hm for some reason i've got to think that there are more than 8 members in the akatsuki. The reason i think this is because when itachi is in konoha he says that there are higher ups in the akatsuki. So some of them must not be volunteers, someone must have planed it from the beginning. Also this proves that there is some stronger than itachi (I know you were talking about characters that have been introduced) because if they wasn't as strong as itachi than why would itachi be taking orders from them. That is unless they have some hold on itachi.(something like blackmail) Another weird thing. Read these scan from the manga. Kakashi and jiraiya refer to someone as "that man". Its not oro or itachi because kakashi says its the ninetails. I dunno itds confusing but just read it and tell me what you understand from it.

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