Mitsuwa Mai

Mai Mitsuwa
Mai Mitsuwa is a Chuunin-level kunoichi from Sunagakure. She is appointed as a member of both Team Otokaze and Unit 4 upon graduation from the Academy, and quickly proves to be extremely competent in the ninja arts; showing particular skill in Fire Style and Bukijutsu.

Contents
[hide]#Background
 * 1) Personality
 * 2) Appearance
 * 3) Abilities
 * 4) Status
 * 5) Part I
 * 6) Part II
 * 7) Trivia
 * 8) Reference

Background
Mai Mitsuwa is the second born to parents Fukuda and Hanako Mitsuwa, and is the younger sister of Fumiko Mitsuwa.

Despite her initial hesitance towars Gaara, Mai eventually grows to like him, even considering him as an older brother. This caused her to be bullied throughout her Academy years, which she eventually stopped by training to become strong and fighting back.

Throughout her Academy years, Mai makes no friends, choosing to isolate herself from her Academy classmates due to their hateful natures. She is often seen fighting with Eishi Nagasawa, another child her age, whom eventually becomes part of her Genin team. She tended to tag along with Fumiko and Gaara around the village, and on occasion slept with both during their sleepovers at Mai's house when frightened by nightmares and storms.

During part I, she is often shown following Kankuro throughout the village and sparring with him for training practice. She retains this habit until part II, having lost it somewhere during the Interlude.

Personality
Mai is a very volatile person at her core, following her instincts and emotions rather than logic. She is easily angered and provoked into fighting, and uses brute force to back up her threats and appearance. She trains constantly in order to increase her skills, wanting to be stronger than anyone else, preferring to be feared rather than looked down upon. However, she also cares deeply for those close to her and potects them viciously, and has been shown to have a soft spot for children. Mai feels strongly about everything, and often becomes involved in everything she can. Like her sister, Mai stopped using honorifics, although on a few occasions she calls Fumiko 'Nee-chan', and refers to her taicho and sensei by their respective suffixes.

As a child, Mai was initially very shy and soft-spoken. This caused problems for her when she was bullied at the Academy, during which she felt helpless and weak. However, after hearing comforting words from her sister that she didn't have to let the other kids bother her, and after admiring Gaara's strength, Mai decided to be strong, after which she trains constantly and develops a heated temper. In her years at the Academy, Mai gains a very strong set of morals, often defending others or standing up for what she thought despite any disadvantage, often coming home injured after having fights with other kids.

Mai looks up to Gaara for his strength, using him as a role model to become stronger so she could protect both herself and others as he had for her. Growing up, she comes to respect Gaara as a shinobi, and is glad that he became Kazekage, believing that no one else was better suited to the role. As a child, she also admired Fumiko's inner strength, however eventually growing to believe in physical strength rather than quiet perserverence.

In part I, Mai is much less controlled, constantly lashing out and picking fights with others who disagreed with her. She was also desperate to fight and become a shinobi so she could go out on missions, and on multiple occasions fought in them despite her rank as an Academy student, such as when she went with Fumiko to save Matsuri from the Four Celestials Men. She greatly values strength and respected those who used strength for good reasons. She is often seen fighting with other children and even adults after hearing them insult Gaara or her sister.

In part II, Mai is much more mature, often choosing to think before fighting. However, she still retains her temper, and bickered with anyone who would argue with her, usually Kankuro. She is also more arrogant, and despite never underestimating her opponent, often overestimates her own skills in a battle. However, after training as a student in Unit 4 as an ANBU trainee, she is sometimes shown to be quiet and thoughtful, thinking over heavy feelings of depression and confusion. Mai keeps these feelings to herself, save for a few meltdowns, such as her breakdown at hearing about the death of her ANBU teacher. Mai developed strong bonds with her teammates, Eishi and Shiragiku Chigusa, as well as with her sensei, Otokaze. After Gaara's kidnapping, Mai assumed they would kill Gaara, which crushes her. During this time she also worries that if Gaara was killed, Fumiko wouldn't survive it mentally, and that she would lose both of her siblings at once. She also shows great concern for the poisoned Kankuro. She shows great relief at finding Gaara alive and well.

At the time of the Fourth Shinobi World War, she develops the urge to participate in the fight, being unable to sit back and be protected. Unlike many of her peers, Mai is immaturely excited about the prospect of the coming war, eager to test her skills and put her strength to use.



Appearance
Mai has curly black hair that is often tangled with lack of brushing, and brown eyes. She has extremely tanned skin and has been described to look strongly like her father. Although initially short, she quickly grows to be taller than her sister by the en of the Interlude. The most noticeable trait about her is he scar on her lips, which she gained fighting against Semei in the Sunagakure Support Mission Arc. As a child, she had shoulder-length hair, and wore a plain brown T-shirt with a dark collar and tan shorts, along with civilian-styled sandals.

In the beginning of part I, Mai wears a red T-shirt and brown capris. She also wore blue shinobi sandals after starting the Academy. After Gaara became a sensei temporarily at the Sunagakure Academy, her outfit changes to a collared red Cheongsam-style blouse with gold fastening buttons. Mai also wore full-length black leather pants which tucked into her blue shinobi sandals. She also wears sheaths attached to dark brown belts on either side of her hips that hold her twin tanto blades, which sport plain black leather grips. She tied her blue shinobi headband to the bottom right belt. Mai wore a single gold dangling earring set with a ruby on her right ear, given to her by Kankuro for her birthday. She also wore a dark blue kunai holster on her right thigh, and a dark green single-strap backpack with multiple fastened pockets on the front. It is during this time that she gains the scar on the right side of her lips. Her black hair reached mid-back. During the Pein's Assault and Gokage Summit arcs she gains multiple scars on her back and stomach.

Mai's outfit changed very little during the Interlude, although at some point she stopped using her backpack. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, she also added a long-sleeved armored fishnet top, with ANBU-style arm guards on both forearms and a large dark green weapons pouch on the back of her belt on her right side, which holds razor wire, seals, and other shinobi tools. She also wears her Allied Forces headband on her forehead, leaving her Sunagakure one behind.

Abilities
Throughout her childhood, Mai is praised as a natural genius, despite failing nearly all of her classes. She was naturally able to learn quickly when given-hands on skills to work with, such as shurikenjutsu, jutsu techniques and battle strategy. However, instead of relying on easy-coming skills, Mai trained constantly, eventually turning increasingly more difficult training regimes into a hobby. Upon graduating from the Academy, she is revealed to have been taken in by Sunagakure's Shadow Corps as a trainee. Chakra and Physical Prowess Mai is extremely skilled in Taijutsu, able to hold out in spars against Rock Lee and eventually using some of his and Might Guy's training regimes. She uses taijutsu predominantly in fights until she learns nature transformation and ninjutsu, and even then uses it in place of bukijutsu occasionally for close-range fighting. Although not as adept at it as specially-trained shinobi, Mai can also focus chakra in parts of her body to add additional strength, such as her hands and feet.

She has been noticed to hold large reserves of chakra, able to successfully complete multiple chakra-intensive ninjutsus without suffering from chakra deprivation. With the use of soldier pills, she can greatly increase this store and the amount of time she can fight.

Bukijutsu
Mai becomes proficient with shinobi tools, including senbon and kunai, which she uses both for throwing and for short-distance attacks when she does not have her swords. She also becomes skilled at manipulating wire strings and razor wire, which she can use both to manipulate weapons, damage opponents head-on, and use to lead her fire.

Skilled in Kenjutsu, Mai is most known for her use of twin tanto blades, which she keeps in sheaths. These are her main form of attack. She can use either both or just one, and can wield weapons in either hand. Mai uses her considerable strength as well as chakra to put more force behind her blades, and constantly maintains them to keep them effective. She fights on par with Seimei with these swords as an Academy student.

Ninjutsu
As a child, Mai had a decent control over her chakra, making it possible for her to learn Academy-level techniques such as the Clone Technique fairly quickly. Under Gaara's tutelage, she quickly becomes proficient in ninjutsu, at some point learning the Shadow Clone Technique as well as other jutsu.

Nature Transformation
While training with ANBU during her month-long disappearance, Mai is taught nature transformation by her teacher, Squirrel, whom she refers to as 'Squirrel-taicho'. Her main and only transformation, possibly due to her Uchiha bloodline, is Fire style, which she quickly gains an affinity for, learning multiple C rank jutsu by Part II.

<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Meiryo,'HelveticaNeue',Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">She can coat fire<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Meiryo,'HelveticaNeue',Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;"> around her shuriken or create a succession of dragon-shaped fireballs, and mastered the Great Fireball Technique before officially graduating from the Academy. She is the only known shinobi of Sunagakure to have mastered Fire Release. As her skill in nature transformation increased, Mai began using Fire style far more in battle, and even uses it to burn her ANBU teacher on his funeral pyre.

Cooperation Ninjutsu
Mai appears to collaborate well with others, capable of performing high-level techniques such as the Great Fire Whirlwind Technique with her Genin teammate Eishi by combining her fire-style ninjutsu with his wind-style. Although she dislikes cooperating with other shinobi, she has also used cooperation ninjutsu among her Shadow Corps Unit.

Intelligence
Mai has been shown to be a skilled tactician. Although she tends to rush headfirst into battle, she can come up with plans and counters in split-seconds after observing her opponents to note their styles of fighting, ninjutsus, and intelligence and skill levels. She also can usually recognize a person's village origins based on their voices, basic skills and appearences, and uses this information to come up with possibilities of their skill level. <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Meiryo,'HelveticaNeue',Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">In combat, she usually remains on the offensive, rarely pausing in her attacks or falling back to regroup.

On missions with Team Otokaze, her teammates rely on her for battle strategies and 'formations' in the absence of their sensei.

Sharingan
<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Meiryo,'HelveticaNeue',Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Mai first awakened her Sharingan<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Meiryo,'HelveticaNeue',Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;"> in part II, during the Kazekage Rescue arc, after learning about her ANBU teacher's death. However, she refuses to use it throughout most of her life, only using it in situations of extreme life-and-death necessity. <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Meiryo,'HelveticaNeue',Helvetica,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">With the Sharingan, Mai can see the flow of chakra, accurately reproduce any movement she sees (her own physical skill permitting), track fast-moving objects, and, by the Fourth Shinobi World War, predict opponents' movement to a degree. She also uses them to break out of Genjutsu, although she never learns to cast them.

Other Skills
Mai, like many other Sunagakure shinobi, shows proficiency with Sealing Tags, using them for storing supplies on missions and to hide her Jackal ANBU mask, as well as keep her swords in her pockets while in ANBU uniform. Mai has shown an extensive knowledge of the human body, having studied it under Weasel, her ANBU recruiter, and uses that knowledge during fights. She has also been noted to be proficient at sensory perception, able to detect unfamiliar chakra sources with accuracy.

Stats
<p style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Part I and II template: Use for characters who appear in both Naruto and Shippuden.

<h2 style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;"> Part I

<h3 style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Return to Suna

Part II
Kazekage Rescue Mission

<p style="font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;">

Trivia

 * The name "Mai" literally means "True Love" (<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:19.2px;">真 <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:19.2px;">愛 ), while "Mitsuwa" ( 三和) spelled with the kanji for 'three' and 'harmony', has no clear meaning.
 * According to the databook:
 * Mai's hobbies are training in ninjutsu and bukijutsu, and watching the sun rise and set.
 * Mai's favorite foods are grapefruit and spicy chili, and her least favorite are kale and calamari.
 * Mai wishes to fight Kankuro and Sasuke.
 * Mai has completed 77 official missions in total: 21 D-rank, 33 C-rank, 20 B-rank, 3 A-rank, 0 S-rank.
 * Mai's favorite phrases are "to use a poison to overcome a poison" (<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:18px;">どくをもってどくをせいする, doku o motte doku o sei suru)  and "Only death will cure a fool" (<span style="font-weight:bold;color:rgb(106,106,106);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:18.2px;">ばかはしななきゃなおらない <span style="color:rgb(84,84,84);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:18.2px;">, baka wa shinakya naoranai).
 * In the original TOF series plans, Mai didn't exist, as Fumiko was an only child. However, she was added into the chapter and the story to improve aesthetic, according to the author.
 * In part I, Mai is constantly seen fidgeting with a senbon. In part II, however, she instead fidgets with long-handled kunai or razor wire.
 * Mai has a pet cat named Cat, which she found while searching through her deceased taicho's house. Cat is the kitten of Yami's cat, who had already died.
 * After finding her deceased taicho's Shakespeare book Macbeth, she develops a habit of thinking or quoting aloud lines from it when she feels very strongly about something.
 * In the first databook, Mai's stats mirror Sasuke Uchiha's exactly.

Quotes

 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Gaara about Fumiko's crippling injury) "But she got hurt. Does that make you sad?"
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Hanako)  "I mean... I was scared of Gaara too, but... I'm not anymore. So why does daddy still hate Gaara?"
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Fumiko) "The hell do they want me to do this for, anyway?! Writing an essay about jutsus? Jutsus aren't that scientific! You don't have to explain it, you just have to  do<span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;"> them; it's not that hard for crying out loud!" 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Gaara) "Like I'd let your baka brother teach me. Man, he's really annoying. Besides, you're the only one I can think of that's strong enough to teach me anything I don't already know. Plus, you won't give me detention for falling asleep."
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Matsuri) "Nice, kid. Some actual backbone. Good to see."
 * (to Gaara) "I can't let them keep pushing me around like they do. If I get stronger, they'll either be afraid of me or respect me, I don't care which. As long as they stop insulting me!"
 * (to Temari about the Four Celestials) "Mad? <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">Nope. I'm not mad- I'm pissed. Don't call them that. Kidnapping Matsuri doesn't make them worthy of respect." 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Semei) <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">"You have a death wish or something, attacking my sister like that!" 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Fumiko after returning from ANBU) <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">"Ow, dammit. I'm fine, guys. Really. Just a nap and some aspirin and... food, and I'll be ready for my party tomorrow." 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Naruto) "If you don't shut up right now, I'll push you out into that sandstorm myself and let you  see <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">how impossible it is! You think I wanna wait, huh? You think I want <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">to be here, Uzumaki Naruto? Do you?"
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Kankuro) "These Akatsuki? These Akatsuki are  it, <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">Kankuro! Endgame. I'm crazy but I'm not stupid. If I go out there now I'll take at least one of them with me but I'll die trying." 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Sunagakure Counter) "I just lost a lot of things. And I don't care if I'm just a stupid twelve year old.  I <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">know what loyalty is." 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Fumiko) <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">"If you're gonna run out and play the hero, then you need superpowers. A kunai and a few lucky breaks just isn't gonna cut it." 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Fukuda) "... That's it, isn't it? In the one place you're supposed to have the most control, you have none. Well, newsflash, dad: losers can't tell me what to do."
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Fumiko) "I hate bloodlines. They're just not fair. And don't give me that 'life's not fair' bullshit, because I know it's not, but bloodlines are just... like cheating. They don't have to work for it. They don't have to  try <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">for it. They just have it, and sometimes that makes them automatically stronger than everyone else." 
 * <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">(to Fumiko) <span style="font-family:Verdana,Verdana,Arial;">"Uchihas are bastards. The only things they're known for are fighting on the wrong side of the creation of a village, their sharingan abilities and Katon, the fact that one of their own slaughtered their own kin- and now Sasuke, who's just as much of a bastard. That name doesn't have anything but bloodstain." 

Reference
<li style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Timeline of Forever</li> <li style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Between Love and Everything Else</li> <li style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Sands of Time</li> <li style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">DeviantArt Account of author</li>