Shinobi Union

The is the successor to the Allied Shinobi Forces. Whereas the Allied Forces were composed only of the shinobi of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, as well as the Land of Iron, the Union draws from any hidden village that wishes to participate. Principally led by the five Kage, the Union accepts missions from clients and forms a team from all its member nations' shinobi who are found to be most suitable for the mission. Such a system provides equal opportunity to all villages, eliminating the need for future conflicts.

Under the Union, the hidden villages and their associated countries quickly recovered from the Fourth Shinobi World War. In the interest of preserving the peace, a representative from each member village is stationed in every other hidden village so that they can discuss common issues and pursue mutual interests. When the Land of Silence emerges as a potential threat to the Union, the Union's chief organiser, Shikamaru Nara, is tasked with stopping another outbreak of war.

Representatives
Each village sends a representative to represent their hidden village of origin for the Union. Accordingly, these are shinobi of high value to their hidden villages and have "promising futures" and they meet monthly in the Land of Iron. By the time of Shikamaru Hiden, there were a total of ten representatives which included:
 * Konoha: Shikamaru Nara, Head Representative and Chief Organiser
 * Suna: Temari
 * Kiri: Chōjūrō
 * Kumo: Omoi
 * Iwa: Unknown
 * Land of Iron: Unknown
 * Four unknown representatives

Trivia

 * The concept of the Shinobi Union is similar to the real world organisation The United Nations.
 * The novel states that other smaller nations joined the Union brining the total of countries affiliated with the Union from six to ten. Which hidden villages these are was not revealed, but Ame and Kusa are strongly hinted to have joined as well as two others.