Was Itachi’s Role in the Uchiha Massacre Examined

Despite the Uchiha massacre he conducted, Itachi Uchiha remains a beloved and controversial character in Naruto. He betrayed his entire clan, leaving only his brother, Sasuke Uchiha, behind, which has contributed to the character’s polarizing reputation.

Like all villains, Itachi was once an ordinary human being. However, due to conflicting beliefs, he was forced to take on the role of a villain in order to protect both his clan and his home village, the Hidden Leaf Village. As a result, his actions can be interpreted as either that of a hero or a victim.

The Uchiha killer was seen as both a hero and a victim – a hero in the eyes of the Hidden Leaf Village leaders who believed he prevented a major war, and a victim in the eyes of the Uchiha. Specifically, his parents, who tragically lost their lives at the hands of their own son, viewed him as a victim due to the difficult decision he had to make.

Please note that all opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Naruto: Itachi’s Character After the Uchiha Massacre

Itachi as seen in Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Itachi Uchiha, the eldest son of Fugaku Uchiha, who served as both the leader of the Uchiha clan and the head of the Hidden Leaf Village Military Police Force, was born during a time of frequent warfare. This environment instilled in him a deep fear of conflict, causing him to train and grow powerful in order to protect himself and his loved ones.

At the age of 4, he already showed signs of being a prodigy in the Uchiha clan and was able to defeat a jounin in battle. By the time he turned 5, he had taken on the role of a big brother to Sasuke Uchiha and cared for him like any sibling would. At 6 years old, he enrolled in the Academy and effortlessly passed every exam.

He became a member of the Anbu Black Ops at the age of 11, making him the youngest member to ever join. Danzo, the leader of Anbu, recognized his potential and invited him to join. However, it was during this period that his fate as the ‘Uchiha killer’ was determined.

Hashirama (left) and Madara (right) (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Despite being a part of the village, the Uchiha clan faced constant discrimination from the villagers due to their heritage as descendants of Madara Uchiha, the traitor who remained unchanged until his death at the hands of Hashirama Senju. As a result, the Uchiha clan harbored a longstanding desire to overthrow the Hidden Leaf Village and claim it as their own.

Regrettably, the plan was contingent on Itachi’s induction into the Anbu Black Ops. Fearing the tumultuous era of his birth, he was determined to prevent it at any expense. As a result, he divulged this information to Danzo.

Ultimately, Danzo presented Itachi with a decision: either join them in eliminating the Uchiha clan, who were in the minority, or stand with his clan and face death alongside them. Being deeply devoted to his younger brother Sasuke, Itachi chose to align himself with Danzo on the condition that Sasuke be spared.

Itachi sparing Sasuke after the Uchiha massacre (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Itachi murdered every member of the Uchiha clan, regardless of their gender or age. He then proceeded to kill his own parents, informing them of the tragic events that had taken place. They accepted their fate and perished at the hands of their own son, sacrificing themselves for the well-being of him and his brother, Sasuke.

After returning from his academy, Sasuke was shocked by the horrific scene he witnessed. It was beyond anything he could have imagined in his wildest dreams. He confronted his brother and demanded answers, but at this point, he could no longer show compassion towards Itachi. Itachi was now left to survive alone, causing Sasuke to harbor a deep desire for revenge. In a moment of manipulation, Itachi cast a genjutsu on Sasuke, instructing him to become strong enough to kill him.

Despite gaining favor with many fans, this scene also sparked disgust among those who could not accept the Uchiha prodigy’s actions of killing his own clan. However, as it was a necessary decision, many fans understood the weight of the risk he took. The question that remains on the minds of most fans is whether he should be seen as a hero or a victim.

Despite being seen as the unknown hero by the residents of the Hidden Leaf Village for preventing a potential war and a devastating massacre, Itachi was also viewed as a victim by his parents. They witnessed their son making sacrifices to maintain peace, making it unfair to label him with just one title and fully understand his complex character.