Question: who were the original members of the akatsuki?
Answer: The Akatsuki members are: Kisame, Pain, Itachi Uchiha, Sasori, Orochimaru, Deidara, Tobi(Obito), Zetsu, Konan, Hidan, Kakuzu and Jūzō. All of them are dead except Orochimaru who was revived by Kabuto during the 4th world war. The akatsuki was formed by Yahiko (Pain) who was forced by Tobi(Obito) to do it.