ANBU Black Ops

Tl masks in order to distinguish themselves from normal shinobi and to conceal their identities. They also have standard uniforms consisting of black and gray armor, arm guards, and a signature spiral tattoo on their left shoulder. Some ANBU wear black cloaks over their standard uniforms, and squad leaders may wear white cloaks.

Equipment
In addition to general Ninja Equipment all ANBU carry Ninjato, which are usually strapped to their backs. ANBU are also known for training pigeons for communication.

Purpose
ANBU are ninja who are under direct control of their Kage. They protect the village from exceptional threats, conduct high-risk missions into enemy countries, and deal with extremely strong ninja. They are also responsible for carrying out assassinations, tracking, surveillance, and missions requiring specially trained ninja. Some ANBU serve as interrogators that probe the minds of enemy ninja to learn information valuable to the village. If an ANBU is mortally wounded in battle, they are required to destroy their bodies to prevent any information from getting into enemy hands.

Divisions
There are normally seven divisions of ANBU that are universal. These seven ANBU divisions have their own style, they have their own job description. Each division of ANBU is capable of learning the universal ANBU techniques, however there are an amount of ANBU techniques in which one may master within their own division. Before becoming an ANBU member one must pick the division they wish to go into. Each Division has their own style of mask that are in a shape of a type of animal. Becoming a member of ANBU is quite difficult, and each member must be diverse in some way. They must be capable of acting in all three skills close to equalibrium, these skills are in the art of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu. If one is incapable of being diverse, thinking on the fly, being defeated by one or the other style of art easily, then it is not best to be a member of the ANBU. This is why there is hardly any Ninja who are masters in just one style of Art.

Falcon Division

 * See also: Falcon Division Jutsu, Falcon Division Shinobi

The Falcon Division specializes in the hunt and disposal of enemy ninja, they are those that are considered as Hunter-nin, Shinobi Hunters in a sense. They are the ones that go off finding, and hunting the Missing Ninjas. They are dedicated to hunt and find people found within Bingo Book. The Falcon Division are specialized hunters, they live to hunt. The Falcon Division is usually accompanied by those of the Frog Division for support, as well as the Owl Division for information retrieval and their skills of stealth.

Owl Division

 * See also: Owl Division Jutsu, Owl Division Shinobi

The Owl Division specializes in Stealth and Information Retrieval. These members are known for their capabilities as the reconnaissance division. These members are experts in gathering information without being caught. They can hide within shadows of shadows they can exist in one moment, and not exist in the next. These members, the Owl Division are capable of moving into a home, finding what they need, and getting out without anyone knowing they are there. The Owl Division accompany others, no one accompanies them.

Bear Division

 * See also: Bear Division Jutsu, Bear Division Shinobi

The Bear Division specializes in Protection and Investigation. The Bear Division are known for their defensive abilities, as well as their Internal investigation skills. There are no secrets that the Bear Division can not find. They are built like rock, agile like the flowing river. They can stand in place stopping attacks, while preparing a retaliation. To the Bear Division the city is their cub, and a Bear will battle and protect their cubs. The Bear Division are known to be protectors, the tanks within an ANBU formation within a team.

Cat Division

 * See also: Cat Division Jutsu, Cat Division Shinobi

The Cat Division specializes in Stealth and Assassination. The grunt workers in a sense, these are the assassins. The Cat Divisions are those who go out hunting the top of the game. They come forth, showing their power through stealth, and quick killing. When there needs someone to be taken out that may be somewhat of a problem, the Cat Division are the ones that are called forth. Whether it may be a Kage, a Daiymo, a Lord, or a caravan that has heavy forces guarding, the Cat Division are called forth to do the work. The Cat Division must move in, and out without ever being caught, without ever being noticed, ensuring that all signs of the village is not traced as the source of the work.

Frog Division

 * See also: Frog Division Jutsu, Frog Division Shinobi

The Frog Division specializes in Medical and Crisis, they are essentially combat medics. The Combat Medics are an unique bunch. The Field Medics, the Frog Division, are support, they are capable of moving swiftly with their ANBU brethren, as well as healing those that are need. The Combat Medics are capable of healing, as well as harming in case if they are attacked as well. The Combat Medics have no qualms, nor are they held with the duty to help all those that are harmed. They understand the way of the Ninja, the way of the ANBU and that the brethren comes first. The Frog Division are known as the support group, ready to act when need, to heal, and boost, and move on to the next subject.

Wolf Division

 * See also: Wolf Division Jutsu, Wolf Division Shinobi

The Wolf Division specializes in Torture and Interrogation. If there is information that is needed by any means necessary, the Wolf Division is the right Division. They are never the types of lead, but those that will be support, and take action when the time is right. Not normal leaders on missions but leaders when gaining information from one in question. They specialize in the human anatomy about as much as that of the Frog Division but not to heal, instead to harm. They are capable of giving torture, as well as gaining torture. They know the meaning of secrets and are honestly the select choice in keeping them. If there is a time where one is captured in the village as a safe zone, or in the middle of the battlefield, the Wolf Division never holds back in gaining what is necessary.

Dragon Division

 * See also: Dragon Division Jutsu, Dragon Division Shinobi

The Dragon Division specializes in Organization and Gathering. Considered as the team leaders, the Dragon Divisions are those that oversee the rest of the ANBU team, they plan, gather allies, and make the decisions that is necessary. They are also sometimes known as ambassadors, messengers from village to village. Reasons why is because it is best to have one who is capable of defending themselves and coming back to the village safely, then one who is incompetent and will lose their head quite easily. The Dragon Division specialize in moral capabilities, utter words and speech are capable of making those in battle become stronger, or quiver in fear. Some may mistaken them as the worded bards.

The Root (Foundation)

 * Main aritcle: Root

In Konohagakure, there exists a special branch of the ANBU known as the Root or the Foundation. It was created and led by Danzō, who sends its members on missions that he believes will benefit Konoha. Foundation members are trained to abandon all forms of emotion in order to follow Danzō's orders unquestioningly. Foundation members have a seal located on their tongue, which prevents a member from speaking about Danzō and Root. This is to ensure that information regarding Root will not be leaked if a member is captured. During Pain's invasion of Konoha, Danzō instructed the Foundation not to assist in the defense of the village.

Jutsu
ANBU have a detailed knowledge of the human body, and can use such jutsu as the Temporary Paralysis and Time Reversal techniques to take advantage of this.