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9. Shuko.

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10. Tetsubishi.

11. Wearing the shuko.

As ninjutsu took form, the ninja developed an organizational system designed to preserve the essential element of secrecy. Three distinct ranks were established within the ryu, each rank with a specific type of work to do and specific responsibilities.

At the head of each ryu was a commander in chief known as a jonin (high man). The jonin controlled the activities of the ninja organization, and made the decisions about whom his ninja would aid and at what price. In the larger ryu, the jonin was a wise man who was well informed on all events in his area. His decisions were based on a philosophical understanding of the scheme of totality, and he was prompted to aid others by a concern for the righ’t and the fitting. The true jonin was a maintainer of harmony, aiding the underdog faced with hopeless odds and no honorable recourse.

The jonin reduced his vulnerability by remaining anonymous to most of his agents. This made it impossible for the agents to reveal his identity under torture or in selling out to rival organizations. Furthermore, the jonin could assign several agents to the same mission without their knowledge, to prevent a double cross. By receiving bits of information from all of these agents, he became the only one with a complete picture of the situation. This system of invisible command is popular among many modern criminal organizations for much the same reasons.