15 Interesting Things You Might Not Know About Gaara
- 1141 VOTES
He Likes Meat, Not Sweets
Photo: Studio PierrotBoth of Gaara's favorite foods are the kind of meat you'd get at an izakaya (a Japanese bar-restaurant.) These are gizzards and salted tongue, with no specific information about what animal he prefers for them to come from.
As for food he doesn't like, Gaara isn't a fan of sugary foods like yōkan (red bean jelly) or marron glacé (candied chestnuts).
- 2171 VOTES
He Loves Caring For Cactuses
Photo: Studio PierrotOther than battling, which is an assumed hobby for many shinobi, Gaara has one special interest that many wouldn't expect - he's a huge fan of cactuses. Since he lives in a desert climate, they're the perfect plant for him to cultivate.
- 3177 VOTES
He Nearly Went Through With An Arranged Marriage
Photo: Shonen JumpBefore Gaara adopted Shinki, his clan was anxious for Gaara and his brother Kankuro to get married and have kids. If they didn't, their clan would be inherited by Shikadai Nara - kind of a problem since he lives in Konoha.
Kankuro manages to persuade their elders that though he is the older sibling, Gaara, being the Kazekage, should be the first to get married.
Gaara almost gets engaged to a girl named Hakuto, and he might have gone through with it if Hakuto didn't stage a kidnapping in order to escape and marry her beloved Shigezane instead.
- 4118 VOTES
His Second Design Was Matrix-Inspired
Photo: Studio PierrotWhen Kishimoto revamped Gaara's design for Shippudden, he gave him a high-collar shirt that was apparently inspired by the clothing worn in The Matrix. Kishimoto chose the design both because it looked cool, and because it'd be easier to draw than his earlier design.
- 5135 VOTES
He's Completed Few Official Missions
Photo: Studio PierrotGaara didn't become the Kazekage because of his official mission record. Likely because of his unstable personality during his childhood and his involvement in war later on, Gaara has actually completed very few missions for Sunagakure. These include 0 D-rank, 9 C-rank, 8 B-rank, 14 A-rank, and 3 S-rank missions.
- 6134 VOTES
Shukaku's Previous Jinchuriki Predicted Gaara
Photo: Studio PierrotBefore he was sealed inside Gaara, Shukaku inhabited a gentle old man named Bunpuku. Because the village feared Bunpuku's abilities, they kept him imprisoned throughout most of his life. Despite his ill-treatment, he still managed to keep a positive attitude.
He had two characters, "accept" (受, ukeru) and "heart" (心, kokoro), carved into the palms of his hands. He told Shukaku that one day he would meet someone who embodied these traits. Gaara, Shukaku's next jinchuuriki, would turn out to be that person. Gaara's forehead tattoo combines those two characters into "love" (愛, ai). But it wasn't just aesthetics - Gaara's emotional journey revolves around these two concepts.
- 7193 VOTES
He's The Youngest Kage Ever
Photo: Studio PierrotGaara was appointed Kazekage when he was only 15, which makes him the youngest person to ever take on the job. Though many Sungakure residents are hesitant about this because of his age and his violent history, he proves himself to be a caring and competent leader.
- 896 VOTES
His Favorite Words Reflect His Emotional Journey
Photo: Studio PierrotIn the first and second databooks, Gaara's favorite word was "love for oneself" (自愛, jiai). In the third databook, it was "affection" (慈愛, jiai) and "future" (未来, mirai). This shows his journey from being a person who lashed out at others in order to protect himself to being someone who cared for others and accepted love from them, and who envisioned a future he had the power to build.
- 9104 VOTES
His Uncle Is An Aunt In Some Dubs
Photo: Studio PierrotGaara's uncle Yashamaru looks almost exactly like his sister Karura, which may be why in some translations of the manga, he's actually depicted as his aunt. These include the Brazilian, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish and Portuguese translations. But while fans who read these versions may think of Yashamaru being female, he definitely male in the original Japanese version.
- 1090 VOTES
Check Out His Stats
Photo: Studio PierrotGaara's stats have changed several times throughout the series, but here's a peek at his most recent ones.
Ninjutsu: 5
Taijutsu: 2
Genjutsu: 3.5
Intelligence: 4
Strength: 2.5
Speed: 3
Stamina: 5
Hand Seals: 4
Total: 29
- 11175 VOTES
He Has A Ton In Common With Naruto
Photo: Studio PierrotGaara and Naruto are meant to be narrative foils - they had similarly isolated childhoods, but where Naruto's harsh experiences inspired him to protect others, Gaara's made him angry and violent. This is why they understand each other, and why Gaara is able to turn over a new leaf.
But their tragic backstories aren't the only thing that's similar - they also have a ton of random details in common. Both of them are the same height and weight by Shippudden. Both have Wind Release chakra natures. Both were the sons of the Fourth Kage in their nation, and both had mothers who passed shortly after they were born. Both are the third hosts of their Tailed Beasts, and both came to be that way due to their dad's decisions.
- 12101 VOTES
His Original Design Is Nothing Like The Current One
Photo: Masashi KishimotoThe first version of Gaara wasn't the troubled teen we know today. Instead, he was a seven-year-old boy named Kuromaru who traveled with a ninken companion called Manji. Kuromaru's powers stemmed not from the Shukaku, but from performance-enhancing drugs.
It's not clear why these ideas were scrapped, but performance-enhancing drugs would make their way into the series later on. The Akimichi clan uses a series of pills to boost their powers, as do members of the Otsutsuki clan during Boruto.
- 1398 VOTES
His Name Means 'Self-Loving Demon'
Photo: Studio PierrotOne of the earlier names that Kishimoto suggested was Kotarō Fūma, the name of a famous ninja. For reasons that Kishimoto claims not to understand, his editor wasn't into it. He suggested Gaara, which means 'self-loving demon' or 'self-loving silk.'
Sounds cool and mysterious, right? Well, it turns out that the name was actually inspired by something super mundane: the editor's recent trip to GALA Yuzawa ski resort.
- 14104 VOTES
He's Severely Sleep Deprived
Photo: Studio PierrotBecause Shukaku threatened to take over and go on a rampage if Gaara ever relinquished control, he couldn't ever truly relax - which means that he could never get a full night's sleep.
However, the black markings around his eyes aren't actually due to sleep deprivation. After having Shukaku extracted, Gaara was finally able to get some decent shut-eye, but the markings remained.
Because other members of his family also have eye markings, it's possible that this is a genetic trait. It's also possible that he's wearing makeup, either due to personal preference or clan tradition.
- 1592 VOTES
He Wanted To Fight Sasuke
Photo: Studio PierrotAccording to some of the earlier databooks, the individual that Gaara most wanted to fight was Sasuke. It doesn't say why he wanted to fight him, but it could have something to do with how much grief Sasuke causes Naruto, a person Gaara cares about deeply. Either that, or he wanted a rematch with him after their Chuunin exam showdown.
Later databooks don't mention Sasuke, but do say that Gaara wants to fight anyone who presents a threat to his village.
