In the world of Naruto, the tailed beasts are powerful creatures that contain immense chakra and serve as power sources for many shinobi. The tailed beasts are known to have a shared origin, with one figure being revered as the progenitor and father of them all. Determining exactly who holds this title requires an in-depth look at the lore and history of the tailed beasts.
The tailed beasts are comprised of the One-Tail Shukaku, Two-Tails Matatabi, Three-Tails Isobu, Four-Tails Son Goku, Five-Tails Kokuo, Six-Tails Saiken, Seven-Tails Chomei, Eight-Tails Gyuki, and Nine-Tails Kurama. They possess extraordinary power, with each tail representing an incremental increase in their chakra levels. The tailed beasts provide jinchuriki who can control them with nearly unlimited chakra reserves. Their origin story is tied to the beginnings of shinobi history and the struggle between light and darkness.
The Sage of Six Paths
The father of all tailed beasts is none other than the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki. The Sage of Six Paths lived over 1,000 years before the events of the main Naruto storyline. He is a legendary god-like figure revered as the father of all ninshu, a spiritual discipline that later evolved into ninjutsu. The Sage of Six Paths possessed the Rinnegan and was the first wielder of chakra on Earth. His mother Kaguya Otsutsuki arrived on Earth from another world and consumed the fruit of the God Tree, gaining unique powers and giving birth to the Sage of Six Paths.
As part of his efforts to bring peace and order to the world, the Sage of Six Paths defeated and sealed the powerful Ten-Tails beast that had rampaged across the land. This Ten-Tails was created from the God Tree after Kaguya merged with it towards the end of her life. To contain the power of the Ten-Tails, the Sage of Six Paths separated its chakra into the nine tailed beasts that are known today. Though they no longer formed the original Ten-Tails, each tailed beast retained immense strength and chakra.
By partitioning the Ten-Tails’ power in this manner, the Sage of Six Paths aimed to prevent its resurgence and malignant influence over the world. This act of creating the nine tailed beasts directly ties the Sage of Six Paths as the progenitor and father figure of all the tailed beasts. His bloodline and spiritual powers flow through the tailed beasts, and his actions birthed them in their current form.
The Tailed Beasts’ Lore and History
The tailed beasts have a long history that is intertwined with human civilization and the origins of ninjutsu. After the Sage of Six Paths created them, the tailed beasts roamed the world unfettered for centuries. Their presence was feared by humans, who saw them as primal forces of nature. The tailed beasts were worshipped at times, but also exploited by humans seeking to harness their power. This led to an antagonistic relationship between tailed beasts and humans.
It was not until the era of the shinobi villages that steps were taken to control the tailed beasts. Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, used his Wood Style abilities to capture and disperse the tailed beasts to other newly founded villages as peace treaties. However, this distribution led to further conflict and wars over the tailed beasts’ immense strength. Capturing a tailed beast became a measure of a village’s military power.
Over time, humans learned to seal tailed beasts within humans, creating the first jinchuriki. With training, jinchuriki could access the tailed beast’s power sealed within them. However, the relationship was often volatile, with the tailed beast seeking to break free or assert control. The Akatsuki later sought out the tailed beasts across the ninja world to further their plans, leading to confrontations with each village’s jinchuriki.
The Sage of Six Paths’ purpose in creating the tailed beasts was to divide the Ten-Tails’ power to protect the world from destruction. However, humanity’s greed and fear led the tailed beasts to be targeted and exploited, straining the balance the Sage had intended. Only toward the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War do humans and tailed beasts finally arrive at a true understanding and cooperation.
The Nature of Each Tailed Beast
Though spawned from the Ten-Tails, each tailed beast has its own distinct nature and traits. Here is an overview:
One-Tail Shukaku
Shukaku the One-Tail is capable of manipulating sand. Prior to being sealed, Shukaku was free-roaming in the deserts of the Land of Wind. Shukaku harbors a cynical, mad personality and drove its jinchuriki Gaara to instability early in life. The One-Tail was captured by the Akatsuki, leading to Gaara’s temporary death, but later revived. Shukaku continues to be resentful towards humans but has found cooperation with Gaara.
Two-Tails Matatabi
Matatabi the Two-Tails is a calm and polite tailed beast with control over blue flames. It was captured by Hashirama Senju and given to Kumogakure as a peace offering. The Two-Tails was eventually sealed within Yugito Nii. Despite Matatabi’s reasonable nature, the Akatsuki captured it, leading to Yugito’s death. Killer B later rescues Matatabi during the war against Akatsuki.
Three-Tails Isobu
Isobu the Three-Tails possesses a coral-like body and can conjure corrosive mist. It was left free after the Sage of Six Paths’ death but later captured by the Second Mizukage. Isobu was made into a jinchuriki despite its passive nature. After his death, Isobu returned to the wild before being captured by the Akatsuki. It is eventually freed by Naruto and Killer B. Isobu holds no ill will towards humans.
Four-Tails Son Goku
Son Goku the Four-Tails can manipulate lava. Hashirama Senju captured Son during his battle with Madara Uchiha and gave it to Iwagakure as part of their truce. Despite Son’s courageous and noble nature, humans who knew of it grew to fear its power. Son was sealed in Roushi but captured by Akatsuki, resulting in Roushi’s death. It was later freed and helped the Allied Shinobi Forces during the war.
Five-Tails Kokuo
Kokuo the Five-Tails has power over steam and acidic mist. Hashirama captured it and gave it to Kirigakure as a peace offering. However, its jinchuriki suffered discrimination, eventually losing faith in humanity. Kokuo was more sympathetic towards humans but was still exploited as a weapon. It was captured by Akatsuki but later freed and able to befriend humans during the war.
Six-Tails Saiken
Saiken the Six-Tails can use soap-like bubbles. Hashirama captured it and gave it to Kirigakure. Over time, Kirigakure came to use Saiken’s jinchuriki as weapons, tarnishing the tailed beast’s view of humanity. Saiken was captured by Akatsuki but freed by Naruto and Killer B during the war. It helped heal shinobi and cooperated with humans thereafter.
Seven-Tails Chomei
Chomei the Seven-Tails has control over scales and silks and can fly. After the Sage of Six Path’s death, it came to reside in the Waterfall Country. Humans from the village Takigakure tried exploiting its power, making it distrust them. It was sealed into Fu but captured by Akatsuki, resulting in her death. Chomei holds animosity towards humans for their treatment.
Eight-Tails Gyuki
Gyuki the Eight-Tails wields tentacles and ink. Hashirama captured it and gave it to Kumogakure. However, Kumo’s treatment of its jinchuriki made Gyuki wary of humans. It was captured by Akatsuki but saved by Killer B. Gyuki put aside his judgement of humanity and helped the Allied Shinobi Forces in the war. Its relationship with Killer B is cooperative.
Nine-Tails Kurama
Kurama the Nine-Tails is the most powerful tailed beast. After its creation, Kurama developed intense hatred towards humans for their frequent enslavement of it. It attacked Konohagakure when released by Madara Uchiha but was defeated by Hashirama and sealed within Mito Uzumaki. When released again, Minato Namikaze sealed it within Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto eventually earns Kurama’s trust and cooperation.
The Tailed Beasts’ Relationships with Jinchuriki
The tailed beasts have complex relationships with their jinchuriki hosts. Being sealed within humans has led to much conflict but also cooperation. Here are some notable tailed beast and jinchuriki pairings:
Shukaku and Gaara
Initially, Shukaku exploited Gaara’s loneliness and damaged psyche to potentially gain freedom, forcing Gaara to be an insomniac to avoid its possession. Their relationship was highly antagonistic. However, after his resurrection, Gaara bonded with villagers and Shukaku no longer considered him an easy pawn. The two arrived at an understanding, cooperating in battles.
Gyuki and Killer B
Killer B’s partnership with Gyuki is the most stable and friendly jinchuriki-tailed beast relationship. Due to Killer B’s upbringing and training, Gyuki cooperates freely with him, allowing B to access its full power. They share a raport and Gyuki supports Killer B without reservation. Their excellent teamwork is a model for jinchuriki.
Kurama and Naruto Uzumaki
Kurama was bitterly hateful towards humans and resisted cooperating with Naruto. However, Naruto’s perseverance and empathy, especially after learning of Kurama’s history, helped him earn its acceptance. They eventually became partners, with Kurama entrusting Naruto with its full power. Their bond represents overcoming the cycle of hatred between humans and tailed beasts.
Isobu and Rin Nohara
Isobu was sealed into Rin Nohara as part of Kirigakure’s exploitation of it as a weapon. However, Isobu did not hold ill will towards Rin. Their brief partnership was not characterized by animosity from either side. Isobu’s passive nature allowed it to cooperate with Rin more easily than other tailed beasts.
The Symbolic Meaning of the Tailed Beasts
The tailed beasts symbolize several key themes in Naruto regarding power, cooperation, and overcoming hatred. Their origins highlight the contradictions of human nature. The Sage of Six Paths created them seeking stability, yet humans used them for war and control. How jinchuriki and tailed beasts interact represents finding understanding despite enduring enmity and mistrust. Naruto leading the befriending of the tailed beasts embodies persevering on the path of empathy no matter the obstacles.
Overall, the tailed beasts moving from antagonism with humans to cooperation parallels the larger narrative arc of the shinobi world. Former enemies like Naruto and Gaara or Hashirama and Madara were able to find common ground despite their divisions. This message of reconciliation is central to Naruto’s themes. The tailed beasts were first tools of war but became partners on the path to peace. Their progression inspires hope that any cycle of hatred can be broken through mutual understanding.
Conclusion
The father and creator of the nine tailed beasts is Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths. His act of dividing the Ten-Tails into the nine tailed beasts was done to protect the world from the Ten-Tails’ unchecked power. However, humanity’s inability to overcome fear and desire for power turned the tailed beasts into weapons and objects of war. Only through the efforts of Naruto and other shinobi were humans and tailed beasts finally able to arrive at trust and cooperation. The tailed beasts represent the capacity to overcome any level of distrust, no matter how deep the scars, through consistent empathy and understanding. Their journey in the shinobi world mirrors the larger narrative of breaking the cycle of hatred.