Naru

Lore & Background

Naru is the creature that adopted Ori after the guardian spirit fell from the Spirit Tree during a storm. She raised Ori as her own child. When Kuro stole the last light from the Spirit Tree, causing the loss of the three elements and the forest to wither, Naru died of starvation, leaving Ori orphaned again. Later in the story, after Ori and Sein restore the Water element, Gumo—the last survivor of the Gumon clan, a distinct four-armed, mask-wearing clan—finds a light stone and, motivated by it, uses his clan treasure to revive Naru. He then takes her to where Ori is. When Kuro attacks Ori and Sein after they exit Mount Horu as the volcano's fire spreads, Naru arrives to protect Ori. Kuro, seeing Naru, softens, remembering the pain of losing her own children. Kuro grabs Ori and flies to the Spirit Tree, which emits a flash of bright light that restores the forest, but Kuro sacrifices herself and is consumed by the light, turning to stone and dust. Afterward, time passes as the forest flourishes. Naru and Gumo watch from afar as new spirits are born at the foot of the Spirit Tree. Naru then goes home, where Kuro's last egg now rests, just in time to see it begin to hatch.

In Their Own Story

Naru first appears as the adoptive mother of Ori, raising the fallen guardian spirit after it was lost from the Spirit Tree during a storm. When the forest withered due to a cataclysmic event, Naru died of starvation, leaving Ori alone. Later, after Ori and Sein restore the Waters, Winds, and Warmth elements, Gumo—the last Gumon—uses his clan's treasure, which stores light from the Spirit Tree, to revive Naru. He brings her to where Ori is. As Kuro attacks Ori and Sein, Naru arrives to protect Ori. Kuro, seeing Naru, softens, remembering the pain of losing her own children. As fire from Mount Horu spreads toward Kuro's remaining egg, Kuro takes Sein back to the Spirit Tree, which emits a flash of light that restores the forest but destroys Kuro. Afterward, Naru and Gumo watch from afar as new spirits are born. Naru then goes home, where Kuro's last egg now rests, just in time to see it begin to hatch.

Reader's Guide

Naru is a key figure in Ori's backstory and the resolution of the plot. She is the creature who adopted Ori after the guardian spirit fell from the Spirit Tree during a storm, raising Ori as her own. When the forest withered, Naru died of starvation. Later, after Ori and Sein restore the three elements (Waters, Winds, Warmth), Gumo revives Naru using his clan's treasure, which stores light from the Spirit Tree. Naru is then brought to where Ori is. When Kuro attacks, Naru arrives to protect Ori. Her presence causes Kuro to soften, remembering the pain of losing her own children. After Kuro takes Sein back to the Spirit Tree, the resulting flash of light restores the forest but destroys Kuro. Naru and Gumo watch from afar as new spirits are born. Naru then goes home, where Kuro's last egg now rests, just in time to see it begin to hatch.

Did You Know?

• Naru died of starvation when the forest withered after Kuro stole the last light from the Spirit Tree, causing the loss of the three elements.
• Naru was revived by Gumo using his clan treasure after he found a light stone, not because he overheard Ori and Sein's intentions.
• Naru arrives to protect Ori when Kuro attacks after Ori and Sein exit Mount Horu as the volcano's fire spreads, causing Kuro to soften and remember the pain of losing her own children.
• After the forest is restored, Naru goes home to find Kuro's last egg beginning to hatch.
• Naru and Gumo watch from afar as new spirits are born at the foot of the Spirit Tree.