Donning their dark robes illuminated by intimidating red clouds, members of the Akatsuki were some of the most iconic and terrifying shinobi in Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. The group was made up of S-ranked criminals who abandoned their respective villages in pursuit of personal gain. However, a unifying goal brought the ninja together: world domination through seeking and extracting the tailed beasts from their hosts.
Of course, those are general statements as some members had other motives — enter Itachi Uchiha.
Nonetheless, the Akatsuki was the central antagonist in Naruto: Shippuden, but they were first making moves under the limelight during Naruto as well. So, let’s explore how each member joined the ill-fated organization.
This list includes the main shinobi attached to Akatsuki during Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. So, it won’t include Juzo Biwa, Itachi’s first partner who was only briefly shown and wasn’t part of the main storyline. Furthermore, it won’t feature side characters who joined during the Akatsuki’s inception when Yahiko was the leader — or the unnamed members killed by their partner, Kakuzu. In addition, Taka’s Sasuke Uchiha, Suigetsu Hozuki, Jugo and Karin won’t be a part of the list, as they were only informally linked to Akatsuki.
With all that out of the way, let’s take a look at how every shinobi received their Akatsuki ring.
Yahiko, Nagato and Konan, the creators of the Akatsuki
The Akatsuki didn’t start as a criminal group. In fact, it was assembled during the Third Shinobi World War as a way to bring peace to Amegakure – the Hidden Rain Village – a place consistently acting as a battlefield for the Five Great Shinobi Countries because of its central, landlocked location. Yahiko, Nagato and Konan were three shinobi who trained under Konohagakure’s Jiraiya, a legendary Sannin. With Yahiko at the helm, the three created Akatsuki to champion peace-seeking measures to bring salvation to their village and beyond while using pacifist tactics.
Several members joined the group during its formation, but they were wiped out by Obito Uchiha. Yahiko was then killed at the hands of Hanzo the Salamander’s ambush. Nagato became the Akatsuki’s figurehead after Yahiko’s death. Using the power of his Rinnegan, Nagato used his Six Paths of Pain technique, controlling Yahiko and five other corpses to create Pain.
The Akatsuki’s original mission also died with Yahiko as Nagato was manipulated by Obito to pursue the new, wicked venture.
Obito, the masked shinobi posing as Madara Uchiha
Obito Uchiha, the masked shinobi known to some members as Tobi and others as Madara Uchiha, was the true leader of the Akatsuki. Working from the shadows, Obito was the one steering its members toward capturing the tailed beasts at the will of Madara.
Although he watched Akatsuki from the start while interacting with Yahiko, Nagato and Konan, he didn’t officially join the group until Yahiko’s death. After secretly killing the rest of the organization’s members. Obito was fixated on Nagato’s Rinnegan, which Madara once owned, and it was the reason he sought out the young Hidden Rain villagers.
Before he killed Konan after Nagato’s death, Obito revealed to her that he encouraged Yahiko to create the Akatsuki.
Zetsu, the spy
It wasn’t revealed until the end of Naruto: Shippuden that Black Zetsu was a major influence on Akatsuki’s creation. Black Zetsu was a manifestation of Kaguya’s will. The God-like Kaguya was the first person on earth to use chakra, and Black Zetsu’s mission was to revive its “mother.” After convincing the dying Madara that it physically represented his will, Black Zetsu worked alongside Obito to pursue Nagato and Madara’s Rinnegan, all in a long-game, secret plot to bring back Kaguya.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, which was infused with former Hokage Hashirama’s DNA, merged into one body and became known as Zetsu. It joined the Akatsuki alongside Obito after Yahiko’s death, and worked as a spy for the organization.
Itachi Uchiha, the genius
Itachi Uchiha is one of the most dynamic and depth-driven characters in the series.
After he was reanimated by Kabuto during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Itachi revealed to his brother, Sasuke, his true motivation behind the Uchiha’s slaughtering. After finding out about his clan’s plan to overthrow Konohagakure’s Hokage and elders, Itachi acted for the village and elected to murder his clan, including his parents, to stop the coup d’etat and prevent massive bloodshed.
After deserting the Hidden Leaf Village, Itachi was approached by Obito, who declared himself as Madara — Itachi’s ancestor. And although he joined as a rogue ninja, the former ANBU captain never stopped subtly serving the Hidden Leaf Village, even when he was an integral part of the criminal organization.
Kisame Hoshigaki, the Samehada wielder
A former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Kisame Hoshigaki and his sword Samehada were a major force for the Akatsuki. The shark-like shinobi was known for cutting down anyone in his way, ally or foe. So, he was teamed up with Itachi — someone that could keep him in check — during his tenure. He was also one of the first Akatsuki members the series’ protagonists ran into.
Kisame joined the organization after Itachi’s original partner Juzo was killed during their battle with the Three-Tail’s jinchuriki, Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi. After disposing of Fuguki, his fellow Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Kisame took his sword — the Samehada. A few moments later, Obito posing as Madara revealed himself.
Obito explained his plan to use the Eye of the Moon genjutsu to bring his version of peace to the world, which won Kisame over.
Orochimaru, the collector
Like Itachi, Orochimaru joined the Akatsuki after abandoning the Hidden Leaf Village. Although he wasn’t a part of Akatsuki during the main storyline, the show cut back to Orochimaru’s time with the organization several times.
Once the Third Hokage discovered Orochimaru’s human experiments, the serpent-like Sannin fled the Hidden Leaf Village. After fighting Pain, Orochimaru shared his interest in joining the Akatsuki. However, it was his ambition to accumulate as much knowledge as possible that led him to the group, not its mission.
He teamed up with Sasori in what was an extremely contentious relationship. Orochimaru would eventually attack Itachi to steal his body and Sharingan. After the failed confrontation left him with one hand, Orochimaru turned his back on the Akatsuki and Sasori became fixated on exacting vengeance.
Sasori, the puppet master
Sasori is regarded as the strongest puppet master in Naruto history. After fighting in the Third Shinobi World War for Sunagakure — the Hidden Sand Village — the young ninja earned the nickname “Sasori of the Red Sand” by spilling enemies’ blood. He then deserted the village after assassinating the Third Kazekage and taking his body with the intent to convert it into a puppet.
The Akatsuki viewed Sasori’s abilities as a potentially powerful asset for the organization, and Konan was sent to recruit him. The two fought in the Land of Wind. Konan bested Sasori with her paper techniques and after conceding defeat, Sasori agreed to come on board.
Kakuzu, the heart stealer
Haling from Takigakure (the Hidden Waterfall Village), Kakuzu was viewed as a virtually immortal shinobi due to having five hearts and the ability to use all five elements.
Like several other members, Kakuzu had to be defeated by a current Akatsuki member for him to join. While working as a bounty hunter, he was approached by Pain and Zetsu, and after disregarding the duo’s pitch, Kakuzu challenged Pain to a fight. Before they clashed, Pain declared that if he won, Kakuzu would have to join their cause.
Pain won the match and after considering how much money he could potentially make working in an organization with such powerful shinobi, Kakuzu joined the Akatsuki. He’d go on to kill every ninja he was paired up with until he received his final partner, Hidan.
Hidan, the immortal follower of Jashin
Unlike Kakuzu, Hidan was actually immortal. The scythe-wielding maniac spent his days spreading the word of Jashin by killing villagers and travelers in the name of his god. Knowing of his immortality, the Akatsuki viewed Hidan as the perfect partner for Kakuzu, who had a knack for slaying them.
Konan, Kakuzu and Itachi found Hidan in a forest shortly after he ended his newest victim. And after a brief battle, Hidan was convinced that joining Akatsuki would aid him in expanding Jashin’s reach. He then teamed up with Kakuzu, and the two were known as the “Zombie Combo” due to their unkillable nature.
Deidara, the explosion artist
Before uniting with the group, Deidara worked as a mercenary using his “art” — clay bombs he’d create as part of his special talent — to earn a living. He was an S-ranked missing-nin from the Hidden Stone Village, or Iwagakure.
Deidara was essentially forced to become an Akatsuki member. While in his hideout, he was approached by Sasori, Kisame and Itachi after Orochimaru abandoned the organization. Sasori needed a partner and was ordered by Nagato to recruit Deidara. However, it was Itachi’s genjutsu prowess that defeated Deidara in battle, which led to the young explosion artist signing on.
The Akatsuki has stood the test of time
Whether it be through art, memes or cosplay, Naruto fans have celebrated the Akatsuki for years. It’s perhaps the most iconic group in anime history. And that’s because of its members — the powerful, mysterious and layered shinobi who, although driven by their own motivations, were joined together under one goal.
Its members proved to be stellar foils for the series’ main protagonists by elevating them to new heights. And as each Akatsuki member fell, the organization’s legend in the anime community became more pronounced.
