Naruto: How Itachi Uchiha's illness stopped him from becoming the strongest ninja
He was one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, ninjas in Naruto, but illness prevented him from reaching even greater heights.
In the world of Naruto, one of the most popular pieces of Japanese anime that is viewed by millions around the world, some characters are so tragic and complicated that they remain on the mind long after their final scenes. One of them is Itachi Uchiha—a stoic mastermind forced to shoulder unbearable secrets and unbearable burdens.
Initially, audiences thought Itachi was truly the monster he seemed to be – a merciless foe who killed his entire clan. Yet as the tale unfolded, we discovered the tragic reality underneath it all: Itachi was not evil. He was a hero who had to make unspeakable decisions. Now, there were several factors along the way. One thing that gets lost in the wave of history and sort of love affair with the man was this silent disease that robbed him of his strength. Itachi wasn't sick, Itachi is one of the all-time strongest ninjas in anime history.
Young Itachi was a true ninja prodigy
Even as a young child, Itachi was well beyond the maturity of his peers. By the age of 7, he was well on his way to thinking like a Hokage (the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village). At 8, he became the first of his clan ever to unlock the powerful Sharingan, an advanced clan-based ninja ability. At just 11 years of age, he earned the rank of the youngest ANBU Captain, a rank reserved for the most elite ninjas.
His abilities just got more honed after training with the legendary Shisui Uchiha, another legendary teacher and master ninja to boot. With the horrific pain of that loss, Itachi opened the
Mangekyo Sharingan
, allowing him to wield deadly new powers like Amaterasu (black flames that burn endlessly) and Tsukuyomi (a soul-shattering jutsu).
With these powers, not even an elite ninja reincarnated from the dead like Orochimaru could perform. Itachi didn't just outplay his opponents—he wrecked them.
The illness that held back a legend
Behind the scenes, Itachi was gradually succumbing to death.
Naruto never goes into specifics about the disease, we can all agree that it was deadly. As Itachi fought throughout his run in the series, he was fighting on more than one front. He was fighting for his life. He could frequently be found spitting up blood, and his bruising energy levels were a constant drain. His physical condition led him to become partially blind as a result of overextending the use of his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Even in this compromised condition, Itachi was still effortlessly defeating high-level characters such as Kakashi Hatake. In his climactic fight with his brother Sasuke, Itachi was all but blind and very sickly. He still managed to perform and even retrieve victory.
Itachi could've been stronger than Madara and Sasuke
It's a question posed by countless Naruto fans over the years: What if Itachi had survived longer? The answer should be obvious—he would have achieved a whole new orbit of power.
Characters like Sasuke, Madara and even Naruto per se became strong in their adult years. Itachi died young in his early 20s. Given more time, and improved health, Itachi could have achieved the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, eliminating the risk of blindness and providing him even greater power.
He would have had the potential to access the Six Paths power, a unique power to few in the series that could have made him more intimidating. In summary, Itachi's potential was never fully realized. His illness stunted his development long before he died.
Itachi's legacy lives on in Naruto
Despite dying young,
Itachi Uchiha
still stands as one of Naruto's most revered and adored characters. Through his actions, he defined the future of the Hidden Leaf Village and set in motion various events that would lead to some of the biggest story arcs in Naruto and Naruto: Naruto Uzumaki—part one & Naruto Shippuden.
From child prodigy, to misunderstood villain, to
tragic hero
— we encourage you to watch as his convoluted journey turns him into one of the most interesting
anime characters
around. While his terminal illness deprived him of physical strength, he never lost the strength of his heart.
Itachi needed more time for this final piece
Itachi Uchiha wasn't simply a strong ninja—he was a narrative embodiment of sacrifice, love, and concealed suffering. Had he not been afflicted with a disability we can only describe as a mysterious anime illness, he would have easily turned into one of the most powerful anime characters ever.
Fans continue to argue to this day about how far he would've gone, and that's what makes his story so legendary.
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