2736


I know that the Kotoamatsukami rendered Itachi free of Kabuto's control over
his will. But he was still bound to the Edo Tensei, since he was released when
the technique was cancelled.  
**So, couldn't Kabuto simply have un-summoned Itachi?**

We have, in other situations (namely in chapter 514, with Deidara), seen that
Kabuto can un-summon shinobi at will, an empty coffin appearing and
'reclaiming' the summoned. Were these other situations somewhat different from
the situations with Itachi? Or did Kabuto have to completely undo the
technique, even if he just wanted to un-summon a single shinobi?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-13T21:17:55.083
2473
2013-02-28T21:12:03.640
49
question
naruto
Couldn't Kabuto have un-summoned Itachi?


It sounds very likely that when Kotoamatsukami freed Itachi from Kabuto's
control, he could no longer unsummon Itachi. If he could, he would do it and
then _resummon_ him (which he has done previously with others), and this time,
Itachi could not free himself from Kabuto's control.

Later, when Itachi forced Kabuto to release the Edo Tensei, he presumably
"reattached" himself to it somehow, because as per his/Shisui's principles, he
didn't want to stick around and be hailed as a hero.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-14T14:35:38.713
2479
2013-02-14T14:35:38.713
99
2473
answer


The most plausible explanation is that the un-summoning with the empty coffin
popping-up is only possible when the summoned is under the caster's control.
Itachi broke free of Kabuto's control with the Kotoamatsukami, but he never
broke free of the Edo Tensei itself (unlike what [Deidara's
answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/2479/49) suggests). This is why he
could not be un-summoned (with the coffin), but was freed when the jutsu was
undone.  
Still, Kabuto could've undone the technique altogether, at the cost of un-
summoning every shinobi he had summoned. However, this could mean a complete
turnaround in the war. Anyway, Kabuto, most likely, did not think a complete
release of the jutsu was needed, since was arrogant and confident that he
could beat Itachi.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-28T21:12:03.640
2736
2013-02-28T21:12:03.640
2017-04-13T12:54:48.523
-1
49
2473
answer