Hiruko (shinobi)

is a puppet used by the Akatsuki ninja, Sasori. As a puppet, he served as Sasori's "puppet armor", 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. While not stated in the manga, in the anime Hiruko is Sasori's 18th Human Puppet.

Chiyo stated that Hiruko had changed since she saw it twenty years ago. After all of it's 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.
 * Offense and defense.
 * Heavy back shell.
 * Additional defense (new addition).
 * Rapid launching of senbon from the mouth.
 * Torpedo-shaped left arm that launches shrapnel (new addition).
 * 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".
 * The tail could be seen in a flashback to Sasori's childhood, as it was a part of an unfinished puppet. It had a split end.