Itachi Uchiha

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

can be translated as 'weasel'. To some degree of Japanese belief, weasels are considered a harbinger, often signifying ill fortune (possibly a reference to his murder of his family). 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 natural 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 believe Itachi as the clan's strongest member and, in turn, the most significant to the clan's future. Itachi's father, Fugaku Uchiha, was the strongest proponent of this idea and focused much of his effort into bettering Itachi's career and status within Konoha often to the exclusion of 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, largely in the form of trying to outdo his brother. To achieve this, Sasuke frequently requested his brothers aid in training. While Itachi agreed and occasionally took Sasuke with him to training sessions, he never took the time or interest dedicate to it fully. 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 deteriorate. This is presumably the result of his meeting and becoming a student under the founder of the Uchiha clan, Madara Uchiha, at some unknown point during that time. In addition to no longer completeing the tasks he was assigned to by his superiors, Itachi became a prime suspect in the apparent suicide of Shisui Uchiha, too whom he had been a close friend. The clan's older members began to suspect the suicide was faked and that Itachi was responsible. When openly confronted by these claims, Itachi attacked the investigation team and easily defeated them, claiming to have lost faith in the clan. After being confronted by his father he apologized, but the damage had been done. From that point forth Fugaku's relationship with Itachi became estranged, and Fugaku spent his time training Sasuke, hoping 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. Claiming to have killed them "to test his capability", he declared that he had never loved Sasuke, had only pretended to fit the role of a caring brother, and decided that his brother was not worth killing. Before leaving he encouraged Sasuke to live a life of hatred and aquire enough power 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's power.

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. Despite Orochimaru's significant power, Itachi used his Sharingan to negate Orochimaru's efforts to steal his body and cut off his hand, forcing him to flee the organization to aquire a new body. He later proves instrumental in recruiting Deidara to Akatsuki, forcing him to join by easily defeating him in battle.

Personality
Itachi is a mysterious character, and often acts as though he is concealing his true self. While flashbacks to his past showed that at one time he seemed to be a compassionate brother, his later acts and claims reveal this was mostly just an act. When he openly challenged the clans ideas he showed some degree of anger but never lost his composure.

As a member of Akatsuki his personality is almost emotionless and possesses incredible self control. He only shows surprise when opponents prove more powerful or skilled than he expected, and even then it does not impede him. He does not display a typical villainous arrogance and any brags he makes regarding his power are often fully justified. However he does allow himself the occasional smile if his opponents match his expectations. Despite his status as a wanted criminal and having murdered a significant portion of his family, Itachi does not display any open enjoyment of violence or combat, instead prefers to avoid battle or, if it is unavoidable, end it as quickly as he can while exerting as little effort as possible.

Itachi only initial interest is in Akatsuki's goals and his only loyalty to be 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, and his courtesy is often returned by the other members.

However, during a genjutsu duel with Sasuke and describing the cruel methods the clan has employed over the years, he displays uncharacteristic passion, violently denouncing the clans former goals, calling Madara "a pathetic shell of his former existence" and claiming he alone is worthy of inheriting that power and status. Once that illusion is dispersed he describes it as his 'true self' implying even his emotionless persona is also a facade. This also proves he is willing to go to any lengths to acquire this power, willing to pluck out his brothers eyes to save his own power from fading.

Abilities
In the few battles he has been seen in, Itachi has proven to be an incredible opponent. He is a genjutsu master, most of his genjutsu being Sharingan based. When faced with a genjutsu, Itachi can use his Sharingan to dispel it or perform and turn the genjutsu against its user. Itachi is also very adept with standard genjutsu, and can trap others within an illusion by merely pointing or looking at them. as well as turning their own genjutsu against them. It's stated by Sasuke that Itachi's signature Sharingan genjutsu involves crows. Itachi is also noted to be very fast with his techniques and movements, as Kakashi Hatake experienced during their first confrontation in Part I..

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan enables him to use some of the Uchiha clan's most powerful techniques. With his left eye, he can use 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. With his right, he can use Amaterasu allows him to create a black flame that is capable of burning through the strongest of materials. His final trump card is Susano'o, an ability which manifests as a spectral being resembling a tengu surrounding his body. Its exact abilities are unknown at present but it has the ability to wield the Sword of Totsuka, a spectral sword with no physical existence and the ability to bind its victims into an eternal genjutsu. 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, his eyesight is worsening after every activation and he will eventually go blind from its power.

In terms of standard Ninjutsu, Itachi can create shadow clones to to perform jutsu for him and act as shields from attacks. 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 targets in a circle of crushing water.

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 fallen 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 uses the Amataratsu so he and Kisame can escape but the dojutsu leaves Itachi exhausted 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 Pein using the body of Yura to distract Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura Haruno, and Chiyo, who are attempting to rescue Gaara. The clone fights 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.

Itachi vs. Sasuke arc
Following Kisame's capture of the Four-Tailed beast, Itachi and Kisame have a conversation about the Tailed Beasts. 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. In the conversation Kisame mentions that it looks like Itachi is crying but that can't be certain since he was standing in the rain.

Itachi then chooses to send a clone to visit Naruto, who is hunting Sasuke. Though claiming he wishes only to talk, Itachi is forced to stop Naruto's attacks. 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 fights Itachi's clone, and it tells Sasuke of where they shall have their actual final confrontation, which is an Uchiha Hideout nearby.

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. They then have a short hand to hand fight, until Sasuke impales one of Itachi's Shadow Clones, with the real Itachi sitting back on the throne. Sasuke then apppears behind Itachi and asks who the third Uchiha survivor is. Itachi claims the Uchiha to be Madara Uchiha, and tells Madara's story. He reveals the "eternal" Mangekyo Sharingan can give a user immortality, but the user must take the eyes his or her sibling Uchiha, referring Sasuke as his "spare" set of eyes. The two begin to fight which ends with Itachi catches Sasuke in Tsukuyomi and appears to have taken his eyes. Sasuke however dispels the genjutsu. With little options left, Itachi uses Amaterasu. Sasuke however shields himself by shedding his skin similar to Orochimaru. Sasuke then prepared to use his Kirin, and attacked Itachi. However, Itachi survived using Susano to defend himself. Orochimaru then appeared to emerge from Sasuke and attacks, but was easily sealed in Susano's permanent genjutsu. Orochimaru is then seperated from Sasuke.

Quotes

 * "You're not even worth killing."
 * "Right now...I have no interest in you."
 * "You are weak. Why are you so weak? Because you lack...hatred."
 * "Foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me, and survive in an unsightly way. Run, run and cling to life. And one day, when you have the same eyes I do, come before me."