ANBU

Biodata

Appearance

ANBU operatives operate in concealed black uniforms and masks, allowing them to act without openly revealing their identities. Their masks vary between members, including cat-faced and eagle-faced designs 31 53 87.

• Uniform black clothing during major deployments 53
• Masks conceal individual identities 31 53
• Specialized squads may include sensory-type shinobi 87

History

When the Uchiha Police Force stopped reporting for duty, Sarutobi Hiruzen deployed part of the ANBU to control the resulting disorder in Konoha. Their harsh discipline made some villagers reconsider the comparatively human treatment they had received from the Uchiha police 8.

ANBU investigated the deaths of Kumogakure envoys who had abducted Hyuga Hinata. Their report concluded that Uchiha Mirai killed the envoys after discovering the abduction attempt, with Hiashi Hyuga's testimony and the crime scene supporting that account 18.

As Mirai began regularly spending time with Naruto, the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, ANBU surveillance around the pair intensified. At least one full squad monitored Naruto around Ichiraku Ramen, while Root operatives observed from farther away 31 32.

During Danzo's assault on the Uchiha Clan Compound, part of Hiruzen's ANBU was assigned alongside Root and Ino-Shika-Cho forces. The operation ended in heavy losses; Hiruzen later arrived with ANBU to halt the fighting and witness the destruction caused by the Uchiha counterattack 53 59.

Following Danzo's death and Root's catastrophic losses, Hiruzen ordered ANBU to take over Root's remaining personnel and facilities 67.

Operations

Uchiha Police Force Strike

ANBU filled the internal-security vacuum left by the Uchiha Police Force's strike. Their deployment restored order, but their impersonal methods frightened civilians and damaged confidence in replacing the Uchiha police 8.

Surveillance of Uchiha Mirai and Naruto

ANBU repeatedly watched Mirai's meetings with Naruto because Naruto's status as the Nine-Tails jinchuriki made any contact with Mirai a major security concern 31 32.

• A cat-masked ANBU commander led rooftop surveillance over Mirai and Naruto 31
• ANBU numbers around Ichiraku Ramen rose to at least five, with more arriving as Root also took an interest 32
• Mirai's nuclear-radiation perception allowed him to detect their presence 32

Assault on the Uchiha Clan Compound

Part of Hiruzen's ANBU joined Danzo's attempted destruction of the Uchiha Clan Compound. The attacking force included Root, ANBU, and Hokage-aligned clan forces, but the Uchiha had prepared for the assault in advance 53.

• ANBU fought alongside Root against the Uchiha during the compound battle 59
• Hiruzen later used arriving ANBU to stop the open conflict 59
• The operation's aftermath contributed to Root being absorbed into ANBU 67

Joint Surveillance with Kumogakure

Hiruzen later assigned an ANBU surveillance team under Katō Taka to track Mirai from outside the Uchiha Clan Compound. The squad's intelligence was relayed to Hiruzen, who intended to provide it to Kumogakure for a joint operation against Mirai 87.

• Katō Taka used the Katō Clan's S-rank Spirit Transformation Technique for remote scouting 87
• Every member of the temporary squad possessed strong sensory abilities 87
• Hidden ANBU were prepared to intervene if Yugito and Kumogakure's jonin failed to eliminate Mirai 89

Relationships

• Sarutobi Hiruzen — The Third Hokage regularly deployed ANBU for internal security, investigation, surveillance, and protection of the Hokage Building 8 18 70.
• Root — A separate covert force that often operated alongside or parallel to ANBU; its surviving members and facilities were absorbed by ANBU after Danzo's death 32 53 67.
• Uchiha Mirai — A central ANBU surveillance target under Hiruzen. Their concealment was ineffective against Mirai's sensory ability, and ANBU surrounding the Hokage Building did not dare attack him 32 70 87.
• Katō Taka — ANBU squad leader assigned to monitor Mirai through the Spirit Transformation Technique 87.
• Uchiha Mirai as Hokage — After Mirai took office and Hiruzen-era ANBU were nearly disbanded, ANBU still delivered intelligence directly to Mirai 111 141.