Hiruko (shinobi)

is a puppet used by the Akatsuki ninja, Sasori. As a puppet, he served as Sasori's "puppet armour", as Sasori was capable of hiding inside of it. Sasori even adorned Hiruko with the Akatsuki's robes, and hid inside it so often that others came to recognize him only when he was wearing it.

In the anime, Hiruko was once a great shinobi of Sunagakure, but upon death he became Sasori's 18th Human Puppet. In the manga it was a normal puppet.

Chiyo stated that Hiruko had changed since she saw it twenty years ago. After all of its strikes failed due to Chiyo's manipulation, Sakura Haruno destroyed the puppet.

Abilities and Weapons
All weapons installed in Hiruko were coated in Sasori's special brand of poison, which would kill the victim after three days of painful paralysis.
 * Extendable iron tail offence by stabbing and defence by rotating around the body.
 * Heavy back shell for additional defence. A new addition since Chiyo last saw it 20 years ago.
 * Rapid launching of senbon from the mouth.
 * Torpedo-shaped left arm that launches shrapnel of senbon in all directions. A new addition since Chiyo last saw it 20 years ago.
 * Granted Sasori a gruffer voice.

Trivia

 * Hiruko (蛭子) can be translated to "leech child".
 * Hiruko is a Japanese Fisherman god. It can also be translated into "Ebisu".
 * Hiruko's tail was seen in a flashback of Sasori's childhoods as a part of an unfinished puppet. It had a split end.