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Like other members of Root, Sai was an orphan who was taken in and molded to Root's ideals. That of a emotionless, highly trained killing machine. Early in his life he befriended another Root orphan and the two grew close. Sai eventually thought of him as a brother. Sai was a gifted painter and had an art book which featured his growth as a ninja in one half, and his brother in the other. In the following years Sai's brother died due to an illness, and Sai finished shutting himself off emotionally from the word. During this period he was tasked with many highly ranked missions. These included taking out foreign ninja who posed a problem to Konoha. Danzou was greatly impressed by Sai's skills and remarked he was the strongest of his generation.

Eventually Sai was set to be placed on a squad with Naruto by Danzou. Danzou tasked Sai with a secret mission, to align himself with Orochimaru to smooth the takeover of Konoha by the Sannin. The squad's formal goal was to travel to Hidden Grass to meet Sasori's spy which operated in Orochimaru's camp. Before they left Sai sought to test Naruto by using his Choujuu Giga technique. This technique allowed his ink to come to life and form imitations of the creatures which were painted. Naruto moved in close to attack Sai but Sai mocked Naruto, asking if he even had a penis. A joke which he often lobed towards his "brother" years before. Sai then fled and officially joined the team. Sai met Naruto and Sakura and let them know they were now teammates. He told them he was just testing Naruto, and was not impressed. Sai then also took the opportunity to insult Sakura's looks after she suggested he should be nicer to people.

Sai journey with the new Team 7 to meet Sasori's spy. When Orochimaru and Naruto finished their battle, Sai revealed he wanted to join Orochimaru, providing him with the identities of Konoha's ANBU as proof. He returned with the group to their compound and received additional instructions from his superior Danzou. Danzou planned for Sai to join Orochimaru and spy on him and then assassinate Sasuke, to terminate Orochimaru's next vessel. Team 7 caught up with Sai and demanded to know what he planned. Naruto explained how he would never give up on Sasuke and retrieve him. Sai was surprised by the words and saw a bit of his brother in Naruto. He decided to help them rather than kill Sasuke. He helped them search the compound and he found Sasuke first. Sai told Sasuke he planned to save him but Sasuke would have nothing of it, eventually fleeing with Orochimaru. Sai had managed to regain his team's confidence and become a respected comrade. Sai continued on missions with Team 7 and began to express himself with emotions, much to Danzou's ire.

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Sakon was granted a cursed seal by Orochimaru that allows him to gain more power for a period of time. The incarnation of Sakon that first appears in the series is actually a combination of two individuals, the brothers Sakon and Ukon. Together Ukon shares the body of Sakon, at any point Ukon can split off his brother and become his own individual. When Ukon goes to his level 2 cursed seal form, his can manipulate his body down to the molecular level and insert himself into an opponent. He uses this cell form as an assassination technique to kill the person from within their own body.

When the Four Sounds were going to deliver Sasuke to Orochimaru, the five Leaf Genin led by Shikamaru followed in pursuit. Sakon and Ukon individually fought against Kiba and Akamaru, he had seriously injured Kiba and was going for the kill when Kankurou of Hidden Sand showed up to lend Kiba support. Kankurou used Karasu and his new puppet Kuroari to capture and apparently kill the combined Sakon and Ukon.

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After the Raikage's brother Killer Bee was seemingly kidnapped by Akatsuki, the Raikage ordered Samui to head to Konoha to gather information on Uchiha Sasuke. Little did the group know that Killer Bee had actually avoided capture, and used the opportunity to leave his village.

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When Akatsuki sought the beast, it was not contained within a host. For this reason he was weaker, as he could not properly control his power. Tobi was assigned to capture this demon and did so with the assistance of Deidara. An unconscious Sanbi was then taken back to Akatsuki's base of operations. There he was sealed away in the King of Hell Statue.

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Earlier in his life Asuma was one of the Twelve Elite Guardians of the Fire Country Daimyou. He left Konoha and his father Sandaime Hokage behind to seek his own path but returned at some point before the series start. He still wears the "Fire" loincloth of this elite group.

Asuma tries to look out for the best interests of his Genin team, though Chouji largely seems to ignore his pleas to train more. After the invasion of Konoha, Asuma was able to appear at the last instant to save Shikamaru after he was acting as a road block to nine Sound ninjas. He later assisted assisted Kakashi alongside Kurenai when Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame came to Konoha. Over the next few years, Asuma would form a bond with Kurenai and they would develop a relationship. When Konoha sought to hunt down Akatsuki, Asuma and his team found Hidan and Kakuzu. Asuma was killed in battle. Afterwards Team 10 sought the Akatsuki duo. Shikamaru faced off against Hidan and used his battle planning to blow up Hidan and neutralize him. Shikamaru imagined Asuma passing on his Will of Fire to him and accomplished his task. Later Shikamaru set out to look out for the next generation, by promising to look out for Kurenai and the child she and Asuma had.

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When the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki Uzumaki Kushina was preparing to give birth, Hiruzen and Biwako made plans for Kushina to carry out the procedure in secret. Biwako and the ANBU Taji would help deliver Kushina's child, while the father Minato would work to strengthen the seal holding the Kyuubi. After successfully helping Kushina give birth to Naruto, Kushina and Minato worked on strengthening her Kyuubi seal. Biwako was then struck down by a masked man who was intent on obtaining the Kyuubi for his own purposes.

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Konohamaru and his friends Udon and Moegi became Genin during the two and half year timeskip in the series. They served as a team under the leadership of Konohamaru's former tutor Ebisu. At some point before leaving Konoha to train with Jiraiya, Naruto taught Konohamaru how to use Rasengan. Konohamaru would later reveal his ability to use the jutsu against the Hell Realm Pain body.

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Click Sasori's bio image to reveal his true appearance.

Sasori, whose name means scorpion, was a former highly ranking ninja within Hidden Sand who fled 20 years earlier. He was master of puppet making who was responsible for the design of the puppets Kankurou uses today. One of his underlings was a Sand ninja named Yuura. When Sasori fled Sand to join Akatsuki, he placed a jutsu on his underling Yuura to cause him to unknowingly gather information and serve as a sleeper agent. When the time came, Yuura would be activated to do his masters bidding. This same jutsu was used on a young Yakushi Kabuto, who was to gather information on Sasori's former partner Orochimaru and his Fuushi Tensei technique. Orochimaru removed the memory block though and Kabuto chose to willingly side with Orochimaru.

After the time skip, Sasori and his partner Deidara came to Hidden Sand to capture the one-tail demon Shukaku. Waiting outside Hidden Sand, Sasori activated Yuura. Yuura then wiped out some of the Sand's defenses, allowing Deidara to infiltrate and attack Gaara. After Gaara was captured, Kankurou chased after his brothers captor and met up with Sasori. When Kankurou tried to stop Deidara, Sasori revealed his true origin for the first time and fought Kankurou. Kankurou was outmatched by the master of puppets and he was defeated and poisoned by him. In the battle it was revealed the tail and other portions of Sasori's body were puppet pieces.

Sasori and Deidara returned to the Akatsuki cave base and participated in the extraction of the Shukaku demon from Gaara. Naruto and fellow teammates arrived in an attempt to stop the process but they did not make it in time. Sasori was faced by his grandmother Chiyo and Sakura. Chiyo's battle smarts and Sakura's power were enough to destroy Sasori's current form, that of the puppet Hiruko.

Sasori revealed he kills his opponents and turns them into puppets. This process was done 298 times in the past and his two female opponents would make 300. With Hiruko destroyed, Sasori revealed his greatest triumph, the puppet form of a man who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances, Hidden Sands own Sandaime Kazekage. Another surprise waiting for the two kunoichi, was Sasori's "real" form, a young man unaffected by time, appearing in the same form he was 20 years previously.

Sasori would use Sandaime's Satetsu abilities against the two kunoichi. His ability to make humans into "hitokugutsu" (literally human puppets) would allow him to use their abilities at life even in puppet form. Chiyo revealed her hand as well, summoning Sasori's very parents who were made into puppets as well when he was younger. Sasori used Sandaime to form the iron sand into spikes, and weapons. The puppets exchanged blows, eventually disabling the parent puppets. Chiyo and Sakura tried to avoid damage, but Sakura got scratched, forcing her to use one of their two poison antidotes. This gave Sakura the surprise opportunity though to destroy the Sandaime puppet. Sasori was then forced to remove his cloak and show his true abilities.

Sasori revealed he had made himself into a puppet, adding deadly weapons to his frame. Sakura managed to strike his body but it only managed to reform around a cylinder marked with the "Scorpion" kanji. Chiyo was forced to summon her ten Chikamatsu puppets, and Sasori in turn summoned his special hundred. The huge puppet fight began and Sakura managed to pin Sasori's body to the cave wall with the help of one of Chiyo's chakra sealing puppet parts. Missing though was Sasori's chest container, where his human essence lived. One of his broken puppets rose to reveal the container implanted inside. Weapon in hand it rushed for Chiyo but Sakura jumped in the way to take the lethal strike. Using her remaining strength, Chiyo secretly moved the parent puppets from either side to pierce Sasori's chest container, striking an apparently fatal blow.

The dying Sasori mocked the kunoichi and their reliance on physical forms. He told the two how he had escaped emotion and physical death with his transference to the container form. He then decided to offer the two kunoichi some information as a reward for beating him. He told them he was to meet with an underling of his who is acting as a spy in Orochimaru's camp. In ten days, on a bridge in the Grass Country they were to meet. With that, Sasori fell to the ground alongside his parents, dead. Sakura congratulated Chiyo for defeating Sasori, but Chiyo made a sad revelation. Sasori recognized the parents were going to strike, but he hesitated and did not move to avoid the attack. Sasori was not yet beyond emotion as he so claimed, he seemingly desired one final embrace from his parents.

The Leaf would use the information Sasori provided and travel to the Grass Country. When they arrived at the bridge, Leaf ninja Yamato would transform and impersonate Sasori in his Hiruko puppet. The Leaf watched in surprise as the spy was revealed as Kabuto. They received another surprise when he moved to kill Sasori, revealing his new allegiance to Orochimaru.

After Sasori's death at the hands of his grandmother Chiyo, his puppet body was left behind in the destroyed Akatsuki base. Kankurou found the puppet and removed the chest casket containing Sasori's organic parts. He then repaired the puppet and added it to his arsenal. When Kankurou attended the Kage summit with his brother Gaara, he utilized Sasori against Uchiha Sasuke, who had come to kill the Hokage Danzou.

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Shichibi and his Jinchuuriki were captured by Akatsuki. Akatsuki then removed Shichibi from the woman's body, killing Fuu.

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Fukasaku and Shima served under the elder toad and did their best to help refresh his memory when he forgot simple things. In this position they met Jiraiya and helped his training, including teaching him how to enter "Sennin Mode". This was a jutsu power-up which granted the Leaf ninja heightened toad powers. The couple told Jiraiya he could enter the mode on his own, but he still preferred to summon them to his shoulders so they could all fight together. In this mode all three could offer their own power and jutsu in any fight. The three together could thus combine their jutsu for even more powerful attacks. The couple was aware of Jiraiya's destiny and helped him in his battle against "Pain," who was once his student Nagato. Though the couple spent a lot of the time bickering. The couple used their binding Genjutsu melody to help stop Pain, though Shima was embarassed at having to sing.

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Approximately fifty years before the series start, Danzou took part in a mission under the Nidaime Hokage which brought him into conflict with ninja from Hidden Cloud. With Cloud in pursuit, Danzou and his team of Akimichi Torifu and Uchiha Kagami along with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were faced with a fatal choice. One person was to remain behind to delay the Cloud while the others escaped. Facing inner turmoil and unable to get the words out to volunteer, Danzou was ashamed at himself when Hiruzen did so without flinching. All through his life Danzou had felt one step behind Hiruzen, never able to catch up or surpass him. Danzou tried to argue that he would sacrifice himself instead, just as his father and grandfather once did. The Nidaime Hokage told the two young men it was not their time, and declared that Hiruzen would be the Sandaime Hokage the next day, as he himself would remain behind. Danzou would carry his grudge towards Hiruzen onwards in life, never feeling he had caught up to his old friend. Over time Danzou would form his own ninja force Root, which would act in Konoha's best interest from the shadows.

Some years later, Hidden Rain was experiencing internal strife. Danzou aligned himself with Rain leader Hanzou in an attempt to put down the Rain ninja seeking peace. Several years later, Danzou and the Leaf elders attempted to put down the Uchiha insurrection by directing Itachi to wipe out his clan. At some point around this time, Danzou had surgery performed on his body by Orochimaru, which granted him the mind controlling Sharingan of Uchiha Shisui in his right eye, numerous other Sharingan eyes in his right arm and the genetic material of Shodai Hokage, which allowed him to use Shodai's unique powers.

After Naruto returned to Konoha after two and a half years, Danzou used his influence to get his Root operative Sai onto the team heading to Hidden Grass to meet Sasori's spy. Sai acted against Danzou's orders but Danzou directed the young man to remain in Team 7 and continue watching Naruto. When Pain attacked the village, Danzou moved to prevent Naruto from returning and falling in the hands of Akatsuki. Naruto eventually returned and defeated Pain. In the aftermath, Tsunade fell into a coma from healing so many injured villagers. When the Fire Daimyou called for suggestions on who should be the new Hokage, Danzou scoffed at the notion that Hatake Kakashi was fit for the job. Using the mind controlling powers of Shisui's Sharingan, Danzou suggested he alone was suited for the position. The Daimyou agreed and Danzou became acting Hokage pending approval from the Jounin of the village.

With his new position as Hokage, Danzou directed Root to pull back on some of their operations, all to minimize his chances of losing Jounin support. He then traveled with two Root members to attend the Kage summit called by the Raikage. On the way to the summit, Danzou was attacked by remnants of the Hannya clan, who Root had nearly wiped out in the past. Danzou used the opportunity to use Shisui's eye. He quickly wiped out the attackers and went to the summit. There he revealed that Uchiha Madara was probably directing Akatsuki. When Mifune, the summit moderator, suggested that an alliance between the Five Great Shinobi Villages was needed, he suggested Konoha and Danzou take command, as they were the sole village left with a Jinchuuriki. This suggestion was agreeable to the always scheming Danzou.

Things quickly turned against him when it was discovered he was again using Shisui's eye to gain Mifune's approval. Uchiha Sasuke soon arrived seeking revenge for Danzou's part in authorizing the Uchiha massacre. Danzou and his Root bodyguards fled and Sasuke went in pursuit. With the aid of Madara, Sasuke located Danzou and the two did battle. Using Shodai's genetic material and the Sharingans on his arm, Danzou revealed his Mokuton powers and Sharingan's Izanagi ability. This legendary Kinjutsu allowed the Sharingan user to make reality nothing but an illusion at the cost of permanently losing ones eye ability. Because of the numerous number of Sharingan on his arm, Danzou was able to negate many fatal attacks launched against him. Unfortunately as the fight wore on, Sasuke and his teammate Karin deduced how Izanagi worked and use this against Danzou, fooling him into thinking he had an viable Sharingan to utilize when he did not. Struck fatally, Danzou thought back over his past and failure to become a full Hokage like Hiruzen. With a promise to protect Konoha and the ninja world from the Uchiha, Danzou released a reverse seal on his chest. As the seal began to suck in the surrounding matter, Sasuke and Madara fled to avoid its power. Danzou's life was over, having failed to stop Sasuke from continuing on towards Konoha.

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When the villages of Hidden Sand and Sound begin to invade Konoha, the Jounin master Baki from Sand challenges Genma to fight him. This fight ends in a stalemate when the invasion concludes. Later, while on assignment, Genma and Raidou confront Orochimaru's Four Sound Gate Nins. Genma is seriously injured but the medical attention of Shizune and Tsunade help treat his injuries.

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While serving as Tsunade's pupil, Shizune left Hidden Leaf to accompany her sensei, who was also the lover of her Uncle Dan. However, she still loved her home, and when Jiraiya and Naruto offered Tsunade a chance to return as the Fifth Hokage, Shizune was excited. She quickly formed a bond with Naruto, and had her loyalties torn when it appeared Tsunade would betray the Leaf. Later, she joined with her master in battle against Orochimaru but she was beaten in battle by Kabuto.

When Tsunade finally accepted the job as Hokage and returned to Konoha, Shizune returned with her and went on active ninja status again. Her medical talents helped save several ninja who were seriously injured; including Raidou, Genma, Neji and Chouji, who all had fallen in battles with the Sound Four.

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Shukaku was said to be the corrupted spirit of a Sand priest who was imprisoned within a tea kettle. Current information suggests Shukaku is a "bijuu", one of the tailed demons of the ancient world. He has been in the possession of Hidden Sand since ages past. When Karura became pregnant and had Shukaku imbued into her son, she cursed the village for what they had done. When Gaara was later born she lost her life in the process. Gaara grew up confused and angry at his place in the village, as all the villagers feared him and his power to control the sands. When Gaara grew older he gained the ability to enter into a forced sleep, which would allow Shukaku to come out. Shukaku would gather sand from the surrounding area to make his large tanuki body. Shukaku seems to be fairly loud and flamboyant in his speech, probably as a result of not being released very often.

The Akatsuki criminal organization sought to obtain Shukaku from Gaara for their own diabolical ends. Demon imbued persons are called "jinchuuriki" by Akatsuki, literally "the power of human sacrifice". This seems to stem from a life being lost when the demon is imbued into the individual. For Gaara, his mother lost her life to imprison Shukaku. When Akatsuki captured Gaara they took him to their cave in the River Country and placed him before their large statue. They then performed a jutsu which seems to withdraw the Shukaku spirit from out of Gaara's body.

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Shigure and his team had the unfortunate luck of confronting Gaara's team during the Chuunin Exam. Shigure sought their scroll and underestimated Gaara's power. Shigure attempted to use his raining needles technique but Gaara's sand protected him. Gaara then took the opportunity to confine Shigure and his team using the desert coffin technique. Gaara then crushed the Rain Genin, killing them.

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Though Shin was loud, impatient and a tad crude, he would always complement Sai on his artistic skill. Root strove to eliminate all emotions in its recruits, but the friendship between he and Sai fostered feelings between the two men. The two would joke and Sai would accuse his brother of having no penis. Sai carried an art book full of his own drawings which he intended to gift to his brother. One side featured Sai's battles as he grew up; the other side featured the same for Shin.

At some point Shin passed away from an illness, and Sai shut his feelings off for good. With Shin’s death Sai did not finish the central picture of the battle book and over time he forgot what he meant to draw there. After Sai met Uzumaki Naruto and saw his strong connection to Sasuke, Sai's feelings began to reawaken and he finally remembered what he wanted to draw in the completed book. It was the dream they had of their future. In it Shin and Sai were holding hands and smiling, a sign of their friendship which would continue on even after his death. Sai would continue to remember his brother Shin fondly and happily continue to express himself.

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This man and the Lightning Country had used the peace treaty signing as pretext to gain free entry into Konoha to abduct a member of the powerful Hyuuga bloodline. During the middle of the night he snuck into the Hyuuga clan household and abducted Hinata while she slept. Hinata's father Hiashi interrupted him during his escape and quickly dispatched him.

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When Fuguki himself began leaking classified intel to enemy villages, Kisame killed his master and took Samehada for his own usage.

After Kabuto joined forces with Akatsuki, he resurrected many dead ninja to fight at their side using Edo Tensei. This included the previous generation of the Mist Seven Swordsmen and Fuguki. When the Edo Tensei ninja Gari and Pakura met the Third Division of the Joint Shinobi Army in battle, they summoned the other six members of the group to fight along Momochi Zabuza. Unlike his partners, Fuguki did not have access to Samehada, which was still in Killer Bee's possession. When Zabuza used his Kirigakure jutsu to shroud the battlefield in mist, Fuguki used his own Ninjutsu against his living foes.