Shinobi Revolution Lore

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ Introduction: United Hidden Villages War, formation of Uzushiogakure and Arashigakure

▱▰▱Before the story began, there were five great hidden shinobi countries. Konohagakure of the Fire Country, Sunagakure of the Wind Country, Kirigakure of the Water Country, Otogakure of the Sound Country, and Kumogakure of the Lightning Country. The Raikage Shiro Chosokabe rebelled against the Lightning Daimyo, assassinated him, and took power. Kumogakure then went to war against the United Hidden Villages (UHV) which was an alliance of small villages with their capital in Otogakure. These small villages in UHV territory were Amegakure, Hoshigakure, Takigakure, Namigakure, Soragakure, and Kusagakure. These were all taken under imperial control during the war until Otogakure eventually fell. Kirigakure suffered from internal strife between rebels, the Mizukage, and the Water daimyo. When the village eventually fell the Mizukage Inka abdicated power and took his followers out of the Mist. Citizens of Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Otogakure eventually joined together in a new village called Arashigakure in the former Lightning Country's peninsula. The Lightning, Water, and Sound countries now consist of the Land of Floods as a part of a greater empire. Konohagakure faced pressure from the Fire Daimyo during the war with the UHV. When Konohagakure was destroyed by the Kyuubi they migrated across the sea to Uzushiogakure under the command of the first Uzukage Sanae Uzumaki. The citizens of Sunagakure would join them after they were attacked by the UHV as well. This war between the major villages and the minor villages resulted in a massive death toll on all sides but Uzushiogakure and Arashigakure rose from the ashes.

▰▰▰ Timeline of Shinobi Revolution's Universe: Evergreen, Zelel, Jashin, Utu, O-Inari, and the Tailed Beasts

▱▰▱This universe was conceived and rapidly matured at the Ascension Event of Evergreen, as is common with all gods. This universe was formed to adhere to Evergreen's preferences and will. However, it its infancy and in her early godhood, the universe was invaded by a chaotically destructive god named Jashin. Jashin was known by many gods for preying on the newly ascended gods, seeking to devour their universes into his own after weakening it from the inside out. Evergreen's focus on simply developing her universe left her unaware of the invasion until it was already too late. Jashin manifested its champion, the Juubi, a creature considered terrifying even amongst the divine castes. The Juubi wreaked havoc upon Evergreen's dimension, forcing her to expend much of her divinity just to cripple the Juubi. The monster was divided into 9 equally powerful and far less threatening entities- the bijuu.

▱▰▱Even divided, though, the creatures continued to destroy one galaxy after the next. The severely weakened universe and its governing goddess were desperate for aid, turning Evergreen's attention to the mercy of the other gods. Utu, God of the Original Light, offered to assist only if he was allowed to claim dominion over some of her universe, primarily the Sun. Unable to refuse the extremely limited aid, she agreed. Utu arrived in her dimension and was able to drastically weaken the bijuu even further and even contain them on a single planet. The bijuu were weaponized by shinobi society through the use of fuuinjutsu while the samurai civilization abhorred them as the most dangerous yokai. However, he found that Jashin's strong influence and his lack thereof in this universe made it impossible to be completely rid of the threat so that he may claim his part of the deal with Evergreen. The god and goddess agreed to create other life in the only space left out of Jashin's control in order to strengthen themselves again through their creations' devoutness. However, even that plan relied far too much on hope and faith in the uncertainty. Utu then sought aid from an old rival, Zelel.

▱▰▱The god of time and knowledge was aware of Jashin's invasiveness, but like most gods chose to tend to his own universe instead of becoming involved in messy politics. However, for Utu to request so strongly of his aid did warrant his involvement in the events of the universe. Zelel, being a god far predating Evergreen and Utu, was able to repel and weaken Jashin, which further weakened the bijuu as a result, and he sealed the bijuu's knowledge and memories of their original form as the Juubi when they attempted to do so at one ancient time. The ancient people of the last surviving world of Evergreen's universe were barely developing at this time, and Utu was guiding many to learn to harness the innate powers which were granted to them by Evergreen. This power was most commonly referred to as natural energy. Offering his own legacy, Utu also taught these peoples to use an internal power called chakra. Through the bijuu that wandered the world, unable to be stopped by the gods themselves thanks to Jashin's lingering essence, the God of Destruction was able to gradually weaken the people's bonds with their gods by almost completely locking the deities away from the planet with a villainous distraction elsewhere in the universe.

▱▰▱Zelel helped quickly solve the distant crisis, stopping the manifestation of a second Juubi, but found that only he had the remaining strength to easily travel to and from the world. He would continue to help Evergreen and Utu, albeit in his own roundabout manner to avoid corrupting the knowledge that their people were developing on their own. Over time, the world waned to and from religious aptitude, making it a stunted effort to remove Jashin from the realm completely. Even now, largely unknown to virtually all mortals, this struggle to save Evergreen's universe from collapse continues. As time went on, frustration and doubt almost completely dissolved the alliance between the three gods, but they would each continue to fight for this universe as they saw fit. Given that the populated world remained the only beacon of hope, warding off Jashin's advances was a common priority on all fronts, leaving the people to grown and learn on their own. Divergent thoughts from the gods' original teachings lead to many different societies and beliefs, all which took away from the necessary focus to support the divine spirits protecting them from afar.

▱▰▱After the rise of shinobi civilization, many common people such as farmers and most notably the Yozen clan began worshipping a god they named Il Palazzo as the god of tea, rice, fertility, and sealing. Il Palazzo changed his name to O-Inari after enough belief allowed him to manifest as a true divine being. By far the youngest god, he is still forming his universe while reaping chaos in the other realms for his own amusement. Jashin and O-Inari have been known to empower their followers with forbidden seals, Evergreen favors sages, and Zelel supports the celestial marks (golden dragon). After Utu's murder at the hands of Kagami Hari and Yusuke Seiryu, the four remaining gods each received a quarter of his strength. Zelel obtained dominion over the Sun and the light, specifically of dawn and dusk, to represent how humanity measures time. As for Utu's other domain of power, each of the three remaining gods of Evergreen, Jashin, and O-Inari received an aspect of power. Evergreen received societal power and governance/law in the reflection of natural order, Jashin received primal power such as domination, and O-Inari absorbed chaotic power in the form of deception. Evergreen and Zelel continued to fight Jashin back with this new power although the absence of Utu has been dangerously more advantageous for Jashin.

 

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ The Kogarashi Revolution Arc: Act I

▱▰▱After the desolation of the blood moon, Uzukage Chie Saegahara sent Lahlil Nevarra and Rinka to Arashigakure to inquire about the other nation's experience with that event and to possibly forge an alliance. Shortly thereafter, Takumi Saegahara, founder and the leader of the rogue faction of Kogarashi was assassinated by his second-in-command, Commander Kagami Hari. After Takumi sank to the bottom of the sea, Kagami sailed to Uzushiogakure. When Kagami used genjutsu to infiltrate the Whirlpool Village she went to intimidate the Uzukage. Chie and Kagami then had a combative confrontation with Falsa Sanada present in her attempt to extract information on her brother Shinsei Sanada's whereabouts from the newly-minted Kogarashi leader. Kagami threatened to use a tailed beast ball to destroy the village. Her hostage strategy allowed her to successfully escape the village. The combat caused the destruction of the Uzukage's office, one casualty was reported and many were injured. Sonyo Rue and Emiko Uzumaki provided vital medical attention and Koutetsu Kajibamaru and Sadayo Soga provided simple first aid. Chie then declared a full war against Kogarashi in her ambition to rid the world of rogues. Masato Umechika, Zhi Zenshin, and Taylor Childe searched for Shinsei. During the search, the brothers Masato Umechika and Sandayu Genburyuichirouske convened by chance in the Ninshuu temple and engaged in combat with their mother, the Evergreen.

▱▰▱Belamos Karna, a founder of Kogarashi and an advisor to the Arashikage, recovered the corpse of his betrayed friend, Takumi, and buried him with a vendetta against the usurper, Kagami. In Arashigakure, Lahlil and Rinka continued their diplomatic talks with the leaders of Arashigakure, Jay and Jeon Gyeon Park. The Arashigakure advisors Belamos and Kenshin Kosei, captain of the police force, were also in attendance. Belamos informed the twin kages about the Kogarashi threat before being contacted by Kagami for a meeting. Belamos then confronted her but Kagami ceded leadership of Kogarashi to him by instructing her agents to bow before their king, or so it would seem. In Uzushiogakure, a fallen Kogarashi agent released the five-tailed beast, Kokuou, at the Caldera. It was because of the valiant actions of Karuto Raiken, Sumiko Uzumaki, Saiko, Chie Saegahara, and Chouga Atsui that the demon threat was mitigated and sealed into Koutetsu. Zhi, Taylor, and Masato later returned Shinsei to the village. In Kogarashi, a power struggle between Belamos and Kagami persisted. Kagami had sent Ryutaro Nagasaki and Naoki Uchiha to Arashigakure. Naoki would adopt the name Freya for her spying mission and Ryutaro was sent to sow chaos in Arashigakure. Sandayu, the nanabi host, discovered the Kogarashi Institute and met the yonbi jinchuuriki Belamos. Belamos and Sandayu discussed his desire for vengeance against Arashigakure on behalf of his fallen clan. Belamos advised that Sandayu hold off because of his own interest in the safety of his family and the Otogakure refugees that reside in Arashigakure's walls. Simultaneously, Kagami used cloak and dagger methods to keep the Kogarashi agents under her command to keep Belamos as the figurehead leader of the rogue faction. When Belamos left for the Land of Floods, Kagami met Sandayu. She heard his desire for vengeance and matched it with her own ambition to topple the hidden village system. She demanded that he ask her hand in marriage, he accepted and they entered into a marriage alliance for Kagami to fully cement her leadership over Kogarashi.

▱▰▱While Lahlil was offering an eloquent diplomatic proposal in the Spire for a village alliance, Kagami began her efforts to pull the strings behind a village world war. She took a dozen of Kogarashi agents all disguised as Arashigakure operatives to the Land of Eddies roads. Upon arrival, she used a tailed beast ball to destroy the roads and cripple the military supply chain for the soldiers' operations against Kogarashi. All soldiers who witnessed the event except one were then murdered and their military supplies were stolen. The sole survivor was sent to Uzushiogakure to deliver the false message that they were an initial force that destroyed the roads with a chakra cannon and that their goal was now to absorb the Whirlpool Isle into Shiro Chosokabe's empire. Chie received the message with suspicion but sent Zhi and Masato to retrieve the diplomats that she worried were in danger. Kagami fled the Land of Eddies and hid in the Land of Floods roads in anticipation of Chie's messengers. Zhi sensed Kagami's presence in the roads and chose not to engage, but Masato elected to confront her. The kyuubi jinchuuriki Masato then engaged in combat with the sanbi jinchuuriki Kagami for a short time before she hypnotized him with the command to attack the Arashigakure Floodgate. Under hypnosis, Masato attacked the Floodgate with a bijuu ball before coming to his senses. Jay and Jeon, the twin hachibi hosts, immediately left the Spire to engage the attacker. Kenshin then assaulted and arrested Lahlil and Rinka under suspicion of espionage against Arashigakure. Kenshin then detained the emissaries in the CORE Compound's prison. Zhi confronted Masato and helped him return to reason. Tosokurui Ashi Hojo arrived at the gates and repaired them. It was then that the six-tailed slug Saiken attacked the gates after escaping from a child jinchuuriki. Tosokurui extended an olive branch to Masato and Zhi that if they aided them then Arashigakure's gratitude might help prevent war. It was then that Sandayu used kamui to retrieve Masato before he could accept Toso's terms. Sandayu was able to use his implanted eye to monitor Masato through his own vision. Earlier, Sandayu revived Takumi using the King of Hell as an expression of gratitude for his role in founding Kogarashi. Sandayu and Takumi then began work on building an army for Kogarashi in the Kamui dimension using his Creation of all Things technique, which created the bodies of the mindless servants for Kagami and Sandayu's desires. Takumi filled the role of implanting the limited quantity of dojutsu into the higher ranking officers in the army. Sandayu's goal was to create an army for Kogarashi to rival that of the great nations in size. In Arashigakure, Kenshin sounded the alarm for the rokubi attack and led the police in evacuating the village to the bunkers. Freya, Mugen Senju, Kagerou Uchiha, and Vivian evacuated the academy students safely during the attack.

▱▰▱When Masato disappeared, Zhi entered the village once more to retrieve the imprisoned diplomats. She used her multiple kekkei genkai abilities to cause a massive explosion. This destroyed the CORE Compound, and in the process rescued Rinka and Lahlil. Kenshin, Tezumari Nara, and Shion Mori retreated into the village to investigate the catastrophic jailbreak that claimed the life of Tsukina Satori and numerous Arashigakure personnel. Jay and Jeon, Belamos, Toso, and Ryutaro stayed at the gates to fight the demon. Ryutaro sought to cause as much chaos as possible by fighting both the Arashi ninjas and the demon at the gates before disappearing. Belamos had returned to the village earlier to protect his daughter, Aurelia and participate in the battle. When he discovered that his wife, Tsukina, was killed in the CORE Compound blast, he made it his mission to destroy Uzushiogakure as vengeance for taking away the mother of his daughter. The Rokubi was then sealed into Toso at the Floodgate by Kagerou. The Arashigakure shinobi were then tasked to pick up the pieces of the massive damage to their home as a consequence of Uzushiogakure's aggression in their view.

 

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ The Kogarashi Revolution Arc: Act II

▱▰▱In retaliation for Uzushiogakure's assault on Arashigakure, Arashikage Jay sent the Nightwitches, an elite ANBU squad who wielded three of the legendary seven swords. Kubikiribocho, Samehada, and Shibuki were used by these Nightwitches to attack the Whirlpool village but they were ultimately defeated by Sadayo Soga, Zahara Kevali, and Coda. Sadayo then claimed Kubikiribocho, Zahara received Samehada, and Coda got Shibuki. These shinobi then became the champions of these legendary blades and the seven swords were split between the warring villages. Uzushiogakure and Arashigakure continued to use espionage in a proxy war against the other. Tensions were incredibly high between the villages and escalation seemed inevitable.

▱▰▱It was shortly after this that Jay and Jeon appointed Tosokurui Ashi Hojo as their successor as the Nidaime Arashikage. Kenshin Kosei remained in his role as the primary advisor, captain of the police force, and commander of CORE while Belamos Karna continued as the secondary advisor. While power was transferring in Arashigakure, the Uzukage Chie, as well as the VORTEX commander Nakya, spoke with Belamos Karna at the village gates. Belamos warned Chie not to continue hostilities with Arashigakure because it would only further Kogarashi's agenda. During the course of this conversation, Chie believed that Belamos had lied to her regarding his identity which furthered mistrust. Belamos was then detained in the Temple of the Gods after submitting to arrest willingly.

▱▰▱In the midst of the chaos between the Whirlpool and the Storm, Kagami decided to go on the offense and crush Uzushiogakure. Kagami, Sandayu, Masato, and Obei then left the Kogarashi Institute in a Kamui portal to the Uzushiogakure academy. Upon arrival, Kagami attacked Chie with a massive tsunami that was canceled out by Chie to prevent harming others but her life was sacrificed in the process. When Chie died, the majority of Uzushiogakure came to the academy to defend the students and avenge their fallen leader. Sandayu left the scene to engage in combat with Kya and Belamos. Because of the incredible power of his Rinnebyakusharingan, he was able to defeat both of them. In the academy, Kagami and Obei faced Sonyo, Masato, Chouga, Lahlil, and Coda before Coda left. Kagami used the illusory fog of Isobu as well as her signature hypnotizing water mirrors to face them all and sew chaos in the academy. Masato, who changed his allegiance away from Kogarashi and back to Uzushiogakure when Kagami used that elite suiton technique in the presence of children. Masato then went on a rampage resulting in the destruction of the structural integrity of the building. Thankfully the children were already evacuated.

▱▰▱Chouga fought directly with Kagami and Obei to avenge Chie, the love his life but was defeated when Kagami revealed what his heart most desired in an enchanted mirror. Chouga saw illusory visions of the children he was a surrogate older brother to growing older and enjoying successful lives. Chouga approached the mirror in an effort to enter it. A flood of water released from Kagami's jutsu then went through the mirror and washed the heroic man away and into his death. Chie, Chouga, and countless guards were now dead in the academy and Emiko Akimoto approached Kagami in tears begging her to stop the violence. Plague and Shuusui arrived to support the distraught Emiko. Kagami denied her request on the grounds that the village system that oppressed the world needed to be destroyed. Lahlil then took a stand and attacked Kagami using sage mode and her boss bat summon named Caine. The enchantress released one final attack that Lahlil resisted but that Kagami was certain would end her life as well. Kagami and Obei then escaped from the village and waited for the village's inevitable destruction at the coast of the Land of Fire.

▱▰▱Masato then confronted Sandayu amount his plans to destroy Uzushiogakure. in the Caldera Lake. Tetsuhiko Hanzo left the academy in pursuit of them and demanded that Masato evacuate the village using kamui while he fought Sandayu. When Tetsuhiko, the human puppet and immortal artist, saw Chie murdered before his eyes at the academy and was unable to produce tears he knew that he made a mistake forsaking his humanity. Tetsuhiko fought Sandayu using the performance of one hundred puppets as his final curtain call. Sandayu defeated him with ease using the advanced abilities of the Rinnegan, but Tetsuhiko bought Masato and the others some time to escape the village. Tetsuhiko's heart was ripped from his chest and destroyed by Sandayu before he fell into the Caldera. Sandayu then summoned multiple Tengai Shinsei meteors and caused the super-eruption of the Awajishima volcano. Masato, Lahlil, Sonyo, Karuto, and Sadayo made their best efforts to evacuate the village and many were saved. Some civilians were not spared by the ash, molten lava, and meteor impacts which shook the world, however.

Kogarashi accomplished its mission of completely destroying Uzushiogakure and committing the largest mass murder of all time, but many of the Whirlpool's heroes would survive and migrate to the Land of Fire.

 

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ The Kogarashi Revolution Arc: Act III

▱▰▱Arashigakure's leadership was cautious of the looming threat of Kogarashi invasion as described to them by Belamos. Arashikage Tosokurui ordered Kenshin to assist in installing devices designed by Trefles to safeguard the village. Once Kenshin installed the devices throughout the village, it was lifted into the sky and Tosokurui created a false Arashigakure on the ground level. Tosokurui also informed Emperor Shiro Chosokabe that he wished for the Storm village to become an independent nation that would be allied to the empire of the Land of Floods. Shiro agreed to the terms and prepared the imperial city's forces for the inevitable arrival of Kogarashi. Kenshin prepared heavily for Kogarashi's invasion by assembling a vanguard which consisted of himself, Belamos Karna, Ada Rio-Kyuri, Selina Rosewater, Kojiro Kanzaki, and Kagerou Uchiha with aid from Uzushiogakure refugee and medical ninja Sonyo Yue. During this interim period of anxiety and stress, Ada was relieved of her duties as captain of the royal guard by Shiro and joined the Arashigakure police force as the lieutenant under Captain Kenshin Kosei. Shiro had a less than pleasant reunion with his former Kumogakure kunoichi Selina who denounced him and his imperial ambitions as the equivalent of the UHV. This set Shiro on the path of self-assessment and enlightenment. Kenshin trained extensively in the sage arts to prepare for the upcoming battle with Kogarashi's leadership and was summoned by Evergreen to her temple. She then assisted Kenshin in awakening the Tenseigan, the new the evolution of the Byakugan. As the first Hyuuga to obtain enlightenment Kenshin also took the responsibility from Evergreen that the Hyuuga clan were to become the preservers of natural order.

▱▰▱The settlement of Uzushiogakure refugees at Takijinsei nin the Land of Fire led by Lahlil began expanding their frontiers. She led a detachment including Coda, Byakko, Shouri Uchiha, and Karuto Raiken into the western forests. They were ambushed by the few remnants of the UHV in the Land of Fire. After extensive combat, they were immediately defeated by the intervention of the god of time Zelel who directed them to assist Arashigakure in the Kogarashi war. In the southern forests, Masato, Rowena, Kotori, and Trefles battled powerful chakra creatures. The eastern forests were explored by Mjern and the northern forests included a spar from Nabuya Ichiyomida and Shisui who discovered the powers of spirit swords. Most of the Whirlpool's refugees eventually left using portals to aid Arashigakure against Kogarashi's invasion. Some stayed behind in Takijinsei to guard the settlement, however. The wanderer Kanzaki returned but was refused entry by Hikari Shouton and Klalda.

▱▰▱In the Rainbow Rainforest of the Sage Lands, Sandayu trained his reunited sister, Moriko Umechika. Kagami and Obei arrived to organize the next assault with Sandayu to complete their ultimate goal of destroying the villages. The attack they planned involved the full brunt of Sandayu's rinnegan-generated army and would be much larger than the successful assault on Uzu. Sandayu then summoned his mother Evergreen who commended Kagami on her victory over Uzu. Sandayu was able to remove Choumei and tortured it before killing it forcing it to reconstitute itself in another location. Evergreen then gave him a surplus of natural chakra that exceeded his demonic reserves. Before disappearing, Evergreen wished for Sandayu to find his justice in Arashigakure. Little did Kogarashi know that the goddess was aiding Arashi as well through Kenshin. Kagami then told Sandayu that she would infiltrate Arashi to assassinate the Kage but would not fight on the front lines and that was because of her pregnancy. Kagami swore to Sandayu that they would name their child Satoshi Genburyuichirousuke, if he were a son, in honor of his father.

▱▰▱The Kogarashi attack began when portals began opening in the Land of Floods as hoards of Kogarashi's forces spilled in. The attack points were Seizan, Kuroi Mura, Kirobuki Mining Town, the Land of Floods main road, and Kemonoten. The imperial army arrived late and Emperor Chosokabe was strangely absent. Many of Arashigakure's ninjas were led by Empress Unki who slew a Kogarashi Commander on the main road. Maric, Saekki, Nozomi, and Hiruko were also helping the cause on the main road. Kaito, Senran, Maeko, Masato, Kotori, and Rowena fought in Kuroi Mura. In Kirobuki Nohea, Osa Hirohisa, Lahlil, and Shouri fought the Kogarashi forces as well. In Seizan, the snakes of Ruichi Cave avenged Chie by slaughtering the Kogarashi army. Zahara and Lohner arrived with the snakes and attacked the numerous battalions and the Kogarashi commander. Kenshin later arrived and aided by leading the imperial forces and attacking the enemy commander too. Kojiro, a native of Seizan, fought the enemy while protecting his parents. Selina prayed for Kenshin and Kojiro's safety in the area while Ada fought alongside Kenshin. The former Kumogakure ninjas Kenshin, Ada, and Selina were fighting in Seizan once again as they did with the UHV before. Belamos used his mastery over fire to destroy massive amounts of the Kogarashi army as well.

▱▰▱Prior to Kenshin, Ada, Selina, Kojiro, and Belamos's arrival in the Land of Floods, Sandayu destroyed the fake Arashigakure on the ground. He did not know that the true Arashigakure was hidden in the sky above with a cloaking device. The vanguard consisting of Kenshin, Belamos, Ada, Selina, Kojiro, Kagerou, Sonyo, Masato, and Karuto ambushed and defeated him. When he was defeated he ascended into the realm of the gods before Evergreen appeared and removed the Rinnegan from the world. There were now only three great dojutsu of the Uchiha, Hyuuga, and Kurama clans all with evolutions in Evergreen's mandate to restore natural balance because the Rinnegan was abused to cause great destruction to nature. Evergreen also destroyed the bulk of Kogarashi's forces with the Rinnegan's disappearance. Kenshin, Kojiro, Belamos, Selina, and Ada moved into the Land of Floods after Sandayu's defeat to help fight the remaining army. Kagerou, Sonyo, and Kanata stayed behind to heal the injured Arashi forces.

▱▰▱In the real Arashi in the sky, Kagami was transported by Naoki Uchiha the double agent along with Obei and other agents to the Spire. Kagami ordered her agents to disperse throughout the village. When she met Tosokurui she was surprised by his kindness and patience. Kameyo was much more skeptical of Kagami's arguments and intentions. Kagami described how chakra and the shinobi village system led to the oppressive and violent world that they all knew. Tosokurui and Shinji Ketsueki agreed with her but felt that her plan to destroy the villages and seal away all chakra would be ineffective and misguided. Naoki Uchiha fought with Hajime Asuhara but Kagami asked Naoki to leave and gather information for her. She took Hajime with her and ordered Obei to protect Kagami in her absence. Shion arrived and quietly watched in order to protect Toso if violence broke out. Isobu, Saiken, and Matatabi had a separate conversation about Kagami and Toso in their own space and they learned that a mysterious bad event happened to Chomei based on Isobu's pained reaction to Saiken's questioning about their sister who was sealed into Sandayu. Kagami began crying in front of Toso who was pleading to come to an arrangement and help her. She cited her worries about the world her child would have to enter as the reason for her sorrow. Kagami and Toso agreed telepathically that orchestrating her fake death and escape was the best resolution after Kagami's speech. Toso gave Kagami the chance to make her case to the entire population of Arashigakure using the PA system. She did so but used the Weighted Words genjutsu in an attempt to create a mass uprising from the populace which would destroy Arashigakure. Unbeknownst to Kagami, Toso had installed a genjutsu releasing device prior to her arrival which spared his village's population from hypnosis. Toso then attacked her after warning her and she used the Art of Fake Death genjutsu to appear killed by his attack and that the sanbi was unsealed before disappearing. In reality, Kagami body flickered a great distance away. Toso now worried for the damage to his reputation from appearing to attack her after stating his position of peace.

Kogarashi was completely defeated which would lead to an era of peace to follow...

 

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ The Half Decade of Peace

▱▰▱With the defeat of Sandayu at the fake Arashigakure gates the goddess Evergreen used divine intervention to remove the Rinnegan from the world causing all people with the eyes to lose access to it and gain new abilities from her blessings in its stead. Because of the Rinnegan's abuse by mortals, the goddess removed it to restore divine order and balance. As well, it is widely believed by the shinobi world that when the Rinnegan and the Tenseigan clashed that it created a time wound that caused some people to age normally while some were stunted or advanced in age for the five years until Zelel regained strength and healed the time wound. However, the time schism still remains a mystery and there is much conjecture regarding why it happened. When Kogarashi was defeated by Arashigakure and the Empire, the Arashikage Tosokurui Ashi Hojo dispatched a joint Arashi-Konoha squadron led by Kenshin Kosei and Belamos Karna to invade Gimangakure and destroy the Kogarashi Institute. When the Institute was destroyed the agents were scattered to the wind and Kogarashi's grip over Gimangakure was lost. Kagami Hari led a small portion of the Kogarashi remnants into the former Land of Water section of the Empire where they mysteriously disappeared into the islands. As Kagami and her loyalists escaped she destroyed the Gimangakure Prison's walls and released all of the inmates into Gimangakure causing absolute chaos. Gimangakure has since fallen into ill-repute once again without Kogarashi's control.

▱▰▱In the following five years, Lahlil became the first Hokage of the New Konohagakure constructed in a different part of the Land of Fire than the original village. Lahlil and Tosokurui held a Kage Summit and joined an alliance coming to terms with the past conflicts orchestrated by Kogarashi's manipulation. The Empire successfully repaired the destruction caused by Kogarashi's invasion but suffered heavy casualties in their land army. This blow to the imperial forces halted the possibility of any further expansion of imperial territory with the acquired former UHV lands (for example Amegakure and Takigakure) being undermanned by the imperial army. Thankfully, no rebellions have occurred because of the weariness of the Kogarashi World War so the Empire has been able to retain its landholdings although imperial officials are anxious to restore their full might.

▱▰▱With Kogarashi defeated, the villages in an alliance, and the Empire weakened but whole, these years have been characterized by a recovering peace although the presence of loss from the cataclysmic world war can still be painfully felt. Imperial scouts have noticed activity from a mysterious but possibly vast military force in unexplored lands. These whispers of a greater army in the mountain ranges neighboring the outskirts of the Empire have increased imperial anxiety. But only time will tell what may come of this.

 

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ The Samurai Invasion Arc: Act I

▱▰▱The Land of Iron, a mountainous and snowy peninsula north of the Land of Fire was revealed to be the mysterious but massive military presence that worried Lightning imperial troops. Zaishin, the capital city, was revealed to be ruled by the Raiu, Hogosha, Seinaru Enjo, Seiryu, and Mahofu clans which each represent one of the five elements. The Raiu originally served as the shogun of the country until there was a power upset. Monstrous yokai continuously ravaged the country and became mysteriously emboldened. They also began traveling south and were pursued by Yusuke of the Seiryu clan and a large detachment of samurai troops.

▱▰▱Five years of peace befell the shinobi world after the end of Sandayu. The world only knew of minor squabbles until Jyn, under the orders of Hokage Lalhil Nevarra, was sent to locate a missing ninja by the name of Kanzaki. Upon arriving at the location they were assigned to locate, the individual found themselves in a trap set forth by strange and mystical creatures. It was then that foreign allies, those outside of the ninja way known as Samurai, emerged. The party of three who met Jyn on that fateful day were Seishirō Hitori, Ranmaru Hogosha, and Sumire Mahofu. Once Jyn brought the three back to Konoha to the kage and her military advisor, Sadayo Soga, Ranmaru explained to them the threat known as Yokai, as well as the terrible presence which resided within the woods of their village. Under the advice of a possibly new alliance, Lalhil agreed to work with the samurai and organized her troops to combat this threat.

▱▰▱Meanwhile, at the same time a barrage of winged yokai arrived at the gates of Arashigakure. The leader of the winged yokai, a tengu named Night Watch, was met by a clone of the Arashikage, Tosokuri Ashi Hojo. The Arashikage was given a different report, in which a creature different from the yokai but still like the yokai in existence, manifested itself within the land of fire. The Arashigakure notified Shiro Chosokabe and Selina Rosewater about this creature. Selina was given the mission by the Arashikage to find this strange creature and bring it to the sanctuary of Arashi. Selina recruited the former Kogarashi Agent Obei for the task as the two traversed to the land of fire to save this creature being hunted by Konoha. A treaty was struck between the yokai and Arashigakure allowing them into the village walls by the Arashikage Tosokurui Ashi Hojo.

▱▰▱Elsewhere, the elusive previous leader of Kogarashi, Kagami Hari, continued her research into possible threats for Toso, whom she felt indentured to after his acceptance to raise her son, Satoshi Hojo. In her research the woman stumbled upon a Yokai ambush which ended in her finding the rogue Zaishin faction, the Seiryu clan. The head of the clan, Yusuke, took interest in her combat ability, and offered an alliance with her. Kagami, eager to learn more about the Yokai and the possible Samurai threat, accepted the invitation, posing herself as a neutral wanderer with no discernable history. The two traverse to the land of waters with the entirety of the Seiryu army and personnel. It is there that a wandering ninja by the name of Emiko Akimoto stumbled upon the encampment. Her discovery of them was followed by a faction of the water Daiymo’s military, which forced an engagement of political powers between the land of water, and that of the Seiryu.

▱▰▱With the weakening of the Lightning Empire during the Kogarashi War, a new empire joined it. The Land of Fire's daimyo, Masahiro Hatake, took control of the Land of Wind and eventually the Land of Tea to form the Fire Empire. The capital city, Gurinbare-to, was established in the southwest of the Land of Fire. Emperor Masahiro Hatake notably made large trade and military networks along his vast landholdings. Tensions flared in the Land of Rivers situated between the Fire and Wind Countries. The northern and southern halves of the Land of Rivers were split into warring lands after the fall of Kogarashi which led to mass destruction in Gimangakure. Instability in the region caused massive geopolitical tension in the Fire Empire's orbit resulting in open hostility and an unceremonious burning out.

▱▰▱Satoshi Hojo, believing in the fatalism of the crow summons led by crow king Yatagarasu, went rogue from Arashigakure with Bae Soyeon, Takao Yamamoto, Tetsu Aikura, and Botenmaru Ryuzoji. They stole an airship from the Aether Leyline and named it the Prophet. They took the Prophet to the Midnight Dreary Realm and were caught in the middle of a power struggle between the crows and ravens for supremacy. Satoshi became the sage and contract holder of the crows after the group of pirates removed a totem of Jashin from the crow's forest. The totem of Jashin was a bloodstone that was corrupting the natural energy flowing through the forest. Once it was removed, they took the stone to the Land of Swamps. When they arrived, Satoshi channeled his sage chakra into the bloodstone and fired a massive beam of crimson light mixed with corrupted nature chakra and Jashin's divine energy to blacken the Sun. When the Sun was blackened, the god Utu was significantly weakened in Evergreen's realm as the conduit to his universe was closed. Yatagarasu used the black Sun as a weapon against Utu as revenge for burning him a millennia ago. Yatagarasu also opened the portal to the divine realms in Evergreen's universe for Kagami and Yusuke. This gave them access to Utu and allowed Kagami to kill Utu and gain Yusuke's trust for the interests of the villages in an effort for her to make reparations for Kogarashi.

▱▰▱With Utu dead and the Sun blackened, Yatagarasu called all light release users to the Midnight Dreary Realm. He informed all participants that the death of Utu allowed Jashin to consume his universe. Additionally, the gods Evergreen, Zelel, Jashin, and O-Inari all became equally stronger. Evergreen gained the domains of law and societal power, Jashin gained primal power, O-Inari was given chaotic power, and Zelel took control of the Sun and especially dusk and dawn. This is still considered a victory for Jashin as he got stronger after Utu as one of his opponents died. Belamos Karna, Utu's son, ascended to the divine realms in an effort to restore Utu's destroyed universe but he lacked the full power of a god. Some of the light users would contribute to restoring the Sun using a beacon of Utu. Others, like Wulfram Armistead, were enraged by the tampering of the gods and attempted to destroy the beacon. After the conflict between Belamos's daughters Aurelia and Nohea Karna against Wulfram Armistead and Luo Ibis, with intervention from Nava Uchiha and Zhi Zenshin, the Sun was restored.

 

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ The Samurai Invasion Arc: Act II

▱▰▱After the death of Utu, Kagami Hari gave her life to conjure the familiar (kinryu) using celestial chakra at the behest of Yusuke Seiryu. Yusuke wanted the ritual to be performed to create the great golden dragon of legend to protect the samurai from a possible invasion of yokai. When Kagami used her life force and the immense power of the ketsuryugan to bring the legend to life, she took control of it away from Yusuke out of fear that he would abuse its power. Kinryu flew away from Yusuke in the Water Country after Kagami's death and went to the Iron Country. When Kagami died, Isobu did as he was directed and sought out her son, Satoshi Hojo in the Swamp Country. When Isobu found Satoshi, the crow sage used the power of Jashin's bloodstone with natural energy to destroy the demon for failing to keep his mother alive. Isobu later reappeared and was sealed into Nami Shoton.

▱▰▱After learning from Isobu that the Seiryu clan were responsible for his mother's demise Satoshi flew his airship, the Prophet, to the Iron Country. The Prophet pirates were intercepted by the Fire Empire when the Iron Country asked for help. The Prophet pirates Captain Satoshi Hojo, First Mate Botenmaru Ryuzoji, First Wench Bae Soyeon, Crewmate Takao Yamamoto, and Crewmate Tetsu Aikura had a brief confrontation with Sumire Mahofu and General Ikebatsu Seinaru Enjo representing the Iron Country and Sadayo Soga, Coda, Wulfram Armistead, Lillian D'Ouve, and Shuusui on the Land of Fire side. Additionally, the rogues Nabuya Ichiyomida and Naoki Uchiha intervened. Bae Soyeon covered the Prophet is a massive disintegrating dust release barrier before the pirates escaped. Satoshi then rammed the ship through the Seiryu castle while the barrier surrounding the ship disintegrated the structure. Hundreds of Seiryu clansmen were killed during the attack.

▱▰▱The shogun of the Land of Iron, Seizo Raiu, found the Kinryu familiar and tamed the dragon by displaying his masterful samurai status. He was given the Mark of the Familiar and was able to fully control the dragon. When Seizo learned of the destruction of the Seiryu castle he believed that it was conducted by Arashigakure after the Prophets (rogues of Arashi) and that the Fire Empire failed to stop them. In Seizo's ire he declared war on the entire shinobi world. Kinryu unleashed a massive screech filled with celestial chakra that was heard globally and able to mind-control the majority of yokai to join the samurai army.

▱▰▱Seizo sent three generals with three detachments of the samurai army, the largest army in the world. 50,000 troops were sent to attack the Fire Country at the northern fort of Goshodzuka. Another 50,000 were sent to the border of the Lightning Country guarded by the Pale Citadell. Only 5,000 troops were sent to the new village of Tanigakure in the River Country. 200,000 samurai soldiers remained in the Iron Country. The samurai were stopped from sieging Goshodzuka by Sumika, Theodin Poe, Sonyo Senju, Kujaku, Mina, Roku, Sheva, Hokage Sadayo Soga, and thousands of Fire Imperial troops sent by Fire Emperor Masahiro Hatake. Sumika and Kujaku killed the general leading the samurai invasion of the Fire Country.

▱▰▱The samurai attempted to siege the Pale Citadel on the border between the Frost and Lightning Countries. The Lord Commander of the Pale Citadel, Kenshin Hyuga, led the Imperial Lightning troops and Hyuuga guards against the samurai forces. The imperial troops were sent by Lightning Empress Unki Amano. Notable defenders of the Citadel were Cashew, Nami Shoton, Seo and Hotaru, Suga, Aiyume and Tsuta, and Charybdis. Arashikage Tosokurui Ashi Hojo also arrived and used a genjutsu-enhanced loudspeaker to convince the samurai the retreat. Kenshin slayed the general before unleashing massive lightning bolts that killed 10,000 samurai. Ada Rio-Kyuri, Lady of the Pale Citadel, commanded seven artillery cannons to destroy the rear of the samurai army, killing 20,000 samurai. 5,000 samurai were killed in the vanguard by the aforementioned Arashi and Lightning Empire RPCs. The majority of the yokai brigades survived based on the directions of Kenshin and Toso to avoid murdering the mind-controlled creatures. Meanwhile, Rieyar healed wounded soldiers inside the Citadel. Yua Arashi, an Arashigakure shinobi, was mind-controlled by the Kinryu to fight against her home in the samurai army. She was taken into custody by the Hyuuga guards and consoled by Hotaru and Aiyume.

▱▰▱The samurai forces that attacked Tanigakure were stopped by Usagi the Witch of the Valley, Shintoru Hyuuga, Tomoe Nagarashi, Coello, Kiyoko, Clementia, Tamiko, Hajime Asuhara, Coto and Yamako, Maemi Zetsumei, and Matasu Hasaki Yozen. The general was killed after Tanikage Usagi unleashed Flying Thunder God inscribed roots and the gates of Hell killing four thousand samurai soldiers single-handedly. Usagi then appeared in front of the general and killed him with a massive rasengan. One thousand samurai were killed by the other Tani RPCs leaving behind no samurai survivors. The majority of yokai survived and returned home.

▱▰▱During the samurai invasions, Seizo Raiu dealt with outrage from the five great clans of Raiu, Mahofu, Seinaru Enjo, Hogosha, and Seiryu for his unilateral decision to attack the shinobi. Sumire, the leader of the Mahofu clan confronted Seizo for his warmongering. Iksinisius Alkinysisius, the yokai sage, arrived with the intent of taking control of the Kinryu for himself. Ishikura Raiu joined Sumire in denouncing Shogun Seizo. Akaran Kaguya supported Sumire and Ishikura and attempted to reason with Seizo to release his control over the yokai. The shogun's son, Musunde Raiu, arrived to force his father to end the war. Seizo grabbed his son and threatened the outraged clansmen with dragonfire. Akaran and Akihiko Shinsuke stood in front of the clansmen to protect them from the threat of the kinryu's dragon breath. Seizo used the Kinryu's celestial chakra to create a barrier between the others and himself with Musunde. Seizo revealed to Musunde that he invaded the shinobi to destroy them and prevent the ultimate demise of the Iron Country. He put on an act to appear craven in order to pass the Mark of the Familiar onto his son. The only way the Mark would pass is by killing Seizo and releasing his life force to give it to Musunde as Kagami did in creating it. Seizo believed that if he made himself out to be a tyrant that his son would be hailed as a hero and could lead the Iron Country to prosperity. Musunde reluctantly stabbed Seizo in the heart and gained the Mark of the Familiar and control over Kinryu. Meanwhile, Sumire created a powerful barrier to contain the golden dragon while Seizo used his Reiken no Michi warrior spirit to attack the others. Ishikura heroically stopped the warrior's massive blade while Akaran destroyed the spirit. Musunde gained control over the golden dragon and used it to release control over the yokai and order the samurai to retreat. Musunde became the new shogun and named Akaran as a hero and swore to promote greater diplomacy with the yokai.

▱▰▱Seizo's samurai invasion was a complete failure with only 10,000 troops returning from the Fire Country, 5,000 retreating from the Lightning Country, and no survivors from Tanigakure. One month passed after these events. The title of Shogun had been removed from the Raiu clan and will continue to remain apart from the great clans. Musunde relinquished the position of Raiu Clan head to Ishikura and took the name Kinryu instead. Zaishin became divided following Musunde's address. Despite having many supporters, pro-Seizo, anti-Yokai, and anti-Shinobi factions have made themselves known. It was made illegal to kill Yokai on sight, and an embassy for them exists in Zaishin. Killing in self-defense is still allowed, but attacks are investigated. Citizens and Samurai alike are strongly advised to report any dangerous Yokai sightings to the embassy so that it can be handled peacefully. The Seiryu clan was still being investigated. Members of the original force who defected from Zaishin were being actively hunted.

 

[Ephemeral Ozymandias]

▰▰▰ The Jashin Crisis Arc: Act I

▱▰▱After the failed samurai invasion of the shinobi countries, Evergreen appeared before Kenshin Hyuga in the Pale Citadel. Kenshin was informed by Evergreen that Jashin had become far stronger than before and threatened to destroy her universe. When the god Utu was killed, his divine power was split between Evergreen, Zelel, O-Inari, and Jashin. Evergreen lost an ally when Utu died and while all of the gods became equally stronger, Evergreen was still disadvantaged. Jashin gained more power by consuming Utu's universe. Utu's son, Belamos, rose to godhood and began to rebuild but it would take far too long to do so. Jashin's consumption of Utu's realm was happening far faster than Evergreen anticipated. With Jashin actively eating Utu's universe, Evergreen knew that her world was next. Evergreen informed Kenshin, her champion on Earth, that Jashin would take the next steps to destroy the Earth and take over her universe. To do that he would need the full power of the nine demons to be corrupted and destroy the planet and shinobi civilization along with it.

▱▰▱Kenshin went to take the eight-tailed demon from Byakko. Once he did, he used Evergreen's natural energy ritual to purify the demon of Jashin's influence. Kenshin then traveled to Konohagakure to meet with Masato and purify the nine tails. Meanwhile, a Jashin cultist named Takumi was named the champion of Jashin on Earth. She began gathering cultists for Inshou, the most powerful Jashinist cult in history. Jashin gave Takumi greatly enhanced power so that she and her cult could corrupt the demons with corrupted natural energy. The demons would use their corrupted influence to return to their original divine power from when Jashin created them. Inshou's plan was to destroy Evergreen's universe to create a new universe under Jashin. Inshou believed that doing so would create a paradise fulfilling the ideals of Jashinism. Inshou attacked Konohagakure during Kenshin's visit.

▱▰▱The Jashinists attacked Takijinsei Falls during the demon transfer between Kenshin and Byakko facilitated by Kameyo. The Hokage Sadayo and other shinobi of Konohagakure fended off the Jashinists in Takijinsei Falls as Kenshin and Masato escaped. Kenshin performed the purification of the Kyuubi in the Pale Citadel. Meanwhile, Inshou attacked Arashigakure. Takumi defeated Shion while Saiko defeated Takao and destroyed the hospital. Toso had completely fallen under the influence of the great old ones and began collapsing the village into the ground. Toso escaped and defected to Amegakure which had been taken over by his adoptive son Satoshi. Kenshin arrived in Arashigakure and removed Toso from power and selected Miyuki Ukyo to be the third Arashikage. Kenshin used the power of the tenseigan to restore the destroyed village after the Jashinists left. The Jashinists were able to corrupt several of the tailed beasts within Arashigakure including Matatabi, Saiken, and Chomei. Kenshin used Evergreen's powers to heal the demons but their energy was already taken by Inshou for their purposes.

▱▰▱Kenshin and Kameyo formed a squad with Musica and Shion to confront the Jashinists and find the remaining demons. They found Nami who was then corrupted by the Jashinists and attacked them as the sanbi. Kenshin healed the sanbi and the group killed the Jashinists. The purified hachibi was then transferred from Kenshin into Coda by Kameyo. After this, Kenshin called a Kage Summit at the Pale Citadel to discuss the Jashin Crisis. The vast majority of the demons had been corrupted by the Jashinists with the exception of Gyuki and Kurama so Kenshin had to find a global strategy to deal with the threat. Sadayo Soga (Hokage), Miyuki Ukyo (Arashikage), Musunde Kinryu (Shogun), Satoshi Genburyuichirousuke (Amekage), Unki Amano (Lightning Empress), and Usagi Mikasa (Tanikage) met at the Pale Citadel with Lord Kenshin Hyuga to discuss the Jashinist threat. The Kage Summit was attacked by Takumi and the rest of Inshou. They presented Kameyo's corpse before combat commenced. Beneath the Pale Citadel, Kurama was transferred from Masato into Miki so that the newly purified demon could be stabilized. The Jashinists corrupted Son Goku before escaping the summit.

▱▰▱After the Jashinists escaped the Pale Citadel, the Kage Summit reconvened. Amegakure's independence from the Lightning Empire was recognized by the empress and all leaders with the exception of Miyuki. In exchange, Amegakure agreed to join the taskforce that the leaders formed. The Anti-Jashinism Taskforce was formed with every world power who were systematically eliminating all signs of Jashinists internationally. Jashinists were being imprisoned and countries were sending each other resources to help fend the Jashinists off. Inshou went into hiding to begin preparations for the next stage. Jashin and all of the gods were beginning to have a much stronger presence on Earth than they had before.