In Naruto there are 9 demons known as Bijuus. Bijuus are beasts of immense power, practically over-flowing with Chakra. Each Bijuu is identified by its number of tails. So far we have seen Kyuubi the 9-tailed fox and Shukaku the 1-tailed raccoon-like creature. The Jinchuuriki are the hosts of these beasts. Jinchuuriki are
needed because the only way to defeat the Bijuu is to seal them within a newborn baby. The Jinchuurikis of the current known Bijuu are none other than Naruto and
Gaara.
Kyuubi
 Kyuubi is the 9-tailed fox sealed within Naruto. This Bijuu attacked the village of Konoha 12 years nearly destroying the village and all its inhabitants. The 4th Hokage sacrificed himself, using a technique known only to him and the 3rd Hokage, and sealed Kyuubi in an infant named: Naruto. Because of the Kyuubi, the villagers ignored Naruto and viewed him as a nuisance leaving him sad and alone. The power of the Kyuubi is so great that when Naruto is cut or wounded Chakra leaks from the wound and heals it almost instantly. Naruto is able tap into Kyuubi's power by begging it to let him borrow Chakra. When Naruto becomes enraged the Kyuubi takes over his body and forms a Kyuubi-shaped shell of red Chakra around Naruto.
Shukaku
 Shukaku is a 1-tailed raccoon-like creature. Shukaku has had 2 hosts before. Its current host is Gaara, which was merged into him when he was born. Shukaku is able to manipulate the special sand within Gaara's gourd without Gaara needing to control it. The sand can block all incoming attacks that it can react to. The sand can also be controlled by Gaara to form a shell around him or to attack. Shukaku seems to want blood and demands that Gaara kill for sustenance. Gaara believes Shukaku's spirit to be his mother's. A side-effect of having Shukaku within him Gaara is not allowed to sleep; if he does Shukaku will take over him and reform itself out of sand around Gaara as seen during the invasion of Konoha at the end of the Chuunin exams. Much like Naruto the citizens of the Sand Village ignore and try to avoid Gaara, mostly out of fear. |
