Is Itachi’s Alignment in Naruto: Good or Evil? Explained

The debate among Naruto fans surrounding Itachi’s true nature, whether he is good or evil, stems from his actions throughout the series. Initially portrayed as a villain and Sasuke Uchiha’s malevolent older brother responsible for their clan’s massacre, his true motivations and reasoning are only revealed during the Shippuden portion of the story. This has resulted in the ongoing discussion among fans.

Itachi’s popularity in Naruto stems from his distinctive design, style, and impressive abilities. His determination to safeguard the village and his younger brother Sasuke only adds to his multi-faceted character. Despite the challenge of categorizing him as either a hero or a villain, there are numerous perspectives to take into account when studying his persona.

Note: This article includes plot details for the series.

Itachi’s Evil Actions in Naruto

Itachi as a member of Akatsuki (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Sasuke Uchiha, the younger brother, initially introduces the character in the series. It is disclosed that Itachi was responsible for the annihilation of their clan, leaving them as the only known survivors. As a result, Itachi became a fugitive from the Hidden Leaf Village, while his brother vowed to seek retribution by killing him.

Following Orochimaru’s invasion, Itachi returns to the Hidden Leaf Village as a member of the Akatsuki, a group of rogue ninjas dedicated to capturing all nine Jinchurikis, including Kurama. Although Itachi’s first attempt to capture Kurama is unsuccessful, he reappears during his final battle with Sasuke in the later part of the story. It is revealed that Itachi desires his brother’s eyes, but ultimately, he succumbs to an illness during the fight and passes away.

Itachi’s Love for Sasuke and the Hidden Leaf

Itachi the night he murdered the Uchiha clan (Image via Studio Pierrot).

After his death during a battle with his brother Obito Uchiha, who was masquerading as Madara Uchiha, revealed to Sasuke that Itachi’s motives for killing his clan were not selfish and he did not spare Sasuke in order to obtain his eyes. The truth of the matter was that Itachi had a deep love for his family and the Hidden Leaf Village, but had been given the difficult task of eliminating his clan due to their involvement in a coup.

Despite the popular belief that the Uchiha clan massacre in Naruto was a result of their own planning for a coup, it was actually orchestrated by Danzo Shimura. Using his political influence, Danzo manipulated the situation and forced Itachi to kill his own clan, with the promise that Sasuke would be spared.

Itachi became a member of Akatsuki due to his awareness of Obito’s leadership and a desire to monitor his actions. Obito was also implicated in the Uchiha massacre and aided Itachi in the killing of innocent individuals, including children. According to a popular fan theory, Itachi may have been acting as a spy for Jiraiya within Akatsuki, as Jiraiya had previously mentioned having a contact within the organization.

Final verdict on Itachi’s moral alignment

Itachi saying goodbye to Sasuke (Image via Studio Pierrot).

According to author Masashi Kishimoto’s canon material in the manga, Itachi’s actions in the story were never motivated by malice. He chose to eliminate the Uchiha clan in order to bring peace to the Hidden Leaf Village. His commitment to protecting the village led him to spy on Akatsuki and ensure Sasuke’s safety.

Therefore, it can be concluded that Itachi cannot be deemed as evil, but this realization may cause difficulties for many fans who discover that Kishimoto did not intend for him to be a protagonist in Naruto. It can be argued that while Itachi was a conscientious individual who strived to make the right choices, his actions ultimately resulted in causing harm. Thus, Itachi cannot be labeled as entirely good, but he cannot be considered evil either.