Kage

The **Kage** (影; *literally meaning*: Shadow) are the leaders of one of the Hidden Villages of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, and are famed as some of the most powerful Shinobi on the continent. They are responsible for governing their Hidden Village and deploying their Ninjas on missions.

## Background

The first village to adopt the Kage system was Konohagakure, with its founder Hashirama Senju being credited with introducing the position. Soon after, the other four main Hidden Villages would be established, and they too would imitate the system, praising it for its efficacy and overall usefulness.

## Overview

Each of the Five Great Shinobi Countries' Hidden Villages has its own Kage, which is named according to their Nation's Element.

* Konohagakure's Kage is called **Hokage** (火影, *literally meaning:* Fire Shadow).
* Sunagakure's is known as **Kazekage** (風影, *literally meaning:* Wind Shadow).
* Kirigakure possesses its **Mizukage** (水影, *literally meaning:* Water Shadow).
* Kumogakure's Kage goes by **Raikage** (雷影, *literally meaning:* Lightning Shadow).
* Iwagakure is under the control of the **Tsuchikage** (土影, *literally meaning:* Earth Shadow).

Each Kage handles all matters regarding their Land's Shinobi and govern their respective Hidden Villages. They are in charge of approving missions and sending Teams of Ninjas to fulfill them, personally hand-pick which Ninjas can be promoted to the rank of **Jōnin** and can completely rescind someone's status and rank as a Shinobi at their leisure. Kage are also responsible for defending their village from both inside and outside threats.

Each Kage attains the position differently, with their succession methods varying from one Village to the next. Konohagakure's Hokage, for example, usually hand-picks their successor, but if they are unable to do so the choice falls to a group made out of the Konoha Council of Elders, the Jōnin Commander and a representative of the Anbu; meanwhile in Kumogakure, it is not unheard of for one Raikage to choose their child as a successor, and train them since their earliest years to fill the position. Ultimately, however, the selection of who will obtain the position after them, and the choice of the methods used to determine it, lies within the sitting Kage themselves.

It is possible for a Kage to retire, though they will still keep their title. They can assist their successor in their duties, assume temporary leadership if they are momentarily unable to govern, and - if no suitable and willing successor is found - fully resume their duties in the event of their death, defection, or other such possibilities.

Kage almost always handle all of their Village's affair from their office. This means that they, despite their power, will rarely ever take to the field themselves and will rarely, if ever, meet their counterparts from other Villages. Such an occurrence is usually reserved for the signing of treaties or, even more rarely, a Five Kage Summit, in which all five Village Heads meet on neutral ground to discuss events concerning all of their respective countries.

No matter the village, it is tradition for Jinchūriki to either be related to the village's sitting Kage, or have the position themselves, both to display their (and their village's) power and strengthen their loyalty.