Originally Posted by
Kraco
Assuming the Akatsuki will still last for a long while, I'll be really disappointed if no backstabbing ever happens. I mean, it's unlikely you would have a group of highly skilled and independent bad guys who all probably think they could beat at least some of the others, and yet they would still work like a flock of boy scouts. Especially if there are big differences between the powers of the bijuu.
Itachi is probably not the only one of these guys who has committed horrible acts. I don't remember if Kisame's past was explained in any detail, but for people like Itachi killing their associates wouldn't take anything more than a tactical decision and a chance. I mean, a normal person would hardly even consider his reason to murder his clan anything real.
Actually, now that I think about it, it would make sense none of them is going to get his bijuu before the others but they are kept in the statue until all are collected. If Itachi got his bijuu before others, I think it would perfectly suit his profile to test his new capacity by killing the others. And I honestly doubt he would be the only one of the Akatsuki to consider such an option.