Prologue: Whispered Rumors

At first, it had started off as but a whisper to the wind, holding nothing more than a rumor...

They call her the Dragon Empress.

Such a silly little rumor, it could hold no merit amongst the land.

She comes from a small noble clan, holding no ties to no one land. Nomads, they are.

There was a war raging on, families rising and falling like the ocean tide. For some, they came and went like a breath, unworthy of mention. But yet, the rumor persisted throughout, traveling far and wide.

She can bend the minds of men to her rule, all with just a look.

Soon, it had reached the ears of other clans, small like the whispered one.

She asks for no submission of will, no blind obedience. Just bend the knee to her, and fight beside her.

One by one, smaller clans, tired of dying for the petty revenge of the larger ones, began to seek out the one that promised them strength. They offered no special abilities, no bloodlines to sacrifice for peace. All they had to offer, was their loyalty.

She bows to no one; no damiyo, no clan leader, no man.

Civilians kept the rumor alive, carrying it with them from place to place. But, they never spoke louder than a whisper. The words slipped into minds like smoke, dancing amongst their breaths, taking shelter in their lungs, waiting for the next person to carry them.

She summons the very Gods themselves; they come down from their domain and wreak havoc upon her enemies.

Soon, the rumor became more than just that. It became a myth, a legend in its own right. For those who could summon the Gods had to be legends, as Gods were fickle with their favor.

No one has seen her clearly in battle, for she travels the field like smoke and ash. Her armor glints in the light, magnificient like scales, bestowed upon her by the Gods. They favor her in battle, for she always comes out victorious and unscathed.

Whispered words raged through the land, their syllables catching everything in their path aflame, lighting up whole villages overnight. No one was spared, all knew who they spoke of; they grew louder and stronger as time went by.

The Haruno clan, the summoners of Gods, the uniter of clans. The Dragon Empress.

Hear them roar.