In the Naruto world, countries operate as separate political entities ruled by landlords. Within these countries are hidden villages (隠れ里 kakurezato), settlements housing ninja, warriors capable of using supernatural abilities in combat. A hidden village maintains the economy of the parent country by training ninja from a young age and using them to perform missions for other countries. The ninja of a hidden village also serve as the military force of their parent country. The leaders of the hidden villages hold equal status with the leaders of their respective countries. Five countries in the Naruto world: the Land of Earth, the Land of Fire, Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, and the Land of Wind are known as the "Five Great Shinobi Nations". These countries are the most powerful in the Naruto world. They are ruled by a feudal lord and the leaders of the hidden villages in these countries hold the title of Kage. Other apparently smaller nations have been named in passing, in either the manga or anime, but are yet to be explored.
Countries
- 火 – Land of Fire
- 風 – Land of Wind
- 水 – Land of Water
- 雷 – Land of Lightning
- 土 – Land of Earth
- 波 – Land of Waves
- 元・渦 – Former Land of Whirlpools
- 川 – Land of Rivers
Land Of Fire
The Land of Fire (火の国, Hi no Kuni) is one of the largest and most powerfulcountries in the series, and the home of the main characters of the series. Its government leader is the Fire Daimyō. The Land of Fire was the first country to adopt a ninja village, Konohagakure, a custom other countries would soon adopt. The Land of Fire is appropriately oriented towards the element of fire, typically having very bright and warm weather. While not the physically largest country, it has the largest hidden village.
The Land of Fire has been involved in wars with the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind. In the quiet years that followed, the Land of Fire slowly recovered, and became accustomed to peace. This was seen by other countries, who had been working to increase their military power, as a weakness, and is one of the factors that brought about the invasion of Konoha by Otogakure and Sunagakure.
On the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Sound sits the Valley of the End, a large rift formed shortly after the founding of Konohagakure by the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha.
Konohagakure
Konohagakure (木ノ葉隠れの里, Konohagakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden Among Tree Leaves"; also known as "Village Hidden in the Leaves" or "Hidden Leaf Village") is the Hidden Village of the Land of Fire. As one of the five Great Ninja Villages, Konohagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Hokage. There have been five Hokage, the most recent being Tsunade. On a mountain overlooking the village from the north exists the Hokage Monument. Although Konoha, much like the country in which it resides, has been relatively peaceful since the end of the Third Shinobi World War, it remains one of the most powerful villages in existence, and has great military power and influence, though this has waned in the past three years following the attacks by Orochimaru and Pain.
Land Of Wind
The Land of Wind (風の国, Kaze no Kuni) is one of the more prominent countries in the series. It is located to the south-west of the Land of Fire and borders the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain. Its government leader is the Wind Daimyō. The country covers a vast realm, but that realm is largely composed of deserts. Because there is very little rainfall throughout the year, the people of the country live in villages built on one of the desert's many oases. Despite the country's extremely harsh environment, it has a large population. Although they have warred with each other in the past, the Land of Wind is on good terms with the Land of Fire, with a great deal of trade going on between the two countries.
Sunagakure (砂隠れの里, Sunagakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Sand") 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. There have been five Kazekage, the most recent being Gaara. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Wind Release techniques and the Puppet Technique.
Sunagakure (砂隠れの里, Sunagakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Sand") 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. There have been five Kazekage, the most recent being Gaara. The ninja from this village seem to specialize in Wind Release techniques and the Puppet Technique.
Land Of Water
The Land of Water (水の国, Mizu no Kuni) is oriented towards the element of water. Its government leader is the Water Daimyō. It is composed of many islands, with each having its own unique traditions. The country's weather is typically cool and full of mist and lakes. In some places, like the area where Haku grew up, it is very cold and snows quite a bit. Little is currently known about it and it apparently leaves itself out of most political affairs, which is understandable considering that it is composed of vast islands relatively remote from the continent containing the other four major countries. What is known, however, is that the country used to be ravaged by many civil wars, during which clans with Kekkei Genkai were used extensively, causing many to view them as harbingers of war and death, leading to purges and genocide to the point of parents killing their own children.
Kirigakure
Kirigakure
Kirigakure (霧隠れの里, Kirigakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Mist") is located in the Land of Water. As one of the five great ninja villages, Kirigakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Mizukage. There have been five Mizukage, the current one being Mei Terumī. An unusually high number of missing-nin seem to originate from this village. A unique classification of ninja known as hunter-nin are specifically tasked with eliminating these defectors.
Land of Earth
The Land of Earth (土の国, Tsuchi no Kuni) has seen little attention in the series thus far. It is located north-west of the Land of Fire. Its government leader is the Earth Daimyō. The country is mostly comprised of desolate, rocky areas. The border of the Land of Earth runs along a rocky mountain range, blocking communication with other countries. The wind blowing from the north passes over these mountains, carrying small rocks from the Land of Earth to the surrounding countries. This famous natural phenomenon is called "Rock Rain" (岩雨,Gan'u).
The "Rock Rice Cake" (岩餅, Iwa Mochi; English TV "Rock Mochi") is a regional specialty of the Land of Earth. The crispy texture of the rice cakes is said to be irresistible.
Iwagakure
Iwagakure (岩隠れの里, Iwagakure no Sato; English TV "Hidden Stone Village"; Literally meaning "Village Hidden in the Rocks") 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. There have been three Tsuchikage, the most recent being Ōnoki. Iwagakure is well-known for the rock-hard attitude of its shinobi; as soon as the Tsuchikage gives an order, the Iwa-nin do so without hesitating, even if it means death. Iwagakure ninja seem to specialize in earth release techniques.
Land Of Waves
The Land of Waves (波の国, Nami no Kuni) is a nation located in an island near the Land of Fire, and it does not have a hidden village, relying on seeking assistance from other Hidden Villages like Konohagakure.
The Land of Waves has many rivers running through it and is famous for its mangroves, which are filled with all kinds of lifeforms. Though an isolated island, relying on shipping for commerce and trade, it was prosperous. This changed when Gatō set his sights on it, breaking the people's will and monopolizing the shipping industry. In order to break this monopoly, Tazuna, a citizen of the Land of Waves, pursued the construction of a bridge connecting the island to the mainland. Team 7's first real mission was to this country and was meant to be a simple bodyguard mission to protect Tazuna but ended up completing a far more difficult mission fighting of Zabuza Momochi and Haku, and, later with the help of Zabuza and the townspeople ending Gatō's reign of terror. With Gatō gone, the bridge was completed, connecting the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire, increasing commerce and trade and bringing more revenue to the Land. It is now a prosperous area.
Sasuke Uchiha briefly visits the country in Part II, bringing Suigetsu Hōzuki with him so Suigetsu can retrieve Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō. Tazuna and some of the citizens of the Land of Waves assisted Konoha rebuild after Pain's attack on Konoha.
Land of Whirlpools
The Land of Whirlpools (渦の国, Uzu no Kuni; Viz "Land of Eddies") is where Kushina Uzumaki originates from. It no longer exists, having been destroyed and the rest of the survivors scattered across the globe. The surnameUzumaki was very common in this country. It was located on an island off of the coast of the Land of Fire.
VillageUzushiogakure (渦潮隠れの里, Uzushiogakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden among the Whirling Tides") was the shinobi village of the Land of Whirlpools. Its ninja were renowned for their fūinjutsu to the point that it led to its destruction in war. The survivors of the village's destruction scattered across the globe.
Land of Rivers
The Land of Rivers (川の国, Kawa no Kuni) does not play any particular role in the story until Pakkun discovers the first known Akatsuki hideout in one of the country's caverns, where the Akatsuki extracted the Shukaku from Gaara's body. The hideout was decimated shortly thereafter during a battle between Sasori, Sakura and Chiyo, and subsequently abandoned.
In the anime, this country also holds Katabami Kinzan gold mine, village, and processing center. There is an exclusive shop renowned as the Curry of Life shop where Naruto, Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee came to eat. The Takumi Village and Tanigakure also reside here.