Known for its enigmatic and powerful members, the Akatsuki is one of the most notorious groups in Naruto. In this organization of rogue shinobi, each Akatsuki member brings a unique set of skills and abilities that make them extremely cool-looking and formidable opponents. From the cunning tactics of Itachi Uchiha to the overwhelming power of Pain, the Akatsuki played a big role in the series and left a huge mark on the world of Naruto.

While the story is focused on heroes such as Naruto, fans can’t help but love the chilling encounters with these characters, each fight revealing more about their dark pasts and motivations. So, if you missed something during the series or want to refresh your memory, you are where you need to be. This article will explore the strongest members of the original Akatsuki and delve into their special strengths, most iconic battles, and roles in the Naruto series.

1. Madara Uchiha | Hidden Leaf Village

The best for last. Or, depending on how one looks at it – the worst. Madara Uchiha is a legendary Shinobi of the Leaf who co-founded the village alongside his once-dear friend, Hashirama Senju. However, due to their conflicting ideals and goals, the Uchiha turned rogue and embarked on a journey to reshape the world according to his own dreams.

To achieve his villainous goals, Madara Uchiha retreated into the shadows and skillfully manipulated numerous characters, most notably the Akatsuki. And, even though Nagato initially founded and led the Akatsuki, Madara took his position and orchestrated their operations with only one goal in mind: casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Aside from being a cunning genius, Madara was one of the strongest Shinobi ever, possessing an advanced version of the Susanoo and mastering techniques like Izanagi and Izanami. Later, he attained the powers of the Rinnegan and Rinne Sharingan, along with becoming the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails and harnessing the abilities of the Sage of the Six Paths. Sounds unbeatable, right?

Madara was practically unbeatable, with no one capable of defeating the Akatsuki's secret leader. It took a higher power for Madara to lose in battle, and that power turned out to be none other than his Akatsuki "colleague," Black Zetsu.

2. Itachi Uchiha | Hidden Leaf Village

The strongest Uchiha ever, the coolest character in Naruto, and arguably the most powerful in the entire series—that’s Itachi Uchiha. While his strengths and characteristics that made him a fan favorite could fill a separate article, this section will focus on his days in the Akatsuki and his role as a double agent throughout the series.

After committing the unthinkable act of wiping out his entire clan to preserve peace in Konoha, Itachi took his rogue role further by joining the Akatsuki. His strong powers and firm demeanor earned him high status within the group, allowing him to deceive its members into believing he fully supported their cause.

After all, manipulation was Itachi’s greatest strength, all thanks to his Mangekyo Sharingan. This powerful eye technique made him a master of genjutsu, including the Tsukuyomi, as well as Izanagi and Izanami. His ability to summon Susanoo and use the Amaterasu further enhanced his combat abilities, putting Itachi well above the average shinobi.

Regrettably, Itachi’s powers were never fully explored in the series because he always held back, exerting only as much effort as necessary to achieve his goals. Even in his intense battle with Sasuke, Itachi did not unleash his maximum power and let his younger brother win, teaching him an important lesson in the process.

3. Obito Uchiha | Hidden Leaf Village

The Uchihas sure love to go rogue, with Obito being the second out of three members who joined the Akatsuki. Like many others, Obito's story is also a painful one, driving him to join this organization and eventually leading them to become the most feared group in Naruto.

Interestingly, he started as an optimistic shinobi who trained and improved his skills alongside Kakashi, all while dreaming of becoming Konoha’s Hokage. However, after that mission every fan knows, Obito seemingly lost his life, leaving his teammates devastated and him in deep pain.

Fortunately for him, Obito was found by none other than Madara Uchiha, who shifted the boy’s mindset and gradually transformed him into a powerful ninja with strong abilities such as the Kamui. Under Madara’s villainous influence, Obito caused so much trouble in the shinobi world, starting the Fourth Great Ninja War and working toward Akatsuki’s ultimate ambition: the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

However, during the battle against Kaguya Otsutsuki, Obito's former self emerged, compelling the ex-Konoha shinobi to help Naruto and Kakashi. In doing so, he once again altered the world's future, sacrificing himself to protect those who ultimately defeated Kaguya and stopped the Akatsuki's long-standing plans, saving the planet in the process.

4. Nagato Uzumaki | Hidden Rain Village

As Yahiko’s friend, Nagato shared the same destiny, struggling to survive in the harsh conditions of Amegakure. He too dreamed of making the world a better place but ultimately failed, becoming one of the main villains in Naruto. After Yahiko’s demise and suffering a debilitating injury, Nagato felt he had no choice but to turn to a different path, seeking justice in his own way—the way of Pain.

Using the Rinnegan obtained from Madara Uchiha, complemented by his Uzumaki chakra and abilities, Nagato created the Six Paths of Pain. Through this, he controlled his deceased friend Yahiko, inflicting immense suffering upon the Shinobi world. Nagato later became the Akatsuki leader, directing their efforts to capture the Tailed Beasts and pursue all of the jinchuriki, including Naruto Uzumaki.

Despite being immobilized, Nagato became a remarkably powerful shinobi and nearly destroyed the Hidden Leaf Village. With his ability to absorb chakra, manipulate physical objects, and control minds, he sought to bring destruction that he thought would later lead to peace. However, Naruto confronted Nagato and had an emotional conversation with Jiraiya's former student, ultimately shifting his perspective and putting an end to his villainous actions.

5. Orochimaru | Hidden Leaf Village

Orochimaru is the first and one of the most complex villains in the series. As a promising and powerful shinobi, Orochimaru became a Legendary Sannin and served the village of Konoha during the Third Great Ninja War. However, his goals were much different from those of his comrades, leading him down a villainous path that aligned with his ideals.

Orochimaru strived for the ultimate powers: immortality and becoming the first shinobi to master every technique. In pursuit of this objective, he traveled the world and did whatever was necessary to achieve it, including joining the Akatsuki. However, being highly self-focused, Orochimaru struggled to function within a group and eventually left the Akatsuki.

The Legendary Sannin experimented on everything, including his own body. He modified himself multiple times, gaining snake-like characteristics that allowed him to become a sneaky and cunning ninja with powers few could match.

In one of the first major battles in Naruto, Orochimaru demonstrated his skills by using the Reanimation Jutsu to summon the first two Hokages. With their help and his countless sly tricks, the Legendary Sannin managed to defeat the Third Hokage and introduce himself as one of the strongest villains in the series.

6. Zetsu | Hidden Moon Village

Zetsu is a mysterious creature with an alien-like appearance, originating from the early days of the Shinobi world. Created by Kaguya Otsutsuki, Zetsu served as her loyal servant who would eventually break the seal imposed on her by her family, allowing him to bring her back and assist her in achieving her goals.

There are two parts of Zetsu – a black and a white one. White Zetsu could use all basic techniques and excelled in Wood Release, making him a formidable opponent in combat. However, his true strength lies in espionage. Using his Mayfly technique, he could infiltrate any location unnoticed, gathering crucial information that helped the Akatsuki.

Now, about his black half. Black Zetsu played a larger role in the Naruto series as he was the Kaguya's creation tasked with saving her. He could use every Shinobi technique and absorb chakra from others, which negated his opponents' attacks. With these abilities and years of planning, Zetsu manipulated Madara Uchiha and eventually transformed him into Kaguya’s vessel, successfully bringing her back.

7. Konan | Hidden Rain Village

Konan is the third member of this unfortunate group of aspiring ninjas who founded the Akatsuki. Just like Nagato and Yahiko, she also was a morally gray character caught up between ideals and goals, trying to achieve peace and end the cycle of war between nations. However, unlike her friends, Konan always remained on the side, serving as a right hand to the Akatsuki’s leader.

After Yahiko sacrificed himself and Nagato became the leader of the Akatsuki, Konan was always here to help from the shadows and act whenever required. Her mastery of paper manipulation jutsu allowed Konan to seamlessly blend in and move covertly, making her the perfect spy for the Akatsuki.

While she was not a huge part of Naruto Shippuden, Konan remained an important member of the Akatsuki. After Nagato's defeat, her ideals underwent a significant change, leading her to develop a deep admiration for Naruto. As a pupil of Jiraiya, she showcased considerable strength, notably in her fierce battle against the formidable Obito Uchiha, where she came close to emerging victorious.

8. Kisame | Hidden Mist Village

Kisame is known as the Tailless Tailed-Beast, which is one of the best and most accurate nicknames in Naruto. Coming from the line of the legendary Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kisame wielded a powerful sword named Samehada, granting him a power that put the missing-nin among the best members of the Akatsuki.

This enormous sword, with its shark-like characteristics and abilities, was Kisame’s most loyal partner throughout the years. It helped him win many duels, with his hand-to-hand battle against Seventh Gate Might Guy being his most impressive. Coupled with Kisame’s vast chakra reserves, Samehada allowed him to counter every chakra-infused attack, giving its wielder an advantage over every shinobi he faced.

Furthermore, Kisame’s powers extended beyond just wielding Samehada. He could merge with the sword, transforming into a shark-like creature with incredible strength that few could counter. However, after being captured by Konoha’s shinobi, Kisame, ever loyal to the Akatsuki, refused to cooperate and summoned sharks to devour him. Now that’s ironic.

9. Hidan | Village Hidden in the Hot Water

Coming from the small Village Hidden in the Hot Water as a successful yet malevolent experiment, Hidan stands out as one of Naruto’s most ruthless villains. Upon gaining immortality and powers, this already mad shinobi went rogue, even becoming a target of the Akatsuki. However, after battling against Akatsuki members and posing a challenge to Kakuzu, he surprisingly earned recruitment into the organization, which saw him as an important part of their plans.

Additionally to his immortality, Hidan possessed a unique ability to draw a symbol that would give him cunning powers in a battle. These powers proved very useful during his days with the Akatsuki, with the most notable example being his battle against Asuma Sarutobi. In this duel, Hidan killed Asuma, solidifying his reputation as one of the most hated characters in the series.

Being immune to every attack or jutsu correlates with being the strongest Akatsuki, right? Not as long as Shikamaru is concerned. In their revenge duel, Hidan unleashed his powers once more, but the incredibly intelligent and well-prepared Shikamaru devised a strategy to defeat him—not by killing him, but by burying Hidan into the ground.

10. Kakuzu | Village Hidden in the Waterfalls

After Hidan, it’s only right to talk about his dear partner Kakuzu, the rogue and nearly immortal shinobi who, alongside Hidan, formed one of the most infamous duos in Naruto. Kakuzu is an ancient ninja whose origins trace back to the early days of shinobi history, thanks to his unique ability to store five different hearts and utilize various types of chakra.

These five hearts, scattered throughout Kakuzu’s body and represented as white masks, extended Kakuzu’s life, gave him powers, and added to his already spooky appearance. Beyond his unusual body composition, Kakuzu possessed many small tendrils that allowed him to extend his limbs during combat and rapidly heal injuries. With these formidable abilities, Kakuzu earned a fearsome reputation as a bounty hunter before joining the Akatsuki and confronting some of Konoha’s strongest shinobi.

Most notably, Kakuzu fought alongside Hidan against Asuma’s squad, emerging victorious in a battle that showcased their teamwork. However, when they faced Team 10 alongside Naruto and Kakashi, Kakuzu was ultimately defeated. In that fight, Naruto used his Rasenshuriken to simultaneously destroy all of Kakuzu’s hearts, allowing the Copy Ninja to swiftly finish him off and avenge his fallen comrade and fellow shinobi, Asuma.

11. Yahiko | Hidden Rain Village

Yahiko boy lived a hard life in the Village Hidden in the Rain, constantly scraping for food and shelter with his friends. Fortunately, amid all that misery, Yahiko found a bright light to guide him—none other than the Legendary Sannin himself, Jiraiya-sensei.

After the Third Great Ninja War, Jiraiya trained Yahiko and his friends in the shinobi arts, helping Yahiko master his fire, water, and wind techniques. As he and his friends grew into skilled ninjas, Yahiko’s hope for a better tomorrow began to rise, seeing that there were good people capable of making a difference. Inspired by this, Yahiko decided to become such a person, using his newly gained knowledge and skills to bring about change.

To make a change in the world, Yahiko and his friends founded the Akatsuki, an organization dedicated to bringing peace and fighting the rogue ninjas that plagued the Shinobi world. However, the evil power of these rogue ninjas eventually caught up with the somewhat naive and optimistic Akatsuki, leading to Yahiko’s demise. This tragic turn of events later transformed the organization into the villainous group everyone is familiar with.

12. Deidara | Hidden Stone Village

After serving Iwagakure as a member of the Explosion Corps, Deidara departed from his village and embraced the path of a rogue ninja. Mastering earth and lightning techniques, he developed the ability to sculpt explosive clay into various forms, from birds to spiders, which he could control and detonate at will. These abilities made him a strong and unpredictable shinobi who posed a significant challenge to any opponent, which is why the Akatsuki recruited him.

Deidara was known as being the youngest Akatsuki member and Sasori’s partner, whom he often referred to as “Sasori, my man” – a line that stuck with the Naruto fans for so long. As for his evil doings, he was tasked with attacking the Village Hidden in the Sand, almost destroying it with one of his clay bombs.

Deidara’s powers reached their maximum in his fight against Gaara and Sasuke where he managed to beat Gaara and almost defeat Sasuke as well. In these intense fights, Deidara used every trick up his sleeve, ultimately turning himself into a massive clay bomb to try and kill Sasuke. However, Sasuke managed to save himself, leading to Deidara’s defeat.

13. Sasori | Hidden Sand Village

Sasori, my man, was a cool-looking Shinobi with very interesting powers that made him one of the hardest-to-beat members of the Akatsuki. Growing up with his legendary puppeteer grandmother and later fighting in the Third Great Ninja War himself, Sasori became a well-known ninja among the nations, gaining the title of “Sasori of the Red Sand”.

As a member of the Village Hidden in the Sand, Sasori was not always evil, but, given the circumstances, he started enjoying manipulating his puppets with ill intentions and gained recognition by the Akatsuki. And rightfully so, because he was not an ordinary puppeteer. He managed to capture the Third Kazekage and could manipulate and create hundreds of different puppets, effortlessly using them in a fight like an extension of himself.

Sasori was so into his craft that he transformed himself into a half-puppet, covering his body with one of his creations. With this, he gained much-needed protection and could easily resist physical damage as well as Genjutsus, gaining the edge over every opponent not familiar with his puppeteering abilities. However, it all went full circle as Lady Chyio – his grandmother – fought and defeated him.

Final Thoughts on the Strongest Akatsuki Members in Naruto

The Akatsuki members are some of the strongest and most interesting characters in Naruto. Each member, from Itachi Uchiha to Deidara and Kisame, has a unique strength and story. They have all left a lasting impact on the series, showing the deep and complex world of ninjas from all of the Naruto villages.

Understanding the strengths of the Akatsuki members also highlights the depth and creativity of Masashi Kishimoto's world-building. The battles against these formidable foes were not just about strength, but also about strategy, willpower, and the bonds between characters. The Akatsuki's legacy continues to captivate audiences, reminding fans of the rich and intricate story that is Naruto.