A-rank

A-Rank is one of the six classifications. It is preceded by B-Rank and followed by S-Rank. It is typically used when classifying jutsu intended for ninja of the Kage or Jonin level. A-Rank jutsu are often very useful, but need large amounts of training before they can be mastered. Some A-Rank jutsu also pose a risk to the user, resulting in their classification as kinjutsu.

There are also A-Rank missions. These missions are usually assigned to Jonin. The first A-Rank mission seen in the series was Team 7's protection of Tazuna. It was originally meant to be a C-Rank escort mission, but was elevated to A-Rank after Tazuna revealed that Gato was trying to have him killed. Later in Part I Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Shikamaru Nara are given the A-Rank task of stopping Sasuke Uchiha from pursuing Gaara.