Kariko Nekomata
猫又仮子 Nekomata Kariko | Debut | | Manga | - |
| Anime | - | | Novel | - | | Movie | - | | Game | - | | OVA | - | | Appears | - | Voice Actors |
| Japanese | info | | English | info | Personal | | Birthdate |  February 22 | | Age | Part I: 13–14
Part II: 16–18
| | Sex |  Female | | Height | Part I: 144 cm
Part II: 150 cm
| | Weight | Part I: 39 kg
Part II: 45 kg
| | Blood Type | B | | Kekkei Genkai | Nekokaburi | | Occupation | Head of Suna Medical Department
Retainer (Former)
| | Affiliation | Sunagakure
Allied Shinobi Forces | | Team | Kazekage Rescue Team | | Clan | Nekomata Clan
Kazekage Clan |
Portrayal| Japanese Voice | Mai Nakahara | | English Voice | Elizabeth Maxwell |
Misumi Konoe Images Kariko Nekomata (猫又仮子, Nekomata Kariko) is a kunoichi from Sunagakure and a member of the Nekomata clan. After marrying Gaara, she becomes a member of the Kazekage clan. She also becomes head of the Suna Medical Department.
BackgroundKariko was born to the Nekomata family of Sunagakure, who are noted to be one of the village's few prominent clans and one that is closely linked to the Kazekage clan, having been in their servitude for generations. Much like actual cats, mothers of the Nekomata clan are genetically predisposed to multiple births and typically have "litters" of three or more children at a time. Due to the clan's unique and powerful abilities, it is in Nekomata tradition to send one of these children to serve the Kazekage clan. Typically, this was the runt of the litter, as they were the weakest and already faced motherly rejection. Kariko was her litter's runt, having been born just one kilogram smaller than the rest of her siblings. She was sent to serve the Kazekage's family shortly after being born and was raised by their servants until she grew old enough to become one herself.
As Gaara's servant, Kariko was instructed by Rasa to put poison into the food she brought him. When Gaara did not die, the Kazekage surmised that the poison was not strong enough and was being dispelled from his body by the tailed beast inside of him. She was placed under the tutelage of Chiyo, Sunagakure's poison expert, to discover why they didn't work and how to make ones that could harm the jinchūriki. This yielded no results, with even the strongest poisons seemingly ineffective.
While out fishing with her brother, Chiyo caught Kariko dumping the poisons they had made together into the creek, and she realized that the reason they never worked was because Kariko had never given them to Gaara in the first place. However, she did not report this finding to the Kazekage, as she admired the young Kariko for putting her morals above her loyalty to the village, which was something Chiyo herself could not do, having sealed Shukaku into Gaara against his will.
One day, Gaara overheard as Kariko once again reported to the Kazekage that the poison she had planted into his food once again failed to work. Heartbroken that his only friend would try to kill him, he attacked Kariko, Shukaku having taken over during his mindless rampage. While gravely injured, she was healed by Chiyo, who felt great guilt for her part in Kariko's injuries. Kariko herself was subsequently reassigned to servitude under his older brother, Kankurō. Even so, she continued to leave rice balls at Gaara's door each day as an apology for hurting him so deeply. She states she still wanted him to eat and be healthy, as she knew he had only hurt her because of a misunderstanding.
PersonalityWhen introduced, Kariko appears to have bright and cheerful disposition, in stark contrast to the Sand Siblings that she constantly accompanies. Despite being a year older than him, she is noted by Sasuke to be a "lively and empty-headed kid" who always has a smile on her face, no matter the situation. However, her smile is seen as rather unsettling when it remains even during acts of violence committed by the Sand Siblings, whom she serves.
AppearanceKariko is most notable for being a very petite girl, a trait that signifies her status as a runt. She is also notable for her dark pink face paint, which look like whiskers, as well as her gold eyes, complete with cat-like slits indicative of her Nekomata ancestry. She has brown skin and black hair that she keeps in a hime-cut, alongside hair buns styled like cat ears. Kankurō and Temari both remark that her hair buns look like seaweed-wrapped rice balls. In Part I, her hair is tied into these buns with only her bangs and chin-length hair that frames her face left hanging out; in Part II, both the bangs and buns in her hair remain, but it has grown slightly longer, nearly reaching her shoulders.
In Part I, wears a loose fitting set of a dark pink shirt with long sleeves and pants. She also wears a cream cloak, black foot wraps, and long fingerless black gloves. She does not wear shoes. She has a black forehead protector wrapped around her waist, with the end of the strap split like a nekomata tail. In Part II, she dons long black fingerless gloves, thigh high black legwarmers, and a black keyhole bodysuit. She also wears a dark pink belt with a cream half-skirt, and changes the cloth of her forehead protector, which she wears over her chest, from black to dark pink. She no longer dons her whisker-like face paint, instead wearing eye makeup of the same dark pink color. Kariko switches to the standard Suna infantry flak jacket and uniform during the Fourth Shinobi World War, but does not wear a forehead protector.
AbilitiesDespite her appearances, Kariko proves herself to be a formidable kunoichi, with her abilities honed to serve the family of the Kazekage at a very young age. Throughout the Chūnin Exam Arc, she used her unique abilities used by Sunagakure to spy on the shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. By the end of Part I, however, she makes it clear that she does not enjoy the offensive and manipulative aspects of her abilities as much as she enjoys being a medical-nin and being able to help and heal others.
Chakra Prowess and ControlBy her own admission, Kariko's chakra reserves are smaller than average, a trait that is typical in runts of the Nekomata clan. However, like the other members of her clan, she has great chakra control, which they must have to be able to suppress their chakra signatures while in cat form. After lessening her espionage activities, she utilizes her chakra control to improve her healing techniques.
Ninjutsu
Medical NinjutsuKariko is a highly capable medical-nin, learning powerful healing techniques from her mentor, Chiyo. She initially placed under the woman's tutelage to study poisons, which was deemed to be an appropriate area of study for her role as a spy. However, Chiyo began teaching her medical ninjutsu after catching her throwing the poisons into the creek, as she realized the girl did not want to hurt anyone. By Part II, Kariko has only grown more proficient, having made medical ninjutsu her main focus after the events of Part I. Notable healing techniques she had been taught by Chiyo include the Mystical Palm Technique and One's Own Life Reincarnation.
NekokaburiNekokaburi is the term used to refer to all of the abilities included in the Nekomata clan's kekkei genkai. It translates into cat covering, and is colloquially used to refer to a wolf in sheep's clothing. Notable tells of Nekokaburi are their advanced sense of smell, advanced sense of hearing, and predisposition to multiple births. The most powerful abilities of the Nekomata clan seem to be heavily based off of those of the yōkai of the same name, who are said to be able to transform into a human, psychically start fires, and control the dead through ritualistic dances.
NekohadaNekohada, a phrase translating into cat skin, refers to the Nekomata clan's ability to take on the form of a cat extended periods of time. This kekkei genkai differs from the standard transformation technique in that its users can suppress and disguise their chakra to be indistinguishable from that of a normal cat, making them nearly undetectable. Additionally, the user retains the ability to perform jutsus that they can use while human, and will stay in the form even if killed or unconscious. Kariko describes this as their bodies accepting their cat forms as a true form as well. Additionally, users gain the ability to manipulate unconscious bodies and use Fire Release techniques, even if the user cannot use them while in their human form. Historically, the technique was used as a stealth tactic on missions and to assist the Kazekage clan, who the Nekomata served, in gaining social and political power.
NekodoriNekodori, a pormanteau of neko (meaning cat) and odori (meaning dance) refers to the Nekomata clan's ability to manipulate unconscious bodies in cat form. While the bodies are controlled with the chakra of the Nekomata, they can still use the jutsus they normally do. A body being controlled by a Nekomata can be identified by irises the same color as the manipulator, cat-like slits for pupils, and black sclera.
Other AbilitiesKariko is well versed in terms of nature transformation, as she is able to use both Wind and Earth Release. When in cat form, she gains the ability to use Fire Release techniques, despite the fact that she cannot use them in human form.
Stats
Part IChūnin ExamsKariko arrives with her fellow Sunagakure ninjas during the Chūnin Exam Arc. While she doesn't participate in the exams herself, she is almost always seen around the Sand Siblings and serves as their retainer and personal medical-nin. When she arrives to Konohagakure alongside them, Team 7 notes that she seems to be the only normal one as she gently but ineffectively urged Kankuro to settle down when he nearly starts fighting them. However, she smiles brightly when Gaara threatens to kill his brother if he doesn't leave them alone, leaving Team 7 with a very unsettled feeling about her.
Trivia- The name "Kariko" means "temporary child" and reflects how her mother knew since she was born that she would not be a permanent part of their family. It also transliterates into calico, a breed of cat.
- According to the databook(s):
- Kariko's hobbies are fishing with Lady Chiyo and napping in the sun.
- Kariko wishes to fight nobody.
- Kariko's favorite food is sashimi, while her least favorite is yuzukoshō.
- Kariko has completed 40 official missions in total: 0 D-rank missions, 6 C-rank missions, 12 B-rank missions, 18 A-rank missions, and 4 S-rank missions.
- Kariko's favorite phrase is “A cat who is always mewing doesn’t catch mice” (鳴く猫は鼠捕らぬ, Kaku neko wa nezumi o toranu).
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