A World Torn Apart
The shinobi world had made a terrible mistake, each village trying to reach too far and control as much as they could while ignoring the solid infrastructure required for stability. Many village leaders expanded, shinobi left their villages, some even abandoning them altogether to become rogues, intent on serving their own needs. The villages splintered, alliances fell, and many of the villages were isolated and weak. The leaderships of these villages dwindled as well, many of the Kage disappearing or leaving to be replaced constantly by others which would soon do the same thing.
When the Akatsuki finally struck, there was no real defense. Having captured four of the tailed beasts, the Akatsuki unleashed them on the shinobi world, their leader believing he could control them through the various technologies he had developed. The plan failed however and the powerful bijuu broke free of the mind-enslaving jutsu and went on rampages throughout the shinobi nations. Iwagakure... Kumogakure... Otogakure... one by one the villages were destroyed, the beasts rampaging through the villages, the survivors forced to flee to other countries to survive if they even survived the initial attacks. The world was plunged into utter chaos and the very existence of the Shinobi was threatened by the rampaging Bijuu.
However, many brave shinobi took a stand, almost all of the higher-ranked Jounin, Sannin, and Kages protecting their villages with their lives by sacrificing them for the good of their people. One by one, the beasts were sealed thanks to the sacrifice and efforts of the upper ranks of each village, but in the end, the toll was high. Only Konohagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure had survived and even then, the three nations were weak, most of their upper ranks sacrificing themselves to capture, control, and seal the Bijuu once again. Now the lands are at peace again, but the destruction has left the shinobi world crippled in spirit and in power.
The Unknown Path Ahead
Shinobi rose up however from the ashes of destruction, their will resolute and their determination to re-build strengthening their weakened villages. New Kages have been appointed and although they are not as powerful as they had once been, the title took on a new meaning. They were the Guardians of their villages still, but more importantly, they were the spiritual heads, the shinobi resolutely dedicated to rebuilding their great nations to see the former glory they remembered. The villages were isolated still, but the day when their gates would open once again would come soon. How will this new generation fare? Will they make the same mistakes of their predecessors?... or will they have gained the wisdom that only tragedy can bring?
It's time to see how the nations will rise once again on The Unknown Path to the future!
