 Critics have noted Obito's role in the series.Jason Thompson of Anime News Network was shocked when he learned that Tobi was the real leader of Akatsuki (rather than Pain) and when Tobi refers to himself as Madara Uchiha.Thompson enjoyed Kishimoto's drawing of Tobi when he performs the Kamui teleportation technique, and was surprised when Tobi told Sasuke Uchiha the Konohagakure lore.