Partner: Kisame Hoshigaki
Seiyu: Hideo Ishikawa
Voice actor: Crispin Freeman, Skip Stellrecht (Naruto Episodes 29-30)
Itachi Uchiha (うちは イタチ, Uchiha Itachi?) is a missing-nin from Konohagakure and is partnered with Kisame Hoshigaki. During his time in Konoha, Itachi's prodigious talents and rapid development into a skilled ninja earned great attention from his family, the Uchiha clan. He eventually began to train under Madara Uchiha in secret, murdering his best friend, Shisui Uchiha, to gain the Mangekyo Sharingan. He soon joined forces with Madara in the massacre of the Uchiha clan, sparing his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha. Knowing that the blindness brought on kwa possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan could only be cured kwa taking the eyes of one's sibling, Itachi spared Sasuke so he could someday take his brother's eyes. Hoping that Sasuke might obtain his own Mangekyo Sharingan kwa then, Itachi encouraged his younger brother to live hating him and striving to avenge the clan. At some point in time Itachi joined Akatsuki. The timeline that has been aliyopewa throughout the series coupled with his age suggests that he joined the organization prior to killing his clan.
Despite his status as a wanted criminal and murderer, Itachi does not display any open enjoyment in violence au combat. Itachi instead prefers to avoid battle or, if that is not possible, end it quickly while exerting as little effort as he can. When he does fight Itachi remains stationary, attacking only in defense and to otherwise avoid damage. He also studies an opponent's movements with his Sharingan eyes, using them to properly assess an opponent's actions and respond accordingly. With his Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi can utilize attacks such as Tsukuyomi (月読, literally "Moon Reader"?), a genjutsu that can torture an opponent for what seems like days in a matter of moments. Itachi is also very adept with standard genjutsu, and can trap others within an illusion kwa merely pointing au looking at them, as well as turn their own genjutsu against them. He is also noted to be extremely fast with his techniques and movements, extending to his hand signs and weaponry as well.
Itachi is a maarufu character in the series, normally ranking in the juu Ten of the Shonen Jump popularity polls. However, in the latest kura ya maoni he ranked 11th.
Orochimaru is a missing-nin from Konohagakure. After he defects from Konoha he joins Akatsuki and is paired with Sasori. Once Itachi Uchiha does the same, Orochimaru attempts to use one of his abilities to forcefully take control of Itachi's body. Itachi repels his effort and severs his hand as punishment, forcing Orochimaru to flee the organization in defeat. Upon leaving he takes his severed hand and the ring he wore on it with him. Because of this, as well as the fact that he had intimate knowledge of Akatsuki's secrets and plans, the members of Akatsuki began making every effort possible to find and eliminate him.
