Matsuri


 * Character Name:Matsuri
 * Kana:
 * Seiyū:Maaya Sakamoto
 * Voice Actor:
 * Country: Sand
 * Birthday:
 * Bloodtype: A
 * Age: Part I - 11-12; Part II - 14
 * Height:
 * Weight:
 * Current Affiliation:Suna
 * Current Team: Sana
 * Debut:manga chapter 280, Anime episode 216 (Part 1)
 * Relatives:
 * Rank: Part I: Genin; Part II Chunin, possibly Jonin
 * Jutsu:
 * Jouhyou

Matsuri, meaning "festival", is a student of Sunagakure's new ninja school. She is the only person out of the entire class to choose Gaara to be her teacher and refers to him as "Gaara-sensei." She has a fear of weapons after witnessing the murder of her parents. She was kidnapped by the Shitenshounin to try to lure Gaara out so that they could steal the Shukaku's chakra to use in resurrecting Takumi Village's founder Seimei, and thereby take revenge on the five great nations who had been oppressing their village for the past century. After being freed, she saves Naruto from a fatal attack from Seimei using her Jouhyou after realizing that weapons can be used to protect comrades. After Seimei's defeat, she returns to Sunagakure with Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari. But before she leaves, she asks Shikamaru to tell Naruto that he had made her understand what Gaara was trying to tell her and that she will continue to train as Gaara's student.

Matsuri makes her first post-timeskip appearance in Naruto Shippūden as part of the Suna ninja team Temari had assembled to aid in rescuing Gaara. Since then, she, along with Temari's team, have been sent to patrol a border crossing, that was said to need ninja of Jonin rank or higher. She was among the Jonin protecting the area. Matsuri seems to have undergone a personality change since her becoming Gaara's student; she is no longer the shy girl afraid of weapons, and has become somewhat outspoken, as when she complains to Temari about how they should be trying to rescue Gaara rather than defending the border against countries that might seek to take advantage of the Kazekage's absence. She becomes one of many of Gaara's admirers dedicating to protecting him, much to Temari's chagrin.