Naruto: Shippuuden Episode 3

[Narasho]

So what he joined Akatsuki to get Itachi? In that case what was the leader of Akatsuki (whoever that is) doing letting someone like Oro join his group?

As far as I know, Orochimaru was in Akatsuki before Itachi, when Itachi joined or shortly thereafter Orochimaru left. Or maybe they both joined at the same time, but i'm pretty sure Orochimaru joined before Itachi.

*EDIT*
I just looked for the episode where Orochimaru mentions how he originally wanted Itachi. It's episode 81 at 7:38 approx. The context is right after his failed destruction of Konoha: "If I could've gotten ahold of Uchiha Itachi to begin with, there would not have been a problem. But that is an impossible dream now. He is stronger than me! That's why I left that organization." Then, in episode 135 right before That Which We Do Not Speak of (2 years of fillers) an Akatsuki member (the leader?) mentions Orochimaru leaving the group: "The last time that we all gathered like this, was seven years ago, when Orochimaru left the group."

So, I couldn't find anything that specified whether or not he left it right as Itachi joined, but I would think that Itachi would've joined about 7 years before this, right after murdering his clan and abandoning Konoha. I guess that's what I had put together before. I think it's clear that he didn't join Akatsuki to get Itachi though, since he left it 7 years prior.

Also i thought the tailed beast were from Chinese folklore brought to japan or something?
1-9 tail has nothing do with it's power, 8 tails is just as strong as 9 tails, and 5 tails doesnt even have .... well tails ( well im not sure if it was 5 tails or not, 1 of them didn't have tails).

9 tails is immortality in Japanese folklore. Anything less than 9 is mortal. I don't know what relevance that has to the nine-tailed fox, though.

[darkshadow]

The relevance is that the 9tailed fox has unlimited power, just like in the folklore, this is how it bested 8tails, it grew tired.