Was Itachi even concerned about Nagato?

[Floydical]

Obviously Itachi had a long list of plans for Sasuke. At first he wanted him to kill his best friend to unlock MS, but Sasuke decided against that fate. Once he realized Sasuke turned away from this path, he trusted Naruto with Sasuke's ultimate fate and let Sasuke kill him in combat. Before dying by Sasuke's hand, Itachi imparted Amaterasu into him in order to unlock his MS. Teaching him about the EMS before dying gave Sasuke a reason to keep and implant Itachi's eyes down the road.

Obviously this required Itachi to have a lot of faith in Sasuke. He couldn't interfere in Sasuke's affairs and certainly couldn't stop Deidara from trying to kill him. He also pushed Sasuke very hard in their fight, including hitting him with Amaterasu. He did these things knowing Sasuke had the potential to defeat Deidara and avoid techniques like Amaterasu by utilizing snake shedding.

However, how did Itachi justify ignoring Nagato as a possible threat? Clearly he protected Sasuke from Tobi, but did he have any contingency against Pain? He knew Pain had the Rinnegan and clearly knew of his inferiority to him. If it came down to EMS Sasuke vs. a full powered Pain, I'm not sure Sasuke would win. Rinnegan Sasuke of course is strong enough, but not even Itachi predicted EMS lead to Rinnegan.

So whats the consensus? Did Itachi not fear Pain fighting/killing Sasuke? Did he deem him a relative non threat as to Sasuke's safety? Did he honestly think an EMS sasuke could defeat him? Or did he simply not have the capacity to add another element of depth to his plan for Sasuke's future? Please give me your take on this matter.

 

[Bad Touch Yakushi]

I'm a little lost on how and why Pain would take issue against Sasuke and try to kill him in the first place but your points certainly aren't wrong.

Even Pain's idea of the War monopoly nevermind IT (which did Itachi even know about?) would put Sausage's safety and lifestyle in danger.

 

[The Necromancer]

It wouldn't be EMS Sasuke vs. Pain though. Itachi assumed that after getting his revenge, Sasuke would return to Konoha, implanting Amaterasu into Sasuke's eye to ensure that Tobi couldn't prevent this.

And he (likely) predicted (correctly) that EMS Sasuke + Konoha at the time of the Invasion of Pain arc could take down Nagato.

Even so, it is debatable, no matter how likely or unlikely, that EMS Sasuke could take on Pain by himself, or even with his Taka team.

 

[lndra]

I'm curious that if Sasuke had killed Naruto, and Itachi realized Naruto was his best friend .... what would have happened?

 

[The Necromancer]

I'm curious that if Sasuke had killed Naruto, and Itachi realized Naruto was his best friend .... what would have happened?

Like... after he entrusted Naruto with saving him...?

 

[Deviation]

First thing I am curious about is did Itachi die before Pain's attack on Konoha? If not, I wonder what his stance was on the issue. I guess he hoped Sasuke would come to the leaf eventually.

 

[OmegaRed721]

Pain was obviously in on Tobi's plans for Sasuke. He even asks Tobi for Sasuke's status when he is first revealed, oddly enough. Also, Itachi was surprisingly in the dark about Nagato, still calling him Pain when they were Edo. Odds are he relied on the fact that Sasuke would become strong enough to resist Tobi.

 

[The Necromancer]

First thing I am curious about is did Itachi die before Pain's attack on Konoha? If not, I wonder what his stance was on the issue. I guess he hoped Sasuke would come to the leaf eventually.

The fights were nearly simultaneous.

Zetsu, who could go from Itachi's and Sasuke's battlefield to outside Konoha in minutes had to choose which fight to watch, as he couldn't watch both.

 

[Deviation]

The fights were nearly simultaneous.

Zetsu, who could go from Itachi's and Sasuke's battlefield to outside Konoha in minutes had to choose which fight to watch, as he couldn't watch both.

Is it logical to think that Obito strategized Sasuke's fight? Because I can assume he would have wanted to intervene. I know Sasuke doesn't like anyone but if he heard the uchiha district was going to be annihilated, he would have gone and at least stopped Nagato. Interesting to note.

 

[Sasuke tyeezy]

Like... after he entrusted Naruto with saving him...?

No before. He basically told Sasuke to kill Naruto so he would gain MS and face him with MS.

However I don't know how Itachi expected Sasuke to be accepted back into Konoha after killing the leaf's jinchuriki or any Konoha ninja for that matter.

 

[lndra]

Like... after he entrusted Naruto with saving him...?

Right but it seems like he forgot XD

He didn't even have a small reflection, like, "I'm glad Sasuke didn't kill him..."

 

[The Necromancer]

Right but it seems like he forgot XD

He didn't even have a small reflection, like, "I'm glad Sasuke didn't kill him..."

Not sure.

It's a sketchy subject.

On one hand, Itachi entrusted Naruto with Sasuke's salvation, knowing he would attack Konoha with his own eyes, which is why he set Kotoamatsukami to activate against his own eyes.

But on the other hand, he knew (or assumed) that Sasuke would not have MS without killing his best friend, whom he knew was Naruto from their conversations.

However, thirdly, he also conjectured that EMS could be gained with a pair of 3t and a pair of MS eyes, or else it would not be believable that he still wanted Sasuke's eyes without MS.

Total Catch 22 here. I chalk it up to the loss of his editor after the Invasion of Pain Arc.

 

[Angelic.]

that perfect brother lol

 

[lndra]

Not sure.

It's a sketchy subject.

On one hand, Itachi entrusted Naruto with Sasuke's salvation, knowing he would attack Konoha with his own eyes, which is why he set Kotoamatsukami to activate against his own eyes.

But on the other hand, he knew (or assumed) that Sasuke would not have MS without killing his best friend, whom he knew was Naruto from their conversations.

However, thirdly, he also conjectured that EMS could be gained with a pair of 3t and a pair of MS eyes, or else it would not be believable that he still wanted Sasuke's eyes without MS.

Total Catch 22 here. I chalk it up to the loss of his editor after the Invasion of Pain Arc.

Right but he only set up Koto after he met Naruto in Shippuden, it seemed like he used his options. He didn't really seem surprised that Naruto wasn't dead or alive at this point, but was using his options since he knew Naruto wanted to save Sasuke. It really seemed more like a test.

I don't honestly think Itachi calculated Sasuke's actions that far where he would know that he would let Naruto live. Especially with him lusting for power, and telling him to hate more, add that with Orochimaru's Curse Seal the results are 'ever changing'. It just seems illogical for Itachi being capable of that much insight.

To be fair I don't think Itachi wanted Sasuke to know the truth at all, deep down. I'm sure he expressed this somewhere. I believe he brought out certain feelings during his fight with Sasuke because he knew that he would possibly activate the Mangekyo Sharingan from his death, since that was possibly planned when he realized he was dieing, and that Naruto was still alive. Which seems to be likely due to him leaving Koto in Naruto's care, and setting up defenses for Sasuke and Tobi (who he thought was Madara).

 

[VongolaX]

He was not the slightest bit concerned about nagato.

Look at how he handled him when saving naruto and bee from nagato.
He knows the counters and he's read the tablet before, he's scared of Sasuke's potential.

And you said so yourself, he was protecting Sasuke from Tobi. What the hell is pein going to do with Sasuke when Tobi is standing right there.

 

[Itachi Edo]

I think Itachi would have wanted Sasuke to lean on his comrades if it ever came to a battle with the 6 Paths of Pain.

 

[Floydical]

I'm a little lost on how and why Pain would take issue against Sasuke and try to kill him in the first place but your points certainly aren't wrong.

Even Pain's idea of the War monopoly nevermind IT (which did Itachi even know about?) would put Sausage's safety and lifestyle in danger.

Exactly, the fact he knew about the war monopoly threat made me think about this possibility. Obviously Itachi considered Tobi more of a threat than Nagato, considering he knew Nagato was under his finger.

No, Itachi knew nothing about the origin of Rinnegan nor the IT plan.

Not sure.

It's a sketchy subject.

On one hand, Itachi entrusted Naruto with Sasuke's salvation, knowing he would attack Konoha with his own eyes, which is why he set Kotoamatsukami to activate against his own eyes.

But on the other hand, he knew (or assumed) that Sasuke would not have MS without killing his best friend, whom he knew was Naruto from their conversations.

However, thirdly, he also conjectured that EMS could be gained with a pair of 3t and a pair of MS eyes, or else it would not be believable that he still wanted Sasuke's eyes without MS.

Total Catch 22 here. I chalk it up to the loss of his editor after the Invasion of Pain Arc.

I'd say Itachi simply planned to give Sasuke MS either way. Either he unlocked it by killing his best friend or by letting Sasuke kill him himself. I'd also say that Itachi was simply bluffing when he stated Sasuke's 3 tomoe was enough to turn his MS to EMS. He had to make him believe it was possible to keep up the charade. It doesn't matter, though, because his only goal was to give Sasuke his own MS and let him transplant his eyes.

He was not the slightest bit concerned about nagato.

Look at how he handled him when saving naruto and bee from nagato.
He knows the counters and he's read the tablet before, he's scared of Sasuke's potential.

And you said so yourself, he was protecting Sasuke from Tobi. What the hell is pein going to do with Sasuke when Tobi is standing right there.

Its true that Itachi did well against Nagato, but he ambushed the Rinnegan user, making the attack seem more effective. Either way, I'd agree he was simply not concerned with Nagato, it was Tobi he was worried about.

 

[Bad Touch Yakushi]

Itachi when it came to the Akatsuki in general wasn't very effective or willing to mix in their plans. Whilst he refused to kill any Bijuu personally, his presence didn't halt the Akatsuki in any way. You'd think a ninja of his calibur with God Tools & his amazing intelligence, acting ability and planning would be able to think up a way to disable Akatsuki from the inside. I understand he didn't want to clash with Tobi but as long as he didn't march in and cause a 1 on 9 battle (incl a rinnegan user and Obito Uchiha) I couldn't think of a better ninja in the NV to find a way to put a dent in their plans considering it'd endanger his village and Sasuke (the only things he dedicated his life to)

Well, it'd be better than literally watching them collect the Bijuu anyhow. Itachi never seemed particularly bothered with the Akatsuki past Obito. I guess the reason he saw Obito as the priority is that he sensed and correctly predicted that Obito would take a personal interest in Sasuke beyond their plans. Pain wouldn't have cared.

....I find Obito's fascination with Sasuke weird and out-of-character as it is. He wasn't clan driven or interested in creating a legacy...it was just a strange hobby he picked up that upon learning he wasn't Madara Uchiha failed to hold up.