Toad

Toads are the most recurring summons to be seen in the series due to some of the main characters, Naruto Uzumaki, Jiraiya, and the Fourth Hokage, being able to summon them. Toads possess a wide range of abilities, being able to spit water or oil from their mouths and occasionally utilizing weapons in battle. They vary greatly in size; Gamabunta, the largest toad seen so far, is as big as a building, while his two sons, Gamakichi and Gamatatsu, are small enough in Part I to ride upon one's head. In promotional artwork for Part II, Naruto is depicted riding atop an older Gamakichi, suggesting that he and his brother have gotten much bigger since their last appearances. Unlike most summons introduced in Naruto, each toad is shown to have a unique personality; Gamatatsu has a fixation for snacks and Gamakichi enjoys watching battles from a safe distance. Their father, Gamabunta, speaks like a yakuza gangster who won't work with anyone he doesn't respect. Despite this, he is fiercely protective of his children and Naruto, and will fight for their safety regardless of his respect for the summoner (or, more likely, whether or not Jiraiya is on his good side). Gamaken, a toad of comparable size to Gamabunta that is introduced in Part II, spends the bulk of his brief appearance commenting on how weak and stupid he is.

The toad elders seem to hold high positions in toad-society; the Great Toad Sage, an aging and senile toad, hands out wisdom and predictions to the younger generations. He is highly respected for his track record of always being right, and getting to meet with him is considered a great honor. A married toad couple, who simply refer to each other as Ma and Pa, assist the Great Sage in his work. They also seem to be particularly powerful, as Jiraiya summons them to help him during a battle with Pain. Jiraiya speaks to both of them very respectfully, whereas most other toads he treats as his equals. Although Ma and Pa constantly bicker over such things as dinner and Jiraiya's immaturity, their combined efforts are enough to defeat three of Pain's bodies.

Masashi Kishimoto has stated that there are a number of different types of toads; the toad that appears on the cover of volume 13 of the manga he states to be a Shaolin kung fu master. He hopes to be able to draw many of these toads for the duration of Naruto.