Twelve Guardian Ninja

The were a group of 12 elite warriors, who pledged their lives to protect the Land of Fire and the Daimyo. The members are identified by the marked loincloths they wear. It would seem that some time, before the group was disbanded, some underground organisation put a bounty on most of the members. Sora had dreamed of being part of this group.

Background
A group formed before the start of the story, and later dismissed after a disagreement between them, the 12 Guardsmen of Fire, have for a long time protected the Daimyo.

However about ten years before the start of the story, did some of them begin to believe that only the Daimyo should lead the Land of Fire and planned a coup d'etat against the Hokage. These ideals split the group in two which led to a fight between them, where only Asuma Sarutobi, Kazuma and Chiriku survived.

Fire Temple Filler Arc
In the anime filler arc it is revealed that another one of the guardsmen, Kazuma, survived the fight between the two groups. But like some of the other members, he too decided that the Land of Fire only needed one and tried to assassinate the Daimyo, only to be stopped by and later thought to be killed by Asuma.

Members
All the known members are deceased.
 * Kazuma
 * Kitane
 * Nauma
 * Tou'u
 * Seito
 * Asuma Sarutobi
 * Chiriku