Iō (Bamboo Village)
CharacterIō was the elder who led the remote Bamboo Village, a devoted family man whose refusal to shelter fugitives, followed by the murder of his pregnant daughter, hardened him into a person consumed by vengeance.
Appearance
Age had claimed the top of Iō's head, leaving long grey strands at the sides. His eyes were small and dark.
Personality
Iō's love for his daughter knew few limits, and he would go to great lengths on her behalf. His concern, though, stopped at the borders of his own community; he accepted coin from travelers yet turned them away whenever aiding them might invite danger onto Bamboo Village.
History
Tucked away from the wider world, Bamboo Village scraped by on goods its people crafted from local bamboo and sold in neighboring towns, and for a while its residents hailed the Lightning Group as saviors thanks to their generous gifts. When that group's actions dragged it into a feud with Kirigakure, the handful of survivors came looking for shelter, but Iō refused them rather than risk Kiri's wrath. His daughter later wed and settled elsewhere; months into her pregnancy, the Dark Thunder Group, commanded by a former Lightning Group member, wiped out her village. Grief over the loss killed Iō's wife, and the bereaved elder vowed to destroy the Dark Thunder Group down to the last man.
Iō contracted the wanderers Chino and Nowaki to hunt the group. When Sasuke Uchiha passed through soon after, Iō mistook him for an enemy and set the pair on him, relenting only once Sasuke stripped away his weapon; unapologetic, he still asked for the young man's aid. In the novel account, raiders seized Iō while Sasuke was away surveying attack sites. Sasuke returned to find Iō and the group's leader Karyū exchanging barbs, the two clearly acquainted. After beating Karyū, Sasuke chose to deliver him to Konoha rather than kill him, which enraged Iō. Denied the execution he demanded, the elder shut himself in the shed holding the captives, soaked them in gasoline, and set the room ablaze, dying with the men he despised. The anime instead has Iō guarding the village alone against a wave of detonating humans; slipping away to check on his sheltered daughter, he discovers she too has been turned, and when she cannot be stopped from exploding he curses Fūshin and throws himself into the fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Io in Naruto?
Io was the elder who led the remote Bamboo Village, a devoted family man whose devotion turned to vengeance after tragedy struck his family. He and his people scraped by selling goods crafted from local bamboo.
Why did Io turn away survivors of the Lightning Group's attack?
Io refused to shelter the handful of Lightning Group survivors because aiding them risked drawing Kirigakure's wrath onto Bamboo Village. His concern for his people stopped at the borders of his own community.
What led Io to seek revenge against the Dark Thunder Group?
Months into his daughter's pregnancy, the Dark Thunder Group wiped out the village where she had settled, and grief over the loss then killed Io's wife. The bereaved elder vowed to destroy the Dark Thunder Group down to the last man.
What happened when Sasuke Uchiha encountered Io?
Io mistook Sasuke Uchiha for an enemy and set his hired wanderers Chino and Nowaki on him, relenting only once Sasuke stripped away his weapon. He still asked for the young man's help hunting the Dark Thunder Group.
How did Io die?
Io's death differs by version. In the novel he locks himself in a shed with the Dark Thunder Group's captured men after Sasuke spares their leader Karyu, soaking the room in gasoline and burning with the men he despised, while the anime has him throw himself into the fire after his sheltered daughter is turned into a detonating human.
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Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
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