How Did Itachi Defeat Kabuto?

Itachi’s fight against Kabuto in Naruto Shippuden was one of the most unexpected victories in the series. Explore the clever strategy Itachi used to defeat Kabuto, and how it showcased his genius.

dante
Dante
Editor-in-Chief at BrandAnime

Dante is Editor-in-Chief (Lord Hokage), which means he runs editorial and operations at BrandAnime. That means this whole thing was his idea, and he spends...

Last Updated on April 29, 2025 by Dante

Itachi defeated Kabuto by using his genjutsu (Izanami) to manipulate and ultimately break Kabuto’s Reanimation Jutsu. Here’s how it happened:

How Did Itachi Beat Kabuto?

After Kabuto powered himself up using Orochimaru’s techniques and the Reanimation Jutsu, he was nearly invincible. However, Itachi, despite being sick and weakened, used his Sharingan and a combination of genjutsu and strategy to trap Kabuto.

In their fight, Kabuto believed he had complete control over the reanimated shinobi, including Itachi. However, Itachi secretly used genjutsu on Kabuto, not just to weaken his resolve but to also create a situation where Kabuto’s control over the reanimation would unravel.

Itachi then made Kabuto believe that he was still under the control of Orochimaru’s influence, forcing him into a mental state where he couldn’t properly control the reanimated bodies.

Essentially, Itachi’s genjutsu created the illusion that Kabuto’s Reanimation Jutsu had failed, allowing the reanimated souls to break free of his control.

This strategic move completely disabled Kabuto’s greatest power, which led to his defeat. Kabuto, unable to comprehend what was happening, ultimately found himself powerless as Itachi’s manipulation completely dismantled his control over the Reanimation Jutsu.

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dante
DanteEditor-in-Chief at BrandAnime

Dante is Editor-in-Chief (Lord Hokage), which means he runs editorial and operations at BrandAnime. That means this whole thing was his idea, and he spends his time making stuff work and covering the latest anime and games. When he's not doing 100 things at once, he's usually... watching anime or playing games. His life isn't that interesting, honestly.

Dante
Dante

Dante is the creator behind Brand Anime, a hub for anime fans, gamers, and Genshin Impact adventurers. A lifelong anime watcher and seasoned gamer, Dante shares in-depth guides, creative editorials, and gameplay strategies based on years of firsthand experience. Dante also streams and records every week on his YouTube channel King Retro (@kingretro-w8e)

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