Ninja Ranks

[Uzumaki Naruto]

ACADEMY STUDENT

Academy students are merely just that - students. Students are ordinarily enrolled at the age of six and usually takes another six years until graduation, but this is not always the case. Besides being taught the basic essential knowledge needed in everyday life, Chuunin instructors teach students the basics of ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, how to use chakra, handseals, the handling of shinobi weapons and tools, survival training, and many more.

Graduation exams varies from village to village. Konohagakure tests their students into having them perform an E-ranked technique, the lowest and probably the most easiest technique in a shinobi's arsenal. Whilst in Kirigakure, there was once a time the graduation exam consisted of having the students fighting amongst themselves to the death, only having the survivors graduate. After graduating, the student achieves the rank of Genin and is assigned onto a team.

GENIN

One usually assumes the rank of Genin after graduating the Academy. When one achieves the rank of Genin, they are given their own forehead protector, signifying the village they represent and that they are worthy of being called shinobi. The rank of Genin is the lowest rank in the regular forces, thus the title translating into "low ninja".

Soon after becoming Genin, they are assigned to a team consisting of three Genin and a Jounin-sensei. It is here that the Genins will learn the value of teamwork. Genins are generally assigned on D-ranked missions which often deals with aiding the villagers in some tedious manual labor, acting as hired help, or other simple tasks such as searching for a lost cat. C-ranked missions are rarely assigned but not unheard of, whereas the missions here prove to be slightly more risky, often requiring them to leave the safety of their own village, such as escort or bodyguard duty (with the aid of their Jounin-sensei, of course).

When the Jounin-sensei believes the Genin are ready to advance onto the next stage, he/she will admit them into the Chuunin Exams, held twice a year in Konohagakure, where they will attempt to pass a series of tests of mind, body, and skill.

CHUUNIN

After a Genin excels at the Chuunin Exams, they achieve the rank of Chuunin. The rank of Chuunin is an elite rank in the regular forces renowned for their leadership and tactical skills, thus the title translating into "middle ninja".

If in the case that all the Genin in a team are promoted to Chuunin, the Jounin is no longer their sensei bur rather their partner as they continue to work on assignments together. Chuunins are typically sent on C-ranked or B-ranked missions; assignments often involving covert operations, spying, assassination or missions involving to go up against the enemy during the course of the mission.

Chuunins have the option of becoming instructors at the Academy for students and help train and teach them to hone their skills before being called upon to take up the title of Genin.

TOKUBETSU JOUNIN

Tokubetsu jounins are shinobi with jounin-leveled skills at one particular area only, thus their title translating into "special elite ninja". These "specialists" are usually deemed inferior than a full-fledged Jounin due to a Tokubetsu's lack of expertize in fields a regular Jounin would normally excel in.

Tokubetsu Jounin have specific roles to play and different jobs to do, depending on their expertize, and are not usually assigned on missions that do not require their assistance.

JOUNIN

The rank of Jounin is the highest rank a shinobi may achieve in the regular forces, thus its' title translating into "elite ninja".

Jounins are typically assigned onto A-ranked (missions that prove to be extremely dangerous and extremely difficult) and S-ranked missions (missions that are exclusively assigned to the designated shinobi) depending on their experience. Jounin-ranked shinobi typically already have two elemental nature releases, since the time, effort and training could only be done by someone as experienced as a Jounin.

Jounins have the option of becoming team leader of a team of Genins. It is the Jounin's responsibility to teach and train these individuals and turn them into fine shinobi.

ANBU

ANBU recruits are a special task force (separate from the regular forces such as genin, chuunin and jounin) who work directly under the orders of their Kage. ANBU typically means "dark side" but is in fact short for "Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai" which translates into "Special Assassination and Tactical Squad"

The purpose of ANBU is to protect the village from exceptional threats and conduct high-risk missions that regular forces cannot handle alone. They are responsibly for carrying out assassinations, tracking, surveillance, and missions requiring specially trained shinobi. Some ANBU serve as interrogators that probe the minds of enemy shinobi to learn information valuable to the village. If the ANBU is mortally wounded in battle, they are required to destroy their bodies to prevent any information from getting into enemy hands.

Animal masks are worn by recruits and are standard to keep ones identity concealed (there are twelve different masks in total, each one representing an animal in the Chinese zodiac). Standard uniforms are also required to be worn whilst on duty; a black sleeveless overall underneath a gray armor, with metal arm guards. ANBUs are mainly equipped with a katana strapped to their back but the use of other weapons are permitted. Recruits are ANBU signature tattoo, male ANBU's tattoos are located on their left shoulder, female ANBU's tattoo are located on their right shoulder. This signifies that a person was or has been a part of this elite squad.

ANBU recruits generally keep their real name secret to conceal their identity further and go by their code name assigned by their Kage.

NUKENIN

Nukenin is not a rank, per say, but rather a title. Nukenins are rouge shinobi; ninjas who have left their village, usually because they have committed criminal acts.

Nukenin's often have a bounty on their head since they usually carry their village's hidden techniques with them. Kirigakure has a special task force of hunter-nin who specializes in taking down Kiri-nukenin to make sure their village's secrets remain a secret.

VILLAGE LEADER

A village leader is simply that - a village leader. They are exceptional ninja with great skill and wisdom but unlike a Kage, the leader reigns over a lesser shinobi nation.

KAGE

Kage is the highest ranked title in the shinobi world. There are only five Kages, each one coming from the five great shinobi nations - Hokage for the Land of Fire; Mizukage for the Land of Water; Kazekage for the Land of Wind; Raikage for the Land of Lightning; and Tsuchikage for the Land of Earth. The differences between a lesser nation village leader and a Kage is that a Kage holds more military might.

Kages' do not primarily go on missions but rather assign them to shinobi under his/her order. It is the sole responsibility of the Kage to ensure the safety of the village. They are notably the strongest and most powerful in the village, hence the reason why they have been elected leader. Usually, the title and responsibilities of Kage are held until death or until he or she is incapacitated to fulfill their duty. Retirement however is also an option if the Kage has held their position for several years and a younger generation of shinobi are more likely to take over (such was the case of the Sandaime and Yondaime Hokage). However, being granted the title of Kage is held permanently.

A little known fact to why they bear a title of "shadow" is because a Kage has equal rights and power as a daimyo. Since the daimyo was the initial ruler of the country, a Kage was basically the daimyo's shadow except with military might.