SkyGodHorus
Anbu Operative 🎭
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2014
- Messages
- 3,132
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Itachi...the wonderkind of Naruto. When I began watching Naruto all those years ago, I was in my early teens and didn't fully understand some of the concepts Itachi addressed throughout the series. For the longest time, I automatically believed he had to be the most evil scum alive other than Orochimaru, killing his clan, making Sasuke suffer and possessing the most horrifying jutsus. But as the series went on and I got older, as well as during the times I rewatched or reread it, I began to pick things up about Itachi. It seemed strange how wicked he seemed to come off with his red eyes, those sillhouettes and some of his lines, yet at the same time he virtually never looked wicked in person. Every now and then he would make dark faces or gestures, but still, something felt off about them considering how wise, calm and charismatic he usually was. I believe I began to figure it out with his appearance in the Sasori and Deidara arc when he acknowledged that Naruto had matured. Still, even after his sacrifice, the reveal that he was the lawful good, the good he did for the people, and the fact he was an inspirational character for me, I still acknowledged that even Itachi possessed flaws.
Accepting that everything Itachi did was right in my opinion would be a contradiction to his character. Though he likely saved Konoha and the world from war and ruin, he did in fact kill his own parents and clan; women, children and all, traumatized and tortured Sasuke and in the end planned to brainwash him against his will wehter it protected the people or not. However, in his final parting he realized that these deeds had their wrongings just as much as they had their rights and acknowledged that he was also wrong, was sorry and could have done it in a different way. Based on this, I believe Itachi is metaphoric of both good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate, illusion and reality in unison with each other and Kishimoto developed him in this manner superbly. His death was symbolic as well showing that even the greatest badasses in existence can be vulnerable to the greatest weaknesses of everyone else, metaphoric of Achilles. So, with my corny character analysis finished, what do you think was the single best line spoken by Itachi? The most inspirational, compelling, mysterious, realistic, etc., assuming you enjoyed any of them. 2, 4 and 10 are my favorites.
1) "Orochimaru, any jutsu you use against these eyes is meaningless."
2) "No one who turns on a comrade ever meets a graceful end. Remember that."
3) "It has never been, 'The person who becomes Hokage will be acknowledged by everyone,' but 'The one who is acknowledged by everyone will become Hokage.'"
4) "People live their lives by what they accept as correct or true. This is how they define "reality." But what does it mean to be "correct" or "true." Merely vague concepts...Their "reality" could very well be a mirage. Can we consider them to simply be living in their own world, shaped by their beliefs?"
5) "Self-sacrifice...A nameless shinobi who protects peace within its shadow. That is a true shinobi."
6) "Teachings that do not speak of pain have no meaning, for mankind cannot gain anything in return."
7) "It is unwise to judge others based on appearances and your own preconceptions."
8) "Growth occurs when one goes beyond one's limits. Realizing that is also a part of training."
9) "Sorry Sasuke...There won't be a next time."
10) "We are humans, not fish. We do not know what kind of people we truly are until the moment of our deaths. As death comes to embrace you, you will realize what you are. that's what death is, don't you think?"
11) "You are weak. Why are you weak? Because you lack..hatred."
12) "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 some day, when you possess the same eyes as I do, come before me."
13) "I always lied to you telling you to forgive me. I used these hands to keep you at distance... I did not want you to get involved. But now... I think you could have changed father and mother. Perhaps even the entire Uchiha. If I would have stood in front of you and looked you in the eyes from the very beginning... talked to you instead of down to you... and been open about everything. But I failed, and speaking to you now, like this, isn't going to undo the permanent damage that's already been done to you. That's why I wanted to show you the truth. Even if it's just a little. And no matter what you decide to do from here on out, you never have to forgive me - I will always love you."
Accepting that everything Itachi did was right in my opinion would be a contradiction to his character. Though he likely saved Konoha and the world from war and ruin, he did in fact kill his own parents and clan; women, children and all, traumatized and tortured Sasuke and in the end planned to brainwash him against his will wehter it protected the people or not. However, in his final parting he realized that these deeds had their wrongings just as much as they had their rights and acknowledged that he was also wrong, was sorry and could have done it in a different way. Based on this, I believe Itachi is metaphoric of both good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate, illusion and reality in unison with each other and Kishimoto developed him in this manner superbly. His death was symbolic as well showing that even the greatest badasses in existence can be vulnerable to the greatest weaknesses of everyone else, metaphoric of Achilles. So, with my corny character analysis finished, what do you think was the single best line spoken by Itachi? The most inspirational, compelling, mysterious, realistic, etc., assuming you enjoyed any of them. 2, 4 and 10 are my favorites.
1) "Orochimaru, any jutsu you use against these eyes is meaningless."
2) "No one who turns on a comrade ever meets a graceful end. Remember that."
3) "It has never been, 'The person who becomes Hokage will be acknowledged by everyone,' but 'The one who is acknowledged by everyone will become Hokage.'"
4) "People live their lives by what they accept as correct or true. This is how they define "reality." But what does it mean to be "correct" or "true." Merely vague concepts...Their "reality" could very well be a mirage. Can we consider them to simply be living in their own world, shaped by their beliefs?"
5) "Self-sacrifice...A nameless shinobi who protects peace within its shadow. That is a true shinobi."
6) "Teachings that do not speak of pain have no meaning, for mankind cannot gain anything in return."
7) "It is unwise to judge others based on appearances and your own preconceptions."
8) "Growth occurs when one goes beyond one's limits. Realizing that is also a part of training."
9) "Sorry Sasuke...There won't be a next time."
10) "We are humans, not fish. We do not know what kind of people we truly are until the moment of our deaths. As death comes to embrace you, you will realize what you are. that's what death is, don't you think?"
11) "You are weak. Why are you weak? Because you lack..hatred."
12) "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 some day, when you possess the same eyes as I do, come before me."
13) "I always lied to you telling you to forgive me. I used these hands to keep you at distance... I did not want you to get involved. But now... I think you could have changed father and mother. Perhaps even the entire Uchiha. If I would have stood in front of you and looked you in the eyes from the very beginning... talked to you instead of down to you... and been open about everything. But I failed, and speaking to you now, like this, isn't going to undo the permanent damage that's already been done to you. That's why I wanted to show you the truth. Even if it's just a little. And no matter what you decide to do from here on out, you never have to forgive me - I will always love you."
