Countries and Villages

Each country has a hidden village, where ninjas live and are trained. The ninjas act as both the military force of the country and as mercenaries to bring in additional profit for the village. The hidden villages do not run the countries however, as each country is headed by a fuedal lord who has his own military. The fuedal lord will often hire ninjas from the hidden village though. Also, countries may hire ninja from other countries, even if they have their own hidden village, depending on circumstances.

See the world map for a map of the countries.

Country of Fire (Fire Country)
Hidden Village of Leaf (Konohagakure, referred to as Konoha)
The largest country and located in the center of all the other great countries. The Country of Fire has great influence and has been the site of much of the struggling throughout the years. The landscape is mostly forest and plains, with little desert, and the southeast edge borders the ocean. The Country of Fire's hidden village is Konoha, lead by the Hokage, which is the largest hidden village and has the most diverse ninja population. It is also the site of the yearly Chuunin exams, where ninja from all the other hidden villages participate. Konoha is home to most of the series protagonists, including Naruto.

Konoha was on neutral terms with the Hidden Village of Sand until they were attacked jointly by the Sand and Sound villages. However, an alliance with the Hidden Village of Sand is created after the Sand village discovers that their leader was assassinated and an imposter was leading them.

Country of Wind (Wind Country)
Hidden Village of Sand (Sunagakure)
Located to the west, the Country of Wind is mostly desert. Little is uncovered about the country itself, and only bits and pieces of the Hidden Village are known. Due to the harsh environment and sand storms, the ninja of the Hidden Village of Sand are very strong and have great endurance. The village is located inside a canyon which protects it from sand storms, and it is difficult to find. Very few ninja from other countries have traveled to the Hidden Village of Sand.

The Hidden Village of Sand's most powerful Ninja is a young boy named Gaara, who has the one-tailed demon sealed inside of him. He controls sand with ease and can manipulate large quantities of it at once, and crush his enemies without breaking a sweat.

Country of Water (Water Country)
Hidden Village of Mist (Kirigakure)
Little is known about this country or the hidden village. One of the series early antagonists, Zabuza, came from the Hidden Village of Mist, or rather he illegally fled the village and lives as a rogue ninja, or missing nin.

Country of Earth (Earth Country)
Hidden Village of Rock (Iwagakure)
Little is known about this country or the hidden village.

Country of Lightning (Lightning Country)
Hidden Village of Cloud (Kumogakure)
Little is known about this country or the hidden village.

Country of Rice (Rice Country)
Hidden Village of Sound
A small country to the north of Fire Country. The fuedal lord wanted to gain power so he allowed Orchimaru to set up the Hidden Village of Sound. Unlike in other countries, the Hidden Village of Sound, which was mainly created so that Orchimaru could conduct forbidden techniques and stage his plans for revenge, does little for the country it resides in, and it is believed that there is little to no contact between the fuedal lord and village leader.

Country of Rain (Rain Country)
Hidden Village of Rain
Little is known about this country or the hidden village. The country borders 3 great nations, and has been the site of many wars and battles in the past.