-There are 5 different classes/ranks of shinobi that determine their overall experience and skill lvl. As such, there is a different title for each rank that is achieved. In many villages, it is customary to give a shinobi who has achieved a new rank a gift or merit of honor. The title-ranks are listed below.

<u>Academy Ninjas</u>

The academy is where a would-be ninja begins. They are not actually considered to be a ninja until they graduate usually after passing the required tests that each ninja village has set up. The tests may vary from place to place. Each academy has their own training methods and generally teach a beginning shinobi the basics of the ninja skills such as martial arts, elementry-rank techniques, physical fitness and the way of the ninja. To ensure that only truly qualified ninja are promoted, only three beginning teams are allowed to pass.

<u>Genin</u> (Low Ninja)

Genin are the lowest level of ninja. Their skill levels can very drastically. Genin are put in three-man teams that are then assigned a Jonin sensei to mentor them. This is done to teach the Genin teamwork and experience true ninja life under the supervision and protection of an elite shinobi. The make-up of these teams is based on the individual skills of the Genin, so that there will remain a balance between the teams. When they become Genin, ninja start to do their bit for their village's economy, for which they are given a small payment. They are typically sent either on D-rank missions, which are the lowest rank and are almost entirely risk-free jobs of manual labor, or experienced genin are sent on C-rank missions, which are a cut above that and begin to verge on real "ninja" work, though they generally have a very low possibility of risk to the ninja involved. Within this campaign, this rule of thumb may very as one could find themselves in a dangerous situation even on a C-Rank mission.

<u>Chunin</u> (Middle Ninja)

Chunin 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 function as teachers and others serve as team leaders in charge of small teams who need to make decisions and utilize 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 look for more elaborate clothing like capes or robes. Chunin are typically sent on C or B-rank missions.

To become a Chunin, a Genin 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. These exams are held together and includes shinobi from all over that come together at the selected village that will host the exam. 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 first match can become a Chunin. In fact, there is a chance that every Genin who makes it to the predetermined fights will become a Chunin, though there is also a chance that every single one will remain a Genin.

<u>Jonin</u> (High Ninja/Elite Ninja)

Jonin are generally highly experienced ninja with great individual skill who serve as military captains. They are often sent on A-rank missions, and experienced Jonin may even be sent on S-rank missions (which are considered to be the most difficult), and may carry out missions alone. They are sometimes assigned as sensei for three-person teams of Genin. Jonin are personally appointed by the kage of their village. Because of this, it is unknown what the exact qualifications to become Jonin are.

<u>Kage</u>

Those who have achieved the title of kage are the leaders of the five most powerful Hidden Villages and generally the most powerful ninja in their respective villages. 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 more youthful ninja. A Kage may retire and give the title to someone else; the title, once granted, is held permanently, creating a case where there are 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.

Most Kage tend to be at S-Rank level. The five Kage have different titles depending on their village. Those titles are:

• Hokage (火影, literally "Fire Shadow"^?) Kage of Konohagakure.
• Kazekage (風影, literally "Wind Shadow"^?) Kage of Sunagakure.
• Mizukage (水影, literally "Water Shadow"^?) Kage of Kirigakure.
• Raikage (雷影, literally "Lightning Shadow"^?) Kage of Kumogakure.
• Tsuchikage (土影, literally "Earth Shadow"^?) Kage of Iwagakure.

S-rank

S-class ninja have gained power far beyond an average Jonin and earned a legendary status. This title is merely a class rather than an actual rank; the ninja's official rank with a village will usually still be Jonin. However, it can sometimes be lower, or they can have no rank at all. The allegiances of these ninja range from being part of the village's own ninja to being wandering ninja who are still loyal to their village. Some ninja of this level tend to leave their villages behind to seek their own ambitions, thus becoming missing-nin. Ninja of this class are often noted in the Bingo book, a list of notable enemy ninja marked for assassination that each ninja village provides for its Jonin and ANBU squad members. Most ninja, even high-level ones, choose to flee rather than face someone of the S-class. Ninja of the S-class are often highly revered, and usually signified by nicknames allies or enemies give them.

<u>ANBU</u> (Black Ops)

ANBU translates into Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, and is an organization of assassination squads that serves directly under the village's leader. 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 left shoulder, and a Ninjatō strapped on their back (though certain ANBU wear black cowls over their uniforms). They know the layout of the human body in detail, and have developed several techniques to strengthen their job, such as paralyzing the target. Within the ANBU of Kirigakure, there exists a sub-group called Hunter-nin, (meaning: chasing ninja), given the specific duty of hunting down missing-nin, and destroying their bodies, so their village's secrets won't be revealed to foreign ninja.

<u>Missing-Ninja</u>

Missing-nin are ninja who have abandoned their Hidden Village, and as such can include ninja of every rank. These ninja are considered traitors and are hunted down because of the secrets they may hold. 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. Villages create special units of hunter-nin to take care of this problem, although it's unlikely that every missing-nin has a team of hunter-nin sent after them. Also, some may be impossible to find unless they do something to attract attention.