[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/biXIOJy.png[/img]
[center][b][u]Kumogakure
Land of Lightning[/u][/b]
[hider=Spoiler][u][b]First Raikage:[/b][/u] Kanagata, Etseiru.
[u][b]Second(Current) Raikage:[/b][/u] Unknown.

[u][b]History:[/b][/u] A village having been brought together by Etseiru during the first three years of the shinobi war, the once small mountain settlement expanded rapidly. Through their conquest of the surrounding area and alliances with the Kanagata and Antare clans to name two, they were afforded a level of mobility that the other factions during the war simply did not have. With their steadfast and decisive, if not overly cautious and sentimental, leader in charge of their strategies the Village Hidden in the Clouds came to bear a startling military power, driving back anyone who intuded upon their lands through a series of fuinjutsu established by the Antare clan to facilitate essentially instantaneous travel between a multitude of points.

With the end of the war, his duty done, the First Raikage passes on.[/hider][/center]
[b][u]Sunagakure
Land of Wind[/u][/b]
[hider=Spoiler]
[img]http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20150108115547/naruto/images/b/b0/Sunagakure.png[/img]
[u][b] First Kazekage:[/b][/u] [url=http://safebooru.org//images/1250/bd8703342e1a5dce55cda417cfbd302932603c10.jpg?1303244]Daisuke Morizashi.[/url]
[u][b]Second(Current) Kazekage:[/b][/u] Unknown.

[u][b]History:[/b][/u] The Land of Wind was very much shaped by those whose motto was to go wherever the wind carried them. The land was colonized first by around a hundred nomadic clans who were not bound to any one place. These small families, no larger than one or two generations of people, gathered in the sand covered wasteland and saw something many people did not: a blank slate with which they could do anything with. Those clans with the intellectuals or natural born leaders came together to plan a course of action and decide on how best to start living with their families in this previously uninhabited desert. One such clan was that belonging to a young Daisuke Morizashi. 

The Morizashi were a group of beast-taming ninja known for their amazing strength. They were, in many ways, the protectors of the group of settlers. Diverse in their skills, and knowledge of survival, it was only natural that they were at the forefront of village development. The group settled in the area that is now Akuma (see below) and started to slowly develop and grow in numbers. Little did the newcomers know, that the land was already planning to be taken by a group of bandits that called themselves Owari (The End). These rebels were made up of the criminals and outcasts of the other lands who had come to take refuge in the deserted sands in the Land of Wind. This encounter with the Owari would lead to a conflict that is still going on today, nearly a century later. 

With the Owari's number of fighting individuals, there was no chance for the settlers to stay in the area. Many clans broke away from the group to escape the dangers, traveling to what are now coastal villages to seek refuge. Eventually, the Owari pushed the group of clans back closer to the border where the land was unclaimed. This is now where the Hidden Sand is located. It is said that the people stumbled upon a large crater in the earth, and that was where they started to rebuild. 

As a new nation, hardly a century old, those put in power to watch over the people were naive, in that they thought the temporary sanctuary would last. When the war started in other parts of the world, the newly chosen First Kazekage at first did nothing. He saw the conflicts going on outside the Land of Wind to not be his problem. He continued to slowly build the village as the number of people living there began to ride. He had little concern with defense or safety. And then, when the fight came to their doorstep, things were nearly laid to waste. Lord First ended up participating in the protection of the people, fighting with only a few at his side while the villagers were rushed underground to safety. He nearly lost his life in the battle, if not for one of his beast summoning, he would have died on the field.

It is hard to say how much the new village had lost in the war, but the most prevalent loss was the spirits of the people. Many became enraged and scared, and so Daisuke set in motion a set of plans meant to rebuild the Village to an even better place than it previously was. 

The First Kazekage lived to the old age of seventy-nine, passing away in his sleep the day before his eightieth birthday. This was a hard blow to the village after losing their protector and leader.[/hider]
[b][u]Konohagakure
Land of Fire[/u][/b]
[hider=Spoiler][u][b]First Hokage:[/b][/u] [TBA]
[u][b]Second(Current) Hokage:[/b][/u] Unknown.

[u][b]History:[/b][/u] 
[The rest of recent history pending][/hider]
[b][u]Iwagakure
Land of Earth[/u][/b]
[hider=Spoiler][u][b]First Tsuchikage:[/b][/u] [TBA]
[u][b]Second(Current) Tsuchikage:[/b][/u] Unknown.

[u][b]History:[/b][/u] 
[The rest of recent history pending][/hider]
[b][u]Kirigakure
Land of Water[/u][/b]
[hider=Spoiler][u][b]First Mizukage:[/b][/u] [TBA]
[u][b]Second(Current) Mizukage:[/b][/u] Unknown.

[u][b]History:[/b][/u] 
[The rest of recent history pending][/hider][/center]

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/uC9NpY8.png[/img][/center]
[center][hider=The Antare Clan][h3][B]Antare[/B][/h3]
[img]http://www.adinkra.org/images/neao_lg.gif[/img]
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Land of Lightning.
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B]
The Antare pick a single clan head based on the individual's wisdom and propensity for the art of sealing. This clan head elects a series of lesser masters, though these masters are still considered Grandmasters when compared to the average Antare clansman. These grandmasters each are skilled in a particular area of governance and fuinjutsu, thus splitting the clan into a number of branches based not at all on blood, but instead on skill. These branches change too often and are too numerous to be named.

The focus of the Antare clan is, plain and simple, fuinjutsu. They are considered far superior to the Uzumaki and rival to the Jikangai, though the Jikangai are perhaps not as well known due to their isolationism.

[B]History:[/B]
Originating from a member of the Jikangai clan who was born with their Kekkei genkai, but did not stay within the clan, the Antare came to being when this Jikangai had a child with a member of a rather secretive clan known as the Iouchiryo clan it was their children that resulted in the creation of the Antare. Over the years these children, then grown to fine shinobi, pulled others to themselves while they traveled throughout the lands gathering some of the most skilled individuals in many areas. As time went on these skills were all translated into fuinjutsu, due to their natural propensity for the art,

Eventually settling in what would one day become the Land of Lightning. The Antare only grew in skill and size. While possessing no Kekkei genkai, the Antare became well known for their peaceful nature and tendency to teach those who were willing to learn their craft. Additionally, it became widely recognized that the Antare was capable of outputting more Hiden techniques than perhaps any other clan on the historical record.

During the war the Antare choose to support Kumogakure due to the Daimyo's support of them, not to mention the promise of better land. Their service allowed Kumogakure a great deal of mobility and foreknowledge of their enemies, not to mention it assisted greatly when they were forced to deal with the Uzumaki.

After the war the Antare took up residence in Kumogakure where they began turning the mountain into their permanent home. It has been 10 years since then and their work is largely finished.

[B]Miscellaneous:[/B] The Antare will teach those with a passion or great interest in Fuuinjutsu, but those outside the clan must go through a screening process first.

Additionally, it should be noted that while the Antare do not have a Kekkei genkai they possess an incredible propensity for learning and advanced thought in addition to an almost intuitive understanding of fuuinjutsu.[/hider][/center]
[center][hider=The Uranaisha Clan][h3][B]Uranaisha[/B][/h3]
[img]http://www.actiweb.es/awen/imagen6.jpg?1212081812[/img]
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Unknown.
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B]
The Uranaisha serve as advisors, tacticians, as well as masters of chakra theory to those who seek them out. Their leadership appears to be a form of matriarchy wherein the oldest and/or wisest woman among them leads. Their leadership is chosen by way of special rituals and tests to identify ones wisdom and mental superiority.

[B]History:[/B]
The Uranaisha are said to be descendents of one of the Sage's children, little else is known about them and while they assisted Sunagakure during the war, their primary function, in the aformentioned instance, and most of history has been that of strategists, scientists, and prophets of a sort. Only recently have some of their more notable abilities come to light.

[B]Miscellaneous:[/B] Most members of the Uranaisha clan are not shinobi and it should be noted that their Kekkei genkai is typically inherited by the women of the clan, though this is not always the case.[/hider][/center]
[center][hider=The Kanagata Clan][h3][B]Kanagata[/B][/h3]
[img]http://www.iconattitude.com/icons/open_icon_library/symbols/png/256/pictograms-aem-0054-radio_frequency_electromagnetic_radiation_hazard.png[/img]
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Land of Lightning.
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B]
In terms of hierarchy there are three inheritors who collectively take the mantel from the shoulders of their predecessors. Each generation of these inheritors almost always has their clans kekkei genkai and is ALWAYS hand picked by all three of one of the three previous inheritors. The [B]Rank[/B]s are as follows with their corresponding place in the clan and general function.

[hider=The Three Heirs][B]Joutei no inryokuban(God of the Gravity grid):[/B] This is the highest [B]Rank[/B]ing and usually the most skilled, powerful, and influential member of the clan. He is effectively the clan head and all final decisions must be run by him unless a state of emergency is upon the clan and/or the village. They are often the eldest but this is not always the case as skill and intelligent decision making and leadership skills are more important than experience in this situation due to the easy reliance on the other two inheritors. The individual in this position does have their own assigned branch but they are less entitled to their well being in comparison to the other two inheritors due to the 1st inheritors increased authority over all branches of the clan. (may update with the weapon that this individual is given).

[B]Chinjunokamiban(Guardian god of the grid):[/B] This is the second in command position of the clan -though to outsiders it seems the same as an advisor or simply an individual of equal authority-. This individual is almost always required to be the tactics specialist though exceptions have been made in different situations. They generally have second say and help the 1st inheritor in any way possible as well as supporting their assigned branch of the clan. They are almost always given the blade known as Buyu rakurai, which is indeed the case for Tesshu.

[B]Mittei rakurai(Emissary of lightning bolts):[/B] The technical lowest rank in the clan this individual oversee's their own individual branch as well as the more minor processes of the clan. They receive the least augmented weapon of the kanagata clan and -as is usually the case- are the weakest of the three inheritors, though this is not always the case. Strangely throughout the years it has been seen that the third inheritor actually has more sway in times of intense chaos as they are usually skilled in the fire affinity of their kekkei genkai and have skills -both socially and in battle- to handle chaos due to familiarity with it.[/hider]
Though there is a strong sense of loyalty to each other within the Kanagata clan they do not have the ideology of non-biased loyalty meaning they are not necessarily completely honest outside of the clan.

Moving on, the Kanagata clan is focused on the continued mastery of the lightning affinity and their kekkei genkai in particular. They are quite well known for this as they are considered among the most powerful lightning users. This is largely attributed to their kekkei genkai, the Raijin no junshū.

[B]History:[/B]
The Kanagata clan was born in the Land of Lightning and they have been fairly loyal to its Daimyo for centuries. Nonetheless, they were considered a force not to be reckoned with during the warring clans period in which they repelled anyone daring to intrude in their lives. While not seen as particularly vindictive, they did annihilate several clans who repeatedly bothered them thus making them infamous for their ruthlessness if trifled with. As this period ended their loyalty to Kumogakure was common sense due to their loyalty to the daimyo. They proved a powerful asset in war time as their expansive Kekkei genkai made them terrifying adversaries. With its end, and their position of power gained, the Kanagata situated themselves near Kumogakure, though still on the mountain, making them one of its prominent clans.

[B]Miscellaneous:[/B] Only once has an inner clan betrayal occurred and the man can still not be found to this day. It however is said that he was the Mittei rakurai of he time and he took out the two above him through his unique capabilities and discovered a method in which to take their collective abilities making him an incredible threat. He then left with none of the clan able to combat him in his horrible glory.

The man is still being searched for but since then the ties from clan member to clan member are mutual and made to be very tight knit so as not to have something like this occur again. Additionally the three inheritors are usually of similar village rank and standing with each only having slight differences in class stature and the like.[/hider][/center]
[center][hider=The Tatasuko Clan][h3][b]Tatasuko[/b][/h3]
[img]http://i57.tinypic.com/mhbxw9.jpg[/img]
[b]Country of Origin:[/b]
N/A.

[b]Hierarchy and Focus:[/b]
The Tatasuko clan is governed by a group of elders, typically members of the clan who possess their kekkei genkai some of which who have experienced combat, and some whom have not. While there is no true head of the Tatasuko clan, currently Zume Tatasuko serves as something similar as he speaks for the clan. As a whole the Tatasuko are very peaceful, respectful people with the majority of them possessing neither kekkei genkai nor their specialized chakra affinity.

The Tatasuko clan primarily stay within their cave system known as the Hahaoya no jōmyaku to those few who are aware of any of its many entrances, or its existence at all. Every so often one member of their clan or another can be noted by their typically black clothing and straw hats, which dangle similarly black pieces of cloth to obscure their faces.

Generally the Tatasuko are looked upon as enigmatic peacekeepers, tending to stay away from conflict and if that is not possible, they mitigate or cease it altogether. They prefer to stay out of the affairs of the world at large and do well to stay in the shadows, hence most referring to them as shades. Publicly the Tatasuko clan have no known export or focus, though it is rumored that, for whatever reason, they defend the caves they live within. It is known that they consider the Hahaoya no jōmyaku to be sacred.

[b]History:[/b]
The advent of the Tatasuko clan is largely held in mystery, or at least kept from the ears of the public. Nonetheless it is said that the Tatasuko originate from the Tatasuko of myth, making their clan's founder the ancient rival to the Sage of Six Paths and the Avatar to the Phoenix, who has since been banished by the aforementioned sage.

Following this their founder is said to have fled into the caves, having been spared by the Sage. Then he and his brother, both of whom remain unnamed, spread their blood to others, and they did the same. Gradually they were gathered together and naturally the clan formed as a result, remaining within their caves where they stay today, only emerging for resources and, at times, to assist in the resolution of conflict.

[b]Miscellaneous:[/b]
Rather than have one point of origin the Tatasuko clan's base of operations is only known to dwell within the cave system. The problem lies in the fact that this cave system runs all over the world connecting to a great many other cavern complexes making it extremely difficult to locate their dwelling places. As to their origins, well such are irrelevant for many countries have unknowingly contributed to their growth not that such is extensive. While not a well known fact, or a known one at all, the Tatasuko clan does not consist of a large sum of individuals numbering at perhaps 200 maximum, with the majority being civilian individuals.[/hider][/center]
[center][hider=Jikangai Clan][h3][B]Jikangai[/B][/h3]
[img]http://www.basic-japanese.com/KanjiGif_200x200/2054.gif[/img]
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] N/A

[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B]
The Jikangai follow a quasi-ancestor worship hierarchy, with the oldest and most powerful members of the clan being venerated. Yata, the Immortal Matriarch of the clan, is considered to be deific in nature, and all those descended from her have the most power and the most authority. Beneath Yata are the Immortal Scions, figures of legend chosen by Jikangai, Kinjiro to supposedly be immortalised and direct the clan’s efforts from the shadows. Below this are the various sects of the Jikangai, each with a focus on a particular element of Fuuinjutsu. Female Jikangai are more powerful and important than their male counterparts as they are guaranteed to produce Jikangai children. 

The Jikangai’s area of expertise is Fuuinjutsu, which they are the progenitors of. 

[B]History:[/B]
The Jikangai clan's origins begin with the matriarch and eternal leader of the clan, Yata, who was born into a wealthy family in a time where chakra was yet to grace the land. Yata's early history is unknown to anyone but herself, but there are a few established facts that the Jikangai are privy to: Yata was among the first to receive the gift of chakra, and in her blood were the secrets to the first sealing techniques. Yata became the first to utilise the nature of the seal to manipulate chakra in ways that could not be achieved within the body, and her rise to power was as swift as it was lethal. Yata later discovered that her sealing techniques were potent enough to affect the flow of time within small areas, and developed this power over many years alone. At some point, Yata gave birth to her first child, Kinjiro, with an unknown father who was on a similar or greater level of power to her, and Kinjiro was born with all of Yata's power except that over time, though she was the first Jikangai known to possess the trait of being "outside time", likely a result of Yata's experimentation with temporal energies.

The earliest members of the Jikangai were not selectively bred or taught like many of the earliest coalitions of clans. Initially, to gain entry to the Jikangai one only needed to be a powerful male (in order to create children from Yata's side to pass her potent sealing power down) or to have an interest in the sealing techniques that Yata offered. Coalitions of like-minded people that were not required to possess specific traits were initially rare, so the earliest Jikangai groupings were not as powerful as many of the other fledgling clans, but as the requirements to join were so simple, many chose to partake of the power that Yata offered. War was common in the early days as people discovered the limitations of their newfound power, but the Jikangai chose to weave seals within their architecture that offered them highly fortified and defensive positions through which to avoid battle. The legendary safety of their strongholds resulted in those tired of war defecting to join the Jikangai, and after a few short decades the Jikangai had members of almost every discipline that presently existed and the means to research many more.

When Yata's first child, Kinjiro, turned thirty two she achieved the secrets of immortality and shared these with her mother, causing the pair to become biologically immortal for a time. This secret gave the matriarch of the Jikangai clan enough time to perfect the seals that would render her truly immortal and cement her eternal reign over the Jikangai. It was also around this time that Kinjiro disappeared from the annals of the Jikangai, taking with her several of the more medically minded individuals of the time with her, and the clan turned from essentially worshipping its most powerful members (those who had most of Yata's blood) to a more expansion-oriented people, using their collective knowledge and sealing prowess to become conquerors. The seal-infused architecture typical of the early Jikangai strongholds became as much a weapon of war as the rest of the techniques within the Jikangai's grasp and they reconstructed many settlements that they took over with their own to ensure that none that came after them could take the land should they be ousted, and other contingents of the Jikangai could take their place.

The love for complex sealing and structures quickly became the largest downfall of the Jikangai, and their promising expansion years were cut short after only a small number of generations due to infighting within the clan, and their own seal-infused architecture being sabotaged by rival members within the power-oriented clan. Many of the less powerful members died during raids from other sects within the Jikangai, or through the defences upon which they heavily relied being rendered defunct and invading parties having enough of a surprise advantage to turn the tide of battle in their favour. The most powerful of the Jikangai survived and chose to withdraw into the heavily fortified structures that they had relied upon in their infancy, abandoning hopes of conquest for mastery over their sealing techniques under Yata's directive.

Yata, the Immortal Matriarch, directed the clan's efforts towards creating a set of seals of unknown form and function shortly after their withdrawal from their expansive phase, and at some point within the next ten years all instances of the Jikangai on the surface world promptly vanished and retreated into a single underground compound. Much controversy was raised over the reason for the disappearance of any large body of Jikangai, but several missionaries remained in the world to quell these rumours and to recruit promising talents into the folds of the Jikangai. Though it would seem, from looking at the history books, that the Jikangai simply erased themselves from the world, nothing could be farther from the truth.

After withdrawing to their underground compound, the Jikangai returned to their original state of pseudo-ancestor worship. Yata once again became the ultimate public authority within the clan (where before she had largely ruled from the shadows) and once the seals she had ordered the clan create were finished, she ascended beyond the mortal scope of power. With her new seals, Yata's presence was dangerous to all non-Jikangai, and though there was no immediate aftermath, the clan grew worried that her unchecked power would draw attention to their hiding location and chose to construct a sphere in which to entrap their Immortal Matriarch and limit her power. Yata herself designed the seals for her gilded cage, recognising the threat that she posed, and willingly withdrew to lead the clan from within a place that she could do no harm. Unfortunately, Yata's prison limited the contact that she could have with her children, and she receded from the spotlight once more to allow the Jikangai to work towards goals she would entrust to the most powerful members of the clan.

It was at this point that the various sects of the Jikangai begun to develop, each with a focus on a particular aspect of sealing, and the clan begun to evolve into the complex society that it is today. In order to avoid stagnancy, the Jikangai offered the secrets of their seals to the world for knowledge and resources that they may have needed through use of their missionaries, who in return recruited brilliant individuals to join the clan. This process has continued since that era, and is still something that occurs semi-regularly within the Jikangai. It is not uncommon for the most powerful members of the Jikangai (those selected to receive Kinjiro's gift of immortality) to directly intervene with mortals of specific interest and prowess to offer them unique gifts in return for their service. Some would liken the Jikangai to would-be Gods, undying beings with a penchant for interfering within the lives of perceived lesser beings for their amusement, but the truth of the matter is far simpler than that: The Jikangai scions are mortal ambition taken to its furthest extreme, with the power to match, and delight in precisely the same game of control that all mortals do, only on a larger scale.

[B]Miscellaneous:[/B] The Jikangai are a secretive clan, having sequestered themselves deep underground many years ago. Their primary contact with the surface world is in the form of Jikangai Missionaries, who broker deals and trades with the hidden villages to secure resources and trade influence/information. These missionaries are also sworn to high-ranking members of the Jikangai (such as sect leaders of members of the Immortal Scions) as spies and informants. The missionaries are very easy to find should one wish to contact them, and they can be found within any major village.[/hider][/center]
[center][hider=Yuki Clan][h3][B]Yuki[/B][/h3]
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Land of Fire
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B] The Yuki clan is one of the oldest clans from the Land of Fire. They are guardians of the ancient relic known as the Gensho and have an innate ability with the written word. They are gifted with detailed and creative minds, making them skilled with not only their clan's signature techniques which utilize writing and paper techniques, but quite adept at utilizing Genjutsu.

The Yuki clan is run by the oldest member of the clan that has completed all of the Rites of Passage and has read from the Gensho.
[B]History:[/B] The Yuki clan itself was formed before the Sage as a group dedicated to the preservation of information. One of the first groups to develop a very formal language, the clan utilized the the abilities gained through the revelations of the Sage to enhance their ability to preserve information. The clan actually shrank due to the sacrifice of the members to craft the Gensho itself.

After crafting the book, and realizing the full extent of its power, the Yuki clan stayed within a small area in the Land of Fire. Fearful of those that might take the book, as well as members of their own clan that might tell others about the book. Thus, they developed a very unique set of techniques to guard the Gensho from not only outsiders, but those within the clan who may misuse it. However, much of the safeguards were not needed given the reverence the clan members had for the book.

It was noted early on in the years after the Gensho that no Yuki clan member lived past their 150th year. It would be later researched that it was due to their connection with the Gensho that caused their very static lifespan. It is theorized by the clan, that if a child was not exposed to the Gensho at all, they would theoretically be able to life past 150. However, the clan's obsession with the book has left this theory completely untested even hundreds of years later.
[b]Misc:[/b] Many clan members chose to read large sums of the Gensho when they fall into ill health or to end their lives peaceful. By careful, methodical timing, this results in a very peaceful end to the Yuki clan member's life.[/hider][/center]
[center][hider=Masazane Clan][h3][B]Masazane[/b][/h3]
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Land of Iron
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B] The Masazane clan hierarchy is determined through a yearly test of skill and overall commerce. Heralded as some of the best smiths in the world, the Masazane clan has a gift with the shaping of metal.

Clan leadership is determined by whichever members of the clan has the most verified sales of weapons or by any individual who has completed a work of superb caliber. After those members are identified, they are faced with forging a sword for a champion of their choice in a contest known as the Tetsu no Shōtotsu [Clash of Iron]. The winner, by either through defeating an opponent or by breaking the sword of the opposing champion, becomes leader of the clan. Lethal attacks are considered a violation of the rules of the current Tetsu no Shōtotsu, but this is has only been the rules for the last few years.
[B]History:[/B] The Masazane clan are a small, yet widespread clan that is noted for their ability to produce weapons.

Originally from the Land of Iron, the Masazane are an old clan and have forged weapons for the samurai from the land for their entire existence. Smithwork in the Land of Iron was considered exceptionally noble, and much like nobles trade marry off children to other royals, the early smiths of the Masazane clan used their children to form connections with other smiths.

One smith, whose original name was long forgotten, was said to have had so many sons and to have made the most legendary weapons, that he was only referred to by his surname. Owning a weapon of the smith Masazane, or being married into his family (to be able to put the Masazane stamp on their productions), was considered an badge of honor. After awhile, all of the smith families within the Land of Iron were related.

Once the original Masazane died, leadership of the family fell into chaos. It was proposed by Masazane's third son that they determine who is to lead the clan through the Tetsu no Shōtotsu. It was not unheard of in the early days for this to be a bloody affair with assassinations of smiths and champions alike. After the first Tetsu no Shōtotsu, leadership of the clan fell to Masazane's fifth son, Ito, who was considered to be almost as skilled as his father.

Ito would run the Masazane in the longest reign of the clan for over 63 years. It was during Ito's reign that the Sage changed the world. With the heavy relation to a singular bloodline, many of the Masazane developed the ability to manipulate steel through a kekkei genkai known as Kōton, using a mixture of the fire and earth elements. It was also not unheard of for members to develop Jiton either in addition to Kōton or as a solitary alternative.

After the reign of Masazane Ito, leadership of the clan fell once again into disarray with leadership cycling repeatedly through a series of smiths that were closely matched between each other. Each year, the one currently in power would lose to one of the smiths he had defeated the year before.

It would not be for over a hundred years before the leadership would yet again stabilize. However, this stabilization of leadership would continue to the reign of Masazane Io, who has lead the clan for the last 62 years. Io is often considered the reincarnation of the original founder of their clan with near unrivaled skill in the forging of weapons and the manifestation of both Jiton and Kōton at a high level. This is often considered because of Io's great number of male heirs.

With the creation of Kyokujitsu no Tochi, many members of the clan have spread themselves out to other territories within their nation. Smiths who stay in the Land of Iron often look down on these members are trying to escape the significant competition within their historical homeland for the Tetsu no Shōtotsu and qualify through sales in another land where the smiths are less skilled. The clan itself, despite its age, is relatively small.
[b]Misc:[/b] While rare, some Masazane do forge weapons for themselves for the Tetsu no Shōtotsu. Most members of the clan fall under competent or skilled with a weapon. For the Tetsu no Shōtotsu most form relationships with kenjutsu masters.

It is said some still participate in an underground version of the Tetsu no Shōtotsu known as the Ketsueki no Shōtotsu [Clash of Blood] as a form of gambling or a way to display power between Tetsu no Shōtotsu.[/hider][/center]
[center][hider=The Mayonaka Clan][h3][B]Mayonaka[/B][/h3]
[img]http://41.media.tumblr.com/3c24f2f34a0009ccad27dfbf5c3321d3/tumblr_mpjrgjDVov1r0sn0fo1_500.png[/img]
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Land of Iron.
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B]
Focused on the mastery of their sword art, the Shizukana-ryū-ji(Style of the Tranquil Path), the Mayonaka are renowned swordsman both within and beyond the Land of Iron.

Choosing to lead themselves through mastery, the Mayonaka allow only those who have truly mastered their style and who are within their family, to reign over those who might learn their infamous style. This typically results in their being four or so grandmasters and one “Heir,” which seeks the grandmasters for council. The heir is the descendent of the previous heir, their bloodline, in some form or another, leading back to their clan founder.

[i]The current Heir is Mayonaka, Seisui and he is out on a pilgrimage to finetune his art.[/i]

[B]History:[/B]
A long time has passed since the origins of this clan were lost, no longer do any of the outside world know where the Mayonaka spawned and how the now ancient style was forged into improving perfection. The outsiders do not know, but then they are not meant to, as a clan's history is its own. The Mayonaka clan, founded somewhere in what is now the land of iron, were far from notable before their style's creation. Their 1st master was a simple man, a hunter, living off the land and assisting the people in the few ways he could. Many years passed for him and he gradually grew in his wisdom until one day he was visited by a man. A strange man with a look of majesty, power, and wisdom in his many lively orbs, visited him for a time, asking for simple shelter for a time. Providing it, the foremost master of the yet to be created style gave the man all he needed, as he appeared to be recovering from some strange ailment. The man was weak of body at that time, but the two began to grow close, learning from each other, and the Mayonaka found himself overtaken with the smallest fragments of kinship with the man.

A short time turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months and the man began to speak of things which the Mayonaka could barely understand. He was isolated from the world, knowing little of the arts being created and the politics or intricacies of things. Even as he worked the forge, he found something changing in himself, yet unsure as to what, and when he asked the man there was no reply, just a solemn look. The next day, the man had vanished, no traces left of his presence. This bothered the Mayonaka greatly and eventually he decided it was time to leave his home, he could no longer isolate himself, he was no longer satisfied by the simple wilderness, something in him longed for what he knew not. So he saved his money and then used it to acquire a weapon for while he was no true warrior he was a skilled hunter and he knew that wielding a blade, even of lesser quality, would be useful.

He carried on, traveling slow and learning as much as he could bout his surroundings, the world he had been apart from for so long. It took two years before he saw exactly what he had been looking for, the spark that awakened a new passion in him: He witnessed the dual of two swordsman.
- - - - -
He traveled again, now returning home, changed, knowing what he had to do. So, while he returned he challenged many, defeated by some and winning against others, until his name was known well. So, he changed it for his face was not yet known. He became No-hassan Mayonaka(Emanation of Midnight), a growing legend among swordsman, and then he arrived home. His blade, of lesser quality still, no longer served him, he could not wield it, but he had learned more in his trade of blacksmithing. With money from his fallen adversaries he acquired the best of metals, specific mixtures, and from there he began to work. It was hard, for challenges often braved the long path to reach him in hope of besting the rising legend in combat.

None did.

It took months, and on the last month he was nearly defeated. However, strangely, his opponent decided to forestall their match midway, saying that his opponent could not possibly be serious. The look in the challenger's eyes seemed somehow familiar for they were knowing, wise, and filled with majesty.

That day his blade had come to fruition, and it was the last day it had needed to cool and to harden into perfection. There was time still, two more days to pass before their match was to resume. No-hassan however decided he would no adjust to his blade, no, he would not even touch it.
- - - - -
A trusted friend carrying his blade wrapped in cloth to their field of battle, No-hassan's challenger awaited them, ready, but relaxed. Bowing he finally took the blade and its sheath readying it on his belt and bowing to his opponent. [b]"You are a man of honor, and this day I can assure you that by the end, you will witness my best,"[/b] something awoke in No-hassan Mayonaka that day, something calm, peaceful: Tranquility.

His hand had been placed against the tsuka of his katana, and his stance shifted. The challenger drew his blade and approached him cautiously, ready to strike at any opening, but No-hassan had none. There was not a single true opening, but to the challenger their appeared many, it appeared as if the Mayonaka had laid himself bare to the world, ready to be felled in any moment. A deep breath, blade striking out in a diagonal slash, his foot slid back gently against the soil, and his body swiveled to the right, towards the blow, and his blade slid from its sheath and there was no clash, only a brilliance of movement and light on the blade as one met the other, and the lesser creation submitted completely to the will of Midnight.

There was not even a single sound for the witnesses to perceive, only the brilliance, and then the soft sound of the lesser katana falling to the ground and the challenger's backwards stumbles. "Know its name, the name of the blade which cuts down this man, Chinmoku: E assuru hontō no jiko([sub]沉黙：へ圧する本当の自己[/sub] [i]'Silence: Overwhelm the truest self'[/i])," the first blade of Mayonaka, the first wielder of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no. So, his challenger fell, a sensation of weightless bliss coming over him in his last moments, spent falling to the ground for the brilliant silence had pierced him, and he understood.
- - - - -
Few remember this story now, though for its story is passed down in the metal of their blade, who shall forever bare in its name: Chinmoku, for the silence and peace of their ancestor, the man who defeated the man with majesty in his eyes: Miyamoto Musashi. This, is their legacy, the legacy of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no.

Yet while here ends the story of the first, it is by no means the end of the story as 12 descendants passed, each with blade renewed until finally it came to be that Chinmoku was a blade such as to effect its wielder. This could not be, they would not allow the blade to dominate them, there had to be a mediator between, and so the 13th descendant of No-hassan spent most of her life gathering supplies, the materials needed and the knowledge necessary for her lofty task. Tanoshī(pleasant), the 13th descendant of No-hassan, after 15 years gathered that which she needed, and her task truly begun. For the rest of her life she crafted, carried, and meditated with her creation, attuning first herself with the artifact, and then attuning it with the blade. Finally, on her deathbed she asked to hold the two together and with the last of her strength she united the two, sheathing Chinmoku within its new counter part: The Tōrenai-men to naikō([sub]通れない面と乃公[/sub] [i]'Ego with an impassable mask'[/i]), a magnificent sheath, her life work. Then she collapsed into the peacefulness and serenity of death, her end as pleasant as her beginnings.

From then till now the Mayonaka have lived in relative peace, until the war of 10 years ago. This perhaps the only time in history wherein the Mayonaka took up arms for a greater cause, spreading their deadly serenity among the ranks of Kyokujitsu no Tochi's enemies. While before the war the Mayonaka were well known within the Land of Iron, their name now strikes fear into the minds of those who face them. Some have even coined their style the “Equalizer,” as it appears to allow those who have mastered it or one of its forms, a degree of resistance to the techniques of shinobi, though not in a manner one would call defense.

Nonetheless, the Mayonaka, these days, take in students from far and wide to train in their art thus making them one of the leading sword-master families in the world.

[B]Miscellaneous:[/B] It should be noted that the Mayonaka are in good standing with the Masazane clan.

[hider=Style][i][B]Shizukana-ryū-ji no(Style of the tranquil path).[/B][/i]
[i][B]Description:[/B][/i]
[I][B]"To the eyes of a swordsman it is a strange aloof thing, beautiful in its strangeness; to a peasant it is a strange peace embodied by the swordsman's form, blade and sheath and mortality alike; but to the truest of sword-masters, one who understands that there is always more to learn, it is a masterpiece constantly renewing itself to perfection. This is the Shizukana-ryū-ji no, the style of the tranquil path,"[/B] - Mayonaka, Yōi-tsūka.[/I]

The style of the Mayonaka clan is a constantly renovated masterpiece, for while many a style does not change once one has considered it perfected, this style is not as such. With every passing generation it is altered slightly to reach further towards the ideal of perfection.

There are two codes which practitioners of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no live, the first set of codes are those of the Mayonaka family, while the second are the dogma of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no itself. While those from outside can attempt to learn the Lotus dogma and become practitioners of the Style of the Tranquil Path, it is unlikely that they would ever truly be full practitioners of masters as they lack the background of the Mayonaka.

[U][B]Tenants of Mayonaka[/B][/U]
[list]
[*]Be humble, but understanding of yourself and your place in the world. However, never allow yourself to limit yourself to this position.[/*]
[*]Judge one by your impressions of them, but do not underestimate them due to your judgements.[/*]
[*]Strive till your limits, then come to understand what keeps you there and again surpass yourself.[/*]
[*]Do not squander or show off one's abilities and talents, to do either is to demean oneself.[/*]
[*]While one may judge and adapt, understand that you can easily be proven incorrect.[/*]
[*]When proven incorrect, accept that you were wrong and change.[/*]
[*]Be malleable only to your own will and the will of the universe.[/*]
[*]Respect those wiser and more skilled than yourself.[/*]
[*]Be changed by all, but be moved by only yourself.[/*]
[*]Predict, verify and adapt.[/*]
[/list]

[U][B]The Lotus Dogma[/B][/U]

The four petals of the lotus flower, a flower which sits upon the surface of the water and spreads its arms in the four directions, represent the four core ways that the blade is drawn and wielded in the Shizukana-ryū-ji no. These four methods of unsheathing and positioning the blade are considered part of the No geijutsu nodjiita ken([sub]の芸術野地板剣[/sub] 'Art of Sheathing a Sword'). These forms are each named after one of the four cardinal directions each of which have their own purpose in the scope of the style, without one form the others would simply not be in balance, that is the way of tranquility.

[U][I]Kita-muki Renge-hen([sub]北向き蓮花片[/sub] 'North Facing Lotus Petal')[/I][/U] draws the blade with its edge facing forwards and its tip pointing upwards, the sheath comes off by pulling it up along the blade rather than drawing the blade from the sheath. This is considered one of the most bizarre of the No geijutsu nodjiita ken, but is nonetheless necessary. Typically the user will place the sheath upon their shoulder with the edge of their blade pointing away from their body even while within the sheath. One of the few dogmas that has the user fully draw the blade almost at all times, the Kita-muki Renge-hen is used for frontal attack. Once the blade is drawn, the sheath tends to move to the shoulder opposite where the blade was originally drawn from. The blade itself is then held with the dominant hand with the blade vertical, tip pointing up, edge facing away and forwards. The pinkie is used to stabilize it, while the rest of the hand grasps it, the arm in a diagonally downwards position. This dogma is actually used to create openings by sliding the attacks down the blade, and then utilizing the sheath to strike the attacks away from the blade as it flows right into position to strike the opening. It tends to throw the attacker off balance while allowing the wielder to flow from defense into attack almost effortlessly.

[U][I]Azuma-muki Renge-hen([sub]東向き蓮花片[/sub] 'East Facing Lotus Petal')[/I][/U] begins with one of the wielder's shoulders facing towards their enemy as they stand sideways. The left palm cradles the sheath, the blade's point aimed forwards towards the enemy or target and the sheathed edge facing away from the user's side, to the right. The fingers of the left hand are pointed towards the hilt as the hand cradles the sheath while its kin on the right hand easily grasp the grip of the blade. With this the stance is set and the user may use the variable movements of the sheathed tip with precision to disrupt the flow of attacks and then sway the blade to the other side of the body, exposing the other shoulder and hiding the prior thus allowing the blade to be drawn, its edge still facing right, to strike. This No geijutsu nodjiita ken is utilized to disrupt and then simultaneously block and strike the following counter if necessary. It is an intriguing and certainly unique form of the style.

[U][I]Minami-muki Renge-hen([sub]南向き蓮花片[/sub] 'South Facing Lotus Petal')[/I][/U] is likely the most bizarre forms of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no as it is not used in true conflict, or at least that is not its primary purpose. Rather than conflict the form is used to disarm an armed opponent, even if this opponent's weapon is their body, their jutsu, or their mind. Standing with feet apart and the point of the blade facing to either side, blade horizontal and sheathed edge pointing towards the wielder, this style begins. Beside the blade itself, as the sheath is seldom used in this form, a guard on the forearm is typically applied so as to shield from the wielder's blade as it is held in reverse grip with the edge facing towards the arm rather than away. Another of this form's defining characteristics is that most of its attacks are delivered backwards and are piercing or pincer oriented. Beyond this there is only one other truly unique thing to be said regarding the Minami-muki Renge-hen, and that is that it is the only form (excluding the Shinzui no Hasu) of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no that can tap into the yin and yang of both the wielder and their opponent intentionally. It does this by using the blade as a conduit, which is how they manage to seal off certain capabilities, or even tenketsu if one is skilled enough. In this way it differentiates itself from the other No geijutsu no nodjiita ken.

[U][I]Nishi ni menshi Renge-hen([sub]西に面した蓮花片[/sub] 'West Facing Lotus Petal')[/I][/U] first cradles the sheathed blade with the left arm, letting most of the sheath rest against the crook of the elbow. Within the sheath the edge will face away from the user's body, conversely it can face towards the user's body if they happen to wield the blade better with their left arm rather than their right. Given that they are right handed though, they will rest their left hand, fingers outstretched, along the sheath near where the blade's hilt is located. The blade is drawn by simultaneously pulling the sheath back with the left arm and drawing the blade with the right hand. The only explicit rule of this dogma is that the edge must always face towards the user's left side, meaning if it is drawn from the right side, its edge must be pointing towards the left. Many applications of this style do not actually fully draw the blade. Rather the sheath and hilt are used to block and trap the weapons or attacks of the enemy, flick them away and then quick draw when openings are present. Additionally, with a hand on the sheath and a hand on the katana, the blade can be sheathed and drawn at increased speeds allowing a limb to be more easily cut off by forcing the blade through it by manipulating the it via the sheath's movement and positioning.

[U][I]Shinzui no Hasu([sub]真髄の蓮[/sub] 'Core of the Lotus')[/I][/U] is both the initial and final style of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no as it is used first without its definitive stances to test the opponent(s), and then later as a last resort to be the core of the lotus dogma and bring together the other four petals into a cohesive whole, a unifying central point. In its essence it is simple yet complex as it unites the four forms into a wonderful state referred to as Mabayui mankai which simply allows the user to do something that'd be otherwise essentially impossible, utilize all the forms with little to no hesitation as one flows through them and with no possibility of harming oneself. Lastly it does one thing that no other form of the Shizukana-ryū-ji no, it discards the sheath.[/hider][hider=Ancestral Weapon][b][u]Chinmoku: Yōikō no sharakuna ginren([sub]沉黙: 容易光沢、洒落な銀蓮[/sub] [I]'Silence: Simple Match of the Boldest Silver Lotus'[/I]).[/u][/b]
and
[b][u]Tōrenai-men to naikō([sub]通れない面と乃公[/sub] [I]'Ego with an impassable mask'[/I]).[/u][/b]

[B]Description:[/B] 
A blade whose essence has been passed down through the Mayonaka family since its beginning, Chinmoku changes with each of its wielders' passing. The blade, due to how many times it has been altered and had chakra poured into its magnificent form has become nigh unbreakable and gained an edge so sharp that in the right hands it could easily sheer through even the strongest of substances. Due to the nature of Chinmoku and the fact that with each passing generation it is reforged and renamed, something unique has come of its existence making it much more than just an ancestral blade. With each passing wielder it is melted down and taken apart only to be created once more to better suit the inheritor. Its name is than chosen via the use of the wielder's closest relatives, for while the user names the blade themselves and to express its new form and how it will be used, it must still reflect several of its more recent wielders to remember its place in the world. Beyond these facts there is still a very unique aspect that many never truly realize is present in Chinmoku, for only with in depth meditation and reflection with the blade can one realize that within the blade is something similar to a soul or consciousness of some form. In fact, from the very beginning, Chinmoku has imprinted the skills and wisdom of its wielder into itself, acting as an ancient record of all those who have wielded it in earnest. These skills and this wisdom can be accessed through meditation and trained into a form that can become reliable in combat, but in no way are they easy to obtain. After all, the blade has a consciousness, and to truly unlock its secrets Chinmoku's sheath must be taken off the wielder's person so that there is no filter between the blade and the wielder's consciousnesses. It becomes a tug of war, a power struggle to see whom shall truly influence whom. Once the blade has however lost this struggle and its wisdom and imprinted skill has been unlocked, the user can once again don Tōrenai-men to naikō and still access the bounty of experience imprinted within Chinmoku.

To expand, one ought to understand the nature of Chinmoku's sheath, Tōrenai-men to naikō, for without this sheath chinmoku would become an unwieldable monster, or rather it would be foolhardy to wield it if one did not want to go insane. In essence, the Tōrenai-men to naikō was created to filter the influence of Chinmoku's soul on its wielder. When Chinmoku is sheathed its influence is entirely filtered, and even if drawn it is not able to subjugate or totally influence its wielder as long as the Tōrenai-men to naikō is on their person. It is only when the blade is wielded and sheath discarded that its influence becomes dangerous to the mind of the wielder. Otherwise it has been seen that the sheath is just as resistant to damage as Chinmoku itself, the actual reasons behind this are unknown, but it is thought that the sheath was made to be even more impervious than Chinmoku so that it would not be destroyed, damaged, or influenced by the blade which it is meant to limit. Last of all, it has been seen that the Tōrenai-men to naikō has an incredibly calming effect on any whom it touches, entering them almost into a state of pure all consuming serenity. This effect can be felt even through clothing and indirectly through a weapon or armor, though its effects would be noticeably dulled. It is said that, in essence, Chinmoku and Tōrenai-men to naikō are the yin and yang to one another, for while Chinmoku is used for physical damage and destruction --embodying the yang-- Tōrenai-men to naikō is used to bring peace and serenity by way of sheathing the blade and keeping it from destroying --thus embodying the yin. So it has been seen that one cannot be used without the other, plain and simple.[/hider][/hider][/center]
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/e6972nP.png[/img][/center]
[center][To be Seen][/center]