Saf
The Fresh Prince of Konoha
It's been bandied about frequently that there are too many villainous factions running around. Between Madara, Pein, Orochimaru, Danzou, and Kabuto, there's a lot of confusion about how these seemingly disparate elements will weave together into a cohesive story.
The key to this is to start with the major factor most of the villains have in common.
Immortality.
Madara: The Immortal Uchiha
Madara was said by Itachi to be immortal. but it's interesting, because during the Madara flashback, the manga seems not to focus on that Madara gained the EMS, but that his brother's eyes "Had found an indistinguishable light".
Interesting that his brother gets the "rebirth" imagery and not Madara. With the "Moving bodies = rebirth" symbolism that Orochimaru and Madara's brother's eyes had, I believe that the EMS grants immortality by way of eye transfer. When Madara transfers his eyes to a new host, he transfers himself, too.
But what kind of host would give up their freedom to Madara?
A Sharingan user's biggest asset is their eyes. Take their eyes from them, and it would be like robbing an opera singer of her voice. To some, living on in Madara would be greater than trying to fight blind.
So. Do we know of any blind or near-blind Uchihas in the story?
Obito: Container of Madara
Now, some would argue that it's almost impossible that Obito could have been saved from those rocks. But if we assume Madara was searching for a willing host, and had, say, the ultimate scout and a medic who can restore dead parts back to life, is it still so far-fetched to assume he would have quickly saved Obito? Being such a young Uchiha on such a dangerous mission, Madara would have had him followed, especially if he was inside Konoha to know (More on that later).
None can deny the numerous coincidences in the design of Tobi and Obito. The goggles, the one eye, the hair, the goofiness - the Sharingan. Well, in literature, there are rarely coincidences. Tobi is Obito. Found by Zetsu, stitched back together from near-death by Kakuzu (More on that later). The name "Tobi" is to hide his true identity.
However... if Madara has already transferred into Tobi, then that leaves several questions. Why does Tobi still use only one eye? Why does Itachi call Madara a shell of his former self? No. It doesn't fit. Madara can't be in Tobi yet. When he refers to himself as being Madara, he is so impassioned about becoming the next container for Madara, he pre-emptively considers himself him. It's all audience misdirect, too.
But if Madara isn't Tobi, then who is he?
Danzou: Shadowy puppet master
Danzou. The man who rivaled Sarutobi. A vicious warhawk who demands Konoha be the most powerful village in the world. What proof do I have that he is Madara?
Well, Madara needs to be in the story somewhere, and that somewhere ain't Tobi. Danzou needs further plot ties to make him relevant. And we know of a blind Uchiha about his age... Madara's Brother. Yes, I believe Madara transmigrated his eyes back into his brother's head. This will serve as an example of what makes Obito so fervent to Madara and a demonstration of his body swapping. And note above the mention of Madara in the shadows of Akatsuki. Hearkens back to ROOT being in the shadows of Konoha, right?
So why ROOT? Well, as we can see, Madara clearly wants to destroy Konoha. Why's that? Because he lost favor. He wanted to steer Konoha into being the most powerful military nation, and subjugating all the other nations. When Shodai won over the people for peace, he tried to kill Shodai and take control. Years later, he tried to send the Kyuubi out to destroy it, and was met by the Yondaime Hokage. ROOT continues that goal, by being right there in Konoha, prepared to strike. Plus, Danzou's military views cut very closely to Madara's.
So what does Madara have to do with Akatsuki?
Akatsuki: The most powerful village of all
Akatsuki, as iterated to Hidan, is out to dominate the world via overtaking the war market. This concept of an organization being the mightiest and ruling everyone else sounds exactly like Madara's plan for Konoha. And look who founded it?
And this explains why some people like Kakuzu and Sasori joined. Akatsuki's goals will take a while, and immortal help was needed. They were the only people Madara had any hope of bringing to his side (Since no mortal woud live long enough to see when Madara became emperor of the world)
This also helps clear up how Hidan could have been part of Akatsuki and yet not known of their plans. That's because he joined up because of Madara. Not because he sympathized with Akatsuki's goals.
But doesn't what Pein tells Hidan about Akatsuki goals differ from what he tells Jiraiya later?
Pein: The ultimate enigma
I don't feel so. The part about using the Bijuu to build a giant nuke jutsu is consistant with him telling the Hidan they would use the Bijuu to dominate the war market. When the nations have bombed each other out, Akatsuki will "Dominate the war market" by being the only ones standing, not having a village to bomb.
Pein leads Akatsuki in harvesting the Bijuu, but all the Akatsuki were hand-picked by Madara. This explains what Akatsuki has been up to over the past couple decades if they only started Bijuu harvesting recently. They were all working for Madara first and Pein second. Pein's plan to end war is necessary for Madara's plan to rule the world, so they've entered into this agreement.
Overall, I feel like Pein, Jiraiya, the Rinnegan, and the Rikudou Sennin have a larger part to play. It might be tied into the Madara plot more heavily. It might simply parralel it again. I do think Pein is immortal by constantly taking new bodies. I do think perhaps Konan is further related into the story of Pein that you'd think at first brush. This analysis hasn't really given me a whole lot of insight into Pein's story.
ZETSU AND KAKUZU: MADARA'S SPECIAL HELPERS
Kakuzu, it is known, lived around the time of Madara. And it's known Tobi, the next container for Madara, was under Zetsu's care. And that he's a great scout. I think Madara kept them around for precisely that reason. I believe Zetsu and Kakuzu had the special task of seeking out a new container for Madara. And they ended up finding Obito.
On the subject of Kakuzu, I believe there's a solid chance he and Hidan will return. It would fit Kishi's theme of immortality and rebirth, and it will give more enemies for the former Rookies to fight. Plus, they went out with no development, no explanation for their powers, and Hidan with the plothook of "Theurgical Enlightenment" left dangling.
Hidan is a recent addition to the team, replacing one of Kakuzu's dead partners. Sasori seemed to be only interested in his own work, but I believe he was doing a task for Madara, as well (More on that later). Pein and Konan are onboard as the Akatsuki leaders and to accomplish their own ends. Tobi is fervently for Madara and is ensuring everything goes to according to plan. Itachi and Kisame I'll get to later, but it's pretty obvious they're doing something for Madara (Or were supposed to). Less obvious still is Orochimaru, but he, too, I think, was doing work for Madara.
And least obvious of all is...
Deidara: Tool of Madara
Yes, I believe Deidara was merely a tool of Madara's creation. He was meant to see whether Sasuke was strong enough yet - to see whether he had gained the Mangekyou Sharingan. In his death, Madara used it to try and cover up that Sasuke made it out alive (More on the cover-up later).
This is why Itachi torments Deidara with his Sharingan. Madara knew Deidara would, in his artsy way, become obsessed with defeating the Sharingan and thus be the greatest opponent for a Sharingan user outside of another Sharingan user. And Deidara played his part to a T.
This is the job Sasori was doing for Madara when Part II opens. He's watching over Deidara and making sure he progressed as Madara wanted. Though I firmly believe he was doing another job prior, once the Sasuke plan (Later, later!) got underway and Oro left, that became his assignment.
Okay, now to tie up some loose ends...
The key to this is to start with the major factor most of the villains have in common.
Immortality.
Madara: The Immortal Uchiha
Madara was said by Itachi to be immortal. but it's interesting, because during the Madara flashback, the manga seems not to focus on that Madara gained the EMS, but that his brother's eyes "Had found an indistinguishable light".
Interesting that his brother gets the "rebirth" imagery and not Madara. With the "Moving bodies = rebirth" symbolism that Orochimaru and Madara's brother's eyes had, I believe that the EMS grants immortality by way of eye transfer. When Madara transfers his eyes to a new host, he transfers himself, too.
But what kind of host would give up their freedom to Madara?
A Sharingan user's biggest asset is their eyes. Take their eyes from them, and it would be like robbing an opera singer of her voice. To some, living on in Madara would be greater than trying to fight blind.
So. Do we know of any blind or near-blind Uchihas in the story?
Obito: Container of Madara
Now, some would argue that it's almost impossible that Obito could have been saved from those rocks. But if we assume Madara was searching for a willing host, and had, say, the ultimate scout and a medic who can restore dead parts back to life, is it still so far-fetched to assume he would have quickly saved Obito? Being such a young Uchiha on such a dangerous mission, Madara would have had him followed, especially if he was inside Konoha to know (More on that later).
None can deny the numerous coincidences in the design of Tobi and Obito. The goggles, the one eye, the hair, the goofiness - the Sharingan. Well, in literature, there are rarely coincidences. Tobi is Obito. Found by Zetsu, stitched back together from near-death by Kakuzu (More on that later). The name "Tobi" is to hide his true identity.
However... if Madara has already transferred into Tobi, then that leaves several questions. Why does Tobi still use only one eye? Why does Itachi call Madara a shell of his former self? No. It doesn't fit. Madara can't be in Tobi yet. When he refers to himself as being Madara, he is so impassioned about becoming the next container for Madara, he pre-emptively considers himself him. It's all audience misdirect, too.
But if Madara isn't Tobi, then who is he?
Danzou: Shadowy puppet master
Danzou. The man who rivaled Sarutobi. A vicious warhawk who demands Konoha be the most powerful village in the world. What proof do I have that he is Madara?
Well, Madara needs to be in the story somewhere, and that somewhere ain't Tobi. Danzou needs further plot ties to make him relevant. And we know of a blind Uchiha about his age... Madara's Brother. Yes, I believe Madara transmigrated his eyes back into his brother's head. This will serve as an example of what makes Obito so fervent to Madara and a demonstration of his body swapping. And note above the mention of Madara in the shadows of Akatsuki. Hearkens back to ROOT being in the shadows of Konoha, right?
So why ROOT? Well, as we can see, Madara clearly wants to destroy Konoha. Why's that? Because he lost favor. He wanted to steer Konoha into being the most powerful military nation, and subjugating all the other nations. When Shodai won over the people for peace, he tried to kill Shodai and take control. Years later, he tried to send the Kyuubi out to destroy it, and was met by the Yondaime Hokage. ROOT continues that goal, by being right there in Konoha, prepared to strike. Plus, Danzou's military views cut very closely to Madara's.
So what does Madara have to do with Akatsuki?
Akatsuki: The most powerful village of all
Akatsuki, as iterated to Hidan, is out to dominate the world via overtaking the war market. This concept of an organization being the mightiest and ruling everyone else sounds exactly like Madara's plan for Konoha. And look who founded it?
And this explains why some people like Kakuzu and Sasori joined. Akatsuki's goals will take a while, and immortal help was needed. They were the only people Madara had any hope of bringing to his side (Since no mortal woud live long enough to see when Madara became emperor of the world)
This also helps clear up how Hidan could have been part of Akatsuki and yet not known of their plans. That's because he joined up because of Madara. Not because he sympathized with Akatsuki's goals.
But doesn't what Pein tells Hidan about Akatsuki goals differ from what he tells Jiraiya later?
Pein: The ultimate enigma
I don't feel so. The part about using the Bijuu to build a giant nuke jutsu is consistant with him telling the Hidan they would use the Bijuu to dominate the war market. When the nations have bombed each other out, Akatsuki will "Dominate the war market" by being the only ones standing, not having a village to bomb.
Pein leads Akatsuki in harvesting the Bijuu, but all the Akatsuki were hand-picked by Madara. This explains what Akatsuki has been up to over the past couple decades if they only started Bijuu harvesting recently. They were all working for Madara first and Pein second. Pein's plan to end war is necessary for Madara's plan to rule the world, so they've entered into this agreement.
Overall, I feel like Pein, Jiraiya, the Rinnegan, and the Rikudou Sennin have a larger part to play. It might be tied into the Madara plot more heavily. It might simply parralel it again. I do think Pein is immortal by constantly taking new bodies. I do think perhaps Konan is further related into the story of Pein that you'd think at first brush. This analysis hasn't really given me a whole lot of insight into Pein's story.
ZETSU AND KAKUZU: MADARA'S SPECIAL HELPERS
Kakuzu, it is known, lived around the time of Madara. And it's known Tobi, the next container for Madara, was under Zetsu's care. And that he's a great scout. I think Madara kept them around for precisely that reason. I believe Zetsu and Kakuzu had the special task of seeking out a new container for Madara. And they ended up finding Obito.
On the subject of Kakuzu, I believe there's a solid chance he and Hidan will return. It would fit Kishi's theme of immortality and rebirth, and it will give more enemies for the former Rookies to fight. Plus, they went out with no development, no explanation for their powers, and Hidan with the plothook of "Theurgical Enlightenment" left dangling.
Hidan is a recent addition to the team, replacing one of Kakuzu's dead partners. Sasori seemed to be only interested in his own work, but I believe he was doing a task for Madara, as well (More on that later). Pein and Konan are onboard as the Akatsuki leaders and to accomplish their own ends. Tobi is fervently for Madara and is ensuring everything goes to according to plan. Itachi and Kisame I'll get to later, but it's pretty obvious they're doing something for Madara (Or were supposed to). Less obvious still is Orochimaru, but he, too, I think, was doing work for Madara.
And least obvious of all is...
Deidara: Tool of Madara
Yes, I believe Deidara was merely a tool of Madara's creation. He was meant to see whether Sasuke was strong enough yet - to see whether he had gained the Mangekyou Sharingan. In his death, Madara used it to try and cover up that Sasuke made it out alive (More on the cover-up later).
This is why Itachi torments Deidara with his Sharingan. Madara knew Deidara would, in his artsy way, become obsessed with defeating the Sharingan and thus be the greatest opponent for a Sharingan user outside of another Sharingan user. And Deidara played his part to a T.
This is the job Sasori was doing for Madara when Part II opens. He's watching over Deidara and making sure he progressed as Madara wanted. Though I firmly believe he was doing another job prior, once the Sasuke plan (Later, later!) got underway and Oro left, that became his assignment.
Okay, now to tie up some loose ends...
