Essential to the hierarchical structure that governs the lives of ninja who reside within the Hidden Villages of the Five Great Shinobi Countries as well as other smaller nations, the shinobi ranking system inNarutois quite similar across borders, with minimal variations. The ranks used by all the Hidden Villages inNarutoare near identical, andtrace the journey of a shinobi from their early yearsin the academy, to the highest position in the settlement — that of a Kage. For the most part, the entirety of a village’s armed forces can be divided into three main groups: the regular forces, the Anbu, and the medical teams, each with their own distinct purpose in the hierarchy.
For the most part, shinobi can be classified into genin, chunin, or jonin, depending on their level of skill, overall strength, and the number of assignments they have completed of differing degrees of danger and difficulty. In fact, a shinobi’s rank is central to the kinds of missions they are assigned, with the most perilous and tricky assignments only handed out to the most experienced and capable ninja in each village. While moreseasoned shinobi complete missions on their ownfor the most part, academy graduates are usually grouped into three man cells under a jonin commander, which serves to create bonds between them, facilitate the development of teamwork skills, and push each member to develop their abilities further as they ascend the hierarchy.
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Inside The Shinobi Organizational System
Mostshinobi begin their livesin the Academy, making up its student body during their early adolescence. On graduating, they automatically get promoted to the rank of genin, where they receive their forehead protectors, and begin to contribute to the village’s economy, taking on D and C-rank missions which pose little danger to their well-being. Such assignments help genin in getting accustomed to the lifestyle of a shinobi, while also giving them opportunities to refine their skills. Unfortunately, during war or periods where villages are short-staffed, genin may be sent out on more difficult missions.
Genin can ascend to the next level within the hierarchy, that of chunin,by passing the requisite examwhich is conducted in four main phases. The first among them is a written test, followed by a more practical phase where candidates are pitted against each other in three man squads. Passing this round leads to the one on one preliminaries followed by the final round of match ups, where candidates display their skills before delegates from two or more villages when pitted against each other. Those who impress in this phase are selected from among the bunch to become chunin. Shinobi of this rank generally possess more experience, diverse abilities, and leadership skills. They are also handed out C or B-rank missions and can even become instructors at the Academy.
The highest rank in the normal forces is that of the jonin, who serve as military captains in large scale combat scenarios. Jonin can generally usetwo or more nature transformationsand often go out on missions alone, being given A-rank or even S-rank missions if they are extremely strong. Shinobi can become jonin either through a recommendation process or an exam. Some chunin, can ascend to a rank known as Tokubetsu Jonin, if they are especially skilled in a single domain as opposed to the all round skills of most jonin. Ibiki Moreno is an example of this category, being a master of interrogation and psychological warfare. Jonin are put in charge of three mean genin teams, and even have a part to play in the selection of Hokage, in the case of Konohagakure.
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The Medical Teams And Anbu
Beyond the regular forces, shinobi can also choose to enlistin the medical teams and Anbu. Medical teams play a supplementary role in a village’s military, consisting of medical-nin who aid in healing injuries, and conditioning shinobi to keep them in peak condition. There is also a more research-oriented facet to this post, as medical-nin often study diseases, techniques, forms of medicine, and the human body’s relation to chakra. Most medical-nin remain within the village to serve in its hospitals, but some are also part of the regular forces to provide support in three man squads. Advanced medical-nin such as Tsunade, the former Fifth Hokage, or her pupil Sakura Haruno, are able to perform both roles adeptly, and the heights of their abilities may even seem like magic to skilled jonin.
Anbu on the other hand, are the covert operations squads of villages, whose identities are often kept secret through codenames and masks. Often scouted from their days in the Academy, Anbu are extremely skilled and deadly ninja who carry out missions under direct orders from the village’s Kage. There is no rank-based hierarchy as such within this faction, and posts such as those of squad leader are handed out solely based on merit. Konoha had a secret Anbu faction known as Root, which operated directlyunder the control of Danzo Shimura, but was later disbanded after his death.
Rising To The Heights Of A Kage
Representing the highest strata of the shinobi ranking system, a Kage is selected from among the most elite jonin in a nation to serve as the leader of its Hidden Village. Kage from the Five Great Shinobi Countries are collectively known as the Five Kage — they include the Hokage, Raikage, Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and Kazekage — and any summit between them is an event of great importance in the shinobi world. Generally viewed as the strongest shinobi of their time within their respective village, the rank of Kage is a very esteemed position, andmany such as Obito Uchihaand Naruto Uzumaki have dreamed of reaching such heights even from their time as genin. There also exist two known intermediate ranks between jonin and Kage, namely: Kumogakure’s Head Ninja, and Konohagakure’s Jonin Commander, who report directly to their Kage and command the respect of all jonin in their village.
Kage are charged with overseeing a village’s daily operations, assigning missions, and making difficult decisions for the good of their village, reporting to the daimyo of their respective nation. They are also the greatest deterrent against any external attack, owing to their immense skil and experience. Some ofthe most powerful shinobi in historysuch as Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, A, Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Onoki, Lord Mu, Kakashi Hatake, and Naruto Uzumaki have risen to the rank of Kage illustrating how difficult it is to attain this rank.
