Why does Itachi have his arm like that?
Introduction
The Naruto world of shinobi warriors is an impressive place.
Amongst them are the formidable and fearsome members of Akatsuki—a dangerous, driven, and awe-inspiring group that includes Itachi Uchiha.
But even amongst the intimidating and downright threatening ninja ranks, every warrior has his quirks.
That’s the beauty of Naruto—there is no perfection, only striving for excellence and total domination of one’s enemies.
Naruto fans all want to learn more about the legendary ninja, Itachi Uchiha—where has he come from, what do we know about him, and what makes him the way he is.
Also: why does Itachi keep his arm out of his cloak?
Read on to answer all your burning questions about this most fearsome and dangerous of Naruto ninjas.
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Who is Itachi Uchiha?
Itachi started out as a shinobi of the respected Konohagakure Uchiha clan, who fell to disgrace and became a wanted criminal after slaying every member of his clan—except for his little brother, Sasuke.
Once an Anbu Captain, he then went on the run as part of Akatsuki—the international criminal underground organization.
Itachi’s younger brother, and sole survivor of the Uchiha massacre, vowed to kill Itachi for what he did, not knowing that Itachi’s actions were all to save Sasuke and the village from the darkness of the clan.
Uchiha was a shinobi prodigy who was given the unenviable job of killing his clan to stop them from staging an uprising and triggering the start of a world war.
The Hidden Leaf Village, who assigned Itachi to this task, knew that it could be the only way to maintain peace—but at Itachi and his brother’s expense.
Itachi was a master of talent, with even Obito confessing that Itachi could have killed Sasuke at any time, if he had chosen, and that a whole team of jonin was needed to hold Sasuke’s big brother back from destroying everything.
In their final battle, Itachi and Sasuke faced off, and Sasuke won.
Itachi’s honorable death meant granting Sasuke his powers and showing his little brother how much he truly meant to him.
Was Itachi a Pacifist?
Itachi’s character always showed themes of loyalty and familial obligation, and he showed some pacifist characteristics.
He grew up caring very much for his family and clan and showed the utmost loyalty throughout his entire backstory.
It was always his hope to create a better world for his brother and to show him the ways of their people.
Despite the value Itachi placed on peace and prosperity for his clan, he understood the bigger picture, and the need to sacrifice the few for the good of all. However, he couldn’t bring himself to sacrifice Sasuke.
Allowing Sasuke to live was Itachi’s weakness and a mistake that would eventually cost him his own life.
Why did Itachi keep his arm in his cloak?
Like every character of the Naruto world, Itachi Uchiha has his quirky characteristics and flaws that make him stand out from the cookie cutter world of other series.
He has lines under his eyes and a worn-out old Hidden Leaf headband.
His left arm is always hanging out of his Akatsuki cloak while the other stays concealed.
While show-writers have never clearly stated why Itachi is created this way, it is well known within traditional samurai lore that Ronin would tuck one arm into their chest to display dishonor and shame.
Was Itachi carrying himself this way as a mark of the dishonor and shame he felt for killing his clan? Or perhaps his guilt was for the pain he had caused his brother.
In a more practical sense, many samurai warriors would tuck an arm into their bodies to conserve body heat whilst keeping the arm free for self-defense and maneuvering.
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Did Itachi keep his hand like that because he was sick?
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The third and final theory that seems to make sense for fans is also a sad one: maybe Itachi was dying all along.
A hardcore Itachi fan started doing the research into what kind of disease the warrior might have and diagnosed the villainous ninja with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).
MPA is an auto-immune disorder that can cause shortness of breath, coughing, bleeding from the eyes and mouth, blindness, and chest pain.
To counteract the chest pain, it is recommended that patients keep an arm close to their chest for warmth and improved circulation.
Itachi was on countless medications, according to Madara. MPA can also return after it has gone into remission, which would explain why Itachi forced himself back out to confront Sasuke one more time.
Perhaps he knew that his time was running out, and he wanted to see his brother and set things right before that happened.
5 Fast Facts about Itachi Uchahi
- Itachi’s favorite hobby was hanging out at traditional Japanese cafes
- Itachi’s favorite food was cabbage and onigiri
- His favorite candy was Dango
- His least favorite food was steak
- His favorite word was “peace” (remember how we said he was a pacifist?)
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