Itachi Uchiha is one of the most powerful ninja in the Naruto universe and a major antagonist in the series. He murdered his entire clan, sparing only his younger brother Sasuke. Years later, Itachi and Sasuke have an epic battle where Sasuke finally gets his revenge. However, it is later revealed that Itachi was not purely evil and was actually working for the Leaf Village the whole time. He massacred the Uchiha clan on orders from the village elders to prevent a coup.
One question that arises from Itachi and Sasuke’s climactic battle is whether Itachi was secretly ill at the time of the fight. There are some hints that Itachi was not at his full strength when the two brothers dueled. Let’s analyze the evidence surrounding Itachi’s health during his battle with Sasuke.
Itachi’s Illness
Shortly after wiping out the Uchiha clan, Itachi left the Leaf Village and joined the Akatsuki criminal organization. However, around this same time, Itachi became afflicted with a mysterious terminal illness. The illness caused Itachi to frequently cough up blood and gradually weakened his body and eyesight over time.
Itachi managed to keep his sickness secret from most people. Very few Akatsuki members, such as Kisame Hoshigaki, knew about Itachi’s condition. Itachi was able to take daily medication to prolong his life. However, the illness continued to deteriorate Itachi’s health in the years leading up to his fight with Sasuke.
Evidence of Illness Against Sasuke
There are several signs throughout Itachi and Sasuke’s battle that indicate Itachi was not at full strength:
- Itachi coughs up blood at multiple points during the fight
- He appears exhausted and breathing heavily, seemingly more fatigued than expected
- His eyesight starts failing him, making genjutsu difficult
- He is forced to conserve chakra and resorts to basic weapons like kunai instead of advanced techniques
- Itachi tells Sasuke his illness has left him but a shell of his former self
Overall, Itachi displays many symptoms of his sickness and is notably not using his full arsenal of abilities against Sasuke. The illness seems to have taken a significant toll on both his stamina and ocular powers.
Counterarguments
However, there are also reasons to think Itachi was not as weakened by illness as he appeared during the fight:
- Itachi still exhibits impressive speed, strength, and reflexes during the battle
- He uses his Mangekyo Sharingan abilities like Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu without issue
- Itachi may have been exaggerating his illness to goad Sasuke into fighting with intent to kill
- He may have held back some of his strength to test Sasuke’s conviction and abilities
Itachi remains an incredibly formidable opponent against Sasuke. He may have played up the extent of his sickness in order to manipulate Sasuke’s emotions during the fight. Even ill, Itachi pushes Sasuke to his limits.
Conclusion
Itachi likely was genuinely ill during his showdown with Sasuke, considering he had been battling a terminal disease for years. The symptoms he displays like fatigue, coughing, and reduced eyesight all point to real effects from his illness. However, Itachi was still extremely skilled and may have downplayed just how much strength he still possessed in order to make Sasuke believe he had surpassed him. Ultimately, Itachi’s illness probably took a toll on his abilities but he was still near the peak of his powers against Sasuke, making it an even more impressive victory for Sasuke. Their fateful battle demonstrated that Sasuke had finally grown strong enough to take down his prodigious older brother, even one weakened by sickness.
| Evidence of Illness | Counterarguments |
|---|---|
| Coughing up blood | Still exhibits great speed and reflexes |
| Fatigue and heavy breathing | Uses Mangekyo Sharingan abilities effectively |
| Failing eyesight | May have exaggerated illness to manipulate Sasuke’s emotions |
| Conserving chakra and using basic weapons | May have held back some strength to test Sasuke |
| Claims illness has weakened him severely | Remains an incredibly formidable opponent |
Itachi’s Motivations
In addition to his illness, Itachi’s motivations during the fight may provide insight into why he did not fight at 100% capacity against Sasuke:
- Wanted Sasuke to kill him and be seen as a hero in the Leaf Village
- Hoped to die by Sasuke’s hand to atone for his crimes
- Did not actually want to kill Sasuke, still cared for his brother
- Wanted to test if Sasuke had the strength and conviction to defeat him
Itachi had his own reasons for allowing the fight to play out as it did. He likely held back the full extent of his power intentionally, to allow Sasuke to be victorious and gain closure.
Itachi’s Strengths Even While Ill
Despite his illness, Itachi remained incredibly skilled:
– Masterful genjutsu abilities with Tsukuyomi
– Proficient use of Amaterasu black flames
– Speed and taijutsu to keep up with Sasuke
– Tactical genius and analytical skills
– Able to perform Susanoo in an advanced form
Itachi remained a formidable opponent for Sasuke. His sickness may have slowed him down, but he was still operating close to the peak of the Uchiha clan’s powers against Sasuke.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Itachi Uchiha was most likely battling a significant illness when he fought Sasuke, which weakened aspects of his physical abilities and stamina. However, Itachi may have exaggerated the full effects of his sickness in order to manipulate Sasuke during their fateful battle. Itachi still retained much of his massive power and skills despite his terminal condition. His illness took a toll but he was still near his full capabilities against Sasuke, making Sasuke’s victory even more impressive. Their epic duel demonstrated that Sasuke had finally eclipsed his legendary brother, even one whose powers were draining from disease. It was a bittersweet moment, allowing the brothers to reconcile just before Itachi’s death.