[Inactive]Kenitsuna Ken'ichi

Post by **Archives** » Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:38 pm

Username: Jinan B
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Kenitsuna, Ken'ichi
The Samurai's Right Hand

It's truly a shame, you will meet the gods before I do.

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General Information

Age:	Gender:	Height:	Weight:	Hair:	Eye:
38	Male	6'10" (208cm)	268 Pounds (121kgs)	Black, short and closely cropped hair with a small but noticeable beard.	Charcoal Gray

Physical Features:

Face/head: Ken'ichi can only be described as having a rough face. With narrow, slanted eyes, a long narrow nose, and mouth often formed in a stern expression, it is hard to say that he holds to the conventional idea of beauty. He is, however, not without some small amount of rugged handsomeness.
Body:: Ken is an incredibly well muscled man. Standing at a remarkable 6'10", he towers over most people that he meets. As well as this, his life's work has led to him developing an almost unnatural amount of muscle, and it is often one of the first things noticed when he is seen. His time in the icy Rock Country has made his skin rather pale, however.
Notable Features: The second thing someone is likely to notice about Ken'ichi is that he is missing his left eye. As well as this, he has picked up a substantial amount of scars over the years. Two of these scars stand out however. The first is a jagged sword wound on his chest, picked up during his battle against Yotsurama, where he also lost his eye. The second was left by an arrow that pierced his right shoulder when he fought his former student, Leiko.

Clothing/Accessories: The first layer of clothing that Ken wears is an outfit of dyed leather armor, offering him protection against the elements while still affording him maximum flexibility. The armour extends across his entire upper and lower body, and is held together by a series of buckles and straps across the man’s body. Also attached to the armour are a series of pockets in which Ken keeps the majority of his smaller tools, as well as three custom made scabbards in which he keeps his three blades. The first of these scabbards is found on his back, and is also the largest of the three. It is in this scabbard that Ken houses The Smith’s Gift. The second scabbard is housed on Ken’s left hip, and houses The Samurai’s Gift, while the smallest of the three is found on Ken’s right hip and houses The Guardian’s Gift.

Ken wears an extra layer of cloth over his upper chest. The cloth, which is a myriad of colours as a result of the wear accumulated over the years, extends over Ken’s arms and also has a hood attached. Strapped over the cloth is a leather pauldron on Ken’s left shoulder, as well as leather wrist guards on both of his wrists. He also keeps a small bag in which he keeps food items and other survival equipment, usually slung over his right shoulder and hanging by his left hip. Finally Ken wears two necklaces. The first is a simple piece of bone carved into the shape of a tooth that he uses as a conduit for prayer, while the second is a gold coin with the number “1” carved into it. This denotes Ken’s position in the first family of the Kenitsuna.

Personality:

General: Ken is, in a sentence, an incredibly blunt and honorable man. These are in fact the two qualities that he values above all others, and so it would be rare for him to be found performing a deed that could be seen as dishonorable. As well as this he would almost never hide his actions from others, and it is rare to see him lie about something that he has formed an opinion about. The only exception to this is if he is required to do so for the sake of a mission. He is an incredibly religious man, and will often be found in prayer, or will speak about his gods. Sometimes, he may even quote scripture.

Ken is also a rather companionate man, and will often go out of his way to help even those that he does not care much about. Most often he will do this through teaching less skilled Shinobi and helping them improve their abilities for no gain of his own. This is not to say that he likes all people, however, and will also go out of his way to make sure that those who he dislikes know about it. In his mind, if people are not told about their flaws, they will never be able to improve on them.
Hopes/Dreams: Ken’s dream is an incredibly broad one: to ensure that his village is the most powerful Village on the map. In order to make his dream a reality, he has set his eye on the role of Tsuchikage, hoping that he will be able to guide the citizens of Iwagakure to a higher level of existence under his leadership. Ken hopes to bring mankind closer to the level of the gods and the dead, and the best way for him to help bring about such ascension is to ensure that the people of his village become ever closer to the gods.
Fears: Ever since the death of his mother, Ken has cared immensely about his younger brother Jinchi. In his mind, it was the death of his mother that brought good fortune to her youngest son, and his death would only serve to crush that belief. Ken would never admit his fear to anyone else, as even he is not aware of it consciously, but that does not mean that the fear does not exist.

As well as this, he fears failing in his divine task, and seeing the people of Iwagakure be defeated or subjugated by any other power. As a result he would do anything and more to prevent such an event from occurring.
Combat Mentality Ken’s straightforwardness does not mean that he is stupid. In fact, he is an incredibly intelligent and tactical warrior. His signature battle strategy is to use his superior levels of endurance and stamina to outlast his opponent, and then strike when his foe is weakened by his exertion.

Battle Information

SpecialtiesShow

Taijutsu Specialist Having devoted his life to mastering the art of taijutsu, Ken'ichi is classified as a Taijutsu Specialist. Taijutsu specialists are able to devote a total of 10 concentrations to taijutsu, unlike most people who are capped at 8. However, they are only able to devote a max of 5 concentrations to genjutsu, and a max of 5 concentrations to ninjutsu.

As a Taijutsu Specialist, Ken'ichi is able to utilize taijutsu concentrations reserved for specialists, and is able to enter the God Tier [45+] on select stats, and meaning as a specialist they can select stats to break into the God tier. These stats are: Taijutsu, Stamina, Instinct, and Strength.

Abilities: 0/3Show

ConcentrationsShow

Ninjutsu (0/1)Show

Genjutsu (2/5)Show

Sight Initiation:
This user has learned to use visual cues to initiate genjutsu. Allowing them to perform actions, or draw the eyes to something to capture their targets in a genjutsu.

Sound Initiation:
This user has learn to use sound cues to initiate genjutsu. Allowing them to create sounds and sustain sounds to capture their targets in a genjutsu.

Taijutsu (10/10)Show

Upper Body:
The fundamental skill of the [Upper Body] indicates the user’s proficiency with using their arms, chest and head in various ways to facilitate their use of related Taijutsu.

Lower Body:
The fundamental skill of [Lower Body] indicates the user’s proficiency in using their legs and feet in many different ways to facilitate their use of related Taijutsu.

Deft Hands:
The fundamental skill of [Deft Hands] indicates the user’s proficiency with using their hands in very specific and complex movements, like sleight of hand and targeting very small and specific points on an opponent’s body. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu in various ways.

Rigid Structure:
The fundamental skill of [Rigid Structure] describes the user’s ability to adeptly position and lock in their skeletal structure to efficiently absorb blows with minimal damage to their person. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu.

Medicine:
The fundamental skill of [Medicine] describes the user’s mental and physical ability to perform traditional and mainstream medicinal practices. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu.

Perception:
The fundamental skill of [Perception] describes the user’s practiced methods of more keenly focussing their senses for a short time. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu.

Sword Weapons:
The fundamental skill of [Sword Weapons] indicates the user’s proficiency with swords and sword-like weapons such as knives, daggers, sword-breakers and the like. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu.

Polearm Weapons:
The fundamental skill of [Polearm Weapons] indicates the user’s proficiency with staves, spears, halberds, pikes, scythes and other like weapons. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu.

Projectile Weapons:
The fundamental skill of [Projectile Weapons] indicates the user’s proficiency with weapons designed to attack from afar, such as bows, shuriken, senbon, launchers and the like. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu.

Heavenly Body Control:
The fundamental skills of [Heavenly Body Control] cannot be mastered by those with less than 35 Taijutsu, Strength and Speed. These skills include those required to create almost ninjutsu-equivalent effects simply from the movement of one’s body such as animal shaped blasts of compressed air from especially positioned hands and other similar feats which are beyond reality. This facilitates their use of related Taijutsu, and requires Taijutsu Specialist.

EquipmentShow

The Gift of The Smith can be found in a scabbard on his back.
The Gift of the Samurai can be found on his left hip.
The Gift of The Guardian is usually in a scabbard on his right hip.
6 explosive tags are kept within a pocket on Ken's left hip.
4 Kunai with attached explosive tags, as well as 5 kunai with attached Flash tags are found in a pocket on his right hip.
19 shuriken are located in a pouch on Ken's right leg.
30 senbon can be found in a pouch on Ken's left leg.
30 meters of coiled wire are located in a pouch on Ken's back.
A 1litre water skin, as well as 3 days' worth of dried food can be found within Ken's bag.

The Three BladesShow

The Gift of The SmithShow

Forged by Ken's father when he was named on the Council of the Kenitsuna, the Gift of The Smith is a large double edged Sword. The Hilt measures 20 centimeters, with a large guard separating the Hilt and the blade. The blade measures 120 centimeters when fully extended. It is Forged from the strongest steel available in Iwagakure, and as such has a strength of 50.

The Gift of The Smith is unique in that it is rarely seen fully extended. Instead the end of the blade fits over the rest of the blade, shortening the length to 80 centimeters when not fully extended. Through channeling a small amount of chakra into the blade, a series of catches holding the blade together are released. The release of the catches is not all that is required for the blade to extend, however, as it must be swung for it the outer layer of the blade to move. when it is swung, the blade will extend as a speed of Ken's [(Speed+Strength)/2]. Once the blade is extended, another set of catches will hold it in place, until they are released through channeled chakra.

The Gift of The SamuraiShow

A versatile blade used by Ken in the majority of his taijutsu, the Gift of the Samurai consists of a hilt that measures 10 centimetres, as well as a leaf shaped blade that measures 70 centimetres. The hilt itself is telescopic in nature, meaning that by twisting it and drawing it back Ken is able to extend the hilt to a full meter in length. This allows him to use the sword as if it were a glaive.

The Gift of The GuardianShow

Used by Ken alongside The Gift of The Samurai in his development of his Niten Style, this short sword breaker has a hilt that is 8 centimeters long, as well as a 40 centimeter blade.

Rank:	Village:	Chakra Affinity:	Companions: (0/1)	Stats:
Bannin	Iwagakure	Doton	None	287 (7/50)

Ninjutsu:	Taijutsu:	Genjutsu:	Stamina:	Control:	Strength:	Speed:	Instinct:
1	50	27	50	20	50	39	50

Jutsu Taijutsu

ShindenShow

Shinden Kenjutsu:
Shinden Kenjutsu is a style originating in Marsh Country that emphasizes heavy and damaging slashes from positions that allow flexibility and focus. Typically the user will draw their sword and then lift it over their shoulder or head, in a downward slashing angle to allow for gravity to act as an enhancer for the blow and because of this, heavier swords such as nodachi or odachi are typical fare for the style but the moves can be done with a katana. This style also emphasizes firm and powerful body movements to deal with the lack of blade defense afforded by the stance assumed.
Requires: [Upper], [Rigid Structure], [Sword or Hafted] Concentrations

E Rank: 2

Shinden • Activation
E-Rank Nintaijutsu Maneuver
Requires: 5 Control
By channeling a small amount of his chakra into the Gift of The Smith, Ken will release the catches that hold the two layers of the blade together, allowing it to expand to its full length. After this channeling is complete, Ken will then swing the blade (either as part of another maneuver or simply at random) in order to extend it.

Shinden • Contraction:
E-Rank Nintaijutsu Maneuver
Requires: 5 Control
By channeling a small amount of his chakra into the Gift of The Smith, this Jutsu will release the catches that hold the blade in it's extended form. After the channeling is complete, Ken will then thrust his blade into the ground in order to push the blade back into its unextended form. Once this jutsu is complete, the [Activation] technique must be used to expand the blade.

D Rank: 2

*Shinden • Fake Out
D-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 10 Strength
A technique designed to interrupt foes; the user pulls their hands up on their sword to expose more of the hilt while in typical Shinden stance. Once an opponent comes within range, the user yanks the hilt down in a smashing manner against the foe or a similar target. Afterwards, the user follows with a less damaging downward slash at a foe, making this effective for surprise purposes.

*[Shinden • Sword Shield]
D-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 10 Strength
As most Shinden users wield rather large blades, The user of this technique has trained himself to use the width of their blade as a sort of shield, using it to deflect most small weaponry and block blows reliably. Users should be very liberal with the use of this technique, as too strong a blow could damage their weapon and render it useless, while too thin a weapon makes the use of this technique more difficult than one with a wider blade.

C Rank: 3

*Shinden • Form Improvement
C-Rank Kenjutsu Stance
Prerequisite: 15 Strength
The user assumes a somewhat curved stance by drawing one elbow down and bending it back so that the sword points straight up above the user with the left hand at cheek level and the right hand at eye level. This shifts the sword into pointing straight up instead of curved in any direction, allowing for firm and quick slashes and thrusts. This stance also allows the user to recover from an attack at a greater speed, preserving the user's defensive position without sacrificing the power behind their attacks.

*Shinden • Shield of Swings
C-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 15 Strength, 15 Taijutsu
The user will swing their blade in a seemingly wild fashion without truly aiming to connect with a target, at least not with any real accuracy. While it seems to be totally uncalculated to the untrained eye, the user is in fact swinging their weapon in such a way to protect themselves from other attacks while making their approach. By swinging the blade in large circles around their body, they create a whirlwind of strikes that not only serve to bat away blows of lesser strength, but can easily tear apart an opponent on a direct hit.

*Shinden • Grounding Blade
C-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 15 Strength
The user he blade of their sword into the ground and then slashes sideways creating a fairly deep crater, around five inches, in the ground in front of them, kicking up a splash of rocks and dust to blind and harry foes. The user then lunges into their foe with an attempt to knock them over or slash at their legs. Foes with at least equal Strength to the user can avoid being knocked over and can maintain ground, preventing the follow-up slash.

B Rank: 1

*Shinden • Titan's Grip
B-Rank Kenjutsu Stance
Prerequisite: Shinden • Form Improvement, 25 strength, 25 Taijutsu
A stronger version of the Form Improvement technique, a user of this stance is capable of using their oversized weapon with such ease that the usual encumbrance of such large weapons are as if nothing to them. This allows a Shinden user to use their weapon with the same speed and control as a smaller, more easily controlled weapon, such as a ninjato or katana. The benefits of this are incredibly useful, as this allows a Shinden user to attack with incredible speed and accuracy without sacrificing their power, as well as block efficiently between blows.

A Rank: 3

*Shinden • Feel No Pain
A Rank Kenjutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: 35 Stamina, 35 Strength
A mindset that many of the more berserk shinden users train themselves to maintain, A user with this technique has trained themselves to ignore even the most painful of wounds. This isn't to say that the damage of the wound is ignored; a grievous wound will still cause damage to the shinden user's body and could inhibit their abilities or kill them outright. This discipline simply allows a shinden user to treat pain as if it doesn't exist through sheer force of body and will, allowing them to charge straight through attacks and jutsu to deliver their onslaught of attacks.

Shinden • Circulation
A Rank Kenjutsu Discipline
Requires: Heavenly Body Control
Using immense control over his body, Ken has been able to stop the blood flow to one of his extremities at will in case of serious injury. This technique functions as a tourniquet of sorts. It is more effective, however, as Ken is able to prevent blood flow to more specific areas than simply an entire body part, minimizing the risk of damage as a result of a loss of blood to the body part.

*Shinden • Hand of the Titan
A-Rank Kenjutsu Stance
Prerequisite:Shinden • Titan's Grip, 35 Strength, 35 Taijutsu
Taking the Titan's Grip stance one last step farther, a Shinden user with this technique has become so adept at using his oversized weapon that he can do so one handed with no penalty. The Shinden user can perform any Shinden technique of A rank or lower single handedly, and can maneuver their weapon fluidly and accurately with only one hand. This has the added benefit of freeing up their other hand, allowing them to use their other hand for a variety of purposes while maintaining an offensive advance with the Shinden style.

NitenShow

Niten Ichi-Ryū A Style devised by Ken, Niten Ichi-Ryū focuses on the art of wielding two blades together. The Style was originally created so that Ken would be able to better fight single, highly skilled enemies (as opposed to weaker, more numerous enemies against whom he uses Shinden). The Style Requires [Upper Body]; [Sword Weapons]; and [Deft Hands] for the wielding of the blades; [Lower Body] for the precise footwork associated with the Style;[Perception] for the focus needed while using the Style; and [Heavenly Body Control] for the most difficult of Niten Jutsu.

D Rank: 3

Niten • Ambidexterity
D Rank Kenjutsu Discipline
Requires: 10 Taijutsu
After practicing for a long amount of time with the concept of using both of their hands with equal skill, the user has developed a level of ambidexterity that allows them to utilize their preferred weaponry without any sort of issue. This extends to other methods of combat or simple everyday life as well.

Niten • Single Focus
D Rank Kenjutsu Stances
Requires: 10 Instinct
A master of this discipline has gained the ability to keep their focus on one single person during combat. Any attempts to distract the user away from this target will be met with failure, and the user of this discipline will be able to better analyze the movements and attacks of the given foe. On the other hand, however, once the user has begun focusing on one opponent, they will be more susceptible to attacks from other opponents.

Niten • Distance awareness
D Rank Kenjutsu Discipline
Requires: 10 Instinct
Ken has learned to skillfully calculate the distances between himself and any object of his focus at a glance, despite only having one eye. This allows him to determine quickly and easily how far he needs to move in order to make an attack or avoid an enemies attack, allowing for a great amount of utility in battle.

C Rank: 2

Niten • Mobile Guard
C Rank Kenjutsu Stance
This Stance sees Ken moving his two blades in seemingly wild swinging motions, allowing him to keep his blades at their max speed and keeping his body as protected as possible. The motion of the blades is designed to allow Ken to defend any part of his body from attacks with a minimum of movement and yet still appear to be entirely random. This stance also allows Ken to move onto the attack with hardly a wasted movement.

Niten • Sideswipe
C Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
After blocking an opponent's strike with his off hand, Ken will turn the strike away from him whilst moving past the foe. As he does this, he will follow through with his blade, aiming to deliver a cut to the Foe's arm or chest. He will then push away the opponent, before repositioning himself for another maneuver.

B Rank: 2

Niten • The Samurai's Parry
B Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Requires: Sword Breaker; 20 Instinct; Speed
An advanced maneuver within the Niten Style, The Samurai's Parry uses a Sword Breaker to effectively "trap" an opponent's blade in their own. By timing the parry perfectly, and then rotating the blade of the Sword Breaker outwards, the user attempts to break the opponents blade, which will be successful as long as the strength of the user is higher than the average of the opponent's strength and the strength of the opponents blade. Even if the target's blade is not broken, this technique still allows for a number of follow up attacks.

Niten • Arm Guarding
B Rank Kenjutsu Discipline
As Ken is unable to use his hands in hand to hand combat, he has learned to use his arms and elbows to block attacks made by those without blades. He has become able to recognize whether it would be more beneficial to use his blades or his arms, and will be able to defend himself without a use of his hands as he would have otherwise been able to do.

A Rank: 1

Niten • Maintenance
A Rank Kenjutsu Discipline
Ken has learned how to deflect blows with his blades in a way that will prevent them from suffering any more damage than necessary through using the momentum of the attacking strikes to his advantage. As long as the opponent is not using an attack designed to break swords, Ken's (Instinct+Speed+taijutsu/3) will be tested against the opponents (strength+Speed/2), as long as Ken's stats are equal or higher than the opponents, he will be able to avoid damage to his blade.

S Rank: 1

Niten • Ultimate Focus
S Rank Kenjutsu Stance
Requires: 40 Taijutsu; 45 Instinct
After focusing his thoughts for half a post, Ken is able to enter into a trance of sorts. This trance allows him to focus so entirely on a single opponent that all actions made by the opponent seem to be at 2/5ths of their usual speed. This trance effectively allows Ken to react at an entirely inhuman speed, seemingly countering blows before they have even begun. This trance can be maintained indefinitely.

IaidoShow

Iaido Kenjutsu:
Iaido Kenjutsu is a sword style originating from the Land of Tea that focuses on the fact that when first drawn, the linear motion and force of pulling a katana from its sheath are able to generate unusually fast slashes. Iaido capitalizes on this, it's samurai equally skilled in close range hand-to-hand fighting and then being able to switch to single fast slashes and stabs before returning to previous combat, making them unpredictable fighters.
Requires [Sword], [Perception], and [Upper Body] Concentrations

D Rank: 2

*[Iaido • Block]
D-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 8 Speed
A technique developed out of need to protect himself from other weapon users, Block is simple in its use, but highly effective when used right. By partially drawing their sword, the user of this technique is able to use the back of their blade to block incoming weapon attacks should they time it correctly. The user must be careful when using this technique, should the attacker have a high enough strength, this technique could very well shatter the user's weapon.

*[Iaido • Hilt Strike]
D-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 8 Speed
A simple technique, Hilt Strike is designed for moments when the target is to close for the user to fully draw their sword. Gripping their hilt in a downward dagger position, the user will quickly draw their blade out as far as they can, and use the butt of the hilt to strike their target in an attempt to push them back and set them up for their other attacks.

C Rank: 1

*[Iaido • Beheading Draw]
C-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 15 Speed
The user draws their katana with one hand and slams their palm into the back of their blade to increase the force behind the swing made in any direction. This works with blunted side of a sword, but it can also draw out their strength and the blade's cutting power in full to quickly slash apart obstacles. Re-sheathing after this technique may take a bit longer; the placement of the hands following this technique makes it difficult to re-sheath properly.

B Rank: 3

*[Iaido • Iai Beheading Draw]
B-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: *Iaido • Beheading Draw, 25 Speed
With a Variation of the Beheading Draw technique, the user forces a very quick snap of tension and torque through their arm as they draw their sword sending it vertically or across with great speed. With its speed, the strike takes on a blur, many times not even appearing to be drawn from its sheath. This slash is also incredibly powerful with its speed, able to slice through stone in most cases with enough power.

*[Iaido • Breakneck Sheath]
B-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 25 Speed
Through incredible amounts of practice the user of this technique has gained such a vast knowledge of Iaido and their sheath in particular that they have perfected the art of sheathing their sword. As such, they can sheath their weapon single handed if need be, and can do so with the same blinding speed that they would deliver a slash with, allowing them to chain together attacks with even more speed than before.

*[Iaido • Reverse Beheading Draw]
B-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: *Iaido • Beheading Draw, 25 Speed
By building tension in two places in their body, the user unleashes a spin and then draws their katana in a swift motion without pause until returning to face their original direction, sword sheathing in the process. The attack has incredible destructive power, though lacks the visual blur in speed. The attack is still fast enough, however, to disorient opponents greatly.

A Rank: 1

*[Iaido • Backlash Draw]
A-Rank Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 30 speed, 30 strength, *[Iaido • Reverse Beheading Draw[/i]
Taking the concept of the Reverse Beheading Draw a step further, the user builds a large amount of torque within their arm and hip before yanking the sword from their sheath with such force that it creates a destructive wave of force that follows behind the path of the blade. The user slashes in a 360 degree rotation with incredible, blurring speed, sheathing the blade as soon as the rotation is complete. After the sword has been sheathed, the wave of force follows the same path that the initial slash took, delivering a second slash with equal power to the first. This makes the technique perfect for dealing with opponents on all sides.

ToryuShow

Toryu Kenjutsu:
Toryu Kenjutsu is a sword style originating from the Land of Pebbles that focuses on not just performing kenjutsu but also weaving close quarter's style taijutsu into the bladework. Toryu's specialty is not only learning to capably slash a sword with one hand but also learning to use the hands, joints, legs and even the head to make frighteningly dangerous close quarter's fighters. An inelegant style, it is commonly associated with the more 'rough' samurai but in truth it's reliance on two opposing impulses and control of the body makes it one of the more difficult Kenjutsu styles to learn. While usable with most blades, experienced fighters often prefer wakizashi, ninjato and even tanto daggers instead of katana for increased mobility.

D Rank: 2

*[Toryu • Close Quarters]
D- Ranked Kenjutsu Stance
Prerequisite: 5 Taijutsu
The signature stance of the style, Close Quarters teaches users of this style how to rapidly change the angle, position and even grip of their weapon without moving their hand from its signature position at the user's waist for maximum versatility. Users of this style often assume a one foot forward, one back, slightly swayed stance to free up movement as well at the expense of leaving their center open.

*[Toryu • Lunging Feint]
D-Ranked Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 5 Speed
A basic technique of the style wherein the user moves in for a basic lunge-thrust with their weapon, only to turn in mid thrust and attempt to sweep their leg under the opponent's own. This tends to be useful as a basic feint and can usually knock down those with less strength than the user who get caught by it.

C Rank: 1

*[Toryu • Disregard of Fear]
C-Ranked Kenjutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: 15 Instinct
Many of the Toryu techniques would put the user in incredibly daring positions where a single mistake could instantly spell disaster for the swordsman. As a result, Toryu practitioners must train themselves constantly to avoid letting their fears distract them from their task. A user with this technique has learned to shut out fear in the heat of combat, allowing them to perform their death defying attacks without the risk of failure due to fear responses.

*[Toryu • Subversion Grappling]
C-Ranked Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 15 Taijutsu
One of the more utilized techniques in the arsenal of the style, it involves the shifting of offense and defense, specifically utilizing the sword as a defensive weapon and the hand as the main weapon; by blocking far off the center of the clash (to the side, above, below), the user opens up an opposing swordsman or weapon specialist to punches, quick closes and even more complicated maneuvers simply by forcing their sword back for a moment. The downside of course is it lessens the overall effectiveness of the sword.

B Rank: 3

*[Toryu • Grappling Counter]
B-Ranked Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 25 Strength
Utilized defensively at a rushing opponent or offensively during other movements, the core of this technique is to open up the opponent by first driving the arm towards them under or over their guard and then, at the moment of impact, turning the body in such a way that so as to face them sideways and stabbing your weapon into their back during this momentary opening. The one-two combo of this technique is that the arm bar sends them hurtling back directly into the now oncoming blade, causing far more damage than either hit alone.

*[Toryu • Reversal Grappling]
B-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 25 Speed, 25 Taijutsu
A tricky technique which requires an opponent to step close to the user voluntarily either for an attack or for a grapple/counter of their own. By using the forward momentum of the opponent and dropping down to one knee, the user is able to grab the wrist of the opponent and use their grip to force the foe over their head; slamming them headfirst into the ground and leaving them open for a further attack.

*[Toryu • Dirty Assault]
B-Ranked Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 15 Instinct, 25 Speed, 25 Taijutsu
Using their surroundings to their advantage with a bit of quick thinking, the user will charge at their opponent from a distance. Then, Just before getting within range to attack the opponent, the user will dig the toe of their shoe or foot into the dirt and kick up a large cloud of dirt to obscure the opponent’s vision and as a result, the user’s position. If no dirt is available, such as being inside, the user should instead use a bit of dirt on their person, though this is less effective as the cloud would be much smaller and is instead meant to simply blind the opponent. The user will then make a quick dash to either side of the opponent and reach for their arm, giving them a quick jerk to set them off balance and bring them closer before delivering a quick slash to the opponent’s jugular.

A Rank: 3

*[Toryu • Reckless Fortune]
A-Ranked Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 30 Taijutsu, 35 Strength
A patient technique user must first initiate with a signature position, putting one of the user's own legs through the opponent's own leg opening at an angle to block off escape. Once initiated they immediately wrap their arm around the opponent's shoulders and latch on tightly. At this point the finishing touch of a swift head-butt at the opponent in conjunction with a stab or slash is used to finish off the movement and likely the battle, the combination of the stunning head-butt and locking making the opponent unlikely to move while the weapon lashes out at them. What makes this technique difficult and conversely so potent is its simplicity mingled with the focus required. A single miss-used movement can open the user up for a devastating counter attack.

*[Toryu • Earthshaker]
A-Ranked Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 35 Strength
A devastating dash attack known for its ability to cause tremors in the earth, the user will take a brief moment to ready themselves, digging their foot into the ground and building up power in their leg. Then in a burst of movement, the user will kick off into a dash so hard that the force they put into the earth actually causes the ground to rumble with tremors radiating out to 15 meters, causing anyone with a Taijutsu stat 10 or more underneath the user’s strength to struggle with standing or moving even at a walking pace. This makes the perfect cover for the Toryu user to charge into battle headfirst as it makes it more difficult for those who aren’t taijutsu practitioners to retaliate against their advance.

*[Toryu • Earthbreaker]
A-Ranked Kenjutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 35 Strength
With a swift punch to the earth the user shatters a large chunk of earth beneath their feet, allowing them to reach down and grab hold of a huge chunk of earth no larger than 5 meters in diameter. The user holds this rock with one hand and can toss the chunk of earth as if it were ranged weapon. After doing so, the user follows the earth for a moment while delivering multiple slashes to it, cutting the one chunk into several that scatter around a 5 meter diameter area. This is mainly meant to cover their charge but the chunks of earth are quite capable of damaging wounds on direct hits.

Kushou-RyuShow

Kushou:
Kushou-Ryu Soujutsu, or spear techniques, are a collection of Taijutsu techniques focussed around the use of polearms. The techniques can be used interchangeably for users of spears, staves, glaives and similar weapons. These techniques were developed by the military of the Holy City of Towers, rumoured to have been passed from the Holy Mother herself to the males of her land centuries ago. Those who wish to learn the secret techniques of the style must travel there and convince them to teach them. The style itself revolves around keeping the user’s weapon and body moving in order to manoeuvre around an opponent’s guard, or beat their way through it. Requires: [Polearm Weapons], [Deft Hands], [Lower Body]

D Rank: 2

* Kushou・Low Wind Rising
D-Ranked Taijutsu Stance
The foundational stance of the Kushou style, Low Wind Rising involves the spinning of the user’s spear or polearm around their body constantly whilst remaining in motion. While in this stance, the user will be able to deflect projectiles with less strength than their own, while also making unpredictable movements of their spear.

* Kushou・The Swallow Takes Flight
D-Ranked Taijutsu Manoeuvre
The user will vault themselves into the air using their polearm and then unleash a powerful blow from above. This technique is used to disorient and surprise foes as well as overpower them as it strikes with all of the user’s body weight and momentum from the spin they perform in the air in order to strike with the spear that was touching the ground moments before.

C Rank: 3

* Kushou・Folding the Fan
C-Ranked Taijutsu Stance
Prerequisite: [Sword Weapons] concentration
A supplementary stance of the Kushou style, Folding the fan involves pulling back the user’s polarm and using only a portion of its length in order to engage briefly in shorter range with opponents. This sacrifices the user’s range advantage, but also allows them to more properly deal with those who get inside their range. This allows the use of a polearm weapon like a sword weapon.

* Kushou・Twisting the Wind
C-Ranked Taijutsu Manoeuvre
Prerequisite: * Kushou・Low Wind Rising
This is the core technique of the Kushou Style. The user will begin in the Low Wind Rising stance and then approaches their opponent. They will begin with a wide arcing blow to begin this combination of blows. Following this they will spin their polearm and their body as they follow their opponent across the battlefield, chasing them down as they block and evade. This technique takes the user’s entire post, and can strike a number of times equal to half their speed. Those who block more than one blow will suffer a -3 to Taijutsu for 3 posts as the weapon’s momentum and force jars their body.

* Kushou・Bundling Straw
C-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: 15 Instinct
This technique is a kind of mental preparation for the constant movement and spinning involved in the Kushou style. This enables the user to gather snippets of vision, sounds and tactile sensory information in order to be properly aware of the battlefield around them whether standing still or in rapid circular motion. The user is effectively aware of their surroundings within Instinct/3m of their person, able to recognise when attacks are coming and the body positions of opponents.

B Rank: 2

* Kushou・Threading the Needle
B-Ranked Taijutsu Manoeuvre
After either blocking an opponent’s strike or having one of their strikes blocked, the user will flick their weapon. Using their great leverage and range to their advantage, the user is able to skilfully dart their weapon around the opponent’s existing guard for a quick thrust at their opponent providing their Taijutsu is greater than the opponent’s.

* Kushou・Watered Silk
B-Ranked Taijutsu Manoeuvre
The user of this technique will strike the ground with one end of their weapon hard, dragging it in a line. This will fling a cloud of dirt, rock and dust up into their opponent’s eyes as if the user had thrown it. The use of one end of their weapon in this enables the immediate return of the opposite end for a follow up strike at either a blinded opponent or an opponent that is quite predictably dodging the debris.

A Rank: 2

Kushou・Low Wind Striking
A-Rank Taijutsu Manoeuvre
Prerequisite: Kushou・Low Wind Rising; 35 Speed
While within the Low Wind Rising Stance, the user will increase the speed with which they spin their spear or polearm in front of them to near superhuman levels. Once the user is ready, they will increase the speed of the spear or polearm even more, and the sheer force of its movement will create blade of wind equal to the length of the polearm that fly forwards at a speed and strength equal to 3/4 of the user's strength. The maximum amount of blades that can be created by any single use of the jutsu is defined by the user's stamina/5. Blocking a projectile while performing the manoeuvre will throw off the user, however, making him unable to complete it; and they will also be unable to move while in the process of creating the wind blades.

* Kushou・Kingfisher Circles the Pond
A-Ranked Taijutsu Manoeuvre
Prerequisite: 30 Speed
The user of this technique will take a moment to prepare themselves before dashing full speed around an opponent in order to strike them from behind. The strength of this technique comes from the extreme acceleration used in it, causing those with 5 less Taijutsu+Instinct/2 than the user’s speed to be unable to follow the user’s movement at all. The user will then make a powerful thrust at the opponent from their new position.

Genjutsu

IllusionShow

D Rank: 5

*[Genjutsu • Smell Of The Deceased]
D-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
An illusionary jutsu that, after performing the necessary hand seals, causes the target to begin to smell rotting flesh and decaying bodies. The jutsu can cause nausea and vomiting from the target, depending on how sensitive their sense of smell is, and begins once the victim witnesses the user perform the hand seals. The smell of the dead can also cause some mental stress on the target. This genjutsu lasts for three (3) posts.

[Genjutsu • You Can Never Have too Many Blades]
D-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
After forming hand seals and drawing his blade, Ken will channel chakra into it and say "You can never have too many blades", with the phrase being the trigger for the genjutsu. The target will be a second blade grow out of Ken's weapon and move as if it were going to swing at the target. The blade is entirely intangible and will not have any effect on the target, but this genjutsu can serve as an effective distraction. The blade will exist for three posts, or until it first makes contact with the target.

*[Genjutsu • Paranoid]
D-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
The user will do a series of hand seals, then point indiscriminately. Should the target see the pointing motion, they'll be captured in this genjutsu. For the following 4 posts, the target will see a shadow in the corner of their eyes, constantly shifting out of view when they attempt to look at it.

*[Genjutsu • Boom!]
D-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
The user will do a series of hand seals, then within the next post, snap their fingers. Anyone who hears the snapping will hear an explosion in the distance behind them. This works as an effective distraction, or a scare tactic, if properly utilized.

[Genjutsu • Holy Circle]
D-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
Ken will form a series of hand seals, the sight of which being the trigger for the Genjutsu. Following this, the target will see a ring of kunai appear in a circle around him, poised as if about to fly at the target. This can serve to distract the opponent, and lasts for 3 posts.

C Rank: 2

*[Genjutsu • Burning to Death]
C-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
This is a genjutsu technique which can be used in quite a few ways. The user forms a hand seal, and as long as the opponent(s) see it, then the genjutsu will begin. The user and the opponent(s) will both light on fire and start to burn, from the feet up to the head, in the opponent's mind. The opponent will normally start to panic and try to get rid of the fire, especially since they feel as if they were in actual pain. This genjutsu lasts for 4 posts and will not appear to be able to be extinguished, no matter what the victim does. The illusion is very static, in the sense that it doesn't change with the environment, it merely creates an illusory flame and pain.

[Genjutsu • Feel That?]
C-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, Ken will speak a phrase that ends with "Feel that?", which acts as the trigger for this Genjutsu. For the next 4 posts, the target of the Genjutsu will feel as if a blade is being run slowly across the back of their thighs, causing discomfort and pain to the target.

B Rank: 2

*[Genjutsu • Scatter and Run]
B-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
If the genjutsu user ever needs to run, this is the ideal technique to use. The target simply has to see them take their first step to run after the user has performed the hand seals. If the target saw the first step to run, the genjutsu caster will suddenly split into 90 "clones." This will allow the genjutsu caster to run away amidst the confusion, as the mass of clones run in every single direction at a speed of 20. Of course, touching one of these "clones" will cause them to disperse in a cloud of smoke, but they will do everything in their power to avoid making contact. If the clones aren't touched, the jutsu lasts for up to 6 posts.

*[Genjutsu • Heaven Earth Swap]
B-Ranked Illusion Genjutsu
After forming the needed hand seals and making eye contact with the opponent, the user will initiate this genjutsu. For the following four posts, the target’s vision will seem to be flipped, so that up is down and down is up.

StatusShow

C Rank: 3

*[Genjutsu • Dull Pain]
C-Ranked Status Genjutsu
The user does the needed hand seals, and then locks eyes with the target to trap the target in the genjutsu. For the next 10 posts, any pain that the target feels as if nothing really happened, effectively lessening all pain and nerve responses. The target would still be damaged, but any damage done to them would feel as though it hadn't happened, and as such they will usually overestimate their own stamina.

[Genjutsu • Confidence]
C-Ranked Status Genjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, Ken will begin speaking. The speech acts as the initiator for the Genjutsu, and ends with the phrase "It looks like you're more powerful than I imagined." For the next 6 posts, the user will feel a sense of overconfidence, and will be more likely to press the attack in the belief that they will be able to end the fight quickly. This will in turn make the target more likely to use draining attacks and expend their stamina more quickly.

[Genjutsu • What Have I ever Done To You?]
C-Ranked Status Genjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, Ken will say something that ends in the phrase "What have I ever done to you?", this phrase is the trigger for the Genjutsu. For the next 5 posts, or until Ken performs what could be seen as a blatantly hostile action, the target will feel as if Ken is a very likable person, and may wonder why it is that they ever disliked Ken to begin with. They will find it more difficult for them to argue with or fight such a paragon, and may hesitate or even stop entirely as a result of their indecision. This Genjutsu can also prove effective in a variety of circumstances, from combat to situation where Ken may be trying to convince another to aid him.

B Rank: 2

[Genjutsu • Wear and Tear]
B-Ranked Status Genjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, Ken will point at the target, the sight of this action acting as the trigger for the Genjutsu. For the next 6 posts, the target will feel as if they had undergone an incredible amount of strenuous activity. This effect is amplified if the target is already tired by the time that the Genjutsu is cast. This will have the effect of slowing the target down as a result of the imagined exhaustion, making each action ever so slightly slower than it might have been otherwise.

*[Genjutsu • Fear]
B-Ranked Status Genjutsu
The user will do a series of hand seals, the wink at their target. Should the target see them wink, they'll be caught in the genjutsu. For the next 4 posts, the target will have a sense of fear originating from the user and things they do. If the user takes a step forward, the target will be more inclined to take a step back, threats will have a higher efficacy, and they'll be more inclined to simply do what they can to avoid having to fight the user.

TyDie · Post by **TyDie** » Sun Apr 09, 2017 9:03 pm

History

The KenitsunaShow

The Kenitsuna take great pride in their history, and as a result are able to trace their roots near perfectly across the centuries. The first known Kenitsuna lived in the first days of Iwagakure, and were a group of samurai and smiths. While not as distinguished as any of the famous clans and their bloodline techniques, the family holds to this day that Kenitsuna steel was well sought after all those years ago.

So too, they maintain, were Kenitsuna soldiers. The family was well renowned for their swordsmen, and was frequently hired as mercenaries by one feuding Daimyo or another. Modern Kenitsuna believe that their ancestors had made their living this way for as long as centuries before it was first recorded, and they were certainly able to build themselves a successful base off which to live off.

Those days were not to last, of course, and under the leadership of a man named Kenitsuna Kichiro the family negotiated terms in order to join the newly made hidden village of Iwagakure. Kichiro knew that a village of Shinobi would need quality weapons at their disposal, and so he offered the village the full extent of their smithing prowess in return for a place in the village (A point that modern Kenitusna use to qualify their belief that the influence of their family was crucial in building up the reputation Iwagakure has for its steel industry). The man's deal was accepted and by the time of Kichiro's death the Kenitsuna were well established within the village. Kichiro's eldest grandson Kunio was the first Kenitsuna to learn the secrets of wielding Chakra, and ever since the family have had a history of creating powerful Shinobi.

The Kenitsuna today are a proud group. Split into 6 distinct families, their traditional ways mean that there are few Kenitsuna who do not make their trade in Smithing or war, just as the Kenitsuna of old did. Going against this norm is so taboo, in fact, that those who go into other trades are no longer considered members of the family, and are removed from their homes. The family produces many capable smiths, and is thought to be the single greatest smithing family in Iwagakure (this isn't to say that they control a majority of the trade, however, simply that there are no other single family's that produce steel to the same extent as they do). Likewise, most Kenitsuna who decide to become Shinobi will more often than not develop their skills in kenjutsu, occasionally even forging the blades that they wield.

The six families of the Kenitsuna are split into a distinct hierarchy. However, the family does not consider "families" to be what they are in the ordinary sense. Instead, family is determined solely from the ancestry of the members involved. The first of the 6 families are those who can trace their descent directly from Kenitsuna Kichiro's first child, while the second family is made up of those who can trace their direct relation to any of his other children. Most Kentisuna hail from the third family, which is made up of descendants of any other member of the Kenitsuna. The 4th and 5th families are the least well regarded, as members of the 4th family are descendants of Kenitsuna who choose to follow a path outside of smithing or war. The 5th family, on the other hand, is made up of bastards and the descendants of bastards. The 6th family has no direct relation to the Kenitsuna at all, but is instead made up of slaves and servants of the Kenitsuna that have so impressed the family that they were considered worthy of the family name. While this family is generally considered to be greater than the 4th and the 5th family, members of the 6th family who chose to not make their living in the traditional fashion forfeit the right of their children to be a part of the family as well.

The affairs of the family are handled by a group of respected men within the family, generally made up in equal parts of smiths and shinobi. There are always 6 people within this group, 3 from the 1st family, 2 from the 2nd family, and 1 from the third family. This group is responsible for making decisions for the family as a whole, and generally involves their blacksmithing business. They also are responsible for maintaining the holiness among the family.

One important holdover from their time before Iwagakure is the religion of the Kenitsuna. Known as Ashtagura, the Kenitsuna generally hold incredibly closely to their religion, and it is rare for there to be a Kenitsuna who does not actively practice Ashtagura.

AshtaguraShow

For as long as the Kenitsuna know, the family has held their own religion of Ashtagura at the core of their social system. Unlike most other religions, followers of Ashtagura worship a pantheon of 8 figures. These figures represent various human virtues and base truths. Due to the belief that these virtues can come in conflict with each other, however, each follower of the religion chooses a single figure to place above all others in the way that they live their life. The choice is almost always made between the ages of 12 and 15, and does not mean that the follower disregards the other figures. Instead it simply determines which virtues the follower places above all others, and when two or more of the figures' virtues come into conflict, the follower will take the path of the chosen figure. Once a follower has made this choice, he is said to have taken the path of the figure that he choose.

The 8 FiguresShow

The Lord: The Lord is often considered to be the leader of the 8 figures, as it represents the virtue of justice and the ability to judge others fairly. Followers of Ashtagura believe that those who die have their lives weighted by The Lord. The dead are not rewarded or punished; however. Instead it is the descendants of the dead on whom either good or bad fortune is bestowed. It is this belief that has led to the incredible family values held by the Kenitsuna, as they believe that their fortune is a result of their ancestors' greatness.

Those who take the path of The Lord will most often wish to be able to better judge their actions and the actions of others. To these people the highest worldly power is the law, and they will often become Shinobi in the hopes of finding those that break it (such as bandits and Nukenin). To break the law, or otherwise disregard it, is the highest insult to a follower of The Lord's path.

The family Council will almost always have at least one member that choose the path of the Lord, and it is the followers of this figure who most often find themselves in positions of significance later in life, both within the family and within the village at large.

The Samurai: One of the two figures most closely associated with war, The Samurai represents the virtue of honor. Those that take the path of the Samurai will always place the honor of themselves, their comrades, and their enemies above all else. Methods such as spying and stealth are often seen as being dishonorable by the followers of this path, and condoning it in their presence will often only earn someone their contempt.

Alongside the path of The Shinobi, the Samurai's path is one exclusively taken by those who make their living as Shinobi (though not all Shinobi take either of the two paths). Followers of the Samurai's path are most often known for their forwardness and their strength.

The Shinobi: Despite being closely associated with The Samurai, The Shinobi represents seemingly opposite values, those being determination, and the drive to gain victory whatever the cost. It is due to this that the most common conflict between the interests of two figures is between those of The Samurai and The Shinobi.

Those that take the path of The Shinobi often develop methods of battle that rely on taking advantage of a weakened opponent. Stealth, poison, and assassination all lie in the realm of The Shinobi. As a result of this, it is not uncommon for followers of The Shinobi to see those that refuse to use such tactics as being beneath them.

Alongside the path of The Shinobi, the Samurai's path is one exclusively taken by those who make their living as Shinobi (though not all Shinobi take either of the two paths). Followers of The Shinobi are known to be the opposite of followers of The Samurai, with cunning being their defining trait.

The Smith: An unsurprising sight in the religion of a group primarily involved in the Smithing trade, the Smith represents the virtue of creation. All things made by man, ranging from weapons to buildings to items as simple as shoes, fall under its domain.

Those that take the path of The Smith, surprisingly enough, will almost always make Smithing their trade. It is not unknown for these followers to become obsessed with the strength of what they create, and will always want to improve upon their previous greatest creation. It may well be the followers of The Smith that are reason for the Kenitsuna's renown in the industry.

The Hunter: Much like how hunters were once the prime source of food before the Kenitsuna joined with Iwagakure, so too does The Hunger represent sustenance and good health.

Due to the Kenitsuna's focus on Smithing and war, it is rare to see a member of the family take the path of The Hunter, though there have been Smiths who focused on creating better tools which could be used to grow food. As a result, The Hunter has more influence with those who choose not to take its path, who pray to The Hunter for an end to famine, should one occur, and for those who are ill or injured. Followers of The Hunter who become Shinobi will almost always become Medical Ninja.

The Guardian: In all families, there is always a place for the value of love and protection. Within the Kenitsuna, these values manifest in the form of The Guardian. Representing the wish to protect what you care about whatever the cost, The Guardian is one of the most interesting of the 8 figures.

Love is an interesting thing, and while those who choose the path of The Guardian can often be seen to be more loving and caring then their contemporaries, they are also often far more aggressive. Once a follower of The Guardian has identified a threat to that which they love, there is little that will stop them from eliminating the threat permanently, regardless of how much collateral damage it may cause, or whether or not the follower would even survive the ordeal.

Alongside followers of The Lord, followers of The Guardian are the ones most often seen leading the Kenitsuna forward, as it is the care that they have for their family that motivates them. They would jump at the call, and even surpass it, so long as they believed that their actions would allow them to save their loved ones.

The Monk: Just as there are figures that represents physical power, so too does the Monk represent Mindfulness and Spiritual Strength. Those who take the path do not naturally gravitate towards either trade of the Kenitsuna, but it can definitely be seen that these followers are definitely philosophical.

These followers will often spend their time using their trade to improve their mental state, and will expand their chakra reserves (if they are Shinobi) through spiritual means more than physical means. These are the followers that will be found using taijutsu and kenjutsu the least when compared to the rest of the family. Instead, they tend to focus more on supporting ninjutsu or genjutsu, using their skills to better complement the more physical skill-sets of their family.

Followers of The Monk are usually few and far between. However, this usually only adds to the amount of respect with which these followers are viewed, as opposed to them being looked down upon by the rest of the family.

The Reaper: The last of the 8 figures represents the one base truth of the word, that of death. Unlike many figures associated with death, however, The Reaper is not feared by the Kenitsuna. This is because The Reaper also represents the value of equality. This has led to The Reaper becoming less formally known as "The Great Leveler", because no matter who you may be in life, the family known that you will become no better and no worse than anyone else in death.

Those who choose the path of The Reaper have been known to believe in complete equality, but this is not the norm. Instead, people believe that the world of the living is unequal so that mankind is given an opportunity to achieve greatness. Any equality lost in life shall be made up for in the eternity of death. This means that followers of The Reaper are in fact interested in preserving life, and elevating mankind to a higher level of existence in the world of the living. Such an achievement would only honor the being of equality, for all the living reside in a lesser state to both the 8 figures and the dead.

It is interesting to note that Kenitsuna Kichiro had chosen the path of The Reaper, and as a result modern Kenitsuna believe that his action were taken in the belief that the use of chakra would elevate man closer to the level of the sacred dead.

Followers of Ashtagura do not believe that their religion is the only true one. In fact, the opposite is true. Believers believe that the existence of all other religions is only due to the 8 figures revealing themselves in separate ways, and are content in trusting that the 8 figures have done this for the betterment of all mankind. With that said, however, the Kenitsuna do still believe that they are the only ones that the 8 figures have revealed themselves to in their entirety.

PrologueShow

The Birth of Ken'ichi was a time of quiet celebration for his family. Kenitsuna Yosuke and Kotone were both young members of the first "family" of Kenitsuna, though their relationship was more than distant enough for their union to be acceptable. Yosuke made his living as one of the many smiths found in the family, while Kotone was an up and coming Jounin of the Village.

As a result of their privileged position within the Kenitsuna, however, there was pressure on the two to produce children capable of furthering the blood of the Kenitsuna. They had gone too long without siring any children, and by the time of Ken's conception there were concerns that the two would turn out barren and be unable to conceive at all. As a result of this, there was a great deal of relief on behalf of both Ken's parents and close relatives of the two when Kotone gave birth to a strong infant son, who only seemed to become a more fitting members of the Kenitsuna as the months went by. As their first born, Ken was dotted upon by his parents, and raised to become truly worthy of the name Kenitsuna.

Trouble on The HorizonShow

Kotone is in the Hospital again... Yosuke said that when they came back I'll have a brother, but I know your plans will be different. I... I know that it is not my place, but why have you cursed us so? Another child would mean so such to my parents, and yet... I, I'm sorry. I shouldn't doubt your will... Day by day, Ken'ichi grew up to become more and more like what a Kenitsuna should be. He developed both a physique that would serve him well in either of the family professions, and he also grew a precocious attitude that foretold a responsible man capable of handling whatever came at him. He took quickly to Ashtagura, and quickly made his interest in Shinobi clear.

But while Ken showed signs of a great future, there were troubles elsewhere in his family's life. Kotone made six more attempts to conceive a second child, but each one turned out to be stillborn if they even made it as far as the birth. Ken'ichi's parents began to despair of ever having another child, and so they heaped all their attention onto Ken in the hope that at least he would survive to adulthood. The child was taught the arts of Kenjutsu by his mother, and smithing by his father, yet it was the way of the Shinobi that the young Kenitsuna seemed most interested in.

By the time that Ken was 9 years old, he had already entered the Iwagakure Academy, making his mark on the instructors by way of his talent at Kenjutsu. Though he was mediocre in the field of Genjutsu, and almost failed as a result of his lack of skill in Ninjutsu, it was his swords-work that allowed him to gain the rank of Genin at the age of 11.

A Choice Must Be MadeShow

Darkness festers, and so mankind must take up arms. Such is the way of the world, but how to fight a darkness that encompasses all aspects. The way lies not in trying to combat all evils, but in taking up arms against a single virtue. A choice must be made, and today is the day to make it.
I choose the path of The Samurai. Darkness may gather, it may threaten the honor of men and drive them to commit atrocities that cannot be described, but I shall be there to prevent it. I pledge my mind; my word; and my blade so that I may fight for the virtues of The Samurai until I take my dying breath. In this, I am resolute. With The Samurai at my side, may I never falter. The very same day that Ken graduated from the Academy was the day that he found himself kneeling before one of the leaders of his family, saying the ancient vows that took the boy down the path of The Samurai. He had always been obsessed with the notion of honor, and believed that forthrightness was a virtue that too many people went without. As a result, the boy decided to take his path sooner than the majority of his compatriots.

At the same time as all of this was occurring, Ken found himself placed on a genin team alongside two others from the Academy. The first was a slave by the name of Oohazure, a boy that specialized in support but possessed a controlling personality nonetheless. The last of the three was an abrasive child by the name of EnKouten Yotsurama. Needless to say, the mix of Ken's stubborn honor and free will, Oohazure's desire for control, and Yotsurama's hate for those without bloodline abilities made it difficult for the three to meld into an efficient team. It fell to their Sensei, an experienced Chuunin by the name of Shoshiki Hana to turn them into efficient Shinobi. From the second Ken laid eyes on his team, he imagined that she would have a difficult task ahead of her.

Give With One Hand, Take With The OtherShow

I... I have a brother... You've answered my prayers, but now I wish more than ever that you hadn't. People say that you give with one hand, but take with the other and now I see how true it is. I have a brother, but... But you took my mother in the process. I hope she was judged justly... At the time, however, Ken had more pressing concern on his mind. Kotone was pregnant once more and while Ken had long since learned that nothing would ever come of it, Yosuke seemed happier with every passing day. Every sign given by the doctor's showed that she would be able to carry the child to term this time, and that the family had finally have the second child that they had wished for after so long.

The doctors were correct, and before Ken had turned 12 years old he had set his eyes on his first brother. The child was named Jinchi, and the young genin could not have cared for anyone more than he cared for Jinchi the moment he saw the baby.

Not all was well, however, for during the birth the 6 prior miscarriages and stillbirths that Kotone went through finally caught up to her. She lived long enough to give her second son his name, but closed her eyes for the final time almost immediately afterwards.

This event gave Ken what could only be described as a crisis of faith. All this time he and his family had been praying for another child which the 8 had denied them, but now when they saw fit to deliver Jinchi, they had decided to take away one of the two people Ken cared about most in the world as well. The week of Jinchi's birth he offered one final prayer to the 8, and then he took off his tooth necklace, leaving the 8 behind him for years to come.

From that day on Ken began to spend almost all of the time he had with Jinchi. If one were to look for the young genin, they would either have found him on a mission, training, or in his baby brother's presence.

Regaining FaithShow

After all this time, you still refuse to acknowledge me? I have guided your hand, ensured that you prevail against even the most powerful of foes, and yet your necklace lies hidden in your home, far away from here. Do you think you honor your mother this way? Do you think to chalk the fortune she gave you to your own ability? Ken's life moved on as could be expected, as he began to fill his time on missions with the other members of his genin team. Though the team may not have seen eye to eye during their first meetings, it wasn't long before they began to gain respect for each other. The group's skillset merged well together, and Ken realized before long that he was vastly more effective on battle when he had Oohazure and Yotsurama backing him up.

Hana's role in increasing the group's effectiveness could not be discounted. After gaining the respect of each member of her team, she set out to train then in such a way that would use their varied skillset effectively. Over the next few years, she drilled them in order to turn them into a unified fighting force capable of taking on whatever they would encounter. So it was that whenever the group were sent on a mission, be it D rank, C rank or even (as they neared the end of their time as Genin) B rank, they would succeed.

In the end, Ken's only failed mission took place when he was not with his team. He had been sent on a solo mission to the borders of Rock Country that had gone horrible wrong, and before long he found himself almost fatally wounded in the middle of an icy cave. He could not have said how he got there, but he knew that he wouldn't survive the night.

As he lay on the edge of consciousness, he saw a man enter the cave. He wore traditional samurai armor, and went straight to work on Ken's wounds. Whilst he worked he began to admonish Ken on his lack of faith, convincing the young boy that The Samurai himself had saved his life. He lost consciousness while The Samurai was still there, but when he woke once more the cave was empty. Regardless, someone had saved his life, and the boy was able to make his way back to the village. From that day forwards, one could always find Ken's prayer necklace hanging around his neck.

The vision was in all likelihood only that, a vision. Regardless, someone had saved Ken's life and he would always attribute it to being the work of his god.

The Chuunin ExamShow

Oohazure is a free man now. I cannot say how or why his master died, but I know not where I myself was on the night of his murder. I've seen his Genjutsu at work before, and I fear he may have used me as a pawn in his greater game. I will speak to him soon, and may The Lord guide my actions if he truly did manipulate me. By this time, Ken was 15 years old, and had grown in skill to the point where the Village began to consider putting he and his team through a Chuunin Exam. Hana spent the next few weeks ruthlessly drilling them in order to ensure that the 3 would succeed in their mission. When the time finally came, the group found themselves pitted against 2 experienced Chuunin, both well versed in all 3 fields of combat. Ken took the fight to the enemy, utilizing his taijutsu in order to keep the 2 Chuunin busy. In the end it was the other 2 that struck the final blow, but without Ken they would never have gained the opportunity to defeat their opponents.

During the battle, however, Oohazure had fallen under the control of the Spirit sealed within him, Yumegokochi, and it had planted Hisomo on the newly made Chuunin during the fight. Ken never picked up on the fact that his teammate had done this, but 3 days after the exams, the Hisomujutsu was activated. Both Ken and Yotsurama gathered by the home of Oohazure's master, and worked to bypass the various safeguards that the man maintained. Before long the slave was freed, and the events of the night were erased from Ken's mind.

When Ken heard about what had happened, however, his suspicions were aroused. Though Oohazure had always tried to keep his arts a secret from his team, Ken knew that there was more to his Genjutsu that met the eye. When he realized he did not remember the events of the previous night, his first concern was that the boy had somehow put him under a Genjutsu, and made him slay the slave's master.

When he confronted Oohazure about the events of the previous night the boy, still under the effects of his own Hisomu as Ken had spoken to him immediately after his questioning, told him the same thing that he had told the authorities. Ken may not have liked the controlling personality that the now former slave possessed, but he respected the boy and believed that he would not lie in a situation like this. As a result, Ken allowed his concerns to drift out of his memory, as he continued to progress through the Shinobi ranks.

The Peaceful YearsShow

The Council received another successful mission report today, as if there was any doubt. My students were never weak, but as of late they've only managed to prove themselves time and time again of being worthy of a promotion. Clearly you have guided their actions, and I think I will request that they be given the opportunity to take the exams in a month's time. They will have earned the chance. The young Shinobi spent the next few years living a somewhat ordinary life. He would take the missions that he needed to, keep in contact with many of the Shinobi that he came across, and train regularly, but his true interest at the time was his younger brother. Ever since Kotone's death Ken had spent the majority of his free time with his brother, but as Jinchi began to approach the age that he would enter the Academy, Ken began filling his days with teaching. Everything from the nature of chakra to the arts of basic Ninjutsu was shared, and Ken found that teaching was something that he had a talent for.

It was at this time that Ken began to teach the Academy students and newly made Genin among the Kenitsuna the finer points of the Shinobi arts, showing them the finest way to develop a sword-swing or defend oneself from any attack. It didn't take long for the Village to notice Ken's willingness to instruct, and so he was assigned a Genin team of his own. The young man found that the three melded together into a cohesive team remarkably quickly.

Shoshiki Kyoka was a specialist in Ninjutsu, a fragile soldier, but who quickly found her place supporting both of her teammates in battle. Her kind personality served to remind Ken of his own sensei Hana, but there was an arrogance within her that he had never noticed in his sensei. Kenitsuna Katsuo was a member of the Kenitsuna's 6th family, and the son of a renowned servant within the family. While he lacked the strength that would otherwise have been expected by a member of the Kenitsuna, the boy had adapted well to Ashtagura, taking the path of The Shinobi, and was a veritable master in the field of Genjutsu. As skilled as the Genin was, however, there was an air of dissatisfaction that Ken always saw emanating from the boy. Oda Leiko was the Front-line fighter of the three, and the leader of the group. A specialist in both Iaido Kenjutsu and archery, Leiko seemed very much like the mirror image of Ken himself. Where the Chuunin specialized in strength and stamina, and winning battles through exhausting the foe, the Genin focused on overwhelming the opponents through the sheer advantage of his speed. More worrying was the difference between their personalities. Where Ken was an honorable man, Leiko was crass, pragmatic, and borderline sadistic. A great amount of the time spent between the two included the man trying to curb his students more concerning habits.

Regardless, the group's effectiveness in battle could not be contested, and by the time that Ken was 17 the three had almost effortlessly fought their way through their own Chuunin exams. Ken spend a further 2 months without taking on any further students, instead driving to increase his own skills and position within the shinobi hierarchy. Before the man was 18 years old, he was called into a meeting with the Council, and emerged as a Special Jounin.

By this time Jinchi was almost at the age that he would join the Academy, and so Ken made the decision to put his career as a Shinobi proper on hold. Instead he pursued a temporary career as an instructor within Iwa's Academy, teaching dozens of aspirant Shinobi and all the while expanding his own knowledge base relating to the Shinobi arts.

It was at this time that Ken began to study the arts of Genjutsu. For many years now the young man had been acutely aware of the possibilities brought to the battlefield by Genjutsu, first demonstrated by Oohazure and then by Katsuo. When he was not training his Kenjutsu, or teaching at the Academy, he would devour scrolls on the subject of Genjutsu, slowly learning how to be effective in the art.

UprisingShow

Ken would continue to spend his time teaching at the Academy until his younger brother had graduated, but no sooner had he gone back to his usual Shinobi duties when he was assigned a mission by the Council. A man named Takada Tomotsu, a Chuunin ranked Shinobi, had come to the council with word that a group of Jashinists were planning a coup. Tomotsu was a Jashin himself, and was thus privy to their plans. The council elected upon a risky strategy. Knowing that a high profile response to such a threat might allow those planning the coup to escape the village, they assigned Ken and Tomotsu the job of apprehending the leaders behind the attempted uprising.

Tomotsu brought Ken into the Jashinists midst, claiming that he had managed to convert the man to their religion. So began an infiltration that lasted the following 6 months, during which Ken lived with the coup plotters, prayed with them, and even joked with them. The months were hard on Ken due to his dislike of what he saw as borderline blasphemy, but the religious mind that he already served him admirably, and every night he would offer a prayer to his own Gods behind closed doors, asking for their forgiveness.

At the end of the 6 months, the Jashinists finally let him in on their plans, knowing that a Shinobi of Ken's rank would be a valuable asset to them. The week after he first met the entire group that was actively involved he and Tomotsu arrested the group while they had gathered once again. Thus averting what could have potentially been a critical situation before it could gain momentum. The council recognized that on top of their ordinary skills, both Tomotsu and Ken were both highly proficient in more delicate fields, and so Tomotsu was promoted to Special Jounin in the aftermath of the mission, and Ken to the rank of Jounin.

Bitter DeparturesShow

All men are equal in death, brother. We will see each other again... This time with no boundaries between us.

The young man took to his regular life as a Shinobi quickly: alternating between training, teaching, and taking missions with little time in between them. One of the Shinobi that he began to work with more and more frequently was none other than Tomotsu. The younger man's crass manner had warmed on the man during his time with the Jashin, and the two formed a strong friendship during that time.

Unfortunately, not long after Ken had turned 21, he heard dire news. His former students had not returned from the last mission that they had been sent on. And when Shinobi were sent to find the three, they learned that the team had been killed in action. It was a time of mourning for Ken, as he had almost thought of the 3 as his own siblings during their days as genin.

Life went on as it always did, however, and Ken continued to earn his place in the Village, undergoing mission with Tomotsu, Oohazure, Hana, Jinachi, and Yotsurama over the years.

Over the years, however, Ken began to be incredibly worried about Yotsurama. His former friend had become increasingly unstable, making questionable decisions on missions with the young man, and acting as if murder was the only course of action that should ever be taken.

When the two of them were 28 years old, the worst came to pass. Yotsurama rebelled against the village itself, and was forced to flee when confronted with his failure. Ken was involved in stopping the man from succeeding in his endeavor, and so chased after him immediately when he fled, knowing that the Village would send reinforcements as soon as they were able. He was able to keep on the relatively obvious trail that the man left behind, and finally caught up to him in a great valley at the edge of Earth Country.

Ken tried to plead with his former friend, still hoping that he could avoid the fight that seemed to be in the making for so long. He failed, and so the two teammates drew their blades and began their battle.
The battle lasted for an entire day, as Yotsurama’s furious assault was halted by Ken’s defensive fighting style. The web of steel that Ken created in the battle blocked dozens of jutsu and sword strikes as Yotsurama became ever more frustrated at his inability to end the battle, but Ken did not press the attack at first. He waited, exhausting his former friend while keeping his own stamina as high as he possibly could. Even though he was trying to fight a battle of attrition, he was still expending incredible amounts of energy in keeping himself alive, and he prayed that the reinforcements he knew were coming would arrive soon.

As the sun began to set, Yotsurama’s blows began to slow, and Ken saw his opportunity to begin his own assault. He pressed the attack, making sure that the man could not put into distance between them, either to retreat or use his ninjutsu. Even still, Ken’s opponent managed to keep any potentially fatal attacks from reaching their target, and so when Ken saw a risky opportunity to end the fight, he took it without a second thought.

The man allowed Yotsurama to cut deep into his own eye as he made his attack, plunging his dagger into his former friends own opposite eye. However, it was Ken who made the next move, as his sword thrust straight into the Enkouten’s hip whilst the two were together. Thus the fight was ended, and Ken piled rocks onto his dead friend’s body, knowing that he couldn’t destroy the body outright.
On his way back, he told the Shinobi sent after the pair that he had killed Yotsurama, and disposed of the body.

RevelationsShow

It took Ken the better part of the next year to become used to battling with only one eye, but by the time that he was 30 he was a better swordsman than he had ever been. It was a good thing too, for it wouldn't be long until he would need his skills more than ever before.

The jounin would spend the next few years continuing as he always had, spending his days praying, teaching, and making his living as a Shinobi. In his endeavors he continued to meet with great success, becoming thought of as one of the most powerful bladesmen in the village.

When Ken was 34, he was named as a member of the leading council of the Kenitsuna and became renowned within the group for his determination in driving forward the methods used within the family to ensure that members would be able to develop their skills as much as possible before and during their time at the Academy. He instituted a minor internal Academy himself, and become its head instructor, teaching Kenjutsu to any member of the Kenitsuna who was willing to learn from him, be they child or experienced Shinobi.

Of course, all the while Ken took part in his fair share of missions, and it was during one of those that his greatest trial took place. He had been assigned a solo mission that had taken him outside of Earth Country: protecting a high value prisoner until his movement put of danger could be arranged. The mission went as any other for the first few days, Ken worked with a group of Samurai in guarding a supposed terrorist with valuable information about a group that he was a part of. On the third day, however, the mission fell apart.

Ken woke up on the 4th morning to the sound of intruders breaking into his quarters; the very same people that Ken was supposedly working with. He slew the men, only to find that the prisoner had been retrieved, the remaining loyal guards were found dead, their bodies surrounding the prisoner's cell.

The man wasted no time in going after the group, following their trail for the next week before he finally reached the spot where they made camp. He fell on them ferociously, killing the men who had rescued the prisoner before taking the prisoner himself back to Iwagakure.

Ken took part in the man's interrogation himself, learning the horrible truth about the men who led the organization from which the prisoner had come. It had been formed by none other than Ken's own student: Oda, Leiko. The man claimed that Leiko had been responsible for the deaths of both of his teammates, and was forming a group that would one day be capable to challenging Iwa itself.

Half in a rage, Ken went to the Council instantly and requested that he be granted a squad with which to hunt down his former student. He was granted 2 Special Jounin, one of whom was Tomotsu. More than enough manpower to defeat one Nukenin, the council thought.

The Prisoner led Ken and his team to the border of Earth Country, telling them that they were going to where Leiko had made his hideout. Most of his group had already been killed in his failed attempt to save the prisoner, so Ken was expecting the mission to be a simple one.

It was anything but.

Becoming a LegendShow

He was the sort o’ man… that gave you hope, I reckon. That gave you hope. You want strength, do you? You want courage? You want things done right and proper, the old way? There you go. Kenitsuna Ken'ichi. Look no fucking further. I’m less, now that he’s gone, and so are all o’ you.
... Never would have thought you cared so much, Tomotsu.

As the group made camp, nearing the place where Leiko was supposedly hiding, they came under attack by three Jounin level shinobi ad a small group of Samurai. Tomotsu took an injury immediately, and Ken could see that his team would not survive such a fierce battle. He ordered them to retreat, telling them that he would give them time to make their way back to the Village.

The three Jounin were Ken's own students. Leiko; Katsuo, and Kyoka had all defected from the Village. Believing in their own superiority above all else.

As Tomotsu and the other Special Jounin made their escape, Ken's three students descended on him. The experienced Jounin fought like a demon that day, holding all those who attacked him back, but failing to see any progress in retaliation. It was an impossible fight to win, but that didn't mean that Ken planned on dying without a fight.

He might have died that day, we're it not for the actions of Kenitsuna Katsuo, the student caught him master in an Overlay Genjutsu, and while his friends expected him to torture Ken, he instead explained himself to the man. He had realized the depths of his former friends' insanity, he explained to his former mentor, and now wanted nothing more than to help Ken survive the day.

With renewed hope, Ken doubled his efforts after the Genjutsu had run its course, while Katsuo helped fight off the Samurai that had accompanied the three.

Soon enough Kyoka fell, and so did the Samurai that served Leiko. The sadist would not concede the battle, however, and took advantage of wounds that his two opponents had taken to kill Katsuo himself. Now, the only survivors were Ken and his most distinguished student.

The fighting continued until the sun rose the following day, as Ken's slow defensive style countered Leiko far more aggressive attacks. Even though Ken was more powerful than his student, he had also been more exhausted by the battle so far. It took all that the old Jounin had, but when the sun's rays warmed his back, he managed to plunge his blade into Leiko's heart.

He made his way back to the Village, shocking the team who had thought that he had died. When the Council and the Tsuchikage heard the report from Tomotsu, they called Ken in for a private meeting. At the age of 38, Kenitsuna Ken'ichi emerged from the Council Chambers the 4th living Bannin of Iwagakure, and a legend in his own right.

Active Characters
Village of Origin	Character Name & Link	Rank	Color
Sunagakure no Sato	Henrin Emi	Genin	[color=darkgoldenrod][b][/b][/color]
Konohagakure no Sato	Ibakuro Aiya	Chuunin	[color=#8CD600][/color]
Sunagakure no Sato	Kouseki Takuma	Genin	[color=#003893][b][/b][/color], [b][color=#AFBCDB][/color][/b]
Kirigakure no Sato	Kazuki Ryu	Chuunin	[color=#dc143c][/color], [b][color=#C71585][/color][/b]
~~Iwagakure No Sato~~	Hiraku Kenji	~~Bannin~~ S-Rank Missing Ninja	[b][color=slategray][/color][/b]
~~Iwagakure No Sato~~	Fukusha Jinsai	Jounin	[color=#BF0000][/color], [b][glow=orangered][color=#000000][/color][/glow][/b]

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