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Bandō from Naruto in a close-framed cel-shaded anime scene with a detailed environment
The provided image is an artist's interpretation made for this entry. Details may differ from official depictions. The character and franchise remain © their respective rights holders.

Bandō

Character

Hailing from Benisu Island, the jōnin Bandō cares far more about turning a profit than winning any war. He totes an abacus wherever he goes and commands Wind Release, and he runs into Naruto's group when the two teams compete to collect medicinal herbs.

English Voice: Todd Haberkorn
Japanese Voice: Nobuyuki Hiyama
Nature Type: Wind Release
First Appearance (Anime): Episode 224: The Ninja of Benisu
Village & Affiliations: Benisu Island
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Appearance

Dark eyes and spiky, light-brown hair define Bandō's look. He dresses in a short-sleeved blue outfit topped by a beige flak jacket, wears his village's forehead protector, and keeps an abacus fastened across his back.

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Personality

Money weighs on Bandō's mind more than any war effort ever could. He will do whatever it takes to hit his target, right down to haggling over a basket of medicinal herbs with ninja from abroad. He also assumes that operatives out of the larger nations look down on those from lesser ones, and he leans on that grudge to excuse squeezing gain from any situation he lands in. Yet a decent streak surfaces too: once Naruto had rescued him and his squad, Bandō turned his supplies over to the Konoha ninja, framing the gift as their offering to the Allied Shinobi Forces, though that gesture may have been a play for later payoffs.

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History

His jōnin rank signals broad competence. Bandō works an abacus both to price out wares and, oddly, as a kind of skateboard for getting around, and his herb-collecting assignment suggests he knows his way around botany and harvesting. He builds traps, studies terrain to move through it cleanly, and wields Wind Release, trusting the Great Breakthrough technique enough to dive headlong into a gas-filled cave.

In Paradise Life on a Boat, Bandō and his underlings Kiji and Sada meet a Konoha party of Sakura, Ino, Chōji, and Naruto, all after the same medicinal herbs on Nanakusa Island. Having already grabbed most of what the island offered, Bandō proposes selling them the surplus, but the Leaf ninja decline, so his crew simply beats them to every remaining spot. The two groups meet again at a cache of elixir mud, where Bandō deploys the Great Breakthrough to hold back the sulphurous gas bursting through the cavern. A huge lizard then ambushes his team, and Naruto steps in to save them. Grateful, Bandō hands the Konoha shinobi a share of his haul at no cost, stunning Sada and Kiji, and explains that he is content to eat a loss now in exchange for returns down the road.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Bandō in Naruto?

Bando is a jonin from Benisu Island who cares far more about profit than fighting in any war. He carries an abacus everywhere, commands Wind Release, and crosses paths with Naruto's group while both teams compete to gather medicinal herbs.

What is Bandō's role in the herb collecting mission?

In Naruto: Shippuden episode 224, Bando and his underlings Kiji and Sada race a Konoha team of Sakura, Ino, Choji, and Naruto to gather medicinal herbs on Nanakusa Island. After grabbing most of the supply first, Bando offers to sell the leftovers before his crew simply beats the Leaf ninja to the rest.

What jutsu does Bandō use?

Bando relies on Wind Release, most notably the Great Breakthrough technique. He trusts it enough to use it holding back sulphurous gas bursting through a cavern while his team searched for elixir mud.

Why does Bandō give away his herbs to Naruto's team?

After Naruto saves Bando's group from an ambushing lizard, a grateful Bando hands the Konoha shinobi a free share of his haul. He explains that he is content to eat a loss in the moment in exchange for returns down the road, framing the gift partly as an offering to the Allied Shinobi Forces.

What does Bandō carry with him at all times?

Bando keeps an abacus fastened across his back, which he uses both to price out wares and, unusually, as a kind of skateboard for getting around. It reflects his single minded focus on money over any war effort.

Sources & Information

Looking for more on Bandō? The Naruto Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.

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This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

Rights holders

All rights belong to their respective owners.

Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:

  • Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
  • Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
  • Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.

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