Hello my dear Naruto fanatics — today’s article is all about you.
Meet Gaara — a kind and gentle boy that eventually was turned into a literal monster. Through tragedy and what felt like eternal suffering for Gaara, he emerged as a leader and as a person with a golden heart.
But why did he put that tattoo? And why do so many people have a Gaara tattoo?
If you knew his backstory, you would want a Gaara tattoo as well. So buckle up — there are a lot of confusing names, plot twists, and epic battles ahead.
The Life of Gaara
Born as the Jinchuriki holding the one-tailed spirit Shukaku inside of him, Gaara of the Desert is the little brother to Kankuro and Temari and the son of the fallen 4th Kazekage, master of gold dust, Rasa.
Gaara’s loving mother was Karura. Gaara was born premature and due to the beast inside of him, his mother died shortly after having him. Gaara’s childhood was much like Naruto’s — both born as Jinchuriki whose parents sealed-tailed beasts inside of them. They were ostracized by the villagers, seen as inhuman, and treated as such.
Gaara of the Sand would experience hurt and pain, but Yashamaru, his maternal uncle was the one figure who would give Gaara hope in the world — the only person who gave him a sense of what love was. Yashamaru taught Gaara that love was selfless and protective, much like the sand that protected his body.
Gaara believed for a short while that the sand was his mother’s parting gift — to protect him and love him as she would have. But the other members and kids of the sand still treated Gaara as a monster. Hence, they would run away in fear each time he would even look at them.
The Ultimate Betrayal
The breaking point of Gaara was the moment when he was attacked by a Sand Shinobi — who turned out to be Yashamaru, his uncle. He was sent by Rasa and the Suna Council to kill Gaara. Yashamaru broke Gaara’s spirit after he told him that he volunteered to kill him & hated Gaara for killing his sister. Furthermore, he tells Gaara that his mother never loved him and as proof, she named him Gaara — the one who only loves himself.
This aggression by Yashamary though was asked by Rasa in order to provoke the Jinchurki and gauge his reaction. When Gaara realized that he lost the one person who cared and loved him, he fully transforms into Shikaku for the first time.
But Gaara of the Sand was a kind and loving kid, only wanting the best for those around him. Even though he was consistently pushed aside by the villagers he could always count on Yashamaru. But when Yashamaru was no longer there Gaara would come to understand that the sand that protected him was not his mother’s protection — but a manifestation of his mother’s hate and the will of the Sand Spirit.
Gaara’s Tattoo
Gaara tattooed the kanji of love over his left eye as a visual reminder of his purpose and his being — that Gaara loves only himself. He harbored such a passionate hate for the world that manifested into a primal desire to kill. He felt nothing but rage and hate and he was fueled by it. He believed that it was his purpose to kill everyone.
Gaara was made as foil to Naruto — an example of what would happen if Naruto had nobody. Both were alienated by their comrades so they can understand each other’s pain and loneliness but where they differ is that Naruto was surrounded by people who loved and cared for him, when Gaara only had himself.
Everyone from his village only accepted him as a weapon — to protect the homeland. Those moments in solitude would give Gaara too much time to reflect on himself and his purpose. What Naruto was quick to understand is that having peers, comrades, and friends is what brings life light — and that in fact, is true love.
Gaara was just Naruto without love and without light. He searched for belonging. He yearned to be needed and loved, and through the help of Naruto, he would learn what he could be with those things. He learned that fighting for others and not oneself is true strength.
Gaara Becomes Kazekage
Following the time skip, Gaara had an important discussion with his brother Kankuro, telling him that he had a desire to be needed by someone and not seen as a weapon — which is why he wanted to be and would ultimately become Kazekage.
Sadly, Gaara lost his life protecting his village, but lady Chiyo sacrificed her own to bring back the now-former Jinchuriki. His entire village eagerly awaited the return of their leader. Those were the moments when he learned that his presence and kind heart were truly needed — and Naruto once again was the driving force.
The Sand — A Blessing or a Curse?
Gaara still had a hole in his heart regarding his mother. During the Fourth Ninja War, the 4th Kazekage (his father) was resurrected and Gaara would be the only Shinobi capable of taking him down.
When Gaara bested him and managed to hold down the other Kazekage with the hands of his mother, Rasa saw this moment as a second chance — he knew he failed as a father and he tells him this with immense regret. He would inform his son that his mother in fact did love him and her dying wish was that she would protect him.
Gaara was told that the sand was never a curse but in fact the truest manifestation of her love. Gaara was loved. He was loved by Temari and Kankuro, he was loved by Naruto, loved by his village, and loved by the one person that he felt directly responsible for — his mother who he was told hated his existence.
Gaara cried tears of joy and relief — it was the ultimate closure of his sufferings. Yashamaru once told Gaara that only one thing could heal a wound to the heart and that was love. So it’s safe to safe that Gaara’s heart was healed. Gaara’s purpose is to be a protector to the Sand, to feel hate, but to forgive. Gaara’s childhood was one of darkness and of malice, he was alone and alienated and Yashamaru who was just following orders took his heart away and made him feel so alone — until one person who felt the same pain extended his hand to him.
Gaara Tattoo Design Ideas
Congrats! You are now filled with knowledge and ready for the next step — to pick the best spot for a Gaara tattoo. Below we share some of the best Gaara tattoo designs.
Also, did you know that some body parts hurt less to tattoo than others ? Yup, you can totally avoid feeling great pain and skip some of the most painful places to get a tattoo by just looking into our chart. So keep that in mind while scrolling through the designs.
Gaara Septum Tattoo
Gaara Butt Tattoo
Gaara Arm Tattoo
Gaara Ankle Tattoo
Gaara Back Tattoo
Gaara Thigh Tattoo
Gaara Rib Tattoo
Gaara Chest Tattoo
Gaara Upper Limb Tattoo
Gaara Forearm Tattoo
Gaara Calf Tattoo
Gaara Leg Tattoo
Gaara Hand Tattoo
Gaara Hip Tattoo
Gaara Face Tattoo
Conclusion: Are You Ready for a Gaara Tattoo?
I love the story of Gaara, it’s one of my favorite characters of the series. The Gaara that emerges by the end of Naruto is a character we watched evolve, and it was an evolution that was so close to many hearts. As for a Gaara tattoo, I would definitely consider putting one, but not on my forehead tho… I feel like there would be instances where I will have to conceal my tattoo.
Final words on love — a mother’s love is the most powerful love of all. Love is patience, compassion, and warmth. Love must be selfless. Love is to protect and care for someone else before you. Love is healing, growth, and acceptance. In order for Gaara to be complete, he needed to feel the warmth of love and to understand that he too, was worthy of love. So, to Gaara love means & love IS everything.
