Pain was one of the main antagonists to the early act of Naruto: Shippuden. The leader of the Akatsuki, his diabolical intentions for the planet make him an easily contemptible villain. However, much of his motives are only on account of his troubled past, evincing there may be more to his morality than is immediately evident.
As one of the most complex and coherent villains of the anime, there is more cause to liken him to a hero than many of his successors. Through analyzing his actions, we can determine whether or not he should go down in infamy.
10 Hero: The Original Intention Of The Akatsuki Was Benevolent
Before it became the nightmarish terrorist organization that many today recognize it as the Akatsuki's initial purpose was noble. After having witnessed the ravages of war firsthand, Nagato and his two friends gathered a coalition of people by which to mend the wounds it caused.
They actively attempted to ensure that others wouldn't feel the aftereffects of violence - a mission that would be completely contradictory to its later design, especially with his intent to gather the Jinchuriki and cause unprecedented destruction.
9 Villain: The Akatsuki's Fall From Grace Ruined What Could've Been
Despite the Akatsuki's initial purpose, they would soon embark on a darker path. Nagato adopted the philosophy and moniker of Pain, an ideology that connects people to one another through mutual suffering.
Since the man has already considered his life's events to be excruciating enough, he's implicitly stating a desire to hurt others so that they'll understand how he feels. This is not only openly malevolent, it borders on evil for its own sake, especially since his actions can be interpreted as jealousy for those with cleaner lives (especially from the five nations).
8 Hero: Refusing To Hurt His Friends When Demanded To
When Hanzo and Danzo realized the threat the Akatsuki posed to their ironclad rule, they formed a temporary alliance to ambush Nagato and Yahiko. Having already captured Konan, they forced the group's leader to decide whose life should be spared and whose should be ended.
However, Nagato was not particularly inclined to kill either of them and refused to act in spite of the peril it portended. This demonstrates the value he places on the life of his comrades, one much resembling the creed of Naruto or Kakashi.
7 Villain: He Had Gaara Kidnapped & Murdered Him
Gaara was captured near the beginning of Shippuden after an unsuccessful battle against Deidara. Immediately whisked to the Akatsuki's hideout, Nagato promptly sacrificed him, extracting Shukaku from his corpse to be used at a later date.
These actions could have had dire consequences for the future if Chiyo did not willingly sacrifice herself so that the young man could live. Not only would it have left the already struggling Sand village without a Kazekage, but it would also have deprived the Allied Shinobi Forces of its charismatic leader.
6 Hero: He Killed Hanzo, A Notorious Enemy Of The Leaf
Hanzo the Salamander was a notorious enemy of the Leaf. This was primarily illustrated through flashbacks to the Second Shinobi War, where he was a tenacious adversary that staved off the combined efforts of the Legendary Sannin.
After Yahiko threw himself onto Nagato's kunai, the young man was overcome with grief and a desire to inflict revenge. After he created the Paths of Pain, he stormed Hanzo's residence and promptly killed him, thereby eliminating one of Konoha's most serious active threats - even if it may not have been his direct intention to do so.
5 Villain: He Attempted To Collaborate With Sasuke
Initially, Sasuke was intrigued by the prospect of joining the Akatsuki. Dubious of his intentions and still with many more plans, Pain ordered him to bring back Killer Bee in order to assess his worth and loyalty.
This would have a number of ramifications. Not only was he humoring Sasuke's rapid descent into depravity, he also painted a target on his back for the repercussions that the Cloud would soon visit against him. Nagato's task advanced the intrepid Uchiha from a rogue shinobi to a worldwide fugitive.
4 Hero: His Philosophy Was Proven Correct In The Fourth Shinobi War
Pain's primary philosophy was that one could not truly relate to and unite with others until they felt mutual suffering. Though Naruto was able to understand him on some level, his sentiments were ultimately regarded to be incorrect.
However, he would be proven right shortly after his death. The beginning of the Fourth Shinobi War and the resurrection of Madara Uchiha demonstrated that people could indeed be brought together through pain - or at least, the looming threat of it. Ironically, Kabuto's actions helped to mend generations of international strife.
3 Villain: He Destroyed Most Of Konoha
Perhaps Nagato's most notorious action was of the Almighty Push that changed Konoha forever. A single strike decimated most of the valley and left it as an appalling crater. Moreover, he killed many of its denizens in the same motion.
However, it wasn't the only way he had grievously wronged the Leaf. In addition to killing Kakashi by plunging a nail through his forehead, he attempted to murder Konohamaru, who at the time was a child. This illustrates that he had become just as evil as those who destroyed his own life in his youth.
2 Hero: He Sacrificed Himself To Undo His Damages
As abhorrent as Nagato's destruction may have been, its saving grace is that he would ultimately reverse it after identifying the error of his ways. This was in spite of the fact that it would cost him his life - something that Konan ensured he was aware of.
Through using his rinnegan's jutsu, he restored almost everyone who he had murdered in the previous battle. As a result, his redemption was more tangible and meaningful than many of the series' other villains, especially considering the grave cost he was willing to pay for penance.
1 Villain: He Murdered His Own Former Master
After gleaning Pain's true identity, Jiraiya left for the Rain village alone in order to confront his former pupil. Though a slight effort was made to reason with him, he mostly understood that the child he once knew had become an incorrigible force for darkness.
Despite having vastly superior strength on account of his rinnegan, Nagato would neither show mercy for the Toad Sage nor would he attempt to evangelize to him. Instead, he would viciously assail, ambush, and finally execute the same man who had prevented him from starving as a war orphan.