Naruto and Sasuke's final fight has a hidden detail fans missed for years

It's already been nine years since the final fight between Naruto and Sasuke. I watched it right after it released and several times more, yet each time, a certain detail slipped past me - something that made the final face-off between the main characters even more impactful.

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Only recently did I notice this detail. It's present on the screen for a second in the 477th episode of Shippuden and it makes so much sense I'm surprised I didn't spot it earlier. Surely everyone remembers the moment when Naruto, preparing to use the Rasengan one last time in their battle, "received support" from his loved ones - their hands appearing to strengthen his final attack.

At that moment, Sasuke seemingly had no one on his side. But attentive viewers could notice that there was one person who supported him, even when Uchiha was following such a dangerous path. It was Itachi who had earlier promised him that no matter what Sasuke decides, he will always love him. It was proven when Itachi's hand appeared next to Sasuke's, as he prepared his Chidori.

Naruto: Shippuden, Studio Pierrot, 2007

I've never noticed that Itachi was supporting his brother during their final fight, but in hindsight, it makes a lot of sense that the scene would emphasize that. The strong emphasis placed on the support Naruto received - and the thought that no one could possibly be on Sasuke’s side at that moment—may have caused this detail to go unnoticed. It seemed that Uchiha was alone at that point, yet it turns out he had his older brother by his side, who kept his promise.

Noticing this after a few rewatches was a pleasant surprise, which showed that Naruto can still surprise me.

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