Naruto Shippuudden - Episode 139-142 (Part 2)

Episode 139: The Mystery of Tobi

Episode 140: Fate

Episode 141: Truth

I am SO behind ;_; Gomen.

Another batch of revelatory Naruto episodes. This time, we focus more on one of the mysterious characters in the series. This time around, I will reveal the Truth about Itachi.

Tobi's True Identity.

Tobi appeared to be one of the lesser members of the Akatsuki. He appears to be someone lousy, childish, carefree and goofy personality. In fact, because of this, he is hated by his fellow Akatsuki members because of this attitude. But all of this front is because of his commitment to keep his real identity secret to everyone.

Unbeknown to all, Tobi is the real leader of Akatsuki, giving secret orders to Pain. He wears his orange mask to keep his face hidden to all as it would reveal EVERYTHING about him. One look on his eyes, you will know who he really is.

And who he really is? He is Uchiha Madara, one of the co-founder of the Konohagakure and once a leader of the Uchiha clan.

Wikipedia has a short and concise way to telling his background:

Madara Uchiha is the founder of Akatsuki and the first possessor of the Mangekyo Sharingan, a rare form of the eye condition unique to the Uchiha. Though it gave him the strength needed to take control of the Uchiha clan, overuse of the Mangekyo Sharingan left him blind, and it was only by taking his own brother's eyes that he was able to regain his sight. Madara eventually banded together with Hashirama Senju to create Konohagakure. The two founders disagreed on who should lead their new village and after a momentous battle between the two Madara was expelled from Konoha. In later years the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox attacked Konoha, an act Itachi Uchiha states to have been Madara's doing, though Madara denies it. Once the fox was defeated by Minato Namikaze, Madara infiltrated Konoha in secret, trained Itachi, and subsequently assisted him in assassinating the Uchiha clan. Kisame Hoshigaki, upon seeing his face, notes him to be the Mizukage.

After Sasuke and Itachi's fight, Madara tended to Sasuke's wounds and brought him to his hideout. When Sasuke woke up, he offered to tell Sasuke the truth about his brother. Madara tried to befriend Sasuke by showing him his Sharingan, but Sasuke's Amaterasu appeared and attacked Madara. After killing the flames, Madara returned with his mask on, revealing that Itachi did this on purpose so that Sasuke will be protected from him. Itachi probably set his Sharingan that when Madara's Sharingan is at Sasuke's sight, Amaterasu will be activated. At the last minute, Itachi sealed his own power inside Sasuke so that he will always be protected.

Madara then introduced himself as the man who helped Itachi on that fateful day and challenged Sasuke to believe in him even though he cannot show any proof.

Itachi's Truth:

Contrary to what he has been doing, Itachi isn't as bad as we thought he is. He deeply cared for Sasuke that is why he did not kill him.

Itachi's story starts with the history of Konoha.  Itachi's crime of killing his family members are rooted in this history. Wikipedia has a short and concise way of telling what how Konoha started and what really happened that dreadful and bloody day. It says:

Konohagakure was founded by an alliance between the Uchiha and Senju clans, which were led by Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, The First Hokage, respectively. The two leaders eventually quarreled as to which would lead the village, and fought at the Valley of the End, a fight which the First won. Eventually, the village was governed by the Senju clan and its Military police was under authority of the Uchiha clan. Madara Uchiha, who was thought to have died during his battle against the First Hokage, secretly returned to Konohagakure years later and trained Itachi Uchiha. When the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox appeared and attacked the village, it was defeated by Fourth Hokage, though the villages deduction behind the incident alleged suspicion of rebellion amongst the Uchiha clan. The villages mistrust eventually lead to the Uchiha clan plotting a coup d'etat, to take over Konohagakure. Itachi Uchiha, under orders of the village's leadership, annihilated every other member of the Uchiha clan with the assistance of Madara Uchiha to prevent the rebellion from becoming reality. However, Itachi was unable to bring himself to kill his younger brother, Sasuke, so the boy lived on as the only "survivor" of the massacre..

Though he is ordered to kill Sasuke as well, Itachi could not bring himself to do so, instead forcing Konoha to keep Sasuke safe or risk Itachi going public with his mission. For his part, Itachi accepts his role as a villain, never telling anyone of who else was involved and even encouraging Sasuke to grow strong enough to kill him and avenge their family.

After hearing the story, Sasuke is really in a mess with what he heard. But I did not thought the would be plotting the destruction of Konoha alongside with Akatsuki. Sasuke's newly renamed group from Snake (Hebi) to Hawk (Taka) (Yeah, I find the names to be lame x_X I am thinking that since he now has the Amaterasu jutsu, Hawk would fit to be a name since hawk's eyes are really good) will now work with Akatsuki to destroy Konoha and at the same time acquire eight-tails and nine-tails.

Itachi's love for Sasuke

Itachi managed to free Sasuke from the curse of Orochimaru. And speaking of Orochimaru, he wasn't really dead as we thought he was. His chakra is sealed within Sasuke's body soo, he still lives inside Sasuke. Itachi planned to have Sasuke use all of his chakra so that it can be a trigger for Orochimaru's chakra to come out similar to what happens to Naruto when he uses the Kyuubi's chakra. After snakes have come up, Orochimaru appeared the usual way, coming from a snake's mouth, ready to fight Itachi with the Sword of Kusanagi inside his mouth. (Grosssssss x_X Yuck!) But with Itachi using the Susanoo, the final ability of this Mangkekyo Sharingan and as he posses the sword that can counter the Sword of Kusangi, the Sword of Totsuka. This sword, AKA Sakesari's Katana is a weapon said to carry sealing powers. Anyone and anything that it pierces becomes trapped in a blissful dream-like genjutsu for all eternity. The blade itself is enchanted with an incredible sealing technique, the ultimate counter to the Sword of Kusanagi.

Other Revelations:

• Uchiha Madara was Itachi's master. Itachi was the only one who sensed Madara's existence and seeked for his help so that he can execute his top secret mission of killing the whole Uchiha clan.
• It is revealed that the Uchiha clan can control the Demon Monsters similar with the First Hokage who was able to control some.

My Reactions:

I am already aware about this for a long time since I have been following the manga. But up to now, I adore Itachi. Within his cold eyes, is a loving brother who really cares. He pleaded with the Councilors, Danzou and the Sandaime to keep Sasuke safe or else he would reveal the secret of Konoha to every country. When the Sandaime died during Orochimaru's attack, Itachi returned to Konoha (the time when Itachi and Sasuke and Naruto first met) for the very reason that he wants to remind them of their promise. Even though the Sandaime died, he reminded them that he is still alive and could any moment spread the secret if they ever thought of harming Sasuke. He even released Sasuke from the curse of Orochimaru. He is doing everything he can to protect his little brother. Too bad he can't say everything to him.

Itachi failed to properly say goodbye to Sasuke when he ran way after killing his family. That is why he changed his way of saying goodbye. He wished for Sasuke to becoming strong and as the times go on, he prays that his brother would be strong. After all that he had done, he would want to die in front of his brother and still goals to make him stronger by implanting the Amaterasu to Sasuke. That is why in their fight, Itachi did not fight with his fullest.

But what is with Sasuke? He is now plotting the destruction of Konoha. Itachi loved Konoha so much that he killed his family just to protect it and now Sasuke wants to destroy it? But I cannot blame him. Technically, the one at fault here are the Councilors and Danzou who ordered the homicide of the Uchiha clan. They were the ones who put Itachi in his miserable situation that even led to his death. But I think, what Sasuke will do is in contradiction of Itachi's goal.

And Orochimaru..he might be enjoying the dream world right now. I wonder what blissful dream is he having right now?But in anyway, I wish him all the enjoyment and happiness that he can have in that forever-lasting dream of his.

And for Naruto. It seems a rough road is ahead him. It really is.

Next post will be about the Hachibi.