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| − | <section begin=summary/>{{translation|'''Gaara'''|我愛羅|Gaara}} |
+ | <section begin=summary/>{{translation|'''Gaara'''|我愛羅|Gaara}} is a [[shinobi]] of [[Sunagakure]] and the youngest of the [[Three Sand Siblings]]. He was made the [[jinchūriki]] of the [[One-Tailed Shukaku]] before he was born, causing the villagers of Suna to fear him as a monster. With nobody to connect to, Gaara grew up hating the world and looking out only for himself, giving his life meaning by killing anyone he came across. After being defeated by [[Naruto Uzumaki]] — a jinchūriki like himself who found strength in his friendships — Gaara began emulating him. He later became Suna's {{translation|'''Fifth [[Kazekage]]'''|五代目風影|Godaime Kazekage|lit meaning=Fifth Wind Shadow}} so that he can protect the village and all those who live there, dispelling the fears he cast on the villagers.<section end=summary/> |
== Background == |
== Background == |
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| − | [[File:Gaara's birth.png|thumb|left|A premature Gaara |
+ | [[File:Gaara's birth.png|thumb|left|A premature Gaara with his mother.]] |
| + | Because of heavy cuts to [[Sunagakure]]'s budget by the [[Wind Daimyō (Part I)|Wind Daimyō]], the [[Fourth Kazekage]] wanted to make one of his children the [[jinchūriki]] of the [[tailed beast]] [[Shukaku]] to serve as a weapon for the village.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 97, pages 9-10</ref> His first two children, [[Temari]] and then [[Kankurō]], had not been compatible with Shukaku. Rasa's third child, however, Gaara, was compatible with Shukaku. For that reason, Shukaku was sealed inside of Gaara by [[Chiyo]] before he was even born, when Gaara was still a [[Wikipedia:Fetus|fetus]] inside of his mother [[Karura]]'s womb. Gaara ended up being [[Wikipedia:Preterm birth|born prematurely]] and from the ordeals of childbirth, his mother, Karura, died. Before dying, Karura looked lovingly at Gaara's small form and [[Shield of Sand|vowed to always protect him]].<ref name="c547">''Naruto'' chapter 547</ref> |
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| − | Gaara is the third and youngest child of the [[Fourth Kazekage]] and [[Karura]], and the younger brother of [[Temari]] and [[Kankurō]]. Before Gaara's birth, his father had [[Chiyo]] seal [[Shukaku]] within him, in hopes that Gaara would become the ultimate weapon for [[Sunagakure]] as he was the only one of the Kazekage's three children to be compatible with the beast.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 97, pages 9-10</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 547, page 3</ref> He was born premature and therefore, was an unusually small and frail infant. Before she died, Karura passionately held her son, vowing to always protect him.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 547, page 17</ref> Gaara was trained in ninjutsu by his father, but mainly raised by his maternal uncle, [[Yashamaru]]. |
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| + | Gaara was raised in isolation during his early life, taught [[ninjutsu]] by his father and cared for by his maternal uncle, [[Yashamaru]]. When he was allowed to roam around the village, Gaara would try to connect with the villagers, being kind to them and offering them any assistance he could. However, being a jinchūriki made the villagers frightened of Gaara; adults avoided him and, when they couldn't, treated him delicately while children would run from him on sight. Gaara would try to assure them he meant no harm, but in the process would inadvertently injure or even kill them with his [[sand]]. Gaara did not understand this pain he caused others because his sand protected him from all injury. When he was six years old, Gaara asked Yashamaru to explain pain to him. From Yashamaru's explanation, Gaara believed he did know pain: the unbearable agony in his heart. |
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| − | [[File:Young gaara.jpg|left|thumb|Gaara as a child.]] |
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| − | Because of the power of Shukaku, the villagers of Sunagakure hated and feared Gaara. Seeing him only for the monster sealed within him, for a time, Yashamaru seemed to be the only person who cared about Gaara. When Gaara would unintentionally harm others due to the subconscious abilities granted to him by Shukaku, Yashamaru was the only one who understood that Gaara hadn't intended to harm anyone. The Sunagakure Council, however, saw Gaara's frequent attacks as a threat to the village. Because of the danger Gaara imposed, disappointed by the turn of events, the Kazekage decided to test his son by having Yashamaru attack Gaara both physically and psychologically to see if Gaara could retain control of Shukaku. As a result, on the Kazekage's orders, Yashamaru told Gaara that his mother never loved him. He also tried to assassinate Gaara, only to be fatally wounded by the boy before Gaara realised whom he killed.<ref name="chpt547">''Naruto'' chapter 547, pages 4-7</ref> |
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| + | From this, Yashamaru elaborated that physical pain, what causes one to bleed, could be cured with medicine and time, whereas pain of the heart, like Gaara experienced, could only be cured with love. Gaara, said Yashamaru, received love everyday, from both his mother - whose spirit controlled the sand that protected him - and from Yashamaru himself. Gaara was pleased by this and went out into the village to show some love to those he'd harmed, but his efforts were met only with more fear and hate. Gaara was dismayed and went off to try and understand why he was treated as such a monster. While doing so, he was attacked by one of Suna's [[Anbu]], whom he fatally wounded with his sand. When he unmasked the Anbu, Gaara discovered it was Yashamaru.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 130</ref> |
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| − | {{ImgRight|Gaara lost control.png|Gaara loses control and allows Shukaku to go wild.}} |
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| − | Although Gaara tried to consider Yashamaru's attack as his father's order, Yashamaru lied to him by saying that he had willingly accepted the mission to kill Gaara.<ref name="chpt547"/> He also lied that he never truly loved Gaara, and told him that killing him would avenge the death of his sister, who had named him Gaara after the phrase {{translation|"a self-loving carnage"|我を愛する修羅|Ware o aisuru shura}}, a sign of her intense hatred for Suna rather than love for her son. In the last ditch effort to kill Gaara, Yashamaru detonated a number of [[explosive tags]] covering his body, asking Gaara to "please die". Using his sand, Gaara survived the blast, and lost the only person he thought had cared for him, while not knowing the true reasons behind Yashamaru's actions. Gaara then used his sand to etch the kanji for {{translation|''love''|愛|ai}} onto his forehead.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 130, pages 13-18</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 131, pages 1-12</ref> Gaara then lost control and transformed into Shukaku, rampaging around the village before his father stopped him with [[Gold Dust]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 547, page 7</ref> |
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| + | Gaara was devastated that Yashamaru, the only living person to love him, would try to kill him and asked for an explanation. Yashamaru replied that it was a mission given to him by Rasa, Gaara's father, it having been decided by the [[Suna Council]] that Gaara was a failed experiment that, if allowed to live, would only continue to do harm to the village and its people. Gaara tried to find solace in the fact that Yashamaru had been ordered to kill him, but Yashamaru insisted, lying to Gaara that he volunteered and that he'd always hated Gaara for causing Karura's death. Karura had not loved Gaara either, and named him after the phrase {{translation|"a self-loving carnage"|我を愛する修羅|Ware o aisuru shura}} so that he would be a curse upon Suna for what it had done to her. With his explanation done, Yashamaru asked Gaara to "please die" before blowing himself up with [[explosive tag]]s. |
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| − | Since this incident, Gaara became an aloof and cruel person who would kill anyone to prove his existence and to obtain recognition from the village, all the while giving up any desire for friendship. Seeing that Gaara was unable to cope with the loss of his mother's love, the Kazekage deemed him a failure and arranged several assassinations of his son that all failed yet made Gaara hate his father even more.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 97, pages 13-15</ref> In time, Gaara's new ideology allowed better control over Shukaku, and his father would come to appreciate this and the uses he could serve, and cancelled all assassination orders. This revived the idea of having Gaara as the ultimate weapon of the village. |
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| + | [[File:Gaara's vow.png|thumb|Gaara vows to live only for himself.]] |
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| − | == Personality == |
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| + | Gaara's sand - a product of Shukaku rather than Karura if Yashamaru's words were to be believed - shielded Gaara from the blast. Having lost everything he cared for, Gaara decided that he would from that point forward live up to his namesake by loving only himself; to that end, he used his sand to etch the kanji for {{translation|"love"|愛|ai}} onto the left side of his forehead.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 131, pages 1-12</ref> Overwhelmed with grief, Gaara transformed into Shukaku and attacked Suna, which Rasa stopped with his [[gold dust]]. Rasa would arrange five other assassination attempts on Gaara over the following years, all of which Gaara evidently survived.<ref name="c547"/> Due to his singular focus on himself, Gaara eventually learned to reign in his powers and became the lethal weapon of destruction Suna wanted him to be, prompting Rasa to stop trying to kill him and instead find a use for him. |
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| − | [[File:Gaara creating the symbol.png|thumb|left|Gaara swearing that he will live only for himself.]] |
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| − | Gaara was once a kind child who, despite their fear and hatred towards him, tried desperately to be friendly towards others. His uncle, [[Yashamaru]]'s, actions changed and twisted his personality. Misled into believing nobody loved him, Gaara used his sand to create the kanji on his forehead {{translation|"love"|愛|ai}}, as a symbol of his ideal to be a "demon loving only itself", and to live up to the name his mother gave him. Gaara became emotionally withdrawn and silent, as he was consumed with a loathing towards everyone but himself and "Mother", the voice of Shukaku in his head. He learned to derive pleasure and a reason to live in the annihilation of the numerous assassins sent to kill him — and by extension, anyone who posed a threat to his own existence. This was worsened by Shukaku's occasional demand for blood to satisfy its blood lust, resulting in Gaara's remorseless and sociopathic nature, demonstrated when he murdered [[Baiu]] and [[Midare]], despite their pleas for mercy. Gaara's [[Wikipedia:Insomnia|insomnia]] forced fear upon him; if he were to fall asleep, the demon within him would begin to eat away at his soul. This only furthered his instability and desire to kill. Gaara's hatred for his own father is due to the the multiple assassination attempts, but his misanthropic nature even extended to his siblings, whom he never saw as related to him, despite them never offending him directly. He was fully willing to kill them if he viewed that the situation called for it. In addition, due to the sand activating at any time injury would otherwise befall Gaara, he never saw his own blood until Sasuke Uchiha pierced his shield and injured him, thus causing Gaara to have a mental breakdown.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 114, page 7</ref> |
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| + | == Personality == |
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| − | [[File:The Sand Siblings.PNG|thumb|The Sand Siblings.]] |
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| + | [[File:Gaara's dream.png|thumb|left|Gaara's deepest desire of having a happy childhood.]] |
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| − | Gaara's childhood was similar to [[Naruto Uzumaki]]'s in many ways. Both were unbearably lonely and longed to be liked, loved and acknowledged as individuals, free of the prejudices of others — they were human beings, not the demons they had been forced to contain — and were driven to separate states of desperation. While Naruto consequently developed the misconception that pranks and mischief would bring him the attention he sought, Gaara came to the conclusion that he could preserve and confirm his own existence by killing any and all who challenged it, securing this extreme form of [[wikipedia:Existentialism|existentialism]] as his key trait. In the absence of outside recognition, he could compensate by valuing only himself to the exclusion of every other person. Furthermore, while Naruto eventually had [[Iruka Umino]] and [[Team Kakashi]] to comfort him, Gaara never bonded with anyone, not even his father or siblings, as they too despised and feared Shukaku. The person who grew the closest to acknowledging Gaara was his mother's brother Yashamaru. Yashamaru was ordered to betray Gaara, transforming him into a lonely sociopath. As such, Gaara couldn't understand the concept of fighting for anything but himself until his confrontation with Naruto. |
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| + | Gaara was consistently warm to others during his early life. Although most of Suna's villagers feared and despised him, he was able to persevere due to the love that he felt from Yashamaru and his mother. His father, Rasa, believed these niceties were impeding Gaara's development as a jinchūriki and as such had both taken from him: he ordered Yashamaru to try and kill Gaara and, if he were to fail, to tell Gaara that neither he nor Gaara's mother had ever loved him. Rasa's plan succeeded, as following Yashamaru's death Gaara stopped trying to connect with people. Rather, Gaara focused on himself, driven solely by his own desires and his own survival. |
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| + | [[File:Gaara's bloodlust.png|thumb|Gaara's bloodlust.]] |
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| − | After his defeat at Naruto's hands, Gaara was shocked to discover that Naruto understood very well the pain he had endured throughout his life. He was even more surprised to learn that Naruto never lost his ambition to be recognised as an individual, and ultimately found companions who truly cared for him. Witnessing the resolution Naruto possessed to protect his friends made Gaara finally question the path he had determined for himself. Realising that he gave up too easily, Gaara decided to follow Naruto's chosen path instead in order to finally have people acknowledge him as an individual, and not the tailed-beast within him. Over the next few years, Gaara's resolve to find happiness caused him to rely on his own power rather than that of Shukaku. Gaara eventually formed a close friendship with Naruto, and became rather protective of him. |
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| + | During his years of caring only about himself, Gaara becomes infamously known as {{translation|"Gaara of the Sand Waterfall"|砂瀑の我愛羅|Sabaku no Gaara|engtv=Gaara of the Desert}}. Though he outwardly appears calm, "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall" is deeply unbalanced, completely unmoved by others' pleas for mercy and, in certain situations, driven mad with bloodlust. This behaviour is partly due to Shukaku, whose voice Gaara alone can hear in his head, who encourages violence at every opportunity, and who torments Gaara with threats to take control of his body if he falls asleep, thus making Gaara an [[Wikipedia:Insomnia|insomniac]]. But Shukaku is not wholly responsible: Gaara simply hates other people for existing, believing that so long as they are alive they are a threat to his own life. His purpose, therefore, is to kill anyone who is strong or whom he perceives as similar to himself, as only by killing them can he assert his own existence. With those who do not interest him, Gaara is typically withdrawn and silent. When he must interact with them, he does so with open disregard for their feelings and often threatens to kill them, even his own siblings, if they become too much of a nuisance to him. Due to the sand's automatic defense preventing Gaara from suffering any real pain, when he first sustained his first true injury at the hands of [[Sasuke Uchiha]]'s [[Chidori]], Gaara became even more unstable at the time, completely losing control of himself to Shukaku. |
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| + | Gaara's background is very similar to that of [[Naruto Uzumaki]]: both have been jinchūriki since the day they were born, both were hated and scorned by almost everyone in their village, and both were raised without a parent's love. But whereas Gaara eventually gave up on other people, Naruto continued trying to win the acknowledgement of his peers and village, pursuits he eventually succeeds at. Whereas Gaara seeks strength only in protecting himself, Naruto seeks strength in protecting the friends he makes. When the two fought during the [[Konoha Crush]] and Naruto defeats Gaara, Gaara took this as proof that his own choices in life were wrong; he had surrendered to his difficult circumstances too easily. From that point onward he starts moving away from "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall" and started emulating Naruto instead, improving his relationships with his siblings, making friends within Suna and without, and finding something that he's willing to give his life to protect. His relationship with Shukaku did improve somewhat when he told the [[tailed beast]] he used to hate it, but was grateful to the beast because he was able to meet Naruto due to the painful life Shukaku made him endure. |
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| − | [[File:Gaara crying.png|thumb|left|Gaara crying after learning that his mother loved him.]] |
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| − | Since becoming one of Naruto's companions, Gaara has somehow taken on his ability to alter people's personalities. In the anime, he convinced [[Matsuri]] to overcome her fear of weapons. During the [[Kage Summit]], he shocked the older, more experienced Kage by asking them when they had forsaken themselves, later causing [[Ōnoki]] to become much more determined to protect the [[Shinobi World]]. Before the [[Shinobi Alliance]] marched off to battle, he motivated them to set aside their differences, forget their past rivalries and unite under a single banner. He even managed to make Naruto think about the choices he had made in regards to Sasuke, stating that he only cared about revenge. His bond with Naruto has also made him capable of tossing aside any grudge, including his previous hatred of his father, who was partly responsible for Gaara's miserable childhood. He admits to having forgiven his father's actions, but openly weeps after learning that his mother truly did love him, and that she had vowed to protect him forever by infusing her will into his sand which, as his father noted, would always protect him.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 547, page 16</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 548, pages 11-13</ref> |
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| + | Gaara becomes Suna's [[Kazekage]] by the start of Part II, signalling the success of his emulation of Naruto. As Kazekage, Gaara becomes much wiser than most people his age when he took on the role. He forgave his father for trying to assassinate him as he was only trying to protect the village. Gaara also gains a new purpose in life by dedicating all his energy towards serving the village and those who live there. Although he retained some detractors, most of the villagers adore him and will do what they can to help him reform Suna and the rest of the world. Even this reform is very much inspired by Naruto, as he wishes for the [[Five Kage]] and their [[hidden village]]s to cooperate and benefit from each other in the same way that he has benefited from Naruto's influence. Gaara believes in forgiving past differences and strife, abandoning antiquated concepts of "honour" that only promote isolation, and serving a purpose greater than one's self. As in Suna, this unity that Gaara advocates is slow to catch on, for a time only gaining support from Naruto's own [[Konohagakure]]. By the time of the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]], however, the Five Kage are convinced by Gaara and this in turn starts trickling down into the larger [[Allied Shinobi Forces]]. Despite his history of cruelty and young age during his ascent to Kazekage, Gaara attains the love of his people by showcasing his idealism, compassion and willingness to reform himself. A man of few words, Gaara leads by example, an assertive, thoughtful and collected presence in the heat of diplomacy and battle, who willingly puts his life on the line for his friends and allies. Gaara's way with words, astuteness and integrity earn him the respect of the older, more experienced [[Kage]]. Gaara's touching speech before the Allied Shinobi Forces produces a resounding response and is able to mend the rift between the [[Five Great Shinobi Countries]]. Gaara's superlative leadership abilities lead to his posting as Regimental Commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces. |
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| − | Gaara cares deeply for Naruto and his well-being, and despite Sasuke's actions during his assault at the Kage Summit and his status as an international criminal, went so far as to attempt to convince Sasuke to come out of the darkness one more time on behalf of Naruto, and when unconvinced, even shed a tear for the failure Sasuke has become, and the disappointment Naruto will face. Despite respecting Naruto's goals, his care for him does not block his personal beliefs, and he believes his friend's well-being is more important, most prominent is his support to keep Naruto out of the war saying to Tsunade that Naruto takes too many risks when it comes to protecting his friends. Gaara also bluntly tells Naruto that chasing after Sasuke is foolish, as he sees him as no longer being able to return from the path of corruption. Though he defies Naruto's goal to bring Sasuke back, he only says this for Naruto's well-being because they are "friends". |
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| + | [[File:For my friend.png|thumb|left|Gaara proclaiming his resolve to protect Naruto.]] |
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| − | Although he remained ruthless against his opponents, Gaara is extremely protective of his allies and innocent people, as seen when he protected his village from [[Deidara]]; and his siblings, Darui and even the Raikage against Sasuke. He also deeply understands those who have suffered from loneliness and hatred in the past by the look in their eyes, such as Naruto, [[Kimimaro]], and even [[Sasuke]]. |
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| + | Gaara feels indebted to Naruto for how significantly he's changed since his time as "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall"; he considers Naruto his closest and first friend and believes all the tragedies of his childhood were worthwhile since they led him to meet Naruto. He takes part in the Fourth Shinobi World War not simply because he believes [[Akatsuki]] must be stopped, but because by doing so he can keep Naruto safe. Gaara's desire to protect Naruto, at times, means acting against Naruto's wishes: he knows Naruto would want to participate in the Fourth Shinobi World War to protect his loved ones, but feels Naruto would be safer if he were forbidden from doing so. Just like before, however, Naruto's desire to protect his friends gets through to Gaara, as he does not argue with his participation in the war after accepting he made an error in judgement. Gaara often cites his own experiences as "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall" during his interactions with Sasuke and others who suffer hate and loneliness, explaining the missteps that he didn't realise he'd made until he met Naruto so that they, in turn, might realise their own. His words do not always convince them, but Gaara is able to empathise with their choices and, as with Sasuke, he even wonders if Naruto could get through to them, just as Naruto got through to him. Despite his stoic demeanour, Gaara is empathetic and in touch with his emotions, freely shedding tears at Sasuke's refusal to change his ways, and at the revelation of his mother's love for him. |
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| + | As an adult, Gaara becomes wiser. When some of the current Kage expressed concerns about leaving the next generation to handle the [[Ōtsutsuki Clan|threat]] they would soon face because these were peaceful times they were growing up in, Gaara calmly says each generation having little faith in the next one is not an uncommon thing. His empathy has also deepened, as he was able to understand Shinki needed love to help his out-of-control Magnet Release, hugging him in their first meeting and adopting him to give Shinki the happy family Gaara himself didn't have. Despite this, Gaara can be quite strict and blunt with his adopted son, urging Shinki not to attack [[Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki]] due to their gap in power, bluntly telling Shinki he was nowhere near Momoshiki's level. |
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| − | As a [[Kage]], Gaara believes that the ideals of previous generations, that each village must mind their own business and solve their own problems without having to ask for the aid of others in order to keep appearance and honour, is "ridiculous old-fashioned thinking", and that cooperation between the villages is fundamental in order to defeat [[Akatsuki]]. |
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| + | Gaara retains some social awkwardness as an adult. His nephew [[Shikadai Nara]] noted Gaara tends to give strange gifts when he visits. |
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| − | == Appearance == |
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| − | [[File:Gaara full.png|thumb|Gaara in Part II.]] |
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| − | Like [[Naruto]], Gaara is a little shorter than the average males of his age, which is due to the fact that he was born [[Wikipedia:Preterm birth|prematurely]]. He has fair skin and short, spiky, auburn hair which was sometimes depicted as red in the earlier parts of the series. He has green eyes,<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 213, page 1</ref> in the anime it is predominantly blue. Gaara has no distinctive pupils, or eyebrows either. He has two very notable traits in his appearance: firstly, he has tanuki-like black eye rings, having them since his birth. Secondly, he carved the kanji {{translation|"love"|愛|ai}} on the left side of his forehead, having it since Yashamaru's betrayal. Gaara's forelocks are parted from the left side, making the kanji more visible. [[Matsuri]] and [[Sari]] who both seem to have a crush on Gaara, have described him as the strong silent type, elite and very handsome.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 280, page 5</ref> |
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| + | == Appearance == |
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| − | In Part I, Gaara has been seen in two different outfits. When he was seen for the first time, he wore black full body suit with t-shirt-like sleeves, ¾-length legs, and an open neck. With this, he wore a white cloth over his right shoulder and the left side of his hips, and a wide leather band system over the left shoulder and right side of his hips. With this leather band, he carried around his [[Sand Gourd|gourd that contains his sand]]. He also wrapped his black [[forehead protector]] over the band. In his childhood flashbacks, he was seen wearing a beige poncho-like shawl over a short-sleeved black T-shirt, a white obi around his waist, dark blue pants that were rolled back several times at the hem, revealing the inside cloth to be grey, and black sandals. |
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| + | Gaara has fair skin, green eyes, and short auburn hair; for most of his life, his hair was spiky, but by adulthood it is combed and parted to the right. He lacks distinctive pupils or eyebrows, the latter of which others sometimes make fun of. He's had tanuki-like black rings around his eyes his whole life, which [[Gamabunta]] attributes to insomnia. As a child, he carved the kanji for {{translation|"love"|愛|ai}} on the left side of his forehead, which his hair is parted in order for it to be kept visible. In Part II, many girls in [[Sunagakure]] start to consider Gaara handsome.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 280, page 5</ref> |
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| + | <gallery type="slideshow" widths="240" hideaddbutton="true"> |
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| − | In the [[Sasuke Retrieval Arc]], and in the final pre-''Shippūden'' filler arc, he switched his previous black overalls to a reddish-brownish one with longer sleeves and an upright collar. He retained the white cloth, but had mesh armour on his wrists and ankles. He used this costume in ''[[Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel]]'' as well. |
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| + | Gaara first Part I.png|Gaara at the start of Part I. |
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| + | Gaara second Part I.png|Gaara at the end of Part I. |
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| + | Gaara full body.png|Gaara in Part II. |
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| + | Gaara - Allied Shinobi Forces.png|Gaara during the Fourth Shinobi World War. |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| + | At the start of Part I, Gaara wore a black body suit with an open neck, t-shirt-like sleeves, and almost full-length leggings. With this, he wore a white cloth over his right shoulder and the left side of his hips. He had a wide leather band from his left shoulder to his right hip with which he carried his sand gourd and around which he wraped his [[forehead protector]]. In early chapters of the [[Naruto (series)|''Naruto'' manga]], he was also shown having several earrings. His appearance is mostly the same at the end of Part I, though he switches his previous black body suit to a reddish-brownish one with longer sleeves and an upright collar, and wears mesh armour on his wrists and ankles. In Part II, Gaara wore a long-sleeved crimson coat and full-length dark trousers with a pair. Over the coat he wore two buckled belts, a grey vest held in place by a single strap over his left shoulder, and two buckled belts which he also used to carry his gourd. On certain occasions he wears the typical [[Kazekage]] garb and during the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]] he wears Suna's typical [[flak jacket]]. |
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| + | <gallery type="slideshow" position="left" widths="240" hideaddbutton="true"> |
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| − | [[File:Gaara Kazekage.png|thumb|left|Gaara wearing the Kazekage uniform.]] |
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| + | Gaara Blank Period.png|Gaara during the Blank Period. |
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| − | In Part II, Gaara had a considerable growth spurt, like Naruto. During his battling against [[Deidara]] and during the [[Kage Summit]], he wore full-length dark trousers, with a pair of laces on each leg, respectively a few inches below the waist and the knees, a long-sleeved crimson coat with flaring hemlines on the front and the back, a grey holster vest held in place by a single strap over his left shoulder and by two buckled belts which he uses to carry his gourd. He also wears another pair of casually worn belts around his waist. He is also seen wearing [[Kazekage]] robes, and a simple black pants suit, the latter one greatly resembling Kankurō's suit, and worn for the memorial of Elder [[Chiyo]]. All the time, he has been seen wearing Sunagakure's standard shinobi sandals. As the Regimental Commander of the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]], he added his village's [[flak jacket]] to his standard outfit. |
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| + | Gaara New Era.png|Gaara during the New Era. |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| + | In ''[[The Last: Naruto the Movie]]'', Gaara dons a crimson long-sleeve shirt with several buttons and pants that match the colour of his shirt. He also wears a brown belt and now has a smaller sand gourd which is strapped to his left side. By adulthood, Gaara starts wearing a trench coat. |
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| + | {{-L}} |
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== Abilities == |
== Abilities == |
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| + | [[File:Air Sand Protective Wall.png|thumb|Gaara shields his entire village from [[Deidara]]'s [[C3]] explosion.]] |
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| − | Gaara is an extremely powerful shinobi, so much that he was made [[Kazekage]] at the age of 15 as well as the Regimental Commander and leader of the Allied Shinobi Forces's [[Fourth Division]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 515, page 15</ref> His powers and status have now become well-respected and praised by everyone in the Allied Shinobi Forces, including other [[Kage]], both the current and previous ones with the [[Second Mizukage]] going as far as to call him the "''golden egg amongst the Kage''",<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 247, page 8</ref> and his father who acknowledged that he had surpassed him in more ways than he could have hoped for.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 548, page 14</ref> He was also praised by his enemies such as [[Deidara]], who commented on his power after he captured him, losing an arm to Gaara's attack in the process.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 249, page 5</ref> Even though he had lost his tailed beast [[Shukaku]], he was still powerful enough to remain Kazekage. Another testament to Gaara's power at his young age is that he could hold his own against five of Madara Uchiha's wood clones, which were all clad in complete Susanoo, for a long period of time.<ref> ''Naruto'' chapter 588, pages 9-11</ref> Gaara's [[fighting style]] is a stationary type, as he rarely needs to move his entire body to attack an opponent. |
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| + | Having been trained since infancy as Suna's "ultimate weapon", Gaara was exceptionally strong even as a child, effortlessly killing the countless assassins sent after him.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 97, page 15</ref> As a [[genin]], he became known internationally for completing B-rank missions.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 39, page 13</ref> He also set the record time of completing the [[Chūnin Exams]] in the [[Forest of Death]], and unscathed;<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 57, page 19</ref> a feat normally incapable for a [[chūnin]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 58, page 4</ref> By Part II, Gaara becomes Suna's Fifth [[Kazekage]], tasked with leading and protecting the entire village. His fellow [[Kage]] initially doubted his worthiness due to his young age, but come to respect him by the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]], where he was appointed the commander-in-chief of the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]]' combat divisions.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 515, page 14</ref> The [[Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnated]] Kage that Gaara fought, including his [[Rasa|father]], also came to approve of his abilities after he defeated them.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 548, page 14</ref> He could hold his own against five of [[Madara Uchiha]]'s [[Susanoo]]-clad [[wood clone]]s for some time. As an adult, Gaara's prowess had grown to the point where he could hold his own against opponents of the [[Ōtsutsuki Clan]], including [[Momoshiki]] and [[Urashiki Ōtsutsuki]]. Fighting alongside [[Shukaku]], he was able to hold off and eventually [[Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal|seal]] Urashiki temporarily while in battle. |
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| − | === |
+ | === Chakra and Physical Prowess === |
| + | Gaara has large reserves of strong [[chakra]], a fact [[Akamaru]] recognises even before Gaara has performed any technique. His chakra levels are partly because he was the [[jinchūriki]] of [[Shukaku]], but even after Shukaku is removed from his body in Part II, there is no noticeable difference in his performance. In battle, Gaara tends to stay away from his opponents and rarely uses [[taijutsu]]. In the anime, he acknowledges this as a shortcoming and therefore trains with [[Shira]] to improve his abilities, ultimately able to compete against him unaided.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 399</ref> [[Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki]] regards Gaara's taijutsu as being on par with [[Naruto Uzumaki]], [[Sasuke Uchiha]], and [[Darui]]'s, stating that their skill in this particular style of combat is "first-class".<ref>''[[Boruto: Naruto the Movie]]'' novelisation</ref> |
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| − | [[File:Gaara Attempting To Kill Lee.PNG|thumb|Gaara manipulating sand.]] |
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| − | As the host of Shukaku, Gaara possesses the ability to manipulate [[Sand (tool)|sand]], typically moving it through the air to serve various purposes. Being a [[jinchūriki]], Gaara has a large amount of stamina and huge levels of chakra as noted by [[Kiba]] and thus is able to use many chakra-taxing sand-based techniques, sometimes in quick succession, before becoming exhausted. The amount of sand he can control at one time is immense: he could use a massive amount of sand to [[Tailed Beast Mode|fully transform]] into [[Shukaku]], as well as create a [[Quicksand Waterfall Flow|tsunami of sand]] to fight [[Kimimaro]], and later four reincarnated Kage. In Part II he is able to gather enough sand to [[Air Sand Protective Wall|shield]] the entire village of Sunagakure from [[Deidara]]'s [[C3]], as well as assist in stopping a giant meteorite. If sand is lacking in abundance, Gaara can break down the earth minerals in the ground to create more sand.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 215, page 14</ref> While he can control any dry sand, ordinary sand requires more chakra to manipulate, tiring him at a rapid rate. As a result, Gaara keeps his own chakra-infused sand with him at all times, in a calabash [[Sand Gourd|gourd also made out of sand]] on his back. Because this sand is already infused with his chakra, Gaara has a great deal more control over it, enabling stronger and faster attacks with it. |
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| + | === Ninjutsu === |
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| − | During battle, Gaara rarely moves, attacking with his sand from a single location, and rarely uses [[taijutsu]]. When first introduced, his basic means of attacks is to first use [[Sand Binding Coffin]] to capture, immobilise, and potentially suffocate an opponent with sand. Once the opponent is subdued, he uses [[Sand Waterfall Funeral]] to cause the sand to implode crush the opponent with varying intensities. Though he comes up with other means of attack throughout the series, the "''catch and crush''" tactic remains at the centre of his [[fighting style]]. Gaara attempted to use it four times on Kimimaro, but Kimimaro's sturdy bone structure made him a frustrating target. |
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| + | Gaara's [[nature transformation]]s include [[Earth]], [[Lightning]], and [[Wind Release]],<ref name="d4" /> the latter of which he often mixes with his sand in order to increase its speed and coverage area. In ''[[Gaara Hiden]]'', Gaara is shown to have inherited the [[Magnet Release]] [[kekkei genkai]] from [[Rasa]], which he avoids using in battle so that he can have it as a last resort that opponents won't know about. He can use his Magnet Release to increase the density of his chakra and sand, thereby strengthening his defences. In the anime, Gaara showed noticeably proficiency in wielding a [[Jōhyō]]. |
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| + | ==== Sand Manipulation ==== |
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| − | [[File:Sand Drizzle Anime.jpg|thumb|left|Gaara using his Successive Shots: Sand Drizzle.]] |
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| + | [[File:Gaara Using Sand.png|thumb|left|Gaara manipulating sand.]] |
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| − | As the second element of his combat style, Gaara has a number of sand-based defences to be used in case an opponent gets too close. His primary defence is his [[Shield of Sand]], an automatic sand shield that surrounds and protects him from damage whether he wants it to or not. Gaara can control the shield to some degree, strengthening it to steel-like quality or calling upon it to completely encase himself. While an effective defence, the shield can be overcome with high-speed attacks, or simply be broken through with incredibly forceful strikes.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 83, page 3</ref> Should this happen, Gaara has a layer of sand covering his body called the [[Armour of Sand]]. Although it's a useful secondary defence, the armour requires large amounts of chakra to remain active, and also has the side-effect of weighting Gaara down.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 83, page 9</ref> Despite this, the defences offered by his sand are so powerful, they have been named the {{translation|"Absolute Defence"|絶対防御|Zettai Bōgyo}}.<ref name="Ultimate">''Naruto'' chapter 464, page 15</ref> During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara's Absolute Defence was so great, Naruto expressed belief that Gaara retain the best defence of anyone.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 555, page 16</ref> Furthermore, Gaara can crush the hardest minerals in the ground together to create a [[Ultimately Hard Absolute Defence: Shield of Shukaku|shield]] in shape of Shukaku's body or, in the anime, a [[Ultimately Hard Absolute Attack: Spear of Shukaku|spear]] in the shape of its arm for combat. |
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| + | As Shukaku's [[jinchūriki]], Gaara is able to manipulate [[sand]]. He carries a supply of sand wherever he goes in a gourd, which itself is made from sand. This personal sand is infused with his own chakra, allowing him to deploy it faster and manipulate it more precisely. If he needs more sand, he can either use sand from the surroundings or, if there isn't any, use his personal sand to break down minerals in the ground to create some;<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 215, page 14</ref> these secondary sand supplies require more chakra to control. Gaara's ability to manipulate sand remains even after Shukaku is removed from his body. Indeed, upon seeing how much sand Gaara can control at once, the [[Fourth Kazekage]] wrongly assumes it is Shukaku itself doing so.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 546, page 9</ref> |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Shield of Sand.png|thumb|Gaara's Shield of Sand.]] |
| + | Gifted with powerful defensive [[ninjutsu]], Gaara's usual tactic is to remain stationary in battle, using his sand to attack opponents from afar. The attacks typically follow the same formula: capture and immobilise the target, such as with the [[Sand Binding Coffin]], and then crush all parts of their body, such as with the [[Sand Waterfall Funeral]]. If opponents are able to get close enough to attack him, Gaara's [[Shield of Sand]] automatically protects him from all threats, even those he is not aware of; the Shield of Sand is commonly thought to be Shukaku's doing, an act of self-preservation, but it is actually Gaara's mother, [[Karura]], whose love protects Gaara even after her death.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 547, pages 13-14</ref> If the Shield of Sand is penetrated, either through speed or brute-force, Gaara also has access to a secondary [[Armour of Sand]] covering his body; however, it requires an impractical amount of chakra to maintain for long periods of time and weighs him down.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 83, page 9</ref> Nevertheless, Gaara's sand is extremely effective at keeping him safe, earning fame as an "[[absolute defence]]" and allowing him to go years without experiencing a single injury. By adulthood, Gaara's Shield of Sand's defence increased tremendously, able to shrug off attacks that [[Sasuke Uchiha]]'s [[Majestic Attire: Susanoo]] could not.<ref>''Boruto: Naruto the Movie''</ref> |
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| − | In addition to these basic methods of offence and defence, Gaara also has a number of miscellaneous techniques that, while capable of being used as attacks or defences of sorts, are not limited to such purposes. By making a [[sand clone]] of himself, Gaara can have an ally to be used in battle, or as a mere distraction to be used to buy him time. Unlike most other clone techniques in the series, the Sand Clone can retain its shape after more than one attack, and can even reform itself or capture an opponent upon being dispersed. With [[Desert Suspension]], Gaara can use sand as a platform, to allow himself and others to float in the air. His [[Third Eye]] also allows him to create a floating eyeball of sand in any location, which he can see through as a means of spying, or to guide his attacks while completely enclosed by his defences. He also claimed that he can ride his sand to reach the [[Island Turtle]], and would have been faster than if [[Ōnoki]] went there. His sand can also be used as [[Sand Sensing|sensing device]]: Gaara can detect when others come into contact with it, even from far away. The sensing of his sand is so great, it was able to find Mū on several occasions, as well as the [[Giant Clam]]. |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Sand Clone.png|thumb|left|Gaara's Sand Clone.]] |
| + | Gaara's sand is highly malleable and can be used for any number of purposes. Often this is to protect others, such as with a [[Desert Wave|wall]] for one person or, in his capacity as Kazekage, a [[Air Sand Protective Wall|shield]] as large as Suna.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 249, pages 12-14</ref> Offensively, he can shape [[Sand Shuriken]] or [[Sand Sword]]s. Gaara also has a variety of supplementary uses for his sand: a [[Desert Suspension|form of flight]] for himself and others; a [[Concealed Sand Picture Cat|method of sensing]] concealed targets; a [[Sand Clone]] to reinforce himself or allies; and a [[Third Eye]] for reconnaissance. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, he uses the [[Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal]] to serve the same functional purpose as the [[Cloth Binding Technique]], giving him a way of stopping [[Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnated]] opponents. |
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| − | Despite the removal of Shukaku, Gaara can still use his sand like before. According to Sasuke at the Kage Summit, Gaara's Absolute Defence is still alive and well. Not only that, but the sand has also massively improved in speed, defence, and offence since the last time they met as it was not only able to protect him and others from a cave-in,<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 465, page 8</ref> but also block [[A]], block [[Amaterasu]] several times without being burned through or into — a feat that impressed [[Sasuke Uchiha]],<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 464, page 12</ref> as well as block Madara Uchiha's complete Susanoo's sword and still protect him even when it was barraged by four others right afterwards. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara's sand powers were so strong that [[Fourth Kazekage|his father]] believed he had fully transformed into Shukaku and was later surprised to see that was not the case. Gaara was able to quickly manoeuvre his sand above his father's [[Gold Dust]], despite its superior weight.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 547, page 13</ref> Gaara was also able to use sand to stop an enormous [[Tengai Shinsei|meteorite]]. He is able to manipulate the sand even when it's saturated with water.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 588, page 16</ref> He can even block [[C3|powerful]] [[Steaming Danger Tyranny|explosions]] the instant they explode despite the enormous power these techniques held, protecting his village and the division respectively.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 249, pages 12-14</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 557, pages 10-11</ref> He was able to integrate [[gold dust]], a feat previously only usable by his father, into his sand so that he can use the former - noting that gold was approximately twenty times heavier than water- in order to counter the [[Steaming Danger Tyranny]] clone.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 557, page 16</ref> |
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| − | |||
| − | It was unknown at first whether or not Gaara's sand defence was still automatic as it was believed that Shukaku was the source of the defence. However, the [[Fourth Kazekage]] states that Gaara's mother, Karura, was the true source of the defence, as she truly did love him and vowed to always protect him.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 547, pages 16-17</ref> |
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=== Jinchūriki Transformations === |
=== Jinchūriki Transformations === |
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{{Main|Jinchūriki Forms}} |
{{Main|Jinchūriki Forms}} |
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| + | [[Shukaku]] is a very valuable resource in battle for Gaara but, like all [[tailed beasts]], becoming able to use it effectively takes a great deal of time and effort on Gaara's part. During their first conversation when Gaara was a child, Shukaku warned Gaara that it would take control of his body and start killing people if he ever fell asleep, preventing Gaara from getting a full night's sleep for the duration of his time as a [[jinchūriki]]. Even while awake, Shukaku's powers were a constant risk, causing the young Gaara to inadvertently kill those around him and, in moments of particular stress, unleash Shukaku upon Suna. Gaara is able to keep Shukaku in check under normal circumstances by Part I. |
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| + | |||
[[File:Shukaku Gaara 2.png|thumb|Gaara partially transformed into Shukaku.]] |
[[File:Shukaku Gaara 2.png|thumb|Gaara partially transformed into Shukaku.]] |
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| + | Like all jinchūriki, Gaara can transform into his tailed beast. Whereas other jinchūriki achieve this transformation using only chakra, Gaara does so using sand: by layering sand onto parts of his body, he transforms those body parts into human-sized versions of Shukaku's. The more of his body that is transformed in this way, the more his speed and strength increases. As a consequence, however, Shukaku's personality starts influencing his own the more advanced the transformation, making Gaara increasingly homicidal; he has seemingly mastered the transformation enough by Part II that he can at least create Shukaku's arms without this happening. In his [[Tailed Beast Mode]], Gaara creates a full-sized Shukaku form, which he ordinarily remains safely deep within. By emerging from the form and [[Feigning Sleep Technique|putting himself to sleep]], Gaara can transfer control of the body to Shukaku itself. |
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| − | In desperate situations, Gaara was able to take on the form of Shukaku by layering sand on his body, making him many times more powerful than he already is. Shukaku's personality grew more dominant during this transformation, increasing Gaara's homicidal tendencies. Once finished, Gaara assumed a human-sized version of Shukaku, wherein he relied on his brute strength to destroy everything around him. |
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| + | === Intelligence === |
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| − | If need be, Gaara could almost instantly create a life-sized version of Shukaku, should the human-sized form fail. In this form, he remained deep within the copy of Shukaku, safe from harm, though unable to move. When in need of Shukaku's full power, Gaara would use his [[Feigning Sleep Technique]], which forced him to sleep, and allowed Shukaku to take full control. To do so, however, Gaara must emerge from within the copy, leaving him open to attack for the duration of the technique. |
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| + | Gaara is a sharp and innovative fighter. His large array of sand-based [[jutsu]] are crafted by and unique to him. He has an eye for detail, able to quickly identify his opponents’ vulnerabilities, and acts on his observations with his versatile sand. He was acknowleged as the "Golden Egg" by the Second Mizukage due to his high intelligence. He also displayed a mastery in deception, as he was able to [[Sand Drizzle|trap]] [[Kimimaro|several]] [[Madara Uchiha|powerful]] [[Rasa|opponents]] in various occasions. |
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| + | === Stats === |
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| − | Over time, he began gaining better [[Tailed Beast Control#Jinchūriki|control]] over Shukaku, such that he could suppress its personality by himself towards the end of the anime's pre-Shippūden filler arcs. By the time Part II began, Gaara was even capable of using Shukaku's arms to attack numerous times, without losing control of himself. However, this could have merely been his improved control over sand in action. |
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| + | {{Stats}} |
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| − | + | == Part I == |
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| + | === Chūnin Exams === |
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| − | Though he almost never uses [[taijutsu]] as a fighting element, Gaara has displayed incredible reaction speed against regular users of taijutsu as he was able to instantly react at a moments notice to Rock Lee closing his eyes and completely escape from his high-level taijutsu attacks while having enough precision to position himself directly behind Lee. Gaara has also shown some measure of physical strength, even without transforming into Shukaku as he was able to easily repel [[Temari]] with a single punch, despite being wounded.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 125, page 11</ref> In the anime, Gaara showed to be strong enough pick himself up without aid after having his [[Armour of Sand]] soaked through with water, which had made it as heavy as land.<ref>''Naruto'' episode 218</ref> |
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| + | {{main|Chūnin Exams (Arc)|l1=Chūnin Exams}} |
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| + | [[File:Gaara written test.png|thumb|left|Gaara successfully cheats in the Chūnin Exams's written test.]] |
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| + | Gaara and his siblings are teamed together under [[Baki]]'s leadership and sent to [[Konohagakure]] to participate in the [[Chūnin Exams]]. Shortly after arriving, [[Kankurō]] nearly starts fighting [[Team Kakashi|Team 7]], forcing Gaara to threaten to kill him if he doesn't leave them alone. [[Sasuke Uchiha]] is impressed by Gaara and asks his name; Gaara is impressed by Sasuke and asks the same of him. After they exchange names, Gaara and his siblings depart. During the first stage of the Chūnin Exams, Gaara uses his [[Third Eye]] to copy the answers from others participants' written tests. The proctor, [[Ibiki Morino]], though he notices that Gaara must be cheating, can't actually tell what he's doing and is therefore deeply impressed. Because neither he nor his siblings are caught cheating, they advance to the second stage. |
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| + | [[File:Gaara threatens Kankuro.png|thumb|Gaara threatens to kill Kankurō.]] |
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| − | He has also shown to be a skilled teacher in the anime, teaching [[Matsuri]] how to use the [[jōhyō]] when he learned she was afraid of weapons. In Part II, Gaara has also shown to be a highly analytical and very skilled tactician. This is proven when he was able to defeat the Second Mizukage by formulating a way to counter the Mizukage's exploding clone. |
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| + | For the second stage, Gaara and his siblings enter the [[Forest of Death]] with the task of collecting a set of two scrolls, one of which they are given and the other of which they must take from another team. They encounter [[Team Shigure]] first and, despite not knowing which scroll they have, Gaara insists on fighting them. He quickly kills [[Shigure]] with his [[Sand Waterfall Funeral]], prompting Shigure's teammates to surrender their scroll in exchange for their lives. Gaara kills them too and makes to also kill the members of [[Team 8]], who are secretly watching. Despite Gaara's threats to kill them if they interfere, Kankurō and [[Temari]] convince him to desist and they leave Team 8 unharmed. They ultimately reach the centre of the forest with the two scrolls they need in a record-breaking one hour and thirty-seven minutes. Moreover, Gaara doesn't get so much as a speck of dust on his clothes, something the proctors remark is nearly impossible even for more experienced ninja. |
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| + | [[File:Sand of Armour.png|thumb|left|Gaara becomes excited by the fight.]] |
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| − | Like many Suna shinobi, Gaara is skilled with the [[Sealing Tag]], using [[Sand Binding Coffin|his sand]] in place of [[Cloth Binding Technique|cloth]]. He has also shown the ability to use [[Wind Release]] [[nature transformation]], though this was only seen while he transformed into Shukaku. |
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| + | In the preliminary rounds, Gaara is matched against [[Rock Lee]]. Though Lee is quite fast, Gaara's [[Shield of Sand]] is faster and blocks all of Lee's attacks. With encouragement from his instructor, [[Might Guy]], Lee removes the ankle weights he wears, therefore making him faster than the Shield of Sand and allowing him to hit Gaara, the first person to ever do so. Lee lands several additional blows, causing Gaara's [[Armour of Sand]] to start chipping away, exposing an excited expression beneath. With Guy's permission, Lee attacks Gaara with [[Front Lotus]], but during a brief spasm of pain Gaara is able to escape and attack Lee with his sand. Lee fends off the attack and counters with his strongest move: [[Reverse Lotus]]. |
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| + | [[File:Dosu fights Gaara.png|thumb|Gaara fights Dosu.]] |
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| − | === Stats === |
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| + | Due to the speed of the Reverse Lotus, Gaara loses his Shield of Sand and parts of his Armour of Sand are broken away. However, he is able to use his sand gourd as a cushion for the attack, therefore avoiding any noticeable damage. Lee, however, has difficulty moving afterwards and is left at Gaara's mercy, who uses his sand to crush Lee's arm and leg. Guy intervenes, and from seeing Guy's concern for Lee - an emotion Gaara doesn't understand - Gaara opts to leave Lee alone. Gaara is declared the winner and, after the preliminaries conclude, he is informed that his first opponent in the finals taking place in a month will be Sasuke Uchiha. That night, Gaara is attacked by [[Dosu Kinuta]], another finalist who wants to kill Sasuke himself. Gaara briefly transforms into [[Shukaku]] and kills Dosu. |
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| − | {{Stats}} |
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| + | During the following month, Gaara and his siblings are informed of Suna and [[Otogakure]]'s plans for an [[invasion of Konoha]], set to begin during the Chūnin Exams' final matches. Once the invasion starts, Gaara is to transform into Shukaku and attack the village from within while Suna and Oto's forces invade. The day before the finals, Gaara tracks down Lee at the [[Konoha Hospital]] and attempts to kill him, but he is found and stopped by [[Shikamaru Nara]] and [[Naruto Uzumaki]]. Gaara isn't intimidated by their superior numbers and threatens to kill them too, explaining that it is by killing others, particularly those who are strong, that he asserts his own existence. He briefly explains his past and how he came to arrive at this motivation for living, which convinces Naruto that they can't beat Gaara. Guy interrupts them before a fight can break out and Gaara is forced to withdraw. |
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| − | == Part I == |
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| − | === Chūnin Exam Arc === |
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| − | Gaara participated in the [[Chūnin Exams]], where he quickly identified as a skilled competitor. During the first test which was set to garner how well the candidates could covertly gather information, Gaara blinded a candidate with his sand and then used his [[Third Eye]] to copy his answers. Ibiki remarked that through this all, Gaara kept a calm demeanour and gave away no indication that he was cheating. During the second phase of the examinations, he demonstrated his blood-lust, coldly murdering [[Team Shigure]] in the [[Forest of Death]], who Gaara claimed had looked at him the wrong way, and threatened to kill his own siblings when they tried to reason with him. Gaara and his team finished this phase in an hour and thirty-seven minutes, beating the previous record by over four hours, with Gaara not getting so much as a speck of dust on his clothes — a feat they noted that would be very difficult even for an experienced ninja. |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Gaara vs sasuke.png|thumb|left|Gaara battling Sasuke.]] |
| + | Gaara is eager to fight Sasuke, having noticed that Sasuke, like himself, is driven by hate and who may therefore be the greatest challenge Gaara has ever faced; by killing Sasuke, Gaara's reason for living would be indisputable. However, Sasuke does not show up for their match on time and, when he does finally arrive, Gaara is on edge. [[Midori]] and [[Shiba (Kusagakure)|Shiba]] intercept Gaara as he heads down to the arena to face Sasuke and ask him to take a fall in the fight; Gaara kills them without warning, briefly slaking his bloodlust. His fight with Sasuke starts and Gaara is surprised to find Sasuke's speed and movements are almost identical to Lee's and, as such, bypass his defences in much the same way. Gaara surrounds himself with sand so that Sasuke's punches and kicks can't disturb him as he prepares to transform into Shukaku. However, Sasuke pierces through the sand with his [[Chidori]], injuring Gaara's arm. Gaara is frightened to see his own blood for the first time and cancels the transformation. |
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| − | In the preliminary matches, Gaara was matched against [[Rock Lee]] and overwhelmed him until Lee removed the weights on ankles to move at a formidable speed that forces Gaara to exchange his [[Shield of Sand]] to his secondary [[Armour of Sand]]. Despite Lee's best efforts, Gaara's sand ultimately protected him from Lee's [[Reverse Lotus|devastating blow]] as he taken advantage of his opponent's weakened condition to crush Lee's left limbs with his sand. [[Might Guy]] intervened before Gaara could harm Lee any further, the act astonished Gaara who is left more confused when Guy answered that Lee is his precious comrade. |
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| + | === Konoha Crush === |
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| − | For the finals, Gaara was matched against [[Sasuke Uchiha]]. The night before, he was approached by [[Dosu Kinuta]], who wanted to take his spot by eliminating him, but was killed by Shukaku's power. Some time after that, Gaara tried to kill the hospitalised Lee but was stopped by [[Naruto Uzumaki]] and [[Shikamaru Nara]], who were successful in halting his intentions until Might Guy intervened once again. |
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| + | {{main|Konoha Crush (Arc)|l1=Konoha Crush}} |
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| + | [[File:Gaara and Sasuke clash.png|thumb|Gaara and Sasuke clash.]] |
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| + | Gaara is so unnerved by his injury that he is unable to participate as planned in the invasion of Konoha when it begins in the middle of his fight with Sasuke. Baki instructs Temari and Kankurō to take him back to Suna. As they carry Gaara away from Konoha they are confronted by Sasuke, who wants to finish their fight. Kankurō tries to delay him, but this fails and when Sasuke catches up with them again Gaara flings Temari away so that she won't interfere. Gaara transforms his right arm into Shukaku's, who has been causing Gaara ongoing discomfort because of the earlier cancelled transformation. When Sasuke is able to counter Gaara's increased speed and strength with another Chidori, Gaara manifests Shukaku's tail. Sasuke counters this too, but is left unable to move afterwards. |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Naruto's clones vs Gaara.png|thumb|left|Naruto's clones attack Gaara.]] |
| + | Gaara is stopped from killing Sasuke by the arrival of Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto doesn't recognise Gaara at first, but when he does he attempts to retreat. Gaara goes after Sasuke again but is blocked by [[Sakura Haruno]], who reminds Gaara of [[Yashamaru]]. Startled by this, Gaara binds her to a tree with his sand. Because Naruto can't break Sakura free, he decides to stay and fight so that he can save her and Sasuke. Gaara advances his transformation yet again and attacks with [[Sand Shuriken]], hoping to draw out the same surprising power that Naruto displayed during his earlier match in the finals. Naruto endures several rounds of attacks and even tries attacking Gaara's un-transformed quarters with [[One Thousand Years of Death]], but is ultimately forced to tap into his [[Kurama|power source]] to create hundreds of [[shadow clone]]s. The clones' onslaught surprises and overwhelms him, forcing him to fully transform into Shukaku. |
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| − | Prior to his battle with Sasuke, Gaara brutally killed [[Shiba (Kusagakure)|Shiba]] and [[Midori]] when they tried to intimidate him to throw the fight for a bet. When fighting Sasuke, he realised that his taijutsu skills were similar to those of his previous opponent and as such he was having hard time keeping up with him. Disregarding the plan that the Suna-nin had made, Gaara attempts to transform into Shukaku. However, Gaara was wounded by Sasuke's [[Chidori]], which had pierced his sand sphere, causing him to freak out at the first sight of his own blood. With Gaara not in any mental condition to join the battle, he and his siblings fled the village under [[Baki]]'s orders, while the invasion proceeded without them. |
||
| − | {{-}} |
||
| + | [[File:Naruto defeats gaara.png|thumb|Gaara defeated by Naruto.]] |
||
| − | === Invasion of Konoha Arc === |
||
| + | Gaara tries to kill Naruto with Sand Waterfall Funeral, which Naruto escapes by [[Summoning Technique|summon]]ing [[Gamabunta]]. Gamabunta uses his sword to cut off one of his transformation's arms, exciting Gaara. Because of how strong Naruto has proven to be, Gaara [[Feigning Sleep Technique|puts himself to sleep]] to transfer control of his body to Shukaku. After prolonged fighting, Gamabunta is able to get Naruto close enough to punch Gaara and wake him up, suppressing Shukaku. Gaara forces Naruto away with his sand, but Naruto quickly strikes again. Gaara is able to restrain Naruto's arms and legs, but Naruto is able to head-butt him, doing enough damage to force the release of the Shukaku transformation. Both Gaara and Naruto are exhausted from the fight, but have enough energy for one last exchange. They leap at each other and Naruto punches Gaara again, claiming victory. |
||
| − | Gaara was pursued by the members of [[Team 7]], along with Shikamaru and [[Shino Aburame]], which forced Gaara's siblings to stay behind at different points to hold off their pursuers. Sasuke caught up with a maddened Gaara who begins transforming. Transforming half-way, Gaara is able to resist Sasuke's last available Chidori attacks, allowing him to beat Sasuke to an inch of his life before Naruto and [[Sakura Haruno]] arrive. The act of Sakura coming to Sasuke's aid causes Gaara to relive his betrayed childhood before he pinned her to a tree with his sand. Intrigued by Naruto's abilities since witnessing his victory over [[Neji Hyūga]] during the exams, Gaara threatens to crush Sakura to force Naruto to fight. |
||
| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Gaara changed.png|thumb|left|Gaara's outlook is changed by Naruto.]] |
| + | Naruto and Gaara fall to the ground, unable to move. Gaara can't comprehend how Naruto can be so strong and is troubled by what this loss means for his existence. When Naruto starts crawling towards him, Gaara screams at him to stay away. Naruto, however, only sympathises with Gaara, having had a childhood that was just as lonely as Gaara's was. However, Naruto was able to find friends like Sasuke and Sakura, and for their companionship he will do anything to protect them, even if that means he has to kill Gaara. Gaara is amazed that Naruto's strength derives from his love for his friends and admits defeat. Temari and Kankurō collect him and start carrying him home; along the way, Gaara apologises to them. |
||
| − | Naruto, though terrified, stayed to fight against him to protect his friends. Though Gaara seemed to have the upper hand, Naruto attacked the lower base of his tail, using his rendition of [[One Thousand Years of Death]] to get an advantage to bypass Gaara's defence. After being beaten down by Naruto's army of shadow clones, an enraged Gaara assumes the full form of [[Shukaku]] while Naruto summons [[Gamabunta]]. |
||
| + | === Sasuke Recovery Mission === |
||
| − | [[File:Naruto defeats gaara.png|thumb|Gaara is defeated by Naruto.]] |
||
| + | {{main|Sasuke Recovery Mission}} |
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| − | After Gamabunta shows his strength, Gaara then emerged and used the [[Feigning Sleep Technique]] to let Shukaku take full control in the battle. Devising a strategy to combat the beast, Gamabunta and Naruto used the [[Combination Transformation]] technique to transform into a giant fox (the [[Nine-Tailed Demon Fox]] in the anime) so he could cling onto the One-Tail to give Naruto the chance to wake Gaara up. Awakened, Gaara trapped Naruto but the latter used some of the Nine-Tails' chakra to break free, then headbutted Gaara, which caused the Shukaku's body to crumble. |
||
| + | [[File:Suna Shigure.png|thumb|Gaara attacks Kimimaro.]] |
||
| + | After the invasion of Konoha ends in failure, Konoha and Suna become allies, both having been wronged by [[Orochimaru]]. As a sign of this alliance, Konoha later requests Suna's help in stopping Sasuke from defecting to Orochimaru. Suna sends Gaara and his siblings to help the [[Sasuke Recovery Team]] in their fights with the [[Sound Four]]; Gaara arrives to save Rock Lee from [[Kimimaro]]. On arrival, Gaara remarks that Lee is slower than when they last met, which Lee indicates to be because the injuries he received from Gaara were very severe. Gaara feels guilty about this and insists on fighting Kimimaro by himself so that Lee doesn't risk further injury. After blocking several of Kimimaro's attacks, Gaara catches him with his sand and uses Sand Waterfall Funeral on him. |
||
| + | [[File:Shukaku Ultimate Defence.png|thumb|left|Gaara and Kimimaro compare ultimate techniques.]] |
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| − | With the last of their energy, the two exchanged final blows, and Naruto ended up claiming victory. Gaara was shocked to learn that Naruto was a [[jinchūriki]] like himself yet puzzled by the boy's undying devotion to his friends, causing him to realise that Naruto's strength came from the desire to protect those close to him. As Gaara and his siblings fled the scene, Gaara openly apologised to Kankurō and Temari to their astonishment. Thanks to Naruto's influence, the defeat proved to be a major turning point for Gaara. |
||
| + | Through a combination of his [[Shikotsumyaku]] abilities and his [[Cursed Seal of Earth]], Kimimaro is able to survive the Sand Waterfall Funeral. Gaara therefore increases the scale, blanketing Kimimaro and the surrounding area with sand and then using [[Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral]]. Kimimaro survives yet again, this time by advancing his cursed seal to its second level. The transformation allows him to outpace Gaara's sand and restrain Gaara with his [[Dance of the Clematis: Vine|spine]]. He then prepares to attack with [[Dance of the Clematis: Flower]], which Gaara blocks with his [[Shield of Shukaku]]. Gaara congratulates Kimimaro for his performance and states his regrets that someone so talented is about to die. Kimimaro states his willingness to give his life if it is in service to Orochimaru. Gaara decides Kimimaro has been brainwashed and uses his sand to drag him deep underground. |
||
| − | {{-}} |
||
| + | [[File:Kimimaro vs Gaara Rock Lee.png|thumb|The final moments of the fight with Kimimaro.]] |
||
| − | === Sasuke Retrieval Arc === |
||
| + | As he's pulled down, Kimimaro uses his [[Dance of the Seedling Fern]], forcing Gaara to use [[Desert Suspension]] to get himself and Lee out of harm's way. While they start discussing their apparent victory, Kimimaro emerges behind them and insists that he is not brainwashed. Kimimaro dies of a preexisting illness before he can land an attack. Afterwards, Gaara muses that Kimimaro was somewhat similar to Naruto in that both would stop at nothing to protect what was precious to them, even if that precious thing was itself evil. Gaara escorts Lee back to Konoha and, once all members of the Sasuke Recovery Team are safely accounted for, he returns to Suna with Temari and Kankurō. |
||
| − | [[File:Gaara deflecting Kimimaro's attack.png|thumb|left|Gaara deflecting Kimimaro's attack.]] |
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| − | The [[Sand Siblings]] were called by the [[Fifth Hokage]] to assist the [[Sasuke Retrieval Team]] in retrieving Sasuke when he defected from Konoha. Gaara arrived just in time to save Rock Lee, using his sand to deflect [[Kimimaro]]'s attack. Though Lee tried to continue, Gaara stopped him, telling Lee that he was still in no condition to fight. In the fight, Gaara's various abilities prove to be ineffective against Kimimaro's sturdy bone structure which protected him from most of the would-be devastating attack. After Kimimaro released the second state of his [[Cursed Seal of Earth]] to break through his defences while lowering his chakra further, denouncing [[Orochimaru]] to get an advantage, Gaara buried Kimimaro deep underground. However, Kimimaro [[Dance of the Seedling Fern|escaped]] with a weakened Gaara barely evading death due to Kimimaro's own death by his illness. After the battle, Gaara explained that even a bad person has someone precious to them, and noted to Lee their opponent was like Naruto in that sense before escorting Lee back to [[Konoha]]. After this, Gaara and the rest of the Sand Siblings returned to [[Sunagakure]], though in the anime, he and his siblings helped out at the village's [[Academy]] before leaving, as stated by Shikamaru. |
||
| − | {{-}} |
||
| − | === |
+ | === Sunagakure Support Mission === |
| − | {{Main| |
+ | {{Main|Sunagakure Support Mission}} |
| + | [[File:Gaara vs Hoki.png|thumb|left|Gaara battles Hōki.]] |
||
| + | In the anime, Gaara and his siblings volunteer to teach at Suna's new Konoha-inspired [[Ninja Academy]]. Most of the [[Academy student]]s still fear Gaara and avoid him during their lesson on ninja weaponry. [[Matsuri]], however, is curious about him and asks to train with him. Gaara senses her fear of weapons and violence and so instructs her in how to use the [[jōhyō]], a relatively non-lethal weapon. Matsuri and Gaara get along well, prompting the [[Four Celestial Symbols Men]] to kidnap her in order to get to him. Suna requests Konoha's help in rescuing her, for which the entire [[Konoha 11]] is sent. |
||
| + | |||
| + | Gaara first fights [[Suiko]], then he attacks the Four Celestial Symbols Men's leader, [[Hōki (Takumi)|Hōki]], but is captured. To escape, Gaara does a partial Shukaku transformation, which in the process revives [[Seimei]]. Gaara stops the transformation and later destroys Seimei's armour with a [[Spear of Shukaku]] and kills him with a Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral. He goes to Konoha to rest and, once he's recovered, returns to Suna with his siblings and Matsuri. |
||
| + | |||
| + | == Interlude == |
||
| + | [[File:Gaara & Shukaku.png|thumb|Gaara thanking Shukaku.]] |
||
| + | At some point over the next two years, Gaara becomes Suna's Fifth [[Kazekage]]. His reason for pursuing the office is twofold: to show the villagers that he is no longer the fearsome weapon he once was, and so that, by protecting the entire village, he can gain the same kind of strength as Naruto has. In the anime, Gaara does away with several antiquated policies, such as one that bars anyone who can't use [[ninjutsu]] or [[genjutsu]] from entering the Academy. This allows [[Shira]], who excels in [[taijutsu]], to become a Suna-nin; Shira later trains Gaara in taijutsu.<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 400</ref> |
||
| + | |||
| + | === In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths === |
||
| + | {{main|In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths}} |
||
| + | About two years after the end of Part I, the [[Fifth Hokage]] proposes that their villages hold a Chūnin Exam. Publicly, the exam will demonstrate the alliance that now exists between their two villages. Secretly, the exam will hopefully draw out [[Akatsuki]], who are after [[jinchūriki]] like Gaara. Gaara agrees, believing this will also be a good way to prove himself to his dissenters in Suna. Kankurō makes repeated attempts to convince Gaara not to put himself at risk like this, but Gaara insists it is the best way for him to unify with Suna's population. Gaara presides over the start of the second stage of the exams, held in Suna's [[Demon Desert]]. When he later receives reports that two [[jōnin]] from [[Takigakure]] are participating in the exams, Gaara observes them with his [[Third Eye]]. It is quickly discovered by [[Fū]], the third member of the Taki team, who Gaara realises is also a jinchūriki. |
||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Gaara Monitoring Exam.png|thumb|left|Gaara monitoring the Chūnin Exams.]] |
||
| + | During the second stage, sandstorms start rampaging across the Demon Desert. Gaara secretly gets away from his guards to go into the desert to rescue [[Team Matsuri]]. Once he locates them, he finds that they are also being helped by Fū, who reminds Gaara of Naruto. As soon as they escape the sandstorm, Gaara is attacked by [[Hōichi]], who uses a [[Dharma Power Sealing Technique: Sen no Rikyū|fūinjutsu chain]] to try and extract Shukaku from his body. Fū tries to help him, only to have her own [[tailed beast]] also start being extracted. Matsuri is able to locate [[Neji Hyūga]], who stops the extractions by blocking Gaara's and Fū [[tenketsu]]. This also causes the fūinjutsu chains to turn on Hōichi, so Gaara asks that Neji save him as well. Gaara then thanks Neji and Matsuri for their help. Gaara deduces that [[Fugi]] was behind Hōichi's attack and contacts him, asking that, no matter what opinion he may have of Gaara, he not do anything in the future to harm Gaara's friends. Fugi is surprised by this response as well as Gaara's forgiveness for his actions. |
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| + | |||
| + | Due to the attack on himself and Fū, Gaara cancels the Chūnin Exams before the second stage ends. He informs the remaining participants that reports on their performance will be sent to their superiors, who will then decide if they are to be promoted. |
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== Part II == |
== Part II == |
||
| − | === Kazekage Rescue |
+ | === Kazekage Rescue Mission === |
| + | {{main|Kazekage Rescue Mission}} |
||
| − | [[File:Sand Prison.JPG|thumb|Gaara battling Deidara.]] |
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| + | [[File:Sand Prison.png|thumb|Gaara attacks Deidara.]] |
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| − | Despite having become the Fifth [[Kazekage]] during the time skip, Gaara was still targeted by [[Akatsuki]], who sought to extract Shukaku from within him. Gaara confronted and held his own against [[Deidara]], crushing his left arm, and had him on the run for most of the battle, but his inevitable duty to protect [[Sunagakure]] was taken advantage of by Deidara, who dropped one of his most powerful bombs on the village. Gaara prevented any damage being inflicted by summoning a vast amount of sand which [[Sky Sand Protective Wall|covered]] the entire village, albeit at the cost of practically all of his remaining chakra, which left him open for capture. After having his [[Shield of Sand]] destroyed, he moved the sand he used to protect Suna into the desert and passed out. Unconscious, he was taken to Akatsuki's hideout by Deidara. |
||
| + | Two-and-a-half years after the end of Part I, the [[Suna Council]] discusses reports from [[Jiraiya]] of Konoha about [[Akatsuki]]'s likely imminent activity. Because Akatsuki will undoubtedly come after Gaara because of the One-Tailed Shukaku sealed within him, Suna places its borders under heavy guard. While working in his office later, Gaara looks out the window and sees a non-native bird flying in the sky. Guessing it's an intruder, Gaara confronts the bird's rider: [[Deidara]] of Akatsuki. Gaara attacks Deidara with the sand surrounding Suna and at the same time uses his personal supply of sand to defend against Deidara's [[Explosive Clay]]. |
||
| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Shukaku Extracted from Gaara.png|thumb|left|Shukaku being extracted from Gaara.]] |
| + | Gaara uses his personal sand to crush Deidara's left arm, prompting him to drop his [[C3]] on Suna. Gaara defends the village with his [[Air Sand Protective Wall]] and narrowly blocks another set of Deidara's [[C1]] explosives. As he regroups within his [[Shield of Sand]], he discovers that Deidara has managed to sneak some explosives into his personal supply of sand, which detonate at point-blank-range. Before he loses consciousness, Gaara moves the sand he's been using during the fight away from Suna so that it won't fall on the villagers. Deidara captures him and takes him back to an Akatsuki lair, where for three days Akatsuki's members [[Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals|extract]] Shukaku from Gaara's body. As the extraction nears completion, Gaara sees a lonely vision of himself that he is increasingly unable to recognise. |
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| − | Although Team Kakashi did their best to save Gaara, they did not arrive in time to stop Akatsuki's extraction of Shukaku, which resulted in Gaara's death. [[Naruto Uzumaki]] cried in front of him, regretting his inability to save both [[Sasuke]] and Gaara. He blamed the rest of the Suna-shinobi because it was on their behalf that Shukaku was sealed inside of Gaara in the first place, and because they let him feel so much pain as a child. However, [[Chiyo]] resurrected Gaara with the help of Naruto's chakra using her [[One's Own Life Reincarnation|life-restoring technique]], in the hopes that it would make up for her sealing of Shukaku into Gaara years earlier, and that Naruto and Gaara would both change the world, by bringing Gaara back to life at the cost of her own. |
||
| − | [[File:Gaara. |
+ | [[File:Gaara is Revived.png|thumb|Chiyo revives Gaara.]] |
| + | Gaara dies when Shukaku is removed from his body. Naruto and [[Kazekage Rescue Team|his team]] are able to retrieve him from Akatsuki, but they can't revive him conventionally. [[Chiyo]] [[One's Own Life Reincarnation|trades her life]] for Gaara's, her way of apologising for sealing Shukaku into Gaara in the first place. As life returns to him, Gaara sees a vision of himself, once alone and unknowable, befriended by Naruto. He wakes up to find himself not only surrounded by Naruto and his team, but also his siblings and the dozens of other Suna-nin that have been tirelessly trying to find and rescue him. When he learns what Chiyo did for him, Gaara forces himself to stand and requests that everyone pray for her. They attend Chiyo's funeral a few days later and, before Naruto and his team leaves, Gaara uses his sand to shake Naruto's hand in place of saying goodbye. |
||
| − | Gaara awoke, shocked by being surrounded by so many people who were all relieved that he was alive including Konoha-nin and the Sunagakure shinobi that had gone looking for him. This was the first time Gaara truly felt loved and not so alone. Gaara later ordered everyone to pray for Chiyo when they realised that she had passed away. Before Naruto went back home, he tried to say goodbye, but admitted that it wasn't something he was good at. Gaara used some sand to encourage and guide Naruto's hand, and the two shook hands, revealing that even with Shukaku removed, Gaara still retained his ability to control sand and went on to continue his work as Kazekage. |
||
| − | {{-}} |
||
| − | === |
+ | === Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha === |
| − | {{Main| |
+ | {{Main|Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha}} |
| + | In the anime, Gaara receives a report that Konoha has been destroyed during an Akatsuki attack. Gaara is confident they'll be able to rebuild since they have Naruto, and recalls when [[Team Kakashi|Team 7]] helped him deal with the [[Suna Assassin Captain]]. |
||
| − | === Five Kage Summit |
+ | === Five Kage Summit === |
| + | {{main|Five Kage Summit (Arc)|l1=Five Kage Summit}} |
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[[File:Kage Summit.png|thumb|left|The Kage Summit commences.]] |
[[File:Kage Summit.png|thumb|left|The Kage Summit commences.]] |
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| − | + | The [[Fourth Raikage]] calls for a [[Kage Summit]] to discuss Akatsuki's recent activity. On receiving the summons, Gaara travels to the [[Land of Iron]] with Temari and Kankurō as his bodyguards. Once the [[Kage]] are all together, Gaara opens the proceedings by discussing his own experiences with Akatsuki and his previous efforts to collaborate with the other Kage, efforts that only the [[Fifth Hokage]] helped with. The other Kage offer their own excuses for why they didn't help, but the Fourth Raikage's accusation that the current Kage and their predecessors employed Akatsuki stands out. Gaara is disgusted by the news, which the [[Third Tsuchikage]] argues he can't understand simply because he's too young. |
|
| + | [[Zetsu]] interrupts the Summit with news that [[Sasuke Uchiha]], who has been collaborating with Akatsuki, has infiltrated the Summit. The Fourth Raikage goes off to find Sasuke, and the other Kage bicker while he's gone. Gaara becomes pessimistic that the Kage will be able to work together since his peers seem too willing to give up, qualities that he, because of Naruto's influence, cannot respect. Gaara leaves to meet with Sasuke, arriving in time to stop him and the Raikage from injuring each other too badly. While the Raikage's wounds are treated, Gaara speaks with Sasuke, remarking that he possesses the same hate that drove him the last time they met. Gaara uses his own experience with hate to advise Sasuke to turn back while he still can, as no good can come from his present actions. Sasuke refuses. |
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| − | When Sasuke was revealed to have infiltrated the meeting and the Raikage went to fight him, Gaara voiced his concern with the others' lack of ethics and stated that a world without faith and understanding would be a world with only fear. When the Tsuchikage offered to give him tips on how to be a good Kage, Gaara replied by asking him when he threw away his principles which only served to irritate the Tsuchikage. Gaara, Kankurō, and Temari then left to join the Raikage's battle with Sasuke. When they arrived, Gaara used his sand to stop the Raikage and Sasuke from fighting, insisting despite the Raikage's objections, that it was for the best. While the Raikage begrudgingly had his injuries tended to, Gaara tried to convince Sasuke to stop living in the darkness, citing past experience by saying no good would come of it. Sasuke could not be convinced, stating that he had closed his eyes to the light a long time ago. |
||
| + | Saddened by Sasuke's response, Gaara joins Temari, Kankurō, and [[Darui]] in attacking him. Sasuke uses [[Susanoo]] to defend himself and destroy the room to cover his escape. Gaara uses his sand to protect the others and they pursue Sasuke back to the Summit room, arriving in time to see him teleported to safety by [[Tobi]], the leader of Akatsuki. Tobi explains his [[Eye of the Moon Plan]] to those in attendance and requests that the Kage surrender Naruto and [[Killer B]] to him to complete the plan. Gaara and the other Kage refuse, prompting Tobi to declare the start of the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]] before departing. The Kage agree to form an [[Allied Shinobi Forces]]; although they want Konoha to join, the Kage do not trust the [[Sixth Hokage Candidate]] and will require someone else to represent Konoha. Gaara recommends [[Kakashi Hatake]], who the other Kage agree with. |
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| − | [[File:Sand Siblings fight Sasuke Uchiha.png|thumb|The Sand Siblings confront Sasuke.]] |
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| − | Saddened by this, Gaara prepared to battle Sasuke himself. Sasuke attacked the Sand Siblings with [[Amaterasu]], but Gaara's sand proved too fast for it, a feat which earned praise from Sasuke. Gaara then joined Kankurō, Temari, and [[Darui]] and launched a combined attack against Sasuke, who protected himself using [[Susanoo]]. Sasuke then cut down the supporting pillars of the hall which caused a cave-in to distract them; Gaara shielded the others from falling debris with his sand while Sasuke escaped. They followed him to the Summit hall, where they were met by [[Tobi]]. Tobi warped Sasuke away and told everyone in attendance about his [[Eye of the Moon Plan]]. Because Tobi concluded by requesting that the Kage give him Naruto and [[Killer B]], Gaara refused, along with the other Kage. In response, Tobi declared the start of the [[Fourth Shinobi World War]]. With this new development, Gaara repeated the need for collaboration. The Kage agreed to a [[Shinobi Alliance]], but would not allow Konoha to join unless someone more trustworthy than the [[Danzō Shimura|current Hokage]] could be found from the village. Gaara suggested and volunteered to approach [[Kakashi Hatake]] on their behalf. Because they were Tobi's targets, Gaara also added that it was crucial not to allow Naruto and B to fight in the war, adding to [[A]]'s statement about the latter that he would only make things more chaotic on the battlefield by saying Naruto would do the same. |
||
| − | [[File:As one's friend.png|thumb |
+ | [[File:As one's friend.png|thumb|Gaara talks to Naruto about Sasuke.]] |
| − | After the Kage |
+ | After the Kage disperse, Gaara locates Kakashi elsewhere in the Land of Iron and finds Naruto in his company. Gaara tells them all that happened at the Summit, including what Sasuke did. Gaara emphasises to Naruto that the approaching war will be fought to defend Naruto and that, if Sasuke chooses to side with Akatsuki, Gaara will fight him in order to keep Naruto safe. He states his opinion that Sasuke can no longer be saved from himself and that, if Naruto truly wants to be [[Hokage]] someday, he will need to accept the same conclusion. However, before leaving he also advises that Naruto at least figures out for himself what can be done for Sasuke. Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō return to Suna, and when they arrive they are informed that the [[daimyō]] have already authorised the Allied Shinobi Forces' formation. |
| − | === |
+ | === Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown === |
| + | {{main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown}} |
||
| − | To make preparations for the approaching conflict with Akatsuki, Gaara went to [[Kumogakure]] to meet with the other heads of the Alliance. He reiterated the need to send the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails into hiding. When the [[Fifth Hokage]] — who had just recently awoken from her coma — objected to this, he reminded her that she must take others' views into consideration. She ultimately agreed to it and the jinchūriki were sent to the [[Island Turtle]]. When they learned that Akatsuki has discovered this hiding spot, it was decided to send the Tsuchikage as extra protection to the island. As the Tsuchikage left he dislocated his hip, which prompted Gaara to offer to go in his stead. The Tsuchikage went anyway, and when he returned Gaara showed him the new Allied forehead protector that had been designed in his absence. |
||
| + | Gaara travels to [[Kumogakure]] to meet with the other heads of the Alliance and discuss tactics. When the Tsuchikage asks where the jinchūriki will be hidden, the Fifth Hokage argues against this, however Gaara reminds her that Naruto takes too many risks for his friends to be allowed to fight. Akatsuki later finds Naruto and B on the [[Island Turtle]] and Gaara volunteers to go there to provide additional security, but the Kage decide to send the Tsuchikage instead. |
||
| − | === Shinobi World War |
+ | === Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation === |
| + | {{main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation}} |
||
| − | [[File:Gaara Commander.png|thumb|Gaara leads the Fourth Division.]] |
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| + | [[File:Gaara Commander.png|thumb|left|Gaara leading his division.]] |
||
| − | Becoming both Regimental Commander of the primary fighting force and Commander of the [[Fourth Division]], Gaara used his sand to break up a quarrel among Suna and [[Iwa]] shinobi. He explained to the joined forces that he himself was a product of the hatred between the villages yet his fellow jinchūriki, Naruto, bore no ill will towards him and others. At the end of the speech, everyone was united and all went out for battle to reach their assigned destinations. With the Fourth Division settled along a rocky terrain, Gaara surrounded their position with his [[Sand Sensing|sensory sand]] to detect any who approach. In doing so, he caught the [[Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnated]] [[Mū]] and used his [[Third Eye]] to gather intel on the situation and learns that three other reincarnated Kage were with him, his [[Fourth Kazekage|father]] among them. This information is relayed to headquarters and Ōnoki is sent to provide assistance. When Ōnoki arrived Gaara told him that there was no reason for him to strain his back, and is in return told that his earlier words were the reason Ōnoki was picking up his principles again. |
||
| + | Gaara is made commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces' [[Fourth Division]], as well as the commander-in-chief of all the other combat divisions. When some of the shinobi from different villages start fighting over past grudges, Gaara uses his sand to break them up. He then delivers a speech to the assembled forces, asking that they set aside the factors that once set them apart and focus on what now unifies them: stopping Akatsuki. The Allies are inspired by his words and mobilise for battle; Gaara leads his Fourth Division to the border of the [[Land of Lightning]]. There, Gaara scatters his [[Sand Sensing]] around the area so that he can detect any approach by Akatsuki's forces. This ends up exposing a [[Impure World Reincarnation|reincarnated]] [[Mū]], causing the reincarnated [[Second Mizukage]], [[Third Raikage]], and Gaara's father, [[Rasa]], to be sent to reinforce Mū. Seeing them with his [[Third Eye]], Gaara calls for backup. |
||
| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Gold Dust Wall.png|thumb|Gaara battling his father.]] |
| + | The Third Tsuchikage is sent to provide assistance, but they avoid combat until the second day of the war. Once they're ready, Gaara launches the first attack with his sand, which Rasa counters with his [[gold dust]]. When Rasa sees Gaara, he is surprised to find that Gaara has not transformed into Shukaku, having assumed he had based on the amount of sand he was controlling. Gaara informs him that Shukaku was removed from his body, but that his life was saved by the many friends he's made in his capacity as Kazekage; he adds that, as Kazekage, he now understands all of Rasa's attempts to assassinate him and forgives him. Rasa finds this all very strange and asks that Gaara fight him so that he can see how Gaara has grown. After several exchanges, Gaara surrounds Rasa and the other Kage with sand, which takes the form of Gaara's mother, [[Karura]]. |
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| − | On the second day of the war, him and Ōnoki deciding to finally advance where they had been retreating for some time, Gaara attacked the Kage with a [[Quicksand Waterfall Flow|long-ranged attack]], but the Fourth Kazekage [[Gold Dust Waterfall Flow|counters]] it with his [[Gold Dust]] while realising his son is not using [[Shukaku]]. After he captured his father and the other previous generation of Kage with his sand arms, Gaara reveals to his father that he is no longer a [[jinchūriki]] and that he was now the Kazekage, now understanding his father's reasons and forgiving him. Shocked at how far Gaara had come, the Fourth decided to test his son's worth again by facing him directly. With Gaara getting the upper hand, his father tried to attack him from behind when Gaara's sand takes on the form of his [[Karura|mother]], greatly shocking his father. The Fourth Kazekage then finally revealed the truth to Gaara: that his mother loved him and that her dying words were to always protect him which became a reality through the sand. Hearing that this mother truly loved him as well as the truth behind his uncle [[Yashamaru]]'s actions before he died, Gaara was overcome with emotions as his father apologised for robbing his son of so much. Once the Fourth Kazekage is sealed, Gaara faces the battlefield with new determination and sets out to aid Ōnoki in his fight with Mū before Naruto arrived with Gaara helping him defeat the Tsuchikage before sealing him. |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Karura's will inside Gaara.png|thumb|left|Gaara's mother manifests in his sand.]] |
| + | Gaara is surprised to see his mother. Rasa, accepting defeat, explains that the sand that has always protected him was not Shukaku's doing but rather his mother's, because she loved Gaara from the moment he was born. He confesses that he forced [[Yashamaru]] to try and kill Gaara all those years ago and to lie to him about his mother in order to test Gaara's emotional suitability as a jinchūriki. Gaara cries at the news and Rasa apologises for not being as good a parent to Gaara as his mother was. Gaara places [[sealing tag]]s on the Kage's sand confinements, but all except Rasa escape. Gaara then assists the Tsuchikage in his fight with Mū, using his sand to locate Mū whenever he [[Dustless Bewildering Cover|turns invisible]]. One of Naruto's [[shadow clone]]s eventually joins the battle and, with Gaara's help, is able to briefly incapacitate Mū, allowing Gaara to seal him before he can speak. |
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| − | After moving to a safe location at Ōnoki's request to get an explanation from Naruto, Gaara asked him if it was okay for him to be using the [[Nine-Tails]]' chakra so much to which Naruto retorted that he was going to be Hokage someday and until then, he would not die, so Gaara shouldn't treat him like a child. Soon after, Gaara and Ōnoki headed off to the area of battlefield where the Second Mizukage is. Though the Second began to rant about himself being a stronger opponent than Mū first, Gaara tells him he learned not to judge others by their appearance yet admits that the Second Mizukage was indeed strong. He later detected the [[Giant Clam]] with his sand and raised a [[Desert Suspension|platform]] of sand that Ōnoki used to prepare his attack from. After Ōnoki's assault on the clam was successful and the [[Mirage Genjutsu|mirage]] of the Mizukage that Gaara was speaking to vanished, Gaara immediately activated his [[Third Eye]] to locate them. With Ōnoki's life seemingly in peril, the Second [[Water Gun Technique|shoots]] him, but it was revealed that Ōnoki was in fact a [[sand clone]] which began to restrain the Mizukage. The Second's [[Hydrification Technique]] activated immediately, however, before he can free himself, Gaara used his [[Desert Layered Imperial Funeral]] technique which seemingly, successfully restrained him. Before the shinobi could rejoice however, a huge explosion occurred and the Second's face appeared above them in the sky. As Gaara watched in horror, he wondered whether it was another genjutsu. Ōnoki informed him that it was the technique that even Mū could do nothing about: the [[Steaming Danger Tyranny]]. |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Jōki Bōi1.png|thumb|The Second Mizukage goes on the offensive.]] |
| + | Gaara angrily questions Naruto about his presence on the battlefield and his new [[Nine-Tails Chakra Mode]], but Naruto assures him that he knows what he's doing and he should not treat him like child just because he's Kazekage. While Naruto's shadow clone goes off to fight the Third Raikage, Gaara and the Tsuchikage face the Second Mizukage. The Mizukage berates them for fighting Mū before fighting him, telling them that he's the stronger opponent and therefore should have been dealt with first. When the Mizukage is repeatedly able to neutralise his sand, Gaara admits this is apparently true. Because the Mizukage is protected by a [[Demonic Illusion: Steaming Multistoried Building|genjutsu]], Gaara uses his sand to locate the [[giant clam]] casting it so that the Tsuchikage can destroy it. The Mizukage immediately attacks the Tsuchikage, forcing Gaara to save him with a [[sand clone]]. Gaara then tries to capture the Mizukage with his [[Desert Layered Imperial Funeral]], which the Mizukage escapes from by using an [[Steaming Danger Tyranny|explosive clone]]. |
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| − | As a clone of the Mizukage emerged from the sky, Gaara tried attacking with his sand but the clone proved to be faster than Gaara had thought. Ōnoki explained the mechanism behind the Mizukage's technique, after which Gaara went after the Mizukage, whose position was given away by a [[sensor]]. Gaara trapped him with the Desert Layered Imperial Funeral technique again, but as he is applying [[sealing tag]]s, they are ripped off by the clone. The Mizukage then told Gaara that he would not simply divulge any more details pertaining to the technique as he wanted Gaara to defeat him with his full power or else they'd have no chance at all when they went up against the leader of the opposing side. The Mizukage the lamented that he had found the "golden egg" amongst the current generation of Kage, but was having second thoughts on the matter. |
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| − | [[File:Gaara's trap.png|thumb|Gaara |
+ | [[File:Gaara's trap.png|thumb|left|Gaara stops the Mizukage's clone.]] |
| − | + | Gaara is able to capture the Mizukage in his sand again, but the clone keeps interrupting before the seal can be completed. Although the Mizukage has repeatedly given them pointers about how to defeat him, he decides not to help them defeat the clone, believing they now need to prove themselves. Gaara uses his sand to protect the Fourth Division from the clone's attacks and then tries to attack the clone with his sand, but the clone is too fast. In order to slow it down, Gaara secretly adds some of Rasa's gold dust to his sand which, when heated up by the clone's body, acts as the perfect restraint. Naruto's shadow clone, having defeated the Third Raikage, comes to join Gaara and the Mizukage, seeing them both, remarks that they make a good pair. Gaara seals the Mizukage and reports their victory to the Allied headquarters. |
|
| + | === Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax === |
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| − | When Naruto's clone arrived on the battlefield, Gaara asked him how things went on his end and Naruto informed him that the [[Third Raikage]] had been sealed. Gaara then told him that he would finish up here as well and then informed Naruto that the pyramid was his technique when the latter mistook it for the enemy's body. After the Second Mizukage remarked to Gaara that he and Naruto made a good duo, Gaara smiled and wondered whether that was so as he finished sealing him. He then told a shinobi to report to headquarters and turned his attention to Naruto, asking him where his original was. The division was later alerted by a sensor that someone was coming and Gaara stares in shock as he sees [[Mū]] appear on a cliff above them. As the members of his division exclaimed that someone else was up there, who is revealed by Ōnoki to be [[Madara Uchiha]], Gaara wondered what was going on, drawing their attention to Madara's eyes that gave away the fact that he was reincarnated. On this revelation the division stood in shock wondering just who [[Tobi|the masked man]] that claimed to be Madara really was. |
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| + | {{main|Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax}} |
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| + | [[File:Gaara Stops Meteorite.png|thumb|Gaara helps stop a meteorite.]] |
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| + | The Fourth Division is confronted by a [[Fission Technique|half]] of Mū, who is now accompanied by the reincarnated [[Madara Uchiha]]. Madara starts attacking the Fourth Division and Gaara, the Tsuchikage, and Naruto's shadow clone team up against him. Their combination is effective enough to force Madara to activate his [[Rinnegan]], which he then uses to drop a meteorite upon the Fourth Division. Gaara orders that the Fourth Division evacuate and uses his sand to help the Tsuchikage stop the meteorite. Madara responds by dropping a meteorite, which they're not able to stop. Gaara's sand protects him from serious injury, but the Tsuchikage and the rest of the Fourth Division are badly hurt. |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Gokage Shūketsu.png|thumb|left|The five Kage confront Madara.]] |
| + | Naruto's shadow clone tries facing Madara alone, but the prolonged fighting has left it exhausted. Gaara and the Tsuchikage join him, as do the other three Kage, having all teleported to the battlefield to help. The Fifth Hokage heals Gaara and the Tsuchikage and the Five Kage team up against Madara. Confident they can defeat him, they tell Naruto's shadow clone to entrust Madara to them and to go defeat Tobi elsewhere. Although they outnumber Madara, the Kage struggle against him; Gaara uses [[Desert Suspension]] to keep the Kage out of range of Madara's attacks and Desert Layered Imperial Funeral whenever an opportunity to try and seal Madara presents itself. Their attacks consistently fail and Madara, in order to make things "fair", creates twenty-five [[wood clone]]s, five for each of the Kage to fight. |
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| − | As a new battle commenced, Gaara attacked Madara, but he evaded it and jumped to the ground below. With this, Madara began his assault and proceeded to tear through the division's remaining forces. Gaara used his sand to catch Madara's arm, creating an opening for a Kumo shinobi to attack, but Madara easily countered. Naruto finally entered [[Sage Mode]] and Ōnoki [[Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique|lightened]] the sand in Gaara's gourd, which made it even faster and easier to manipulate. Gaara uses the sand to pull Madara out of his [[Susanoo]], and into the flight-path of Naruto's [[Rasenshuriken]]. Their combo fails when Madara reveals his [[Rinnegan]] and uses the [[Preta Path]] to [[Blocking Technique Absorption Seal|absorb]] the attacks. Madara then retreated to the top of a rock formation and summoned a huge [[Tengai Shinsei|meteorite]], which shocked everyone present, and caused Gaara to wonder whether that was the power of a god. |
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| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Gokage vs 25 Susanoo.png|thumb|The Kage against Madara's wood clones.]] |
| + | The wood clones each use [[Susanoo]] and fight the Kage into the night. Despite the superior forces against them, the Kage are able to combine forces against the original Madara, impressing him enough to use Susanoo's "Complete Body" form. Before he can use it to destroy the Kage, the Impure World Reincarnation is released and Madara's soul starts returning to the [[Pure Land]]. Madara removes the Impure World Reincarnation's user's control over him, thus allowing him to stay. Now free to do what he wants, Madara decides he's lost interest in the Kage and states his intentions to go after Naruto. The Kage try to stop him and thus fulfil their promise to Naruto, but Madara defeats them all and leaves them near death. |
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| − | As the meteorite plummeted towards them, Gaara told his troops to try and escape as far as they could while he remained behind, and attempted to help Ōnoki, who had flown towards the rock in order to [[Earth Release: Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique|lighten]] it. With their [[Sky Sand Protective Wall|combined]] efforts, they were able to stop the meteorite, but when Madara sent another one crashing into it, they are unable to stop it. Predominantly unharmed, Gaara went to check on the Tsuchikage. As Ōnoki declared that he would fight Madara, Gaara moved to help an exhausted Naruto to his feet. As Ōnoki stumbled getting up, Gaara used his sand to support him, telling him that they would fight together. As Madara and Mū attacked, they are buffeted by [[Tsunade]] and [[A]] who arrived on the battlefield via the [[Heavenly Transfer Technique]]. Mei arrived soon afterwards via the [[Flying Thunder God Technique]] and Gaara stood with the other Kage, prepared to fight Madara. |
||
| + | === Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki === |
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| − | A and Mei confronted Madara directly in order to buy some time for Tsunade to heal Gaara and Ōnoki. When Madara decided to test their defences, Gaara and Ōnoki worked together to build a double-layered shield of [[Sand (tool)|sand]] and [[Rock Golem|rock]] to block his [[Yasaka Magatama|attack]]. Before Naruto's clone dispersed, having been told to leave things there to them, Gaara and the other Kage leave him with one message "''win''". |
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| + | {{main|Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki}} |
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| + | [[File:Five Kage arrival.png|thumb|left|The Kage arrive on the battlefield.]] |
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| + | [[Orochimaru]] and members of [[Taka]] eventually locate the Hokage, and by helping her heal herself she is able to heal the other Kage. Once they've recovered, Gaara uses his sand to transport the Kage to where the Allied Forces are fighting; [[Katsuyu]] informs them of what's been happening up until now. On arrival, the Kage rally the surviving forces against the recreation of the [[God Tree]]. After Naruto is able to destabilise the tailed beasts' [[chakra]] sealed within Tobi, Gaara latches onto Shukaku's chakra and pulls it free. With Obito defeated, the Allied Forces head off to fight Madara, the only remaining threat. Gaara requests that Shukaku help him seal Madara. Shukaku is uninterested until Gaara suggests that he'll ask another tailed beast, at which point Shukaku decides to help. |
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| + | [[File:Desert Hand.png|thumb|Gaara tries to save Shukaku.]] |
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| − | As the battle waged on, Gaara [[Desert Suspension|suspended]] everyone above Madara's [[Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees|technique]]. As Tsunade warned them not to inhale the pollen, Madara attacked Gaara and the other Kage from behind and knocked them into the forest below where they lose consciousness after inhaling the pollen. Regaining consciousness after Ōnoki [[Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique|destroyed the forest]], the Kage watched in shock as the face formed from the DNA of the [[First Hokage]] juts out of the regenerating Madara's, exposed chest. |
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| + | Gaara and Shukaku attack Madara with [[Wind Release: Sand Buckshot]], slowing his movements so that the other tailed beasts, Killer B, and Naruto can attack him. Once he's down, Gaara and Shukaku combine efforts to create a bigger and stronger Desert Layered Imperial Funeral, which Madara escapes using his Susanoo. Madara returns once he obtains one of his Rinnegan and starts sealing the tailed beasts into the [[Demonic Statue of the Outer Path]]. Gaara tries to prevent Shukaku from being sealed using [[Desert: Hand]], his way of thanking Shukaku for enabling him to meet Naruto all those years ago. Madara attacks him in order to stop him, which Shukaku blocks so as to preserve its title as Gaara's "absolute defence". Despite Gaara's efforts, the tailed beasts - including those sealed in B and Naruto - are successfully sealed. |
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| + | [[File:Gaara saves Naruto.png|thumb|left|Gaara rescues Naruto.]] |
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| − | When Tsunade moved to the front-lines and the other Kage confronted Madara, Gaara wasted no time in the opportunity that was provided to seal Madara within his [[Desert Layered Imperial Funeral]] technique and applying [[sealing tag]]s immediately after. Declaring that Madara was sealed, Gaara was shocked to see Tsunade impaled by a [[Susanoo Sword]] and then to see Madara emerging from one of the tree roots, and revealed that they had sealed a [[wood clone]]. After Madara noted that five-against-one was a good match-up, he created more wood clones, sending five of them at each Kage. |
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| + | In its final moments, the [[Nine-Tails]] within Naruto communicates to Gaara how to save Naruto's life: have the Nine-Tails' chakra sealed within the reincarnated [[Minato Namikaze]] transferred to Naruto. Gaara starts carrying Naruto to Minato, but his life is rapidly fading. Gaara takes him to the Fifth Hokage so she can provide medical assistance, but she sends [[Sakura Haruno]] instead. While Sakura performs emergency life support on Naruto, Gaara carries them to Minato and, on finding him, tells him what the Nine-Tails told him. Minato starts sealing his half of the Nine-Tails into Naruto, but it is intercepted by [[Black Zetsu]] and they are shortly afterwards joined by Madara, who is now the jinchūriki of the [[Ten-Tails]]. Gaara and Minato team up to try and stop Black Zetsu from giving the Nine-Tails to Madara, but they are easily repelled. |
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| + | Through the combined efforts of Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha, the Nine-Tails' chakra is reclaimed and Naruto is gotten to safety. [[Might Guy]] then joins the fight against Madara and ultimately decides to use the [[Eight Gates Released Formation]]. Because Guy only has a limited amount of time, Gaara helps Kakashi create an opening in Madara's defences by carrying him closer so that he can use [[Kamui]] on some of Madara's [[Truth-Seeking Ball]]s. Guy is able to successfully attack Madara, but Madara survives and Guy is unable to keep fighting. When Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha join the battle, Gaara carries Guy to safety so that he isn't harmed in the crossfire. |
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| − | [[File:Five Kage vs Twenty-five Susanoo.png|thumb|left|The five Kage stand against Madara's Susanoo army.]] |
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| − | As Gaara battled five Susanoo-clad clones, he was able to save Mei from being skewered onto a sword of one of the clones she was battling. With his attentions elsewhere however, his own opponents took the opportunity to land a surprise attack which initially failed due to his automatic defence, but is buffeted by a combined assault from the clones. As Gaara agreed with Mei statement that Madara was too strong, Ōnoki spurred the other Kage to keep fighting on, reminding them that Naruto and the shinobi of the world had entrusted their titles and that battle to them. Motivated, Gaara relocated to the side of the other Kage in order to lure all the clone into gathering in one area as the Tsuchikage prepared a large-scale [[Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique]] which is successful in destroying the twenty-five clones and the real Madara partially. Launching their collaborative attack, Gaara's sand is revealed to be hidden inside A and Mei's [[lightning]]-infused [[Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique]] which he used to [[Sand Binding Coffin|restrain]] Madara. |
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| + | === Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes === |
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| − | As Gaara started to [[Sealing Tag|seal]] Madara, the latter released his full Susanoo and destroyed the sand barricade before declaring to the Kage that even their power was futile against Susanoo's perfect form. Staring in shock as the humongous construct stabilised, Gaara and the other Kage are knocked off their feet by a single swing from the Susanoo's sword. After regaining their footing, Gaara and the others stood to face Madara once again. When Madara prepared to attack the Kage once again, Gaara stared in shock as Madara's Susanoo de-materialised and a light of sorts enveloped him. When Tsunade deflected Madara's desperate attempt to attack them one last time only to fall unconscious due to overusing her [[Strength of a Hundred Technique]], Gaara and the rest of the Kage moved to protect her from Madara's follow-up attack as she fell through the air and listened on as Madara declared that he would break contractual ties from the summoner which would cause him to remain in the real world and retain all the benefits of the Impure World Reincarnation. |
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| + | {{main|Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes}} |
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| + | [[File:Gaara & Naruto.png|thumb|Gaara thanks Naruto.]] |
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| + | Despite Naruto and Sasuke's efforts, they are unable to stop Madara from casting the [[Infinite Tsukuyomi]], trapping the world in a dream. Gaara dreams that he has a happy childhood in Suna with his parents, siblings, and Yashamaru and where he gets to play with Naruto everyday. Naruto and Sasuke eventually release the Infinite Tsukuyomi, freeing Gaara and the rest of the world and thus ending the Fourth Shinobi World War. In the anime, Gaara and A travel to Konoha on the day of Kakashi's inauguration, and thank Naruto for his efforts during the war. |
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| − | + | == Blank Period == |
|
| + | === Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky === |
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| − | [[File:Kage Revived.jpg|thumb|Gaara and the other Kage revived.]] |
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| + | {{Main|Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky}} |
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| − | Despite their attempt to stop Madara from leaving their battlefield, Gaara and the other Kage were ultimately defeated and left severely wounded. |
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| + | Over a year after the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, [[Kahyō]] is made the new warden of the [[Blood Prison]]. Gaara and the other Kage visit the Blood Prison to interview her and see if she is suitable for the responsibilities. They approve of her after she humiliates the [[Fourth Raikage]] in a fight. |
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| + | === Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness === |
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| − | Later, upon the arrival of [[Karin]], [[Suigetsu]] and [[Orochimaru]] at the battlefield, [[Tsunade]] was healed by Karin. After being considerably healed, she in turn helped in healing Gaara and the other Kage. With no time to lose, the Kage decided to head back out to the battlefield immediately. Gaara suggested that they conserve their chakra by riding on his sand. |
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| + | {{Main|Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness}} |
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| − | {{-}} |
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| + | Two years after the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara notices that Temari is bothered about something and guesses that it has something to do with [[Shikamaru Nara]]. She confides her concerns about Shikamaru's recent behaviour, which has been cold and distant. They both assume that he's on some mission for [[Konoha]] that is to be kept a secret. Although Gaara would ordinarily be content to leave it at that, he remarks that Shikamaru is too important to the [[Shinobi Union]]'s future and thus gives Temari any resource she requires to find out what Shikamaru is up to. |
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| + | After visiting Konoha, Temari learns that Shikamaru has gone missing during a mission in the [[Land of Silence]]. Gaara and a force of Suna-nin join her, Naruto, and some of Shikamaru's other friends from Konoha in going to rescue him. When they arrive after several days of travel, Gaara instructs his men to not kill any of the Land of Silence's [[Enlightened One]]s if they can avoid it; although there are some injuries, nobody is killed. Shikamaru thanks Gaara for his help afterwards and Gaara once again insists that it was in the Shinobi Union's best interests to do so. However, Gaara promptly returns to Suna with all of his men except for Temari, leaving her behind to talk to Shikamaru. |
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| − | == Movies == |
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| − | === Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel === |
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| − | Gaara and Kankurō came to the aid of a band of Suna villagers who came under attack. A group of seemingly invulnerable armoured warriors attacked the shinobi, and it was only Gaara's sand manipulation abilities that saved the group from certain defeat. The Suna ninja then destroyed the warship that brought the warriors, only to come under attack from knights wielding the power of the [[Stone of Gelel]]. Gaara engaged one of these warriors, called [[Ranke]], who wielded lightning powers, and was able to thwart her using his sand. When Ranke transformed into a monstrous form of greater power, she seemingly outmatched Gaara, until he crushed her using [[Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral]]. By doing this, he made [[Sand Lightning Needles|lightning rods]] to drain her lightning. He is later seen amazed by the destruction the Gelel caused. It is unclear whether Gaara met Naruto after the incident. Later, he and Kankurō safely return to Sunagakure. |
||
| − | === |
+ | === The Last: Naruto the Movie === |
| + | {{Main|The Last: Naruto the Movie}} |
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| − | Gaara watches the skies as [[Hiruko (missing-nin)|Hiruko]] introduces himself, claims responsibility for the disappearance of shinobi with kekkei genkai and announces the Fourth Shinobi World War. As he and other Sunagakure shinobi travel through a rocky terrain, [[San]]'s bird creature attacks the convoy with its explosive feathers. The convoy is saved by Jiraiya and Gamabunta. Jiraiya talks with Gaara, updating him on Konoha's actions, including Kakashi's will to sacrifice himself. Gaara gives Jiraiya some [[Sand Sign|special sand]], which when thrown in the air gave the Suna troops a temporary cease-fire notice. He leaves to Hiruko's lair, by [[Sand Body|soaring through the skies as sand]] in the wind. He reaches Naruto, Sakura and Sai, telling [[Naruto]] that he won't risk the lives of shinobi in a war. He [[Sand Stream|removes]] Sakura and Sai from combat and [[Exploding Sand Boulder|fights]] Naruto in a fierce battle, combining his sand techniques with taijutsu as well, but retreated after his defences were breached and hearing Naruto's words of resolve. Later, when Shikamaru finds him, Gaara tells him that by fighting Naruto again after years, he was once again touched by his resolve, and allowed him to pass. Gaara returns to the troops and proclaimed that the issue has been resolved, relieving the troops anxious to return home. |
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| + | [[File:Suna_Celebrating.png|thumb|left|Gaara celebrating victory.]] |
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| + | Two years after the Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara attends an emergency [[Five Kage Summit]] to discuss the imminent crashing of the [[Moon]]. A few days after returning to Suna, meteors start falling on the village and Gaara uses his sand to protect the villagers. With the crisis becoming dire, the Kage contact each other and decide that the Moon must be destroyed. When the [[Sixth Hokage]] later reports that Naruto is on the moon, Gaara and the other Kage decide to delay the Moon's destruction to give Naruto a chance to save them. |
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| + | === Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze === |
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| − | == Video Games == |
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| + | {{Main|Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze}} |
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| + | Gaara is informed by his [[Anbu]] that a man fitting [[Sasuke Uchiha]]'s description has been meeting with a terrorist cell near Suna. When the Anbu are about to raid the compound, Gaara accompanies them and observes the man with his [[Third Eye]]. His appearance and chakra signature are identical to Sasuke's but the man speaks of wanting to destroy Konoha, which Gaara does not believe Sasuke would do. He and his Anbu attack the compound, but the lookalike escapes. Gaara tells all this to [[Sakura Haruno]] and [[Ino Yamanaka]] while they visit Suna a few days later; like them, he believes that the man was not really Sasuke. In order to prevent unsubstantiated rumours from spreading, Gaara asks that they tell the Sixth Hokage about this. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding === |
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| + | {{Main|Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding}} |
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| + | [[File:Wedding Guests.png|thumb|right|Gaara at Naruto and Hinata's wedding reception.]] |
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| + | Gaara, Temari and Kankurō travel to Konoha to participate in the Kage Summit. Upon arriving in the village, Gaara wonders what to give Naruto for a wedding gift. After the meeting, the three return to Suna. Ten days later, the Sixth Hokage visits the village and requests that Suna shinobi guard Konoha on the day of the wedding, to which Gaara agrees. Six days later, Gaara and his siblings return to Konoha and partake in Naruto and [[Hinata Hyūga]] wedding. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Gaara Hiden: A Sandstorm Mirage === |
||
| + | {{Main|Gaara Hiden: A Sandstorm Mirage}} |
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| + | Gaara has a routine meeting with the [[Suna Council]] and reports recent events in and relating to the village before then allowing the Council to make requests of him. Normally their requests are minor and petty, and for that reason Gaara is surprised when the councillors request that he get married. Because Temari is about to get married to Shikamaru Nara of Konoha, her children will be Konoha-nin. If Gaara and Kankurō should die before producing heirs, that would mean that a Konoha ninja will have a claim to the [[Kazekage]] position. To avoid this, the Council wants Gaara to find a wife so that he can, in turn, have children. The Council insists that their interest in seeing Gaara married is more of a recompense for turning him into a jinchūriki years ago than it is a political matter. Unable to argue out of the situation, Gaara accepts whatever marriage the Council decides to arrange for him. |
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| + | |||
| + | Temari helps Gaara dress for the occasion and Kankurō advises him on being sociable, giving him a rare opportunity to spend with his brother and sister. Under heavy security, Gaara meets the woman the Suna Council has found for him to marry: [[Hakuto]] of the [[Hōki family]]. His first impression of her is that she is beautiful, something that embarrasses him once he realises that she is to be his wife. Having forgotten all the etiquette lessons Temari gave him, Gaara decides to try and emulate Naruto's successes from being unoriginal: they discuss their hobbies. Hakuto is intrigued to hear Gaara speak with passion about raising [[wikipedia:cactus|cacti]] and it dispels some of the rumours she's heard about him from his days as "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall". She, therefore, declares that Gaara is "kind". Gaara is pleased, filled with the same happiness he experiences when he tends to his cacti. |
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| + | |||
| + | Gaara and Hakuto are attacked during their meeting. Gaara is able to kill their initial attackers and keep Hakuto safe, but struggles against the attackers' leaders: twin brothers [[Etoro]] and [[Metoro Konjiki]]. The brothers simultaneously attack with their [[kekkei genkai]] and break Gaara's [[Shield of Sand]], injuring him for the first time in several years. Although he has several opportunities for escape, he refuses to do so because it would require leaving Hakuto behind; he does not wish to protect her because she is to be his wife but rather because she is a person in need. Hakuto's sister and bodyguard, [[Shijima]], soon arrives and creates an opening for Gaara to kill both Etoro and Metoro. With the fighting done, Hakuto treats Gaara's injury before heading back to her family home. |
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| + | |||
| + | Afterwards, [[Baki]] suggests the attack was part of some plot to eliminate Gaara, who plays politics behind closed doors, and replace him with Kankurō, who leads from the frontlines and as such is much-loved by the standard infantry. When they later receive reports that Hakuto has been kidnapped, they realise that she was the target of the attack, not Gaara. Gaara leaves in the night to rescue Hakuto by himself, not wanting help from anyone as that would only draw attention to the mission and allow his detractors to use her kidnapping against him. As he leaves, he is met by Shijima, who was easily defeated by Hakuto's kidnapper and now wants to help in retrieving her. They travel through the desert, tracking the footsteps that, despite the kidnapper's attempts to conceal them, Gaara is able to follow. |
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| + | |||
| + | When they catch up, the kidnapper introduces himself as one of Hakuto's clansmen, [[Shigezane]]. Shigezane quickly defeats Shijima and then starts attacking Gaara, using his many [[water]] jutsu to convert the area to quicksand. Gaara could escape if he wanted to, but does not believe he could locate Shijima in time to save her if he did. For that reason, he goes to her and wraps them both in sand as they sink under. Gaara wakes up after several hours in the underground cavern that Shigezane drew his water from. Shijima asks Gaara why he, the Kazekage, would risk his life to protect her. He replies that all life is precious regardless of one's station, something he learned from Naruto. He knows there are times when sacrifice is necessary, but he tries to avoid that as much as he can. Shijima understands and, when they're ready, leads Gaara out of the cavern. |
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| + | |||
| + | Gaara and Shijima find Hakuto and Shigezane as they're about to enter the [[Land of Fire]]. Gaara has long since figured out that they are lovers who planned to use Hakuto's arranged marriage as an opportunity to elope. He is not upset by this as he never intended to force Hakuto to marry him, but at the same time he, the Kazekage, can't let them abandon Suna. He asks them to return, but Shigezane refuses and attacks Gaara; Gaara uses his [[Magnet Release]] to defend himself, counter, and hold Shigezane at his mercy. Shijima threatens Gaara to let Shigezane go. Gaara is already aware that she helped them stage Hakuto's kidnapping, but he repeats that he can't let them abandon Suna. When Shijima proves willing to kill Gaara and herself so that Hakuto and Shigezane can escape, Gaara asks why she didn't kill him earlier when he was unconscious. She replies that it was not her way, which satisfies Gaara. |
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| + | |||
| + | Gaara attacks with a [[Sand Sword]], but rather than strike Shijima he hits Metoro, who faked his earlier death and has been following them so that he could take revenge; despite his attempts to conceal himself, Gaara has been aware of Metoro's presence the whole time. After confirming that Metoro was hired by [[Tōjūrō]] - a member of the Suna Council who Kankurō and Baki are already in the process of arresting - Gaara kills him with his [[Sand Waterfall Funeral]]. Gaara points out how effective the Sand Waterfall Funeral is at eliminating all traces of Metoro and once more repeats that he can't let Hakuto and Shigezane abandon Suna. Hearing this, Shijima realises that Gaara plans to fake their deaths so that they can be together. At that moment Shikamaru Nara appears, his help having been requested by Gaara via Temari; Shikamaru will corroborate reports that Shigezane and Hakuto were killed so they can settle in Konoha under new identities. Gaara and Shijima return to Suna, Shijima vowing her service to the Kazekage. |
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| + | |||
| + | == New Era == |
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| + | [[File:Gaara Meets Shinki.png|thumb|left|Gaara meets Shinki.]] |
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| + | In the following years, Gaara continued to remain close with Naruto, even getting to know his children, [[Boruto]] and [[Himawari]], who came to view him as an uncle. At some point, Gaara discovered [[Shinki]] who was unable to control his [[Magnet Release|power]]. Frightened, the child attacked Gaara, leading to him being impaled while hugging Shinki. Shocked at Gaara's approach, Shinki calmed down, leading to the Kazekage offering to teach the boy how to use his power.<ref>''Boruto'' episode 59</ref> Following the encounter, Gaara adopted Shinki. After Naruto's Hokage inauguration, the two were photographed together in their Kage attire by [[Genzō]].<ref>''The Day Naruto Became Hokage'' (OVA)</ref> Some time later, Gaara accompanied by Kankurō attended a Kage Summit in Konoha, where Sasuke shared his concerns that a threat greater than [[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki]] was still lurking somewhere. Gaara shared the other Kage's belief that this should be kept a secret to avoid panic.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 700+5, pages 9-11</ref> |
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| + | |||
| + | === Sarada Uchiha Arc === |
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| + | {{Main|Naruto Uzumaki!! (chapter 700)}} |
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| + | Fifteen years after the shinobi world war, Gaara and Kankurō travelled to Konoha to participate in another Kage Summit. Before taking part in the meeting, Gaara visited Temari, and greeted his nephew [[Shikadai]] when they met. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Versus Momoshiki Arc === |
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| + | {{Main|Boruto: Naruto the Movie|Versus Momoshiki Arc}} |
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| + | [[File:Urashiki Vs Gaara.png|thumb|Gaara facing Urashiki.]] |
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| + | In the anime, Gaara saw Kankurō and Shinki's [[Team Shinki|genin team]] off as they departed for Konoha by [[Thunder Train]] to participate in the Chūnin Exams. Immediately afterwards, he is [[Tailed Beast Telepathy|contacted]] by Shukaku, who informs him that it had suddenly lost contact with [[Gyūki]]. Questioning if it was only with Gyūki, Shukaku confirmed that its connection with the other Tailed Beasts and Naruto was still intact. Having been warned, Gaara told Shukaku he was grateful, before their connection ended. Later on his way to the exams, he was attacked by [[Urashiki Ōtsutsuki]], who recognised Gaara as the former jinchūriki for Shukaku. The man than attacked Gaara, easily piercing through Gaara's sand defence to strike him and steal some of his chakra before disappearing. Once arriving in Konoha, he told Sasuke and [[Chōjūrō]] about the incident, prompting a speed up for the deciphering of Kaguya's scroll Sasuke took from one of her palaces. |
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| + | |||
| + | [[File:Gaara protecting spectators.png|thumb|left|Gaara protecting spectators from the falling debris.]] |
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| + | Later, Gaara and the other Kage observed the final round matches of the [[Chūnin Exams]] taking place in Konoha. When [[Kinshiki]] and [[Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki]] started attacking the stadium, Gaara helped the other Kage defend the spectators and get them to safety. In the anime, Gaara noticed Urashiki from before and pursued him alongside Chōjūrō. While he left most of his sand to support the falling arena and Chōjūrō was void of his Mist Swordsmen blade, the two managed to pressure Urashiki. As Urashiki began revealing copied techniques like Gaara's sand manipulation, Gaara and Chōjūrō managed to capture him in a trap, only for Urashiki to reveal his [[Rinnegan]] and escape. |
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| + | |||
| + | [[File:Gaara vs Momoshiki.png|thumb|Gaara battling Momoshiki.]] |
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| + | Kinshiki and Momoshiki kidnapped Naruto, so Gaara joined the other Kage, Sasuke, and Naruto's son, Boruto, in rescuing him. On [[Momoshiki's Planet]], they freed Naruto and teamed up against Momoshiki. Although they briefly defeat him, Momoshiki was able to recover and immobilised the Kage with a stolen [[Shadow Imitation Technique]]. Boruto was ultimately able to defeat Momoshiki, allowing everyone to return to Konoha. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Mitsuki's Disappearance Arc === |
||
| + | {{Main|Mitsuki's Disappearance Arc}} |
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| + | In the anime, as Konohagakure recovered from the attack a Kage Summit was held to discuss how to handle the still looming threat of the Ōtsutsuki. Later, Gaara attended Ōnoki's funeral. |
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| + | |||
| + | === One-Tail Escort Arc === |
||
| + | {{Main|One-Tail Escort Arc}} |
||
| + | [[File:Gaara and Sasuke.png|thumb|left|Gaara and Sasuke battle Urashiki.]] |
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| + | In the anime, Gaara was aiding Sasuke in his mission when they were attacked by Urashiki, controlling several puppets that he stole from [[Toneri Ōtsutsuki]]. When Boruto came, Urashiki began to target him. He didn't manage to hit Boruto due to Sasuke's intervention, but managed to catch Sasuke in his fishing rod to steal some of his chakra before sending him to another dimension. |
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| + | |||
| + | As Gaara's attention was split between protecting Boruto and facing the foe, Urashiki found an opening to steal more chakra from Gaara, only to thwarted by Shinki's intervention. Shukaku arrived to aid its former host, and the two were able to [[Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal|temporally seal]] away the foe. Afterwards, it was to safeguard Shukaku at Konoha. While Gaara returned to Suna to tend to his wounds, Shukaku was accompanied by [[Kankurō]], [[Shinki]], and [[Boruto Uzumaki]]. Also during which, to make sure Urashiki would not sense its chakra, Shukaku willingly sealed itself inside a kettle. |
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| + | |||
| + | [[File:Gaara escorted.png|thumb|Gaara being escorted to safety.]] |
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| + | He was then escorted back to the village for treatment by [[Yodo]] and [[Araya]]. Five days later, Gaara recovered and was relieved to learn that Shinki, Boruto, and Shukaku all successfully made it to Konohagakure along with knowing that Sasuke's return prompted Urashiki to retreat. When collecting Shinki, asking what he learned from going with Boruto, the son simply said Boruto is a slave to his emotions. Gaara however smiled at seeing that Boruto's influence did spark a change in Shinki. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Shikamaru Shinden: A Cloud Dancing in Forlorn Falling Petals === |
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| + | {{Main|Shikamaru Shinden: A Cloud Dancing in Forlorn Falling Petals}} |
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| + | Gaara and Kankurō attended a Kage Summit in Konoha at the Hokage building, during which the Kage bickered about topics concerning Konoha, leading to [[Kurotsuchi]] demanding Konoha to disclose all of its confidential information as the village's proof to peace by the next summit, and said [[Iwagakure]] would leave the Five Great Shinobi Country alliance if they didn't. Afterwards the summit ended. |
||
| + | |||
| + | === Kara Actuation Arc === |
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| + | {{Main|Kara Actuation Arc}} |
||
| + | In the anime, Temari was sent to Suna as a messenger to inform Gaara of the threat of [[Kara]]. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Kawaki Arc === |
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| + | {{Main|Kawaki Arc}} |
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| + | [[File:Katasuke Reports on Kawaki.png|thumb|left|Gaara attending a Kage Summit.]] |
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| + | When [[Team 7 (Konohamaru)|Team 7]] found a mysterious [[Kawaki|boy]] with connections to Kara, Naruto called forth a Kage Summit, with Kankurō joining Gaara as his bodyguard. As talks about the boy's fate began, Gaara voiced his personal feelings of not treating the boy as a weapon, having personally experienced that dread as a Jinchūriki. It was then unanimously decided to treat the boy with sympathy and for the boy to live with Naruto, who would watch over him at all times. |
||
| + | {{-L}} |
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| + | |||
| + | === Chūnin Re-Examination Arc === |
||
| + | {{Main|Chūnin Re-Examination Arc}} |
||
| + | In the anime, following Shinki and his team-mates becoming chūnin, he sent the team to Konoha to observe the finals for their personal Chūnin Exams for more experience. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Code Invasion Arc === |
||
| + | {{main|Code Invasion Arc}} |
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| + | Following the defeat of [[Isshiki Ōtsutsuki]], Naruto had a Kage Summit set up via video. The other Kage were caught up on the newest developments. Kurotsuchi was annoyed to hear how difficult it was to find the last remaining Inner, [[Code]]. It was speculated that Code, as a devout follower of Isshiki, would seek to kill all those responsible for killing Isshiki, and completing the growth of the Ten-Tails. As everyone was concerned to hear about a new Ten-Tails, Gaara brought up a more immediate concern. He asked what Naruto would do with his son if Momoshiki took over Boruto completely through the [[Kāma]]. Naruto swore he would handle the matter as it was needed to be done. |
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| + | |||
| + | == In Other Media == |
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| + | === Movies === |
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| + | ==== Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel ==== |
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| + | {{main|Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel}} |
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| + | Gaara and Kankurō save a band of Suna villagers from a group of seemingly invulnerable armoured warriors. They are then attacked by knights wielding the power of the [[Stone of Gelel]]; Gaara is drawn into battle with [[Ranke]]. Ranke defeats Gaara's sand with her [[lightning]] powers and then undergoes a monstrous transformation. Gaara uses [[Sand Lightning Needles]] to drain her lightning and crushes her using [[Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral]]. Later, he and Kankurō safely return to Sunagakure. |
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| + | |||
| + | ==== Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire ==== |
||
| + | {{main|Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire}} |
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| + | After [[Hiruko (missing-nin)|Hiruko]] initiates a Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara leads a force of Suna-nin through a rocky terrain. They are attacked by Hiruko's forces but saved by [[Jiraiya]], who informs Gaara of [[Kakashi Hatake]]'s willingness to sacrifice himself to defeat Hiruko. Gaara goes after Naruto so that he can't stop Kakashi, telling him that he can't risk war for the life of one man. They fight, but Naruto breaches Gaara's defences and convinces him that he won't back down, prompting Gaara to retreat. Gaara returns to his troops and takes them back to Suna. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Video Games === |
||
{{playable in}} |
{{playable in}} |
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| + | While Gaara often relies on his sand to fight, in the ''Clash of Ninja'' game series, he uses actual taijutsu in tandem with his sand techniques. |
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== Creation and Conception == |
== Creation and Conception == |
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| + | [[File:Kumomaru.png|thumb|Gaara's prototype, Kumomaru, and his ninken, Manji.]] |
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| − | [[Masashi Kishimoto]] created Gaara to be a [[Wikipedia:Foil (literature)|foil]] to Naruto, giving him a similar background to Naruto, where he was rejected by his peers and fellow villagers for being the host of a [[tailed beast]], a situation that Kishimoto refers to as being "''very much like Naruto's. He was universally rejected and ignored, living a superfluous existence''". Gaara's development from this state into a highly withdrawn, sadistic character was intended to induce sympathy for him from readers, as it was contrasted against Naruto being a cheerful troublemaker. |
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| + | As revealed in ''[[Jin no Sho]]'', [[Masashi Kishimoto]]'s original prototype for Gaara was an elite 7-year-old ninja named {{translation|Kumomaru|雲丸}}, who would have abused drugs to push his physical capabilities beyond their natural limits. He also had a [[ninken]] named {{translation|Manji|まんじ}}, likely an homage to [[wikipedia:Hiroaki Samura|Hiroaki Samura's]] [[wikipedia:Blade of the Immortal|''Blade of the Immortal'']]. Kumomaru had wild hair and wore a tattered cloak and a forehead protector with a symbol resembling a sun or moon partially obscured by clouds, which also appeared in prototype designs for other antagonists such as [[Zabuza Momochi]] and a group of shinobi that became the [[Sound Four]]; Manji was a small dog with dark markings around his eyes and the kanji for {{translation|''manji''|卍}} tattooed on his forehead. |
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| + | |||
| + | The character design went through many revisions, eventually becoming a character named {{translation|Kotarō|小太郎}}, after the famed [[wikipedia:Fūma Kotarō|Fūma Kotarō]], which Kishimoto thought was a perfect fit for a red-headed shinobi from the Land of Wind. However, his editor opposed the name and instead suggested {{translation|Gaara|我愛羅|lit meaning="''self-loving demon''"}}; Kishimoto later learned that his editor had actually based the name on the [http://www.galaresort.jp/winter/english/ GALA Yuzawa] ski resort in Nīgata Prefecture where he had recently vacationed. |
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| + | |||
| + | Kishimoto created Gaara as a [[Wikipedia:Foil (literature)|foil]] to the series' protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki. He and Naruto have a similar background: he was rejected by his peers and fellow villagers for being the host of a [[tailed beast]], Shukaku, a situation that Kishimoto describes as "very much like Naruto's". Gaara's development from this state into a highly withdrawn, sadistic character was intended to induce sympathy for him from readers, as it was contrasted against Naruto's development into a cheerful troublemaker.<ref>''[[Art Collection: Uzumaki]]'', page 142</ref> Additionally, his design was designed to look like the Tanuki since Kishimoto thought that it would make him a good rival for Naruto's Nine-tailed Demon Fox since several parts from the Shukaku were considered by Kishimoto to be opposite ones from the Demon Fox.<ref>''[[Illustration Collection: Naruto]]'', page 98</ref> Gaara's backstory became one of Kishimoto's favourite stories from Part I; Kishimoto had to revise his illustrations in such chapters in as he wanted readers to understand more of Gaara's mental state.<ref>''[[Tō no Sho]]'', pages 310–311</ref> |
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| − | Gaara's initial attire, along with the costumes of his siblings, |
+ | Gaara's initial attire, along with the costumes of his siblings, was difficult for Kishimoto to draw on a weekly basis. Because of this, Kishimoto gave the three of them simpler costumes towards the end of Part I; Gaara received an outfit with an upright collar. In addition to being easier to draw, it was used to demonstrate the change in relationship between Gaara and Naruto following their previous fight. Kishimoto cites ''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix (franchise)|The Matrix]]'', one of his favourite movies, as an inspiration for Gaara's new costume, and he considers it to be his favourite costume of the three siblings.<ref name="ArtBook127">''[[Art Collection: Uzumaki]]'', page 127</ref> |
== Trivia == |
== Trivia == |
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| + | {{youthwiki|Gaara}} |
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| − | * When Gaara was first named in the English ''Shōnen Jump'', his name was rendered as "Gāra". |
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| + | * The name "Gaara" literally means either {{translation|"self-loving demon" or "self-loving silk"|我愛羅}}. |
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| − | * Up through ''Naruto'' chapter 58, Gaara is seen wearing multiple earrings. |
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| + | ** When Gaara was first named in the English ''Shōnen Jump'', his name was rendered as "Gāra" (which is incorrect as the 2 "a"s in his name are both separate in its furigana rendering as opposed to an extended vowel). |
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| − | * In the manga, Gaara's [[Kazekage]] hat is green. In the anime, it was originally light blue. They were recoloured as of ''[[Naruto Shippūden]]'' [[Enter the Five Kage!|episode 199]], showing the Kazekage hat as coloured green. |
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| − | * In the ''Naruto'' character popularity |
+ | * In the [[Naruto Character Popularity Polls|''Naruto'' character popularity poll]], Gaara is one of four characters to have always placed in the top ten of every poll. |
| + | * In the ''[[Live Spectacle Naruto]]'', the role of Gaara was played by Kenta Suga. |
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* According to the databook(s): |
* According to the databook(s): |
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| − | ** Gaara's hobby is battling<ref name="d2"/> and [[Wikipedia:Cultivation|cultivating]] [[Wikipedia:Cactus|cacti]].<ref name="d3"/> |
+ | ** Gaara's hobby is battling<ref name="d2" /> and [[Wikipedia:Cultivation|cultivating]] [[Wikipedia:Cactus|cacti]].<ref name="d3" /> |
** Gaara's favourite foods are [[Wikipedia:Tongue#As food|salted tongue]] and [[Wikipedia:Gizzard#In cuisine|gizzard]], while his least favourite are [[Wikipedia:Yōkan|yōkan]] and [[Wikipedia:Marron glacé|marron glacé]]. |
** Gaara's favourite foods are [[Wikipedia:Tongue#As food|salted tongue]] and [[Wikipedia:Gizzard#In cuisine|gizzard]], while his least favourite are [[Wikipedia:Yōkan|yōkan]] and [[Wikipedia:Marron glacé|marron glacé]]. |
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** Gaara and Naruto are both the same weight and height by Part II. |
** Gaara and Naruto are both the same weight and height by Part II. |
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| − | ** Gaara wishes to fight [[Sasuke Uchiha]]<ref name="d1"/> and anyone, if it is for the sake of his village.<ref name="d3"/> |
+ | ** Gaara wishes to fight [[Sasuke Uchiha]]<ref name="d1" /> and anyone, if it is for the sake of his village.<ref name="d3" /> |
** Gaara has completed 34 official missions in total: 0 D-rank, 9 C-rank, 8 B-rank, 14 A-rank, 3 S-rank. |
** Gaara has completed 34 official missions in total: 0 D-rank, 9 C-rank, 8 B-rank, 14 A-rank, 3 S-rank. |
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** Gaara's favourite words are, in the first and second databook, {{translation|''"love for oneself"''|自愛|jiai}}, and in the third databook, {{translation|''"affection"''|慈愛|jiai}} and {{translation|''"future"''|未来|mirai}}. |
** Gaara's favourite words are, in the first and second databook, {{translation|''"love for oneself"''|自愛|jiai}}, and in the third databook, {{translation|''"affection"''|慈愛|jiai}} and {{translation|''"future"''|未来|mirai}}. |
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| + | * One of Shukaku's [[Bunpuku|previous jinchūriki]] foretold that one day someone would show it the meaning of the words which were tattooed on his own hands: {{translation|"accept"|受|ukeru}} and {{translation|"heart"|心|kokoro}}.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 660, pages 5-9</ref> The tattoo on Gaara's forehead, {{translation|"love"|愛|ai}}, is a combination of these two kanji. |
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| + | *In 2019, Masashi Kishimoto revealed that he was going to give Gaara the name Kotaro (小太郎), before his editor suggested Gaara instead. |
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== Quotes == |
== Quotes == |
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| + | * (To Naruto and Shikamaru) "''I am a relic they want to get rid of, so why do I exist and live? In order to exist, you need a purpose. To exist for no reason is the same as being dead… Then I came to the conclusion that I would love only myself and fight for only myself. If all other people exist to magnify that love, then there is no more a splendid universe than this one… My existence will not vanish.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 97, pages 15-17</ref> |
||
| − | * (To [[Yashamaru]]) "''What does pain feel like?''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 130, page 1</ref> |
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| − | * "'' |
+ | * (To Sasuke) "''You have the same eyes as I do… the eyes, filled with hatred and death, that long for strength… just like mine… your eyes tell me how badly you wish to kill the one who put you through the hell called loneliness.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 127, page 10</ref> |
| − | * "'' |
+ | * (To [[Rock Lee]]) "''You're the same then. When you feel the honour of your idol under scrutiny… you become enraged, as if it were your own honour being questioned. The more precious your idol is to you… the harder you fight for him.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 217, page 14</ref> |
| − | * (To [[Kankurō]]) "''I will work hard, because I want to become acknowledged by others. That's what I thought when I look at Naruto Uzumaki. Bonds with others… Up until now, I only known them as hate and murderous intent. But I wonder, what is that bond he longed for? Now I understand, even only a little. Pain, sadness… and joy. These feelings allow you to understand others.''"<ref>''Naruto'' episode 120</ref> |
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| − | * (To [[Naruto]] and [[Shikamaru]]) "''Love?… Let me tell you what that word means to me… My father taught me secret shinobi skills, one after another. I was raised in isolation, spoiled and overprotected… at first I thought THAT was love… For the past six years… ever since I turned six… my father has been trying to assassinate me. I've lost count of how many attempts he's made… A presence that is too powerful becomes a presence that is feared… To my father, in his role as Kazekage, I was the village's most powerful weapon, but at the same time, I was a fearsome and dangerous object. So apparently, when I turned six, they determined that I was too great a liability.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 97, pages 9-13</ref> |
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| − | * (To Naruto and Shikamaru) "''I am a relic they want to get rid of, so why do I exist and live? In order to exist you need a purpose, to exist for no reason is the same as being dead… Then I came to the conclusion that I would love only myself and fight for only myself. If all other people exist to magnify that love, then there is no more a splendid universe than this one… My existence will not vanish.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 97, pages 15-17</ref> |
||
| − | * (To [[Sasuke]]) "''You have the same eyes as I do… the eyes, filled with hatred and death, that long for strength… just like mine… your eyes tell me how badly you wish to kill the one who put you through the hell called loneliness.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 127, page 10</ref> |
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| − | * (To Naruto) "''I shall kill you. I will not cease to exist.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 136, page 8</ref> |
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| − | * (To [[Rock Lee]] after their fight with [[Kimimaro]]) "''You're the same then. When you feel the honour of your idol under scrutiny… you become enraged, as if it were your own honour being questioned. The more precious your idol is to you… the harder you fight for him.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 217, page 14</ref> |
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* "''Perhaps the companionship of an evil person is preferable to loneliness.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 217, page 16</ref> |
* "''Perhaps the companionship of an evil person is preferable to loneliness.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 217, page 16</ref> |
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| + | * (To [[Kankurō]]) "''I will work hard, because I want to become acknowledged by others. That's what I thought when I look at Naruto Uzumaki. Bonds with others… Up until now, I only known them as hate and murderous intent. But I wonder, what is that bond he longed for? Now I understand, even only a little. Pain, sadness… and joy. These feelings allow you to understand others.''"<ref>''Naruto'' episode 120</ref> |
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| − | * "''…No… what was I originally?… It just shared a consciousness with me… What is it originally? A mere small sensation…''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 281, page 18</ref> |
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| + | * "''This is where it all starts for me. Starting with this small bond. I too want to become someone who is needed, instead of a weapon that is feared. And as the Kazekage of Sunagakure.''"<ref name="NS182">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 182</ref> |
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| − | * (To [[Ōnoki]], the Third [[Tsuchikage]]) "''When did you forsake yourselves?''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 461, page 13</ref> |
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| − | * (To |
+ | * (To Naruto) "''I think of you as a friend. I used to think "friend" was just another word… Nothing more, nothing less. But when I met you, I realised what was important was the word's meaning.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 475, page 13</ref> |
| + | * (To the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]]) "''There are no enemies here because we've all suffered at Akatsuki's hand! So there is no Suna, no Iwa, no Konoha, no Kiri, and no Kumo! There are only shinobi!''" |
||
| − | * (To Tobi) "''We won't give up hope.''"<ref> ''Naruto'' chapter 467, page 20</ref> |
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| − | * (To Naruto) "''Naruto… Just so you know, there will be a war to protect the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails… in other words you. For the sake of the ninja world and as the [[Kazekage]], I will guard you with my life. If as a member of Akatsuki, Sasuke Uchiha stands in the way of the ninja coalition… I will show him no mercy.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 474, page 14</ref> |
||
| − | * (To Naruto) "''If you're truly prepared to take up the mantle of a Kage, then as Sasuke's friend, you know what you have to do.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 474, page 16</ref> |
||
| − | * (To Naruto) "''I think of you as a friend. I used to think "friend" was just another word… Nothing more, nothing less. But when I met you, I realised what was important was the word's meaning.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 475, page 13</ref> |
||
| − | * (To [[Tsunade]] about hiding Naruto) "''I know him well. He takes too many risks when it comes to his friends… that's why.''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 491, page 8</ref> |
||
| − | * "''This is where it all starts for me. Starting with this small bond. I too want to become someone who is needed, instead of a weapon that is feared. And as the Kazekage of [[Sunagakure]].''"<ref name="ep182">''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 182</ref> |
||
| − | * (To Kankurō about Naruto) "''He was the one who taught me to deepen my bond with my people. Thanks to him, I was able to regain my true self. That village has him, the one who cherishes a friend's bond more than anyone I know. Naruto Uzumaki…. Knowing him and the friends he holds so dear, they will overcome this disaster and grow even stronger from it.''"<ref name="ep182"/> |
||
| − | * (To the [[Allied Shinobi Forces]]) "''There are no enemies here because we've all suffered at Akatsuki's hand! So there is no [[Suna]], no [[Iwa]], no [[Konoha]], no [[Kiri]], and no [[Kumo]]! There are only "shinobi"!''" |
||
| − | * (To [[Fourth Kazekage|his father]] about [[Shukaku]]) "''Gone forever! I'm no longer the jinchūriki you created!''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 546, page 16</ref> |
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| − | * (To his father) "''…Mother definitely was amazing… but, this is the first time you've ever given me "medicine", father…''"<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 548, pages 13-14</ref> |
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== References == |
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Latest revision as of 15:16, 12 April 2024
editGaara   [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] | |||
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| 我愛羅 Gaara
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| Debut | |||
| Manga | Naruto Chapter #35 | ||
| Anime | Naruto Episode #20 | ||
| Novel | Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky | ||
| Movie | Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel | ||
| Game | Naruto: Ninja Council | ||
| OVA | Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival! | ||
| Appears in | Anime, Manga, Novel, Game, Movie | ||
| Voice Actors | |||
| Japanese | |||
| English | |||
| Personal | |||
| Birthdate |  January 19
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| Sex |  Male
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| Age |
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| Height |
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| Weight |
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| Blood type | AB | ||
| Kekkei Genkai |
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| Classification | |||
| Tailed Beast | Shukaku (Forms) | ||
| Occupation |
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| Affiliation |
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| Team | |||
| Clan | |||
| Rank | |||
| Ninja Rank |
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| Ninja Registration | 56-001 | ||
| Academy Grad. Age | 12 | ||
| Chūnin Prom. Age | 14 | ||
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Gaara (我愛羅) is a shinobi of Sunagakure and the youngest of the Three Sand Siblings. He was made the jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Shukaku before he was born, causing the villagers of Suna to fear him as a monster. With nobody to connect to, Gaara grew up hating the world and looking out only for himself, giving his life meaning by killing anyone he came across. After being defeated by Naruto Uzumaki — a jinchūriki like himself who found strength in his friendships — Gaara began emulating him. He later became Suna's Fifth Kazekage (五代目風影, Godaime Kazekage, literally meaning: Fifth Wind Shadow) so that he can protect the village and all those who live there, dispelling the fears he cast on the villagers.
Background
A premature Gaara with his mother.
Because of heavy cuts to Sunagakure's budget by the Wind Daimyō, the Fourth Kazekage wanted to make one of his children the jinchūriki of the tailed beast Shukaku to serve as a weapon for the village.[11] His first two children, Temari and then Kankurō, had not been compatible with Shukaku. Rasa's third child, however, Gaara, was compatible with Shukaku. For that reason, Shukaku was sealed inside of Gaara by Chiyo before he was even born, when Gaara was still a fetus inside of his mother Karura's womb. Gaara ended up being born prematurely and from the ordeals of childbirth, his mother, Karura, died. Before dying, Karura looked lovingly at Gaara's small form and vowed to always protect him.[12]
Gaara was raised in isolation during his early life, taught ninjutsu by his father and cared for by his maternal uncle, Yashamaru. When he was allowed to roam around the village, Gaara would try to connect with the villagers, being kind to them and offering them any assistance he could. However, being a jinchūriki made the villagers frightened of Gaara; adults avoided him and, when they couldn't, treated him delicately while children would run from him on sight. Gaara would try to assure them he meant no harm, but in the process would inadvertently injure or even kill them with his sand. Gaara did not understand this pain he caused others because his sand protected him from all injury. When he was six years old, Gaara asked Yashamaru to explain pain to him. From Yashamaru's explanation, Gaara believed he did know pain: the unbearable agony in his heart.
From this, Yashamaru elaborated that physical pain, what causes one to bleed, could be cured with medicine and time, whereas pain of the heart, like Gaara experienced, could only be cured with love. Gaara, said Yashamaru, received love everyday, from both his mother - whose spirit controlled the sand that protected him - and from Yashamaru himself. Gaara was pleased by this and went out into the village to show some love to those he'd harmed, but his efforts were met only with more fear and hate. Gaara was dismayed and went off to try and understand why he was treated as such a monster. While doing so, he was attacked by one of Suna's Anbu, whom he fatally wounded with his sand. When he unmasked the Anbu, Gaara discovered it was Yashamaru.[13]
Gaara was devastated that Yashamaru, the only living person to love him, would try to kill him and asked for an explanation. Yashamaru replied that it was a mission given to him by Rasa, Gaara's father, it having been decided by the Suna Council that Gaara was a failed experiment that, if allowed to live, would only continue to do harm to the village and its people. Gaara tried to find solace in the fact that Yashamaru had been ordered to kill him, but Yashamaru insisted, lying to Gaara that he volunteered and that he'd always hated Gaara for causing Karura's death. Karura had not loved Gaara either, and named him after the phrase "a self-loving carnage" (我を愛する修羅, Ware o aisuru shura) so that he would be a curse upon Suna for what it had done to her. With his explanation done, Yashamaru asked Gaara to "please die" before blowing himself up with explosive tags.
Gaara vows to live only for himself.
Gaara's sand - a product of Shukaku rather than Karura if Yashamaru's words were to be believed - shielded Gaara from the blast. Having lost everything he cared for, Gaara decided that he would from that point forward live up to his namesake by loving only himself; to that end, he used his sand to etch the kanji for "love" (愛, ai) onto the left side of his forehead.[14] Overwhelmed with grief, Gaara transformed into Shukaku and attacked Suna, which Rasa stopped with his gold dust. Rasa would arrange five other assassination attempts on Gaara over the following years, all of which Gaara evidently survived.[12] Due to his singular focus on himself, Gaara eventually learned to reign in his powers and became the lethal weapon of destruction Suna wanted him to be, prompting Rasa to stop trying to kill him and instead find a use for him.
Personality
Gaara's deepest desire of having a happy childhood.
Gaara was consistently warm to others during his early life. Although most of Suna's villagers feared and despised him, he was able to persevere due to the love that he felt from Yashamaru and his mother. His father, Rasa, believed these niceties were impeding Gaara's development as a jinchūriki and as such had both taken from him: he ordered Yashamaru to try and kill Gaara and, if he were to fail, to tell Gaara that neither he nor Gaara's mother had ever loved him. Rasa's plan succeeded, as following Yashamaru's death Gaara stopped trying to connect with people. Rather, Gaara focused on himself, driven solely by his own desires and his own survival.
Gaara's bloodlust.
During his years of caring only about himself, Gaara becomes infamously known as "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall" (砂瀑の我愛羅, Sabaku no Gaara, English TV: Gaara of the Desert). Though he outwardly appears calm, "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall" is deeply unbalanced, completely unmoved by others' pleas for mercy and, in certain situations, driven mad with bloodlust. This behaviour is partly due to Shukaku, whose voice Gaara alone can hear in his head, who encourages violence at every opportunity, and who torments Gaara with threats to take control of his body if he falls asleep, thus making Gaara an insomniac. But Shukaku is not wholly responsible: Gaara simply hates other people for existing, believing that so long as they are alive they are a threat to his own life. His purpose, therefore, is to kill anyone who is strong or whom he perceives as similar to himself, as only by killing them can he assert his own existence. With those who do not interest him, Gaara is typically withdrawn and silent. When he must interact with them, he does so with open disregard for their feelings and often threatens to kill them, even his own siblings, if they become too much of a nuisance to him. Due to the sand's automatic defense preventing Gaara from suffering any real pain, when he first sustained his first true injury at the hands of Sasuke Uchiha's Chidori, Gaara became even more unstable at the time, completely losing control of himself to Shukaku.
Gaara's background is very similar to that of Naruto Uzumaki: both have been jinchūriki since the day they were born, both were hated and scorned by almost everyone in their village, and both were raised without a parent's love. But whereas Gaara eventually gave up on other people, Naruto continued trying to win the acknowledgement of his peers and village, pursuits he eventually succeeds at. Whereas Gaara seeks strength only in protecting himself, Naruto seeks strength in protecting the friends he makes. When the two fought during the Konoha Crush and Naruto defeats Gaara, Gaara took this as proof that his own choices in life were wrong; he had surrendered to his difficult circumstances too easily. From that point onward he starts moving away from "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall" and started emulating Naruto instead, improving his relationships with his siblings, making friends within Suna and without, and finding something that he's willing to give his life to protect. His relationship with Shukaku did improve somewhat when he told the tailed beast he used to hate it, but was grateful to the beast because he was able to meet Naruto due to the painful life Shukaku made him endure.
Gaara becomes Suna's Kazekage by the start of Part II, signalling the success of his emulation of Naruto. As Kazekage, Gaara becomes much wiser than most people his age when he took on the role. He forgave his father for trying to assassinate him as he was only trying to protect the village. Gaara also gains a new purpose in life by dedicating all his energy towards serving the village and those who live there. Although he retained some detractors, most of the villagers adore him and will do what they can to help him reform Suna and the rest of the world. Even this reform is very much inspired by Naruto, as he wishes for the Five Kage and their hidden villages to cooperate and benefit from each other in the same way that he has benefited from Naruto's influence. Gaara believes in forgiving past differences and strife, abandoning antiquated concepts of "honour" that only promote isolation, and serving a purpose greater than one's self. As in Suna, this unity that Gaara advocates is slow to catch on, for a time only gaining support from Naruto's own Konohagakure. By the time of the Fourth Shinobi World War, however, the Five Kage are convinced by Gaara and this in turn starts trickling down into the larger Allied Shinobi Forces. Despite his history of cruelty and young age during his ascent to Kazekage, Gaara attains the love of his people by showcasing his idealism, compassion and willingness to reform himself. A man of few words, Gaara leads by example, an assertive, thoughtful and collected presence in the heat of diplomacy and battle, who willingly puts his life on the line for his friends and allies. Gaara's way with words, astuteness and integrity earn him the respect of the older, more experienced Kage. Gaara's touching speech before the Allied Shinobi Forces produces a resounding response and is able to mend the rift between the Five Great Shinobi Countries. Gaara's superlative leadership abilities lead to his posting as Regimental Commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
Gaara proclaiming his resolve to protect Naruto.
Gaara feels indebted to Naruto for how significantly he's changed since his time as "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall"; he considers Naruto his closest and first friend and believes all the tragedies of his childhood were worthwhile since they led him to meet Naruto. He takes part in the Fourth Shinobi World War not simply because he believes Akatsuki must be stopped, but because by doing so he can keep Naruto safe. Gaara's desire to protect Naruto, at times, means acting against Naruto's wishes: he knows Naruto would want to participate in the Fourth Shinobi World War to protect his loved ones, but feels Naruto would be safer if he were forbidden from doing so. Just like before, however, Naruto's desire to protect his friends gets through to Gaara, as he does not argue with his participation in the war after accepting he made an error in judgement. Gaara often cites his own experiences as "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall" during his interactions with Sasuke and others who suffer hate and loneliness, explaining the missteps that he didn't realise he'd made until he met Naruto so that they, in turn, might realise their own. His words do not always convince them, but Gaara is able to empathise with their choices and, as with Sasuke, he even wonders if Naruto could get through to them, just as Naruto got through to him. Despite his stoic demeanour, Gaara is empathetic and in touch with his emotions, freely shedding tears at Sasuke's refusal to change his ways, and at the revelation of his mother's love for him.
As an adult, Gaara becomes wiser. When some of the current Kage expressed concerns about leaving the next generation to handle the threat they would soon face because these were peaceful times they were growing up in, Gaara calmly says each generation having little faith in the next one is not an uncommon thing. His empathy has also deepened, as he was able to understand Shinki needed love to help his out-of-control Magnet Release, hugging him in their first meeting and adopting him to give Shinki the happy family Gaara himself didn't have. Despite this, Gaara can be quite strict and blunt with his adopted son, urging Shinki not to attack Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki due to their gap in power, bluntly telling Shinki he was nowhere near Momoshiki's level.
Gaara retains some social awkwardness as an adult. His nephew Shikadai Nara noted Gaara tends to give strange gifts when he visits.
Appearance
Gaara has fair skin, green eyes, and short auburn hair; for most of his life, his hair was spiky, but by adulthood it is combed and parted to the right. He lacks distinctive pupils or eyebrows, the latter of which others sometimes make fun of. He's had tanuki-like black rings around his eyes his whole life, which Gamabunta attributes to insomnia. As a child, he carved the kanji for "love" (愛, ai) on the left side of his forehead, which his hair is parted in order for it to be kept visible. In Part II, many girls in Sunagakure start to consider Gaara handsome.[15]
At the start of Part I, Gaara wore a black body suit with an open neck, t-shirt-like sleeves, and almost full-length leggings. With this, he wore a white cloth over his right shoulder and the left side of his hips. He had a wide leather band from his left shoulder to his right hip with which he carried his sand gourd and around which he wraped his forehead protector. In early chapters of the Naruto manga, he was also shown having several earrings. His appearance is mostly the same at the end of Part I, though he switches his previous black body suit to a reddish-brownish one with longer sleeves and an upright collar, and wears mesh armour on his wrists and ankles. In Part II, Gaara wore a long-sleeved crimson coat and full-length dark trousers with a pair. Over the coat he wore two buckled belts, a grey vest held in place by a single strap over his left shoulder, and two buckled belts which he also used to carry his gourd. On certain occasions he wears the typical Kazekage garb and during the Fourth Shinobi World War he wears Suna's typical flak jacket.
In The Last: Naruto the Movie, Gaara dons a crimson long-sleeve shirt with several buttons and pants that match the colour of his shirt. He also wears a brown belt and now has a smaller sand gourd which is strapped to his left side. By adulthood, Gaara starts wearing a trench coat.
Abilities
Gaara shields his entire village from Deidara's C3 explosion.
Having been trained since infancy as Suna's "ultimate weapon", Gaara was exceptionally strong even as a child, effortlessly killing the countless assassins sent after him.[16] As a genin, he became known internationally for completing B-rank missions.[17] He also set the record time of completing the Chūnin Exams in the Forest of Death, and unscathed;[18] a feat normally incapable for a chūnin.[19] By Part II, Gaara becomes Suna's Fifth Kazekage, tasked with leading and protecting the entire village. His fellow Kage initially doubted his worthiness due to his young age, but come to respect him by the Fourth Shinobi World War, where he was appointed the commander-in-chief of the Allied Shinobi Forces' combat divisions.[20] The reincarnated Kage that Gaara fought, including his father, also came to approve of his abilities after he defeated them.[21] He could hold his own against five of Madara Uchiha's Susanoo-clad wood clones for some time. As an adult, Gaara's prowess had grown to the point where he could hold his own against opponents of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, including Momoshiki and Urashiki Ōtsutsuki. Fighting alongside Shukaku, he was able to hold off and eventually seal Urashiki temporarily while in battle.
Chakra and Physical Prowess
Gaara has large reserves of strong chakra, a fact Akamaru recognises even before Gaara has performed any technique. His chakra levels are partly because he was the jinchūriki of Shukaku, but even after Shukaku is removed from his body in Part II, there is no noticeable difference in his performance. In battle, Gaara tends to stay away from his opponents and rarely uses taijutsu. In the anime, he acknowledges this as a shortcoming and therefore trains with Shira to improve his abilities, ultimately able to compete against him unaided.[22] Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki regards Gaara's taijutsu as being on par with Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Darui's, stating that their skill in this particular style of combat is "first-class".[23]
Ninjutsu
Gaara's nature transformations include Earth, Lightning, and Wind Release,[5] the latter of which he often mixes with his sand in order to increase its speed and coverage area. In Gaara Hiden, Gaara is shown to have inherited the Magnet Release kekkei genkai from Rasa, which he avoids using in battle so that he can have it as a last resort that opponents won't know about. He can use his Magnet Release to increase the density of his chakra and sand, thereby strengthening his defences. In the anime, Gaara showed noticeably proficiency in wielding a Jōhyō.
Sand Manipulation
Gaara manipulating sand.
As Shukaku's jinchūriki, Gaara is able to manipulate sand. He carries a supply of sand wherever he goes in a gourd, which itself is made from sand. This personal sand is infused with his own chakra, allowing him to deploy it faster and manipulate it more precisely. If he needs more sand, he can either use sand from the surroundings or, if there isn't any, use his personal sand to break down minerals in the ground to create some;[24] these secondary sand supplies require more chakra to control. Gaara's ability to manipulate sand remains even after Shukaku is removed from his body. Indeed, upon seeing how much sand Gaara can control at once, the Fourth Kazekage wrongly assumes it is Shukaku itself doing so.[25]
Gaara's Shield of Sand.
Gifted with powerful defensive ninjutsu, Gaara's usual tactic is to remain stationary in battle, using his sand to attack opponents from afar. The attacks typically follow the same formula: capture and immobilise the target, such as with the Sand Binding Coffin, and then crush all parts of their body, such as with the Sand Waterfall Funeral. If opponents are able to get close enough to attack him, Gaara's Shield of Sand automatically protects him from all threats, even those he is not aware of; the Shield of Sand is commonly thought to be Shukaku's doing, an act of self-preservation, but it is actually Gaara's mother, Karura, whose love protects Gaara even after her death.[26] If the Shield of Sand is penetrated, either through speed or brute-force, Gaara also has access to a secondary Armour of Sand covering his body; however, it requires an impractical amount of chakra to maintain for long periods of time and weighs him down.[27] Nevertheless, Gaara's sand is extremely effective at keeping him safe, earning fame as an "absolute defence" and allowing him to go years without experiencing a single injury. By adulthood, Gaara's Shield of Sand's defence increased tremendously, able to shrug off attacks that Sasuke Uchiha's Majestic Attire: Susanoo could not.[28]
Gaara's Sand Clone.
Gaara's sand is highly malleable and can be used for any number of purposes. Often this is to protect others, such as with a wall for one person or, in his capacity as Kazekage, a shield as large as Suna.[29] Offensively, he can shape Sand Shuriken or Sand Swords. Gaara also has a variety of supplementary uses for his sand: a form of flight for himself and others; a method of sensing concealed targets; a Sand Clone to reinforce himself or allies; and a Third Eye for reconnaissance. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, he uses the Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal to serve the same functional purpose as the Cloth Binding Technique, giving him a way of stopping reincarnated opponents.
Jinchūriki Transformations
Main article: Jinchūriki Forms Shukaku is a very valuable resource in battle for Gaara but, like all tailed beasts, becoming able to use it effectively takes a great deal of time and effort on Gaara's part. During their first conversation when Gaara was a child, Shukaku warned Gaara that it would take control of his body and start killing people if he ever fell asleep, preventing Gaara from getting a full night's sleep for the duration of his time as a jinchūriki. Even while awake, Shukaku's powers were a constant risk, causing the young Gaara to inadvertently kill those around him and, in moments of particular stress, unleash Shukaku upon Suna. Gaara is able to keep Shukaku in check under normal circumstances by Part I.
Gaara partially transformed into Shukaku.
Like all jinchūriki, Gaara can transform into his tailed beast. Whereas other jinchūriki achieve this transformation using only chakra, Gaara does so using sand: by layering sand onto parts of his body, he transforms those body parts into human-sized versions of Shukaku's. The more of his body that is transformed in this way, the more his speed and strength increases. As a consequence, however, Shukaku's personality starts influencing his own the more advanced the transformation, making Gaara increasingly homicidal; he has seemingly mastered the transformation enough by Part II that he can at least create Shukaku's arms without this happening. In his Tailed Beast Mode, Gaara creates a full-sized Shukaku form, which he ordinarily remains safely deep within. By emerging from the form and putting himself to sleep, Gaara can transfer control of the body to Shukaku itself.
Intelligence
Gaara is a sharp and innovative fighter. His large array of sand-based jutsu are crafted by and unique to him. He has an eye for detail, able to quickly identify his opponents’ vulnerabilities, and acts on his observations with his versatile sand. He was acknowleged as the "Golden Egg" by the Second Mizukage due to his high intelligence. He also displayed a mastery in deception, as he was able to trap several powerful opponents in various occasions.
Stats
| Databook | Ninjutsu | Taijutsu | Genjutsu | Intelligence | Strength | Speed | Stamina | Hand seals | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | 3.5 | 1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3.5 | 20 |
| Second | 4.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 26.5 |
| Third | 5 | 2 | 3.5 | 4 | 2.5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 29 |
Part I
Chūnin Exams
Main article: Chūnin Exams
Gaara successfully cheats in the Chūnin Exams's written test.
Gaara and his siblings are teamed together under Baki's leadership and sent to Konohagakure to participate in the Chūnin Exams. Shortly after arriving, Kankurō nearly starts fighting Team 7, forcing Gaara to threaten to kill him if he doesn't leave them alone. Sasuke Uchiha is impressed by Gaara and asks his name; Gaara is impressed by Sasuke and asks the same of him. After they exchange names, Gaara and his siblings depart. During the first stage of the Chūnin Exams, Gaara uses his Third Eye to copy the answers from others participants' written tests. The proctor, Ibiki Morino, though he notices that Gaara must be cheating, can't actually tell what he's doing and is therefore deeply impressed. Because neither he nor his siblings are caught cheating, they advance to the second stage.
Gaara threatens to kill Kankurō.
For the second stage, Gaara and his siblings enter the Forest of Death with the task of collecting a set of two scrolls, one of which they are given and the other of which they must take from another team. They encounter Team Shigure first and, despite not knowing which scroll they have, Gaara insists on fighting them. He quickly kills Shigure with his Sand Waterfall Funeral, prompting Shigure's teammates to surrender their scroll in exchange for their lives. Gaara kills them too and makes to also kill the members of Team 8, who are secretly watching. Despite Gaara's threats to kill them if they interfere, Kankurō and Temari convince him to desist and they leave Team 8 unharmed. They ultimately reach the centre of the forest with the two scrolls they need in a record-breaking one hour and thirty-seven minutes. Moreover, Gaara doesn't get so much as a speck of dust on his clothes, something the proctors remark is nearly impossible even for more experienced ninja.
Gaara becomes excited by the fight.
In the preliminary rounds, Gaara is matched against Rock Lee. Though Lee is quite fast, Gaara's Shield of Sand is faster and blocks all of Lee's attacks. With encouragement from his instructor, Might Guy, Lee removes the ankle weights he wears, therefore making him faster than the Shield of Sand and allowing him to hit Gaara, the first person to ever do so. Lee lands several additional blows, causing Gaara's Armour of Sand to start chipping away, exposing an excited expression beneath. With Guy's permission, Lee attacks Gaara with Front Lotus, but during a brief spasm of pain Gaara is able to escape and attack Lee with his sand. Lee fends off the attack and counters with his strongest move: Reverse Lotus.
Gaara fights Dosu.
Due to the speed of the Reverse Lotus, Gaara loses his Shield of Sand and parts of his Armour of Sand are broken away. However, he is able to use his sand gourd as a cushion for the attack, therefore avoiding any noticeable damage. Lee, however, has difficulty moving afterwards and is left at Gaara's mercy, who uses his sand to crush Lee's arm and leg. Guy intervenes, and from seeing Guy's concern for Lee - an emotion Gaara doesn't understand - Gaara opts to leave Lee alone. Gaara is declared the winner and, after the preliminaries conclude, he is informed that his first opponent in the finals taking place in a month will be Sasuke Uchiha. That night, Gaara is attacked by Dosu Kinuta, another finalist who wants to kill Sasuke himself. Gaara briefly transforms into Shukaku and kills Dosu.
During the following month, Gaara and his siblings are informed of Suna and Otogakure's plans for an invasion of Konoha, set to begin during the Chūnin Exams' final matches. Once the invasion starts, Gaara is to transform into Shukaku and attack the village from within while Suna and Oto's forces invade. The day before the finals, Gaara tracks down Lee at the Konoha Hospital and attempts to kill him, but he is found and stopped by Shikamaru Nara and Naruto Uzumaki. Gaara isn't intimidated by their superior numbers and threatens to kill them too, explaining that it is by killing others, particularly those who are strong, that he asserts his own existence. He briefly explains his past and how he came to arrive at this motivation for living, which convinces Naruto that they can't beat Gaara. Guy interrupts them before a fight can break out and Gaara is forced to withdraw.
Gaara battling Sasuke.
Gaara is eager to fight Sasuke, having noticed that Sasuke, like himself, is driven by hate and who may therefore be the greatest challenge Gaara has ever faced; by killing Sasuke, Gaara's reason for living would be indisputable. However, Sasuke does not show up for their match on time and, when he does finally arrive, Gaara is on edge. Midori and Shiba intercept Gaara as he heads down to the arena to face Sasuke and ask him to take a fall in the fight; Gaara kills them without warning, briefly slaking his bloodlust. His fight with Sasuke starts and Gaara is surprised to find Sasuke's speed and movements are almost identical to Lee's and, as such, bypass his defences in much the same way. Gaara surrounds himself with sand so that Sasuke's punches and kicks can't disturb him as he prepares to transform into Shukaku. However, Sasuke pierces through the sand with his Chidori, injuring Gaara's arm. Gaara is frightened to see his own blood for the first time and cancels the transformation.
Konoha Crush
Main article: Konoha Crush
Gaara and Sasuke clash.
Gaara is so unnerved by his injury that he is unable to participate as planned in the invasion of Konoha when it begins in the middle of his fight with Sasuke. Baki instructs Temari and Kankurō to take him back to Suna. As they carry Gaara away from Konoha they are confronted by Sasuke, who wants to finish their fight. Kankurō tries to delay him, but this fails and when Sasuke catches up with them again Gaara flings Temari away so that she won't interfere. Gaara transforms his right arm into Shukaku's, who has been causing Gaara ongoing discomfort because of the earlier cancelled transformation. When Sasuke is able to counter Gaara's increased speed and strength with another Chidori, Gaara manifests Shukaku's tail. Sasuke counters this too, but is left unable to move afterwards.
Naruto's clones attack Gaara.
Gaara is stopped from killing Sasuke by the arrival of Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto doesn't recognise Gaara at first, but when he does he attempts to retreat. Gaara goes after Sasuke again but is blocked by Sakura Haruno, who reminds Gaara of Yashamaru. Startled by this, Gaara binds her to a tree with his sand. Because Naruto can't break Sakura free, he decides to stay and fight so that he can save her and Sasuke. Gaara advances his transformation yet again and attacks with Sand Shuriken, hoping to draw out the same surprising power that Naruto displayed during his earlier match in the finals. Naruto endures several rounds of attacks and even tries attacking Gaara's un-transformed quarters with One Thousand Years of Death, but is ultimately forced to tap into his power source to create hundreds of shadow clones. The clones' onslaught surprises and overwhelms him, forcing him to fully transform into Shukaku.
Gaara defeated by Naruto.
Gaara tries to kill Naruto with Sand Waterfall Funeral, which Naruto escapes by summoning Gamabunta. Gamabunta uses his sword to cut off one of his transformation's arms, exciting Gaara. Because of how strong Naruto has proven to be, Gaara puts himself to sleep to transfer control of his body to Shukaku. After prolonged fighting, Gamabunta is able to get Naruto close enough to punch Gaara and wake him up, suppressing Shukaku. Gaara forces Naruto away with his sand, but Naruto quickly strikes again. Gaara is able to restrain Naruto's arms and legs, but Naruto is able to head-butt him, doing enough damage to force the release of the Shukaku transformation. Both Gaara and Naruto are exhausted from the fight, but have enough energy for one last exchange. They leap at each other and Naruto punches Gaara again, claiming victory.
Gaara's outlook is changed by Naruto.
Naruto and Gaara fall to the ground, unable to move. Gaara can't comprehend how Naruto can be so strong and is troubled by what this loss means for his existence. When Naruto starts crawling towards him, Gaara screams at him to stay away. Naruto, however, only sympathises with Gaara, having had a childhood that was just as lonely as Gaara's was. However, Naruto was able to find friends like Sasuke and Sakura, and for their companionship he will do anything to protect them, even if that means he has to kill Gaara. Gaara is amazed that Naruto's strength derives from his love for his friends and admits defeat. Temari and Kankurō collect him and start carrying him home; along the way, Gaara apologises to them.
Sasuke Recovery Mission
Main article: Sasuke Recovery Mission
Gaara attacks Kimimaro.
After the invasion of Konoha ends in failure, Konoha and Suna become allies, both having been wronged by Orochimaru. As a sign of this alliance, Konoha later requests Suna's help in stopping Sasuke from defecting to Orochimaru. Suna sends Gaara and his siblings to help the Sasuke Recovery Team in their fights with the Sound Four; Gaara arrives to save Rock Lee from Kimimaro. On arrival, Gaara remarks that Lee is slower than when they last met, which Lee indicates to be because the injuries he received from Gaara were very severe. Gaara feels guilty about this and insists on fighting Kimimaro by himself so that Lee doesn't risk further injury. After blocking several of Kimimaro's attacks, Gaara catches him with his sand and uses Sand Waterfall Funeral on him.
Gaara and Kimimaro compare ultimate techniques.
Through a combination of his Shikotsumyaku abilities and his Cursed Seal of Earth, Kimimaro is able to survive the Sand Waterfall Funeral. Gaara therefore increases the scale, blanketing Kimimaro and the surrounding area with sand and then using Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral. Kimimaro survives yet again, this time by advancing his cursed seal to its second level. The transformation allows him to outpace Gaara's sand and restrain Gaara with his spine. He then prepares to attack with Dance of the Clematis: Flower, which Gaara blocks with his Shield of Shukaku. Gaara congratulates Kimimaro for his performance and states his regrets that someone so talented is about to die. Kimimaro states his willingness to give his life if it is in service to Orochimaru. Gaara decides Kimimaro has been brainwashed and uses his sand to drag him deep underground.
The final moments of the fight with Kimimaro.
As he's pulled down, Kimimaro uses his Dance of the Seedling Fern, forcing Gaara to use Desert Suspension to get himself and Lee out of harm's way. While they start discussing their apparent victory, Kimimaro emerges behind them and insists that he is not brainwashed. Kimimaro dies of a preexisting illness before he can land an attack. Afterwards, Gaara muses that Kimimaro was somewhat similar to Naruto in that both would stop at nothing to protect what was precious to them, even if that precious thing was itself evil. Gaara escorts Lee back to Konoha and, once all members of the Sasuke Recovery Team are safely accounted for, he returns to Suna with Temari and Kankurō.
Sunagakure Support Mission
Main article: Sunagakure Support Mission
Gaara battles Hōki.
In the anime, Gaara and his siblings volunteer to teach at Suna's new Konoha-inspired Ninja Academy. Most of the Academy students still fear Gaara and avoid him during their lesson on ninja weaponry. Matsuri, however, is curious about him and asks to train with him. Gaara senses her fear of weapons and violence and so instructs her in how to use the jōhyō, a relatively non-lethal weapon. Matsuri and Gaara get along well, prompting the Four Celestial Symbols Men to kidnap her in order to get to him. Suna requests Konoha's help in rescuing her, for which the entire Konoha 11 is sent.
Gaara first fights Suiko, then he attacks the Four Celestial Symbols Men's leader, Hōki, but is captured. To escape, Gaara does a partial Shukaku transformation, which in the process revives Seimei. Gaara stops the transformation and later destroys Seimei's armour with a Spear of Shukaku and kills him with a Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral. He goes to Konoha to rest and, once he's recovered, returns to Suna with his siblings and Matsuri.
Interlude
Gaara thanking Shukaku.
At some point over the next two years, Gaara becomes Suna's Fifth Kazekage. His reason for pursuing the office is twofold: to show the villagers that he is no longer the fearsome weapon he once was, and so that, by protecting the entire village, he can gain the same kind of strength as Naruto has. In the anime, Gaara does away with several antiquated policies, such as one that bars anyone who can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu from entering the Academy. This allows Shira, who excels in taijutsu, to become a Suna-nin; Shira later trains Gaara in taijutsu.[30]
In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths
Main article: In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths About two years after the end of Part I, the Fifth Hokage proposes that their villages hold a Chūnin Exam. Publicly, the exam will demonstrate the alliance that now exists between their two villages. Secretly, the exam will hopefully draw out Akatsuki, who are after jinchūriki like Gaara. Gaara agrees, believing this will also be a good way to prove himself to his dissenters in Suna. Kankurō makes repeated attempts to convince Gaara not to put himself at risk like this, but Gaara insists it is the best way for him to unify with Suna's population. Gaara presides over the start of the second stage of the exams, held in Suna's Demon Desert. When he later receives reports that two jōnin from Takigakure are participating in the exams, Gaara observes them with his Third Eye. It is quickly discovered by Fū, the third member of the Taki team, who Gaara realises is also a jinchūriki.
Gaara monitoring the Chūnin Exams.
During the second stage, sandstorms start rampaging across the Demon Desert. Gaara secretly gets away from his guards to go into the desert to rescue Team Matsuri. Once he locates them, he finds that they are also being helped by Fū, who reminds Gaara of Naruto. As soon as they escape the sandstorm, Gaara is attacked by Hōichi, who uses a fūinjutsu chain to try and extract Shukaku from his body. Fū tries to help him, only to have her own tailed beast also start being extracted. Matsuri is able to locate Neji Hyūga, who stops the extractions by blocking Gaara's and Fū tenketsu. This also causes the fūinjutsu chains to turn on Hōichi, so Gaara asks that Neji save him as well. Gaara then thanks Neji and Matsuri for their help. Gaara deduces that Fugi was behind Hōichi's attack and contacts him, asking that, no matter what opinion he may have of Gaara, he not do anything in the future to harm Gaara's friends. Fugi is surprised by this response as well as Gaara's forgiveness for his actions.
Due to the attack on himself and Fū, Gaara cancels the Chūnin Exams before the second stage ends. He informs the remaining participants that reports on their performance will be sent to their superiors, who will then decide if they are to be promoted.
Part II
Kazekage Rescue Mission
Main article: Kazekage Rescue Mission
Gaara attacks Deidara.
Two-and-a-half years after the end of Part I, the Suna Council discusses reports from Jiraiya of Konoha about Akatsuki's likely imminent activity. Because Akatsuki will undoubtedly come after Gaara because of the One-Tailed Shukaku sealed within him, Suna places its borders under heavy guard. While working in his office later, Gaara looks out the window and sees a non-native bird flying in the sky. Guessing it's an intruder, Gaara confronts the bird's rider: Deidara of Akatsuki. Gaara attacks Deidara with the sand surrounding Suna and at the same time uses his personal supply of sand to defend against Deidara's Explosive Clay.
Shukaku being extracted from Gaara.
Gaara uses his personal sand to crush Deidara's left arm, prompting him to drop his C3 on Suna. Gaara defends the village with his Air Sand Protective Wall and narrowly blocks another set of Deidara's C1 explosives. As he regroups within his Shield of Sand, he discovers that Deidara has managed to sneak some explosives into his personal supply of sand, which detonate at point-blank-range. Before he loses consciousness, Gaara moves the sand he's been using during the fight away from Suna so that it won't fall on the villagers. Deidara captures him and takes him back to an Akatsuki lair, where for three days Akatsuki's members extract Shukaku from Gaara's body. As the extraction nears completion, Gaara sees a lonely vision of himself that he is increasingly unable to recognise.
Chiyo revives Gaara.
Gaara dies when Shukaku is removed from his body. Naruto and his team are able to retrieve him from Akatsuki, but they can't revive him conventionally. Chiyo trades her life for Gaara's, her way of apologising for sealing Shukaku into Gaara in the first place. As life returns to him, Gaara sees a vision of himself, once alone and unknowable, befriended by Naruto. He wakes up to find himself not only surrounded by Naruto and his team, but also his siblings and the dozens of other Suna-nin that have been tirelessly trying to find and rescue him. When he learns what Chiyo did for him, Gaara forces himself to stand and requests that everyone pray for her. They attend Chiyo's funeral a few days later and, before Naruto and his team leaves, Gaara uses his sand to shake Naruto's hand in place of saying goodbye.
Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha
Main article: Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha In the anime, Gaara receives a report that Konoha has been destroyed during an Akatsuki attack. Gaara is confident they'll be able to rebuild since they have Naruto, and recalls when Team 7 helped him deal with the Suna Assassin Captain.
Five Kage Summit
Main article: Five Kage Summit
The Kage Summit commences.
The Fourth Raikage calls for a Kage Summit to discuss Akatsuki's recent activity. On receiving the summons, Gaara travels to the Land of Iron with Temari and Kankurō as his bodyguards. Once the Kage are all together, Gaara opens the proceedings by discussing his own experiences with Akatsuki and his previous efforts to collaborate with the other Kage, efforts that only the Fifth Hokage helped with. The other Kage offer their own excuses for why they didn't help, but the Fourth Raikage's accusation that the current Kage and their predecessors employed Akatsuki stands out. Gaara is disgusted by the news, which the Third Tsuchikage argues he can't understand simply because he's too young.
Zetsu interrupts the Summit with news that Sasuke Uchiha, who has been collaborating with Akatsuki, has infiltrated the Summit. The Fourth Raikage goes off to find Sasuke, and the other Kage bicker while he's gone. Gaara becomes pessimistic that the Kage will be able to work together since his peers seem too willing to give up, qualities that he, because of Naruto's influence, cannot respect. Gaara leaves to meet with Sasuke, arriving in time to stop him and the Raikage from injuring each other too badly. While the Raikage's wounds are treated, Gaara speaks with Sasuke, remarking that he possesses the same hate that drove him the last time they met. Gaara uses his own experience with hate to advise Sasuke to turn back while he still can, as no good can come from his present actions. Sasuke refuses.
Saddened by Sasuke's response, Gaara joins Temari, Kankurō, and Darui in attacking him. Sasuke uses Susanoo to defend himself and destroy the room to cover his escape. Gaara uses his sand to protect the others and they pursue Sasuke back to the Summit room, arriving in time to see him teleported to safety by Tobi, the leader of Akatsuki. Tobi explains his Eye of the Moon Plan to those in attendance and requests that the Kage surrender Naruto and Killer B to him to complete the plan. Gaara and the other Kage refuse, prompting Tobi to declare the start of the Fourth Shinobi World War before departing. The Kage agree to form an Allied Shinobi Forces; although they want Konoha to join, the Kage do not trust the Sixth Hokage Candidate and will require someone else to represent Konoha. Gaara recommends Kakashi Hatake, who the other Kage agree with.
Gaara talks to Naruto about Sasuke.
After the Kage disperse, Gaara locates Kakashi elsewhere in the Land of Iron and finds Naruto in his company. Gaara tells them all that happened at the Summit, including what Sasuke did. Gaara emphasises to Naruto that the approaching war will be fought to defend Naruto and that, if Sasuke chooses to side with Akatsuki, Gaara will fight him in order to keep Naruto safe. He states his opinion that Sasuke can no longer be saved from himself and that, if Naruto truly wants to be Hokage someday, he will need to accept the same conclusion. However, before leaving he also advises that Naruto at least figures out for himself what can be done for Sasuke. Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō return to Suna, and when they arrive they are informed that the daimyō have already authorised the Allied Shinobi Forces' formation.
Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown
Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown Gaara travels to Kumogakure to meet with the other heads of the Alliance and discuss tactics. When the Tsuchikage asks where the jinchūriki will be hidden, the Fifth Hokage argues against this, however Gaara reminds her that Naruto takes too many risks for his friends to be allowed to fight. Akatsuki later finds Naruto and B on the Island Turtle and Gaara volunteers to go there to provide additional security, but the Kage decide to send the Tsuchikage instead.
Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation
Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation
Gaara leading his division.
Gaara is made commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces' Fourth Division, as well as the commander-in-chief of all the other combat divisions. When some of the shinobi from different villages start fighting over past grudges, Gaara uses his sand to break them up. He then delivers a speech to the assembled forces, asking that they set aside the factors that once set them apart and focus on what now unifies them: stopping Akatsuki. The Allies are inspired by his words and mobilise for battle; Gaara leads his Fourth Division to the border of the Land of Lightning. There, Gaara scatters his Sand Sensing around the area so that he can detect any approach by Akatsuki's forces. This ends up exposing a reincarnated Mū, causing the reincarnated Second Mizukage, Third Raikage, and Gaara's father, Rasa, to be sent to reinforce Mū. Seeing them with his Third Eye, Gaara calls for backup.
Gaara battling his father.
The Third Tsuchikage is sent to provide assistance, but they avoid combat until the second day of the war. Once they're ready, Gaara launches the first attack with his sand, which Rasa counters with his gold dust. When Rasa sees Gaara, he is surprised to find that Gaara has not transformed into Shukaku, having assumed he had based on the amount of sand he was controlling. Gaara informs him that Shukaku was removed from his body, but that his life was saved by the many friends he's made in his capacity as Kazekage; he adds that, as Kazekage, he now understands all of Rasa's attempts to assassinate him and forgives him. Rasa finds this all very strange and asks that Gaara fight him so that he can see how Gaara has grown. After several exchanges, Gaara surrounds Rasa and the other Kage with sand, which takes the form of Gaara's mother, Karura.
Gaara's mother manifests in his sand.
Gaara is surprised to see his mother. Rasa, accepting defeat, explains that the sand that has always protected him was not Shukaku's doing but rather his mother's, because she loved Gaara from the moment he was born. He confesses that he forced Yashamaru to try and kill Gaara all those years ago and to lie to him about his mother in order to test Gaara's emotional suitability as a jinchūriki. Gaara cries at the news and Rasa apologises for not being as good a parent to Gaara as his mother was. Gaara places sealing tags on the Kage's sand confinements, but all except Rasa escape. Gaara then assists the Tsuchikage in his fight with Mū, using his sand to locate Mū whenever he turns invisible. One of Naruto's shadow clones eventually joins the battle and, with Gaara's help, is able to briefly incapacitate Mū, allowing Gaara to seal him before he can speak.
The Second Mizukage goes on the offensive.
Gaara angrily questions Naruto about his presence on the battlefield and his new Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, but Naruto assures him that he knows what he's doing and he should not treat him like child just because he's Kazekage. While Naruto's shadow clone goes off to fight the Third Raikage, Gaara and the Tsuchikage face the Second Mizukage. The Mizukage berates them for fighting Mū before fighting him, telling them that he's the stronger opponent and therefore should have been dealt with first. When the Mizukage is repeatedly able to neutralise his sand, Gaara admits this is apparently true. Because the Mizukage is protected by a genjutsu, Gaara uses his sand to locate the giant clam casting it so that the Tsuchikage can destroy it. The Mizukage immediately attacks the Tsuchikage, forcing Gaara to save him with a sand clone. Gaara then tries to capture the Mizukage with his Desert Layered Imperial Funeral, which the Mizukage escapes from by using an explosive clone.
Gaara stops the Mizukage's clone.
Gaara is able to capture the Mizukage in his sand again, but the clone keeps interrupting before the seal can be completed. Although the Mizukage has repeatedly given them pointers about how to defeat him, he decides not to help them defeat the clone, believing they now need to prove themselves. Gaara uses his sand to protect the Fourth Division from the clone's attacks and then tries to attack the clone with his sand, but the clone is too fast. In order to slow it down, Gaara secretly adds some of Rasa's gold dust to his sand which, when heated up by the clone's body, acts as the perfect restraint. Naruto's shadow clone, having defeated the Third Raikage, comes to join Gaara and the Mizukage, seeing them both, remarks that they make a good pair. Gaara seals the Mizukage and reports their victory to the Allied headquarters.
Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax
Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax
Gaara helps stop a meteorite.
The Fourth Division is confronted by a half of Mū, who is now accompanied by the reincarnated Madara Uchiha. Madara starts attacking the Fourth Division and Gaara, the Tsuchikage, and Naruto's shadow clone team up against him. Their combination is effective enough to force Madara to activate his Rinnegan, which he then uses to drop a meteorite upon the Fourth Division. Gaara orders that the Fourth Division evacuate and uses his sand to help the Tsuchikage stop the meteorite. Madara responds by dropping a meteorite, which they're not able to stop. Gaara's sand protects him from serious injury, but the Tsuchikage and the rest of the Fourth Division are badly hurt.
The five Kage confront Madara.
Naruto's shadow clone tries facing Madara alone, but the prolonged fighting has left it exhausted. Gaara and the Tsuchikage join him, as do the other three Kage, having all teleported to the battlefield to help. The Fifth Hokage heals Gaara and the Tsuchikage and the Five Kage team up against Madara. Confident they can defeat him, they tell Naruto's shadow clone to entrust Madara to them and to go defeat Tobi elsewhere. Although they outnumber Madara, the Kage struggle against him; Gaara uses Desert Suspension to keep the Kage out of range of Madara's attacks and Desert Layered Imperial Funeral whenever an opportunity to try and seal Madara presents itself. Their attacks consistently fail and Madara, in order to make things "fair", creates twenty-five wood clones, five for each of the Kage to fight.
The Kage against Madara's wood clones.
The wood clones each use Susanoo and fight the Kage into the night. Despite the superior forces against them, the Kage are able to combine forces against the original Madara, impressing him enough to use Susanoo's "Complete Body" form. Before he can use it to destroy the Kage, the Impure World Reincarnation is released and Madara's soul starts returning to the Pure Land. Madara removes the Impure World Reincarnation's user's control over him, thus allowing him to stay. Now free to do what he wants, Madara decides he's lost interest in the Kage and states his intentions to go after Naruto. The Kage try to stop him and thus fulfil their promise to Naruto, but Madara defeats them all and leaves them near death.
Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki
Main article: Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki
The Kage arrive on the battlefield.
Orochimaru and members of Taka eventually locate the Hokage, and by helping her heal herself she is able to heal the other Kage. Once they've recovered, Gaara uses his sand to transport the Kage to where the Allied Forces are fighting; Katsuyu informs them of what's been happening up until now. On arrival, the Kage rally the surviving forces against the recreation of the God Tree. After Naruto is able to destabilise the tailed beasts' chakra sealed within Tobi, Gaara latches onto Shukaku's chakra and pulls it free. With Obito defeated, the Allied Forces head off to fight Madara, the only remaining threat. Gaara requests that Shukaku help him seal Madara. Shukaku is uninterested until Gaara suggests that he'll ask another tailed beast, at which point Shukaku decides to help.
Gaara tries to save Shukaku.
Gaara and Shukaku attack Madara with Wind Release: Sand Buckshot, slowing his movements so that the other tailed beasts, Killer B, and Naruto can attack him. Once he's down, Gaara and Shukaku combine efforts to create a bigger and stronger Desert Layered Imperial Funeral, which Madara escapes using his Susanoo. Madara returns once he obtains one of his Rinnegan and starts sealing the tailed beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Gaara tries to prevent Shukaku from being sealed using Desert: Hand, his way of thanking Shukaku for enabling him to meet Naruto all those years ago. Madara attacks him in order to stop him, which Shukaku blocks so as to preserve its title as Gaara's "absolute defence". Despite Gaara's efforts, the tailed beasts - including those sealed in B and Naruto - are successfully sealed.
Gaara rescues Naruto.
In its final moments, the Nine-Tails within Naruto communicates to Gaara how to save Naruto's life: have the Nine-Tails' chakra sealed within the reincarnated Minato Namikaze transferred to Naruto. Gaara starts carrying Naruto to Minato, but his life is rapidly fading. Gaara takes him to the Fifth Hokage so she can provide medical assistance, but she sends Sakura Haruno instead. While Sakura performs emergency life support on Naruto, Gaara carries them to Minato and, on finding him, tells him what the Nine-Tails told him. Minato starts sealing his half of the Nine-Tails into Naruto, but it is intercepted by Black Zetsu and they are shortly afterwards joined by Madara, who is now the jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails. Gaara and Minato team up to try and stop Black Zetsu from giving the Nine-Tails to Madara, but they are easily repelled.
Through the combined efforts of Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha, the Nine-Tails' chakra is reclaimed and Naruto is gotten to safety. Might Guy then joins the fight against Madara and ultimately decides to use the Eight Gates Released Formation. Because Guy only has a limited amount of time, Gaara helps Kakashi create an opening in Madara's defences by carrying him closer so that he can use Kamui on some of Madara's Truth-Seeking Balls. Guy is able to successfully attack Madara, but Madara survives and Guy is unable to keep fighting. When Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha join the battle, Gaara carries Guy to safety so that he isn't harmed in the crossfire.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes
Main article: Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes
Gaara thanks Naruto.
Despite Naruto and Sasuke's efforts, they are unable to stop Madara from casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi, trapping the world in a dream. Gaara dreams that he has a happy childhood in Suna with his parents, siblings, and Yashamaru and where he gets to play with Naruto everyday. Naruto and Sasuke eventually release the Infinite Tsukuyomi, freeing Gaara and the rest of the world and thus ending the Fourth Shinobi World War. In the anime, Gaara and A travel to Konoha on the day of Kakashi's inauguration, and thank Naruto for his efforts during the war.
Blank Period
Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky
Main article: Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky Over a year after the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, Kahyō is made the new warden of the Blood Prison. Gaara and the other Kage visit the Blood Prison to interview her and see if she is suitable for the responsibilities. They approve of her after she humiliates the Fourth Raikage in a fight.
Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness
Main article: Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness Two years after the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara notices that Temari is bothered about something and guesses that it has something to do with Shikamaru Nara. She confides her concerns about Shikamaru's recent behaviour, which has been cold and distant. They both assume that he's on some mission for Konoha that is to be kept a secret. Although Gaara would ordinarily be content to leave it at that, he remarks that Shikamaru is too important to the Shinobi Union's future and thus gives Temari any resource she requires to find out what Shikamaru is up to.
After visiting Konoha, Temari learns that Shikamaru has gone missing during a mission in the Land of Silence. Gaara and a force of Suna-nin join her, Naruto, and some of Shikamaru's other friends from Konoha in going to rescue him. When they arrive after several days of travel, Gaara instructs his men to not kill any of the Land of Silence's Enlightened Ones if they can avoid it; although there are some injuries, nobody is killed. Shikamaru thanks Gaara for his help afterwards and Gaara once again insists that it was in the Shinobi Union's best interests to do so. However, Gaara promptly returns to Suna with all of his men except for Temari, leaving her behind to talk to Shikamaru.
The Last: Naruto the Movie
Main article: The Last: Naruto the Movie
Gaara celebrating victory.
Two years after the Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara attends an emergency Five Kage Summit to discuss the imminent crashing of the Moon. A few days after returning to Suna, meteors start falling on the village and Gaara uses his sand to protect the villagers. With the crisis becoming dire, the Kage contact each other and decide that the Moon must be destroyed. When the Sixth Hokage later reports that Naruto is on the moon, Gaara and the other Kage decide to delay the Moon's destruction to give Naruto a chance to save them.
Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze
Main article: Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze Gaara is informed by his Anbu that a man fitting Sasuke Uchiha's description has been meeting with a terrorist cell near Suna. When the Anbu are about to raid the compound, Gaara accompanies them and observes the man with his Third Eye. His appearance and chakra signature are identical to Sasuke's but the man speaks of wanting to destroy Konoha, which Gaara does not believe Sasuke would do. He and his Anbu attack the compound, but the lookalike escapes. Gaara tells all this to Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka while they visit Suna a few days later; like them, he believes that the man was not really Sasuke. In order to prevent unsubstantiated rumours from spreading, Gaara asks that they tell the Sixth Hokage about this.
Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding
Main article: Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding
Gaara at Naruto and Hinata's wedding reception.
Gaara, Temari and Kankurō travel to Konoha to participate in the Kage Summit. Upon arriving in the village, Gaara wonders what to give Naruto for a wedding gift. After the meeting, the three return to Suna. Ten days later, the Sixth Hokage visits the village and requests that Suna shinobi guard Konoha on the day of the wedding, to which Gaara agrees. Six days later, Gaara and his siblings return to Konoha and partake in Naruto and Hinata Hyūga wedding.
Gaara Hiden: A Sandstorm Mirage
Main article: Gaara Hiden: A Sandstorm Mirage Gaara has a routine meeting with the Suna Council and reports recent events in and relating to the village before then allowing the Council to make requests of him. Normally their requests are minor and petty, and for that reason Gaara is surprised when the councillors request that he get married. Because Temari is about to get married to Shikamaru Nara of Konoha, her children will be Konoha-nin. If Gaara and Kankurō should die before producing heirs, that would mean that a Konoha ninja will have a claim to the Kazekage position. To avoid this, the Council wants Gaara to find a wife so that he can, in turn, have children. The Council insists that their interest in seeing Gaara married is more of a recompense for turning him into a jinchūriki years ago than it is a political matter. Unable to argue out of the situation, Gaara accepts whatever marriage the Council decides to arrange for him.
Temari helps Gaara dress for the occasion and Kankurō advises him on being sociable, giving him a rare opportunity to spend with his brother and sister. Under heavy security, Gaara meets the woman the Suna Council has found for him to marry: Hakuto of the Hōki family. His first impression of her is that she is beautiful, something that embarrasses him once he realises that she is to be his wife. Having forgotten all the etiquette lessons Temari gave him, Gaara decides to try and emulate Naruto's successes from being unoriginal: they discuss their hobbies. Hakuto is intrigued to hear Gaara speak with passion about raising cacti and it dispels some of the rumours she's heard about him from his days as "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall". She, therefore, declares that Gaara is "kind". Gaara is pleased, filled with the same happiness he experiences when he tends to his cacti.
Gaara and Hakuto are attacked during their meeting. Gaara is able to kill their initial attackers and keep Hakuto safe, but struggles against the attackers' leaders: twin brothers Etoro and Metoro Konjiki. The brothers simultaneously attack with their kekkei genkai and break Gaara's Shield of Sand, injuring him for the first time in several years. Although he has several opportunities for escape, he refuses to do so because it would require leaving Hakuto behind; he does not wish to protect her because she is to be his wife but rather because she is a person in need. Hakuto's sister and bodyguard, Shijima, soon arrives and creates an opening for Gaara to kill both Etoro and Metoro. With the fighting done, Hakuto treats Gaara's injury before heading back to her family home.
Afterwards, Baki suggests the attack was part of some plot to eliminate Gaara, who plays politics behind closed doors, and replace him with Kankurō, who leads from the frontlines and as such is much-loved by the standard infantry. When they later receive reports that Hakuto has been kidnapped, they realise that she was the target of the attack, not Gaara. Gaara leaves in the night to rescue Hakuto by himself, not wanting help from anyone as that would only draw attention to the mission and allow his detractors to use her kidnapping against him. As he leaves, he is met by Shijima, who was easily defeated by Hakuto's kidnapper and now wants to help in retrieving her. They travel through the desert, tracking the footsteps that, despite the kidnapper's attempts to conceal them, Gaara is able to follow.
When they catch up, the kidnapper introduces himself as one of Hakuto's clansmen, Shigezane. Shigezane quickly defeats Shijima and then starts attacking Gaara, using his many water jutsu to convert the area to quicksand. Gaara could escape if he wanted to, but does not believe he could locate Shijima in time to save her if he did. For that reason, he goes to her and wraps them both in sand as they sink under. Gaara wakes up after several hours in the underground cavern that Shigezane drew his water from. Shijima asks Gaara why he, the Kazekage, would risk his life to protect her. He replies that all life is precious regardless of one's station, something he learned from Naruto. He knows there are times when sacrifice is necessary, but he tries to avoid that as much as he can. Shijima understands and, when they're ready, leads Gaara out of the cavern.
Gaara and Shijima find Hakuto and Shigezane as they're about to enter the Land of Fire. Gaara has long since figured out that they are lovers who planned to use Hakuto's arranged marriage as an opportunity to elope. He is not upset by this as he never intended to force Hakuto to marry him, but at the same time he, the Kazekage, can't let them abandon Suna. He asks them to return, but Shigezane refuses and attacks Gaara; Gaara uses his Magnet Release to defend himself, counter, and hold Shigezane at his mercy. Shijima threatens Gaara to let Shigezane go. Gaara is already aware that she helped them stage Hakuto's kidnapping, but he repeats that he can't let them abandon Suna. When Shijima proves willing to kill Gaara and herself so that Hakuto and Shigezane can escape, Gaara asks why she didn't kill him earlier when he was unconscious. She replies that it was not her way, which satisfies Gaara.
Gaara attacks with a Sand Sword, but rather than strike Shijima he hits Metoro, who faked his earlier death and has been following them so that he could take revenge; despite his attempts to conceal himself, Gaara has been aware of Metoro's presence the whole time. After confirming that Metoro was hired by Tōjūrō - a member of the Suna Council who Kankurō and Baki are already in the process of arresting - Gaara kills him with his Sand Waterfall Funeral. Gaara points out how effective the Sand Waterfall Funeral is at eliminating all traces of Metoro and once more repeats that he can't let Hakuto and Shigezane abandon Suna. Hearing this, Shijima realises that Gaara plans to fake their deaths so that they can be together. At that moment Shikamaru Nara appears, his help having been requested by Gaara via Temari; Shikamaru will corroborate reports that Shigezane and Hakuto were killed so they can settle in Konoha under new identities. Gaara and Shijima return to Suna, Shijima vowing her service to the Kazekage.
New Era
Gaara meets Shinki.
In the following years, Gaara continued to remain close with Naruto, even getting to know his children, Boruto and Himawari, who came to view him as an uncle. At some point, Gaara discovered Shinki who was unable to control his power. Frightened, the child attacked Gaara, leading to him being impaled while hugging Shinki. Shocked at Gaara's approach, Shinki calmed down, leading to the Kazekage offering to teach the boy how to use his power.[31] Following the encounter, Gaara adopted Shinki. After Naruto's Hokage inauguration, the two were photographed together in their Kage attire by Genzō.[32] Some time later, Gaara accompanied by Kankurō attended a Kage Summit in Konoha, where Sasuke shared his concerns that a threat greater than Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was still lurking somewhere. Gaara shared the other Kage's belief that this should be kept a secret to avoid panic.[33]
Sarada Uchiha Arc
Main article: Naruto Uzumaki!! (chapter 700) Fifteen years after the shinobi world war, Gaara and Kankurō travelled to Konoha to participate in another Kage Summit. Before taking part in the meeting, Gaara visited Temari, and greeted his nephew Shikadai when they met.
Versus Momoshiki Arc
Main articles: Boruto: Naruto the Movie and Versus Momoshiki Arc
Gaara facing Urashiki.
In the anime, Gaara saw Kankurō and Shinki's genin team off as they departed for Konoha by Thunder Train to participate in the Chūnin Exams. Immediately afterwards, he is contacted by Shukaku, who informs him that it had suddenly lost contact with Gyūki. Questioning if it was only with Gyūki, Shukaku confirmed that its connection with the other Tailed Beasts and Naruto was still intact. Having been warned, Gaara told Shukaku he was grateful, before their connection ended. Later on his way to the exams, he was attacked by Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, who recognised Gaara as the former jinchūriki for Shukaku. The man than attacked Gaara, easily piercing through Gaara's sand defence to strike him and steal some of his chakra before disappearing. Once arriving in Konoha, he told Sasuke and Chōjūrō about the incident, prompting a speed up for the deciphering of Kaguya's scroll Sasuke took from one of her palaces.
Gaara protecting spectators from the falling debris.
Later, Gaara and the other Kage observed the final round matches of the Chūnin Exams taking place in Konoha. When Kinshiki and Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki started attacking the stadium, Gaara helped the other Kage defend the spectators and get them to safety. In the anime, Gaara noticed Urashiki from before and pursued him alongside Chōjūrō. While he left most of his sand to support the falling arena and Chōjūrō was void of his Mist Swordsmen blade, the two managed to pressure Urashiki. As Urashiki began revealing copied techniques like Gaara's sand manipulation, Gaara and Chōjūrō managed to capture him in a trap, only for Urashiki to reveal his Rinnegan and escape.
Gaara battling Momoshiki.
Kinshiki and Momoshiki kidnapped Naruto, so Gaara joined the other Kage, Sasuke, and Naruto's son, Boruto, in rescuing him. On Momoshiki's Planet, they freed Naruto and teamed up against Momoshiki. Although they briefly defeat him, Momoshiki was able to recover and immobilised the Kage with a stolen Shadow Imitation Technique. Boruto was ultimately able to defeat Momoshiki, allowing everyone to return to Konoha.
Mitsuki's Disappearance Arc
Main article: Mitsuki's Disappearance Arc In the anime, as Konohagakure recovered from the attack a Kage Summit was held to discuss how to handle the still looming threat of the Ōtsutsuki. Later, Gaara attended Ōnoki's funeral.
One-Tail Escort Arc
Main article: One-Tail Escort Arc
Gaara and Sasuke battle Urashiki.
In the anime, Gaara was aiding Sasuke in his mission when they were attacked by Urashiki, controlling several puppets that he stole from Toneri Ōtsutsuki. When Boruto came, Urashiki began to target him. He didn't manage to hit Boruto due to Sasuke's intervention, but managed to catch Sasuke in his fishing rod to steal some of his chakra before sending him to another dimension.
As Gaara's attention was split between protecting Boruto and facing the foe, Urashiki found an opening to steal more chakra from Gaara, only to thwarted by Shinki's intervention. Shukaku arrived to aid its former host, and the two were able to temporally seal away the foe. Afterwards, it was to safeguard Shukaku at Konoha. While Gaara returned to Suna to tend to his wounds, Shukaku was accompanied by Kankurō, Shinki, and Boruto Uzumaki. Also during which, to make sure Urashiki would not sense its chakra, Shukaku willingly sealed itself inside a kettle.
Gaara being escorted to safety.
He was then escorted back to the village for treatment by Yodo and Araya. Five days later, Gaara recovered and was relieved to learn that Shinki, Boruto, and Shukaku all successfully made it to Konohagakure along with knowing that Sasuke's return prompted Urashiki to retreat. When collecting Shinki, asking what he learned from going with Boruto, the son simply said Boruto is a slave to his emotions. Gaara however smiled at seeing that Boruto's influence did spark a change in Shinki.
Shikamaru Shinden: A Cloud Dancing in Forlorn Falling Petals
Main article: Shikamaru Shinden: A Cloud Dancing in Forlorn Falling Petals Gaara and Kankurō attended a Kage Summit in Konoha at the Hokage building, during which the Kage bickered about topics concerning Konoha, leading to Kurotsuchi demanding Konoha to disclose all of its confidential information as the village's proof to peace by the next summit, and said Iwagakure would leave the Five Great Shinobi Country alliance if they didn't. Afterwards the summit ended.
Kara Actuation Arc
Main article: Kara Actuation Arc In the anime, Temari was sent to Suna as a messenger to inform Gaara of the threat of Kara.
Kawaki Arc
Main article: Kawaki Arc
Gaara attending a Kage Summit.
When Team 7 found a mysterious boy with connections to Kara, Naruto called forth a Kage Summit, with Kankurō joining Gaara as his bodyguard. As talks about the boy's fate began, Gaara voiced his personal feelings of not treating the boy as a weapon, having personally experienced that dread as a Jinchūriki. It was then unanimously decided to treat the boy with sympathy and for the boy to live with Naruto, who would watch over him at all times.
Chūnin Re-Examination Arc
Main article: Chūnin Re-Examination Arc In the anime, following Shinki and his team-mates becoming chūnin, he sent the team to Konoha to observe the finals for their personal Chūnin Exams for more experience.
Code Invasion Arc
Main article: Code Invasion Arc Following the defeat of Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, Naruto had a Kage Summit set up via video. The other Kage were caught up on the newest developments. Kurotsuchi was annoyed to hear how difficult it was to find the last remaining Inner, Code. It was speculated that Code, as a devout follower of Isshiki, would seek to kill all those responsible for killing Isshiki, and completing the growth of the Ten-Tails. As everyone was concerned to hear about a new Ten-Tails, Gaara brought up a more immediate concern. He asked what Naruto would do with his son if Momoshiki took over Boruto completely through the Kāma. Naruto swore he would handle the matter as it was needed to be done.
In Other Media
Movies
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Main article: Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel Gaara and Kankurō save a band of Suna villagers from a group of seemingly invulnerable armoured warriors. They are then attacked by knights wielding the power of the Stone of Gelel; Gaara is drawn into battle with Ranke. Ranke defeats Gaara's sand with her lightning powers and then undergoes a monstrous transformation. Gaara uses Sand Lightning Needles to drain her lightning and crushes her using Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral. Later, he and Kankurō safely return to Sunagakure.
Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire
Main article: Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire After Hiruko initiates a Fourth Shinobi World War, Gaara leads a force of Suna-nin through a rocky terrain. They are attacked by Hiruko's forces but saved by Jiraiya, who informs Gaara of Kakashi Hatake's willingness to sacrifice himself to defeat Hiruko. Gaara goes after Naruto so that he can't stop Kakashi, telling him that he can't risk war for the life of one man. They fight, but Naruto breaches Gaara's defences and convinces him that he won't back down, prompting Gaara to retreat. Gaara returns to his troops and takes them back to Suna.
Video Games
Gaara is a playable character in the following video games:
While Gaara often relies on his sand to fight, in the Clash of Ninja game series, he uses actual taijutsu in tandem with his sand techniques.
Creation and Conception
Gaara's prototype, Kumomaru, and his ninken, Manji.
As revealed in Jin no Sho, Masashi Kishimoto's original prototype for Gaara was an elite 7-year-old ninja named Kumomaru (雲丸), who would have abused drugs to push his physical capabilities beyond their natural limits. He also had a ninken named Manji (まんじ), likely an homage to Hiroaki Samura's Blade of the Immortal. Kumomaru had wild hair and wore a tattered cloak and a forehead protector with a symbol resembling a sun or moon partially obscured by clouds, which also appeared in prototype designs for other antagonists such as Zabuza Momochi and a group of shinobi that became the Sound Four; Manji was a small dog with dark markings around his eyes and the kanji for manji (卍) tattooed on his forehead.
The character design went through many revisions, eventually becoming a character named Kotarō (小太郎), after the famed Fūma Kotarō, which Kishimoto thought was a perfect fit for a red-headed shinobi from the Land of Wind. However, his editor opposed the name and instead suggested Gaara (我愛羅, literally meaning: "self-loving demon"); Kishimoto later learned that his editor had actually based the name on the GALA Yuzawa ski resort in Nīgata Prefecture where he had recently vacationed.
Kishimoto created Gaara as a foil to the series' protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki. He and Naruto have a similar background: he was rejected by his peers and fellow villagers for being the host of a tailed beast, Shukaku, a situation that Kishimoto describes as "very much like Naruto's". Gaara's development from this state into a highly withdrawn, sadistic character was intended to induce sympathy for him from readers, as it was contrasted against Naruto's development into a cheerful troublemaker.[34] Additionally, his design was designed to look like the Tanuki since Kishimoto thought that it would make him a good rival for Naruto's Nine-tailed Demon Fox since several parts from the Shukaku were considered by Kishimoto to be opposite ones from the Demon Fox.[35] Gaara's backstory became one of Kishimoto's favourite stories from Part I; Kishimoto had to revise his illustrations in such chapters in as he wanted readers to understand more of Gaara's mental state.[36]
Gaara's initial attire, along with the costumes of his siblings, was difficult for Kishimoto to draw on a weekly basis. Because of this, Kishimoto gave the three of them simpler costumes towards the end of Part I; Gaara received an outfit with an upright collar. In addition to being easier to draw, it was used to demonstrate the change in relationship between Gaara and Naruto following their previous fight. Kishimoto cites The Matrix, one of his favourite movies, as an inspiration for Gaara's new costume, and he considers it to be his favourite costume of the three siblings.[37]
Trivia
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- The name "Gaara" literally means either "self-loving demon" or "self-loving silk" (我愛羅).
- When Gaara was first named in the English Shōnen Jump, his name was rendered as "Gāra" (which is incorrect as the 2 "a"s in his name are both separate in its furigana rendering as opposed to an extended vowel).
- In the Naruto character popularity poll, Gaara is one of four characters to have always placed in the top ten of every poll.
- In the Live Spectacle Naruto, the role of Gaara was played by Kenta Suga.
- According to the databook(s):
- Gaara's hobby is battling[2] and cultivating cacti.[4]
- Gaara's favourite foods are salted tongue and gizzard, while his least favourite are yōkan and marron glacé.
- Gaara and Naruto are both the same weight and height by Part II.
- Gaara wishes to fight Sasuke Uchiha[1] and anyone, if it is for the sake of his village.[4]
- Gaara has completed 34 official missions in total: 0 D-rank, 9 C-rank, 8 B-rank, 14 A-rank, 3 S-rank.
- Gaara's favourite words are, in the first and second databook, "love for oneself" (自愛, jiai), and in the third databook, "affection" (慈愛, jiai) and "future" (未来, mirai).
- One of Shukaku's previous jinchūriki foretold that one day someone would show it the meaning of the words which were tattooed on his own hands: "accept" (受, ukeru) and "heart" (心, kokoro).[38] The tattoo on Gaara's forehead, "love" (愛, ai), is a combination of these two kanji.
- In 2019, Masashi Kishimoto revealed that he was going to give Gaara the name Kotaro (小太郎), before his editor suggested Gaara instead.
Quotes
- (To Naruto and Shikamaru) "I am a relic they want to get rid of, so why do I exist and live? In order to exist, you need a purpose. To exist for no reason is the same as being dead… Then I came to the conclusion that I would love only myself and fight for only myself. If all other people exist to magnify that love, then there is no more a splendid universe than this one… My existence will not vanish."[39]
- (To Sasuke) "You have the same eyes as I do… the eyes, filled with hatred and death, that long for strength… just like mine… your eyes tell me how badly you wish to kill the one who put you through the hell called loneliness."[40]
- (To Rock Lee) "You're the same then. When you feel the honour of your idol under scrutiny… you become enraged, as if it were your own honour being questioned. The more precious your idol is to you… the harder you fight for him."[41]
- "Perhaps the companionship of an evil person is preferable to loneliness."[42]
- (To Kankurō) "I will work hard, because I want to become acknowledged by others. That's what I thought when I look at Naruto Uzumaki. Bonds with others… Up until now, I only known them as hate and murderous intent. But I wonder, what is that bond he longed for? Now I understand, even only a little. Pain, sadness… and joy. These feelings allow you to understand others."[43]
- "This is where it all starts for me. Starting with this small bond. I too want to become someone who is needed, instead of a weapon that is feared. And as the Kazekage of Sunagakure."[44]
- (To Naruto) "I think of you as a friend. I used to think "friend" was just another word… Nothing more, nothing less. But when I met you, I realised what was important was the word's meaning."[45]
- (To the Allied Shinobi Forces) "There are no enemies here because we've all suffered at Akatsuki's hand! So there is no Suna, no Iwa, no Konoha, no Kiri, and no Kumo! There are only shinobi!"
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 First Databook, pages 50-55
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Second Databook, pages 62-66
- ↑ Shō no Sho, page 7
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Third Databook, pages 60-63
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fourth Databook, pages 76-78
- ↑ Retsu no Sho, page 34
- ↑ Zai no Sho, page 33
- ↑ Naruto chapter 129, page 15
- ↑ Naruto chapter 35, page 17
- ↑ Boruto episode 24
- ↑ Naruto chapter 97, pages 9-10
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Naruto chapter 547
- ↑ Naruto chapter 130
- ↑ Naruto chapter 131, pages 1-12
- ↑ Naruto chapter 280, page 5
- ↑ Naruto chapter 97, page 15
- ↑ Naruto chapter 39, page 13
- ↑ Naruto chapter 57, page 19
- ↑ Naruto chapter 58, page 4
- ↑ Naruto chapter 515, page 14
- ↑ Naruto chapter 548, page 14
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 399
- ↑ Boruto: Naruto the Movie novelisation
- ↑ Naruto chapter 215, page 14
- ↑ Naruto chapter 546, page 9
- ↑ Naruto chapter 547, pages 13-14
- ↑ Naruto chapter 83, page 9
- ↑ Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- ↑ Naruto chapter 249, pages 12-14
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 400
- ↑ Boruto episode 59
- ↑ The Day Naruto Became Hokage (OVA)
- ↑ Naruto chapter 700+5, pages 9-11
- ↑ Art Collection: Uzumaki, page 142
- ↑ Illustration Collection: Naruto, page 98
- ↑ Tō no Sho, pages 310–311
- ↑ Art Collection: Uzumaki, page 127
- ↑ Naruto chapter 660, pages 5-9
- ↑ Naruto chapter 97, pages 15-17
- ↑ Naruto chapter 127, page 10
- ↑ Naruto chapter 217, page 14
- ↑ Naruto chapter 217, page 16
- ↑ Naruto episode 120
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 182
- ↑ Naruto chapter 475, page 13
