Kankurou
Kankurou is a character from NARUTO, hailing from Sunagakure. He is the second son of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the younger brother of Temari, and the elder brother of Fifth Kazekage Gaara. As a skilled puppet master, he commands mechanical puppets in battle using chakra threads extending from his fingertips. Rising from a Genin in Part I to a Jou nin in Part II, he serves as a prominent shinobi of his village and key guardian to his brother.
Overview
Kankurou is a character from NARUTO, hailing from Sunagakure. He is the second son of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the younger brother of Temari, and the elder brother of Fifth Kazekage Gaara. As a skilled puppet master, he commands mechanical puppets in battle using chakra threads extending from his fingertips. Rising from a Genin in Part I to a Jou nin in Part II, he serves as a prominent shinobi of his village and key guardian to his brother.
Appearance
Kankurou has brown hair, short in cut, and brown eyes. His face is decorated with purple facial paint resembling kabuki makeup, which alters its pattern periodically. He wears a dark, hood-like black outfit with cat-ear-shaped projections reminiscent of traditional puppeteer attire, along with fingerless black gloves. In Part I, he carried his puppets wrapped in bandages across his back, whereas in Part II, he summons them from scrolls.
Personality
Initially prone to irritation and harsh interactions toward younger people, Kankurou matures significantly over time. As Gaara's emotional state stabilizes, Kankurou becomes a deeply devoted and protective older brother. He harbors a passionate fascination for collecting and studying mechanical puppets, demonstrating immense respect and affection for the craft of puppetry and the legacy of its creators.
Abilities
Kankurou utilizes chakra threads from his fingers to control specialized mechanical puppets. He effectively coordinates multiple units: Karasu, an offensive puppet armed with hidden poisoned blades, needles, and gas; Kuroari, a specialized capture puppet with serrated arms designed to trap enemies within its torso; and Sanshouou, a heavily armored salamander-like puppet used for absolute defense. He combines Karasu and Kuroari to execute joint capture-and-impale techniques. Later, he repairs and incorporates the human puppet body of Sasori into his arsenal, utilizing its built-in flamethrowers and mechanical blades.
Background
Raised in Sunagakure as part of the Kazekage lineage, Kankurou studied puppet mechanisms from an early age. He first visited Konohagakure during the Chunin Exams as a Genin, engaging in a intense battle against Shino Aburame. Following Gaara's ascension to Kazekage, Kankurou was promoted to Jou nin, taking responsibility for village security and escorting his brother. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, he was appointed Captain of the Surprise Attack Division, where he confronted the reanimated Sasori and was entrusted with the legacy of puppetry and the iconic Mother and Father puppets.
Relationships
He is the younger brother of Temari and the elder brother of Gaara. Though originally intimidated by Gaara's unstable nature, he later rebuilt a relationship of strong trust and mutual respect with him. He works alongside Temari and their superior Baki to defend Sunagakure. Through his encounters with the legendary puppeteer Sasori and Chiyo, he gained their recognition as a worthy successor entrusted with inheriting their puppets and continuing the puppeteer craft.
Trivia
His name is derived from traditional Japanese kabuki theater performers. His favorite food is hamburger steak, while his least favorite is spinach. His preferred phrase is to never miss a good opportunity.