Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-26403664-20160228225013/@comment-26773508-20160316023628

@Tasuxeda: Correct me if I'm wrong, but Itachi used Explosive Clone Technique against Kakashi & co. in Part 1. He used the Crow Clone technique in his fight against Sasuke and also later with SM Kabuto. I don't quite remember if the exploding clones is manga-only or not, but the crow clone technique is virtually the same as Shadow Clone technique, with the Shadow Clone being the generic technique, and the Crow Clone, Water Clone (Zabuza), Sand Clone (Gaara), Lightning Clone (Kakashi), Wood Clone (Hashirama), etc. being variants of the basic Shadow Clone technique.

So there's no question about either of the issues you raised here. Itachi had the Clone Technique, as the manga shows (and was a compulsory requirement for graduating the Academy), and he has no PS, because he lacks the prerequisites required for PS (which is strongly hinted in the manga).

Thekillman wrote: Itachi's overrated depending on who you ask. I honestly don't really see the "overhype", to me the Manga was always pretty fair with his strength. Itachi was never overhyped in the manga. It's his dumbass fanboys that overhype him. Just like Batman, as Uchihamasters suggests. Both Batman and Itachi are super cool, and I enjoy watching Batman than any other heroes. But the fanboys just can't stop jerking off to these characters.