Itachi Uchiha, one of the most beloved characters in the Naruto universe, had a tragic end to his story. He took the hearts of many fans of Naruto, who felt he was a betrayal. After he died in the series, many fans’ perceptions about Itachi immediately changed. However, Itachi died twice in the series, and many fans need clarification about when and how he died.
The first time Itachi died was in episode 138 of Naruto Shippuden after he fought with his younger brother Sasuke, and the impact of his death was felt throughout the series. It is also seen in the series when Itachi dies for the second time after he breaks the reincarnation Jutsu in episode 339.
In this article, we’ll explore not only the episode in which Itachi died but also the circumstances leading up to his death and the complex character that he was. We will also unravel the many twists concerning how and when Itachi died. Keep reading the article that will answer many questions that need clarification.
In Which Episode Did Itachi First Die?
Itachi’s death occurred in episode 138 of Naruto Shippuden, titled “The End.” This episode is recorded as his first death and marks the end of the Pain arc and the culmination of Itachi’s story. Itachi’s death was crucial in the series, leading to Sasuke’s transformation and ultimate redemption. During this episode, Itachi fought with Sasuke, and he used some of his energy to free himself from Orochimaru.
Sasuke tried several attempts to finish Itachi, but it took a lot of effort for him to accomplish his mission. At some point, thunderous clouds were gathered above when Sasuke released fire using the great dragon combined with the Itachi technique of explosive Amaterasu.
As Sasuke keeps more effort to kill Itachi, he decides to use his new Jutsu, Kirin, which he uses with its Chakra to harness the lightning in the sky to hit Itachi. Well, Itachi survived the hit with the help of his Susanoo, a massive chakra protector considered for individuals with Mangeky Sharingan in both eyes. At this point, Sasuke thought he had managed to finish Itachi, and he felt he had won the battle, but he was surprised he didn’t finish him.
Itachi began to move towards Sasuke, who was now out of Chakra. What happened to him was that the suppressed piece of Orochimaru absorbed by Sasuke started taking control of his body. The Orochimaru possessed eight white snakes, which came out from Sasuke’s cursed seal through the eight Branches Technique. At this moment, Orochimaru found an exit through one of the snake mouths and was thankful for Itachi, who made Sasuke out of Chakra to a point where his option was to break free.
Itachi manages to decapitate seven snakes out of eight using his Susanoos sword of Totsuka. This sword can seal souls and confine them forever. Using the sword, we saw how It seals Orochimaru away, erasing Sasukes cursed seal. However, using this process, using the sword consumed a lot of Chakra, which reduced the Itachi Susanoo sword to its simplest form.
During this time, Itachi starts coughing up blood as he becomes helpless, and he slowly moves toward his younger brother Sasuke who is also unable to run away from him. Immediately Itachi reaches closer to Sasuke and he spoke his final words to him and eventually poked his forehead before collapsing. He seemed exhausted but died at the end.
Sasuke started to think deeply about his brother’s last words, “Sorry, Sasuke, this is it,” which has stuck with many fans. More so, Itachi had much to say besides his few last words to his brother but didn’t get the chance to do so.
The Myth About Itachi’s Trip
There is a popular myth among Naruto fans that Itachi planned his death during his fight with Sasuke. The theory suggests that Itachi used a shadow clone to fight Sasuke while he went to the afterlife. While this theory is fascinating, it has been debunked by the creator of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto. According to Kishimoto, Itachi did not use a shadow clone and was genuinely defeated by Sasuke.
Itachi decided to fight his brother because he was already sick and was using many medications to be alive. He stays with his illness long enough to spare his brother during a fight as he will not fight in the usual way he used to before. Furthermore, he chooses to fight his brother so that he can provide battleground training for Sasuke as he prepares him for future opponents’ battles which will be easy for him.
However, Sasuke took the fight with much vengeance to punish Itachi for the death he caused to his clan and his parents, and he fully accomplished his mission.
In Which Episode Was Itachi’s Death the Second Time?
Itachi’s second death occurred in episode 339 of Naruto Shippuden, where he was reincarnated and returned. In this episode, Itachi is brought back to life by Kabuto and forced to fight Sasuke again. Itachi ultimately sacrifices himself to give Sasuke the power to defeat Kabuto after breaking the reincarnation of Jutsu.
So, in this scene, Itachi tells Kabuto to end the technique that revived the dead, and Sasuke decides to take revenge on the town that caused his brother so much pain. Then, Sasuke says goodbye to Itachi before he goes. However, Itachi walks over to Sasuke and uses his Sharingan to teach him about the Uchiha Clan’s downfall. At the same time, the bright lights surrounding the resurrected shinobi fade into pillars of light, illuminating the battlefield.
During this time, we see the two brothers close again as Itachi reveals all the truth about what happened to Sasuke. Itachi decides to wish his brother well and even tells him that no matter what happens or what he will do from that moment, he will always love him, and they both say a final goodbye to each other. The parting words Itachi conveyed to his younger brother Sasuke made fans love him even more.
What Was Itachi’s Age at the Time of His Death?
Itachi was 21 years old at the time of his death when he fought his younger brother Sasuke. Despite his young age, Itachi had accomplished a lot in his short life, becoming an ANBU captain at 13 and a member of the elite Uchiha clan.
He became a captain at that age because of the former captain Shisui who died, and six months later, Itachi was made the new captain. However, at thirteen, he committed a significant crime by killing his clan and parents and was seen as a traitor.
What Caused Itachi to Kill His Lover?
In the Naruto series, Many fans widely hate Itachi because of his wicked actions of killing his lover, clan, and parents. Itachi’s lover was a fellow member of the Uchiha clan named Izumi. Itachi was tasked with spying on his clan by the village leadership, and as part of his mission, he was ordered to kill his lover.
While it was difficult for Itachi, he eventually followed his orders and killed Izumi. Before she dies, she appreciates Itachi for loving her, and Itachi responds by also thanking her for the love they shared before she gave up the ghost.
This decision weighed heavily on Itachi and contributed to the complex character that he became. This made Sasuke angry with him, and he declared for revenge on Itachi as he was looking forward to punishing him his evil deeds.
Itachi’s Love Story Explained
Itachi and Izumi’s love story was tragic and short-lived. Itachi first met Izumi during the Nine-Tails, where Itachi protected Izumi and Sasuke from any harm from the attacks. They were childhood friends who fell in love as they grew older. However, their love was not meant to be, as Itachi was forced to kill Izumi as part of his mission to spy on the Uchiha clan. Itachi’s love for Izumi is genuine, and her death profoundly impacts him and makes him a complex character who is hated.
Who is the Strongest Uchiha?
It’s a question that has sparked many debates among Naruto fans: who is the strongest Uchiha? While there is no clear answer, many fans consider Sasuke the strongest in the Uchiha clan. Sasuke was believed to be stronger than the rest when he accumulated the Mangekyo Sharingan from Itachi after he died.
Some of his most potent abilities are the Itachi eyes which gave him the mighty power of flame control, and Amaterasu. In addition, Sasuke had acquired a powerful strength by using his full-body Susanoo, making him the strongest of all time. It is evident in the series that Sasuke is more powerful than Madara Uchiha because he defeats him as he dominates the fight. As time passes, Sasuke becomes more powerful, and even his combat skills become equal to Naruto’s.
Conclusion
Itachi’s story is one of tragedy and sacrifice. He was a character burdened with immense responsibility from a young age, and he had to make difficult decisions that ultimately led to his death. As seen in the episode, the two brothers, Itachi and Sasuke, had both love and hate relationships, leading to a tragic end for Itachi. However, Itachi’s legacy lives on in the characters he touches, including Sasuke and Naruto. His sacrifice helped pave the way for a better future, and his story serves as a reminder of the importance of making difficult choices for the greater good.
