Yashamaru

Yashamaru (夜叉丸) was an anbu level shinobi, and he also was a medical nin from Sunagakure. He was

also the right hand man of Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage.

Background

Naruto Shippuuden 297-0314 — Yashamaru with Gaara.

He was born on the day of May 23rd. Being raised by his older sister and two unseen parents. His early childhood and last name is also a complete mystery. In adulthood, Yashamaru's elder sister, Karura, had married Rasa. Then she had died shortly after giving birth to her youngest son Gaara, within who the One Tailed Shukaku had been sealed. After her death, Yashamaru was appointed as Gaara's main caretaker by his brother in law, Rasa. At night time, as they eat dinner together. Gaara happily asks his uncle why do they feel so hungry. Yashamaru happily tells him that maybe it's so they can have good food. While playing in the sandbox, Gaara asks him why the sky is so blue, and Yashamaru tells him it's so they can look up at it. Gaara agrees that looking at the sky really eases his pain. Gaara then asks him why he doesn't get sleepy, and also why he doesn't have a mother. But Yashamaru evades and avoids answering these questions for Gaara's own safety. However he happily tells him that he has him because he will always be by his side to protect him. After his niece and nephew left the next day, Yashamaru arrives with a lunch bento box, and Gaara finally notices how he resembles his late mother.

Unlike his fellow villagers, he always attempted to understand his youngest nephew's plight as a jinchuriki, and also believed that the sand that flew to Gaara's aid in moments of serious danger was actually the will of Karura protecting her youngest child. However, when Gaara's inability to control Shukaku proved to be a big problem for the village, the Fourth Kazekage aka Rasa tasked Yashamaru with the duty of attacking the boy both physically, and psychologically to test his actual mastery over the beast's power. Yashamaru however was completely against the evil plan right from the start, and honestly told his brother in law that Gaara is still just a child. But then after Rasa told him why he is doing it he reluctantly acceptted his role in order to teach Gaara about physical pain, emotional pain and love.

The test became a suicide mission after Yashamaru was gravely injured by Gaara's Sand Binding Coffin. He lied to Gaara, by telling him that he hated him and that his sister gave him his name from the phrase "a self-loving carnage" (我を愛する修羅) to reflect the undying hatred she felt towards the village, rather than out of love for her son. Yashamaru then lied to Gaara by telling him that nobody would ever love him, and then detonated a series of explosive tags hidden within his flack jacket in an attempt to take Gaara with him. Yashamaru's somewhat cruel words and his suicide had caused Gaara to become a sociopath instead, and even more of an emotional wreck than he already was.

It would only be years later during the Fourth Shinobi War, that Gaara finally learned the truth of the mission that Yashamaru was given, and that he had in fact lied to Gaara about his mother under direct orders from the Fourth Kazekage.

Personality

Yashamaru was a very warm, devoted, and caring person who loved his older sister Karura, above all. Under the test set by the Fourth Kazekage, Yashamaru claimed that he tried to love Gaara, but could never let go of the fact that Karura died giving birth to him. In reality, he was the only person to understand Gaara's accidental attacks on the villagers, and tried to persuade others to understand as well, while teaching the young man about love, and pain. He was also willing to sacrifice his own life in order to test out Gaara's control over Shukaku, by acting as though he was unforgiving and murderous towards his nephew, and always hated him, by ending their relationship with bitter sweet and aloof lies.

The person Yashamaru truly hated in reality was his brother in law, Rasa, for implanting Shukaku within Gaara while he still inside of his sister, and thus taking away Karura's life. He also loved Gaara dearly, by having to fulfilled a role similar to Iruka with Naruto, while keeping Gaara from falling off the edge with his sanity. However, as an Anbu and the right hand man of the Kazekage, Yashamaru still did as he was ordered, even acting as to betray his own nephew. This would prove to drive Gaara off the edge, and become an insane sociopath.

Appearance

Yashamaru bore a striking, if not identical, resemblance to his older sister with his sandy blond hair, light fair skin, and violet eyes, which made him look somewhat feminine. He was usually seen in a simple, dark blue, kimono style shirt with white trim that was held closed by a white sash along with grey pants. He also wore a pair of black shinobi sandals and a beige apron with the Sunagakure village symbol at the top the latter of which he wore optionally. He also wore bandages around his head. As an ANBU, he donned the traditional uniform of the Sunagakure-nin which included a turban, the village's forehead protector, a flak jacket as well as a cloth that hid the lower half of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.

Abilities

As a medical-nin, Yashamaru was very adept at manipulating chakra, as seen with him controlling kunais in mid air. He was also an ANBU, and the right-hand man of the Kazekage, which further exemplifies his strength and talents.

Naruto Shippuuden (Part II)

Fourth Shinobi War arc

When Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi was activated, Yashamru appeared in Gaara's dream. He appears in Gaara's childhood with his entire family, and his still alive older sister. He tells a young Gaara that a young Uzumaki Naruto has come over to their house to play with him.

Video Games

Yashamaru is a playable character in the following video game:

Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Blazing
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Online

Quotes

"That's love".
There's no doubt that my older sister loved you.

Knownable Relatives

Unnamed Mother
Unnamed Father
Karura (Older Sister/dead)
Rasa (Brother In Law)
Nara Temari (Oldest Niece)
Kankuro (Oldest Nephew)
Gaara (Youngest Nephew)
Nara Shikadai (Grandnephew)
Shinki (Foster Grandnephew)

Trivia

The name, Yashamaru, 夜叉丸, is composed of three Japanese Kanji. The first two, Yasha (夜叉) refer to creatures in Japanese mythology known as Yaksha. The Hindu version of the Yaksha usually portray them as having two sides: a darker, more sinister side, and a benevolent, lovable side. Yashamaru's betrayal could be a reference to this "dark side" of Yaksha. Whereas Maru (丸) is a common ending for male names.

According to the databook(s):

His birthday is May 23, & his bloodtype is AB.
His favorite food was ???. While his least favorite food was ???.
His hobby was ???.
Yashamaru's favorite word was "affection" (愛情). Which would later on become his youngest nephew's favorite word.
Yashamaru had completed 734 official missions in total: 384 D-rank, 240 C-rank, 96 B-rank, 14 A-rank, 0 S-rank.
His star sign is a Taurus.
Yashamaru, along with many other dead anime characters within the Naruto series, made a cameo in the ending omake of Naruto Shippuuden episode 129.
The second databook initially listed Yashamaru as a chunin but in chapter 548, he was stated to be an ANBU.
In the Polish, Portuguese, French, Brazilian and Italian versions of the Naruto manga, Yashamaru is portrayed as a female rather than male. Even in the anime, there is no clear indication of his gender, despite the fact that he is voiced by a man in both the Japanese, and English version.
He has his own Extreme: Shinobi Picture Scroll training card.
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