The Naruto franchise ranks among the most popular in anime history, and since its debut in 2002, it has introduced several of the most beloved heroes to ever grace the medium. However, for every memorable protagonist seen in Naruto, there are just as many notable antagonists. In particular, the Naruto: Shippuden series is chock-full of quality villains, many of whom ply their villainous craft as part of the powerful group known as the Akatsuki. The group's leader, Nagato (who uses the Pain persona as a cover for his true identity) nearly brings the Hidden Leaf Village to ruin using his greatest power — the Rinnegan.
Ocular jutsu play a major role throughout the entire Naruto franchise, so it's only appropriate that the leader of the Akatuski possesses one of the rarest and most powerful visual abilities in the entire series. Nagato's Rinnegan serves as both the backbone of the Akatsuki's operations and the catalyst for his rise to prominence, which is why it's crucial to understand how his eyes were endowed with the ultra-rare jutsu.
Updated on November 13, 2023 by Kennedy King: As Boruto continues the legacy of the Naruto franchise, ocular abilities like those provided by Nagato's Rinnegan continue to be a major part of the series' power-scaling. The Akatsuki's influence can still be felt throughout the ninja world, which is why it's still as important as ever to understand how their leader came to possess one of the series' most sought-after abilities.
What Is The Rinnegan?
When it comes to ocular jutsu — often referred to as "dojutsu" — three specific abilities define the ninja world. The first of these two, the Byakugan and the Sharingan, exclusively manifest in members of the Hidden Leaf Village's Hyuga and Uchiha Clans, respecitvely. However, the last of the Three Great Visual Jutsu, the Rinnegan, is even rarer, as it only awakens in those who are either (1) part of the space-faring Otsutsuki Clan or (2) able to obtain both the chakra of the Sage of the Six Paths and a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan. This makes the ability extremely uncommon, and until well into the events of Naruto: Shippuden, the Rinnegan is completely shrouded in mystery.
The powers and techniques made possible by the Rinnegan are among the most devastating in the Naruto franchise, especially when wielded by the right individual. In addition to letting an individual see chakra, the Rinnegan grants its owner the ability to master all five nature transformations, enabling them to use virtually every jutsu in the entire series. However, the most impressive part of the Rinnegan is its Six Paths Technique, which utilizes six unique and powerful abilities that range from absorbing chakra to literally absorbing the dead. Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki, demonstrates all these powers in his assault on the Hidden Leaf Village, but since he doesn't seem to hail from the Uchiha Clan, it still remains a mystery how he acquired them.
How Did Nagato Get the Rinnegan?
Madara's plan to bring about world peace using the Infinite Tsukuyomi is far beyond the capabilities of his aging body —even with his recently-awakened Rinnegan — so he formulates a new plan to reincarnate himself at a future date by planting the all-powerful Rinnegan and their Rinne Rebirth technique in a manipulable target. Ultimately, this target proves to be none other than the future leader of the Akatsuki, Nagato, but the question remains: why select an unassuming child from the Hidden Rain Village for this role?
Madara's Reasoning For Giving Nagato The Rinnegan
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Although he doesn't carry the Uzumaki name, Naruto: Shippuden eventually reveals that Nagato is a member of the Uzumaki Clan, making him a distant relative to characters like Naruto and his mother, Kushina. Individuals from this clan are known to possess a tremendous amount of chakra, which grants them a wide range of natural abilities, including longer lifespans, greater durability, and significantly faster recover times. Despite his frail appearance, Nagato benefits from these traits, and as a result, he's a natural candidate for a burden such as the Rinnegan. Compared to someone like Obito Uchiha — an incredibly-gifted shinobi in his own right — Nagato has a body that is much more well-suited to Madara's plans, which is why he is ultimately targeted by the villainous member of the Uchiha Clan.
After identifying Nagato as a potential target for his plans, Madara transplanted his Rinnegan into the descendant of the Uzumaki Clan when Nagato was still a baby. Under the impression that the quiet nature of Nagato's village would make for the perfect hiding spot, Madara failed to predict that the Second Great Ninja War would erupt, thrusting the Hidden Rain Village into chaos and forcing Nagato to flee from his home. Because of these hardships, Nagato joined together with his two friends, Yahiko and Konan, to form the group that would eventually change the ninja world — the Akatsuki. Using the power of the Rinnegan, the Akatsuki nearly topple the Hidden Leaf Village before they are ultimately thwarted by Naruto Uzumaki. With the last of his power, Nagato uses the Rinnegan one final time to revive the people of the Hidden Leaf Village, ending his life in the process. Following Nagato's death, Obito Uchiha arrives and takes his eyes, implanting one Rinnegan into himself and saving the other for Madara's inevitable return.
