Itachi Uchiha has long been defined as one of the most tragic and complex characters of the Naruto Series. His decision to wipe out the whole Uchiha clan in order to prevent civil war and defend Konoha has always been seen as a noble sacrifice, while his undying love for his younger brother Sasuke adds layers to his enigma. However, as more years pass, fans are starting to see the loopholes in his plans, particularly when it comes to the consequences his actions had on Sasuke.
Itachi’s plan hinged on the idea that by making himself Sasuke’s greatest enemy, he could push his brother to grow stronger, which would ultimately result in Itachi’s death at Sasuke’s hands. At first glance, it sounds like an ultimate act of self-sacrifice. However, in reality, the scheme failed miserably, leading Sasuke down a depressing, hateful, and insane path that went far beyond Itachi’s original objective.
Itachi’s Flawed Strategy in Naruto
The moment Itachi slaughtered the whole Uchiha clan in Naruto, leaving just his younger brother unharmed, that was exactly when the seeds of Sasuke’s obsession with revenge were planted. Sasuke was forever changed by the horrible incident, and as a result, it gave him a strong desire to kill his brother and avenge his family.
A discussion thread was hosted on Reddit by user imgoodluvenjoy highlighting the cracks in Itachi Uchiha’s plan, and many users came up with interesting opinions. Among them, one comment from user vitamin-z particular stood out for its detailed analysis of Itachi’s plan’s intricacies.
Itachi’s goal was to push Sasuke towards vengeance, forcing him to grow stronger, honing his skills through hatred and the single-minded pursuit of revenge. Even years after the massacre, Itachi reappeared in Sasuke’s life to further fuel his brother’s hatred for him as he tormented Sasuke through the infamous Tsukuyomi. This psychological abuse only increased Sasuke’s resolve to kill his brother, ultimately leading him to leave the village and seek out Orochimaru.
When Sasuke believed he had finally completed his mission by killing Itachi, He got to face another heartbreaking truth that Itachi was never meant to be his adversary as his real intention was to protect Konoha from the Uchiha clan’s huge rebellion. This revelation shattered Sasuke even more, as he started to see the world as irreparably broken, full of systems and individuals that were responsible for his brother’s suffering.
As a result, Sasuke turned into a maniac eager to kill anybody who stood in his way out of grief and fury, totally opposite from what Itachi envisioned him to be. The plan would have only worked if no other villains existed in the story; Sasuke could kill Itachi and live in a world free of conflict. But the world of Naruto is far from that simple, and Itachi’s failure to recognize this is what ultimately doomed Sasuke to a life of misery.
Kakashi as Sasuke’s Mirror Version in Naruto
The parallels between Sasuke’s suffering and Kakashi’s tragic past in the Naruto series add yet another layer of depth to this story. Though in a different way, Konoha’s actions caused Kakashi to similarly suffer a great loss. Renowned ninja Sakumo Hatake, the father of Kakashi, took his own life when Konoha humiliated him for choosing the right course of action while on a mission. Sakumo was left shattered by the people’s criticism, and Kakashi was left to deal with both his passing and the indifference of the villagers.
In addition to this, Kakashi also had to deal with his teammates’, Obito and Rin’s death as well as the tragic demise of his sensei, Minato Namikaze. Despite this, Kakashi had managed to break through the world of hatred and keep his sanity intact. These experiences allowed Kakashi to understand Sasuke’s pain on a deeper level, giving him a unique perspective on Sasuke’s descent into darkness. But their vital connection was broken once Itachi appeared again in Sasuke’s life.
Itachi was undeniably brilliant, but his plan to save Sasuke was deeply flawed from the start. Konoha’s politics, the appearance of new enemies, and the complexity of human emotions made it impossible for his plan to work as he intended. Itachi’s genius was most likely undermined by his own guilt and desire for punishment. His self-hatred blinded him to the consequences of his actions on Sasuke. Rather than saving his brother, Itachi had turned him into a broken individual obsessed with power and revenge.
Naruto: Shippuden is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
