HEY! Thanks for bringing this thread back! From like the day after Christmas!First off, very nice theory. You seem to have really thought this through.
Everyone else also made some very good arguments pro and against, my hats off for this thread.
Having said that, I don?t buy it. I agree that it isn?t kishis style to make such a huge plot twist from what we have seen in the manga so far.
- From what we have seen in the development of the manga, Itachi is coming off as a "good guy" or not as bad as we first thought.
- Everything is pointing to the fact that Itachi did what he did to protect Sasuke. Even joining Akatsuki. Remember the only reason Madara didn?t invade Konoha was because of Itachi, he said so himself.
- Itachi gave Naruto a gift to either counter MS or something that would negate all of Sasuke?s power and probably kill him, kind of like an Uchiha secret learned from Madara (Itachi told Naruto that he hoped he wouldn?t have to use it).
- Madara knew Itachi?s intention to battle Sasuke from the beginning. Zetsu was there just to report.
- Why would the frogs use the figure of Itachi?
- We don?t know the extent to Itachi?s power, so assuming he could or couldn?t do something is pointless.
- Assuming the risk of repeating myself, Itachi all along wanted to protect Sasuke. Knowing how Naruto feels about Sasuke it makes sense for him to make sure someone either stops him from destroying or losing himself in his hatred. His questions were to make sure Naruto would be able to stop Sasuke, and the gift gave him the means necessary if he couldn?t. it is probaly something that will activate during battle or while fighting MS.
Forgive me if t came out a little confusing.
My boss is getting on my nerves...lol.
BTW I loved the clock - seal idea!
Peace.
I actually think about this on and off again... and all the discussion is great.
I thought of this regarding what you wrote, let me know if it helps you see my point of view....
My train of thought Begins with Itachi growing up. During the last appearance of the 9-Tails, he witnessed many of his teachers, friends and/or their parents ALL die.
** Just like Haku... Kimimaru.... "Crystal Jutsu Lady" from the current arc.... and ultimately, Sasuke. **
Just like each of the previously mentioned, Itachi has a deep down hatred for the cause of the 9-Tails disaster, Madara. When a child, he hated the 9-Tails demon itself. The same goes for Iruka-Sensei and most of Konoha. That is why it was kept a secret from the "New Generations".
That being said, Itachi never got the chance to meet or interact with Naruto, at all, before that infamous night killing his family. In fact he only met Naruto once, with Jiraiya.
For Sasuke, Itachi represents the symbol of the 9-Tail Fox... bringing destruction to his home, life, family, and childhood. What would make Itachi not feel the same way towards Naruto, for the beast in him...? read on
Itachi killed his family during his adolescence, when people have the intelligence of an adult, but the immaturity of experience... they do dumb things... Asuma-Sensei is one of those dumb adolescences.
Itachi probably began to understand the truth about the 9-Tails disaster only after meeting Madara.
Itachi being in Akatsuki knows of Pein, Madara, and their ultimate goals, and how Himself and Sasuke probably play an important role in everything.
The only thing that Itachi knows of Naruto, and all other things important... is this...!
1. If Sasuke kills his "Best Friend" whom Itachi knows is Naruto the 9-Tails kid, Madara and Pein will NEVER be a threat at all... because the 9-Tails would die, along with their plans.
2. Because of this Itachi proved he could CARE LESS about Naruto... other than a "means to an end"... Just like how every other random person looks at Jinchurrikis... "Tools"
3. Itachi loves his brother, and knows he needs to get strong to fight Madara. Madara tricked Itachi, and he doesn't want the same to happen to Sasuke. He made sure to give Sasuke all of knowledge. Sasuke just hasn't learned how to "awaken Susano" yet, just like sharringan as a kid.
4. Why would Itachi, whom is trying desperately to save his brother, be worried about making him "too powerful"??? Especially after hearing the story about Naruto taking out 2 of Kakuzo's hearts in one attack.
A. He planned to remove all traces of Orochimaru from Sasuke.
B. He intended to give him his MS.
C. Sasuke killed a weak Orochimaru, Deidra just barely, Itachi who planned to die, and lost badly to the 8-Tails. Sasuke couldn't take out a tailed beast with 3 other powerful ninja, when 2 Akatsuki have been doing the same all along...
D. Madara/Tobi can use SpaceTime jutsu and sharringan, and Pein ... well ... is Pein. And we think Sasuke is "too powerful"? Come on now... Amaratesu can't burn God Realm, take out all of Animal Realm's summons... after killing Manda.
E. Susanno is Sasuke's hidden weapon, probably to be used if Pein uses his nuclear bomb jutsu on Sasuke.
F. What could Itachi possibly give to Naruto, that is "essential" to the Uchiha's abilities... that wouldn't be better served helping the now incredibly weakened Sasuke...
ALL of those Letters above... seems more far fetched... then my idea?
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As for Pein's 30% Transfer thing... it only works if put into a dead body... otherwise they appear as projected images... this is a rendition of the Pein 6 Body technique... is it not? For Itachi and Kisame, I believe they were Sand Ninja killed by Sasori or someone...