Akatsuki

Akatsuki is a group of shinobi that exist outside the usual system of hidden villages. The Akatsuki has taken two different forms, led by different individuals. Both iterations are viewed as either subversives or criminals, but both seeked to make the world a better place through their own means. The Akatsuki have multiple lairs across the world, inaccessible either due to their remoteness or the various security measures that protected them.

## History

### Yahiko's Akastsuki

Founded by Yahiko during the Third Shinobi World War, the Akatsuki originated as a noble endeavor to bring peace to Amegakure, a village too often caught in the crossfire of conflicts among the Five Great Shinobi Countries. Alongside his childhood friends Nagato and Konan, who, like him, had been orphaned by the Second Shinobi World War, Yahiko sought a way to end the cycle of war plaguing their homeland. Their cause gained momentum when they were joined by like-minded Ame ninja who shared their vision for a peaceful future.

However, the group's destiny took a turn when they encountered Tobi, who identified himself as Madara Uchiha. Tobi approached them with an offer to teach Nagato, believed to be the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths, to harness the power of his Rinnegan. Despite Tobi's persuasive words, Yahiko harbored distrust and advised Nagato to decline the offer.

Under Yahiko's leadership and charismatic influence, Akatsuki gained early fame, its exploits spreading beyond Amegakure. Yahiko viewed himself as a mere facilitator for Nagato, who he believed held the key to achieving true world peace through his Rinnegan. The growing recognition of Akatsuki, however, drew the attention of Hanzō, Ame's leader, who initially saw potential in them but later perceived them as a threat to his rule. This shift in perception was further fueled by Danzō Shimura, who manipulated events to paint Akatsuki as a menace.

Hanzō, fearing the group's influence, approached them under the guise of brokering peace among Konohagakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure. The meeting, however, turned into a trap, resulting in Konan being taken hostage and Yahiko being forced to sacrifice himself to save her. Enraged by Yahiko's death, Nagato unleashed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to retaliate against their attackers, with Hanzō managing to escape.

Learning of the ambush, other Akatsuki members rushed to provide backup, but their efforts were thwarted by Tobi and Zetsu, who intercepted and ultimately eliminated the remaining members of the group. In the aftermath, Nagato and Konan stood as the sole survivors of the original Akatsuki, their journey forever altered by the tragic events that unfolded.

### Nagato's Akatsuki

Following Yahiko's demise, Nagato, driven by grief and disillusionment, assumed the mantle of leadership and adopted the alias "Pain." Convinced that the world would never willingly embrace peace, Nagato, now Pain, believed that a radical shift was necessary to jolt humanity out of its perpetual conflict. To carry out this vision, he integrated Yahiko's corpse into the Six Paths of Pain, symbolically maintaining Yahiko's leadership within Akatsuki.

Rejecting the group's previous pacifist approach, Pain sought to showcase the horrors of war on an unprecedented scale. Collaborating with Tobi, who operated under the guise of Madara Uchiha, Nagato accepted support and began recruiting powerful missing-nin, forming the core of the new Akatsuki. Their objective was clear: to capture the tailed beasts and use their chakra to unleash a devastating kinjutsu, creating a cycle of fear that would intermittently quell conflicts.

Akatsuki's strategy unfolded in three stages:

* Financial Foundation: Gather sufficient funds to sustain the organization.
* Mercenary Services: Provide mercenary services at rates that would undercut the competition, gradually making the shinobi villages dependent on Akatsuki and pushing them out of business.
* Global Conquest: With other major shinobi forces dissolved, Akatsuki would swiftly conquer all nations.

In its early years, Nagato's Akatsuki experienced remarkable success. Hidden villages increasingly hired them for missions and wars, with Akatsuki becoming a popular and mysterious force, though falsely rumored to operate out of Kirigakure. Only Kumogakure refrained from hiring Akatsuki, while turmoil within the group, such as Kakuzu's violent tendencies and Orochimaru's defection, added complexity to their journey.
Nagato's ultimate goal behind capturing the tailed beasts was to use their chakra to unleash a devastating kinjutsu that would create fear, disrupt conflicts, and temporarily impose peace. Despite the risks and potential backlash from former clients, Akatsuki aimed to achieve this ambitious objective.

After years of relative inactivity, Akatsuki's resurgence, marked by their mission to capture the tailed beasts, thrust them into the forefront of global affairs. This, in turn, triggered a growing resistance from the hidden villages, setting the stage for a renewed era of conflict and confrontation.

## Trivia

* Akatsuki 暁, literally means: "Dawn" or "Daybreak"