Ninja ranks and missions that they are assigned to.
Academy ninja
The academy is where would-be ninja start; they are not actually considered ninja until they graduate.[ch. 9] Academy students take formal and practical tests of all sorts and are taught basic ninja skills, such as martial arts, techniques, physical fitness, as well as extensive mental training such as math, science, history, and specifically these things in relation to their uses in battle tactics; academy students are also taught the way of the ninja. Basic weapon usage, such as kunai and shuriken, are commonly taught. Elementary ninja techniques, such as transformation jutsu and clone jutsu, though they vary from village to village, are also taught. Once a student has become proficient in these areas they are allowed to graduate.[ch. 1] Upon graduation, students are organized into three-person teams under the leadership of a Jonin.[ch. 3] In some villages, the Jonin administers a final test to determine whether or not the team will be able to advance to the rank of Genin. Those who fail must return to the academy. When Naruto Uzumakigraduates at the start of the series, only nine of the twenty-seven graduates become Genin.[ch. 4]
Genin
Chunin
Chunin (中忍 Chūnin, literally "Middle Ninja", Viz"Chūnin" and "Journeyman Ninja") are ninja who are qualified to watch over and guide other ninja. Chunin have reached a level of maturity that primarily consists of leadership skills and tactical prowess. Some of them, like Shikamaru Nara, serve as team leaders in charge of small teams who need to make decisions and use the skills of the shinobi under their command to the maximum effect. Upon reaching Chunin level, ninja can wear an identifying tactical vest that holds ninjutsu scrolls. This vest is not required; instead, some may look for more elaborate clothing like capes or robes. One does not have to be a Chunin to wear the capes or robes, however, as Naruto, during his time as a Genin, was shown wearing a cape on both his mission to locate Itachi Uchiha and when he went to the Kage Summit. They also normally wield a tantō, which is another means of identifying them as Chunin. Chunin are typically sent on C or B-rank missions.[ch. 9]
To become a Chunin, a Genin can either be appointed by his/her village leader[7] or participates, with his or her team, in a large examination, known as the "Chunin Exams," hosted twice a year due to the growing number of ninjas. In the past, each village held their own Chunin exam. After the Third Ninja World War, allied ninja villages agreed to hold the exams together at the selected village that would host the exam, so villages could improve and strengthen their relationships. Another advantage is that ninja that took the exam might attract clients who are interested in hiring them. The exam is a test not only of strength, but information gathering abilities, survival skills, and adhering to guidelines. Those who have all of these qualities are grouped together into predetermined fights, watched by a council that decides who becomes a Chunin and who does not. While the winners are able to proceed to fight the next opponent, it is aptitude, rather than winning, that is evaluated to determine whether a candidate is promoted. This way even one who loses his or her match can become a Chunin as evidenced by Shikamaru's promotion while he surrendered to Temari in the finals.
Jonin
Jonin (上忍 Jōnin, literally "High Ninja") are the elite ninja who are given A or S-rank missions.[ch. 9] Even as achieving Chunin demonstrates proficiency and skill, achieving Jonin is a sign of mastery as ninja of that rank are exceptional fighters who operate on a completely different level than their lower ranked counterparts. Because of this, they are given missions with high responsibility, some of which may be life-threatening or may determine the reputation of the village. It is not uncommon for them to do their missions alone. While Chunin are in charge of teaching academy students, Jonin are placed as mentors of three-man Genin teams.
There are also Special Jonin (特別上忍 Tokubetsu Jōnin, literally "Special High Ninja"), who are specialized in a specific skill and, while less skilled than usual Jonin, are dangerous in battle. Special Jonin may specialize in interrogation (such as Ibiki Morino), intel-gathering (such as Aoba Yamashiro), or private instructor for elite ninja (such as Ebisu).
Anbu
The Anbu (暗部, literally "Dark Side", Viz manga"Black Ops", English TV "ANBU Black Ops") is actually short for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai (暗殺戦術特殊部隊, literally Assassination Tactics Special Force), and is an organization of assassination squads that serves directly under the village's leader. It is still unclear as to what requirements a shinobi must possess to be an Anbu operative. The Anbu wear porcelain animal masks in order to distinguish themselves from normal shinobi and to conceal their identities, and also have standard uniforms consisting of black and gray armor, arm guards, a signature spiral tattoo on their shoulder (Men: left shoulder. Women: right shoulder) and a Ninjatō strapped on their back. They know the layout of the human body in detail, and have developed several techniques to perform their duties, such as paralyzing the target. Anbu are considered the elite, and they perform high-ranked and dangerous missions. An Anbu may retire their duty to return to the life of Jonin, as in the case of Kakashi Hatakeor Yuugao Uzuki. Within the Anbu of Kirigakure, and presumably other ninja villages, there exists a sub-group called Hunter-nin (追い忍 Oinin, literally"Chasing Ninja", English TV "Tracker Ninja"), given the specific duty of hunting down rogue ninja, and destroying their bodies, so their village's secrets will not be revealed to foreign ninja.[8]
Similar organizations
Konoha is shown having three Anbu-like organizations, though they are separate from Anbu entirely. The Konoha Military Police Force (木ノ葉警務部隊 Konoha Keimu Butai, English TV: "Leaf Anbu"), or Military Police for short, is a unique organization in Konoha, though other villages may have similar organizations. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju founded the organization as a sign of trust with the Uchiha clan and thus, the symbol of the organization is that of the Uchiha clan family crest. The Military Police previously consisted of mostly Uchiha clan members, though now that Itachi and Obito have eliminated all but Sasuke this is no longer the case. The Military Police are in charge of law enforcement within the village, and their jurisdiction is virtually unlimited except in matters that are under the Hokage's direct control. There is also the Nijū Shōtai (二十小隊, Twenty Platoons), a task force created by the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade for the purpose of tracking down, attempting to capture, and, if necessary, eliminating Akatsuki members in the Land of Fire. This force consists of twenty four-man teams, making eighty shinobi in all.
Konoha Anbu are usually under the direct command of the Hokage, but several years before the start of the series there was an Anbu Training Department known as the "Foundation" (根 Ne, lit."Root"). The Foundation was created and directly controlled by Danzo Shimura, who trained and conditioned children intensively from a very young age. This was done to completely eliminate emotions and enable its members to complete missions without being held back. The Foundation tends to go further in its belief that ninja must not show any emotion than most other ninja groups do, as they forbid any members to possess anything that may invoke emotion. It was implied that the department might have used methods similar to Kirigakure's graduation exam, including putting students against each other in fights to the death. Members of the Foundation do not have an official attire like that of a normal Anbu, as they are shown wearing a personalized attire with the single distinguishing feature being a grey, midriff-baring jacket with red straps on the shoulder. Instead of the Anbu tattoo, they have a cursed seal on their tongue which paralyzes them if they try to talk about Danzō as a means of secrecy. The tattoo later disappears after Danzo's death. The Foundation was officially disbanded before the start of the series, though they are still loyal and acting on Danzo's orders up until his death.
Medical ninja
Medical-nin (医療忍 iryō-nin, English TV "Medical Corps Ninja") are ninja who specialize in medical treatment and use medical-oriented jutsu to heal others. Examples include Tsunade, Shizune, Sakura Haruno, and Ino Yamanaka. Becoming a medic-nin requires excellent chakra control, because medic-nin use chakra to heal injuries. Aside from their medical training, their combat training consists mainly of taijutsu skills, with emphasis placed on evading enemy attacks, as the death of the medic-nin could result in the death of the team, though medical techniques can also be used offensively. On dangerous missions, a medic-nin will usually be sent along with the team, to increase the survival rate of that team. Due to the importance of their role in missions, medic-nin have unspoken rules created by the greatest medic-nin in the Ninja World, Tsunade, which basically restricts them from participating in direct battles unless they have mastered the Mitotic Regeneration: One Hundred Healings jutsu.
Kage
Kage (影, literally "Shadow") are the leaders of the five most powerful Hidden Villages and generally the most powerful ninja in their respective villages. These villages do not rule the country, but are equal to the government. The Kage stand equally with the rulers of their countries, oversee the activities of their villages, and are the leaders of ninja society. There may be exceptions, however, as a ninja may be the most powerful at the time of being installed as Kage, but may become less powerful upon aging, eventually being surpassed by a younger ninja. A Kage may retire and give the title to someone else; however, once granted, the title is held permanently, creating a situation where a village has two Kage at the same time, with only one of them actually active. Their elite status is also attributed to the tendency for most Kage to have family members who were previous Kage, or be personally taught by a former Kage or student of a former Kage, or some combination of these factors. The five Kage have different titles depending on their country.[ch. 9] Those titles are:
Hokage (火影, literally "Fire Shadow") - Kage of Konohagakure. Tsunade was the Fifth Hokage (五代目火影 Godaime Hokage) and all of her predecessors have connections with her, with Hashirama Senju (First) and Tobirama Senju (Second) being her grandfather and granduncle respectively, Hiruzen Sarutobi (Third) being her former teacher, and Minato Namikaze (Fourth) being a student of her teammate, Jiraiya. Danzō Shimura once acted as Sixth Hokage Candidate (六代目火影候補 Rokudaime Hokage Kōhō) in place for the comatose Tsunade.[9] After the Fourth Great Ninja War, having been considered after Danzo's death before she awakened from her coma, Kakashi Hatake succeeds Tsunade as the Sixth Hokage (六代目火影 Rokudaime Hokage). In the epilogue of the series, Kakashi has retired his position to Naruto Uzumaki, who succeeds him as the Seventh Hokage (七代目火影 Nanadaime Hokage).
Kazekage (風影, literally "Wind Shadow") - Kage of Sunagakure. Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage (四代目風影 Yondaime Kazekage), is the Kazekage at the beginning of the series, until his death right before Orochimaru's invasion of Konoha. His younger son, Gaara, succeeds him as the Fifth Kazekage (五代目風影 Godaime Kazekage) sometime during the interim between Part I and II.
Mizukage (水影, literally "Water Shadow") - Kage of Kirigakure. For most of the series, Mei Terumī, the Fifth Mizukage (五代目水影 Godaime Mizukage), takes the position, her immediate predecessor being the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki, Yagura (Fourth). Several years after the Fourth Great Ninja War, Mei succeeded by her bodyguard, Chōjūrō of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist as the Sixth Mizukage (六代目水影 Rokudaime Mizukage).
Raikage (雷影, literally "Lightning Shadow") - Kage of Kumogakure. Upon taking the position, all Raikage forsake their name in favor of the title "Ay". The Fourth Raikage (四代目雷影 Yondaime Raikage)acts as Kumogakure's leader for most of the series, his father (Third) being his immediate predecessor. His bodyguard, Darui, succeeds him as the Fifth Raikage (五代目雷影 Godaime Raikage) several years after the Fourth Great Ninja War.Tsuchikage (土影, literally "Earth Shadow") - Kage of Iwagakure. For most of the series, Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage (三代目土影 Sandaime Tsuchikage), acts as Iwagakure's leader, his immediate predecessor being his former teacher, Mu (Second). He has been the longest reigning Kage and possibly the longest-living of them all, having lived since before the ninja village's founding. Several years after the Fourth Great Ninja War, Onoki is succeeded by his granddaughter Kurotsuchi as the Fourth Tsuchikage (四代目土影Yondaime Tsuchikage).
The anime introduced a sixth Kage, the Hoshikage (星影 literally "Star Shadow") from Hoshigakure (Village Hidden in the Stars). However, this was a self-given title and not officially recognized by the five other villages.
Christopher Born argues that the Kage are idealised Confucian figures.[10]
Rogue Ninja
Rogue Ninja (抜け忍 Nukenin, literally "Fugitive Ninja", also called "Missing Nin"/"Criminal Ninja")are ninja, of any rank, who have abandoned their Hidden Village homes. The Akatsuki is an organization that houses said rogue ninja from every Hidden Village except the Hidden Cloud who are the main antagonists in the series of Naruto. These ninja are mainly considered traitors and are hunted down because of the secrets they may hold. There are exceptions to this however. For example, Jiraiya and Tsunade left Konoha but were not targeted because they were not committing criminal acts in the process; additionally, Sasuke Uchiha left Konoha yet was repeatedly pardoned for his crimes. Other Hidden Villages would be interested in purchasing this information because it could be useful in gaining an upper hand in battle or obtaining a bloodline limit unique to a village. Some villages (Kirigakure being the only known example) create special units of hunter-nin to take care of this problem, although it's unlikely that every Rogue Ninja has a team of hunter-nin sent after them. On most other occasions, a team of ordinary ninja will try to locate the Rogue Ninja with the intention of capturing him/her and bringing the ninja back to the village, where they will be tried for their crimes.
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