Akatsuki (暁; Literally meaning "Dawn" or "Daybreak") is a
criminal organization of S-Class missing-nin
and is the most wanted group in all of the shinobi world. Their main
goal is to collect all of the tailed
beasts for their plan of world domination. As such, Akatsuki,
despite initially having a minor role during Part I, have become the
primary antagonists in Part II.
FOUNDER
Madara Uchiha , who posed as
Tobi[3] (トビ) when first introduced, is a founder of Konohagakure,
Akatsuki
and the Uchiha clan
[4]. When he joined Akatsuki as Tobi, replacing Sasori, he
was partnered with Deidara, revealing himself as Madara after Deidara's
death. He has been recognized by Kisame Hoshigaki as once being the Mizukage
of Kirigakure,
although it is unknown when. He is a major antagonist of the series,
being responsible for the Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha,
being involved in the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and creating Akatsuki.
LEADER, Co - Founder
Nagato (長門), better known as
Pain (ペイン,
Pein), was
the recognized leader of Akatsuki and Amegakure
and was a major antagonist in the series. Referred to as "Leader" by
all Akatsuki members, except for Konan, he
directed the actions of the rest of the members and maintained authority
over them. However, he had secretly collaborated with Tobi,
[3] who was actually Madara Uchiha, the benefactor of Akatsuki.
Itachi Uchiha (うちはイタチ,
Uchiha Itachi) was Sasuke
Uchiha's older brother. He was a missing-nin
from Konohagakure, and a prominent member of Akatsuki,
partnered with Kisame Hoshigaki.
Zetsu (ゼツ) is a member of Akatsuki
who functions as the organization's spy
Sasori (サソリ), also known as
Sasori of the Red Sand (赤砂のサソリ,
Akasuna no Sasori), was the grandson of Elder Chiyo
and a member of Akatsuki prior to his death, and was partnered with
Deidara,
and Orochimaru before that.
Orochimaru (大蛇丸,
Orochimaru) was one of Konohagakure's
Sannin.
He later became a member of Akatsuki
and the leader of Otogakure. He was the primary antagonist for most
of Part I.
Konan (小南) was the only kunoichi in Akatsuki,
and the partner of Nagato, being the only member to call him by his
name. She is now the current leader of Amegakure.
Kakuzu (角都) was a member of Akatsuki
and the partner of Hidan. Despite their mutual dislike of each other,
their teamwork was almost flawless, because they complemented each
other's abilities extremely well. Kisame laughingly referred to Hidan and Kakuzu as the
"Zombie Brothers" due to the fact that they could not die in a sense.
Hidan (飛段) was the partner of Kakuzu,
despite having mutual dislike for each other, and was the second newest
member of Akatsuki, at the time of his introduction.
[2] Kisame laughingly referred to Hidan and Kakuzu as the
"Zombie Brothers."
Deidara (デイダラ) was the youngest member of Akatsuki,
and was partnered with Sasori and Tobi, consecutively, before his death
Kisame Hoshigaki (干柿鬼鮫,
Hoshigaki Kisame), the
Monster
of the Hidden Mist (霧隠れの怪人,
Kirigakure no Kaijin), was a missing-nin
from Kirigakure, a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the
Mist and was partnered with Itachi
Uchiha within Akatsuki.