Itachi Uchiha was partnered with Kisame Hoshigaki, who initially tried to intimidate him, and function very well together as a highly effective team. The pair has completed almost every assignment given to them by Pain with little trouble with the Nine-Tails being the only known exception. With Itachi working as a double agent, however, Itachi failed this mission purposely. Unlike most Akatsuki teams, Itachi and Kisame get along pretty well; Kisame does as Itachi asks of him unquestioningly and they often converse casually when not in combat. In his battle against Killer B, Kisame failed in his mission to capture the Eight-Tails. However, this was later shown to be a ploy designed by Tobi to infiltrate the Land of Lightning. Before that, however, Kisame was able to capture the Four-Tails.