XI - Cry "Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war."
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There was commotion at the courtyard of Izumo Taisha. The sound was loud and frantic to Kakashi's ears having been inundated with the comings and goings of arrogant men; some of them powerful, most of them wealthy, and all of them self-important. What captured his attention was the silent figure of Sasuke. He had been called to attend. It was somewhat a surprise to him considering how his teammate, Itachi, has nearly killed Sasuke. An attack that had been attempted by the selfsame man that it had been a miracle they hadn't been thrown out of their ear.
'But then,' Kakashi mussed. 'Sasuke looks to be a death seeker.' Just as he contemplated the fact that his former student deign to face him and kept his back at him. A near suicidal stance, to be showing your back at the enemy. Even with his godly guardian, an obvious stance of inattention and a short distance was all he needed to claim a deadly strike.
"You do know I could easily kill you," Kakashi observed as he sauntered in. At the corner of his eye he could see Zuijin jerked in affront. A shake in Sasuke's head stopped Zuijin from making his offence known. Kakashi ignored the byplay. Instead he placed himself besides his former student. There at the balcony, they watched the cacophony of noise, as Kakashi waited for Sasuke to break his silence.
"His Eminence has given his answer correct?" Sasuke spoke at last, his gaze wholly intent on the spectacle outside. His choice of title certainly perked Kakashi's interest, especially coming from Sasuke's last challenge to the various nations. He had not been there but he heard Itachi's terse account that echoed with part confusion and part disapproval. He had slunk about and heard the various muttering of the different representative.
"The gall," Kage Onoki rasped with grudging respect as he took his leave from the shrine.
"A monster's blood runs thick," Yagura hissed as his priestly companion, Tobi, looked away in seeming shame.
"He's nothing but an imposter," the Raikage A argued against to brother in an almost attempt of self-reassurance. His voice had been a contradiction, firm yet wavering. It was as if he could not decide on what he believed.
Those odd snippets ran through Kakashi's mind as he replied. "Depends if you call a book an answer..."
"A book?!" Sasuke exclaimed in confusion. It forced him to turn and look at Kakashi who had been ready. The slim volume held forward for Sasuke's inspection.
Kakashi observed as Sasuke took in the tome he held in his hand. Those dark eyes flashing with emotion as he took in the colours used to cover it, deep purple silk with red and white binding. Sasuke reached out to grasp it. It was not lost to Kakashi how Sasuke's very own nail guards echoed the shades displayed in the book. Or that he was clothed in an ikan court dress that used the same colours, all familiar to an Uchiha.
Kakashi noted the thin pursed lips and the terse jaw. "You disapprove," Kakashi spoke, mincing little words.
Sasuke twitched before he mastered himself to a decidedly neutral expression. "It is not my business to gainsay His Holiness's decision."
Kakashi smirked at the shift of address. To most people it would be a normal quirk of the different dialects, but to a people born of ancient noble clans, it was a wholly different story.
"I'm sure His Holiness would welcome your blessing," Kakashi drawled.
"Don't be ridiculous," Sasuke riposted in a preternaturally even voice. He even kept his stare unwavering to match his tone. "Who am I to speak for the gods?"
"Really?" Kakashi challenged as he leaned down to loom. Much to his disappointment, Sasuke refused to be baited. Instead, his former student disengaged and drifted towards a heavy rolled package. It drew Kakshi's attention. How could he not seeing such a large package wrapped in danshi paper. It was a paper so fine and thick that is was only seen in ceremonial rites or important court documents. It's rarity bought about not only by tradition and protocol, but by its expense as well.
"This is my response to the Hyuuga's message," Sasuke replied with a sideways glance. "A gift and a letter to Lord Hiashi Hyuuga."
"Quite a pretty penny," Kakashi observed as he strode besides Sasuke. His fingers settled on the thick weave in an attempt to ascertain what it covered. But the thick cover prevented him from seeing anything, typical of the paper known to cost in gold.
"I'm sure a jounin of Konoha could easily dispatch of brigands."
Kakashi chuckled in an attempt to disarm Sasuke and redirect his attention away from Kakashi's curiosity. Although it was natural to be inquisitive, there was more to this than human inclination. When a noble shinobi clan attempts to speak with a known traitor, Konoha would take notice. Even with connections to the Imperial line and the Daimyo's line would not give protection from any scrutiny. Inoichi Yamanaka with Lord Kira Senju's consent had seen into the Hyuuga's letter with much care. Kakashi has been briefed on its contents as well as orders to peer into the response with equal discretion.
"You can look," Sasuke spoke dryly, cutting off Kakashi's act. Their eyes meet as Sasuke continued, "I pray that this will convince your masters I do not have their ambition."
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As the month of Fumizuki, the 7th month of the year ended, news rocked the sundered Empire of Go. Tensions mounted at the once complacent continent heard of Iron's response to Fire's demands on the Most Holy Shrine of Izumo Taisha.
It was unprecedented. The vaunted neutral arbiter of law has declared their side instead of the usual tightrope they balanced in between disputes. Instead, Iron had equivocally declared Fire's cause just. Rumours and speculation abounded. How can they not when such a stance had been unexpected? Even the regular folk who knew little had devolved into a nervous chatter. Most offering fervent prayers that this uncertainty would pass with little incident.
To the men of power and to the knowledgeable, this declaration of Iron reeked of backhanded deals and a seismic shift of the powers within Go. The careful dance between the various powers is no more. Fire has shown their might and the so-called mighty Iron has crumbled to its feet.
It is not to say Fire had any equal, but there was a illusion of one before. The merchant Nation Fire that had controlled trade to and fro the empire. A leftover from the Imperial reign when Makimuku was the capital and the region it resided, Fire, received the most development. The very beating heart and mind of Go; it had been said, all roads lead to Makimuku. With trade came industry, with industry came riches, and with riches came power. For who could resist the silken clad iron fist of Fire? A door to wealth and a path to ruination, all with a stroke of a pen.
That is not to say Jimmu and his descendants was short-sighted that they beholden the whole of Go to the capital. Various emperors and their courts had attempted to divide the different regions into unique pockets of essential resources and industry with varying results. It certainly helped maintain the status quo long after Go collapsed. But no matter what they did, it is an absolute truth that power begot wealth and that wealth begot power. In the end, Fire, as the seat of imperial power thrived and cast a shadow on all the regions. This was the reason why Konoha became the leader of the Hidden Villages. No matter how much Konoha would like to believe that it was because of Senju Hashirama's power or how the Uchiha would like to add that it was because of Uchiha Hikaku and Kenshin's diplomatic skill, they are all just a piece of the story of Go and it's golden capital.
In the whispered assessment between those of power, the best and most honest option, irrelevant of power play, was for Iron to decide against Fire. Uchiha Itachi can never be seen as the next clan head and with it the pretender to Go's throne. He had after all executed his whole clan. A betrayal that few could justify. The most important is that fact that in Fugaku's lifetime, Itachi was never introduced as heir to the people that mattered. No Uchiha loyalist, no history keeper, no shrine nor temple had heard Itachi declared heir. Who would believe Fire's propaganda about Itachi's place in the land? Only the ignorant and those with too much to loose would espouse such a belief. But Fire cast such a long and powerful shadow that many believed Iron would take the path of neutrality. It was the best option in keeping a facade of impartiality and independence. It would appease Fire and it's allies, while assuring the other nations that Iron would not bend to Fire's far reaching influence.
It had always been the case. So it should have been forever and ever, lest another devastating war would come to pass. A war that left Whirlpool nothing more than shattered land of ghosts beneath the water, and Waves as a paltry collection of islands clinging to existence.
But such an delicate balance could never be sustained, so the cynics said. And the realists would mutter furtively on the nature of war and nations. They would tell you that war is simply a continuation of politics; another hammer nations use to enforce their will.
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The droning of prayer was the first thing that greeted Ōnoki as he stepped within the walls of Iwagakure. It was Rememberance Day, a day of mourning and gratitude. A day when the whole Land of Earth celebrated their victory against the barbarian north and remembered the sacrifices made to achieve it.
Ōnoki bowed his head. 'Such a cost,' he thought as the bloody Tsugaru valley flashed before his eyes. The mounds of broken bodies as far as the eye can see. The red slicked walls of the Goryōkaku fortress as they waited for another wave of enemies. The implacable voice of Daimyo Kensho Ono as he rallied the troops, calling Earth as the Strong Wall of Go which will never break.
He hurried through the streets, intent on getting to the Isonokami Shrine in time for the main prayers. It was one of the things that set apart Earth from the rest of the nations. No hidden village contained their country's major shrine, except Iwa. Shrines were seats of power, and the combination the power of a Kage and a Daikannushi, a head priest of a major shrine, would eclipse that of a Daimyo. Such would tip the balance of power within nations. Except Earth that is. For one thing, though Iwa was seen as a hidden village by outsiders, in truth it was a shrine town. The Isonokami Shrine was the center of Iwa and the Kage and the shinobi were it's protectors, meant to circle and defend the shrine. The ruler of Earth, the Daimyo and his itinerant court, travelled from one fortress to another with Iwa as simply another of their stops. Earth was a land of different fiefdoms, fertile valleys hemmed by towering mountains. The Daimyo's rule was maintained by his presence and his will to protect. A will harking back to Imperial times when they were tasked to protect the vulnerable northern east border. So they did up to now, claiming their main seat at Goryōkaku, found in that said border.
As Ōnoki stepped into the hallowed halls of Isonokami, his hands and lips still tingling with the shrine waters he used to purify himself, he found a familiar figure waiting for him. A rugged swarthy youth scarred too soon and weighed by legacy, the current Daimyo, Daisuke Ono. He always invoked a feeling of grief and guilt to Onoki. The Here he was old and still alive, while his and his son's age mates have all died. All that were left was him and the grandchildren.
"Right on time," Daisuke observed as Onoki took his seat besides him. He was offered a cup of warm tea which he took gratefully. "Has the news spread outside?" Daisuke inquired, waiting after Onoki had set aside his drink.
"If you mean by Iron siding with Fire, that is all people can talk about," Onoki replied, remembering the buzzing tension that permeated the air. How all sundry feared the inevitability of war. It seemed Sasuke Uchiha's harsh opinion was quite on the mark.
"More than that," was the weary reply.
Onoki was nearly unable to hear it. Said so softly against the chant of prayer. It caused him to truly look at his young ruler. There was a deep exhaustion in him. Deeper than the days of the invasion Daisuke cut his teeth into, and perhaps just as weary as the moment they laid the former Daimyo, his father to rest.
"Pein has written that Fire has sent them a declaration of war, and that they will accept."
"Those fools," Onoki hissed. "Surely they should use the rules of three to delay and prepare for it?"
"Harvest season is about to begin," Daisuke remarked in a noncommittal fashion. "Your spies did say Fire has been rushing to reap their fields, perhaps Ame will as well. But then, none who had owned Northern Izumo Taisha has ever cared for their farmers, Konoha, Kiri and now...what about Ame?"
Onoki shook his head. His mind went back to the rulers of Ame; Pein, his right hand Konan and of course the shadowy ruler they could not truly hide from him, Nagato. They were young, naive and ruthless, foolish, but he did not think they would be senseless. Northern Izumo Taisha was rebuilt on fanatical lines of self-sufficiency. He spoke of this to the Daimyo, pointing out the reams of intelligence that attested to this observation. No policy was ever spoken in Ame, but observation and analysis showed a lack of importation, trade deals, and almost all produce was local. Imported goods were mostly found in the black market unless they were important such as the salt from Water and the steel from Earth. This drive to self-sufficiency meant that the farmers would be protected.
"So what could they push for an aggressive tactic? The Bijuu, the tailed beasts?"
Onoki snorted. "We know perfectly well the Bijuu were a failed experiment. Powerful yes, but uncontrollable, uninheritable and utterly useless." He sighed, "they must have another trump card."
"And I hope, this means they won't rely on us," the Daimyo noted. Earth was in a precarious situation with their treaty with Ame. It had been a very important treaty to the two nations. Mightily needed on Earth, they had been bled dry of their military might by the Third Shinobi war and the great barbarian incursion that soon followed. Though Konoha would trumpet it was the Minato Namikaze efforts that forced Earth to the negotiating table, in truth he was just one of the many factors of the surrender. The one with the most weight was the Tsugaru valley invasion of an unprecedented size. The Earth Daimyo and his samurai who protected Earth and Go from invasion since Imperial times were outnumbered. Iwa shinobi who normally handled the internal conflicts within Go were called to bolster the numbers. Earth could not fight a war in two fronts, so they surrendered in humiliating circumstances and paid with the sacred imperial jewel, Yasakani no Magatama.
The treaty Earth later formed with Ame was a welcome respite and a glorious coup. Earth well knew that Pein had been using the natural enmity of the Great Nations against each other to keep their independence, especially once Fire and Water's influence waned. But to Earth, Northern Izumo Taisha was not a resource rich minor nation ripe for conquest, they were an integral barrier against Fire and Water with Ame as it's bulwark.
"I will have our diplomats look into it again," Onoki reassured. "But from what I remember, the defence treaty is for us to give them our jinchuriki and supply them with weapons and steel. We have done both. They would not dare call us to arms, and if they do, it would require another treaty or an amendment to the current one."
Daisuke hummed. His eyes were distant as the droning prayer soared. Black plumes of smoke rose in tandem as one by one, the names of the dead were cast into the fire. Embers dance as the painstakingly calligraphies burned. Again and again.
"Do you think they will succeed?" The Daimyo suddenly spoke.
"Which one?"
"Anyone."
"Difficult to say."
A sigh. "I don't think we can be neutral."
"No, we can't," Onoki agreed wearily. "We are between the Fire block and the Wind block."
Daisuke Ono let out a bitter chuckle. "What a time to be alive, Onoki."
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The familiar chill of Mt. Matsuno'o greeted A as he and Bee strode into the confines of the Takeisao Shrine. Perched atop the misty mountain, the shrine was a grand glorious monument of stone, wood and still water. Visitors were greeted by huge blocks of stone and wood, floating on a depthless lake, while behind thousands of wooden scaffolding held the shrine precariously at the sheer cliff. It was a study of contradiction, massive and imposing that called all to kneel yet it was also a ghostly apparition that defied anyone to find it.
As they stepped into the expansive wooden veranda of the shrine, the deep sonorous ring of the gong rang.
"The snake and tortoise generals," a voice boomed to announced the two shinobi with their traditional titles. They were titles unique to the Land of Lightning. To honour the Northern guardian who called the Land home, each Kage and Jinchuriki had been titled from the North's legendary loyal commanders.
The call quickly faded into the abyss. The holy views of the mountain were so vast, the clouds thick and endless, that no matter the strength no sound can win against them . Not that it bothered the two men, too used to the impenetrable gloom of Takeisao and the Land of Lightning itself. The wintry north, home to the dark warriors and the Genten jōtei, the dark emperor of the heavens, or better known as Genbu.
"My Lord," both men intoned as they kowtowed to the Lightning Daimyo. The supreme ruler of Lightning and the Daikannushi of the Takeisao shrine. Unlike the rest of the nations who separated the spiritual and temporal powers, Lightning acknowledged both powers under the auspices of one person. This made Sasuke's theft of the sacred mirror such an insult that cannot be borne. It was a challenge not only to the Daimyo's right to rule, but also his right to claim the sacred mirror as the Head Priest to the shrine that worshiped Tsukiyomi.
They found the land's ruler gazing out into open sky. His eyes were distant as he stood amidst the fog that cloaked his choken wrapped form. The fiery golden coat with its billowing sleeves was too sheer to provide any protection yet here he stood, unbothered.
The two men waited in their knees as time ticked by. Then a sigh, as the Daimyo turned to face his bowed subjects, the pooling hems of his inner robes, o-hikinohshi, scraping at the wooden floor.
"What say you about the Uchiha saplings?"
The two brothers glanced at each other, before A responded. His hands lifted to the hold fist salute as he rumbled, "They are an Uchiha through and through. The younger had a message to all the Daimyo's."
"Oh?" The Daimyo responded with an amused arch of his brow against the pale skin, ink on white parchment. "Show it to me then," was the imperious command.
A nodded in obeisance. He turned his gaze at the bowl filled with the sacred spring of the shrine. Emptying his mind of all thought except for the final thrum of battle when the damned boy gaze at all of them with scorn. It was not to be borne.
The image coalesced from the still surface. The moon god's power evident as the very air crackled. A watched as the Uchiha whelp's image formed. The arrogance as he stood cloaked in the raiment of divine right as he declaimed the words of a long dead poet in an ancient language.
The Daimyo's head jerked in surprise, his long simply bound hair rippling like a stream. His eyes were wide as he watched the scene playing before him. There was strange glint in his coal dark orbs, almost avaricious, almost hopeful.
"Gyuuki," he demanded, breaking the stillness of the waters. The image disappearing. The Daimyo turned an intense stare to Killer Bee.
Mirroring A's salute, Bee replied, "His presence was familiar."
"What do you mean?"
"Toyoki, my Lord."
The Daimyo's finger's spasmed. The jewelled nail guards on his fingers, scratched the ancient wood. "Not Suinin, Ikumei? We've been wrong before. How sure are you?"
"My Lord Kagami Ootsuki," Killer Bee spoke almost gently. "Yatagarasu was there."
"Bee!" A admonished. "That's too soon to say!"
Silence.
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They were causing a commotion, this the Samurai Lord Okisuke knew well as he and his men rode into the courtyard of Izumo Taisha. They had ridden hard, Mifune's gruff admonishments ringing through his ears. Not that Okisuke cared. He was still seething from the Shogun's, the Lord General's decision to cast their lot with Fire. It had caused many an argument that had ran for days while that damnable Nation celebrated their good fortune.
Okisuke has much to say in those days. It had came to head when he demanded that they send a pilgrimage to Izumo Taisha, a belated offering in the form of officially declaring their ruling on the Fire block's complaint. The Shogun had dismissed him. In his disgust, he took Mifune to face the whole House of Hatamoto Lords and gave his piece.
"You're foolish," he remembered spitting out. "The inhospitable mountainous region of Iron allows us a natural protection from invasion. Our rich iron veins gives us an unmatched influence in all the nations. Peace and power is at our grip, yet you throw it all away by siding with Fire!"
Though General Mifune's word was law, Okisuke's sentiments reached his peers. In the end, they had agreed with him and gave him leave to travel to Izumo Taisha to uphold the traditional forms. Beneath was an understanding to ask for leniency should Mifune's decision blow up in their faces.
As the shrine servants rushed to help his group, Okisuke's gaze swept past the courtyard. His lips thinned as he saw a pair of figures watching their arrival. One of them was Sharingan no Kakashi. He wondered why Konoha's lap dog had not left. After all, most nations treat the offering as a tiring obligation that they should finish quickly. Besides Kakashi was an unfamiliar form, but who's identity was undeniable. For which aristocrat would dare be robed in the white purple and red hues of the Imperial line? And for those who dare, which of them would not be thrown out by the Jingushi, the Head Priest of the sacred Izumo Taisha shrine, Sorata?
'Sasuke Uchiha,' he thought. Seeing the depthless eyes of the young heir, Okisuke cursed Mifune and the wretched Konoha to the deepest darkest pit of Yomi, the land of the dead.
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It was a strange tableau, this final offering. Sasuke at first refused to join. It was after all the purview of the Jingushi Sorata with the leader of nations. Since he was not both and most of the representatives have left, Sasuke felt it would be remiss of him to join. Especially since those that must be present were the Fire block and its allies.
Unfortunately, both His Holiness and Lord Okisuke insisted on his presence. So here he was with Yatagarasu and Gaara. The crow summon had hidden himself at his hair like an elaborate hairpiece. Gaara was to his side, having insisted on staying while Temari ostensibly accompanied Lord Setsuna to complete their bodyguard mission.
In truth, the allies would be returning to the Land of the Rice Fields to prepare for war. First the harvest must be started, abet prematurely, and quickly finished. Rice fields need to shore up defensive castle as they are mostly flat plains. A distinct disadvantage as invaders can easily cross having no natural barriers for protection. Rivers, though luckier as their land is composed of mostly mountains, have to pinpoint and shore up the series of defensive castles around the river routes. Hot water, even if protected by mountains, have to increase the defense around their sulphur fields. The most important resource as it not of an important component of the agricultural fertiliser, it also was the main ingredient for the shinobi explosive tags. The fields presence near the Wind border and Wind's major port city was also a cause for concern. Wind, now had to quickly move their military garrison nearer there as two important areas had to be protected. The move unfortunately would leave Izumo Taisha unguarded as the new location of the garrison would place them at a four day distance at full speed to arrive at shrine lands, not counting the days it took to arrive within Izumo Taisha.
It was a problem that had no easy solution. Resources, manpower was finite. And no matter what, the sulphur fields and the trading port were more essential. Their locations more vulnerable. But it never sat well with Sasuke that he would leave all the people of the shrine defenceless. Even if the shrine had their natural protections, it was nothing in the grand scheme of things. What kind of person was he that this calculation came to him so easily?
Okisuke bowed solemnly as he presented Iron's offering scrolls. Sasuke noted the undue formality of Iron's representatives. All the samurai had dressed in their most formal outfit, the daimon, a silken kimono that proudly displayed their full family crests. So was their speech as Okisuke detailed Iron's adjudication of Fire's proposal to Izumo Taisha. Here, Okisuke listed Sasuke's crimes, his attack on Lightning and theft of the sacred mirror, a treaty gift from Water to Lightning. The judgement of Itachi, his clan head on his actions. The nations he had wronged in his thoughtless actions, Fire, Lightning and Water. Sasuke could feel a shimmer of amusement at such a neutral term for those brazen demands. So much so his gaze flicked towards the accuser's allies, noting the opposing reactions of the different men. It was comical. Itachi's studied solemnity. Kakashi's considered slouch indifference. Tobi's muffled huff of laughter.
Gaara, on the other hand, hissed in outrage. His face was a high dudgeon. "How dare you!" He decried.
"My lords," Okisuke intoned. "Let justice be done though the heavens fall. It is Iron's duty to uphold justice whatever the cause."
Sasuke stiffened at those words. His memories spiraling back as Indra, when he still carried his father's banner and subdued a rebelling state. Called the salt rebellion, it earned him the name storm god, the god of destruction. Monster, the denizens of the region called him as he decisively slaughtered the pirate fleet, leaving no one alive, the region shattered until now.
"Tell general Mifune to have care," Sasuke spoke with all the weight of his regret. "Lest he build a mountain of corpses in his blind adherence to justice."
Okisuke prostrated himself to the ground. "By your leave my lord, we will follow the forms your family has set to the letter."
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Notes:
1. Ikan court dress - ikan" (=outer robe and trousers) is the informal dress of the Imperial Court as compared with "sokutai (= full court dress). see link: .
2. Danshi paper - Literally "Sandlewood paper". Originated in The Nara period (710-794) and even currently used as high grade wrapping paper or for ceremonial rites. This is a Kozo paper, thick, elegant and white which ladies of the court preferred to write poems during the Heian period (794-1192). It was also called "Michinoikugami" which is synonymous with Danshi. Literally, means "paper from northern Japan" and the name appears often in books of lady authors during the Heian period (794-1192) together with paper made by Shioku-In (Kyoto government paper mill, established 806-810). It is a Kozo paper synonymous with Danshi. Used for ceremonial purposes such as writing, wrapping gifts, etc.
3. Fumizuki - Traditional Japanese name for July, translated month of erudition, and this is the month after June which is the Month of Water (Minazuki) for the time the rice fields are flooded
4. Tsugaru and Goryōkaku - In real life (IRL): Goryōkaku (五稜郭) (literally, "five-point fort") is a star fort in the Japanese city of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido. The fort was built by the Tokugawa shogunate to protect the Tsugaru Strait against a possible invasion by the Russian fleet. It was the main fortress of the short-lived Republic of Ezo which was formed by the Tokugawa loyalists when they lost to the Meiji restoration. In the story, Goryōkaku is the border fortress and seat (main fortress) of the Earth Daimyo. This protects not only the border but the Tsugaru valley which is the most fertile area of Earth and is prone to the norther barbarian invasion.
5. Itinerant court - a medieval feature, most prevalent in Western Europe. This was characterized by a political rule where the highest political authorities constantly changed their whereabouts, bringing with them (the whole or parts of) the country's central government on their journey. The kingdom thus had no real centre, and no permanent seat of government. This enabled a better surveillance of the realm. The king's nomadic lifestyle also facilitated control over local magnates, strengthening national cohesion
6. Daikannushi - Shinto title, Head Priest of a major shrine
7. Isonokami shrine - IRL: One of the oldest extant Shinto shrines in Japan and has housed several significant artifacts. Supposedly built by the legendary Emperor Suijin and his son, Emperor Suinin is also connected to this shrine. One of Susanoo's sword is enshrined in Isonokami. This is the sword that killed the 8th headed serpent, Orochi, which birthed his most famous sword, the Kusanagi. In the story, the main shrine of the Land of the Earth and the true name of Hidden Stone / Iwa. Iwa is not a shinobi hidden village but the shrine village protected by the Earth shinobi who uses the shrine village as their main base.
8. Yasakani no Magatama - I'm not sure if I talked about this before when I talked about the imperial regalia of japan, but this is the imperial jewel
9. Mt. Matsuno'o - IRL, The mountain wherein the Matsuno'o Taisha shrine and the sacred spring is found. The Tsukiyomi shrine is also found there and is besides Matsuno'o Taisha. In the story, the mountain wherein the Land of Lightning's capital with Hidden Cloud / Kumo is located. Note Kumo is a section / district of the capital and is district right after the main gate of the capital city.
10. Takeisao Shrine - IRL, another name for the Kenkun Shrine (建勲神社). One of the four shrines that protect Kyoto, it protects Kyoto from the North so Genbu, the northern celestial guardian is linked to the shrine. The warlord Oda Nobunaga is also deified here. In the story, the main shrine and palace of the Lightning Daimyo who is also the Head priest of the shrine.
11. Genbu or Genten jōtei or the dark emperor of the heavens - the northern guardian, suzaku's counterpart. Known as the black tortoise / dark warrior and is linked with the taoist god, Xuan Wu. Represents water, winter, cold, black, virtue and knowledge.
12. The snake and tortoise generals - generals of Xuan Wu / Genbu
13. Choken - coat worn in the Noh play Hagoromo by the celestial beings. See link: . (Numbers 5-8)
o-hikinohshi - I'm not sure if I mentioned it but this is the outfit Sasuke wears in chapter 9, weight of blood when Itachi tries to kill him. This is a ceremonial robe worn by the emperor See link for image: .
14. Toyoki - the eldest son of Emperor Suijin, brother of Emperor Suinin. In Japanese legends, their father asked Toyoki and Ikumei for their most recent dreams in order to determine who will become heir. Because of this Ikumei, the younger son, became the heir.
15. Suinin or Ikumei - Suinin, 11th legendary emperor of Japan, father of Keiko and husband of Kaguya. Ikumei is his name before he ascended the throne (shortened version of his name as names of japanese princes are long). See more here: wiki/Emperor_Suinin
16. Yomi - Japanese land of the dead
17. Jingushi - Shinto title, Head priest of a major shrine which receives imperial support. In the story, for all intents and purposes, this means Izumo Taisha
18. Daimon - samurai's full dress formal kimono made of silk and has their family's full crest printed / embroidered on the fabric. See link: .
19. Salt Rebellion - This really happened in history, famously in China and one of the reasons the Tang dynasty fell. China always had a government salt and iron monopoly ever since The Han dynasty. There is this well known written account of Han dynasty officials arguing for or against the monopoly. The salt monopoly has been shown to cause the rise of the salt black market, then rebellions.
*fanfiction removes links, so if you want to see links, just visit the ao3 version of this story. Thanks.
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Famous phrases used
"Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war." - Act 3, Scene 1, line 273 of English playwright William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
All roads lead to Makimuku - rephrased from "all roads lead to Rome."
War is simply a continuation of politics - rephrased from General Carl von Clausewitz most quoted phrase and thesis on his principal book, On War - "War is merely the continuation of politics with other means."
Let justice be done though the heavens fall - Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum is a latin legal phrase, meaning "Let justice be done though the heavens fall." 2 schools of thought here. 1st, it can signify signify the belief that justice must be realized regardless of consequences. 2nd, is Piso's justice by Seneca which postulates the idea that you can follow the law but be morally wrong
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Further Notes:
Hi! I do hope you like this. It's been awhile. Unfortunately, I guess since I really don't have an outline, what happens is I keep writing and scraping what I wrote until I like where its going. I did add 2 new OCs in this chapter, the Daimyos. Please note I am not basing them on any of the Daimyos we see in Naruto. I just don't think the Naruto Daimyos are right for this story.
I know I'm moving slowly, especially since a lot of pages go to world building. I do hope you readers find merit in this. Aside from loving world building for itself, I also liked to showcase the idea that this is a vast world. In fact, you can describe this world as a continent which was before 1 empire before it broke apart. Just the sheer size would create differences politically, socially, culturally and economically, which I attempt to portray. I'm not saying this is a 100% realistic, but I try to add some real world elements into to this. This is what I meant when I said I wanted to do a more grounded approach. I wanted to inject some real world concerns. That's why I've thrown in concepts such as Clausewitz's On War or Piso's justice. Disclaimer, I am not a political or philosophical expert, I just find that these concepts can help explain this world I'm writing about. This is also not an study on these. It's just an amateur, shallow take.
The notes are more expanded compared to before. I still try to make sure as you read, the unfamiliar words are explained immediately or within the paragraph. Do tell me if there's anything I miss as I don't want to break the flow of reading. I just thought I might as well expand on the words and the names I used, especially if your interested in learning more.
Do tell me if you like this. If there's anything confusing. This is unbetaed, so there might be grammatical error or weird phrasing. Do tell me if there is so I can correct this. Thank you so much :)