Itachi Uchiha is one of the most complex, feared, and revered characters in the Naruto universe. A prodigy from the Hidden Leaf’s prestigious Uchiha clan, Itachi operated in shadows and silence, executing decisions that were morally gray but strategically brilliant. Every move he made was calculated—often devastating, always unforgettable. Whether in battle or psychological warfare, Itachi’s genius was unmatched, and his savagery came not from cruelty, but from a precise, tactical mind willing to shoulder the unbearable. These moments showcase why Itachi was not only a master strategist but also one of the most savage shinobi to ever exist.
#10: Outsmarting Orochimaru and Cutting Off His Arm
When Orochimaru, one of the most dangerous Sannin, decided to take Itachi’s body for himself to acquire the Sharingan, he vastly underestimated who he was dealing with. The encounter took place when Itachi was only thirteen, yet he calmly and ruthlessly shut Orochimaru down with barely any effort. Using his Sharingan, Itachi paralyzed Orochimaru in a genjutsu before severing his arm with surgical precision. The sheer audacity of Orochimaru—a ninja feared by all—being dismantled so effortlessly by a teenager sent shockwaves through the fandom. What made the moment even more savage was how unfazed Itachi remained. It wasn’t a display of rage or dominance—it was cold, precise, and final. Orochimaru, humiliated, was forced to abandon his ambitions and leave the Akatsuki. This moment cemented Itachi’s status as someone who could outthink and outfight even the most veteran shinobi, and he did it all without breaking a sweat.
#9: Casually Defeating Kakashi with Tsukuyomi
Kakashi Hatake is no slouch. Known as the Copy Ninja and revered throughout the ninja world, he had faced countless powerful enemies. But when he first encountered Itachi, Kakashi was introduced to the sheer terror of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Itachi didn’t even need to move from his spot. With just eye contact, he cast Kakashi into the Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu that allowed Itachi to torture his opponent for 72 hours within a matter of seconds. Kakashi experienced relentless stabbings, his mind broken, and his body left in a coma. The most brutal part? Itachi remained composed the entire time, walking away from the encounter with surgical precision. It was less a fight and more a reminder to Konoha: your best jonin can’t touch me. This was savage psychological warfare, and the world learned that Itachi was not someone you could approach without paying a heavy price.
#8: Taking on Jiraiya (Sort of) and Escaping Unscathed
Jiraiya is one of the Legendary Sannin, a shinobi of immense strength and tactical brilliance. When Itachi and Kisame infiltrated the Hidden Leaf and encountered Jiraiya, many expected an explosive showdown. But Itachi had a different plan. After a brief skirmish where Jiraiya summoned a giant toad and attempted to trap them in a summoning barrier, Itachi revealed the full power of Amaterasu—the black flames said to burn anything in their path. He burned a hole through the toad’s stomach dimension, a space known to be nearly impossible to escape. This wasn’t just a powerful attack; it was a calculated escape. Itachi didn’t want a full fight with Jiraiya, not because he feared losing, but because he had no interest in unnecessary battles. It was a silent flex—showing overwhelming power just to say, “I could, but I won’t.”
#7: Toying with Sasuke During Their Reunion Battle
Sasuke trained for years, driven by hatred and obsession to surpass Itachi and get revenge. When they finally faced off, the world anticipated a titanic clash. And while the battle was intense, the most savage aspect was how much Itachi was holding back. From the beginning, Itachi controlled the pace, baiting Sasuke into burning chakra, using deceptive genjutsu, and even faking injuries to lull him into a false sense of accomplishment. The moment Itachi pretends to take Sasuke’s eyes mid-fight, only to reveal it was all an illusion, broke Sasuke’s mind. He was never in control. Itachi was orchestrating every move. Despite the seemingly brutal fight, Itachi’s true goal was to free Sasuke from Orochimaru’s influence and pass on his own power. That level of psychological and tactical dominance is chilling. He made Sasuke think he was winning, only to shatter every illusion—figuratively and literally.
#6: Slaughtering the Uchiha Clan (With a Purpose)
The most infamous moment in Itachi’s life was the massacre of the Uchiha clan—a cold-blooded, systematic extermination of his own family. At face value, it was the act of a villain. But the reality is far more complex. Itachi discovered the Uchiha were planning a coup that would plunge the ninja world into war. Given a horrifying ultimatum by Konoha’s elders, Itachi chose to kill his clan to prevent civil war, sparing only Sasuke. The act was meticulously executed. No survivors, no evidence, and a narrative crafted so well that even Sasuke believed Itachi was a monster for years. The savagery wasn’t just in the act itself, but in the burden Itachi chose to carry. He became a pariah, joined the Akatsuki, and lived in infamy—all to protect the village and his brother. To sacrifice everything, including your name, for peace? That’s genius wrapped in the most brutal packaging imaginable.
#5: Making Deidara Rage Quit with Genjutsu
Deidara, a proud Akatsuki member, believed his explosive art could defeat anyone. But when he faced Itachi, he never even got to fight properly. With just a glance, Itachi pulled Deidara into a genjutsu so vivid that the lines between reality and illusion shattered instantly. Deidara was humiliated. His bomb techniques never left his hands. He later confessed that Itachi never broke a sweat, and that the experience left him deeply shaken. Deidara’s obsession with proving himself stemmed entirely from this encounter. He swore vengeance but never dared face Itachi again. That’s how brutal it was. Itachi left a psychological scar that festered in Deidara’s pride. One move. One glance. One complete dismantling of an artist’s ego.
#4: Outsmarting Kabuto with Izanami
Kabuto Yakushi in Sage Mode was nearly unbeatable—he had regeneration, enhanced reflexes, and was controlling the entire battlefield during the Fourth Great Ninja War. But Itachi, even after being reanimated from the dead, used one of the most advanced Uchiha techniques to trap Kabuto in an infinite loop: Izanami. Unlike traditional genjutsu, Izanami doesn’t just trap your senses—it locks you into a repeated cycle of events until you confront your true self. Itachi activated it mid-battle, allowing him to essentially rewrite Kabuto’s fate. This was next-level genius. He beat a nigh-immortal enemy not with force, but with philosophy and preparation. And he did it all as a reanimated corpse who was technically supposed to be under someone else’s control. Who else rewrites fate after death? Only Itachi.
#3: Faking His Aggression to Protect Sasuke
Perhaps the greatest deception Itachi ever pulled was on Sasuke himself. From the day of the Uchiha massacre, Itachi crafted a lie that made him the villain in Sasuke’s eyes. He insulted him, belittled him, taunted him with cryptic messages about power and hate—all to make Sasuke grow stronger and survive. Every encounter was tailored to push Sasuke’s evolution. Itachi didn’t just train Sasuke; he manipulated his development while pretending to be the enemy. In their final battle, even while dying, he removed Orochimaru from Sasuke and implanted his powers as a failsafe. And when he finally died, all he did was smile and gently tap Sasuke’s forehead. Years of cruelty unraveled in a single, heartbreaking gesture. The truth wasn’t revealed until later, and when it was, the world finally understood Itachi was never the villain. He was the architect of Sasuke’s survival.
#2: Dropping Sasuke with a Finger Tap
The forehead poke—simple, gentle, and deeply symbolic. From childhood, Itachi would poke Sasuke’s forehead as a promise: “Maybe next time.” During their final battle, after the most intense and emotionally charged fight of Sasuke’s life, Itachi staggers toward his brother. Sasuke braces for a final attack… only for Itachi to reach out and softly tap his forehead one last time. Then he collapses, dead. The moment is savage because of its emotional impact. After years of believing his brother was a monster, Sasuke is left with nothing but questions and a gesture of love. Itachi had been in control the entire time. His final act wasn’t violence, but a memory. A promise kept. And a truth hidden in plain sight.
#1: Dying on His Own Terms, With a Smile
Itachi’s greatest act of genius and savagery was choosing how he died. Riddled with illness, knowing he didn’t have long to live, he chose to die at Sasuke’s hands. But it wasn’t just to give his brother closure—it was to transfer his own power, remove the threat of Orochimaru, and ensure Sasuke’s survival. He manipulated every element of the battle, maintaining the illusion of aggression while engineering the perfect scenario. Even in his final moments, he implanted Amaterasu in Sasuke’s eye to protect him from Tobi. And he died smiling. Not as a rogue ninja, but as a brother, protector, and martyr. It was savage in its brilliance, tragic in its sacrifice, and perfect in its execution. The man who lived as a villain died as a hero—and he made sure no one ever knew until the time was right.
Itachi Uchiha redefined what it meant to be a genius in the ninja world—not because of his power alone, but because of his foresight, emotional depth, and willingness to sacrifice everything. These savage moments weren’t about domination; they were about achieving impossible outcomes through strategy, deception, and resolve. Itachi played the long game in a world obsessed with instant victory, and in doing so, became one of the most brilliant and heartbreaking characters in anime history.
