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| Alias(es) | The First (其の一, Sono Ichi), Kidōmaru of the East Gate (東門の鬼童丸, Tōmon no Kidōmaru) |
| Kanji | 鬼童丸 |
| Debut | |
| Novel | Naruto: A Shinobi Story |
| Appears in | Novel |
| Character Status | |
| Status | Deceased |
| Birthdate |  December 16
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| Age | Part I: 14 |
| Gender |  Male
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| Height | Part I: 1.59 m |
| Weight | Part I: 56.2 kg. |
| Blood Type | A |
| Home Country |  Land of Sound
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| Affiliation(s) |  Otogakure
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| Classification | Sensor Type |
| Team |  Sound Four
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| Jutsu | |
| Shinobi Techniques: Barrier Method Formation, Combination Transformation, Four Black Fogs Formation, Four Violet Flames Formation, Sound Four’s Cursed Seals, Sound Four: Summoning: Four Beasts Encirclement Formation, Space–Time Technique Formula: Underworld Turnover, Summoning Technique (Kyodaigumo) Hiden Techniques: Armor of Sticky Gold, Rain of Spiders, Spider Bind, Spider Cocoon, Spider Sticking Spit, Spider Sticky Gold, Spider War Bow: Terrible Split, Spider Web Area, Spider Web Flower, Spider Web Unrolling | |
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Kidōmaru (鬼童丸) was a shinobi from Otogakure and a member of the Sound Four.
Background[]
The Sound Four were originally prisoners of Orochimaru, forced to fight other prisoners to the death in battle royales. By surviving their respective matches, they proved themselves to be the strongest of Orochimaru’s prisoners and as such were made his bodyguards.[1] The Sound Four were at some point forced to accept Kimimaro Kaguya as their leader, who easily defeated them all in battle and, because of his Shikotsumyaku abilities, was slated to be Orochimaru’s next host body. Under Kimimaro their group was known as the Sound Five (音隠れの忍五人衆, Otogakure no Shinobi Gonin Shū, Literally meaning: Hidden Sound Shinobi Five People). The Sound Five assisted Orochimaru with assassinating the Fourth Kazekage and killing Shiore’s team during the Chūnin Exams in Konohagakure. Kimimaro fell terminally ill shortly after this, forcing him to withdraw from the group.
Personality[]
Kidōmaru saw a battle as a game and displayed a laidback ease in fights. Kidōmaru enjoyed combat and relished strong opponents as a source of entertainment, finding weaker opponents not worth his time and boring. His speech also reflected this when battling Neji Hyūga, he referred to Neji as a “minor character” and analyzed his situation using typical gaming language such as “level” and “difficulty”.
Like the other members of the Sound Four, he is extremely arrogant with his opponents, though he was not as arrogant as the others, believing they could not defeat Kakashi.[2][3][4] Kidōmaru was shown to have a sadistic side, often playing around with the opponent too much because he preferred to have fun seeing the opponent struggle and would even laugh sometimes as he gradually become more brutal in his attacks.[5] Due to this, he tended to slow down his team by over extending the battle with an opponent he was interested in and his teammates noted that when Kidōmaru gets particularly excited he would entered the second level of his cursed seal quickly, despite knowing the dangers of using it recklessly.[6][7] This flaw and Kidōmaru’s overconfidence made him underestimate Neji, redundantly aiming for his blind without thinking Neji may create a countermeasure, which ultimately proved to be Kidōmaru’s undoing.
He, as with his comrades, was very bitter to have been killed, and upon being resurrected, devoted to killing the Sasuke Recovery Team in revenge.
Appearance[]
Kidōmaru’s full appearance.
Kidōmaru was a dark-skinned shinobi with black, shaggy hair tied into a ponytail and black eyes. He was the second-tallest member of the team and was always depicted with a confident grin on his face. Uniquely, Kidōmaru also had six arms and an eye on his forehead that was usually closed and concealed under his black Otogakure forehead protector.
Kidōmaru’s attire was a black, sleeveless shirt under a sleeveless grey tunic that bore the symbol of the Sound Four on the hem, and black skintight shorts. He wore black arm-warmers, traditional black shinobi sandals with calf-length leg warmers covered by bandages, and a purple, ropelike belt tied in an inverted bow around his waist.
After being reincarnated, he looked like he did while alive with the exception the grey sclerae common in all the other ninja Orochimaru brought back.
Abilities[]
As a member of Orochimaru’s personal elite guard, Kidōmaru was a powerful shinobi. Shikamaru Nara noted that Kidōmaru’s prowess was at jōnin-level.[8] Although he preferred to attack his enemies at a distance, Kidōmaru was competent in taijutsu, as when he tried to attack Sasuke.[9] He demonstrated considerable taijutsu prowess against Neji, an expert user of the Gentle Fist style.[10]
Body Modifications[]
Kidōmaru had a unique body structure, possessing two extra pairs of arms, which gave him a total of eight appendages, relating to his spider theme. These allowed him to add extra power and variety into his attacks, hold multiple tools, simultaneously perform multiple tasks, and form several hand seals at once. He could also use multiple arms to pull his bowstring to incredible tension, drastically increasing the arrows’ power.
He also possessed a third eye on his forehead, usually concealed by his forehead protector. In a serious battle, he would reveal the eye. This eye increased his perception and accuracy by a significant amount, allowing him to pinpoint the enemy’s vital points with his arrow. The eye was precise enough to allow him to note his arrow missed the intended target by 15cm, even at a fifty meters distance.
Cursed Seal[]
Kidōmaru’s cursed seal activated.
As one of Orochimaru’s closest and most powerful warriors, Kidōmaru was branded with a cursed seal, which magnified his skills. When active in Level 1, it spread across his entire body in twisted, entwining lines, and when in his Level 2 form, his skin became dark red, he gains yellow irises with dark black sclerae, elongated canine teeth and fingernails, as well as his hair becomes longer and turns grey. In addition, Kidōmaru gains horns on his forehead, shoulders and elbows, and his mouth becomes wider, allowing him to create more refined weapons. Finally, the eye on his forehead that was usually closed and concealed under his forehead protector, opens and seemingly grants him greater accuracy in his attacks as well as what appears to be the ability to see chakra.[11]
Following his reincarnation, when experiencing strong feelings of hatred and rage, he could draw even more power from the seal. As a result, Kidōmaru could weave his Spider Sticky Gold at a much faster rate, and the weapons produced by them were even deadlier than before.
Ninjutsu[]
Spider Techniques[]
Kidōmaru trapping Neji.
Kidōmaru had the ability to make spider webs by infusing his spit or sweat with chakra. He could use his webs to bind, trap, or sense enemies. These threads were extremely sticky, yet durable and elastic. This is because his chakra was constantly flowing through the webs, and is also why the threads could not be cut with normal tools such as kunai; however, the Gentle Fist can cut them, as the fighting style is based on using the user’s chakra to attack precise points.
Kidōmaru’s Armor of Sticky Gold.
He could also create a thicker golden liquid that hardened into a chakra-blocking metal on contact with air. By chewing the spider web liquid inside his mouth, he could make it more solid and gum-like, allowing him to form makeshift weapons. This hardened material could also be released through the sweat pores and fabricated into a body-covering armor that could completely defend him from physical attacks, metal throwing weapons, and even chakra-based attacks, such as the Gentle Fist. Finally, he could form his especially deadly bow and arrows which could shatter trees when fired.
After being reincarnated and having his cursed seal enhanced by Orochimaru, he could produce and fire them at an extremely quicker rate.
Summoning Technique[]
In keeping with his spider-theme, he could summon the Kyodaigumo, a giant spider that can spawn an immense number of smaller spiders to use the Rain of Spiders technique, which created threads as powerful as Kidōmaru’s own. He could also make Kyodaigumo burst into his thread for aid in battle.
Cooperation Technique[]
The Sound Four sealing Sasuke temporarily.
Despite the volatile relationship between the members of the Sound Four, they were well-versed in a series of Cooperation Ninjutsu. They could use the Combination Transformation to pose as Orochimaru’s bodyguards while also concealing their numbers. During the battle between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru, they could produce the Four Violet Flames Formation to avoid anyone from entering or leaving the confines of the barrier. When carrying Sasuke to Orochimaru, they used another technique, a barrier called the Four Black Fogs Formation which traps the target in a temporary death state in order to allow him to adapt to the cursed seal and make for easier transportation.
They also displayed another technique, the Space–Time Technique Formula: Underworld Turnover, that sends the souls of both the user and the target into the confines of a special barrier. They could also use the Sound Four: Summoning: Four Beasts Encirclement Formation, which brought out their individual summons to trap their opponents from all sides.
Intelligence[]
Kidōmaru was the most intellectual member of the Sound Four which was witnessed in his fierce battle style and quick strategies. Kidōmaru was an excellent tactical analyzer, capable of figuring out his enemy’s weak point quickly and efficiently. He did not miss any slight discrepancies nor make any unnecessary moves, while refining his next wave from what he learned previously. During his battle with Neji Hyūga, Kidōmaru was able to use what he learned from his attacks to discover the Byakugan’s abilities and its secret blindspot, then adjust his strategies accordingly to take advantage of what he learned. By Neji’s admission, of all the enemies he fought at that point, Kidōmaru was by far the strongest. Under Orochimaru’s wing, Kidōmaru was informed of the many Konohagakure ninja and techniques, being able to recognize Kakashi Hatake[12] and heard of the Gentle Fist style of the Hyūga clan.[13]
Part I[]
Konoha Crush (Arc)[]
Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Konoha Crush (Arc)
Kidōmaru prevents the Anbu from following him.
Kidōmaru made his first appearance with the rest of the Sound Four, erecting a barrier to keep others from interfering in Orochimaru’s fight with the Third Hokage. Although Orochimaru succeeded in killing Hiruzen, his arms were crippled with necrosis, and he ordered the Sound Four to fled and escort him back to Otogakure. Kidōmaru used his Spider Bind technique to prevent Konoha Anbu from following them.
Sasuke Recovery Mission[]
Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Sasuke Recovery Mission
The Sound Four confronted Sasuke on Orochimaru’s orders.
On Orochimaru’s orders, Kidōmaru and the rest of the Sound Four returned to Konohagakure to convince Sasuke Uchiha to join sides with Orochimaru. Kidōmaru joined Sakon and Jirōbō in a small skirmish to test Sasuke’s abilities, before Sakon ends the fight and defeats him. Tayuya and Sakon then offer Sasuke the opportunity to join Orochimaru, so that he could gain power like theirs. They then leave Sasuke to consider their offer. Later that night, the Sound Four waited outside of the village for Sasuke’s arrival and bowed to their new leader.
Kidōmaru prepares to attack Naruto’s clones.
Kidōmaru vs. Neji.
Kidōmaru activates level two of his cursed seal.
Neji finishes Kidōmaru with several deadly blows.
Part II[]
Fourth Shinobi World War (Arc)[]
Main article: Naruto: A Shinobi Story/Fourth Shinobi World War (Arc)
Trivia[]
- He was the only member of the Sound Four to be seen wearing an Otogakure forehead protector.
- “Kidō” (鬼童) means “demon child”, and “-maru” (丸, Literally meaning: “circle”, “perfection”) is a common ending for male Japanese names.
- He also shares his name with an oni who appears in Kokon chomonjū, a compilation of legends from the Kamakura period. According to legend, this Kidōmaru was a son of the demon Shuten-dōji who attempted to avenge his father’s defeat at the hands of legendary warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu.
- Kidōmaru can be seen during the omake of Naruto Shippūden episode 129, picking masks with Sakon nearby.
- According to the databook(s):
- His favorite phrase was: Game over (ゲームオーバー, gēmu ōbā).
- His hobby was playing games.
- He desired to fight opponents that allow him to enjoy himself.
- Kidōmaru has completed 46 official missions in total: 20 D-rank, 15 C-rank, 8 B-rank, 2 A-rank, 1 S-rank.
Quotes[]
- (To Naruto Uzumaki) “I guess it was more fun this way…but now game over!!”[14]
- (To Neji Hyūga) “So you’re the strongest of the bunch, huh. Sheesh…you’re making me want to play even more. Gotta take it slow, you know. Or else it’s not as much fun…First, I need at least three minutes to toy with you before you die!”[15]
- (About Neji) “What kind of a freak is this guy?”[16]
- “This game has a higher difficulty level than I thought!”[17]
- (To Neji) “The weakest one in the game always goes down first!”[18]
References[]
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 305
- ↑ Naruto chapter 192, pages 8 and 13
- ↑ Naruto chapter 193, pages 11 and 16
- ↑ Naruto chapter 194, page 14
- ↑ Naruto chapter 192, pages 8-13
- ↑ Naruto chapter 202, page 16
- ↑ Naruto chapter 195, page 10
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 304
- ↑ Naruto chapter 177, page 15
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 305
- ↑ Naruto chapter 196, pages 4-5
- ↑ Naruto chapter 177, page 3
- ↑ Naruto chapter 193, page 15
- ↑ Naruto chapter 192, page 13
- ↑ Naruto chapter 193, page 11
- ↑ Naruto chapter 194, page 13
- ↑ Naruto chapter 194, page 14
- ↑ Naruto chapter 195, page 14