Matsuri

is a Genin from Sunagakure and a close friend of Sari. She adores the Kazekage, and can't see any man but him.

Personality
In the anime, Matsuri is shown in more depth. She is initially a shy and very soft-spoken girl, but becomes braver and more outspoken under Gaara's tutelage. She remains polite to others, using the proper honorifics. While Matsuri is reluctant to use weapons in Part I, she has fewer inhibitions by the start of Part II; she will use weapons to protect her comrades and Sunagakure's reputation, but will avoid causing harm to others.

In the manga, Matsuri is shown simply as a reverent admirer of Gaara or any other powerful ninja. The third Naruto databook indicates she has romantic interests in Gaara. She is quick to compliment him and insult others who do suggest he could be defeated.

Ultimate Weapon arc
Matsuri debuted in the final arc of the anime. She was a student of Sunagakure's new Ninja Academy. At the beginning of the weapon-handling lesson, Matsuri asked if weapons are just dangerous. While the class and the teachers pondered the question, Gaara replied suddenly with, "Your weapon is like..." and made Matsuri think that Gaara was trying to tell her something. Therefore she was the only person out of the entire class brave enough to choose Gaara to be her teacher. Gaara, sensing her hesitation and inhibitions, taught her how to use a jōhyō, but she was fearful of it and other weapons because she had witnessed her parents' murders in the past. Gaara tried to tell her that weapons can be used to protect comrades, but Matsuri didn't understand him at first.

Later, the Four Celestial Symbols Men kidnapped Matsuri, because of her importance to Gaara, trying to lure him out, capture him, and steal the Shukaku's chakra stored within him. Gaara, his siblings, and the Konoha 11 (excluding Tenten) came to her aid, and fought her captors. After being freed, she saved Naruto from a fatal attack from Seimei using her jōhyō, after finally realizing that weapons can be used to protect comrades. After Seimei's defeat, she returned to Sunagakure with Gaara, Kankurō, and Temari. But before she left, she asked Shikamaru to tell Naruto that he had made her understand what Gaara had been trying to tell her, and that she would continue to train as Gaara's student.

Rescue Gaara arc
In the anime, after Gaara is kidnapped by Akatsuki, Matsuri is assigned to a team led by Temari. When they start doing border patrol, Matsuri complains that they should be trying to rescue Gaara.

Later, in her first manga appearance, Matsuri is present when Gaara is revived. She becomes angry with Ittetsu when he voices his fears that Gaara had died. Matsuri then tried to help Gaara stand however he brushed her away, claiming that he was alright.

Five Kage Summit arc
Matsuri was seen in the crowd, next to Ebizō and Baki, telling Gaara to be careful as he left for the Kage Summit.

Trivia

 * Matsuri's name can mean or.
 * Matsuri made an appearance in Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja 4, walking around the Save point outside of the Sand Village, although her shirt was red.
 * Matsuri's affection for the Kazekage and generally her character resemblances a lot as Sakura Haruno in Part I and Karin in Part II.
 * Each one is likely to hit somebody when angry, or when they don't share his point of view. Sakura would beat up Naruto Uzumaki, Karin would hit Suigetsu Hōzuki and Matsuri slugged Ittetsu when he said that he wondered if Gaara would really die.
 * The three of them like a guy in a fan-girl like manner. Sakura loves Sasuke and Karin is obsessed with him, too, while Matsuri is in love with Gaara.