OVA
Description
Kankurō, second eldest of Sunagakure's Three Sand Siblings and son of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Karura, witnessed his younger brother Gaara's uncontrollable power as the jinchūriki of Shukaku during childhood. This led him to see Gaara as a "monster," living in fear of Gaara's threats—a fear persisting into early adolescence where he avoided unnecessary proximity to his brother, especially during the Chunin Exams in Konoha. He displayed notable irritability toward younger children, exemplified by threatening Konohamaru after an accidental bump. His early ambition involved seeking training from the elder puppeteer Chiyo, who refused due to disinterest in the village's future.
Kankurō's relationship with Gaara transformed significantly after Gaara's defeat by Naruto Uzumaki. Shedding his fear, he became one of Gaara's most devoted protectors and confidants, supporting his brother's dream of becoming Kazekage. This loyalty manifested as fierce protectiveness; he openly challenged Sunagakure council members suggesting the village would be better off without Gaara and physically intervened against those insulting him. After Akatsuki captured Gaara, Kankurō pursued the captors alone despite orders to stand down. He confronted the Akatsuki member Sasori—a legendary puppeteer he once admired—but was poisoned and incapacitated during the battle. Unconscious, he murmured Gaara's name. Upon recovery, he immediately joined the rescue efforts and later thanked Konoha's Team 7 for saving Gaara. This unwavering dedication defined his character, extending into his role as Gaara's bodyguard and advisor.
As a shinobi, Kankurō specialized in puppet mastery, advancing from genin-level skills in Part I to jōnin in Part II. His initial arsenal included puppets originally crafted by Sasori, which he modified extensively: the offensive Karasu (Crow), the confinement and assassination-focused Kuroari (Black Ant), and the defensive Sanshouo (Salamander). Initially controlling one puppet at a time, he later honed the ability to manipulate multiple simultaneously. His tactical skill was demonstrated during the Sasuke Recovery Mission, using Karasu and Kuroari to kill Sakon and Ukon of the Sound Four, saving Kiba Inuzuka. Commanding the Surprise Attack Division in the Fourth Shinobi World War, he showcased leadership by coordinating ambushes, protecting allies like Zaji from explosions, and strategically deploying puppets against reanimated enemies such as Deidara and Sasori. In a pivotal moment, he disrupted Sasori's control over reanimated Hyūga clansmen using chakra threads, earning Sasori's acknowledgement before Sasori entrusted him with the "Father and Mother" puppets. Kankurō also displayed perceptiveness in non-combat situations, noticing subtle changes in his sister Temari's behavior others overlooked.
His appearance evolved: in Part I, he wore a traditional black Bunraku puppeteer suit with a hood featuring cat-like ears and triangular face paint. By Part II, his face paint shifted to a T-shaped design, and he adopted a black kimono-style outfit with a red sash, storing puppets in scrolls. During the Fourth War, he wore standard Sunagakure attire with an Allied Shinobi Forces insignia on his hood and reverted to cross-shaped face paint with broader lines. Outside missions, he collected and tinkered with puppets, dedicating hours to mechanical upgrades—a hobby reflected in his Infinite Tsukuyomi dream of creating the ultimate ninjutsu puppet.
Kankurō participated in key events beyond Sunagakure, including the Five Kage Summit as Gaara's bodyguard. There, he assisted in countering Sasuke Uchiha's attacks, using Sasori's puppetry techniques against him. In spin-offs like Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, he appeared as a veteran shinobi. His interactions with allies like Shikamaru Nara featured initial friction that gradually developed into mutual respect, partly due to their shared roles as advisors to Kage.
Kankurō's relationship with Gaara transformed significantly after Gaara's defeat by Naruto Uzumaki. Shedding his fear, he became one of Gaara's most devoted protectors and confidants, supporting his brother's dream of becoming Kazekage. This loyalty manifested as fierce protectiveness; he openly challenged Sunagakure council members suggesting the village would be better off without Gaara and physically intervened against those insulting him. After Akatsuki captured Gaara, Kankurō pursued the captors alone despite orders to stand down. He confronted the Akatsuki member Sasori—a legendary puppeteer he once admired—but was poisoned and incapacitated during the battle. Unconscious, he murmured Gaara's name. Upon recovery, he immediately joined the rescue efforts and later thanked Konoha's Team 7 for saving Gaara. This unwavering dedication defined his character, extending into his role as Gaara's bodyguard and advisor.
As a shinobi, Kankurō specialized in puppet mastery, advancing from genin-level skills in Part I to jōnin in Part II. His initial arsenal included puppets originally crafted by Sasori, which he modified extensively: the offensive Karasu (Crow), the confinement and assassination-focused Kuroari (Black Ant), and the defensive Sanshouo (Salamander). Initially controlling one puppet at a time, he later honed the ability to manipulate multiple simultaneously. His tactical skill was demonstrated during the Sasuke Recovery Mission, using Karasu and Kuroari to kill Sakon and Ukon of the Sound Four, saving Kiba Inuzuka. Commanding the Surprise Attack Division in the Fourth Shinobi World War, he showcased leadership by coordinating ambushes, protecting allies like Zaji from explosions, and strategically deploying puppets against reanimated enemies such as Deidara and Sasori. In a pivotal moment, he disrupted Sasori's control over reanimated Hyūga clansmen using chakra threads, earning Sasori's acknowledgement before Sasori entrusted him with the "Father and Mother" puppets. Kankurō also displayed perceptiveness in non-combat situations, noticing subtle changes in his sister Temari's behavior others overlooked.
His appearance evolved: in Part I, he wore a traditional black Bunraku puppeteer suit with a hood featuring cat-like ears and triangular face paint. By Part II, his face paint shifted to a T-shaped design, and he adopted a black kimono-style outfit with a red sash, storing puppets in scrolls. During the Fourth War, he wore standard Sunagakure attire with an Allied Shinobi Forces insignia on his hood and reverted to cross-shaped face paint with broader lines. Outside missions, he collected and tinkered with puppets, dedicating hours to mechanical upgrades—a hobby reflected in his Infinite Tsukuyomi dream of creating the ultimate ninjutsu puppet.
Kankurō participated in key events beyond Sunagakure, including the Five Kage Summit as Gaara's bodyguard. There, he assisted in countering Sasuke Uchiha's attacks, using Sasori's puppetry techniques against him. In spin-offs like Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, he appeared as a veteran shinobi. His interactions with allies like Shikamaru Nara featured initial friction that gradually developed into mutual respect, partly due to their shared roles as advisors to Kage.