Itachi

Biodata

Power Progression

The early combat manifestations below occur in a recreated memory Instance, not a new battle in Itachi’s actual life 199 216.

Background / History

Itachi awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan after witnessing the death of his close friend Shisui. He later killed his clansmen, including his parents, during the Uchiha Clan Massacre. The massacre followed the clan’s plans for a coup and pressure from Konoha’s leadership, forcing him to choose between the village and his clan 326 495 501.

His agreement with Konoha required that Sasuke survive and remain under the village’s protection. In return, Sasuke had to remain ignorant of the truth and hold no hatred toward Konoha. Itachi reinforced that bargain by threatening to expose the village’s intelligence if its leaders harmed his brother 198 501 513.

After leaving Konoha, Itachi cultivated the image of a merciless older brother whom Sasuke should hate and eventually kill. His intended final gift was his own Mangekyō Sharingan, allowing Sasuke to obtain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan rather than lose his sight 259 344 500 501.

Personality

Itachi conceals his affection behind coldness, intimidation, and calculated cruelty. When reunited with Sasuke, he privately recognizes his brother’s progress while openly calling him disappointing and weak. He deliberately provokes Sasuke’s hatred to accelerate his growth, believing that withholding the massacre’s truth is necessary to keep him alive 199 259 260.

Sasuke is also the clearest weakness in Itachi’s composure. Shinji’s threats to mistreat him provoke immediate attacks and eventually force Itachi into an intelligence-sharing agreement. Even a mission can become secondary when Itachi has an opportunity to check on his brother 259 261 262.

In combat, Itachi is observant, adaptable, and willing to exploit an opponent’s assumptions rather than rely solely on overwhelming techniques. He changes tactics when genjutsu fails, prepares traps while fighting, and uses Sasuke’s expectation of another clone to create an opening with his real body 200 497.

Abilities & Skills

Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan

Itachi’s ocular abilities support both perception and powerful offensive techniques 200 268.

• Tracks Shinji’s accelerated movements closely enough to prepare counters during the memory Instance 200.
• Briefly disrupts Moqian’s control of her body through direct eye contact, although she recovers quickly 268.
• Possesses Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and Susanoo 200 201.
• Suffers worsening eyesight and physical strain from repeated use; by his final meeting with Sasuke, his vision is nearly gone 262 493 494.

Genjutsu and Tsukuyomi

Genjutsu is identified as Itachi’s greatest offensive strength, although his other combat disciplines are also highly developed 199.

• Uses layered illusions to make exchanges appear real while remaining physically motionless 495.
• Employs Genjutsu: Bubbles, Genjutsu: Will-o’-the-Wisp, and Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique in the memory Instance 200.
• Uses Tsukuyomi to overwhelm Sasuke and briefly restrain Moqian 260 268.
• Can deliver genjutsu through a crow’s red eyes, catching Jiraiya after an apparently successful prisoner exchange 395.
• Suffers backlash when Tsukuyomi is broken or reflected. The Sharingan Wraith Soul turns the technique against him during separate encounters with Shinji and Sasuke 261 262 495 497.

Amaterasu

Itachi’s right Mangekyō Sharingan produces black flames capable of burning targets protected against ordinary attacks 201 262.

• Defeats the Six-Tails with Amaterasu and extinguishes the flames after the jinchūriki loses consciousness 493.
• Forces Moqian to sacrifice an octopus tail through Severed Tail Rebirth to escape the burning 268.
• Causes bloody tears, eye pain, and further damage to his deteriorating vision 262 493.
• Is countered by the Sharingan Wraith Soul’s absorption effect, but only for ten seconds. Itachi stops attacking before discovering that limit 262.
• Can be escaped by shedding the burning outer body, as Sasuke demonstrates with an Orochimaru-style substitution 499.

Susanoo

Itachi manifests an orange-red Susanoo, ranging from a compact defensive shell to a heavily armored standing form 200 498.

• Uses skeletal arms and fists for large-area attacks 200.
• Shields both himself and Shinji from Moqian’s acid, though even its armored surface corrodes 268.
• Blocks a surprise strike from Sasuke’s remotely controlled Kusanagi Sword 498.
• Overwhelms Sasuke’s initial-stage Susanoo, severing its head and later shattering it outright 499 500.
• Is not an absolute defense: Shinji’s Ratio Technique cuts through it, while Sasuke’s strengthened black flames begin melting its complete form 200 499.

Crow Clones and Substitution

Crow-based deception is one of Itachi’s specialties 260.

• Disperses into crows when apparently struck, denying opponents a clean hit 260 268.
• Combines clones, substitution, and low-level genjutsu to defeat Sasuke without initially needing stronger techniques 260.
• Uses repeated decoys to condition Sasuke into doubting whether an exposed target is real 495 497.

Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Weapons

Itachi is a well-rounded fighter whose skill extends beyond ocular techniques 199.

• Uses Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, including one-handed hand seals concealed from Sasuke’s attention 199 497.
• Combines flames and hidden shuriken through Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson 200.
• Fights effectively with kunai and Uchiha-style taijutsu, matching Sasuke’s close-range attacks despite his failing health 497.
• Sets a concealed explosive-tag trap during the memory battle and detonates it as Shinji breaches Susanoo 200.

Protective Contingencies

Itachi leaves a crow carrying Shisui’s other Sharingan hidden within Sasuke 519.

• The crow activates when Danzō uses Kotoamatsukami on Sasuke 519.
• Its own Kotoamatsukami breaks Danzō’s control and replaces his command with another 519 522.
• Danzō recognizes the intervention as evidence that Itachi anticipated his attempt to control Sasuke 519.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Totsuka Blade — A spiritual weapon wielded by Susanoo, combining powerful attacks with a sealing ability 498 500.
• Yata Mirror — A red, round spiritual shield possessing every nature transformation. It changes its attributes to nullify incoming attacks and stops Sasuke’s final black-flame arrow without visible damage 500.
• Kunai — Used for throwing, close combat, and tactical counters. During his final duel, Itachi specifically uses unpoisoned kunai against Sasuke 199 497.
• Shuriken, steel wire, and explosive tags — Support concealed attacks and traps 200.
• Konoha rogue-ninja forehead protector — Recognized by Jiraiya during their confrontation 393.

Relationships

• Sasuke Uchiha — Younger brother and the central concern behind Itachi’s plans. Itachi wants Sasuke to survive, grow strong enough to kill him, and inherit his eyes, but refuses to reveal the massacre’s truth even before dying 259 495 500 501.
• Kisame — Trusted Akatsuki partner. Itachi exchanges Naruto to recover the captured Kisame; Kisame later agrees to prevent interference with his meeting with Sasuke and fiercely defends his memory after his death 395 493 502.
• Akagi Shinji — Adversary turned reluctant intelligence contact. Shinji uses Sasuke as leverage to secure cooperation, but Itachi’s reports remain relatively insignificant until he requests the final meeting with his brother 262 494.
• Shisui Uchiha — Close friend whose death triggers Itachi’s Mangekyō awakening. Shisui’s remaining eye later becomes part of Itachi’s safeguard for Sasuke 326 519.
• Konoha High Command — Parties to his bargain over Sasuke’s survival. Koharu and Homura later admit that his threat to disclose village intelligence prevented them from eliminating Sasuke 198 513.
• Danzō — A threat to Sasuke whom Itachi anticipates even beyond his death, preparing a counter to his use of Kotoamatsukami 201 519.
• Deidara — An Akatsuki colleague determined to prove himself against Itachi; develops C4 Karura specifically to kill him and resents losing the opportunity 502.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Akatsuki Activity

• Kisame reports that a blind opponent escaped their attacks after Itachi’s genjutsu failed. The report contributes to Akatsuki’s discussion of emerging threats 89.
• Itachi and Kisame continue taking assignments, including a mission on the western border of the Land of Fire 256.

Uchiha Wraith Instance

• Shinji enters a recreation of massacre night and interrupts Itachi’s confrontation with the young Sasuke 198 199.
• A system-granted immunity makes Shinji unaffected by genjutsu while Sasuke remains conscious, defeating the recreated Itachi’s usual advantage 200.
• After surviving Itachi’s explosive trap, Shinji defeats him inside Domain Expansion: Blood-Red Doomsday by draining his blood 201.
• This death occurs only within the Instance. The real Itachi remains alive; Sasuke later experiences memories of the recreated encounter as dreams 216.

Reunion with Sasuke and Shinji

• Itachi secretly visits Sasuke to assess his growth and check whether Konoha has honored its promise. He resumes his cruel persona and defeats him with Tsukuyomi 259 260.
• Shinji draws Itachi into using Tsukuyomi, then reflects it with the Sharingan Wraith Soul. Inside the reversed illusion, Shinji recreates Konoha and builds a Gundam instead of torturing him 261 262.
• With Sasuke’s safety and knowledge of the truth used as leverage, Itachi agrees to pass intelligence to Shinji rather than join the Jashin Cult 262.
• Itachi later cooperates with Shinji against Moqian, but limits his ocular expenditure to preserve his remaining sight and strength for Sasuke 267 268 269.
• His report about Jashin Cult recruitment benefits subsequently contributes to dissatisfaction during an Akatsuki meeting 356.

Pursuit of Naruto

• Itachi and Kisame intercept Naruto and Jiraiya, demanding that Jiraiya surrender the Nine-Tails jinchūriki 393.
• After Jiraiya captures Kisame, Itachi returns with an unconscious Naruto and exchanges prisoners. A concealed crow then catches Jiraiya in genjutsu as Susanoo prepares to attack 395.
• The attempt ultimately fails, and Jiraiya escapes with Naruto. The battle accelerates Itachi’s physical decline 493 494.

Final Battle and Death

• After subduing the Six-Tails, Itachi leaves Kisame and asks Shinji to bring Sasuke to a private meeting 493 494.
• Despite terminal illness and near-blindness, he repeatedly outmaneuvers Sasuke, turning the fight into lessons about distraction, deception, and remaining alert 497 498.
• He reveals his complete Susanoo and continues pretending that he intends to take Sasuke’s eyes for himself 498 499.
• After defeating Sasuke, he touches his forehead, apologizes, declares his enduring love, and dies against him 500.

Posthumous Legacy

• Shinji reveals the massacre’s truth. Sasuke removes Itachi’s eyes for safekeeping and personally buries him 501.
• The eyes are later transplanted successfully, granting Sasuke the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, stronger ocular power, and freedom from progressive blindness 505.
• Sasuke targets the Konoha leaders responsible for the massacre rather than accepting Itachi’s wish that he protect the village 501 513 517.
• Itachi’s hidden crow protects Sasuke from Danzō’s Kotoamatsukami after his death 519 522.

Notable Quotes

“Until your enemy has lost the ability to fight, you must remain on full alert, because people are at their most terrifying when they strike back on the brink of death!” 497

“Forgive me, Sasuke.”
“This is the last time.”
“No matter what path you take from now on, I will always love you deeply.” 500