Why Konoha's Anbu Failed to Live up to Naruto's Standards
Despite initial hype, Konoha's Anbu failed to live up to expectations due to limited screen time and being used primarily for enemy scaling
Within the framework of the shinobi world, the Naruto series establishes a clear power hierarchy, defining the strength of a ninja. While most are familiar with the ranks of Chunin or Jonin, the Leaf Village boasts an additional category of shinobi known as the Anbu. This elusive organization operates in the shadows, tasked with protecting the village through covert means.
Initially introduced as an elite squadron of shinobi capable of taking on entire armies, the Anbu were revered for their unparalleled skills. The likes of Kakashi and Itachi only added to the mystique surrounding this elite group. However, as the series progressed, the Anbu's reputation was called into question. Despite their supposed prowess, every instance of Anbu involvement proved to be lackluster, leading many to doubt their abilities and leaving a disappointing impression on audiences.
The Initial Hype Around the Anbu
From the very start of the series, the Anbu were presented as a force to be reckoned with, surpassing even Jonin-level shinobi. The addition of Itachi as a former member and further exploration of Kakashi's past in the organization solidified the idea that only the Hokage could rival the Anbu in strength. Highly skilled and shrouded in mystery, Anbu members like Yamato and Sai only added to the organization's intimidating reputation. The Anbu's strict recruitment and grueling training process ensured that only the most elite shinobi could join their ranks, making them truly seem like a squadron of top-tier ninja.
The Anbu's potential for dominance was overshadowed by major events that took the narrative in a different direction. The Konoha Crush could have been a pivotal moment for the Anbu, but instead, the Third Hokage and Orochimaru stole the show while a few helpless Anbu members narrated the fight. During the Pain invasion, the Anbu's contribution was minimal, as they only managed to suppress a few of the Animal Path's summons. Unfortunately, the Anbu were given very limited screen time, and even when they were featured, they were overshadowed by other characters.
The Bar Was Set Too High
It is possible that the Anbu's lackluster performance in the series can be attributed to the organization setting the bar too high. The first Anbu members introduced to viewers were Kakashi and Itachi, two child prodigies who surpassed the abilities of other Anbu shinobi. Itachi's achievement of becoming a Captain at the age of 13 only raised the bar even higher for the organization, a level of skill that most shinobi could never attain.
The Anbu struggled to meet the lofty expectations set by their predecessors, leaving every action seeming lackluster in comparison. Despite a few notable exceptions, such as Fu and Torune who served as Danzo's personal bodyguards at the Five Kage Summit, none were able to match the skill and prowess of Itachi or Kakashi. Even in a two-versus-one battle against Obito, Fu and Torune were ultimately defeated. As a result, every other Anbu member appeared to be nothing more than a weak supporting character.
The Anbu Were Used to Scale the Enemy
Despite being known as elite shinobi, the Anbu failed to live up to their reputation in the series. Rather than showcasing their true power, they were often used as a benchmark for the strength of new antagonists. Even Orochimaru described a rogue shinobi as being too powerful for even an Anbu level ninja to defeat, which left the Anbu with little to prove.
Some of the villains effortlessly wiped out Anbu shinobi, proving themselves to be a formidable threat by defeating numerous 'elite' ninja. As a result, the Anbu were reduced to mere fodder characters whose sole purpose was to showcase the opponent's superior power.
Limited Screen Time of Actual Anbu Members
The Anbu’s lack of presence in the series could also be attributed to their limited screen time. Despite former Anbu members such as Sai, Kakashi, and Yamato receiving ample screen time, viewers no longer associated them with the organization once they developed their own identities.
As a result, the Anbu's masked identities became an obstacle to audience engagement, as they were not given enough attention to establish a significant presence in the story. This issue was compounded by the already overwhelming number of neglected side-characters in the Naruto series, which ultimately led to the Anbu's disappointing and underwhelming portrayal.
