Baki

Baki (バキ) is a member of Sunagakure’s advisory council, and led the Sand Siblings during the Chunin Exams of Part I

Personality

Baki is a loyal, kind and respected ninja, although, like many Sand ninjas, he is ruthless in battle, as they are all trained to put accomplishing missions before comradeship. With his experience in battle, he holds a lot of confidence in his power. He also knows his priorities, as he went to Chiyo and Ebizo for dealing against Sasori, as opposed to having another meeting with the council.

During the Chunin exam, he had confidence in the ability of all of his team members, although he commented on Kankuro not taking the battles seriously enough. He also worried frequently about Gaara’s mental stability and his control over Shukaku.

 Part I

 Chunin Exams

Baki was first seen watching the preliminary rounds of the third part of the Chunin exam. He didn’t talk much except for giving advice to his students and to warn Gaara to be careful whilst killing. Baki was seen again after Dosu died trying to kill Gaara before the third part of the Chunin exam began so that he could get a better chance of fighting Sasuke. Baki then met Kabuto Yakushi and they discussed the upcoming Sand and Sound’s invasion of Konoha. When they discovered an uninvited Leaf ninja, Hayate Gekko, listening in the shadows, Baki offered to kill Hayate as a sign of trust between the Sand and Sound. Hayate tried to escape, but Baki caught up with him. Hayate began to fight but, when his Dance of the Crescent Moon was unable to faze Baki, he was struck down by Baki’s Blade of Wind. Baki praised Hayate’s skill before he died.

 Invasion of Konoha

He was shown next during the final rounds, which led to the Konoha invasion of the Sand and Sound shinobi. When Gaara lost control, he told his team to take Gaara to safety, noting that his earlier transformation had slightly changed their plans. However, before he could follow them, he was challenged by Genma Shiranui, a battle that was interrupted when the invasion was abandoned.

He was later seen discovering the decomposed bodies of the Fourth Kazekage and his bodyguards, before realizing that they had all been tricked by Orochimaru.

Part II

Rescue Gaara

Baki was seen serving on Suna’s advisory council. During the fight between Gaara and Deidara he was quick to order the evacuation of the village, and ordered the remaining shinobi to prepare offensive measures to help their new Kazekage. Later, when Kankuro was injured by Sasori, Baki seemed to be concerned about Kankuro’s condition.

When Kankuro managed to say the name of his attacker and one of the people who had kidnapped Gaara (”Sasori of the Red Sand“), Baki immediately tried to inform the squad that had been sent to pursue Akatsuki to retreat, only to find out that they had lost contact after retrieving Kankuro, and were most likely dead. He then decided to persuade the retired elders, Chiyo and Ebizo, who were also Sasori’s grandmother and granduncle, respectively, to help, revealing Sasori’s membership to do so.

Later, during Team Kakashi’s attack against Akatsuki, Baki was shown in a meeting with other council members, some of whom were determined to choose Gaara’s successor, rather than try to retrieve him. When Kankuro tried to attack the one who had suggested that, Baki told him to stop, as they were in front of the Kazekage’s monuments.

 Five Kage Summit arc

Baki was seen, among with the rest of the villagers, sending off Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari to the Kage Summit.

Abilities

Baki has the ability to create an intangible Blade of Wind with a wave of his hand to slash through his opponents with ease. He was also seen blocking Hayate Gekko’s Dance of the Crescent Moon with his bare hand, preventing the sword from being removed from his shoulder and thus rendering Hayate defenseless.

 Trivia

• Despite Baki now officially being an ally to Konohagakure, Hayate’s lover, Yugao Uzuki, swore to avenge Hayate. It is unclear how the two have or will resolve their differences.
• Baki is a playable character in Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 and Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3.
• Baki’s face as a mask made a cameo appearance in the ending omake of Shippuden Episode 129 along with Tobi’s mask and Haku’s mask.