Naruto Manga Character - Itachi Uchiha

Itachi Uchiha (うちはイタチ, Uchiha Itachi) was an ANBU Captain and a prodigy from Konohagakure's famed Uchiha clan. Forced to participate in the murder of his entire clan on orders from higher-ups, in what would become known as the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Itachi defected from the village, being branded as an S-rank missing-nin and joining the criminal organisation Akatsuki to serve as a double agent.

Itachi was born into the Uchiha clan as the eldest son of Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha, and was praised by all as the best of his generation, and a genius above all others. Even by the standards of the battle-adept Uchiha clan, Itachi's prowess far outshone their own. However, few could understand him. When he was only four, Itachi had already witnessed countless lives lost due to the Third Shinobi World War, which emotionally traumatised him and consequently turned him into a pacifist.Itachi spent much of his time researching the history of the village from the writings their ancestors left behind. During the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, Itachi was left alone to take care of his infant brother Sasuke and promised to protect him no matter what.

In the anime, it was shown that during their childhood, Itachi made a game of collecting paw prints of cats with his brother. The last paw print to be collected was Nekomata's, who Itachi had defeated and asked him to fight Sasuke with all his might when Sasuke got older. At age 7, Itachi graduated from the Academy at the top of his class after only one year, mastered the Sharingan at age 8,passed the Chūnin Exams at age 10, and enrolled in ANBU half a year later. Itachi was praised highly by Fugaku, his father, who spent most of his time grooming Itachi to inherit the title of leader of the Uchiha, and hence inadvertently neglected his younger son. However, Itachi showed great affection towards his little brother and even encouraged his father to come to the Academy enrollment ceremony for Sasuke, something their father had otherwise forgotten, caught up an important mission that would establish Itachi a place in the ANBU ranks. He later became a captain by age 13.

Naruto Manga Character - Itachi Uchiha

Itachi soon afterwards discovered Tobi, under the guise of Madara Uchiha. With the older Uchiha's help, Itachi was taught about the Mangekyō Sharingan.On the fateful night Itachi slaughtered his entire clan, despite this action, his parents stated that they were still proud of their eldest son, and requested that he took care of Sasuke. As per the agreement between him and Danzō, Itachi spared Sasuke as he was oblivious to the Uchiha's revolt and Itachi's love for his brother was too great. He lied to his brother, making himself out as a villain who had killed their innocent family only to test his capacity, and told Sasuke he was not even worth killing. Itachi also revealed to Sasuke the secret meeting place of the Uchiha, where Sasuke can learn the true history and purpose of the Sharingan. Itachi told him that in order to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke had to kill the person closest to him, and that when they met again, they should have the same eyes.

Sasuke managed to stand back up, awaken his Sharingan, and pursue Itachi. Upon reaching Itachi, he managed to knock off his forehead protector. Itachi shed a tear as he was picking up his forehead protector, then proceeded to incapacitate Sasuke, who awoke in the hospital, only remembering up to Itachi's speech. Hoping that his little brother would someday be powerful enough to kill him, Itachi left the village as a traitor.Knowing that Konoha would still want to eliminate Sasuke, Itachi pleaded with the Third Hokage to keep Sasuke safe and threatened Danzō not to harm Sasuke or else he would reveal everything he knew about Konoha's secrets to enemy nations.