Everything You Need to Know About Six-Tails in Naruto

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Anime expert Ed Erskine explains the origins of the chakra beast Saiken

Co-authored by Ed Erskine and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: March 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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Origins & Characteristics

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Jinchūriki

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Naruto’s Six-Tails Form

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Other Tailed Beasts

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What is the Six Paths Power?

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Video

If you’re into Naruto, you might have seen the slug-like creature Six-Tails and wanted to know more about it. Or, you might have been curious about Naruto’s transformation into his Version 2 Form. No matter what you want to know about Six-Tails, we have you covered: we partnered with an anime expert to discuss the chakra beast’s origins & characteristics, plus we’ll tell you about the beast’s jinchūriki and Naruto’s Six-Tails Form. Let’s get started!

What is Six-Tails from Naruto?

Anime expert Ed Erskine says all tailed beasts were created by Hagoromo Otsutsuki, who split the chakra beast Ten-Tails into 9 individual creatures. Six-Tails, or Saiken, is a slug-like beast with 6 tails. He is sealed in his jinchūriki (human vessel), Utakata, during the Six-Tails Unleashed arc in Naruto: Shippuden.

Section 1 of 5:

Saiken: Six-Tail Beast’s Origins & Characteristics

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Saiken is a Tailed Beast created from Ten-Tails. Ten-Tails began as a God Tree seedling planted by the Otsutsuki to siphon life from earth. Kaguya Otsutsuki consumed the Chakra Fruit produced by the God Tree, which made her a goddess. After Kaguya was defeated, Ten-Tails was sealed in by her son Hagaromo, also known as the Sage of the 6 Paths. As Erskine explains, Hagoromo then divided Ten-Tails into 9 tailed beasts.^{[1]
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Ed Erskine
Anime Expert

Expert Interview} His son, Asura, suggested he do this to prevent Ten-Tails from becoming too powerful after Hagaromo’s death.^{[2]
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- The original wooden vessel for Ten-Tails was called the Gedo statue, or Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. It was sealed inside the moon after Hagaromo absorbed Ten-Tails.
- Each of the 9 Tailed Beasts (or Bijuu) has its own name and personality. The beast with 6 tails is named Saiken.
- Erskine adds that the beast with the highest number of tails is the strongest.^{[3]
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- Because all tailed beasts were created by Hagoromo, Erskine says he’s commonly known as the father of the tailed beasts.^{[4]
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- Before he died, Hagaromo predicted that a Child of Prophecy would reunite all of 9 of the beasts. This is ultimately proven to be Naruto.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Ed Erskine is an anime expert and podcaster. He founded the Suuuper Anime Podcast, where he and his co-host break down anime series, episodes, and character profiles.
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Saiken is a white, slug-like creature. It’s covered in slime and it has eye stalks and short, stubby arms and legs. Its mouth is a series of holes, and it has six long tails. Its preferred attack is Water Release, which sometimes takes the form of a corrosive or sticky substance, or even soap bubbles.
- All Tailed Beasts, including Saiken, can share their chakra with anyone they choose.^{[5]
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  Research source} Saiken can also heal itself and others.
- Saiken is immortal—if it dies, it revives as a younger version of itself.
- This TikTok from @clesikogy8d includes a good description of Saiken’s appearance, personality, and powers.

Section 2 of 5:

Utakata: Six-Tail’s Jinchūriki

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Saiken, the Six-Tailed Beast, became sealed within Utakata. After they’re split into separate creatures, the Tailed Beasts either roam wild or become weapons used to defend ninja villages. Saiken (Six-Tails) and Isobu (Three-Tails) are both held in captivity in Hidden Mist. While there, Saiken is sealed inside a jinchūriki (or human host), Utakata.^{[6]
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- While inside Utakata, Six-Tails proves to be more agreeable than most Tailed Beasts—it helps Utakata when he asks, and doesn’t try to take over Utakata’s consciousness.
- Utakata uses Saiken’s powers to transform into Tailed Beast Mode, most notably going into Six-Tails Form to shield his student Hotaru from a powerful blast known as Fury.
- Utakata was eventually defeated by Pain, one of the leaders of the Akatsuki. Utakata is then killed when the Akatsuki extract Saiken from his body.
- After being extracted from Utakata, Saiken was sealed once more into the Demonic Statue of the Other Path.
- The story of Utakata and Saiken is revealed in the Six-Tails Unleashed arc in episodes 144–151 of Naruto: Shippuden.

Section 3 of 5:

Naruto’s Six-Tails Form

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Naruto transforms into a six-tailed state as a jinchūriki. Naruto is the jinchūriki of Kurama, or Nine-Tails, giving him the ability to transform into a Tailed Form (or Jinchūriki Form) . In his first transformation, Version 1, his eyes narrow and turn red, his nails and teeth get sharper, and his whisker marks deepen. In his Version 2 state, he manifests an immensely powerful form with tails and a dark red cloak of chakra.^{[7]
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- In tailed form, Naruto is able to use the six chakra tails like arms to destroy anything around him.
- While in his Version 2 state, Naruto can transform into a six-tailed form, with a darker chakra, animal-like form, and skeletal structure around his body. In the six-tailed form, he is able to direct Kurama’s chakra in the form of a powerful blast.^{[8]
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- Nine-Tails takes control of Naruto while he’s in the Version 2 state. The strain of channeling that much energy is so severe that it shortens Naruto’s life.
- This TikTok from @nchammer_23 discusses Naruto’s transformation into the Six-Tails Form after Naruto believes that Pain has killed Hinata.

Section 4 of 5:

What are the other tailed beasts?

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There are nine tailed beasts, plus their combined Ten-Tails form. In its bestial form, Ten-Tails has one red eye spikes along its back, and 10 fox-like tails.^{[9]
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Research source} When it’s divided into the Tailed Beasts, each beast has its own powers and personality. They include:^{[10]
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- 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
- Nine-Tails: Kurama

Section 5 of 5:

What is the Six Paths Power?

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Six Paths Power is a chakra that combines yin and yang. Kaguya obtained this power after eating the Chakra Fruit from the God Tree, and she passed it on to her sons, Hagoromo and Hamura. Hagoromo used this power for good, which is why he became known as the Sage of the Six Paths. He passed it on to his sons, Asura and Indra, as well. The power can also be obtained by becoming the jinchūriki of Ten-Tails.^{[11]
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- Naruto has the Six Paths Power because he is the reincarnation of Hagoromo’s son Asura and also receives chakra from each of the tailed beasts.