Saikyo Jump Magazine has announced that the anime adaptation of Takashi Yano’s Naruto spin-off prequel novels, Naruto Shippuden: Itachi Shinden-hen ~Hikari to Yami~, or Itachi Shinden-Hen, will be making its premiere on 3 March  2016. As the title suggests, it will follow the tragic story of Sasuke’s older brother, Itachi Uchiha.

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Yano’s novels are split into two books, both of which are set before the events of the main Narito story. The first book, Itachi Shinden: Koumyou-hen, follows Itachi as a child, as he moves from becoming a Gennin, and then a Chuunin, and then a Jounin, in record time, and finally becoming an ANBU operative. The novel reveals that he too dreams of becoming a Hokage.

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Meanwhile, the second book, Itachi Shinden: Anya-hen, follows Itachi’s descent into darkness, as he loses a friend in an assassination mission, and the rivalry between his Uchiha clan and the village he swore has been brewing steadily…

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Both novels were released last year, and with the anime adaptation of the story now coming this March, we finally get to see what drove Itachi to do the things that he did. Shueisha also released a Sasuke Shinden novel, which is part of the bigger Naruto Shinden series.

Source: ANN