How to Get Naruto (Shinobi Sage) in Anime Vanguards (June 2026)
Getting Naruto (Shinobi Sage) in Anime Vanguards requires more than just luck at the gacha banner. This Secret-rarity unit demands a specific trade that permanently consumes one of your evolved Naruto forms. Our team spent weeks tracking down every detail about this unlock, and I can walk you through exactly what you need to do.
Shinobi Sage represents one of the most powerful Naruto variants in Anime Vanguards, introduced in the Painful Lessons Update (Update 12) on April 17th, 2026. If you want this unit sitting in your roster, you will need to give up something valuable in return.
Contents
Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting
Before you even think about finding the Shinobi Sage NPC, you need to have Noruto (Six Tails) in your inventory. This is the evolved form of Naruto that you must sacrifice to receive Shinobi Sage.
Noruto (Six Tails) is not a common unit you pull from the standard banner. You obtain it by evolving regular Naruto through Story Mode or special events. The evolution path requires significant investment in materials and time, so if you do not already have this unit, start farming for it now before attempting this guide.
Important warning: When you complete the exchange with the Shinobi Sage NPC, your Noruto (Six Tails) unit will be permanently consumed. You will not get it back. This is a one-way trade, so make sure you understand what you are giving up before proceeding.
How to Get Naruto (Shinobi Sage) in Anime Vanguards?
Step 1: Enter Hidden Village Act 2
Load into Anime Vanguards and navigate to the Hidden Village map. This area becomes available after progressing through the early story stages. Once inside the Hidden Village, you need to move toward the central district where the government buildings are located.
The Hidden Village in Act 2 features multiple buildings with distinct architectural styles. Focus on finding structures with larger footprints and multiple floors, as these stand out from the typical residential homes scattered throughout the map.
Step 2: Locate the Hokage Office
The Hokage Office sits prominently in the Hidden Village and serves as a major landmark. This building features a unique design compared to surrounding structures, making it easier to identify from a distance.
Players often describe it as the building with the large platform or rooftop area overlooking the village. If you have played through Story Mode before, this location should feel familiar from various cutscenes and missions.
Step 3: Find the Shinobi Sage NPC
Once you reach the Hokage Office, climb to the rooftop area. The Shinobi Sage NPC waits here, and finding this hidden character is the key to unlocking the unit.
The NPC does not appear on your map or minimap, so you must physically search the rooftop. They stand in a specific spot that is easy to miss if you are not looking carefully. Take your time scanning the entire rooftop platform until you spot the character model.
Step 4: Exchange Noruto (Six Tails) for Shinobi Sage
Approach the Shinobi Sage NPC and interact with them. Select the option to exchange units when prompted. As long as Noruto (Six Tails) is sitting in your inventory, the trade will process immediately.
Once the exchange completes, Shinobi Sage appears in your unit inventory as a usable character. The NPC will acknowledge the transaction, and you can exit the interaction menu to start using your new Shinobi Sage unit in battles.
Shinobi Sage Stats and Abilities
Shinobi Sage delivers exceptional performance that justifies the sacrifice required to obtain him. This Secret-tier unit sits near the top of the rarity ladder, offering stats that outperform most alternatives available in the current meta.
The base stats for Shinobi Sage reflect his powerful nature. His Damage (DMG) stat reaches approximately 4000 at full level, making him one of the hardest-hitting units in Anime Vanguards. Speed and Attack (SPA) stats also rank among the highest for Secret-rarity characters, giving you a unit that hits fast and hits incredibly hard.
His passive ability, called “Believe It!”, provides a significant damage buff that activates under specific conditions. When triggered, this passive increases overall damage output by roughly 50%, allowing Shinobi Sage to demolish opponents during crucial moments in combat.
The active ability, “9 Tailed Rampage,” unleashes a devastating attack that affects multiple enemies on the field. This move also applies the Nullify effect to struck targets, preventing them from using certain abilities for a short duration. Combined with the Wounded effect that reduces enemy healing, 9 Tailed Rampage turns the tide of difficult battles.
Shinobi Sage also wields Ninjutsu as his special category, giving him access to techniques that fit the ninja theme of the Naruto franchise. Shadow Clones appear as part of his moveset, allowing you to summon duplicate units that assist in combat and overwhelm opponents through numbers advantage.
How to Evolve Shinobi Sage to Friendship Form?
After obtaining Shinobi Sage, you can push his power even further by evolving him into the Friendship form. This enhanced version requires specific materials collected through gameplay, so start gathering these items as soon as possible.
The evolution process demands Chi Spheres and Essence Stones as primary crafting materials. Chi Spheres drop from various enemy types throughout Story Mode, with harder difficulties yielding higher quantities. Essence Stones come from boss encounters and special events, requiring more targeted farming compared to general enemy drops.
To initiate the evolution, return to the Hidden Village and locate the Evolution area. This zone sits near the center of the map and features a distinct altar or transformation platform where you conduct unit enhancements. Place Shinobi Sage on the evolution platform and select the Friendship evolution option when the menu appears.
Once evolution completes, your Shinobi Sage transforms into his Friendship form with increased base stats across all categories. The Friendship evolution represents the final evolution stage for this unit, providing permanent stat boosts that scale with your investment in the character.
Is Shinobi Sage Worth the Sacrifice?
Whether Shinobi Sage justifies giving up Noruto (Six Tails) depends heavily on your current roster and play style. Our team analyzed the pros and cons to help you make this decision confidently.
Reasons to make the trade: If you already have other strong Naruto variants or prefer using characters from different anime franchises, Shinobi Sage offers a significant power upgrade over Six Tails. His Secret-tier status guarantees better base stats, and his abilities provide more versatility in combat scenarios. Veterans with deep rosters often find this trade worthwhile for the variety it adds.
Reasons to skip the trade: If Noruto (Six Tails) serves as your primary damage dealer or your roster lacks strong alternatives, sacrificing him leaves a gap in your team composition. New players still building their collection should think carefully before permanently removing an evolved unit from their inventory.
My recommendation is to assess your current roster honestly. If you have multiple evolved units that can fill the role Noruto (Six Tails) currently plays, the upgrade to Shinobi Sage makes sense. But if you rely heavily on Six Tails for clearing content, keep him until you find a suitable replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Naruto unlock Sage mode?
In Anime Vanguards, Naruto unlocks Sage mode by obtaining the Shinobi Sage unit through the NPC exchange system. You cannot unlock Sage mode through leveling or abilities – you must specifically acquire the Shinobi Sage character through the Hidden Village NPC trade.
Where do you get codes for Anime Vanguards?
Anime Vanguards codes are typically released by the developers on their official Twitter/X account, Discord server, and YouTube channel. Check these platforms regularly for new promotional codes that grant free gems, units, or evolution materials.
How do you unlock Sage mode?
To unlock Shinobi Sage in Anime Vanguards, you need Noruto (Six Tails) and must find the hidden NPC on the Hokage office rooftop in Hidden Village Act 2. Interact with the NPC and select the exchange option to receive Shinobi Sage in exchange for your Six Tails unit.
How to get snake sage mode in Naruto?
Snake Sage mode refers to a different Naruto variant not currently available in Anime Vanguards. This guide covers Shinobi Sage, which represents Sage mode from the original Naruto series, not the Snake Sage technique learned from Orochimaru.
Do you lose Noruto Six Tails for Shinobi Sage?
Yes, the exchange with the Shinobi Sage NPC permanently consumes your Noruto (Six Tails) unit. You will no longer have access to this character after the trade completes. Make sure you want Shinobi Sage before proceeding with the exchange.
How long does it take to get Noruto Six Tails?
Getting Noruto (Six Tails) typically requires 2-4 weeks of regular play depending on your progress in Story Mode. You need to evolve regular Naruto to Six Tails, which requires specific evolution materials that drop throughout gameplay. Focus on completing daily missions and Story Mode stages to farm materials efficiently.
Conclusion
Getting Naruto (Shinobi Sage) in Anime Vanguards follows a straightforward but commitment-heavy process. You need Noruto (Six Tails), access to Hidden Village Act 2, and the patience to locate the hidden NPC on the Hokage office rooftop.
The trade-off is significant since you permanently lose your Six Tails unit, but Shinobi Sage delivers superior stats and abilities that make the exchange worthwhile for many players. Consider your roster composition carefully before making this decision.
Once you have Shinobi Sage, invest in gathering Chi Spheres and Essence Stones to evolve him into the Friendship form. This final evolution maximizes his combat potential and ensures you get maximum value from the trade you made.
For more Anime Vanguards guides and unit rankings, explore our complete collection of strategy content for the game.
