Tayuya


 * Name: Tayuya
 * Age: 14
 * Status: Deceased
 * Rank: Unknown
 * Height: 148.2cm
 * Weight: 38.2kg
 * Birthday: February 15
 * Blood Type: A
 * Gate: Hokumon, 北門, "Northern Gate"
 * Seiyu: Akeno Watanabe
 * Voice actor: Kari Wahlgren
 * Unique traits: Summoning Technique (Doki ("Angry Demons")), and genjutsu-casting flute, uses her flute to cast "Chains of Fantasia"(genjutsu)

is the kunoichi of Orochimaru's Sound Four. She is foul-mouthed (a fact for which Jirobo berates her) and ill tempered, but very powerful. Her main (and only) weapon is her flute. With it, she can summon three powerful demons and control them to fight for her. Tayuya is very intelligent and can think of excellent strategies and battle tactics. This was prominent enough for Shikamaru to recognize her as the closest thing yet of all his past opponents to his equal in making strategies. According to Shikamaru, she would probably also "be very good in shogi (Japanese chess)". She can also perform genjutsu with her flute. Her preference for sound-based, long-range combat with her flute makes her vulnerable at close-range combat. When in Level 2 cursed seal form, her hair grows longer, her skin turns dark brown, and she grows several horns on her head. She also gains immense strength, which allows her to overcome even Shikamaru's various shadow jutsu.

Tayuya is the only member of the Sound Four without a trait that could slow the group down. She is also the only member to ever demonstrate a sense of morality. Right before her battle with Shikamaru, she asks him if he is thinking rationally. "Each time you catch up with us, you must sacrifice one of your teammates in order to keep up with us. Why sacrifice four men to retrieve one, who might not want to come back?". She almost defeats Shikamaru Nara during the Sasuke retrieval arc, but Temari comes to his aid. Temari kills Tayuya with Summoning: Quick Beheading Dance, uprooting most of the forest and crushing her under a tree. Tayuya is the only member of the Sound Four to actually use sound as a weapon.

In the English version, Tayuya is less foul-mouthed and cares for her friends more. She considers herself and Sakon to be the strongest of the team, and Jirobo to be the weakest.