Introduction:
Fans Of The Well-Known Naruto Character May Find It Thrilling And Satisfying To Explore The World Of Painting And Create A Cool Drawing Of Itachi. We’ll Look At How To Draw Itachi Uchiha, One Of The Most Adored Characters From The Naruto Series, Step-By-Step In This Tutorial. Prepare To Let Your Imagination Run Wild And Bring Itachi To Life On Paper.
The Naruto (Japanese: ナルト) manga and anime series features an extensive cast of characters created by Masashi Kishimoto. The series takes place in a fictional universe where countries vie for power by employing ninja who can use special techniques and abilities in combat. The storyline is divided into two parts, simply named Part I and Part II, with the latter taking place two-and-a-half years after the conclusion of Part I. It is followed by the sequel series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations by Ukyō Kodachi, which continues where the epilogue of the first series left off. The series’ storyline follows the adventures of a group of young ninja from the village of Konohagakure (Village Hidden in the Tree Leaves).
The eponymous character of the first series is Naruto Uzumaki, an energetic ninja who wishes to become Hokage, the leader of Konohagakure and holds a monster called the Nine Tails in his body. During the early part of the series, Naruto is assigned to Team 7, in which he meets his rival Sasuke Uchiha, a taciturn and highly skilled “genius” of the Uchiha clan; Sakura Haruno, who is infatuated with Sasuke and has Naruto’s attention and Kakashi Hatake, the quiet and mysterious leader of the team. Over the course of the series, seeking out Sasuke when he ran away from the village, Naruto interacts with and befriends several fellow ninja in Konohagakure and other villages. He also encounters the series’ antagonists, including Orochimaru, a former ninja of Konohagakure scheming to destroy his former home, as well as the elite ninja of the criminal organization Akatsuki who seek out jinchuriki like Gaara for the tailed beasts.
The eponymous character of the second series is Boruto Uzumaki, the son of Naruto and Hinata Hyuga who is assigned to Team Konohamaru also known as Team 7, which includes Sasuke and Sakura’s daughter – Sarada Uchiha, Orochimaru’s artificially created son – Mitsuki and the group’s leader – Konohamaru, the Third Hokage’s grandson whom Naruto befriended as a child. Subsequently, Sarada is promoted to leader of the team in place of Konohamaru and joins them Kawaki, a young boy with a traumatic past who is taken in by the Uzumaki family, thus becoming the adopted son of Naruto and the adoptive brother of Boruto.
As Kishimoto developed the series, he created the three primary characters as a basis for the designs of the other three-person teams. He also used characters in other shōnen manga as references in his design of the characters, a decision that was criticized by several anime and manga publications. The characters that Kishimoto developed, however, were praised for incorporating many of the better aspects of previous shōnen characters, although many publications lamented the perceived lack of growth beyond such stereotypes. The visual presentation of the characters was commented on by reviewers, with both praise and criticism given to Kishimoto’s work in the manga and anime adaptations.
Creation and conception:
When Masashi Kishimoto was originally creating the Naruto series, he looked to other shōnen manga for inspiration while still attempting to make his characters as unique as possible. Kishimoto cites Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series as one of these influences, noting that Goku, the protagonist of Dragon Ball, was a key factor when creating Naruto Uzumaki due to his energetic and mischievous personality. To complement Naruto, Kishimoto worked on creating a rival that was a “cool genius”, as he believed this was “the archetypal rival character”. After reviewing different manga for ideas, he ultimately developed Sasuke Uchiha. When creating the primary heroine, Kishimoto admitted, “I don’t have a definite image of what a heroine should be”. He eventually created Sakura Haruno, emphasizing “her energy and flirtatious spirit” as her primary characteristics. These three characters would be the mold for the other three main Naruto teams.
The separation of the characters into different teams was intended to give each group a specific flavor. Kishimoto wished for each team member to be “extreme”, having a high amount of aptitude in one given attribute, yet talentless in another. This approach was used to make each team perform best when individual members worked together to overcome their weaknesses. Having watched tokusatsu dramas as a child, Kishimoto wished for his teams to be different from the superhero teams in these dramas, dismissing the value of a team in which all the teammates were “strong to the point of perfection”. Kishimoto notes that the different roles the characters assume is similar to many role-playing games, and “each character stands out better that way”.
Kishimoto inserted villains into the story to counteract the lead characters’ moral values. He stated that this focus on illustrating the difference in values is central to his creation of villains to the point that, “I don’t really think about them in combat”. The villains’ physical appearances were also embellished to differentiate them from other characters, making it easier for a reader to follow the story and identify the villains, even in heated battle scenes. Kishimoto noted that making the villains “flamboyant” with a “showy costume” is “one of my guiding principles”, as well as making them “more memorable”.
When drawing the characters, Kishimoto consistently follows a five-step process: concept and rough sketch, drafting, inking, shading, and coloring. These steps are followed when he is drawing the manga and making the color illustrations that commonly adorn the cover of tankōbon, the cover of the Weekly Shōnen Jump, or other media, but the toolkit he uses occasionally changes.For instance, he used an airbrush for one illustration for a Weekly Shōnen Jump cover, but decided not to use it for future drawings largely due to the cleanup required.
Main Characters:
Naruto:
The protagonists of the Naruto series are Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Kakashi Hatake, who form “Team 7” (第7班, Dainanahan) of Konohagakure. After Sasuke Uchiha’s defection and Naruto’s departure from Konohagakure at the end of Part I, the team disbands. During Part II, the team reforms as “Team Kakashi” (カカシ班, Kakashi-Han) with two new members: Sai, who occupies Sasuke’s position, and Yamato, who becomes the acting Captain. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Team 7 reunites to fight Madara Uchiha and then Kaguya Ōtsutsuki when she possesses the former. Once the War is over, Naruto and Sasuke have their final battle that allow them to resolve their issues with their group fully reunited soon after.
Naruto Uzumaki:
Naruto Uzumaki (うずまき ナルト, Uzumaki Naruto) is the title character and main protagonist of the franchise. He was the first character created by Kishimoto during the conception of the series and was designed with many traits from other shōnen characters. He is often shunned by the Konohagakure villagers, as he is the host of Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox that attacked Konoha. He became a ninja after training hard and being held back a few years in the Ninja Academy, learning ninjutsu and taijutsu skills, and compensates for this with his cheerful and boisterous personality as he developed his catchphrase “Believe it!” (～だってばよ, dattebayo), vowing to never give up on any goal he sets. In particular, Naruto has ambitions of becoming Hokage, the strongest ninja leader of Konohagakure, to gain the villagers’ respect and be able to protect them. During a battle as a ninja, Naruto has mastered powerful various ninjutsu skills and abilities including the ability to create a massive and several clones of himself known as “Shadow Clone Jutsu”, the ability to use his wind nature as he’s able to master a powerful spiral chakra sphere known as the “Rasengan” for the purposes of the offense, and other numerous abilities like using Nine-Tailed Fox’s chakra that increases his speed, strength, agility, and even whenever Naruto was enraged and goes feral but later in Part II he manage to control the Nine Tails’ chakra. Over the course of the series, Naruto befriends many foreign and Konoha people and eventually claims a sizable positive impact on their lives, which grants him worldwide fame. Naruto eventually achieves his dream of becoming Hokage, marries Hinata Hyuga and has two children named Boruto Uzumaki and Himawari Uzumaki. Naruto is voiced by Junko Takeuchi in Japanese, and by Maile Flanagan in English.
Sasuke Uchiha:
Sasuke Uchiha (うちは サスケ, Uchiha Sasuke) is Naruto’s rival and best friend. He was designed by Kishimoto as the “cool genius” since he felt this was an integral part of an ideal rivalry. Sasuke’s older brother, Itachi Uchiha, killed the rest of their family. Because of this, Sasuke’s sole desire is to kill his brother, and he develops a cold and withdrawn personality, seeing people as tools to further his goals, although also gaining the affection of most of the girls he knows, much to his annoyance. After he becomes a member of Team 7, Sasuke seems to begin considering his teammates precious to the point of risking his life to protect them, while focusing on revenge less than at the start of the series. When during the battle, Sasuke is a taijutsu expert and has mastered his ability to manipulate numerous fire techniques including known as “Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu”, manipulating a fury of lightning known as “Chidori” and as a member of the Uchiha clan, he uses the Sharingan that allows him to senses the opponent’s moves and attacks. Following an encounter and a subsequent defeat at the hands of his brother in Part I, however, Sasuke severs his ties and leaves the village to seek more power from Orochimaru. By the events of the Boruto franchise, Sasuke has become a vigilante investigating the Otsutsuki clan for Konohagakure and takes Boruto under his wing. Sasuke is voiced by Noriaki Sugiyama in the Japanese anime, while his English voice actor is Yuri Lowenthal.
Sakura Haruno:
Sakura Haruno (春野 サクラ, Haruno Sakura) is a member of Team 7. While creating the character, Kishimoto has admitted that he had little perception of what an ideal girl should be like. As a child, Sakura was teased by other children because of her large forehead, a feature Kishimoto tried to emphasize in Sakura’s appearance. She was comforted by Ino Yamanaka and the two developed a friendship. However, as the two grew, they became increasingly distant due to their shared affection for Sasuke Uchiha. As a kunoichi, Sakura possesses superier strength to unleash her powerful punch towards the opponents when she is enraged by saying “Cha!” (しゃーんなろー！, Shānnarō!) and as a medical ninja, she can heal every wounds whenever they are injured. During the early moments of Part I, Sakura is infatuated with Sasuke and resents Naruto Uzumaki, although Sasuke views her as “annoying” and Naruto has feelings for her. Her perception on Naruto eventually changes, however, and she comes to see him as a friend, while her feelings for Sasuke grow into deep love. In the Japanese anime, her voice actress is Chie Nakamura, and she is voiced by Kate Higgins in the English adaptation.
Kakashi Hatake:
Kakashi Hatake is the easygoing, smart leader of team 7, consisting of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. Kakashi had a dark past, but is unaffected by it as an adult. He was a very vital key for Naruto’s success, training him to be a great ninja. Like Sasuke, Kakashi is also a master of the Sharingan, which he gained as a present from his late friend, Obito Uchiha, and can manipulate “Lightning Blade” similar to Sasuke’s Chidori. Facing Obito after learning he survived and became apprentice of Madara’s, Kakashi’s original eye was restored late into series’s second half and briefing regaining the Sharingan when Obito aids him in spirit to help in the fight against Kaguya. Kakashi succeeds Tsunade as the Sixth Hokage after the Fourth Great Ninja War have ended, with Naruto succeeding him years later.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
The protagonists of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations series are Naruto and Hinata’s son Boruto Uzumaki, Sasuke and Sakura’s daughter Sarada Uchiha, Orochimaru’s son Mitsuki, and Konohamaru Sarutobi who form “Team Konohamaru” (木ノ葉丸班, Konohamaru-Han). Prior to their series, Konohamaru was a supporting character in the Naruto series while Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki were introduced in the Naruto epilogue.
Boruto Uzumaki:
Boruto Uzumaki (うずまき ボルト, Uzumaki Boruto) is the son of Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga who attends Konoha’s ninja academy, inheriting his paternal family’s short blond hair, blue eyes and “Believe it!” (だってばさ, dattebasa) verbal tic. He also inherits his maternal family’s Gentle Fist technique despite not inheriting the Byakugan, unlike his sister Himawari. Just as his father pulled pranks to have his existence acknowledged, Boruto commits mischief to get his father’s attention after his rise to Hokage, such as defacing the Hokage Monument during the events of the series epilogue. Boruto also admires his father’s rival and friend Sasuke, seeking his training in order to surpass his father, later being accepted as his student. In Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and its retellings, Boruto joins the Chunin Exams with his best friend Shikadai and their teammates, and attempts to cheat his way through the exams. When Naruto gets abducted by Momoshiki, Boruto makes peace with his father and helps him and Sasuke defeat the Otsutsuki, and is branded by the dying entity with a mark called the Kama. He resolves to take Sasuke’s path to aid the Hokage from the shadows. While able to use a Rasengan, Boruto accidentally develops the Vanishing Rasengan as a signature attack. Boruto can activate a Byakugan-like dojutsu in his right eye, though not at will. In the Japanese version, Boruto is voiced by Kokoro Kikuchi in The Last: Naruto the Movie and by Yuuko Sanpei in all subsequent appearances. In the English version, he is voiced by Maile Flanagan in The Last and by Amanda C. Miller in all subsequent appearances.
Sarada Uchiha:
Sarada Uchiha (うちは サラダ, Uchiha Sarada) is the daughter of Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. She seems to have inherited traits from both her parents, like her mother’s “Cha!” (しゃーんなろー!, Shānnarō!) verbal tic and her father’s aloofness and reluctance to acknowledge and commend others. Sarada is the central character of Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, searching for her estranged father while mistakenly feeling she and Sakura are not related. Gaining her Sharingan in the process, but not having a good first impression of her father Sasuke, Sarada feels hurt and betrayed when she incorrectly suspects being Karin’s biological child as the two wear similar glasses. While Naruto helps her realize that family is not a matter of blood, Sarada eventually learns that Sakura is her biological mother as Karin later explains she was Sakura’s midwife. Before leaving again, Sasuke shows Sarada how much he loves her by poking her forehead, and promises to come home soon. Having admired Naruto and his dedication to his village, Sarada makes it her goal to become the next Hokage. Sarada is voiced by Kokoro Kikuchi in Japanese, while in the English version she is voiced by Laura Bailey in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 and by Cherami Leigh in all subsequent appearances.
Mitsuki:
Mitsuki (ミツキ) is a teammate of Boruto and Sarada, a mysterious boy with a calm mind and a penchant for making snide remarks. His backstory is explored in Naruto Gaiden: The Road Illuminated by the Full Moon, which reveals that Mitsuki is an artificial human created by Orochimaru, and a modified clone of him, gaining the name Mitsuki from the fact that he is a “vessel” (杯, tsuki) for the “snake” (巳, mi) to inhabit. He tested by Orochimaru and another of his creations called Log (ログ, Rogu) to determine his allegiance; Mitsuki decided to follow his own path as the “moon” instead of a vessel, setting out toward the Hidden Leaf to find his “sun”: Boruto Uzumaki. Mitsuki can extend his limbs by using chakra to dislocate his joints, while the experimentation by Orochimaru allows him to access Sage Mode. He is voiced by Ryūichi Kijima in Japanese and by Robbie Daymond in the English dub.
Kawaki:
Kawaki (カワキ, Kawaki) is a tattooed youth who became a member of Kara after being brought by Jigen from a drunkard father, bearing a tattoo of the Roman numeral IX under his left eye and bestowed a Kama mark by Jigen to be made into a living weapon for Kara. He was heavily modified with microscopic Shinobi-Ware implanted in his body that give him abilities similar to Jugo’s Sage Transformation in altering his physiology at a cellular level. For reasons yet to be revealed, Kawaki left Kara and encountered Boruto who brings him to the Hidden Leaf as he lives with the Uzumaki family. The two would end up becoming enemies as hinted in prologue of the Boruto series, an older Kawaki appearing to have perpetrated Konoha’s destruction as he confronts an older Boruto while declaring the age of shinobi has come to an end. His voice actor in the Japanese anime is Yūma Uchida and Michael Schwalbe voices him in the English dub.
Konohamaru Sarutobi:
Konohamaru Sarutobi (猿飛 木ノ葉丸, Sarutobi Konohamaru), named after Konohagakure, is the grandson of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. He strives to replace his grandfather as Hokage so the villagers will recognize him by name, not simply as the Hokage’s grandson. He looks to Naruto as a mentor in this quest, emulating his work ethic, determination, and signature jutsu such as the Rasengan and the Sexy Jutsu. Konohamaru insists, however, that he will only become Hokage after Naruto has been Hokage first. By the series epilogue, Konohamaru has ascended to the rank of jonin and is the captain of Team Konohamaru. Konohamaru’s design caused great difficulties for Masashi Kishimoto; he intended for Konohamaru to look like a “punk” smaller than Naruto, yet all of his attempts resulted in a recreation of Naruto. He eventually gave Konohamaru small, angry-looking eyes and was instantly happy with the design. While voiced in the Japanese anime by Ikue Ōtani and by Akiko Koike as a stand-in, Konohamaru’s adult self is voiced by Hidenori Takahashi. In the English version, Colleen O’Shaughnessey voices Konohamaru’s pre-adult self, and Max Mittelman voices his adult self.
An Overview Of Itachi Uchiha:
One Of The Main Characters In Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto Manga And Anime Series Is Itachi Uchiha. Itachi, A Member Of The Uchiha Clan And A Former Captain Of The ANBU, Is Renowned For His Remarkable Ninja Skill, Deep Motives, And Extraordinary Intelligence. He Is A Fan Favorite Among Naruto Fans Because Of His Terrible Past And Intriguing Nature.
Compiling Source Material:
To Ensure Authenticity And Accuracy, Acquire Reference Materials Before Beginning Your Drawing. Look For Pictures Of Itachi From The Naruto Anime, Such As Fan Paintings, Official Artwork, And Anime Screenshots. Observe Itachi’s Face, His Attire, And His Characteristic Sharingan Eyes.
Creating The Fundamental Outline:
Start By Drawing Itachi’s Head’s Basic Outline And Characteristics Of The Face With A Light Pencil. Pay Close Attention To The Features Of Itachi’s Face, Such As His Chiseled Jawline, Flowing Hair, And Keen Eyes. To Determine Where Itachi’s Characteristics Should Go On The Page, Use Basic Shapes And Principles.
Including Face Specifics:
Once You’ve Completed The Basic Framework, You Can Start Bringing Itachi To Life By Adding Facial Details. Observe Itachi’s Eyes Carefully, As They Are A Characteristic That Sets Him Apart. Sketch Itachi’s Eye Shape, Paying Particular Attention To His Sharingan’s Distinct Pupil. To Finish Itachi’s Expression, Add Features Like A Mouth, Nose, And Eyebrows.
Perfecting The Headband And Hair:
Itachi’s Headband And Haircut Are Two Of His Most Recognizable Features. With A Pencil, Sketch Itachi’s Streamlined, Black Hair, Taking Note Of The Strands’ Orientation And Any Distinguishing Characteristics, Including Bangs Or Hair Ornaments. Make Sure Itachi’s Forehead Protective Headband Fits Snugly Over His Forehead By Drawing It On.
Including Accessories And Clothes:
Draw Itachi’s Attire And Accoutrements Next, Such As His Customary Black Cloak With Red Clouds Embroidered On It. Focus On The Creases And Folds Of Itachi’s Cloak; They Give Your Drawing More Depth And Authenticity. Add Any Extra Items You Would Like, Like The Akatsuki Cloak Or Itachi’s Ninja Tools.
Honing The Specifics:
After You Have Completed The Basic Outline And Features Of Your Itachi Drawing, Devote Some Time To Fine-Tuning The Details. To Add Finer Elements Like Highlights, Shading, And Texture, Use A Finer Pencil Or Pen Itachi’s Facial Characteristics, Hair, And Attire. In Order To Give Your Drawing Depth And Dimension, Pay Attention To Light And Shadow.
Optionally Add Background Elements:
If You’re Feeling Particularly Ambitious, Think About Improving The Overall Composition Of Your Itachi Drawing By Include Background Objects. To Create The Atmosphere For Itachi’s Character, You May Sketch A Straightforward Background Like A Starry Sky Or A Classic Japanese Landscape. Alternatively, To Keep Itachi The Center Of Attention, Leave The Background Blank.
Completing And Examining:
After You’re Happy With Your Itachi Drawing, Stand Back And Evaluate Your Creation. Check For Any Details, Symmetry, Or Proportions That Could Need To Be Adjusted Or Refined. Make Any Required Adjustments To Guarantee That Your Illustration Faithfully Conveys The Spirit Of The Persona Of Itachi.
Final Thoughts:
For Lovers Of The Naruto Series, Painting A Cool Itachi Sketch Is A Satisfying And Enjoyable Artistic Project. You May Realistically Depict Itachi On Paper And Demonstrate Your Appreciation For This Enduring Figure By Paying Close Attention To Detail And Following These Step-By-Step Instructions. So Get Your Sketchbook And Pencils, Let Your Imagination Run Wild, And Go On An Adventure With Itachi Uchiha Through Art.
