Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-10042642-20140827185005/@comment-25349026-20140828035838

It could be said the entire purpose of Otogakure was just a front to get Orochimaru's people into Konoha to be able to hide in plain sight. It was never a real thing, just as the mob use businesses as a front for their true operations.

It doesn't really matter what a shinobi's rank is anymore either as Kishimoto has shown that there are genin that are stronger than kage.

Just as Kakashi said in the Zabuza are paraphrased "There are those that are younger than you that are stronger than me."