2. Itachi’s Purpose in Infiltrating Konoha

When all the Akatsuki members received word from Pain about the war in Konoha, triggered by the attack from Otogakure and Sunagakure shinobi, it was revealed that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had died during his battle against Orochimaru.

Upon hearing this news, Itachi and Kisame decided to sneak into Konoha. Itachi’s main purpose was to ensure the safety of his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke. Previously, the Third Hokage had provided Itachi with a secret password to bypass Konoha’s barrier jutsu. This was intended to allow Itachi to infiltrate the village if he ever became worried about Sasuke’s safety.

Itachi’s visit to Konoha was driven by his love and concern for his brother. Hiruzen Sarutobi had promised Itachi that Sasuke would be protected. However, after Hiruzen’s death, there was no longer anyone in Konoha entrusted with Sasuke’s safety.

In addition to ensuring Sasuke’s well-being, Itachi also wanted to see how his brother had grown, now that Sasuke had become a teenager. His longing and sense of responsibility as an older brother pushed Itachi to return to Konoha, even though it meant facing great risks.