Bunpuku

was an elderly priest of Sunagakure and the first jinchūriki of Shukaku.

Background
Bunpuku was feared and despised by the villagers of Sunagakure and was kept jailed and under constant guard. In fact, the villagers believed him to be Shukaku itself, and had all but forgotten his true name. During a conversation with Shukaku, the tanuki asked its host if the fact that all the villagers shunned him and he could only talk with it didn't upset him any at all. The priest noted that if he were to be separated from Shukaku, he would be dead because he was a jinchūriki. Shukaku told the priest that he reminded it of the Sage of the Six Paths, bringing the elderly priest to tears. He thanked the tanuki and noted that those were the kindest words he had received so far.

He later said to Shukaku that there will be someone who will save and guide it in the future. Eventually, Shukaku was extracted from him, resulting in his death.

Over the years, the people of Sunagakure came to believe Shukaku was this priest's living incarnation.

Personality
Bunpuku was a kindhearted and wise man. Though shunned by the villagers because of the tailed beast inside of him, he still thought of Shukaku as his friend, and bore no ill-will towards the beast. When the Sunagakure guards who guarded him insulted him, Bunpuku never insulted them back, being a pacifist who believed that people could accept and understand each other, even if one of them is a beast. Shukaku also noted that Bunpuku reminded it of the Sage of the Six Paths, due to treating a tailed beast with much respect.

Appearance
Bunpuku was an elderly man and like most priests, his head was bald. He had a long, bushy moustache and beard and also had black rings around his eyes. His attire was one generally worn by priests with over-long white sleeves and a purple-coloured kimono-vest over it. In his palms, he had the kanji for and  encarved by his master.

Abilities
As Shukaku's jinchūriki, Bunpuku was blessed with the immense reserves of especially strong chakra and access to Shukaku's abilities such as sand manipulation. Bunpuku was able to keep the beast under control for a long period of time without extra support such as a cage to contain the beast. Also, Bunpuku never succumbed to the mental degradation induced by being Shukaku's jinchūriki, having a better relationship with his tailed beast. Also, he was a powerful fūinjutsu user, as he managed to seal Shukaku inside a tea kettle.

Trivia

 * His name is a reference to Bunbuku Chagama, a Japanese folktale about a tanuki that uses its shape-shifting powers to reward an old man who rescued it for his kindness.
 * Gaara, Shukaku's latest jinchūriki, has the kanji for engraved on his forehead. The two kanji in the priest's hands combine to make the word "love".

Quotes

 * (To Shukaku) "The human heart is like the reflection on the water's surface… The mouth says things opposite to what the heart really feels… But in truth, the hidden heart wants people to accept each other. Even when one of them is a beast…"
 * (To Shukaku) "Humans and beasts… There is no need to make a distinction."