Specifications

Who will be included?

In terms of members, this will specifically be all of the founding members of Pain’s Akatsuki, as depicted in the Creation of the Akatsuki OVA. This is to say that no members of Yahiko’s Akatsuki that died before the organization was reformed will be present, nor will members like Sasuke and the rest of Taka, who joined later when most of the Akatsuki were dead or gone. Anime-exclusive members such as Jūzō will not be included either, nor will Shin Uchiha from Boruto, who attempted to form a new Akatsuki. Sub-members like Kabuto who were only part of the organization by technicality, due to working under one of the main Akatsuki members, will also be excluded.

Specifically, the lineup is Pain/Nagato, Konan, Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, Sasori, Kakuzu, Hidan, Zetsu, Tobi, and, in spite of him having left the Akatsuki prior to the beginning of the series, Orochimaru. Rest assured, the decision to include a former member who has left the organization will remain consistent with both the Espada and the Shichibukai, as we are also including characters like Nel and pre-timeskip Warlords.

One slightly strange aspect is that Tobi “technically” didn’t join the Akatsuki until after Sasori died, so the two were never on the team at the same time. However, Tobi was still present and involved in the Akatsuki’s activities whilst Sasori was there, so including both of them isn’t a contradiction, and both are too prominent to exclude.

Characters Will Be at Their Peak

A general question that’s important to consider is what point in time we’re taking each character. After all, not all members were necessarily at their strongest at the same specific point in time. For instance, Itachi is stronger in Part 1 than Part 2 due to his illness being less advanced and his eyesight being less degraded. However, his partner Kisame is the opposite, being weaker than base Might Guy in Part 1, yet having gotten strong enough in Part 2 that his 30% clone required the Sixth Gate to defeat.

Likewise, other characters vary in power as well; for instance, Pain’s strength is dependent on Nagato’s deteriorating physical condition, Orochimaru is strong early on, then loses the use of his arms, gets sick, then dies, then comes back again stronger and gets his arms back + White Zetsu cells, etc. reaching his peak in the War Arc and Boruto Era, long after his tenure with the Akatsuki had ended.

All this is to say that we will be setting each individual character at their personal peak, regardless of whether it lines up timeline-wise or whether they reach that peak beyond a certain point. Think of it as though each of them is being pulled from their strongest point in time to fight here (and granted all current or ToD knowledge), as if it’s some kind of Secret Wars-type battle royale or something. It should be noted that this excludes things which require outside factors or significant specific preparation; for instance, Kisame will not be assumed to have Killer B’s Chakra absorbed, Orochimaru will not be assumed to have Hashirama and Tobirama’s DNA prepared for a reanimation jutsu, and other unusual things along those lines.

Orochimaru will get all of his enhancements from the War Arc and his scaling from the Boruto era, Itachi will be at the peak of his health, Nagato’s body – while necessarily crippled – will be assumed to be less emaciated compared to the end of his life. It is worth noting that Pain changes to a new Animal Path between his fight with Jiraiya and the invasion of Konoha. There is no clear difference in power or ability between the two, other than the second one having more showings; as such, feats from both will be considered applicable to either. Kakuzu will have all his hearts, Sasori will have all his puppets, Deidara will have his full supply of clay, Kisame will have Samehada, Konan will have her full supply of paper bombs, including the larger quantity used in her fight with Obito, etc. Once again, this standard will be kept consistent with the other two groups.

However, there is one major exception that you’ve probably noticed us skirting around…

Obito Specifications

There are a couple key details to keep in mind with Obito which will not entirely align with the way we’re handling the rest of the Akatsuki. First of all, to get this out of the way: Juubito and the Ten-Tails / Tailed Beasts / Gedou Statue in general are restricted from this fight.

The power cliffing of these factors is simply too absurd and would leave the rest of the Akatsuki completely irrelevant, as Juubito is stronger and arguably more versatile than all of them combined. Including factors so far beyond the rest of the members would turn this battle from “Akatsuki VS Espada VS Shichibukai” to essentially “Juubito VS Aizen”, which is a lot less interesting and just kind of an at-home version of a battle we’ve already discussed and seen.

Beyond Juubito, there are several other important factors to discuss with Obito. First of all, while this is a minor detail, as was the case in the series we will be setting Pain as the Akatsuki’s de facto “leader”, with Obito’s leadership being conducted covertly until Pain hypothetically dies. On a similar note, since Obito’s Rinnegan is acquired from Nagato’s corpse after his death, we will be assuming that the Rinnegan will be with Nagato at the beginning of the fight, and Obito will be in his “orange mask” state with two Sharingan. However, we will also be covering Rinnegan Obito, under the assumption that should Nagato die in the fight, Obito could simply retrieve the Rinnegan from him and implant it in himself.

Lastly, Obito’s Jinchuuriki Six Paths of Pain will be excluded, as they were reliant on Kabuto’s reanimation jutsu and not anything Obito could create on his own. However, the fact that a Rinnegan user is capable of creating Paths out of corpses obviously can and should be considered.

Verse Equalization (Jumpscare)

It will be assumed that abilities like Genjutsu will work on characters from other franchises without a Chakra network to manipulate (this would likely be the case anyway, but specifying from the outset bypasses any weird arguments to the contrary).

In terms of each verse’s respective energy systems – Chakra, Reiatsu, and Haki – we will be equalizing all three to an extent. Specifically, we are assuming that abilities from each one should be able to interact with the other two as they would with their own power system, but we are not assuming all three share the exact same properties or abilities. For example, we will assume abilities like Pain’s Preta Path and Kisame’s Samehada can absorb Reiryoku and Haki attacks. However, we will not assume that Chakra could negate Logia intangibility or Law’s Devil Fruit through AP the same way Haki can, nor would we assume that everybody with Chakra can induce the same kind of physical strain onto weaker opponents as Reiatsu can.

Essentially, this standard is being set to ensure that every character can properly use their abilities in the way they are intended to be used, without “different verse” severely nerfing anyone in particular. But we are not arbitrarily assigning abilities from different franchises to one another’s power system.

Itachi’s Perfect Susanoo
(Ultimate Ninja Storm)

While feats and information from the Storm games will be included for the Akatsuki, one notable exception is the fact that Itachi can use a Complete Body Susanoo in the games, which is an irreconcilable contradiction with his canonical limitations. Similar to how we will handle game-exclusive forms for the other two groups, this will not be considered viable.

Akatsuki

Background

Originally conceived by Black Zetsu as a way of eventually reviving its mother, the concept of the Akatsuki was an idea passed on to Madara Uchiha, and in turn to Obito Uchiha. Though the organization itself was first established during the Third Shinobi World War by Yahiko, alongside his friends Konan and Nagato. As orphans from the prior war, they wanted to bring peace to Amegakure. Due to Madara’s intervention when Nagato was young, Obito, enacting Madara’s will and using his name, approached them with a grand plan, but they did not form the alliance Obito had desired. The Akatsuki for a time operated as a purely Amegakure-based faction, which rallied allies behind them and attracted enemies. Though when things got rough, Yahiko had to end his own life to ensure the Akatsuki had a future. With Yahiko gone, Nagato stepped up as the leader of the Akatsuki. And finally, Obito’s offer was accepted, and the Akatsuki soon expanded beyond Amegakure and became an organization that enlisted shinobi from all over the world.

Under Nagato’s rule, the Akatsuki soon consisted of many prominent shinobi who were able to enact the Akatsuki’s true goals, which, due to their covert nature, was impossible to gauge. At a glance they seemed like a mercenary group who made their services available at the most affordable rate, in truth, they desired to gather the numerous Tailed Beasts across the world, so they could start and end wars to make the idea of conflict undesirable. After they successfully captured three of the nine Tailed Beasts, they became so prominent that all of the hidden villages began to take notice, especially the ones that still harbored Jinchūriki. Though their ambitions were great, and they included many of the most dangerous shinobi in the world, gradually their numbers began to deplete, making it difficult for the Akatsuki to continue operating as a unit, let alone achieve their goal.

When Nagato himself finally decided to act, his impact would be felt. Using Yahiko’s reanimated corpse, Nagato marched on Konohagakure where his assault on the village annihilated its very heart. Though such an intense offensive was met with a greater counterattack, as Naruto Uzumaki, the very target Nagato was there for, fought to defend his home, and would successfully end the threat that Nagato, Pain, and the Six Paths presented. After confronting Nagato himself, Naruto convinces him that no matter how difficult it can be, a path to peace without bloodshed is possible. Seeing that Naruto was correct, as he and Naruto shared the same teacher, Nagato gave up his life to revive everyone who perished in Konohagakure. With their leader gone, and so few of the Akatsuki left, the group became defunct.

However, Tobi would continue the Akatsuki, allying himself with Black Zetsu, White Zetsu and Kisame to make a final attempt at bringing the Tailed Beasts together, which would culminate in the Fourth Shinobi World War. Some of the deceased Akatsuki members would be reanimated and battle the Allied Shinobi Forces. Though the conflict saw heavy losses on both sides, the Akatsuki achieved their goal, bringing together the Tailed Beasts, which allowed Obito to restore the Ten-Tails, and with it, the ability to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Madara, who had been revived, was able to complete his true goal, the Eye of the Moon plan, successfully casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi upon the world. However, Black Zetsu, the true visionary behind all of this, used Madara as a host to bring about the revival of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, with this, Black Zetsu achieved what he envisioned. After Obito’s death at Kaguya’s hand, and Black Zetsu being sealed away alongside Kaguya, the Akatsuki itself was no more.

Teamwork & Group Dynamics

The Akatsuki generally operate in groups of two, with the specific pairs sent out to perform field work being Deidara and Sasori, Itachi and Kisame, and Kakuzu and Hidan. Prior to Deidara joining the Akatsuki, Sasori was originally paired with Orochimaru, until the latter left the organization. Much later on, after Sasori’s death, Tobi replaced him as Deidara’s partner until Deidara’s own demise against Sasuke. Zetsu serves as the group’s primary means of communication and source of intel, with his ability to travel large distances quickly and observe while remaining unseen. Pain and Konan typically do not operate outside the Rain Village, though in the event that they have, they have operated as a pair similar to other Akatsuki.

Pain is the de facto leader of the organization, though is secretly acting on the orders of Obito, the true leader and founder of the Akatsuki. Konan is deeply loyal to Pain as a result of their shared background, while the rest of the Akatsuki seem to follow Pain’s orders more out of respect for his strength and mutual goals. None of the Akatsuki have demonstrated any particular dislike or disobedience toward Pain, with some like Hidan even addressing him as “sir” and other such things, though logically it is possible that Itachi in particular may harbor some dislike, given his own circumstances.

Despite his control over Pain from behind-the-scenes, Obito presents himself otherwise as the foolish Tobi, and thus is looked down upon by many of the Akatsuki, most especially his eventual partner, Deidara. Of the Akatsuki, only Pain, Konan, Itachi, Kisame and Zetsu are aware of Obito’s more sinister nature, though none except Zetsu know of his true identity, and Kisame only learned that Tobi was actually “Madara” after Itachi’s death. Pain and Konan look to Obito as a superior whose orders they follow without question, as does Kisame, who views “Madara” as his Mizukage, given his former control over the Mist Village while manipulating the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. Zetsu meanwhile views Obito as merely a means to an end, part of a much larger plan to revive Kaguya, though outwardly feigns respect and subservience.

Deidara and Sasori seem to generally have some degree of respect for one another, though Deidara seems to like Sasori more than vice-versa, with Sasori frequently making comments implying he thinks lowly of Deidara’s intelligence, and at one point saying that Deidara seems like the type to die early – ironic, given Deidara ended up outliving him. Deidara ultimately cares mostly for his art rather than for the Akatsuki’s goals, and was essentially made to join the organization against his will. Thus, he lacks respect or kinship with the majority of the Akatsuki, and particularly despises Itachi and to a lesser extent Tobi. Sasori is more ambivalent toward most of his fellows, from what little has been shown of his dynamic with them.

Itachi is, in a manner of speaking, a traitor to the Akatsuki, having only joined to monitor their activities and being ultimately loyal to the Leaf Village. This dynamic has caused him to hold back both himself and his partner, Kisame, in the event that they come into direct opposition with the Leaf, avoiding conflict with Leaf shinobi in fear of being forced to kill them, and even going as far as to leak intel when the opportunity has presented itself. Itachi does not seem to have much, if any, love for Kisame, viewing him as a depraved thug, though Kisame in return seems to respect Itachi and value his opinion, with his last thoughts before dying being of a conversation with Itachi. Similarly, Itachi seems to hold disdain for Deidara, Orochimaru, and presumably various other Akatsuki members as well, and he views Obito in particular as a major threat who needs to die. Conversely, he seems to have some degree of respect and understanding for Nagato during the War Arc, but only after Nagato changed his outlook.

Kakuzu is ornery and difficult to work with, having killed all of his previous partners, but Hidan is the exception, being immortal, which Kakuzu has gone as far as to state is the reason why their partnership works – because Hidan is the one partner he can’t murder. Lovely. The two seem to have a mixed relationship, frequently bickering but seeming to have some degree of rapport. That said, neither genuinely cares for the other, with Kakuzu in particular having motivations that are entirely economic, and having shown little care upon learning of Hidan’s fate.

Orochimaru only joined the Akatsuki for the sake of stealing Itachi’s body and Sharingan, and left the organization upon realizing that he was not him, and that overcoming Itachi would never be a realistic possibility. Orochimaru ravenously desires the Sharingan and would go to any lengths to achieve it, but fears Itachi and views him as an insurmountable enemy, hence turning his attention toward Itachi’s weaker younger brother. Though his relationship with the rest of the Akatsuki is less clear, it can be safely assumed that Orochimaru has no love for any of them. For instance, while he was partnered with Sasori, the two certainly lacked any care for one another beyond professional cooperation, and more recently Sasori has proven willing to employ spies within Orochimaru’s inner circle, demonstrating a distrust between them. 

Zetsu, as alluded to, only views the Akatsuki as a means to the end and seeks to further their goals as part of a much larger scheme. It should be noted that this is only Black Zetsu, as White Zetsu is distinct and is simply an obedient pawn who is unaware of Black Zetsu’s grander ambitions.

Overall, while there is a fair amount of distrust between specific members, and the majority of the Akatsuki are interested primarily in their own goals and not the goals of the organization, they are generally at minimum capable of working together. Predominantly with their individual partners, but more rarely with other members as well. In certain tertiary media like Storm, the entire Akatsuki have even shown to be capable of performing complicated team combo attacks, so their teamwork, all things considered, isn’t half bad.

Verse Mechanics

Chakra & Jutsu

Chakra is the fundamental energy that shinobi utilize to perform various techniques and accomplish extraordinary feats. Derived from the combination of spiritual and physical energy within an individual, Chakra is produced and circulated throughout the body’s Keirakuhei (or “Chakra network”), which has 361 nodes located along it called Tenketsu (or “Chakra points”). By controlling the flow of Chakra through the Keirakuhei, shinobi can channel it to different parts of their bodies or use it to perform techniques.

Chakra is primarily altered in two ways; shape transformation and nature transformation. Shape transformation involves altering the movement or form of the Chakra into a specific shape or path, while nature transformation involves manipulating Chakra to change its elemental nature. There are five basic elemental natures: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning. These natures have a rock paper scissors relationship, with:

• Fire being strong against Wind and weak against Water
• Wind being strong against Lightning but weak against Fire
• Lightning being strong against Earth but weak against Wind
• Earth being strong against Water but weak against Lightning
• Water being strong against Fire but weak against Earth

All shinobi have an affinity for one of these Chakra natures in particular, though most gifted shinobi are capable of utilizing more than one, with the majority of Jonin having at least two Chakra natures, though having all five is incredibly rare. By combining these natures, some shinobi can also create more advanced and specialized techniques called Kekkei Genkai (two combined natures) or Kekkei Touta (three combined natures). Utilizing shape transformation and nature transformation in unison has been described to exponentially boost a jutsu’s power.

It should be noted that the potency of an attack is greatly dependent on both the volume of Chakra that a shinobi builds up, as well as the degree of concentration of the Chakra itself. The amount of Chakra put into an attack affects its potency, and concentrating it into a smaller volume increases the strength of the attack massively as well. For example, a Rasengan that is not properly condensed can damage a tree, while a full-fledged Rasengan will blow right through it. A similar phenomenon is demonstrated by Asuma’s Chakra blades, which increase drastically in puncturing power when the Chakra used for their blades is concentrated into a sharp form, instead of unevenly along the blade.

Most jutsu are performed via hand seals, intricate hand movements that ninjas perform to mold and shape their Chakra. Each technique typically requires a specific sequence of hand seals, which serve to focus and control the flow of Chakra. Hand seals are typically two-handed, but can also be performed one-handed or by using the hand of another person. The amount of Chakra a ninja possesses varies among individuals, and training is required to increase both Chakra reserves and control. Through training and experience, one can learn to harness and control their Chakra more efficiently. 

Chakra-based techniques in Naruto are categorized into three main types: Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu. Ninjutsu refers to techniques that utilize Chakra to perform a wide range of effects, such as elemental manipulation, summoning creatures, and various other supernatural abilities. Examples include Naruto’s Rasengan and Kakashi’s Raikiri. Genjutsu are techniques that manipulate the target’s perception, creating illusions that can affect the senses or control their actions. Examples include Itachi’s Tsukuyomi and Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami. Taijutsu refers to hand-to-hand combat techniques. Shinobi often enhance their physical abilities with Chakra to increase the potency of their martial arts. Examples include the Hyuuga’s Gentle Fist, and the Strong Fist style utilized by Might Guy and Rock Lee.

Chakra has many miscellaneous applications as well. It can allow the user to walk on walls, ceilings, and water by concentrating Chakra in the feet, or launch themself off of surfaces at high speed with greater Chakra concentrations. A shinobi can also use this to anchor themself to the ground, or catch and throw objects with parts of the body other than the hands via gripping the object with Chakra. Directing Chakra into different parts of the body can be used to enhance certain traits, including one’s natural healing, and senses such as smell. Similarly, channeling Chakra through inanimate objects, such as strands of hair, can allow the user to manipulate the shape and strength of those objects.

Chakra can regulate body temperature, even counteracting ice spreading throughout the body. It can also produce an intense aura that causes fear, paralysis, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and damage to one’s surroundings or nearby people. In the case of particularly strong Chakra such as Kurama’s, this damage can be severe enough to disintegrate a target upon contact. The Chakra of an individual varies in sensation based on the personality and emotions of the individual; for example, Naruto’s is described as warm and Sasuke’s is described as cold, and Chakra has also been able to convey emotions such as hatred and murderous intent. Some Chakra, such as Kurama’s, is intrinsically tied to the user’s will, and if absorbed, will carry with it the will of the user and make the absorber’s behavior become erratic in accordance with that will. Depending on the relative strength of the Chakra and the absorber, it is also possible for strong enough Chakra to overcome the absorption entirely, with Kurama’s Chakra having overwhelmed the Chakra absorption of Shibi Aburame’s beetles.

Typically, the mental effects associated with powerful Chakra auras are incurred by Chakra that is especially nasty in nature. However, with strong enough Chakra of one’s own, one can also resist such effects. A powerful enough Chakra aura can also repel or disperse weaker attacks without even making contact with them. Chakra is established to operate on specific frequencies and have a signature unique to the user, which is how sensory type shinobi are able to discern an individual’s Chakra. If a shinobi is able to change their Chakra flow constantly, or hide in an area with a Chakra signature identical to theirs, they will be able to remain hidden from sensory jutsu.

By agitating one’s Chakra flow, they can be broken out of Genjutsu and other mental effects. Expending too much Chakra can lead to fatigue or death, though it can be restored with sufficient rest and food consumption.

Standard Techniques

While many of our combatants have their own unique techniques that they can use with Chakra, there are quite a few techniques universal between almost all ninjas that deserve their own section to explain the purposes and functions of each of them.

First of all, there’s the Clone Techniques, which are self-explanatory: they allow the user to create copies of themselves or their weaponry by utilizing their Chakra. These can be used to either distract opponents or set up traps, but more advanced techniques can allow the clones to aid the user in battle. The most iconic is the Shadow Clone Technique, where the user creates several tangible clones of themselves to fight with. The user’s Chakra is evenly divided between themselves and their clones: creating one clone will give it half the user’s Chakra, creating two clones will give each a third of the user’s Chakra, and so on. Because the clones are visually identical and possess the same Chakra as the user, shadow clones are normally indistinguishable from their original.

The regular Shadow Clone technique is the standard for your typical Jonin level ninja, but multi shadow clones are a forbidden jutsu due to the enormous Chakra drain it can take on a person. As such, only proficiently skilled ninja are able to summon multiple shadow clones without issue.

Next up is Transformation Techniques, which allow the user to take the appearance of whatever they choose. This technique is most often used to disguise the user as another person, animals or inanimate objects, though the latter is the most difficult to perform. A transformation technique isn’t exactly perfect even to the most skilled users, as they can often overlook minor details like scars or blemishes, but overall, they’re a useful ability both in battle and for stealth missions or info gathering.

Up next is Substitution Techniques, where the user replaces their body with an inanimate object, usually wood, at the last second before they’re struck by an attack. This is useful not only as a getaway, but as an opening to attack the opponent, as they will not immediately realize what they’ve hit isn’t what it seems. Sometimes, the replacement wood can be attached with an explosive tag, which is great for a defensive and offensive maneuver. 

With the standard Paralysis Jutsu, it is possible to render a target unable to move temporarily, physically restraining the target as though they are tied in invisible steel ropes, allowing the user to follow up with other attacks. The intensity varies greatly in accordance with the user’s level, suggesting that the degree of its effectiveness is strength-based.

With Sensory Ninjutsu, it is possible to detect, perceive, track, and read the Chakra of a target, which can be used for a variety of purposes such as keeping track of or locating others, or gaining greater insight into their abilities, emotions, or inner nature. Different shinobi have varying levels of skill with sensory abilities, with certain individuals being “sensor types” who specialize in such fields.

With the Body Flicker Technique, shinobi can gather a large amount of Chakra in their feet to temporarily boost their speed, beyond the point of being detected via eyesight. Essentially, this is the standard shonen flash-step ability, though other more specific techniques are known to be derived from it, such as Haku’s movement between his ice mirrors. Proficiency again varies between shinobi, with certain individuals like Minato or Shisui having a reputation for extreme skill in the ability.

Jonin level shinobi, and even some Genin, are trained to be able to Counter Genjutsu, which they do via performing a release seal that releases the ability on themself. Stronger Genjutsu are harder to counter, though experts like Chiyo have stated that if one is fighting as a team with others, Genjutsu in general becomes useless, since it’s easier to break another person out of Genjutsu than oneself.

Many shinobi have access to Summoning Jutsu, where they enter a contract with a certain type of animal, and then use their own blood to perform a Space-Time Ninjutsu which teleports one of those animals to their location in a cloud of smoke. It should be noted though that specific contracts are formed and upheld on an individual basis. That is to say that for instance, while any ninja could theoretically perform a summoning jutsu, you need a personal contract with a specific animal before you can actually summon anything.

Lastly, all ninja are trained in Bukijutsu, which refers to the use of weaponry and tools for combat. Standard shinobi arsenal includes kunai, shuriken, fuma shuriken, explosive tags, scrolls, sealing tags, and sometimes more.

Sharingan

The legendary Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan, fabled as one of the Three Great Dojutsu of the Ninja world, the Sharingan eyes possess a wide variety of powers that their users can use on the battlefield. As this is a power unique to the Uchiha, both Itachi and Obito have access to it, and have mastered all of its base capabilities.

Starting off, the Sharingan is described as having the ability to see the reality behind any illusion, as well as being able to reflect any magic it sees through back on its caster. Effectively, one who holds the Sharingan can learn and master any technique they see. However, if the technique is one exclusive to that caster and their lineage, a Kekkei Genkai much like the Sharingan itself, it cannot be copied. This applies to both Ninjutsu techniques as well as Taijutsu moves, with users of the Sharingan being capable of memorizing movements after seeing them once and being capable of repeating them perfectly. The Sharingan also allows one to visualize Chakra itself (seeing it as color), being able to detect it anywhere as well as have insight on whether those around them are under the effects of a Genjutsu or not.

The Sharingan possesses a variety of Genjutsu techniques unique to its users, known generally only as Genjutsu: Sharingan. These include:

• Knocking enemies unconscious, leaving them trapped in a dream-like state of seeing illusions
• Leaving enemies greatly susceptible to interrogations
• Transmitting memories directly to others
• Erasing one’s memories entirely
• Removing other Genjutsu
• Controlling one’s mind and movements

However, the Sharingan itself can evolve further upon experiencing the trauma and pain of losing a loved one. This advanced version is called the Mangekyō Sharingan, noted as the “heavenly eyes that see the truth of all of creation without obstruction”. The Mangekyō Sharingan retains all of the Sharingan’s generic abilities, but enhances them to even greater heights. The Mangekyō also gives unique abilities for each user. For instance, Obito’s Mangekyō granted him the short ranged Kamui ability, but Itachi’s two Mangekyō eyes gave him the enhanced Genjutsu known as Tsukuyomi, and the deadly Fire Release technique known as Amaterasu. 

When an Uchiha awakens both of their Mangekyō eyes, they can unleash the deadly Susanoo, a large Chakra avatar that shields the user and fights on their behalf, which has several stages of the Susanoo that can be utilized for combat. At its most basic level, users only manifest aspects of the Susanoo’s skeletal structure, such as a ribcage for basic defense or an arm to interact with surroundings. The user can add its full skeletal structure, granting it legs to traverse the battlefield and chase opponents. At its strongest, otherwise known as Complete Body: Susanoo, the Susanoo grows to a massive height comparable to that of a Tailed Beast, gains immense power to match those same monsters, and flight for greater maneuverability. 

However, the Mangekyō causes a great deal of strain on the user, and excessive usage could lead to permanent blindness on both eyes. The ideal way to prevent this is to transplant the eyes of a close-blooded Uchiha, and doing so activates the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, allowing the user to utilize their newfound abilities without any potential dangers.

Rinnegan

Considered the most powerful of the Three Great Dojutsu of the Ninja world, the Rinnegan is considered the advanced version of the Sharingan, possessing some similar traits, but more new tools at the user’s disposal. Nagato has mastered the use of his Rinnegan, and Obito has shown to use the same abilities quite well when he stole Nagato’s pair of eyes.

The Rinnegan itself is said to contain an extraordinary amount of Chakra within it as even one eye is able to grant its wielder overwhelming power. By possessing this godly amount of power, those with the Rinnegan can not only use all five basic nature transformations but also master any jutsu very easily. As the progenitor of the Sharingan, the Rinnegan allows its user to see the flow of Chakra inside another person’s body as well as objects normal people can’t see like invisible barriers. By wielding the Rinnegan, a person gains immediate access to six various abilities known as the Six Paths Technique.

The Six Path abilities are the following:

• Deva Path: Gravity Manipulation through Repulsive and Attractive forces
• Asura Path: Altering one’s body to produce mechanical limbs and weapons
• Human Path: Extracting a person’s soul from their body
• Animal Path: Summoning various giant animals under the user’s control.
• Preta Path: Absorbing Chakra from a person or Chakra-based attacks
• Naraka Path: Access to the King of Hell for the following:
  • Devour a victim’s soul if they answered dishonestly
  • Repair and rejuvenate a damaged body
  • Store a person’s soul and body for transportation

However, there’s also a seventh ability a Rinnegan holder has access to known as the Outer Path, which grants the power to control life and death. Under this ability, users can generate black receivers from their bodies to transmit their Chakra. Through this method, a Rinnegan user is able to bind anyone they touch with the Outer Path. In addition, to further have the black receivers bind a person with greater restraint, those with the Rinnegan can manifest large Chakra chains from the Gedou Statue. Lastly, there’s one more ability that the black receivers are capable of.

By inserting them into a corpse, the Rinnegan user can reanimate that corpse and control them remotely. So far, the Rinnegan user can control up to six reanimated corpses together with the black receivers as their Six Paths of Pain. As a result of this, the Rinnegan user also gains six additional separate fields of vision all at the same time. By having this shared vision, the user can coordinate their attacks with the Six Paths and provide defenses for their blind spots. It’s because of this advantage that the Six Paths of Pain are considered stronger and more deadly when used together instead of separately. Even the animals summoned through the Animal Path and the King of Hell provide the same shared vision as the user and the Six Paths of Pain.

Finally, there’s one last ability that the Outer Path provides that truly gives the Rinnegan user control over life and death. The user can revive the dead through the Outer Path – Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. By casting this jutsu, the King of Hell emerges from the ground and releases the souls of the recently deceased back into their rejuvenated bodies. Performing this technique comes with a heavy price: the life of the user as shown with Nagato when his hair turned white after overexerting his power while casting this jutsu before dying.

Pain

Background

“The justice that I have delivered against the Leaf Village… is no different from what you are trying to do to me. Everyone feels the same pain when losing something dear. You and I have both experienced that pain. You strive for your justice… and I strive for mine.”

The Hidden Rain Village or Amegakure was a small village located in between many of the great nations. Many years ago, wars broke out for the sake of profit and resources between those nations, with the Hidden Rain ending up caught in the crossfire. Many lives were lost as the village started to fall apart, and many were orphaned by the conflict, including a young boy with red hair and strange eyes named Nagato. Nagato’s parents were killed off by shinobi from Konoha, the Hidden Leaf Village, when he was just a boy, and he was forced to wander the streets alone, never even managing to get even a slice of bread to satiate his hunger. Eventually, he met two other war orphans who took him in to help him, Konan and Yahiko. Together, the three tried their best to survive, but life was far too harsh. Eventually, Yahiko revealed his dream: to rule over the world and end all wars forever. A dream that Nagato started to share.

But to change the world, they needed the power to do so. And how ironic, for it would be a ninja from Konoha that would teach Nagato the ways of Jutsu. Jiraiya of the Three Sages had taught the three how to master the art of fighting as ninjas, but with Nagato, he saw something else. Nagato’s eyes, the Rinnegan, were extremely powerful, and dangerous. Whenever Nagato felt strong enough hate, he would go on a blind rage, and Jiraiya wanted to help him control these powers. Jiraiya believed that Nagato could have been a reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths, and the Child of Prophecy that would bring peace to the world of shinobi. But unfortunately, tragedy would continue to strike Nagato’s life. Yahiko became incredibly strong, and started to lead an organization to bring his dreams of peace into reality. However, he was stabbed in the back by Hanzo, the leader of the Hidden Rain. Konan was taken hostage, and the only way to save her was by killing Yahiko. With his best friend dead, Nagato once more felt great pain.

After destroying Hanzo’s forces, Nagato and Konan eventually met a man that called himself Madara Uchiha. Together, they formed a new version of Yahiko’s organization, the Akatsuki. By capturing the Tailed Beasts, by recruiting the most powerful rogue ninjas he could find, Nagato, now taking the name Pain, would force the world into submission, and bring true peace at last.

Alongside leading his new Akatsuki, Pain also managed to kill Hanzo once and for all, becoming the new ruler of the Amegakure, and their God. His plans were all going perfectly… Until members of the Akatsuki started to die left and right. The main cause being the Nine-Tailed Fox and its host, Naruto Uzumaki. A shinobi from Konoha. To make matters worse, Jiraiya had returned to the Hidden Rain, attempting to gain information on Akatsuki’s leader. Pain was forced to confront his old mentor himself, and be the one to take his life. With that done, all that was left was to capture Naruto, and bring peace at last. Invading Konoha, killing hundreds, and bringing never before seen destruction, Pain was dedicated to finally capturing the Nine-Tails… but he was defeated. And as Nagato heard Naruto’s words, a genuine desire to never give up until he found peace, he was reminded… of himself. Nagato had lost his way long ago, and couldn’t be the hero that Jiraiya expected. But perhaps, Naruto could. And so Nagato sacrificed his own life, reviving all those who were killed in his invasion, and departing from the world of the living putting all of his faith in Naruto Uzumaki.

Experience & Skill

Even before receiving any proper training, Nagato was already capable of taking the lives of well trained Konoha shinobi by himself, and he became far more deadly upon being trained by Jiraiya, one of the most renowned ninja in the entire shinobi world. Nagato was a prodigy, and managed to learn how to use every single Nature Style and even Yang Release at just ten years old. After learning how to properly fight like a shinobi, Nagato quickly mastered all the abilities granted to him by the Rinnegan, becoming a major member of Yahiko’s Akatsuki, which was seen as a great threat by the ruling force of Amegakure, and even being capable of battling against many of Hanzo’s subordinates on his own. 

While the power of the Rinnegan eventually crippled Nagato, thanks to his control over the Paths of Pain, he was just as, if not more deadly than before. Nagato could expertly control each individual Pain masterfully, using each of their unique traits and abilities to their absolute fullest, being akin to a six-man army all controlled by one man. With the Paths, Nagato managed to dethrone Hanzo and become the ruler of the Hidden Rain Village, and was shown to be capable of capturing the Six-Tailed Beast by himself. On his own (with some slight help from Konan), Pain invaded the Hidden Leaf Village, one of the five great nations of the shinobi world, and completely devastated it, defeating several high-ranking ninja including the current Hokage.

Equipment

Corpse Bodies

Most prominent among Pain’s arsenal is… himself. Or I guess “himselves” if you want to get technical. Nagato fights by remotely manipulating the corpses of six deceased shinobi, known as the Six Paths of Pain. These corpse bodies are manipulated via Black Receiver (see below), and each represent one of the Six Paths of Reincarnation: Deva, Asura, Manushya (Human), Tiryagyoni (Animal), Preta, and Naraka. The Deva Path is known as Tendo, the Asura Path as Shurado, the Human Path as Ningendo, the Animal Path as Chikushodo, the Preta Path as Gakido, and the Naraka Path as Jigokudo. Accordingly, each of the Six Paths exclusively possesses one of the six functions of the Rinnegan, which they can use in coordination with each other to devastating effect.

Nagato controls each body as if it were his own, and all of the Pains share their vision, being able to see whatever the others can all at once. However, he needs to stay within close proximity to the Paths’ location in order for the transmission to work properly.

Black Receivers

These Black Receivers are rods created via the Rinnegan from the palm of the user’s hand, and function by receiving Chakra signals from Nagato, their creator. When his Chakra is transmitted to the Receivers, it is channeled through them, causing them to react and give off heat. Each of the Six Paths of Pain are studded across their bodies with Black Receivers, which is what allows Nagato to maintain his control over them.

The Black Receivers can also be used as stabbing weapons, and are made more dangerous by their Chakra-reactive properties. Upon piercing the target, they allow Pain to pour his Chakra into the person’s body, agitating their own Chakra and causing them to become paralyzed almost as though they are being tased. This can allow Nagato to control the target’s body, an effect which becomes more powerful the closer the target is to him, though an individual with enough willpower can resist this effect, as Naruto did. It is worth noting as well that the Chakra injection effect is a double-edged sword, as by willingly impaling himself on a Black Receiver, Naruto was able to use senjutsu to track the Chakra transmission back to the real Nagato, discerning his location by using the Chakra as a sort of homing beacon.

Smoke Bombs

Though he rarely has need of them, Pain has been shown to carry smoke bombs, which can be used to obscure an enemy’s vision for the sake of subterfuge.

Abilities

Rinnegan

Considered to be the “most noble” of the three great ocular jutsu (the other two being the Sharingan and Byakugan), the Rinnegan originated with the Sage of Six Paths, and is awakened via a combination of Uchiha and Senju Chakra. Unbeknownst to Nagato, his Rinnegan originally belonged to Madara Uchiha, and was given to him by the false Madara, Obito. Believed by many to be a myth, the Rinnegan possesses the power of the Six Paths, granting Nagato a variety of jutsu that he can bestow to each of six corpse bodies. When used by Nagato alone without implementing the Paths, he can use all six in tandem with one another to devastating effect.

Deva Path

The Deva Path, known as Tendo, possesses the power to control attractive and repulsive forces. This body is the primary Pain body, and when Nagato concentrates his power fully on it, it becomes incredibly powerful. However, the more power that this Pain uses, the longer its cooldown between attacks, and the more physical strain that Nagato experiences.

Jutsu demonstrated by the Deva Path include:

Shinra Tensei: Known as “Almighty Push” in certain localizations, Pain’s Shinra Tensei emits incredible gravitational force from his body, creating a 360-degree push which repels all objects in his vicinity. This push can not only repel objects and people, but also cancel out jutsu and physical attacks alike, forcibly dispelling or repulsing them. By putting more power into the attack, Pain can produce the even stronger Chaotic Shinra Tensei, which has an enormous area of effect and is powerful enough to completely annihilate Konoha. A normal Shinra Tensei has a cooldown of 5 seconds between uses, while a Chaotic Shinra Tensei is significantly longer.

Bansho Ten’in: Known as “Universal Pull” in localizations, Bansho Ten’in produces the opposite effect as Shinra Tensei, pulling in objects that Pain targets toward himself. This is primarily used to pull in Pain’s opponents, setting them up for a follow-up attack as they are pulled closer to him.

Chibaku Tensei: Known as “Planetary Devastation” in the localizations, Chibaku Tensei involves the creation of a powerful gravity core, which Pain launches into the air to initiate the attack. As the gravity core raises into the sky, it produces immense gravitational force, ripping up the terrain beneath it and accruing materials around the core, which eventually increase in size until a massive sphere of earth is formed. This planetoid is held in midair via Pain’s gravity manipulation, and serves as a fuinjutsu, or sealing jutsu, imprisoning an opponent who is trapped and buried within it. However, a powerful enough opponent like the Nine-Tails can break out of it, and if used for too long, the backlash on Nagato’s body will become too severe, and he will be unable to keep it aloft. Additionally, if the gravity core is destroyed while the Chibaku Tensei is still forming, the jutsu will be negated.

Levitation: The Deva Path’s gravity manipulation has been shown to allow Pain to hover in midair unsupported.

Asura Path

The Asura Path is one of the most destructive and deadly Pain bodies, possessing the ability to transform its body into a variety of weapon types. In addition to growing extra mechanical limbs, the Path can extend blades and firearms from various facets of its body, including but not limited to missile launchers, arm cannons, a cranial laser cannon, a large saw blade for a tail, and rocket fists that can be retracted via magnetism. 

Notable jutsu demonstrated by the Path include:

Asura Attack: Pain fires a massive energy blast from the head or arm, strong enough to destroy buildings.

Flaming Arrow Warhead: By firing numerous homing missiles from the arm, Pain can launch attacks in many different directions with enough power to level buildings.

Flaming Arrow of Amazing Ability: By building up Chakra in the hand, Pain can launch a rocket-powered fist to strike a target with enough force to destroy stone.

Preta Path

The Preta Path possesses the ability to absorb jutsu via a technique known as the Blocking Technique Absorption Seal, where Pain creates a field around the Path that absorbs all jutsu that come into contact with it. There seems to be little to no threshold to what this technique can absorb, as the Preta Path was able to completely absorb Sage Naruto’s Rasenshuriken with no issue, despite it being beyond the Path’s own level of power. This is corroborated by the databooks, which describe the ability as though Pain is sending absorbed energy to “a bottomless swamp”. The tradeoff being that Pain is unable to draw upon the jutsu he absorbs, merely negating them as opposed to gaining their Chakra.

It should be noted that this ability is not limited to only Chakra-based techniques, as it has also absorbed Jiraiya’s toad oil, and wind jutsu from Konoha shinobi. It can also suck out energy directly from a person, though some specific energies like senjutsu Chakra can have adverse effects on the Path, if Pain is not careful about what he absorbs.

Animal Path

The Animal Path possesses the ability to summon numerous giant creatures to aid Pain in battle. Pain has had two separate Animal Paths during the series, one being a shinobi of Amegakure’s Fūma Clan, and the other being an Ame kunoichi named Ajisai. However, there is no functional difference between the two. In addition to giant animals, the Animal Path can also be used to summon the other Paths of Pain to its location, which is ideal for infiltration and coordinating the Pains’ movements.

Animals that can be summoned by the Animal Path include:

Giant Centipede: Attacks by using its body as a battering ram, strong enough to destroy buildings.

Giant Multi-Headed Dog: Can grow more heads every time it is hit, and split into more individual versions of itself. It also has wings for flight, and can regenerate limbs that have been cut off, such as a foot. Via its ability to split apart and regenerate, it was able to withstand a hit from KCM1 Naruto’s Rasenshuriken.

Giant Rhino: Attacks via charging forwards and destroying everything in its path, capable of destroying buildings.

Giant Crustacean: Can perform water release techniques, namely the Wild Bubble Wave jutsu, in which it fires a stream of water bubbles which reduce friction in the area, limiting an opponent’s movements.

Giant Snake-Tailed Chameleon: Can blend in with its surroundings, hide its user in its mouth, crawl on walls, and attack with its tail and tongue.

Giant Drill-Beaked Bird: Can fly at high speeds and attack with powerful dives, as well as its beak. In the anime, it can perform a jutsu in which it lays eggs that will explode like bombs. It is also capable of producing dust clouds with lightning by flying low to the ground.

Giant Ox: Has a powerful charge attack due to its great size and strength.

Giant Panda: Can harden its body like stone, allowing it to act as a shield.

Human Path

The Human Path possesses the ability to manipulate the souls of others. By placing his hand on their head, this Path can read a person’s mind and glean important information in an instant. Pain can also use the Path to directly rip out the target’s soul, either from their head or through their chest. While certain opponents like Naruto have resisted this power, this was likely a resistance intrinsic to him, as Pain has otherwise shown to rip out souls without any resistance being possible at all. The souls stolen by the Human Path are stored within the Naraka Path’s King of Hell.

Naraka Path

This Path is used primarily for interrogation. Upon summoning the King of Hell, Pain can ask his victims a question, and in the event that they lie, the King of Hell will rip out the liar’s soul in the form of their tongue, killing them immediately. In the event that they tell the truth, they will survive but be left exhausted. It should be noted that using the Naraka Path at all is reliant on a target being captured and immobilized first, and it can be escaped by techniques such as Shadow Clones.

The Naraka Path can also use the King of Hell to repair the bodies of any destroyed Paths of Pain, returning them to full condition and allowing them to rejoin a battle if they are destroyed. Should the Naraka Path be eliminated, however, Pain will lose the ability to recover lost bodies.

Outer Path

The seventh and potentially most important Path of Pain, the Outer Path is the ability possessed by Nagato himself, and as such is kept off of the battlefield in most circumstances. This Path grants Pain the ability to control life and death with various techniques, and it is this Path which allows Nagato to transmit his Chakra to his various Pain bodies, controlling them.

These techniques include:

Summoning: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path: Nagato can summon a massive statue called the Gedou Mazou, which is actually the massive husk of the Ten-Tails which contains the Chakra of numerous Tailed Beasts. While accessing the full Ten-Tails or the Tailed Beasts is restricted in this battle, Nagato can use the statue for several other purposes. Most notably, it can fire out massive long-ranged Chakra dragons that rip out the souls of those they come into contact with. It can also produce giant shockwaves, extend the lifespan of a user connected to it, and manifest massive chains of Chakra capable of binding a target and suppressing their power.

Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique: Also known as Rinne Rebirth, this jutsu allows the user to revive the dead at the cost of their own life energy. While Nagato died in canon from using this jutsu, Konan indicates that this is because he was already significantly drained and weakened, implying he may be able to survive using it under more favorable circumstances. With Rinne Rebirth, Nagato was able to revive and return the souls of all the shinobi who died in his assault on Konoha, though it can also resurrect those whom the caster did not kill personally.

Wind Release:
Gale Palm

By clapping his hands together and compressing wind, Nagato can produce a powerful blast of wind with enough force to knock a person backward. It can also be combined with kunai and shuriken for greater deadliness.

Wind Release:
Air Bullets

Nagato can produce concussive bullets of air which strike their targets at great speed. Nagato has used these to great effect, having taken down entire groups of shinobi with them.

Earth Release:
Earth Style Wall

Via Earth Style Ninjutsu, Nagato can raise a large wall of earth from the ground, useful for blocking attacks and altering the terrain to create a more advantageous position.

Water Release: Exploding
Water Colliding Wave

By producing a huge surge of water, the user can flood the area, overcoming the enemy with a massive deluge. Pain used an unorthodox version of this jutsu in the anime, striking the ground and using the Deva Path’s power to erupt a large amount of water, rather than producing it directly from his mouth as most users do.

Water Release:
Wild Water Wave

When using this jutsu, Nagato attacks by producing a spraying wave of water from his mouth to strike and wash away the target. 

Nine Phantoms Dragons Seal

A sealing technique that Pain uses in conjunction with the other members of the Akatsuki, in which they use the Gedou Statue to extract and seal the Tailed Beast from within a jinchuuriki subjected to the ability. Interestingly, despite its use involving the Gedou Statue, this jutsu is not a Rinnegan jutsu, as Obito was still able to use it after Pain’s death, despite not having the Rinnegan yet. With nine Akatsuki members present, the jutsu took three days to completely seal a single Tailed Beast, and required the jutsu’s casters to match the Tailed Beast’s power with their own to seal it away. As the Akatsuki dwindled in number, the time for the jutsu to be completed became notably longer. Once the sealing was complete, the jinchuuriki subjected to it would die, as a result of having their Tailed Beast extracted.

Magic Lantern Body Technique

A jutsu which Pain uses to project his image, and that of the rest of the Akatsuki, to their meeting places in order to seal away the Tailed Beasts. Pain can maintain this jutsu for days on end.

Genjutsu Blocks & Traps

Pain is able to place numerous powerful Genjutsu blocks and traps in a person’s mind, which he uses to safeguard his underlings from mental intrusions. These blocks were impressive enough that even Konoha’s foremost expert in mind-related jutsu, Inoichi Yamanaka, was unable to easily navigate them, taking an extended time to carefully penetrate the mind in question. Reasonably, it’s likely that Pain has also placed these blocks and traps within his own mind.

Rain Tiger At Will Technique

A sensory technique that allows Pain to form rain with his own Chakra. Due to the rain being connected directly to Pain’s Chakra, it allows him to sense whenever an intruder enters the rain’s vicinity, although he’s incapable of knowing where exactly from the rain alone, requiring Konan’s assistance to figure out the intruder’s location. Pain can both start and stop the rain at will.

Five-Seal Barrier

A barrier that Pain placed on the Akatsuki’s hideout, preventing entry unless the tags that maintain the seal are found and removed, a task which can be difficult if the person attempting to do so does not possess sensory jutsu.

Mirrored Sudden Attacker Technique

A jutsu used in conjunction with the Five-Seal Barrier; upon the barrier’s tags being removed, this jutsu acts as a booby trap which creates exact duplicates of whomever removed the tags. These duplicates possess the same strength, jutsu, and intellect as the person they are copying, and as such provide an almost unbeatable adversary, requiring the enemy to overcome their own limitations mid-fight to win.

Fire & Lightning Release

While he has not used them explicitly, Jiraiya stated that Nagato was skilled in all known nature transformations, including all five elements and yang release, something the databook backs up. This level of skill is nearly unheard of among shinobi, with only exceptional individuals possessing such talent.

Forms/States

Six Paths of Pain

The Six Paths of Pain have already been covered fairly extensively, but it’s worth establishing the context in which they were used. During the series, Nagato had been severely emaciated and physically weakened as a result of his connection with the Gedou Mazou, which eventually degraded him enough that he needed to use these corpse bodies to fight remotely, rather than engage his enemies personally. Maintaining and controlling six bodies at once is an incredible feat of both control and Chakra, and dividing his attention between the six yields lesser results than focusing on just one. However, the trade-off is that the Pains together can use all of the Rinnegan’s jutsu, while individually they can only use one, and their shared vision and numbers allows them to gain the upper hand against most solitary opponents.

Nagato

When reanimated during the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Nagato was left without his Paths of Pain and forced to fight in his own decrepit body. However, upon using the Preta Path to absorb Chakra from the jinchuuriki Killer B, Nagato was able to regain his vitality, overcoming the degradation that his body had suffered toward the end of his life, and regaining the ability to fight autonomously on his own.

When he is not being held back by his deterioration, Nagato is much more powerful than the Six Paths of Pain, as stated by Naruto, who fought both. Not only is he able to use all of the Rinnegan’s many abilities in just one body without diverting his attention and Chakra between six hosts, but he is also vastly stronger physically, capable of contending against multiple heavy hitters at once, including Itachi, Killer B, and Naruto in KCM1, who claimed to be far stronger than he was when he fought Pain previously.

Weaknesses

As outlined above, Nagato’s use of the Six Paths of Pain is simultaneously his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. His decrepit body is of course a major factor in their use, but while implementing the Paths, his strength is diminished from what it could be if he were healthy and fighting on his own. Each of the Paths is also specialized for one jutsu in particular, and they are much less fearsome if separated than they are taken together. Their effectiveness also decreases the farther they are from Nagato’s own body, and some of his attacks have an impact on his health and specific drawbacks to their use, such as Shinra Tensei and Chibaku Tensei.

When speaking about a healthy Nagato, however, all of these weaknesses are no longer applicable.

Konan

Background

“Yahiko and Nagato’s will hasn’t vanished from this world! I believe in Naruto too! He… He will become the bridge that leads us to peace and I will be a support holding the bridge up!”

Born in Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Village, Konan has known the cost of war since she was young, as her family were killed during the Second Shinobi World War, leaving her alone in this world as an orphan. However, she endured and eventually allied herself with Yahiko, who had desires for peace. She also encountered Nagato, and over time, the three became friends. They encountered the Sannin and asked for their guidance. After years of training under Jiraiya, Konan, alongside her friends, would continue their quest for peace, leading to the founding of the Akatsuki. She became a formidable shinobi in her own right, contributing to the Akatsuki’s reputation reaching around the world. The Akatsuki itself became so powerful that Amegakure’s leader, Hanzō, recognized them as a threat to his rule, which brought them into conflict. Konan was abducted, and the only way to recover her was for Nagato to kill Yahiko. Watching Yahiko take his own life, Konan lost yet another person she dearly cherished.

After Nagato annihilated their enemies, Konan was free to continue striving for the peace the Akatsuki desired. Earlier, a man by the name of Madara Uchiha had his own designs for peace, and in the wake of Yahiko’s death, Konan and Nagato joined forces with him, leading the Akatsuki into a new iteration under Nagato’s command. Many years pass as Konan aids in the recruitment of several Akatsuki members and completes many, many missions to acquire the resources necessary for the Akatsuki’s true goal, the capture of the Tailed Beasts. By appropriating Hanzō’s identity, Konan was able to send unsuspecting shinobi into other villages in search of Jinchūriki, which proved invaluable as the Akatsuki gradually began to capture more and more of the Tailed Beasts. Their success was met with equal dismay, as many of their members were killed trying to acquire them. 

Jiraiya would set foot in Amegakure once again, bringing Konan into contact with the one responsible for giving her the means to walk this path in the first place. She fought against her gallant mentor, though it was merely to allow Pain, the reanimated corpse of Yahiko being commanded by Nagato, enough time to arrive. Once Pain arrived, Konan withdrew and waited until the battle was won. Having captured the majority of the Tailed Beasts, Konan assisted Pain in his assault on Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, interrogating shinobi to ascertain the location of their target, the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Naruto Uzumaki. At that time, Nagato’s declining health compelled Konan to stay with her only remaining friend, and protect him whilst Pain enacted Nagato’s will upon Konohagakure. Eventually, the battle ended in Pain’s defeat, and Naruto tracked down Nagato. While Konan was ready to protect her friend, Nagato did not see Naruto as the enemy anymore. 

She found herself in awe of Naruto’s ability to inspire change within others, as Nagato willingly gave up his life to revive the shinobi he killed. Konan now saw Naruto as the carrier of the peace that Nagato and Yahiko strived for, and though Nagato was no more, Konan pledged her faith to Naruto’s desire for peace. With her friends gone from this world, the Akatsuki that Konan envisioned no longer existed, so she returned home. However, it wasn’t long before Tobi came looking for Nagato’s corpse. Konan put her life on the line to protect her friends, even as corpses. Having changed her mind about the world, and now confident that the path to peace was both achievable and within reach, Konan vowed to destroy the “darkness” that Tobi represented and support the “light” that Naruto represented. Despite a tremendous effort that truly epitomized her skill as a shinobi, Konan was unable to vanquish the darkness. However, she still held true to her beliefs, even proclaiming it when Amegakure stopped raining for the first time.

After being forced into a Genjutsu by Tobi and made to reveal Nagato’s location, the illusion ended and Konan’s life came to an end. Posthumously, one of her bloodstained papers was able to reach her original hideout, closing the curtain on the promise she made with Nagato and Yahiko to return there one day.

Experience & Skill

Despite being orphaned by the Second Shinobi World War, Konan’s shared dream of peace and unwavering determination made her one of Amegakure’s most formidable ninjas. Compared to Yahiko’s resilience and Nagato’s sensitivity, Konan was the stoic and level-headed one of the group. Her traumatic experiences crafted her into a stern and serious woman, and her combat approach reflected this.

As a child in the war-torn ruins of the Hidden Rain Village, Konan quickly adapted and her skills improved under Jiraiya’s training, quickly grasping the training regime he established. She later helped found the Akatsuki, contributing to their global prowess and fame. During her teenage years, she was an active combatant in the Third Shinobi World War. However, the Akatsuki became so powerful that Hanzō, the leader of Amegakure, saw them as a threat. Konan was captured but survived and remained by Nagato’s side as he waged a civil war against Hanzō’s rule, which they won.

After Obito’s offer was accepted, the Akatsuki recruited ninjas from other villages with unique personalities. Konan, Nagato’s right hand, oversaw the recruitment of a few of its members, carefully observing their capabilities. Konan completed no less than 341 missions throughout her life, and being in her mid-30s, Konan was among the most experienced members of the Akatsuki.

It is unknown if she did so with other Akatsuki members, but it is known Konan developed a contingency plan for Tobi and studied his space-time Ninjutsu, Kamui, to determine its limitations and flaws. She spent years formulating the ideal outcome of a battle that would end in Obito’s death. During their battle, Konan used six hundred billion explosive tags that were created so immaculately that even Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan couldn’t see through them. Her strategy involved the tags exploding over a ten-minute period, which would exceed the limits of Obito’s Kamui and kill him. This forced Obito to use Izanagi, a forbidden Genjutsu that allows him to rewrite reality and negate any attack or action that would kill him at the cost of one of his Sharingan, Obito remarked how surprised he was that Konan forced him to use Izanagi.

Equipment

Paper

Thanks to her childhood fondness for origami, Konan was inspired to develop her fighting style around paper itself. By utilizing her Chakra, Konan can transform her body and any clothing she is wearing, into paper. She calls this process the Dance of the Shikigami. Konan’s complete control over her paper allows her to apply it in several ways. From using them as offensive attacks to paper clones in a fashion similar to the Shadow Clone Technique, and even an origami butterfly which can be used for espionage purposes.

Despite having the ability to hover, Konan can use her paper to create wings, which can further allow her aerial movement, though Konan has demonstrated she can make wings far larger, as she is capable of creating wings large enough to wrap around Pain’s Chibaku Tensei.

She can similarly alter the properties of her paper, able to change its color or adjust its sharpness. Konan has used this to make weapons, like shurikens and Chakrams. Konan can also use the paper as a means of torture, and by extension, asphyxiation, by restricting and wrapping opponents themselves in paper.

Additionally, Konan can use her paper to replicate environmental surroundings, notably creating a tree that served as a base of operations for Nagato, and, most impressively, disguised her papers as an entire lake within the Hidden Rain Village. The effectiveness of this disguise was so precise that even Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan was incapable of detecting it until Konan revealed its true nature.

Konan’s paper is quite formidable, but it is still paper and adheres to its innate properties. Fire can burn her paper, though Konan has shown this is not an inherent weakness, as seen during her battle with Jiraiya. Similarly, oil will cause paper to stick, and will render Konan unable to manipulate those individual papers until they are physically separated. Despite hailing from the Hidden Rain Village, and constantly battling under rainfall, Konan’s paper has not been affected by water.

Explosive Tags

As a natural extension of her ability to produce paper, Konan can produce explosive tags. By infusing it with the necessary Chakra, Konan can rig her paper with explosive tags whenever she wants. Thanks to the explosive tags being composed of the very paper Konan can freely manipulate, Konan can apply explosive tags to all of her paper techniques. 

Notably, after producing wings with her paper, Konan can transform the paper from those wings into explosive tags, where Konan can then use origami to trigger the explosives. The explosive tags similarly apply to Konan’s ability to replicate environmental surroundings, as Konan disguised six hundred billion explosive tags as one of the lakes in the Hidden Rain Village, allowing Konan to trigger a ten-minute explosion.

Abilities

Dance of the Shikigami

Konan’s signature jutsu, the Dance of the Shikigami, allows her to transform portions or the entirety of her body into numerous sheets of paper, discorporating and reforming as much of her body as is needed for whatever situation she finds herself in. She can fold these papers into specific forms, such as butterflies, and transport herself through their movement. She can also form weapons such as spears out of her paper, and cocoon others to immobilize them, leaving them open to attack. Most distinctly, she can form large wings out of paper for flight, which can become large enough to fold around Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei.

This technique makes Konan harder to damage, but can be countered through various means of attack, such as being burned by fire or stuck together by oils. Konan can also be harmed if attacked while sufficiently exhausted or caught off guard.

Paper Chakram

By forming her paper into the shape of a Chakram, Konan can throw and spin it at high speed, controlling its movement and trajectory midair to attack an opponent from numerous angles in quick succession.

Paper Clone

As an extension of her Dance of the Shikigami technique, Konan can form clones out of paper to misdirect opponents, which also allow her to gain intel without putting herself in harm’s way. If sufficiently damaged, the clone will split into paper and discorporate, though Konan can also hide explosive tags within her clones, which can detonate in the event that the clone is destroyed.

Paper Drizzle

Via her paper wings, Konan can shoot out numerous dagger-like papers to pierce a target. This attack was deadly enough that even Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, saw fit to dodge it rather than counter it. 

Paper Shuriken

By forming her paper into shuriken, Konan can spin them rapidly and hurl them through the air with deadly force and precision, inflicting cutting damage on anyone struck.

Paper Person of God
Technique

Demonstrated in her fight with Obito, the Paper Person of God technique is Konan’s ultimate attack, though it requires preparation and setup. After planting 600 billion paper bombs within the sea, Konan splits the water, dropping an unsuspecting target into the chasm and detonating the bombs all around them, some of which become attached to the person’s body.

This immense volume of explosive tags takes a full ten consecutive minutes to detonate, and the sheer power of the attack would have been great enough to kill even Orange Mask Obito, were it not for his unique combination of Kamui and Izanagi allowing him to outlast the attack.

Weaknesses

Like all shinobi, Konan has a limited Chakra reserve that her paper techniques are reliant on. Her reserve of paper, while enormous, is also technically finite. Most prominently, as previously mentioned her paper is vulnerable to fire and oil, which can negate her techniques.

Itachi Uchiha

Background

“If I had come to you from the start, looked straight at your eyes and told you the truth, then I wouldn’t have had to stand before you as a failure, telling you all of this. But I want to impart at least this much truth to you… You don’t ever have to forgive me. And whatever you do from here on out, know this… no matter what, I will love you always.”

Born as the first child to Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha’s early childhood was plagued with violence. At the age of 4, he witnessed first-hand the death and destruction brought about by the Third Shinobi World War, and it left him with trauma and a strong desire to change the world for the better. In order to do this, Itachi began to train. And soon enough, he proved himself to be one of the most talented and fearsome members of the Uchiha Clan to ever live. He graduated from the Academy at age 7, could use the famous Sharingan by age 8, became a Chunin by 10, and by the time he was 13, had graduated to a full-on commander of the Anbu Black Ops. Among the living shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village, his talents were second to none.

Unfortunately, his life would soon shift to one of similarly unequaled suffering and loss. For years, the Uchiha Clan and the Leaf Village had experienced a growing schism, with the leadership of the village distrusting the formerly-warmongering Uchiha. This divide would explode into open hostility after the attack of the Nine-Tails, a disaster that the village elders believed the Uchiha were responsible for. In time, the Uchiha’s resentment grew, and they began to plan a coup against the village. Itachi, agent of the village and son of the Uchiha, found himself caught in the middle, and forced to make an impossible decision at far too young an age.

Even with his parents at the forefront of the coup, and his closest friend murdered by village elder Danzo, Itachi’s loyalty to his village ultimately superseded his loyalty to his clan. On the orders of the village, Itachi took up his blade against his family, and put an end to the coup before it began, slaughtering every man, woman, and child of the Uchiha. Every last one… except one. Even bathed in the blood of his father, his mother, his lover, and every friend he’d ever known, Itachi couldn’t bring himself to kill his little brother, Sasuke. Still, he couldn’t allow Sasuke to know his true motives, and so deliberately set the child on a path of vengeance and hatred, in hopes that the boy would one day become stronger than Itachi himself, strong enough to survive their cruel world.

And so, Itachi departed the Leaf Village a rogue shinobi, with none but the village elders any the wiser to his true mission. He joined the Akatsuki as a spy to keep tabs on their activities, and took part in their campaign to capture the Tailed Beasts alongside his assigned partner, Kisame Hoshigaki. All until, years later, he came face to face with Sasuke once again. After multiple encounters, Sasuke eventually grew strong enough to oppose Itachi, and the two waged a final battle, Itachi’s deceptions pushing Sasuke further and further along. Until, finally, Itachi’s body gave out, sickness, blindness, and injury overcame him, and he fell to the ground, dead. Exactly as he had always intended.

In death, Itachi meant for his legacy to remain that of an evil man, the shinobi who had selfishly and heartlessly slaughtered his loved ones, rather than that of a tortured hero who fought for his village. But within hours of Itachi’s death, Sasuke learned the truth about him from the mysterious Tobi, and all of Sasuke’s fury and hatred, that Itachi had so painstakingly directed at himself, became pointed directly at the Leaf Village that had taken his brother and family from him.

Even upon his reanimation as an Edo Tensei, reunion with Sasuke, and their mutual defeat of the rogue ninja Kabuto, Itachi’s ideals were unable to sway his brother’s heart. The hatred that Itachi had cultivated within his brother was too strong for even Itachi himself to change. But as he departed the world for the second time, Itachi was able to speak to Sasuke honestly for the first time since they were children, and reassure him that no matter what Sasuke did, what choice he made in the end – Itachi would love him, always.

Experience & Skill

Itachi’s prowess as a shinobi cannot be overstated. Unmatched among the Uchiha Clan as a teenager, nearly peerless among the Akatsuki as an adult, and beyond even the legendary Sannin by their own admission, he has gone toe-to-toe against the strongest Jinchuuriki in history as a weakened Edo Tensei, and outmatched his brother Sasuke while sick, near-blind, and near death. He has humiliated other Akatsuki like Deidara and Orochimaru with nothing more than his Genjutsu, effortlessly made Kage level shinobi such as Kakashi look powerless in comparison to him, and completely outplayed and outfought Kabuto Yakushi, even while he was using his Sage Mode. His Genjutsu is unparalleled at the point in the story where he was alive, and he barreled through the shinobi ranks as a child at a nearly unmatched pace.

His planning and tactical abilities also should not go unstated, as he has a history of formulating plans years in advance and setting up contingencies for various possible outcomes even after his death. Though it is worth acknowledging that many of these contingencies failed, with his implanted Amaterasu proving unsuccessful at killing Tobi, and his Kotoamatsukami crow ultimately being used for an entirely different purpose than intended.

Equipment

Sword

Itachi’s sword was the primary weapon he used during the Uchiha Clan massacre, and he was seen carrying it as an Anbu beforehand. While he largely shifted away from swordplay after becoming a rogue shinobi, his deadly skill with it is readily apparent, given how the entire Uchiha Clan fell before his blade.

Shuriken

Itachi possesses great expertise in shurikenjutsu, with his skill as a young teenager being beyond his father to such an extent that even an inexperienced child like Sasuke could tell the difference. This allowed him to perform feats such as ricocheting his shuriken off of other shuriken to hit impossible targets. As an adult, he could launch incredibly fast flurries of shuriken at faster than eyesight speed, with such precision that he could knock all of Sasuke’s shuriken out of the air, even while near blind himself. He can combine his shurikenjutsu with Fire Style Ninjutsu to launch flaming shuriken attacks.

Military Rations Pill

Made of strong stimulants and nutrients, they’re pills that replenish Chakra and refresh the body near instantly when consumed, and allow the user to fight three days and nights without rest, though after the end of the three days, the user will become completely exhausted.

Abilities

Mangekyo Sharingan

Awakened from the trauma of losing someone important to you, in Itachi’s case his best friend Shisui, the Mangekyo Sharingan is an evolution of the standard Sharingan that grants the bearer various new abilities and an overall increase in power. Throughout shinobi history, Itachi is one of only twelve known users of the Mangekyo, and it is largely responsible for his reputation as one of the most dangerous shinobi of the modern day.

In addition to an increase in power and an improvement on all of the Sharingan’s base traits, each Mangekyo eye grants the user one ability, unique to the person and unique to that eye. In other words, the left eye possesses one unique ability, and the right eye possesses a different unique ability. These two jutsu are often related, with functional differences that make them distinct, but this is not always the case, and with Itachi in particular the two are entirely distinct. When Mangekyo jutsu are used, in most cases the user will bleed from the eye they are using, with Itachi in particular being a frequent example of such.

Despite granting Itachi multiple incredible abilities, the Mangekyo come at a steep cost, with each of their jutsu depleting Chakra at a rapid rate, and typically only being usable a few times per fight, if even. On top of this, their usage harms the user’s eyesight, and after several years of periodic activation, Itachi begins to go blind from overusing them, with his vision almost entirely gone by the end of his life. This can be counteracted by implanting the Mangekyo of a close family member, which can cause the Mangekyo to evolve even further to become the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, never in danger of going blind. However, Itachi never achieved this.

Genjutsu

Itachi is most reputed for his incredible skill and power with Sharingan Genjutsu, or the art of using his Sharingan to place a target under an illusion that debilitates them from fighting. This can range from inducing basic hallucinations, to causing paralysis, inducing torture and false sensations, reading minds, and completely placing a target under the user’s absolute control, making them speak and act in accordance with the user’s wishes. Under normal circumstances, Genjutsu works via altering the flow of Chakra within a person’s nervous system, but Sharingan Genjutsu is more direct, allowing the user to inject Chakra into a target via their eyes and take forcible control over them in that way. Itachi in particular also is not limited to just ocular Genjutsu, as he is also capable of performing a technique called Ephemeral, where he places a target under Genjutsu simply by pointing at them.

Itachi’s eyes also grant him additional abilities in illusory warfare. If an enemy attempts to place him under Genjutsu, not only is he able to see through the illusions with perfect precision, he can also outright reflect the enemy’s Genjutsu back onto themself, trapping them in the same illusion they tried to inflict upon him. This has allowed him to “exchange” Genjutsu with Sasuke, the two repeatedly placing one another in back-and-forth illusions in an attempt to get the upper hand. According to Itachi himself, one who possesses a Sharingan can resist even the Mangekyo to an extent, but only an Uchiha with the Sharingan could be able to break his strongest Genjutsu, Tsukuyomi (see below).

Izanami

Throughout the Uchiha Clan’s history, the clan’s shinobi have developed two powerful and incredibly famous kinjutsu, or forbidden jutsu: Izanagi and Izanami. Izanagi, the first of the two, possesses the power to rewrite reality as an illusion, and was abused by many of the clan’s members, resulting in the creation of the Izanami in order to counter it. Itachi has shown to possess the latter, and it is with this jutsu that he defeated Kabuto Yakushi, putting an end to his Reanimation Jutsu.

Essentially, Izanami functions by creating an illusory time loop within the target’s mind. After it is activated, the target is subjected to the same events occurring to them in an endless cycle. The activation of the technique is triggered when the user performs an action, and then repeats it later, connecting those two moments in time and allowing them to serve as the start and end point of the mental loop. Once the target’s mind is trapped, they will be imprisoned forever within their own mind, unless the target accepts that they cannot run away from reality and embraces their destiny, changing their outlook. At this point, the ability will deactivate and the target will be allowed to leave a different person. Hence, the ability acting as a counter for Izanagi, which was abused by Uchiha who grew arrogant in their ability to reject reality.

When Izanami is used, the target remains motionless in real space, allowing Itachi to follow up with other abilities. In the series, he placed Kabuto’s body under an additional Genjutsu that forced it to release the Reanimation Jutsu, while Kabuto’s mind was still trapped within the loop. Logically, he could also just kill them if he wanted. Using the Izanami, similar to the Izanagi, causes Itachi to go blind in the eye that he uses it with, making it a last-resort move that cannot be activated lightly.

Tsukuyomi

The first of Itachi’s two unique Mangekyo jutsu, Tsukuyomi has been described as the most powerful Genjutsu, and is cast from Itachi’s left eye. By placing a target under Tsukuyomi, Itachi traps them in a mental reality in which he possesses complete control over the passage of time. Within this Genjutsu, Itachi can subject the target to whatever he wants, most frequently intense torture for highly extended periods. Once the Genjutsu elapses, however, only a moment will have passed in real time, as time in the illusion is accelerated far beyond that in reality.

For instance, when he placed Kakashi under Tsukuyomi, Itachi subjected him to three days of continuous torture via impalement, which elapsed within an instant in real time. When he placed his lover, Izumi, under Tsukuyomi, he took a kinder approach and allowed her to live out the remainder of her life – 70 years – in mere moments, which caused her to die in reality when she died in the Genjutsu. Tsukuyomi is incredibly potent, with only the Sharingan being considered capable of defying its effects, and Sasuke’s skill with the Mangekyo during the Gokage Summit falling far short of it. In certain games such as Storm, Itachi can create situations within Tsukuyomi far more extreme than days of torture, such as dropping an illusory moon on his victim. It is worth emphasizing, however, that the Tsukuyomi is a massive drain on Itachi’s Chakra and can only be used once or twice in any given encounter before wearing him out.

Amaterasu

While his left eye possesses the most powerful Genjutsu, within Itachi’s right eye dwells what has been described as the most powerful physical attack, a torrent of black flames that never extinguish until they’ve burned to ash whatever its caster’s eye has sighted. Within the focal point of Itachi’s vision, he produces pitch-black fire stated to be hotter than the surface of the sun, capable of incinerating people, the environment, even fireproof substances or other flames into nothingness. These flames are so powerful, when used by Sasuke at a point when he was still weaker than Itachi, they were capable of consuming even a Tailed Beast as strong as the Eight-Tails, which can withstand a Juubi blast.

It should be noted that Amaterasu can be blocked or dodged, either by eluding and outspeeding the caster’s line of vision, or by reacting in the split second it takes the fire to spawn. It has been dodged by the Fourth Raikage, sealed by Jiraiya’s scroll fuinjutsu, blocked by Gaara’s absolute defense, and repelled by Nagato’s Shinra Tensei. Unconventionally, if the Amaterasu engulfs a certain body part, it can be prevented from spreading to the rest of the body by simply severing the body part in question. Later in the series, characters like Kaguya, Naruto and Jigen have been shown to survive Sasuke’s Amaterasu outright, so its effects can be withstood by a resilient enough opponent.

As is the case with Tsukuyomi, the use of Amaterasu damages Itachi’s vision and is a significant Chakra drain. However, he can use it significantly more than Tsukuyomi in a single encounter, with him spamming it continuously in his fight against Sasuke and engulfing the entire surrounding area in its flames.

Susanoo

Awakened when a Mangekyo user has mastered the jutsu in both their left and right eye, the Susanoo is a Sharingan user’s ultimate weapon, serving as an incredible offense and defense simultaneously. To put it simply, the Susanoo is a giant armor-shaped mass of Chakra that encompasses the user’s body, serving as a larger avatar that they can manipulate as an extension of themself. The Susanoo possesses immense strength and incredible durability, as well as specialized jutsu and weapons unique to it.

The Susanoo has several developmental stages, becoming larger and more powerful as the user becomes more adept in its use. The base stage involves manifesting portions of the Susanoo’s skeletal structure, primarily arms and the ribcage. As the Susanoo becomes more advanced, muscle fibers and skin form around the bones, and finally armor to complete Itachi’s version of the ability, the Armored Susanoo. It is worth noting that in games like Storm, Itachi has also manifested the even stronger Complete Body Susanoo, but this is inconsistent with the manga where he never achieved such a thing.

Itachi’s Susanoo is strong enough to make mincemeat out of Orochimaru’s Eight-Headed Hydra form, and durable enough to block Sasuke’s Kirin, which annihilated a mountain in a fraction of a second. In blocking Kirin, Itachi also demonstrated that it is possible to manifest the Susanoo incredibly quickly, as the attack is stated in databooks to be lightspeed, and Sasuke did not notice Itachi’s use of the Susanoo, believing the attack killed him at first.

In addition to its exemplary power, Itachi’s Susanoo possesses two spiritual weapons which, according to Zetsu, make him practically invincible. The first is a spiritual sword known as the Totsuka Blade, also known as the Sakegari Longsword, which is a variant of Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Blade, and is without physical form. With this blade, Itachi can pierce a target with a nearly unblockable spiritual stab which seals them away, absorbing them along the blade into a gourd that the Susanoo carries. Once trapped inside this gourd, the victim is subjected to a drunken Genjutsu stupor for the rest of eternity. Compounding this nearly unstoppable offense is a similarly unmatched defense, as Itachi’s Susanoo also carries the Yata Mirror, a shield which is supposedly unbreakable, as it can mimic the properties of an oncoming attack in order to cancel it out.

Lastly, like all Susanoo, Itachi’s Susanoo can form spinning, shuriken-like blades to throw at a target, known as Yasaka Magatama. These can be strung together via thread or thrown individually, and are powerful enough to help destroy the gravity core of Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei.

More than any other Mangekyo ability, the Susanoo is a massive drain on the user’s vision and stamina. Even just using it for a brief period causes severe backlash on Itachi’s body and makes him cough up blood, diminishing his ability to see and ultimately contributing strongly to his death. Despite only recently unlocking the Mangekyo, Sasuke similarly became nearly blind after just one extended period of using the Susanoo.

Elemental Jutsu

Fire Release

As is the case with all Uchiha, Itachi has an affinity for Fire Style Ninjutsu, which he can use to produce flames and perform a variety of techniques. Notable jutsu include:

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique: Itachi blows a large wave of fire from his mouth, engulfing an area. Even when used by a Genin, the fire is hot enough to vaporize the ground, and Uchiha are not considered full-fledged clan members until they have mastered this technique.

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: Itachi spits a volley of small fireballs into the air, peppering an area with numerous scorching projectiles.

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson: Itachi combines his Phoenix Sage Fire Technique with shuriken, launching a volley of flaming shuriken to burn and slice a target simultaneously.

Water Release

In addition to his fire jutsu, Itachi is also highly skilled in Water Style techniques, using them just as frequently to produce and manipulate water for devastating effect. Notable jutsu include: 

Water Release: Water Bullet Technique: Itachi produces a powerful torrent of water which he launches in a stream to strike an opponent with great power. This is typically fired from the mouth.

Water Release: Water Fang Bullet: Variant of the Water Bullet technique where Itachi produces the attack from an existing water source and propels it with a drill-like motion, to strike with greater piercing force and catch an enemy off-guard. According to the databook, Itachi’s version of this attack fires at the speed of light.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique: A variation of the Water Bullet technique where Itachi molds water into a giant liquid dragon, assailing the enemy with even greater mass and force. Like other Water Style techniques, this jutsu can either be formed from existing water sources or produced by the user.

Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field: A Water Style jutsu that Itachi has demonstrated in the novels, in which he produces a high viscosity liquid to coat the ground, acting as a sticky trap to ensnare an opponent or limit their mobility in combat.

Wind Release

According to the Fourth Databook, Itachi is capable of utilizing Wind Style Ninjutsu, though he has never demonstrated any specific techniques in the series. Wind Style is considered a rare nature, and has been described as unrivaled in battle power, able to cut, tear, and sever everything in its path.

Clone Techniques

Beyond the standard Clone and Shadow Clone techniques, Itachi has demonstrated multiple specific clone variants which he uses more frequently in combat. These clones share the traits of a Shadow Clone, but also have additional properties that allow them to serve more of a function beyond duplication and intel gathering. These variants include:

Crow Clone Technique: Itachi creates a clone out of crows, which utilizes less Chakra than a Shadow Clone and when destroyed, will disperse into the group of crows composing its body. After dispersing, the crows can then reform the clone as it was. This makes the clone more difficult to eliminate than other clone variants, and the sudden swarm of crows doubles as a means of disorienting the opponent.

Detonating Shadow Clones: Itachi can also create more standard Shadow Clones, but with an additional effect: he can make his clones explode when they are attacked, via a technique called Clone Great Explosion. This kind of clone has never been demonstrated by any character other than Itachi, so it’s possible that he developed it himself.

Kotoamatsukami

Though he cannot perform this jutsu with his own Sharingan, Itachi does have access to the legendary Genjutsu utilized by his late friend Shisui Uchiha, which is implied to surpass even the Tsukuyomi: Kotoamatsukami. Both of Shisui’s eyes could perform variants of this jutsu, but when the weaker right eye was stolen by the Hidden Leaf elder Danzo, Shisui entrusted Itachi with his left eye before committing suicide, to ensure that the ultimate Genjutsu would be safe in the hands of someone he trusted. Beyond this point, Itachi implanted the eye into one of his crows for safekeeping, intending to save it for later use.

The version of Kotoamatsukami in Shisui’s left eye is, to put it simply, the ability to permanently alter a person’s thoughts and personality without their awareness. For instance, even at the peak of Sasuke’s hatred for the Hidden Leaf Village, if Itachi had used Kotoamatsukami to tell him “defend the Hidden Leaf Village” (as was his plan), Sasuke’s personality would have changed to accommodate this instruction, turning himself into a protector of the village without him realizing the reason for his shift in outlook. Though Itachi never succeeded in using it on Sasuke as he intended, he instead used it on himself to free himself from the mental control of Kabuto’s Reanimation Jutsu, superseding Kabuto’s instructions and allowing Itachi to act in the interest of the village instead.

This Genjutsu was so powerful that it could have ended the Uchiha Coup before it could begin, which was why Danzo attempted to steal it from Shisui, to ensure the massacre would proceed as planned. It can be used without hand seals and even without eye contact, with Danzo having used its weaker variant on Mifune with his eye still covered and without anyone noticing its activation. The downside, however, is that although the jutsu doesn’t blind its user immediately the way that certain Sharingan techniques do, it can only be used once every ten years.

Weaknesses

As covered extensively, many of Itachi’s more powerful jutsu are very draining, with aftereffects ranging from severe Chakra drain, to vision loss, to complete blindness, to physical backlash, to the loss of the ability for further use. As Itachi’s life went on, these effects took a severe toll on him, leaving him severely debilitated in the days leading up to his death. To compound this, Itachi also suffered from an unspecified illness which wracked his body and caused his condition to deteriorate drastically the more time went on. Ultimately, the drawbacks of his abilities combined with his terminal illness were what killed him, with him barely holding out long enough to free Sasuke from Orochimaru’s influence.

Which brings us to Itachi’s biggest weakness: his unconditional love for Sasuke, his younger brother. After departing the Village, Itachi dedicated the entire rest of his life to protecting Sasuke indirectly, motivating him to become stronger and planning to die by his hand in the end – an outcome which ultimately came to pass. Itachi’s life, death, hopes and dreams were defined by the depth with which he cared for Sasuke, and as such his actions will always be in (his own, somewhat misguided view of) Sasuke’s best interests.

Kisame Hoshigaki

Background

“Sharks start out as eggs, but incubate and hatch in the womb. Sometimes the number of pups is less than the number of eggs that were fertilized. Do you know why? Cannibalism. The pups start eating each other within the mother’s womb the moment they hatch. They start killing their siblings the moment they enter the world, viewing everything they see as nothing more than prey. As of today you and I are fellow members of Akatsuki. So be careful… of me.”

Kisame Hoshigaki was originally a regular shinobi of Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist. Working under one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kisame was dedicated to his missions, being willing to take the lives of his fellow shinobi just to avoid information being leaked. But after discovering that his superior himself was selling information to the Village’s enemies, Kisame took his life and sword, realizing that the world really was filled with lies. And indeed it was, for even the Fourth Mizukage that led their Village was little more than a pawn, manipulated by a man that called himself Madara Uchiha. That man saw Kisame and told him that he planned to create a world of truth, something that caught the swordsman’s attention.

Kisame became one of the Seven Swordsmen himself for a time before eventually getting involved in several assassinations that turned him into a rogue ninja. Eventually, he joined the Akatsuki, becoming partners with Itachi Uchiha, another famous traitor known for killing those close to him, as a way of keeping them both in check. However, both shinobi somehow managed to form a strong bond with each other, becoming great partners during their missions to capture the Tailed Beasts. The two went on multiple battles against the Hidden Leaf to attempt to capture the Nine-Tailed Fox, with Kisame facing off against Taijutsu expert Might Guy on multiple occasions and captured the Four-Tails with ease. After the death of Itachi, and despite the fall of the Akatsuki’s “leader” Pain, Kisame remained loyal to Madara and his cause. After facing off against the Eight-Tails and its host, Killer B, and nearly dying in the process, Kisame would battle one last time against Might Guy… and be defeated completely.

But as the allied forces attempted to use him to obtain info on Madara, Kisame did what he does best, and prevented an info leak by killing off the one that couldn’t prevent it… himself. Throughout his life, Kisame failed to find what his purpose in life was in this world of lies, but being able to give away his own life for what he believed in meant that at the very end, his life held meaning.

Experience & Skill

Kisame is an incredibly talented shinobi, having been raised in the harsh Hidden Mist Village, a society so cruel that one had to fight their own classmates to the death in order to even become a shinobi in the first place. Kisame worked directly under one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, and was eventually able to kill him in order to take his place. After becoming of the Seven Swordsmen, Kisame continued to gain extreme experience as a ninja, working directly under the Mizukage and eventually mastering the use of the Samehada, the most terrifying of the seven blades of the Mist. 

His skill as a fighter was enough that he proved to be a difficult fight even for skilled shinobi like Might Guy, the best Taijutsu user in Konoha, and Killer Bee, one of the few Jinchuriki who fully tamed their Tailed Beast and a fighter who worked alongside the Raikage. 

Equipment

Samehada

A sentient sword and Kisame’s primary weapon. Samehada (meaning “sharkskin”) is incredibly deadly, being known as the most terrible of the seven blades of the Mist. Its blade is made out of scales that can shred through whatever it attacks, and it can extend its scales and turn them into spikes. Its hilt is capable of extending, giving Kisame more range options. Samehada’s most interesting ability, however, is its power to consume Chakra. Not only does Samehada constantly take Chakra from its wielder, whenever it slices through enemies, it takes their Chakra as well, preventing them from using many of their abilities in the process. Even Tailed Beasts, famed for their immense Chakra reserves, can be easily drained by just a few hits from Samehada. It can even give that stolen Chakra to Kisame, enhancing his own reserves in the process. Kisame can even fuse with Samehada and use this ability for himself.

If someone other than Kisame tries to wield Samehada, it will grow spikes on its handle to get them to let go of it. Kisame can also stay alive within Samehada itself to avoid death or fatal strikes via substitution, which is a unique and useful defense mechanism. Samehada and Kisame also have the same Chakra signature, which can fool shinobi sensors. However, a fatal flaw with Samehada is that, should it sense someone with an incredibly appetizing and voluminous Chakra, more so than Kisame, it’ll bail on him and instead want to be wielded by someone else.

Abilities

Art of Silent Killing

A technique commonly used by the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, including Kisame, is the ability to move and kill an opponent without so much as making a sound, typically by moving behind them and using their blades to finish the job.

Water Release

Kisame’s main elemental style, and one he has mastered in combat. While Water Style is more typically used near bodies of water, Kisame’s absurd Chakra reserves allow him to create massive amounts of water by himself, usually being capable of altering entire battlefields to benefit him in combat. Water Release is incredibly powerful for offensive maneuvers, but its versatility allows for Kisame to use several kinds of techniques.

Water Clone Technique: Kisame creates clones of himself made out of water. While lacking in physical power, having only around one-tenth of the user’s strength, these clones make up for it by being capable of using their own Jutsu to assist the original.

Water Prison Technique: Kisame traps a target inside of a sphere of heavy water, preventing movements and making breathing incredibly difficult. The prison can only be maintained for as long as Kisame stays in contact with it, which is why it’s usually used in combination with the Water Clone Technique.

Water Bullet: Kisame creates concussive bullets out of water, striking an opponent at high speed.

Water Shark Bullet: Kisame’s signature move, where he shapes his water into the form of a shark before launching it towards his targets. He has crafted several variations of this move to use in battle:

• Four Shark Dance: Kisame launches water into the sky, which then forms into four sharks that attack enemies from above.
• Five Feeding Sharks: Kisame puts his hand on water, and uses that to create five water sharks, one for each finger, to attack his enemies. 
• A Thousand Feeding Sharks: A version of the last technique, but this time creating a thousand water sharks.
• Great Water Shark Bullet: A gigantic version of the Water Shark Bullet that can grow larger in size by absorbing the Chakra of enemy attacks.

Exploding Water Colliding Wave: Kisame produces a massive amount of water, unleashing tidal waves on his targets while surfing around in order to get clean hits on them. This technique is also incredibly useful for allowing other Water Release techniques, leaving behind a good amount of excess water that can be used by Kisame later on. Kisame also possesses a variation of this technique, Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, that increases the amount of water even further.

• Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave: Kisame does the colliding wave thing, only bigger this time.

Water Prison Shark Dance: By using all of the water from the Colliding Wave to form a gigantic Water Prison, Kisame then makes himself the center of said prison, with it moving alongside him to make any attempts of escaping much harder.

Earth Release:
Subterranean Voyage

By transforming the earth around himself into a liquid-like substance, Kisame can swim through the ground like a shark, with Samehada protruding from the earth in a similar manner as a shark’s dorsal fin.

Summoning: Sharks

Like many other shinobi, Kisame has access to Summoning Jutsu, allowing him to call in sharks to assist him in battle, or send out messages to his allies. They don’t do much, but they’re still a useful asset, especially if Kisame needs a way to kill himself while surrounded.

Forms/States

Fused State

Kisame and Samehada’s symbiotic relationship is perfectly demonstrated, the two fusing together to form one, shark-like body. All of Samehada’s special properties are applied to Kisame’s body, with him being capable of absorbing Chakra through touch and sensing it through his skin. He can grow spikes from his arms and he gains great ease at moving through water, something he combines with his other techniques to gain a massive advantage against his opponents. 

Weaknesses

While Kisame’s Chakra absorption is a fearsome technique, it does have a couple drawbacks or weak spots. For starters, Kisame’s ability to regenerate from damage is reliant on how much Chakra he has absorbed, and in general he somewhat over-relies on his absorption, causing him to be caught off-guard by attacks such as Guy’s Hirudora, which is not Chakra-based. Additionally, his absorption can sometimes work too well, such as in his fight with Killer B, where he absorbed so much Chakra that Samehada itself turned traitor and decided to side with B over him, enticed by all the tasty Chakra it had absorbed from him.

Orochimaru

Background

“Real power is forged from the desire smoldering in the heart. It fans into a flame and begins to burn with an intensity scarcely imagined to be possible.”

Konohagakure, also known as the Hidden Leaf Village, has a reputation for being the home to many famous ninja. From the ‘Yellow Flash’ Minato Namikaze to the heroes of the Fourth Great Ninja War Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, these generations of shinobi would protect Konoha from outside threats. However, many years before these great ninjas were born, the Hidden Leaf Village only had 3 protectors, the Three Legendary Sannin. Jiraiya the Gallant, the future Fifth Hokage Tsunade Senju, and the traitorous Orochimaru.

Before he would betray his home village and turn to a life of villainy, Orochimaru was once the orphaned student of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi alongside Jiraiya and Tsunade as his teammates. He stood out from his peers as a prodigy, graduating from Konoha’s ninja academy at the young age of 6. In fact, Hiruzen viewed his talents, insight, and determination as something that can only be seen once in a generation. However, Orochimaru’s life would change when he found a white snake at the graves of his parents. This white snake, through Hiruzen’s explanation, represented fortune and rebirth, inspiring the young man to learn kinjutsu (forbidden jutsu) and achieve the goal of learning the knowledge of every jutsu in the world.

At some point in Orochimaru’s life, Konoha would participate in the Second Ninja World War. It was during this war that Orochimaru and his teammates would face off against the leader of the Hidden Rain Village, Hanzo of the Salamander. Hanzo had the reputation for killing anyone who fought him in battle, but the students of Hiruzen did the impossible. They survived. Even though the three did lose, Hanzo was very impressed and awarded them the title of Konoha’s Three Legendary Sannin. Later on in his life, Orochimaru would also participate in the Third Ninja World War. While not much is known, Orochimaru’s performance in the war was so great, he was considered a top candidate for becoming the village’s Fourth Hokage.

After the third war, Orochimaru joined Konoha’s Anbu organization and later its Root Division under Danzo Shimura. At the same time, he took Anko Mitarashi as his student, teaching her a lot of his snake-themed techniques. Despite this development, his goal never changed and was slowly heading towards a dark path. When Hiruzen declared Minato Namikaze as Konoha’s Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru felt no reason to stay in the village longer as he wanted to use the Hokage title for his own personal gain. As a result, he kidnapped 60 children and experimented on them with the DNA of Hashirama Senju. Only 1 child survived. He would continue his experiments on other human beings, using them as guinea pigs to develop techniques that would grant him immortality. These techniques include the Living Corpse Reincarnation and the Cursed Seal Marks. In addition, Orochimaru would gain Kimimaro and Kabuto Yakushi as new underlings while also leaving behind Anko, creating his personal Hidden Sound Village.

Unfortunately for Orochimaru, Hiruzen would catch him red-handed. However, the Third Hokage couldn’t go through with killing his former student, allowing Orochimaru to escape Konoha. Now branded as a traitor, he would join the Akatsuki and partner up with the puppet master Sasori of the Red Sand. However, his time with the rogue shinobi organization was short-lived as he left after failing to steal Itachi Uchiha’s body. The Akatsuki wouldn’t take this desertion lightly and sent Sasori and Deidara to kill him, though Orochimaru would manage to escape.

Sometime after leaving the Akatsuki, Orochimaru partnered up with the Fourth Kazekage to infiltrate and destroy Konoha. The invasion would occur during the Chunin Exams, which were held in the Hidden Leaf where Orochimaru would find Sasuke Uchiha and take an interest in him. He brands Sasuke with a Cursed Seal, kickstarting the young Uchiha’s quest for power. Once the invasion began, Orochimaru succeeded in killing his former sensei but would lose his ability to use Ninjutsu in the process. Later, he reunited with his former teammate Tsunade and tried to get her to heal his arms but was forced to retreat after getting into a battle with both her and Jiraiya. After switching to a new body, Orochimaru’s luck changed when Sasuke joined him. Excited by the new prospect of gaining the Sharingan, Orochimaru began to train Sasuke to be his next perfect vessel.

Two and half years later, Orochimaru would battle Naruto Uzumaki after the latter and his team tried to impersonate Sasori to meet up with Kabuto. Despite taking the fight seriously against Naruto in his Four-Tailed form, the rejection of his current host body forced Orochimaru to retreat. When Sasuke had a brief reunion with his former teammates, Orochimaru stopped him from killing them since he was hoping they would kill more members of the Akatsuki. When his current body begins rejecting him more, Orochimaru decides to move on to Sasuke. Unfortunately for him, Sasuke decided to kill him, viewing him as unworthy to have an Uchiha’s body. Despite Orochimaru’s best attempts to steal his pupil’s body, Sasuke would reverse the process and absorb him. During Sasuke’s battle with his older brother Itachi, Orochimaru emerged from the younger Uchiha’s body in another attempt to steal his body. However, Itachi would seal him away using the Totsuka Sword.

After this, Orochimaru would remain dead until the Fourth Great Ninja World War when Sasuke revived him from Anko’s cursed seal. After helping Sasuke get the answers he sought by reviving the first four Hokage as Edo Tensei, the Snake Snake would join his former pupil in participating in the war against Madara and Obito. When asked by Hiruzen why this change in mind, Orochimaru answered with his interest in the new path Sasuke plans on taking, having made an error in judgement after seeing the results of Kabuto taking his place. On the battlefield, Orochimaru would assist in destroying the branches of the Ten-Tails and immobilizing the Zetsu clone Tobi.

After the war ended, Orochimaru formed a truce with Konoha and the Five Great Nations. While he would get pardoned for his crimes, the former criminal was placed under 24/7 surveillance by Konoha’s jonin. Regardless, Orochimaru was allowed to move freely wherever he wanted and continued his genetic experiments. At some point using cloning technology, he created two synthetic humans from his genetic source to be his sons, Log and Mitsuki. While Log served as a shinobi for Orochimaru’s new Hidden Sound Village, Mitsuki became a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village as part of a team with Boruto Uzumaki and Sarada Uchiha. No longer the villain he once was, Orochimaru continues his life while proudly watching his sons forge their own.

Experience & Skill

Orochimaru was trained under Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. As a young child, he was a genius prodigy of his generation, having graduated from Konoha’s ninja academy at the young age of 6. This is impressive since his teammates are Tsunade Senju, granddaughter of the First Hokage and pioneer of medical Ninjutsu in Konoha, and Jiraiya, who would later become a teacher towards Nagato Uzumaki (a.k.a. Pain), Minato Namikaze (the future Fourth Hokage), and Naruto Uzumaki (savior of the Ninja World and future Seventh Hokage). Because Orochimaru stood out the most in sheer aptitude as a natural prodigy and received recognition as the best of his generation, he received praise from even the First Hokage Hashirama Senju. As a result, his depth of knowledge and skill in Ninjutsu is greater than any other shinobi in history. This is proven by his proficiency in countless jutsu including transformation, sealing, summoning, forbidden, medical, and barrier.

When he was older, Orochimaru and his teammates were enlisted in two world wars. While the information regarding his performance in the Third Ninja World War stated that he did well enough to be considered a candidate for the title of Hokage, it was his performance in the Second Ninja World War that made him recognizable as a powerful shinobi when he and his team went up against Hanzo the Salamander. At that point, Hanzo was so well known and renowned throughout the world, enemy shinobi would flee just by the sight of him. Only a few shinobi were able to stand up to him and live, and Orochimaru and his team became some of those people. Despite not being a member of Konoha anymore, Orochimaru still participated in the Fourth Ninja World War against Madara and Obitio, helping the allied forces against the two Akatsuki members and their army of Zetsu clones and Ten Tails clones. His experience from participating and living through three world wars have made Orochmaru a deadly adversary.

Orochimaru is also considered to be an extremely intelligent shinobi, gaining a vast amount of information in his lifetime thanks to his time in organizations like Root and the Akatsuki as well as the extensive research and experiments he performs. It also helps that he has countless supplied hideouts stationed throughout several countries. With his experiments, Orochimaru can decipher the world’s secrets by comprehending, attaining, or reproducing the abilities of his subjects, giving him an expertise knowledge of human genetics as well. He uses this type of knowledge to create clones and later perfectly synthetic humans, making them stronger than regular humans. Orochimaru is also capable of utilizing his intelligence in combat as well, whether by manipulating others into becoming his servants or by quickly deducing the workings of an enemy’s fighting style and responding accordingly.

Equipment

Sword of Kusanagi

Based on the Japanese legend of the same name, the Sword of Kusanagi is Orochimaru’s most notable weapon. He can summon the sword by either vomiting it out of his mouth or from the mouth of a snake that he vomits out, either handle first to use it freely or blade first to attack instantly. Orochimaru can extend and retract the sword’s blade, allowing him to attack from a long distance. If he ever gets disarmed, he can simply command the sword telekinetically. The Sword of Kusanagi can also transform into a small snake and return to Orochimaru. During Orochimaru’s battle with his former teacher, Enma, Hiruzen’s monkey summon who can transform into an adamantine staff as hard as diamonds, stated that fighting the Sword of Kusanagi would be “sore”. The sword was able to tank blows from Enma’s staff form, which can destroy Hashirama’s Wood-Style Ninjutsu.

Mind Awakening Pills

Drugs created by Orochimaru to speed up the user’s Cursed Seal to its second level by increasing the seal’s development. However, this would kill the user as the pills would also increase the Cursed Seal’s contamination speed. To prevent this, the user must be sealed using the Four Black Fogs Formation technique. This would put the user into a false death state, allowing their body to get used to their Cursed Seal’s second level.

Genjutsu Pills

Pills created by Orochimaru that could cast a Genjutsu on anyone who ingests them, paralyzing their body as a result. They can greatly affect the mind as the Eight-Tails Gyuki was unable to remember the events of his last rampage after his former host Blue B ingested the pills.

Shinigami Mask

A mask resembling the Shinigami’s face that Orochimaru had taken from the Uzumaki Clan’s Mask Storage Temple. With this mask, Orochimaru can summon and control the Shinigami by allowing it to possess him. As a result, he can perform a technique known as the Dead Demon Consuming Seal: Release.

Abilities

Shuriken Shadow
Clone Technique

Invented by his former teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi, this technique involves Orochimaru using his Chakra to duplicate a single shuriken he throws. Because an inanimate object is being duplicated, this technique is much more difficult to pull off. In an instant, the targeted opponent is surrounded by thousands of physically real copies of shuriken spread throughout the area from all directions.

Chakra Scalpel

Originally created for medical purposes, this technique can also be utilized as a lethal attack as they can create highly accurate incisions and make cuts inside a person’s body without opening wounds. With great precision, Orochimaru can inflict internal damage to his opponents. He can also immobilize his targets by cutting their muscle tissues and tendons.

Wind Release

Wind Release is one of the five elemental Chakras and one of the two that Orochimaru uses in combat. Considered the rarest of the five nature transformations, shinobi can cut through anything with Wind Release techniques. Wind can either be exhaled from the user’s mouth for area of effect techniques or be generated from their hands for precise attacks. Despite this nature transformation being naturally good in terms of range and power, compressing the wind or layering different wind streams together would enhance the techniques.

Wind Release: Breakthrough – After gathering Chakra inside his stomach, Orochimaru expels it from his mouth as a gust of wind strong enough to blow away everything within his vicinity, though it can also be used for supplementary purposes.

Wind Release: Gale Palm – A technique where Orochimaru either increases the velocity of the wind generated or transforms the wind into a powerful gale by compressing it. This jutsu can be used to a lethal effect by launching shurikens and kunai at incredible speed.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough – Orochimaru blows away everything in front of him by breathing wind from his mouth that’s as powerful as a hurricane’s, being able to uproot trees.

Earth Release

Earth Release is one of the five elemental Chakras and the second of the two that Orochimaru uses in combat. It focuses on all earthly material, ranging from dirt and stone to clay and gems which the user can change one to the other. With this specific nature transformation, shinobi can use their Chakra to alter the form of the earth, create earth from within their bodies, or change the terrain surrounding them.

Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique – Despite the goofy name, Orochimaru does know this jutsu. By using his Chakra to alter the dirt he’s standing on into sand, Orochimaru can dig and move underground like the snake he is. Despite being underground, he can pinpoint his location and what goes on onto the surface by sensing the magnetic forces, allowing him to launch a surprise attack on his opponents. The technique also lets Orochimaru hide deep underground where opponents can’t reach him, luring them into a trap or false sense of security.

Earth Release: Shadow Clone – A technique where Orochimaru creates a shadow clone made out of mud. Unlike a regular shadow clone, this earth variant can reform itself after getting hit with an attack.

Fuinjutsu

Fuinjutsu is the art of sealing techniques, an art that Orochimaru became an expert of. Fuinjutsu techniques involve sealing a wide variety of things, including objects, Chakra, and even living beings, within another object. However, shinobi can also use fuinjutsu to restrict movement or unseal objects either from within something or someone. A formation of technique formulae, kanji, or various other symbols is used to mark the presence of a seal. Just like a Genjutsu, combining specific seals can undo fuinjutsu. Thanks to his inhumane experiments, Orochimaru was able to create a variety of fuinjutsu techniques to assist him in his goal of achieving immortality.

Four Symbols Seal

The Four Symbol Seal is a sealing technique where by applying the seal’s formula onto an object or the body of the human, the user can seal a large enemy or an evil spirit with them. A stronger seal can be created by using two Four Symbol Seals without them overlapping, allowing the Chakra of the being to merge with the Chakra of the host they’ve been sealed into. Orochimaru applied two Four Symbol Seals onto Mecha-Naruto so the robot could steal the Nine Tails from Naruto.

Five Elements Seal

The Five Elements Seal is a fuinjutsu technique created by Orochimaru by gathering the wickedness of his Chakra into his fingertips, forcefully applying the seal onto another seal to disrupt it. Orochimaru used this seal on Naruto’s Four Symbols Seal, and the odd-even imbalance of the two seals denied Naruto access to the Nine Tails’ Chakra while also making it difficult for Naruto to use his own Chakra.

Five Elements Unseal

The Five Elements Unseal is an advanced fuinjutsu technique that’s difficult for even jonin to perform. By gathering Chakra into the fingertips, the user can remove seals that are similar in power to it. The opposing seal unravels and disappears after the user’s Chakra hits it. Orochimaru has used this technique to break the Iron Armor Seal containing the Eight Tails inside its former host, Blue B.

Fuinjutsu Trap

A fuinjutsu technique used by Orochimaru to trap his targets into a different dimensional space once activated within the seal’s location. This technique is strong enough to withstand Kakashi’s Lightning Cutter when he tries to use it to break the seal. The only way to escape the trap is by creating the appropriate blood seal.

Space–Time Technique Formula:
Underworld Turnover

Designed by Orochimaru for the sole purpose of revenge, this fuinjutsu technique separates the souls of the user and their opponents within the seal’s range from their respective bodies, confining the souls inside a special barrier. Those with their souls removed are left barely alive in suspended animation to the point that their Chakra flow has stopped. Touching the bodies with the Chakra of an outside user will restore the souls back into them. This seal was activated during the Fourth Shinobi World War by the reincarnated Sound Four through the release of their hatred within their Cursed Seals. Those who can sense Chakra or possess the Byakugan won’t be able to see through the barrier.

Despite being inside the barrier, the souls still feel like themselves and can still perform any jutsu they know. Defeating the user will not end the fuinjutsu technique. Instead, the seal will end when the physical bodies of the trapped souls eventually die. However, this also means that the user will also die after activating this technique. This is so the souls of the trapped victims cannot escape as well as erasing the ill malice of the user that the barrier cannot hide. Breaking the seal from the outside will free the trapped souls while the user’s will disappear.

Dead Demon Consuming Seal

Also known as the Reaper Death Seal, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is a sealing technique that calls upon the power of the Shinigami. Orochimaru has only been able to use this technique when wearing the Shinigami Mask taken from the Uzumaki Temple. Once the ritual has started, the user’s soul is partially separated from their body and is restrained by the Shinigami behind them. The Shinigami then grabs the target’s soul, immobilizing them and dispelling their jutsu. Afterwards, the Shinigami removes the target’s soul and seals it inside the body of the summoner. However, the Shinigami will consume the summoner’s soul, trapping them and the target inside the Shinigami’s stomach and thus preventing them from going into the afterlife.

When Orochimaru used the Shinigami Mask, he performed a variation of the ritual called the Dead Demon Consuming Seal: Release to release the souls that were trapped inside the Shinigami’s stomach. By wearing the mask, Orochimaru became possessed by the Shinigami itself. To unseal the trapped souls, Orochimaru sliced his stomach open which caused the Shinigami to mimic the action. This was how the Snake Sannin was able to restore his arms and reanimate the first four Hokage. Afterwards, Orochimaru switched bodies to keep himself from dying.

Orochimaru’s Juinjutsu

When Orochimaru studied Jugo’s body, he discovered that the latter has the natural ability to absorb natural energy and release special body fluids with special reactions when in contact with senjutsu Chakra. These reactions include physical alterations to the body, a controlled shape-shifting quality, and greatly enhanced physical capabilities. By isolating an enzyme from Jugo’s fluids and mixing it with his own senjutsu Chakra, Orochimaru created the Cursed Seals and would give them to his most powerful followers and those he’d chosen to be his next host body. This is due to the fact that part of his consciousness remains in each Cursed Seal, meaning the snake can never truly die.

Orochimaru would apply the Cursed Seal by biting the necks of his recipients, branding it near the puncture wound. After the recipient receives the seal, they fall unconscious while their body accepts or rejects it at a 10% compatibility rate. Those who aren’t compatible will die while the ones who are will survive and receive power boosts given by the Curse Seal, which would grow further through continued use. Even if the seal turns dormant due to not being used, Orochimaru can forcefully activate it after gaining access. Once the Cursed Seal has been applied, it’s difficult to remove and the best option would be to suppress it instead.

Those who receive a Cursed Seal will not be able to control their access to it after first receiving the seal. In fact, the seal will cause the recipient intense physical pain until they’ve grown accustomed to it. The Cursed Seal will feed off the recipient’s Chakra when activated and replace it with Orochimaru’s own senjutsu Chakra. This will increase their Chakra reserves ten times as well as make their jutsus more powerful. As a result, the Cursed Seal can serve as backup as long as the recipient still has some of their own Chakra. However, continued use of the Cursed Seal will corrupt the recipient’s mind and make them susceptible to Orochimaru’s influence while at the same time synchronizing with their body and enhancing the abilities of their normal state.

The Cursed Seal has two levels. The first level is initially accessed by everyone who received a Cursed Seal from Orochimaru, but this level does contain some discomfort and risks. However, the second level gets rid of that discomfort and risks while also increasing the advantages of the Cursed Seal. In this second level, the recipient gains the ability to physically transform. However, their mind and personality will get eaten away by the seal, driving the recipient into madness in this state if used for too long. In addition, the second level will take a toll on the recipient since their body is being physically mutated. Fortunately, those skilled with the Cursed Seal can isolate these physical transformations to specific parts of their body.

Cursed Seal of Heaven

One of the strongest Cursed Marks in existence and the counterpart to the Cursed Seal of Earth, the Cursed Seal of Heaven was applied to Sasuke and Anko by Orochimaru. The purpose of this seal is to erode Sasuke’s mind to make him the perfect vessel for Orochimaru. Like every Cursed Seal, it increases the recipient’s Chakra levels and physical capabilities when activated to the point that Sasuke was able to fight on par with Naruto’s One-Tailed Form while using the seal’s second level for the first time. In the second level of this Cursed Seal, Sasuke gained wings for flight and the ability to regenerate lost limbs with snakes. The Cursed Seal of Heaven contains Orochimaru’s Chakra and his consciousness is split amongst the Cursed Seals. This is what helped Sasuke revive Orochimaru to his original state and mind.

Cursed Seal of Earth

One of the strongest Cursed Marks in existence and the counterpart to the Cursed Seal of Heaven, the Cursed Seal of Earth was applied to Kimimaro by Orochimaru. Like every Cursed Seal, it increases the recipient’s Chakra levels and physical capabilities while also making their Ninjutsu skills more effective in combat when activated. The Cursed Seal of Earth’s second level also provides the recipient with a regenerative ability as Kimimaro was able to instantly restore his torn flesh after transforming into his second state. He needs to transform in order to effectively use his technique Dance of the Clematis: Flower because it generates a large bone weapon with a sheer density of the compressed bone. The second level of Kimimaro’s Cursed Seal also lets him merge the bone blades of his other technique Dance of the Seedling Fern for a deadly surprise attack at an opponent’s blind spot.

Sound Four’s Cursed Marks

While not the strongest in existence, the Cursed Seals given to the Sound Four do possess many useful capabilities. Just like Orochimaru’s other Cursed Seals, these ones feed off of Chakra while also providing senjutsu Chakra in return. As a result, the Sound Four receive increased Chakra levels, enhanced physical capabilities and their Ninjutsu skills becoming more effective while their seals are active, but each member also receives a unique transformation and attribute boost. These Cursed Seals make the Sound Four ten times stronger, but they will lose energy after coming out of their seal’s second state.

Animal Cursed Seal

A unique but incomplete and unstable Cursed Seal given to Mizuki by Orochimaru. However, this Cursed Seal is received via a potion. This potion can be made by receiving a tattoo containing instructions via the bite of a snake. This potion is the actual source of power instead of the Cursed Seal, consisting of the genetic information of animals that would release an explosive boost of power when combined with the user’s body.

The recipient receives enhanced physical abilities, increased Chakra levels, and muscle growth during the first stage of the Animal Cursed Seal as well as the traits of an animal. Once the recipient reaches the second level of this seal, their strength and abilities further increases immensely, gaining specific animal characteristics.

Due to the Animal Cursed Seal being incomplete, the effects gained from it are only temporary. In addition, these great boosts of power are far too strong for the recipient’s body to handle, placing a heavy burden on their cells and destroying their body as a result. Mizuki ended up becoming a malnourished and powerless old man with a shriveled up body.

Body Modifications

In order to achieve his goals of immortality and the perfect vessel, Orochimaru would experiment on himself by applying several modifications to his body. These modifications include a powerful healing factor, allowing him to regenerate from heavy damage in just short periods of time. He can either reconnect his body after being bisected or regurgitate his old body into a new old similar to how a snake sheds its skin. For greater maneuverability, Orochimaru can stretch and manipulate his body, such as being able to stretch his neck at a greater length. Because of these modifications, Orochimaru’s body is surprisingly durable, being able to take super strong punches from his former teammate Tsunade unharmed.

Soft Physique Modification

Thanks to his modifications, Orochimaru made his body increasingly flexible and elastic. This is helpful as this technique allows him to stretch and bend his body, extending it to great lengths and retracting it again. By dislocating his joints, Orochimaru uses his Chakra to manipulate his body shape however and whenever he pleases. He uses this technique to restrain or constrict his opponents or uses his limbs to whip his opponents, though he also uses this technique to gather intelligence by squeezing through small spaces.

Slithering Snake Mode

A disturbing technique that Orochimaru uses to increase his speed and agility by transforming the lower half of his body into a snake’s tail. He likes to use this technique in conjunction with his specialized Body Replacement Technique.

Orochimaru-Style Body
Replacement Technique

An even more disturbing technique that Orochimaru likes to use. This is his own unique variant of the Body Replacement Technique that he uses primarily in response to receiving heavy damage or to escape a seemingly unavoidable attack. Based on how a snake would shed its skin, Orochimaru creates a new body from himself by regurgitating it from his old one with injuries and clothing completely restored, even if he received severed injuries such as when he got his arms amputated or had his throat slit. However, because Orochimaru is materializing a new body without any previous injury, this technique requires a large amount of Chakra to perform.

Gathering of the Snakes

Another technique Orochimaru uses as a method to heal himself. If Orochimaru finds himself bisected, the damage gets undone as snakes will emerge from the severed halves of his body and pull him back together, reconnecting his body.

Snake Techniques

When Orochimaru discovered Ryuchi Cave after finding the source of Jugo’s abilities, he trained under the White Snake Sage and the snakes that resided there. While he was unable to achieve Sage Mode, he did learn various techniques based around snakes, making him a deadly and hard to kill combatant in battle.

Hidden Shadow Snake Hands

With this technique, Orochimaru can summon several snakes from either under his sleeve or by turning his tongue into a snake. These snakes follow Orochimaru’s commands, attacking or capturing targets by biting or constricting them. Because of their length, the snakes can be used from a fair distance away and latch onto the surroundings, pulling Orochimaru towards a destination to help him get around faster.

Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands

A stronger variant of the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands where Orochimaru increases the amount of snakes he summons, thereby increasing the diversity of the technique. A swarm of giant snakes appear in an instant with each snake either intimidating, diverting, or capturing the enemy in a cooperative attack, entangling the enemy before they can get a chance to react.

Binding Snake Glare Spell

Orochimaru summons one or two large snakes from under his sleeve to either capture someone alive or kill them by constriction. The snakes coil around the person and bite them with their poisonous fangs. These snakes are far more intelligent and stronger than regular snake summons, making it hard for someone to escape their restraint.

Snake Mouth Bind

Called a rip-off by Jiraiya of his Toad Mouth Bind, Orochimaru uses this technique to trap himself and his opponent inside the mouth of a giant snake. The elasticity is so great, Gamabunta, a toad of similar size, is able to fit inside.

White Snake Possession

A technique where Orochimaru transfers his consciousness into a white snake that would slither into a person’s body, allowing him to gain control over that person’s body and their mind. However, Orochimaru’s body will be left defenseless once he has taken control over his victim’s body.

Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes

Orochimaru summons a countless number of snakes from his mouth for the purpose of hunting down an enemy opponent by overwhelming them, making defense and evasion meaningless. By burying the opponent, the snakes will bite them with their poisonous fangs or open their mouths to extend blades similar to Orochimaru’s Sword of Kusanagi. Additionally, these snakes can gather together to form a literal wall of snakes to protect Orochimaru from incoming attacks.

Summoning: Manda

While Orochimaru has summoned numerous snakes to aid in battle, the biggest and most notable one is the snakes’ boss summon Manda. While the relationship between Manda and his summoner is antagonistic, the boss summon is willing to obey Orochimaru’s commands in exchange for sacrifices and other conditions. Known as the “strongest colossal serpent”, Manda is able to hold his own against Gamabunta and Katsuya at once, the boss summons of Jiraiya and Tsunade respectively. Despite his large size, Manda is surprisingly fast as he’s able to dodge attacks from Katsuya. Just like Orochimaru, the snake boss is able to create a new body for himself from his old one. Lastly, Manda is able to burrow underground for a sneak attack.

Summoning: Rashomon

With this technique, Orochimaru summons a large gate with a demonic face on its doors. With the doors being tightly shut and built solidly, the gate serves as a shield against most forms of physical attacks. The stronger the attack is, the more damage the attacker will do to themselves if they try and fail to break through the gate. The gate also has some offensive capabilities by having launchers installed in the roof-tiles that fire swarms of blades via a chain mechanism, though launching too many of them near the gate’s base will cripple its foundation and will cause it to collapse.

Summoning: Triple Rashomon

An upgraded version of the standard Rashomon. Following its namesake, this technique summons three giant gates for three times the defense. Unlike the standard version, Orochimaru is required to use two summoning seals to summon these gates, though the lack of hand seals required further boosts their defensive capabilities. The first gate takes the attack head-on, the second one reduces its power, and finally the third one disperses the pressure. As a result, all attacks that come in contact with the Rashomon gates will lose their power before they can be effective.

Summoning:
Impure World Reincarnation

Originally created by the second Hokage Tobirama Senju, this technique is labeled as forbidden as it binds the soul of a deceased person to a living vessel and restores them as they were in the last moments of their lives in order to do the bidding of their summoner. Originally, the technique had two main flaws. First, the power of the reincarnated souls are greatly diminished compared to their power when they were alive. Second, Tobirama was only able to control a small number of Edo Tensei at a time. When Orochimaru discovered the technique, he was able to make several improvements to it and somewhat mitigated these flaws. Eventually, Kabuto Yakushi was able to nearly perfect the technique.

To perform the technique, the DNA of the person being reincarnated is needed as well as living sacrifice serving as the vessel for the reincarnated person, which is why this technique became forbidden. Only souls residing in the Pure Lands (the Ninja World’s afterlife) or are readily available in the Impure World can be reincarnated with this technique. The DNA of the reincarnated shinobi is smeared on a special scroll, and once it’s activated, the person being sacrificed is transformed into the soul being reincarnated. The sacrifice’s Chakra signature is completely overridden with the Chakra of the one being reincarnated and despite still being technically alive, their body will never be theirs again and will die when the reincarnated soul is released.

In order to control the movements of a reincarnated soul, Orochimaru implants a kunai with a special talisman into the brain of the reincarnated soul where the talisman’s design determines the amount of control over the soul. At the most basic level, the reincarnated soul will still have their personality and will have the freedom to complete their tasks however they like. While this freedom allows the reincarnated souls to be more useful in combat because they know how best to use their own abilities, there’s also the risk that they can undermine their summoner by either making poor decisions on purpose or giving their opponents advice on how to defeat them. At the strongest level, the reincarnated soul will lose their personality and have their actions be controlled by Orochimaru. As a result, he can speak through the reincarnated souls or summon other reincarnated souls to his location. While this level of control will restrict the reincarnated souls to only act on Orochimaru’s commands, they’re less resourceful and require his attention for every action that must be taken. Despite the downside, Orochimaru prefers this level of control and uses Senju cells to strengthen the binding.

A person reincarnated by this technique retains all the abilities they had during their life and are physically restored as they were at the time of their deaths, including any physical handicaps they may have had. In addition, the reincarnated soul will typically possess the same amount of power they had when they were alive. However, the reincarnated souls will also get additional benefits from the technique. One benefit is being granted an immortal body that can regenerate from any damage that isn’t too crippling. Another benefit from this technique for the reincarnated soul is that their Chakra reserves have a limitless supply, allowing them to fight with any technique that’s physically demanding or Chakra-intensive for eternity. Lastly, souls reincarnated with this technique are unaffected by the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

The Impure World Reincarnation technique will continue even if Orochimaru dies, but there are three ways to end the technique. One way is removing the soul from the reincarnated body. Another is to have the summoner end the technique. Last is to give the reincarnated soul emotional closure that’ll allow them to break free from the technique’s influence. It is possible to neutralize the reincarnated souls if the technique doesn’t end by either binding them or sealing them away.

Forms/States

Hydra Form

Named the Eight Branches Technique, this form is Orochimaru’s most powerful snake-related technique in his arsenal and a product of his years of human experimentation and the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique. With this ability, Orochimaru transforms into a giant serpent with eight heads and eight tails. Larger than even Manda, Orochimaru in this form can destroy almost anything without any difficulty as he had transcended into a “Dragon God”. While in this form, Orochimaru himself can emerge from one of the eight heads’ mouths with the Sword of Kusanagi in hand.

True Form

After many years of modifying his body, the true form of Orochimaru has changed into that of a giant white snake. In his form, Orochimaru’s snake body is made up of many smaller snakes that can attack. Orochimaru’s blood in this form is poisonous and will evaporate into the air when exposed. Anyone who inhales it will instantly be paralyzed. He will reveal this form after initiating the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.

Power of the White Snake

The “Power of the White Snake” is the term used when referring to Orochimaru’s healing abilities and true form. This “power” is what allows him to utilize the Living Corpse Reincarnation to steal a victim’s body for his own. In addition to his increased regeneration, the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique and Gathering of the Snakes are two abilities that Orochimaru gains from the “Power of the White Snake”. Both Sasuke and Kabuto gained this power when they had absorbed Orochimaru (or genetic material for the latter) into their bodies.

Living Corpse Reincarnation

In order to fulfill his dream of acquiring all knowledge in existence, Orochimaru develops the Living Corpse Reincarnation to transfer his soul into someone else’s body, effectively making him immortal. Orochimaru performs this technique once every three years, needing to find a new host before his current one rejects him and rots away. However, a proper container can become a full time host for Orochimaru, which is why he had planned to steal Itachi’s and Sasuke’s bodies.

Orochimaru starts this technique by abandoning his current host and unveiling his true form. In this true form, he swallows his new host, taking them to a separate mental plane where he takes over their mind. While Orochimaru’s soul dominates the new host body, the souls of his previous hosts are kept alive but suppressed and are transferred over to the new body. Afterward, Orochimaru uses the “Power of the White Snake” to modify his body to be capable of performing his snake-themed techniques.

Weaknesses

Despite his intelligence and cunning nature, Orochimaru has his fair share of flaws. Even though he has made any attempts to cheat death and become immortal, the Snake Sannin can still be killed or at least be permanently subdued. One big example was when Sasuke reversed the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique, allowing him to absorb Orochimaru instead of the other way around. Another was when Itachi sealed him away using the Sword of Totsuka. While Orochimaru was able to come back later in the series, that was only because of Sasuke’s intervention. Meaning that if Sasuke hadn’t chosen to bring him back, Orochimaru would’ve stayed gone.

Orochimaru’s obsession with immortality and knowledge of all jutsu has led to his greatest weakness: his arrogance. Because of his body modifications, Orochimaru has truly believed himself to be immortal. As a result, he attacks recklessly even against strong opponents and goes as far as underestimating them. This has resulted in his “deaths” mentioned above as well as his expulsion from the Akatsuki after attacking Itachi and the loss of his hands in the climax of his attack on Konoha. And despite finding a way to keep himself immortal through the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique, he is forced to find a new body to transfer his soul and essence every three years unless they’re the perfect vessel. Lastly, he’s afraid of bugs.

Deidara

Background

“Art is an explosion!”

In Iwagakure, the Hidden Stone Village, Deidara was an incredibly skilled shinobi, possessing the unique skill of Explosion Style Jutsu. But at heart, he was an artist, creating clay sculptures that were praised by those that knew him. But in his mind, he had yet to discover true art. Using one of his Village’s forbidden Jutsu, Deidara gained the ability to infuse his Chakra into his clay and detonate it as a glorious explosive. This, to Deidara, was true art. Works that would last for a fleeting moment, before blowing everything around them away. Escaping from the Hidden Stone, Deidara became a rogue ninja, taking “commissions” as a terrorist bomber in order to show the world his art.

His power eventually gained the attention of the Akatsuki, a group Deidara had little to no interest in joining. Challenged by Itachi Uchiha, Deidara attempted to defeat the rogue ninja, only to be completely defeated by his Sharingan. His pride crushed, he joined the organization, but his hate for Itachi and his Sharingan remained. Partnered up with Sasori of the Red Sand, Deidara was tasked with capturing the One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku, and its current host, Gaara of the Sand.

Despite being up against one of the Five Kage, Deidara’s strategies allowed him to defeat Gaara in battle and capture his Tailed Beast, but ended up facing off against Team 7 of the Hidden Leaf in their Rescue Mission, losing both of his arms in the process. But even that wasn’t enough to defeat Deidara, and he escaped to fight another day. Now teamed up with the mysterious Tobi, Deidara assisted in capturing the Three-Tails, eventually being the one to take it out.

But much like his art, Deidara’s life was soon to end. Hearing that Itachi’s brother, Sasuke Uchiha, was on the move after killing Orochimaru, Deidara decided to go after him and prove his might by killing him. After a long battle where Deidara used every single one of his trump cards in an attempt to defeat the Uchiha prodigy, Deidara found himself forced to use his final explosion, ending his own life for one final, glorious explosion. Sadly, he failed to defeat Sasuke, but at least he went out with a bang.

Experience & Skill

While not much is known of Deidara’s time before he joined the Akatsuki, it was said that he fought as a member of the Demolitions Unit of Iwagakure before going rogue, likely having gained a great deal of combat experience during that time. As a member of the Akatsuki, he has showcased great amounts of skill from the get go, being able to face off against Gaara, one of the Five Kage, and managed to quickly understand how he used his personal sand after a short period of fighting, formulating a strategy that allowed him to overcome the Sand ninja’s overwhelming power and absolute defense in order to capture him. 

In his battle against Sasuke Uchiha, Deidara demonstrated great use of strategy, at first using his weaker bombs to understand what he was up against, before switching to using his large C2 Dragon and its landmines as a response to Sasuke’s great speed. Despite only ever facing an Uchiha once before, it was enough for Deidara to develop methods to resist Genjutsu, which he used to trick Sasuke into getting close in order for him to attack him directly with C4. It is important to note that Sasuke is an incredibly skilled shinobi in his own right, trained by masters like Kakashi and Orochimaru and being known as a prodigy when it came to ninja combat, yet Deidara’s tactics left him drained of Chakra and on his last legs by the end of their fight, C0 nearly outright killing him.

Equipment

Explosive Clay

Deidara carries a large amount of clay with him at all times, using them in order to use his many explosive Jutsu. Since the effectiveness of his techniques depend on the quality of the clay, he tends to look for the best possible clay around, taking plenty from the Ceramic Village in the Land of Wind.

Eye Scope

A scope Deidara uses to observe faraway targets. It also allows him to counter Genjutsu by enhancing his left eye, something he developed in order to one day defeat Itachi.

Abilities

Detonating Clay

A kinjutsu Deidara stole that was passed down from the Hidden Stone Village which allows one to mold Chakra into materials. By having one of his mouths chew and mold clay, he is able to make them turn into various shapes and make them explosive. Due to the quality of the clay being important for being able to turn them into various shapes, Deidara specifically uses the white clay from the Ceramic Village. Deidara has multiple stages for his clay that go from C0 to C4.

C1

Deidara’s most basic level of explosives. These explosives usually take the form of smaller birds or insects that can sneak up, hone in or even swarm opponents. Deidara can also create large birds that can be used as a method of travel and still a strong explosive if the situation calls for it.

C2

Deidara’s C2 takes the form as a large fuck all clay dragon that can be used for flight and also physical attacks. Most importantly, the clay dragon can launch smaller clay dragons as projectiles and can plant mines in the ground to restrict the movements of opponents. And of course if need be, the dragon itself can be used as an explosive. This is formed by using both of Deidara’s hand mouths.

C3

A large statue shaped bomb and one of Deidara’s strongest explosives. C3 is made to simply be a giant nuke and doesn’t really offer any other utility, though it was powerful enough that it would have decimated the entire Sand Village, had Gaara not stopped it.

C4

Possibly Deidara’s deadliest technique, the C4 bomb. It starts off as a giant clay clone of Deidara himself. However, instead of creating a large boom when detonated, it instead breaks apart and releases a bunch of microscopic explosives that are too small for the human eye to see. If inhaled, the bombs will enter the bloodstream and detonate, destroying the person on a cellular level. This technique uses Deidara’s own mouth to create.

C0

Deidara’s final explosion and last ditch effort move. By using the mouth situated on his chest, he devours clay and draws Chakra from all over his body to turn himself into a bomb. When he explodes, anything within a 10 kilometer radius is destroyed at the cost of Deidara’s own life.

Weaknesses

A large weakness for Deidara is his lack of skill in close quarters combat. Deidara is first and foremost a long range fighter so closing the gap on him would make it much harder for him to use his various and stronger explosives. Another issue is the fact that his detonating clay is limited and once he has run out of clay, Deidara will be pretty helpless. In addition, Lightning Style abilities can completely shut down the explosive properties of his clay.

Sasori

Background

“Fine art is something wonderful that’s left long into the future … eternal beauty.”

Born in the village of Sunagakure, Sasori lived a fond life with his parents before they were murdered right in front of him, leaving him under the care of his grandmother, Chiyo. She attempted to cheer Sasori up by teaching him the art of puppetry, which Sasori was surprisingly talented in. He eventually created two puppets in the form of his mother and father, in order to get rid of the aching loneliness in his heart. For a while, they served their purpose, but they couldn’t show the same parental love his original parents gave him, and so he discarded them. Instead, Sasori used his puppetry skills in battle, killing his enemies so effectively on the battlefield that he gained his title: Sasori of the Red Sand.

However, motivated by his desire to make works that last forever, Sasori began creating puppets out of living people, which started after his friend Komushi passed away. Sasori eventually left Sunagakure, eventually converting his entire body into puppet save for his core of living flesh. He assassinated the Third Kazekage during his travels and turned him into one of his puppets as a trophy. Sometime later, he encountered Konan, a member of the soon to be terrorist group called the Akatsuki, who wanted to recruit him. Sasori declined initially, only willing to join if Konan could best him in combat, which…she did. Sasori joined the Akatsuki and became an essential member of the group, creating sleeper agents to assist the group in missions.

Years later, Sasori, alongside Deidara, returned to his home village in order to capture the current Kazekage and One-Tailed Shukaku’s jinchūriki, Gaara. After Deidara succeeded in defeating and capturing Gaara, the two returned to their hideout in order to extract Shukaku and use his power for the Akatsuki. However, they were followed by Team 7 and Chiyo, who came to save Gaara. While Deidara held off Naruto and Kakashi, Sasori fought against Sakura and his grandmother. The battle was intense, with both sides being put on the backfoot, Chiyo using Sasori’s mother and father puppets to combat Sasori’s Kazekage puppet and Sakura fighting against Sasori’s hundred puppet army. 

However, Sasori gained the advantage after poisoning Sakura with a blade strike, and was prepared to land a fatal blow. However, that brief window of time, that brief instant, was enough for Chiyo to use the mother and father puppet to stab Sasori in an embrace and pierce his core of living flesh, ending his life. However, maybe this is what he wanted. Chiyo commented on how Sasori could’ve avoided that final attack if he wanted to, but for some reason chose not to. Perhaps, in that one final moment, the only thing Sasori truly wanted was to be reunited with his family again.

Experience & Skill

Sasori is a legendary puppetmaster, famous for having founded the Puppet Corps, and having created many of the puppets utilized by modern puppetmasters like Kankuro. He has 298 puppets in his personal collection, and is capable of controlling at least 100 of them at once at any given time, with the skill of a puppetmaster being explicitly correlated with the number of puppets they can use at once. He has matched and exceeded the exceptional Granny Chiyo’s mastery in puppet control, killed the strongest Kazekage in Sunagakure’s history, and completely humiliated Kankuro. With his Performance of a Hundred Puppets, Sasori has conquered and destroyed entire countries, with his death toll – numbering in the thousands – having earned him the nickname “Sasori of the Red Sand.” His partner, Deidara, even in all his arrogance, admits that Sasori is his superior, and Granny Chiyo likewise admitted that although she killed him, he anticipated her final attack and could have dodged it, but for some reason did not. 

Although puppetmasters are generally weak in close combat, Sasori has specifically designed certain parts of his arsenal, predominantly the Hiruko Shell, to compensate for this weakness. He supplements his offensive weapons with poison of his own design, which is so complicated and difficult to cure that even Chiyo, a remarkable healer, is completely unable to do anything about it, and only the legendary Tsunade or those trained by her can hope to develop an antidote. Even Sasori himself, who created the poison, needs to consult his mix ratio table to make the antidote.

Equipment

Poison 

A special poison developed by Sasori that he coats all his puppetry weapons in. If someone is injected or struck with the poison, it numbs the body rapidly and slowly kills the person within two to three days. Sasori’s poison is so deadly that not even Chiyo, a medical expert, is able to heal people infected by it.

Hiruko Shell

One of Sasori’s favorite puppets, Hiruko is designed to combat one of the key weaknesses of a puppet user, that being their lack of defensive close-range options. Working as armor, Sasori would wear this puppet for many of his missions, with it possessing several weapons coated with his signature poison, such as needles he can unleash from his mouth and arm, and an extendable iron tail used to trap enemies. The tail is durable enough to withstand attacks from Sasori himself. It can also shoot out its left arm like a torpedo, which can then burst and release dozens of needles omnidirectionally.

Komushi

Sasori’s very first human puppet, made out of the corpse of his only friend, Komushi. Like many of Sasori’s other puppets, it is capable of unleashing his poison, this one primarily doing so through a hidden blade in one of its arms.

Karasu

A puppet created by Sasori, Kasura primarily focuses on overwhelming offense through a vast variety of weapons. This arsenal includes detaching body parts for strikes against enemies, several poison coated weapons, a smoke bomb, a blade that unfolds in its abdomen, hidden scythe blades in his torso, wrist knives, a giant needle in its mouth, blades on the joints of its arms and legs, and an unknown flight mechanism that lets it fly high in the sky.

Kuroari

Another puppet created by Sasori, Kuroari has similar applications to Karasu like detaching body parts for attacking. Kuroari’s primary function is to capture opponents and thus it does not contain as many hidden weapons as Karasu, though it’s still a fairly versatile puppet. Each of its arms contains a saw blade, it has a barrel-like stomach to capture opponents and execute various techniques, needle launchers, and scythes within its torso.

Sanshōuo

Resembling a Salamander, Sanshōuo is a puppet that primarily focuses on high defensive power. It has a frill that swings up and down to guard against hits from its front and has a tail to block attacks from behind. It also possesses an iron cloak for extra defenses covering all sides of its body. Its body is hollow, which allows Sasori and other people to fit inside it and defend against covering fire. It has also been upgraded with a powerful suction ability which allows it to inhale vast quantities of debris which can be used to trap foes. Its big weak point, however, is that if the side joint of its frill is hit, the entire shield falls off, and the Sanshōuo’s big selling point becomes moot.

Third Kazekage

Sasori’s favorite puppet in his own words, made using the corpse of the Third Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village. Like his other puppets, Third Kazekage has access to poison, but it stands out due to possessing the unique ability its corpse had in life. The Third Kazekage had special magnetic powers, which allowed him, and by extension Sasori’s puppet, to freely control Iron Sand in battle, creating several constructs to overwhelm any adversary in his path.

This includes the Iron Sand Shower, which summons multiple miniature needles to throw at and overwhelm the opponent, or summoning iron sand spikes to rain down on someone, ultimately creating a gigantic sphere of branching spikes with Iron Sand World Method. The Kazekage can also use the iron sand to create wing constructs for flight, and giant geometric shapes. The iron sand is also coated in Sasori’s poison, with one strike being more than fatal if struck. The iron sand can also cripple the mechanism of other puppets, making it a fairly versatile ability.

The puppet has several poisoned blades in its right arm. By opening up the left arm, Sasori can cause it to summon and extend numerous more arms from within to attack his foe. These arms can also shoot out a plume of poisonous gas alongside wires that drag the opponent into the gas. If these arms were cut off, a spinning shuriken and large broadsword from each arm take their place, making this puppet one of the most versatile in Sasori’s collection.

Performance of a
Hundred Puppets

One of Sasori’s greatest trump cards is his Performance of a Hundred Puppets, which he stated to be not only made up of his best puppets, but also capable of bringing down an entire country. Being controlled directly through Sasori’s Chakra core, these puppets do not rely on the puppeteer’s hand movements in order to act, highly increasing their capability and with there being no time lag between Sasori’s will and the puppet’s actions. All the weapons wielded by these puppets are coated in Sasori’s special poison, which paralyzes a target and kills them in three days.

“Sasori”

Aside from his core of living flesh, Sasori’s entire body is revealed to be a puppet made in a split image of his teen self. In place of his intestines was a thick cable coiled around a pole, allowing him to use it as a stinger to stab foes and retract it. Attached to his back was a scroll holder, containing four scrolls that stored extra abilities and weapons. The first scroll allowed him to shoot out fire blasts, the second scroll was used to store numerous puppets for his army, and while the third scroll’s capabilities are unknown, the anime shows the fourth scroll’s ability to shoot pressurized water with enough force to pierce stone and split a cloud. Sasori also has some mechanism that can weave multiple Chakra threads inside his body. He uses this to control all the puppets in his Performance of a Hundred Puppets technique simultaneously with precise control

Due to being a puppet body, Sasori is incredibly durable and impervious to most attacks. He can survive poison mist and even Sakura’s punches without much trouble. Due to his nature as a puppet body, Sasori also has no need for rest or suffering fatigue, and can seemingly keep fighting for more indefinite periods than a normal human can. Even if his body is smashed apart, so long as the damage isn’t too severe, he can reattach his limbs and come back good as new. So long as his core of living flesh remains unharmed, this puppet body is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

Abilities

Chakra Threads

In order to perform his puppeteering techniques, Sasori emits Chakra threads from each of his fingers to connect to a puppet, with the fingers’ movements controlling the puppet’s actions. However, Sasori’s skill in puppeteering is equal to Chiyo, who can control entire puppets with just a single Chakra thread. Sasori can do the same, meaning without his core mechanism, he’s capable of controlling 10 puppets simultaneously through his Chakra threads.

Human Puppeteering

A puppet created from human corpses and a technique developed by Sasori. To make one, he first removes a body’s organs, cleans and drains the body of blood, adds an unknown preservative to make sure it won’t decay, and finally adds weapons and defenses to it. They were a unique type of puppet as they retained the use of Chakra and any kekkei genkai that their human host once had. According to Chiyo, Sasori was the only one who knew how to create human puppets, showcasing his immense skill in the puppeteering field.

Weaknesses

Sasori’s biggest drawback is his lack of good skill in direct close quarter fights. A big reason he developed the Hiruko Shell was to compensate for this weakness, but should it be destroyed and someone closes the gap between them, Sasori can pretty easily get wailed on in a direct fight. Also, despite his nearly impervious puppet body, sufficient enough damage could leave it unrepairable, and his core of living flesh, if directly struck, can end his life.

Kakuzu

Background

“Heh… No one is immortal.”

Kakuzu had originally belonged to the Takigakure village, serving as one of their most elite shinobi, fulfilling his duties with loyalty to the village, until the day he took on the mission to assassinate The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, which he proceeded to fail at, leaving his village in utter disappointment, punishing him heavily for failing the task, despite the fact that he put his very life for his village times before, causing Kakuzu to gain a hatred for the village, breaking out of his punishment, killing the village’s elders and stealing their hearts, and obtaining the knowledge of the village’s forbidden technique, the Earth Grudge Fear. 

While wandering around for years and so as a bounty hunter, his experience and abilities were picked up by the Akatsuki, with only a slight problem, Kakuzu’s partners didn’t match with Kakuzu’s angry and violent behavior, leading him to kill every partner that tried to join him out of anger, such was the case until he went with the Akatsuki on a mission to hunt down Hidan, a fabled immortal, and after a short battle between Hidan and Kakuzu, Hidan was proven completely unkillable, even to Kakuzu, which drove the Akatsuki to take interest in his abilities and ask him to join their ranks, which he accepted in his own interest for Kakuzu’s own “Immortality”, becoming his perfect partner ever since.

After Kakuzu and Hidan became the duo known as the “Zombie Combo”, they went on to fulfil the Akatsuki’s goal to capture all tailed beasts, capturing the second and the seventh with relative ease, but while on one of Kakuzu’s bounty-hunting missions, they encountered a group of Konoha shinobis, which after a close victory, they took the lives of the leader, Asuma Sarutobi, and got away. 

Ironically enough, the one who would plot the duo’s end would be Asuma’s own pupils, creating the plan to separate the two, trapping Hidan under rocks in a massive pit in the ground, and forcing Kakuzu to reveal his technique and hearts to keep up, and while his technique and experience proved to be extremely useful even against the Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake, it all ended when Naruto Uzumaki blasted him and his hearts to bits with a Rasen-Shuriken, leaving him to die on the ground by the hands of Kakashi while cursing them, proving himself as a relic of the past who failed to keep up with the present no matter how much he took from it.

Experience & Skill

In terms of shinobi experience, Kakuzu is second to none, as a shinobi that lived ever since the rule of The First Hokage, making him the oldest human Akatsuki member, and even before achieving immortality, he was one of the most skilled shinobi in the Takigakure village, killing its elders and stealing their prized technique completely on his own.

Despite being famously known as the easy to anger killer, in battle, he’s by far more calculating and clever than most shinobi, especially when compared to his partner. He was able to quickly figure out Shikamaru’s technique and tricks, even escaping them with relative ease. He overwhelmed and surprised Kakashi Hatake in their fight. He has shown to be extremely observant of the techniques and powers of his opponents due to his massive experience..

Equipment

Five Hearts

The Five Hearts (well technically four when you exclude Kakuzu’s own main heart) are the hearts stolen by Kakuzu from the Shinobis he took down in his life, those hearts are the source for Kakuzu’s “Immortality”, serving as essentially back up lives when his own heart stops/is destroyed, but the hearts also serve as the source to Kakuzu’s elemental jutsu, each with a different affiliation to four different elements (Earth, Wind, Fire and Lightning), which he can also combine to perform enhanced jutsu. The hearts also take the form of detachable bodies that Kakuzu can spread and combine with, at all times.

Abilities

Earth Grudge Fear 

A forbidden jutsu stolen by Kakuzu from Takigakure. It fully transformed the composition of his body, causing it to become held together by hundreds of black threads he can use in several ways, such as sewing up any injuries, including reattaching limbs, and extending parts of his body to increase the reach of his attacks. However, the greatest ability of the Earth Grudge Fear is its power to let its user reach “Immortality”, in a way. It allows Kakuzu to steal the organs of defeated enemies, including their hearts, and add them to his own body. Before his demise, Kakuzu had collected five hearts, and he can not be killed unless all five of them are accounted for. 

Earth Release:
Earth Spear

Kakuzu hardens his body by channeling earth-natured Chakra to all or specific parts of his body, giving himself better raw durability. By doing so, he greatly increases his durability and power, although it is vulnerable against lightning jutsu. This technique is implied to be Kakuzu’s own elemental affinity, as it does not come from a mask through Earth Grudge Fear.

Fire Release:
Intelligent Hard Work

Created from the Fire Affinity Mask, which takes the form of a demonic beast, the release manifests as a small devastating fireball that erupts into a storm upon contact with the ground, with it’s fire spreading as it goes on, the technique is very difficult to avoid. While combined with Wind Release: Pressure Damage, the fire turns into a giant wave which was able to evaporate Water Release in an instant.

Lightning Release:
False Darkness

The release manifests as spears of lightning created from the Lightning Affinity Mask, which takes the form of a tall bipedal monster, The Spears prove useful for fast long range attacks, with it being able to split into several to hit multiple targets.

Water Release

The release that belonged to the Water Affinity Mask, however the mask was destroyed before Kakuzu could use it. In the anime, Kakuzu has shown the capability to perform water release techniques on his own however, such as Hiding In Water Technique, Water Formation Wall and Water Clones.

Wind Release:
Pressure Damage

The Wind Affinity Mask, which takes the form of a winged four legged beast, heavily compresses air into a large density before releasing it. The blast has great range, devastating a large amount of the surroundings with its blast. This can be combined with Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work to create a large unstoppable fire wave that evaporates large amounts of water in an instant.

Forms/States

Earth Grudge Fear State

After losing two of his hearts, Kakuzu used the Earth Grudge Technique to attach the Fire and Wind Affinity masks into him, using the grey thick substance of the technique as long tendrils coming from his jaw and back. The form was used as a final defensive form by Kakuzu after losing two hearts, using the Fire and Wind technique to keep opponents at long range, and use the strong tendrils to restrain opponents from all directions, proving extremely difficult to bypass, even to Naruto with his shadow clones.

Weaknesses

Kakuzu’s biggest weakness has to be his arrogance, greed and carelessness. While he’s definitely brutal while fighting, his brutality extends not just to his enemies, but also his own allies as his only care is for himself and wealth, which he decided to go for even while on Akatsuki missions. There’s also the fact that while he’s indeed extremely experienced, he’s shown to completely underestimate fighters with lesser experience. And on top of it all, while his hearts are incredibly useful, there’s nothing stopping an opponent from destroying them all in one attack once he unites them to his body, practically killing him immediately.

Hidan

Background

“Yeah hurts good doesn’t it? Attacking the vitals is such a waste! This pain, this is the best! As the other dies, their agony radiates through my body! And living through it feels even better!”

Hidan comes from the Village of Yugakure, a village that abandoned its way of conflict in search of peace. However, Hidan couldn’t agree with such a mentality, becoming a follower of the mysterious evil god, Jashin, whose teachings were that of great violence and murder. Deciding to dedicate his life to Jashinism, Hidan murdered many of Yugakure’s inhabitants, and through the power of Jashin, became virtually immortal. Tales of this immortal butcher caught the attention of the Akatsuki, who hunted him down in an attempt to end him for good, but after a brief battle between Hidan and Kakuzu, he was invited to join the organization, and his interest in Kakuzu’s own form of immortality was enough to convince him to accept. Indeed, the two immortals became a duo, despite their great hatred for each other.

Hidan and Kakuzu were a nearly unbeatable duo, their combined forms of immortality allowing them to defeat whatever opponents got in their way, and they had little issue completing their tasks of capturing the Two-Tailed and Seven-Tailed Beasts. However, during one of Kakuzu’s bounty-hunting missions, the duo came into conflict with a group of Konoha shinobi. After a difficult battle where Hidan was close to being outright defeated, the Zombie Duo came out on top, killing Asuma Sarutobi in the process. The two retreated to seal some of the Beasts alongside the rest of the Akatsuki, but they remained in the Land of Fire, planning to continue their fight and kill whatever shinobi got in their way.

However, Hidan’s religious slaughter came to a halt after a battle against Asuma’s pupil Shikamaru Nara, who managed to create a strategy in order to separate the immortals and fight against Hidan one-on-one. Completely outsmarted and tricked into damaging Kakuzu during the battle, Hidan’s life came to an end after Shikamaru blew up his body into bits. While he survived that attack, despite being decapitated, he would remain trapped inside the Nara Clan Forest until he’d die from the lack of nutrition. But even to the very end, he cursed to one day rise and kill Shikamaru no matter what. Dedicated to Jashin’s teachings until the bitter end.

Experience & Skill

None notable.

…In all seriousness, while Hidan is the slowest of the Akatsuki and has the worst aim, by his own admission, he is still an incredibly dangerous shinobi in his own right, who could hold his own against expert Jonin like Kakashi Hatake and Asuma Sarutobi in close quarters combat. With his ritual, he managed to successfully kill Asuma, a former member of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, as well as Yugito Nii, the jinchuuriki of Matatabi, the Two-Tails. He was also able to figure out the specific properties and weaknesses of Shikamaru’s shadow jutsu, albeit not until after observing and being placed under it numerous times.

Equipment

Three-Bladed Scythe

Hidan’s scythe has three blades, and is attached to the end of a long cable, allowing him to throw it as a projectile and spin it around or retrieve it via the cable. The purpose of this scythe is primarily to be used in conjunction with Hidan’s ritual; its blades are meant to make it easier for Hidan to knick an opponent and draw a bit of blood from them, which he can then lick to initiate his finishing move. However, the scythe is also a sharp and deadly killing weapon just on its own.

Retractable Spear

This spear is used to stab… Hidan himself. An important part of the ritual that Hidan uses to kill; after linking himself up with a victim, Hidan uses the spear to pierce portions of his body, inflicting the same wound on his adversary. A sadistic ritual that ends with Hidan skewering his own heart, putting a gruesome end to the opposition.

Abilities

Immortality

Due to the various techniques learned from the Jashinist cult, Hidan has unlocked a form of immortality. With his immortality Hidan cannot be killed by any physical means sans malnutrition. This allows him to survive usually fatal wounds such as decapitation. He is also able to heal from various wounds such as gashes and broken bones quite rapidly. This immortality is also quite useful and necessary when using his main technique.

Curse Technique:
Death Possession Blood

A special technique that Hidan’s fighting style revolves around. To activate it requires Hidan to first draw Jashin’s insignia on the ground in his own blood and he must stay within said circle to utilize said technique. The second requirement for activation is that he must ingest the blood of his victim. After the conditions are met, Hidan becomes linked with his target until he leaves the circle. Any damage that is done himself is in return done to his target making this technique very deadly when combined with his immortality as he can give himself fatal blows without the need to worry about dying.

Weaknesses

Hidan is… kind of an idiot, and undeniably the weakest of the Akatsuki beyond perhaps Zetsu. He’s also the slowest, and has the worst aim, and has the fewest jutsu. He overrelies on his immortality and is overconfident, despite the fact that if he is decapitated or blown apart, he has no way to repair himself without outside assistance. As a result, he is frequently reliant on Kakuzu to bail him out and stitch him back together when things go south. His killing ritual is also highly complicated, and relies on him not only acquiring a target’s blood, but also remaining within his circle to make the effect work. As such, it requires a lot of setup and can be counteracted by an opponent who figures out how it functions.

Zetsu

Background

“When you’re sad and alone… The only one you can count on is yourself.”

The Akatsuki member known as Zetsu is actually two completely separate entities. White Zetsu, an artificial human created through the Statue of the Outer Path and Hashirama’s DNA and Black Zetsu, a manifestation of Madara Uchiha’s will, both of them being loyal to the Akatsuki from the very start, assisting Madara and Obito from the shadows to complete the Eye of the Moon Plan.

However, that was far from the true story. Black Zetsu was the manifestation of someone’s will… but that was the will of Kaguya Otsutsuki, the mother of Chakra, sealed away by the Sage of Six Paths. Since the beginning of ninja history itself, Black Zetsu had been present, manipulating events in order to one day resurrect his mother. Even White Zetsu wasn’t what he was believed to be, being instead a human from Kaguya’s time, altered by the Infinite Tsukuyomi’s effects.

Taking the role of a spy, Zetsu was a part of the Akatsuki until the very end, with White Zetsu perishing early on during the Fourth Great Ninja War at the hands of Sasuke while Black Zetsu remained until the battle’s climax, where he killed Madara in order to finally revive Kaguya. However, his plans were foiled by Team 7 of Konoha, who sealed both Kaguya and Zetsu away forever.

Experience & Skill

While neither of the Zetsus are direct combatants for the most part, they are still quite experienced with battle, having served as spies for the Akatsuki ever since before its creation, observing many of the incredible battles that took place during that time frame. Black Zetsu in particular has been around since the very beginning of the shinobi world, having expertly manipulated several major events behind the scenes in order to lead to Kaguya’s rebirth.

Equipment

None notable.

Abilities

Wood Release

Due to their body being modified with Hashirama Cells, Zetsu has access to the First Hokage’s Wood Style Jutsu. While on a far lower scale than what the God of Shinobi could achieve, this allows Zetsu to freely create plants to help combat opponents, if he’s ever forced into combat.

Mayfly

Zetsu’s signature technique, one perfect for infiltration. They merge their body with the local flora, essentially becoming with the ground, and in this state become capable of moving anywhere without being detected.

Parasite Clone

A power unique to White Zetsu, where he can create clones of himself that he can communicate with and control remotely. In addition, these Parasites can be planted on the bodies of enemies as spores, which allows them to monitor them without being detected, and drain them of their Chakra.

Substitute Technique

When the impostor is suspicious  One of White Zetsu’s most dangerous abilities, he shifts his entire body and Chakra to become a perfect duplicate of anyone he desires, an ability he can combine with Parasite Clone to become extremely deadly. While they are far weaker than their real counterparts, they are virtually impossible to detect with the exception of Naruto’s ability to detect negative emotions. In addition, Zetsu also gains the ability to use the techniques employed by those they copy, albeit not as powerful as the original.

Body Coating

Black Zetsu’s primary unique skill, where he coats himself over the body of a target. While this can be used to simply paralyze a dangerous enemy, Black Zetsu can completely take control of the person he’s coating, being capable of using any and all techniques and Kekkei Genkai under their possession. Even if the person under his control is nearly dead, Black Zetsu’s presence will allow them to keep on living even after he is removed.

Forms/States

White Zetsu

The right half of Zetsu’s amalgamated body, White Zetsu, is one of the original victims of Kaguya Otsutsuki’s Infinite Tsukuyomi, a human mutated into white goo after being cocooned for years, before being extracted from the Gedou Statue and put to use as a member of the Akatsuki. White Zetsu was tasked with intelligence gathering, and was eventually merged with Black Zetsu by Madara to act as an extension of his will. Though Madara believed him to be a downgraded Hashirama clone. It’s unclear how aware White Zetsu was of Black Zetsu’s plan to revive Kaguya, as he was killed by Sasuke well before it came to fruition.

Black Zetsu

The left half of Zetsu, Black Zetsu, was secretly an agent of Kaguya’s will who manipulated Madara, Obito and the Akatsuki into taking the steps that would lead to his mother’s resurrection. Originally believed to be a manifestation of Madara’s will, Black Zetsu played the role of a spy while covertly nudging many individuals in the direction he needed for his plans to succeed.

White and Black Zetsu are capable of merging and unmerging at their leisure.

Weaknesses

Zetsu’s greatest weakness is that, by design, he is not a fighter. His purpose on the battlefield is to gather intel and assist the other Akatsuki members, and without his tricks such as possession and shapeshifting, he’s by far the weakest member of the Akatsuki physically. White Zetsu in particular is pretty much useless by himself, being incredibly easy to defeat before any of his more dangerous abilities can come into play if spotted on the battlefield.

“Tobi”

Background

“The moment people come to know love, they run the risk of carrying hate.”

Born in the Hidden Leaf Village, Konohagakure, Obito Uchiha dreamed of becoming Hokage from a young age. As a Genin (shinobi in training) he was trained by Minato Namikaze, the future Fourth Hokage, alongside his rival Kakashi and childhood crush Rin. Soon enough, however, despite being… Well, literal children, the three were drafted into the Third Great Shinobi War and fought together as a unit under Minato’s leadership. Because child soldiers are all the rage these days. Tragedy would soon strike however, as it so often does in war, as Minato was separated from them and Rin was kidnapped. Obito and Kakashi pursued her, but although Obito’s Sharingan awakened for the first time in the ensuing battle, he ended up getting half of his body crushed in a cave-in. Though they had rescued Rin, Obito lay dying, and as a parting gift, granted Kakashi one of his eyes, in exchange for Kakashi’s word that he would keep Rin safe. Thus Obito perished, leaving Kakashi to carry on his ideals and dreams in his place.

…Or so they thought.

In truth, Obito survived. Miraculously, he was able to cling to life long enough for rescue to come in the form of his legendary ancestor, Madara Uchiha. By implanting Obito with White Zetsu, a being whose body contained cells from Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, Obito’s body was slowly restored to and beyond its former capabilities. All the while, Madara sought to influence Obito with his words and convince him of his own ideologies, as he was in search of a successor to carry on his will. You see, Madara believed that the world was fundamentally flawed, and that the shinobi system’s cycle of violence and hatred would never end unless they had a savior willing to push humanity to peace through force. To do this, he intended to implement a worldwide illusion called the Infinite Tsukuyomi, placing each individual into a dream world in which they would have everything they desire. Obito, however, cared nothing for Madara’s words at first, focusing only on recovering and reuniting with his friends. Eventually, upon learning that Rin’s life was in danger, he departed from Madara’s hideout to save her.

Unfortunately, however, he was too late. Upon reaching Rin’s location, he was greeted only with the sight of her impaled by Kakashi’s Raikiri, and surrounded by enemy shinobi. In his shock and rage, Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan activated for the first time, and soon enough, the ground became soaked with the blood of those who had taken the person he loved. It was then that Obito finally understood Madara’s ideals; understood that the world causes nothing but suffering. For true peace to exist, in which the innocent would never die meaningless deaths, a new world was necessary. Thus, Obito accepted his role as Madara’s successor, hid his face behind a mask, and set out on his quest to bring about the Infinite Tsukuyomi. To do so, he founded the Akatsuki, an organization of powerful missing-nin with a single goal: to capture each of the nine Tailed Beasts spread throughout the world, as their powers fused into one would be necessary to carry out the plan.

Several years after his initial “death”, Obito finally returned to Konoha, but was not there to reunite with those he had once considered comrades. Unleashing the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, the Nine-Tails, Obito carried out an attack on the Leaf, which would culminate in Minato being killed, and the Nine-Tails being sealed within Minato’s son, the infant Naruto Uzumaki. Though Obito himself was driven away during the attack, these events would eventually lead to the massacre of the Uchiha Clan, in turn causing Itachi Uchiha to join Obito’s cause, among the ranks of the Akatsuki.

Years passed, and over time, most of the Tailed Beasts were captured by the organization, with the exception of the two strongest, the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails, which continued to evade capture even after being pursued by various Akatsuki members. During this period, the Akatsuki were led by a man named Pain, while Obito worked from the shadows under the guise of “Tobi”, masquerading as an idiot while privately pulling Pain’s strings from behind the scenes. Eventually, however, as the Akatsuki’s most powerful members fell one by one, and Pain himself was ultimately defeated, Obito had to step out of the shadows and take control of the situation himself. Under the name Madara Uchiha, he declared war against the shinobi world and began his final campaign to take every Tailed Beast for himself.

In the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Obito took advantage of the forces provided to him by evil scalie Kabuto Yakushi, who had perfected a jutsu which would reanimate deceased shinobi from across history to fight for him. Alongside Kabuto and a resurrected Madara, Obito led the forces of the dead against the shinobi world, commanding the Tailed Beasts themselves in a battle against Naruto, who had begun to master the Nine-Tails’ power. It was then that Obito was finally unmasked, his treachery and fall from grace laid bare before his former friends. Fighting together with Madara, Obito fused each of the Tailed Beasts under his control into an incomplete Ten-Tails, and battled against the Allied Shinobi Forces, culminating in a final duel with Kakashi, which ended with Obito’s defeat.

It was then, however, that Obito betrayed even Madara, who intended to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki. Escaping from Kakashi, he absorbed the Ten-Tails into himself, becoming its Jinchūriki instead, and gaining powers rivaling the legendary Sage of Six Paths. Even against the strongest opponents the shinobi world had to offer, Ten-Tails Obito proved overwhelming, only faltering at the very end, upon realizing that Naruto was just like him: a boy with a dream, who wanted to become Hokage. Despite it all, though Obito had become indoctrinated by Madara’s rhetoric, the kind child who had once looked to the future with optimism was still alive deep down. Unable to lie to himself anymore, Obito was defeated, both physically and ideologically.

Though Obito attempted to put an end to the war upon his defeat, he was quickly betrayed by Madara, who took the power of the Ten-Tails for himself. Madara was not so easily swayed as Obito, and so cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, trapping almost all of humanity within their own personal dream world. This, however, proved to be Madara’s undoing, as he himself did not understand the true purpose of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and ended up subsumed by the alien Kaguya, the progenitor of Chakra. Within Kaguya’s dimensions, a final struggle ensued, in which Obito fought alongside not only Naruto and Sasuke, but his old friend Kakashi as well. Ultimately, even after all the atrocities he had committed, Obito chose to sacrifice his life to save his comrades, and ensure that Naruto would live on to defeat Kaguya and change the shinobi world for the better. Though it had brought him nothing but misery for so long, for the first time since he was a child, Obito finally believed that the world was worth fighting for.

Experience & Skill

Obito never showed much promise in his early years, despite his prestigious lineage. Nevertheless, he successfully graduated from the Academy at the age of 9 and engaged in regular sparring sessions with the prodigious Kakashi Hatake. During his time as a genin, Obito’s abilities could be described as average at best, finding it challenging to keep up with his peers from the Academy, even with extensive training. Determined to improve himself, he dedicated months to rigorous training, ultimately achieving the rank of chūnin at the age of 11. Obito was soon then drafted to the Third Great Ninja War, alongside Rin and Kakashi. Despite not being a Jōnin at the time, Obito’s determination to protect Rin allowed him to briefly contend with Taiseki; a jōnin from Iwagakure. After awakening his Sharingan and killing Taiseki, Obito was able to defeat his partner jōnin, Kakkō, alongside Kakashi, displaying impressive amounts of skill in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu.

Madara saw great potential in Obito and thus selected him as his successor. Under Madara’s tutelage, Obito dramatically improved his abilities as a late bloomer, with his skills leading others to question if he actually was Madara. Madara being an incredibly skilled shinobi prodigy, capable of killing several adult Senju even in his youth, and conquering every shinobi clan the Uchiha encountered, even being considered the strongest ninja in the world. Obito had become skilled enough to easily slaughter a platoon of Hidden Mist Anbu on his own; some of the most skilled Shinobi in the world. Later, Obito was capable of contending against Minato Namikaze, an unmatched genius who single-handedly wiped out an army of one thousand Iwagakure shinobi and had flee-on-sight orders given to enemy shinobi should they encounter him during the Third Great Ninja War. Minato even called Obito ‘quite a formidable shinobi’ and suggested to Naruto that in order to stand a chance against him, he must fully harness the Nine-Tails’ power, while implying his capabilities are far above that of Pain’s.

Much like Madara before him, Obito grew into a vivid manipulator; adept at acquiring allies by preying on the darkness in their hearts and deftly guiding them, either by subtly corrupting their own goals or by appearing to share their beliefs. He flawlessly orchestrated events behind the scenes worldwide; planning years in advance, accurately predicting the course of nations and knowing just how to manipulate them to his advantage. He manipulated the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, taking control over the Village Hidden in the Mist and instigating its most bloody period. He carried on the responsibility of executing the Eye of the Moon Plan in Madara’s stead, assuming leadership of the Akatsuki, and guiding them in their pursuit of capturing the Tailed Beasts and even personally instigating the onset of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Even as a teenager, Obito nearly succeeded in orchestrating the destruction of the Leaf Village.

During the Uchiha Massacre, Obito was entrusted with murdering members of the Konoha Military Police Force; a group of great and elite Uchiha. At Five Kage Summit, Obito managed to trick and defeat Torune and Fū, the two most skilled ninjas in Root. Obito learned many techniques from Madara, including the Six Paths Techniques, which he’d later use to fight off Kakashi, Guy, Killer B and KCM Naruto at once. Obito also possesses remarkable proficiency in the use of weapons, as he is quite skilled in using his Gunbai for both offensive and defensive means, even against a multitude of opponents. He could single handedly battle Naruto, Kakashi and Guy simultaneously, even after his Paths of Pain were sealed. All of which are incredibly skilled Shinobi. He even fought evenly with War Arc Kakashi, only losing to fulfill his goals. After sealing the Ten-Tails within himself, and having his consciousness being ripped apart, Obito humiliated the Three Edo Hokage. His skill only increasing with full-control of the Ten-Tails’ power. Even with the Ten-Tails extracted, Obito still managed to trick Madara and clash with him. At the end of his life, Obito could still use Kamui to bridge Kaguya’s dimensions (something established to be incredibly difficult), and even briefly hold off Kaguya Ōtsutsuki as repentance for his actions in Storm 4.

Equipment

Masks

Obito wore a multitude of different masks over the years, while masquerading as  Tobi and Madara. His initial one… wasn’t a mask by any means; rather, it involved the spiral-faced Zetsu (“Tobi”) encasing Obito’s body within its own, enabling Obito to use him as a  suit. It was in this concealed form that Obito inherited the name of Madara, and initiated the Akatsuki. During the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox’s Attack on Konoha, Obito unveiled his second mask — a unique yellow one with a black flame, a single eye hole and patterns reminiscent of the Nine-Tails, perhaps even the Ten-Tails.

Obito continued to wear this mask for years to come, albeit with an orange hue in the anime (though it was consistently grey throughout the Naruto: Colour Edition). As the Akatsuki grew in influence, Obito transitioned to an orange mask with a spiral pattern centered around a single right eye hole, resembling Tobi’s face and symbolizing his mastery of the Kamui jutsu, while concealing his second Sharingan. Under this mask, Obito adopted the alias of “Tobi”, and later revealed himself to the world as Madara Uchiha.

In the Countdown to the Fourth Great Shinobi World War, Obito’s Orange Mask was broken in a confrontation with Konan, leading him to exchange it for one that accommodates his recently acquired Rinnegan. This white mask’s design resembles a combination of the Sharingan and Rinnegan, consisting of a ripple pattern with three tomoe around the centre, two of which act as the mask’s eye-holes,with the third being positioned in the center of his forehead; symbolizing Obito’s aspiration of awakening the Rinne-Sharingan. It’s also custom made, making it battle-grade tough. That has allowed it to take a headbutt from KCM Naruto, and stay undamaged throughout many battles. Though, Naruto’s Will of Fire is capable of completely shattering it. It was also cracked by Kakashi’s Raikiri and destroyed by Naruto’s Rasengan.

Gunbai

In the course of his ill-fated upheaval within the Fourth Great Shinobi World War as Madara Uchiha, Obito brandished Madara’s signature non-folding fan, known as a Gunbai or Gunbai Uchiwa. Fashioned from the unique spirit tree, Ryouju, from which only ritualistic instruments are made. This Gunbai has been passed down between Uchiha clansmen for generations. 

It is a wide-fan, adorned with tomoe, sporting an extended handle wrapped in bandages at the base, and equipped with a lengthy chain. In ancient times, when Madara wielded the weapon, it exhibited a brown hue complemented by a black border, adorned with red tomoe, with a chain that was affixed to the handle, seemingly linked to his kama. Upon Obitio’s adoption of the Gunbai, it was depicted as having a purple hue, adorned by a black border and a tomoe design, with the chain appearing to enter his sleeve.

Obito primarily employed the gunbai as a flail, manipulating the attached chain to guide the fan. This versatile tool also doubled as a shield due to its durability, proving sufficient enough to take a hit from Naruto’s Super Mini-Tailed Beast Ball without taking severe damage. It is also strong enough to damage KCM1 Naruto, disperse his Shadow Clones, and cut through the roots of the God Tree. Obito is skilled enough with the Gunbai to battle multiple opponents at once, both defensively and offensively. He can also utilize it to further empower his Fire and Wind Release Techniques:

• Fanned Calamity Flames: Obito hurls fire onto the opponent, leveraging the Gunbai to strengthen the flames, which creates a vortex of fire that knocks them into the air.
• Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique — Revolving Flame: Obito directs a burst of wind towards his adversary with his gunbai and ignites the resulting whirlwind with the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, unleashing a formidable firestorm to engulf and scorch his opponent.
• Fanned Flame Great Fire: Obito uses the fan to create a trio of small long-range flaming whirls.
• Gunbai Fanned Wind: Obito generates a massive gust of wind with his gunbai, strong enough to blow away several enemies in one swing.
• Uchiha Return: By utilizing the Gunbai to block an oncoming assault, Obito negates the impact of the attack by converting the incoming Chakra into Wind nature transformation, and then redirects it back at the target, producing a large blast. It can even be used as a parry, and the range and radius of the reflection seems to be determined by the power of the attack.

Kusari

Obito’s Kusari is a chain weapon that he used in his fight with Minato, during the Nine-Tails’ attack on Konoha. The two ends of the chain are cuffed to each of his wrists, and he allows the chain to trail behind him. When he runs toward an opponent, he can therefore pass through them with Kamui, and ensnare them in the chain behind him. Once they are immobilized, presumably, he can then suck them into the Kamui Dimension, provided they do not have the means to escape, as Minato did.

Sword

Though it is far from his specialty, Obito has, on occasion, used a sword for his murderous purposes, notably doing so at the time of the Uchiha Clan massacre.

Kunai

One of the most basic weapons used by shinobi, kunai are short-ranged blades primarily used for stabbing, slicing, and parrying, and can be thrown to attack a target from a distance. Kunai can be imbued with Chakra for greater durability and piercing power, and Obito can eject a large number of them from the Kamui dimension for surprise attacks.

Shuriken

Obito has access to not only standard shuriken, but much larger Fuma Shuriken as well, which he can hurl with exceptional cutting power, sharp enough to cut through even the Eight-Tails’ tentacles. In addition to more standard means of throwing, Obito can eject these huge shuriken from Kamui for surprise attacks.

Explosive Tags & Bombs

A standard ninja tool for blowing shit up – very much in line with the stealth required of a ninja if you really squint, I’m sure – Obito has used explosive tags to supplement his Earth Style techniques, as well as in conjunction with Kamui.

Sharingan & Zetsu Stash

Since all the Uchiha are dead as fuck deceased, their eyes have fallen out of use, and being the nice guy he is, Obito decided to take these peepers off their hands for them. Kept in his hideout, this stash of Sharingan allows Obito to replace his eyes if ever he loses one, either through Izanagi or simply through battle damage. He also has access to biological material from White Zetsu, which he can use to replace limbs that he loses in battle, which he has done on at least three occasions (VS Minato, VS Torune and Fu, VS Konan).

While Obito does not carry his stash around with him, he could theoretically access it at any time via Kamui, provided he still has access to it.

Miscellaneous […]

Obito has a large stash of weapons that he keeps at his hideouts; in addition to his gunbai, shuriken and more, he also has large scrolls, a weighted chain weapon, sickles, and in all likelihood any number of other things as well.

Abilities

Mangekyo Sharingan

Obito unlocked his Mangekyō after witnessing Rin’s death. The Mangekyō’s abilities are much greater than that of the standard Sharingan, and additionally provide the user with two abilities unique to them, one for each eye. In most cases, if an Uchiha overuses their Mangekyō, they will eventually go blind, but Obito has never needed to worry about this due to the fact that he is enhanced by Hashirama’s Cells.

Short-Ranged Kamui

Obito’s own unique Mangekyō Sharingan ability, Kamui. A powerful Dōjutsu and space-time Ninjutsu that transfers objects into the separate time-space created by Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan. Two primary versions of Kamui exist, with Obito’s version being the short-ranged right eye Kamui.

Obito’s Kamui exhibits two incredibly distinct, though related abilities. Obito’s primary application of Kamui is ‘teleportation’. Obito frequently applies this technique on himself, drawing himself into the depths of his right eye to access Kamui’s time-space, and subsequently re-emerging at any desired location. Its purpose varies; sometimes he resorts to this technique to evade incoming attacks, while other times he relies on it for swift long-distance travel, or even surprise attacks. There’s little to no change in Obito’s Chakra when he does this. His Kamui can even neutralize Kakashi’s own Kamui. Obito can also teleport others into Kamui’s time-space, leaving them stranded, though this requires some form of physical contact. Obito can even teleport individuals and objects from his dimension to his present location. Karin was even unable to sense Sasuke’s Chakra signatures when he was teleported by Obito. Similarly, Minato was unable to follow Obito to Kamui’s time-space despite planting the Flying Thunder God’s mark onto him; labeling Obito’s technique as far superior to his and Tobirama’s utilization of the former. Obito can also teleport objects into its dimension, and weaponize the armory Obito stores inside of it by ejecting them forcefully, giving Kamui an offensive application. These transfers are frequently distinguished by a swirling void that engulfs and distorts the targets, visibly drawing them inwards while altering their shape and mass as they traverse between dimensions. Kamui can also be used to amplify some of Obito’s other Ninjutsu, such as Fire Release, creating the Bomb Blast Dance technique.

While incredibly useful, Kamui’s ‘teleportation’ falters in several areas. Madara was able to perfectly counter Obito’s teleportation with the Truth Seeking-Balls’ range, this is because it takes far longer for Obito to suck himself into Kamui’s time-space than it does others. Obito must also remain materialized when he does this, and the speed of the transfer is slower than his own reactions. This even applies to transferring others. Those who have been sent into Kamui’s time-space can also find and damage Obito’s body while he’s intangible.

Obito’s secondary application of Kamui is ‘intangibility’. Upon activation, Kamui automatically and unconsciously transfers body parts that otherwise would have been in contact with the overlapping matter into Kamui’s time-space. Anything he touches, including his attire, weapons, and even individuals, will also become intangible. Obito frequently employs this ability in a defensive manner, rendering all attacks to pass through him harmlessly. Alternatively, Obito utilizes this ability to traverse barriers and other obstacles effortlessly. He also possesses the ability to “phase” underground and reemerge unexpectedly, while extending the reach of his attacks by making his gunbai phase through objects. Obito can even “phase” through massive area-of-effect attacks and explosions. It works when Obito’s body is under Shadow Possession, and it’s implied to have been this jutsu that allowed Obito to survive getting crushed as a child.

Obito is pretty tricky and creative with Kamui too;(as Tobi) he frequently employed the tactic of feigning injury or expressing pain to bewilder his adversaries, pretending to attack while remaining intangible so his opponents hit each other, allowing opponents pass through him and then ensnare them with his Kusari, rushing forward and phasing through his enemy while releasing a barrage of exploding paper bombs in his trail, phasing through them mid attack and leaving them wide-open as they damage their allies. Kamui’s ‘passive’ nature is also vividly showcased, saving Obito from Itachi’s Amaterasu that was sealed within Sasuke’s eyes and reacting to attacks while he’s focused on acquiring the Nine-Tails.

Though, this doesn’t come without its fair share of weaknesses. Obito can only use Kamui for five minutes consecutively, and since the transfer is done unconsciously, Obito can’t physically interact with anything or attack anyone while it’s active, forcing him to turn solid if he wishes to engage in combat. Despite this, it is still possible for him to weave Chakra and utilize Ninjutsu even while slipping through the substance. He must also materialize to teleport things. Konan exploited this easily by having Paper Bombs all around him, ready to attach to Obito the moment he materialized. Alternatively, opponents have the option to bypass his intangibility by shifting themselves or their attacks into Kamui’s dimension, thereby granting them the ability to harm Obito’s transported body parts. Obito, while intangible, can also be affected by gravity.

Izanagi

One of the Uchiha Clan’s infamous kinjutsu. With Izanagi, the user can bridge the gap between reality and illusion, overwriting any moment in time with a new reality where what did occur never occurred, even injury or death. In short, it allows the user to rewrite an occurrence as nothing more than an illusion. This can be used continuously over a certain time-frame in order to rewrite all events that occur throughout (the duration of which is variable, in Danzo’s case, one minute per eye; in Obito’s case, five minutes per eye), or instantaneously to rewrite one specific occurrence. Though Izanagi can negate all damage that takes place while it is active, both Danzo and Obito notably did not heal any of the damage incurred before the jutsu was activated, potentially suggesting that they cannot do so. In the anime, however, it is shown to not only be possible to restore damage from before activation, but also to use Izanagi on others, restoring a large group of deceased individuals with a single use of the ability.

It was used by the Sage of Six Paths to control creation, by using Yin and Yang Release to create the “shape” of an illusion and then give it life. Because of this, most Uchiha were not able to control it, as they only had access to half of the Sage’s Chakra. However, those such as Obito, who possess both thanks to Hashirama Cells, are able to cast more powerful illusions that maintain their effects over a longer period of time.

Due to how powerful Izanagi is, once it has expired, the user loses their eyesight in the eye they cast it with, preventing them from ever using their Sharingan again. This can only be circumvented via implanting a new eye, or via awakening the Rinnegan as Madara did.

Transcription Seal: Izanagi

By sealing the jutsu in the user’s Sharingan, the user can set parameters so that Izanagi will only activate after certain conditions are met. Madara was able to set his right eye to activate Izanagi in the event of his death, allowing him to return to life without anyone being any the wiser. As is the case with the standard Izanagi, it does still blind the eye that uses it.

Rinnegan

See Verse Mechanics section for breakdown, as well as Pain’s sections. Note that while Obito has not demonstrated all of the Rinnegan’s abilities himself, he should be capable of all of them, and simply chooses not to for context-specific reasons that are established by the narrative (his opponents know how to counter them, he needs to focus his Chakra on other things, etc.). At one point he considers using the Human Path, proving even further that he would be capable of using the Rinnegan’s abilities.

Do remember that for the match, we are assuming that Nagato will be starting with the Rinnegan (since their Rinnegan are the same eyes), but that Obito could in theory retrieve them from Nagato if he wanted to.

Elemental Ninjutsu

Fire Release

Fire Style is the elemental style that Uchiha Clan members typically have an affinity for, Obito included. Fire Style techniques primarily involve gathering Chakra and expelling it through the mouth as a wave of fire. These flames can take various forms and reach varying levels of power. Fire Style is strong against Wind Style but weak to Water Style.

Great Fireball Technique: The Great Fireball Technique is the staple of the Uchiha Clan, to the point where Uchiha are not considered full-fledged clan members until they have mastered it. The user gathers Chakra in the mouth and then expels it as flame, which can be increased in power and size through gathering a greater amount of Chakra. This technique can take the form of either a giant fireball, or a continuous stream of flames. 

Blast Wave Wild Dance: A technique that combines the abilities of Fire Release with those of the Sharingan. Obito releases his flames in a stream which takes a spiraling form, trapping opponents in a vortex of fire.

Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: Spitting a volley of small fireballs into the air, Obito can direct the movement of each one with his Chakra, making this attack difficult to avoid. By hiding shuriken within the flames, Obito can further increase the attack’s deadliness.

Uchiha Flame Formation: Technique which creates a large barrier of flames, burning whoever touches it. The barrier can burn with enough heat to wound Tailed Beasts. It requires only minimal Chakra usage, so Obito can maintain it with little loss in stamina. 

Wind Release

Wind Style is primarily used in two ways: large gusts of wind for blowing away targets, or inflicting piercing or slicing damage with wind. Wind Style is strong against Lightning Style but weak against Fire Style; when combined with a fire technique, it makes the fire stronger. Obito is established in the databooks to be capable of using Wind Style, primarily doing so via use of the gunbai.

Gunbai Fanned Wind: By waving the gunbai, Obito creates a huge wind gust, blowing back opponents with great force.

Uchiha Return: By blocking a jutsu with the gunbai, it is possible to nullify the attack, and then redirect it back at the target, producing a large blast. Madara does this against Naruto, reflecting his Rasengan, and Obito should reasonably be capable of doing the same.

Earth Release

Earth Style Ninjutsu focuses on manipulating the earth and terrain around the user for offensive and defensive purposes. Obito has demonstrated several Earth Style techniques while under the guise of Tobi.

Hiding Like A Mole Technique: By channeling Chakra into the earth, the user turns it into fine sand, allowing them to create a space just large enough for the body to dig through it, similar to a mole (hence the name). While underground, the user can sense their own location and that which is happening on the surface via sensing magnetic forces, allowing them to plan their next move accordingly. This technique is typically used for subterfuge mid-combat, allowing the user to hide, set traps, or set up a sneak attack.

Whac-A-Mole Technique: By digging through the ground, Obito is able to pop up at multiple points across the battlefield, surprise-attacking targets in rapid succession and whacking them with a stick. Tobi is quite the jokester, after all.

Water Release

Water Style focuses on controlling the water in one’s surroundings or producing water, in order to attack and/or defend. It is strong against Fire Style but weak against Earth Style. Obito has never demonstrated any specific Water Style techniques in the series, but is established in the databooks to be capable of doing so.

Lightning Release

Lightning Style focuses on the use of fast and powerful electric attacks for offensive purposes. It is strong against Earth Style but weak against Wind Style. Once again, though we know that Obito is capable of using Lightning Style techniques, he’s never actually demonstrated any specific ones.

Yin & Yang Release

Yin Release is a type of jutsu separate from the elemental releases, which involves using spiritual energy to create new things from nothing. This is the style used to perform techniques such as Genjutsu, or certain specific hiden abilities, such as the Nara clan’s shadow manipulation jutsu. Obito gained access to this style (alongside Yang Release) after acquiring Six Paths senjutsu. 

Yang Release is another type of jutsu separate from the elemental releases, which involves using physical energy to control vitality, granting life to that which does not have it. Notably, the half of Kurama sealed within Naruto consisted of Yang Chakra, and this style is used to perform some specific hiden abilities, such as the Akimichi clan’s size-shifting. Obito gained access to this style (alongside Yin Release) after acquiring Six Paths senjutsu. 

Genjutsu

Genjutsu are illusionary jutsu which cause the target to experience false sensations. Primarily, this is done via disrupting the target’s Chakra flow to their brain, affecting all five of their senses to create fake sensations. In some cases, however, an existing Chakra flow is established to be unnecessary. Kaguya was able to place people under Genjutsu prior to the advent of Chakra (though this has been subject to some retconning), and Shisui establishes in the novels that the Mangekyō Sharingan sidesteps the need for both eye contact and a Chakra flow when casting Genjutsu, injecting the user’s Chakra into the target and manipulating them that way.

Some Genjutsu are powerful enough that the target will continue to feel their effects even after they are dispelled. They can also be used to control the thoughts and actions of the target. Obito’s Genjutsu in particular is consistently extremely powerful, allowing him to affect or control those who would normally be resistant to Genjutsu (Kurama, Yagura, Kakashi).

Hashirama Cells

These are cells from the body of Hashirama Senju, which were implanted into Obito’s body by Madara. These cells are a major MacGuffin in Naruto, and are used to enhance a number of characters due to the fact that Hashirama possessed remarkable Chakra, regenerative abilities, and the capability to use Wood Style Ninjutsu, an ability exclusive to him and those implanted with his cells. Hashirama cells also grant the user regeneration, as well as increased physicality, Chakra, and stamina. Obito technically was not implanted with these cells directly, but rather had his body merged with White Zetsu, a being who already possessed Hashirama Cells. Even still, he gained all of the cells’ benefits, along with a reduction in the side effects of Mangekyō usage, allowing him to spam Kamui to his heart’s content without the risk of going blind.

Something additional worth noting is that Hashirama Cells can transmute a person whom they are implanted into, turning them into a tree if they cannot handle the cells. Obito has never suffered any such ill effects, resisting the transmutation even when near death, low on Chakra, or both.

Regeneration

Like anyone enhanced by Hashirama Cells, Obito possesses a strong healing factor. The White Zetsu that merged with Obito completely regenerated the left side of his body which had previously been crushed, and helped him survive a Raikiri blowing a hole through his chest. This regeneration is further enhanced by Six Paths senjutsu, allowing him to survive after atomizing half of his body with his own Truth-Seeking Orb. Likewise, Ten-Tails Madara survived getting a chunk of his body blasted off and burned by Night Guy, as well as being cut in half, only to continue fighting without exhibiting any issues. He was able to regrow a new lower half soon after (though this was after absorbing the God Tree, which Obito never did). Madara recovered from Night Guy within a matter of seconds, demonstrating the speed of the regeneration.

Wood Release

Wood Style is a kekkei genkai elemental jutsu which combines water and earth natures, allowing the user to control wood and create trees of various numbers, shapes and sizes, be it from their own body or the earth beneath their feet. These characteristics make it great for capturing foes or overwhelming them through sheer size and power, and it has the unique ability of suppressing and absorbing a target’s Chakra should they be caught. Wood Style was originally believed to be exclusive to Hashirama, but since Obito is enhanced with Hashirama’s cells, he can use it as well.

Wood Dragon Technique: Technique which creates a giant wooden dragon to attack. This dragon can bind targets or absorb Chakra by biting them. It is strong enough to restrain the Nine-Tails, and could fight with Madara’s Susanoo when used by Hashirama.

Cutting Technique: A technique in which Obito forms large, jagged wooden spikes from his body, which can be used as short-ranged weapons or projectiles. Obito can also increase the branches’ size remotely, brutally skewering his enemies. He used this in his fight against the Mist shinobi after Rin’s death.

Great Spear Tree: By causing several thick roots to erupt from the ground, Obito can use this technique to crush his opponents into paste.

Underground Roots Technique: By manipulating the surrounding terrain, Obito can conjure several roots from underground, tangling around an area and crushing anyone caught by the roots.

Chakra Absorption

Obito can absorb the Chakra of people he makes contact with. This can also be used to absorb Ninjutsu attacks. Obito used this technique to absorb portions of the One-Tails and Eight-Tails from Madara. He could even absorb Kurama’s poison-esque Chakra without suffering any ill effects. Madara has also used it to absorb Sasuke’s Amaterasu, Onoki’s Particle Style, and Hashirama’s sage Chakra.

Weaknesses

Obito, despite being a formidable foe, has limits like any other shinobi. His Chakra reserves are fairly large but not infinite, and constant use of jutsu will deplete them over time. If he is blinded, his Sharingan can be deactivated, and some of his powerful techniques like Kamui and Izanagi have time limits. Additionally, some of his Genjutsu techniques require eye contact. When Obito is attacking, Kamui won’t work, and he can be physically interacted with.

Feats

Overall

• [Pain] Killed Hanzo the Salamander
• [Pain & Konan] Took over the Hidden Rain Village
• [Obito] Puppeteered Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage
• [Itachi & Obito] Massacred the Uchiha Clan
• [Orochimaru] Assassinated Rasa & Hiruzen Sarutobi
• [Deidara] Defeated Gaara, capturing the One-Tails
• [Sasori] Conquered a small country
• [Kakuzu & Hidan] Defeated Yugito Nii, capturing the Two-Tails
• [Hidan] Killed Asuma Sarutobi
• [Deidara & Obito] Defeated and captured the Three-Tails
• [Kisame] Defeated Roshi, capturing the Four-Tails
• [Pain] Killed Jiraiya, his mentor and Legendary Sannin
• [Pain] Destroyed the Hidden Leaf Village & killed the majority of its shinobi
• [Obito] Instigated & partially masterminded the Fourth Great Shinobi War
• [Obito] Became the Ten-Tails’ Jinchuuriki
• [Zetsu] Manipulated Madara and the Akatsuki

Power

• [Pain] Stated to be the strongest man in the Akatsuki
• [Pain] Destroyed all of Konoha with his Chaotic Shinra Tensei
• [Pain] Used Chibaku Tensei to create massive rock formations 
• [Pain] Blasted away three giant toads, including Gamabunta, with Shinra Tensei
• [Pain] Conjured the perpetual rain storm above the Rain Village
• [Konan] Blew off part of Obito’s orange mask and destroyed one of his arms
• [Konan] Split the ocean and detonated a large area with 600 billion paper bombs
• [Konan] Blew up Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei with her paper bombs in Storm
• [Itachi] Carved up Orochimaru’s Eight-Headed Hydra form
• [Itachi] Amaterasu can burn Killer B out of his Eight-Tails state
• [Kisame] Stated to have the largest Chakra reserve among the Akatsuki
• [Kisame] His 30% clone produced a huge volume of water which extended past the horizon
• [Kisame] Created a massive bubble of water which eclipsed part of a forest
• [Kisame] Stated to be comparable to a Tailed Beast and output jinchuuriki levels of power in his fused state
• [Kisame] Momentarily put up a struggle against Seventh Gate Guy’s Hirudora
• [Kisame] Broke out of Yamato’s wood restraints even while they were suppressing his Chakra and he was injured
• [Orochimaru] His summon, Manda, destroyed Tanzaku Castle
• [Orochimaru] His summoned snakes created a large crater
• [Deidara] Nearly wiped out all of Suna with his C3 explosion
• [Deidara] Stated by Kisame to be one of the stronger members of the Akatsuki
• [Deidara] Created an explosion with a 10 kilometer radius using C0
• [Deidara] As an Edo Tensei, flipped Turtle Island over with his explosives
• [Sasori] Stated to be stronger than Deidara
• [Sasori] Split a cloud with his pressurized water blasts in the anime
• [Kakuzu] Caught a punch from Matatabi, the Two-Tails
• [Kakuzu] Punched down the large gate to a temple
• [Kakuzu] Produced a blast of fire that vaporized a large volume of water
• [Hidan] Clashed with Kakashi
• [Obito] Shattered the large stone door to Madara’s hideout
• [Obito] Blocked Suigetsu’s sword with just his arm
• [Obito] Harmed KCM1 Naruto with his headbutt and destroyed one of his Shadow Clones
• [Obito] Caught Might Guy’s nunchucks with his bare hands

Speed

• [Pain] Dodged Kakashi’s Raikiri up close
• [Pain] The Asura Path dodged Raikiri without looking, albeit due to Pain’s shared vision
• [Pain] The Asura Path intercepted Raikiri
• [Pain] The Preta Path dodged Tsume’s Fang Over Fang technique
• [Pain] The Asura Path blitzed a tired Tsunade
• [Pain] The Deva and Naraka Path dodged Naruto’s Rasenshuriken
• [Pain] The Preta Path intercepted Naruto’s Rasenshuriken point blank and absorbed it
• [Pain] Dodged Hinata’s barrage of attacks easily
• [Pain] Dodged a Rasenshuriken at point blank range
• [Konan] Reacted to Sage Naruto’s charge and moves in front of Nagato
• [Itachi] Kakashi cannot perceive Itachi’s hand movements even with his Sharingan
• [Itachi] Caught Sasuke’s Chidori
• [Itachi] Activated his Susano’o quick enough to defend from Kirin
• [Itachi] Dodged a swing from Killer B and keeps up with his swordplay
• [Kisame] Spewed out a large body of water that extended to the horizon in a short timeframe
• [Kisame] Dodged Killer B’s pencil throw
• [Kisame] Moved faster than B while submerged in water
• [Orochimaru] Kept up with Hiruzen in combat
• [Orochimaru] Outpaced Four-Tails Naruto’s Chakra arms
• [Orochimaru] Dodged a photon beam
• [Orochimaru] Moved FTE to base Naruto in Boruto
• [Deidara] Escaped Gaara’s Sand Prison technique
• [Deidara] Reacted to a slash attack from Sasuke
• [Deidara] Clay birds can keep up with Onoki in flight speed
• [Sasori] Transferred his chest from his body to one of his puppets while a projectile thrown by Sakura was a few meters from hitting him
• [Sasori] Could have dodged Chiyo’s sneak attack, but chose not to
• [Kakuzu] Intercepted Kakashi’s Raikiri
• [Kakuzu] Dodged Yamato’s wood
• [Hidan] Kept up with Kakashi in combat
• [Zetsu] Absorbed Chakra across the God Tree
• [Obito] Managed to dodge attacks from Team 7 and Team 8 all at the same time
• [Obito] Dodged Kiba’s Tunneling Fang technique
• [Obito] Reacted to A’s charge attack
• [Obito] Dodged attacks from Fu and Torune
• [Obito] Reacted to Minato’s kunai stab and caught his arm
• [Obito] Blitzed Konan

Durability

• [Pain] Facetanked a Tailed Beast Bomb from Six-Tails Naruto which eclipsed part of Konoha, and was fine aside from part of his robe being destroyed
• [Pain] Survived getting hammered into the ground like a nail by Six-Tails Naruto
• [Konan] Survived a fireball jutsu from Jiraiya
• [Itachi] While nearly blind, half-dead, and disease-riddled, survived Sasuke’s Kirin with Susanoo, which decimated the Uchiha Hideout
• [Kisame] Survived and regenerated from attacks from Killer B that tore apart his torso
• [Kisame] Survived a punch from KCM1 Naruto while weakened, although it made him cough blood
• [Kisame] Survived Seventh Gate Guy’s Hirudora, which caused an air blast that eclipsed Turtle Island, albeit not without severe injury
• [Orochimaru] Survived two hits from Tsunade while weakened
• [Orochimaru] Triple Rashomon blocked Four-Tails Naruto’s Tailed Beast Bomb, though was destroyed
• [Orochimaru] In the anime, survived a point-blank Shinra Tensei from Pain
• [Deidara] Survived falling on his own land mines
• [Deidara] Indicated that he can withstand his own bombs if they are C1 level or lower
• [Sasori] Withstood a punch from Sakura; though his body was knocked into its components, the pieces themselves were undamaged
• [Kakuzu] Tanked a punch and then potentially a Tailed Beast Bomb from Matatabi
• [Obito] Survived getting half of his body crushed
• [Obito] Survived a direct hit from Minato’s Rasengan as just a teenager
• [Obito] Survived Konan’s paper bombs, though lost a limb and part of his mask
• [Obito] Took Rasengans to the arm and head from KCM Naruto
• [Obito] Took a headbutt attack from KCM2 Naruto
• [Obito] Tanked a large number of Rasengans from Naruto’s Shadow Clones
• [Obito] Survived an attack that created a large crater
• [Obito] Endured the Chakra drain from fighting in the Fourth Great Shinobi War
• [Obito] Survived after having his heart destroyed by Kakashi

Scaling

Overall

Pain

As the de facto leader of the Akatsuki, it’s no surprise that Pain is incredibly powerful, with certain manga releases declaring him the strongest man in the Akatsuki, and many in-universe characters hyping him up as unbeatable, with Konan claiming he’s never lost a battle, and Zetsu saying that he never imagined Pain could lose. Conversely, multiple implications suggest that Obito is Pain’s superior, even prior to reclaiming the Rinnegan from Nagato’s corpse.

In terms of specific showings, Pain was able to overwhelm and kill Sage Jiraiya in an encounter that became entirely one-sided after all Six Paths joined the battle. Even with backup, the copy ninja Kakashi was unable to pose a meaningful threat to Pain, only successfully managing to damage a single Path before being overwhelmed and killed by Tendo. In the anime, Pain also defeated Orochimaru and the Six-Tails Jinchuuriki, Utakata. Most impressively, he was able to contend against not only Sage Naruto, but Six-Tails Naruto as well, despite the fact that the former was stated to be on a completely different level than anyone in the village at the time, and the latter is even stronger.

When healthy, Nagato is on an entirely different level than even Pain, as although he was weakened by the Reanimation Jutsu, he could fight KCM1 Naruto, V2 Killer B, and Edo Itachi all at the same time and hold his own in direct physical combat, placing him on a level of power at the peak of Kage level, maybe even beyond.

Konan

While Konan doesn’t have many fights in the series, she is formidable in her own right, having fought Obito and done enough damage with her paper bombs to blow off his arm and break his mask. This caused him to admit he hadn’t taken her seriously enough. She also fought Shibi and Shino Aburame during Pain’s Assault on Konoha, and defeated Sasori one on one in the Creation of the Akatsuki OVA. Tertiary media like Storm makes her out to be even more impressive, given that she is shown to be capable of blowing up Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei, a feat which required KCM1 Naruto, Gyuuki, and Itachi’s Susanoo combined in the manga. With this in mind, Konan is at minimum stronger than Sasori, and could to some extent be comparable to Pain or pre-Rinnegan Obito, though both of them are obviously still her superiors.

Itachi

Sick Itachi is stronger than Hebi Sasuke and makes Shippuden Orochimaru look like a complete joke even at the absolute end of his life. He’s depicted as Kisame’s superior and is capable of toying with Kakashi with no difficulty at all.

A fully healthy Itachi is on a similar level as a healthy Nagato, having fought him, KCM1 Naruto, and Killer B as an Edo Tensei. This would put him above Pain, and for that matter the rest of the Akatsuki with the exception of Obito. He was also depicted as comparable or superior to EMS Sasuke and Sage Mode Kabuto, and like the rest of the Akatsuki, should scale to the Tailed Beasts in power. Amaterasu may scale higher than his other abilities based on its performance against the Eight-Tails.

With this in mind, Itachi is either third or fourth place amongst the Akatsuki, with Obito and Boruto Era Orochimaru being his only clear superiors, and Nagato being a highly-debated comparison.

Kisame

Even in Part 1, Kisame was capable of matching Kakashi’s jutsu, and was considered powerful enough to be a good pair for Itachi. Most noteworthy of course is that Kisame is believed to possess Bijuu-like output, which would be consistent with his fight with Killer B, who is stronger than Raikage A, who is himself stated to be on the level of a Tailed Beast. He also could contend with Sixth Gate Guy and barely survive a Hirudora from Seventh Gate. It is worth noting however that he viewed the Sannin as his superiors, having notably praised both Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Based on his showings he’d be around fifth strongest amongst the Akatsuki, with only Obito, Nagato, Itachi, and Orochimaru being above him.

Being around Bijuu level, he should be capable of matching the output of a Tailed Beast bomb and scaling to various other feats of a similar level.

Orochimaru

Orochimaru is one of the deadliest fighters in the verse, with various impressive scaling statements. Hiruzen believed nobody in Konoha, including himself, would’ve been able to defeat Orochimaru. Sasuke and Suigetsu have both said Sasuke only defeated Orochimaru due to his illness, and that had he been at full health, he likely would have won. Tsunade implies in the War Arc that had Orochimaru been fighting Pain alongside Jiraiya, that the latter could have made it out alive. Orochimaru even managed to survive a Shinra Tensei attack from Pain without suffering much damage, which would support Tsunade’s belief. 

It is worth noting that although Orochimaru was clearly surpassed by Itachi, Pain and Obito (though nobody else) during his tenure with the Akatsuki and in Shippuden, he has since gotten much stronger thanks to his upgrades from the War Arc, and subsequent training and modifications during the Blank Period and Boruto Era. As the only living Akatsuki member, he’s the only one who benefits from more recent power creep, most clearly demonstrated by a direct scaling feat in which he fights on par with Victor during Boruto, a powerful Kara Inner. 

This showing would put Orochimaru at a comparable, if not higher level than most shinobi by the time of Boruto, and arguably the strongest member on this list, as Boruto Era shinobi are established to have generally progressed in power since Shippuden, with the Five Kage being Otsutsuki level and even some genin having absurd showings.

Deidara

Deidara was capable of oneshotting a somewhat weakened Three-Tails with a regular C1 bomb, impressive as C2 and C3 are much more powerful. It is also worth mentioning that Kisame voiced his belief that Deidara is among the stronger members of the Akatsuki, though he admitted that Sasori is stronger than him. In either case, he should be at least Bijuu level, and capable of posing a difficult fight against Kage level opponents like Hebi Sasuke.

Sasori

Sasori was able to fight and kill the Third Kazekage (confirmed to have been a fight in the Third Databook), who was considered the strongest Kazekage in history, above the likes of Gaara and Rasa. Deidara, who is himself on the stronger end of the Akatsuki, also admitted Sasori was his superior, though he is conversely inferior to Konan, having lost to her. Of course, he also notably fought Sakura and Chiyo simultaneously, only losing because he willingly took the last hit. He should be well into Kage level and scales to most feats on that tier.

Kakuzu

Kakuzu was able to catch a strike from the Two-Tails and help kill its jinchuuriki after an extended battle, on top of having held his own against Kakashi, a Hokage candidate. While ultimately on the weaker end of the Akatsuki, Kakuzu should be around Bijuu level, and capable of performing well against Kage level foes, and thus should scale to most feats on that level.

Hidan

Hidan is only beaten out by Zetsu as the weakest among the Akatsuki, but contrary to popular belief he isn’t completely without merit, having managed to clash evenly with Kakashi in strength and speed, with Kakashi being able to contend with Kakuzu in the same battle. While Hidan is undoubtedly the weaker of the Zombie Combo compared to his partner, the fact that the two are paired together at all indicates some degree of parity, such as being able to combo together and similar things like that. He’s certainly less imposing than the majority of the Akatsuki, but Hidan is an S-ranked criminal nonetheless, and is a dangerous threat to Kage level shinobi even without his ritual.

Zetsu

Despite Zetsu’s infamous instance of stabbing Ten-Tails Madara, this was a result of him having access to Obito’s body at the time, which had increased in strength after his time as the Ten-Tails Jinchuuriki. Zetsu on his own isn’t a fighter, and while White Zetsu have some showings against characters like Neji and Hinata during the War Arc, they ultimately aren’t anything special and nothing compared to the rest of the Akatsuki, making Zetsu the weakest member overall.

Obito

Save perhaps for Boruto Era Orochimaru, Obito with the Rinnegan is the undisputed strongest of the Akatsuki even without the Ten-Tails, having fought a stronger version of Naruto than even Nagato or Itachi did, and being depicted as on par with Edo Madara. It makes sense, of course, as the leader and final boss he should be a bigger threat than anyone beneath and before him. He scales well into Kage level and beyond most of the Tailed Beasts, rivaling the Eight-Tails and to some extent, earlier versions of the Nine-Tails.

Notable Feats

Naruto Uzumaki

Naturally, the protagonist of the series has gone toe to toe against various Akatsuki members on many occasions, with the earliest examples being during the Tenchi Bridge Arc, where even a weakened Orochimaru could fight evenly against Four-Tailed Naruto, and the Akatsuki Suppression Arc, when he required his newly invented Rasenshuriken to defeat Kakuzu, and was otherwise at a disadvantage against him. Later on, after Naruto had mastered Sage Mode, Pain was able to fight him in a lengthy and close battle, holding out against not only Sage Mode, but Naruto’s Six-Tailed state as well.

During the War Arc, Edo Tensei Itachi and Nagato, who were both weaker than their alive selves in their prime, were even able to hold their own against Naruto in the first stage of his Kurama Chakra Mode, with White Mask Obito later performing well even against KCM2 Naruto. Regarding Obito in particular, White Mask Obito is relative to Edo Madara and Hashirama, who are nearly as strong as their alive selves, with those versions of the characters being able to contend with a hostless Nine-Tails in the past; as such, Obito specifically would scale to said version of the Nine-Tails, though later versions of Kurama exceed him, so he would not get anything beyond War Arc KCM2.

• KN0 Naruto in the Land of Waves repeatedly reacts to Haku’s lightspeed movement between his mirrors
• Team 7 in the Forest of Death survives getting hit with a huge blast of wind
• Blocked Orochimaru’s giant snake from ramming Sasuke
• KN1 Kid Naruto splits clouds alongside Boruto
• Four-Tailed Naruto during the Tenchi Bridge Arc creates a large crater in his fight with Orochimaru
• Akatsuki Suppression arc Naruto makes a large crater with his Rasenshuriken
• Sage Naruto’s Rasenshuriken in the Pain Arc crosses a massive crater in a fraction of a second
• Sage Naruto blasts a massive amount of rubble into the air
• Six-Tailed Naruto blasts away a portion of Konoha, vaporizing a large area
• KCM1 Naruto’s speed is compared to Minato’s teleportation jutsu
• KCM1 Naruto blitzed past the Fourth Raikage A, outspeeding his fastest punch so quickly it looked like he teleported
• KCM1 Naruto contributes ⅓ of the energy needed to blow up Nagato’s Chibaku Tensei
• KCM2 Naruto matches five other Tailed Beasts at once in a Bijuu Bomb clash that disperses air over a massive area
• Hostless Kurama’s Tailed Beast Bomb during the fight between Madara and Hashirama displaces a massive amount of water and blows up part of a distant country

Sasuke Uchiha

As with Naruto, numerous Akatsuki members have fought Sasuke over the years, with Deidara nearly managing to kill Hebi Sasuke in a one-on-one fight, and Itachi exceeding Hebi Sasuke to such an extent that he had the advantage even while sick, blind, and on the verge of death. Later on, in the War Arc, Edo Itachi is still able to keep up with even EMS Sasuke, proving his superiority over earlier versions of Sasuke even further.

• Kid Sasuke makes a crater during the bell test
• Kid Sasuke dodges/blitzes sound waves from Zaku
• Hebi Sasuke tanks the blast wave of Deidara’s C0 explosion
• Hebi Sasuke conjures a storm with several fire jutsu
• Kirin destroys a mountain in a fraction of a second
• Taka Sasuke dodges Killer B’s lariat, outspeeding it hundreds of times over
• Taka Sasuke reacts to lightspeed attacks from Land of Iron samurai

Hidden Leaf

Outside of Naruto and Sasuke, the Akatsuki’s activities have put them at odds with plenty of other Konoha shinobi as well. From Obito’s battle with Kakashi, to Pain’s fight with Sage Jiraiya, to Sasori’s fight with Sakura, to Kisame’s repeated run-ins with users of the Eight Gates like Might Guy, the Akatsuki are in general comparable to even Konoha’s best ninjas.

• Kid Rock Lee without Gates moves fast enough to outspeed his own shadow
• Part 1 Kakashi blocks Itachi’s lightspeed water bullets
• Tsunade’s Heavenly Kick of Pain is stated to be able to blow away a country
• Kid Choji super expands to massive size
• Shinobi in the Third Great Ninja War create a massive explosion
• 6th Gate Might Guy vaporizes a large amount of water with Asakujaku
• Sage Jiraiya’s Big Ball Rasengan can destroy a mountain
• 7th Gate Might Guy’s Hirudora against Kisame creates an enormous air shockwave
• Base Rock Lee and Might Guy spin through the air to intercept Haku, drastically outpacing him
• Tsunade reacts to Mabui’s jutsu alongside A, which transports them at lightspeed

Hidden Sand

Even more so than Konoha, the Akatsuki have more or less made the Sand Village their bitch over the years. The third through fifth Kazekage – Gaara, Rasa, and the unnamed Third Kazekage – were all defeated by Akatsuki members, Deidara, Orochimaru, and Sasori respectively, with Rasa and the Third both being outright killed in those battles. The Third Kazekage is especially notable, as he is stated to be the strongest Kazekage in history, and thus the strongest member of the Sand Village in history, but was still defeated and killed by Sasori regardless. Other Hidden Sand villagers like Kankuro have also been completely demolished in battles with Akatsuki members.

• Kid Gaara’s sand blocks numerous needles all at once
• Pre-Series Gaara’s sand blocks an explosion
• Temari outspeeds sound waves with her wind
• Temari cleaves apart a forest with her wind jutsu
• Kid Gaara crushes a deep pit of sand into the ground
• Kid Gaara creates a massive sand tsunami
• Kage Gaara moves a large amount of sand in his fight with Deidara
• Kage Gaara blocks Deidara’s village-destroying C3
• Gokage Summit Gaara’s sand drastically outspeeds the Raikage’s lightspeed movements

Hidden Cloud

Taka Sasuke, who was even weaker than Hebi Sasuke, was able to perform well against both Killer B and A, the Fourth Raikage. Even Kakuzu and Hidan, two of the weakest Akatsuki members, were able to defeat and kill Yugito Nii in battle, who was one of the Hidden Cloud’s most powerful assets.

• Raikage A and Killer B’s lariat attack is stated to be lightspeed
• The Third Raikage fought on par with the Eight-Tails

Hidden Mist

Deidara and Obito were able to pretty easily defeat the Three-Tails, a powerful weapon of the Mist, and even powerful Mist shinobi like Haku and Zabuza have been soundly defeated by characters like Part 1 Kakashi, who are far below the Akatsuki. Kisame is one of the most infamous criminals in the Mist’s history, and even their most notorious Mizukage, Yagura, was unable to resist being placed under Obito’s direct control.

• Haku can move at lightspeed between his ice mirrors
• Zabuza keeps pace with Haku’s lightspeed movements

Hidden Stone

Edo Tensei Deidara was able to fight on par with the Tsuchikage, Onoki, placing him on a level comparable to the strongest Iwa shinobi. The Akatsuki’s showings against other Shippuden era Kage also corroborate them being comparable to Onoki and any of the shinobi under him.

• Onoki’s Particle Style would be capable of atomizing Turtle Island
• Onoki’s jutsu is able to lift Turtle Island above the clouds
• Ittan makes a large crater with his Earth Release
• Nine shinobi make a large mud wall against the Third Raikage
• Onoki flies from Shinobi HQ to the Frost Country quickly
• Onoki’s Particle Style atomizes part of a meteor
• Eleven shinobi make a large crater against the Ten-Tails
• Fourteen shinobi heat and vaporize a large amount of quicklime

Hidden Sound

Most notable members of the Sound, such as Taka, the Sound Four, Sick Kimimaro, and so forth are far inferior to members of the Akatsuki. The exception to this is Sage Kabuto, who is comparable to high tier members like Itachi, though still in a range that the stronger Akatsuki members can scale to him.

• Orochimaru’s snake summons destroy a castle
• Orochimaru’s snake summons make a crater
• Kimimaro makes a massive forest of bones
• Jugo reacts to Raikage A’s lariat from point-blank range

Land of Iron

Characters such as Taka Sasuke have reacted to Mifune’s sword swings, with him being roughly on a level similar to the Gokage.

• Mifune’s sword swings are stated to be as fast as light

Tailed Beasts

All of the Akatsuki were specifically hand selected for the purpose of hunting down and defeating the Tailed Beasts, with each of them being assigned to battle and bringing in at least one Jinchuuriki to fill their quota. For this reason, they all have to be strong enough to contend with a Tailed Beast, and their showings support that greatly. Kakuzu and Hidan defeated the Two-Tails, Deidara and Tobi defeated the Three-Tails, Kisame defeated Roshi, the Four-Tails’ jinchuuriki, Pain defeated Utakata, the Six-Tails’ jinchuuriki, and many Akatsuki members have battled weaker variants of the Nine-Tails, such as Four-Tailed or Six-Tailed Naruto. Obito in the War Arc is also shown to be capable of injuring the Eight-Tails with his jutsu.

• Five Tailed Beasts combined contribute half of an explosion that disperses air over a vast area

Madara Uchiha

Though it applies to Obito alone, White Mask Obito in the War Arc is stated and depicted to be on par with Edo Madara, and so should be comparable to his showings in that state. Edo Madara is also relative to Edo Hashirama, with Edo Hashirama having been stated to be nearly as strong as Alive Hashirama, who was in turn relative to Alive Madara. Meaning that Edo Madara should be nearly as strong as his alive self as well.

• Casually dodged Gaara’s sand
• Called down two gigantic meteors with the Deva Path, the impact of which overwhelms Onoki’s Lightened Boulder Jutsu and Gaara’s sand, producing an earthquake felt from multiple countries away
• Carved through a mountain range with his Perfect Susanoo
• Matched and controlled earlier versions of the Nine-Tails

Chakra Cannon

As of the Blank Period, the Cloud Village has access to a powerful weapon known as the Chakra Cannon, capable of shooting down massive fragments of the Moon that were raining down on the planet at high speed. This cannon was charged by the Chakra of 96 Jonin over the course of about 100 seconds, making each of these Jonin individually responsible for 1/9600th of its total yield.

It should be noted that although these are ordinary, average Jonin, this takes place several years after the end of Shippuden, in an era where most of the Akatsuki are dead, and the entire world is established to be collectively training and getting stronger in case of another Otsutsuki attack in the future. This general increase in power is great enough that even the Five Kage are all capable of fighting threats that are beyond Kaguya. As such, this would not retroactively apply to most of the Akatsuki, it would only apply to their sole remaining member: Boruto Era Orochimaru, who is capable of fighting far above average shinobi like the Kara Inner Victor.

• Annihilated an enormous number of moon fragments being launched toward the planet, dispersing their fragments at a fraction of light speed and creating massive explosions in space relative in size to the planet

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