Anbu

ANBU

The ANBU ( The ANBU, literally "Hidden Section", Viz manga "Black Ops", English TV "ANBU Black Ops") is actually short for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai ( Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai? literally Special Assassination and Tactical Squad), and is an organization of assassination squads that serves directly under the village's leader. The ANBU wear porcelain animal masks in order to distinguish themselves from normal shinobi and to conceal their identities, and also have standard uniforms consisting of black and gray armor, arm guards, a signature spiral tattoo on their left shoulder, and a Ninjatō strapped on their back (though certain ANBU wear black cowls over their uniforms). They know the layout of the human body in detail, and have developed several techniques to strengthen their job, such as paralyzing the target. There are also Hunter-nin, Oinin, literally "Chasing Ninja", English TV "Tracker Ninja"), a possible sub-group within the ANBU, given the specific duty of hunting down missing-nin, and destroying their corpses, so their village's secrets won't be revealed to foreign ninja.

There are several Anbu members in Iota Phi under the direct command of Hokage.