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Itachi is one of the most complex and enigmatic characters in Naruto. However, is Itachi a Villain in Naruto?
If this question were to be answered with a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, then the answer would be a definite ‘No’. Despite his short stay in the show, Itachi was one of the most popular characters in the series. As the brother of Sasuke Uchiha and a member of the terrorist organization – Akatsuki, Itachi was initially believed to be a villain by most viewers of Naruto.
His character arc completely awed fans. Through his ideals and struggles, they started seeing him in a different light. A compelling backstory along with strong character development saw Itachi Uchiha become one of the most popular characters in the Naruto universe.
So why exactly did people think Itachi was a villain in Naruto? What was his true nature and the impact he had on the protagonists?
Why Was Itachi Initially Considered a Villain in Naruto?
Right from the introduction of the deuteragonist of Naruto – Sasuke Uchiha, viewers got to know that he sought revenge. In particular, he wanted revenge against his brother for killing his family and wiping his entire clan i.e. the Uchiha Clan.
While his side of the story was yet to be revealed, all we knew was that Itachi Uchiha was a traitor and murderer. To make things worse, he had betrayed his village, the Hidden Leaf, and massacred his entire clan along with his own family, except for his younger brother.
He was also infamous for joining the criminal organization Akatsuki, a group who sought world domination. As a result, Itachi was viewed as a villain.
Itachi’s Complicated Morality
Despite Itachi not being a villain in Naruto, his sense of morality is far from black-and-white. It is revealed that his reason for committing the heinous acts was to protect his village and prevent widespread bloodshed. As his clan planned to rebel against the Hidden Leaf Village, he could either watch them risk the peace or take care of it himself.
Itachi Uchiha faced this difficult choice at 13 years of age. He was considered a prodigy far beyond his years by the seniors of the village. His choice when it came to choosing between duty and family painted his morality in a rather complex color.
His moral ambiguity was further deepened by the fact that Itachi was a pacifist. To protect his younger brother and ensure peace, he was willing to take drastic measures. Due to the obvious irony behind his own ideology, his ideals and steps to safeguard them became more complex with each episode. Itachi was willing to be a villain in Naruto if it meant preserving what he felt was important.
Shisui Uchiha, a man Itachi considered akin to a brother, highly influenced Itachi’s complicated morality.
Shisui was the original person caught in the turmoil between his clan and the village. While Sishui worked with Danzo to monitor the Uchiha clan, the latter betrayed him, resulting in the loss of one of his eyes.
Despite this, he still believed in preventing his clan’s coup d’état and sacrificed his own life hoping to change their minds. While his pleas were left unheard, Itachi decided to carry on his will.
Itachi drew inspiration from Shisui’s sacrifice and efforts to prevent civil war. Because of this, he carried on Shisui’s legacy and aimed to prevent any escalation between his clan and the village.
Can Itachi be Considered a Hero in Naruto?
We know that Itachi was not a villain in Naruto. However, was he a hero? Many of his actions were brutal and at times, questionable, which makes answering this question difficult.
Nevertheless, Itachi was one of the most heroic figures in Naruto. Faced with an impossible choice, he decided to prioritize the greater good over his blood ties.
Itachi took on the role of the villain in Naruto to motivate his brother to grow stronger and eventually slay him. Additionally, he worked in the shadows of the Akatsuki to ensure that his village remained protected.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are also several debates against Itachi’s character. While his actions were justified by many as a noble sacrifice, others saw it as brutal and at times, devoid of any logic. At the end of the day, Itachi was still a mass murderer who killed men, women and children.
As an Akatsuki member, he captured tailed beasts and killed their hosts. Actions like these can be anything but “heroic.”
People argue that Danzo manipulated Itachi, forcing him to make a drastic choice and capitalizing on his “naivety.” However, it is beyond a doubt that Itachi had always taken the path he considered to be the most noble. His main priority was the safety of the Hidden Leaf and his brother, Sasuke.
Itachi’s Influence on Sasuke and Naruto
Itachis had a massive influence on the central characters of Naruto. For Sasuke, he fulfilled the role of the “evil older brother” and became his motivation to go forward. Constantly serving as a reminder of Sasuke’s weakness, Itachi pushed his brother to be a better Shinobi. Itachi did this because he wanted Sasuke to have the strength to survive in a ruthless world. Moreover, Itachi also wished to fall at Sasuke’s hands.
Later, when Sasuke came to know how Itachi was made the villain by the world of Naruto, he swore to get revenge on his brother’s oppressors. This led to him becoming an enemy of the Hidden Leaf Village and the biggest threat in the series for some time.
This is one of the major criticisms Itachi often faces. While he did help his brother gain power, he turned a promising ninja into an international criminal. Wanting his younger brother to forget about the misdoings of the Hidden Leaf Village and “move on” was not the most foolproof plan.
At the same time, while Sasuke was influenced by his older brother to become a criminal, his choices were his own. Hence, Itachi had a huge impact on Sasuke, both positive and negative.
Itachi’s influence on Naruto himself is often subtle and understated. He was early proof that every villain had their own circumstances. This helped Naruto in shaping his ideology based on “understanding” of both his friends and enemies.
During the battle against Madara when Naruto was feeling distraught, Itachi also reminded him of his core values and reduced his burden. As a man overwhelmed by enormous pressure himself, Itachi aimed to educate Naruto to avoid repeating his mistakes.
Through this, he was able to teach Naruto the necessary characteristics of a Hokage and the trust required in one’s comrades. While this was only visible to the most observant of fans, Naruto’s role as Hokage still reflects Itachi’s influence.
Conclusion
Itachi was a multi-dimensional character who made fans both love and hate him. His tragic life of sacrifice, betrayal, and loss blurred the lines between a hero and a villain.
As a character who made fans go through a wave of emotions throughout his entire arc, Itachi remains a pivotal figure in the legacy of Naruto.
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