The Hidden Villages

Konahagakure

Konahagakure is one of the five great ninja villages, and said to be the mightiest of the five. As such, it is one of five villages with a Kage as its leader, known as the Hokage. On a mountain overlooking the villages from the north exists the Hokage Monument. The village resides in the Land of Fire. Although Konoha, much like the country in which it resides, has been peaceful for the past sixteen years, and has grown accustomed to that peace, it remains one of the most powerful villages in existence, and has great military power and influence.

Sunagakure

Sunagakure is the hidden village of the Land of Wind. As one of the five great ninja villages, Sunagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Kazekage. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Wind Release techniques and the Puppet Technique. Shinobi from Sunagakure believe that the accomplishment of a mission predominates the lives of the ninja trying to accomplish it.

Kirigakure

Kirigakure, called Kiri for short, is located in the Land of Water. The official head ninja of Kirigakure is the Mizukage. It is also the place from which the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist hail. Kakashi and Orochimaru have both stated that Kiri has a strong and ruthless military that could not be easily defeated. Kirigakure is composed of several cylindrical buildings with the Mizukage's palace being the widest and largest. Like its name, the village is surrounded by a thick mist and several mountains in the background.

Iwagakure

Iwa is the hidden village of the Land of Earth. As one of the five great ninja villages, Iwagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Tsuchikage. Its symbol is made of two rocks, with a smaller one in front of a larger one. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Earth Release techniques. The village sits among a mountain range, with the building being composed of rock and stone; many of its buildings sit on cliffs connected by a network of bridges.

Otogakure

Otogakure called Oto for short, was Orochimaru's personal village, founded for the express purpose of collecting ninja for his experiments and his quest to learn all jutsu. Afterwards, after Orochimaru's death, some escaped prisoners decided to bring this to a rebirth, helping to build this to an actual village. There is now a main land with a kage building and many smaller houses and even an academy. The former bases and hideouts are now military forts.

Kusagakure

Kusagakure is located in a thus far unnamed country. Nothing is known about Kusagakure's general fighting style, or even if they have one. Although it has never been named, the country Kusagakure is located in has been sighed and described on several occasions. The country is rich with forests, some consisting of giant mushrooms or bamboo. It also seems to have many rivers and deep ravines.

Kumogakure

Kumogakure is the Hidden Village of the Land of Lightning. As one of the five Great Ninja Villages, Kumogakure has a Kage as its leader, known as the Raikage. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Lightning Release techniques. They also seem to favor the use of Japanese-style swords (or katanas) as standard weapons, instead of the typical kunai that most shinobi wield; and, as a result, most Kumogakure ninjas seem to excel at swordsmanship. The village is located on a high mountain, and is literally hidden in the clouds.