Most shinobi village has a Kage.    There are a total of 5 Kages per village. 

Kage’s is the highest level of shinobi and so they are extremely strong, generally the strongest in the village.  The Kage’s are chosen by the villagers.  They manage/govern the village, managing important issues such as money, defence, etc. 

They decide what activities the village shinobi will participate in, such as spying, assassination, or even war! 

They also are public icons and usually appear at public events.

Kage’s also are assigned to A-Rank missions.

The word ‘Kage’ means ‘shadow’ so by adding the prefix of an element to the word, you get the name of the village Kages.

Below is a list.

Hokage          Fire Shadow

Hokage is the Kage of the Hidden Leaf Village.

When people refer to the Hokage, they usually mean Sandiam, the Third Hokage.  It is said that he was the strongest of all the Hokages.  He was a genius and was nicknamed ‘The Professor’

Kazekage       Wind Shadow

Kazekage is the Kage of the Hidden Sand Village.

He is the father of Gaara, Temari and Kankuro. 

It was his idea to turn Gaara into the monster he is at present. 

He planned an attack on the Hidden Leaf Village with the leader of the Hidden Sound Village but was assassinated before it took place.  Eventually the plan failed and the Sound and Sand forces were defeated.

Raikage        Lighting Shadow

Raikage is the Kage of the Hidden Lightning Village

He was the one who plotted to infiltrate the Hidden Leaf, in an attempt to steal the Hyuuga Clan’s byakuugan.  However the plan failed and at the time, war seemed definite.

Mizukage       Water Shadow

Mizukage is the Kage of the Hidden Water Village.

The Water Country was all mayhem and chaos when Zabuza attempted to assassinate the Mizukage.  Fortunately, the failed and Zabuza and his men became missing nins.

Tsuchikage   Earth Shadow

This Kage has yet to appear in Naruto.