How did every Akatsuki member join the Organization in Naruto?

Akatsuki from Naruto is a criminal organization that defies all hidden villages with the sole purpose of capturing the Tailed Beasts to resurrect the Ten-Tails. It is not a matter of if they can capture and kill them, but when.

Most Jinjuriki are just nuisances blocking them from their goals of world peace, so they must be eliminated. Naruto and Killer B were among the targets, yet they were never killed. The Akatsuki were powerful enough to kill demonic vessels without a hitch.

But how did each of these monsters join this criminal organization and when? While most of the members joined under the leadership of Pain, Akatsuki from Naruto also saw a lot of members joining during the leadership of Yahiko.

How Nagato, Kisame, and 8 other members joined the Akatsuki from Naruto

1) Nagato

Nagato as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Nagato joined the first iteration of the Akatsuki before the interference of Obito. However, after his friend was killed and the leader betrayed them, he went on a dark path and decided to work with Obito.

A determined man, Nagato placed Yahiko's body as a figurehead so that he could still lead the Akatsuki in spirit. World peace through the chaotic war was Nagato's ultimate goal, yet his actions were less than desirable.

2) Konan

Konan as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Konan joined the Akatsuki at the same time as Nagato. She joined him on his journey to rid the world of evil by fully embracing the angelic symbolism that the villagers forced upon her.

Konan assisted Nagato in his plans of achieving peace through war and was forever changed after their village betrayed them. Konan's dedication to the Akatsuki cemented her as a distinctive individual.

3) Kakuzu

Kakuzu as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Kakuzu was a bounty hunter when he was younger, so he was a renowned criminal for most of his unsavory life. He was recruited by the Akatsuki under Pain for his violence and decided to join them under Pain.

However, he went on to kill multiple assigned partners until Hidan showed up, as he was immortal. Kakuzu was also annoyed by the personality of Hiden, but due to his immortality, he couldn't do much and they made a perfect team in Naruto.

4) Deidara

Deidara as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Deidara was a domestic terrorist in his small village for his explosive Justu techniques, so much so that he became pretty infamous in the land. The Akatsuki recruited him for his destructive abilities, yet he said he would join if Itachi could beat him, which he did.

Filled with hatred and embarrassment, Deidara was forced to join the Akatsuki under Pain and teamed up with Sasori, but the organization partnered him with Tobi after Sasori died in the fight against Sakura and Lady Chiyo.

5) Kisame Hoshigaki

Kisame as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

At some point, Kisame is aware of the existence of Madara Uchiha and wishes to help him enact his Eye of the Moon Plan after his village deems him a criminal after his criminal acts were discovered.

He asked to join the Akatsuki under Pain, and they agreed, though he is partnered with Itachi Uchiha later on in the anime. After the death of Itachi, Kisame remembered him and when he was about to die, his last words were the ones he said Itachi.

6) Orochimaru

Orochimaru as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Orochimaru is a snake of many dark deeds, yet the Third Hokage discovered his schemes at some point, so he flees Konoha to seek refuge with the Akatsuki. He can now freely do his experiments as he pleases without any signs of suspicion from his allies, and his evasion hardly costs him anything.

Being a free spirit, he soon left Akatsuki after his defeat against Itachi and pursued the Sharingan in his studies. This was when he stumbled across Itachi's brother and imbued his cursed seal on the Uchiha.

7) Sasori

Sasori as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Sasori was the infamous 'Sasori of the Red Sand' at some point before the anime events began. He was an agent of chaos in the Third War and his infamy even reached unprecedented levels of fame. The Akatsuki recruits him for his efforts and he also joins under Pain.

He is paired with Deidara, an annoying blonde whom he intensely dislikes, though the feeling is mutual. Not much is known about why they were paired together, but it may have been to balance each other's personalities.

8) Itachi

Itachi as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Itachi was well aware of the price he had to pay to fulfill his duties and desires, so he chose to join the Akatsuki. After slaying his family, he had no other option but to join them, even if it was among the unsavory types.

Nevertheless, after he perished, Obito commented that Itachi would no longer interfere with their plans, so it seemed like he was trying to sabotage them from within.

9) Tobi (Obito Uchiha)

Tobi as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Obito Uchiha had one goal in mind: to rid the world of all evil. He approached the Akatsuki with this idea in mind, yet he was initially turned away. However, they later went along with his plan of killing all the Tailed Beasts for a specific goal.

A genius in several things, Obito sought to change the world by seizing the throne of Akatsuki from Naruto. No matter what obstacles he faced, he masqueraded as Tobi and Madara to enact his plans.

10) Hidan

Hidari as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Hidan, a follower of Jashin and a practicer of human sacrifice, decides that the best course of action would be to join the Akatsuki under Pain. Hidan was enraged that his village became a tourist attraction and decided to kill the villagers after joining the Jashin religion.

However, his murderous rage didn't stop as his murders increased to please Jashin and become immortal no matter what. He died at the hands of Shikamaru as revenge for killing Asuma.

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Edited by Suchitra