Kankuro is the middle child of the Fourth Kazekage, making him the older brother of Gaara and the younger brother of Temari, hailing from the hidden village of Sunagakure. As a member of the Kazekage clan, he was raised in a powerful shinobi family and, like his siblings, was initially considered as a potential host for the One-Tailed beast, Shukaku, though he was ultimately found to be incompatible. His early life was marked by a tense and fearful relationship with Gaara, who was isolated and feared by the village as a jinchuriki, leading Kankuro to regard his youngest brother as a dangerous monster. This dynamic caused a significant distance between them during their childhood.

In his youth, Kankuro trained to become a puppeteer, a specialized form of combat for which Sunagakure is renowned, even begging the legendary puppeteer Chiyo to take him as a student. He developed a cocky and proud demeanor, confident in his own abilities as a shinobi and quick to take offense at any insult to his fighting skills. Despite his initial arrogance, he demonstrated a practical side and a distaste for needless conflict, such as when he avoided a pointless battle with another team during the Chunin Exams because they already possessed the correct scroll. His primary motivation at this stage was to serve his village and prove his own strength, which included a childhood desire to one day become the Kazekage like his father.

Kankuro's role in the story evolves significantly alongside his relationship with Gaara. After Gaara is reformed through his encounter with Naruto Uzumaki, the brothers develop a deep and affectionate bond. Kankuro becomes fiercely protective of his younger sibling, transitioning from fearful older brother to Gaara’s most trusted bodyguard and close advisor. This loyalty is demonstrated when he rushes alone to rescue Gaara after the Kazekage is abducted by the Akatsuki, even knowing the mission is extremely dangerous. During this rescue attempt, he confronts the rogue Sunagakure puppeteer Sasori, a shinobi he once looked up to, and is gravely wounded and poisoned in the ensuing battle, muttering Gaara's name even while unconscious. Surviving thanks to the intervention of Team 7, this event solidifies his resolve. By the time of the Five Kage Summit, he acts as a formal bodyguard to Gaara, and during the Fourth Great Ninja War, he is promoted to the rank of jonin and given command of the Allied Shinobi Forces Surprise Attack Division, showcasing his growth into a respected leader.

As a puppeteer, Kankuro is an outstanding master of his craft. He controls his puppets using chakra threads and specializes in hit-and-run tactics and traps. His primary puppets include Karasu and Kuroari (the Black Ant), which he uses in combination, and later Sanshouo, which he acquires after the time skip. In keeping with Sunagakure's traditions, he coats his puppets' weapons in deadly poison to increase their lethality. His puppetry skills advance to the point where he is able to take control of Sasori’s own puppet body and use it against him, employing techniques such as a powerful flamethrower present in the original manga. A distinctive and notable aspect of his appearance is his face paint, which changes pattern with each new story arc; this is a deliberate design choice that references the changing makeup of actors in traditional kabuki theatre, with his signature purple color symbolizing nobility and loftiness. Over the course of his career as a shinobi, he successfully completed numerous high-rank missions, including twenty-three A-rank missions and one S-rank mission, reflecting his elite status.