Naruto: 5 Reasons It’s Hard to Like Itachi Uchiha Today

Few Naruto characters have enjoyed a reputation makeover quite like Itachi Uchiha. Introduced as a cold-blooded criminal who slaughtered his clan, tortured his younger brother, and joined the Akatsuki, he eventually emerged as one of the series’ most tragic figures. His secret loyalty to Konoha and desperate love for Sasuke turned a seemingly merciless villain into a fan-favourite antihero.

But tragedy does not automatically equal innocence. Itachi’s sacrifices deserve recognition, yet the decisions behind them leave uncomfortable questions about morality, manipulation, and accountability. Look beyond the tears and legendary Sharingan techniques, and his heroic reputation becomes considerably harder to defend.

1 Itachi’s Massacre Didn’t Have to Include Uchiha Children

Itachi’s tragic circumstances explain his choice, but they cannot erase what he did. At just 13, he participated in the near-total slaughter of the Uchiha clan, killing relatives and innocent members alongside those involved in the coup plot. The revelation that Danzo pressured him into choosing between the clan and Konoha reframes the massacre as a political tragedy, not a straightforward battle between good and evil.

Yet Itachi still became an executioner rather than finding a way to protect the innocent. His willingness to sacrifice his reputation is heartbreaking, but accepting blame is not the same as making the right choice.

2 He Put Sasuke Through Repeated Trauma And Years of Psychological Torture

Itachi’s love for Sasuke becomes difficult to defend when we examine how he expressed it. During their reunion in Part I, he subjected Sasuke to Tsukuyomi, a Mangekyō Sharingan technique that manipulates a victim’s perception of time inside an illusion. Sasuke was forced to relive the clan’s slaughter, reopening the psychological wounds Itachi had supposedly wanted to spare him. Their later confrontation continued this pattern of manipulation.

Itachi wanted Sasuke strong enough to kill him, but deliberately traumatising a child was hardly responsible mentorship. His intentions may have been protective, yet the emotional damage was real. Love should not require someone to survive their own brother’s cruelty.

3 Naruto Turned Itachi Into a “Gary Stu” With Overpowered Abilities

Calling Itachi a Gary Stu is debatable, but the argument has teeth. His Sharingan grants formidable illusion techniques, Amaterasu produces black flames, and his Susanoo wields the Totsuka Blade, which seals targets it pierces, alongside the remarkably powerful Yata Mirror. Add his tactical intelligence and ability to anticipate opponents, and he can feel less like a skilled ninja than a walking collection of emergency plot solutions.

His confrontation with Orochimaru shows this especially well. Itachi’s Susanoo seals the resurrected serpent-like threat with startling efficiency. Still, his terminal illness, declining eyesight, and limited chakra prevent him from being genuinely invincible. The criticism concerns how conveniently exceptional he can seem, not whether his abilities have costs.

4 Itachi’s Legendary Genius Plans Were All Massively Flawed

Itachi’s intelligence is undeniable, but his plans often confuse controlling events with actually solving problems. He wanted Sasuke to become powerful enough to kill him, avenge the clan, and emerge as a hero to Konoha. That meant hiding the truth, encouraging hatred, and making himself the target of his brother’s entire life.

The plan depended on Sasuke reacting exactly as expected, despite Itachi having no reliable way to control what happened afterward. His contingency involving Shisui’s eye was similarly questionable: he intended its Kotoamatsukami genjutsu to influence Sasuke into protecting Konoha. The strategy was clever, but built on manipulation rather than trust. Itachi could predict battles better than people.

5 He Protected Konoha’s Darkest Sins Instead of Exposing Its Crimes

Perhaps Itachi’s most troubling legacy is his decision to protect Konoha’s reputation while concealing the political failures behind the Uchiha massacre. The clan faced suspicion and marginalisation after the Nine-Tails’ attack, while Danzo pursued increasingly ruthless measures against it. Rather than exposing those responsible, Itachi accepted the role of criminal and left the Hidden Leaf’s sins largely shielded from public accountability.

His arrangement with Hiruzen and his continued commitment to protecting Konoha complicate the picture, but they do not make its political machinery innocent. The village survived, yet the injustice that helped produce the tragedy remained buried. Itachi protected millions from conflict, perhaps, but also helped preserve a system that had failed his own family.

Do you believe Itachi deserves to be remembered as a hero? Share your take in the comments!

Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are available on Crunchyroll and Hulu.