Naruto geography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Editing of this article by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled. If you are prevented from editing this article, and you wish to make a change, please discuss changes on the talk page, request unprotection, log in, or create an account. |
The world of the anime and manga series Naruto contains various countries and locations that have been introduced to the audience so far.
Countries operate as separate political entities and are presumably all monarchies, ruled by landlords who stand equally in rank with the hidden villages' leaders. The Naruto world is similar to feudal Japan in many aspects; those countries maintain balance between themselves through nothing but power. Treaties are periodically signed, but they are generally not even worth the paper they are written on.
Despite its similarity with feudal Japan, modern items are seen throughout the series, such as movie theaters, security cameras and even modern life-support systems. Computers are also present, as are video game consoles. In spite of the clearly modern age items present, military technology does not seem to be on the same level. Most military technology seems to be medieval in nature, large-scale crossbows being an example; however, the use of the various supernatural items, such as exploding paper tags, allows them to simulate more advanced technology like flak cannons.
Contents |
The five great countries
Of the countries scattered about the Naruto world, five are considered to be the most powerful and influential of them all. These are the Land of Earth, the Land of Fire, Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, and the Land of Wind. Each represents one of the five elements (earth, fire, lightning, water, and wind, respectively) and each is ruled by a Kage.
Land of Earth
The Land of Earth (土の国 Tsuchi no Kuni?) has seen little attention in the series thus far. What little is known is that it is oriented towards the element of earth, with many mountains and caves dotted about the country. They are not allies with the Land of Fire, as noted in the Kakashi Gaiden arc. Their hidden village is Iwagakure, the Village Hidden in the Rocks.
Land of Fire
The Land of Fire is home to Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and is the home of the majority of the main characters in Naruto. It enjoys a relatively temperate climate, with generally sunny conditions year-round. It was at first widely regarded as one of the strongest countries, but became significantly weaker after Orochimaru's invasion of Konoha.
Land of Lightning
The Land of Lightning (雷の国 Kaminari no Kuni?) has also seen little attention in the series. Its hidden village is Kumogakure, the Village Hidden in the Clouds.
Land of Water
The Land of Water (水の国 Mizu no Kuni?) is oriented towards the element of water. Its 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 an island relatively remote from the continent containing the other four major countries. Its hidden village is Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist. Zabuza Momochi attempted a coup d'état in the country, but was repelled. The Land of Water is the smallest of the five great countries, which may be the reason Kirigakure used to hold the gruesome graduation tests that it did.
Land of Wind
The Land of Wind (風の国 Kaze no Kuni?) is a dry and desolate country, but also has some of the most powerful ninja. Its hidden village is Sunagakure, Village Hidden in the Sand. The Land of Wind has been relatively uninvolved with politics until recent times, and even had a peace treaty signed with the Land of Fire. The lord ruling it, however, had been systematically cutting down his military force and transferring missions he would normally address to his own country's hidden village to Konohagakure, prompting desperate measures on the part of the Kazekage at the time.
Other shinobi countries
Land of Bears
The Land of Bears (熊の国 Kuma no Kuni?) is introduced in the Star Village filler arc and is home to Hoshigakure. It is surrounded by a canyon filled with poisonous gas.
Land of Grass
The Land of Grass (草の国 Kusa no Kuni?) is home to Kusagakure. Little else is known about the Land of Grass. It is probably very rich with flora.
Land of Rain
The Land of Rain (雨の国 Ame no Kuni?) is home to Amegakure, but little is known beyond that. In a flashback, it was shown to be filled with a great number of small buildings in a heavily wooded area, suggesting that it might perhaps be located in a rainforest.
Land of Rice Fields
The Land of Rice Fields (田の国 Ta no Kuni?), otherwise known as the Land of Sound (音の国 Oto no Kuni?), is a small country bordering the Land of Fire and home to Otogakure, Orochimaru's own hidden village. The Land of Rice Fields is its original name, with the Land of Sound being Orochimaru's own name for it. Many of its shinobi were collected, most being from the Fuma clan, to supply his need for followers and jutsu.
Land of Snow
The Land of Snow (雪の国 Yuki no Kuni?) was the focus of the first Naruto movie, in which it had been taken over by a tyrant. Its hidden village is Yukigakure. The Land of Snow possesses an unusually advanced level of technology when compared to other countries in the Naruto world. Things such as railroads, airships, power generators, and volley guns are commonplace here, though the latter fired salvos of kunai instead of bullets. Additionally, their ninja wear special chakra armor that makes them virtually immune to ninjutsu and genjutsu.
Land of the Waterfall
The Land of the Waterfall (滝の国 Taki no Kuni?) consists of a large waterfall which hides Takigakure, its hidden village. Not much is known about this land, except that Team 7 had a mission that brought them here. Obviously, the landmark of the area is its waterfall, which is rather large by modern standards.
Land of the Moon
The Land of the Moon (月の国 Tsuki no Kuni?) is the focus of the third Naruto movie. It is an island nation in the shape of a crescent moon, hence the name. It is home to the ninja village Getsugakure. In the first Chunin exam, a ninja wearing a headband with a crescent moon shape on it is seen taking the test, but is not mentioned or shown in the other exams.
Other non-shinobi countries
Land of Birds
The Land of Birds (鳥の国 Tori no Kuni?) is a small country that Naruto and Team Guy (minus Rock Lee) were sent to in the Bird Country filler arc. They were sent to investigate the rumor of the ghost of Noroimusha, as well as protect the daimyo, Toki. They eventually learned that a group of wandering ninja (The leader posing as the advisor of the Feudal Lord) was hoping to take over the country through a complex conspiracy. The ninja were defeated in the end.
Land of the Claw
The Land of the Claw (爪の国 Tsume no Kuni?) is featured in episode 177 of the anime. There was, at one point, tension between this nation and the Land of the Fang. The two sides barely averted a war thanks to one of Jiraiya's Icha Icha novels, which was delivered to the Fang Country's feudal lord by mistake.
Land of the Fang
The Land of the Fang (牙の国 Kiba no Kuni?) is featured in episode 177 of the anime. There was, at one point, tension between this nation and the Land of the Claw. The two sides barely averted a war thanks to one of Jiraiya's Icha Icha novels, which was delivered to the Fang Country's feudal lord by mistake.
Land of Honey
The Land of Honey is briefly mentioned in episode 194 of the anime. Nothing else is known about this land.
Land of Red Beans
The Land of Red Beans is briefly mentioned in episode 194 of the anime. Nothing else is known about this land.
Land of the River
The Land of the River (川の国 Kawa no Kuni?) is located between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Akatsuki had their hideout in this country before Sakura Haruno and Chiyo destroyed it in their battle with Sasori. Not much else is known about this country.
Land of the Sea
The Land of the Sea (海の国 Umi no Kuni?) is featured in episode 169. Orochimaru had a hideout here, and several of his forbidden experiments were conducted here as well. One of his subordinates continued the work after Orochimaru abandoned it, leading to attacks on the local ships.
Land of Stone
The Land of Stone (石の国 Ishi no Kuni?) is featured in episode 159. It is ruled by a priest.
Land of Swamps
The Land of Swamps (泥地の国 Numa no Kuni?) makes an appearance in episode 152. Anko Mitarashi protects its daimyo, Chichiya.
Land of Tea
The Land of Tea (茶の国 Cha no Kuni?) is a small country in which Team 7 helped Ibiki Morino's younger brother, Idate Morino, win a race with very high stakes. It consists of two separate islands.
Land of Udon
The Land of Udon (ウドンの国 Udon no Kuni?) is first mentioned in episode 192 of the anime. Chikara-sama is the daimyo of this country and is currently engaged to Princess Fuku of the Fire Country.
Land of Vegetables
The Land of Vegetables (菜の国 Na no Kuni?) is featured in episodes 187-191 of the anime. Naruto, Choji, and Hinata are sent there to escort a small convoy, not realizing that the country's daimyo's daughter, Haruna, was with the group.
Land of Waves
The Land of Waves (波の国 Nami no Kuni?) is a relatively poor nation, and thus does not have a hidden village. It is an isolated island, but used to be prosperous nonetheless, until Gato set his sights on it. He broke the people's will and monopolized the import/export industry, which was crucial for its economy. Team 7's first real mission was to this country, and, with the help of the townspeople, Gato's reign of terror was ended for good.
Shinobi villages
Shinobi villages (忍の里 Shinobi no Sato?) or hidden villages (隠れ里 Kakurezato?) are ninja villages that serve as the military force for their country. A hidden village maintains its economy by training its citizens to be ninja from a young age and using them as manpower in various missions others would be willing to pay for, from weeding a garden for a single payment to receiving a constant budget from the country it resides in for being soldiers in case the country is involved in a war. The hidden villages of the five great countries each have a Kage as their leader.
Amegakure
Amegakure (雨隠れの里 Amegakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden in Rain") is a small hidden village in the Land of Rain. It seems to be a rather loosely knit village, as a fair number of its ninja seem to either be missing-nin or end up as missing-nin. Nothing apart from this is known about it at this point, but it stands to reason that its ninja specialize water-based jutsu. Umbrellas are common weapons used only by them. One can infer from the performance of their ninja that long-range combat and genjutsu are emphasized, as are various breathing aids to allow them full mobility in their element.
At least two of their genin teams advanced to the second stage of the Chunin exam. The first team was killed by Gaara's Desert Funeral. The second team was defeated by Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Kabuto Yakushi near the end of the exam in order to obtain a Heaven scroll. This second team appears once more during the Tea Country filler arc, along with a former Konoha Jonin, Aoi Rokusho.
Getsugakure
Getsugakure (月隠れの里 Getsugakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden under the Moon") is a hidden village in the Land of the Moon. The country appears briefly on a headband during the Chunin exam and is the main focus of Naruto the Movie 3: Animal Riot of Crescent Moon Island.
Hoshigakure
Hoshigakure (星隠れの里 Hoshigakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden Among Stars") was introduced during the Star Village filler arc. It is located in the Land of Bears. Hoshigakure was formed sometime after a strange meteorite, which they call the "star", struck its location 200 years previous. No trees or plants could grow around the vicinity after it landed. Dialog from its inhabitants suggests that the village can't have been founded much sooner than Konoha was. Its leader is the Hoshikage (星影 Star Shadow?), though the leader is a Kage in name only. The other villages do not recognize Hoshigakure as an equal, nor is there any ninja truly worthy of the title.
The meteorite itself is not that large, but it emits a chakra-enhancing radiation. The First Hoshikage was able to devise a training method to allow the ninja in the village to harness the power of the star, allowing the ninja to gain supernatural chakra levels. Completion of the training allows the user almost unrivaled chakra control, to the point where they can solidify it as a shield or create wings for flight. The training was eventually forbidden by the Third Hoshikage, after he realized the deadly toll the training took on those doing it. Even if a ninja survived the training, the side effects would eventually kill them. Only Natsuhi and Hotorubi, the parents of Sumaru, managed to survive the training, and both died eventually. The Third was assassinated by Akahoshi, who became the substitute Hoshikage and reinstated the training. Knowing what the star did, he decided to ignore the effects in the hope of forcing the other villages to accept Hoshigakure.
Team Guy was sent to Hoshigakure as bodyguards for a mission in episodes 178 to 183, and Naruto joins them by bribing Tsunade with high quality chocolates. There they meet Sumaru, who hopes to become a worthy Hoshikage. Naruto empathizes with Sumaru, since their goals, and general situations, are the same. Team Guy and Naruto eventually learn of the secret of the star, and it is destroyed by Naruto after Akahoshi implants it in his own chest.
Iwagakure
Iwagakure (岩隠れの里 Iwagakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden Among Rocks") is located in the Land of Earth. As one of the five great ninja villages, Iwagakure has a Kage as leader, the Tsuchikage. Little is known about it, but it stands to reason that its ninja specialize in earth-based jutsu. In the past, the village was at war with Konohagakure, part of which is seen in the Kakashi Gaiden arc. A large number of their ninja were slain by the Fourth Hokage, so they are not allies of Konoha. Deidara of Akatsuki hails from here.
Kemurigakure
Kemurigakure (煙隠れの里 Kemurigakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden in Smoke") is a village alluded to in episode 101 of the anime. Its location is unknown, as are the capabilities of its ninja. The only three ninja from the village that have appeared were portrayed as rather inept, but this may not be indicative of the overall state of the village. Instead, the three ninja in question could easily be untalented outcasts.
The Smoke Shinobi featured in the episode, who identified themselves as the Moya brothers, were portrayed as bumbling, incompetent ninja who never even tried to perform any jutsu, instead resorting to various underhanded, and seemingly strange, tricks to achieve victory. Kakashi saved a woman from the leader, referred to as Aniki (this is not his name, it just means big brother), who was trying to wed her by force. After tying them up, Kakashi left with the woman, annoying the leader. This event is apparently so insignificant that Kakashi could not remember it after meeting them once more. Since Kakashi's intervention would seem to be a product of random chance, it is likely that Kemurigakure is in the Land of Fire, given that smoke is a natural product of fire. They return several years after the fact to attempt to get revenge on Kakashi using several odd schemes, such as letting him hiccup, laugh, and cry himself to death, none of which work.
Kirigakure
Kirigakure (霧隠れの里 Kirigakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden in Mist") is one of the five great hidden villages and is located in the Land of Water. Its leader is the Mizukage. Little is known about Kirigakure, except that its ninja specialize in water-based jutsu. However, it would also seem that many of its ninja wield swords, based on flashbacks in the anime. In the past, the graduation exam for becoming Genin was rather inhumane: students who had been friends, trained together, and ate from the same table, were pitted against one another in fights to the death. Kakashi mentioned that for this exam, the village earned the nickname the Village Hidden in the Bloody Mist. This gruesome method was cut short, however, when Zabuza Momochi, a boy who had failed to pass the preliminary exam to even attend the ninja academy, went mad and killed all of the students in that year's graduating class.
The seven greatest ninja in the village are known as the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, and each one wields a large and/or unique weapon. Kisame Hoshigaki, Zabuza Momochi, and Raiga Kurosuki, the three known members of the group, all became missing-nin. Of those three, only Kisame is still alive. The identities of the other four members remains a mystery.
This village was once the home of the famous Kaguya clan, who had a kekkei genkai ability allowing them to control their own bones. The Kaguya clan was wiped out after they went to war on their own village. The reason for the Kaguya's clan actions was their love for battle and killing. Presumably, the Land of Water was already at peace, which caused the clan to attack their ninja village for their love of battle. They were soundly defeated, leaving Kimimaro Kaguya as the only survivor.
In chapter 303, this village is referenced by Yamato again as "the Village Hidden in the Bloody Mist", and how it pitted trainees against one another in order to make them into emotionless killing machines. Yamato contends that Sai was subjected to this method in preparation for serving Danzo's Root division.
Konohagakure
Konohagakure (木ノ葉隠れの里 Konohagakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden Among Leaves"), located in the Land of Fire, is the main hidden village in the series and one of the five great villages. As such, it has a Kage as its leader, known as the Hokage. The majority of the major characters live there, and it is one of the most powerful hidden villages. Its power was severely reduced after Orochimaru's assault, but it continues to accept missions in order to preserve its image.
Kumogakure
Kumogakure (雲隠れの里 Kumogakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden Among Clouds") is located in the Land of Lightning. As one of the five great Ninja villages, Kumogakure has a Kage as leader, the Raikage. In that past, Konohagakure and Kumogakure were at war, and during peace talks, one of the ninja from this village tried to kidnap Hinata Hyuga, which resulted in an incident that ended with the death of Neji's father. Nothing apart from that is known about it at this point, but it stands to reason that its ninja specialize in lightning-based jutsu. It should also be noted that Yugito Nii, the container of the two-tailed demon cat, hails from Kumogakure. Yugito claims that she is the second strongest ninja in her village.
According to Kabuto's information cards, no Cloud ninja participated in the Chunin Exam. Despite this, several Cloud-nin were present in the anime.
Kusagakure
Kusagakure (草隠れの里 Kusagakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden in the Grass") is located in the Land of Grass. Nothing apart from that is known about it at this point, but it stands to reason that its ninja specialize in jutsu involving flora or fauna. Judging from the ninja that have hailed from Kusagakure, it can be assumed that this village is far less pleasant than Konohagakure. Zetsu, of Akatsuki, hails from Kusagakure.
During the second part of the Chunin exam, Orochimaru and his Sound ninja impersonated a three-man Genin team from Kusagakure using a mysterious technique which literally melts the victims' faces off. This made the unfortunate Grass-nin identifiable only by their ID tags. Later, in the third stage finals of the Chunin exams, two shinobi from Kusagakure were hired to intimidate Gaara into forfeiting his match against Sasuke Uchiha intentionally so their feudal lord would win a bet on the fight. When Gaara didn't respond, they attacked him, and were killed without hesitation. In a stroke of luck, it is their deaths that kept Gaara from attacking Naruto and Shikamaru, since Gaara's bloodlust was satisfied for the moment.
Otogakure
Otogakure (音隠れの里 Otogakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden in Sound") is Orochimaru's personal village, founded for the express purpose of collecting ninja for his experiments and quest to learn jutsu. Three Sound ninja (Dosu Kinuta, Zaku, and Kin), under Orochimaru's orders, entered the Chunin Exam with the goal of killing Sasuke Uchiha. However, Orochimaru was actually using them as test subjects for Sasuke's power after Orochimaru gave him the cursed seal. Its ninja used sound-based attacks, using vibration and sound to disrupt the enemy's vision and balance.
Sunagakure
Sunagakure (砂隠れの里 Sunagakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden Among Sand") is the hidden village of the Land of Wind. As one of the five great ninja villages, Sunagakure has a Kage as leader, the Kazekage. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro are all high-level ninja from the village. The one-tailed Shukaku was said to originate here, having been created from the spirit of a dead monk who was trapped in a teakettle.
Takigakure
Takigakure (滝隠れの里 Takigakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden in a Waterfall") is located in the Land of the Waterfall. It is lead by Shibuki, who seems too much of a coward for the job at first. Nothing apart from that is known about it at this point, but its ninja seem to specialize in water-based jutsu. Also, its leader processed a type of water called the Hero Water, which was extracted from a rather old tree. It gives the user ten times their ordinary chakra level; however, the strain of its use can prove fatal. Kakuzu of Akatsuki hails from this village.
There were six genin participants (twelve in the anime) from Takigakure in the first part of the Chunin exam, none of whom made it to the third stage of the examination.
Tonbogakure
Tonbogakure (蜻蛉れの里 Tonbogakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden under the Dragonfly") is a small village introduced in the Konoha 11 filler arc that was located in the Mountain Country. Thirty years before the series begins, it was at war with Konoha. After a surprise attack by Konoha, they declared a cease-fire. Two days later, however, another village wiped them out. Only Gennou, who had been in Konoha at the time, survived its destruction.
Yukigakure
Yukigakure (雪隠れの里 Yukigakure no Sato?, literally "Village Hidden Among Snow") is located in the Land of Snow and featured in the first Naruto movie. Little is known about this village at the time. In the movie, the ninja from this village had a special "chakra armor" which protected them from most attacks while amplifying the user's abilities, and their jutsu arsenal typically used ice in the forms of various animals. At the end of the movie, the snow is subsequently melted and the country is renamed the Land of Spring. It is unknown what happens to the village.
Sources
- First Official Data Book (秘伝・臨の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK Hiden: Rin no Sho Character Official Data Book?)
- Second Official Data Book (秘伝・闘の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK Hiden: Tō no Sho Character Official Data Book?)
- Jump's 2nd Great Hero Book's Mini Data Book (秘伝・翔の書オフィシャルキャラクターデータBOOK mini Hiden: Shō no Sho Official Character Data Book mini?)
- Naruto manga chapters
- Based on character's ability and status
| Franchise: | Naruto episodes • Naruto: Shippūden episodes • Media • OVAs • Video games • CCG |
|---|---|
| Plot: | Story arcs • Naruto • Kakashi Gaiden • Naruto: Shippūden |
| Jutsu: | Types • Cursed Seal jutsu • Genjutsu • Kekkei genkai • Ninjutsu • Sealing jutsu • Taijutsu |
| Movies: | Naruto the Movie • Naruto the Movie 2 • Naruto the Movie 3 • Naruto the Movie 4 |
| Other: | Characters • Ichiraku Ramen Bar • Geography • Ninja ranks • Rookie Nine |
