TV-Series
Description
Kisame Hoshigaki is a missing-nin from Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist, and a former member of its legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He later becomes a high-ranking member of the Akatsuki organization, where he is partnered with Itachi Uchiha.
Kisame has a distinctly inhuman appearance that draws comparisons to a shark. He has pale blue skin, small white pupils with no visible irises, sharp triangular teeth, and three gill-like slits on each side of his face. His hair is long and dark blue, often styled in a way that covers much of his face. He stands at a very tall 195 centimeters and possesses a muscular, imposing physique. He wears the standard Akatsuki cloak, a dark, long-sleeved coat with red clouds, and a large straw hat when traveling. On his left ring finger, he wears a ring bearing the character for "South". His primary weapon is Samehada, a massive, sentient sword covered in scales that shaves rather than cuts and has the unique ability to absorb chakra.
His background is steeped in the harsh, brutal culture of Kirigakure. As a young shinobi, Kisame served under Fuguki Suikazan, also a member of the Seven Swordsmen. During a mission where his unit was cornered by enemy ninja from Konoha, the captured members were at risk of having vital intelligence extracted. Following orders from Fuguki, Kisame killed all his comrades to prevent this, an act that began to disillusion him. Later, he discovered that Fuguki himself was selling secrets to enemy villages. Viewing his superior as a traitor, Kisame killed Fuguki and took Samehada for himself, becoming a new member of the Seven Swordsmen. Even after this, the trauma of his past actions left him feeling hollow and living a lie. This was the state he was in when he was approached by a man calling himself Madara Uchiha, who was secretly controlling the Fourth Mizukage. Madara shared his plan, the Eye of the Moon, a scheme to cast a genjutsu over the entire world to create a reality without deception. The idea of a "world of truth" resonated deeply with Kisame, leading him to become one of the earliest and most loyal members of Akatsuki. He later became an S-rank missing-nin from the Land of Water, accused of plotting to overthrow its government and assassinating a daimyo.
Kisame's personality is a mix of brutal pragmatism and a surprising degree of introspection. He is aggressive and battle-loving, often suggesting violent solutions, such as cutting off a child's legs to prevent escape. Despite this, he is far more controlled and patient than other impulsive members of Akatsuki. He is known to follow orders without question, especially those from his partner, Itachi. He carries a philosophy shaped by his bloody past; he once told his partner that "those who kill their comrades die unsightly deaths". However, his driving motivation is his deep-seated hatred for lies and his quest for a genuine reality, which is what drew him to Madara's plan. This makes him a uniquely faithful agent of the organization, not just for power but for a twisted ideal.
In the story, Kisame primarily serves as an enforcer, tasked with capturing the powerful jinchuriki who host the tailed beasts. He and Itachi are first shown infiltrating Konohagakure to capture the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, where they clash with several elite jonin. Later, he is instrumental in capturing the Four-Tails' jinchuriki, Roshi. His most significant solo mission comes after Itachi's death, when he is sent to capture the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki, Killer Bee. In a brutal fight, Kisame overwhelms Bee by using Samehada to drain his immense chakra, a feat that earns him victory. Rather than killing Bee, he infiltrates the Cloud Village by hiding inside Samehada to gather intelligence on the Allied Shinobi Forces' battle plans.
Kisame's key relationships define his character arc. His partnership with Itachi Uchiha is the most important. While initially hostile with one another due to their mutual reputations, they develop a deep, unspoken respect. Kisame is fiercely loyal to Itachi, readily following his orders to retreat from a fight. He does not know Itachi's secret mission as a spy for Konoha, but he respects his partner's strength and perspective. In turn, Itachi shows subtle signs of caring for Kisame, such as a fleeting moment of sadness when learning of his death. Another significant relationship is his rivalry with Might Guy of Konoha. Kisame holds a petty grudge because Guy, after kicking him in the face during the first invasion, repeatedly forgets his name. This frustration fuels their final confrontation, where Guy is forced to open the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates technique to defeat him. In his dying moments, Kisame finally earns Guy's recognition, as the jonin vows to never forget his name.
Kisame undergoes a consistent but tragic development. His loyalty never wavers, and his belief in a world without lies remains absolute. After being captured by Guy, he knows he will be interrogated and could betray Akatsuki. To prevent this and protect Madara's plan, he commits suicide by summoning sharks to devour him, ensuring his secrets die with him. In his final moments, he reflects on Itachi's words, accepting his identity and his end, having finally found a singular truth to live and die for.
His notable abilities are exceptional. He is known as the Tailed Beast Without a Tail because his chakra reserves are comparable to that of a jinchuriki. As a master of Water Release techniques, he can create massive volumes of water from nothing, transforming any battlefield into a terrain that favors him. His true power, however, is centered on Samehada. The sword can absorb any amount of chakra from an opponent, weakening them while transferring energy to Kisame to heal his wounds and replenish his own supply. He can also fuse with Samehada, transforming into a monstrous, shark-like creature with enhanced speed, strength, and the ability to breathe underwater. In this fused state, he creates a massive water dome to trap enemies, a technique he used to corner Killer Bee and from which there is no escape for the unassisted opponent.
Kisame has a distinctly inhuman appearance that draws comparisons to a shark. He has pale blue skin, small white pupils with no visible irises, sharp triangular teeth, and three gill-like slits on each side of his face. His hair is long and dark blue, often styled in a way that covers much of his face. He stands at a very tall 195 centimeters and possesses a muscular, imposing physique. He wears the standard Akatsuki cloak, a dark, long-sleeved coat with red clouds, and a large straw hat when traveling. On his left ring finger, he wears a ring bearing the character for "South". His primary weapon is Samehada, a massive, sentient sword covered in scales that shaves rather than cuts and has the unique ability to absorb chakra.
His background is steeped in the harsh, brutal culture of Kirigakure. As a young shinobi, Kisame served under Fuguki Suikazan, also a member of the Seven Swordsmen. During a mission where his unit was cornered by enemy ninja from Konoha, the captured members were at risk of having vital intelligence extracted. Following orders from Fuguki, Kisame killed all his comrades to prevent this, an act that began to disillusion him. Later, he discovered that Fuguki himself was selling secrets to enemy villages. Viewing his superior as a traitor, Kisame killed Fuguki and took Samehada for himself, becoming a new member of the Seven Swordsmen. Even after this, the trauma of his past actions left him feeling hollow and living a lie. This was the state he was in when he was approached by a man calling himself Madara Uchiha, who was secretly controlling the Fourth Mizukage. Madara shared his plan, the Eye of the Moon, a scheme to cast a genjutsu over the entire world to create a reality without deception. The idea of a "world of truth" resonated deeply with Kisame, leading him to become one of the earliest and most loyal members of Akatsuki. He later became an S-rank missing-nin from the Land of Water, accused of plotting to overthrow its government and assassinating a daimyo.
Kisame's personality is a mix of brutal pragmatism and a surprising degree of introspection. He is aggressive and battle-loving, often suggesting violent solutions, such as cutting off a child's legs to prevent escape. Despite this, he is far more controlled and patient than other impulsive members of Akatsuki. He is known to follow orders without question, especially those from his partner, Itachi. He carries a philosophy shaped by his bloody past; he once told his partner that "those who kill their comrades die unsightly deaths". However, his driving motivation is his deep-seated hatred for lies and his quest for a genuine reality, which is what drew him to Madara's plan. This makes him a uniquely faithful agent of the organization, not just for power but for a twisted ideal.
In the story, Kisame primarily serves as an enforcer, tasked with capturing the powerful jinchuriki who host the tailed beasts. He and Itachi are first shown infiltrating Konohagakure to capture the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, where they clash with several elite jonin. Later, he is instrumental in capturing the Four-Tails' jinchuriki, Roshi. His most significant solo mission comes after Itachi's death, when he is sent to capture the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki, Killer Bee. In a brutal fight, Kisame overwhelms Bee by using Samehada to drain his immense chakra, a feat that earns him victory. Rather than killing Bee, he infiltrates the Cloud Village by hiding inside Samehada to gather intelligence on the Allied Shinobi Forces' battle plans.
Kisame's key relationships define his character arc. His partnership with Itachi Uchiha is the most important. While initially hostile with one another due to their mutual reputations, they develop a deep, unspoken respect. Kisame is fiercely loyal to Itachi, readily following his orders to retreat from a fight. He does not know Itachi's secret mission as a spy for Konoha, but he respects his partner's strength and perspective. In turn, Itachi shows subtle signs of caring for Kisame, such as a fleeting moment of sadness when learning of his death. Another significant relationship is his rivalry with Might Guy of Konoha. Kisame holds a petty grudge because Guy, after kicking him in the face during the first invasion, repeatedly forgets his name. This frustration fuels their final confrontation, where Guy is forced to open the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates technique to defeat him. In his dying moments, Kisame finally earns Guy's recognition, as the jonin vows to never forget his name.
Kisame undergoes a consistent but tragic development. His loyalty never wavers, and his belief in a world without lies remains absolute. After being captured by Guy, he knows he will be interrogated and could betray Akatsuki. To prevent this and protect Madara's plan, he commits suicide by summoning sharks to devour him, ensuring his secrets die with him. In his final moments, he reflects on Itachi's words, accepting his identity and his end, having finally found a singular truth to live and die for.
His notable abilities are exceptional. He is known as the Tailed Beast Without a Tail because his chakra reserves are comparable to that of a jinchuriki. As a master of Water Release techniques, he can create massive volumes of water from nothing, transforming any battlefield into a terrain that favors him. His true power, however, is centered on Samehada. The sword can absorb any amount of chakra from an opponent, weakening them while transferring energy to Kisame to heal his wounds and replenish his own supply. He can also fuse with Samehada, transforming into a monstrous, shark-like creature with enhanced speed, strength, and the ability to breathe underwater. In this fused state, he creates a massive water dome to trap enemies, a technique he used to corner Killer Bee and from which there is no escape for the unassisted opponent.