Itachi Uchiha’s story in Naruto is one rife with unbearable pain, as the skilled former shinobi-turned-criminal consistently sacrificed his personal motivations for the greater good. Older brother to Sasuke, Itachi was traumatized by the aftermath of the Third Shinobi War, which inspired him to train hard as a child and eventually serve as an Anbu Captain at a young age.
However, one fateful night, Itachi kills the entire Uchiha clan — including his parents — sparing only Sasuke. In turn, the youngest of the last two Uchiha grows up with the desire to avenge his clan and spends the majority of his adolescence directing his energies toward training and getting stronger, strong enough to face his sibling in battle. Meanwhile, Itachi joins the Akatsuki and has several clashes with Sasuke and the other shinobi over time.
It is important to note that Itachi dies twice in Naruto — the first time, after an epic confrontation with his brother, Sasuke, and after he is reincarnated by Kabuto during the Fourth Shinobi War, Itachi’s soul eventually returns to the afterlife.
The two deaths of Itachi Uchiha
Although Itachi technically died once and was brought back briefly against his will, the man died a thousand deaths throughout his life, owing to the trauma he had to endure and internalize all his life. Forced to portray himself as a villain to the point of alienating his brother and having the entire shinobi world turn against him, Itachi has always led a double life and was never free to carry out what his heart truly yearned for.
In Naruto Shippuden episode 138, appropriately titled “The End,” Itachi and Sasuke engage in a fight, in which the latter attacks the former viciously. For the most part, Itachi is able to evade the attacks due to his Susanoo. However, in an attempt to defeat Itachi by any means, Sasuke releases Orochimaru, who wishes to take over Sasuke’s body. Itachi succeeds in keeping Orochimaru at bay and successfully removes Sasuke’s cursed seal, which he’d unwillingly earned at the Forty-Fourth Training Ground, better known as the Forest of Death, during the second stage of the Chūnin exams.
By this time, at the end of the fight, Itachi’s chakra is all used up, and just when Sasuke thinks it’s over for him, Itachi pokes his forehead — a recreation of the endearing love language they shared as brothers when they were children. This gesture also seals Amaterasu in Sasuke’s eyes, and Itachi apologizes to Sasuke, smiles, and passes away.
Among the Naruto fandom, there is a popular belief that Itachi was not truly killed by his brother. He allowed Sasuke to have the kill to an extent, helping him become stronger and free of his curse in the process. Itachi was already close to death when Sasuke came to face him, his sickness would have eventually claimed him had the battle with his sibling not sped up the process. A Redditor wrote: “Itachi could have won if he really wanted to get Sasuke’s eyes.” Which is not an absurd, baseless opinion. Nor is it to think that Itachi had — in his own highly complex, sometimes contradictory, and often mysterious way — his brother’s best interests at heart.
Later on, during the Fourth Shinobi World War and after he is reanimated by Kabuto, Itachi eventually finds a way to end the Impure World Reincarnation. His final words to Sasuke involve the truth, and then he bumps his forehead against his, acknowledging his brother as his equal. Before passing away, he tells Sasuke that he does not expect forgiveness from him, but will always love him no matter what.