Missing-nin

are ninja who abandon their village with no intention of returning. Missing-nin are criminals in effect, if not before their defection then certainly after abandoning their duties. As such, missing-nin are listed in their village's Bingo Book to be killed on-sight; Kirigakure's hunter-nin are specifically assigned to eliminate these missing-nin. Although some missing-nin may continue wearing their village's forehead protector, they no longer swear allegiance to their village; members of Akatsuki — most of them missing-nin — carve scratches across their forehead protectors to symbolise they have rejected their village.

Leaving the village does not necessarily automatically make one a missing-nin. Tsunade withdraws from life as a ninja and departs from Konoha following the Second Shinobi World War, but she is at no time considered a missing-nin by the village. Jiraiya informs her, however, that if she aids Orochimaru — an enemy of Konoha — that her status will change and he will be forced to kill her. Rōshi left Iwagakure to learn more and to better control of Son Gokū that was sealed inside him, but despite taking such a potential war power from the village, he was not branded a missing-nin either.

Likewise, being branded a missing-nin does not guarantee their former village will seek them out as a criminal. Itachi Uchiha becomes a missing-nin after the Uchiha Clan Downfall, but he does so under orders of Konoha's leadership; while most of Konoha's population does indeed consider Itachi a criminal and treats him as such, its leaders are privately aware that he remains loyal to Konoha. Similarly, when Sasuke Uchiha defects from Konoha and becomes a missing-nin, the Fifth Hokage decides not to pursue him as a criminal as a favour to Naruto Uzumaki. Danzō, when appointed the "Sixth Hokage Candidate", later withdraws this leniency and orders his execution, partly because of his inexcusable action of attacking Kumogakure. For his help during the Fourth Shinobi World War and the good word of the Sixth Hokage, Sasuke is ultimately pardoned for his crimes.

After the Fourth Shinobi World War, there are an increase of Missing-Nin activities across the continent due to shinobi leaving their villages since they viewed their way of lives being threatened or due to other reasons. In this era, they have also become far more ruthless, willing to kill the person who hired them if there is a chance for a greater payday.