Naruto: Why Itachi Was The Strongest Akatsuki Member

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This article contains spoilers for Naruto.

Itachi Uchiha is a hugely popular character in the world of Naruto. Throughout the series’ run, he consistently ranked high in fan polls conducted by Shonen Jump. He even came in second place in a global Naruto popularity contest in 2022-2023. Because the winner of the poll was promised their own dedicated story (which ultimately went to Minato), the results suggest many fans are simply very interested in learning more about Itachi and his story.

Itachi was an incredibly talented ninja who developed a powerful ability called the Sharingan at a very young age. After the tragic slaughter of his clan, he joined the Akatsuki, a dangerous organization, and quickly became one of its strongest fighters. However, it’s debatable whether any of his Akatsuki teammates could have defeated him in a battle.

Most Powerful Abilities of Itachi Uchiha

Itachi is a remarkably strong ninja, considered one of the most powerful characters in the original Naruto manga, and easily among the strongest Uchiha ever. He developed the Mangekyo Sharingan at a young age, unlocking incredible abilities such as:

  • Tsukuyomi (trapping victims in a mental world, controlling their reality)
  • Amateratsu (producing black flames, this ability is well associated with the Uchiha clan)
  • Susanoo (the strongest Mangekyo Sharingan ability, creating an avatar made of chakra)

  • Itachi was incredibly skilled in genjutsu, possibly because of his Mangekyo Sharingan. He even learned Izanami, a powerful and forbidden technique that traps opponents in a never-ending loop, giving him complete control over their senses. Like other members of the Uchiha clan, he was also highly proficient in both Fire and Water Release techniques.

How Itachi Joined the Akatsuki

Itachi’s story is one of the most captivating in Naruto, which explains why he’s such a popular, yet controversial, character – fans constantly debate his actions. As a young boy, he was forced to kill his entire clan (after seeing his friend Shisui die), with only his brother Sasuke spared. This tragic event, known as the Uchiha Clan Massacre, led everyone in Konoha to believe he was a traitor. It’s a pivotal moment that deeply shapes Sasuke’s life throughout the entire manga. While Naruto hints at this event early on, the full truth isn’t revealed until much later in the series.

Following the massacre, Itachi joined the Akatsuki as Tobi/Obito had promised. Though seen as a ruthless killer by others, he was secretly working as a spy, keeping a close watch on the organization to ensure it didn’t threaten his home village, Konoha, and to protect his brother. He remained a spy throughout his time with the Akatsuki, even successfully resisting Orochimaru’s attempt to steal his Sharingan – he nearly defeated him before Kabuto stepped in. Sadly, Itachi ultimately died from a serious illness, making him one of the few major characters not killed in battle. His death was so impactful that many fans still hope to see him return in the Boruto series somehow.

Could Another Akatsuki Member Have Beaten Itachi?

Image via Pierrot.

Itachi is often considered the strongest member of the Akatsuki, and many fans believe he was nearly unbeatable. It’s difficult to gauge his true power, though, because we never saw him truly pushed to his limits in battle. If he had lost a fight, it would give us a clearer idea of who could defeat him. Without seeing him fall, it’s hard to say just how powerful Itachi was at his peak.

Itachi isn’t just strong; he’s also incredibly smart and skilled at maximizing his abilities with whatever resources he has. This, combined with his powerful genjutsu, would give him a significant edge against most other members of the Akatsuki, particularly in a fight against someone like Pain or Deidara. While other shinobi might have their own strengths, Itachi’s combination of power, intelligence, and skill makes him a formidable opponent.

When people compare Itachi to other powerful characters, Madara and Obito (Tobi) are often mentioned. Madara, with his huge reserves of chakra, would probably win against Itachi as seen in the series. However, Itachi was sick during their fight, so he wasn’t at his strongest. If Itachi had been healthy, he likely would have prepared strategies to counter Madara’s abilities. But with the Rinnegan, Obito would have likely been too strong for Itachi to defeat.

Obito and Madara, with their Rinnegan, are exceptionally powerful – far beyond typical shinobi. While Itachi was a gifted Uchiha, he didn’t have the same inherited abilities from the Otsutsuki clan. Though he’d be incredibly strong with a Rinnegan himself, he would still lose to Obito and Madara. However, considering a standard level of strength, Itachi is undoubtedly the most powerful member of the Akatsuki.

What Would Have Happened If Itachi Hadn’t Died?

Had Itachi lived, he probably would have become even stronger, similar to other characters in the series. Since he wasn’t really a villain, it’s likely he would have fought alongside Naruto in the final battle against Kaguya, and even helped Naruto reason with Sasuke – that would have been a fantastic turn of events. He wouldn’t have awakened the Rinnegan on his own, as he wasn’t a reincarnation of Indra, unless someone else granted him that power, like Madara did with Obito.

Itachi Uchiha believed that true strength comes from self-forgiveness and accepting who you really are.

Although it’s probably not going to happen, some fans are still hoping Itachi might reappear in Boruto, giving the series a chance to delve deeper into his abilities and what he could have become. However, that’s likely just wishful thinking.

Naruto and Boruto are available to read on MANGA Plus.

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2026-02-19 19:37