Shukaku

Shukaku, widely known as the One-Tail (一尾, Ichibi), is one of the nine powerful tailed beasts. It was last sealed within Gaara of Sunagakure, after being sealed in two other jinchūriki before him.

Background Young Bijuu and Hagoromo Shukaku and the tailed beasts first came into existence in the waning days of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. Using his Creation of All Things Technique, Hagoromo divided the Ten-Tails' chakra into nine separate bodies and gave each a name. Some time after being created, the Sage explained to the young tailed beasts that a link existed between them despite their separation. He also foretold of a day when they would be brought together again - though not as they were - and that at that time someone would emerge to show them what true power is. In the anime, before his death, Hagoromo sent Shukaku to live in a temple built for the purpose of protecting it in a desert region that would later become part of the Land of Wind.

Shukaku and Bunpuku Long before the First Shinobi World War, Shukaku was captured by disciples of a temple and kept in Sunagakure. The First Kazekage, who was invited along with other first Kage by Hashirama Senju into the first Five Kage Summit, attempted to use his possession of the tanuki as leverage to gain wealth for his nation, as opposed to gaining another tailed beast. Shukaku's first jinchūriki was a Suna priest named Bunpuku, who was locked away in a dungeon with the giant tea kettle and kept under constant guard. Over time, the citizens of Sunagakure came to believe that Shukaku itself was a living ghost (生霊, ikiryō) of a corrupted priest sealed inside a tea kettle. Despite the animosity the village showed for Shukaku and its host, the elderly priest held no ill-will towards the tanuki nor the villagers, viewing it as an equal and was content as long as Shukaku hadn't forgotten his name. Shukaku eventually came to appreciate Bunpuku and would later remember the words he imparted to it: that someday someone would appear in the world to teach it about the heart and acceptance. Shukaku had another jinchūriki who inspired the Third Kazekage to create his Iron Sand fighting style. Shukaku was eventually removed from their bodies, resulting in their respective deaths.

Gaara lost control When Karura became pregnant with Gaara, her husband, the Fourth Kazekage, had Chiyo seal Shukaku into Gaara while he was still in the womb because, out of his three children, Gaara was the only one compatible with the tailed beast. Before Karura died after giving birth, she passionately told her son that she would protect him, and, according to her husband, her love seeped into the sand and was noted to form his automatic defence. However, Gaara couldn't properly control Shukaku's powers, killing or injuring several of Suna's shinobi and citizens by accident. Shukaku would even cite its hatred toward humans, warning Gaara not to sleep too long if he didn't want to give Shukaku an opening. Deemed a failure, the Fourth Kazekage chose to test his son one last time, ordering Yashamaru to assassinate him and also tell him that his mother never loved him, and that she was used as a human sacrifice for the sealing process. Gaara failed the test, fully releasing the rampaging Shukaku, to which the Fourth eventually used his Gold Dust to subdue the tanuki.

Personality Shukaku and young Gaara

Shukaku threatening a young Gaara.

Shukaku is characterised as a childish and short-tempered individual, and often speaks in a bombastic and incoherent manner, giving it the demeanour of a drunkard. It uses "ore-sama" (オレ様, literally meaning: my esteemed self) when referring to itself, as it expresses great pride in its own abilities, especially its sealing techniques and defences. According to Gaara, prior to its introduction, Shukaku relishes the opportunity to kill anyone in sight, even more so during a full moon. Shukaku has also shown to harbour a bitter grudge towards Kurama due to the fox's beliefs that the tailed beasts' strength is measured by the number of tails, therefore viewing the tanuki as the weakest. Because of this, Shukaku strives to find any opportunity to surpass its arrogant rival.

Shukaku's hatred towards humans appears to stem from centuries of being viewed and treated as a monster that must either be destroyed or captured and weaponized. This led it to spark fear in whomever was its jinchūriki, reminding them that if they go into a deep sleep, the tanuki would possess their body and murder all humans; this resulted in Gaara's developing insomnia. Rude as Shukaku can be, it could still be respectful to those who show genuine respect and kindness to the tanuki, as seen from its original harsh attitude toward Bunpuku; when its jinchūriki treated the tanuki as an equal, an impressed Shukaku complimented him by comparing him to the Sage of Six Paths. Likewise, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, as Gaara defiantly fought to protect Shukaku from being sealed and openly thanked Shukaku for helping him find his path in life, Shukaku came to see Gaara in a similar light to Bunpuku and fought to protect Gaara just as earnestly.

Years after the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Shukaku's relationship with Sunagakure was relatively peaceful as it mellowed down. As with the other tailed beasts, Shukaku also came to respect Naruto as well, commenting on his son Boruto with interest when he displayed a similar drive. Shukaku is also not above developing affection, as after Naruto's daughter Himawari risked her own safety to save Shukaku, the tanuki began enjoying her company and when finally leaving, bid her a genuine and friendly goodbye.

Appearance Young Shukaku

A young Shukaku.

Shukaku is a sandy-brown coloured tanuki, with black (dark blue in the anime) cursed seal markings all over its face, body, and tail. It has a jagged, concave mouth with no tongue, and the sclerae of its eyes are black, with yellow irides and pupils that each takes the shape of a black four-pointed star with four black dots around it. During the last days of the Sage of Six Paths, Shukaku in its youth looked the basically same as it does presently, only much smaller with shorter ears and more spaced out markings.

Abilities See also: Jinchūriki Forms

Shukaku's Tailed Beast Ball

Shukaku creating a Tailed Beast Ball.

Shukaku is such a potential threat, that as a precaution, if its jinchūriki lost control and fully transformed into Shukaku inside of Suna, the villagers were to either evacuate beforehand or seek shelter due to the risk of mass casualty from its rampage. Shukaku's power is quite impressive to the likes of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, with Urashiki Ōtsutsuki expressing glee in taking it.

Physical and Chakra Prowess Shukaku has great physical strength while using its tail, as seen when overlapping it with the other tailed beasts to shatter and even obliterate a senjutsu-enhanced humanoid Susanoo. As a tailed beast, Shukaku possesses a large quantity of chakra. It also has powerful healing capacities, able to mend injuries in themselves and others in seconds. Likewise, Shukaku is effectively immortal, as when it dies, it will eventually revive, albeit in a younger form.

Ninjutsu Shukaku has the ability to control its jinchūriki whenever they sleep, leading its host to develop insomnia. Like the rest of its kind, Shukaku can also perform the Tailed Beast Ball. It is capable of performing fūinjutsu by using its natural cursed seal markings across its own sand body, which gives off a magnetic field to bind its targets. One of its techniques, the Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal, is strong enough to temporarily restrain and withstand powerful techniques, like the Susanoo.

Sand Manipulation Sabaku Sotaisu Fuin

Shukaku enforcing a fūinjutsu with its curse seal markings.

Shukaku's most notable ability is its sand manipulation, using it as an effective weapon and shield. Since its whole body is completely made of sand, the tanuki can ignore most damage that would otherwise be detrimental, as shown when it had one of its arms chopped off by Gamabunta and was still able to keep on fighting. Taking pride in its motto of absolute defence, Shukaku's sand is durable enough to block a senjutsu-enhanced Susanoo sword with ease.

Nature Transformation Shukaku's Wind Release

Shukaku using Wind Release.

Shukaku can use Wind and Earth Release nature transformations. It can rapidly fire wind bullets with enough force to level entire forests. Likewise, it can combine its wind abilities with Gaara's sand in order to produce a mass of fast-moving sand bullets. He could also charge these wind bullets to the point they could fire like a Tailed Beast Ball, and wipe out entire landscapes. Shukaku can combine wind and earth elements to use Magnet Release, and is the only tailed beast which can use cursed seals from its markings and infuse them into the Rasengan to create the Sage Art: Magnet Release Rasengan, which was powerful enough to restrain Madara Uchiha's shadow when he was the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki.

Part I Konoha Crush: In the Konoha Crush, Gaara fully transformed into Shukaku to fight Naruto, who summoned Gamabunta for support.

Gamabunta and Naruto used a giant fox form to restrain Shukaku and allowed Naruto to wake Gaara, weakening Shukaku.

Part II Sunagakure Support Mission: In the anime, Gaara's student Matsuri was kidnapped by the Four Celestial Symbols Men. Gaara partially transformed into Shukaku to rescue her and defeat Seimei.

Interlude: Two years after the Chūnin Exams, Gaara was attacked by Hōichi, who tried to extract Shukaku's chakra. Neji Hyūga intervened and stopped the extraction.

Kazekage Rescue Mission: Deidara and Sasori from the Akatsuki captured Gaara and extracted Shukaku from him. Gaara was resurrected by Chiyo's technique and retained his sand control.

Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki: Shukaku was freed from Obito's control along with other tailed beasts. Gaara helped free Shukaku, who recognized Naruto and reluctantly agreed to help fight Madara.

Tailed Beasts vs Madara: Shukaku and other tailed beasts fought Madara but were ultimately resealed by him. Gaara defended Shukaku, showing their evolving bond.

Tailed Beast Reunion: After Madara became the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, Shukaku was briefly sealed into Naruto but later helped him fight Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. After Kaguya's defeat, Sasuke initially imprisoned the tailed beasts, but Naruto freed them.

New Era Versus Momoshiki Arc: Shukaku contacted Gaara about losing contact with Gyūki and warned him of a bad feeling.

One-Tail Escort Arc: In the anime, Shukaku assisted Gaara in battling Urashiki Ōtsutsuki and later traveled to Konoha for safety. During this journey, Shukaku had various encounters, including interactions with Boruto, Shinki, and Himawari.

Kawaki Arc: In the anime, Shukaku and the other tailed beasts sensed Kurama's chakra disappearing after Kurama's sacrifice in battle.

First, let's discuss Shukaku's personality. It is characterized by a childish and short-tempered demeanor, often speaking in a bombastic and incoherent manner. This might be due to a sense of insecurity or a desire to assert its power, as it believes it is the weakest of the tailed beasts. Shukaku also exhibits a strong sense of pride, as evidenced by its frequent use of "ore-sama" (my esteemed self). This could be a defense mechanism to compensate for its perceived weakness and to maintain a sense of self-worth.

Shukaku's relationship with its jinchūriki is fascinating. With Bunpuku, it developed a bond after the elderly priest treated the tanuki as an equal. This demonstrates how Shukaku responds positively to kindness and respect. However, the tanuki's relationship with Gaara was initially hostile, with Shukaku reminding him of the potential danger of sleeping too long, which led Gaara to develop insomnia. This shows Shukaku's tendency to use fear and manipulation to assert control over its host.

Now, let's discuss its hatred towards humans. Shukaku's resentment towards the human world stems from centuries of being viewed and treated as a monster. This has shaped its worldview and contributes to its aggressive and destructive behavior. By hating humans, Shukaku can justify its actions and maintain its self-image as a powerful, untamed force.

Shukaku's relationship with Kurama, the Nine-Tails, is another interesting aspect to consider. Their rivalry seems to be rooted in Kurama's belief that the strength of the tailed beasts is measured by the number of tails. This has led Shukaku to constantly strive to surpass Kurama, perhaps as a means of proving its own worth and challenging the status quo.

In the later parts of the series, Shukaku's personality mellows down, and it forms a more harmonious relationship with Sunagakure and its jinchūriki, Gaara. This change could be attributed to Gaara's growth and his ability to better control the tanuki, as well as the tanuki's own experiences and interactions with others.

Finally, let's consider Shukaku's relationship with Naruto. As with the other tailed beasts, Shukaku comes to respect Naruto and his unwavering determination. This respect could be due to Naruto's ability to understand and empathize with the tailed beasts, something that Shukaku has rarely experienced in its long existence.