Itachi Uchiha

is a missing-nin from Konohagakure and is partnered with Kisame Hoshigaki. He is one of only 3 surviving members of the Uchiha clan.

can also mean weasel. To some degree of Japanese belief, weasels are considered a harbinger, often signifying ill fortune. His surname, Uchiha, is another way of pronouncing uchiwa, or a paper fan, which is actually the Uchiha clan symbol. An uchiwa can be used to fan flames, making the flame hotter, referring to the fact that the Uchiha is a clan of fire-jutsu users.

Itachi is relatively popular among many fans of Naruto, often having ranked in the top ten in Shonen Jump magazine's popularity polls since his introduction. He was first ranked in the third character popularity poll ranked in 11th place. He was ranked 9th place during the fourth popularity poll, and 6th place in the fifth popularity poll. During the sixth, most recent popularity poll, he again was ranked in 11th place.

History
Itachi has been considered a genius since a young age, graduating at the top of his Academy class at age 7, mastering the Sharingan by age 8, becoming a Chunin at age 10, and a squadron leader of the ANBU at age 13. These accomplishments led the members of the Uchiha clan to think of Itachi as the clan's strongest member and, in turn, the clan's future. Itachi's father, Fugaku Uchiha, was the biggest proponent of this idea and focused much of his effort into bettering Itachi's career and status within Konoha.

Because of his focused attention on Itachi, Fugaku paid little attention to his other son, Sasuke Uchiha. As a result of the neglect he felt, Sasuke did all in his power to win his father's attention, which largely came in the form of trying to outdo Itachi. To help him achieve this goal Sasuke would frequently ask Itachi to help him train, and while his older brother agreed and occasionally took Sasuke with him to train, he never took the time or interest to truly train Sasuke. Despite this, Itachi did force their father to spend time with Sasuke by refusing to carry out his other tasks unless his father complied. While Fugaku did so, much of the time he spent with Sasuke was still focused around Itachi, and Sasuke continued to desire his father's attention.

Approximately six months after joining the ANBU, Itachi's standing within the clan began to falter. In addition to no longer doing the things he was assigned to do, Itachi became a prime suspect in the death of Shisui Uchiha. While Shisui was a good friend of Itachi and appeared to have committed suicide, the clan's older members began to suspect the suicide was faked and that Itachi killed Shisui. In response to these claims, Itachi attacked the investigation team and easily defeated them under the guise of losing faith in the clan. After being confronted by his father he apologized, though the damage had been done. From that point forth Fugaku's relationship with Itachi became estranged, and Fugaku spent his time training Sasuke in an attempt to steer him away from following in Itachi's footsteps.

Not long afterwards, Sasuke returned home one day to find all the members of his clan dead and Itachi standing over the bodies of their parents, explaining to have killed them "to test his ability". Claiming that he had never loved Sasuke and had only pretended to fit the role of a caring brother, Itachi decided that Sasuke was not worth killing. Before leaving he encouraged Sasuke to live a life of hate and get strong enough to defeat him and avenge the clan. To help in this regard, Itachi told Sasuke of how to gain the Mangekyo Sharingan: one must simply kill his or her closest friend, just as he had done to Shisui Uchiha. Itachi also revealed to Sasuke the location of the clan's secret meeting hall, within it is a tapestry that reveals the truth of the Sharingan.

At some point in time Itachi joined the organization Akatsuki and was partnered with Kisame Hoshigaki. While it stands to reason that he joined after massacring the Uchiha clan, the timeline that has been given throughout the series (coupled with his age) strongly suggests that he joined the organization prior to killing his clan. As a result, the exact time at which Itachi joined is as of yet uncertain. After joining Akatsuki, Itachi was confronted by Orochimaru who attempted to steal his body for his own use. With his Sharingan, Itachi was able to negate Orochimaru's efforts and sever his left hand, forcing him to flee the organization. He later proves instrumental in recruiting Deidara to Akatsuki, forcing him to join by defeating him in battle.

Personality
Itachi is a relatively mysterious character, and rarely becomes troubled by anything, finding the goings on in the world around him to be of little significance. He only does things that he deems are important to him, and does nothing out of impulse. According to the Naruto databooks, Itachi has a "smart and cold" personality, and knows what he wants and does whatever it takes to achieve his goals.

When put into a battle situation he dislikes wasting time or making the fight more complicated than necessary, instead finishing it or accomplishing his business as soon as possible. During the battle itself he finds little interest in his opponent, instead regarding them as a mere inconvenience.

Itachi's only noticeable interest is in Akatsuki's goals and his only loyalty is to the organization and its members, putting the organization's success and secrecy before everything else. As such, Itachi gets along with his partner, Kisame, much better than most other Akatsuki members do with their own partners. Kisame, in fact, has a deep loyalty to Itachi, immediately doing as he instructs and constantly looking out for his well-being. Itachi treats all of his fellow Akatsuki members to this same, more respectful personality, though his courtesy is rarely returned by the other members.

Abilities
In the few battles he has been seen in, Itachi has done little in terms of fighting, primarily remaining stationary and only attacking in defense. This tactic is made particularly easy with his Sharingan, which allows him to properly assess an opponent's actions and respond accordingly. When faced with a Genjutsu, Itachi can use his Sharingan to perform and turn the genjutsu against its user. His prowess with genjutsu is one of his few recurring abilities, and he can catch someone in an illusion by merely pointing at them.

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan enables him to use some of the Uchiha clan's most powerful techniques. With Tsukuyomi, he can trap an opponent in an illusionary world where he can seem to torture them for days on end in only a matter of seconds. Amaterasu allows him to create a black flame that is capable of burning through the strongest of materials. Despite his mastery of the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi seems to be falling prey to its side effects. In addition to being left fatigued after each usage, it has been suggested that his eyesight is getting increasingly worse as well.

In terms of standard Ninjutsu, Itachi can create shadow clones to carry out the close-combat that he seems to avoid. These clones can also be commanded to explode with, which is easily capable of killing those caught in the blast. As a member of the Uchiha clan he can perform "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique" to catch opponents in a blast of fire, and in the anime can breathe multiple fireballs with. With he can also catch unwary targets in a circle of crushing water.

Itachi is also noted to be very fast with his techniques and movements, as Kakashi Hatake experienced during their first confrontation in Part I.

Return of Itachi arc
Itachi is first introduced alongside Kisame during a mission to kidnap Naruto Uzumaki, commenting about the damage done to Konoha by Orochimaru's invasion. When Kisame responds by asking Itachi if he still has any feelings left for his village, Itachi claims he has none left at all. The two, before searching for Naruto, quickly stop for tea due to a suggestion by Kisame. While there, however, their uncommon clothes draw the attention of Kakashi Hatake, who has Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi follow Itachi and Kisame. Itachi and Kisame nearly manage to escape Konoha, though Asuma and Kurenai catch up to them in time.

After the two reveal their identities, Itachi and Kisame are quick to battle Asuma and Kurenai after they refuse to leave unharmed. Despite their high ranks of Jonin, Asuma and Kurenai stand little chance to the two Akatsuki members and are almost immediately killed, though the arrival of Kakashi, who had gotten worried, manages to keep Asuma and Kurenai from receiving any major damage, however. After a short skirmish with Kakashi, Itachi activates his Mangekyo Sharingan, which manages to exhaust Kakashi. After Kakashi reveals he has knowledge of Akatsuki, Itachi orders Kisame to kidnap Kakashi and kill Asuma and Kurenai, though Might Guy shows up within enough time to stop Kisame. After Guy reveals he ordered ANBU to send other teams to help defeat Itachi and Kisame, the two Akatsuki retreat, not wanting to start a war.

Itachi and Kisame then continue searching for Naruto, though trouble arrises when Jiraiya takes Naruto to search for Tsunade. While at first they worry about the possibility of having to battle Jiraiya, Itachi uses a Genjutsu on a pretty woman to seduce Jiraiya into leaving Naruto alone in a hotel. Taking the chance, Itachi and Kisame confront Naruto, though at the very same moment Sasuke Uchiha, Itachi's younger brother, immediately arrives to defend Naruto and seek revenge on his brother. Itachi manages to handle his brother with ease while Kisame keeps Naruto watched, though Jiraiya arrives in time to save the two boys, having not falled for the hypnotized woman's charm.

Jiraiya immediately asks Itachi and Kisame if their real goal is kidnapping Naruto, to which they agree with. Though Jiraiya wishes to fight them himself and prevent others from getting hurt, he honors Sasuke's feelings and allows him to fight Itachi. Itachi, however, only proves Jiraiya wrong to let Sasuke fight by using his Mangekyo Sharingan on his younger brother to land the finishing blow. Jiraiya barely saves Sasuke in time using the Toad Mouth Trap, which transforms the entire hotel hallway into a toad's belly to trap Itachi and Kisame. Itachi and Kisame retreat immediately, though not before Itachi further manipulates his brother by revealing to him why he lost: lack of strong hatred. After leaving, Itachi and Kisame rest, exhausted from their battles, before returning to Akatsuki headquarters to announce their defeat.

Sasuke Retrieval arc
While not making a physical appearance in this arc, Itachi does appear in the form of a hologram during a meeting in Akatsuki's Land of the River headquarters. When asked by Sasori about Sasuke, Itachi remains silent, though Deidara interrupts by telling the two not to worry about Sasuke.

Rescue Gaara arc
Itachi makes his Part II introduction as a clone created by Pain using the body of Yura to distract Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura Haruno, and Chiyo, who are attempting to rescue Gaara. The clone is quick to overwhelm the team with combinations of Genjutsu and Ninjutsu. Kakashi, however, cleverly uses a shadow clone to bind Itachi long enough for Naruto to destroy the clone.

Current arc
Following Kisame's capture of the Four-Tailed beast, Itachi and Kisame have a conversation about the order in which the Tailed Beasts must be put into the sealing statue. During the proceeding meeting to seal the Four-Tailed beast, Itachi and Kisame are educated with information that Sasuke started a team of Orochimaru's former agents to defeat Akatsuki. Following the death of Deidara, Itachi is told by Zetsu that Sasuke died by Deidara's finishing blow, though Itachi reveals to Kisame that he knew this was not true.

Itachi then chooses to send a shadow clone to visit Naruto, who is hunting Sasuke. Though claiming he wishes only to talk, Itachi easily destroys shadow clones Naruto uses to attack him. Whether or not Itachi manages to tell Naruto what he wanted in unknown, as after this the chapter shows the progress of Sasuke. Itachi's clone then leaves while another visits Sasuke, claiming to want to have a final battle between the two. Sasuke quickly destroy Itachi's clone, though not before it tells Sasuke of where they shall have their actual final confrontation: the former Uchiha clan headquarters.

Itachi then patiently waits there for Sasuke, while having Kisame look out for any of Sasuke's teamates wishing to fight him. When Sasuke finally arrives, Itachi asks Sasuke what his Sharingan can see, to which Sasuke responds with the image of himself killing Itachi.