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.
Akatsuki at any given time is composed of no more than ten primary members, all of whom were S-Class criminals of their own respective villages. Members always work in teams of two with the exception of
Zetsu, who functions as the organization's spy, and make use of their unique skills to the team's advantage. Team members must function very well or at least to accomplish their task even though they have a mutual problems with each other. The organization is rarely fully assembled, as seen in the end of Part I, when one member said it was the first time in seven years when they were all together.
Akatsuki 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
three-day long jutsu.
Akatsuki was originally founded by
Yahiko during the
Third Great 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. Yahiko insisted that his and the rest of Akatsuki's actions were meant only to aid
Nagato in bringing world peace, though
Konanclaimed that it was Yahiko's charisma that held the group together and spurred them on.
Madara Uchiha alleges that it was his encouragement which lead to Yahiko forming the organization, and thus credits himself as the group's creator.
In its early days, Akatsuki gained fame and recognition in Amegakure, drawing the attention of
Hanzō, a world-renowned ninja and leader of the country. Hanzō, believing that the group was becoming a threat to his rule, approached the organization and falsely claimed that he wanted to use them as the axis to negotiate peace between
Konohagakure,
Iwagakure, and
Sunagakure. However, Hanzō betrayed Akatsuki and, working together with
Danzō Shimura of Konohagakure's
ANBU, kidnapped Konan and orchestrated Yahiko's death. After synchronizing with the
Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and attempted to exact revenge on Yahiko's killers, Nagato inherited leadership of the organization and prompted a civil war, eventually killing Hanzō and gaining victory and control of Amegakure.
Following the Third Great Shinobi World War, Akatsuki became a mercenary group for hire and Nagato presumably began taking direction from Madara, who acted as the organization'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 Madara's influence over the
Fourth Mizukage. Eventually, Akatsuki would begin capturing the
tailed beasts, in the process antagonizing many of its former clients.
Events relating to Akatsuki before the start of Part II have only been given in pieces.
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 shortly before the start of Part II, Hidan's immortality meaning there would not need to be constant replacements.
Itachi Uchiha apparently joined before carrying out the
Uchiha clan massacre 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.
Akatsuki becomes much more active in Part II. At its start they assault
Sunagakure to capture the
One-Tail, but Sasori is killed. Madara, disguised as "Tobi", replaces him. Next are the
Two-Tails and
Three-Tails, though 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, who soon afterwards causes Itachi's death too. Madara soon afterwards convinces Sasuke to work with Akatsuki. Although Akatsuki lost five members at this point, Madara claims it was worth it in order to gain Sasuke's loyalty. Despite this, their diminished numbers force Akatsuki to become more drastic in their efforts.
In the anime, Nagato 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; Nagato dying and Konan leaving the organization. At the same time, Sasuke and his team are tasked with capturing the
Eight-Tails, but they too fail to complete the assignment. Akatsuki's actions finally provoke a response from the ninja villages, who hold a
Kage Summit to discuss what should be done. Madara, wishing to accelerate his plans, infiltrates the meeting and declares war against the great nations, promising to use the seven tailed beasts Akatsuki has already captured as weapons. The villages and their associated countries form a
Shinobi Alliance to combat Akatsuki, beginning the
Fourth Great Shinobi World War.
In preparation for the war,
Kisame Hoshigaki infiltrates Kumogakure to gather intel 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 Madara. Madara, meanwhile, goes to Amegakure to retrieve Nagato's body and the
Rinnegan, as well as kill Konan.
Kabuto Yakushi, a new ally of the organization, then captures
Yamato, allowing him to strengthen an army of 100,000 white Zetsus.
[1] After Kabuto uses
Summoning: Impure World Resurrection to supplement Akatsuki's numbers with ninja famous during their lives, Akatsuki marches off for war.
Main Goal ![Edit href=]()
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Although some members joined Akatsuki to further their own goals, all are united in Akatsuki's ultimate goal of gaining world domination.
[2] Nagato has mentioned a three-step process to work their way towards this goal.
[3]First, they plan to obtain a large amount of money to support their organization.
[3] Second, they plan to set up a mercenary group loyal only to Akatsuki.
[4] 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.
[4] Because there haven't been any wars in some time, the established shinobi villages couldn't afford to charge such low prices, leading the smaller countries to hire Akatsuki over the more expensive shinobi villages.
[4] 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 labor.
[5] Without any business, the other shinobi villages would collapse due to the lack of funds.
[5] Finally, after Akatsuki is the only major force of shinobi in existence, they can easily conquer the other countries.
[5] 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.
[3]The
tailed beasts, nine gigantic demons of immense power, are the main focus of much of Akatsuki's efforts and screen time within the series. Each member is assigned to capture one of the nine beasts alive or, in most cases, the person that beast has been sealed into.
[6] Akatsuki has sealed seven of the nine beasts before the start of the
Fourth Great Shinobi World War.
[7]
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