Kirigakure

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Kirigakure (雾隐)
Alias(es)	Mist Hidden Village
Affiliation	Land of Water
Occupation/Role	One of the Five Great Shinobi Villages
Status	Active; publicly pursues neutrality, non-alignment, and exchange with other villages 196 221
Leader	Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura, a clone created by Jiogan; the preceding “Third Mizukage” identity was also operated by Jiogan 207 244
First Appearance	Chapter 24: Water Release: Water Palm Prison Technique!

History

Kirigakure is located on the main island of the Land of Water, an overseas nation shrouded in mist for much of the year. Its isolation and reliance on external trade shaped both its closed security practices and its prominence in Water Release ninjutsu. 49

During the Second Shinobi World War, Kirigakure conducted coastal infiltrations into the Land of Fire and dispatched forces against the Uzumaki Clan in the Land of Whirlpools. Its counterintelligence forces also conducted a major spy purge, capturing agents from Konoha, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Amegakure. 25 50 53

Konoha’s early strategic advantage against Kirigakure was partly built on intelligence sent by Jiogan while he lived undercover within the Terumi Clan. During his infiltration, he observed the village’s military training, transmitted strategic information to Konoha, and remained undiscovered even during the purge. 50 52 53

Kirigakure suffered a decisive defeat on the Eastern Front when Jiogan, known to its forces as the “Little Water God,” killed hundreds of its shinobi, destroyed major clan forces, defeated several Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and devastated its retreating fleet. The village subsequently withdrew from the Second Shinobi World War and began recuperating. 97 99 101

Following the war, Kirigakure opened diplomatic contact with Konoha by requesting treatment for Yuki Sora and the return of Nuibari and Exploding Blade Shibuki. This contact also enabled the Yuki Clan to confirm Jiogan’s ancestral connection to its bloodline. 144 146 147

Years later, Jiogan returned to Kirigakure under the identity Yuki Hyōba. He eliminated the former Third Mizukage and his disciples, then used clones to impersonate both the Third Mizukage and Karatachi Yagura while directing the village’s political transformation. 175 177 244

Geography and Security

• Kirigakure stands on the main island of the Land of Water and is separated from other countries by sea. 49
• The village experiences frequent mist and rain; its winters bring widespread ice and snow. 49 187
• Commercial traffic is permitted because the Land of Water depends on foreign resources, but incoming goods and travelers face repeated checkpoint inspections. 49
• Its defenses include overt and covert shinobi at ports, strict checkpoints, barriers, patrols, and counterespionage operations. 48 49 53
• The village’s core areas can be less visibly guarded than its outer perimeter, which is protected by dense patrol and barrier coverage. 132

Military

Water Release Doctrine

Kirigakure is noted for its Water Release specialists; Jiogan describes it as the source of most of the Ninja World’s famous Water Release users. 49

• Public training grounds are used for Water Release because the techniques can heavily damage ordinary clan facilities. 52
• Its shinobi train coordinated offensive and defensive Water Release formations. 52
• A seven-person Chunin unit demonstrated a combined Great Waterfall Technique and Water Wall capable of delaying an Elite Jonin. 52
• Kirigakure forces exploit mist generated by Water Release to obscure opponents’ vision and gain an advantage in close combat. 24

Swordsmanship and the Seven Ninja Swords

Swordsmanship is widely practiced in Kirigakure, with many Genin and Chunin aspiring to inherit one of the Seven Ninja Swords. 52

• Kubikiribōchō — wielded by Jūzō Biwa. 50 52
• Nuibari — wielded by Kushimaru Kuriarare; lost during the Second Shinobi World War and later returned to Kirigakure. 50 99 159
• Exploding Blade Shibuki — wielded by Munashi Jinpachi; lost during the war and later returned. 99 144 159
• Kirigakure possesses a secret summoning technique intended to recall the Seven Ninja Swords, though sealing scrolls can prevent their retrieval. 148
• After reform, ownership of five Ninja Swords was to be decided through a tournament open to qualified Chunin swordsmen. 201

Tailed Beasts

Kirigakure possesses the Three-Tails and Six-Tails. During the Second Shinobi World War, neither had a jinchūriki, limiting the village’s ability to deploy their power. 96 132

• Karatachi Yagura later became the perfect jinchūriki of the Three-Tails and attained Kage-level strength. 207
• Jiogan later retained the Three-Tails, preventing Kirigakure from repeating the original plan of using it in the Third Shinobi World War. 222

Government and Reforms

The former Third Mizukage’s administration pursued isolationism, radical policies, and suppression of the village’s ninja clans. The postwar losses weakened this approach and intensified tensions between the Mizukage faction and major clans. 144 175

After assuming control, Jiogan’s Mizukage identity introduced reforms intended to end internal conflict and rebuild Kirigakure. 177 178

• Abolished the closed-door policy and reopened Kirigakure to external exchange. 177 196
• Shifted the village’s priorities from conflict toward recovery, trade, and communication with other countries. 177
• Established a six-year Ninja Academy system requiring children of ninja clans to attend. 177
• Banned early graduation except under special circumstances. 177
• Proposed the Joint Chunin Exam with Konoha as proof of Kirigakure’s new openness. 178
• Began construction of Trial Island, a remote island intended for future trials and examinations. 208 215
• Transferred leadership to Karatachi Yagura, allowing the Third Mizukage identity to enter closed-door cultivation while Yagura continued the reforms. 207

External Relations

• Konohagakure — Former wartime enemy. Kirigakure later pursued medical and diplomatic contact, returned to Konoha for the Joint Chunin Exam, and signed a peace-and-equality framework cooperation agreement. 144 147 189 196
• Yuki Clan — A major Kirigakure bloodline clan whose records identify Jiogan as a descendant of a branch that migrated to the Land of Fire’s eastern coast. The clan became a key supporter of Jiogan’s reforms. 146 175 178
• Kaguya Clan — Severely weakened after its elite forces were destroyed by Jiogan during the Second Shinobi World War; later approached by the Mizukage administration during its clan visits. 98 178 179
• Hōzuki Clan — Supported the reform policies and later pressed for a formal competition to determine ownership of the remaining Ninja Swords. 179 201
• Terumi Clan — Initially hosted Jiogan during his Konoha undercover mission. Its members later feared retaliation from the new Mizukage administration because of their secret opposition to the reforms. 49 179
• Five Great Shinobi Villages — Kirigakure proposed rotating the Joint Chunin Exam among the villages every two years. The Five Kage Summit accepted the proposal. 218

Third Shinobi World War

Kirigakure declared non-participation when the Third Shinobi World War began and publicly urged the other villages to end hostilities through dialogue. Konoha praised the village’s stated neutrality, non-alignment, and non-confrontation. 221

Trivia

• Jiogan first infiltrated Kirigakure as the Terumi Clan kitchen worker A Xin and remained inside the clan compound for years while gathering intelligence through Qi Sensing. 49 53
• Under Jiogan’s reforms, Kirigakure’s prosperity improved substantially, though it still did not match Konoha’s level of development. 207
• Mei Terumi was personally trained by Jiogan after he took control of the village. 244