Anbu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Anbu (暗部)
Alias(es)	Assassination Tactics Special Force; ANBU
Affiliation	Konohagakure; directly commanded by the Hokage 4 16
Occupation/Role	Elite covert force responsible for Hokage protection, counter-infiltration, reconnaissance, and assassination 4 16
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

The Anbu was established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, as the Hokage's directly controlled special force. It was described as the first intelligence organization among the Five Great Nations, with other ninja villages later adopting comparable units. 4 16

Its operatives are selected from the village's outstanding ninja and conduct missions whose details, personnel, and identities are classified. Squad captains relay Hokage orders and lead field deployments. 4 16

Itachi Uchiha entered the organization at age eleven after passing its assessment and was assigned to Kakashi Hatake's Team 6. 1 Team 6 was subsequently deployed on the S-rank investigation into Konoha's disappearances and the operation against Orochimaru, where the squad suffered severe losses, including Chi's death. 5 11

A Root-linked Anbu squad led by Blood Hand Futu later ambushed Itachi near Konoha under orders to eliminate the Uchiha Clan. Itachi defeated Futu and incapacitated the surrounding operatives with Sharingan genjutsu, while Oda Misuzu intervened on his side. 62 63 64 Root was later abolished following Danzō's demotion. 70

Organization

Rank / Unit	Known structure
Commander	One commander leads the Anbu. 112
Deputy Commander	One deputy commander serves beneath the commander. 112
Squads	Four squads, each with seventeen members. 112
Squad composition	One squad captain oversees four four-person teams. Each team has a leader and three members. 112
Reported total strength	Seventy members. 112

First Echelon

The Anbu First Echelon is portrayed as Konoha's ace unit. An eight-man detachment appeared to inspect Itachi's Chūnin Exam training grounds under the Third Hokage's order. 112

• The detachment used a six-pointed formation designed to attack or defend from multiple positions. 112
• Three members wore yellow robes, an insignia reserved for Special Assassination and Tactical Squad captains. 112
• The unit included a Byakugan wielder and members whose ocular power made a direct Sharingan assault dangerous even for Itachi. 112
• Its members employed the Four Red Yang Formation to restrain Itachi, but withdrew after he summoned the Sword of Totsuka. 113
• During the subsequent de-escalation, two elite jōnin within the squad were revealed to have been caught in Itachi's genjutsu. 114

Appearance

Anbu operatives conceal their identities behind animal-inspired masks and wear standardized combat gear suited to covert operations. 4 16

• White animal-like masks are worn during operations; Konoha masks may bear crimson cat-face markings. 4 53
• A black bodysuit and white suspender vest identify Konoha Anbu personnel. 8
• Arm guards, protective plates, and short blades are common elements of their uniform. 4 16
• First Echelon captains wear long yellow robes over their equipment. 112

Operational Capabilities

Covert Operations and Intelligence

Anbu missions include surveillance, intelligence collection, infiltration prevention, and assassination. 4 16

• Operatives' names, assignments, and mission details are classified. 4 16
• Calling an active operative by name is treated as a serious security breach, as identity exposure can lead enemies to obtain further information. 8
• The force has authority to act first and report afterward, placing it above units such as the Konoha Border Patrol Squad. 8

Squad Coordination

Anbu squads are expected to coordinate silently and rapidly under combat conditions. 24

• During the confrontation with the Sound Four, Anbu members combined chakra natures and terrain manipulation without verbal coordination. 24
• Against Orochimaru's Curse Mark troops, the squad used large-scale Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Lightning Release techniques despite the risk of exhausting themselves. 12
• The main Anbu force later fought alongside Kakashi and Tenzō against Garaga, combining Wood Release restraint with Lightning Release attacks. 221

Barriers and Formations

Specialized units can deploy coordinated formations to restrict powerful opponents. 112 113

• The First Echelon positioned itself in a six-pointed formation around Itachi during its inspection. 112
• Its Four Red Yang Formation trapped Itachi and Izumi, but imposed heavy chakra consumption on the squad. 113
• The Sound Four's Four Violet Flames Formation was countered by coordinated Anbu chakra techniques during the Rice Fields operation. 24

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Animal-style Anbu masks used to conceal identity. 4 16
• Short blades carried as part of the standard uniform. 4 16
• Protective armor plates, arm bindings, and combat bracers. 4 16 112
• Advanced ninja tools and mission scrolls issued from secured Anbu facilities. 18

Known Operations

• S-rank Missing Persons Investigation — Team 6 worked jointly with the Uchiha Police Force to investigate sixty-seven disappearances across Konoha, including four Uchiha cases. 5
• Orochimaru Pursuit — Kakashi's team infiltrated Orochimaru's Snake Cave, discovered his human experiments, and battled Curse Mark Transformation troops. 10 11 12
• Rice Fields Assassination Game — Anbu operatives used smoke bombs and stealth to eliminate the daimyo's samurai guards before clashing with Orochimaru and the Sound Four. 22 24 25
• Root Ambush on Itachi — Blood Hand Futu and six fellow operatives surrounded Itachi outside Konoha in an attempt to eliminate him. 62 63
• Chūnin Exam Security — Anbu personnel inspected the exam grounds, monitored contestants, patrolled the venue, and later withdrew from the battlefield during the Uchiha trio's confrontation with hostile ninja. 112 140 150
• Battle against Garaga — Kakashi led the main Anbu force into a battle against Garaga and other summoned beasts. 221

Relationships

• Hiruzen Sarutobi — The Third Hokage commands the Anbu directly and personally approved Itachi's entry into the organization. 1 4
• Kakashi Hatake — Anbu captain of Team 6 and Itachi's first documented captain; later led the main Anbu force against Garaga. 1 5 221
• Itachi Uchiha — Former Team 6 member who rose to Anbu vice-captain and later squad captain before being transferred to Director of Academic Affairs. 24 25 70 98
• Oda Misuzu — Anbu operative and Itachi's teammate who aided him during Blood Hand Futu's ambush. 5 64
• Root — A Root-linked Anbu squad attempted to eliminate Itachi and the Uchiha Clan under Blood Hand Futu's command. 62 63