The village head (里長, sato-osa) is the highest-ranking, and usually the most powerful shinobi, of their respective village. The village head is the main representative of their village, and is in charge of administrative and military activities. Although each village usually has only one village head, the actual day-to-day governing is generally shared with various councillors and top-ranking shinobi. Each village has their own way of deciding on the village leader, using methods as diverse as democratic elections and hereditary succession.
The head of shinobi villages from the Five Great Shinobi Countries wield the greatest power, and are particularly respected. They are the only village heads allowed to bear the name of Kage.
Known Village Leaders[]
- The five Kage
- The Hokage of Konohagakure
- The Kazekage of Sunagakure
- The Mizukage of Kirigakure
- The Raikage of Kumogakure
- The Tsuchikage of Iwagakure
- Orochimaru of Otogakure
- Hanzō, Nagato, and Konan of Amegakure
- The Hoshikage of Hoshigakure (Anime only)
- Shizuka's mentor and Shizuka of Nadeshiko Village (Anime only)
- Seimei of Takumi Village (Anime only)
- Jōmae Village Head of Jōmae Village (Anime only)
- Disonasu of Hachō Village (Anime only)
- Tonika Village Head of Tonika Village (Anime only)
- Tofu and Kiri of Green Banks (Anime only)
- Senji, Hisen and Shibuki of Takigakure (Light novel, OVA, and Anime only)
- Tsukino and her father of Tsukigakure (Game only)
- Enzo Tenrō of Yumegakure (Game only)
- Malice of an unnamed village (Game only)