Five Great Shinobi Countries

The Five Great Shinobi Countries (忍び五大国, Shinobi Godaikoku) are the five biggest and most powerful countries in the shinobi world. The countries are seen as the five superpowers, with power divided amongst them almost equally in order to maintain balance. This also allows them to be large influences of both trade and politics in the shinobi world. The five countries are the Land of Earth in the Northwest, the Land of Lightning in the Northeast, the Land of Water in the East, the Land of Wind in the Southwest, and the Land of Fire in the centre. Each of the countries also has a shinobi village, all of which are regarded as extremely powerful. The Land of Earth has Iwagakure, the Land of Lightning has Kumogakure, the Land of Water has Kirigakure, the Land of Wind has Sunagakure, and the Land of Fire has Konohagakure. The leaders of these villages are one of the five Kage, whilst the countries themselves are led by daimyō.