Lore ID: WORLD-014
Category: Law / Crime / Security
Knowledge Level: Common Principles; Specific Laws Vary
Law within the Shinobi World varies by country and village.
There is no single global legal authority capable of enforcing identical laws everywhere.
Each nation maintains its own government.
Hidden villages also maintain military regulations and internal security systems.
A civilian crime may fall under local government law.
A shinobi offense may additionally violate military regulations.
Certain actions may therefore carry both civilian and military consequences.
COMMON CRIMES
Common civilian crimes include:
Theft.
Fraud.
Assault.
Murder.
Smuggling.
Banditry.
Extortion.
Kidnapping.
Corruption.
Property destruction.
Illegal trade.
Organized crime.
Shinobi-specific crimes may include:
Desertion.
Treason.
Unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
Theft of forbidden techniques.
Espionage.
Assassination without authorization.
Collaboration with enemy forces.
Illegal experimentation.
Violation of mission orders.
Unauthorized use of restricted techniques.
Abandoning a village with classified knowledge.
MISSING-NIN
A missing-nin is a shinobi who has abandoned or betrayed their village.
Not every missing-nin is equally dangerous.
A low-ranked deserter may possess little classified information.
An elite jōnin may know defensive systems, secret techniques, intelligence networks, passwords, clan information, mission procedures, or political secrets.
The threat posed by a missing-nin therefore depends on:
Rank.
Knowledge.
Combat capability.
Political importance.
Bloodline.
Crimes committed.
Connections.
Information possessed.
A village may actively pursue dangerous missing-nin.
BINGO BOOKS
Bingo Books contain intelligence regarding wanted or strategically important individuals.
Entries may include:
Names.
Aliases.
Appearance.
Known abilities.
Affiliations.
Threat level.
Known crimes.
Bounty information.
Last known location.
Combat warnings.
Not every Bingo Book contains identical information.
Different villages and organizations maintain different intelligence.
HUNTER-NIN
Certain villages maintain specialized forces responsible for tracking and eliminating dangerous missing-nin.
Kirigakure became particularly associated with hunter-nin.
A major purpose of recovering or destroying a rogue shinobi's body is preventing enemies from studying classified biological or technical information.
PRISONS
Hidden villages may maintain secure detention facilities.
High-risk prisoners may require:
Chakra restraints.
Sealing techniques.
Constant surveillance.
Special cells.
Interrogation teams.
Medical monitoring.
Anti-escape barriers.
A normal locked room may be completely inadequate for a skilled shinobi.
INTERROGATION
Interrogation is an important intelligence discipline.
Methods may include:
Questioning.
Psychological pressure.
Observation.
Deception.
Memory-related techniques.
Clan abilities.
Genjutsu.
Medical monitoring.
Physical coercion in darker institutions.
Different villages and officials possess different ethical standards.
Information obtained under interrogation may still be false.
Experienced agents may resist questioning or carry mental defenses.
TRIALS AND PUNISHMENT
Punishment varies.
Possible consequences include:
Fines.
Loss of rank.
Mission restrictions.
Imprisonment.
Clan discipline.
Exile.
Execution.
Surveillance.
Forced retirement.
Confiscation of property.
Classified detention.
Political crimes may be handled secretly.
Powerful officials may attempt to avoid public scandal.
CLAN LAW
Some clans maintain strong internal traditions and disciplinary systems.
Clan rules may govern:
Inheritance.
Secret techniques.
Marriage.
Leadership.
Family duties.
Training.
Property.
Internal conduct.
These traditions may sometimes conflict with village expectations.
The Hyūga clan's historical internal structure demonstrates how clan customs can significantly affect individual lives.
BLACK MARKETS AND ORGANIZED CRIME
Criminal networks operate beyond formal law.
They may provide:
Smuggling.
Assassination.
Illegal weapons.
False identification.
Human trafficking.
Stolen techniques.
Bounty contracts.
Poison.
Forbidden research materials.
Safe houses.
Intelligence.
Criminal organizations can exist inside otherwise peaceful countries.
Some maintain relationships with corrupt officials or rogue shinobi.
JUSTICE IS POLITICAL
Law is not always impartial.
Powerful clans, nobles, military leaders, wealthy merchants, or government officials may possess influence.
Villages may conceal incidents to protect national security.
A shinobi may receive orders that would be illegal for an ordinary civilian.
An assassination may be treated as murder in one country and a legitimate military operation in another.
This creates moral ambiguity.
PLAYER CONSEQUENCES
Franz should track serious crimes committed by player characters.
Consequences may include:
Witnesses reporting them.
Bounties.
Arrest warrants.
Loss of village trust.
ANBU investigation.
Clan hostility.
Mission suspension.
Bingo Book entries.
Diplomatic incidents.
Hunter-nin pursuit.
Criminal recruitment offers.
Reputation among underground organizations.
Player characters should not be protected from consequences merely because they are protagonists.
However, consequences should depend upon evidence.
A secret crime without witnesses may remain undiscovered.
A disguised attacker may be misidentified.
A politically powerful ally may interfere with an investigation.
Justice within the Shinobi World should emerge from institutions, evidence, power, and politics.