Anbu

Biodata

Organization

Identity and conduct

Anbu operatives conceal their identities through masks, uniforms, and codenames. A Kirigakure recruiter wears a patterned mask, while Cloud Anbu are also depicted with distinct masks, including a dog-head mask. 7 49

• Members are required to address one another by codenames and must not leak mission intelligence. 7
• Recruits are issued Anbu uniforms and taught information-encryption techniques before beginning active missions. 7
• Anbu doctrine is exceptionally severe: if a compromised mission fails, operatives are ordered to eliminate everyone aware of it, including themselves. 7
• The organization expects its members to accept death as a possibility from the moment they enlist. 16
• Field teams prioritize mission completion and extraction over prolonged combat. 22

Duties

• Intelligence and encryption — Anbu maintain and protect sensitive information, use encryption methods, perform surveillance, and conduct memory inspections. 7 33 48
• Assassination and pursuit — Teams hunt rogue ninja, fulfill assassination-oriented assignments, and pursue escaped prisoners or criminals. 16 50 59
• Reconnaissance and battlefield support — During the Cloud prison break, Anbu scout, relay intelligence, connect battlefields, ambush enemies, secure locations, and pursue fugitives. 50
• Village security — Anbu guard key facilities, respond to emergencies, protect officials, and contain threats to civilians. 125 136 223 225
• Covert cleanup — Following killings, Anbu can seal bodies and erase physical traces, including blood and odor, within minutes. 157

Known Divisions and Commands

History

Early Kirigakure activity

Kirigakure Anbu initially placed Mei Terumi under surveillance because of suspicions surrounding Ye Liangnai's special-jōnin examination. 3 During the same examination period, Anbu intervened to end Ye Liangnai's confrontation with Ringo Ameyuri, Hozuki Suigetsu, and Shima Isshin, threatening to kill anyone who continued the conflict. 5

Ye Liangnai was formally recruited into the organization under the codename Cold Light alongside Harukaze Yuno and Natsuhana Rin, codenamed Eagle and White Wolf. Tian Jia introduced the recruits to Anbu secrecy regulations and mission protocols. 7

Tian Jia later led Cold Light, Hawk, and White Wolf on a mission to hunt A-rank rogue ninja Youkou Mitsuda and two B-rank accomplices. 16 The same team subsequently joined a rescue operation in the Land of Fire, where Kirigakure Anbu clashed with Konoha Anbu while extracting intelligence. 22 23

Internal conflict

The Anbu became divided during Mei Terumi's confrontation with Qian Taikang and Elder Yuan Long. Anbu personnel initially attempted to stop Mei, while Akiyama Taku—identified as the current Head of Anbu—ordered them to retreat and supported her position against Yuan Long. 19 20

Mei Terumi's ability to falsify Anbu reports also allowed her to conceal information from Yagura while she was a former Anbu head. 16

Cloud Hidden Village infiltration

Under the rogue-ninja identity Kira, Ye Liangnai entered Kumogakure and joined its Anbu. The Fourth Raikage subjected him to a memory inspection before accepting him, and the Cloud branch later repeated the inspection when suspicions of espionage resurfaced. 33 48

Within the Cloud Anbu, Kira defeated Ao Liu Yi, accepted low-level assignments as opportunities to collect information, and later participated in the response to a prison break as an acting captain. 34 35 50 His role in capturing Inoue Yuya and other criminals earned him recognition among the Cloud Anbu as the Silver-Haired Reaper. 52

Reorganization under Ye Liangnai

After the Hidden Mist Village stabilized, Ye Liangnai was appointed Head of Anbu and Inspector of the Land of Water's Shogunate, with authority to deploy personnel. Yagura and Juzo Biwa became Deputy Heads, while Zabuza Momochi took command of the intelligence division. 204

Under this leadership, Anbu continued to handle intelligence, prisoner security, medical-research coordination, covert operations, and the training of recruited rogue ninja. 211 213 229

Notable Personnel

• Ye Liangnai / Cold Light / Jinghong — Recruited into Kirigakure Anbu as Cold Light; later infiltrated Kumogakure under the identities Kira and Jinghong, then became Kirigakure's Head of Anbu. 7 30 48 204
• Tian Jia — Kirigakure Anbu captain who inducted Cold Light's recruitment group and led their early rogue-ninja and intelligence-rescue missions. 7 16 22
• Mei Terumi — Former Anbu head whose influence within the organization allowed her to manipulate reports and protect Ye Liangnai. 16
• Akiyama Taku — Current Head of Anbu during Mei Terumi's clash with the Elder Council; ordered Anbu personnel to withdraw from the confrontation. 20
• Yagura — Appointed Deputy Head of Anbu after Ye Liangnai's reorganization. 204
• Juzo Biwa — Appointed Deputy Head of Anbu; leads Anbu during crises such as the orphanage poison incident. 204 225
• Zabuza Momochi — Appointed captain of the intelligence division under the reorganized Anbu command. 204
• Dou Lang — Captain of Kumogakure's Anbu assassination squad. 60
• Tenshin — Kumogakure Anbu captain and Ye Liangnai's former captain. 37 257
• Ao Liu Yi — Kumogakure Anbu operative who repeatedly clashes with Kira after being defeated by him. 34 36