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 techniques intended for ninja of the Kage and Jōnin level. A-rank techniques are often very useful, but need extensive training before they can be mastered. Some A-rank techniques also pose a risk to the user, resulting in their classification as kinjutsu.

There are also A-rank missions. These missions relate to what is in a village or country's personal interests and are extremely difficult or dangerous to complete, usually assigned to Jōnin. The first example of an A-rank mission was Team 7's job of escorting Tazuna to the Land of Waves. (This mission was originally deemed C-rank until Kakashi Hatake learned that Gatō had hired enemy ninja to assassinate Tazuna.) In Part I, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Shikamaru Nara are given the A-rank task of stopping Sasuke Uchiha from pursuing Gaara. A-rank missions pay between 150,000 and 1,000,000 ryō.