Itachi's Power!! (volume)

Itachi's Power!! ( イタチの能力!! , Itachi no Chikara!! , Viz: Itachi's Power) is volume 17 of the Naruto manga.

## Chapter 145
" Memories of Despair " ( 絶望の記憶 , Zetsubō no Kioku )

Not knowing who they are, Naruto is surprised to see Itachi 's Sharingan . He is even more surprised when they reference the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed within him. As Sasuke searches for Naruto, he thinks back to his childhood. Itachi seemed like an ordinary older brother who was simply distant with Sasuke. However, when Sasuke returned home one night to the Uchiha clan 's living area, he found his entire family murdered by Itachi. As Itachi and Kisame try to convince Naruto to leave his room, Sasuke arrives and vows to kill Itachi.

## Chapter 146
" Together with Hatred…!! " ( 憎悪とともに…!! , Zōo to Tomo ni…!! )

Both Naruto and Kisame are surprised to learn that Itachi and Sasuke are brothers. Years ago, after Itachi killed their family, Itachi told Sasuke that he had done so in order to test his abilities. Frightened that this could be his motivation, Sasuke tried to escape, only for Itachi to assure him he was too weak to kill. He instead encouraged Sasuke to grow strong enough to kill him and avenge their family. Intending to finally do so, Sasuke attacks Itachi with Chidori , but Itachi easily deflects it. Naruto begins gathering chakra so that he can help Sasuke when it is absorbed by Kisame. As Kisame moves to incapacitate him, Jiraiya appears and stops the attack.

## Chapter 147
" My Fight!! " ( オレの戦い!! , Ore no Tatakai!! )

Jiraiya tries to make a grand entrance, but Naruto quickly reminds him that he was gone because he was hitting on a woman. Since the woman was under the influence of a genjutsu , Jiraiya knows that Itachi and Kisame were trying to separate him from Naruto, thereby confirming that Akatsuki really is after the Nine-Tails . Hearing Jiraiya's words, Itachi realises that Jiraiya was the one who informed Kakashi about Akatsuki. Jiraiya prepares to fight them but Sasuke instructs him to leave them to him. Uninterested in their squabble, Itachi tortures Sasuke. Naruto tries to help him and Kisame pursues Naruto, prompting Jiraiya to coat the area in a toad 's stomach.

## Chapter 148
" Itachi's Power!! " ( イタチの能力!! , Itachi no Chikara!! )

Itachi tells Sasuke that he is still too weak. Jiraiya tries to capture him and Kisame but they flee, managing to escape from his Summoning: Toad Mouth Bind with Amaterasu . Jiraiya takes a sample of the flames for future study and Naruto checks on Sasuke. While they are preoccupied, Guy appears and attacks Jiraiya, having thought he was Itachi or Kisame. Naruto expresses an interest in going after the Akatsuki members, but Jiraiya tells him he would stand no chance against them. Because of the condition Sasuke and Kakashi have been left in after their encounters with Itachi, as well as Lee 's predicament, Guy regrets that Tsunade is no longer in Konoha . Jiraiya tells him that they are in the middle of searching for Tsunade, the world's greatest medic.

## Chapter 149
" The Legendary…!! " ( 伝説の…!! , Densetsu no…!! )

Guy pleads with Jiraiya and Naruto to make sure they bring Tsunade back to Konoha . When Naruto promises to do so, Guy, impressed by his dedication, gives him a jumpsuit before heading home with Sasuke . As they begin their search, Naruto asks why Akatsuki is so interested in him. Jiraiya tells him that they are after the Nine-Tails for some unknown reason and that, in the future, they are unlikely to give up so easily. Naruto concludes that he will need to get stronger, which he won't be able to do until they find Tsunade. Jiraiya explains that it will not be that easy since Tsunade periodically changes her appearance. Even if it will take a while, Naruto doesn't need to worry about missing out on his training since Jiraiya will be teaching him a new technique. Eager to begin, Naruto puts on his new jumpsuit.

## Chapter 150
" The Training Begins…?! " ( 修行開始…!? , Shugyō Kaishi…!? )

Naruto and Jiraiya stopped at a fair to gather information on Tsunade . When Naruto said that he wanted to enjoy the fair, Jiraiya took most of his money so that he, a ninja, will not over-indulge himself. After spending what little money he was allowed and buying Jiraiya some food as thanks, Naruto found that Jiraiya had not taken his own advice; not only had he surrounded himself with women and alcohol, but he had spent Naruto's money in order to do so. As Naruto yelled at him he earned the anger of Gantetsu . Jiraiya dealt with Gantetsu, at the same time demonstrating the Rasengan. To start Naruto on his way of learning the Rasengan, Jiraiya instructed him to pop a water balloon by spinning his chakra.

## Chapter 151
" Impetus…!! " ( きっかけ…!! , Kikkake…!! )

A few days after beginning his Rasengan training, Naruto reflects on his lack of progress in popping the water balloon. Jiraiya reluctantly gave him some tips on how to spin his chakra , after which Naruto proclaimed that he would finish this first step and master the Rasengan in three days. Jiraiya informed him that the Fourth Hokage , the Rasengan's creator, created the Rasengan after three years' hard work. While thinking, Naruto sees a cat playing with the water balloon. When the cat pops the balloon after batting it around, Naruto gets an idea and finally manages to break the balloon himself.

## Chapter 152
" The Second Step " ( 第二段階 , Daini Dankai )

By spinning chakra with both of his hands and forcing the energy into the water balloon from opposing directions, Naruto is able to pop it. Though unorthodox, Jiraiya is impressed and tells him about the second step to learning the Rasengan . The second step is very similar to the first; Naruto must pop a rubber ball. Since the ball is much sturdier than the balloon, he will need to improve the Rasengan's strength. Naruto once again struggles with the step as he cannot burst the ball, only managing to create a hole in it. Content with this development, Jiraiya draws a mark on the palm of his hand to help.

## Chapter 153
" The Searchers!! " ( 捜索者たち!! , Sōsakusha-Tachi!! )

The mark on Naruto 's hand is meant to give him a focal point for his chakra output, concentrating the Rasengan 's strength on one specific point rather than dissipating it over a larger area. This does little to help him. Meanwhile, Orochimaru is in agony from the seal placed on him by the Third Hokage . With Kabuto unable to do anything for him, they decide to go looking for Tsunade . Kabuto tells him that she is in Tanzaku Quarters , which Jiraiya also finds out in the course of his own investigation. In Tanzaku, Tsunade, a gambler with terrible luck, hits a winning streak, which causes her great concern.

## Author's Note