Matsuri

meaning "festival", is a ninja from Sunagakure. She is known for her devotion to Gaara.

Biography
Matsuri starts out as 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.

Shitenshounin arc
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.

Rescue the Kazekage


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. Temari's team were first sent out to patrol a border crossing. 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. 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. After his revival, she becomes one of many of Gaara's admirers, pledging her devotion to him, also witnessed she and another ninja who admire Gaara said they'd protect him themselves, and likely become rivals.

Trivia

 * Due to the two characters having the same name, she is easily confused with Matsuri from Konohagakure, who also was an Academy Student during Part I.


 * Matsuri is one of the only characters to have been shown earlier in the anime than in her first manga appearance. This also occurred with several of the Konoha 9 genin.