The Akatsuki were an organization of villains that attempted to collect all Tailed Beasts in order to unleash a worldwide apocalypse. Debuting in the original Naruto series, they have remained a persistent threat until the beginning of the Fourth Shinobi War.
However, many of its members have their own unique motives. Some are so drastically different from the group's mission statement that their ambitions would be best served elsewhere. Through distinguishing the ninja who belong in the Akatsuki from those who don't, we can better appreciate the organization's many subtle nuances.
10 Better Off Alone: Kakuzu Doesn't Need The Akatsuki To Find Work
Kakuzu has repeatedly stated that his only interest is money. Considering that the Akatsuki have no major financial backers and are unaffiliated with any of the Five Nations, this makes them unreliable employers that can't fully satisfy his needs.
Should Kakuzu have signed on with a crime lord like Gato who doesn't care about his checkered past, he would be able to maintain a job more lucrative and safe than the one he canonically had. Additionally, Gato would have received a much higher class of mercenary than Zabuza.
9 Better With The Akatsuki: Pain Used The Akatsuki To Fulfill His Dream
Ultimately, the Akatsuki's purpose was to fulfill Pain's dream. He had the most vested interest in seeing the world crumble since he figured that they'd only be able to unite through shared misery.
Considering that the organization's members are at his command, it makes sense that he would remain with it despite the treacherous Itachi, Zetsu, and Tobi. Despite the underlings at his command, Pain only brought Konan with him when attacking Konoha and ultimately lost his life because of it.
8 Better Off Alone: Joining The Akatsuki Put A Target On Sasori's Back
As a mass butcherer and the murderer of a Kazekage, Sasori was a wanted man well before joining the Akatsuki. However, his affiliation with them transformed him into an international threat and drew the attention of the Leaf.
Should Sasori have simply wandered the Five Nations by himself, it's unlikely that they would have made him such a priority target. Consequently, Chiyo and Sakura would lack the motive to go after him, as he wouldn't have played a role in the abduction of Gaara.
7 Better With The Akatsuki: Orochimaru Blew His Chance To Have Powerful Allies
Orochimaru joined the Akatsuki due to the organization's potential as powerful colleagues. Since his attack on the Chunin Exam made him a nemesis to both the Sand and Leaf villages, he could have benefited significantly from their protection. Additionally, he could have studied its members' unique jutsu and learned how to harness them for himself.
Instead, Orochimaru attacked Itachi at the earliest opportunity for the chance to use his body as a vessel. The sharingan user would have killed him instantly for his treachery had Kabuto not intervened when he did.
6 Better Off Alone: Itachi's Plan To Infiltrate The Akatsuki Backfired
After massacring his entire clan, Itachi joined the Akatsuki to ensure that they never came too close to posing a serious threat against the Leaf. He also wanted to make himself into a villain that Sasuke could defeat to evolve his sharingan and embrace his role as a protector of Konoha.
However, Itachi's plan backfired. Sasuke was so consumed by vengeance that he ultimately turned away from the Leaf just for a chance to strike his older brother dead.
5 Better With The Akatsuki: Deidara Used The Akatsuki To Practice His Art
Unlike Sasori, Deidara's art does not require a specific target to have optimal efficiency. Moreover, it lacks the puppet master's subtlety, making it substantially more difficult for its user to hide from potential pursuers.
Consequently, the only way that Deidara can practice his explosions safely is through the Akatsuki's protection. So long as they provide him with powerful partners, he'll happy obliterate the list of targets they give him. In the end, Deidara felt such a strong sense of loyalty to the Akatsuki that he was even willing to die for them.
4 Better Off Alone: Hidan Would Have Been Able To Keep A Low Profile On His Own
Hidan's only interest was collecting blood offerings for his god, Jashin. He had no interest in the potential strength of his targets like Sasori would, nor do his theatrics tend to draw an audience like Deidara's do.
Additionally, Hidan had no problem with finding victims for his rituals before joining the Akatsuki. Should he have refused Pain's offer, he could have continued his killings in peace without worrying about Konoha's vengeance.
3 Better With The Akatsuki: Konan Has No Direction Without Pain
Konan was a founding member of the Akatsuki and one of Nagato's closest friends since childhood. Even after the organization fell from grace, she diligently stood by his side and even protected his desiccated body from both Naruto and Obito (under dramatically different circumstances).
Although her allegiance to Nagato is ultimately what got Konan killed, she gave her life gladly. Without the organization, she would have been directionless and empty, similarly to how she was before meeting Jiraiya.
2 Better Off Alone: Tobi/Obito Didn't Get Much Out Of Being In The Akatsuki
When Obito infiltrated the Akatsuki, he had hoped to use the organization to his advantage. After adopting the moniker and personality of "Tobi," he was appointed to be Sasori's replacement as Deidara's new partner.
However, Obito never actually helped him fight his battles or capture any Jinchuriki. Similarly, he wasn't able to use the Akatsuki as disposable pawns since most of them were dead by the time he had a chance to take over. In the end, Nagato's rinnegan was Obito's only consolation prize for his charade, which he could have stolen with Kabuto's help.
1 Better With The Akatsuki: The Akatsuki Were Vital To Zetsu's Plans
Zetsu joined the Akatsuki to manipulate them toward Kaguya's goals and to gain as much intel as possible. Their decision to appoint him as a scout played to his advantage, as it allowed him to spy on the Five Nations and even Sasuke Uchiha with relative impunity.
Without the Akatsuki's protection, Zetsu would have been significantly easier to notice and defeat. Considering that he never actually had to put himself at risk for the organization, the arrangement they had was slanted in his favor.