Tails

1-9 Tails

Physically Kitsune are noted for having as many as nine tails (kyuubi).

Generally a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful fox, in fact some folktales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 100 years.

One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in folk stories.

These "kyūbi no Kitsune" nine-tailed foxes gain the ability to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world.

Other tales credit them with infinite wisdom (omniscience).

After reaching 1000 years of age and gaining its ninth tail a Kitsune turns a white or golden color becoming tenko an 'heavenly/celestial fox' the most powerful form of the Kitsune and then ascends to the heavens.

In some stories Kitsunes have difficulty hiding their tails when they take human form, looking for the tail perhaps when the fox gets drunk or careless is a common method of discerning the creature's true nature.

A particularly devout individual may even be able to see through a fox's disguise merely by perceiving them.

Kitsune can also be exposed while in human form by their fear and hatred of dogs, some become so rattled by their presence that they revert to the form of a fox and flee away.