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NARUTO -ナルト- 真伝 [Naruto Shinden] #1
Itachi's Story: Daylight
Uchiha Itachi, four years of age. With the hell of war burned into his eyes, the boy makes a resolution: he will rid this world of all violence. The birth of Sasuke, meeting his friend Shisui, the academy, genin, chunin, and then the Anbu—Itachi races down the path of glory toward his dream of becoming the first Uchiha Hokage, unaware of the darkness that lies ahead…
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2015
452 people are currently reading
2844 people want to read
About the author
Masashi Kishimoto
1,202 books3,966 followersMasashi Kishimoto (岸本斉史 Kishimoto Masashi) is a Japanese manga artist, well known for creating the manga series Naruto. His younger twin brother, Seishi Kishimoto, is also a manga artist and creator of the manga series O-Parts Hunter (666 Satan) and Blazer Drive. Two of his former assistants, Osamu Kajisa (Tattoo Hearts) and Yuuichi Itakura (Hand's), have also gone on to moderate success following their work on Naruto.
Kishimoto's first work as a manga artist was Karakuri (カラクリ?), which he submitted to Shueisha in 1995. This earned him the Weekly Shōnen Jump's monthly "Hop Step Award" in 1996, granted to promising new manga artists. This was followed in 1997 by a pilot version of Naruto (NARUTO－ナルト－), published in Akamaru Jump Summer. In 1998, Kishimoto premiered as a Weekly Shōnen Jump artist with a serialized version of Karakuri in Weekly Shōnen Jump, but it proved unpopular and was canceled soon after. In 1999, a serialized version of Naruto began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump and quickly became a hit.
Kishimoto's first work as a manga artist was Karakuri (カラクリ?), which he submitted to Shueisha in 1995. This earned him the Weekly Shōnen Jump's monthly "Hop Step Award" in 1996, granted to promising new manga artists. This was followed in 1997 by a pilot version of Naruto (NARUTO－ナルト－), published in Akamaru Jump Summer. In 1998, Kishimoto premiered as a Weekly Shōnen Jump artist with a serialized version of Karakuri in Weekly Shōnen Jump, but it proved unpopular and was canceled soon after. In 1999, a serialized version of Naruto began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump and quickly became a hit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
February 13, 2017
Naruto is one of my favorite series. I’ve been following it since it first started when I was middle school. I grew up with this series and these characters, and Itachi is one of my two favorite characters, so how could I NOT love a book that’s entirely about him? I pre-ordered these books the DAY they were announced for an English translation and that excitement and those feelings no doubt bled into my feelings about these books.
The first book is largely about Itachi’s childhood and his progression through the ranks until he became a member of the Anbu. It goes more into depth about his training, his teammates, and the turmoil he was subjected to from such a young age. It’s a great book for learning more about his background, but I will say what disappointed me was the relationships. Itachi’s love for his little brother is clear but how could you not love that face?
Other than Sasuke though, everything else kind of fell to the wayside. Shisui is said to be his best friend and yet they have surprisingly few interactions other than quick glazed over descriptions of “yeah, they train together every day, and they have similar ideals.” And I definitely expected Izumi to have a bigger role… but she’s virtually non-existent in his life. Honestly, it kind of seems like his schoolyard bully got more attention this his closest friend and whatever Izumi was supposed to be. But I did still enjoy hearing more about Itachi, and I love getting a little bit more from a series that ended, especially in the form of learning more about your favorites rather than a new series focusing on their kids.
The first book is largely about Itachi’s childhood and his progression through the ranks until he became a member of the Anbu. It goes more into depth about his training, his teammates, and the turmoil he was subjected to from such a young age. It’s a great book for learning more about his background, but I will say what disappointed me was the relationships. Itachi’s love for his little brother is clear but how could you not love that face?
Other than Sasuke though, everything else kind of fell to the wayside. Shisui is said to be his best friend and yet they have surprisingly few interactions other than quick glazed over descriptions of “yeah, they train together every day, and they have similar ideals.” And I definitely expected Izumi to have a bigger role… but she’s virtually non-existent in his life. Honestly, it kind of seems like his schoolyard bully got more attention this his closest friend and whatever Izumi was supposed to be. But I did still enjoy hearing more about Itachi, and I love getting a little bit more from a series that ended, especially in the form of learning more about your favorites rather than a new series focusing on their kids.
July 27, 2025
My feelings are strong with this one.
They're complicated, to say the least. Despite Itachi being one of my favorite Naruto characters, I can't say I love this book.
Now I don’t speak for everyone, but I can say that Itachi is one of the most popular characters in the series. Top 5 easily and arguably top 3.
And why do people like Itachi so much?
For me personally, I like his complexity, and I can follow his moral code. His tactical and strategic thinking is always awesome to see, and his scenes are always badass. Itachi is a complex character in which many fans have different reasons why they like him so much. Itachi is fantastic.
This novel, not so much.
The main issue I have with the Shinden novel and anime episodes is lack of depth in ideas that are presented and thought-provoking. There aren't many scenes that further evolve Itachi’s character nor provide insight to his growth that are not from past material. When some are introduced there's no follow-up.
One example when Itachi’s parents are talking about his progression at the Academy. Fugaku asks how Itachi is doing and Mikoto tells him his grades and skills are excelling but Fugaku informs her he meant if Itachi was getting along with his classmates or made any friends. This is interesting because it's contradictory of what we expect from Itachi's parents. Fugaku is usually the stern parent who obsesses over his son’s skill and Mikoto is the parent who is concerned about the emotional wellbeing of her children. This conversation is the opposite of what most expect from these two characters and could have developed them a bit more. This could have been an insight on the experience of parents raising a prodigy. Maybe Fugaku could start having regrets about raising his son to be emotionally detached and maybe Fugaku could have regrets. Or maybe we see Mikoto’s struggle with finding balance with acknowledging her child’s growth and her desire for her sons to have a social life.
But sadly, we don’t even see any connection between the family members. The Shinden anime advertised it by showing a still scene of Itachi embracing his mother while she was pregnant with Sasuke with Fugaku overlooking the family. But we don’t get any scenes that anticipate Sasuke’s birth or their growth as a family. The only scene we get is when Itachi finds Mikoto leaving the doctor and finds out he’s going to be a big brother.
We get a few familiar faces with Orochimaru and Shisui. Orochimaru only gets one scene and that gets Itachi pondering about the purpose of life. That scene would have been cool if we actually see Itachi reach some sort of conclusion when he thinks about the role of a shinobi and a village. If we could have seen where Itachi explores old ruins and learns about the history of the world that would have been so awesome. That would have been amazing to see but instead we get a filler Genin Itachi episode of them chasing a cat which shows they have an idiot for a teacher. I mean really? No wonder Itachi got frustrated.
There are a few scenes with Shisui but they’re pointless because everything that could be explored about their relationship we already know. The only scene with the two of them I liked it was in the anime where Shisui takes Itachi on a mission and they find themselves in the middle of an ANBU dispute. That episode was enlightening because it did two things.
One; the mission allowed the two of them to evolve the relationship from training acquaintances to friends.
Two; this shows the evolution of Itachi’s character by having the mission humble him. Itachi was always the best at the Academy and had no challenges so he would train on his own time.
When Shisui takes him on this mission, Itachi gets frustrated with himself because he feels he’s not as good as he should be. But Shisui points out a few things that teaches Itachi humility. Itachi needed to be teachable in order to grow and if he’s already the best at everything then there is no need for growth and progress. Being humble also allows for you to improve and overcome your weakness others can see in you even if you can’t see them yourself. The lesson allows Itachi and Shisui to grow closer to the point where they have a bond of unbreakable trust.
The new characters that are introduced are forgettable and pointless. Itachi gets placed into two Genin teams in the novel, but his teammates are not memorable. Only one character served a purpose in the story, and it was his death that caused Itachi’s Sharingan to awaken. Which doesn't make any sense because we don’t see any bonding between Itachi and his teammates. He’s indifferent to them because he’s not gaining anything from either their missions or working together as a team and so his death shouldn’t have any impact on Itachi gaining the Sharingan.
Speaking of new and pointless characters, let’s talk about Izumi Uchiha.
I want to be clear on something. I do not hate Izumi. I’m actually pretty indifferent to Izumi. Why? Because she is pretty boring as a character. She’s nice, has an affection for Itachi, and that’s it. I’ve seen fans conclude that Izumi is supposed to be this ‘lover’ that Itachi killed when he massacred his clan but there are no scenes that indicate an intimate relationship between them. In the first novel there is only one scene between them and it’s only served as an introduction between the characters. With the anime we technically have a few more scenes but they’re short and don’t build a relationship between them. The scene in the novel just reveals to the readers that Izumi was able to activate the Sharingan at a young age but her body is unable to handle it as she falls unconscious when she uses it. In the anime, the only scene we get where they have some sort of conversation is after Itachi graduates the Academy and becomes a Genin and Izumi shares dango with him. He acknowledges he wants the Sharingan and remembers that she has it. She tells him she can’t help him get it but rather it’s something an Uchiha has to retrieve themselves.
What’s odd about this is that she expresses to him her hopes of him obtaining the Sharingan soon like it’s a goal to be proud to achieve. In the eyes of the clan, it is a good thing because this their signature Kekkei Genkai. Its like the scene is supposed to be a cute moment for this character to be supportive but it backfires when Itachi discovers the price to pay in order to obtain the Sharingan. He looses a teammate and therefore his heart suffers from a loss. The loss of a comrade. We have this hypocrisy going on, but no one is held accountable except for Fugaku. Which I find odd.
In the anime Fugaku acknowledges that Itachi retrieved the Sharingan at a young age and as such, the clan will have high expectations for him. He doesn't outright congratulate him but keeps a somber attitude about the whole thing. Itachi silently criticizes his father for his praise for him obtaining the Sharingan but doesn’t go back to criticize Izumi for not warning him the cost of obtaining the Sharingan or hoping he will get it like it's a good thing.
Interestingly enough, the only character that has great scenes in the novel is Danzo. The scenes with Danzo and Itachi are eerie, as they should be. The introduction between Danzo and Itachi is great the the scenes where Danzo is keeping an eye on Itachi are also awesome. It's weird, creepy, and I love it.
We get to where Itachi is promoted to Chunin but that's rushed because Itachi just breezes through it. And Itachi joins the Anbu.
I would like the novel better if it would take it's time with the story and Itachi's experience before he joins the Anbu because most flashbacks with Itachi are post-Anbu and pre-Uchiha massacre. I don't understand the rush to get into Itachi's experience as an Anbu. We've seen many different scenes so many times. We don't need to go over Itachi's struggle of him being forced to make a decision that tears him up in the inside. I hate to be a jerk about it but we've seen it over and over again.
The one scene that I actually like because of the emotion behind the animation is the scene where Itachi is sitting in his room, reading Shisui's suicide note and his mother leaves his dinner at the door telling him she would like for him to join them for dinner whenever he can. This scene broke my heart. The expression on his face is animated so wonderfully as it captures his sorrow for the loss of his friend.
So the novel was okay. It wasn't horrible but the frustration thing about it was that there was so much potential and possibilities with it but it went nowhere. It's like waiting in an hour in line for a roller coaster. The anticipation is there but the payoff is not worth the wait if the ride's not good.
They're complicated, to say the least. Despite Itachi being one of my favorite Naruto characters, I can't say I love this book.
Now I don’t speak for everyone, but I can say that Itachi is one of the most popular characters in the series. Top 5 easily and arguably top 3.
And why do people like Itachi so much?
For me personally, I like his complexity, and I can follow his moral code. His tactical and strategic thinking is always awesome to see, and his scenes are always badass. Itachi is a complex character in which many fans have different reasons why they like him so much. Itachi is fantastic.
This novel, not so much.
The main issue I have with the Shinden novel and anime episodes is lack of depth in ideas that are presented and thought-provoking. There aren't many scenes that further evolve Itachi’s character nor provide insight to his growth that are not from past material. When some are introduced there's no follow-up.
One example when Itachi’s parents are talking about his progression at the Academy. Fugaku asks how Itachi is doing and Mikoto tells him his grades and skills are excelling but Fugaku informs her he meant if Itachi was getting along with his classmates or made any friends. This is interesting because it's contradictory of what we expect from Itachi's parents. Fugaku is usually the stern parent who obsesses over his son’s skill and Mikoto is the parent who is concerned about the emotional wellbeing of her children. This conversation is the opposite of what most expect from these two characters and could have developed them a bit more. This could have been an insight on the experience of parents raising a prodigy. Maybe Fugaku could start having regrets about raising his son to be emotionally detached and maybe Fugaku could have regrets. Or maybe we see Mikoto’s struggle with finding balance with acknowledging her child’s growth and her desire for her sons to have a social life.
But sadly, we don’t even see any connection between the family members. The Shinden anime advertised it by showing a still scene of Itachi embracing his mother while she was pregnant with Sasuke with Fugaku overlooking the family. But we don’t get any scenes that anticipate Sasuke’s birth or their growth as a family. The only scene we get is when Itachi finds Mikoto leaving the doctor and finds out he’s going to be a big brother.
We get a few familiar faces with Orochimaru and Shisui. Orochimaru only gets one scene and that gets Itachi pondering about the purpose of life. That scene would have been cool if we actually see Itachi reach some sort of conclusion when he thinks about the role of a shinobi and a village. If we could have seen where Itachi explores old ruins and learns about the history of the world that would have been so awesome. That would have been amazing to see but instead we get a filler Genin Itachi episode of them chasing a cat which shows they have an idiot for a teacher. I mean really? No wonder Itachi got frustrated.
There are a few scenes with Shisui but they’re pointless because everything that could be explored about their relationship we already know. The only scene with the two of them I liked it was in the anime where Shisui takes Itachi on a mission and they find themselves in the middle of an ANBU dispute. That episode was enlightening because it did two things.
One; the mission allowed the two of them to evolve the relationship from training acquaintances to friends.
Two; this shows the evolution of Itachi’s character by having the mission humble him. Itachi was always the best at the Academy and had no challenges so he would train on his own time.
When Shisui takes him on this mission, Itachi gets frustrated with himself because he feels he’s not as good as he should be. But Shisui points out a few things that teaches Itachi humility. Itachi needed to be teachable in order to grow and if he’s already the best at everything then there is no need for growth and progress. Being humble also allows for you to improve and overcome your weakness others can see in you even if you can’t see them yourself. The lesson allows Itachi and Shisui to grow closer to the point where they have a bond of unbreakable trust.
The new characters that are introduced are forgettable and pointless. Itachi gets placed into two Genin teams in the novel, but his teammates are not memorable. Only one character served a purpose in the story, and it was his death that caused Itachi’s Sharingan to awaken. Which doesn't make any sense because we don’t see any bonding between Itachi and his teammates. He’s indifferent to them because he’s not gaining anything from either their missions or working together as a team and so his death shouldn’t have any impact on Itachi gaining the Sharingan.
Speaking of new and pointless characters, let’s talk about Izumi Uchiha.
I want to be clear on something. I do not hate Izumi. I’m actually pretty indifferent to Izumi. Why? Because she is pretty boring as a character. She’s nice, has an affection for Itachi, and that’s it. I’ve seen fans conclude that Izumi is supposed to be this ‘lover’ that Itachi killed when he massacred his clan but there are no scenes that indicate an intimate relationship between them. In the first novel there is only one scene between them and it’s only served as an introduction between the characters. With the anime we technically have a few more scenes but they’re short and don’t build a relationship between them. The scene in the novel just reveals to the readers that Izumi was able to activate the Sharingan at a young age but her body is unable to handle it as she falls unconscious when she uses it. In the anime, the only scene we get where they have some sort of conversation is after Itachi graduates the Academy and becomes a Genin and Izumi shares dango with him. He acknowledges he wants the Sharingan and remembers that she has it. She tells him she can’t help him get it but rather it’s something an Uchiha has to retrieve themselves.
What’s odd about this is that she expresses to him her hopes of him obtaining the Sharingan soon like it’s a goal to be proud to achieve. In the eyes of the clan, it is a good thing because this their signature Kekkei Genkai. Its like the scene is supposed to be a cute moment for this character to be supportive but it backfires when Itachi discovers the price to pay in order to obtain the Sharingan. He looses a teammate and therefore his heart suffers from a loss. The loss of a comrade. We have this hypocrisy going on, but no one is held accountable except for Fugaku. Which I find odd.
In the anime Fugaku acknowledges that Itachi retrieved the Sharingan at a young age and as such, the clan will have high expectations for him. He doesn't outright congratulate him but keeps a somber attitude about the whole thing. Itachi silently criticizes his father for his praise for him obtaining the Sharingan but doesn’t go back to criticize Izumi for not warning him the cost of obtaining the Sharingan or hoping he will get it like it's a good thing.
Interestingly enough, the only character that has great scenes in the novel is Danzo. The scenes with Danzo and Itachi are eerie, as they should be. The introduction between Danzo and Itachi is great the the scenes where Danzo is keeping an eye on Itachi are also awesome. It's weird, creepy, and I love it.
We get to where Itachi is promoted to Chunin but that's rushed because Itachi just breezes through it. And Itachi joins the Anbu.
I would like the novel better if it would take it's time with the story and Itachi's experience before he joins the Anbu because most flashbacks with Itachi are post-Anbu and pre-Uchiha massacre. I don't understand the rush to get into Itachi's experience as an Anbu. We've seen many different scenes so many times. We don't need to go over Itachi's struggle of him being forced to make a decision that tears him up in the inside. I hate to be a jerk about it but we've seen it over and over again.
The one scene that I actually like because of the emotion behind the animation is the scene where Itachi is sitting in his room, reading Shisui's suicide note and his mother leaves his dinner at the door telling him she would like for him to join them for dinner whenever he can. This scene broke my heart. The expression on his face is animated so wonderfully as it captures his sorrow for the loss of his friend.
So the novel was okay. It wasn't horrible but the frustration thing about it was that there was so much potential and possibilities with it but it went nowhere. It's like waiting in an hour in line for a roller coaster. The anticipation is there but the payoff is not worth the wait if the ride's not good.
March 1, 2017
A prodigy's dilemma.
August 31, 2021
An absolute treat for a fan. This volume ("Daylight") explores the other side of Uchiha Itachi which was never explored in the manga or anime, and the nostalgia it brought was quite massive like a homage to Naruto!! A must-read for every Itachi fan.
The child who thought like an Adult.
Looking forward to Vol. 2 : Midnight. (:
The child who thought like an Adult.
Looking forward to Vol. 2 : Midnight. (:
April 16, 2025
when i watched naruto, i never really cared about itachi but i do have to admit he was a really well-written character. this book pissed me off a little cause he pissed me off… his holier-than-thou attitude and just his mindset.
some thoughts
- itachi is actually an opp, he preserved the "peace" of his village but the village was already cooked. if it was me, i definitely would’ve stuck with my family.
- fuck danzo
- his parents annoyed me a lot in this book cause they should’ve raised their son as a proper person not a fucking child soldier. but there were one or two still cute family moments (and yes, when i watched the scene of him killing them in the anime. tears.)
- my cute small baby sasuke jwtjwjtjw… their sibling bond is so sad and probably one of the best ever made
- that one crumb of kakashi thank you
(3.5 rating)
some thoughts
- itachi is actually an opp, he preserved the "peace" of his village but the village was already cooked. if it was me, i definitely would’ve stuck with my family.
- fuck danzo
- his parents annoyed me a lot in this book cause they should’ve raised their son as a proper person not a fucking child soldier. but there were one or two still cute family moments (and yes, when i watched the scene of him killing them in the anime. tears.)
- my cute small baby sasuke jwtjwjtjw… their sibling bond is so sad and probably one of the best ever made
- that one crumb of kakashi thank you
(3.5 rating)
November 28, 2019
I know I'm biased. Let me fangirling over this one.
June 22, 2021
Itachi is the best character in Naruto, and one of the best characters in manga, period. I had little doubt that I would really enjoy this.
My only complaint is the weirdness of Itachi and Izumi. Sorry, but I'm not a fan of their dynamic. Never in the canon story is Itachi shown to have a love interest. (Well, except that one line from Tobi. But since that was never addressed again, it's safe to assume it was a mistranslation of some kind). Not only was no one mentioned, but it certainly was never mentioned that the love was incestual. Izumi is his cousin. No thanks. Not gunna take that part as canon. Seeing as how Kishi didn't write her, I can easily do that. I always liked how Itachi was a loner. He stayed away from most other people because he simply couldn't relate to others. he had far too much on his shoulders at such a young age. he couldn't even relate to his own brother, who he still loved. Itachi was cursed with being too ahead of his time. I really don't think he was the type of kid to have 'crushes' or whatever. Granted, he doesn't actually reciprocate Izumi's feelings in this book, but I have a feeling he might in the next one. God, I hope not. Itachi doesn't need a romantic interest. The way it is presented here lessens his character. It does not add an extra layer to his narrative arc. It just feels thrown in there with little thought behind it. And again, they're related.
Update: Okay, lowering a star because the second book was just that bad. The anime does a far superior job depicting this narrative. I'm not impressed by the books.
My only complaint is the weirdness of Itachi and Izumi. Sorry, but I'm not a fan of their dynamic. Never in the canon story is Itachi shown to have a love interest. (Well, except that one line from Tobi. But since that was never addressed again, it's safe to assume it was a mistranslation of some kind). Not only was no one mentioned, but it certainly was never mentioned that the love was incestual. Izumi is his cousin. No thanks. Not gunna take that part as canon. Seeing as how Kishi didn't write her, I can easily do that. I always liked how Itachi was a loner. He stayed away from most other people because he simply couldn't relate to others. he had far too much on his shoulders at such a young age. he couldn't even relate to his own brother, who he still loved. Itachi was cursed with being too ahead of his time. I really don't think he was the type of kid to have 'crushes' or whatever. Granted, he doesn't actually reciprocate Izumi's feelings in this book, but I have a feeling he might in the next one. God, I hope not. Itachi doesn't need a romantic interest. The way it is presented here lessens his character. It does not add an extra layer to his narrative arc. It just feels thrown in there with little thought behind it. And again, they're related.
Update: Okay, lowering a star because the second book was just that bad. The anime does a far superior job depicting this narrative. I'm not impressed by the books.
March 18, 2024
I love itachi 🖤 he deserved so much better.
December 4, 2016
A thousand thoughts goes on behind the quiet facet, all we can do is make-do with whatever that was revealed. After reading this, I realised there was not a lot. I felt conceited thinking I knew Itachi.
The story is divided into 3 parts - each chapter was artistically titled and drew parallel between Itachi and a crow. This is not a flashback. Every passing moment was depicted as Itachi was experiencing it, starting from when he was four (basically the year he found his purpose for living; I'm 21 and still constantly questioning my life). My favourite scene is his tribulations in the Chuunin Exam, and we get a bit of the strategic battle, Kishimoto style (meaning not just blade slash blade, but some actual wits in the fights) that you'll probably never get anywhere else as far as canon goes. Despite being mostly written in third person narrative, we're awarded with the rich and untold emotions kept concealed behind those aloof eyes, something that we do not get from the manga and anime.
Everyone knows he is a genius, but if there's any takeaway, the genius worked for it, but never for the shallow purpose of obtaining the title. Throughout the chronicle, we're constantly reminded of his motivations and the vision he holds for the world, which served as his fuel and drove him nearer to his goal. Although the gifted tends to walk the path of solitude, it becomes evident that his lack of social circle (and woman) was largely because of his er, extreme focus on his goal, and that he genuinely felt there was no need to be chummy to anybody.
So yes, the harem that every Fanfic has bestowed upon our god Itachi is absolutely BS and it's pretty much BL between him and Shisui all the way... I'm kidding, but as a giveaway for ruining his lady's man image, there is a girl who he forged a (weak) connection with, though romance being a sub-sub-subplot in the Narutoverse, I was glad there was even a mention of a potential female suitor, and those scarce teasing conversations with regards to that special girl. You have no idea how many times the hopeless romantic in me slapped my forehead and the unhealthy impulse to whip some sense into Itachi's dense head - let's just say this ninja pro has no realm in the art of flirting and picking up girls.
I need to give credit for the explanation of the crow's genjutsu (I do not wish to ruin the joy of fans finding that out himself so I'll leave that out) instead of writing it off as a "premonition" to his fate or or simply to make him stand out. Another honourable mention was the exploration of Danzo's character, the memorable initial interaction between him and Itachi (didn't know Danzo was secretly a fortune-teller and mood-damper), and his perspective of Konoha without any tarnishing from a limited third person narrative. He really isn't as bad as he seems, just another socially awkward old man with an eye fetish and keen eye for young talents.
Unfortunately the book ended with an ominous cliffhanger, and we're only barely halfway through his life story. On the bright side, you can rest assured that this is a totally different story told from the animated Itachi Shinden conveniently slotted as a Shippuden filler. That means no, "A life is born. A life is gone," slogan, and IMO that's the biggest difference between the two medium, as the novel is a lot more personal goal-oriented than philosophically themed. As I read this in Chinese, I could not give comments on the quality of translations for the fellow English speakers. However, for the Chinese literates, this is top-notch translation comparing it spine to spine against the Japanese copy (yes I own the original copies too, I tend to get a little irrational when it comes to Itachi).
Just to end off with two more takeaways - never tell Itachi he's tired (read the book and you'll know what I mean ;]) and this is in no way pointless or redundant. Anyone who said that has either not read the novel or miraculously missed the entire point of the story.
The story is divided into 3 parts - each chapter was artistically titled and drew parallel between Itachi and a crow. This is not a flashback. Every passing moment was depicted as Itachi was experiencing it, starting from when he was four (basically the year he found his purpose for living; I'm 21 and still constantly questioning my life). My favourite scene is his tribulations in the Chuunin Exam, and we get a bit of the strategic battle, Kishimoto style (meaning not just blade slash blade, but some actual wits in the fights) that you'll probably never get anywhere else as far as canon goes. Despite being mostly written in third person narrative, we're awarded with the rich and untold emotions kept concealed behind those aloof eyes, something that we do not get from the manga and anime.
Everyone knows he is a genius, but if there's any takeaway, the genius worked for it, but never for the shallow purpose of obtaining the title. Throughout the chronicle, we're constantly reminded of his motivations and the vision he holds for the world, which served as his fuel and drove him nearer to his goal. Although the gifted tends to walk the path of solitude, it becomes evident that his lack of social circle (and woman) was largely because of his er, extreme focus on his goal, and that he genuinely felt there was no need to be chummy to anybody.
So yes, the harem that every Fanfic has bestowed upon our god Itachi is absolutely BS and it's pretty much BL between him and Shisui all the way... I'm kidding, but as a giveaway for ruining his lady's man image, there is a girl who he forged a (weak) connection with, though romance being a sub-sub-subplot in the Narutoverse, I was glad there was even a mention of a potential female suitor, and those scarce teasing conversations with regards to that special girl. You have no idea how many times the hopeless romantic in me slapped my forehead and the unhealthy impulse to whip some sense into Itachi's dense head - let's just say this ninja pro has no realm in the art of flirting and picking up girls.
I need to give credit for the explanation of the crow's genjutsu (I do not wish to ruin the joy of fans finding that out himself so I'll leave that out) instead of writing it off as a "premonition" to his fate or or simply to make him stand out. Another honourable mention was the exploration of Danzo's character, the memorable initial interaction between him and Itachi (didn't know Danzo was secretly a fortune-teller and mood-damper), and his perspective of Konoha without any tarnishing from a limited third person narrative. He really isn't as bad as he seems, just another socially awkward old man with an eye fetish and keen eye for young talents.
Unfortunately the book ended with an ominous cliffhanger, and we're only barely halfway through his life story. On the bright side, you can rest assured that this is a totally different story told from the animated Itachi Shinden conveniently slotted as a Shippuden filler. That means no, "A life is born. A life is gone," slogan, and IMO that's the biggest difference between the two medium, as the novel is a lot more personal goal-oriented than philosophically themed. As I read this in Chinese, I could not give comments on the quality of translations for the fellow English speakers. However, for the Chinese literates, this is top-notch translation comparing it spine to spine against the Japanese copy (yes I own the original copies too, I tend to get a little irrational when it comes to Itachi).
Just to end off with two more takeaways - never tell Itachi he's tired (read the book and you'll know what I mean ;]) and this is in no way pointless or redundant. Anyone who said that has either not read the novel or miraculously missed the entire point of the story.
November 17, 2022
My baby deserved so much better
January 28, 2021
January good reads review
Itachi's Story
I picked 4 out of 5 stars because this book is amazing. For an anime enthusiast like me the book tells you some other stuff that the actual anime doesn't. For instance, the book said Fugaku (Itachi's dad) could control the nine tailed fox when it attacked the village with his mangekyou sharingan, and that to keep Fugaku away from the 9 tails. But in the Anime I must have missed that fact or they never told me it. Someone else should read this because it teaches you where hard work gets you. It also teaches you life lessons such as "don't judge a book by its cover" and " "don't bite the hand that feeds you" Something that would make this book better or a 5 out of 5 stars would be actually I can't think of anything this book is just perfect
Itachi's Story
I picked 4 out of 5 stars because this book is amazing. For an anime enthusiast like me the book tells you some other stuff that the actual anime doesn't. For instance, the book said Fugaku (Itachi's dad) could control the nine tailed fox when it attacked the village with his mangekyou sharingan, and that to keep Fugaku away from the 9 tails. But in the Anime I must have missed that fact or they never told me it. Someone else should read this because it teaches you where hard work gets you. It also teaches you life lessons such as "don't judge a book by its cover" and " "don't bite the hand that feeds you" Something that would make this book better or a 5 out of 5 stars would be actually I can't think of anything this book is just perfect
February 18, 2019
Daylight is Volume 1 in Itachi's story.
When I bought this book, I thought it was a manga, but when I opened it I saw that it was a novel. Even then, I thoroughly enjoyed it, since Itachi has always been one of my favourite characters in the series.
This novel follows his childhood and shows how fast he broke through different ranks. Also, loved the love he had for his brother, Sasuke.
When I bought this book, I thought it was a manga, but when I opened it I saw that it was a novel. Even then, I thoroughly enjoyed it, since Itachi has always been one of my favourite characters in the series.
This novel follows his childhood and shows how fast he broke through different ranks. Also, loved the love he had for his brother, Sasuke.
January 16, 2023
Normally don’t write reviews for books like this however this one was really good and very emotional. It pieces together the missing information the anime leaves out regarding his story and why what happened had to happened and what lead up to it from when he was a small child. Can’t wait to read the second one.
May 30, 2022
As someone who wasn't particularly attached to Itachi, I very much liked this.
Itachi is ... a pretty complex character. He is a genius, he grew up being told he is and showing up that he is, but one side he wasn't good at is feelings.
He doesn't understand his own feelings, doesn't know how to express them or even read them. His brain works with goals. To go from point A -> B, he needs to do that and that, but he never thinks of the side effects because he is a child ! A child that didn't have the time to be one. A child that hopes to save the world. A child, that thinks he is an adult, and that doesn't go well.
He wants to eradicate any type of conflict but he thinks of doing so by overpowering everyone, that's basically tyranny and he doesn't get it because he is like what ? 10 ? 11 ?
I really liked this novel, and it got me to understand his character better. I would recommend to anyone to read it.
The reason it is a 4 stars and not a 5 is purely because of the manga. We get in this book a side clan related to the hyuugas, that could have the byakugan, and this just makes me realize how poor the worldbuilding was done in the manga ....
Itachi is ... a pretty complex character. He is a genius, he grew up being told he is and showing up that he is, but one side he wasn't good at is feelings.
He doesn't understand his own feelings, doesn't know how to express them or even read them. His brain works with goals. To go from point A -> B, he needs to do that and that, but he never thinks of the side effects because he is a child ! A child that didn't have the time to be one. A child that hopes to save the world. A child, that thinks he is an adult, and that doesn't go well.
He wants to eradicate any type of conflict but he thinks of doing so by overpowering everyone, that's basically tyranny and he doesn't get it because he is like what ? 10 ? 11 ?
I really liked this novel, and it got me to understand his character better. I would recommend to anyone to read it.
The reason it is a 4 stars and not a 5 is purely because of the manga. We get in this book a side clan related to the hyuugas, that could have the byakugan, and this just makes me realize how poor the worldbuilding was done in the manga ....
July 28, 2018
Libro carino, un po’ troppo monotematico. Capisco che Itachi sia il protagonista indiscusso però si sarebbe potuto azzardare un attimino di più ampliando gli orizzonti. Discrete le retrospettive sul clan Uchiha e la Polizia del villaggio, la Squadra Speciale, la Radice… tutte quante però avrebbero meritato un maggiore approfondimento. Ciò non toglie che la lettura è stata utile per comprendere ancor più a fondo la personalità di un ninja chiave della serie come Itachi, e il malcontento del suo clan nei confronti del Villaggio della Foglia. Poi vabbè, c’è pure Danzo che è uno dei miei preferiti. Sono curioso di leggere cosa mi riserverà il volume seguente…
July 15, 2021
A sus cuatro años de edad Itachi es llevado por su padre al campo de batalla para mostrarle la razón de existir de los ninja y mientras ve muerte, destrucción y guerra, un sueño nace en su corazón: convertir su mundo en un lugar de paz.
•×•
Esto era justo lo que necesitaba, un libro ligero con personajes inocentes pero drama llena de malicia.
•×•
Esto era justo lo que necesitaba, un libro ligero con personajes inocentes pero drama llena de malicia.
July 28, 2023
prelepo
March 10, 2025
Je suis étonnée mais dans le bon sens, je m'attendais pas du tout ce que ça soit si bien écrit. Franchement incroyable. Mon cœur saigne de suivre son histoire et son enfance.
December 31, 2017
I love how we got to see itachi grow up. I'm really excited to continuing the next book. Inn this book we follow Itachi from really young age. We got see how he awoken the sharingan, how he meet shisui, the day sasuke was born. We also follow him through his years from when he started the academy al the way til the anbu. This story was great. Itachi is one of my favorite characters from Naruto. So this was awesome.
June 16, 2021
This read like a mediocre fanfiction and it wasn't just the translation. The plot, the added characters, the way it tries to tie into canon... It all feels very much like someone who is ok at writing decided to do a long form fanfiction but hasn't really developed the world or characters or their skills yet. Below average but not the worst thing I've read.
January 24, 2020
Definetly a very good book. I give it 5 stars because it tells the story of Itachi in a way it is not seen in the anime or in the manga. However, i don't recomend it if this will be the first impression of this character. It'd certainly ruin all the surprises that Itachi still has to show off.
April 17, 2020
I understand I have had this book for a while now that I haven't been reading but I started to read it and I really enjoyed it.My favorite part has to be the part where Itachi has to kill his whole clan for the safety of the village.
April 16, 2023
Uchiha Itachi's childhood 😍😍😍😍
December 18, 2025
(3.0-3.5 rounded up)
In my view, Itachi Uchiha is one of the most complex characters in fiction, anime or otherwise. He starts off in “Naruto” as your standard evil relative of a main character only for one fascinating exposition dump halfway through the series to add so many layers to his and his family’s story and make him more of a tragic figure. Plus, he’s a badass. “Itachi’s Story” is a spin-off prequel series covering Itachi’s story (duh) before the main series. Part 1 (“Daylight”) covers his childhood up through to him joining the ANBU.
The book contains plenty of references to the broader Naruto mythology (i.e., Minato becoming Hokage, Hinata being kidnapped, etc.) as well as Itachi’s perspective of important events like the night the Nine Tailed Fox attacked the village. Beyond that we get to see Itachi’s relationships develop as he grows up alongside Shisui (his best friend), Izumi (who has a crush on him), and little brother Sasuke (which of course will become one of the most important relationships in the franchise). As for Itachi himself, the book’s portrayal of him is fine. Having previously seen clips of kid Itachi that seemed to make him out to be a bit more lighthearted and kindhearted, that’s not the case here (no Itachi in cat ears like the one filler episode). It’s exclusively showing Itachi as a loner and usually rather cold to others (minus his interactions with the aforementioned trio) which is fine but does feel counter to his portrayal in the later part of Naruto as being more warm to others once the truth of his life came out. It is what it is but it did mean I was reading a lot slower than I expected for a book of this length. The writing for the rest of the story is fine, although the pacing and possible translation issues did make the story less than stellar. There were plenty of scenes I did like however like Itachi’s Chunin Exams and his first meeting with Tobi (which as always when Tobi switches between personas is very creepy).
Truthfully I was expecting a bit more out of this story and I do question the need to make it a two part story. But in general I was content with part 1 of “Itachi’s Story” and curious about how the next part will portray the rest of his early life.
In my view, Itachi Uchiha is one of the most complex characters in fiction, anime or otherwise. He starts off in “Naruto” as your standard evil relative of a main character only for one fascinating exposition dump halfway through the series to add so many layers to his and his family’s story and make him more of a tragic figure. Plus, he’s a badass. “Itachi’s Story” is a spin-off prequel series covering Itachi’s story (duh) before the main series. Part 1 (“Daylight”) covers his childhood up through to him joining the ANBU.
The book contains plenty of references to the broader Naruto mythology (i.e., Minato becoming Hokage, Hinata being kidnapped, etc.) as well as Itachi’s perspective of important events like the night the Nine Tailed Fox attacked the village. Beyond that we get to see Itachi’s relationships develop as he grows up alongside Shisui (his best friend), Izumi (who has a crush on him), and little brother Sasuke (which of course will become one of the most important relationships in the franchise). As for Itachi himself, the book’s portrayal of him is fine. Having previously seen clips of kid Itachi that seemed to make him out to be a bit more lighthearted and kindhearted, that’s not the case here (no Itachi in cat ears like the one filler episode). It’s exclusively showing Itachi as a loner and usually rather cold to others (minus his interactions with the aforementioned trio) which is fine but does feel counter to his portrayal in the later part of Naruto as being more warm to others once the truth of his life came out. It is what it is but it did mean I was reading a lot slower than I expected for a book of this length. The writing for the rest of the story is fine, although the pacing and possible translation issues did make the story less than stellar. There were plenty of scenes I did like however like Itachi’s Chunin Exams and his first meeting with Tobi (which as always when Tobi switches between personas is very creepy).
Truthfully I was expecting a bit more out of this story and I do question the need to make it a two part story. But in general I was content with part 1 of “Itachi’s Story” and curious about how the next part will portray the rest of his early life.
January 31, 2024
Title: Naruto: Itachi’s Story: Daylight
Author: Masashi Kishimoto and Takashi Yano
Rating: 5/5
So admittedly I’m giving it a 5 because I am really bias. Naruto is one of my favorite shows and franchises ever so I find it hard to believe I would find any piece of media from it as bad. For me this light novel was nearly perfect. This book covers one of my favorite character, Itachi Uchiha. His childhood and shows just how extraordinary of a ninja he was. Which if you watched the show or read the manga, was already made abruptly clear. He was a child prodigy from the moment he was 4 years old. We also get to see a more in depth view of his goals and his dreams for the ninja world. He really just wants world peace. He hates fighting and is willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of fighting entirely. Even if that means he has to become the most powerful to do it. This is just the first book out of two but if you’ve read Naruto before, you can probably guess the event that happens in the next book.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and kept be engaged. It was also really great to get to know one of my favorite characters on a deeper level.
Author: Masashi Kishimoto and Takashi Yano
Rating: 5/5
So admittedly I’m giving it a 5 because I am really bias. Naruto is one of my favorite shows and franchises ever so I find it hard to believe I would find any piece of media from it as bad. For me this light novel was nearly perfect. This book covers one of my favorite character, Itachi Uchiha. His childhood and shows just how extraordinary of a ninja he was. Which if you watched the show or read the manga, was already made abruptly clear. He was a child prodigy from the moment he was 4 years old. We also get to see a more in depth view of his goals and his dreams for the ninja world. He really just wants world peace. He hates fighting and is willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of fighting entirely. Even if that means he has to become the most powerful to do it. This is just the first book out of two but if you’ve read Naruto before, you can probably guess the event that happens in the next book.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and kept be engaged. It was also really great to get to know one of my favorite characters on a deeper level.
October 27, 2023
Itachi’s Story by Musashi Miyamoto is a story where the author expands on a character that was briefly touched on in the main series giving context to his story and his impact. This story is tailored to fans who enjoyed Itachi’s presence in the main story as well as those who wanted a deeper understanding of the series as a whole. The theme seems to be about Itachi’s central belief, to end all war and conflict, and this theme seems to reflect the author’s personal beliefs and ideals that he’s trying to convey through Itachi. A supporting example is that Itachi was shown war at a young age by his father and this led him to this fundamental belief that is his justification because he understands the horror of war and doesn’t want it upon anyone. I think the author does a great job of conveying this ideal through Itachi because even through all the death and hardship surrounding Itachi he stays steadfast in his belief through the whole story.I conclude this book is a great showing of beliefs and ideals as well as reflecting the author’s beliefs. I would give this book 5 stars.
January 31, 2018
Charting the rise of Itachi from ninja prodigy to potential Anbu recruit (I'm guessing the second book brings things full circle to where he appears in the manga/anime), this insight into Itachi's head is a lot more comprehensive compared to what we get in other media. You can understand where he's coming from, and can see the signs that it's all going to go wrong a lot earlier here.
I enjoyed the different ninja fighting styles introduced here; unique styles always make for the best manga/anime visuals, but the writer manages to capture the essence of a battle pretty well here. The translation is solid for the most part too, with only a few janky sentences.
To be continued, apparently. It's all downhill from here.
I enjoyed the different ninja fighting styles introduced here; unique styles always make for the best manga/anime visuals, but the writer manages to capture the essence of a battle pretty well here. The translation is solid for the most part too, with only a few janky sentences.
To be continued, apparently. It's all downhill from here.
May 26, 2022
An insight on Itachi's childhood and the events that took place which shaped his ideologies.
His mindset, and work habit are something to be astonished by. He found what he wants to achieve, which was to end all war, and then forumlated a plan to get there.
Become the strongest ninja, people will acknowledge your strength, lead and demonstrate your abilties so that it inspires fear, and eventually people will cease to want to become ninjas. As a result, he started training every single day at the age of 4.
It just goes to show, no matter how big your ambitation may be, it can be broken down to actionable items which can be implented every day.
His mindset, and work habit are something to be astonished by. He found what he wants to achieve, which was to end all war, and then forumlated a plan to get there.
Become the strongest ninja, people will acknowledge your strength, lead and demonstrate your abilties so that it inspires fear, and eventually people will cease to want to become ninjas. As a result, he started training every single day at the age of 4.
It just goes to show, no matter how big your ambitation may be, it can be broken down to actionable items which can be implented every day.
February 14, 2022
This book was great! If you love Itachi you’ll enjoy this. A great origin story. It dives into Itachi’s mind and you understand how he thinks, and what lead to his actions. Itachi is seeking peace and his strong resolve to achieve this. The more you read it you can’t put down, it gets better and better page after page!
June 9, 2024
The Naruto anime is amazing. Itachi is my favorite character. His first Light Novel is…a fun extension of the universe.
The writing isn’t breathtaking, the plot isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s an overall enjoyable read for fans of Konoha.
The writing isn’t breathtaking, the plot isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s an overall enjoyable read for fans of Konoha.
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