Glossary: Words You Might Encounter

[sunshinemods]

Kages - The Leaders of the Villages

Village	Leader's Title	Current Leader
Konoha	Hokage (literally meaning: Fire Shadow)	Uchiha Obito, the Godaime (5th) Hokage
Kiri	Mizukage (literally meaning: Water Shadow)	Yagura, the Yondaime (4th) Mizukage
Iwa	Tsuchikage (literally meaning: Earth Shadow)	Onoki, Sandaime (3rd) Tsuchikage
Suna	Kazekage (literally meaning: Wind Shadow)	Rasa, Yondaime (4th) Kazekage
Kumo	Raikage (literally meaning: Lightning Shadow)	A, Yondaime (4th) Raikage
A Kage (影, literally meaning: Shadow) is the leader of one of the five most powerful hidden villages and are generally acknowledged as the most powerful ninja in their respective villages. There are only five officially recognized Kage, and each Kage's title is based off the name of their country.

Village	Leader's Title (if applicable)	Current Leader
Ame	Pein/God of Ame	Nagato
Uzushio	Leader of Uzushio	Unnamed NPC
Oto	(Self proclaimed) Otokage, Leader of Oto	Orochimaru
Most other villages either simply have a "leader" or are directly under Daimyo (each country's civilian ruler) control.

Other Titles of Respect & common Japanese suffixes

Sensei	teacher/master
Senpai	older student/superior
Kohai	younger student/underling
Chibi	tiny
Hime	princess
-sama	suffix showing great respect
-san	suffix showing politeness
-kun	suffix familiar (for use on boys)
-chan	suffix, familiar, affectionate (usually girls or small children)

Ninja Ranks
See also: Village Information Pages for information on missions and rank requirements for each individual village

Academy Student	A learner shinobi. These are students training at a ninja village's Academy to gain the knowledge necessary for becoming a ninja.
Genin	(下忍, Literally meaning: low ninja) The lowest ninja rank, this is the rank earned by a new graduate of the Academy. Genin typically take low level missions: C or D rank.
Chunin	(中忍, Literally meaning: Middle Ninja) The rank immediately above genin, these ninja can lead missions and typically take B or C level missions. Most Chunin typically achieve their rank by competing in a Chunin exam and being deemed to have the necessary leadership and tactical skills.
Tokubetsu Jounin	(特別上忍 Literally meaning: Special High Ninja) Sometimes shorted to Tokujo. Tokubetsu Jounin are elite specialists in their areas and are often assigned as subordinates to regular Jounin during a mission. They could be considered between Chunin and Jounin.
Jounin	(上忍 Literally meaning: High Ninja) Jounin are highly-experienced ninja who are qualified to lead and train a three-man squadron of their own. They may be sent on solo missions and typically (alone or with a team) take missions ranking as high as A or S.
ANBU	(暗部 Literally meaning: Dark Side) ANBU, short for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, are the Black Ops operatives serving directly under the Kage. They are trained and used specifically for assassinations and other covert ops and also as elite guards, particularly in the Kage's own bodyguard service. ANBU of certain villages also have within their ranks special groups, such any Interrogation or Torture divisions and such as the Hunter-nin of Kiri (to track down and execute missing-nin).
Kage	(影, Literally meaning: Shadow) A Kage is the leader of the ninja village and the highest achievable rank (See Village Leader information above). Even once a Kage steps down from his/her position, they still are regarded with respect and continue to hold the title of Kage.
Ninja may also hold special titles based on their specialties (medics, interrogators, etc) in addition to their officially designated rank.

General Terms
What are all these weird words? What happened to using the word 'ninja'?
I'll go ahead and apologize for that. Here, have a list to make up for it. Words I've used, or others might use on you in the future.

Word	Definition
Shinobi	ninja
Kunoichi	female ninja
Bijuu	one of the nine demon-like animals made of chakra
Jinchuuriki	something with a Bijuu inside it (a person or a vessel of some kind)
Chakra	energy used for jutsu
Jutsu	attack techniques
Kekkai Genkai	bloodline technique
Dojutsu	eye bloodline technique, such as the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyuuga's Byakugan
Hitai-ate	forehead protector, given to a ninja student upon graduation from the Academy. Usually bears the emblem of their village of allegiance.

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