The Untold Connection: Itachi's Secret Role in Akatsuki Finally Revealed!

Despite the recent abundance of surprising plot twists in the Boruto series, one of the most shock-inducing moments in the original Naruto series was the realization that Itachi, often perceived as malevolent, was actually a tragic hero. His decision to join the Akatsuki, an organization responsible for wreaking havoc in the shinobi world, was motivated by his unwavering desire to protect Konoha.

While it is widely acknowledged that Itachi willingly chose this perilous path out of his immense love for both his brother and Konoha, a fan theory intriguingly suggests that Jiraya, renowned as one of the legendary Sannin, may have maintained clandestine contact with Itachi throughout.

Naruto is a rather extensive series, featuring a plethora of characters and a complex universe. Nevertheless, there are certain elements of the narrative that the mangaka, Kishimoto, may have inadvertently overlooked, leaving room for interpretation. This ambiguity allows for subtle nuances within the story, which should be valued since not everything requires explicit explanation.

Naruto fan theorist provides evidence backing the claim that Itachi was spying for Jiraya

Hiruzen has confirmed in Naruto that Itachi was conducting surveillance on the Akatsuki, a secret known only to the Elders. However, the source of Jiraya's knowledge regarding the members and operations of the Akatsuki, whether it was derived from Itachi, remains uncertain.

This theory, which has been circulating for years, appears highly plausible despite lacking official confirmation in the series. To solidify this theory, a prominent Naruto fan theorist and YouTuber, New Horizons (@New_Horizons), has presented compelling evidence. A significant supporting point comes from Jiraya's acknowledgment of having informants who provided him with crucial information on Orochimaru's actions and other Akatsuki members.

Jiraya, as depicted in Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot)

However, when the Akatsuki focused mainly on espionage, Jiraya only knew about Itachi's association with the group. There were other members in Akatsuki that Jiraya should have been aware of, especially Itachi's partner in crime, Kisame, if he had received information from a different source. According to the YouTuber, Itachi might have only informed Jiraya about his involvement in the Akatsuki at that time.

New Horizons further provides two significant pieces of evidence to support the notion that Jiraya received information from Itachi. The first piece of evidence relates to Itachi's demise.

The image showcases Itachi and Sasuke from Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot).

Coinciding with Itachi's carefully planned demise orchestrated by his brother Sasuke, Jiraya coincidentally discovered that Pain, the leader of the notorious Akatsuki organization, had taken refuge in the Rain Village.

It is plausible that the information was scarce as Itachi had already divulged all his knowledge to Jiraya at that juncture. This elucidates why both Jiraya and Danzo, who was cognizant of Itachi's covert role, erroneously perceived Tobi to be Madara Uchiha.

Madara Uchiha as depicted in Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The final argument presented by New Horizons highlights the lack of knowledge that the other Great Countries had regarding the Akatsuki, particularly evident during the Five Kage Summit where there was a prevalent atmosphere of speculation and paranoia. In stark contrast, Jiraya possessed a substantial amount of information about the organization, suggesting a potential connection with Itachi.

Hence, fans strongly believe that it is more than just a coincidence that Jiraya consistently acquired information about the Akatsuki whenever Itachi and the other members acted. This undeniable fact lends support to the theory that Itachi was somehow sharing information with Jiraya.

Jiraya and Itachi may have never crossed paths, and the information could have been relayed through intermediaries. Jiraya might be unaware of Itachi's role as the source of the intel. Nevertheless, the nature of the information strongly indicates Itachi as Jiraya's informant.