Naruto‘s Itachi Uchiha was a child prodigy, turned rogue ninja, turned villain, turned hero. While his skills were unparalleled, his many titles summed up everything but who he really was – a man who loved his brother more than anything. Born to the infamous Uchiha Clan, Itachi was surrounded by violent and corrupted minds. Like his best friend Shisui Uchiha, Itachi was a pacifist and wished to avoid war if possible. When the Uchiha Clan planned a coup to take over the Leaf Village, Itachi sided with the Leaf Village and executed his entire clan – except for his younger brother Sasuke.
The Third Hokage and the village elders not only knew about Itachi’s devastating plan, but they also supported it. However, they decided it would be better if they operated as if they had no knowledge of the event and branded Itachi a murderer. Itachi spent the rest of his life protecting his brother the best way he could, he kept him at arm’s length and provided him with the motivation he needed to grow. While Itachi’s methods may have been unfavorable, he worked tirelessly to do what he felt was right.
Updated On May 29, 2023 by Xandalee Joseph: Itachi Uchiha is one of the most popular characters in Naruto. As Naruto fans continue to watch the beloved series on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Hulu, they undoubtedly revisit their favorites moments with the infamous Uchiha member. We’ve updated this list with more of Itachi Uchiha’s best quotes.
“You Will Become A Rival To Measure My Vessel Against.”
You will become a rival for me to measure my vessel against… you have that hidden potential. That is why I’m allowing you to live. For my sake.
Before fans knew the truth, this quote was part of one of the most heartbreaking and bone chilling moments in the series. After Sasuke finds his entire village slaughtered he encounters his brother, and is in complete disbelief. While Sasuke tries to wrap his head around what is happening, Itachi tells him that the only reason he lets him live is because he will awaken his Mangekyo Sharigan by killing his closest friend. He then tells him that if he wishes to kill him, he should resent and hate him and survive in obscurity. Itachi convinces his brother that he only sees him as a tool to test his strength against one day because they both have a unique ability. He plants a seed of hatred that defines Sasuke for almost the entire series.
“It’s A Fact That Ninja Go Through Life Being Hated.”
You probably hate me, huh? It’s alright… It’s a fact that ninja go through life being hated. If you have power you become alienated and also arrogant.
Itachi is put under a lot of pressure throughout his life. This pressure becomes especially heavy when the Uchiha Clan prepares to launch their coup against Konoha. The village leaders want to know if Itachi made a decision while his father makes it clear that he serves as the Clan’s “pipeline to the Village nerve center” – meaning Itachi is the key to their plan. All of his obligations and conflicting titles keep Itachi from spending time with Sasuke. In one of their rare moments alone together, Itachi asserts that his brother probably hates him. Before a shocked Sasuke could respond, Itachi imparts some wisdom which obviously reflects his current position.
“Forgive Me Sasuke.”
Forgive Me Sasuke. Some Other Time, Okay?
As a child, Sasuke constantly wanted to spend time with his older brother. Itachi was a child prodigy and Sasuke wanted nothing more than to be trained by the brother he loved and respected. Unfortunately for Sasuke, Itachi was always too busy. Whenever Sasuke would ask to spend time with him, he would respond by poking him on the forehead and telling him “some other time.” While it seemed like Itachi didn’t care to spend time with Sasuke, fans later learn that Itachi distanced himself from Sasuke to protect him. In order to keep his brother from the burden he carried, Itachi sacrificed precious time with the person he loved most.
“You Just Don’t Have Enough.”
You Just Don’t Have Enough…No, You Lack It Completely…The Greed, For Human Life.
Even when Orochimaru was an Akatsuki member, his sinister goals were the same. Orochimaru wanted a powerful body he could inhabit. He naïvely made an attempt to attack Itachi one day and was quickly trapped in his Genjutsu. Itachi informed Orochimaru that his attacks were futile, and he could see through any jutsu he used. Itachi went on to state that he didn’t know what to do with him, but he could see that he had little regard for human life. As Itachi continued to berate Orochimaru he moved to deliver a fatal attack. If it wasn’t for Kabuto, Itachi would’ve added another impressive feat to his resume – killing a Legendary Sannin.
“Why Do You Care So Much About My Little Brother?”
Why Do You Care So Much About My Little Brother? He’s Merley A Missing-Nin now.
After spending time away training with Jiraiya, Naruto is prepared to fight Itachi when he sees him again. To his surprise, Itachi just wants to talk. He wants to know how much Naruto cares about Sasuke, and how far he would go to stop him.
In one of the rare moments that hints to Itachi’s good nature, Itachi smiles when Naruto declares he thinks of Sasuke as a brother, and that he will bring him home safely.
“You Are Weak.”
You Are Weak. And You Are Weak Because You Don’t Have Enough Hate.
Sasuke and Itachi come face to face for the first time after the Uchiha Masscre when Sasuke figures out his older brother is after Naruto. Sasuke throws out several rage filled attacks, but is ultimately severely beaten by Itachi. Not only does Itachi mercilessly beat his younger brother, but he also puts him in a Genjutsu that forces him to relive his clan’s murder.
Once Itachi puts Sasuke in a devastated state, he tells him he doesn’t have enough hatred to defeat him. While this looks like wicked treatment to Naruto, Kisame, and Jiraiya, in actuality Itachi is trying to motivate his brother the only way he can.
“I Have Given You Some Of My Powers.”
I have given you some of my powers. Though I hope that the day you will have to use them will never come.
During their conversation inside Itachi’s Genjutsu, Itachi forces one of his crows down Naruto‘s throat. He tells him that he’s giving him some of his power, but hopes that he doesn’t have to use it. This bizarre act doesn’t make sense until the beginning of the Fourth Shinobi War. After Kabuto uses the Reanimation Jutsu, Itachi, along with several other powerful deceased ninja, are forced to fight against their comrades. The crow inside Naruto contains Shisui’s eye. Itachi summons the crow and uses Shisui’s mind control dojutsu, Kotoamatsukami, to free himself from Kabuto’s control. Itachi intended for Naruto to use this technique if he was unable to convince Sasuke to abandon his quest for vengeance.
“So… You Couldn’t Kill The Friend Who Is Most Dear To You.”
So… you couldn’t kill the friend who is most dear to you. And you dared to appear before me with such weak resolve?”
Itachi gives Sasuke specific instructions for their inevitable confrontation. When Sasuke arrives at the Uchiha hideout, he doesn’t waste anytime when he sees his brother. He quickly attacks with his blade and issues his Chidori. This has no effect of course as Itachi’s Genjutsu is far superior. When Sasuke backs away to regroup, Itachi taunts Sasuke with the fact that he has yet to awaken his Mangekyo Sharigan. Itachi knows Naruto is Sasuke’s best friend, and he knows Naruto is still very much alive, so it’s possible that he was just playing into his “villain” role. It’s also plausible that Itachi is pointing out that Sasuke isn’t as cold-hearted as he’d like to believe he is if he decided to face him without acquiring a rare powerful ability because it meant killing his closest friend.
“In Order To Survive, We Cling To All We Know And Understand.”
In order to survive, we cling to all we know and understand.
When Itachi and Sasuke’s long awaited battle finally begins, Itachi plagues Sasuke with unwanted conversation. Sasuke is eager to dispatch every powerful jutsu he learned as he finally feels powerful enough to kill the man he hated for most of his life. Initially, Sasuke’s attacks don’t have any effect, and Itachi uses his Genjutsu to create several illusions. While the tension between them builds, Sasuke asks Itachi about another person who possesses the Sharingan. As Itachi sits in his chair unaffected by the sword Sasuke lunged into his chest, he tells him it is Madara Uchiha. Sasuke becomes enraged believing his brother is mocking him – to his knowledge Madara Uchiha is dead. Itachi responds by summarizing the pain Sasuke held onto for years. Sasuke survives by holding onto what he’d been led to know as truth.
“It’s Best Not To Be Optimistic.”
It’s best not to be optimistic and think it’s an illusion. The pain is not an illusion. This pain is absolutely no different from reality. How long will your spirit sustain?
Itachi and Kisame become locked in a heated battle upon their arrival to Konoha. Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, and Guy take on the two Akatsuki members in an attempt to subdue them. Kakashi battles Itachi alone and underestimates his Genjutsu. Kakashi believes that his Sharingan makes him less vulnerable to Itachi’s attacks, and he’s wrong. Kakashi is subjected to gruesome torture while trapped inside Itachi’s Genjutsu. After being repeatedly stabbed while strapped to a cross, Kakashi tries to convince himself that none of his pain is real. Itachi immediately interrupts his thought, telling him his efforts are pointless. Not only is his pain real, but only one second had elapsed from his 72 hour sentence. This moment shows the extent of Itachi’s incredible power.
“No Matter How Powerful You Become, Don’t Try To Shoulder Everything Alone.”
No matter how powerful you become, don’t try to shoulder everything alone. If you do, you will surely fail.
Before leaving Naruto to find Kabuto and break his Reanimation Jutsu, Itachi warns Naruto. Naruto is used to shouldering his burdens alone. As he grew and obtained power that surpassed his father Minato and his sensei Jiraiya, he instinctively took on villainous threats alone, like his fight with Pain. When Naruto races to enter the battlefield during the Fourth Shinobi War, he maintains his belief that he will be the one to end it. Recognizing this, Itachi explains to Naruto that placing increased pressure on himself will result in him becoming someone like Madara Uchiha.
“Becoming Hokage Doesn’t Mean People Will Acknowledge You.”
Becoming Hokage doesn’t mean people will acknowledge you. But when people acknowledge you, you become Hokage. Never forget your friends.
When Naruto rejects Sasuke’s assertion that he will become the next Hokage, he reflects back on the words Itachi shares earlier that day. One isn’t acknowledged after reaching a position of power, they reach that position after they’ve earned the respect of the people around them. Narutois quick to pass on the wisdom Itachi shared, letting Sasuke know that his brother understood that one can only lead if the people around them trust them to do so.
“I Will Always Love You.”
I Will Always Love You.
Once Itachi forces Kabuto to release the Reanimation Jutsu, he only has a few moments with his younger brother before his soul disappears. Itachi wants to let Sasuke know the truth. Though he admits to doing everything Madara and Obito described, he regrets distancing himself from Sasuke.
Itachi tells Sasuke that he feels remorse for keeping the truth from him, and now believes things would’ve turned out differently if he was honest with him from the beginning. Despite his mistakes, there is one invariable truth – Itachi always has, and always will, love Sasuke.
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