Masashi Kishimoto deserves praise for the Naruto series’ mind-boggling world-building, captivating an entire generation of fanbase for decades. Throughout the series, the mangaka enthralls fans with many emotional moments, not to forget the epic clash between the Uchiha brothers that viewers anticipated for years. Witnessing the massacre of the entire Uchiha clan by his idolized big brother, Itachi, shaped Sasuke Uchiha’s path for revenge.
Through his characters, Kishimoto wanted to sketch out the complexities between good and evil. Furthermore, Itachi Uchiha exemplifies this as the mangaka seems to highlight his own beliefs through Itachi’s character. As viewers discover more about his past, Itachi Uchiha’s complex character and his noble sacrifices sympathized most with the Naruto fandom.
Itachi Uchiha: The Villain Whose Heroic Deeds Redefined Him in the Naruto Series
Despite enduring immense trauma, Itachi never lost his moral compass, which stands him out from the rest. Not to mention, most viewers blamed Itachi for the massacre and all the bloodshed of the Uchiha clan. Before the revelation, Masashi Kishimoto portrayed his actions as an act of greed to unlock his Sharingan’s true potential.
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However, Itachi’s unwavering resolve for Hidden Leaf Village’s safety was only disclosed later. In the classic Naruto series, Kishimoto showcased Itachi as a cold-hearted villain responsible for the massacre of his entire clan. Itachi’s intentions behind the mass slaughter revealed later changed the perception of many fans.
Indeed, after learning the truth about Itachi’s resolve, many fans started defending his actions online. Furthermore, with all the empathy, Itachi quickly became one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in the anime community.
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Unlike other antagonists, Itachi never wavered from his sense of justice and commitment to peace. Furthermore, we can’t overlook his resolve and sacrifice to protect the village and his loved ones. While characters like Madara, Pain, and Obito always considered their actions justifiable, Itachi only focused on protecting the innocents.
Even after being branded a traitor, Itachi inflated Akatsuki and continued to work in the shadows as a Hidden Leaf Village spy. Kishimoto never portrayed Itachi as imposing his own sense of justice and always depicted him as a selfless individual ensuring his brother and the village’s safety.
In order to leave a jaw-dropping image with Itachi’s spy revelation, Kishimoto showcased him as a cold-hearted antagonist, throughout the series. This helped the mangaka to leave an impression of mystery on his audience. Throughout the series, Itachi is only seen as an emotionless individual and a member of the most feared criminal organization, Akatsuki.
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However, Itachi went through his fair share of emotional moments, especially when he was assigned to the massacre of his entire clan. The only time viewers witnessed Itachi struggling with his resolve was during the slaughter of his parents. This emotional breakdown scene captivated a lot of viewers and sympathized many with Itachi’s character.
Did Masashi Kishimoto Rely Too Much on Itachi Uchiha’s Sharingan?
Itachi Uchiha is considered one of the strongest characters in the series because of his immense powerful eye combat abilities. Through his character, Kishimoto highlights the power of Mangekyo Sharingan, a potent Dojutsu that grants its users incredible abilities like Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and Susanoo.
Owing to his clever usage of Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi quickly became one of the most feared characters in the Naruto series. Although some fans believed that Kishimoto’s narrative added more depth to the character, many argue the mangaka made Itachi highly reliant on his Sharingan.
Despite the criticism, Itachi became one of the most beloved characters because of his sacrifices and moral deeds. Itachi’s evil deeds, followed by his spy revelation for the Hidden Leaf Village, only left the entire Naruto fandom dumbfounded.
You can watch Naruto on Crunchyroll.