Strongest Akatsuki Members in Naruto (Ranked)

In the Naruto universe, the Akatsuki was a group of powerful and notorious criminals the strived for eternal peace but in an unspeakable manner. Led by Pain in Naruto, the group consisted of ten primary members, each with their own set of skills and personalities. Akatsuki members were recognizable by their black cloaks with red clouds, as well as their bone-chilling theme. Moreover, thanks to their ruthless tactics, they are regarded as one of the greatest threats to the ninja world. Akatsuki’s ultimate objective was to capture the tailed beasts in Naruto and harness their power for their own purposes. Throughout the anime series, all the members of the Akatsuki, be it the calm and collected Itachi or the puppet master Sasori, were show-stealers in their own right. So in this article, we will introduce you to all Akatsuki members and shine a light on their abilities and personalities.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers about the Akatsuki members. We suggest you watch the anime and read the manga first to avoid ruining your experience.

Table of Contents

1. Tobi/ Obito Uchiha

• Debut: Episode 32, Manga Chapter 239
• Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan, Mangekyō Sharingan, and Rinnegan
• Nature type: Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Water Release, Wood Release, Yin Release, Yang Release, and Yin–Yang Release
• Ninja Classification: S-Rank (Missing-nin)

In terms of beliefs, Obito Uchiha was comparable to the hero Naruto, but he eventually joined the Akatsuki due to certain events that went down in his life. When he was younger, Obito too didn’t stand out as a ninja, but in the end, he unquestionably turned into one of the most renowned characters we have ever seen.

By disguising himself as Tobi and Madara, Obito had successfully deceived everyone as a member of the Akatsuki. It was Madara who saw his actual potential and raised him to have superb control over all of his skills. Throughout the show, Obito successfully manipulated many to accomplish his goals. He tried to join the Akatsuki while Yahiko was still alive, but that didn’t work.

Later, when Nagato became Pain and decided to follow a completely different path to achieving peace with the Akatsuki, Obito joined as an Akatsuki member under the name Tobi. He was also a great practitioner of both Bukijutsu and Ninjutsu. His signature move, Kamui, was a powerful move that significantly aided him in combat.

After Rin’s passing, he got his Mangekyo Sharingan and was able to stand his ground against his foes despite having just one Sharingan eye. Nagato’s Rinnegan was stolen by Obito and then implanted in him, which greatly increased his powers. Obito even became a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, exceeding the powers of a Hokage. Therefore, to this date, he is the strongest member of Akatsuki we have ever seen.

2. Nagato Uzumaki

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 128, Manga Chapter 372
• Kekkei Genkai: Rinnegan
• Nature type: Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Water Release, and Yang Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank

Prior to his parent’s demise in the Third Shinobi World War, Nagato lived in peace in his native Amegakure. His Rinnegan (implanted by Madara) was awakened as a result of his parent’s death. His best friend Yahiko sacrificed his life during their battle for peace. Following a string of sad incidents, Nagato (a descendant of the Uzumaki clan) further descended into darkness and took the moniker Pain in order to cause devastation around the world by forming Akatsuki 2.0 (which we saw in the anime series) together with Konan, Tobi, and others. He decided to put an end to the hostility and violence between nations by becoming the leader of Akatsuki and bringing genuine peace all over the world.

Being the founder and the person who destroyed the entire Hidden Leaf village, Nagato was one of the strongest members of the Akatsuki. Nagato had enormous chakra reserves and was regarded as a brilliant sensor-type ninja because of his aptitude for sensing chakra. He was a master in Ninjutsu, and his Rinnegan also significantly boosted his power.

He accomplished a variety of things that one can only dream of, thanks to the Six Paths of Pain he created, making him the most fearsome opponent we ever saw. During the Fourth Shinobi War, Kabuto praised him as the second-strongest shinobi to be resurrected after Madara himself. Nagato later turned into a good guy and entrusted his quest for peace to Naruto.

3. Itachi Uchiha

• Debut: Episode 203, Manga Chapter 462
• Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan
• Nature type: Fire Release, Wind Release, Water Release, Yin Release, and Yang Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank (Missing-nin)

One of the most memorable characters ever to appear in an anime series is Itachi Uchiha. Although the show has featured many prodigies, he’s the ultimate prodigy in our opinion and also one of the strongest Uchiha clan members in Naruto. In order to protect the Hidden Leaf village, Itachi infiltrated Akatsuki as a member. Fans continue to refer to him as the “Shadow Hokage” because of his good deeds. If not for his terminal illness, we would have loved to see more of Itachi, but he helped his brother become powerful, adding depth to the narrative.

He was an extremely skilled practitioner of Ninjutsu, Bukijutsu, and Genjutsu. Furthermore, he had enormous amounts of chakra reserves. With his sharp mind and skill in combat, Itachi was an unmatched genius. His Genjutsu abilities were on par with Shisui’s, making him one of the finest Sharingan users. Itachi was able to execute Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi flawlessly after unlocking his Mangekyo Sharingan. Furthermore, he had the ability to make a flawless Susanoo, which is still considered to be unbeatable. Finally, Itachi’s sacrifice was bigger than anyone, and he continued to save his nation and his brother’s life until his dying breath.

4. Orochimaru

• Debut: Naruto Episode 27, Manga Chapter 45
• Kekkei Genkai: Jūgo’s Clan’s Kekkei Genkai, Sakon and Ukon’s Kekkei Genkai, Shikotsumyaku, and Wood Release
• Nature type: Water Release, Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Wood Release, Yin Release, and Yang Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank (Missing Nin) and Sannin

Orochimaru was one of the three Legendary Sannins of Konoha. But his greediness for his ambition and goals made him stray away from the righteous path. He began to experiment with human bodies in his quest for immortality and was abandoned by the village. He escaped from the village and later joined the Akatsuki Organization. Sasori became his partner there, and they both shined in the organization until he met Itachi. When Itachi joined Akatsuki, Orochimaru tried to steal his body as he wanted the Sharingan eyes for himself. But in the end, Orochimaru learned who was more powerful as Itachi destroyed him with his powerful Genjutsu.

Orochimaru was not just one of the strongest members of Akatsuki, he was recognized as one of the most powerful characters in the anime series. He was a Hokage-level shinobi who was also considered for the position of Fourth Hokage previously. Orochimaru had immense knowledge of Ninjutsu, Nature transformation, etc., and was still considered the only shinobi to do so.

His vast knowledge enabled him to perform various jutsu and techniques, making him the most versatile shinobi we had ever seen. He quit the Akatsuki shortly after Itachi defeated him and continued his search for another body.

Stats	Intelligence	Strength	Speed	Stamina	Hand seals	Ninjutsu	Taijutsu	Genjutsu	Total
Points	5	3.5	4.5	3.5	5	5	3.5	5	35

5. Konan

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 125, Manga Chapter 363
• Kekkei Genkai: None
• Nature type: Water Release, Yang Release, Wind Release, and Earth Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank and Sensor Type

Konan was the childhood friend of Yahiko and Nagato. She was also a war orphan like them, and this trio was trained by the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya. She became a powerful kunoichi of the Amegakure shortly after and was one of the founding members of the original Akatsuki group. She later partnered up with Nagato after Yahiko’s death and carried out her duties as a member of the Akatsuki. She was also considered an S-rank criminal like other members here.

Her natural talent for Origami led to the birth of her Paper Ninjutsu techniques. Konan’s “Dance of the Shikigami” attack was particularly powerful, as it allowed her whole body to become sheets of paper that she could control at her will. She was famously known as the Angel for this technique. She almost killed the mighty Obito, but he was able to escape with his Izanagi technique, which further led to her death. But still, Konan was one of the best members of Akatsuki, and she greatly aided Nagato’s operations.

6. Kisame Hoshigaki

• Debut: Naruto Episode 80, Manga Chapter 139
• Kekkei Genkai: None
• Nature type: Water Release, Fire Release, Wind Release, and Earth Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank (Missing Nin)

Kisame Hoshigaki was a well-liked antagonist as he was seen partnering with Itachi Uchiha. He had a uber-cool sword named Samehada with him, which could absorb the chakra of his enemies. He was fearsomely known as the Monster of the Hidden Mist since he was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He had left his village to become a member of the Akatsuki and was partnered with Itachi.

His being a part of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and a member of the Akatsuki showed his true levels in terms of power. He too had superhuman-level chakra reserves and was a highly skilled practitioner of Kenjutsu. The combination of his powers with the Samehada gained him the title “Tailed Beast without a Tail”. Additionally, he was also a master when it comes to water-release techniques, which helped him greatly on the battlefield. He could also summon massive sharks in fights with enemies, putting them in a daze. Overall, Kisame was an irreplaceable member of the Akatsuki.

Stats	Intelligence	Strength	Speed	Stamina	Hand seals	Ninjutsu	Taijutsu	Genjutsu	Total
Points	3.5	5	4	5	3.5	4.5	4.5	2.5	32.5

7. Deidara

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 2, Manga Chapter 247
• Kekkei Genkai: Explosion Release
• Nature type: Explosion Release, Lightning Release, and Earth Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank (Missing Nin) and Mercenary Ninja

Deidara is popularly known for his explosive style technique among the fandom. We have seen various styles of ninjutsu techniques, but Deidara has been the only one to master the art of explosions. He used to be a member of the Explosion Corps of the Iwagakure clan. Like all other members, he abandoned his village and was recruited into the Akatsuki by Itachi Uchiha, as a replacement for Orochimaru. He was the youngest member of the organization and was first partnered with Sasori. After his partner’s death, he got Tobi as his second partner but that didn’t last as he died soon after.

Deidara was considered an S-rank level missing-nin, which showcased how powerful he was. He was praised by his leader Nagato after his death for his special powers. While he was still alive, Deidara was able to single-handedly crush the fifth Kazekage, Gaara, and the three tails (Isobu) on their home turf. He was a powerful artistic villain and his art of explosion was a sight to behind for fans. His battle against Sasuke was a disaster, though, as Sasuke’s lightning powers were a natural enemy to his explosive paper mache powers. He was at a severe disadvantage and fought till his last breath, killing himself in the end.

Stats	Intelligence	Strength	Speed	Stamina	Hand seals	Ninjutsu	Taijutsu	Genjutsu	Total
Points	5	3.5	4.5	3.5	5	5	3.5	5	35

8. Sasori 

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 2, Manga Chapter 247
• Kekkei Genkai: None
• Nature type: N/A
• Ninja Classification: S-rank (Missing Nin)

Sasori was popularly known as “Sasori of the Red Sand” because he left a mark of blood whenever someone faced him and his puppets. He was a famous shinobi from the Sunagakure village and worked as a member of the Puppet Brigade. Sasori killed the third Kazekage who was regarded as the most powerful shinobi Sungakure had ever produced. After his tragic childhood, he was recruited to the Akatsuki by Konan and was initially paired with Orochimaru. Later, he joined Deidara and concealed his true identity by disguising himself as one of his puppets.

Sasori was S-rank level missing-nin and was instantly recognized as one of the powerful members of Akatsuki. He could maintain his youth form by converting his body into a puppet. Further, he had mastered the art of puppets and his skills were extraordinary. He was a master puppeteer and had unique techniques that no one else can pull off, like creating puppets from human bodies.

Further, he could use the powers and abilities of the human puppets which they had before they died. During his final battle, he unleashed a total of 298 human puppets against Granny Chiyo and Sakura. We also saw Sasori incorporate many poison techniques into his puppets. However, he died at the hands of his grandmother after an intense battle.

Stats	Intelligence	Strength	Speed	Stamina	Hand seals	Ninjutsu	Taijutsu	Genjutsu	Total
Points	5	3	4.5	5	4	5	4	4	34.5

9. Kakuzu

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 71, Manga Chapter 312
• Kekkei Genkai: None
• Nature type: Water Release, Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, and Earth Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank (Missing Nin)

Kakuzu was a shinobi from Takigakure village and was declared as an S-rank level missing-nin. He was alive for a really long time as he was sent out to assassinate the first Hokage Hashirama. So just imagine how many decades he was able to survive, thanks to his powers. He was paired with Hidan, who was another immortal being like him. Together they were called the Zombie Combo by Kisame.

So what made Kakuzu such a powerful opponent was his Earth Grudge Fear technique. It enabled him to collect the organs of opponents, primarily the heart, which further enabled him to prolong his immortal life. Additionally, he was able to use the hearts which were formed and kept as masks to attack the enemies on their own. He can also use the hearts to revive him after he is dead which is how he was able to survive all these years. But that immortality lasted long enough and was killed later by Kakashi of the Sharingan.

Stats	Intelligence	Strength	Speed	Stamina	Hand seals	Ninjutsu	Taijutsu	Genjutsu	Total
Points	4.5	4	4	4.5	3.5	5	4	3	32.5

10. Hidan

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 71, Manga Chapter 312
• Kekkei Genkai: None
• Nature type: N/A
• Ninja Classification: S-rank (Missing Nin)

Who would forget the legendary battle between Shikamaru and Hidan, right? Hidan was a missing shinobi from the Yugakure village. He was Kakuzu’s last partner. Together, they were called the “Zombie Combo” for their immortality. Hidan was an ardent worshipper of the Lord Jashin from which he created a jujutsu-like technique. This technique was amazing and scary at the same time, as he could finish an opponent against him with ease. He only needed a drop of blood to control them and even kill them. As a result, he abandoned his village and joined the Akatsuki.

He was a valuable member of the Akatsuki throughout the show and managed to kill Asuma Sensei and the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki. He was also highly skilled when it came to Bukijutsu, which was incorporated into his jujutsu technique. He was able to survive most of the fatal wounds, which made him immortal. But he was totally outsmarted by the prodigy Shikamaru, leading to his death.

Stats	Intelligence	Strength	Speed	Stamina	Hand seals	Ninjutsu	Taijutsu	Genjutsu	Total
Points	3	4	3.5	5	3.5	5	4.5	3	31.5

Other Akatsuki Members

11. Sasuke

• Debut: Episode 130, Manga Chapter 379
• Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan, Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and Rinnegan
• Nature type: Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Water Release, and Yin Release
• Ninja Classification:N/A (Missing-nin)

Did you know that Sasuke was associated with the Akatsuki for a short period of time? Yeah, you read that right! Right after the death of his brother Itachi, Tobi told him everything about his brother. Then, Sasuke joined Tobi’s Akatsuki and even went on a few missions, including the mission to capture Killer Bee (the Eight Tails’ Jinchiruki). After a turn of events, he had a change of heart and joined the Allied Shinobi Forces during the endgame.

12. Black Zetsu

• Debut: Naruto Episode 134, Manga Chapter 234
• Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release, Sharingan, Mangekyō Sharingan, and Rinnegan
• Nature type: Wood Release, Water Release, Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Yin Release, and Yang Release
• Ninja Classification: Jinchūriki, S-rank, and Sensor Type

Black Zetsu was first created as a sentient being by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, which is why he is referred to as the physical manifestation of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s will. He was created with the sole purpose of fulfilling and carrying out her desires, which he succeeded at. Looking back at things, he was the major reason for the turn of events that shaped the Shinobi world we have now. If not for him, most of the major incidents would have never happened. So, black Zetsu played a vital role not only as a member of Akatsuki but in the history of the shinobi world too.

He could fuse together with White Zetsu and was only known as Zetsu. He could also dissect from him and perform his duties alone. Black Zestu was able to brainwash people with his variety of techniques. He also possessed the Rinnegan and Sharingan when he took control of Obito. He could carry out body modifications and attach himself to others easily. Black Zetsu deceived not only the people of the Shinobi world but also us throughout the show, as shown in the finale of the show.

13. Jūzō Biwa

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 419, Manga Chapter 668
• Kekkei Genkai: None
• Nature type: N/A
• Ninja Classification: Missing Nin

You might remember this guy as he was able to escape death when Might Guy used Eight Gates Released Formation against him. He was a shinobi from the Kirigakure village and a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He was regarded as one of the best shinobi Kirigakure has ever created. As one of the seven swordsmen, he was seen carrying the Kubikiribōchō sword and was highly skilled in Kenjutsu.

He was also an excellent user of water release jutsu and could summon water clones. Jūzō Biwa had formidable strength and stamina, which enhanced his swordsmanship skills. He was Itachi’s partner, and unfortunately, he was heavily injured against Mizukage during a mission. Jūzō Biwa died that day in his own village with his sword in his hand (which was placed by Itachi). He was able to escape death once but couldn’t this time as an Akatsuki member.

14. White Zetsu

• Debut: Naruto Episode 134, Manga Chapter 234
• Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release
• Nature type: Wood Release, Water Release, Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Yin Release, and Yang Release
• Ninja Classification: S-rank

White Zetsu was the other half of the Black Zetsu. Back in the past, he was a victim of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s Infinite Tsukuyomi. But then he was revived by the Black Zetsu and they joined together. Later when they were working for Madara, his DNA was infused with the DNA cells of Hashirama Senju by Madara and this is how he was able to perform the Wood Release techniques.

He was never a fighter as described by Obito. Since they could split each other’s halves, White Zetsu was used more as a spy by Madara at first. He carried out nearly the same duties in Akatsuki along with disposing bodies of the dead members and allies. He was able to perform wood release but it was considered to be very weak. Thus, he did his job as a part of the other Black Zetsu and a member of Akatsuki too.

15. Kakuzu’s Partner

• Debut: Shippuden Episode 455, Manga Chapter 322
• Kekkei Genkai: None
• Nature type: N/A
• Ninja Classification: (Missing Nin)

We still don’t know the name of this guy but he was one of Kakuzu’s ex-partners in the Akatsuki. He is a shinobi from an unknown village and the information about his powers remains a mystery like his character. But the fact that he was recruited to one of the most powerful organizations shows the worthiness of this guy.

This unnamed guy was Kakuzu’s fourth partner and was killed by his very own partner. Moreover, Kakuzu collected his heart, which tells a lot about how strong he must have been. Also, he must have been skilled in Kenjutsu as he was seen carrying a large sword in battles. Since we only know 1% of his character, he is the weakest Akatsuki member we know to this date.

And that concludes our list of strongest members in the Akatsuki in Naruto. We hope we were able to explain the powers of each and every member of the Akatsuki. Fans may have been confused with the total number of members, but the group is confirmed to have 10 members, along with additional members like White Zetsu and more. The Akatsuki served its purpose as the scary organization that sent chills down our spines and created a long-lasting impact on the shinobi world as well as the fans. You can’t help but recognize the red cloud on a black cloak today. That said, Akatsuki will always be remembered by the Naruto fandom as one of the most terrifying villain groups. So, do let us know your favorite Akatsuki member in the comments below.