Kirigakure's Reconnaissance Brigade

Kirigakure's Reconnaissance Brigade (霧隠れ内偵旅団, Kirigakureteisatsu no ryodan) is a important and recent addition to Kirigakure's military unit. It is mostly compromised of high-ranked who have decided to take a less combative role in Kirigakure's military. Unlike what most hunter-nin, the members of the brigade are specifically tasked to retrieve important artifacts that have been stolen from the village. Another mission of theirs only known to higher-ups in Kirigakure is to steal ancient relics from neighboring villages and retrieve it for their village. Their numbers have dwindled down since the Fourth Shinobi World War but the exact number is unknown due to the secrecy this unit possess. It has been inferred that they have managed to recover many artifacts thought to be lost to man, such as many of the Rikudo's tools.

Overview
They are to always be wearing masks to conceal their identity. One who has their identity leaked would be hunted down for treachery and theft, even Kirigakure would have no choice but to turn their backs on those who have leaked their identity. Despite the fact that it is widely believed that they have close connections with Kirigakure, without solid evidence the other villages cannot attack Kirigaure or they would turn on one another leading to another Shinobi World War.

As they complete their job of collecting the artifact, the hardest part of the job is to return without a trace back to Kirigakure. Normally they seal the artifact, before returning back as discreetly as possible.