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I thought I'd point out, in glorious detail, why Itachi fans are the way they are.
Manga
Before Kakashi knew about the Mangekyō, he said Itachi wasn't even giving it 50% of his 13 year old skills (viz trans)
Meaning 13 year old Itachi was even faster and sharper with his base skills than those Kakashi "couldn't follow.."
At the time, Itachi believed only another living Uchiha could possibly defeat him.
(That is, only Obito truly had a chance in Itachi's mind.)
After bringing Jiriaya to a cold sweat, and Kisame wonders why Itachi pretended like he couldn't solo.
SPOILERS: He was a good guy.
Orochimaru knows that it's impossible for him to ever (note: "dream/aspiration") defeat Itachi.
A 7 year old Sasuke
Itachi at age 7 didn't even have to be taught (and some trans say he was the greatest genius of the academy
He awoke and mastered the Sharingan in one year.
(It took Sasuke three to five years, and Kakashi around fourteen.)
Even if Orochimaru had Kage-level help, it would be impossible to defeat Itachi.
Oh, Sasuke, you can defeat countless ninja (my entire country) easily? That ain't SHIT to Itachi, son.
An
Itachi defeated (multiple) S-rank Akatsuki easily. And looks like a god while doing it.
Itachi's clone defeated the main character easily (err, again.)
Itachi was so weakened against (the Kage level) Sasuke that Zetsu thought he'd been severely injured beforehand.
Itachi found ancient artifacts of immense power that not even Orochimaru or Madara could.
Madara's wisdom believed Itachi was completely invincible.
and based on how (Gin's bankai!) it handled Orochimaru/Nagato in between panels: why not?
The Yata Mirror (stated to flawlessly turn back any attack) is also stated/shown to morph shape.
Blind and near death, Itachi sealed Orochimaru (RIGHT after he powered up and finally took over Sasuke lol.)
Obito said that Itachi never ceased to amaze him. That is, he amazed the main villain ALL THE TIME.
Obito said Itachi was the only one to see right through his stealth (virtually all others have failed at this.)
Obito didn't know how Itachi did his fūindōjutsu trap.
(Let alone surgically implanting a Mangekyō into an ordinary crow and having it use it despite obvious chakra-supply/non-Uchiha engineering problems.)
Obito said he made damn sure to keep secrets (i.e. stay away from) from Itachi, or else he'd certainly be dead.
Obito says that Itachi was the sole person that impeded his vendetta against Konoha all those years.
Itachi was such a beast with genjutsu that he was compared to Heaven above earth.
Danzō said that Itachi only ever made one mistake (loving his bro too much.)
Shikaku (who knew Itachi. Ao didn't.) believed Itachi could literally genjutsu-control an army.
Itachi also believed that his (unknown) illusion powers could affect the war on a large scale.
Kabuto said he's on another level.
Similar to the beefed up Orochimaru, another beefed up past main antagonist is abruptly sealed.
Kabuto said Itachi was just too damn good. With basic skills.
And he deciphered/countered Rinnegan vision much faster than any other genius.
Itachi knows every jutsu has a weakness (and with his intelligence hype, he'll find it, so he's the weakness!)
Kabuto considered Itachi a completely different beast (a higher caliber genius) to any other Uchiha.
Kabuto, being the "greatest genius of lying," is one of the only dudes who could counter Itachi's mind-reading in battle.
Kabuto believed that nobody (not Madara, not Hashirama, nobody) was more worthy of being his Edo Tensei than Itachi.
So three main antagonists of the manga were finished off by Itachi. That's more than Naruto and Sasuke combined.
Sasuke said Itachi was perfect. (Itachi said he wasn't perfect. But modesty only counts when it's Hashirama.
)
Itachi ultimately improvised Kotoamatsukami to save Naruto/Bee and set Sasuke/Kabuto on the path to redemption.
Itachi was as wise as a Hokage (Hiruzen was saying this, so as wise as Hiruzen?) at the age of seven.
Hashirama considered Itachi a better shinobi than himself. The god of shinobi praising the uber god of shinobi, if you will.
Databook:
Only those on his level can even fathom his potential.
Symbolism
Feats (why Itachi can logically defeat almost anybody)
Itachi's shunshin and clone feints are too fast/sneaky for top tier reflexes/sensing to track.
Essentially, it was the same late-warning that Deidara needed against Sasuke (then Deidara went to long range.)
The only other move to get the drop on Bee like this was Hiraishin.
Bee even countered the bloodlusted Raikage.
Clone feints use shunshin jutsu:
Itachi has formed clones and flicker away so fast that perfect Sages or Sharingans don't notice.
He's also blitzed multiple Sharingan users and knicked Kabuto (something Sasuke's Susano'o arrow didn't.)
The Susano'o arrow's movement being so fast that Kakashi couldn't physically dodge.
Itachi's countered perfect Sages, unlike Raikages:
This is also a strength-testament, and it's further backed by Itachi blocking Jinchūriki.
He moves so fast that even Naruto/Bee were stuck in their position when he moved back.
So imagine those clone feints or flickers being combined with the speed of his jutsu:
Especially when, in almost all cases, you're not allowed to really look at him (Tsukuyomi, finger jutsu, etc.)
So, that's why there are so many fans. He's basically prime Hiruzen with the Mangekyō and in-battle mindreading & invincible artifacts.
(Convert! Convert! Convert!)
Manga
Before Kakashi knew about the Mangekyō, he said Itachi wasn't even giving it 50% of his 13 year old skills (viz trans)
Meaning 13 year old Itachi was even faster and sharper with his base skills than those Kakashi "couldn't follow.."
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
At the time, Itachi believed only another living Uchiha could possibly defeat him.
(That is, only Obito truly had a chance in Itachi's mind.)
You must be registered for see images
After bringing Jiriaya to a cold sweat, and Kisame wonders why Itachi pretended like he couldn't solo.
SPOILERS: He was a good guy.
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Orochimaru knows that it's impossible for him to ever (note: "dream/aspiration") defeat Itachi.
You must be registered for see images
A 7 year old Sasuke
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was still behind Itachi in development.
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Itachi at age 7 didn't even have to be taught (and some trans say he was the greatest genius of the academy
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.)NJT trans:
Page 4:
兄弟そろってお世話になります。
I ask you to guide this boy just like you did his brother
Page 5:
いやいやお世話だなど
Guide? no no, there was no need...
忍者学校(アカデミー)
始まって以来の天才・・・
あの子ほど優秀な生徒は今までいませんでしたよ
He(the brother) was the greatest genious the Academy had seen since it's foundation.... There hasn't been a finer student than him.
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He awoke and mastered the Sharingan in one year.
(It took Sasuke three to five years, and Kakashi around fourteen.)
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Even if Orochimaru had Kage-level help, it would be impossible to defeat Itachi.
You must be registered for see images
Oh, Sasuke, you can defeat countless ninja (my entire country) easily? That ain't SHIT to Itachi, son.
You must be registered for see images
An
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Itachi made Orochimaru feel hopeless.
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Itachi defeated (multiple) S-rank Akatsuki easily. And looks like a god while doing it.
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Itachi's clone defeated the main character easily (err, again.)
You must be registered for see images
Itachi was so weakened against (the Kage level) Sasuke that Zetsu thought he'd been severely injured beforehand.
You must be registered for see images
Itachi found ancient artifacts of immense power that not even Orochimaru or Madara could.
You must be registered for see images
Madara's wisdom believed Itachi was completely invincible.
and based on how (Gin's bankai!) it handled Orochimaru/Nagato in between panels: why not?
You must be registered for see images
The Yata Mirror (stated to flawlessly turn back any attack) is also stated/shown to morph shape.
You must be registered for see images
Blind and near death, Itachi sealed Orochimaru (RIGHT after he powered up and finally took over Sasuke lol.)
You must be registered for see images
Obito said that Itachi never ceased to amaze him. That is, he amazed the main villain ALL THE TIME.
You must be registered for see images
Obito said Itachi was the only one to see right through his stealth (virtually all others have failed at this.)
You must be registered for see images
Obito didn't know how Itachi did his fūindōjutsu trap.
(Let alone surgically implanting a Mangekyō into an ordinary crow and having it use it despite obvious chakra-supply/non-Uchiha engineering problems.)
You must be registered for see images
Obito said he made damn sure to keep secrets (i.e. stay away from) from Itachi, or else he'd certainly be dead.
You must be registered for see images
Obito says that Itachi was the sole person that impeded his vendetta against Konoha all those years.
You must be registered for see images
Itachi was such a beast with genjutsu that he was compared to Heaven above earth.
You must be registered for see images
Danzō said that Itachi only ever made one mistake (loving his bro too much.)
You must be registered for see images
Shikaku (who knew Itachi. Ao didn't.) believed Itachi could literally genjutsu-control an army.
You must be registered for see images
Itachi also believed that his (unknown) illusion powers could affect the war on a large scale.
You must be registered for see images
Kabuto said he's on another level.
You must be registered for see images
Similar to the beefed up Orochimaru, another beefed up past main antagonist is abruptly sealed.
You must be registered for see images
Kabuto said Itachi was just too damn good. With basic skills.
And he deciphered/countered Rinnegan vision much faster than any other genius.
You must be registered for see images
Itachi knows every jutsu has a weakness (and with his intelligence hype, he'll find it, so he's the weakness!)
You must be registered for see images
Kabuto considered Itachi a completely different beast (a higher caliber genius) to any other Uchiha.
Kabuto, being the "greatest genius of lying," is one of the only dudes who could counter Itachi's mind-reading in battle.
You must be registered for see images
Kabuto believed that nobody (not Madara, not Hashirama, nobody) was more worthy of being his Edo Tensei than Itachi.
You must be registered for see images
So three main antagonists of the manga were finished off by Itachi. That's more than Naruto and Sasuke combined.
You must be registered for see images
Sasuke said Itachi was perfect. (Itachi said he wasn't perfect. But modesty only counts when it's Hashirama.
You must be registered for see images
Itachi ultimately improvised Kotoamatsukami to save Naruto/Bee and set Sasuke/Kabuto on the path to redemption.
You must be registered for see images
Itachi was as wise as a Hokage (Hiruzen was saying this, so as wise as Hiruzen?) at the age of seven.
You must be registered for see images
Hashirama considered Itachi a better shinobi than himself. The god of shinobi praising the uber god of shinobi, if you will.
You must be registered for see images
Databook:
Only those on his level can even fathom his potential.
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Tsukuyomi said:Concurrently, the only ones who can defeat Tsukuyomi are Sharingan possessors... And even then, exclusively the elite shinobi who have reached particularly high degrees of skillfulness. Once could say this is truly a God-given jutsu solely allowed to those blessed with Uchiha blood and prodigious aptitudes. (Only Itachi and Madara?)
Tsukuyomi said:The ultimate doujutsu (eye technique) made possible only by Mangekyou Sharingan.
Tsukuyomi said:Only those of Uchiha blood... (Sasuke, Obito, Madara) Does it mean only Sasuke has a chance to break a Tsukuyomi?
Tsukuyomi said:Even a body made of iron or the speed of light are powerless before this jutsu, which is the reason why it is feared as the most powerful.
Susano'o said:There's a reason why Susanoo can boast perfect flawlessness in its offense and defense: the spiritual weapons it holds in both hands.
Susano'o said:The Sword of Totsuka* in its right hand, which will mow down any kind of enemy
Susano'o (with Yata) said:Substantial or spiritual, and then ninjutsu or physical attacks lose all kinds of significance before the god's efficacy.
Susano'o (items) said:In its left and right hands are held the unparalleled, wondrous Sacred Treasures* of virtues miraculous.
Itachi said:Everybody was envious of his outstanding genius, yet that talent actually proved to be a very cruel burden
Itachi said:Even as a member of the elite clan, Itachi was someone special. He always exceeded his father’s expectations, his brother’s idolatry.
Itachi said:By the age of seven, he graduated Ninja Academy at the top of his class... by 13, he became the captain of ANBU. It is hard to name all his achievements, but it's hard to say that just these reflect Itachi's abilties... his true potential can ony be recognized by those in his level.
Itachi said:He is undoubtedly a hero, yet he never achieved fame and renown. He was too gentle to be a shinobi, and it is indeed an irony that his gentleness was the reason why he had to live his life as a ninja.
Symbolism
Itachi's Symbolism said:This isn't a thread about hype, feats, or who beats who. It's just some interesting symbolism.
First and most obviously, Itachi seems to constantly introduce new techniques named after gods: Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Susano'o, Izanami, and Kotoamatsukami. While these techniques are not limited to him, the author constantly used Itachi to introduce them. By itself, this may not be much, however... Itachi's characteristic animal, the raven or crow, also holds symbolic presitige in Japan for being the messengers of the divine. This is playfully executed by the author when Itachi uses Karasu Bunshin, or crows, to communicate with (and through) Naruto and Sasuke.
Next, "Itachi" is practically synonymous with "genjutsu." Divine beings create reality, the Rikudō does this for instance, and genjutsu, particularly the sort that Itachi uses, imposes a reality on his victims. With Tsukuyomi, Itachi compares himself with the omnipotent, as he controls all of space, and even time within his realm. This 'talent for creation' is driven home when Deidara is awestruck by Itachi's "art," (creation, illusion) and in that scene in particular, Itachi is surrounded by divine symbolism within what appears to be a shrine while drenched in light as Deidara is amazed, then envious.
Lastly, the author gave Itachi the Totsuka (the Kusanagi variant pulled from the corpse of Orochi) and the Yata Mirror. These are two items of the imperial regalia, and were historically used as proof for the Japanese emperor's divinity. Do you want to guess the only other character to have an item from the imperial regalia? You guessed it: Rikudō Sennin, who was wearing the necklace. Anyway, I just thought it was interesting that the entirety of Itachi's arsenal, from crows clones, to genjutsu, to legendary items, to the eye techniques he introduces... are all symbols of divinity. I imagine Japanese readers picked up on all of this instantly whereas foreigners were left in the dust. It makes you wonder what else we're missing about characters and their mythological symbolism. I bet there's a wealth of uninterpreted knowledge!
Feats (why Itachi can logically defeat almost anybody)
Itachi's shunshin and clone feints are too fast/sneaky for top tier reflexes/sensing to track.
You must be registered for see images
Essentially, it was the same late-warning that Deidara needed against Sasuke (then Deidara went to long range.)
You must be registered for see images
The only other move to get the drop on Bee like this was Hiraishin.
You must be registered for see images
Bee even countered the bloodlusted Raikage.
You must be registered for see images
Clone feints use shunshin jutsu:
You must be registered for see images
Itachi has formed clones and flicker away so fast that perfect Sages or Sharingans don't notice.
You must be registered for see images
He's also blitzed multiple Sharingan users and knicked Kabuto (something Sasuke's Susano'o arrow didn't.)
The Susano'o arrow's movement being so fast that Kakashi couldn't physically dodge.
You must be registered for see images
Itachi's countered perfect Sages, unlike Raikages:
This is also a strength-testament, and it's further backed by Itachi blocking Jinchūriki.
You must be registered for see images
He moves so fast that even Naruto/Bee were stuck in their position when he moved back.
You must be registered for see images
So imagine those clone feints or flickers being combined with the speed of his jutsu:
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Especially when, in almost all cases, you're not allowed to really look at him (Tsukuyomi, finger jutsu, etc.)
You must be registered for see images
So, that's why there are so many fans. He's basically prime Hiruzen with the Mangekyō and in-battle mindreading & invincible artifacts.
You must be registered for see images
(Convert! Convert! Convert!)
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