Kiyoshi Katsuo

[ Position ] ANBU Buntaichō [ANBU Captain]
[ ANBU Alias ] Juyou [ Leaf ]

[ Primary ] Fūton [Wind]
[ Secondary ] Katon [Fire]

[ Kiyoshi Aburame ]

Katsuo's father, whom was once a highly regarded shinobi and genius in his own right in the Hidden Leaf that has since retired from service, now owns and operates a local Dumpling Bar, the Pechapecha Dango [the Juicy Dumpling]. Having served his duty for the village, he now enjoys cooking and running his personal business, aged fifty.

[ Kiyoshi Marume ]

Katsuo's mother, the estranged daughter of a rich merchant, who was removed from her father's house when she disobeyed his orders and married Aburame for love - despite having had a pre-arranged marriage organized with a rival merchant family. She currently assists in the running of the Pechapecha Dango, aged forty-three.

[ Kiyoshi Anko ]

Katsuo's younger sister, the second oldest in the family. Despite showing a tenderness and care for all creatures great and small, her life was tragically cut short during the Second Great Shinobi War. She was fifteen at the time of her death, three years into the war.

[ Kiyoshi Hiashi ]

Katsuo's younger brother, born in the later years of his parent's marriage, is also a shinobi who has shown some degree of impressive skill during his time training at the academy, though he is constantly compared to the standard of his older brother [much to his annoyance]. He is currently ranked as a Genin, aged twelve.

Katsuo is a young man that stands at average height, around five-foot-ten-inches, for someone his age. He has a compact frame, his body weight at about one-hundred-sixty pounds, indicating he is both lithe and swift in movement. He has dark black hair, gray eyes and usually has a passive expression to his features; that is when he isn’t wearing his ANBU mask. Often considered rather casual or aloof, in appearance, he is really a fairly care-free, easy-going young man.

The location of Katsuo’s Hitai-ate is on his right shoulder blade; the symbol having been sewn onto his robe garment in red stitching. Also, his ANBU symbol is on his left shoulder, tattooed in red ink.

Typically Katsuo wears light garments made of a fine fabric, which are layered in a similar manner to most ninja robes. Due to the need to remain hidden, the color of the clothing is a dark purple, with a deep red underlining that contains a variety of pockets for various items. The robes are tied at Katsuo’s waist by a simple belt-sash, while his pants are tapered at the knees and tucked into his knee-high boots. On either arm, Katsuo wears both gloves, with the knuckle and fingertip portions removed for ease of hand movement, and leather straps that are wrapped around up to each elbow.

When engaging in ANBU service, Katsuo wears the white cloak of an ANBU Captain, with hood, over his ANBU armor, as well as his mask. When not on a mission or engaging in battle as an ANBU operative, Katsuo reverts to his civilian clothing. He is never seen without his mask while on active ANBU duty.

[ Katsuo's ANBU Uniform ]

When not wearing his ANBU uniform, Katsuo can be seen making use of the standard shinobi clothing typical of the Hidden Leaf village. This typically comprises of a gray-green jacket over a mesh shirt, with a harness for kunai, and other items, across his shoulders and chest for easy reach from the front or back. Like his ANBU outfit, Katsuo's hands and forearms remain wrapped for protection when using his Genkimono [Live Wire].

The location of his Hitai-ate is then moved to his belt buckle.

For his lower body he has dark navy pants, with padded knees, complete with several pouches, one being strapped to his left thigh, with the rest on the rear/hip of his belt, as well as mid-shin level shinobi boots.

When in civilian clothing, Katsuo often has his ANBU mask, and white ANBU Captain cloak, in close reach - sealed away for easy access - so that he can wear them at a moments notice. Also, since starting his service as a Shugonin Jūnishi , Katsuo has taken to wearing the 'fire' kanji-marked cloth around his waist, both as a sign of his position and status as an elite shinobi.

[ Katsuo's Civilian Clothing ]

Katsuo is a typically considered casual and aloof. Though he tends to remain quiet during serious situations, not being the one who makes consistent jokes or tries to lighten the mood, he is far from introverted. He has willingly approached others and started conversations, likening to believe that he is somewhat easy to get along with and isn't interested in causing friction; he also offers opinions on plans during battle, and likes to communicate well to ensure success.

During his younger years, when he was training at the ninja academy of the Hidden Leaf, Katsuo was a serious, focused and completely driven child. He had the reputation of his father, Kiyoshi Aburame, to live up to and would spend countless days and nights training and improving himself - despite having a natural gift when it came to being a shinobi. He was considered a prodigy by his superiors, his capabilities with the ninja arts impressive, especially for one so young. Yet, despite this praise, Katsuo remained modest, never being boastful, and preferred to remain set on his path of personal achievement.

Even to this day, he puts an emphasis on being completely efficient; he does what is required and has no interest in being overly dramatic or flashy.

During his teenage years, during the Second Great Shinobi War, was a tough but fair leader for his ambush squad. He demanded no less of his men than he expected of himself; and it was this mindset that earned him respect from his men, knowing that their leader would do everything he asked of them first. In some ways he was quite harsh and single-minded when it came to dealing with comrades, and he was as focused and driven as ever.

However, during that very war, despite the numerous killings and battles that seemed to have no effect on him, Katsuo suffered a personality-changing moment with the death of his younger sister, Anko. When hearing the news, the young shinobi was changed, and only his training and focus allowed him to remain in the fight; he managed to put aside his grief, knowing that it was best for the village that he continue to do his job, no matter the loss he had suffered. It was a trying time for the shinobi, and he often felt as though he was slipping away by bottling everything inside - he had been close to his sister, wanting to protect both her and his family, having them as one of the main factors in his endless efforts to protect Konohagakure.

But, over time, Katsuo began to change. Where before he had been cold, calculating and indifferent toward those he served with, slowly he began to warm up to his squad and display signs of concern and care. It appeared that through his personal loss, Katsuo had gained a new perspective on just how precious life truly was, and how those he knew were people, too, just like his sister.

It was a positive development, one that Katsuo's peers and mentors agreed was good for him.

In the years that followed, Katsuo has calmed some and has found the simple things in life the most pleasing. He often seeks solitude, rather than attention, and he quite enjoys being able to meditate when the chance allows. He allows everyone the chance to make their own impression, and he never judges those he meets based on what others claim or imply.

For those that have Katsuo’s loyalty, as either friends or respected elders, they will find him unflinching in his resolve to aid them in any manner available to him. He has been known to stand by his comrades, no matter the situation; however, thankfully, he has yet to follow a companion to the bitter end, though Katsuo wouldn’t hesitate to take selfless action for the right reasons.

Katsuo is dedicated to the protection of both the village, his friends and his loved ones.

[ Early Childhood ]

Born the first son of Aburame and Marume, Kiyoshi Katsuo was destined to compete with his father's reputation from birth. A proud shinobi who had fought exceedingly well in the first war, Katsuo's father expected nothing but the utmost from his offspring. Before he could walk, Katsuo was tested and pushed to display his capabilities with the ninja arts; his father was hellbent on leaving behind a legacy that he could be proud of, as through his entire life as a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf he had been compared to the powerful Uchiha and Hyūga clans [of which the Kiyoshi were small in number, not even considered a clan by shinobi standards].

Aburame's relentless pursuit of maintaining his hard-earned name had not always been present. In fact, it was only during the lingering years of the first war that Katsuo's father went through a series of changes that made him into a cold, emotionally detached individual that cared only for reputation and legacy. Katsuo's mother often speculated that it was due to the intense pressure placed on Aburame to compete with the dozens of clan members in Konohagakure, being the only shinobi with real potential from the Kiyoshi family.

It hadn't helped that Aburame's past had been filled with a similar series of events since his birth, and such the cycle once again began with Katsuo.

Instead of playing with other children, Katsuo was made to train; instead of being paid an allowance for personal spending, Katsuo was made to complete missions for his father that he would then be paid for; instead of developing a father-son bond, Katsuo was shown affection through sparring. All in all it wasn't a pleasant childhood, with the emphasis on becoming one of the best shinobi placed upon his shoulders even before he had applied to join the ninja academy.

In some ways, it was a blessing that Katsuo was born into capabilities that labeled him a prodigy; not even his mother wanted to consider how Aburame might have acted, had his son shown no potential in the ninja art...

By the age of five, one particular aspect that Katsuo had learned was many advanced tactics used in forest environments. His father, an ambush specialist during the first war, deemed that he would teach his son the same art so that Katsuo would have the home advantage should Konohagakure fall under attack. Of course, Aburame wasn't so short-sighted as to only educate his son in forest warfare, and instead went on to further educate the boy in fighting through various terrain and environments so that he would be able to engage in effective ambush tactics no matter where he was located.

Excellence was demanded, and excellence was given, in all aspects of Katsuo's personal training under his father.

At the age of six, Katsuo was accepted into the ninja academy, where he took the training he had received and applied it to advancing through his studies...

[ Ninja Academy ]

Following his application to the Ninja Academy, Katsuo was granted access to pass the initial testing to prove himself capable. The test was pointless, to which he was successful, and he took his place as a student. Surrounded by his peers, each at different ages and at different points in their training, Katsuo found himself withdrawn and solitary.

While he learned to read, write and had his standard education fulfilled in classes dedicated to such lessons, he often longed for the ninja arts training to start. Katsuo's mind and body had been honed for harsh lessons and understanding his mistakes.

As his father expected, Katsuo received top marks and had proven the validity of his innate aptitude for the ninja arts while in the academy. All of his ninja art lessons were completed to the highest standard, while the classes he felt were less important were generally considered average. Yet, his instructors were required to grade his skills, with them stating that Katsuo was highly skilled in Ninjutsu, showed high potential in Genjutsu and was above-average with Taijutsu.

In a single year, Katsuo was granted the opportunity to graduate from the Ninja Academy. His father, however, felt that his son still had lessons to learn and didn't want him to miss some of the secondary year teachings - Aburame had been forced through the same situation, being exceptional but still being made to sit and listen by his father.

It had helped him improve his discipline and attention focusing skills; and so it would do the same for Katsuo.

There were a few fellow gifted students in Katsuo's class, and he found enjoyment in trying to outdo them. Often he would, sometimes he wouldn't, but at the end of the day he was ready to move out of the Academy and start his life as a low level shinobi for the Hidden Leaf by the end of his second year. It couldn't come soon enough for young Katsuo, who had felt that he had been held back for long enough.

In fact, the only thing that kept the boy sane was being able to go home to continue his training with his father.

Yet, Katsuo soon passed and was granted the rank of Genin, to which the eight year old Katsuo felt that he had finally brought honor to his family name by receiving the rank at such a young age. His father smiled through the graduation ceremony, the pride for his son clearly seen by those who attended.

Katsuo was then placed into Team 2, serving with a pair of older Genin from the class before him.

[ Teenage Years ]

He was pleased with the team he was placed in, getting along well with the other members, and soon came to form a close friendship with the two. The team Sensei was something of a perfectionist, and this caused Katsuo to strive to improve both himself, and his abilities; for in the eyes of his teacher there was no better reward than to see his student’s develop.

Like most missions at Genin rank, Katsuo was disappointed with the simplistic tasks he was appointed. He found that he could only rescue one so many kittens, or deliver one so many packages before he found himself feeling underused. Yet, despite the mind-numbing work, he appreciated the lessons he learned and listened to his Sensei in earnest. Following a series of successful missions, and the completion of the team test in the Forest of Death, Katsuo and his comrades were promoted to Chūnin rank; Katsuo had just turned ten.

As a Chūnin, Katsuo found success in the missions assigned to him. He was usually assigned to a team, and sent out on B-rank missions; and this suited the young ninja just fine, as he saw the opportunity to prove his abilities to both his mentors, and himself. It was around this time that Katsuo was also taught his father's Genjutsu - Sennenkan Ha Kuruijini [Thousand Edged Death] - one that Aburame had developed during his time as an ANBU. The boy learned the basics, and by his late teens was more than capable with the illusion Jutsu.

One of the first missions Katsuo was allotted was to travel to a distant village of Kumogakure no Sato, the Hidden Cloud Village, where his team was tasked with guarding a scroll of unknown content. The initial few days of trekking were uneventful; however on the third day the Konoha ninja were attacked by a band of four unidentified shinobi, clearly intent on intercepting the delivery. Caught off-guard, Katsuo and his team-mates fought to keep their prize secure, separating in an attempt to mislead their assailants. Fortunately Katsuo found he was followed by one of the attackers, which meant that he was able to engage one-verses-one; and following a quick, brutal confrontation, the young Chūnin defeated his opponent, ending the other ninja’s life near a cliff edge.

The enemy’s body fell, leaving no trace of evidence to be gathered; however this was the last of Katsuo’s concerns, as he rushed to his allies’ aid, hoping that the remaining two members of his team had been able to withstand their opponents. Katsuo soon found one team-mate, joining her in defeating her single enemy; to which the two sought their final comrade. Sadly, by the time they arrived, their friend had succumbed to the two-verse-one battle, and was found dead. When the pair of enemy shinobi launched an ambush, they were killed by the two Konoha ninja; consequently the scroll, which Katsuo had been holding, was delivered to Kumogakure no Sato, albeit late but without further incident.

For several years, Katsuo was taken under the tutelage of the Nidaime Hokage. The lessons improved Katsuo's abilities, allowing him to further develop his Ninjutsu and Taijutsu - he even learned to use two chakra elements, Fūton [Wind] and Katon [Fire], due to his mentor's having abilities in one or the other. The combination of the Hokage's lessons, as well as Katsuo's father's on a daily basis, resulted in a long period of intense development that propelled the young boy's abilities considerably. He found that his knowledge was increased across multiple areas, due to the different topics he was taught by his mentors, and this allowed Katsuo to become quite advanced in several areas of the ninja arts, despite his age.

Both the Nidaime Hokage and Kiyoshi Aburame demanded nothing less than perfection, and they continued training the young shinobi, alternatively taking his attention and time consistently, well into his late teens.

At the age of fifteen, after several years of successful missions and hard training effort, under his two mentors, Katsuo was promoted to Jōnin rank. The reason for this promotion was due to the advanced abilities Katsuo demonstrated in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, as well as his personal development of several impressive Jutsu without assistance; he had proved he was very capable of controlling chakra and using it to create Jutsu, while also being completely dedicated to missions and assisting Konoha. Also at the age of fifteen, because of his success and skill serving the village, Katsuo was promoted into the ANBU ranks. He received his ANBU mask, which resembled a tiger, and began the next stage in his life as a shinobi, even more determined to protect the Hidden Leaf during such trying times, as the threat of war grew...

[ Second Great Shinobi War & After ]

When the war started, Katsuo was immediately placed onto an ambush squad. This was due to his skill at stealth, tactical planning and ability to lead. It wasn't long before he was promoted to lead his squad, taking command and starting a series of successful ambushes against enemies of Konoha.

His squad was tasked with delivering short-to-mid range attacks on shinobi from opposing countries that attempted to invade the Hidden Leaf, or establish footholds in the surrounding forest. Having been trained in effective methods of forest warfare, Katsuo was able to develop tactics and formations that left enemy ninja near helpless when they were ambushed; it also helped that such enemies were unfamiliar with the terrain, or at least had less of an understanding about how best to use it to one's advantage.

During a period of the war when high-ranking leaders were being targeted by assassins, Katsuo succeeded in single-handedly saving the Hokage of Konohagakure from a three-man squad [composed of a Jōnin and two Tokubetsu Jōnin]. The assassins were sent from Sunagakure no Sato, but Katsuo's ability with ambush allowed him to defeat the group, fulfilling one of his duties for his leader.

Where originally cold, emotionless and caring only for the mission [much like his father before him], Katsuo's attitude and outlook on life changed with the death of his sister, Anko. With the attack on Konohagakure no Sato by the invading Kumogakure no Sato forces began, she was one of the many casualties of the confrontation. This loss caused Katsuo to develop a more friendly countenance, discovering that life was short and those he knew were worth knowing and caring for.

It was a turning point in his life, one that he will never forget.

Before the end of the war, when the Hidden Leaf was under attack by the Hidden Cloud army, Katsuo's ambush squad was tasked with assisting the defense force that was protecting Konohagakure. The ambush squad were integral to the assistance of defending Konohagakure, providing an offensive front that scouted and ambushed important enemy shinobi commanders in an attempt to disrupt their military movements near the Hidden Leaf; he also succeeded in killing dozens of high-ranking enemy ninja, before the invading force was recalled due to the death of their Raikage.

Katsuo's efforts through the war, along with his impressive kill-count, earned him a reputation as Shiso Ha Desu, translated as the Shadow Leaf of Death.

In the time after the end of the war, Katsuo has since dedicated himself to serving, and protecting, Konohagakure no Sato from all harm and threat to its people...

[ Link ]

[ Accomplishments ]

All reputation gained under ANBU alias Juyou [Leaf]:

- Was the leader of a highly successful ANBU ambush squad during the time of the Second Great Shinobi War, tasked with scouting/ambushing against threats to the Hidden Leaf village. It was estimated he had killed ten times his age by the end of the war, being twenty at the time, but the count can't be confirmed.

- Personally saved the Nidaime Hokage from assassination on one occasion, defeating a three-man squad from Suna that had succeeded in breaching the village and had invaded the Hokage's residence at night, when the leader of the Hidden Leaf slept, during a time when Generals of all armies were being targeted by enemy forces.

- Being an ANBU ambush squad leader, he was to assist the defense force that was tasked with protecting Konoha village from attack, when invading shinobi from Kumo attempted to destroy the rival village in the later years of the war. Katsuo's ambush squad were integral to the assistance of defending Konoha, providing an offensive front that scouted and ambushed important enemy shinobi commanders in an attempt to disrupt their military movements near the Hidden Leaf; he also succeeded in killing dozens of high-ranking enemy ninja, before the invading force was recalled due to the death of their Raikage.

- Gained a reputation, in his ANBU alias as Juyou [Leaf], as a cunning shinobi that excelled in hit-and-fade tactics in forest environments, often developing new tactics that were delegated to his squad.

[ Fame ]

[ Konohagakure no Sato ]

All reputation gained under ANBU alias Juyou [Leaf]:

- Known as the shinobi who saved the Nidaime Hokage single-handed from an assassination squad sent by Suna, under the cover of night while the village leader slept, during the war.

- Known for his highly successful ambush leadership tactics surrounding Konoha during pivotal moments in the war that helped the village avoid considerably more causalities than it had already sustained, by providing the proverbial sword to the village's defending shield.

- Known for his impressive scouting/stealth ambushes that were very effective against attacking enemies of Konoha.

[ Kumogakure no Sato ]

All reputation gained under ANBU alias Juyou [Leaf]:

- Known for his involvement in hindering the Hidden Cloud military when they attacked the Hidden Leaf, through ambushing tactics.

- Known for his impressive use of fighting skill against attacking shinobi in forest environments, witnessed first-hand by Kumo ninja.

[ Sunagakure no Sato ]

All reputation gained under ANBU alias Juyou [Leaf]:

- Known as the shinobi who saved the Nidaime Hokage single-handed from assassination, by killing a three-man squad from Suna that had invaded the Hidden Leaf Village.

[ Konohagakure sister villages ]

All reputation gained under ANBU alias Juyou [Leaf]:

- Known in nearby villages surrounding Konoha for his involvement in the defense of Konoha, serving as an attack squad leader aimed at hindering enemy command, when the Hidden Cloud military attacked the Hidden Leaf.

- Known in nearby villages surrounding Konoha to have personally saved the Nidaime Hokage from an assassination squad during the war.

- Known for his impressive use of fighting skill against attacking shinobi in forest environments.