Twelve years before the start of the series, the Nine-Tails attacked Konohagakure, destroying much of the village and taking many lives. The leader of the village, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails into a newborn, Naruto Uzumaki. Orphaned by the attack, Naruto was shunned by the villagers, who out of fear and anger, viewed him as the Nine-Tails itself. Though the Third Hokage outlawed speaking about anything related to the Nine-Tails, the children — taking their cues from their parents — inherited the same animosity towards Naruto. In his thirst to be acknowledged, Naruto vowed he would one day become the greatest Hokage the village had ever seen. Read more...

On seeing Tobi's Sharingan, Sasuke's left eye takes the form of Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan and casts Amaterasu. Tobi, caught in the flames, loses hold of his mask and falls into the shadows. Sasuke wonders what just happened. A few moments later, Tobi returns, and explains that Itachi implanted his Amaterasu into Sasuke right before he died. Sasuke remembers the moment when Itachi tapped his forehead, but asks why he would do this. Tobi tells Sasuke that it was done to protect him. Sasuke becomes angered on hearing this, but Tobi tells him that there are many things he does not know about Itachi. Tobi, revealing himself as Madara Uchiha, offers to tell him about Itachi's life. Sasuke refuses to listen, but Tobi insists, claiming it's his duty to learn the truth.