Itachi

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Itachi Uchiha (鼬)
Alias(es)	Itachi of the Massacre 52 83
Gender	Male
Clan	Uchiha Clan
Affiliation	Konohagakure (former); Akatsuki 1 20
Occupation/Role	Shinobi; Akatsuki operative
Status	Killed; later revived through Impure World Reincarnation, bound as an Earthbound Spirit, and eventually has his soul wear away 75 76 113 138
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background

Before the Uchiha massacre, Itachi was an Academy prodigy who consistently ranked first in practical examinations. Despite his normally composed manner, he was notably gentle with his younger brother Sasuke and treated Shisui as an older brother. 143

His childhood exposure to war and his desire for peace drew him toward Konoha’s leadership rather than his own clan. However, witnessing villagers blame the Uchiha for crimes they had not committed made him question both popular prejudice and the village’s treatment of bloodline clans. 144

Itachi was approached by a shadowy being claiming to be “Touya Senju.” He found no record supporting the being’s identity, but tolerated its presence to draw on its extensive knowledge of shinobi history and advanced techniques. 145

At thirteen, Itachi massacred the Uchiha Clan—including Fugaku and Mikoto—in the belief that accepting all blame would protect Konoha, sever Sasuke’s ties to the clan’s grievances, and allow Sasuke to restore the Uchiha within the village. He left Konoha afterward with a masked man, though news of an additional surviving Uchiha immediately worried him because it could endanger his plans for Sasuke. 1 20 53

Appearance

During his Akatsuki service, Itachi wears the organization’s black cloak patterned with scarlet clouds and a rainproof conical hat. Beneath it, he is described as a mature-looking adolescent. 53

• Scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan eyes.
• Deteriorating eyesight and a visibly worn appearance during the Peace Capital operation. 71 72
• His reanimated body no longer suffers from illness or failing vision. 76

Personality

Itachi presents himself as calm, disciplined, and emotionally unreadable, but his identity is built around extreme self-sacrifice. He believed that killing his clan for Konoha and Sasuke was justice, even if the entire world condemned him. 20 53

His devotion to peace is inseparable from a controlling streak. He treats Sasuke’s future as something he can arrange: reforming him with Kotoamatsukami, giving him Itachi’s eyes, and returning him to Konoha as a defender. Sasuke identifies this as Itachi’s central flaw—mistaking control for protection and refusing to regard him as an independent person. 23 71

The collapse of Konoha and Sasuke’s vengeance force Itachi into prolonged self-doubt. He gradually recognizes that “greater good” reasoning has no natural endpoint without moral limits, and that his confidence in his own judgment may have helped create the catastrophe he sought to prevent. 53 77 113

Abilities & Skills

Mangekyō Sharingan and Genjutsu

Itachi is an exceptionally skilled genjutsu user, capable of infiltrating Peace Capital under powerful illusion techniques and misleading opponents through crow-based transformations. 72 136

• Uses Tsukuyomi to trap targets in a mental illusion. 73 82
• Can transform into a flock of crows to evade attacks and reposition. 83 136
• His Tsukuyomi attempt against Fugaku was interrupted when Mikoto physically struck him. 73
• His deteriorating vision limits sustained use of Mangekyō techniques while alive. 72 75

Amaterasu

Itachi manifests black flames capable of rapidly turning a battlefield into a lethal killing zone. 82 83

• Used against the Konoha remnants while under Sasuke’s control. 82
• The flames can ignite chakra-generated water as well as living targets. 82
• Jiraiya’s Fire Sealing Method can contain the flames, though it requires preparation time. 83

Susanoo

Itachi can manifest a massive red skeletal Susanoo equipped with spiritual armaments. 74

• Totsuka Blade — Seals anyone it pierces inside a dreamlike genjutsu space. Itachi uses it to seal Fugaku and Mikoto’s reanimated forms. 74
• Yata Mirror — A defensive shield wielded by Susanoo. 74
• The mirror and Susanoo can be overwhelmed: a mist giant’s corrosive blade destroys the Yata Mirror and breaks apart the construct. 74 75

Kotoamatsukami

Itachi keeps Kotoamatsukami as his intended solution for forcibly reforming Sasuke. 70 71

• Activated through a summoned crow to impose goodwill toward “Konoha.” 77
• Sasuke evades the intended effect by naming an orange kitten “Konoha,” redirecting the command toward the animal. 77
• The failure demonstrates that the technique’s rigid wording can be circumvented through flexible interpretation. 77

Reanimated and Earthbound States

After dying in Peace Capital, Itachi is revived through Impure World Reincarnation using Kisame as the ritual sacrifice. 75 76

• His reanimated body is free of his prior illness and failing eyesight. 76
• Sasuke controls him with a talisman-engraved kunai placed inside his body. 77
• While controlled, he is forced to hunt Konoha loyalists and massacre shinobi with Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu. 77 82
• Sasuke later makes him an Earthbound Spirit able to roam all of ruined Konoha without needing food. 113

Relationships

• Sasuke Uchiha — Younger brother. Itachi massacres the Uchiha believing it will secure Sasuke’s future, then attempts to dictate his redemption through Kotoamatsukami and a planned eye transplant. Their relationship ultimately reverses when Sasuke resurrects and commands him. 53 71 76 77
• Kisame Hoshigaki — Akatsuki partner and frequent traveling companion. Kisame’s blunt observations deepen Itachi’s doubts, and he remains loyal enough to try recovering Itachi’s corpse before Sasuke sacrifices him to revive Itachi. 20 74 76
• Fugaku Uchiha — Father. Itachi kills him during the massacre, then is forced to confront and seal his reanimated form a second time. 53 72 74
• Mikoto Uchiha — Mother. Her apparent disappointment and accusations destabilize Itachi more deeply than physical combat. 72 73 74
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Secret ally during the assault on Peace Capital. Both intend to remove Sasuke, though Hiruzen later discovers that Sasuke is controlling Itachi’s reanimated body. 70 83
• Shisui Uchiha — Older-brother figure and fellow peace-seeker. Shisui’s disappearance and death remain central to Itachi’s later regret over the Uchiha tragedy. 113 143

Story Role

Uchiha Massacre and Akatsuki Exile

After exterminating his clan, Itachi leaves Konoha and enters Akatsuki. While traveling with Kisame, he observes civilian poverty and Konoha’s worsening instability, causing the first serious cracks in his certainty that the massacre served peace. 1 20

When Sasuke destroys Konoha, Itachi’s two defining pillars—Konoha and Sasuke—collapse at once. He realizes that endlessly expanding “greater good” arguments can rationalize any atrocity. 53

Peace Capital Operation

Itachi secretly allies with Hiruzen to attack Peace Capital. He intends to neutralize Sasuke with Kotoamatsukami, transfer his own eyes to him, and return him to Konoha as an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan wielder. 70 71

Sasuke anticipates his arrival and weaponizes Fugaku and Mikoto’s souls against him. Itachi seals his parents with the Totsuka Blade, only to be severely weakened when a mist giant destroys his Susanoo’s defenses. 72 74

Unable to accept Sasuke’s transformation, Itachi convinces himself that Orochimaru has possessed him. Sasuke exploits this denial, overwhelms Itachi with Decaying Mist, and leaves him to die from exhaustion and injuries. 75

Sasuke’s Controlled Weapon

Sasuke revives Itachi through Impure World Reincarnation, using Kisame as the sacrifice. He then implants a control talisman and orders Itachi to hunt Konoha loyalists as atonement. 76 77

Disguised as a living person, the controlled Itachi massacres Konoha remnants with Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu. Hiruzen recognizes the reanimation, and Konoha’s surviving forces eventually subdue and seal the body. 82 83 85

Earthbound Spirit

After the destruction of the Shinobi World, Sasuke binds Itachi’s soul to Konoha as an Earthbound Spirit. Itachi becomes the keeper of the Uchiha cemetery, spending his isolation re-evaluating the massacre, Konoha’s leadership, Shisui’s death, and his own arrogance. 113

At Naka Shrine, he examines the Uchiha stone tablet with his Mangekyō Sharingan, apparently discovers an unrevealed truth about the Shinobi World, and responds with hysterical laughter that “everything is fake.” 113

Former Uchiha Compound Duel

In a later depicted confrontation at the former Uchiha compound, Itachi again battles Sasuke. Sasuke exposes Itachi’s plan to manipulate his life and obtain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, leaving Itachi unable to maintain confidence in his carefully prepared script before a mysterious white light interrupts the duel. 136

Notable Quotes

“To me, your eyes are my light!” 136

“I’m sorry...” 74

Trivia

• Sasuke removes Itachi from the Uchiha clan register after Konoha’s fall, leaving him officially without the Uchiha surname. 52
• Even while controlled as a reanimated weapon, Itachi retains enough conscience to feel horror at the slaughter he is forced to commit. 82