Top 5 wanted Tamashii Nations S.H.Figuarts Naruto Akatsuki figures

The recent tease at Jump Festa that we will be getting new Akatsuki action figures in the revived Naruto S.H.Figuarts line has me extremely excited! This group of characters are some of the absolute coolest antagonists that the series touted, and since the line has restarted there have been several that I've been hoping to add into the display sooner rather than later! We don't yet know who the first member of this legendary team will be to be added into the line, though we do know that they will be utilizing fabric cloaks when they come! With plenty of Akatsuki options to hope for from the series, this is my top 5 most wanted Akatsuki members in the S.H.Figuarts line!

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5. Itachi

This is the most obvious choice, as Itachi is easily one of the most popular characters in the entire series as a whole, which was proved even further by him ranking so high on the recent Narutop99 fan vote contest. Tamashii Nations has stated that they're looking at that poll for who they will make next in the line, and with Itachi being so high I wouldn't be surprised if he is who we get. He was one made in the previous Figuarts line; however, he is due for an upgrade, especially with the cloth cloaks being the new route.

4. Kisame

If it is Itachi, I hope it wouldn't be much longer until his partner from the series is added either. Kisame was one of the coolest swordsman from the show, touting a shark hybrid appearance and a menacing sword that itself would make for a cool work of sculpting in the line. His sword only is an option for multiple accessories, with its wrapped and unwrapped designs, along with a possible swappable "head" at the end of the sword!

3. Tobi

We just got Obito in the line, so I don't know how soon they would jump into the same character (though we have gotten multiple Narutos and Sasukes already), but Tobi would be a very fun release. From his first appearance in the show he was a very entertaining character, and one whose eventual reveal as Obito was a great plot twist. His mask is also one of the most iconic props of the series, and would surely catch the eyes of many collectors.

2. Deidara

One that would go well with a Tobi figure would be Deidara, another of the most popular Naruto characters based on the Narutop99 vote, and deservedly so as he was certainly one of the absolute coolest. His ability to form clay explosives from his hands was used so creatively, and the possibilities for accessories are endless given how many creations he used within the show! And while extra hands are usually cool, but not stand out, Deidara's alternate hand options could be the coolest in the entire line given the mouths in his palms!

1. Pain 

Out of all members of the Akatsuki in the series, none have my vote for the first figure in the line more so than Pain. He was an absolute menace when he hit the series, murdering one of the fan favorite characters of the series before laying waste to the entirety of the Lead Village! When Naruto went up against Pain it felt like the endgame of the story, that's how insane this guy was, and he absolutely made his mark as one of the downright greatest villains the series had ever seen!