Six Great Shinobi Countries

The **Six Great Shinobi Countries** (忍び六大国, *Shinobi Rokudaikoku*) are the world's six largest countries, as well as those with the highest military strength. Five of these countries are led by a daimyō, who rule their nations alongside the military in a monarchy. The sixth nation, the Land of Storms, is instead led by a shogun who divides power between three co-equal governmental organizations. The nations are the aforementioned Land of Storms, the Land of Earth in the Northwest, the Land of Fire in the center, the Land of Water in the East, the Land of Wind in the South, and the Land of Lightning in the Northeast. With the exception of the Land of Storms, the nations are named after the dominant chakra nature of each area.

These countries are recognized for their vast diplomatic, economic, and military strengths and are all considered superpowers. Each coalesces their military power into a hidden village: the Land of Storms has Arashigakure, the Land of Earth has Iwagakure, the Land of Fire has Konohagakure, the Land of Water has Kirigakure, the Land of Wind has Sunagakure, and the Land of Lightning has Kumogakure. All of these shinobi villages are granted the right to be led by a powerful ninja with the title of Kage. The only one that does not exercise this right is Arashigakure, which is led by its shogun.

Thanks to a balancing of the tailed beasts, each country is mostly equal in terms of strength. However, Arashigakure is recognized as the strongest due to possessing the Nine-Tails and being mostly led by the Uchiha clan. The land is also believed to be watched over by a god. However, on the continent, Iwagakure is recognized as the strongest.

## Kages

The **Kages** (影; Literally meaning "Shadows") are the leaders of five of the Six Great Shinobi Countries. Collectively, they are known as the "Five Kage" (五影, *Gokage*; Literally meaning "Five Shadows") and represent the pinacle of the shinobi in each of their countries. Kages represent their villages in the Shinobi Union and oversee the day-to-day activites of those villages, such as assigning missions. They are also direct liasons between the shinobi of their nations and the daimyō who rule their countries.

### Hokage

The **Hokage** (火影; Literally meaning "Fire Shadow") is the leader of Konohagakure in the Land of Fire. There have been **five** Hokage so far:

1. The **First Hokage** (初代火影, *Shodai Hokage*) Hiruzen Sarutobi
2. The **Second Hokage** (二代目火影, *Nidaime Hokage*) Jiraiya
3. The **Third Hokage** (三代目火, *Sandaime Hokage*) Dan Kato
4. The **Fourth Hokage** (四代目火影, *Yondaime Hokage*) Minato Namikaze
5. The **Fifth Hokage** (五代目火影, *Godaime Hokage*) Naruto Namikaze

### Kazekage

The **Kazekage** (風影; Literally meaning "Wind Shadow") is the leader of Sunagakure in the Land of Wind. There have been **five** Kazekage so far, but the Kazekage of this world have not been revealed yet.

### Mizukage

The **Mizukage** (水影; Literally meaning "Water Shadow") is the leader of Kirigakure in the Land of Water. There have been **six** Mizukage so far:

1. The **First Mizukage** (初代水影, *Shodai Mizukage*) Byakuren
2. The **Second Mizukage** (二代目水影, *Nidaime Mizukage*) Gengetsu Hōzuki
3. An unnamed **Third Mizukage** (三代目水影, *Sandaime Mizukage*)
4. The **Fourth Mizukage** (四代目水影, *Yondaime Mizukage*) Yagura Karatachi
5. The **Fifth Mizukage** (五代目水影, *Godaime Mizukage*) Mei Terumī
6. The **Sixth Mizukage** (六代目水影, *Rokudaime Mizukage*) Kōri Yuki

### Raikage

The **Raikage** (雷影,; Literally meaning "Lightning Shadow") is the leader of Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning. There have been **five** Raikage so far, but the Raikage of this world have not been revealed yet.

### Tsuchikage

The **Tsuchikage** (土影; Literally meaning "Earth Shadow") is the leader of Iwagakure in the Land of Earth. There have been **four** Tsuchikage so far, but the Tsuchikage of this world have not been revealed yet.

## Shōgun

The **Shōgun** (将軍; Literally meaning "Army-Commander") is the leader of the Sixth Great Shinobi Country: the Land of Storms. Unlike the Kage title, the position is supposedly hereditary. However, the Land of Storms has an **Imortal Shōgun** (不滅の将軍, *Fumetsu no Shōgun*). According to tradition, they have only had one Shōgun throughout their entire history: Ryun Uchiha, the founder of the Uchiha clan, Arashigakure, and the Land of Storms itself. The Shōgun rules the entire country absolutely, without the need for a daimyō or a Kage. Instead, he has the assistance of the Sanbugyō to rule his country.

## Shinobi Union

The **Shinobi Union** (忍連合, *Shinobi Rengō*) is an organization created by the Sage of the Six Paths to serve as a forum between the major shinobi nations with a goal of reducing warfare. Shinobi nations outside the Six Great Countries may also join at their discretion. While the organization has not completely prevented war between the major ninja superpowers, it has greatly reduced conflicts and provided a mechanism for punishing rogue shinobi and rogue nations. The Union mandates a Kage Summit per year, to allow the countries' leaders to discuss important matters. These meetings are held in Soto: a port village in the Land of Storms.

### Members of the Shinobi Union

Alongside the Six Great Shinobi Countries, other nations that compose the Shinobi Union include:

* Land of Ice Storms
* Land of Mountains
* Land of Whirlpools

## Trivia

* The Six Great Shinobi Countries was an idea born out of the Six Great Nations on Naruto Fanon Wiki. At the time, Yamagakure's prominence on the wiki elevated its status. However, here, Arashigakure has been elevated instead.