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 by possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan could only be cured by 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 by 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 given 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 or 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 by merely pointing or 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 popular character in the series, normally ranking in the Top Ten of the Shonen Jump popularity polls. However, in the latest poll he ranked 11th.
