Minor Shinobi Nations

Rice Field Country-Oto, The Village Hidden In The Sound

Hidden Sound is a motley collection of ninja from various clans and nationalities, all brought under Orochimaru's direction. Orochimaru traveled the world gathering jutsu and ninja in his goal to gain power. Rice Field clans like the Fuuma, volunteered for Orochimaru's army. Some clan members became soldiers in Orochimaru's army, while others were made prisoners to be used for his experiments. The village itself is a lower shinobi country. Before Orochimaru's full plans to destroy Konoha were revealed, the village was allied with Grass, Leaf, Rain, Sand and Waterfall. It is unknown if Orochimaru has been able to create and maintain ties with any other Leaf adversarial villages like Stone and Mist.

Grass Country-Kusa, The Village Hidden In The Grass

Hidden Grass is a lower shinobi village, being allied with Leaf, Rain, Sand and Waterfall. As such it participates in the Chuunin Exam with these countries. In the Chuunin Exam Naruto participated in, no Grass team made it beyond the second exam test. The Genin team from Grass who made it to the second Chuunin Exam test is most noteworthy for being killed and impersonated by Orochimaru as he infiltrated the exam. Also of note is Orochimaru's sword Kusanagi (Grass Cutter), it is unknown if this blade has any ties to the country or village.

Rain Country-Ame, The Village Hidden In The Rain

Hidden Rain is a lower shinobi village, being allied with Grass, Leaf, Sand and Waterfall. As such it participates in the Chuunin Exam with these countries. In the Chuunin Exam Naruto participated in, no Rain team made it beyond the second exam test. Hidden Rain will do missions for countries outside its borders, with Wagarashi clan member Kyuuroku hiring Rain ninja to help him win the Todoroki shrine race in the Tea Country. The years of strife the country experienced finally drove it and the village to civil war. This embarrassing situation only increased their desire for secrecy. The two factions involved in the civil war are unclear, however one side is apparently led by Rain missing-nin Pain.

Waterfall Country-Taki, The Village Hidden In The Waterfalls

The majority of information on Hidden Waterfall was stated in OVA #2. Unfortunately the movie sits outside of manga continuity so village information may be proved one day inaccurate. The village itself is a lower shinobi country, being allied with Grass, Leaf, Rain and Sand. As such it participates in the Chuunin Exam with these countries. In the Chuunin Exam Naruto participated in, no Waterfall team made it beyond the second exam test. The village itself appeared to not have many active ninja when former Jounin Suien attacked the village, instead relying upon Naruto and Shibuki to defeat the ninja. For the sake of their reputation, we will assume most of the ninja were away on missions.

Bear Country-Kuma, The Village Hidden In The Stars

Hidden Star is a lower shinobi village, being allied with the leaf. However it has not participated in the Chuunnin Exams with the other countries. The ninja village meditate around the chakra enhancing meteor, honing & enhancing their chakra. The village must rely on outside help when their manpower is not enough. Because of the importance of the star, children in the village are given names related to stars & constellations at birth.

Craftsmen Country-Takumi, The Village Hidden In The Craftsmen

Hidden Craftsmen is not an official shinobi village. Four skilled craftsmen trained in the shinobi arts wore the Takumi character on their forehead protectors & sought to resurrect their village founder, Seimei. They planned to use his resurrection to seek revenge against the Five Great Shinobi Villages, who they felt did not appreciate their village. Shitenshounin, or the Four Heavenly Directions. This name stemmed from the characters in their name matching the deities of the directions: Houki the Turtle, Kujaku the Bird, Ryuugan the Dragon & Suiko the Tiger.

Snow Country-Yuki, The Village Hidden In The Snow

Hidden Snow was a fledgling village. With Daimyou Kazahana Dotou's desire for power, he began to hire ninja under the Hidden Snow banner. When Team 7 was sent to the Snow Country to protect the woman revealed to be Kazahana Koyuki, they succeeded in overthrowing Dotou & assuring Koyuki's rise as country head. Because of Koyuki's good ties with Konoha, it is unknown of she will feel the need to maintain a shinobi village.

Mountain Country-Kagerou, The Village Hidden In The Heat Haze

Hidden Heat Haze is a lower shinobi village. The village became involved in a protracted war with Konoha thirty years previously. For three months there was a stale mate During this period, Kagerou Village dispatched Gennou to infiltrate Konoha & lay explosive tags throughout the village. He toiled in Konoha for two & a half months waiting on his comrades. They never came. After eventually finalizing a peace treaty with Konoha, the weakened village was wiped out by a third unknown village.