Cloud Village is one of the more powerful ninja villages in the world, allowing its leader to be called a "Kage." As such it is one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries. Approximately 9 years previous to the naruto series, Hidden Cloud and Leaf were locked in war. The two countries decided to sign a peace treaty to end the conflict. Unfortunately Hidden Cloud used the treaty signing as a means to gain access to Leaf and then kidnap Hyuuga Hinata and get the Byakugan. Cloud is also one of the shinobi countries to utilize a Jinchuuriki.