Grand Secretariat (Earth-2213)

A Grand Secretariat is the political leader of a nation, responsible for all decision-making concerning their nations, from alliances, to annual budget and privileges allowed to the country's hidden village. Thus, Grand Secretariats are the most important individuals in an entire nation other than Kages and village heads.

Powers and duties
The final decision in selecting and appointing a new Kage and a village head in a democratic nation lies within the authority of the Grand Secretariat. In the Land of Fire's Konohagakure, the Hokage will typically select their successor, but in the rare case the Hokage dies or resigns, such responsibility lie on the Grand Secretariat. The Secretariat is advised by an Elder Council and a Jonin Commander during the selection proccess. Once a suitable candidate is chosen, the incubent must agree to follow bending law before they are sworn into office. Danzou, for example, was selected as the Sixth Hokage after Tsunade was left in coma, but died before the commander could convene, so his position was never made official.

Secretariats frequently attend the final round of Chunin Exams, either to make bets on the fights or find rising talent. Grand Secretariats always reside in the capital city of their nations, such as Ba Sing Se for the Land of Earth, protected by countless of guards and surrounded by bureaucrats and advisers. Kuvira blamed Grand Secretariats for many of the conflicts in the world; because the Secretariats never involve themselves in the wars, they never had to experience the horrors, death and misery that they bring.

Kisame Hoshigaki was condemned as a missing-nin following the murder of the Land of Water's 13th Grand Secretariat.