Naruto — created by Masashi Kishimoto — is a smash hit in Japan and worldwide. Naruto Uzumaki, a teenage ninja with the spirit of the Nine-Tails Fox imprisoned within him, is the protagonist of this series, which takes place in a fictional world populated by ninjas. The first half of the series follows Naruto as a young boy, while the second half, titled Naruto: Shippuden, jumps ahead to show him as a teenager. The Akatsuki play an essential role in the series, particularly in Naruto: Shippuden. The Akatsuki are a group of some of the fiercest rogue ninjas.
Each Akatsuki member is a feared criminal, and their crimes frequently include murder and acts of terrorism. Initially, The Akatsuki was established in the Hidden Rain Village by Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato to establish world peace. However, after Yahiko’s death, a disillusioned Nagato (also known as Pain) gained control of the group and shifted its focus to enforcing peace through fear and control. Under Nagato’s leadership, the Akatsuki’s primary goal became to capture all Nine-Tailed Beasts, powerful monsters imprisoned within select individuals known as Jinchuriki.
The Akatsuki want to capture these monsters so they might wield their incredible power and take over the world. Since Naruto is a Jinchuriki himself (and thus a host for the Nine-Tails), he is a frequent target for the Akatsuki. Akatsuki’s involvement in the Naruto series sparks numerous storylines and conflicts. They are the main bad guys, always lurking in the background and setting the stage for many fights and story arcs in Naruto: Shippuden. Considering each member’s abilities and feats shown in the series, here is a tentative list of Akatsuki members ranked by strength.
10. Zetsu
Although Zetsu isn’t necessarily one of Akatsuki’s most powerful fighters, he poses a serious threat because of his unique skills. Zetsu is essentially two entities in one: Black Zetsu and White Zetsu. White Zetsu’s ability to blend in with the environment makes him an invaluable surveillance and intelligence-gathering resource. He can also convincingly take on another person’s look, making him ideal for covert operations. Moreover, he can imitate their chakra signature, making it difficult to tell him apart from the original. The ability to heal people is another of White Zetsu’s specialties, which can be crucial in combat.
On the other hand, Black Zetsu possesses a whole new set of abilities. Created by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, he has extensive knowledge of the shinobi world’s history and secrets, making him a valuable strategic tool. Most crucially, by connecting himself to his hosts, Black Zetsu can influence their activities to some level. This skill makes him extremely dangerous, especially given his ultimate objective of resurrecting Kaguya, the progenitor of the chakra and perhaps the most powerful character in the entire series.
9. Hidan
Hidan’s immortality is his greatest asset. He may not have a wide variety of skills, but his unique brand of immortality, toughness, and the destructive nature of his curse ritual make him a challenging foe to defeat. Hidan’s ability is linked to the Jashinism that governs his life. Through a curse ritual, he can become practically indestructible by collecting and consuming his opponent’s blood.
After performing this ritual, Hidan’s opponent will take double the damage done to him no matter where they are. Hidan’s opponent would suffer an identical wound if he were to stab himself. Because of his immortality, Hidan may deal lethal blows to himself (and, by extension, his opponent) yet emerge unscathed. However, Hidan’s immortality has limitations. While he can survive fatal injuries, he can also become paralyzed. Amputation of his limbs, for instance, would leave him conscious but defenseless.
8. Kakuzu
One of the most vital members of the Akatsuki is Kakuzu, a rogue ninja from Takigakure with an S-rank who stands out thanks to his exceptional skills and extensive experience in battle. Because of the way Earth Grudge Fear has shaped his body, he may use it as an offensive and defensive weapon. Using this method, he can detach, reattach, or even replace any portion of his body by manipulating a web of invisible black threads.
Kakuzu may gain the lives of his defeated adversaries by stealing their hearts and incorporating them into his body. These auxiliary hearts can keep him alive even after being struck repeatedly with lethal blows. The stolen hearts also grant Kakuzu mastery over the ninjutsu of the wind, fire, water, Earth, and lightning elements. Because of his proficiency with so many different elements, he can tailor his strategy to counter any opponent. His power and the resilience of his threadlike body make him a formidable opponent who can take a lot of punishment without going down.
7. Konan
Despite being the only woman in the Akatsuki, Konan has always proven to be a formidable opponent. Konan received extensive training in the ways of the shinobi world from Jiraiya — one of the famous Sannin — enhancing her physical prowess and tactical understanding. Paper Ninjutsu, which she uses significantly thanks to her ability to channel chakra into paper, sets her apart as an adversary. She can shred her body into thousands of paper sheets for attack, defense, or surveillance.
Her fight with Tobi — in which she nearly defeated him by turning a whole lake into paper explosives — is evidence of her ferocity. Konan co-founded the Akatsuki and played a crucial role as a strategist in the group’s operations. Although Konan lacks the overwhelming destructive talents of some of her Akatsuki companions, she is one of the most vital members of the Akatsuki, thanks to her unique abilities, strategic intelligence, and leadership.
6. Sasori
Sasori — also known as Sasori of the Red Sand — is a powerful puppet master and poison user, making him a fearsome Akatsuki member. Sasori, a talented puppeteer from Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand, turned his body into a puppet and became immortal. His many human puppets have kept their real-life skills and are his principal offensive tools.
The Third Kazekage, often considered the most potent Kazekage in history, is just one of Sasori’s approximately 298 puppets at his disposal. Sasori isn’t just a strong guy; he’s also a poison expert. He developed a lethal poison to lace nearly all his puppets’ weapons. His strikes are so powerful that even the most minor scratch might be lethal.
5. Deidara
One of the most influential members of the Akatsuki, Deidara is a former shinobi from Iwagakure, the Village Hidden in the Stones, known for his spectacular artistic ability and unconventional fighting style. Deidara, an artist at heart, sculpts numerous explosive constructions from clay and explosive chakra to utilize in combat. The mouths in his hands and chest allow him to shape the clay into various flying munitions, from small, quick birds to enormous dragons.
Because of his unconventional combat technique, he can adapt quickly to any situation. He can fight from a safe distance while delivering powerful assaults on his foes. The C4 technique is Deidara’s crowning achievement; he used it to make a gigantic clay figure that, when detonated, disperses minuscule bombs into the atmosphere that may cause cellular devastation. To counter this tactic, you need either specialized knowledge or lightning-fast awareness. Deidara is also a cunning strategist who frequently employs the arts of deceit and misdirection to trick his foes into falling into his traps.
4. Kisame Hoshigaki
Kisame Hoshigaki — a native of Kirigakure — is feared for his monstrous strength and enormous chakra reserves, which are on par with that of a Tailed Beast. These things, plus his lethal weapon Samehada (Shark Skin), make him a terrifying foe. Kisame’s already remarkable reserves are bolstered by Samehada’s ability to absorb chakra from opponents, allowing him to fight for extended periods without tiring.
Furthermore, the sword’s devotion to Kisame’s chakra makes it impossible for anybody else to utilize it without risking rejection and injury. Kisame is particularly unique because of his mastery of water jutsu. He can conjure up vast pools of water and use them to drown his foes or launch devastating blows. He has a distinct home-field advantage thanks to his signature technique, Water Prison Shark Dance Jutsu, which can flood an entire battlefield.
3. Itachi Uchiha
Former Konohagakure ninja Itachi Uchiha is an influential Akatsuki member thanks to his exceptional genjutsu skills, brilliant strategy, and mastery of the Sharingan and Mangekyou Sharingan. Amaterasu – an inextinguishable black flame that he can direct at will, and Tsukuyomi – an extreme form of ninjutsu that can manipulate the perception of time and cause immense psychological trauma, are two of the most dangerous abilities in the Naruto universe that Itachi has access to thanks to his Mangekyou Sharingan.
In addition to the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror, he also owns the Susano’o, a gigantic warrior avatar with nearly perfect defense. Itachi is a superhuman fighter and a fantastic strategist and thinker. He’s so wise that he can see through the guise of his enemies’ strategies to counter them with his own. He can maintain his composure in the face of grave peril thanks to his keen ability to draw logical conclusions and steady demeanor.
2. Nagato (Pain)
Nagato, commonly known as Pain, is one of the most vital members of the Akatsuki and serves as the group’s de facto leader. His ability to use the Rinnegan, the most prestigious eye technique in Naruto history, is the primary source of his strength. With the help of the Rinnegan, Nagato can employ the Six Paths of Pain, a technique in which he assumes control of six different bodies – each with its own unique set of skills.
This provides him access to a wide variety of powerful tools, including the capacity to attract and repulse items (Deva Path), the manipulation of souls (Naraka Path), the summoning of a wide variety of creatures (Animal Path), and more. They can battle without fear or fatigue since Nagato controls their bodies from a distance. By himself, Nagato is a strong opponent – as seen by his defeat of the powerful shinobi Hanzo and the destruction of most of the Konoha village.
1. Uchiha Obito (Tobi)
Under his codename “Tobi,” Uchiha Obito is one of Akatsuki’s most formidable members. He is powerful because of his Uchiha heritage, the Rinnegan he possesses, and the Sharingan located in his right eye – which gives him access to the ability to manipulate dimensions. The Kamui, a powerful Mangekyou Sharingan technique, resides in this eye, allowing him to turn invisible and teleport himself or others to another world. Because of this, when his Kamui is active, he is virtually immune to physical harm.
Once Obito controls the Rinnegan, he can wield the Six Paths of Pain, allowing him a wide range of destructive powers, such as manipulating gravity and bringing the dead back to life. In addition to his impressive strength, Obito has mastered the Ten-Tails, making him their Jinchuriki and giving him immense new abilities. Obito isn’t just incredibly talented and a master manipulator and strategist. While remaining largely unseen – he exercises complete authority over the Akatsuki and uses them to advance his ambitions.