Itachi: Saddest Character in Naruto

Heads up and be careful in your tread - there are spoilers ahead.

Hands up to anyone who loves Naruto! For those new to the anime world, it seems like an ancient piece. And for some, it may not be your cup of tea. All good!

Regardless, I will forcefully introduce one of my favourite characters, Itachi Uchiha A.K.A the man who killed his entire clan including his parents and lover but left his little brother alive out of spite. Also known as the gentleman who was feared by the entire Shinobi (ninja) world because he was just too damn good at killing and he wasn't on the good guy side.

Or so it seems. Cue ominous music!

My face-loving younger self initially liked him because he was the Shinobi adonis who were just fantastically gifted. But when the revelation came of his motives, reasons, and past - I was sold as his absolute fan.

I like to cut to it - so!

Did he kill his entire clan in a single fatefully moonlighted night and run away from his village?

Well, yes. He did.

But the reason he did so: was to protect the village and the name of his clan. Ladies and gents, it was later revealed that the Uchiha clan decided to perform a coup d'etat against the leaders of the Hidden Leaf, one of the ninja villages. He was initially asked by his clan to act as a double agent - gain the trust of the Hidden Leaf ninjas, then bam! Enter, slay, and out. But my man here loved his village, his people. And he couldn't bear having his clan tarnish their name in blood.

So, he became a triple agent.

He confided to the leader of the Hidden Leaf A.K.A the Hokage, of his clan's plans.

Here's where I hold a huge grudge against this power-hungry, one-eyed bloodless elder called Danzo Shimura. Because he thought it was a fantastic idea to ask this 13-year-old Itachi to massacre his entire clan.

Was Itachi hesitant?

You bet your mother's pearls and diamonds he was.

But there's another thing that this piece of human idiocy Danzo added - he offered Itachi to spare his little brother, Sasuke Uchiha. Danzo was well aware of the fact that Itachi would move heaven and earth for the little one.

So: to protect his homeland, protect his brother, and protect the name of his clan - this 13-year-old boy had killed.

I cried when he cried. Because when he killed his parents with trembling hands, his parents asked him to take care of his brother and honoured his decision. In respect, he likely spared them great dishonour had he allowed them to live. But I couldn't comprehend his pain then. How excruciating was it? How frustrating that everything came to this end?

And you know, what was the worst thing?

He never intended for anyone to find out why he did it.

This fool of a man cultivated his younger brother's spirit of revenge to ensure that Sasuke grew up strong - and had the motivation to live.

After going "rogue," he joined the Akatsuki, an epic group of essentially ninja rogues who were sort of attempting to wipe out the Shinobi world and reshape it - all to be the inside man to protect his beloved village.

In the end, he allowed himself to be killed by his brother, hoping that everything ends with his death.

I would like to think of death, perhaps he was reunited with his parents and clan. Perhaps he found his lover once more. Perhaps he lived freely after being released from those multiple identities. I truly hope that he is happy.