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AN
暗
darkness · disappear · shade
✎ Editor’s glosssecretly; dark
Naruto · Shinobi · Kanji file 051
Anbu 暗部
Pronounced an·bu
In everyday Japanese, anbu (暗部) means the hidden side of a society or an organization — its dark, unseen underside. In Naruto, it is short for 暗殺戦術特殊部隊 (ansatsu senjutsu tokushu butai), the Assassination Tactical Special Forces. Ansatsu (暗殺) means killing in secret; senjutsu (戦術), the means and plans of battle; and tokushu butai (特殊部隊), an elite unit formed to carry out special missions. The white masks, and the way every member is drawn as a formidable fighter, speak to the strength the Anbu keep hidden. Rin no Sho (p. 22) describes them as the Leaf’s elite unit, reporting directly to the Hokage.
The kanji give it away
First appears: Vol. 3, Chapter 27
Speed
Breaking down the kanji
Here's what each character means — and how to write it. In Japan, following the correct stroke order is considered the key to writing kanji beautifully. Readings, stroke counts and core meanings below come directly from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database.
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BU
部
section · bureau · dept
✎ Editor’s glossa unit — as in the ranks of an army
What's next
Which term should we write next?
We write in order of demand. Every name and jutsu in the official databooks is listed in our Master Index — find the one you want, and tell us via the Contact page.
Original artwork — free to save
The kanji, on one sheet
A reference card we drew ourselves — the characters in Japanese brush style.
Quick answers
FAQ
How many strokes is 暗部?
24 in total: 暗 is 13, 部 is 11.
How do you pronounce Anbu?
Say it an·bu (暗部). Japanese has no strong word stress: give each syllable about the same length and weight, and keep the vowels short and clear — a as in “father,” i as in “machine,” u as in “food,” e as in “met,” o as in “go.”
What characters make up Anbu?
暗部 — 暗, then 部. Core meanings from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database: 暗 darkness · disappear; 部 section · bureau.
Can I use the copied kanji anywhere?
Yes — it's standard Unicode text and works on any modern OS. One caution before you print or ink it: make sure the font is a Japanese one. Some fonts render the same characters in Chinese style, and the difference shows.