If you look up "store bought" in the dictionary, right after my DOA 3 Ein costume, you'll find this one. XD

I'd started assembling the parts for this way back in late 2005/early 2006 with the intention of eventually cosplaying as the elder Uchiha since I'd carved a niche for myself as Sasuke. Assembling items from e-bay, Chinatown (which was where I got the jacket and ring), a martial arts store, and using items from my generic Naruto gear/cosplay items (such as the mesh shirt), I assembled a first draft that I'd slated a debut for at Anime Boston '06.

The plan changed drastically as the costume was technically worn by two friends for both the AB '06 Anime Dating Game and later the Anime Next '06 skit "Aqua Teen Naruto Force", and over the course of that summer, a few of the items went MIA. So, since I'd gotten my buddy Alex to agree to be Kisame that summer for Otakon (since outside of being Bill Clinton and a generic Minion in my film, he'd never done cosplay of any sort at cons), and I'd convinced g/f at the time to be Deidara, I busted it out for that con.

Let's just say I'm glad I didn't get many pictures taken, 'cause like everything else that con, it was a disaster...hair was all wrong, couldn't spray it black on time, etc. But at least I found out that Alex made a damn good Kisame, which would come back to be helpful later...

Fast forward to this year. As part of the Anime Boston '07 Pirate/Ninja arc, Itachi was a vital part, and since this was one of the last chances to cosplay as him and do it right, I replaced the missing materials and acquired some upgrades to do it. While I did the "Stripper Itachi" variation (see separate gallery for that) at that con, I finally was able to go with the traditional version shown here at Animazement '07...thus making for another fitting culmination to long term cosplay plans. ^_^