In his early years, Kankuro appears as an irritable and hot-tempered young man with an obvious dislike for children — this is shown when he roughly grabs Konohamaru, who had bumped into him. He often tends toward unjustified aggression, but at the same time tries to avoid meaningless fights when there is no need for them. In the Forest of Death, he prefers not to engage with the team that already has the needed scroll, and worries most of all that Gaara might start killing without reason.
Relations with his younger brother are built on fear. Kankuro and Temari are forced to obey Gaara, fearing for their lives, and constantly try to restrain his bloodlust. Kankuro himself sometimes loses patience and even grabs Gaara, demanding that he listen to his older brother, but in response hears that Gaara does not consider them family.
Despite his outward roughness, Kankuro is capable of loyalty and a sense of duty. During the invasion of Konoha, he sacrifices himself to cover the retreat of the wounded Gaara, although before that he admits that he is tired of constant problems with his brother. After Naruto defeats Gaara and he, exhausted, apologizes to his family, Kankuro is shocked but forgives him — this becomes the beginning of changes in their relationship.
In the mission to retrieve Sasuke, Kankuro shows pride for his village, stating that Suna's shinobi are not as soft as Konoha's. He fights resolutely and calculatingly, using his new puppet Kuroari, and destroys Sakon and Ukon. At the same time, he retains a certain degree of self-irony and even jokes about his puppets, although he mostly remains serious.
