Gatō

was a shipping magnate and founder of Gatō Company, who attempted to take control of the Land of Waves.

Background
Gatō was a powerful shipping magnate whose shipping company was actually a front for much shadier activities, such as smuggling illegal goods and dealing drugs. He took control of the Land of Waves' shipping routes and created a monopoly by isolating the country from the outside world, preventing free import and export and turning it into an impoverished, hunger-stricken country in the process. He was a cruel man, responsible for humiliating and killing Kaiza in public for standing up to him. Kaiza's death immensely demoralized the people of Wave, to the point that they no longer had the courage to stand up to Gatō. Gatō was protected by two bodyguards, Zōri and Waraji.

Personality
Gatō was a corrupt businessman, characterized by extreme cruelty and greed. If he had even the slightest chance of getting profit, nothing would stop him. He constantly prioritized financial success over any other motives and emotions. He was willing to break prior contracts and agreements in order to save money.

Gatō was very ruthless, and dealt harshly with his enemies, brutally executing anyone who crossed his path. To this end, he had no qualms over killing and harming innocent people, as he ordered Tsunami to be taken as hostage to stop Tazuna. He can also be cowardly and grudging, as he kicked a dead Haku in the face for injuring his arm earlier, and then cowering away when Zabuza charged at him.

Land of Waves Arc
Gatō hired Zabuza Momochi and his men to assassinate Tazuna, because the bridge he was building posed a threat to Gatō's control of Wave's economy. After Zabuza's arms were broken in battle by Kakashi Hatake (who was hired to defend Tazuna), Gatō arrived with a group of thugs, intent on killing Zabuza so that he would not have to pay him for his services. Since Zabuza was still able to wield a kunai in his mouth, this mistake cost Gatō his life. Zabuza died, and the renegades were scared away by Kakashi, Naruto, and the combined force of the villagers.

Trivia

 * His name is spelled with and without a circumflex in the English manga. The revised Hepburn romanization is Gatō. The first official data book spells his name as "Gatōh".
 * is the Japanese way of writing the French word gâteau, which means cake.
 * In the manga, Gatō was killed when he is decapitated by Zabuza with a kunai. While in the anime, he died when Zabuza stabbed him several times until he fell over the edge of the Great Naruto Bridge when it was still under construction.