasingly concerned that conflict between the village and his clan is unavoidable. 4 5

During a mission, Obito kills two of Itachi's companions. The grief triggers his ocular evolution, but Fugaku dismisses the dead shinobi as having fulfilled their value by strengthening Itachi. Sasuke's insistence that the victims had been frightened and deserved protection reshapes Itachi's outlook: strength should protect the living rather than merely advance the clan's status. 5

Shisui's apparent death becomes another turning point. Shisui gives Itachi his remaining eye before jumping from a cliff, and Itachi awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan. When Uchiha clansmen accuse him of killing Shisui, Itachi responds with genjutsu and leaves in disgust. 7

Although Danzo and Konoha had treated Itachi as a village spy within the Uchiha, he gradually comes to prioritize his family and a negotiated peace between the Uchiha and Konoha. He assists Fugaku in demanding justice for Shisui, eliminates Root agents surveilling the Uchiha compound, and helps defend the clan against Obito. 8 14 15 17 18

Following Tsunade's accession as Fifth Hokage, Itachi becomes head of an independent ANBU organization. He states that he will answer to the Hokage rather than the Uchiha clan. 66

Personality

Itachi is calm, analytical, and unusually mature for his age. His experience with war leads him to accept sacrifice as sometimes necessary, though he is deeply disturbed when sacrifice is used to deny the value of individual lives. 3 5

He initially becomes disillusioned with Fugaku, the Uchiha clan, and the ninja system after his companions die. Sasuke's words restore his sense of purpose, directing his ambition toward protecting others—particularly his younger brother. 5

Itachi seeks a stable balance between Konoha and the Uchiha rather than open rebellion. Even after becoming politically aligned with his clan, he remains explicit that Konoha should not be weakened and that ANBU should remain accountable to the Hokage. 14 20 66

Appearance

Itachi is an Uchiha shinobi whose red Sharingan and later Mangekyō Sharingan are central to his combat presence. He is also capable of manifesting a crimson Susanoo. 7 20

• Uses ANBU affiliation earlier in his career. 4
• His Mangekyō use can produce blood tears. 17 76
• Can disperse into a flock of crows and reform elsewhere during combat. 17

Abilities & Skills

Sharingan and Genjutsu

Itachi possesses powerful ocular genjutsu and can incapacitate multiple opponents nearly instantly.

• Evolves to a three-tomoe Sharingan after the deaths of his mission companions. 5
• Places accusing Uchiha clansmen under genjutsu and escapes their confrontation. 7
• Casts a genjutsu on Kisame without Shisui noticing; Shisui later judges Itachi's genjutsu superior to his own. 33
• Uses Tsukuyomi on the Nine-Tails within Naruto and follows it with another genjutsu to control the beast. 76
• Tsukuyomi can manipulate time within its illusion, though only a second passes externally. 76

Mangekyō Sharingan

Itachi awakens his Mangekyō after Shisui's apparent death and becomes one of the Uchiha clan's foremost combatants. 7

• Amaterasu — Focuses black flames on a target; blood runs from his eyes during use. 17
• Tsukuyomi — An ocular genjutsu described as second only to Kotoamatsukami. 33
• Limitation — Tsukuyomi requires eye contact, allowing Obito to avoid it by refusing to meet Itachi's gaze. 17

Susanoo

Itachi can form a crimson chakra Susanoo for defense and large-scale combat. 20 76

• Manifests a crimson half-body Susanoo during the Uchiha's political standoff with Konoha. 20
• Activates Susanoo alongside Fugaku against Naruto's uncontrolled Nine-Tails chakra. 76
• Obito's Kamui can bypass Itachi and Fugaku's conventional attacks, forcing Sasuke's intervention during their clash. 17

Crow Substitution and Mobility

Itachi can transform his body into crows to evade attacks and reposition.

• Avoids Obito's Mangekyō shuriken by dispersing into crows and reforming at range. 17
• Sends a crow to deliver a genjutsu message to Sasuke before Obito's attack on the Uchiha district. 16
• A crow carrying Shisui's Kotoamatsukami is used in Sasuke's plan to control Obito. 17

Leadership and Intelligence Work

Itachi combines political restraint with decisive covert action.

• Helps formulate the Uchiha strategy of balancing village pressure without launching a coup. 14
• Participates in eliminating fourteen Root agents spying on the Uchiha compound. 18
• Seeks leadership of the ANBU on the grounds that it would strengthen Konoha. 66
• Later directly oversees Sai within the ANBU. 90

Equipment / Items

• Shisui's left Sharingan — Given to Itachi by Shisui before his attempted suicide; Itachi keeps the eye after Shisui declines to take it back. 7 9
• Kunai — Used during his confrontation with Kisame. 33
• Crow carrying Kotoamatsukami — Used as part of Sasuke's plan to place Obito under Shisui's genjutsu. 17

Relationships

• Uchiha Sasuke — Younger brother and Itachi's foremost personal priority; Sasuke's compassion changes Itachi's understanding of why he should seek power. 2 5
• Uchiha Fugaku — Father; their relationship is strained by Fugaku's fixation on power, but Itachi later recognizes Fugaku's concern for Shisui and the younger generation. 5 9
• Uchiha Shisui — Closest friend and fellow Uchiha; Shisui entrusts Itachi with his remaining eye, and Itachi awakens the Mangekyō through grief for him. 7 33
• Uchiha Izumi — Classmate whom Itachi saves during the Nine-Tails Rebellion; she is also associated with his bond with Shisui. 3 32
• Shimura Danzo — Enemy responsible for attacking Shisui and pressuring Itachi to choose between Konoha and the Uchiha. 6 15 16
• Uchiha Obito — Initially battles Itachi and Fugaku while attacking the Uchiha; later works alongside them to remove Root surveillance. 17 18
• Jiraiya — Political counterpart who challenges Itachi over the Uchiha's refusal to support Tsunade until Itachi reveals his demand to lead the ANBU. 66
• Tsunade — As Fifth Hokage, appoints Itachi as the head of Konoha's independent ANBU. 66
• Sai — ANBU subordinate after Danzo's death; Itachi dismisses him from the organization after a failed mission. 90

Story Role / Major Arcs

Nine-Tails Rebellion

Itachi protects Sasuke and Izumi during Obito's Nine-Tails attack. The event also reveals his pragmatic view of sacrifice and his doubts about Konoha's leadership. 2 3

Shisui Incident

After losing companions to Obito, Itachi's grief drives his Sharingan development and sharpens his resolve to protect others. Shisui's later injury, apparent death, and gift of his final eye trigger Itachi's Mangekyō awakening. 5 7

Uchiha–Konoha Conflict

Itachi rejects Danzo's pressure to act against his clan, supports Fugaku's demand for justice, and seeks a negotiated balance between Uchiha rights and village stability. 8 14 15 20

Obito's Attack and Danzo's Fall

Itachi and Fugaku fight Obito during the attack on the Uchiha district but cannot overcome Kamui without Sasuke's Kotoamatsukami plan. He subsequently assists in eliminating Root spies before Obito kills Danzo. 17 18

ANBU Leadership

Itachi demands control of the ANBU during negotiations over Tsunade's candidacy. Once Tsunade becomes Hokage, he is appointed leader of the newly independent ANBU while remaining formally accountable to the Hokage. 66

Notable Quotes

“Those who have died are already gone; those who are alive should be cherished.” 5

“As long as the Uchiha and the village could reach a delicate balance, that would be enough.” 14

“After becoming the head of the ANBU, I will still answer to the Hokage, not the Uchiha!” 66