In anime and manga stories Naruto, there is one character that we are quite familiar with, especially entering the storyline of the meeting of the five kages, namely Ao from Kirigakure. This character is quite famous because he is the bodyguard of Mizukage Fifth, Mei Terumi.
Did you know that he didn’t die in the Ten Tails’ attack! The following are some facts about Ao from Kirigakure that the author has summarized.
1. Escort Mizukage Fifth with the candidate Mizukage Sixth
crunchyroll.com/Naruto ShippudenWe start from the most common. Ao is the bodyguard of the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi. He accompanied the Mizukage with a young man who would later continue his mandate as the Sixth Mizukage, namely Chojuro.
Together with Chojuro, then the protector Mizukage this is complete. Ao is a sensor type Ninja, and Chojuro is an attacker type, hence the security of the Mizukage can be guaranteed. Especially if the Mizukage also intervened.
Not just a bodyguard Mizukage Fifth, it turned out that he was also a bodyguard at the same time as the candidate Mizukage Sixth, Chojuro. Had his fate not been this bad, there was a possibility that Ao would also have attained a high position in Kirigakure.
2. A veteran full of experience
crunchyroll.com/Naruto ShippudenNot just any ninja, Ao is a war veteran from Kirigakure. He has participated in many missions. Apart from that, he was also involved in a major ninja incident, namely the Third Ninja World War.
As a veteran and sensor type, Ao is a reliable hunter. He can track his enemies from a distance, even before he has eyes Byakugan belongs to the Hyuuga family.
Due to being a war veteran and experiencing many things, he also often lectures Chojuro on matters related to combat, and the attitude a true man should take.
However, some of Ao’s lectures to Chojuro are sometimes considered different by Mei the Mizukage, who always relates them to marriage issues. The reason is because Mei is obsessed with getting married and is sensitive about her age.
3. One of Kirigakure’s top fighters
crunchyroll.com/Naruto ShippudenOf course, Ao was chosen as a bodyguard not without reason. Although the main selling point of Ao’s abilities is his prowess in sensors and tracking, Ao also has above average fighting abilities.
Judging from his fighting style, Ao is a fast and agile fighter. This was shown when he chased Danzo’s bodyguard, he was able to dodge various attacks including Shintenshin using a doll (although he ended up getting trapped too).
Apart from that, his prowess in fighting was also explained when the Third Ninja World War occurred. Of course he has great fighting abilities, considering that he got a “souvenir” from his opponent, who turned out to be the Hyuga clan.
He fought against members of the Hyuuga clan, after winning the fight, he took the Byakugan belonging to these Hyuuga members. Considering that the Hyuga is one of the strongest families in Konoha, it is clear that Ao is not just any ninja.
4. Never forget the color of Shisui Uchiha’s chakra
Shishui Uchiha. (Doc. Pierrot/Naruto Shippuden)Not only facing Hyuuga members, Ao has also faced other powerful families or clans from Konoha, and this time what he faced was the Uchiha, more precisely Shisui.
In the Third Ninja World War, Shisui’s team was given orders to pursue the Kirigakure group, which turned out to be led directly by Ao. On the way, two members of Ao’s group suddenly fell, apparently they were trapped inside genjutsu.
Ao stopped this convoy to see the opponents they were facing, and without hesitation, he ordered his team to retreat. Ao activate Byakugan his, and it turned out there were only 3 of their opponents, but numbers were not the reason why Ao withdrew.
One of the 3 people turned out to be Shisui. Ao already knew how dangerous it was Shunshin no Shisui from Konoha. In the end he chose to retreat, but he remembered Shisui’s eye color well, and it ended up being useful several years later.
5. A great sensor ninja
crunchyroll.com/Naruto ShippudenOf the many sensor ninjas in the world of Naruto, Ao is one of the best. Because of this, he was believed to be the eye for the Ninja Alliance troops in the Fourth Ninja World War.
Combined with Inoichi Yamanaka’s prowess, Ao was able to monitor the entire war area which was obviously very large in size, even across different islands. Not only that, apart from Naruto, Ao is another ninja who can distinguish between real ninjas and White Zetsu in disguise.
6. Indirect savior of the Ninja Alliance
Danzo Shimura in Shippuden. (Doc. Pierrot/Naruto Shippuden)Why did Ao indirectly save the Ninja Alliance in the Fourth Ninja World War? Have you read what might happen if Danzo becomes Hokage?
There it was explained that various bad things would happen if Danzo continued to become Hokage, replacing Tsunade. But the story says differently, thanks to Sasuke who fought Danzo, and Ao who exposed Danzo’s rottenness.
During the meeting of the five Kage, Danzo apparently controlled Mifune with the ability of Shisui’s eyes. In connection with the previous point, Ao still clearly remembers the color of Shisui’s Sharingan eyes, therefore he immediately recognized the color chakras in Danzo’s eyes which were Shisui’s eyes.
7. Appears again in Boruto
Shueisha/Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsIn the Fourth Ninja World War, Ao was placed at the Ninja Alliance headquarters along with the mastermind of the attack, Shikaku Nara and also the liaison between the Ninja at the war site and the headquarters, Inoichi Yamanaka.
Madara and Obito at that time had successfully summoned the Ten Tails. Seeing how great the Ninja Alliance’s brains were, Madara also intended to destroy the central headquarters. Attack Bijuudama successful in destroying the central headquarters.
Shikaku, Inoichi, and everyone died, but not Ao, it turns out he is still alive!
Initially, he was thought to have died in the line of duty by everyone, even his own village. But apparently, he was still alive.
He appears in the manga Boruto chapter 17. Incidentally, the title of the chapter is Ao, which means Blue. Ao is said to be alive because of help from Katasuke Tono, the same person who gave him the Ninja tools in the film Boruto.
Katasuke helps Ao with various artificial tools, such as his missing hand and replacing it with a prosthetic hand. This wound was the result of an attack Bijuudama of the ten tails.
Even though he was still alive, instead of returning to Kirigakure, Ao became an accomplice of the Kara organization. He even faced Boruto’s Team 7 complete with Konohamaru!
8. Ao is the only known survivor of the attack Bijudama Ten Tails
crunchyroll.com/boruto-naruto-next-generationAo is the only character known to have survived the Ten Tails’ attack on the Shinobi Forces Headquarters.
After being taken to Konoha Hospital, Ao was in a coma for years too.
This situation made Ao become Katasuek Tono’s patient.
9. Death of Ao
crunchyroll.com/Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsAs an accomplice of the Kara organization, Ao had time to face Boruto.
Boruto was finally able to defeat Ao. Even though Ao thought Boruto would solve it, Boruto chose to forgive Ao.
But then Kashin Koji came along. Ao ended up using jutsu water to push Boruto, while he himself died because he was crushed by a frog called Koji.
Ao’s sacrifice is interesting because in the fight against Boruto and his friends, Ao focused on using technology.
He uses jutsu again at this moment of nearing death seemed to show his determination as shinobi.
10. Voice actor
crunchyroll.com/boruto-naruto-next-generationAo’s voice actor is Tadahisa Saizen.
Saizen’s other prominent role is Berserker Fate/Stay Night.
So, those are 10 facts about Ao. What do you think? Tell us in the comments column!
First published in 2019, republished April 23, 2024 with additional points 8 to 10.
