Itachi and Akatsuki, no joke, 100 percent correct with manga proof

[Sasuke is better]

He was in Akatsuki at the age of 11 because Pein states that this is the first meeting in 7 years and he's 18 at the time of the meeting. 18-7=11. Orochimaru also left Akatsuki because he could not obtain Itachi's body which would also be 7 years ago and once again conforming that he was 11. Makes sense yea.

[Bringmethehorizon]

I really like your theory

[Veej]

Such a well-presented and accurate analysis. Well done.

It leaves some nasty holes in Madara's story though. For a kid who loved peace, why would Itachi want anything to do with Madara? There's no reason Itachi should want to train from ages 11 to 13 with a guy whose intentions are to destroy Konoha. If Itachi's intentions were peace and stability, he shouldn't have wanted to join an S-rank criminal organization. What did he need to be so powerful for? To make a deal with the devil like that, he would have needed some reason to obtain power.

And I was always under the impression that this was their first meeting:

Spoiler!

That happens immediately before the massacre. Of course, they could have known each other for a while, but why?

[Monkey D. Dragon]

Such a well-presented and accurate analysis. Well done.

It leaves some nasty holes in Madara's story though. For a kid who loved peace, why would Itachi want anything to do with Madara? There's no reason Itachi should want to train from ages 11 to 13 with a guy whose intentions are to destroy Konoha. If Itachi's intentions were peace and stability, he shouldn't have wanted to join an S-rank criminal organization. What did he need to be so powerful for? To make a deal with the devil like that, he would have needed some reason to obtain power.

And I was always under the impression that this was their first meeting:

Spoiler!

That happens immediately before the massacre. Of course, they could have known each other for a while, but why?

He didn't know Madara was the evil guy when he met him.

Itachi was smart. Instead of taking this immensely powerful organization head-on, he went undercover and planned on destroying it from within.

[erratic]

It all adds up, but at the same time it doesn't. Timeline-wise it's bulletproof, but I don't know how he's tall as/taller than Orochimaru when he's 11 years old

[kabe87]

It all adds up, but at the same time it doesn't. Timeline-wise it's bulletproof, but I don't know how he's tall as/taller than Orochimaru when he's 11 years old

o_O what picture are you talking about? The one where itachi is on the stairs above Orochimaru?

[Skylarr]

Hm way to go GameBoy! Impressive as always

[exkon]

I am curious as to what this theory is trying to say. If Itachi "did" join Akatsuki before the massacre. What does this mean for the storyline exactly?