Summary
- Itachi emphasizes that the life of a ninja may involve being hated by others, prompting self-reflection.
- Itachi tells Sasuke he doesn't need to forgive him, highlighting true remorse and atonement.
- Itachi warns Naruto against arrogance, stressing the importance of relying on others for support.
Naruto is a prominent anime and manga series that has captivated fans worldwide with its intriguing characters, spectacular battles, and deep themes. Itachi Uchiha, a complicated and enigmatic personality who has left a lasting impression on fatns with his wisdom, brilliance, and emotional depth, is one of the series' major characters. He has said numerous powerful words throughout the series that have struck a chord with viewers and motivated them to think about their own lives. Itachi's character arc throughout Naruto is also full of complicated and inspiring moments that have resonated with fans all around the world.
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From being a universally reviled character whose powers were off-the-charts, it's amazing how Kishimoto wrote Itachi to become a sympathetic figure who was a genuinely nice elder brother at heart. His battle with Sasuke is a moment that was a long time in the making, featuring a twist at the end where the surviving Uchiha learns about the ultimate sacrifice his elder brother made to ensure his happiness at all costs.
Updated on May 19, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam: With Sarada Uchiha revealing quite a massive power-up with her Mangekyo Sharingan’s abilities in the Boruto anime, fans of the Naruto franchise might recall just how iconic other Mangekyo Sharingan activations were in the OG series - specifically Itachi’s when he witnessed the death of Shisui as well as Sasuke when Itachi finally died in their battle. Sasuke’s activation was particularly riveting, as his fight with Itachi was also one of the only moments of true interaction the siblings have witnessed since the devastating Uchiha Massacre. For Itachi fans, remembering some of his wise words can cement the character’s place as one of the most iconic in the Naruto roster, especially when one understands the full context behind some of his statements.
23 "That’s Fine. To Live Life Being Hated, That’s One Path For A Ninja."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 138: "The End”
- Itachi acknowledges that the life of a ninja means possibly being hated by others
While Sasuke initially struggles in his fight against Itachi, Sasuke proves his prodigious Uchiha nature by quickly adapting to his older brother’s strategy, with Episode 138 revealing the younger brother finally getting the upper hand against the elder. While fans know this to be the episode where Itachi succumbs to his illness and dies while telling Sasuke how much he loves him, it’s their childhood memories interspersed throughout that make the moment much more impactful.
It’s revealed that Sasuke’s early training days were riddled with comparisons between him and his older brother, who, at the time, was already a skilled shinobi. Sasuke initially shows contempt when Itachi consoles him, to which Itachi simply says - “That’s fine. To live while being hated, that’s one path for a ninja.” Although Itachi says this more as a way to motivate Sasuke to be better than him, Itachi does live this way when he decides to be a kinslayer for the sake of his village.
22 "You Don’t Ever Have To Forgive Me."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 339: "I Will Always Love You"
- While Itachi is remorseful of his actions and explains them to Sasuke, his brother is never obliged to forgive him
A common misconception of Itachi’s story in Naruto is that his redemption arc needed Sasuke’s forgiveness to truly be “accomplished.” And as convoluted as his personal story has become, Itachi’s motivations have become much clearer: to protect the Hidden Leaf Village from an impending civil war. So, when Kabuto attempts to once again use Itachi among the reincarnated with Impure World Reincarnation, the shinobi manages to set himself free and team up with Sasuke to finally put an end to Kabuto’s schemes.
With Kabuto now controlled to unseal the summoning, Itachi was among the ones to truly go to the afterlife - making this battle the last time he’ll ever interact with Sasuke. Among his final messages to his brother was, “You don’t ever have to forgive me” - as though removing any “obligation” on Sasuke’s part to think of ever forgiving Itachi due to his intentions. This is also an excellent way of showcasing an element of true remorse, where the one who’s damaged others truly wants to atone for what they’ve done.
21 "One’s Reality Might Be Another’s Illusion. We All Live Inside Our Own Fantasies."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 135: “The Longest Moment”
- Itachi hints to Sasuke that their version of events might be more different than what he imagined
When Sasuke finally confronts Itachi in the Uchiha Compound, Itachi opens their encounter with: “One’s reality might be another’s illusion. We all live inside our own fantasies.” This is a fitting caption to the first part of their fight, which is essentially a demonstration of their visual prowess. Even with their Sharingan alone, Sasuke and Itachi manage to outwit each other with genjutsu after genjutsu - that is until Sasuke decides enough is enough and demands Itachi actually take their fight seriously.
While Itachi starts fighting his brother for real, this line he said does state a lot, not just about Itachi’s character (where no one thing is as it seems) but to life in general. At the end of the day, people live their own “fantasies” by the way they interpret life. As such, it is important to always put one's self in another person’s shoes, as their reality might be so different from the kind of life another person is experiencing.
20 "If You Forget About Everyone Else Because You Now Have Power, You’ll Become Arrogant And Egotistical - And Eventually, You Will Become Just Like Madara."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 299: "The Acknowledged One"
- As powerful as Naruto is, Itachi knows the folly of putting all the burden on one's self
When Edo Tensei Itachi reveals himself as a temporary ally to Naruto and Bee, he notices Naruto attempting to overexert his body by summoning more Shadow Clones than his body could handle - resulting in him shedding his Kyuubi Chakra Mode cloak and returning to his normal self. After Itachi senses Naruto’s frustration, the elder shinobi reminds him that: “If you forget about everyone else because you now have power, you’ll become arrogant and egotistical - and eventually, you will become just like Madara.”
While the comparison with Madara was enough to make Naruto think twice about his move, it’s when Itachi follows up that Naruto needs to rely on people who are there to support him that reinforces his belief in friendship. While Naruto did get power through his own efforts, it’s also through the help of others that he managed to get so far in his mission to help Sasuke. Itachi’s reminder helps ground Naruto, reminding him that, no matter how powerful he becomes, he should remember that his power also means protecting those he cares for.
19 "Can You Understand The Pain Felt By The Dead Who Are Forced To Fight? The Pain Of The Living Is Even Greater. After Finally Getting Over The Grief And Sadness, Your Jutsu Has Stirred Those Feelings Again!”
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 333: "The Risks Of The Reanimation Jutsu"
- A reminder that the Reanimation Jutsu makes everyone relive their pain
Since Orochimaru's usage of this Forbidden Jutsu in the Konoha Crush Arc, the Reanimation Jutsu has become one of the most infamous techniques in Naruto fandom. Such was its revolting nature that the only other time this was used was during the Fourth Shinobi World War, when Kabuto mass-revived once-powerful beings to give Madara’s army the edge they needed against the rest of the Ninja World. When Kabuto explains this logistical reasoning, Itachi says: “Can you understand the pain felt by the dead who are forced to fight? The pain of the living is even greater. After finally getting over the grief and the sadness, your Jutsu has stirred those feelings again!”
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Although it’s true that it’s a relief seeing Orochimaru use the same technique to revive the previous Hokage in order to enlighten Sasuke in the latter part of the war, Kabuto’s iteration was more horrifying to those on the battlefield. After all, Itachi reminded the viewers that loved ones will likely fight people they used to know, making them relive not just the good memories and the pain of seeing them die, but make a new scar out of the fact that they will likely have to die once more just for the sake of serving someone else in combat.
18 "Don't Cry, Sasuke. Your Big Brother Is Here To Protect You, No Matter What Happens."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 452: "The Genius"
- A pledge that will become a life-long promise
During the prelude to the Fourth Shinobi World War, it’s revealed that Sasuke and Naruto were born not too far apart from each other. The older Sasuke was already birthed just after the end of the Third Shinobi World War. The presence of life started to make an impact on Itachi, whose early exposure to constant death had pushed him to become a pacifist despite his talents. However, during one full moon (which turned out to be the Nine-Tails’ infamous attack of Konoha), Itachi had sensed something amiss in the air that also made an infant Sasuke cry. Itachi held his brother close and said, “Don’t cry, Sasuke. Your big brother is here to protect you, no matter what happens.”
Despite these seemingly innocent words from an older brother to a younger sibling, this promise would become a pledge that Itachi would fulfill throughout his life. After slaughtering his own clan, Itachi entrusted Sasuke’s growth to the Third Hokage. In their fight, Itachi forced Sasuke to almost deplete his chakra reserves to eliminate Orochimaru’s essence and his Curse Mark. This protection goes way back: Upon meeting Naruto, Itachi even implanted a crow with Shisui’s Sharingan to brainwash Sasuke into protecting Konoha as a last resort.
17 "You And I Are Flesh And Blood. I'm Always Going To Be There For You, Even If It's Only As An Obstacle For You To Overcome. Even If You Do Hate Me. That's What Big Brothers Are For."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 141: "Truth"
- Itachi affirming to Sasuke that his role as a big brother is to push Sasuke to better
When Obito Uchiha, under the guise of "Madara" Uchiha, takes care of a recuperating Sasuke, he also explains things that had happened to Itachi behind the scenes. Contrary to Sasuke’s perception that Itachi slaughtered his clan to test his abilities, it was Danzo and the Konoha Council’s machinations that forced Itachi to eliminate the Uchiha. In their eyes, it was either this or risk an all-out rebellion that might spill into a Fourth Shinobi World War.
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Sasuke meditates on this new realization atop a cliff and recalls fond memories with his brother. When they were kids, Sasuke had a hard time keeping up with Itachi, as the latter was a prodigy. After pointing out that Itachi was his parents’ favorite, the elder brother simply said: “You and I are flesh and blood. I’m always going to be there for you, even if it’s only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That’s what big brothers are for.” It’s as if Itachi was already telling Sasuke that he was willing to become his worst enemy if it meant pushing him to be better - a role he eventually fulfills.
16 “Look At Me, And Find In Yourself What I Was Lacking.”
Naruto Shipudden - Episode 338: "Izanagi And Izanami"
- Itachi reminds Sasuke that he wasn’t as perfect as he imagined
When Itachi finally manages to get the Sage Mode-empowered Kabuto trapped in the Izanami, Sasuke wonders why even bother trying to save Kabuto despite what he’s done. Itachi explains that Kabuto reminded him of his old self, and that, unlike him, Kabuto still had time to make up for what he'd done. Sasuke doesn’t buy it, however, and Itachi gently disagreed, reminding Sasuke that he once attempted to use the Kotoamatsukami to manipulate him and didn’t even trust his younger brother’s own strength. This was nowhere near the “perfect” description Sasuke had given him.
Itachi continues, musing that a perfect being may not even exist. It’s precisely for this reason that people are drawn to others who have what they don’t, and only in working together can they succeed. Itachi compares this to how the Izanami humbles Izanagi, and he asks Sasuke to “Look at me, and find in yourself what I was lacking.” Unlike him, Sasuke is still alive. And while Itachi may no longer be there, Sasuke’s memories of him may help mold Sasuke into a much better person than Itachi.
15 "You Will Become A Rival To Measure My Vessel Against."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 135: "The Longest Moment"
- Part of his grand plan to help Sasuke become a strong protector of the Leaf
After killing the entire Uchiha clan, Sasuke doesn't know what to think. He always assumed that his brother was a kind and decent human being, only for him to commit the ultimate crime and annihilate every Uchiha in sight. The only person he leaves is his brother, with Itachi's heart breaking as he's forced to abandon the one thing in life that gave him joy.
However, Itachi knows that Sasuke needed to get stronger instead of wallowing in his misery. This was one of the many lines he used to goad Sasuke into using his anger to become one of the strongest shinobi in the Leaf. While Sasuke does become strong, this hatred has such a hold of him that he decides to destroy the Leaf after finding out about the truth of Itachi's actions.
14 "I Will Love You, Always."
Naruto Shippuden - Episode 339: "I Will Always Love You"
- Touching parting words as the Edo Tensei is reversed
After encountering a revived Itachi who has broken the hold of Edo Tensei and is on his way to reverse the jutsu, the two brothers team up to fight against a mutated Kabuto. It's a tough fight, but Itachi comes to save the day with Izanami, forcing Kabuto into a loop until he finally admits his faults and mends his ways for good. It's the only way to willingly dispel Edo Tensei while ensuring that this troubled youth's life isn't forfeit.
Following this victory, the Edo Tensei jutsu is released. As Itachi fades away, the two brothers share a beautiful moment, with Itachi slowly moving his fingers to seemingly tap Sasuke's forehead, only to grab his younger brother's head and bring him close in a heartwarming moment when he says what everyone already knows — no matter what path Sasuke walks, Itachi will always love his baby brother.