Anime/Manga: Naruto / Naruto: Shippuden
Group: Criminal Organization
Members: Nagato/Pain
Hoshigaki Kisame
Uchihata Itachi
Deidara
Sasori
Kakuzu
Hidan
Konan
Uchiha Madara
Zetsu
Orochimaru
NOTE: some things below may not be understood by those who do not watch/read the anime/manga. Since this is a Group Information, I have no duties to summarize the story. I will however, one day set up a review for the series.
BACKGROUND / HISTORY
Uchiha Madara and Nagato have both claimed to be the founders of Akatsuki. Regardless of whoever created the organization, however, it is rumored that the group was first formed in Kirigakura, thus leading many villages to blame Kirigakure for Akatsuki's actions.
At first, Akatsuki was a mercenary group for hire. Many villages hired Akatsuki to fight in wars, spy on enemies, or carry out assassinations. To this regard, Fourth Raikage claims that only Kumogakure has never used Akatsuki's services.
Soon, the group eventually began capturing the tailed beasts, in the process antagonizing many of its former clients. During the attempts at capturing the jinchuriki of the tailed beasts, many Akatsuki members died or were incapacitated. Sasori, who fought with his grandmother, the Suna elder Chiyo, and Haruno Sakura, died during their fight. Uchiha Madara, as Tobi, replaces him. Hidan is fully incapacitated by Nara Shikamaru during their fight while Kakuzu is killed with the finishing blow by Hatake Kakashi. Both Deidara and Uchiha Itachi die at the hands of Uchiha Sasuke.
At the same time, Sasuke is tasked with capturing the Eight-Tails, but he fails too. Akatsuki's actions finally provoke a response from the ninja villages, who hold a Kage Summit to discuss Akatsuki. Madara, wishing to accelerate his plans, infiltrates the meeting and declares war against the great nations, promising to use the seven tailed beasts Akatsuki has already captured in battle. The villages and their associated countries form a Shinobi Alliance to combat Akatsuki, beginning the Fourth Great Shinobi World War.
All Akatsuki members wear long, dark cloaks with red clouds, a red interior, and a chin-high collar. In the case of Taka, they have hoods instead of a high collar. All members wear nail polish of varying colors on their fingers and toenails, and may or may notwear a conical straw hat with small spike-like balls hanging down to cover their faces. Some members wear their village forehead protector with a slash across to symbolize the broken ties with their former villages, while others cease wearing them entirely. Everyone also wears a ring, each member with varying kanji.
GOAL
Akatsuki's main general goal is to achieve World Domination. In accordance to this goal, they also aim to capture all of the nine tailed beasts. Their plan is to move out in pairs of two and each pair will capture an assigned jinchuriki. These tailed beasts would be their help in their goal of world domination. However, as proved by Hidan's case, not all members learn of the organization's goals immediately upon joining.
Amegakure (Village run by Pain, association ended following Pain's death and Konan's defection)
Kabuto Yakushi (Sasori's underling, defected to Orochimaru, allied with Akatsuki)
Yūra (Sasori's underling, deceased)
Mukade (Sasori's underling, deceased)
Ginji (Kakuzu's banker, status unknown)
Zangei (Bounty collector, captured)
Taka (Affiliated group, disbanded)
Uchiha Sasuke (Only member of Taka left who is still associating with Akatsuki)
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
Partner: Konan
Village of Origin: Ame
Ring: Rei (zero)
Ring Placement: Right thumb
Reason for joining: "Peace"
Status: deceased
Partner: Nagato
Village of Origin: Ame
Ring: Bya (white)
Ring Placement: Right middle finger
Reason for joining: Love
Status: defected
Partner: none (functions as spy)
Village of Origin: unknown
Ring: Gai (boar)
Ring Placement: Right pinky
Reason for joining: Land
Status: active
Partner: none (previously Deidara, as Tobi)
Village of Origin: Konoha/Kiri
Ring: Gyoku (jewel)
Ring Placement: Left thumb
Reason for joining: Power
Status: active
Partner: Sasori (first), Tobi (after Sasori's death)
Village of Origin: Iwa
Ring: Sei (blue)
Ring Placement: Right index
Reason for joining: Whim
Status: deceased
Partner: Orochimaru (first), Deidara (after Orochimaru's defection)
Village of Origin: Suna
Ring: Gyoku (jewel)
Ring Placement: Left thumb
Reason for joining: unknown
Status: deceased
Partner: Kakuzu
Village of Origin: Yu
Ring: San (three)
Ring Placement: Left index
Reason for joining: religion
Status: incapacitated
Partner: Hidan
Village of Origin: Taki
Ring: Hoku (north)
Ring Placement: Left middle
Reason for joining: money
Status: deceased
Partner: Hoshigaki Kisame
Village of Origin: Konoha
Ring: Shu (vermillion)
Ring Placement: Right ring
Reason for joining: ideology
Status: deceased
Partner: Sasori
Village of Origin: Konoha/Oto
Ring: Ku (sky)
Ring Placement: Left little
Reason for joining: Uchiha Itachi
Status: defected, deceased (defected the group before dying)
Partner: Uchiha Itachi
Village of Origin: Kiri
Ring: Nan (south)
Ring Placement: Left ring
Reason for joining: spite
Status: active