|
| “ | I don't really have a lot of details, but is seems to be a small syndicate of nine shinobi that calls itself the Akatsuki. At first, they stuck to small-scale cloak and dagger stuff. Nothing dramatic. But you knew something was coming considering who they are. Almost all of them are listed in the Bingo Book as S-class criminals! | „ |
| ~ Jiraiya about the Akatsuki. |
The Akatsuki are major antagonists in the manga/anime series Naruto. They are a secret criminal organization that consists of powerful and dangerous rogue ninjas. The Akatsuki contains over 10 official members, as well as a handful of unofficial members. It was founded by Yahiko, and Konan with Nagato as the leader though he acts under the alias known as Pain.
In reality, the Akatsuki were actually pawns for its true leader, Obito Uchiha (who went by the alias Tobi), to carry out the Eye of the Moon plan as laid out by his deceased mentor Madara Uchiha. Most Akatsuki members did not know this, and those who did believed Obito to be Madara himself.
History[]
Before Part 1[]
The Akatsuki began as a peacekeeping organization founded by three orphans from the Hidden Rain Village: Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato. Using the ninja training they received from the legendary Sannin Jiraiya, they sought to end the violence that plagued the Shinobi world and often disproportionately affected smaller villages such as their own. The orphans were eventually approached a masked Obito Uchiha and Zetsu. Posing as Madara Uchiha, Obito revealed that Nagato's Rinnegan made him the reincarnation of the Sage of the Six Paths. He offers to act as their benefactor but is rejected by Yahiko. The Akatsuki later agreed to collaborate with the Hidden Rain's leader Hanzō but their plans were dashed by the machinations of Danzō Shimura. Hanzō took Konan hostage to force Yahiko to kill himself. Yahiko stabbed himself on Nagato's Kunai and Nagato summoned the Gedo Mazo to decimate Hanzo's forces, crippling himself in the process. Devastated by the loss of Yahiko and his parents, Nagato realized that true peace can only come from mass suffering and subsequently adopts the alias "Pain" to reflect his new philosophy. He accepted Obito's offer and reformed the Akatsuki into a mercenary organization intent on collecting the Tailed Beasts. Unbeknowst to Nagato and Konan, Obito and Zetsu intended to use Nagato's Rinnegan to enact the Eye of the Moon Plan.
To achieve their goal, the Akatsuki began recruiting rogue S-class ninjas such as Kakuzu, Sasori, and Orochimaru. Following his role in the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Itachi Uchiha joined the Akatsuki to monitor the group from within so they could not threaten the Hidden Leaf Village. Kisame Hoshigaki also joined after working with Obito while the latter was controlling the Third Mizukage. Deidara is forced to join after being effortlessly bested by Itachi, developing a lifelong grudge against him as a result. At some point, Hidan joined the group and Orochimaru left after failing to take Itachi's body for himself. Sasori continued to his former partner's activities through his spy Kabuto Yakushi, who in actuality, was a double agent working for Orochimaru.
Part I[]
During the end of Part I, they had a minor role.
Search for Tsunade[]
Akatsuki sent Itachi Uchiha and Kisame to collect the Nine-Tails but later encounter Konoha ninja and Jiraiya so they were forced to flee.
Sasuke Retrival[]
Zetsu was watching the battle between Naruto and Sasuke as well as appearing in the Akatsuki meeting.
Part II[]
Kazekage Rescue[]
Deidara and Sasori appeared in the sand village to capture Shukaku the One-tails from Gaara.The Akatsuki members sealed him while the Leaf ninja and Chiyo were tailing them. After fighting both Chiyo and Sakura, Sasori dies and he was replaced by Tobi who was pretending to be the "Rookie".
Hidan and Kakuzu[]
The Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu captured Yugito Nii and the Akatsuki extracted the Two-tails. Asuma and his squad fought the duo but Asuma was killed by Hidan. Then the two fought Kakashi with Team 10 and Team 7 as back up. Hidan was defeated by Shikamaru and Kakuzu was killed by Kakashi after Naruto beat him. Meanwhile, Deidara and Tobi in his goofy persona captured the Three-Tails.
Itachi Pursuit[]
Kisame and Itachi captured Roshi and appeared in an Akatsuki meeting. When Orochimaru was annouced dead, Deidara goes after Sasuke with Tobi still in his goofy facade to kill him. Deidara commits suicide trying to blow up Sasuke but he survived. Later, Tobi in his true self appeared to Pain and Konan. He tells them to collect the Nine-tails while he goes after Sasuke.
Sasuke faces Itachi one-on-one, while Naruto and his friends go up against Tobi. When Itachi dies, Zetsu alerts Tobi and they collect Itachi's corpse as well Sasuke. Tobi then indoctrinates Sasuke in the ways of Madara Uchiha, successfully turning Sasuke against his former friends and allies. Kisame decides to step away from the Akatsuki following his partner's death but Tobi convinces him to rejoin by revealing himself to be "Madara Uchiha". then sends Sasuke and his team (now known as Taka) to retrieve Eight-Tails, but they are tricked and only manage to bring in one of it's tentacles.
Pain's Assault[]
Jiraiya infiltrates the Rain Village hoping to find out more on the Akatsuki leader, only to find that it is lead by his former pupils, Nagato and Konan. He goes up against Konan and then Nagato's Animal Path. When Nagato is forced to use all six bodies against Jiraiya, he successfully kills him. Konan, Nagato and the Six Paths of Pain then invade Konoha, causing havoc. A large number of ninja are killed and Pain manages to level most of the village with his gravity Jutsu. Just then, Naruto arrives, having mastered Senjutsu, and defeats all Six Paths. He then confronts Nagato and while angry that Nagato would kill their mentor, he finds it in his heart to forgive him. Nagato, touched by Naruto's character, pays him back by reviving all the dead residents of Konoha. He dies from exhaustion and Konan leaves Akatsuki.
Five Kage Summit[]
Tobi, Zetsu and Taka sneak into The Land of Iron and plan an assassination of the Five Kage. Zetsu spreads his spores, allowing him to drain their chakra. Sasuke then takes on all the Kage, managing to take the Raikage's arm. Jugo and Suigetsu are arrested and Karin is kidnapped by the proxy Hokage, Danzō. Tobi then appears, declaring himself as Madara Uchiha and demanding that the Eight and Nine-Tails be handed to him. When the Kage refuse, he declares war on them.
Kisame Hoshigaki tracks down Killer B and fights him, only to be defeated by the tag-team of Raikage and Jinchuriki. Its later revealed that he had switched places with a Zetsu clone and was hiding in his sword.
Sasuke catches up with Danzō and the two fight, using their respective Sharingan. Sasuke manages to kill Danzō just as his former teammates arrive. Sasuke takes them on one-by-one before Tobi calls him back. Sasuke, now wishing to kill Naruto, has Itachi's eyes transplanted into his own to give him greater power.
Interlude[]
Kabuto approaches Tobi, offering his allegiance. When he presents the five dead Akatsuki members as reanimated corpses, along with a sixth coffin that has Tobi scared, he reluctantly agrees. Kisame sneaks into the secret training grounds of the Jinchuriki. When Naruto masters Nine-Tails' chakra, he uncovers Kisame hiding in his sword. Kisame flees, only to be beaten by Might Guy. When they try to interrogate him, Kisame summons several sharks who tear him apart.
Kabuto tries to ambush them, but is intercepted by the Tsuchikage. He does, however, manage to kidnap Yamato and Tobi fuses him to the Senju tree to make his Zetsu army stronger. Tobi meets up with Konan, who tries to kill him, but is ultimately unsuccessful. Tobi uses genjutsu to find Nagato's location and leaves Konan to die. Tobi then plants Nagato's Rinnegan into his left eye-socket and marches to war with Kabuto, his undead army, and 100,000 White Zetsu.
Fourth Shinobi World War[]
The now reanimated Deidara and Sasori take on Sai and Kankuro, with Sai beating Deidara into submission and Kankuro sealing the two of them in his puppet-containers. Kankuro appeals to Sasori's sense of pride, which causes him to let go of his physical form and return to the afterlife. Kakuzu decimates an entire ninja platoon, only to be stopped by two Leaf ninja who pin him down. Black Zetsu tracks down the feudal lords and informs Tobi that Naruto and Killer Bee have entered the war before being incapacitated. After the reanimated Kinkaku and Ginkaku are sealed into the sacred treasures of the Sage of Six Paths, Tobi and the Statue of The Outer Path arrive on the battlefield to claim the vessels, which contain traces of Nine-Tails Chakra.
Tobi turns the six Jinchuriki corpses into his own Six Paths of Pain, resealing the Tailed Beasts into them. Itachi and Nagato confront Naruto and Killer B, which Kabuto attempts to press to his advantage by forcing them to fight. Itachi breaks free and seals away Nagato with the help of Naruto and Killer B, then goes after Kabuto. When the reanimated Kage are defeated by Naruto and their successors, Kabuto pulls out his trump card: Madara Uchiha. The five Kage fight Madara while Naruto, Killer B, Kakashi and Guy face Tobi. The four manage to incapacitate his Paths of Pain, but are not able to free the Tailed Beasts stored within.
Meanwhile, Sasuke has recovered from his surgery and uses his Amaterasu to kill White Zetsu. On his way to his way battlefield, he runs into the reanimated Itachi. Wanting answers, he follows his brother and the two confront Kabuto. Kabuto is able to fight them with his Senjutsu and other techniques, but Itachi traps him in genjustu and forces him to undo the Edo Tensei Jutsu. All the reanimated ninja including Deidara and Kakuzu are vanquished, save for Madara, who resists and defeats the five Kage.
Tobi seals away the remnants of Nine-Tails' chakra into The Demonic Statue, causing a metamorphosis as the nine most potent forms of chakra pool together to form the Ten-Tailed Beast. Naruto and the others fight Tobi, all the while gaining cryptic clues as to his true identity. When Naruto manages to break Tobi's mask, it confirms Kakashi's suspicions: Tobi is Obito! Also Kakashi asks why is Obito is doing this and Obito stated that it was because of Rin's death. Then Madara appears and explained that Obito was too impatient and that the original plan was for Madara to be revived by Nagato. Madara then fights of Naruto and Bee while he lets Obito deal with Kakashi and Guy.
Demise[]
Despite the defeat of Akatsuki during the Fourth Shinobi World War and the death and destruction they caused, Akatsuki's methods of peace remain attractive to certain individuals. Some, such as the Ryūha Armament Alliance and Gengo, carry on Akatsuki's goals in spirit. About fifteen years after the end of the war, a former test subject of Orochimaru's, Shin, develops a fascination with Itachi and adopts the Uchiha name while plotting to avenge Itachi by killing Sasuke. In addition, Shin goes so far as to adopt Akatsuki's name, believing its former goal of endless warfare is the perfect evolutionary tool, weeding out the weak and promoting strength for all of humanity. He composes Akatsuki with numerous clones of himself and seeks to start moving forward with Akatsuki's revival. Shin's plans start facing complications as soon as the Seventh Hokage becomes aware of him following an encounter between Sasuke and a clone. Shin uses drastic measures to counter Naruto and Sasuke, such as sending his clones to unsuccessfully kidnap Sasuke's daughter, Sarada Uchiha and forcefully take his wife, Sakura. Shin is soon afterwards betrayed and killed by his clones, who accordingly surrender and are dropped off at the Konoha Orphanage, ending his new Akatsuki before it ever truly begins.
Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie[]
The Akatsuki exist within the Limited Tsukoyomi-based genjutsu world created or possibly accessed by "Madara Uchiha" to trap Naruto Uzumaki, although also accidentally Sakura Haruno. The predominantly inverted world's version of the Akatsuki seem to be adhering to Yahiko's original vision of a neutral military force that works to protect balance in the ninja world; albeit, Yahiko still died as his body is being used as the Deva Path of Pain. The roster is the same as the beginning of Naruto Shipudden, barring Black and White Zetsu, nor Tobi in the shadows, thus the group isn't being manipulated by anyone with an ulterior motive. The headbands still have a strike through the village symbol, however, unlike the main world where it was a display of defection, the more noble Akatsuki's scratched headbands are more to illustrate that they are unbiased.
After Naruto goes to rescue Sakura and confront Menma, Lady Tsunade hired the services of the Akatsuki to assist him. The members seem to have the same personalities and powers as their original world selves, however, the more malevolent are now dependable and work on the side of justice (even the likes of Hidan and Kisame); they remain eccentric, but interestingly value life and have sane minds. The Akatsuki defeat the Nine Masked Beasts, although partially withdraw upon the emergence of the two Nine Tailed Foxes, as it exceeded their initial contract; even so, they work to protect Sakura until she enters the fight against "Madara"-possessed Menma.
Once the Limited Tsukuyomi is broken, Naruto and Sakura return to their world, with the genjutsu world either ceasing to be or continuing along its own plane of reality.
Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals[]
Akatsuki as they appear in Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals
In the chibi spinoff Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals, Akatsuki plays a minor villainous role. They first appeared in the series' credits wherein Lee accidentally fell into their hideout. Pain was annoyed by his trespassing that he ordered his teammates to attack him only to be saved by Konoha 11.
In episode 30, Akatsuki made their debut under the appearances of Deidara and Tobi who tried to made an attempt to infiltrate Konoha, only to end up failing thanks to Team Guy.
In episode 38, the entire Akatsuki appeared wherein they mistook Lee as a newbie which later started a fight, ending up destroying their hideout. Later after Zetsu and Tobi's return, Tobi admits the truth about Lee as a spy, thus making them beat up Deidara for lying.
In episode 47, Akatsuki, under the appearance of Kisame, brought Samehada to a dog café and pretends that his sword is a dog who ends up befriending Akamaru. Tobi ultimate shows up and unintentionally admits that Samehada is not a dog in which they end up getting kicked out of the dog cafe after being revealed.
In episode 51, Sasuke teams up with Akatsuki to avenge his brother Itachi, who is possibly dead before the episode. Pain, Konan and Kakuzu are the only known ones who appeared in the episode while seen fighting Team Asuma.
Goals[]
Forming the Akatsuki
At the beginning, Yahiko and his friends Konan and Nagato had formed Akatsuki as a way to gather emissaries of peace working to end the conflicts of the Ninja World.
Unfortunately, after many tragedies, it turned into a criminal organization gathering the most powerful renegade ninjas in the world. Their goal is to capture the Tailed Beasts to obtain unlimited power, with Nagato and the members thinking it was means for domination.
Nagato himself sought to use the Tailed Beasts as superweapons that would ensure world peace through mutually assured destruction, while he told his subordinates that the plan was to conquer the world by monopolizing warfare.
The true purpose of the Akatsuki, however, was to gather the Tailed Beasts so that Madara Uchiha could become the Ten-Tails jinchuriki and place the entire world under a genjutsu called the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Of the Akatsuki, only Tobi, Zetsu, Nagato, Konan, and Kisame knew of Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan, and all but Tobi and Zetsu believed Tobi to be Madara himself. Tobi was in fact Obito Uchiha, Madara's apprentice and proxy, and Zetsu was apparently a creation of Madara's. The plan also called for the real Madara to be resurrected and take charge of Akatsuki in the plan's final stages - Tobi did not intend to revive Madara, but Zetsu ensured that it happened anyway. However, this was all a plot by Black Zetsu to revive his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
Members and Status[]
- Nagato/Pain - Leader, Founder, Redeemed, Deceased.
- Black Zetsu - Traitor, Incapacitated.
- White Zetsu - Deceased.
- Obito Uchiha/Tobi- Redeemed, Deceased, Director.
- Konan - Defected after Nagato's Death, Redeemed, Deceased.
- Itachi Uchiha - Deceased, Redeemed.
- Kisame Hoshigaki- Deceased.
- Sasori - Deceased, Redeemed.
- Deidara - Deceased.
- Hidan - Incapacitated.
- Kakuzu - Deceased.
Former Members
- Yahiko - Former leader and founder, Deceased.
- Orochimaru - Former member, Redeemed, Alive.
- Kyusuke - Member of the Original Akatsuki, Deceased
- Daibutsu - Member of the Original Akatsuki, Deceased
- Jūzo - Former Itachi Partner., Deceased.
Unofficial Members and Status
- Zangei - Captured.
- Kyōya - Unknown.
- Ginji - Unknown.
- Kabuto Yakushi - Defected.
- Taka - Organization, Defected.
- Sasuke Uchiha - Defected.
- Suigetsu Hōzuki - Defected.
- Jugo - Defected.
- Karin - Defected.
- Funari - Presumed Deceased.
- Mukade - Deceased.
- Yūra - Deceased.
- Madara Uchiha - Deceased.
- Shin Uchiha - Deceased.
- Tobi - Deceased.
Armies[]
The Impure World Resurrection[]
Thanks to Kabuto forming an alliance he has resurrected some Akatsuki members and more famous ninja for supplements for Akatsuki's membership. The only ones who weren't revived are Konan, Hidan (who is still alive), Kisame, and Orochimaru.
The undead ninja revived by Kabuto
A list of who was revived by Kabuto
- Former Akatsuki Members
- The Six Jinchuriki
- Yugito Nii the Jinchuriki of Matatabi the Two-Tails
- Yagura the Jinchuriki of Isobu the Three-Tails
- Roshi the Jinchuriki of Son Goku the Four-Tails
- Han the Jinchuriki of Kokuo the Five-Tails
- Utakata the Jinchuriki of Saiken the Six-Tails
- Fuu the Jinchuriki of Chomei the Seven-Tails
- The Four Kages
- Mu the Second Tsuchikage
- Rasa the Fourth Kazekage
- A the Third Raikage
- Gengetsu Hozuki the Second Mizukage
- The Trump card of Kabuto
- The Seven Swordsmen of the Mist
- Zabuza Momochi
- Mangetsu Hozuki
- Fugaki Suikazan
- Kushimaru Kuriarare
- Ameyuri Ringo
- Jinin Akebino
- Jinpachi Munashi
- Other Ninjas
- Asuma Sarutobi
- Dan Kato
- Haku
- Kimimaro
- Shin
- Hanzō
- Gari
- Pakura
- Hizashi Hyuga
- Kinkaku and Ginkaku
- Torune
- Toroi
- Chiyo
- Chukichi
The White Zetsu Army[]
The White Zetsu army
The Akatsuki's main army consists of 100,000 copies of White Zetsu using the chakra of the Tailed Beasts and Hashirama Senju's DNA. They appear to have full bodies unlike the original White Zetsu. They have been enhanced by Yamato who was captured by Kabuto while locating the Jinchuriki and can shape shift into anyone once they collect their opponent's chakra. The first White Zetsu clones were grown by Madara Uchiha, and they remained ultimately loyal to him even though he had delegated command to Tobi.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path[]
The Statue served as the container of the Tailed Beasts and the Ten Tails used by Nagato's Deva Path.
Defeaters[]
- Sasori - Chiyo and Sakura (after losing many of his puppets, perhaps deliberately fell to Chiyo's final attack)
- Hidan - Shikamaru
- Kakuzu - Naruto and Kakashi
- Orochimaru - Sasuke (later revived)
- Deidara - Sasuke
- Itachi - Sasuke (Itachi had set up the entire fight)
- Nagato - Naruto (After losing all his six paths, was redeemed by Naruto and died due to exhaustion of chakra while reviving the villagers of Konoha)
- Kisame - Guy
- Konan - Obito
- White Zetsu - Sasuke
- Obito - Kaguya (Initially defeated by Naruto with the help of the entire Shinobi Alliance, later gives his life to protect Naruto and Kakashi)
- Black Zetsu - Naruto
Trivia[]
- In an original draft of Naruto, the Akatsuki were supposed to be a group of villainous monsters without any human aspects, as shown in the Naruto: Official Data Book. In the final draft, a few members carry abnormal characteristics that can be described as monstrous, such as Kisame, Kakuzu and Zetsu (and to a lesser extent, Deidara and Sasori).
- Akatsuki has been featured many various times in many fanmade YouTube video series, featuring them as the protagonists and has been portrayed more hilarious.
- When the Reanimation Jutsu was released, all of the souls of the reanimated Akatsuki members appear to be smiling. This may mean that they are happy that they are free from control and they can finally return to the afterlife.
- According to Black Zetsu's goal, he used the Akatsuki (including Obito and Madara) to revive Kaguya.
