Baku

This article is about Baku the chimera. For Baku the ANBU member, see Baku (ANBU).

editBaku
貘 Baku Nightmare (悪夢, Akumu)
Debut
Manga	Naruto Chapter #479
Anime	Naruto Shippūden Episode #210
Game	Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Impact
Appears in	Anime, Manga, Game
Personal
Species	Tapir
Classification	Summon
Affiliation	Konohagakure

The baku (貘, baku) is the personal summon of Danzō Shimura.

Appearance

It is a gigantic elephantine chimera, large enough to dwarf Sasuke's Susanoo. It has tiger-like limbs and bandages wrapped all around its head similar to Danzō and armour on the base of the trunk and between the eyes. It is predominantly dark orange in colour with the exception of its trunk, legs and the markings around its eyes. Its feet are also striped; reminiscent of those of a tiger and it also has huge tusks and what looks like a beard, as well as long, sharp claws.

Abilities

The Baku is said in legend to be able to devour dreams and nightmares, a fact that Tobi also echoed. When it opens its mouth and inhales, it can create a powerful suction that sucks in everything within a large radius, while at the same time exhaling through its trunk. Danzō uses this suction in conjunction with his own Wind Release techniques to amplify their power. It was strong enough to break the defences of Sasuke's Susanoo.

Part II

Five Kage Summit Arc

Danzō attempted to use it to draw in Sasuke's Susanoo and also took advantage of the suction to increase the power of his Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves which together created an opening in Sasuke's Susanoo creating an opportunity for Danzō to attack. However, using the suction to his advantage Sasuke launched a fireball into its mouth, the vacuum also increased its size and power of Sasuke's technique which forced it to retreat.

Trivia

• A baku (獏, 貘) is a mythological Japanese creature said to eat dreams and nightmares. As a chimera with an elephant's trunk, a rhinoceros' eyes, an ox's tail, and a tiger's paws, they resembled somewhat the real-life tapir. After the two creatures were connected, the baku was more and more often depicted as a tapir. Modern images depicting Baku as actual chimera are rare.