ANBU: "Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai", meaning "Assassination Tactics Special Squad". (Dark side" or "Black Ops") It is a force of extremely talented shinobi of Chunin rank or higher who are chosen for assassinations, for village protection from exceptional threats, for conducting high-risk missions into enemy countries, and for dealing with extremely strong (S-Rank) ninja. They wear animal masks to distinguish themselves from normal shinobi, as well as to conceal their identities. The ANBU carry swords; this is somewhat unique in that Naruto, although it is a ninja manga, has very few swords. The ANBU is an organization that is under the direct command of the Kage. Hatake Kakashi was a former member and Uchiha Itachi became an ANBU captain at age 13. Morino Ibiki, the proctor of the first Chunin exam, is the head of the Konoha ANBU Torture and Interrogation Force.
