BALLAD OF WATER...
Surrounded on all sides by the caress of a blue ocean accompanied by just a few smaller islands. The land known as Water country had a position in the world unlike very few.
Isolated and grown powerful thanks to their very abundant amount of resources which drew in many clans of ninja over time. The nation of Water took very little time after hearing of the formation of ninja villages to form its' own.
An like their brethren ninja they too had joined the ever running river called war.
At first the ninja of the village called Kirigakure had decided for strategical advantage along with a way to impress their Daimyo, it prudent to annex Water country's historical rival Tea Country.
It was a conquest for glory that was cut short when Konohagakure intervened by blocking any advance the Kiri-nin could make towards the Tea nation's hanging by a thread in peril capital.
Kiri though was quite adaptive and stalemated the Leaf ninja from ever coming close to their heartland, causing a slightly faltering Leaf ninja defensive line to retreat, forgoing half of the East sea and subsequently half of what was Tea nation's land; Nagi & O'Uzu island included.
Unchallenged in their homeland which was quite apparently the very sea their water nature ninjas were fond of, Kirigakure proved to be quite a formidable force not even a revered Leaf village could overcome.
In the minds of the many Kiri ninja and even their Mizukage; they believed there was no one that could ever hope to defeat them or let alone slow their warships that encircled nation after nation as far as Sea country in the vast East Sea.
Victoriously Kirigakure could proclaim they'd conquered half of the East sea. A whole quadrant of the sea's southern half.
The on a winning streak, more or less, Kirigakure would of had the tides in their favor if it were not for the very much unknown why interference of Iwagakure. Which invoked a series of losing battles for the Mist village.
Battle after battle on the outskirts of Water nation became the norm for a time as the Hidden Rock ninjas, thanks in part to the many earth nature warriors they had were capable to fight on par and even at times above their majorly water nature foes.
Unbelievably to the many Kiri-ninjas they were slowly forced back in to their own nation and had to concentrate most of their forces to repelling a Iwa invasion, seemingly from out of nowhere.
But the nation and it's citizens that prided itself on their strength did not concede any of their ill-gotten territory easily; No they made it especially difficult and costly for any ninja to survive an encounter with their forces when on the sea.
And slowly fighting against not one ninja village but two; Kirigakure was able to hold off both while inflicting serious casualties.
The oceans ran red with blood for what was months, feeding the blood-lust of the dwellers from the Mist with the lives of many upon many.
Yet even after stalemating their rivaling enemies with their clear advantage of having the sea on their side, the weight of fighting foes every bit their equal soon proved to be too daunting. Especially when they were fighting just for survival.
But as a nation often does from it's leader to it's people. All in time, though it was barely majority, wanted the war to end; the blow in losing their 2nd Mizukage had shell-shocked morale but not devastated it fully as the former Water shadow's aloof attitude had rubbed off on to many.
Revenge driven and not forgetting who had taken their late leaders' life. After inaugurating another Mizukage the vibe in Kiri had changed completely as if the once brought to defense village seemed as if it were to bubble over an lash out. . . at friend or foe.
Though clear as it could be, many knew Kiri's participation in the war was heading towards a costly climax. But ominously even the blind could see the village that coined the deadly phrase "to the very last man" was not simply going to withdraw without getting even.
Or worse yet as their history would blame; they'd get more than their share.
BALLAD OF EARTH...
Revealing that they were a village geared towards the very instinctual reason of why ninja were ninja. Rock village had sent a boy leading a large squad on a quest that ended with riches.
Onoki or Onoki of the two scales; a name that showed the young boy's ambiguity for having things his way and all odds in his favor. Had plagued Wind country in the worst way possible. Not attacking Wind country or Sand village directly but from behind.
Like a child in a candy store with permission to do what ever they wanted. The flying ninja made quick work of any settlement that involved financial stability for Wind country an Suna. Banks, markets, mines, and warehouses were the first things that were destroyed by the Jinton user who easily atomized what ever he could not steal.
In weeks he along with his team had stolen or obliterated what ever Wind country had put a value on to.
Even after putting up blocks to slow the gravity defying ninja an counterparts down was proven futile on Sand village's part as their weakened state was prayed upon day after day. The only solace the growing poorer as time went past citizens of Wind country got was that the newly inducted Kazekage was able to detect the boy if he was anywhere near a desert, hence; most parts of Wind Country.
Although consequently too late to make a difference for the failing economy of Wind country. The sensory abilities of the new Kazekage made Onoki's stealing spree of appearing from the air and either atomizing things or lightening them to near zero in weight to run off with; days completely end.
Which entirely made no difference to the thievish boy who was fully aware his smash or grab strategy had to wear out eventually.
Returning back home to his village Onoki with his fame brought back not just new fortunes of wealth but also leadership.
In a titanic battle against his long time foe; the 2nd Tsuchikage finally defeated the 2nd Mizukage in battle but at the cost of his own life.
A accomplishment of defeating the man known to be more slippery and formless then water itself thanks to his Hozuki clan backgrounds being killed by one of only two Jinton users who was deemed capable of complete invisibility. Only threw the ninja world in to a frenzy of revenge mixed fighting.
Iwagakure in turn became dead-set on destroying Kirigakure for killing their highly admired Tsuchikage.
The affliction of revenge had also infected Kirigakure who wanted Iwagakure equally as dead and had the hate and will to make their ambitions reality.
Ever vigilant and enduring Iwagakure watched knowing they and their rival knew of what had happened to the powerful Konohagakure, subsequently Fire-country.
Six months prior the Hokage had made actions to negotiate for peace with the Raikage and Kumogakure but was interrupted an almost killed by the mutinied Gold and silver brothers.
The destroyed chances at negotiation that left the Hokage and Raikage wounded leaving both village's without their strongest ninja did by extension weaken both villages considerably but none so more then the continuous war that each village had been fighting against their opponents.
In defense Konoha moved all of their adjustable hostile campaigns closer to their border so they would be more readily able to defend their country and village from threats. This allowed their many enemies most prominently Grass, and Heat village, along with the rioting samurai of the former absorbed Metal country to regroup.
With Konoha ninja forced in to defense due to seeing the inevitable battle they would fight with a array of villages, Leaf fortified their borders to extreme levels and simply sat in defense.
Iwagakure knew this well for they had been fighting Konoha in border skirmishes and the sudden erections of giant forts made by Leaf to suppress battles taxed the Rock village in every way possible.
Their line of fighting Mist through Tea country had been cut off along with any chance they had to get to Kirigakure by land without traveling near obstructing blockades from Leaf.
The southern sea from Fire country's peninsula where Metal country once was to Tea Country's main island due to Leaf's interventions was blocked off from any outside contact.
A entry point on to the mainland for Kirigakure forces was inaccessible too even if they went through Wind country from it's coast all the way to Iwa their chances of traversing the peril and gone paranoid from Iwa's constant pillaging. Made the odds of travelling Wind country, slim to none without sustaining substantial conflict that would weaken their forces considerably from Sand's defenses.
Oppositely Iwagakure as they planned knew the same problem was posed to them who too looked unsuccessfully for routes to Kiri. Routes that were not hazardous as their land locked country and generally rock nature ninja did not like to travel by water especially against foes who were well known to use water techniques.
All of Iwa especially the Tsuchikage wanted their battle with Kiri but not at half power or weakened from traveling through enemy territory of equally opportunistic powerful standing.
No Iwagakure as a great village knew it couldn't afford battles with their equals and go unscathed.
The only path left was one that would be the least treacherous; from Earth country through Waterfall, all the way through Rice country then Hot Water country. That would be the path they would take.
Iwagakure understood the path was blocked by samurai of the respective countries and some hired ninja but Taki of Waterfall country took care to never stand in their way before and Rice country was not even a challenge to them.
While Hot Water country due to fending off Kumo was still weakened. They in the eyes of Iwa wouldn't dare try to fight a division of thousands of ninja. . . realistically they couldn't possibly be able to after what was a legendary triumph that did still cost them allot.
Obviously the Uzu protected country was extremely strong but they were weakened more than any other waring power.
Iwagakure's passage was to them; completely secured. For if they were obstructed; they'd just wipe out the very weakened obstructions.