Ranmaru


 * Name: Ranmaru
 * Voice Actor: Kari Wahlgren

Ranmaru (蘭丸, Ranmaru?) is a young orphan from Kirigakure. He is similar to Haku in many ways, in that he is an orphan, is loyal to one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, and has an androgynous appearance, but he is never mistaken for a girl, in part due to the fact that "maru," a Japanese suffix for boys' names, is part of his name. Even though he is apparently paralyzed, his kekkei genkai gives him the ability to see through walls, cause illusions, and interfere with the Byakugan. He can also use some other vaguely defined powers relating to vision. This bloodline does not have a name yet mentioned, but when used, Ranmaru's eyes glow red for a moment. Because of the strangeness of his bloodline, Ranmaru was shunned by the village, until he met Raiga. After befriending Raiga Kurosuki, he often rode piggyback on Raiga, under the condition that he help Raiga with his bloodline powers to defeat his enemies.

Prior to meeting Naruto, Lee, Neji, and Tenten, he believed that without Raiga, he was nothing. Although, when he first tasted the Curry of Life, he became able to walk for the first time, and he was also cured from his paralysis. From Naruto, he discovered the pleasure of living, and decided to share the feeling with Raiga. Raiga realized how Ranmaru could never be a truly free soul as long as Raiga was alive, and because of this he gave himself a funeral in one of his more coherent moments. As that arc comes to a close, he becomes an apprentice at the Curry of Life shop.

Controversial Facts
Ranmaru, being a filler character, was never actually present in Masashi Kishimoto's unfolding plot. As this is so, the anime will bring out cases that would not be possible in the manga. Ranmaru's kekkei genkai is one of these cases, as it is stated that there are three doujutsu (eye techniques). It is also implied that no kekkei genkai can interfere with another, because Kakashi's Sharingan could not copy Haku's ice techniques. For Ranmaru to have a doujutsu of the same type as the Byakugan, and be able to interfere with the Byakugan's usage, it would certainly be classified as a "great doujutsu". Also, due to its ability to partially predict attacks, it may be the link between the Sharingan and the Byakugan, as the former is thought to be descended from the latter.