Basic Ninja Ranks

Academy Student:
The academy is where would-be ninja start; they are not actually considered ninja until they graduate. Academy students take formal and practical tests of all sorts and are taught the basics. Basic weapon usage, such as kunai and shuriken, is commonly taught. Elementary ninja techniques, though they vary from village to village, are also taught. These include the Transformation Technique, Rope Escape Technique, Body Replacement Technique, Clone Technique, Exploding Tag: Activate, Cloak of Invisibility Technique.

Genin:
Genin (下忍, Genin; Literally meaning "Low Ninja", Meaning (Viz) "Junior Ninja") are the lowest level of ninja and also the ones that display the most difference in power. When they become Genin, ninja start to do their bit for their village's economy – being sent on missions that the village gets paid for. They are typically sent either on D-rank missions, which are the lowest rank and are almost entirely risk-free jobs of manual labor, or, very rarely, on C-rank missions, which are a cut above that and begin to verge on real "ninja" work – though they generally have a very low possibility of risk to the ninjas involved, especially since their Jonin level sensei often accompanies them.

Chunin:
Chunin (中忍, Chûnin; Literally meaning "Middle Ninja", Meaning (Viz) "Journeyman Ninja") are ninja who are qualified to watch over and guide other ninja. Chunin have reached a level of maturity that primarily consists of leadership skills and tactical prowess. This is because the Genin who don't have the skills to become Chunin are weeded out in testing. Some of them, serve as team leaders in charge of small teams who need to make decisions and utilize the skills of the shinobi under their command to the maximum effect. Chunin are typically sent on C-rank missions or B-rank missions.

Tokubetsu Jonin:
Tokubetsu Jonin (特別上忍, Tokubetsu Jōnin; Literally meaning "Special High Ninja"; sometimes known as Tokujō for short) are ninja who, rather than all-around Jonin training, have Jonin-level ability in a single area or skill, much like warrant officers of real-world militaries. They are elite specialists in their areas and are often assigned as subordinates to regular Jonin when their services are needed.

Jonin:
Jonin (上忍, Jōnin; Literally meaning "High Ninja", Meaning (Viz) "Elite Ninja") are generally highly-experienced ninja with great individual skill who serve as military captains. They are often sent on A-rank missions, and experienced Jonin may even be sent on S-rank missions (which are considered to be the greatest difficulty). They may also carry out these missions alone. They are sometimes assigned as sensei for three-person teams of Genin. It is as of yet unknown what one has to undergo to become one. It is known that most Jonin are generally able to use at least two types of elemental jutsu i.e.water, fire, etc., some genjutsu, and above-average taijutsu skills.

Kage:
A Kage (影, Kage; Literally meaning "Shadow") is the leader of one of the seven most powerful Hidden Villages and generally are also the most powerful ninja in their respective villages.

The Kage stand equally with the rulers of their countries, oversee the activities of their villages, and are the leaders of ninja society. They typically are the ones who send the ninja teams out on their missions and make the decisions regarding the safety of the village.