Land of Sound
The Land of Sound (音の国, Oto no Kuni) is a geographical feature in the Naruto anime and manga series. It was likely named after the Otogakure, (音隠れの里, "Otogakure no Sato", a.k.a. "Village Hidden in the Sound") which Orochimaru founded, and both refer to what could be considered as one political entity.
The Land of Sound, along with Otogakure, is relatively new and was founded by Orochimaru. It conspired with the Kaze no Kuni to launch a surprise attack and hopefully destroy Land of Fire. Instead of using elemental jutsu, the Sound ninja use sonic-based jutsu, often augmented by various devices.
In the anime, the country in which Orochimaru established his village is named the "Land of Rice Fields" or "Rice Field Country" (田の国, Ta no Kuni). It is possible that Orochimaru renamed it after taking over.
Otogakure
- Name: Otogakure (音隠れの里, Otogakure no Sato, a.k.a. "Village Hidden in the Sound")
- Leader: Orochimaru
Otogakure was founded by Orochimaru as a part of the Land of Sound, and is run by him. Not much is known about it: what is certain is that it actually consisted of a series of lairs, located both within Sound country and away from it, and was rotated every week. Other than that, and the fact that its ninja specialize in techniques involving manipulation of sound waves, as well as using a cursed seal to increase their power, little else is known about it. Although he is the leading ninja of Otogakure, Orochimaru isn't a Kage, despite his equivalent power level. The reason for this is because the five Kages of the five great Hidden Villages don't acknowledge Otogakure.
Villagers
Orochimaru
Orochimaru is the leader of the village and country. Though he is not a Kage (the other villages do not recognize him as an equal), he has been nicknamed the Otokage (Sound Shadow) by fans due to his Kage-level power and knowledge. Orochimaru is also one of the Legendary Three from the Hidden Leaf Village. Though he is essentially the military dictator of the Sound village, he does not live in it. For most of the series, he is seen using a secret underground base as his headquarters. After Sasuke joins him, Kabuto mentions that they move into a new base every week.
Uchiha Sasuke
Though originally a member of the Hidden Leaf Village, Sasuke has since joined Orochimaru in his quest to become more powerful.
Yakushi Kabuto
Orochimaru's right-hand man, though Kabuto may not have true loyalty to Orochimaru.
Sound Four
The Sound Four (Otogakure no Shinobi Yonin Shū, 音隠れの忍四人衆, "Hidden Sound Shinobi Four People") are Orochimaru's elite bodyguards (Sakon and Ukon are counted as one entity). They are specialists in barrier jutsu and each has a cursed seal. Each one also has a cardinal direction associated with them; this is probably a reference to their positions when performing jutsu as a group. They were all defeated and killed by Naruto's friends in the Sasuke Retrieval arc. It is unknown if Orochimaru has replaced them yet. Kaguya Kimimaro was a part of the group for a short time (making them the Sound Five), since he was stronger than all four put together and was intended to be Orochimaru's next host, but an unexpected illness prevented him from participating normally.
Jirōbō
- Name: 次郎坊
- Age: 14 (deceased)2
- Rank: Genin
- Height: 181.3 cm2
- Weight: 97.3 kg2
- Birthday: June 26
- Blood Type: B
- Gate: Nanmon, 南門, "Southern Gate"
- Affiliation: Sound Four
- Seiyu: Kenta Miyake
- Signature abilities: Rakanken (Achiever of Nirvana Fist), Doton Kekkai: Dorōdōmu (Earth Release Barrier: Dungeon Chamber of Nothingness), Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment), Chakura Kyūin Jutsu (Chakra Absorption Technique), Shikokumujin (Four Black Fog Battle Formation), Doton: Doroku Gaeshi (Earth Release: Earth Shore Return), Doton: Doryū Dango (Earth Release: Earth Mausoleum Dumpling), Kekkai Hōjin (Barrier Encampment Method)
Jirōbō's fighting style consists mostly of basic physical strikes supplemented with the ability to use his chakra to hold the earth solid. His physical strength is unbelievable, and he is even able to hold up a mountain-sized Akimichi Chōji when in Level 2 cursed seal form. He tears boulder-sized chunks of dirt out of the ground to throw, creates barriers by tearing up massive sheets of rock, and can apparently drain chakra with his Doton Kekkai: Dorōdōmu jutsu. He dislikes it when Tayuya badmouths him and he always criticizes her when she does. When in Level 2 cursed seal form, his skin becomes red, his hair becomes a mane down his back, his eyes turn black, and he gains ten times his normal strength. He is killed by Akimichi Chōji when he used the Chodan Bakugeki(Bullet Butterfly Bombing)during the Sasuke Retrieval arc. According to the other members of the Sound Four, Jirōbō is the weakest member of the group (though he is clearly physically the strongest).
As he uses a variety of earth techniques, and as Orochimaru often recruits ninja from other villages, it is possible he came from the Hidden Rock Village.
Kidōmaru
- Name: 鬼童丸
- Age: 14 (deceased)2
- Rank: Genin
- Height: 159.2 cm2
- Weight: 56.2 kg2
- Birthday: December 16
- Blood Type: A
- Gate: Tōmon, 東門, "Eastern Gate"
- Affiliation: Sound Four
- Seiyu: Susumu Chiba
- Signature abilities: Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique) (Spiders), Amagumo (Rain of Spiders), Kumo Shibari (Spider Bind), Kumo Mayu (Spider Cocoon), Kumo Nento (Spider Sticking Spit), Kumo Nenkin (Spider Sticky Gold), Kumo Senkyū: Susaku (Spider War Bow: Terrible Split), Kumo Sōiki (Spider Web Area), Kumo Sōka (Spider Web Flower), Kumo Sōkai (Spider Web Unfold), Nenkin no Yoroi (Armour of Sticky Gold), Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment), Shikokumujin (Four Black Fog Battle Formation), Konbi Henge (Combination Transformation), Kekkai Hōjin (Barrier Encampment Method)
Kidōmaru's skills are spider-like; he possesses six arms, and the ability to make webs. He enjoys playing with his enemies before he kills them. If his spider like abilities aren't enough, he is an excellent tactical analyzer capable of figuring out his enemy's weak point quickly and efficiently. Kidōmaru uses his webs to protect the Sound Four and Orochimaru. The webs can be used both defensively and offensively. He makes his webs through a special type of liquid that is created by infusing body liquid with chakra. He can also harden this substance at will, into a golden metallic solid. He can also make the golden metallic solid from his sweat glands. This hardened material can be fabricated into body armor, kunai, or his especially deadly bow and arrow. His abilities are not kekkei genkai, but clan-related. The name of his clan is unknown. When in level 2 cursed seal form, he becomes even more spider-like. His skin becomes darker, he grows long, white hair, and even gains a third eye. He also gains the ability to control the path of his arrows with chakra. He is defeated and killed by Hyūga Neji during the Sasuke Retrieval arc.
Sakon
- Name: 左近
- Age: 14 (deceased)2
- Rank: Genin
- Height: 155.1 cm2
- Weight: 45 kg2
- Birthday: June 20
- Blood Type: AB
- Gate: Seimon, 西門, "Western Gate"
- Affiliation: Sound Four
- Seiyu: Shunsuke Sakuya
- Signature abilities: Souma no Kou ("Attack of an Evil Spirit Pair"), Tarenken (Multiple Connecting Punches), Tarenkyaku (Multiple Connecting Kicks), Sōma no Kō (Double Demon Attack), Kuchiyose: Rashōmon (Summoning: Rashōmon), Fūkoku Hōin (Black Sealing Method), Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment), Shikokumujin (Four Black Fog Battle Formation), Konbi Henge (Combination Transformation), Kekkai Hōjin (Barrier Encampment Method)
Sakon is very twisted and enjoys bad-mouthing the opposition. He possesses amazing power and speed, but these are not the only things he has at his disposal. From behind, one can see what appears to be another head hanging from his back. This is his older brother, Ukon. Due to their unique kekkei genkai, Ukon is able to merge his body with Sakon's. Ukon generally stays asleep in Sakon's body unless needed in combat, effectively doubling the strength of Sakon's physical attacks. Each brother can independently activate a curse seal. In his Level 2 cursed seal form, he takes on the apppearance of an ogre, with the exception of only having one horn on his left side. This gives him increased healing abilities and armor. He (along with Ukon) fights Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru during the Sasuke Retrieval arc, and nearly defeats them. However, Kiba and Akamaru are rescued by Kankurō, who apparently kills both him and Ukon.
Trivia
- Both Sakon and Ukon's names are also the names of the two connected sticks of a nunchaku.
- The way to tell Sakon apart from his twin brother Ukon is that Sakon's hair falls to the left, while Ukon's falls to the right. Also, Sakon wears a necklace of beads, and Ukon does not.
- Sakon means 'left', while Ukon means 'right'.
Ukon
- Name: 右近
- Age: 14 (deceased)2
- Rank: Genin
- Height: 155.1 cm2
- Weight: 45 kg2
- Birthday: June 20
- Blood Type: AB
- Gate: Seimon, 西門, "Western Gate" (since he shares Sakon's body, he shares his gate as well)
- Affiliation: Sound Four
- Seiyu: Shunsuke Sakuya
- Signature abilities: Souma no Kou ("Attack of an Evil Spirit Pair"), Kisei Kikai no Jutsu (Parasite Demon Demolition Technique), Tarenken (Multiple Connecting Punches), Tarenkyaku (Multiple Connecting Kicks), Sōma no Kō (Double Demon Attack), Konbi Henge (Combination Transformation), Kuchiyose: Rashōmon (Summoning: Rashōmon)
Ukon generally stays within Sakon's body unless needed in combat. It is suggested that he cannot remain outside of Sakon for very long, since he cites the need to rest after a short battle apart from his brother. He seems to be more impatient than his brother, as seen when he tells Sakon to finish Kiba quickly and activate his Level 2 cursed seal when Sakon wanted to play around more. When he comes out, he effectively doubles the strength of Sakon's physical attacks. Similarly to how he lives inside Sakon's body, Ukon can use his kekkei genkai ability to enter and slowly destroy an opponent's body. Each brother can independently activate a cursed seal. In his Level 2 cursed seal form, he takes on the apppearance of an ogre, with the exception of only having one horn on his right side. This gives him increased healing abilities and armor, and also allows him to remain apart from Sakon for a longer period of time. He (along with Sakon) fights Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru during the Sasuke Retrieval arc, and nearly defeats them. However, Kiba and Akamaru are rescued by Kankurō, who apparently kills both him and Sakon.
Tayuya
- Name: 多由也
- Age: 14 (deceased)
- Rank: Genin
- Height: 148.2 cm
- Weight: 38.2 kg
- Birthday: February 15
- Blood Type: A
- Gate: Hokumon, 北門, "Northern Gate"
- Affiliation: Sound Four
- Seiyu: Akeno Watanabe
- Signature abilities: Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique) ({Doki (Angry Demons)}, Mateki: Mugen'onsa (Demonic Flute: Dream Sound Chain), Mateki: Genbusō Kyoku (Demon Flute: Illusionary Warriors Manipulating Melody), Makyō no Ran (War of Evil Men), Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment), Shikokumujin (Four Black Fog Battle Formation), Konbi Henge (Combination Transformation), Kekkai Hōjin (Barrier Encampment Method)
Tayuya is the kunoichi of Orochimaru's Sound Four. She is foul-mouthed and ill-tempered, but very powerful. Her main weapon is her flute. With it, she can summon three powerful demons and control them to fight for her. Tayuya is very intelligent and can think of excellent strategies and battle tactics. She can also perform genjutsu with her flute. Her preference for sound-based, long-range combat with her flute makes her vulnerable at close-range combat. When in Level 2 cursed seal form, her hair grows longer, her skin turns dark brown, and she grows several horns on her head. She was killed by Nara Shikamaru and Temari during the Sasuke Retrieval arc.
Kaguya Kimimaro
- Name: かぐや君麻呂
- Age: 15 (deceased)2
- Rank: Genin
- Height: 166.1 cm2
- Weight: 49.8 kg2
- Birthday: June 15
- Blood Type: A
- Gate: None
- Affiliation: Sound Four
- Seiyu: Toshiyuki Morikawa
- Signature abilities: Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), Tsubaki no Mai (Dance of the Camellia), Tessenka no Mai: Hana (Dance of the Clematis: Flower), Tessenka no Mai: Tsuru (Dance of the Clematis: Vine), Karamatsu no Mai (Dance of the Larch), Yanagi no Mai (Dance of the Willow), Sawarabi no Mai (Dance of the Seedling Fern), Teshi Sendan (Finger Bullet Drill)
Kimimaro is the fifth member of the Sound Four, thus temporarily changing their group name to the Sound Five. The original four were forced to accept him, despite their protests, as Kimimaro's combat abilities exceeded all of their abilities combined. He was the sole survivor of the Kaguya Clan (Kaguya Ichizoku, かぐや一族), who could manipulate their bodies' skeletal frame. The Kaguya clan was wiped out when they attacked the Hidden Mist Village and were slaughtered. Kimimaro was the most powerful member of this clan, so he was locked away in a steel cage for most of his life, only released occasionally when needed to fight other clans. He retreated from the fight with the Hidden Mist Village, which is why he is the only survivor. He is well suited for close combat fighting, and can hold his own at a distance. Since he can regenerate and make new bones, he has an endless supply of bones he can use against his opponent. Kimimaro's only weakness is the sickness that he constantly suffers from (possibly tuberculosis, because of his bloody coughing). The sickness seems to have been recently developed, as he was once a prime candidate for Orochimaru's next host. He has a strong devotion towards Orochimaru, as Orochimaru was the only person to care for and inspire him. When in his Level 2 cursed seal form, his appearance is similar to that of a dinosaur, with dark grey skin and a long bony tail, while remaining bipedal.
Kimimaro died in his fight with Rock Lee and Gaara. While he was evidently more powerful than Gaara, who appeared as a result of renewed relations between the Hidden Sand and Hidden Leaf villages, he succumbed to his illness just before finishing off Gaara in a surprise attack. Gaara came to the conclusion after the fight that no one can defeat loneliness, even if it means to care for an evil person like Orochimaru. Gaara comments that Kimimaro has the same eyes as Sasuke, which say (so to speak) "I want to confirm the value of my existence."
Kimimaro is much like Haku, even to the point that young Haku says that he had the same eyes when they once met during childhood in the anime. It is evident that he is a bit older than Haku.
While belonging to a clan that loves killing, murder, and slaughtering, as well as being the most powerful of this clan, Kimimaro is not truly violent because he never really knew the outside world. Thus, he does not know why he really fights (until he meets Orochimaru). He always wondered what really was accomplished through the fighting he knew. It may be the reason why he retreated from the final battle of his war-loving clan and the Hidden Mist Village. Somewhat like Uchiha Itachi, Kimimaro does not show much of any emotion; such as his last few moments in the fight against Gaara, which may indicate there is somewhat of a connection between the two (in personality).
Other villagers
Numerous other residents of the Hidden Sound Village, as well as the Land of Sound in general, have been seen, but don't play an especially large role in events.
Gen'yūmaru
- Name: 幻幽丸
- Age: 17 (deceased, in a sense)2
- Rank: ?
- Height: 172 cm2
- Weight: 57.3 kg2
- Birthday: July 27
- Blood Type: B
Gen'yūmaru is Orochimaru's current body. He was told to have a fight to the death with the others that Orochimaru had kept captive, and the winner would be able to go free. Gen'yūmaru defeated and massacred them all, only to find out that he was the next vessel for Orochimaru. As his last wish, he asked for his clan to be released, which were being held captive for Orochimaru's experiments. It is unknown if this request was ever granted. Orochimaru comments that part of Gen'yūmaru would remain within Orochimaru after the transfer, so he is still alive, in a sense.
Fūma Clan
The Fūma clan (ふうま一族, Fūma Ichizoku) is a shinobi clan from the Land of the Rice Fields. Some of their most powerful members were tricked by Orochimaru, who promised to restore their clan status, and were used in his kinjutsu development experiments.
Arashi
- Name: アラシ
- Age: ? (deceased?)
- Rank: Jōnin5
- Height: ?
- Weight: ?
- Birthday: ?
- Blood Type: ?
- Affiliation: Fūma clan
- Signature abilities: Jibaku Mandara (Self-Destruction Mandala), Shisha Kugutsu (Casualty Puppet)
Arashi is the leader of the Fūma shinobi who were under Orochimaru's command, and lost his mind after mastering and constantly using the Shisha Kugutsu to absorb his comrades of the Fūma clan in order to become more powerful. That same jutsu proved to be his ultimate doom, though he was able to return to his old self at the very end. It is unknown whether he died, but it is implied that he is crushed when Orochimaru's lair caves in, as his feet are stuck to the ground by the remnants of his Shisha Kugutsu. He also notes that leaving the lair would result in his death.
Hanzaki
- Name: ハンザキ
- Age: ?
- Rank: ?
- Height: ?
- Weight: ?
- Birthday: ?
- Blood Type: ?
- Registration #: ?
- Affiliation: Fūma clan
- Signature ability: Fūma Nin-ken Zanbatou (Fūma Nin-Sword Horse Slayer)
Hanzaki is the leader of the Fūma clan's members who were not seduced by Orochimaru's power, and is a strong melee combat-based shinobi who fights with a giant blade called Zanbatō. After the incident in Orochimaru's lair, Sasame was placed under his care by Jiraiya.
Jigumo
- Name: ジグモ
- Age: ? (deceased?)
- Rank: Jōnin5
- Height: ?
- Weight: ?
- Birthday: ?
- Blood Type: ?
- Affiliation: Fūma clan
- Signature abilities: Kazagumo (Windmill Cloud), Utsusemi no Jutsu (Projection Technique)
Jigumo was one of the members of the Fūma clan who were betrayed by Orochimaru. He was one of a three-member group who guarded Orochimaru's base in the Land of the Rice Fields. Later, he was absorbed by Arashi's secret kinjutsu along with one of his comrades.
Like Kidōmaru, Jigumo used spiders and spider webs in combat and for scouting, though his skills are not on the same level.
Kagerō
- Name: カゲロウ
- Age: ? (deceased?)
- Rank: Jōnin5
- Height: ?
- Weight: ?
- Birthday: ?
- Blood Type: ?
- Affiliation: Fūma clan
- Signature abilities: Daijigoku no Jutsu (Big Hell Technique), Doton: Dochū Eigyo no Jutsu (Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique), Katon: Kasumi Engo no Jutsu (Fire Release: Covering Mist Technique), Chakra Ito: Shinzou (Chakra Strings: Heart), Utakata (Ephemeral Vengeance)
Kagerō was one of the members of the Fūma clan who were betrayed by Orochimaru. She was one of a three-member group who guarded Orochimaru's base in the Land of the Rice Fields. Though she was actually a young girl, she constantly disguised herself as a member of the opposite sex. Kagero died during a fight with Naruto while disguised as Kabuto.
Kamikiri
- Name: カミキリ
- Age: ? (deceased?)
- Rank: Jōnin5
- Height: ?
- Weight: ?
- Birthday: ?
- Blood Type: ?
- Affiliation: Fūma clan
- Signature ability: Giant pincers
Kamikiri was one of the members of the Fūma clan who were betrayed by Orochimaru. He was one of a three-member group who guarded Orochimaru's base in the Land of the Rice Fields. Later, he was absorbed by Arashi's Shisha Kugutsu along with Jigumo.
Sasame
- Name: ササメ
- Age: ?
- Rank: ?
- Height: ?
- Weight: ?
- Birthday: ?
- Blood Type: ?
- Registration #: ?
- Affiliation: Fūma clan
- Signature ability: Makibishi
Sasame is a young kunoichi of the Fūma clan. In search for her older cousin, Arashi, she helped Naruto, Jiraiya, and Sakura find Orochimaru's lair in the Land of the Rice Fields. Naruto also developed a small crush on her. After the incident, she decided to join forces with the remaining members of the Fūma clan to rebuild the clan's former glory.
Kabuto's team
Kabuto's Jōnin sensei
Yakushi Kabuto, Akadō Yoroi and Tsurugi Misumi are a three-man genin team that entered the exam. It is unknown whether or not they had a Jōnin in charge of their team. Since all the other teams had a sensei, it would stand to reason that they do as well. If they had a Jōnin sensei, it is unknown whether or not this person was loyal to Orochimaru, or if he was a normal shinobi. During the preliminaries battles of the third stage of the Chūnin exam, all the Jōnin sensei are standing on a platform behind the Hokage. Among them is an unnamed, Leaf Village Jōnin (pictured to the right) whose attire is similar to that of Kabuto and his team. Given that all the other Jōnin present were assigned to the other teams, this would mean that this particular Jōnin is the leader (whether in actuality or simply as a ruse) of Kabuto's team. As none of Kabuto's team makes it to the third exam, no further info was made available regarding who their Jōnin was, or if he may have been cooperating with Orochimaru. This Jōnin appears again in the Naruto anime during the Third Hokage's funeral, standing next to Kamizuki Izumo, Hagane Kotetsu, and Uzuki Yugao, but this is not seen in the manga. This makes the canonicity of his appearance questionable.
Akadō Yoroi
- Name: 赤胴ヨロイ
- Age: 23 (deceased?) 1
- Rank: Genin1
- Height: 180 cm1
- Weight: 70 kg1
- Birthday: February 21
- Blood Type: O
- Seiyu: Takuya Kirimoto
- Voice Actor: Grant George
- Signature Ability: Chakura Kyūin Jutsu (Chakra Absorption Technique), Magen: Jigoku Kōka no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Descending Hell Technique), Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu (Art of the Water Doppelganger), Suiton: Daibakure no Jutsu (Water Release: Huge Explosion Technique)
Akadō Yoroi is a part of the three-man team of ninja from the Hidden Sound Village posing as ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village, along with Yakushi Kabuto and Tsurugi Misumi. He possesses the ability (possibly a Kekkei genkai, although its true nature is unknown) to absorb his opponents' chakra through close physical contact. He used this ability against Uchiha Sasuke during the preliminary matches of the third stage of the Chūnin exam, making it very difficult for Sasuke to keep his cursed seal under control. Despite this, Sasuke still defeated Yoroi, debuting his Shishi Rendan (Lion Combo).
Akadō Yoroi makes a second appearance with Tsurugi Misumi in the Sea Country filler arc, where he is depicted as a research assistant to Orochimaru's scientist, Amachi. He has taken off the cloth covering his lower face, appearing much older with a very defined facial structure. During the events of this arc, he is defeated twice by Aburame Shino. Upon his second defeat, he sinks beneath the water and does not visibly resurface. As he is not pursued, it can be assumed that Shino ascertained his death. He may have died from complete chakra drainage from Shino's Kikai bugs, or from drowning, being unable to resurface. It is possible that he was captured and taken by the local authorities afterwards.
Trivia
- The name "Akadō" means "a red armor" and "Yoroi" means "an armor" as well. This may be taken from a group of elite soldiers of Tokugawa Ieyasu who dressed in the red armor to instill fear to the enemy's heart.
- Together with Yakushi Kabuto ("helmet") and Tsurugi Misumi ("sword"), they form an armor-helmet-sword trio.
Tsurugi Misumi
- Name: 剣ミスミ
- Age: 23 (deceased?) 1
- Rank: Genin1
- Height: 174.7 cm1
- Weight: 61.4 kg1
- Birthday: November 30
- Blood Type: A
- Registration #: 01198
- Seiyu: Kunihiro Kawamoto
- Voice actor: Richard Cansino
- Signature Ability: Nan no Kaizō (Soft Physique Modification), Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu (Art of the Water Doppelganger)
Technically a ninja from the Hidden Sound Village, Tsurugi Misumi poses as a Genin-level ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village during the Chūnin exam, along with Yakushi Kabuto and Akadō Yoroi. To be more efficient in the gathering of information, his body has been altered to be able to fit into any space, with contortional abilities alike to Orochimaru's. This ability also has its benefits in battle by allowing Misumi to get impossible to escape holds on his opponent, and then constrict like a snake to kill them. He was defeated by Kankurō in the preliminary fights of the Chūnin exam. The audible snapping sound by Kankurō's puppet snapping his neck (as Misumi had done on the puppet) lead many fans to believe that he died in this battle. However, due to the lack of intervention usually seen when a competitor was close to dying as well as his aforementioned contortion skills, his death is unlikely.
Tsurugi Misumi makes a second appearance with Akadō Yoroi in the anime's Sea Country filler arc, where he is depicted as a research assistant and bodyguard to Orochimaru's scientist, Amachi. He, like Yoroi, has taken off the cloth covering his lower face. During the events of this arc, he is restrained in the lab when it caves in. Due to his contortion abilities, the impact of the falling rocks would not likely have killed him, but he is presumed dead due to suffocation.
Trivia
- Tsurugi Misumi means ("sword").
- Together with Akadō Yoroi ("armor") and Yakushi Kabuto ("helmet"), they form an armor-helmet-sword trio.
Amachi
Amachi is a medical ninja/scientist who is an accomplice of Orochimaru. He and Orochimaru terroized the peoples of the Sea Country and kidnapped the citizens for their deadly experiments. He also seems to know Anko as well, since she was with Orochimaru at the time. Much later, in the Kaima Filler Arc, he is joined by Yoroi and Misumi as bodyguards and assistants. He also summons the indestructible Umibouzu in this arc.
Sound Genin
Sound Jōnin disguise
The Jōnin for the three Sound Genin, observing during the preliminary matches, was none other than Orochimaru acting as their Jōnin sensei. As none of the Sound Genin were present for the third exam, no excuses for his absence were made, and he could later easily fill the role of the Kazekage without any suspicion.
Similar to Orochimaru's normal appearance, it is confusing to some as to why he was not recognized, even after his confrontation with Kakashi in which he admitted that the Hidden Sound Village was his. It can be assumed that, like Anko's knowledge, this did not result in the stopping of the exam and declaration of martial law due to unwillingness to jeopardize relations with other nations, as well as Orochimaru's threat of reprisal against the Leaf Village if the exam were halted. During the Chūnin exams, the Genin from other villages are gathered to come compete against one another so much of the attention is put on them instead. This is why Kabuto gave up before the prelims as he was a spy in the Leaf Village for many years and didnt want onlookers. In fact, outside of Guy's Team and the Rookie Nine, all the other Genin were a hidden threat to Konoha and weren't noticed in matches of the third exam.
Dosu Kinuta
- Name: ドス・キヌタ
- Age: 14 (deceased)1
- Rank: Genin1
- Height: 156.0 cm1
- Weight: 49.0 kg1
- Birthday: June 12
- Blood Type: A
- Seiyu: Daisuke Egawa
- Voice actor: John DeMita
- Signature abilities: Kyōmeisen (Vibrating Sound Drill), Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique)
Dosu Kinuta is one of the three Genin from the Hidden Sound Village who entered the Chūnin exam. Out of all of them, he is the strongest being the only one to get through the third part of the Chūnin exam. They did not do this to become Chūnin, but rather as part of a mission from Orochimaru to assassinate Uchiha Sasuke (which was actually meant only to test Sasuke's power after having obtained Orochimaru's cursed seal). Dosu was equipped with a special speaker tied to his wrist which served to amplify sound waves and dramatically strengthen his sound-based attacks. Under the bandages he wears on his head, it is revealed that he has black hair.
Dosu wounded both Rock Lee and Yakushi Kabuto (presumably Kabuto healed himself with his medical abilities) during the first and second exams by directing his sound into their inner ears. Both later recovered for their fights. In the preliminary examination, Dosu easily defeated Akimichi Chōji. Dosu was largely a jealous person, attempting to kill Sasuke after realizing that Orochimaru's intentions were not as he had told them. Similarly, his attacking of Kabuto was a result of not being notified of Kabuto's affiliation. He seems to be loyal to Zaku and viceverse. After Zaku is maimed in the battle with Aburame Shino, Dosu says he will avenge him (or rather, his severed arm). Dosu and Zaku really didn't bother to help or sympathize with Kin after her possession by Ino and her defeat by Shikamaru. They even attacked her once (though they said that they would kill any of their teammates if they absolutely had to).
Orochimaru treated him as largely a pawn, even though he was quite a powerful ninja. Dosu's undoing, however, was his own attempt to kill Gaara so that he could fight Sasuke earlier in the third stage of the Chūnin exam. Not realizing the monstrosity he was actually going up against, his death was quick and unceremonious, only taking Gaara one strike to kill him due to the demon inside him.
Trivia
- "Dosu" is onomatopoeia for the sound of a sword piercing flesh.
- A kinuta is a wooden stick used to air out clothing.
- Some fans have rearranged Zaku, Kin, and Dosu's names to fit the asian format, but the canon way to arrange their names is the western way. It was revealed in a footnote about Zaku's shirt in volume 5 that Kishimoto had orriginally planned on using their current surnames as their given names and vice versa, but decided against it.
Kin Tsuchi
- Name: キン・ツチ
- Age: 14 (deceased)1
- Rank: Genin1
- Height: 150 cm1
- Weight: 39 kg1
- Birthday: July 6
- Blood Type: O
- Seiyu: Akiko Koike
- Voice actor: Stephanie Sheh
- Signature Abilities: Kage Senbon no Jutsu (Shadow Needle Technique), Suzu Senbon no Genkaku (Illusion Bell Needles)
Kin Tsuchi is a Genin-level ninja from the Hidden Sound Village. She takes part in the Chūnin exam under orders from Orochimaru to kill Uchiha Sasuke. In the process her body gets taken over by Yamanaka Ino's mind-swapping technique, and she is knocked out in the process after being attack by her own team. She uses a combination of bells, strings, and needles to confuse her enemies. In the anime, the bells caused a genjutsu, further confusing and disorientating her opponent.
In the third stage preliminaries she is matched against Nara Shikamaru, who defeats her through his Kagemane no Jutsu ("The Art of Me-and-My-Shadow" or "Shadow Possession Jutsu") by contracting his shadow and minimizing it under the string attached to a needle she threw; she didn't notice that a string at that height wouldn't be able to cast a shadow. Shikamaru used his jutsu to bring her head into the wall while he was a different distance away. In the process, Kin recieved a concussion.
Kin is later betrayed and murdered by Orochimaru in order to be one of the sacrifices needed to summon the First and Second Hokages from their graves with his Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei (Summoning: Impure World Resurrection).
Trivia
- Kin is named for the sound of metal clashing.
- Tsuchi means Earth.
Zaku Abumi
- Name: ザク・アブミ
- Age: 14 (deceased)1
- Rank: Genin1
- Height: 157.3 cm1
- Weight: 49 kg1
- Birthday: September 14
- Blood Type: AB
- Seiyu: Keiji Okuda
- Voice actor: Sam Riegel
- Signature abilities: Zankūha (Decapitating Air Wave), Zankūkyokuha (Extreme Decapitating Air Waves)
Zaku Abumi was a Genin-level ninja from the Hidden Sound Village. He was part of the team that took the Chūnin exam at the Hidden Leaf Village in order to assassinate Uchiha Sasuke. Like many Sound ninja, he has been physically altered with unnatural enhancements that enhance his abilities; in his case, he was fitted with hollow airtubes that extend through his arms and open through his hands, allowing him to propel a combination of air pressure and sound in various ratios, controlled by his chakra. Unlike his partners, a glance into his past and how Orochimaru recruited him was given, making him a far more dramatic character. The anime shows that he was a poor boy living on the streets who hustled by stealing for a living, and was almost always beaten for it. Orochimaru had told him he had potential and liked the strength in his eyes. He refuses to give up, even at the cost of his own life.
After saving his partner Dosu from Rock Lee's lotus attack, he brutally fought off Sakura who attempted to prevent him from killing Sasuke. When Sasuke awoke, he dislocated and greatly injured Zaku's shoulders. He was the only sound ninja to fight Sasuke. During his fight with Aburame Shino in the preliminary exams, he overcame the injuries to his shoulders and was able to use his arms to defend himself against Shino. His arms were even more brutally crippled in a counterattack that prevented him from doing any damage in the future. (In the manga, his right arm is blown off due to the beetles Shino used to fill up Zaku's airtubes, and the left was kept intact but halfway sliced. In the anime both of his arms are left intact, but have numerous holes in them, achieving the same, albeit less gruesome, result.) Dosu says he will avenge him (or rather, his severed arms), but failed to do so. He is later murdered as a sacrifice for Orochimaru's Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei (Summoning: Impure World Resurrection) for the First and Second Hokages against the Third Hokage.
Trivia
- Zaku's name is derived from "to cut," which relates to his "air cutter" attack. It is also the sound of a person walking on snow or sand. With the former name meaning, he and his two teammates have names relating to swords, fitting based on their aggressive behavior and deadly intentions. However, based on the latter meaning, he and his two teammates all have names that come from onomatopoeias, fitting since they come from the Hidden Sound Village. Their naming pattern (Slash, Clang, and Crunch) is similar to that of Snap, Crackle, and Pop.
- The kanji on Zaku's shirt is 死 ("Shi", death).
- "Abumi" means "stirrup"
- Zaku is the only Oto Nin that was never affiliated with a previous village (besides Orochimaru) whose past is explored.
Sources
- First Official Data Book (秘伝・臨の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK, "Hiden: Rin no Sho Character Official Data Book")
- Second Official Data Book (秘伝・闘の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK, "Hiden: Tō no Sho Character Official Data Book")
- Jump's 2nd Great Hero Book's Mini Data Book (秘伝・翔の書オフィシャルキャラクターデータBOOK mini, "Hiden: Shō no Sho Official Character Data Book mini")
- Naruto manga chapters
- Based on character's ability and status