Puppet (Naruto)

A puppet is a tool used by various shinobi in the manga and anime Naruto. With a puppet, a shinobi can attack using the puppet instead of endangering themselves.

History

The art of puppetry was first invented by the composer named Monzaemon Chikamatsu of Sunagakure. Originally used as a source of entertainment, Chikamatsu worked diligently with several shinobi to convert the talent in to a unique form of combat. After working hard he created the Puppet Technique, in which chakra strings are used to control puppets. Chiyo picked up where he left off, inheriting his ten puppet masterpieces. Her grandson, Sasori also picked up the art, and took it to new heights when he found a way to convert human beings into puppets, called human puppets ("Hitokugutsu"). Human puppets are able to use chakra and retain some of their original techniques, making them much more formidable than a regular puppet. After Sasori defected, Kankuro began using some of his older, non-human puppets, and became well known in his own right.

Basic information

Becoming a puppeteer is no simple task, and few throughout the world have been accredited the title of puppet master ("Kugutsushi"). Even though puppeteer shinobi are rare, they are very powerful and formidable opponents. While an ordinary shinobi risks his own life in battle, a puppeteer can hide in a safe location while his puppet does the work for him. Since puppets are usually equipped with an array of often-fatal INSTRUMENTS, this makes fighting a puppet much more dangerous than fighting a human.

Kankuro's puppets

Kankuro is a regular puppet master in the series. During the series, he has been seen with four puppets, three of which are now destroyed by Sasori, who created them. The fourth has not been revealed.

is the first puppet Kankuro is seen using. It resembles a human and is often disguised as Kankuro. He uses something similar to the Body Replacement Technique to switch himself for the disguised puppet in battle. He hides in the bandages that normally cover his puppet to surprise his opponents. Karasu has three pairs of legs and a head, and each part of its body contains various concealed weapons. Each part can also be controlled separately by its master. In addition, it has several extra arms, which hide concealed blades coated in poison. This puppet makes an excessive clicking noise whenever it moves.

is Kankuro's second puppet. Unlike Karasu, this puppet is not designed for attack. Instead, Kankuro uses it to trap his enemies by hiding it and maneuvering his opponents into it with Karasu. He can then kill his opponents at his leisure with either Black Secret Technique Machine One Shot or Black Secret Technique Machine Two Shot.

is Kankuro's third puppet, though he is never seen using it in battle. Sometime after the conclusion of Part I, he gains this puppet and begins summoning his puppets from scrolls instead of carrying them. Sasori destroys this puppet before its abilities are seen.

Sasori's puppets

Sasori uses puppets made from humans. He claims to have a collection of 298 human puppets, but only 103 of them are shown. These include himself, Hiruko, the Third Kazekage, and the hundred puppets he summons during his battle with Chiyo and Sakura.

Puppets used by Chiyo

Chiyo uses a select few puppets, none of which she actually created. Some were created by Sasori, while others were created by the original puppet master, Chikamatsu. She also converted her arm into a special shield in a manner similar to Sasori's conversion of himself into a puppet. She also controlled Sakura like a puppet in one instance.

and were Sasori's first human puppets, created from, or in the image of, his parents. These were probably left behind by him in the village, and are used against him.

The Chikamatsu Collection is summoned by Chiyo using White Secret Technique: Ten Puppet Collection of Chikamatsu. They were Chikamatsu's ten puppet masterpieces, and are effective enough to take an entire castle. Several work in unison, and even seem to use a ninjutsu technique. They are devastating in the right hands.

Puppets in Konoha

During the Find the Crimson Four-Leaf Clover OVA, Naruto and Konohamaru inadvertently activate a collection of automated puppets on the former grounds for the Chunin Exam. These puppets have no one controlling them, instead being animated by a stone placed in the middle of a grove.

In the Return of the Mizuki arc, Mizuki uses a similar puppet to attack Iruka, using a genjutsu to make it seem as if the puppet was an illusion.

Puppet weapons

Puppets are commonly equipped with an array of dangerous, and often poisonous weapons for the puppeteer to use in battle. These weapons tend to differ between battles, since puppeteers will switch them for other weapons based on the situation.

Kankuro's puppets

Karasu (Crow)

• Detachable limbs
• Extendable poisoned blades from limbs
• Poison gas launcher
• Poison-tipped Mouth Dagger
• Razor blade ribs
• Mouth kunai launcher
• Senbon launcher concealed in arm
• 3 Chest blades (only seen in Naruto: Ultimate ninja)
• Blade wings (only seen in Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2)

Kuroari (Black Ant)

• Saw blades on arms
• Large expanding chest cavity for capture
• Built-in scythe blades in chest cavity (Naruto the Movie 2)

Sasori's puppets

Hiruko

• Large poisoning "tongue" stinger.
• Mouth needle launcher
• Needle launching arm

Third Kazekage

• Iron Sand abilities
• Massive amount of summoning arms
• Many hidden bladed weapons
• Poison gas launcher

Sasori

• Large poisoned stomach cable that acts as a stinger
• Blade-equipped attached arms
• Flamethrowers in each real arm
• Scroll carrier on back

Hundred puppets

• Almost every weapon poisoned

Chiyo's puppets

Sasori's parents

• Arm fan for chakra shield
• [...] wires
• Hidden bladed weapons

Chikamatsu Puppets

• One: Extremely strong
• Two: Extremely tough body
• Three: Chakra-sealing orb in mouth which prevents opponent from using chakra
• Four : Forms the top portion of the Three Buddhist Treasures Vacuum Destruction technique with Six and Eight, bears the mark of "Buddha" in its mouth
• Five: Chakra blades, works with Nine
• Six: Forms the lower-left portion of the Three Buddhist Treasures Vacuum Destruction technique with Four and Eight, bears the mark of "Acts" in its mouth
• Seven: Large head-cleaving swords
• Eight: Forms the lower right portion of the Three Buddhist Treasures Vacuum Destruction technique with Four and Six, bears the mark of "Priest" in its mouth
• Nine: Works with Five, can extend its right hand on a chain to interlock with Five's left hand, then hurls Five at opponents
• Ten: Extending cords in skull which are used as piercing weapons