TV-Series
Description
Juzo Biwa was a shinobi who rose to infamy as a member of the legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from Kirigakure, the Hidden Village in the Land of Water. He was the wielder of the massive Kubikiribocho, also known as the Executioner's Blade, a sword with the unique ability to regenerate itself using the iron harvested from the blood of its victims. His extreme brutality on the battlefield, where he would use the blade to dye entire battlefields red with the blood of his enemies, made him a famous and feared figure across the shinobi world. At some point after the Third Shinobi World War, Juzo and other members of the Seven Swordsmen cornered a young Konoha team consisting of Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu. Before they could attack, they were confronted by Might Duy, Guy's father, who sacrificed his life by opening the Eight Gates to allow his son and his comrades to escape. In the anime's narrative, Juzo survived this encounter alongside two of his fellow swordsmen and later defected from Kirigakure, becoming a missing-nin.
Following his desertion, Juzo was recruited into the criminal organization Akatsuki. He was a loyal member who followed the leader, Pain's, orders without question. During missions, he was cautious, meticulous, and highly professional, often devising intricate battle formations to ensure optimal synchronization with his partner. Shortly after Itachi Uchiha joined Akatsuki, Pain assigned him as Juzo's new partner, and Juzo showed great patience with the newcomer, teaching him about the organization's inner workings and how to perform their missions. Although a brutal killer, Juzo was shown to have a relaxed side outside of combat, occasionally telling jokes to his comrades. His most defining characteristic, however, was his profound hatred for his home village, the Land of Water, which he despised so much that he refused to take any missions there. This deep-seated loneliness is evident in his life; he had no family or close bonds, viewing only his sword, the Kubikiribocho, as his true and only ally.
Juzo's role in the story is primarily as Itachi's first partner in Akatsuki, a detail explored in the Itachi Shinden anime adaptation. Their key relationship was one of professional respect. Juzo taught the young Uchiha how the organization functioned, while Itachi, in turn, proved to be a powerful and capable comrade. Their partnership was cut short during a mission in the Land of Water, a location Juzo resented having to go to. After they completed their objective, they were pursued by a team of Kiri hunter-nin led by Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage and a jinchuriki of the Three-Tails. During the ensuing battle, Yagura transformed into his Version 2 state and fired a Tailed Beast Ball at Juzo. Juzo attempted to deflect the devastating attack with his sword, but failed, leaving him mortally wounded. As he lay dying, he lamented his fate, reaching out not for a comrade or for help, but for his beloved Kubikiribocho, his only true companion throughout his life as a shinobi. In his final moments, he showed a flicker of concern for Itachi, telling him to run and save himself before enemy reinforcements could arrive. Out of respect for his fallen partner, Itachi placed the remains of the broken sword in Juzo's hand.
As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Juzo's abilities were immense, placing him among the most powerful shinobi ever produced by Kirigakure, with some sources noting he was powerful enough to contend for the position of Mizukage. His primary skill was kenjutsu, the art of the sword, wielding the massive Kubikiribocho with enough strength and stamina to carry and swing it for extended periods with one arm. His physical prowess was such that he was one of the few shinobi to survive the Eight Gates Released Formation, a testament to his durability and battle sense. In addition to his swordsmanship, Juzo was a skilled user of Water Release ninjutsu, capable of creating water clones to confuse his enemies and enveloping an entire area in a thick, impenetrable mist, a classic tactic of Kirigakure's hunter-nin. These formidable combat skills, combined with his brutal efficiency and tactical mind, made him a perfect fit for Akatsuki, an organization composed of S-rank criminals.
Following his desertion, Juzo was recruited into the criminal organization Akatsuki. He was a loyal member who followed the leader, Pain's, orders without question. During missions, he was cautious, meticulous, and highly professional, often devising intricate battle formations to ensure optimal synchronization with his partner. Shortly after Itachi Uchiha joined Akatsuki, Pain assigned him as Juzo's new partner, and Juzo showed great patience with the newcomer, teaching him about the organization's inner workings and how to perform their missions. Although a brutal killer, Juzo was shown to have a relaxed side outside of combat, occasionally telling jokes to his comrades. His most defining characteristic, however, was his profound hatred for his home village, the Land of Water, which he despised so much that he refused to take any missions there. This deep-seated loneliness is evident in his life; he had no family or close bonds, viewing only his sword, the Kubikiribocho, as his true and only ally.
Juzo's role in the story is primarily as Itachi's first partner in Akatsuki, a detail explored in the Itachi Shinden anime adaptation. Their key relationship was one of professional respect. Juzo taught the young Uchiha how the organization functioned, while Itachi, in turn, proved to be a powerful and capable comrade. Their partnership was cut short during a mission in the Land of Water, a location Juzo resented having to go to. After they completed their objective, they were pursued by a team of Kiri hunter-nin led by Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage and a jinchuriki of the Three-Tails. During the ensuing battle, Yagura transformed into his Version 2 state and fired a Tailed Beast Ball at Juzo. Juzo attempted to deflect the devastating attack with his sword, but failed, leaving him mortally wounded. As he lay dying, he lamented his fate, reaching out not for a comrade or for help, but for his beloved Kubikiribocho, his only true companion throughout his life as a shinobi. In his final moments, he showed a flicker of concern for Itachi, telling him to run and save himself before enemy reinforcements could arrive. Out of respect for his fallen partner, Itachi placed the remains of the broken sword in Juzo's hand.
As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Juzo's abilities were immense, placing him among the most powerful shinobi ever produced by Kirigakure, with some sources noting he was powerful enough to contend for the position of Mizukage. His primary skill was kenjutsu, the art of the sword, wielding the massive Kubikiribocho with enough strength and stamina to carry and swing it for extended periods with one arm. His physical prowess was such that he was one of the few shinobi to survive the Eight Gates Released Formation, a testament to his durability and battle sense. In addition to his swordsmanship, Juzo was a skilled user of Water Release ninjutsu, capable of creating water clones to confuse his enemies and enveloping an entire area in a thick, impenetrable mist, a classic tactic of Kirigakure's hunter-nin. These formidable combat skills, combined with his brutal efficiency and tactical mind, made him a perfect fit for Akatsuki, an organization composed of S-rank criminals.