Rank Guide
The ninja in a hidden village have their own skill levels which help delineate what rank they are. The most talented ninja in the village is generally the Kage who leads the village, the lowest tier is made up of those young individuals training in the ninja academy. Listed below is the ranking from lowest skill level to highest. Groups such as the ANBU are not a level, but rather a specialized unit made up of ninja from the Chuunin and Jounin levels.
Ninja Academy Student
Ninja Academy students like Konohamaru are taught the basic jutsu skills. Once they have mastered the needed skills, they are able to graduate and become actual ninja. However if the new Genin do not impress their Jounin sensei, they can be sent back to the Academy for further training.
Genin
Genin are the lowest of ninja skill levels. They possess a knowledge of all the basic ninja skills and will do lower C & D rank missions with their Jounin sensei. Once the Genin has successfully undertaken eight missions, they can be sponsored by their Jounin sensei for the Chuunin Exam.
Chuunin
The Chuunin is the basic journeyman ninja of the village. These ninja can become field doctors or teachers. They were formerly Genin who were promoted for displaying excellent intelligence, strategy and combat skills in the Chuunin Exam. Chuunin have the equivalent rank of military captain, exhibiting strong stamina, knowledge and inner wisdom.
Special Jounin
Special Jounin are ninjas who have gained high Jounin-level skills in one area of ninja arts. These are ninja like Morino Ibiki, who is highly skilled at interrogation and torture. Ninja attain the rank of Special Jounin through official appointment.
Jounin
The Jounin are ninja who are highly skilled in all jutsu skills and arts. Ninja attain the rank of Jounin through official appointment. The Jounin generally serve as squad commander for mission operations.
Kage
The village Kage is the strongest ninja in the hidden village. The Kage serves as the pillar upon which the village stands and the strength a village presents to the other ninja countries largely depends upon the strength of the Kage in power. They have excellent chakra and stamina and know the most jutsu techniques. Only the Five Great Shinobi Countries are allowed to call their head ninja by the Kage name.
Other Positions:
ANBU
The ANBU, meaning "dark side" is actually short for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai (literally Assassination Tactics Special Military Force). The ANBU work directly under the leadership of the Hokage. This specialized ninja battalion generally work in groups of four to five. They are responsible for assassinations and missions requiring highly trained ninjas. The masks the members wear are based around the signs of the zodiac.
ANBU "Ne" (Root)
The ANBU Ne, meaning Root, is a subfaction of the ANBU operated by elder ninja Danzou. Danzou operated in opposition to Sarutobi the Sandaime Hokage. Danzou was once up for the position of Sandaime Hokage but was turned down because of his hawkish militaristic stance. While the normal ANBU operates under the direct leadership of the Hokage, the Root faction operated from out of view "below the ground" to support the great tree that was Konoha. Members of Root were to only focus on the mission at hand, leaving their emotions, past, future and very name behind. Once Sarutobi gained enough control over Konoha, he ordered Root disbanded. Danzou carried on it secret however, seeking to help Konoha from the shadows.
Elite Tutor
These special elite teachers tutor Jounin level ninjas to further refine their skills. The Elite tutor can also serve as the personal teacher to relatives of the Hokage.
Hunter Ninja
These shinobi hunters search for ninja who have abandoned their village. Nicknamed the "Undertaker Squad" they have a high knowledge in physiology to further their killing abilities. Once they kill their target, they will dispose of the body without a trace. This is because a ninja's body has within it secrets of the village's ninjutsu, chakra types, herbs and other information about the village. They will then take the head back to the Hidden Village as proof of their kill.
"Kage" Level
There exists a level of ninja who are of Kage level, but who are not presently a village Kage. This may be because of personal preference or the onset of aging. The three highly skilled Hidden Leaf ninja known as the Legendary "Sannin," or Legendary "Three Ninja" are such ninja. The members of Akatsuki are also generally at this level as well. Legendary Sand puppet master kunoichi Chiyo of Hidden Sand could be considered near this level. Ninja of this level usually leave their villages behind to seek their own ambitions.
Konoha Military Policemen
Originally founded by the ancestors of the Uchiha clan, the Konoha Military Police Corps are responsible for maintaining city peace and law enforcement.
Medical-Nins
These specialized ninja are responsible for the health and well being of ninja injured in battle. Specially trained medical ninja such as Inuzuka Hana can also help the skilled animals which fight for the villages also.
The ninja in a hidden village have their own skill levels which help delineate what rank they are. The most talented ninja in the village is generally the Kage who leads the village, the lowest tier is made up of those young individuals training in the ninja academy. Listed below is the ranking from lowest skill level to highest. Groups such as the ANBU are not a level, but rather a specialized unit made up of ninja from the Chuunin and Jounin levels.
Ninja Academy Student
Ninja Academy students like Konohamaru are taught the basic jutsu skills. Once they have mastered the needed skills, they are able to graduate and become actual ninja. However if the new Genin do not impress their Jounin sensei, they can be sent back to the Academy for further training.
Genin
Genin are the lowest of ninja skill levels. They possess a knowledge of all the basic ninja skills and will do lower C & D rank missions with their Jounin sensei. Once the Genin has successfully undertaken eight missions, they can be sponsored by their Jounin sensei for the Chuunin Exam.
Chuunin
The Chuunin is the basic journeyman ninja of the village. These ninja can become field doctors or teachers. They were formerly Genin who were promoted for displaying excellent intelligence, strategy and combat skills in the Chuunin Exam. Chuunin have the equivalent rank of military captain, exhibiting strong stamina, knowledge and inner wisdom.
Special Jounin
Special Jounin are ninjas who have gained high Jounin-level skills in one area of ninja arts. These are ninja like Morino Ibiki, who is highly skilled at interrogation and torture. Ninja attain the rank of Special Jounin through official appointment.
Jounin
The Jounin are ninja who are highly skilled in all jutsu skills and arts. Ninja attain the rank of Jounin through official appointment. The Jounin generally serve as squad commander for mission operations.
Kage
The village Kage is the strongest ninja in the hidden village. The Kage serves as the pillar upon which the village stands and the strength a village presents to the other ninja countries largely depends upon the strength of the Kage in power. They have excellent chakra and stamina and know the most jutsu techniques. Only the Five Great Shinobi Countries are allowed to call their head ninja by the Kage name.
Other Positions:
ANBU
The ANBU, meaning "dark side" is actually short for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai (literally Assassination Tactics Special Military Force). The ANBU work directly under the leadership of the Hokage. This specialized ninja battalion generally work in groups of four to five. They are responsible for assassinations and missions requiring highly trained ninjas. The masks the members wear are based around the signs of the zodiac.
ANBU "Ne" (Root)
The ANBU Ne, meaning Root, is a subfaction of the ANBU operated by elder ninja Danzou. Danzou operated in opposition to Sarutobi the Sandaime Hokage. Danzou was once up for the position of Sandaime Hokage but was turned down because of his hawkish militaristic stance. While the normal ANBU operates under the direct leadership of the Hokage, the Root faction operated from out of view "below the ground" to support the great tree that was Konoha. Members of Root were to only focus on the mission at hand, leaving their emotions, past, future and very name behind. Once Sarutobi gained enough control over Konoha, he ordered Root disbanded. Danzou carried on it secret however, seeking to help Konoha from the shadows.
Elite Tutor
These special elite teachers tutor Jounin level ninjas to further refine their skills. The Elite tutor can also serve as the personal teacher to relatives of the Hokage.
Hunter Ninja
These shinobi hunters search for ninja who have abandoned their village. Nicknamed the "Undertaker Squad" they have a high knowledge in physiology to further their killing abilities. Once they kill their target, they will dispose of the body without a trace. This is because a ninja's body has within it secrets of the village's ninjutsu, chakra types, herbs and other information about the village. They will then take the head back to the Hidden Village as proof of their kill.
"Kage" Level
There exists a level of ninja who are of Kage level, but who are not presently a village Kage. This may be because of personal preference or the onset of aging. The three highly skilled Hidden Leaf ninja known as the Legendary "Sannin," or Legendary "Three Ninja" are such ninja. The members of Akatsuki are also generally at this level as well. Legendary Sand puppet master kunoichi Chiyo of Hidden Sand could be considered near this level. Ninja of this level usually leave their villages behind to seek their own ambitions.
Konoha Military Policemen
Originally founded by the ancestors of the Uchiha clan, the Konoha Military Police Corps are responsible for maintaining city peace and law enforcement.
Medical-Nins
These specialized ninja are responsible for the health and well being of ninja injured in battle. Specially trained medical ninja such as Inuzuka Hana can also help the skilled animals which fight for the villages also.
