Her husband Anato, was on a research mission, but his group suddenly went missing. She explained that her village houses one of the leading medical care and research companies in the world. Upon arriving in the Land of Valleys, they met their client, Mia. In the anime, shortly after finally returning home from his three-year mission, Mugino was assigned to a search-and-rescue mission in the Land of Valleys, for having extensive knowledge of the area. He also had prowess in Fūinjutsu, able to work unison with others to destroy barriers. In the anime, his usage of Earth Release was expanded as he is able to fire earth projectiles from his mouth. Mugino could use Earth Release to cause a cave to collapse in order to bury a target in the rubble. Likewise, he as a high tolerance for pain, taking a kunai to the chest and still able to move about effectively despite the loss of blood. He also had considerable chakra reserves, able to endure having most of it being absorbed, and still able to fight on. In the anime, he was very capable in taijutsu, able to evade his foes and restrain them with holds, showing noticeable raw strength to hold up a much larger and heavier foe. Even more, Konohamaru, one of Konoha's top jōnin, openly praised Mugino and accredited much of his survival to Mugino. In the anime, having been trusted to be part of a three-year-long mission to pacify various small wars, Mugino was implied to be a very capable ninja. In the anime, he also wore an orange neck-warmer with white stripes. He wore the standard Konoha-nin attire complete with a forehead protector which he wore like a bandana and flak jacket. Mugino was a bespectacled, square-jawed man. When not on missions, he was comparatively more relaxed, enjoying drinks with his friends. Despite this, he remains committed to pay back all debts. Despite his normal professionalism in missions compassion for others, he is rather reckless with money, often building up a large tab from restaurant and is not above mooching off his juniors. Likewise, he is truly sympathetic to needy children. He also has a strong minimalist mentality, keeping his life-style and possessions to the bare essentials to not get greedy. However, his self-possession is such that it hinders his communication with those that aren't used to him, as he expects others to be as logical as him.
He likewise proves to be a very resolved and strong-willed man, able to endure a life-threatening situation without losing his composure. In battle, he is very methodical and problematic, quickly assessing the situation to come up with the most logical solution. His years of constant missions away from the village led him to constantly be on guard, never blindly trusting anyone. In the anime, while at heart a caring person, Mugino was also shown to be a very no-nonsense and matter-of-fact individual. Mugino proved this when confronted by Ao, attempting to stop the enemy by committing a suicidal-kill assault. He would sooner sacrifice himself than let himself become a burden to his allies. The mission lasted for three years.Īs Konohamaru noted, Mugino was a man of utter selflessness. Mugino was assigned as part of a team to pacify these uprisings. After the Fourth Shinobi World War ended and peace was established between the Five Great Nations and many other smaller shinobi nations, there were still much conflict in other nations that sparked smaller wars. After missions, the two would regularly enjoy drinks together at various bars. In various missions together, Mugino more than once saved Konohamaru's life. Įventually, Mugino became a close friend of Konohamaru Sarutobi. Some time after the Konoha Crush, Mugino arrived to the village to accept the Third's invitation, unaware of his death. Hiruzen comforted Mugino and welcomed him to Konoha with open arms whenever he was ready. Anticipating his actions and noticing the young orphan was branded with a cursed seal, Hiruzen allowed Mugino to stab him, catching the Kiri-nin watching over Mugino off guard and swiftly subduing them. He feigned delivering a gift for gratitude to the Hokage. In the anime, Mugino was an orphaned refugee in the Land of Fire who was forced by a couple of Kiri-nin to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi as he came to welcome people in a refugee camp to Konoha.