Minamoto15 (talk | contribs) (True, but unnecessary....."earlier point in the manga" is enough here) Tag: sourceedit |
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{{Infobox/Naruto/Team |
{{Infobox/Naruto/Team |
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| − | |image name=Akatsuki. |
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| − | AkatsukiYahiko.png;Yahiko's Akatsuki. |
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| − | New_Akatsuki.png; Shin Uchiha's Akatsuki. |
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| − | {{translation|'''Akatsuki'''|暁|lit meaning="Dawn" or "Daybreak"}} was |
+ | {{translation|'''Akatsuki'''|暁|lit meaning="Dawn" or "Daybreak"}} was a group of [[shinobi]] that existed outside the usual system of [[hidden village]]s. Over the course of several decades, Akatsuki took different forms and was led by different individuals. Though each iteration is viewed as either subversives or criminals, all seek to make the world a better place through their own means. Each Akatsuki tends to have multiple lairs across the world, inaccessible either due to their remoteness or the various security measures that protect them. |
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| − | After Yahiko's death and with the influence of [[Obito Uchiha]], Akatsuki became a criminal organisation comprising [[S-rank]] [[missing-nin]] and was the most wanted group in all of the shinobi world. Their main goal was to collect all of the [[tailed beasts]] for their plan of world domination, specifically to unleash the [[Ten-Tails]]. As such, Akatsuki, despite initially having a minor role during Part I, became the primary antagonistic force in Part II. |
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| − | Although fully dissolved after the events of the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]], a genetic experiment of Orochimaru's named [[Shin Uchiha]] would attempt to revive the organisation many years after its downfall, only to be killed by his clones, thus foiling his plans. |
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| − | |||
| − | == Summary == |
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| − | Akatsuki, at any given time, is composed of no more than ten primary members, all of whom are S-rank criminals of their own respective villages — with the exception of Nagato and Konan. Members always work in teams of two with the exception of [[Zetsu]], who functions as the organisation's spy, and make use of their unique skills to the team's personal advantage. Team members must function very well or at least well enough to accomplish their given tasks, even though some may have mutual problems with each other. The organisation is rarely fully assembled, as seen in the end of Part I, when one member mentioned that it was the first time in seven years when they were all together.<ref>Chapter 238, page 17</ref> |
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| − | The organisation is widespread, spanning several countries with agents in various places. When one team finds a tailed beast and has to begin the job of sealing the beast, they have hidden hideouts with many traps ready, to do the [[Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals|three-day long technique]]. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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| + | ===Yahiko's Akatsuki=== |
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| − | [[File:Yahiko's Group.PNG|thumb|right|The original Akatsuki with Yahiko as the leader.]] |
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| + | [[File:AkatsukiYahiko.png|thumb|right|Yahiko's Akatsuki.]] |
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| − | Akatsuki was originally founded by Yahiko during the [[Third Shinobi World War]] and consisted of [[Amegakure]] ninja that wished to create peace for their home country, which acted as a battleground for three of the [[Five Great Shinobi Countries]].<ref name="chpt509p2">Chapter 509, page 3</ref> Yahiko insisted that his and the rest of Akatsuki's actions were meant only to aid [[Nagato]] in bringing world peace, though [[Konan]] claimed that it was Yahiko's charisma that held the group together and spurred them on. [[Obito]] alleges that it was his encouragement which lead to Yahiko forming the organisation, and thus credits himself as the group's creator.<ref>Chapter 509, page 4</ref> Though he only met Yahiko once, the youth wary of the masked man and not believing his claim to be [[Madara Uchiha]], Obito left an impression on [[Nagato]] while promising to wait for him and his friend when they decide to seek his council. |
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| + | Akatsuki was originally founded by [[Yahiko]] during the [[Third Shinobi World War]], alongside his childhood friends [[Nagato]] and [[Konan]]. Orphans of the [[Second Shinobi World War]], the three created Akatsuki as a way to bring peace to their home country of [[Amegakure]], which too often got caught in the crossfire of the [[Five Great Shinobi Countries]]' many conflicts.<ref name="chpt509p2">Chapter 509, page 3</ref> Their desire for an end to war attracted many fellow Ame ninja to their cause and, in time, word of their exploits began to travel beyond Amegakure's borders. Akatsuki's early fame was owed largely to Yahiko's leadership and his natural charisma, which kept the group united and motivated them to persevere despite the difficulties of their goal. Yahiko, however, viewed himself as merely a facilitator for Nagato, who would ultimately be the actual source of world peace because of his [[Rinnegan]]. |
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| − | In |
+ | In time, Akatsuki's fame began attracting unwanted attention. They were first approached by [[Tobi]], who claimed to be [[Madara Uchiha]] and offered to lend his assistance to Akatsuki, specifically Nagato. Yahiko was wary of Tobi and refused his offer, though Tobi claims Yahiko eventually agreed.<ref>Chapter 509, page 4</ref> Ame's leader, [[Hanzō]], also became aware of Akatsuki and perceived them as a threat to his rule, a belief encouraged by [[Danzō Shimura]] in the anime. Hanzō approached Akatsuki offering to help them broker peace between [[Konohagakure]], [[Iwagakure]], and [[Sunagakure]]. When Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan arrived to meet with him, however, they were ambushed by Hanzō's men and Danzō's [[Root]], who took Konan hostage and forced Yahiko to commit suicide in order to save her. Enraged by Yahiko's death, Nagato [[Summoning: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path|summoned]] the [[Demonic Statue of the Outer Path]] and used it to slaughter their attackers, though Hanzō himself escaped. |
| + | In the anime, the other members of Akatsuki were tipped off to Hanzō's plan and attempted to provide backup to Yahiko and the others. Tobi intercepted them and killed them all. |
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| − | [[File:The Creation of the Akatsuki.png|thumb|left|Nagato forms a new Akatsuki.]] |
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| − | Following the Third Shinobi World War, Akatsuki became a mercenary group for hire and Pain presumably began taking direction from Obito, who acted as the organisation's collaborator and benefactor. In times of peace, most of the ninja villages, rather than increasing their own armaments, employed Akatsuki to fight in wars, spy on enemies, or carry out assassinations. The [[Fourth Raikage]] claims that only [[Kumogakure]] has never used Akatsuki's services, and during this time it became widely believed that Akatsuki was founded and based in [[Kirigakure]], perhaps due to Obito's influence over the [[Fourth Mizukage]]. Eventually, Akatsuki would begin capturing the [[tailed beasts]], in the process antagonising many of its former clients. |
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| − | Events relating to Akatsuki before the start of Part II have only been given in fragments. [[Sasori]] and [[Orochimaru]] were partners for a time and were apparently very effective. [[Kakuzu]] had a number of partners that he killed in fits of rage. For this reason he was partnered with [[Hidan]], who was immortal, shortly before the start of Part II. [[Itachi Uchiha]] apparently joined after carrying out the [[Uchiha Clan Downfall]] for which he defected from [[Konohagakure]], though his membership seems to have come with the stipulation that Akatsuki could make no direct movements against Konoha. When Itachi joined, Orochimaru attempted to steal his body in order to gain the [[Sharingan]]. This failed and he was forced to defect. [[Deidara]] was recruited to replace Orochimaru as Sasori's partner, but because Orochimaru took his Akatsuki ring with him he could not also replace Orochimaru's position. Akatsuki also captured two tailed beasts before Part II, which in the anime are indicated to have been the [[Five-Tails]] and the [[Seven-Tails]]. |
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| − | Akatsuki becomes much more active in Part II, with Deidara and Sasori making their move to capture [[Gaara]] for the [[One-Tail]]. Though they succeed in the extraction, Sasori is killed. Taking advantage of the open membership, having created the identity of Tobi to pose an Akatsuki flunky, Obito replaces Sasori to oversee the group's affairs. Another tailed beast is acquired in between the captures of the One-Tail and the [[Two-Tails]], but whichever beast it was is currently unknown.<ref>Chapter 256</ref><ref>Chapter 331</ref> The Two-Tails and [[Three-Tails]] are captured next; however, Hidan and Kakuzu are lost during an unrelated scuffle with Konoha ninja. After obtaining the [[Four-Tails]], Deidara dies during his fight with [[Sasuke Uchiha]], with Tobi managing to convince Sasuke to work with Akatsuki after Itachi's death. Although five Akatsuki members are lost, Tobi claims their sacrifices were worth winning Sasuke's loyalty. The organisation then takes more drastic measures to make up for diminished numbers. |
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| − | In the anime, Pain goes to capture the [[Six-Tails]] (the beast having been caught at some earlier point in the manga). He and [[Konan]] are then sent to Konoha to capture the [[Nine-Tails]]. Konoha is destroyed, but they fail in their assignment with Nagato dying and Konan leaving the organisation. At the same time, Sasuke and his team are tasked with capturing the [[Eight-Tails]], but they too fail to complete their assignment. Akatsuki's actions finally provoke a response from the ninja villages, who hold a [[Kage Summit]] to discuss what should be done. Tobi, wishing to accelerate his machinations, infiltrates the meeting and declares war against the Five Great Shinobi Countries and the Land of Iron, promising to use the seven tailed beasts Akatsuki has already captured as weapons. The villages and their associated countries form the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]] to combat Akatsuki, beginning the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]]. |
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| − | [[File:Akatsuki revived.png|thumb|right|The reincarnated Akatsuki.]] |
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| − | In preparation for the war, [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] infiltrates Kumogakure to gather intelligence on the Shinobi Alliance, as well as to learn the location of the two remaining tailed beasts. He dies in the process, but not before sending what he has learned to Obito. Obito, meanwhile, goes to Amegakure to retrieve Nagato's body and the [[Rinnegan]], as well as to kill Konan for her defection. [[Kabuto Yakushi]], a new ally of the organisation, then captures [[Yamato]], allowing him to strengthen an army of [[White Zetsu Army|100,000 White Zetsu]] which Obito amassed.<ref name="Clone">Chapter 512, page 14</ref> After Kabuto utilises [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation]] to supplement Akatsuki's forces with ninja famous during their lives, Akatsuki marches off for war. |
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| − | Eventually, all revived members of Akatsuki are returned to the afterlife, and most of the White Zetsu, including the one who was tasked to watch over Sasuke, have been wiped out. Sasuke ultimately betrays Akatsuki to ally himself and Taka with the Alliance. However, a reincarnated Madara forces a redeemed Obito to use the [[Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique]] to fully revive him. Black Zetsu then betrays Madara and reveals that he had set up Akatsuki and everything else pertaining to the war since [[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki]]'s era, all for the sake of reviving his "mother", [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]] who would use a shocked Madara's body as a medium for her revival. Aiding Team 7, Obito sacrifices his life to help seal Kaguya and Black Zetsu. With Black Zetsu sealed along with its creator, the Akatsuki is left without any active members, leaving the organisation completely dissolved with its reign of terror ended once and for all. |
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| − | Although the Akatsuki organisation ended in the Fourth Shinobi World War, a man name Shin Uchiha, a follower and test subject of Orochimaru would appear many years after Kaguya and Black Zetsu's defeat, with his army of clones, with the intent of killing Sasuke and resurrecting Akatsuki. Doing the course of his encounter with Sasuke and Naruto, Shin suffered a devastating defeat by them, and after that gets betrayed and killed by his own clones. After Naruto shows the clones Kurama to scare them, he took all the clones to Konoha Orphange where they be raised by Kabuto and his childhood friend Urushi, thus ending Shin's plans to start a new Akatsuki. |
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| − | == Goals == |
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| − | === Original Purpose === |
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| − | Under Yahiko's leadership, the group was meant to put an end to the wars that would take place in Amegakure and bring about peace.<ref name="chpt509p2" /> When he was younger, Yahiko also noted that he disliked the fact that it always rained in his country, as if all the country did was weep and he wanted to change that. This may be where the name of the organisation literally meaning "daybreak" comes from. He also noted that the organisation was meant to act as a support unit for Nagato, whom he believed would bring peace to the world. |
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| − | === Under Pain === |
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| − | After Yahiko's death and Nagato's transition to Pain, Akatsuki's goals shifted to that of world domination.<ref>Chapter 329, pages 16-17</ref> Nagato has mentioned a three-step process to work their way towards this goal.<ref name="Goal">Chapter 329, page 11</ref> First, they plan to obtain a large amount of money to support their organisation.<ref name="Goal" /> Second, they plan to set up a [[Mercenary Ninja|mercenary group]] loyal only to Akatsuki.<ref name="Goal 2">Chapter 329, page 12</ref> To build their reputation, they plan to accept any mission below the usual cost and operate off of the excess funds earned in the first part of their plan.<ref name="Goal 2" /> Because there haven't been any wars in some time, many of the more powerful and well known shinobi villages couldn't afford to accomplish such missions as such low prices, leading the smaller countries to hire Akatsuki over the more expensive shinobi villages.<ref name="Goal 2" /> By using the [[tailed beasts]], Akatsuki would start wars and then immediately quell them, solidifying their reputation and convincing every country to depend on them, thus cornering the market in shinobi labour.<ref name="Goal 3">Chapter 329, page 14</ref> Without any business, the other shinobi villages would collapse due to the lack of funds.<ref name="Goal 3" /> Finally, after Akatsuki is the only major force of shinobi in existence, they can easily conquer the other countries.<ref name="Goal 3" /> Members do not automatically learn of the plan upon joining; Hidan didn't find out about it until he had been a member for quite some time.<ref name="Goal" /> Over the course of the series, Akatsuki sealed seven of the nine beasts before the start of the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]].<ref>Chapter 467, page 20</ref> |
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| − | However, Nagato's true intention for this plan did not involve Akatsuki conquering the other nations, but rather using the power of the tailed beast as a means to frighten the world into no longer fighting. By harnessing the tailed beasts' chakra to create a powerful [[kinjutsu]], Akatsuki could immediately crush one side of a war and frighten the other side from continuing the fight. This is until they eventually forget this fear and the inevitability of war leads to the fighting to continue, where the kinjutsu would be used again. Thus the cycle would repeat, creating small periods of peace in an endless chain of hatred.<ref>Chapter 436, pages 15-16</ref> |
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| − | === Under Obito === |
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| − | {{Main|Eye of the Moon Plan}} |
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| − | After becoming [[Madara]]'s successor, Obito Uchiha manipulated Nagato into becoming his pawn in the collection of the nine tailed beasts. As per Madara's plan, instead of using the power of the tailed beast to start and end wars, he would use them and the [[Demonic Statue of the Outer Path]] to recreate the [[Ten-Tails]] and become its [[jinchūriki]]. Doing this he would be able to cast the [[Infinite Tsukuyomi]] off the [[moon]], trapping the entire world under his genjutsu and granting him the power to create the world he wanted. Of the original Akatsuki members, only [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] and [[Zetsu]] were aware of this true plan.<ref>Chapter 606, pages 1-7</ref> |
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| − | === Black Zetsu's Hidden Agenda === |
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| − | Despite Obito's claim of how he manipulated Yahiko into creating Akatsuki for the sake of achieving his version of world peace, in truth the entire organisation's creation was orchestrated by [[Black Zetsu]], who has been born from [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]]'s will many centuries, if not millennia, ago. Akatsuki's existence is nothing more than one component for Black Zetsu's plot in leading to a worldwide war and the reunion of the nine tailed beasts, as well as the chakra of every living being on the planet, so as to recreate the Ten-Tails, which is Kaguya's sealed away body.<ref>Chapter 681, pages 11-16</ref> |
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| − | === Under Shin === |
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| − | Being a firm believer that war leads to evolution, Shin Uchiha wishes to use Akatsuki as a means to further the evolutionary cycle of humanity to achieve even greater strength. |
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| − | == Wardrobe == |
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| − | [[File:Akatsuki Symbol.svg|thumb|left|150px|The Akatsuki symbol.]] |
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| − | Akatsuki members have a very distinctive wardrobe, which could give them away if a village is alerted of their presence. Members wear long, dark cloaks with red clouds, a red interior, and a chin-high collar. Tobi and the members of [[Taka]] wear a similarly marked hooded mantle. The red clouds represent the rain of blood that fell in [[Amegakure]] during its wars, and were seen as a symbol of justice by its original members.<ref name="Cloud">Chapter 509, page 2</ref> All members wear black nail polish on their fingers and toenails, although the colours vary in the anime, and may wear a conical straw hat with small ornamental torques and tassels hanging down over their faces. The hats may be used to move around in the general population unnoticed, or for when the weather requires one.<ref>Chapter 141, page 3</ref> Some members cross out the symbol on their [[forehead protector]]s to symbolise the broken ties with their former villages, a practice originating with Nagato and his rival faction in Amegakure's civil war. Others members simply cease wearing them altogether, for several reasons. Everyone also wears a ring with a kanji on different fingers depending on who the member is. |
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| − | Konan continued to wear her cloak after defecting, since it was designed by her friends. Tobi's cloak was badly damaged in their fight; he decided against replacing it afterwards, and instead choose to wear an Uchiha outfit in its place. Only Zetsu continued to wear the Akatsuki cloak until his two sides were needed for different tasks during the war. |
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| − | === Akatsuki Rings and Ring Positions === |
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| − | What seems to be most important, however, are their rings. In total, there are ten rings given to each of the ten main members of Akatsuki. The rings apparently signify one's membership and ring position, since when [[Orochimaru]] defected, he took his ring with him<ref>Chapter 140, page 5</ref> and as such wasn't replaced.<ref>Chapter 353, page 14</ref> The rings' exact purpose have not been revealed. |
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| − | [[File:Gedo Mazo Akatsuki Rings.png|thumb|The ring positions of the members.]] |
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| − | The various rings are:<ref>''Hiden: Tō no Sho Character Official Data Book'', pages 180-181</ref> |
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| − | * Right thumb: {{translation|"zero"|零|rei}}; worn by [[Pain]]. Its colour is purplish-grey. |
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| − | * Right index finger: {{translation|[[Wikipedia:Ao (colour)|"blue", "green"]]|青|ao, shō}}; worn by [[Deidara]]. Its colour is teal. |
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| − | * Right middle finger: {{translation|"white"|白|bya}}; worn by [[Konan]]. Its colour is white. |
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| − | * Right ring finger: {{translation|"vermilion", "scarlet"|朱|shu}}; worn by [[Itachi Uchiha]]. Its colour is red. |
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| − | * Right little finger: {{translation|[[Wikipedia:Pig (zodiac)|"sign of the boar"]]|亥|gai}}; worn by [[Zetsu]]. Its colour is green. |
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| − | * Left little finger: {{translation|"sky", [[Wikipedia:Five elements (Japanese philosophy)#Kū|"void"]]|空|kū}}; worn by [[Orochimaru]]. Its colour is slate blue. |
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| − | * Left ring finger: {{translation|"south"|南|nan}}; worn by [[Kisame Hoshigaki]]. Its colour is yellow. |
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| − | * Left middle finger: {{translation|"north"|北|hoku}}; worn by [[Kakuzu]]. Its colour is dark green. |
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| − | * Left index finger: {{translation|"three"|三|san}}; worn by [[Hidan]]. Its colour is orange. |
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| − | * Left thumb: {{translation|"jewel", "ball", also the black king in shogi|玉|gyoku}}; worn by [[Sasori]] and later by [[Tobi]]. Its colour is purple. |
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| − | Eight of the ten kanji of the rings are taken from a [[Wikipedia:Kuji-in|kuji-in]] (Nine Syllable Seals): a collection of nine hand postures used in meditation. These kuji-in have found their way into ninja folklore as a kind of magic spells. |
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| − | Pain's "rei" and Zetsu's "gai" are not from this kuji-in. However, the only unused kuji-in kanji, {{translation|玄|gen|"mysterious"}} bears a strong resemblance to Zetsu's "gai", suggesting an error. It would be a consistent error, however, since the "gai" kanji has been used in every instance the ring's kanji has been shown, both in the manga and the data books. |
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| − | In Part II, [[Taka]] aligns themselves with Akatsuki. They wear hooded Akatsuki mantles over their usual clothing, but do not wear any other markers of the organisation, signifying that their alliance is only one of convenience. Sasuke claimed that he was only using Akatsuki, and attempted to sever connections with them when they thought [[Killer B]] was captured. In turn, Tobi threatened to kill them for any attempts of betrayal. |
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| − | |||
| − | == Members == |
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| − | === Yahiko's Group === |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |
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| + | |+ '''Members''' |
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|- |
|- |
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| − | ! scope="col" | |
+ | ! scope="col" | Name |
! scope="col" | Status |
! scope="col" | Status |
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| − | ! scope="col" | Village of origin |
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|- |
|- |
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| − | | [[Daibutsu]] |
+ | | [[Daibutsu]] <sup>(Anime only)</sup> || Deceased |
|- |
|- |
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| − | | [[Kie]] || Deceased |
+ | | [[Kie]] || Deceased |
|- |
|- |
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| + | | [[Konan]] || Survived to next iteration |
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| − | | [[Konan]] || Defected<!-- NOT deceased, she was no longer in Akatsuki when she fought Tobi and died --> || [[Amegakure]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| − | | [[Kyūsuke]] || Deceased |
+ | | [[Kyūsuke]] || Deceased |
|- |
|- |
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| − | | [[Nagato]] || |
+ | | [[Nagato]] || Survived to next iteration |
|- |
|- |
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| − | | [[Yahiko]] || |
+ | | [[Yahiko]] || Died fighting [[Hanzō]] |
|- |
|- |
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|} |
|} |
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| − | === |
+ | ===Nagato's Akatsuki=== |
| + | With Yahiko's dying breath he entrusted the pursuit of peace to Nagato. Nagato, grieved by Yahiko's death, came to believe that the world would never willingly consent to peace and that Akatsuki's previously pacifist approaches were therefore futile. He concluded that the only way the world would turn away from its constant warfare would be to experience such catastrophic death and destruction that it could never again stomach the idea of conflict. Intending to be the one to show these horrors to the world, Nagato began using the alias "Pain" and formed the [[Six Paths of Pain]], into which he integrated Yahiko's corpse so that he could symbolically continue leading Akatsuki. Nagato sought out Tobi and accepted his earlier offer of support, which Tobi provided in secret. |
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| + | |||
| + | [[File:Road to ninja episode.png|thumb|The various members of Nagato's Akatsuki.]] |
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| + | After the Third Shinobi World War, Akatsuki began recruiting [[S-rank]] [[missing-nin]], its members' competing personalities and aspirations unified behind Nagato's claimed objective of world domination. Once Akatsuki recruited its target of ten members, Akatsuki began following a three-step process to achieve this stated objective:<ref>Chapter 329</ref> |
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| + | #Obtain enough money to support their organisation. |
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| + | #Provide mercenary services at well under the competitive rate, using the money gathered in the first step to offset costs. This will make countries increasingly dependent on Akatsuki's services, corner the entire market for shinobi [[mission]]s, and eventually put all of the shinobi villages out of business because they can't compete with Akatsuki's prices. By capturing and strategically deploying the [[tailed beasts]], Akatsuki could quickly start and then quell wars, thereby speeding up the process. |
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| + | #Once all other major shinobi forces have dissolved, Akastuki will be able to quickly conquer all the countries of the world. |
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| + | |||
| + | The early years of Nagato's Akatsuki were very successful, as the hidden villages increasingly hired Akatsuki to fight in wars and perform assassinations that the villages themselves were unwilling to get involved in during times of peace. The [[Fourth Raikage]] claims that only [[Kumogakure]] never hired Akatsuki, while the [[Third Tsuchikage]] in particular became a frequent employer. Despite being such a popular and successful group, Akatsuki was largely a mystery to those outside the organization, with many (incorrectly) coming to believe they operated out of [[Kirigakure]]. Akatsuki experienced some turmoil amongst its members over the years: [[Kakuzu]] regularly killed his partners in fits of rage and stole their hearts for his [[Earth Grudge Fear]];<ref>Third Databook, pages 56-59</ref> only being teamed with the immortal [[Hidan]] prevented him from continuing to do this. [[Orochimaru]] attempted to steal [[Itachi Uchiha]]'s body after the latter joined the organization, and when that failed he was forced to defect. Despite this, Akatsuki was able to begin working towards capturing the tailed beasts. |
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| + | |||
| + | Nagato's actual objective behind acquiring the tailed beasts was to harness the tailed beasts' [[chakra]] to create a powerful [[kinjutsu]], using it to wipe out one side in a conflict and, from the display, frighten the other side and the world at large to stop the fighting. If and when the fears abated and conflicts renewed, the kinjutsu would be deployed again, creating small periods of peace in an endless chain of hatred.<ref>Chapter 436, pages 15-16</ref> Because all but [[Three-Tails|one]] of the tailed beasts were in the possession of the hidden villages, their capture risked antagonising many of Akatsuki's former clients. Despite this, Deidara claims that the previous owners of the first two tailed beasts captured by Akatsuki (indicated in the anime to have been the [[Five-Tails]] and the [[Seven-Tails]]) were glad to be rid of them. |
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| + | |||
| + | Akatsuki's mission to capture the tailed beasts gradually elevates them from the shadows of the world and, in turn, prompts a growing resistance by the hidden villages. After [[Deidara]] captures the [[One-Tail]], [[Sasori]] is killed in battle with the Suna and Konoha forces sent to rescue the One-Tail's [[jinchūriki]]. Tobi takes this open position as an opportunity to officially join Akatasuki, helping capture the [[Three-Tails]]. Around the same time, Hidan and Kakuzu capture the [[Two-Tails]], but both are subsequently defeated in unrelated confrontations with Konoha's [[Nijū Shōtai]]. [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] later acquires the [[Four-Tails]], after which both Deidara and Itachi separately die in battle against [[Sasuke Uchiha]]. |
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| + | |||
| + | Because of their shrinking numbers, Tobi pressures Nagato into taking a more active role in capturing the remaining tailed beasts. In the anime, he and Konan are first sent to capture the [[Six-Tails]], which was captured at some earlier point in the manga. They are afterwards sent to Konoha to capture the [[Nine-Tails]], and in the course of the resultant [[Pain's Assault]] the village is destroyed. When he finally locates and meets with the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, [[Naruto Uzumaki]], Nagato begins to doubt the direction he has taken Akatsuki in since Yahiko's death. After Nagato's Six Paths of Pain are defeated, Naruto convinces him that a bloodless peace is worth pursing no matter how impossible it may seem. To make up for all the missteps he took, Nagato gives his life to [[Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique|revive]] the Konoha villagers that died during his attack, using his last breath to encourage Naruto to achieve the peace that he was never able to. With Yahiko and Nagato gone, Konan opts to leave Akatsuki. |
||
| + | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |
||
| + | |+ '''Members''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | ! scope="col" | |
+ | ! scope="col" | Name |
! scope="col" | Status |
! scope="col" | Status |
||
! scope="col" | Village of origin |
! scope="col" | Village of origin |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Deidara]] || Dies fighting [[Sasuke Uchiha]] || [[Iwagakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Hidan]] || Defeated by [[Shikamaru Nara]] || [[Yugakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Itachi Uchiha]] || Dies fighting [[Sasuke Uchiha]] || [[Konohagakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Kakuzu]] || Dies fighting [[Team Kakashi]] || [[Takigakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| + | | [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] || Survives to next iteration || [[Kirigakure]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Konan]] || Leaves organization || [[Amegakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Nagato]] || Dies following [[Pain's Assault]] || [[Amegakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| + | | [[Tobi]] || Survives to next iteration || [[Konohagakure]] |
||
| − | | [[Konan]] || Defected<!-- NOT deceased, she was no longer in Akatsuki when she fought Tobi and died --> || [[Amegakure]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Orochimaru]] || Leaves organization || [[Konohagakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[ |
+ | | [[Sasori]] || Dies fighting the [[Kazekage Rescue Team]] || [[Sunagakure]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| + | | [[Zetsu]] || Survives to next iteration || None |
||
| − | | [[Orochimaru]] || Defected<!-- NOT deceased, he was never killed, NOT incapacitated, he was no longer in Akatsuki when Itachi sealed him --> || [[Konohagakure]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| + | |} |
||
| − | | [[Sasori]] || Deceased || [[Sunagakure]] |
||
| + | |||
| + | ===Tobi's Akatsuki=== |
||
| + | Tobi, real name Obito Uchiha, approached Akatsuki in order to get close to Nagato, whose Rinnegan he needed to complete the [[Eye of the Moon Plan]]. Over the years, he remained in the shadows, allowing Nagato to appear to the world as Akatsuki's leader while Obito manipulated him towards his desired ends, specifically capturing all nine tailed beasts so that he can restore the [[Ten-Tails]] and use it to cast the [[Infinite Tsukuyomi]] on the world, ending all conflict by trapping everyone in a dream. Obito follows the Eye of the Moon Plan under instructions of the real Madara Uchiha, whose identity Obito assumed after Madara's death. Madara intended Obito to have Nagato revive him in the final stages of the plan; however, Nagato betrayed Obito and used the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to revive everyone he killed during his invasion of Konoha. |
||
| + | |||
| + | Even before Nagato's death, Obito takes a growing role in Akatsuki's activities, due in large part to Itachi Uchiha's death. He reveals himself to Kisame, who worked with him during their time in Kirigakure and is happy to collaborate with him yet again. He also convinces Sasuke Uchiha and his team, [[Taka]], to join forces with Akatsuki, an alliance that Obito believes is worth the losses of all the other Akatsuki members. While Nagato goes after the Nine-Tails, Obito sends Taka after the [[Eight-Tails]], the only other remaining tailed beast. Although Taka initially appears successful, they are discovered to have been [[Octopus Leg Clone Technique|tricked]] by the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, [[Killer B]]. When [[Zetsu]] shortly afterwards reports Nagato's own death, Obito is deeply agitated by the setbacks, particularity Nagato's betrayal, and increasingly irritated by Naruto's constant thwarting of his plans. |
||
| + | |||
| + | With their ranks so diminished and with the Five Great Shinobi Countries finally starting to mobilize against Akatsuki, both because of the attack on Konoha and the botched capture of Killer B, Obito is forced to start taking drastic actions. He first sends Kisame to capture B and then sends Taka to attack the [[Five Kage Summit]]. Sasuke does not perform as well against the [[Five Kage]] as Obito wished, as he had hoped they would be weakened enough to be forced to negotiate. Instead, he must approach them diplomatically, asking that they help him complete his Eye of the Moon Plan by surrendering the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails. They refuse, prompting Obito to initiate the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]]. |
||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Akatsuki revived.png|thumb|right|The reincarnated Akatsuki.]] |
||
| + | While preparing for war, Obito is approached by [[Kabuto Yakushi]], a former subordinate of Sasori and Orochimaru. Kabuto offers to bolster Akatsuki's fighting strength with the [[Impure World Reincarnation]], reviving Akatsuki's past members and several other once-notable shinobi. Obito is reluctant until Kabuto blackmails him by reviving the real Madara Uchiha, on whose name Obito has been banking the credibility of his threats against the hidden villages. Obito is forced to agree. He then goes to Ame to take Nagato's Rinnegan, killing Konan in the process. News eventually reaches them of Kisame's death, but Kisame is at least able to send them intel that enables Kabuto to strengthen Obito's [[White Zetsu Army]].<ref name="Clone">Chapter 512, page 14</ref> |
||
| + | |||
| + | In the two days of the war between Akatsuki and the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]], both sides suffer heavy casualties, yet Naruto and Killer B elude capture. When most of the White Zetsu are defeated and Kabuto is made to end the Impure World Reincarnation, Obito, having no more options, prematurely revives the Ten-Tails. Madara, having escaped Kabuto's influence, lends a degree of support, eventually leading Obito to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. He is defeated by Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke (who has since sided against Akatsuki) before he can perform the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and as a result Obito stops pursuing the Eye of the Moon Plan. |
||
| + | |||
| + | With Obito's surrender, Akatsuki's schemes officially end. Madara perseveres, sealing the Ten-Tails into his body and successfully performing the Infinite Tsukuyomi. He is afterwards betrayed by [[Black Zetsu]], who has been scheming for centuries to revive [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]], with first Madara, then Obito, and then Akatsuki itself being mere pawns used in pursuit of that goal.<ref>Chapter 681, pages 11-16</ref> Kaguya is restored using Madara as a medium but, with Obito's help, she and Black Zetsu are defeated by Naruto and Sasuke and the Infinite Tsukuyomi is ended. |
||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |
||
| + | |+ '''Members''' |
||
| + | |- |
||
| + | ! scope="col" | Name |
||
| + | ! scope="col" | Status |
||
| + | |- |
||
| + | | [[Black Zetsu]] || Sealed by [[Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei]] |
||
| + | |- |
||
| + | | [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] || Dies on the [[Island Turtle]] |
||
| + | |- |
||
| + | | [[Obito Uchiha]] || Dies fighting [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[White Zetsu]] || |
+ | | [[White Zetsu]] || Killed by [[Sasuke Uchiha]] |
|- |
|- |
||
|} |
|} |
||
| − | === |
+ | ===Shin's Akatsuki=== |
| + | [[File:New Akatsuki.png|thumb|Shin's Akatsuki.]] |
||
| + | 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. Over a decade after the end of the war, [[Shin Uchiha]] 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 [[Shin Uchiha (Clones)|clones of himself]] and seeks to start moving forward with Akatsuki's revival. Shin's plans start facing complications as soon as Konoha becomes aware of him and he is soon afterwards betrayed and killed by his clones, ending his new Akatsuki before it ever truly begins. |
||
| + | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" |
||
| + | |+ '''Members''' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | ! scope="col" | |
+ | ! scope="col" | Name |
! scope="col" | Status |
! scope="col" | Status |
||
| − | ! scope="col" | Village of origin |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[Shin Uchiha]] || |
+ | | [[Shin Uchiha]] || Killed by his clones |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | [[Shin Uchiha (Clones)]] || |
+ | | [[Shin Uchiha (Clones)]] || Leaves organization |
| − | |- |
||
| − | | [[Sharingan Spying Creature]] || Deceased || None |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|} |
|} |
||
| − | == |
+ | == Wardrobe == |
| + | Members of Nagato's Akatsuki wear long, black cloaks with red clouds, a red interior, and a chin-high collar; Tobi and the members of [[Taka]] wear a similarly-marked hooded mantle. The red clouds represent the rain of blood that fell in [[Amegakure]] during its wars, and were viewed as a symbol of justice by its original members.<ref name="Cloud">Chapter 509, page 2</ref> The robes are very distinctive, allowing members of Akatsuki to be identified even from a distance. Though the robes are a standard feature throughout Nagato's tenure (with Konan even continuing to wear it after leaving Akatsuki), the robe falls out of use under Obito's leadership: Kisame stops wearing it owing to circumstances of faking his death, Obito does not replace his when it is destroyed by Konan, and Zetsu ceases using a robe once its two halves begin operating separately. |
||
| − | * [[Amegakure]] (Village run by Pain, association ended following Pain and Konan's deaths) |
||
| − | * [[Kirigakure]] (Village run by the [[Fourth Mizukage]], who was manipulated by Obito Uchiha, association ended following Yagura's death) |
||
| − | * [[Yūra]] (Sasori's underling, deceased) |
||
| − | * [[Mukade]] (Sasori's underling, deceased) |
||
| − | * [[Funari]] (Kakuzu's subordinate, presumed deceased) |
||
| − | * [[Ginji]] (Kakuzu's banker, status unknown) |
||
| − | * [[Kyōya]] (Kakuzu's accountant, status unknown) |
||
| − | * [[Zangei]] (Bounty collector, captured) |
||
| − | * [[Taka]] (Affiliated group, defected) |
||
| − | * [[Kabuto Yakushi]] (Sasori's spy, defected to Orochimaru; allied with Akatsuki; provides [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation#Known Reincarnated|additional fighters]] to the organisation during the [[Fourth Shinobi World War|war]], defected) |
||
| − | * [[Madara Uchiha]] (Creator of [[Eye of the Moon Plan]], [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation|revived]] during Fourth Shinobi World War to aid in the fulfilment of the Eye of the Moon Plan, deceased) |
||
| − | * [[Tobi (Zetsu)|Tobi]] (Zetsu's clone, helped in the Fourth Shinobi World War at the latter half, deceased) |
||
| − | * [[Mecha-Naruto]] (Mechanical version of [[Naruto Uzumaki]], demolished) |
||
| + | Another trend started with Nagato is for members to cross out the symbol on their [[forehead protector]]s to symbolise the severed ties with their former villages, though some opt not to wear a forehead protector at all. All members also wear black nail polish on their fingers and toenails (colours vary in the anime). When traveling, members sometimes wear conical straw hats with small ornamental torques and tassels hanging down over their faces, possibly to go unnoticed by the general population.<ref>Chapter 141, page 3</ref> |
||
| − | == Teams == |
||
| − | Akatsuki teams are put together in teams of two to exploit combined strengths for the organisation's goals to be met. The duos assembled usually share a distinct commonality, like Hidan's and Kakuzu's immortality, Deidara's and Sasori's artistic approach to ninjutsu, as well as Itachi's and Kisame’s killing of their comrades under orders. |
||
| − | === |
+ | === Rings === |
| + | Under Nagato, each member of Akatsuki is given one of ten rings, to be worn on a specific finger. Other than apparently signifying one's membership, the rings seem to have some role in [[Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals|sealing]] the tailed beasts into the [[Demonic Statue of the Outer Path]], indicating which of the statue's finger the members should stand on. The rings are apparently important and irreplaceable: when Orochimaru defects he takes his ring with him, and for that reason he is never officially replaced;<ref>Chapter 353, page 14</ref> when Deidara loses the arm that his ring is on, he has greater interest in recovering the ring than the arm itself; Zetsu and Tobi specifically seek out Sasori's ring after his death, needing it for Tobi to replace him. When Tobi takes over, the rings are no longer important, as he simply discards it along with his damaged robe after battling Konan. Despite all this, the rings' exact significance is never explained. |
||
| − | * Target(s): [[Seven-Tails]] (Kakuzu, Sealed, ''Anime Only''), [[Two-Tails]] (Hidan, Sealed), [[Nine-Tails]] (Kakuzu, Failed) |
||
| − | [[File:Hidan and Kakuzu.png|thumb|Hidan and Kakuzu.]] |
||
| − | An unruly, yet arguably the most effective team in the organisation, they seemed unstoppable when together, something that [[Shikamaru Nara]] commented on for the need to separate the duo. Pain decided to put these two together because of their unique abilities and immortality. Hidan could not be killed as a result of becoming the successful "[[Jashin]] experiment", even by decapitation, and Kakuzu could easily go into a rage and kill anyone around him, including his partner. Therefore, Kakuzu could go berserk and not worry about Hidan's well-being. They refer to themselves as the {{translation|"Immortal Combo"|不死コンビ|Fushi Konbi}},<ref>Chapter 335, page 7</ref> because of their own methods of avoiding death. [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] jokingly referred to them as the {{translation|"Zombie Combo"|ゾンビコンビ|Zonbi Konbi}}.<ref>Chapter 353, page 11</ref> |
||
| + | [[File:Gedo Mazo Akatsuki Rings.png|thumb|The ring positions of the members.]] |
||
| − | They have shown the most hostility towards each other due to a conflict of interest; Kakuzu saw the rituals and beliefs of Hidan's [[Jashin|religion]] to be a waste of time, while Hidan saw Kakuzu's willingness to do blasphemous things and his greediness to be unbearable, not to mention that Kakuzu's job as a bounty hunter usually got on Hidan's nerves. As a result of their sideline in collecting bounties and conducting rituals, this team was usually late in the line of work. Despite this, they work flawlessly in battle by using Kakuzu's reckless attack style in conjuncture with Hidan's immortality. |
||
| + | The various rings are:<ref>''[[Tō no Sho]]'', pages 180-181</ref> |
||
| − | {{-}} |
||
| + | * Right thumb: {{translation|"zero"|零|rei}}; worn by [[Pain]]. Its colour is purplish-grey. |
||
| + | * Right index finger: {{translation|[[Wikipedia:Ao (colour)|"blue", "green"]]|青|ao, shō}}; worn by [[Deidara]]. Its colour is teal. |
||
| + | * Right middle finger: {{translation|"white"|白|byaku, haku}}; worn by [[Konan]]. Its colour is white. |
||
| + | * Right ring finger: {{translation|"vermilion", "scarlet"|朱|shu}}; worn by [[Itachi Uchiha]]. Its colour is red. |
||
| + | * Right little finger: {{translation|[[Wikipedia:Pig (zodiac)|"sign of the boar"]]|亥|gai}}; worn by [[Zetsu]]. Its colour is green. |
||
| + | * Left little finger: {{translation|"sky", [[Wikipedia:Five elements (Japanese philosophy)#Kū|"void"]]|空|kū}}; worn by [[Orochimaru]]. Its colour is slate blue. |
||
| + | * Left ring finger: {{translation|"south"|南|nan}}; worn by [[Kisame Hoshigaki]]. Its colour is yellow. |
||
| + | * Left middle finger: {{translation|"north"|北|hoku}}; worn by [[Kakuzu]]. Its colour is dark green. |
||
| + | * Left index finger: {{translation|"three"|三|san}}; worn by [[Hidan]]. Its colour is orange. |
||
| + | * Left thumb: {{translation|"jewel", "ball", also the black king in shogi|玉|gyoku}}; worn by [[Sasori]] and later by [[Tobi]]. Its colour is purple. |
||
| + | |||
| + | Eight of the ten kanji of the rings are taken from a [[Wikipedia:Kuji-in|kuji-in]], a collection of nine hand postures used in meditation. Pain's "rei" and Zetsu's "gai" are not from this kuji-in. However, the only unused kuji-in kanji, {{translation|玄|gen|"mysterious"}}, bears a strong resemblance to Zetsu's "gai", suggesting an error. It would be a consistent error, however, since the "gai" kanji has been used in every instance the ring's kanji has been shown. |
||
| + | |||
| + | == Teams == |
||
| + | Under Nagato, Akatsuki members are organized into teams of two, usually paired based on perceived similarities (such as Itachi or Kisame) or advantageous combinations (such as Hidan and Kakuzu). Although some pairs get along better than others, few seem to actually like each other; ''[[Sha no Sho]]'' notes that members always have separate rooms when staying at hotels. Hostilities tend to exist even between members who aren't partners, though they so rarely meet that this is rarely an actual problem.<ref>Chapter 238, page 17</ref> Teams travel the world pursuing Akatsuki's goals, only convening when summoned by Nagato, typically to seal a tailed beast. |
||
=== [[Nagato]] & [[Konan]] === |
=== [[Nagato]] & [[Konan]] === |
||
| + | [[File:Nagato and Konan.png|thumb|Nagato and Konan.]] |
||
* Target(s): [[Six-Tails]] (Pain, Sealed, ''Anime Only''), [[Nine-Tails]] (Pain, Failed) |
* Target(s): [[Six-Tails]] (Pain, Sealed, ''Anime Only''), [[Nine-Tails]] (Pain, Failed) |
||
| + | As childhood friends and fellow members of the original Akatsuki, Nagato and Konan are the only members who consistently get along. Because Nagato is Akatsuki's leader, Konan tends to defer to him, doing as he instructs even when she personally disagrees. In Nagato's rule of [[Amegakure]], Konan acts as the "angel" to his "god", communicating his will to Ame's villagers. It is kept secret from the rest of the organisation who Nagato is, instead having them believe that Pain is a living being and not a corpse remotely animated by Nagato. |
||
| − | [[File:Nagato and Konan.png|thumb|Nagato and Konan.]] |
||
| + | {{-}} |
||
| − | A team that functioned very well with each other as Nagato and Konan had been close friends for most of their lives, working as a [[Ame Orphans|team]] and supporting Yahiko during the first generation of Akatsuki. As leader of Akatsuki, Pain directed the rest of the organisation to their respective goals; his most direct interaction with the other members was using the [[Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals]]. In addition, Pain was the leader of [[Amegakure]], and used the village as a base for Akatsuki matters, while Konan served as the village's second-in-command. However, after Nagato's death, Konan left the organisation. |
||
| + | |||
| + | === [[Zetsu]] === |
||
| + | [[File:Zetsu.png|thumb|Zetsu.]] |
||
| + | * Target(s): Unknown |
||
| + | Zetsu is an associate of Tobi who helped him approach Nagato and officially joined Akatsuki seemingly long before Tobi does. Although typically acting as a single individual, Zetsu is made of two separate personalities: [[White Zetsu]] and [[Black Zetsu]]. The two sometimes argue, but it never interferes with their duties: spying, evidence disposal, and resource acquisition. Zetsu is often the only member of Akatsuki other than their partners that members meet in person. Zetsu typically helps transport a [[jinchūriki]] to one of Akatsuki's hideouts for extracting the Tailed Beast. |
||
{{-}} |
{{-}} |
||
=== [[Orochimaru]] & [[Sasori]] === |
=== [[Orochimaru]] & [[Sasori]] === |
||
| + | [[File:Sasori and Orochimaru.png|thumb|Orochimaru and Sasori (in his Hiruko puppet).]] |
||
* Target(s): Unknown |
* Target(s): Unknown |
||
| + | Orochimaru and Sasori were one of the earlier Akatsuki teams to be formed. Little is known of their deeds, but they apparently were quite effective together. They also got along well enough that Orochimaru knew how Sasori's actual "body" looked beneath his typical [[Hiruko]] carapace. Sasori held a grudge against Orochimaru after he defected from Akatsuki and took a personal interest in his activities afterwards. |
||
| − | [[File:Sasori and Orochimaru.png|thumb|Orochimaru and Sasori in his Hiruko puppet.]] |
||
| + | {{-}} |
||
| − | Sasori claimed that he and Orochimaru worked well together during their partnership, and both shared a desire of an everlasting existence. However, when Orochimaru defected from Akatsuki after his failed attempt to steal [[Itachi]]'s body, Sasori developed a grudge against his former partner. |
||
| + | |||
| + | === [[Itachi]] & [[Kisame]] === |
||
| + | [[File:Team Itachi Kisame.png|thumb|Itachi and Kisame.]] |
||
| + | * Target(s): [[Nine-Tails]] (Itachi, Failed), [[Four-Tails]] (Kisame, Sealed), [[Eight-Tails]] (Kisame, Failed) |
||
| + | Itachi and Kisame seemingly joined Akatsuki around the same time, and for that reason were put together. Kisame thought their partnership was appropriate as both were notorious for killing their fellow countrymen. Despite conflicting personalities, Itachi and Kisame get along well: Kisame has a greater predisposition towards violence, but always follows Itachi's instructions, even when it denies him an opportunity to kill someone. Kisame is sad after Itachi dies, and Itachi, once [[Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnated]], displays some regret on learning of Kisame's own death. |
||
{{-}} |
{{-}} |
||
=== [[Sasori]] & [[Deidara]] === |
=== [[Sasori]] & [[Deidara]] === |
||
| + | [[File:Deidara and Sasori.png|thumb|Deidara and Sasori (in his Hiruko puppet).]] |
||
* Target(s): [[One-Tail]] (Deidara, Sealed), [[Nine-Tails]] (Deidara, Failed) |
* Target(s): [[One-Tail]] (Deidara, Sealed), [[Nine-Tails]] (Deidara, Failed) |
||
| + | Deidara is forcibly recruited (with help from Itachi) to replace Orochimaru as Sasori's partner. Each views themselves as an artist, though has little respect for the other's preferred art form: Sasori believes art is eternal, as in a [[puppet]], while Deidara believes art is fleeting, as in an [[explosion]]. Deidara pays some deference to Sasori since he's more experienced, but is very disappointed by Sasori's death. |
||
| − | [[File:Deidara and Sasori.png|thumb|Deidara and Sasori in his Hiruko puppet.]] |
||
| + | {{-}} |
||
| − | Formed by the two artists of Akatsuki, Sasori and Deidara worked well for the most part but had conflicting ideas on art: Sasori believed in art forever preserved like his [[puppet]] while Deidara sees it to be instantaneous and gone in a flash like [[Explosive Clay]]. Ironically though, Sasori was impatient and liked to finish things quickly while Deidara liked to take his time. Sasori also had a network of spies that he manipulated (in the form of mind control) to aid Akatsuki in their affairs. Deidara was formerly a terrorist bomber for hire who was later recruited by Itachi. Interestingly, both members of this team made the conscious decision to die, Sasori by allowing himself to be impaled by the puppet replicas of his parents and Deidara blowing himself up, thus becoming art. The two were reunited when reincarnated during the Fourth Shinobi World War. |
||
| + | |||
| + | === [[Kakuzu]] & [[Hidan]] === |
||
| + | [[File:Hidan and Kakuzu.png|thumb|Hidan and Kakuzu.]] |
||
| + | * Target(s): [[Seven-Tails]] (Kakuzu, Sealed, ''Anime Only''), [[Two-Tails]] (Hidan, Sealed), [[Nine-Tails]] (Kakuzu, Failed) |
||
| + | After Kakuzu killed all of his previous partners in fits of rage, he was paired with Hidan, an immortal he couldn't kill. Whereas other teams at least have moments of cooperation, Hidan and Kakuzu actively hate each other: Hidan believes Kakuzu's obsession with money is sacrilegious and Kakuzu desperately wants to kill Hidan because his habits constantly waste Kakuzu's time. Despite this, the two are arguably the most effective of Akatsuki's teams, variously called the {{translation|"Immortal Combo"|不死コンビ|Fushi Konbi}}<ref>Chapter 335, page 7</ref> and the {{translation|"Zombie Combo"|ゾンビコンビ|Zonbi Konbi}}.<ref>Chapter 353, page 11</ref> If Hidan is dismembered, Kakuzu can sew him back together. Kakuzu, meanwhile, can launch indiscriminate attacks without needing to worry about Hidan being killed in the crossfire. [[Shikamaru Nara]] believes they are unstoppable so long as they are together. |
||
{{-}} |
{{-}} |
||
=== [[Deidara]] & [[Tobi]] === |
=== [[Deidara]] & [[Tobi]] === |
||
| + | [[File:Team Tobi Deidara.png|thumb|Deidara and Tobi.]] |
||
* Target(s): [[Three-Tails]] (Tobi, Sealed) |
* Target(s): [[Three-Tails]] (Tobi, Sealed) |
||
| + | When Tobi replaces Sasori in Akatsuki he also becomes Deidara's new partner. Per the persona he assumes, Tobi regularly annoys Deidara, either through open disrespect or out of apparent ignorance. Deidara attempts to kill Tobi several times out of irritation, but never manages to succeed, or at least follow through. Deidara, unaware of Tobi's true identity, takes him on as a sort of disciple, instructing him on the ways of the world and how to succeed in Akatsuki. Deidara even displays a certain fondness for Tobi at the end of his life, instructing him to get to a safe distance from his [[C4]] and then apologizing for what he assumes will be Tobi's death prior to using [[C0]]. |
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| − | [[File:Team Tobi Deidara.png|thumb|Deidara and Tobi hunting the Three-Tails.]] |
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| − | After Sasori's death, posing as a happy-go-lucky idiot at the time, Tobi was introduced as Deidara's new partner. Despite Tobi's eagerness to please his "senpai", his childish attitude was seen as an annoyance to Deidara's expectations of the organisation. Despite the eminent irritation, the two worked well together, as evidenced by Tobi planting Deidara's explosive clay mines underground during Deidara's last stand against [[Sasuke]]. Deidara also tries to protect Tobi, although the latter usually annoys him with his playful personality. After Deidara's death, Tobi revealed his true personality and began to actively work towards his own goals. |
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{{-}} |
{{-}} |
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| + | == Associates == |
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| − | === [[Itachi Uchiha]] & [[Kisame Hoshigaki]] === |
||
| + | In addition to its core members, Akatsuki has several affiliates spread across multiple countries. Almost all of them associate only with specific members rather than the entire organization. |
||
| − | * Target(s): [[Nine-Tails]] (Itachi, Failed), [[Four-Tails]] (Kisame, Sealed), [[Eight-Tails]] (Kisame, Failed) |
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| + | * [[Amegakure]] - base of operations for Pain |
||
| − | [[File:Team Itachi Kisame.png|thumb|Itachi and Kisame's début.]] |
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| + | * [[Kirigakure]] - previously controlled by Obito while manipulating the [[Fourth Mizukage]] |
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| − | A team that, despite their first meeting, functioned very well together and was highly effective. The pair completed almost every assignment Pain gave them with little trouble with the Nine-Tails being the only known exception. With Itachi working as a double agent, however, Itachi failed this mission purposely. Unlike most Akatsuki teams, Itachi and Kisame got along pretty well; Kisame did as Itachi had asked him unquestioningly and they would often converse casually when not in combat. In his battle against Killer B, Kisame failed in his mission to capture the Eight-Tails. However, this was later shown to be a ploy designed by Tobi to infiltrate the [[Land of Lightning]]. Before that, however, Kisame was able to capture the Four-Tails. |
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| + | * [[Yūra]] - Sasori's underling |
||
| − | {{-}} |
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| + | * [[Mukade]] - Sasori's underling |
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| − | |||
| + | * [[Funari]] - Kakuzu's subordinate |
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| − | === [[Zetsu]] === |
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| + | * [[Ginji]] - Kakuzu's banker |
||
| − | * Function: Spy, Auxiliary |
||
| + | * [[Kyōya]] - Kakuzu's accountant |
||
| − | [[File:Zetsu-san.jpg|thumb|The artificial human, Zetsu.]] |
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| + | * [[Zangei]] - Kakuzu's bounty collector |
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| − | Although not exactly a "two-man team", the secondary [[Black Zetsu]] personality that Madara infused into [[White Zetsu]] made Zetsu effective as such despite occasional arguments. Furthermore, because of his nature as an artificial human, Zetsu's personalities can split into two to act individually. Another unique feature of White Zetsu is his ability to create [[parasite Clone|clones]] that are biologically produced compared to the [[Clone Techniques|regular clones]] manifested of chakra.<ref name="Clone" /> |
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| + | * [[Taka]] - affiliated group |
||
| − | {{-}} |
||
| + | * [[Kabuto Yakushi]] - Sasori's spy, later collaborator with Obito |
||
| − | |||
| + | * [[Madara Uchiha]] - collaborator with Obito |
||
| − | === [[Taka]] === |
||
| + | * [[Tobi (Zetsu)|Tobi]] - Zetsu's clone |
||
| − | * Target(s): [[Eight-Tails]] (Failed) |
||
| + | * [[Mecha-Naruto]] - loyalist of Nagato <sup>(anime only)</sup> |
||
| − | [[File:Team Taka Akatsuki attire.png|thumb|The members of Taka as part of Akatsuki.]] |
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| − | When Akatsuki's ranks are thinned to five members, [[Tobi]] enlists the aid of renamed group Taka, whose leader Sasuke Uchiha shares the desire for the destruction of Konoha. To complete their goals, Tobi has ordered Taka to hunt down the Eight-Tails while Akatsuki (particularly Pain) hunts for the [[Nine-Tailed Demon Fox]]. Technically, the members of Taka are not full members of Akatsuki, as they do not possess the rings worn by each of the primary members. However, they have been wearing Akatsuki cloaks (albeit not with high collars but with hoods), signifying their affiliation with the organisation. After catching what appeared to be Killer B, Sasuke claimed that Taka was no longer affiliated with Akatsuki. Out of all the members, however, only Sasuke chooses to remain affiliated with Tobi and Akatsuki, only to defect immediately Sasuke received his new eyes, choosing to kill White Zetsu to test them. |
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| − | |||
| − | == Movies == |
||
| − | === Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie === |
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| − | In ''[[Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie]]'', the alternate Akatsuki is a well known mercenary group. Their members are Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, Hidan, Kakuzu, Konan, Sasori and Nagato (using his Deva Path). Itachi is presumed to be the leader of Akatsuki in the alternate world. |
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| − | |||
| − | == Creation and Conception == |
||
| − | In the ''Naruto Hiden: Sha no Sho Character Official Data Book'', Masashi Kishimoto stated that he had originally planned on making Akatsuki a group of monsters with almost no human characteristics, with Zetsu emphasising that specifically. He also states that Akatsuki teams get two single rooms to sleep in. |
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== Trivia == |
== Trivia == |
||
{{Youthwiki|Akatsuki}} |
{{Youthwiki|Akatsuki}} |
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| − | * {{translation|'''Akatsuki'''|暁|literary meaning = Dawn" or "Daybreak}} if written as "Aka Tsuki" (赤月), translates to |
+ | * {{translation|'''Akatsuki'''|暁|literary meaning = Dawn" or "Daybreak}} if written as "Aka Tsuki" (赤月), translates to "red moon". |
| + | * In ''[[Sha no Sho]]'', [[Masashi Kishimoto]] stated that he originally planned on making Akatsuki a group of monsters with almost no human characteristics, with Zetsu emphasising that specifically. |
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| − | * While they were never seen, it was mentioned Kakuzu had four previous partners before Hidan, and they were all ultimately killed by Kakuzu himself and their hearts stolen for his [[Earth Grudge Fear]].<ref>Third Databook, pages 56-59</ref> |
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| + | * In ''[[Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie]]'', the Akatsuki of the [[Genjutsu World]] is a well-known mercenary group. |
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| − | * In the ''[[Naruto Collectible Card Game]]'', [[Karin]], [[Jūgo]] and [[Suigetsu Hōzuki]] while in their Akatsuki robes are incorrectly listed as Akatsuki members, while they were never fully recognised members, and only working as hires for Tobi. |
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| + | * In the ''[[Naruto Collectible Card Game]]'', [[Karin]], [[Jūgo]], and [[Suigetsu Hōzuki]] are incorrectly listed as Akatsuki members while in their Akatsuki robes. |
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| − | * Despite being known as a group comprised of missing-nin, Pain and Konan are the recognised leaders of Amegakure after their successful coup against [[Hanzō of the Salamander]], and thus not missing-nin. |
||
| − | * In the manga, |
+ | * In the manga, the Three-Tails is sealed just before the Two-Tails.<ref>Chapter 329, pages 8-9</ref> In the anime, the Three-Tails' capture receives [[Three-Tails' Appearance|its own arc]], causing it to be sealed after the Two-Tails. |
| − | * In the anime, after the sealing of the Two-Tails, Pain |
+ | * In the anime, after the sealing of the Two-Tails, Pain states there are four tailed beasts remaining. Later in the anime, after Taka joins forces with Akatsuki, Kisame states there are three tailed beasts remaining. This retcon was put in place to allow an [[Six-Tails Unleashed|arc]] featuring the [[Six-Tails]]. |
| − | * |
+ | * All three survivors of the [[Uchiha Clan Downfall]] eventually work with Akatsuki. |
| − | * Both leaders of Akatsuki, Pain and Tobi, wear their rings on their thumbs. |
||
| − | * So far, [[Konoha]] shinobi have been involved in the deaths of all deceased Akatsuki members. They were all defeated exclusively by current or former Konoha shinobi. |
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| − | * Throughout the course of hunting down jinchūriki, Hidan was the only member of Akatsuki not to encounter Naruto. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 08:40, 19 November 2015
| Akatsuki | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| (暁, literally meaning: Dawn or Daybreak) | |||
| Debut | |||
| Manga | Naruto Chapter #141 | ||
| Anime | Naruto Episode #81 | ||
| Movie | Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie | ||
| Game | Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 | ||
| OVA | Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival! | ||
| Appears in | Anime, Manga, Game, Movie | ||
| Team Info | |||
| Leaders | |||
| |||
Akatsuki (暁, literally meaning: "Dawn" or "Daybreak") was a group of shinobi that existed outside the usual system of hidden villages. Over the course of several decades, Akatsuki took different forms and was led by different individuals. Though each iteration is viewed as either subversives or criminals, all seek to make the world a better place through their own means. Each Akatsuki tends to have multiple lairs across the world, inaccessible either due to their remoteness or the various security measures that protect them.
History
Yahiko's Akatsuki
Yahiko's Akatsuki.
Akatsuki was originally founded by Yahiko during the Third Shinobi World War, alongside his childhood friends Nagato and Konan. Orphans of the Second Shinobi World War, the three created Akatsuki as a way to bring peace to their home country of Amegakure, which too often got caught in the crossfire of the Five Great Shinobi Countries' many conflicts.[1] Their desire for an end to war attracted many fellow Ame ninja to their cause and, in time, word of their exploits began to travel beyond Amegakure's borders. Akatsuki's early fame was owed largely to Yahiko's leadership and his natural charisma, which kept the group united and motivated them to persevere despite the difficulties of their goal. Yahiko, however, viewed himself as merely a facilitator for Nagato, who would ultimately be the actual source of world peace because of his Rinnegan.
In time, Akatsuki's fame began attracting unwanted attention. They were first approached by Tobi, who claimed to be Madara Uchiha and offered to lend his assistance to Akatsuki, specifically Nagato. Yahiko was wary of Tobi and refused his offer, though Tobi claims Yahiko eventually agreed.[2] Ame's leader, Hanzō, also became aware of Akatsuki and perceived them as a threat to his rule, a belief encouraged by Danzō Shimura in the anime. Hanzō approached Akatsuki offering to help them broker peace between Konohagakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure. When Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan arrived to meet with him, however, they were ambushed by Hanzō's men and Danzō's Root, who took Konan hostage and forced Yahiko to commit suicide in order to save her. Enraged by Yahiko's death, Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and used it to slaughter their attackers, though Hanzō himself escaped.
In the anime, the other members of Akatsuki were tipped off to Hanzō's plan and attempted to provide backup to Yahiko and the others. Tobi intercepted them and killed them all.
| Name | Status |
|---|---|
| Daibutsu (Anime only) | Deceased |
| Kie | Deceased |
| Konan | Survived to next iteration |
| Kyūsuke | Deceased |
| Nagato | Survived to next iteration |
| Yahiko | Died fighting Hanzō |
Nagato's Akatsuki
With Yahiko's dying breath he entrusted the pursuit of peace to Nagato. Nagato, grieved by Yahiko's death, came to believe that the world would never willingly consent to peace and that Akatsuki's previously pacifist approaches were therefore futile. He concluded that the only way the world would turn away from its constant warfare would be to experience such catastrophic death and destruction that it could never again stomach the idea of conflict. Intending to be the one to show these horrors to the world, Nagato began using the alias "Pain" and formed the Six Paths of Pain, into which he integrated Yahiko's corpse so that he could symbolically continue leading Akatsuki. Nagato sought out Tobi and accepted his earlier offer of support, which Tobi provided in secret.
The various members of Nagato's Akatsuki.
After the Third Shinobi World War, Akatsuki began recruiting S-rank missing-nin, its members' competing personalities and aspirations unified behind Nagato's claimed objective of world domination. Once Akatsuki recruited its target of ten members, Akatsuki began following a three-step process to achieve this stated objective:[3]
- Obtain enough money to support their organisation.
- Provide mercenary services at well under the competitive rate, using the money gathered in the first step to offset costs. This will make countries increasingly dependent on Akatsuki's services, corner the entire market for shinobi missions, and eventually put all of the shinobi villages out of business because they can't compete with Akatsuki's prices. By capturing and strategically deploying the tailed beasts, Akatsuki could quickly start and then quell wars, thereby speeding up the process.
- Once all other major shinobi forces have dissolved, Akastuki will be able to quickly conquer all the countries of the world.
The early years of Nagato's Akatsuki were very successful, as the hidden villages increasingly hired Akatsuki to fight in wars and perform assassinations that the villages themselves were unwilling to get involved in during times of peace. The Fourth Raikage claims that only Kumogakure never hired Akatsuki, while the Third Tsuchikage in particular became a frequent employer. Despite being such a popular and successful group, Akatsuki was largely a mystery to those outside the organization, with many (incorrectly) coming to believe they operated out of Kirigakure. Akatsuki experienced some turmoil amongst its members over the years: Kakuzu regularly killed his partners in fits of rage and stole their hearts for his Earth Grudge Fear;[4] only being teamed with the immortal Hidan prevented him from continuing to do this. Orochimaru attempted to steal Itachi Uchiha's body after the latter joined the organization, and when that failed he was forced to defect. Despite this, Akatsuki was able to begin working towards capturing the tailed beasts.
Nagato's actual objective behind acquiring the tailed beasts was to harness the tailed beasts' chakra to create a powerful kinjutsu, using it to wipe out one side in a conflict and, from the display, frighten the other side and the world at large to stop the fighting. If and when the fears abated and conflicts renewed, the kinjutsu would be deployed again, creating small periods of peace in an endless chain of hatred.[5] Because all but one of the tailed beasts were in the possession of the hidden villages, their capture risked antagonising many of Akatsuki's former clients. Despite this, Deidara claims that the previous owners of the first two tailed beasts captured by Akatsuki (indicated in the anime to have been the Five-Tails and the Seven-Tails) were glad to be rid of them.
Akatsuki's mission to capture the tailed beasts gradually elevates them from the shadows of the world and, in turn, prompts a growing resistance by the hidden villages. After Deidara captures the One-Tail, Sasori is killed in battle with the Suna and Konoha forces sent to rescue the One-Tail's jinchūriki. Tobi takes this open position as an opportunity to officially join Akatasuki, helping capture the Three-Tails. Around the same time, Hidan and Kakuzu capture the Two-Tails, but both are subsequently defeated in unrelated confrontations with Konoha's Nijū Shōtai. Kisame Hoshigaki later acquires the Four-Tails, after which both Deidara and Itachi separately die in battle against Sasuke Uchiha.
Because of their shrinking numbers, Tobi pressures Nagato into taking a more active role in capturing the remaining tailed beasts. In the anime, he and Konan are first sent to capture the Six-Tails, which was captured at some earlier point in the manga. They are afterwards sent to Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails, and in the course of the resultant Pain's Assault the village is destroyed. When he finally locates and meets with the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki, Nagato begins to doubt the direction he has taken Akatsuki in since Yahiko's death. After Nagato's Six Paths of Pain are defeated, Naruto convinces him that a bloodless peace is worth pursing no matter how impossible it may seem. To make up for all the missteps he took, Nagato gives his life to revive the Konoha villagers that died during his attack, using his last breath to encourage Naruto to achieve the peace that he was never able to. With Yahiko and Nagato gone, Konan opts to leave Akatsuki.
| Name | Status | Village of origin |
|---|---|---|
| Deidara | Dies fighting Sasuke Uchiha | Iwagakure |
| Hidan | Defeated by Shikamaru Nara | Yugakure |
| Itachi Uchiha | Dies fighting Sasuke Uchiha | Konohagakure |
| Kakuzu | Dies fighting Team Kakashi | Takigakure |
| Kisame Hoshigaki | Survives to next iteration | Kirigakure |
| Konan | Leaves organization | Amegakure |
| Nagato | Dies following Pain's Assault | Amegakure |
| Tobi | Survives to next iteration | Konohagakure |
| Orochimaru | Leaves organization | Konohagakure |
| Sasori | Dies fighting the Kazekage Rescue Team | Sunagakure |
| Zetsu | Survives to next iteration | None |
Tobi's Akatsuki
Tobi, real name Obito Uchiha, approached Akatsuki in order to get close to Nagato, whose Rinnegan he needed to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan. Over the years, he remained in the shadows, allowing Nagato to appear to the world as Akatsuki's leader while Obito manipulated him towards his desired ends, specifically capturing all nine tailed beasts so that he can restore the Ten-Tails and use it to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi on the world, ending all conflict by trapping everyone in a dream. Obito follows the Eye of the Moon Plan under instructions of the real Madara Uchiha, whose identity Obito assumed after Madara's death. Madara intended Obito to have Nagato revive him in the final stages of the plan; however, Nagato betrayed Obito and used the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to revive everyone he killed during his invasion of Konoha.
Even before Nagato's death, Obito takes a growing role in Akatsuki's activities, due in large part to Itachi Uchiha's death. He reveals himself to Kisame, who worked with him during their time in Kirigakure and is happy to collaborate with him yet again. He also convinces Sasuke Uchiha and his team, Taka, to join forces with Akatsuki, an alliance that Obito believes is worth the losses of all the other Akatsuki members. While Nagato goes after the Nine-Tails, Obito sends Taka after the Eight-Tails, the only other remaining tailed beast. Although Taka initially appears successful, they are discovered to have been tricked by the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, Killer B. When Zetsu shortly afterwards reports Nagato's own death, Obito is deeply agitated by the setbacks, particularity Nagato's betrayal, and increasingly irritated by Naruto's constant thwarting of his plans.
With their ranks so diminished and with the Five Great Shinobi Countries finally starting to mobilize against Akatsuki, both because of the attack on Konoha and the botched capture of Killer B, Obito is forced to start taking drastic actions. He first sends Kisame to capture B and then sends Taka to attack the Five Kage Summit. Sasuke does not perform as well against the Five Kage as Obito wished, as he had hoped they would be weakened enough to be forced to negotiate. Instead, he must approach them diplomatically, asking that they help him complete his Eye of the Moon Plan by surrendering the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails. They refuse, prompting Obito to initiate the Fourth Shinobi World War.
The reincarnated Akatsuki.
While preparing for war, Obito is approached by Kabuto Yakushi, a former subordinate of Sasori and Orochimaru. Kabuto offers to bolster Akatsuki's fighting strength with the Impure World Reincarnation, reviving Akatsuki's past members and several other once-notable shinobi. Obito is reluctant until Kabuto blackmails him by reviving the real Madara Uchiha, on whose name Obito has been banking the credibility of his threats against the hidden villages. Obito is forced to agree. He then goes to Ame to take Nagato's Rinnegan, killing Konan in the process. News eventually reaches them of Kisame's death, but Kisame is at least able to send them intel that enables Kabuto to strengthen Obito's White Zetsu Army.[6]
In the two days of the war between Akatsuki and the Allied Shinobi Forces, both sides suffer heavy casualties, yet Naruto and Killer B elude capture. When most of the White Zetsu are defeated and Kabuto is made to end the Impure World Reincarnation, Obito, having no more options, prematurely revives the Ten-Tails. Madara, having escaped Kabuto's influence, lends a degree of support, eventually leading Obito to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. He is defeated by Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke (who has since sided against Akatsuki) before he can perform the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and as a result Obito stops pursuing the Eye of the Moon Plan.
With Obito's surrender, Akatsuki's schemes officially end. Madara perseveres, sealing the Ten-Tails into his body and successfully performing the Infinite Tsukuyomi. He is afterwards betrayed by Black Zetsu, who has been scheming for centuries to revive Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, with first Madara, then Obito, and then Akatsuki itself being mere pawns used in pursuit of that goal.[7] Kaguya is restored using Madara as a medium but, with Obito's help, she and Black Zetsu are defeated by Naruto and Sasuke and the Infinite Tsukuyomi is ended.
| Name | Status |
|---|---|
| Black Zetsu | Sealed by Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei |
| Kisame Hoshigaki | Dies on the Island Turtle |
| Obito Uchiha | Dies fighting Kaguya Ōtsutsuki |
| White Zetsu | Killed by Sasuke Uchiha |
Shin's Akatsuki
Shin's Akatsuki.
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. Over a decade after the end of the war, Shin Uchiha 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 Konoha becomes aware of him and he is soon afterwards betrayed and killed by his clones, ending his new Akatsuki before it ever truly begins.
| Name | Status |
|---|---|
| Shin Uchiha | Killed by his clones |
| Shin Uchiha (Clones) | Leaves organization |
Wardrobe
Members of Nagato's Akatsuki wear long, black cloaks with red clouds, a red interior, and a chin-high collar; Tobi and the members of Taka wear a similarly-marked hooded mantle. The red clouds represent the rain of blood that fell in Amegakure during its wars, and were viewed as a symbol of justice by its original members.[8] The robes are very distinctive, allowing members of Akatsuki to be identified even from a distance. Though the robes are a standard feature throughout Nagato's tenure (with Konan even continuing to wear it after leaving Akatsuki), the robe falls out of use under Obito's leadership: Kisame stops wearing it owing to circumstances of faking his death, Obito does not replace his when it is destroyed by Konan, and Zetsu ceases using a robe once its two halves begin operating separately.
Another trend started with Nagato is for members to cross out the symbol on their forehead protectors to symbolise the severed ties with their former villages, though some opt not to wear a forehead protector at all. All members also wear black nail polish on their fingers and toenails (colours vary in the anime). When traveling, members sometimes wear conical straw hats with small ornamental torques and tassels hanging down over their faces, possibly to go unnoticed by the general population.[9]
Rings
Under Nagato, each member of Akatsuki is given one of ten rings, to be worn on a specific finger. Other than apparently signifying one's membership, the rings seem to have some role in sealing the tailed beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, indicating which of the statue's finger the members should stand on. The rings are apparently important and irreplaceable: when Orochimaru defects he takes his ring with him, and for that reason he is never officially replaced;[10] when Deidara loses the arm that his ring is on, he has greater interest in recovering the ring than the arm itself; Zetsu and Tobi specifically seek out Sasori's ring after his death, needing it for Tobi to replace him. When Tobi takes over, the rings are no longer important, as he simply discards it along with his damaged robe after battling Konan. Despite all this, the rings' exact significance is never explained.
The ring positions of the members.
The various rings are:[11]
- Right thumb: "zero" (零, rei); worn by Pain. Its colour is purplish-grey.
- Right index finger: "blue", "green" (青, ao, shō); worn by Deidara. Its colour is teal.
- Right middle finger: "white" (白, byaku, haku); worn by Konan. Its colour is white.
- Right ring finger: "vermilion", "scarlet" (朱, shu); worn by Itachi Uchiha. Its colour is red.
- Right little finger: "sign of the boar" (亥, gai); worn by Zetsu. Its colour is green.
- Left little finger: "sky", "void" (空, kū); worn by Orochimaru. Its colour is slate blue.
- Left ring finger: "south" (南, nan); worn by Kisame Hoshigaki. Its colour is yellow.
- Left middle finger: "north" (北, hoku); worn by Kakuzu. Its colour is dark green.
- Left index finger: "three" (三, san); worn by Hidan. Its colour is orange.
- Left thumb: "jewel", "ball", also the black king in shogi (玉, gyoku); worn by Sasori and later by Tobi. Its colour is purple.
Eight of the ten kanji of the rings are taken from a kuji-in, a collection of nine hand postures used in meditation. Pain's "rei" and Zetsu's "gai" are not from this kuji-in. However, the only unused kuji-in kanji, 玄 (gen, "mysterious"), bears a strong resemblance to Zetsu's "gai", suggesting an error. It would be a consistent error, however, since the "gai" kanji has been used in every instance the ring's kanji has been shown.
Teams
Under Nagato, Akatsuki members are organized into teams of two, usually paired based on perceived similarities (such as Itachi or Kisame) or advantageous combinations (such as Hidan and Kakuzu). Although some pairs get along better than others, few seem to actually like each other; Sha no Sho notes that members always have separate rooms when staying at hotels. Hostilities tend to exist even between members who aren't partners, though they so rarely meet that this is rarely an actual problem.[12] Teams travel the world pursuing Akatsuki's goals, only convening when summoned by Nagato, typically to seal a tailed beast.
Nagato & Konan
Nagato and Konan.
- Target(s): Six-Tails (Pain, Sealed, Anime Only), Nine-Tails (Pain, Failed)
As childhood friends and fellow members of the original Akatsuki, Nagato and Konan are the only members who consistently get along. Because Nagato is Akatsuki's leader, Konan tends to defer to him, doing as he instructs even when she personally disagrees. In Nagato's rule of Amegakure, Konan acts as the "angel" to his "god", communicating his will to Ame's villagers. It is kept secret from the rest of the organisation who Nagato is, instead having them believe that Pain is a living being and not a corpse remotely animated by Nagato.
Zetsu
Zetsu.
- Target(s): Unknown
Zetsu is an associate of Tobi who helped him approach Nagato and officially joined Akatsuki seemingly long before Tobi does. Although typically acting as a single individual, Zetsu is made of two separate personalities: White Zetsu and Black Zetsu. The two sometimes argue, but it never interferes with their duties: spying, evidence disposal, and resource acquisition. Zetsu is often the only member of Akatsuki other than their partners that members meet in person. Zetsu typically helps transport a jinchūriki to one of Akatsuki's hideouts for extracting the Tailed Beast.
Orochimaru & Sasori
Orochimaru and Sasori (in his Hiruko puppet).
- Target(s): Unknown
Orochimaru and Sasori were one of the earlier Akatsuki teams to be formed. Little is known of their deeds, but they apparently were quite effective together. They also got along well enough that Orochimaru knew how Sasori's actual "body" looked beneath his typical Hiruko carapace. Sasori held a grudge against Orochimaru after he defected from Akatsuki and took a personal interest in his activities afterwards.
Itachi & Kisame
Itachi and Kisame.
- Target(s): Nine-Tails (Itachi, Failed), Four-Tails (Kisame, Sealed), Eight-Tails (Kisame, Failed)
Itachi and Kisame seemingly joined Akatsuki around the same time, and for that reason were put together. Kisame thought their partnership was appropriate as both were notorious for killing their fellow countrymen. Despite conflicting personalities, Itachi and Kisame get along well: Kisame has a greater predisposition towards violence, but always follows Itachi's instructions, even when it denies him an opportunity to kill someone. Kisame is sad after Itachi dies, and Itachi, once reincarnated, displays some regret on learning of Kisame's own death.
Sasori & Deidara
Deidara and Sasori (in his Hiruko puppet).
- Target(s): One-Tail (Deidara, Sealed), Nine-Tails (Deidara, Failed)
Deidara is forcibly recruited (with help from Itachi) to replace Orochimaru as Sasori's partner. Each views themselves as an artist, though has little respect for the other's preferred art form: Sasori believes art is eternal, as in a puppet, while Deidara believes art is fleeting, as in an explosion. Deidara pays some deference to Sasori since he's more experienced, but is very disappointed by Sasori's death.
Kakuzu & Hidan
Hidan and Kakuzu.
- Target(s): Seven-Tails (Kakuzu, Sealed, Anime Only), Two-Tails (Hidan, Sealed), Nine-Tails (Kakuzu, Failed)
After Kakuzu killed all of his previous partners in fits of rage, he was paired with Hidan, an immortal he couldn't kill. Whereas other teams at least have moments of cooperation, Hidan and Kakuzu actively hate each other: Hidan believes Kakuzu's obsession with money is sacrilegious and Kakuzu desperately wants to kill Hidan because his habits constantly waste Kakuzu's time. Despite this, the two are arguably the most effective of Akatsuki's teams, variously called the "Immortal Combo" (不死コンビ, Fushi Konbi)[13] and the "Zombie Combo" (ゾンビコンビ, Zonbi Konbi).[14] If Hidan is dismembered, Kakuzu can sew him back together. Kakuzu, meanwhile, can launch indiscriminate attacks without needing to worry about Hidan being killed in the crossfire. Shikamaru Nara believes they are unstoppable so long as they are together.
Deidara & Tobi
Deidara and Tobi.
- Target(s): Three-Tails (Tobi, Sealed)
When Tobi replaces Sasori in Akatsuki he also becomes Deidara's new partner. Per the persona he assumes, Tobi regularly annoys Deidara, either through open disrespect or out of apparent ignorance. Deidara attempts to kill Tobi several times out of irritation, but never manages to succeed, or at least follow through. Deidara, unaware of Tobi's true identity, takes him on as a sort of disciple, instructing him on the ways of the world and how to succeed in Akatsuki. Deidara even displays a certain fondness for Tobi at the end of his life, instructing him to get to a safe distance from his C4 and then apologizing for what he assumes will be Tobi's death prior to using C0.
Associates
In addition to its core members, Akatsuki has several affiliates spread across multiple countries. Almost all of them associate only with specific members rather than the entire organization.
- Amegakure - base of operations for Pain
- Kirigakure - previously controlled by Obito while manipulating the Fourth Mizukage
- Yūra - Sasori's underling
- Mukade - Sasori's underling
- Funari - Kakuzu's subordinate
- Ginji - Kakuzu's banker
- Kyōya - Kakuzu's accountant
- Zangei - Kakuzu's bounty collector
- Taka - affiliated group
- Kabuto Yakushi - Sasori's spy, later collaborator with Obito
- Madara Uchiha - collaborator with Obito
- Tobi - Zetsu's clone
- Mecha-Naruto - loyalist of Nagato (anime only)
Trivia
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- Akatsuki (暁) if written as "Aka Tsuki" (赤月), translates to "red moon".
- In Sha no Sho, Masashi Kishimoto stated that he originally planned on making Akatsuki a group of monsters with almost no human characteristics, with Zetsu emphasising that specifically.
- In Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie, the Akatsuki of the Genjutsu World is a well-known mercenary group.
- In the Naruto Collectible Card Game, Karin, Jūgo, and Suigetsu Hōzuki are incorrectly listed as Akatsuki members while in their Akatsuki robes.
- In the manga, the Three-Tails is sealed just before the Two-Tails.[15] In the anime, the Three-Tails' capture receives its own arc, causing it to be sealed after the Two-Tails.
- In the anime, after the sealing of the Two-Tails, Pain states there are four tailed beasts remaining. Later in the anime, after Taka joins forces with Akatsuki, Kisame states there are three tailed beasts remaining. This retcon was put in place to allow an arc featuring the Six-Tails.
- All three survivors of the Uchiha Clan Downfall eventually work with Akatsuki.
References
- ↑ Chapter 509, page 3
- ↑ Chapter 509, page 4
- ↑ Chapter 329
- ↑ Third Databook, pages 56-59
- ↑ Chapter 436, pages 15-16
- ↑ Chapter 512, page 14
- ↑ Chapter 681, pages 11-16
- ↑ Chapter 509, page 2
- ↑ Chapter 141, page 3
- ↑ Chapter 353, page 14
- ↑ Tō no Sho, pages 180-181
- ↑ Chapter 238, page 17
- ↑ Chapter 335, page 7
- ↑ Chapter 353, page 11
- ↑ Chapter 329, pages 8-9
