Kirigakure

is located in the Land of Water. The offical head ninja of Kirigakure is the Mizukage. It is also the place from which the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist hail (including Zabuza Momochi and Kisame Hoshigaki). Its village layout is relatively unknown, only seen briefly in flashbacks. Kakashi and Orochimaru have both stated that the village has a strong and ruthless military that could not be easily defeated.

The village, according to Kakashi, was known for a barbaric graduation ritual. Students wishing to move on into the ranks of the ninja there would be pitted against each other in one-on-one duels to the death - thus earning the village the nickname,. This practice lasted until an incident where Zabuza Momochi famously killed the entire graduating class (before even reaching the age of qualification himself), after which it was banned.

Approximately 10 years before the start of the series, the Kaguya clan led an assault on Kirigakure because of their passion for killing. The entire clan was slaughtered by the village military with Kimimaro the only survivor.

Kisame Hoshigaki recognised Madara Uchiha as the Mizukage, but whether that is current or past is as yet unknown. Around 10 years ago, Zabuza Momochi, as ANBU squad captain, led an assassination attempt on the Mizukage, consisting of several members of the ANBU and other Mist Jonin and Chunin, but were quickly dispatched of by his guard.