Pein
Pein
- Membership status: Active leader
- Ring: 零 (“nothing”, “zero”)
- Ring position: Right thumb
- Partner: Konan
- First cameo: Chapter 238; Naruto Episode 135
- First appearance: Chapter 363
- Defining characteristics: Pupils consist of concentric circles, numerous piercings, Astral Projection.
Template:Nihongo is the leader of Akatsuki and a missing-nin from Amegakure. He is referred to as “leader” by all Akatsuki members except for his partner, who refers to him by his name. He has the respect of most of his subordinates (Hidan is an exception) and is the one directing their actions. Despite maintaining authority over the other members, he takes orders from Tobi, who is also revealed to be Madara Uchiha. During his initial appearances Pein appears as nothing more than a shadowy figure with unusual eyes, having several increasingly lighter gray circles around the pupil and a pink outline on the corners of his eyes. As the series progresses, however, elements of his appearance are slowly revealed, with both his auburn hair and the piercings on his chin being shown before the rest of his face.
Although he has not been seen in battle, the unnamed member states that Pein has never lost a fight.[7] The only jutsu he is seen using, the Template:Nihongo, allows him to clone his subordinates using human sacrifices that they control and can use to engage enemies without risking their lives. The clones formed are perfect copies of the original, even possessing the kekkei genkai and unique weapons they may possess. Their abilities are proportionate to the amount of chakra given to the clone (in its debut, he requested thirty percent). Pein also initiates and supervises the jutsu that forcibly brings a tailed beast out of its host. When it becomes necessary to gather his subordinates, he can communicate with them over long distances through some form of telepathy. Moreover, Pein has displayed the ability detect the movements and chakra of people travelling within rain.
Pein has displayed at least a cursory knowledge of the various villages, as well as the underlying political and economic conditions in the country at large. When Hidan referred to the Konoha-nin as “godless heathens,” he gave a short description of Konoha’s “Will of Fire,” then proceeded to note that all countries have some similar practice to justify their battles.[8] He is also rumored to be the leader of one of the warring factions in the Land of Rain’s current civil war, where he uses Amegakure as his base of operations.
