Clans ch. 1

The world of Shinobi: A tough, cold and violent place.

If you wish to have success, you are going to have to prove yourself against the most renowned, feared, hated, despised and above all: Powerful people imaginable.

These people are usually gathered in clans and makes their home in the various villages of the diverse countries. Each having their own customs, rules and jutsu which have been passed down through generations.

some of these clans will kill you on sight, or worse, or just wait till you do something wrong before ending your life prematurely.

true some clans will offer you a meal and a bed for as long as you wish, but these are indeed far between and is becoming more and more rare as the threats and violence rush ever closer to their lands. Soon only hatred will be to find in every household and fortress and where once you would have been treated with food fit for a king, now you will find that the only thing they are willing to fill your belly with: Is cold steel.

Come, take a look into those whom may come unto your path on your rise to glory...

be carefull though,

they may see you coming...


Preparing the steel

(This short story takes place some 74 years before shippuden)

Sprinting through the thick undergrowth, the large man barely heeded the calls behind him or the fact that it was late night. He wanted to kill them!

It had been 4 days since his grandsons had left for their coming-of-age-hunt, an ancient and highly important ritual within the Wani clan. They only had just found them an hour ago. Three bloody bodies floating in the water amongst reeds and scavengers within the swamp. Choku had only just seen the bodies of his boys for himself. He was outeraged! No one should harm his kin and get away with it, not while he still drew breath!

Storming through the swamp Choku had only one thing on his mind: Bloody retribution. It was a miracle that his kinsman caught up with him.

"Would you stop for a damn second Choku?" a voice rang out.

Choku stomped a heavy boot into a tree trunk, splintering bark and making the crown sway, yet it held and stopped his advance. Turning angrily to his pursuer, his eyes shone a dangerous yellow in the warm light of the approaching torch. The holder of it was younger than him by by only a few years, yet he dwarfed his younger brother like a horse would a mule. A comparison that fitted them better than just in terms of height: Where Choku was rank, ferocious and intimidating, a combination which almost made him look majestic, his younger sibling Eikan was wizened with a crooked back and wicked demeanour, scary in the creepy sense.

"What?!" Choku's roar made the rest of the area fall deadly silent, with only an occasional drop of water falling into the muck could be heard.

"You need to (huff) listen (huff) to me (huff)" Said Eikan as he struggled to catch his breath after the long run

"Listen?! The only thing I want to listen to, is the sound of those murdering scum and their screams as I flay them alive!" Choku raged, balling his ham sized fists, while baring his sharp teeth like a great snarling predator. His face was a mask of rage as he recalled how the bodies had looked when he first lay eyes upon them, deep sword slashes marring their grey green skin, their yellow slitted eyes starring up into nothing, where once they all three had been full of life and strength, boys who had been ready to become true Wani Shinobi, to fight for the prestige of the clan within Kirigakure.

Someone were going to answer for their deaths.

"No, you must listen (huff) we don't know who did this, so charging through the swamp won't help us a bit (huff)" Eikan was steadying himself on a nearby fallen tree, looking almost every bit the old man he was... by the standards of other clans, among the Wani he was expected to be in better shape than this, being a mere 79 years old.

Choku had folded his arms and scowled down at his brother

"So what do you suggest we do, huh? Sit on our sorry rearends and wait for those dogs to strike again?!"

"No, of course not" Eikan said shaking his head, "What we need... is help" Choku stared at him, he utterly hated when Eikan spoke like that. In terms of words he hated most when it came to other clans, were words like cooperation, alliance, intermarriage, neighbours and babysitting, "help" ranked just a tad above all of those combined.

Leaning forward so that his eyes were level with his brothers, Choku still managed to stare him down.

"And just... Who, would you go... ask, for help?!" Choku could barely restrain himself from mauling his younger sibling, briefly he considered it, but Eikan was family and even in spite of his nagging talk of alliances this and diplomacy that, Choku couldn't make himself harm Eikan... seriously.

At least Eikan managed to meet his gaze momentarily before shifting slightly backwards, as far as he could for the tree, before answering

"Come with me, I'll show you..."

(To be continued)


The Wani clan

Strenght and age

home: Kirigakure, Land of Water

Description:

In the village of Kirigakure the Wani is a merciless reminder of the time before the founding of the hidden villages. Though considered a relic of a the past for the old ways and customs they practice, the Wani is still some of the most respected warriors the village of the mist employ. Several old fashioned beliefs and practices are kept alive with the within the small community of the clan grounds in the village. The clan's pratices include amongst others a comming-of-age hunt wherein a member is let loose in the wilderness and intended to bring back their kill, or the remains thereof, as its not uncommon for them to sate their hunger in the still warm flesh of their prey. This simple task proves to all that the member are ready to participate in all activities within the clan.

To be strong is a neccesity when entering the ranks of the Wani. This is due to another facet of everyday Wani life: Ritual infighting. This is done partially to help train the members and partially to decide whom does the different chores, from dusting off to defending the clan and village.

Feared for their strenght, their brutallity and their abilities in close quarters the clan have remained one of the most influential in the village. Though extremely selfabsorbed in their feeling of superiority the clan have never forgotten that they themselves can be defeated, and thus they continue to harden themselves the best place they know: in the very surroundings of their own home.

The Wani specialise in Taijutsu and assault especially from the water as this helps their perform their basic and most prefered technique called Gosan or "dinner". The technique is basicly just a bite where the clansman doesn't let go. As simplistic and pathetic it sounds the clan have made great use of this technique, especially due to the extremely strengthened jawmuscles, easilly capable of denting steel and crushing rock.

Psysically the clan is mostly noted for their great hight and bulk. Easily towering over thier opponnents and comrades (though none of the different parts see the difference) by head and shoulders, sometimes even torso's. Even the skinniest Wani is a musclebound behemoth of destruction. Another aspect of their looks is their grey skin, which no one seems to know how they acquired over the several hundred years of the clans existense. Another natural look of the clan is their sharpened teeth which is natural evolution, it simply helps the member better hold on to his opponent.

Culturally the clan boast a surprising friendlyness to anyone they deem strong, giving them free food and house asking nothing in return except for the opportunity to fight them on occasion and even then they display a uncommon mercy towards their opponent, never inflicting lasting damage. Aside from their peculiar hospitality, the Wani put great emphasis on age. A unique genetical trait of the Wani is their age, which so far have been estimated to commonly be 130 years. This remarkable high age have been the subject of heavy debate concerning it's nature: is it a Kekkei Genkai or not? In truth: It's not. Its simply the result of daily exercise and a healthy diet through generations.

Their respect for age is best shown as to their leadership requirements: reach the age of 100 hundred years. the current leader is well into his 156'th year having been in the drivers seat for a full 54 years.

The age, strenght and size of Wani is greatly connected as they continue to grow their entire lives gaining ever more powerful as they grow older.

Current leader:

Choku Wani

age: 156 years

Description: Picture a nice newly retired mand who would encourage you to reach for the stars and then picture a raving, battleloving predator. A fitting picture of Choku should have popped up in your head at this point. Choku is quite straightforward in thinking and action, though if one doesn't know him, they will get shocked by the direction his mind takes, usually the most violent and brutal one. He has been known to find the graduation ritual of Chigiri no sato (the bloody mist village) to be the peak of hilarity, due to the similarity with the old ways many years before the founding of the village system.

A strong aspect of his personality is his love for his family. if the slightest harm or damage comes upon a member of the Wani he is known to respond with utmost savagery. at one point he butchered half of an opposing clan after they cut down 3 of his grandchildren during their comming of age hunt. This action later lead him to assume leadership of the clan.

His love for his family live or deceased is great enough for him to go out of his way to keep up their wishes. This is most apparent concerning the village of Kirigakure. Choku was a fierce opposer of the system as he only saw it as a way for meaningless bloodshed and doom to the clan. But the leader at the time, Choku's mother no less, thought differently. and thus Choku and the Wani have remained in Kirigakure and never attempted to achive too much power and control of the village. Though his feelings have remained the same, Choku have never even as much as plotted to take control or leave the village. Not even for an instant.

His jovial behaviour often extends to those whom have proven themselves before him, either by courage or acts of strength and skill.

Decades ago during the first great shinobi war, Choku encountered a young Hiruzen Sarutobi, whom was out on a scouting mission. This meeting ended with Sarutobi getting away and Choku humiliated, a slight he has not forgotten as the years have passed by. Though mainly their encounter circled more about dicussing the dis- and the advantages of the village system rather than actual fighting.

Due to his high age and his great power, Choku has not kept himself in shape over the years, a fact that has slowed his strenght somewhat.

Trivia

all the clan member's names are related to anything imperial. As an example, Choku means: Imperial decree

Wani means crocodile, and their reptilian namesake have inspired many aspects of their being, from age to looks to fighting style.


A Pact forged of greed and need

(This shortstory takes place about 3 years before the start of the series. In a land far to the east of the Land of Fire)

"Blup"

The low sound of the fishing bopper being pulled under water didn't make the man react much, he barely oppened his eyes, just enjoying the moment knowing full well that he would get fresh fish for dinner, regardless of whether he pulled it up immediatly or not. If he let it stay in, he might even catch a bigger fish...

He lay flat on his back on the small pier, basking in the sun, enjoying the gentle breeze allowing him to not get too hot for comfort. His kimono had loosened while he had doozed off, fortunately for any travellers on the small river, he always wore pants. Lifting his conical strawhat, the middle aged man discovered that it was high noon, just in time for lunch. Reaching below the pier he pulled up his heavy backpack containing remedies and what else he had in his possesion. Rummaging through it and finally finding his chopsticks, he sat back against the bag, stroked the two long strands of his greying moustache between two fingers, making it look neat, and relaxed, waiting for the bigger fish to bite.

"Gen'en-jii-san, Gen'en-jii-san!" a frantic voice called out, disturbing the tranquil moment. The man looked around, trying to discern who was calling for him. He needn't look for long as a young child, no more than 7 years old, came running hastily towards the pier on the small dusty pathway, running through the hilly landscape. even with his green jinbei and beige shorts being dusty, wet and muddy from the road, Gen'en could recognise that mop of dark brown spiky hair that swayed as the boy sprinted on.

It was Daisuke, a child he had met only a few days prior, when he had traded his father, a travelling merchant, a meal for some ointments. Standing up in response, Gen'en noted that the boy only quickened his pace as he finally saw him. Waving his arms frantically as he neared him and shouting something incomprehensible in a high panicy voice, Gen'en couldn't for the life of him make out what he was saying. He did note however, that Daisuke was crying like a waterfall, his cheeks red and streaked and big brown eyes overflowing as he tried to explain... something... his rapid speech was being heavily interrupted by his breathlessness after the run.

In the end Gen'en placed a firm hand on each of Daisuke's shoulders and looked him stragith in the eye.

"Calm yourself, I can't understand a word of what you are saying, take a moment to breathe and then start to tell me what's wrong" He said as soothingly as he was able.

"it's Mio-chan, Gen'en-Jii-san got to help!"

"Your sister? What's wrong with her, when I last saw her she was as healthy as a horse" Gen'en looked expectantly at Daisuke, waiting for him to making things clearer

"Gen'en-Jii-san, Mio-chan got tommy ache, cryies and screams, mom and dad send Daisuke for you, please HELP!"

Looking at the young boy as he shook of fear, Gen'en swiftly took up his belongings and hoisted it up on his back

"Well! Lead the way boy! It sounds serious!"

And lead the way he did, Gen'en had trouble keeping up with the boy as he darted over the path like an arrow in flight. After nearly 30 minutes of running and walking through the hills and small rice patties, they reached a small village, some 40 houses or so, where Daisuke lead him to the inn. Gen'en followed the youngster as he raced through the crowded common room, stopping at the foot of the the stairs, pointing and breathlessly waiting for him to catch up.

Gen'en had no problem getting through the room as the locals helpfully stepped to the side, allowing him passage. Some even offered to help him carry his backpack, an offer he politely, but swiftly, refused, years on the road having taught him not to trust friendlyness too much.

As Gen'en reached the foot of the stairs, Daisuke yelled to wards the second floor:

"Daddyyy, I found him, I found Gen'en-jii-san!"

In Response a man nearly instantly stepped for wards at the top of the stairs, it was Daisuke's father, Daiki, a large, heavily set man with the same features as his son. As he saw Gen'en, the look of´utter deapir and worry that plagued his face instantly turned to desparete hope.

"Gen'en-san, please, we need your help, come quick!" Daiki's pleading made him sound just like his son, yet another thing the two had in common it seemed.

"What's going on here? I understand it's something about Mio-chan?" Gen'en said as he scaled the stairs with his heavy luggage swaying each time he took a step upward.

"Yes, it happened two days after we met you, Gen'en-san, Mio suddenly took ill, started complaining about her skin itching" Daiki explained as he led the older man towards the family's room.

"My wife got worried but I didn't think much of it at first, kids run through all sorts of things, so it's only natural they get in contact with something itchy, so I told her i would pass, but it didn't stop!" Daiki frantically continued as he reached a small door "She started getting weaker, then she got feverish, and then she couldn't walk and we lodged at this inn, she's barely eaten since, and that was three days ago, we've called for healers, but they couldn't help her, the last one thought it was a demon possesing her and called for a wandering Yamabushi (ascetic hermit), he's with her now" Daiki hid his face in his palms, trying to hide tears that had started to well at the corners of his eyes.

"if we'd just called for a healer sooner..." he sobbed

Gen'en put a comforting hand on his shoulder and said "It's not your fault, Daiki-san, you couldn't have know it was serious, but let me see the child and I'll do what I can"

"Yes, please Gen'en-san My daugther's only 5 years old, I don't know if I could bear to, to..."

"Just show me the child and give me some working space, Daiki-san, I promise you that your daugther will be up and running again soon, I promise" Gen'en smilled reassuringly under his moustache, his eyes glinting with self assuredness. Daiki's wet eyes became filled with hope as he nodded, thankfully to Gen'en and opened the door leading him into a small room, stuffy with the smell of sweat and incense. The Yamabushi stood at the side of the bed with the child. Even from where he stood Gen'en could see that her sleep was tormented by constant turning and twisting, as if she was having a nightmare.

Hearing the door open, the Yamabushi turned around. Gen'en could see that he was older than him by at least a decade, with several wrinkles, a small black goatee and a tired look in his eyes. He was thin like a neetle and dressed in a dirtied grey white robe combined with a kimono, while his face spoke of havin seen many hardships before becoming a hermit and the corners of his eyes were ringed with a dark purple markings, he was by far not your typical priest.

Upon meeting Gen'en's eyes, the holy man's widened and he smilled with ingrating content.

"Ah! Your son brought the healer, Daiki-kun, that's very good" he said as he turned his face to look at Mio, the priest had an inquisitive look in his eyes "I don't know exactly what is tormenting your daugther, but it isn't a demon, but I think our friend here can remove it" he said with some confidence

"thank you for your help Moshu-san" Daiki bowed as he said it, not forgetting his manners in the face of a hermit "Gen'en asked that he be left alone to heal Mio"

"Understandable, I'll leave you to your work then, I think I'll go pray for your success Gen'en-dono" the hermit, Moshu, bowed and exited the room.

"I would like for some water, a teapot, some small pots and a a brazier be brought up, I'll need them for the medication"

"O-of course Gen'en-san, I'll ask the innkeeper to prepare it rigth away" Daiki said as he scrampled out the door, eager to perform the task so that his little daugther would get better. Gen'en pondered the situation as he sat down beside the sweating feverish girl. Last time he had taken her temperature she had giggled and called him silly for thinking that something could be wrong with her. But such was the confidence of a child. Now, she wasn't responding, she wasn't doing much besides breathing heavily. looking down on her covered by a few greying wool blankets and with her long brown hair all tangled up, made her look utterly miserable.

Finally her father arrived, with a great amount of noise in his wake, heavily breathing from running up the stairs, Gen'en noted with satisfaction he hadn't forgotten anything he'd asked for.

"Daiki-san, you haven't told me where Akahana-san is, is she also ill?"

"My wife have been so worried over the past few days, so the last healer decided to give her sleep medicine, so that she didn't get too worked up" Daiki said distractedly

"Hmm, I was wondering where she was, she will most likely want to be awake when Mio-chan is well" Looking at Daiki, Gen'en noted that he was on the verge of bursting into tears "It'll be some time before the fever breaks and the skin rash recedes I think, may I look at it?"

"Of course, w-what ever you must do to save my girl" like any father Daiki didn't like it when men touched his children, but a apothecary or seller of medicine was another matter.

"Where's the affect area?" Gen'en inquired, taking on a buisness tone, after all, now was not the time for idle chitchat, but for him to perform what he was born to do

"Her left arm, a-and shoulder" Daiki replied nervously

removing the blankets and part of the childs shirt allowed Gen'en to acess the situation, as well as smell it, they hadn't changed the child's bedding or clothes, thusly it stank of sweat and disease, which most likely had worsened the situation.

"Take these" he said as he handed the moist fabric to her father "And bring some clean clothes, it'll help her recover I'd think"

Without objection, Daiki rushed over to the backpacks at the door and searched for clean clothes, meanwhile Gen'en took a look at the skin rash. The worst of the affected area was about the size of his hand but the rest spread out almost thrice the size, creaping up her neck and down her arm and upper back, all of it a mouldy greyish pink. As he touched the skin, Gen'en noted the feel and texture, more limb than the usual taut found on unaffected areas of skin. Washing his hands as her father came with fresh clothes.

"How does it look?" Daiki asked shakily

"Hmm, I can help her, but it'll take some time, but I've seen far worse cases than this" He smiled reasuringly

"You've managed to cure this before? what is it?"

"Yes and no, sometimes the disease wins, but that's only in extreme cases where the victim have been bedridden for about a week, yet with children and elderly the health is sligthly less stable..."

Looking at him wide eyed, Daiki's mouth began to tremble as he was visibly panicking from worry

"I believe that I can save her, don't worry... I think..." Before Daiki could mouth an outraged reply, Gen'en continued "It's just that... this disease is a tricky one, it's no wonder that the other healers have failed to help her, Geta Wata (coarse cotton) requires some simple remedies and rare plants to heal, but I should be able to cure her with what i have, now if you would leave so that I may work in silence?"

Obediently Daiki rose, looking longingly at his daugther

"H-how mane cases have you seen?" his voice quivered as he posted his question, as Gen'en knew he would have, eventually

"Some 50 cases I'd think"

"And... how many have died?" Daiki was shaking heavily at this point

"about 4" Daiki's head rose with visible relief, tears welling in his eyes and a smile playing at his lips,

"In 10"´Gen'en finished, with sagging shoulders

at this Daiki's face fell back into it's previous uncertainty, but biting down, Daiki managed to leave for the door, yet before he exited, he turned to Gen'en

"Please, Gen'en-san, save my girl, money's not a problem, just... save her, okay" As he closed the door, Gen'en was already preparing the hot water, pouring it into a bowl with some fragrant dried leaves. Dipping his fingers in the mix, Gen'en masaged the skin ligthly, before he took more herbs from his pack along with a book, "Now", he thought, "time to begin..."

(Much later)

As dawn broke the next day and the sun began to flow into the small room, something stirred

Reaching down to touch Mio's forehead, Gen'en noted that the fever had broken, "Right on cue" he thought to himself as he packed away his book and herbs.

gently shaking the child awake, he was awarded with a groggly child voice, "Gen-ji-ji?" Mio's voice was low and quivering, as expected by her time being bedridden, but othervise there was nothing wrong with her. When Gen'en tried to take a look at the rash however, the small child tried to slap him, ineffectually, but she did manage to get a good grip on his beard and pulling...

Daiki must have heard his pained cry, for a moment later he dashed into the room with a look of alarm upon his face

"Gen'en-san, wha... MIO!" hurrying over to the bed, Daiki hugged his struggling daugther as she kept pulling at Gen'en's beard

"W-, Mio! let go of Gen'en-san!" Daiki said as he realised what his daugther was doing

"He tried to touch me!" Mio said accusingly, her grip tigthening, "Mommy taught me!".

"I tried to look at the rash!" Gen'en near howled with pain as Daiki made the angry little girl release him

Taking a brief look at Mio's shoulder, and discovering only a reddened area where the rash had been, Daiki hugged him so much that Gen'en began to have trouble breathing, let alone believe he would ever be released. When Akahana and Daisuke arrived to see what the commotion was all about, he thought that he was going to be hugged and kissed to death. Soon the room filled as the Innkeeper and several unsuccesful healers scrampled in followed by Musho the hermit. All were there too see the uncanny recovery of the little child.

(much, much later)

After he had left the village Gen'en had resumed his journey, trying to find more work. He was surprised to find the hermit, Musho tagging along. He was not overly displeased, but it was just that his work got a little harder when there were people around him to mess it up, besides, being seen alongside a Yamabushi might be a bit bad for buisness.

Musho proved to be more rather pleasant for him to travel with than one would expect for a holy man, He knew many more racy jokes than Gen'en did for starters. yet the talk kept going back to the curing of Mio.

"I'm reallly quite impressed by your abilities Gen'en-dono, most impressed, the little girl made a full recovery in such a short time, I didn't know what to make of her disease, what was it you called it again?" Musho blabbered on

"Geta Wata, Musho-san" Gen'en replied for the fifth time that day

"Ahh, yes, Geta Wata" Musho mused to himself before continuing "All the other healers couldn't do a thing about it, but you, you just went in and made the little girl jump around like a little monkey, oh how the parents worried, but you really saved them!"

"Yes, Daiki-san and Akahana-san were very grateful... and so was their son, kept thanking me they did" Gen'en said as he rubbed his still sore ribs

"And the villagers, Oh!? The villagers were so astounded!"

"Yes, they were, the innkeeper even promiseed me free lodgings the next time I was in town" Gen'en smiled nervously

"I just can't figure out how you did it" Musho kept on, his eyes squinting from looking at the sky as he spoke

"Well, I can't go telling everyone how I cure ailments, soon everyone's going to be a healer and I'll be out of a job" Gen'en evaded with a shy shrug and a half smile

Musho burst out laughing "I don't care about the cure!" He walked at quick step in front of Gen'en, before he turned towards his companion, causing the latter to stop in befuddlement "I wan't to know how you infected the little brat in the first place?" he said with a sly smile and searching eyes.

Gasping at him, Gen'en at first didn't know how to reply, Musho didn't give him the chance

"Oh come now, do you reallly think I'm as dumb as the villagers?" Musho mocked him "A girl takes ill, no healer can help her, then it turns out they came across one who played with the child a few days prior, and he just so happens to still be in the area! That's too much of a coincidence to me!" Musho's eyes had turned ever wider as he spoke, the green of his irises burning with a foul light and his brow twitching in eager anticipation, frankly, the man was starting to frigthen Gen'en quite a bit.

Shrinking away from him, Gen'en turned to leave "You're rambling Musho, you're twisted if you think that's what happened!" he pointed at the hermit accusingly

"True, all true" Musho admitted with a shrug "But so are my words!"

"You don't have any proof of that gibberish!" Gen'en was really frigthened now, he didn't know whether the robed man was dangerous or not!

"I have plenty of incriminating situations to pick from, the coincidence is just one of them, when I was with the child I could sense something odd about her, some change in her energy, like a foreign force that was not her own and could never be!" Gen'en was trembling under the man's gaze as he went on "Then, the smell! when I entered the room it didn't smell like someone was sick in there but of fragrant herbs, like you'd been drinking tea while you finished you little scam!"

Pulling back from him, Gen'en balled his fists "What are you going to do? Report me? And on what grounds? Suspision? No authorities will accept that"

"As I said Gen'en-dono, I only care for how you did it, the rest have no importance, but do tell me how, and don't bother lying, I'll know if you do!" The look on Musho's face had turned from victorious to inquisitive in the matter of heartbeats, something about the hermit made Gen'en decide to trust him, if only for a moment.

"You're a sensor?" He tried his luck

"A good one, as you'll realise in due time" Musho smiled crookedly "But before you answer, allow me to guess...Poison?"

Gen'en shook his head

"Ointment?"

"No, really I don't mix that kind of things, I..."

"Ooooh! Jutsu?" Musho was smilling slyly again giving Gen'en the creeps, "Don't try to deny it, I can sense you chakra pathway from here, not very strong chakra you got, but you're still pretty skilled with that technique, Geta Wata..." stroking his bearded chin ligthly "Is that... a hidden technique?" he tilted his head looking inquirering at Gen'en without blinking.

The healer just shruggered "...Kekkei Genkai actually, and if you don't want to let me go this instant, I'll let you try a dose of it and trust me, You won't survive!" he had taken up a figthing stance as he spoke, arms outstretched and open palmed, prepared to fight the other shinobi if he had to, yet he didn't like his chances.

"No need, I was going to offer you work... with that ability of yours, I'm certain we could make a lot of money..." Musho had his hands behind his back, standing completely calml, watching the apothecary with unblinking eyes.

At the prospect of profit, and despite the situation, Gen'en smiled ingratingly, his interest peaqued.

"Making people sick is seldomly a popular job..." He ventured cautiosly

"Some people deserve to be sick" Musho laughed "Besides... you can always cure them again... your foresight and planning is also quite welcome in the role I have in mind for you"

"And what role might that be?"

"Advisor saboteur, atleast initially, then, if you prove youself, council member and then... who knows? It all depends on you"

"You know, when the boy came to fetch me, I left a fish on the hook, thinking I could catch a bigger fish with it later..." Gen'en eyed Musho, waiting for him to reply

"But instead you caught a fishing boat, offering to give you a ride hehe... so... do you accept my proposal?" the hermit searched for deceit, he found none...

only that Gen'en's wicked smile mirrored his own, and they both knew the answer.

Shaking hands, Musho smiled shrewdly

"Well then, Gen'en-done, may I bid you welcome, to Makkougakure..."


The Misshitsude clan

Stay away

Home: formerly the Land of Water, now Makkougakure, the Land of Shrines

Description:

Many years ago this clan had to flee from their ancient homeland. The cause of this lies in the time of the civil wars, where the Misshitsude clan used their terrible Kekkei Genkai to wreak havoc and sow death and pain amongst their employers enemies and their subjects. The clan spent several years fleeing from counrty to country, escaping time and again their pursuers from Kirigakure and other villages, which were paid or hunting them for sport and excitement. After almost 15 years on the run the clan mannaged to find a home in Makkougakure. Their past experience has led many in the clan to develop a deep bitterness, paranoia and hatred for their once-countrymen which they maintain with such a passion, that shames even the greatest romance.

There is nothing romantic about the clan however. Their genetical inheritance, The Hifubyou (skin disease), does not allow for such a thing. This powerful Kekkei Genkai allows the user to transfer spores or pheromones through skin-to-skin contact or, if skilled enough, through the air itself. The effects of the spores range from lethal, painful or paralysing. The effect is completely controlled by the chakra of the wielder and by the exposure on the victim. The spores can also be commanded to leave the body and even heal them, but this medicinal area of the "gift" is rarely used.

A drawback on the kekkei Genkai is the way which it transfers. The spores easily activates if the user becomes exited or angry, easily spreading a toxic cloud from their bodies. This unfortunately regular occasion makes the users wear as much clothing as possible, which luckily have a much reducing and, most of the time, completely passifying effect on the spores. This clothing habit of course leads them to stand out in a crowd, which then again leads them to feel more isolated and alone in the world. The danger they pose to others, friends (which are indeed few) and neighbours, forces them to live isolated and closed off from the rest of the world.

When a member of the clan marries outside of it, the bride or the groom is subject to a ritual which is partially forgotten. The ritual leaves, if performed correctly, the subject immune to the Hifubyou. This also carries a double bonus, the married couple's children have an increased chance of having control over the Hifubyou.

Due to the many years the clan have led in exile they have lost many of their beautiful traditions and culture. Where once a they had a thriving tailoring buisness, they now only works as extreme bodyguards and enforcers. Their annual poetry contest are a thing of the past, so is their much appreciated takoyaki or their beloved tapestries, depicting not the times of war, but fields of flowers and feeding livestock. Where once they wore soft silk in all the colours of the rainbow, they now wear scratchy black cotton and wool.

It is no surprise they have become so bitter, having lost so much.

Current leader:

Gen'en Misshitsude

age: 57

Description: The saviour of the Misshitsude. A title this cunning elderly man likes to style himself as, most preferably within earshot of his clansmen. This stems from when he was kicked out of the clan for jeopardising it's safety. Born with a weak version of the Hifubyou, Gen'en made up for this with great skills in the field of trade and buisness, and he thus managed to survive where his clansmen would have been cut down. He became wealthy when his clansmen lost all they were and had. That was when he found them and made a proposition: "Let me lead and I will take you to a place where you can live and prosper". That place was Makkougakure. His clansmen reluctantly agreed, which finally granting them a place to call home.

Unlike his family Gen'en is calm and collected, selfassured, positive and content. His shrewd and foresigthed actions and investments have granted the village a tremendous economical strenght which they have used to rise in strenght and power. It is not an understatement to call him vital to the village's survival and a key figure within the growing society, built upon their leaders thirst for vengeance and glory.

Gen'en is an efficient leader, but efficient, the Misshitsude have learned, also means cold. The relationship between him and his underlings/famliy is strained at best and should they ever get the excuse, they would leave him in the blink of an eye. Gen'en himself does not care much for his family either, considering them emotional wrecks and ticking bombs, only waiting to blow off any second, yet he knows they need him and it's bad buisness not to use what's at hand.

Trivia

All the clanmembers are named after Japanese soy sauce variations, Gen'en is a type with reduced salt.

the Clans wardrobe is similar to the junihitoe, a dress normally used by women. A fact which the Misshitsude is often mocked about.

The clan's Kekkei Genkai, when activated, takes the form of several black rings of varrying size and proximity upon the users skin. This effect is inspired by a type of small very poisonous squid.


Unfitting

(takes place at the beginning of the series, in the Land of Earth)

The evening air was crisp and the temperature was comfortably warm, yet to say that Oshi Fushizen was pleased, was a gross misunderstanding.

Sitting in a tree and watching an luxurious onsen bath would usually give most men great pleasure, yet... he had been hired to find a peeking tom, not to have childish fun. Usually this could be trusted to some minor genin team (most likely an all-girls-team would have been assembled), but when the client was a relative of the Daimyo it meant they could afford a bit more than common foot soldiers, not to mention get away with remarkably more severe punishments for the perpetrator, and they knew it.

So one moment Oshi was trimming his moustache and looking forward to a good sunny day, the next he was looking for some sneaky pervert whom may or may not exist, since all the alledged evidence was that the young noble woman thought she had heard somebody snicker. And thus, Oshi now sat squatting in a tree under the cower of leaves and was looking for something that might not exist. All the while the young women in the lady's retinue enjoyed the hotsprings warm soothing Waters. As if nothing was happening, yet most likely they did it on purpose, to lure out the pervert. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that they might just be tempting him to sneak a peek himself. But if that happened and he was caught, Oshi knew that he would be on the recieving end of a guiliotine.

But, no matter how much Oshi despised the mission, he was going to complete it, besides, it was only to last for a day until another shinobi became available and he could switch... thank goodness he knew so many of the mission dispersal committee. even more fortunately, his teammates had been posting themselves way out of his way, allowing him some relative peace from the audacity of The Third Tsuchikage's granddaugther and her near constant jibes.

Looking over the surrounding bushy and forested terrain yielded nothing, so Oshi extended his survey, by putting a spyglass up to his eye and slowly, calmly letting it run over the hills, cliffs and gorges surrounding the mansion. Hopefully there actually was a peeper and he would be there that evening, catching and getting rid of a Noble's little problem was a sure way to get ahead in Iwagakure, in fact it was that way in most villages, know the higher ups and do them favours. And Oshi loved getting ahead, it was the only bearable thing about the mission thus far.

As the day turned to twillight, Oshi removed the spyglass to take a sip from his waterskin, wiping his moustache with the back of his hand, he accidentally brushed several strands of his facial hair into his mouth, making him grimmace and reach a hand up to gently wiggle it out. It seldomly happened to him, a fact for which he was genuinly grateful, Oshi couldn't think of a more rediculous and unproffesional look for him.

Sighing in relief that no one could possibly have seen it, he wiped the fragments of spittle out of his beard and looked over the hillside. Suddenly, he spotted something in the corner of his eye. Thinking it might be the reflection of the light in a spyglass similar to his own, he peered through his at the spot. Seeing light flash again, Oshi was rewarded with the sight of someone hiding in the foilage not half-a-mile away from his position. Snickering he noted direction and route to his quary. this was why a man should always, always, Always put a piece of paper over the top of the binoculars, in order to avoid that reflection which might give of your position. Oshi was going to make the man regret his mistake and make it so he'd never do it again.

Jumping Down from the branch, Oshi landed softly on the ground and proceeded to speed through the meadows and glades, bolting through the slowly extending shadows in a curve route to his prey. He knew how to play that game, come from the side, not the front and take the pervert in the rear. About half way there he started to lower his pace and some 100 yards from the position he had begun to stalk towards the position. smilling inwardly Oshi knew he might be too cautious, yet too many of his peers and comrades had perished in the previous war because they hadn't been on guard. Oshi doubted that he'd be in immediate danger, but a Little training wouldn't harm him. Briefly he hoped for his opponent to be a shinobi like himself, some exercise would do him good, just the usual sparring with Kitsuchi wasn't going to prepare him for war when it broke out next time.

Sneaking up on his opponent from behind, Oshi took cover in the foilage and bushes of the lower forrest stalking his prey, getting within striking distance. lifting the cover of leaves and thorny branches, the Jonin took stock of the situation: Not 20 feet from him, he could see a large man, a long, white, spiky ponytail covering most of his backside, dressed in a dark blue kimono, chuckling like only an old leecher could, while he peered through a spyglass. As if it wasn't enough, the man seemingly sat and took notes in a small book! Slowly letting the leaves and branches rustle back into position, Oshi smiled to himself, he could practically smell the reward he was going to get for this catch already.

Preoccupied with peeping, the leecher wouldn't know what hit him until it was too late.

Folding his hands into the Snake seal, Oshi began to mould chakra. Doton: Damarikomu no jutsu (Earth release: Sink into silence technique)

A moment later the ground beneath the old man descended, causing the man to call out in surprise, not 2 seconds later he hit the botton of the dark hole.

Oshi calmly strode over to where the man had sat mere moments before and peered down into the hole. Eigth feet bellow him he could see the man grasping his head while groaning in pain. Mentally clapping himself on the back for a job well done, Oshi proceeded to grap an Explosive Note from the front pouch of his Flak Jacket. He could've just closed the hole and allowed the man to stew a little, but why wait?

Jangling it over the entrance into the hole, he made certain that the man could see it, though he didn't doubt the he could, even though Oshi himself couldn't see the man's face himself ´due to the lack of lighting.

"This piece of paper is a bomb. So if you don't want to be blown up, I suggest that you admit to having peeped at the Noble ladies onsen for the last few days"

Knowing the drill, Oshi was prepared for the initial denial and pleading, all futile of course, as he had practically caught him red handed.

"Okay"

Oshi mouth dropped open: That was a surprise. Peering down into the whole he couldn't have maske dhis surprise even if he had had no feeling whatsoever.

"WHAT?"

"I said: Okay! I peeped! But can you blame me? Young girls are pretty!" The man sounded to be actually proud of his crime. Oshi's temper had begun to rise, even though an unrepentant villain was likely to make his employers gratitude soar, it would cause him no end of trouble having to listen to the man as he brought him in.

"Why you little perverted..." Oshi began furriusly

"I'm not a little pervert, I'm a big one!" the man interrupted proudly

Not waiting for Oshi to recover, the pervert continued:

"Now how about helping me up from this here hole you've made and we'll call it even?" Oshi wasn't sure, but he was certain that the man was giving him a thumbs-up Down there in the darkness either way.

Feeling his rage flare, Oshi struggled to keep his hand from letting go of the Explosive Note.

"Listen up scum! You're in no position to make suggestions so just.." at that moment Oshi sensed rather than felt a kunai suddenly materealise at his throat

"Oh, but I am" the man's voice came from behind him, meanwhile Oshi could see a puff of smoke emerge at the bottom of the hole where the man had stood not a moment before.

Kage Bunshin! Shinobi!

Steeling his nerves, Oshi managed to keep cool and reply

"What are you doing here? You can't just be here to spy on a few girls bathing"

"Actually, I am, so how about you just go your merry way and I won't have to kick your ass" The enemy responded in a matter-of-fact tone with the meerest hint of a threat.

Oshi wouldn't have cared for it even if the man had yelled and pricked his neck. His face had been contracting into a mask of defiance and Oshi swiftly formulated a plan to turn the tables on his foe

"How about... No!"

Letting go of the explosive note and swiftly clapping his hands, Oshi felt the kunai slice at the side of his throat as the man was propelled back by the small tremor he had caused to erupt around him. Putting a hand up to inspect where the Kunai had been a mere moment before, Oshi was pleased to see that his hand came back unblodied. It had been a gamble, but he had been the swifter shinobi, activating his Kekkei Genkai before the man could end him.

His enemy had noticed this aswell.

"A hardening technique?"

"The best, Ikiyurasu! You can't hope to scar me with a mere Kunai!" The other shinobi's response to Oshi's boast was instantaneous, throwing a Kunai! Not bothering to dodge it, Oshi saw too late that it had an Explosive Note attacthed. He didn't have time to dodge the large blast that ensued.

- - - - -(scene change)- - - - - -

(Inside the mansion)

Kurotsuchi had believed this to be a quiet mission, but the sudden explosion on an adjacent hill made her change her mind. Oshi had found something no doubt, but how he was faring against it was another matter entirely, the man could be reckless in his pursuit for advancement, but she wasn't certain that he'd use an Explosive Note to make the capture of a peeping tom more spectacular in order to get more credit.

Barging into the Onsen and the sound of noble women screaming in shock over the commotion, She quickly threw the ladies some towels and proceeded to hurry them inside for their own safety.

She would check up on Oshi later, she was certain that gramps would have her hide if she bolted away from these pampered girls in order to see what was going on outside.

- - - - -(scene change)- - - - -

While the Ikiyurasu shielded him from getting injured, the shockwave of the blast flung Oshi backwards down the hill and chrashed him through several trees. Rising from the debris with some difficulty, he shook his head violently in order to clear his vison.

Speeding up the hill, he found him crestfallen, looking through his spyglass

"The girls... they're gone..." He said sullenly, lowering the spyglass from his teary eyes

"I'm still here you bastard and soon I'll be in your face" Oshi took a defensive stance, wanting to see if the man was a one trick wonder

"You really want to go through with this don't you?" the man looked at him tiredly, he couldn't be more than 50 years old, with red streaks below each eye, Oshi couldn't help the feeling that he'd seen him before somewhere...

"Listen, the girls are gone so I've got nothing more to do here, so how about you just..." The old man began

"What were you doing here? You can't have come here just to spy on those ladies for your own sake" Oshi was certain that there was more to this than met the eye, he just neede a confession.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" The man looked at him perplexidly

"You were going to blackmail them weren't you?" that had to be it! There was no way a shinobi would just be out in the wilderness watching an onsen without some agenda in mind.

"What! No! I'm collecting research for my next book!" The old man proudly withdrew a volume from his Kimono titled: Icha Icha Paradise

Looking dumbfound at the man, Oshi's lips began to coil up forming a frustrated sneer. He was actually figthing and had been taken unaware by some second-hand writer wannabe!

"What, you don't know it? Come on man, I'm famous!" the old shinobi went on exasperately

"Never heard of it, and you wont be writing a sequel you dog!" Taknig the initiative, Oshi stormed forward with the Ikiyurasu still active, intent on knocking the old geezer out before he had time to perform a single handseal.

Anticipating this move, the old man twisted on the spot, one arm shooting backwards and froze for the briefest of moments, for then to plunge back, palm open and fingers bent.

"Rasengan!"

Oshi had just time to see a ball in his opponents hand, before it connected with his gut, the force of the chakra used making his Ikiyurasu crumble and break and slam him backwards into a hard tree trunk, knocking the air from his lungs. He landed on his knees and arms, barely managing to stop himself from falling completely flat on his stomach.

The moments he took to recuperate was enough for his opponent to perform yet another technique

"Doton: Yomi Numa!" (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld)

By the time Oshi had caught his breath again it was too late, his arm and knees were swallowed up in sticky mud and he was slowly sinking deeper into the conjured morass.

"What the...?!" He began

"Don't worry, I won't kill you, but I will leave you to cool off a bit" the old geezer laughed, "Oh, and for the record, I'm planning to do a whole series of these!" he mockingly waved his book in front of Oshi face before he turned and left the area.

When his teammates found him, Oshi was twitching in rage at the way he had been beaten.

Even more so when Kurotsuchi began to laugh uncontrolably at him for it.


The Fushizen clan

So fake its true

Home: Iwagakure, the Land of Earth

Description:

Many years before the founding of the hidden villages, the Fushizen made their home in the lands to the west. They began life as a clan of ninja whom supported their economy with coal mining until one member discovered that she could compress the coal, forming diamonds. Soon after the Fushizen had gathered enough money to leave their former home, moving onto a greater path in life involving riches beyond their wildest imagination. Compressing coal, earth and stone into diamonds made them wealthy, but due to the fact that the diamonds wasn't real and dessolved back into their former state they were always on the run from authorities and other clans.

The Fushizen finally settled down when Iwagakure was founded, thus bringing an end to their constant scams and trickery. Though they no longer fabricate false products the clans reputation is hard to let go of. To this very day the clan suffers from this point of view, though they are slowly becomming more and more respectable as Daymio and other people of importance realise the quality of their jewlry making skills. Many a maiden have been swayed into marriage by a Fushizen ring, bacelet or necklace (true, in the past, many a marriage has also desolved due to this).

Due to the wealth the clan have accuired through countless scams and honest trades, their lifestyle were greatly improved from the poor miners they once were. This change of lifestyle have led the clan to become increasingly elitist, only perfection is good enough. In truth, nearly no member of the clan have died any less than jonin. Those who do die before gaining this rank are traditionally disowned.

In the village of Iwa, the Fushizen is well known and respected. Their cunning has not dimminished through the years and they have become increasingly ambitious and ruthless in their pursuits. True, the clan have also become highly loyal to the Tsuchikage, as the first one showed them trust, where all others doubted the sincerity of their word of honor. Their courage and skills as defenders using their kekkei genkai is near legendary and many in the village look up to them because of those traits.

The Clan's kekkei Genkai the Ikiyurasu (spirit rock)'s main ability is to compress matter into the density and impregnability of a diamond, which it also resembles to a near perfect degree. Though unlike a real diamond the one created by a Fushizen dissolves over time or the further away the user goes from it. The ability works like a field or aura, which hardens nearby object and can in some cases make Doton (earth release) techniques more resistant or completely immune to Raiton (lightning release) techniques. This makes them superb defenders and guards, as well as highly prized sensei, as it is commonly believed their strength in Doton rubs of on their students.

Prominent member:

Oshi Fushizen

age: 38

Description: Cunning, ambitious, driven, ruthless, lying and decieving, Oshi is a fine example of all that made the Fushizen distrusted in the past. His goal is to become the leader of his clan and his great familiarity with the fourth Tsuchikage has only aided him. His devotion for her and her goals are similarly beneficial and there has been much gossip whether or not the two are romanticly attached. The great faith they both put in eachother certainly speaks of such a relationship. But nothing has been confirmed.

A proud and skilled shinobi, Oshi is a great advantage to any team he is assigned, always following orders to the letter in accordance to the political ladder. But despite all his cunning many of his plans (especially those that doesn't involve battletactics) ends up being futile (this, he usually blames on his subordinates, which has proven to him just how incompetent anything below jonin rank can be).

Trivia

The Fushizen clan symbol is (unsurprisingly) a stylized diamond divided in 4 by a thin white line. The diamond patern changes color from white to blue to black, to depict rank and skill within the clan, it is possible for each individual quarter of the symbol to be a dífferent color.


Damages

(Takes place around the time of Shippuden, Somewhere on the outskirts of Kirigakure)

The sound of raw iron being struck and the hiss of redhot steel being plunged into cold water filled the smithy as snow continued to drift from the grey white sky outside.

Kenshiki had been sent by her father to get some reapirs done to a number of tools used by their clan, and what better place to having repairs done than in the Toushou clan's workshops. while their respective clan's seldomly interacted due to the difference in their activities, her father Jaken had presumed that sending her off rather than somebody else, would mean that they would get a discount on the price. It was a bit presumptuous ´to assume a student could make such a demand of a sensei, but Sa-do-Sensei was renowned for his good hearted (by Kiri standards) nature, so perhaps it wasn't so far fetched.

Kenshiki had relished the though of getting out of the clinic for a few hours, recently more and more had been wounded on missions and the kept going to them rather than the hospital due to the swifter service. Broken bones, cuts and gashes could be dealt with but it grew a little monotone in the long run, doing only that!

Once in a while, she secretly envied other medic-nin for being allowed a little more freedom on missions. But as ever, she was obedient, if she started to rebel people would say that she resembled her uncle even more, and she resented that more than anything else, even her Sensei's constantly good mood.

looking down at the sitting old man as he worked on sharpening a scalpel on a whetstone, she briefly wondered whether he ever thought how it would be not to be bound by old clan traditions or some crazy relative he had never even met.

Watching her Sensei examine the small delicate blade with his squinty eyes and little smile playing at his wrinkled lips, made Kenshiki doubt it.

Looking for another distraction in the active workshop, Kenshiki's eyes fel on an old black-white painting of a smilling man with a strange short haircut, with his midlenght hair standing straight up on his pate while it was allowed to fall down on the sides, covering his ears. His face was contorted into something that highly resembled a smile though with the large incisors at the bottom of his mouth made it look more like he couldn't close his mouth. A large nose and wrinkles made up the rest, except the eyes. Squinty and mismatched it made it look as if the painting was incomplete.

"It's complete you know"

She hadn't realised that the sound of her sensei working had ceased until he had spoken.

"Ok, I'll just take them back to the clinic then..."

"Not the tools!, the painting, Jii-chans eyes were really mismatched" Her sensei corrected her politely.

looking at him in surprise, Kenshiki began to get nervous, Can he read minds?

"How did you..." She stuttered

"Most people ask that question, when they see that painting, One of his many traits that put people off" Sa-do said as he resumed sharpening the scalpel, this time on a piece of coarse paper, only the sound of the small sand corns inbedded into the fabric showed the ingenuity of the act, rather than the initial oddity.

"I keep it as a good luck charm, Jii-chan would've wanted that, he always loved the smithy, after he was killed by the Kin-Gin Brothers... aah!" The old man cried in pain as he had absentmindedly cut himself on the scalpel as he spoke, having been lost in the throes of history. Kenshiki quickly moved to his side and placed her hands on his wounded finger, stemming the stream of blood and healing the cut.

"Ah, thank you Kenshiki-chan, I need to stop telling stories when I work eh? heh heh heh" the man laughed overbearingly at his misfortune while he resumed his charge.

"Who're the Kin-Gin Brothers?" Kenshiki inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her, despite not wanting to mend any more of her sensei's minor injuries, it was always interesting to hear about some famous shinobi. Thankfully Sa-do stopped sharpening the scalpel for a moment to answer:

"A duo of shinobi from Kumogakure, in their day they were called The Two Lights, they were... something else..." Sa-do trailed off, seemingly unhappy about the memories. Kenshiki looked at him briefly, glimsing a rare moment when the man didn't smile contently. She knew it was rude to press her question, but she had to know more.

"What made them special?" for a moment she thought he wouldn't respond, but then he spoke with words as dour as the weather.

"They had some special weapons, the Treasured Tools of the Sage of the Six Paths, said to have been owned by the Sage himself..."

"Like the Seven swords of Kirigakure?" Kenshiki blurted out, unable to contain her surprise.

"No, the seven swords were made by my grandfather Sengo, but the fate of the wielders are painfully similar..." Sa-do frowned

"They died? that's the way everyone's fate is..."

"No Kenshiki-chan..." Sa-do shook his head gently "...They became Missing-nin, the shame of their villages, only made bigger by their strenght and power..."

Sa-do was quiet for a moment before he resumed sharpening the scalpel with a few strokes through twin sheets of coarse paper.

Kenshiki stood silent, looking out on the falling snow with out even seeing a single thing, lost in thought. The talk of missing-nin, strenght and swords had only reminded her of her infamous uncle, a monster of a shinobi she never had, nor hoped to ever meet. Yet she couldn't stop herself from continuing the QnA.

"What was it you were going to say Sensei? before you cut yourself, I mean"

"Hmm?" Sa-do said absent mindedly while scratching his stubbled chin "Oh yes" he smiled snapping his fingers "After Jii-chan's death we put up his Picture as a good luck charm, My father and uncles always said it felt like he was still there to correct them hehe" the old man sighed before he tested the scalpel on a thin strip of silk, slicing it in twain, frowning sligthly Sa-do retrieved the wetstone he used earlier and started sharpening the blade all over again.

"Always telling them what to do and they liked it? Wouldn't they want to do things their own way? Get out of his shadow?" Kenshiki said with a tone that was so bitter it almost smelled like lemons. Having heard her, Sa-do slowly rose and walked over to his student, with his half-wobble, half-gait it always made an entertaining spectacle, yet somehow he seemed less ludacriss right there than ever before, even when one of their teammates had died, barely a week ago.

"What to do? Own way? Shadow?" he sighed as he placed a hand on Kenshiki's shoulder "You make it sound like they were under some curse" he chuckled before he continued with an ingrating smile "They choose to listen and hold their mentor, their father, in high regard, knowing that what he did was the right thing, that it Worked! Had they followed their own wills their work might've turned bad and their skills deteriorate over time. To put their fathers legacy as well as the clan honor in jeopardy" Sa-do smilled knowingly "History is not a shadow to hampen the present, but a foundation for it to build upon, great becomes greater, legacies are continued..."

"And shame deepens" Kenshiki cut in, glumly folded her arms, rested against the wall and turned her head to look out the windows at the falling snow.

"Or is abolished and turned into honour... You Momochi of all, need to understand that lesson" Sa-do removed his hand and sat down with the scalpel again and resumed sharpening it. And for a few minutes they didn't say a single word.

"Did it take you long to learn that lesson sensei?" Kenshiki said harshly, still looking out through the window.

Her words had made Sa-do stop sharpening the scalpel and for a moment she thought that he had actually become angry, she was not much wrong.

"Every day I'm reminded of the shame I have, and every day I learn that lesson again" his words came through gritted teeth, his hands cluthing his knees. For once he didn't sound content or happy or even the least bit comfortable, it had all been replaced with a contemptuous stone like tone that defied even the sligthest objection. Kenshiki hated that tone, he had used it when Kaba had fallen to his death, ordering her to remain behind in the mountain pass, while he and Kenji tried to find their missing comrade.

"And so do you, I think" His tone changed again, becoming softer, yet still strong "I focus on the new tools to be forged instead of remembering all those that broke, look to the new day, it might yield what the past didn't"

Turning to look at him, Kenshiki found that her sensei had almost resumed smiling again while he concerned himself with his task. Deep down, she knew that he was right, in his own happy-go-lucky way.

It didn't help to concern herself with the wounds of the past, but what could you do, when everyone else kept expecting you to rip them open again?


The Momochi clan

Abominable beliefs

Home: Kirigakure, the Land of Water

Description: One of the most prominent clans in Kirigakure, the Momochi has a long tradition where in everyone ends up at their doorstep at one point or another. Who should have known, that the clan that gave birht to two members of the Seven swordsmen, including Zabuza, the infamous demon from the hidden mist, should be composed of medics.

The clan's medical tradition is so strong that it is a unwritten rule not to cause the death of another human being, a fact for which members have been publiclly kicked out of the clan. The rule only applies to clansmen, not to outsiders or associates and subordinates, a member can easily order the execution of another man, but this is usually frowned upon as this is technically a grey area in the rules.

The reason behind this rule is lost in time, yet a persistent legend has it that the founder of the Clan, then a lowly advisor, made a pact with a demon in order to save the life of a very ill (and powerful) Daimyo. In Exchange for the power to cure the Daimyo, the demon possessed the founder. The Daimyo, though grateful for being saved, condemmed the Momochi founder for his blasphemous conducts and banished him from the realm. Once the momochi killed a man tgrying to rob him, he was assailed by a red fog which clouded his eyes and he went berserk, slaugthering many until his rage was spent. Horrified at what he had done, he vowed to save lives and not take them, lest the demons influence returns to haunt him. Whether or not this is true is up for much serious debate (though all sane Momochi will deny it), it can't be argued that some members of the Clan is born exceptionally gifted figthers, some even managing to become members of the Seven Swordsmen of The Mist. These members are rare and universally scorned by the rest of the clan for the talent for causing death and their closest relatives often live in fear that they themselve or their chilren will show signs of such traits.

A tradition which makes the clan absolutely terrible is their funeral practices(or lack of such). Due to their "do not kill" rulé the clan adopted a twisted and outright horrible world view. Instead of letting their dead kinsmen rest, as everyone else does, the Momochi pours some of their chakra into the body of the deceased. They themselves refer to this as the ultimate medical ninjutsu. To everyone else this is a grim and dark Kinjutsu. The result of this chakra transfusion is that binding of the deceased's soul wíthin their body once again, effectively reviving them back into life. But the revived is then subject to work as slavelabour and bodyguard. When the soul gets bound, the will and personality becomes imprisoned along with it, leaving the Clansman's body a living dead, an automata that wanders around like a zombie doing whatever they are ordered.

When the technique, called Kyonshi no jutsu (Hopping Corpse Technique), has been completed, one of the participants is chosen to be their lord or lady, from whom they take orders from first and foremost. The task the master is given is to look after the revived and insure that their sould and will does not take command again. when this happens the revived is in all standards human again and can therefore do as he or she pleases. But in most of the rare cases inwhich this has happened, the revifved was subject to such a shock that they perrished again shortly afterwards, something the Momochi is not very keen on happening. the Shock mainly manifests due to the tasks that he or she have committed while béing controlled, these mainly include actions the revived finds are in conflict with their ethics.

The clan grounds are placed far fom the main hospital and acts as a secondary clinic in case of war and sudden injured ninja. The grounds are a quiet place where the clan can relax and kick back after or before a day's hard work. Several tapestries line the walls and an increasing number of blankets cover the floor. This is not due to a knack or a special preference for the clan leadership, but more because not everyone can pay for the clan's medical services. aside from the grounds the momochi also owns a farm where they put their revived relatives to work. The harvest is used to feed the clan and keep it selfsustaining. Amongst the harvested grains are always several healthy herbs and seeds, used for medicine and ointments and the occasional paralyzing poison.

Prominent member:

Kenshiki Momochi

Age: 14

Description: A direct, driven, focussed, curious, unenthusiastic and unfriendly young woman. Kenshiki is considered quite the extremist as she has develloped the habit of being bald as to "decrease the spreading of bakteria" in her own words. She is not very strong socially as she have never felt the experience of friendship. This is mostly due to her uncle, the infamous Kijin, whose tendencies many fear will begin to take control over Kenshiki one day. Such fears are unfounded, though it is true that she does get excited when confronted with a recently dead, this remains the only point at which she isn't just going along with whatever her superiors are saying. The reason for this excitement is a mystery even to her. It may have something to do with her large curiousity, which have lead her into trouble in the past. Once when she was 3 she found a picture of her father and some boy when he was a teenager, she had asked him who it was. She were grounded for a week because of that, she later found out that the other boy was her uncle. Also, she once snuck into the morgue to see what was done to the remains of other clans, an action which had the same result as the picture incident. "A doctor have nothing to do with dissection, only healing or a revival": that was the words her mother had used when she had scolded her for that. "A corpse is in no need of healing".

Kenshiki recently lost a team member, Kaba Sankyou, when he fell to the botton of a deep ravine during a mission, he was dead when their sensei, Sa-do Toushou found him. Kenshiki didn't really feel sorrow over his death as he, unlike her Sensei and teamate Kenji Takoyaki, did not have an actual function in their team. As for the rest of the team Kenshiki tolerates them and their different habits out of sheer politeness. She has however a certain disliking of her sensei due to his restricting orders, rules and mindset. (As a sidenote she is becoming increasingly vexed by both men's amorous/promiscuous ways)

Outside of duties Kenshiki enjoys to read about history, medical reports and the different Kekkei Genkai and special abilities that once flourished in the Land of Water.

Trivia

It is considered bad luck to look into the eyes of a revived clansman

Before the graduation ritual was discontinued the Momochi clan used to remove their children from the Academy prior to the final exam, though some membbers still managed to become full shinobi regardless.

The other SHinobi from this CLan which made the Ranks of th Swordsmen is one I've taken the Liberty of nicking from chapter 668 of the manga, personally I think that the previous wielder of The Kubikiribōchō looks alot like Zabuza, perhaps a close relative?

Kenshiki means "Self-respect". divided the name can also mean Kenshi: "autopsy" Ki: "table"

The clan have never been more succesfull(wealthy) than after it joined Kirigakure


Preparing the steel

(Continued)

Trudging through the village of Kirigakure didn't help on his mood, it only allowed for his anger to ripen and when they finally reached their destination, it was practically ready to burst. Fortunately the guards outside the Mizukage's palace was smart enough to move aside as Choku came into view following swiftly behind Eikan as he led him towards the "elected" leader of their village.

While the mizukage's office building was a splendid and majestic construction, Choku only had eyes for the "help" that Eikan thought could be found in the Mizukage.

Ignoring that the Mizukage was in an important meeting at the time, Choku opened the sliding doors with a barely concealed rage, silencing the conversation on the other side.

In front of him sat several of the high ranking shinobi of Kirigakure around a long square table with the Mizukage at the end. The rest were mostly clan heads and representatives, Choku had never bothered learning all their names, but he recognised some large nosed Akebino, a Samidare with those strange goat like eyes they were known for and that carefree robed Hozuki who apparently had begun to grow a beard. On the Kage's left side he saw the head of the Suiume clan with a piece of paper put in front of the Mizukage.

The Mizukage was the first who spoke, while eyeing Choku with rapt suspicion through his one functional eye.

"What is the meaning of this Choku-san? Why do you barge in here when we're having a meeting?"

Choku folded his arms and growled for Eikan to sort out the talking bit, starring intently at the bearded Head of the village.

"My apologies Mizukage-sama, but we need your help, three of our members have been found murdered and we need to find the responsible party, and soon before the trail gets cold" Eikan hurridly said bowing deeply before the silent assembly, whom did not remain that way for long, some being outraged at the disruption, others at the audacity of the murderers attacking so near the village. However they all fell silent as the Mizukage began to speak:

"You want us to provide sensors and trackers I assume, hmm... But an attack this close to the village means our enemies are the bold kind, they might want to ambush us if we're not catious... " Turning to one of his advisors he said "How soon can we have a sensor ready for this task?"

"Unfortunately our forces are spread thin at the moment... It'll be a few days before we can get you a sensor or skilled tracker for this task" a robed attendant piped in

"A few days! We need a blasted sensor Now!" Choku almost yelled in frustration, hugging his arms tigthly as to avoid thrashing something, or someone... It was all he could do at the moment to stay from lashing out.

"We can't make one materialize out of thin air" one of the men at the table nearest Choku said "You just have to wait!"

"Wait?" Have that little whelp heard nothing?! Chuko thought as he stared at the younger shinobi, a large green skinned shinobi with small shark-like eyes.

"Yes wait, it'll do you good, now apologize for this rude interruption you've caused imme..." the man didn't have time to finnish as Choku's large hand shot down and closed around his throat. letting him squirm in an iron grip, Choku lifted up the smaller man, allowing him to get level with his eyes

"Listen here Boy: Those three were my grandkids, I'm not waiting for sensors or trackers or whatever that you don't have, I'm going to..."

"Choku-san that's enough! Put Hoshigaki-san down this instant!" The Mizukage's voice thundered angrily from the other end of the table, yet he hadn't risen, unlike several of the assembled shinobi down the length of it, looking as angry as the Mizukage sounded while those who sat mostly looked shocked or alarmed. Fear, fear could make people do very stupid and very violent things.

Growling Choku relented, letting the man drop to the ground, coughing and rubbing his sore throat,

Looking at the disarrey that had emerged during those brief moments, the Chaos he had caused, Choku felt rage boil in his heart. I ain't going to get any help here now!

"Choku-san..." The Mizukage began, trying desparately to stay calm and only failing sligthly "Your anger is understandable, but we don't have the manpower to deal with this right now... and I will not let the Wani Clan pursue some private vendetta when we don't know the scope of the situation!" even from the other end of the table, Choku felt the Mizukage's chakra, along with everyother man in the room, some being struck with outright fear.

"What if we gather some Intel first, what then?" A hoarse voice rasped from the middle of the table. Half a heartbeat later all eyes were pointed towards a shrivelled little white haired man, sitting quietly in his seat. Most starred puzzled at him, when they realished just who had spoken.

"And just how is that going to happen? Without trackers and sensors it'll take forever to sniff anyone out!" the Mizukage growled, clearly annoyed and eager to get this over with "Or have the Toushou made a sword that seeks out it's own prey?" the mockery made others in the room snicker sligthly, the man whom had spoken didn't respond, only turned his face towards Choku to stare with his bewildered mismatched eyes.

"No, not yet, But I got something that'll help Choku-dono already..." He smiled

- (Later in the village streets) -

"This better be worth my time Toushou!" Choku raged, he pondering if he had any reason to have followed the smaller man, only a hutch and the small hope that the crazed Smith knew something that he didn't, a rumour or a report giving some hint about the murderers he was going to track down.

The Toushou hadn't responded to his questions yet only smiled and wobbled onwards and beckoning him to follow. Choku felt like a fool, walking behind... someone that might as well be the village idiot! And yet he followed the odd, little, constantly smiling man, though he severely doubted his own good judgement for it.

"You're that madman aren't you?" Choku blurted out, uncaring whether he insulted his guide or not, but the signs were almost too obvious and the man too renowned for his oddities.

"Got a problem with that? Oh, and my name's Sengo if you want to call me anything" He didn't even sound angry at the derrisive tone.

"We're here" He finally said, having stopped infront of a mediumsized building, one bearing the Mon of the Toushou Clan. Even without it, all the clamour of hammers, chisels and files on steel made it all too easy to guess the ownership. Entering the Workshop of course only made the noise louder and more penetrating. The main workshop itself was nothing surprising, benches, anvils, forges worktables, stocks of Iron and coal, all the necesities of making quality steel. The practices that some... That is the practices of Sengo, in the forge were most surpising however, Choku couldn't help himself from gaping stupidly as the madman casually stuck his barehand into the burning coal to procure a redhot piece of steel for examination. His bafflement soon turned back into impatience. What's that loony stalling for?

As if sending his companions rising ire, Sengo gingerly led the larger man to the back of the workshop, apparently to his private working area. There he withdrew a long package packed tightly in white silk and tigthly wrapped in a red rope, did a handseal to remove the sealing and started to unwrap the layers of silk.

"I'm for Intel Sengo! Not for your toys!" Choku groaned annoyd, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying not to seize the man by his throat and shake him into submission. Though the thought was most tempting.

"No you're here for this!" the wobbling little man smiled as he unwrapped tha final piece of silk and unveiled a sword... or something that looked more like an oversized black bokken, the size of a Nodachi, but still more reminiscent of a Iron pole rather than an actual sword. Sengo looked like a first time father as he offered the object to Choku. Looking dumbfoundly at him, The Wani began to shake with barely contained rage. Seizing the Pole's leatherbound grip from Sengo's hands, Choku looked furiously at the rippled surface of the thing, the light revealing an abundance of irregularities on the "blade", like light reflecting on water and then back at the crazed Sengo.

"I'm not here for your toys I said..." He almost roared "I don't need them! I got THESE!" Choku shook a fist angrily at the smaller man, whom didn't seem to realise just what danger he was in, he just kept on with his queer smiling.

"And I'm sure they're good for roughing people up, like with Hoshigaki-san..."

"Bah, if that whelp have a problem with that I'll turn him into sushi!... And you into a pair of chopsticks if you don't give me what I came for!" Bending over the smaller man to look him straight in the eyes, Choku almost couldn't restrain himself when the smith's smile only widened.

"That's it! That's what you need! I call it: The Mugenshimon!" (roughly translated as: "Eternal tutelage") The crazed smith insisted while looking at Choku with expectation shinning out of his eyes.

With a trembling hand, Choku clenched and unclenched his fingers while he looked back and forth, from the Crazy clan head in front of him, to the iron pole in his hand.

Slowly his eye began to twitch.

Then he hit the smaller man with his free hand.

Or he would have, if the smith hadn't moved. Instead his fist plummeted through the air, with the target out of arms reach. Using the momentum, Choku rolled with his strike and aimed a kick at the smith, who again dodged.

"No no, use the sword, that's why I gave it to you, remember!" Sengo laughed, smiling as he dodged the blows raining down towards him.

Choku growled in response, not wanting to give the impudent smith the satisfaction of being oblieged. The rest of the smiths had risen at this point, nervously watching the duel, unsure of what to do. Instead he attempted to knee his opponent, kick him, headbutt, grapple, punch and crush the smaller man. All in vain as the smaller man dodged his blows, but just barely. In truth, avoiding Choku's attacks was easy, considering how angry he was.

Suddenly Sengo struck, a kunai suddenly appearing in his hand from out of nowhere. The strike was swift but stiff and off course, not even being close to hitting Choku, but not so with the sword, the Mugenshimon.

striking the blade did little but make an loud "kin" sound and just as swiftly as the smith had struck, he withdrew.

Starring at the smaller man in bafflement, Choku felt something click inside his head.

It wasn't painful, but it felt forced, like when he had first learned to distinguish friend from family, or ninjutsu and "fist" by his mother during childhood.

Lifting The sword he had been given, Choku looked at it with, not with outrage, but genuine suspicion and surprice.

"You're starting to understand now Choku-san" The smith said pleased

Choku, not totally convinced kept looking at the sword, his anger receeding. Pointing at one of the smiths, he said "stay still" and sligthly tapped the obeying craftsman on the shoulder. Feeling the "click" in his mind again, Choku had to admit that he was starting to get a good idea of the swords ability, but something still felt off.

Looking at Sengo, and pointing the sword accusingly at him, he said "You're not really you... are you?"

Laughter erupted from the smith's mouth as he stood straight, letting go of his usual waddling stance. Choku seized the chance and slammed the sword stright through the neck, parting head from body with a loud crunch and sending the head flying into a nearby wall wiht a loud bang.

Still the laughter continued.

Turning, Choku saw, not very surprised, who was so entertained by the situation. From beneath his workbench, Sengo appeared, unharmed and laughing like a fool. when he stood almost fully up, he began to clap

"See! I told you! I told you! It's what you need!" He smiled in triumph, "But did you realy have to cut off my puppets head? Those things take my sons some time to reattach" but despite his complain, Sengo was still laughing, pleased with the results. However to Choku, the results raised some questions

"Enough of this, what is it exactly this blade does?"

"In short it's the ultimate traning blade! Whatever it strikes, it absorbs knowledge from, if the wielder is able to use it properly, it can even read minds" Sengo smiled

"Heh, so you've actually forged 8 swords huh?" Choku said as he silently admired the mad genius that had created the blade.

"No, I've created 7 swords, Kabutowari is an Axe and a Hammer, how much sword is there about that? The only reason that it's counted amongst the others is that Mugenshimon is so hard to properly use" Choku replied, folding his arms.

"Hmm, as much as I'm impressed by your work, it doesn't help me with finding those bastards who killed my boys!"

"Ohh I can help you with that, they were struck by metal weapons, yes?"

"What else is there to strike with? You aren't making sense, you maniac!"

"We Toushou can smell metal, we sense it, we could track the weapons that were used" Sengo smiled at Choku imploringly as the words sunk into his skull, when they finally did his voice was llike thunder

"Whydidn'ttellmethatbefore?!"

"I wanted you to use my Mugenshimon of course!"

Choku almost hit him for his audacity

- (later in the Mizukage's office) -

"So what are the situation on the Wani murders?" Mizukage asked impatiently

"Choku-dono set out with Sengo-dono 4 days ago, Mizukage-sama, they came back yesterday, both wounded, but alive" An attendant replied "Our scouts report that they apparently caught the clan responsible and proceeded to buthcer all of the shinobi present, the clan have lost half it's number"

"Sigh... Very well... and the other half?"

"Our units are keeping a close eye on them Mizukage-sama, though the groups from the Kuriare and Terumi clan respectively, are in favor of killing them outright"

"Sounds good enough for me, I don't want any loose ends here, but be sure to question them first, I want to know if it was one of the other villages doing and soon!" the Mizukage finished, leaned back in his chair and resumed studying the message he had just recieved. I'll know if it's one of you bastards who ordered those murders, and I'll know it before this meeting, you can be certain of that, my dear fellow Kage!


The Toushou clan

By our steel, the world shall bleed

Home: Kirigakure, the Land of Water

Description:

Throughout the years there have been many suppliers of tools and armaments for shinobi, but few have ever become so admired and renowned as the Toushou. Superb craftsmen and weaponsmiths the Toushou began their rise to fame as supliers of weapons and armor to their local daimyo and his army as well as other shinobi clans. Their unique technique to make their weapon better, lighter, sharper and increase their durability granted them importance on par with daimyo and priests, a fact not lost upon their employer. As a result after their job was done, many Toushou were slain to ensure no more weapons would come from their hands. This practice ended when the shinobi Shintogo seized control of the clan. He developed a fighthing style combined the clan's talent in a smithy with the art of battle. The first time he tested this style, he accidentally slaugthered half the countries officials and completely obliterated the Daimyo's castle, burning it to the ground leaving only ash and ruins.

the second most important person in the clan's history was Sengo, better known as Sengo the mad or Sengo of the swords. Though considered completely crazed, Sengo was one of the clan's most skilled members, easily on par with Shintogo, if not his superior. Sengo was considered mad in part due to his incresingly wild and distructive weapons, but his madness was mostly a sign of his Genius and creativity, for it was Sengo who forged the Seven Swords of the Hidden Mist. Each one having unique abillities and uses. What few know is that Sengo forged a 8th sword, a small katana with abilities related to those of the Samehade, but he insured that it would never reach it's full potential. He did this out of spite, as the Daimyo who employed him indirectly insulted him when he called the Sword Sengo's greatest achivement. He avoided death that day due to another of his inventions, called the hands Sengo, a powerfull artifact of the Toshou clan. A small hint of his actual madness comes from how he behaved in a forge, where others would use a hammer and a sharpening stone, Sengo used his naked bare palm, never ónce flinching as his hand landed upon the white hot metal.

The Hands of Sengo are a set of 24 metalhands sealed withn a scroll that Sengo forged as a security measure, should he be assaulted while doing his work. the hands are forged in sucha way that they take the form of one half of a hand seal. by channelling ones chakra through the metal it is possible to perform ninjutsu and genjutsu with only a single hand. Thought this may not seem as much when ones other hand is uninjured it does allow the user to continue working with his metal. besides (as Sengo intended of course) the Hands even allow for two different jutsu to be used at the same time.

The hands are not the only security measure the clan has made to counter assasination. As most weapons and tools are made of metal and the quality increases when used for weaponry, the clan develloped a tecnique to sense or to smell the metal. This also hewlped them to easier find fractures and faults in their work and the work of others.

When the clan joined Kirigakure their wealth lessened somewhat as their clients became more focussed on the village and the country rather than the world. this caused them to take any client they could within their respictive borders, which made them play a large part in the Civil wars that ravaged the countries. They have not been blamed this, despite their swords taking more lives than any other factor in the wars, including the Kekkei Genkai clans. The Toushou's standing point with the Kekkei Genkai clans are very poor to say the least, this was initially not due to their high deathtolls but because they rarely sought the Toushou's services.

In the daily village life the clan continues to serve as smiths with swords as their speciality. they also tend to the flakjackets and the devellopment of different weapons, armour and seals for the village. An example of this is the Gauntlets worn by the Demon brothers, Meizu and Gouzu. They were "gifted" to them after they failied their first Kiri Chunin exam. (failure means punishment)

Current leader:

Sa-do Toushou

age: 54

description: Though not as gifted in the forge or as brilliant as his Grandfather Sengo, Sa-do is still a force to be reckoned with. When people sees him walking in the village, they tend to question if he didn't inherrited more than the hands from Sengo. Sa-do does indeed walk alot like his grandfather, knees bent out to the sides and looking shorter than he actually is.

Jolly and amorous, it is no Surprice that Sa-do have so far had 4 wives, 3 which died while on mission and of dissease, a fourth which took the path of missing nin and died afterwards. This unfortunate fact is not the only thing that Sa-do is unlucky with, most of those ninja and shinobi that have been taught by him have become missing nin, most infamously Zabuza Momochi. His latest batch of students consists of Kenji Takoyaki and Kenshiki Momochi, and formerly Kaba Sankyou whose tragical death completely... was ignored by him as he tried to assure Kenshiki did not see him all battered up and broken in a pool of his own blood. like many others Sa-do too fears that Kenshiki might one day become like her uncle. Therefore he often orders her to stay behind and do the lesser tasks involved with a mission raher than the task itself.

An important aspect of Sa-do's personality is his politeness and cheerful attitude. He could walk through a blizzard of Shuriken and still smile blissfully. This however does not mean he can't get angry, he easily does this if one should betray the village for example. When his last wife did so he became so filled with hatred that he slew her himself without flinching or regret. Eternally optimistic and unbendingly flirtatious he have no quarels or morals about flirting with any woman he meets on his way, even from other hidden villages (a trait he shares with Kenji).

Well versed and trained in his clan's techniques, Sa-do carries many things upon his person the clan have created and treasured over the years. the Hands of Sengo is but one of the important artefacts he uses. Another is the canesword of Shintogo. A sword which can only be drawn when the user have unlocked it. The sword's handle includes a tricky locking mechanism which prevent it from being used against the owner. Only the current holder knows how to open it, but it is possible to learn how to. When the sword is drawn from its scabbard it is under the complete control of the wielder. Understood like this, the blade will behave as the wielder wishes, becomming soft and yelding or flaming hot, all deppending on ones chakra nature if the wielder should wish it. It has been theorised that it is even possible to direct ones kekkei Genkai through the blade, but that have yet to be proven, what makes it differ from common Chakra Flow is that it doesn't tax on the users reserves, making it an ideal weapon in a prolonged battle. An extra cruel detail of the blade is that it is booby trapped with several nasty surprises for any potential thief.

Trivia

Toushou means swordsmith

Sengo is the first name of the great Swordsmith Muramasa, whom was known for his bloodthirsty blades

Shintogo is the name of the swordsmith that should have trained Muramasa


Settled in

(Set a few years before the series start, the land of shrines)

Grasping the cup, Retsutaro felt the warmth from the scalding hot tea inside, letting it warm his old withered fingers, before he took a deep draught of it.

Leaning back in his rocking chair, he resumed starring out on the street from the frontperch of the Shiroke clan compound. Sighing deeply as he surveyed the gloomy surroundings, as he did everyday, he was forced to remind himself that, despite appearing othervise, things were much better than previously. Atleast on a superficial level.

True, having a bunch of people around you reduced the chance that you'd get attacked, on the other hand you had to put up with these other people until then, inshort allies are nice to have in a pinch, but the rest of the time they were a pain. Retsutaro had lost count of the amount of times his house had been plastered in eggs or his clan having suffered some sort of ridicule or harasment for this week alone, nothing actually new about this Wednesday then.

Taking another sip of his tea, Retsutaro started rocking in his chair, trying to relax, he needed to, the news he had recieved barely an hour ago, hadn't been the most joyous. Hearing about one of his grandchildren almost getting killed during a "mission", would agitate most grandparents. Yet for a very distinct reason it always agitated people in Makkougakure more.

Retsutaro knew his grandson hadn't been on a mission, Kanki was only 11 and hadn't been deemed skilled enough for actual military duty, yet, though it was equally possible that he would never be elevated to that position.

Where Kanki had been however, was in one of Makkou's hidden laboratories, undoubtedly having been used in some experiment or another. Retsutaro knew (or was certain that he knew), and so did the boy's parents... and most likely the rest of the village's adults did aswell. And no one said a word about it. Musho, the founder and leader of the village, didn't usually bother making secret of some of his projects.

Everyone knew those experiments were performed for the sake of the village. And given Makkou's usual paranoid attitude, with its population made up of former war refugees, madmen and other people who had been persecuted, the experiments seemed less like such a horrible thing all things considered. At least on the outside. Having a functional madman at the helm wasn't much of a safety assurance, but somehow that odd man had gathered rogue Shinobi, orphans and other outcasts from the entire region and given them some sort of purpose and then subsequently called this ramshackle group a "Hidden Village". Makkougakure, "Village hidden in Incense", as if the place wasn't eerie enough already?

A village being founded on criminals, refugees and outcasts was not a model of efficiency, first there was the whole "Whatever it takes" attitude, with the additional subtext: "...especially if it takes exploitation". And Musho certainly lived up to that creed.

Second: there was the task of trying to make all these different people into a community, also hard given what most inhabitants had been through. Initially it would seem that Musho had tried to unite them through common hatred of Kirigakure or one of the other Hidden villages, then he had begun uniting them through greed, protection and lately he had turned to threats and hostages from some of the clans, or so the gossip went...

Thirdly, there was the rest of the World to take into account. Who would want a fledgeling village of Shinobi suddenly appearing under their noses? It was a miracle that the Daimyo of the Lánd of Shrines hadn't had them annihalated yet. Equally extraordinary was the fact that no other Hidden Village had reacted to their pressence yet, surely their spies would have heard of them by now? Finding them was less likely though, given where the village were situated. Another part of the explanation was that the village hadn't been officially named as of yet, until them it was just another settlement in a country that had been wrecked by natural calamities and war for the past decade and a half. It had finally ended when there were almost no people left to fight on any side, then a wave of settlers had arrived, some as explorers others in search for new fertile land away from war. Paradoxically that was what had ignited the people to war in the past, different Groups equals different ideals and goals.

Even now in this village it was being practiced without anyone really taking note. it wasn't a war yet, admittedly, it was only major disagreements amongst the village leadership, but give it a year or 5 without an outward enemy to fight and people would be at eachothers throats.

Retsutaro didn't hope for a war, but if it was required for his Clan to survive in this new environment, he would participate and commit the clan's full strenght to the cause if need be.

But presently he leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his tea. It was then that he saw him.

Limping down the street, Retsutaro saw that Kanki had been suplied with a crotch, to aid in walking. Thankfully he still had both his legs. It wasn't all who were that Lucky. Stumbling out of his chair, Retsutaro stood, watching his grandson as he struggled to make the last few yards to the the compound.

Walking towards him Retsutaro looked him over. The boy looked like he'd been through a tenderizer and then thrown in the freezer for 2 hours, long enough to be affected but not die. Half-covered in bruises and bandages, a swollen face and having gained a few bald spots making his short Black hair look like a four-years-old had cut it, he was a wreck but in comparison to what Retsutaro had seen, Kanki was in relatively good shape even if he looked beaten up.

Reaching him Retsutaro embraced his grandson who surprisingly huggede him back, trembling as he did so. Holding the boy at armslenght, Retsutaro looked him over yet again, smiling joyfully at the return of his young kin.

"Good to see you again lad..."

"Gramps... I...I'm sorry... I've failed" Kanki looked crestfallen Down at the ground unable to look the old man in the eye

"You've come back... and in one piece, you have nothing to apologize for... now come inside, you look like you're cold and I have some fresh brewed tea, it's just what you need" turning to help the boy in, Retsutaru made to walk towards the compound, but Kanki stood still, looking befuddled and lost at his grandfather.

"But... Gramps, I didn't suceed, I failed, I...I..." the boy stuttered while his eyes filled with tears

"You came back! That's all the success that matters to me or your parents" Retsutaro assured his grandson gripping his shoulder tightly

"But the village... Musho-sama..." Kanki began, now crying softly

Spinning Kanki around to face him, Retsu looked his grandson straigth in the eye and unflinchingly stared him into silence

"What matters is that you're safe and home" forcnig the boy into a hug Retsutaro could barely stop himself from mumbling "...For now" with a shudder that matched his grandson's tears. He knew that eventually his grandson would be summoned for another experiment, one he might not return from.


The Shiroke clan

Tranquil like a snowstorm

Home: formerly the Land of Water, now Makkougakure, the Land of Shrines

Description:

Almost 20 years ago this clan fled their home country to avoid persecution from superstitious villagers and daimyo alike. Though unlike some clans, like the Misshitsude, not all of the Shiroke left, several stayed behind, their reasons for this were several and as diverse as mankind itself. Having few other options the majority of the clan abandoned their brethren to what they believed would be their fate and set out for a new future. A very bleak future as it turned out.

The clan became beggars and nomads in the eastern sea, doing everything to survive their plight, raiding and pillaging was mostly frowned upon but it was used by the clan to get by. when they finally settled down in Makkougakure the clan. from time to time the Shiroke would settle down for a couple of years (preferably somewhere cold) to prosper a bit as humble farmers and craftsmen. Then they would move on as the native populace tended to somehow find out about the clan's Kekkei Genkai.

Peaceful by nature yet prone to violent often fatal bursts of raw power in stressful situations, this discovery was not much of a surprice. Often the clan would try to help their neighbours with their genetic gifts, but more often the villagers would try to drive them out. It was not solely for their Kekkei Genkai that the clan was hunted. Ninja equals a soldier and soldiers equals war, where there are warriors, war will come eventually. Feeble logic, but unfortunately it's the kind that simple minded and easily scared folk cling to.

Eventually the Shiroke settled in Makkougakure to try and regain the strength they once had. Within the village the clan are known for their hospitality and helpfulness, in stark contrast to the Misshitsude, who keeps as much to themselves as possible. The reason behind this behaviour is that they know what may happen if they are not kind and friendly, a too common practice throughout their years of wandering was retaliation towards those who denied them food and shelter. A burned field, a crushed barn, stolen and scared livestock. An experience the clan does not seek to experience themselves. This behavior makes them stand out in this village of cold wartorn individuals and subsequentluy causes them to be looked down on as weak and soft.

In fact there is a lot that the Shiroke does not wish to experience, War, battle, death, pain and conflict are smoe of those they are very inclined to avoid. As such the clan have been labelled as cowards and weaklings. As deserved or undeserved this viewpoint is the clan itself have begun to adopt this underdog attitude. This evolution in the common psyche of the clan is a source of tremendous horror to the leader Retsutaro, whom still remembers the old days, where the Shiroke were not beggars and farmers, but strong and resilent warriors, famed not for cowardice and elusiveness but for courage and mercy upon the field of battle.

Current leader

Retsutaro Shiroke

age: 67

Description: Aged and burdened by years of hardship, Retsutaro radiates a frailness which hides the character of a crouching tiger. This nature is only visible when one looks him into the eyes, in which one will immediatly notice his flamming stare, a flame which have not been extingusished through the cause of loss, war and the deppression that have gripped his heart. For though the clan have survived their blood have barely mannaged to do the same. Retsutaro watches the clan's youngsters grow in size and strenght each and every day, but he does not see the Clan's genetical inheritance. He does not see the Kekkei Genkai which have always been the Shiroke's greatest strenght.

Some (very great fools, according to Retsutaro) have asked the question if this will not end the discremancy of the clan from others, and that they may go home to their ancestral lands again due to this thinning of the bloodline. Retsutaro knows that it will avail them nothing in the end. To loose the blood is like loosing any bond they have left. A bond which was the only thing that have given them a home and a fighting chance in the harsh world.

Amongst the Shiroke, Retsutaro remains a reminder of the old days. Days where ruthlesness and death were commonplace and the where the clan were still in it's prime.

When the clan left their former homeland of Mizu no Kuni (the land of water) Retsutaro lost more than just his home. His daughter choose to remain in the country, for reasons completely unknown to him. He have not had contact with her for years and truely hopes that she is well and safe from harm.

Trivia

Shiroke means "white fur"

Retsu = cold, Taro is a common name for boys

in order to better hide the clan changed it's name, the original name was "Yuki"


"Here ya go, first chapter in my official guide to the clans and some of their members. These are made because I need to practice my writing and to show what I might use in the future within my fics.

hope ya like.

rnr if you please

I know a lot of the clan's are based within Kirigakure "but it's me favorite village" Will use clan's from other villages and countries in the next chapter"

All this was originally posted back in 03-21-10, but I've recently been reminded that lists such as this is not allowed on this page so I've written down a few short stories to the clans involved in each chapter, if that doesn't help I'll have to post them as one or two shots in the near future.

Hopefully I wont take as long on updating the next chapter.