The Shinobi world of Naruto is full of intruiging villages, unique jutsu, and plenty of hilarious, powerful, and brave ninja. However, getting to know and understanding the different Shinobi ranks can often be confusing, especially if you’re new to the franchise and just starting out with the show. Don’t worry, though; we’ve got all the information you’ll need to become an expert on all things regarding the various roles and ranks of the ninja. Here’s a complete summary and explanation of every significant Shinobi rank in the Naruto universe:
Academy Ninja
The Ninja Academy is an early education centre for young residents of a village who want to one day become Shinobi. Essentially, in Naruto, The Ninja Academy is the educational system that gives an individual the knowledge and techniques they need to survive living in a world inhabited by Shinobi and provide them with the entry-level requirements necessary to graduate and become a Genin.
Academy students will receive both educational preparation and practical physical training, allowing them to use a small selection of basic Jutsu and function at the lowest level as a Ninja. In the Hidden Leaf Village, the Academy building is also the home office of the Hokage and the location in which all ninja within the village are assigned their missions.
Genin
Genin are entry-level Ninja who have officially completed their graduation exam from the Ninja Academy. Upon being promoted to Genin, a ninja will be assigned to a three-man team alongside two other Genin. This team of three will then also be assigned a Sensei who is responsible for training them further, teaching them life lessons and bringing the team together as close comrades and friends.
Genin generally start out with the most basic of ninja missions, such as retrieving lost pets and delivering mail from one village to another. However, as the skill of a Genin team develops, the Sensei may acknowledge that they are ready to participate in more dangerous missions in order to further develop their skills and help prepare them for the potential of the Chunin exams.
Chunin
Once a Genin reaches a high enough level of skill, their team Sensei may see them as ready for a potential promotion to the Chunin Rank. This is a high-levelled Ninja Rank that is only obtainable by participating in the Chunin Exams, an event where all of the Hidden Villages come together to test and examine the skill of their Genin in a variety of different tests and combat challenges. A Genin is only promoted to Chunin if their display of skill manages to impress the Hokage of their village, as well as earn the recognition and agreement of higher-ups within the various villages.
Once a Genin individual or team reaches the rank of Chunin, they no longer have the need for a Sensei, and are eligible to participate on missions as individuals, in the team of three that was formed as Genin, or in unique temporary teams formed by the Hokage or trusted Jonin.
The Chunin Exams are extremely dangerous and have resulted in the death of Genin on several occasions. Because of this, it is extremely important that a Sensei only enters their Genin once they feel confident in their skills. Upon promotion, a Chunin will receive an official flak jacket for their village that they can choose to wear as part of their ninja uniform. This jacket is a requirement for extremely important and high-levelled missions, as well as any Shinobi Wars.
Jonin
As far as basic Ninja Ranks go, Jonin is the highest rank an individual can achieve. Most Jonin who reach this rank are at the age of young adult or adult when they are promoted, proving how much time, dedication, and skill is required to become one of the strongest and most relied upon Shinobi in the village. Once an individual is promoted to Jonin, they are also eligible to become a Sensei to a Genin team, especially if they have certain skill sets or personal qualities that the Hokage believes would make them a great leader to the ninja youth.
The criteria for becoming a Jonin involves a ninja being not just extremely experienced and strong in skill but also able to handle a minimum of two different elemental Chakra types, have the ability to participate and complete multiple A-Rank and S-Rank missions, and have proficient skills in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu, no matter which of the three is the individual’s true strength.
Sensei
A Sensei is a Jonin-level ninja assigned to a Genin team of three to educate and guide them on their Shinobi journey. It is the responsibility of a Sensei to connect with each of their students, maintain peace among the team, teach important values, recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each of their students, and help them reach their goals, which usually involves obtaining the Chunin rank.
In many circumstances, becoming a Sensei does not cause a Jonin individual a establish a teacher-like role but also an elder sibling or family-like bond. This is shown in several instances throughout the show, such as when Kakashi treats Naruto to his favorite food of Ramen, Kurenai takes Hinata under her wing with a parental role after the latter was outcast by her father, and Asuma’s extra time spent inspiring Shikamaru and playing Shogi together.
Anbu
The Anbu Black Ops, referred to simply as Anbu, are members of an elite organization held within each village. The Anbu work somewhat as a personal squad for the village Kage, meaning only the most elite Jonin will become eligible candidates for the organization. Anbu are dispatched for special and highly secretive missions that, more often than not, revolve around major threats and life-or-death situations.
Anbu members always conceal their identities with the use of masks and answer to code names. Each village has its unique style of masks that make its own Anbu force recognizable to outsiders, such as the Hidden Leaf’s animal-like prints, the Hidden Sand’s oni-like prints, and the Hidden Mist’s face-like prints.
Kage
The five Kage are the head individuals of each of the five Hidden Villages. These five titles include the Hidden Leaf Village’s Hokage, the Hidden Sand Village’s Kazekage, the Hidden Mist Village’s Mizukage, the Hidden Cloud Village’s Raikage, and the Hidden Stone Village’s Tsuchikage. A Kage is an individual who holds an entire village together and is responsible for overseeing and assigning all missions involving village Shinobi, as well as meeting with and maintaining peace with the other Kage when needed.
Typically, a Kage will select their successor from the most worthy candidates in the village prior to retiring. However, in the case that the Kage dies unexpectedly or is unable to continue their duty, their replacement will instead be chosen by a committee made up of the village Council, the Jonin Commander, and an Anbu representative. To make this decision final, the choice must then be approved by the village Jonin.
Medical Ninja
Medical Ninja are Shinobi that have received extensive training in Chakra control and health regeneration Jutsu, giving them medical proficiencies and the ability to work as war medics in dangerous missions with the potential of high casualties, invasions, and wars.
Examples of Medical Ninja in Naruto are Tsunade, who is only of the most well-known and respected medical Ninja in existence, as well as Sakura Hinata and Ino Yamanaka, both of which trained under Tsunade as her apprentices.
Rogue Ninja
Rogue is a term given to describe a ninja who has left their village without the intention of returning. More often than not, Rogue ninja leave their village because they have committed acts of violence or crime against their allies or home Village, or have demitted to follow personal gains.
Some Rogue ninja take part in a life of criminal activity following their departure from their home village, or join antagonistic organization such as the Akatsuki. A few examples of various Rogue Ninja mentioned throughout the series include Zabuza and Haku, Orochimaru, Kabuto, Itachi, and even Sasuke himself.
That’s it for all the Shinobi ranks in Naruto. For more content covering all of your favorite anime shows and video games, check out the rest of our content here at Twinfinite. We also have a variety of fun Naruto-themed quizzes that you can take to test your knowledge, or find out which Clan of the Hidden Leaf you belong to.
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