Anbu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Anbu
Alias(es)	ANBU; Kirigakure Direct Anbu; former Anbu later codenamed Yaksha
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Kirigakure; Yaksha (former Kirigakure members)
Occupation/Role	Elite masked operatives used for surveillance, perimeter security, assassination, pursuit, and protection of senior leadership
Status	Active in Konoha; Kirigakure units were heavily depleted, with 47 injured former members healed and reorganized as Yaksha 48
First Appearance	Chapter 1 — Root assassins falsely identify themselves as Anbu during an inspection attempt 1

Background / History

Konoha’s Anbu were deployed around the Uchiha Compound before the massacre, manning surveillance points and enforcing the order that any unauthorized person leaving the village would be treated as a deserter. Root operatives also exploited the Anbu identity as cover while attempting to preemptively eliminate isolated Uchiha clan members. 1 3

During Uchiha Ye’s escape, Kakashi Hatake—captain of Konoha ANBU Sixth Squad—led the pursuit. Ye evaded Kakashi, incapacitated a supporting Anbu operative, and abducted him for interrogation. The captive’s memories exposed Konoha’s and Root’s role in the planned Uchiha purge before Ye killed him. 3 4

Konoha Anbu later guarded the Hokage’s office and surrounded Ye at Naka Shrine. Ye killed the four office guards immediately, then released classified orders authorizing the collection of Sharingan from Uchiha corpses and the extermination of the clan, including civilians. The disclosure visibly shook the surrounding Anbu formation and undermined its confidence in Konoha’s leadership. 13 16

Kirigakure’s Anbu served as the Blood Mist regime’s principal armed force. They pursued Zabuza Momochi and Haku after Zabuza’s failed assassination, guarded the village gates during Ye’s assault, and formed the final defense of the Mizukage Building under Obito’s control. 21 31 37 38

After Ye seized control of Kirigakure, he found 47 severely injured former Anbu beneath the Mizukage Building. He healed their disabilities with Psychic Nutrient Solution and his Sage Body’s origin aura; the restored operatives swore loyalty to him and were renamed Yaksha, his personal blades. 48

Appearance

Anbu are generally depicted in black combat attire and animal-patterned masks, concealing their identities during operations. Konoha and Kirigakure units use the same basic masked-operatives image, though their assignments and command structures differ. 3 13 21 31

• Animal masks are standard identifying gear. 3 13 21
• Konoha Anbu are shown carrying ninja swords and wearing black combat uniforms. 13 16
• Kirigakure Anbu use masks, ninja blades, kunai, poisoned senbon, and Water Release techniques. 21 22 37
• The Kirigakure direct guard unit before the Mizukage Building wears uniformed attire and fights in a tightly ordered formation. 37 38

Abilities & Skills

Elite Team Combat

Anbu are selected and deployed as elite shinobi rather than ordinary village forces. Kirigakure’s direct guards are described as survivors of the Blood Mist’s harshest selection, with each member possessing jōnin-level strength. 38

• Operate in coordinated squads, patrol formations, and perimeter cordons. 1 21 31
• Use synchronized hand seals and combined ninjutsu to overwhelm targets. 22 38
• Conduct assassination, capture, and pursuit missions. 3 21
• Protect high-value locations and officials, including the Hokage and Mizukage Buildings. 13 37 38

Water Release and Hidden Mist Tactics

Kirigakure Anbu extensively exploit their village’s environment, especially rain and mist, in combat. 21 22

• Launch coordinated Water Dragon Bullet and Great Waterfall Technique attacks. 22
• Use the Hidden Mist Technique to cover retreats or obscure movement. 22
• Maintain layered gate patrols, rooftop positions, ambush sites, and concealed sentries. 24 31 37

Conditioning and Loyalty

Anbu are conditioned for secrecy and obedience, though their loyalty can be destabilized when leadership’s wrongdoing is exposed. 4 16

• A captured Konoha Anbu carried Cursed Tongue Eradication seals intended to prevent intelligence leaks. 4
• Obito-controlled Kirigakure direct guards acted without individual will, fear, or hesitation, functioning as death warriors. 37 38
• The healed former Kirigakure Anbu transferred their loyalty to Ye and became the Yaksha. 48

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Animal-patterned masks. 3 13 21
• Ninja swords, kunai, and other standard ninja tools. 13 31 38
• Poisoned senbon used by concealed Kirigakure attackers. 37
• Explosive-tag traps and guarded prison defenses. 24
• Chakra-sealing steel wires used to restrain prisoners. 4

Relationships

• Kakashi Hatake — Captain of Konoha ANBU Sixth Squad; pursued Ye during his defection but failed to prevent the capture of a subordinate. 3
• Shimura Danzō — Root leader whose operatives impersonated Anbu and whose seals controlled captured intelligence personnel. 1 4
• Sarutobi Hiruzen — Protected by four Konoha Anbu guards in the Hokage’s office; his authorization of the Uchiha extermination order caused Anbu morale to waver when exposed. 13 16
• Obito Uchiha — Controlled Kirigakure’s Mizukage and direct Anbu guards, reducing them to obedient death warriors. 37 40
• Uchiha Ye — Defeated multiple Anbu units from Konoha and Kirigakure; later healed and recruited 47 former Kirigakure operatives as Yaksha. 3 13 22 48
• Terumi Mei — Accompanied Ye during the reorganization of Kirigakure’s wounded former Anbu. 47 48

Story Role / Major Arcs

Uchiha Massacre and Ye’s Defection

• Root assassins pose as Anbu during an attempted assassination of Ye. 1
• Konoha Anbu enforce the Uchiha Compound lockdown and participate in the pursuit of Ye after his escape. 3
• Ye captures and interrogates an Anbu operative, extracting classified memories despite the operative’s anti-leak seals. 4
• Anbu guards and field units become witnesses to Konoha’s exposed orders concerning the Uchiha massacre. 13 16

Blood Mist Conflict

• Thirty Kirigakure Anbu corner Zabuza and Haku in the forest before Ye intervenes. 21
• Ye and Izumi massacre the pursuing force; the remaining operatives attempt to flee through Hidden Mist. 22
• Kirigakure gate guards attempt to stop Ye’s group, but Ye destroys the main gate and forces an open invasion. 31
• Kirigakure Anbu continue defending the city against Ye’s advance, including rooftop ambushes and a hundred-man direct guard formation outside the Mizukage Building. 32 37 38

Yaksha Reorganization

• After Kirigakure’s fall, 47 maimed former Anbu are discovered beneath the Mizukage Building. 48
• Ye regenerates their limbs and heals their injuries, leaving them physically stronger than before. 48
• The former Anbu abandon their old designation and become the Yaksha, Ye’s loyal personal blades. 48

Trivia

• Root operatives can exploit the Anbu name and appearance as a disguise, but Root and regular Anbu are distinct organizations. 1
• The Konoha Anbu prisoner captured by Ye bore a knife scar on his chin after his mask was broken. 4
• Kirigakure’s final direct-Anbu formation numbered nearly one hundred members and was described as the village’s most dominant armed force. 37 38
• All 47 former Kirigakure Anbu who underwent Ye’s treatment pledged loyalty simultaneously after being healed. 48