Hayabusa of the Highest Skies

[Ejiki]

HAYABUSA OF THE HIGHEST SKIES HISTORY: One of the younger clans to claim a place among the higher society of Hyōgakure, the Norisaki have claimed a place through their mastery of a unique ability, the Highest Skies. The clan has always been a member of the village, listed in the earliest documents of the Great Glacier's histories, but only in the last four generations have they risen to prominence and only in the last generation have they been elevated to the lesser nobility. This is attributed entirely to the emergence of Hayabusa Anjiko. Anjiko was the first to master a long-sought ability in the world of shinobi: flight. Through his perfect mastery of the Wind element he developed a technique to enable himself to fly great distances, a method since passed down and perfected only among members of the clan. This development brought the Glacier a unique weapon, and in recognition of the power this brought the village was the clan's nobility earned. Anjiko was the first to hold the animal spirit of the Peregrine, which has since traditionally been earned by each head of the main branch of the family. The family has always contained a sub-branch, the Norisaki. Supposedly in centuries past the two families formed a great partnership but with the emergence of the Hayabusa the Norisaki have entered decline and become seen as subservient rather than an equal partner. In times past the two families inter-married extensively but this practice ceased since the time of Anjiko as no child of the Norisaki had ever been able to raise the ability of the Highest Skies. This has changed in the most-recent generation, as Norisaki Oriki, after much internal turmoil, was permitted to marry Hayabusa Andaro, and bore him seven children each capable of the ability. With the Hayabusa main line having produced few children with the ability in recent years, their family were made heirs to the head of the main family. This decision was seen as a triumph, until the eighth child of the family, Norisaki Ejiki, began displaying psychosis after the death of his eldest brother. Within two years all seven elder siblings had perished in service to the village, leaving Ejiki the de-facto heir to the clan. Having displayed no such sign of manifesting the Highest Skies, however, his claim will likely never come to fruition. This shame was further compounded on his graduating the shining academy. Every other member of the family had been honoured with the spirit of a bird or flying creature, while Ejiki was chosen by the distinctly-grounded Hare. This lead to speculation within the clan that he should've been chosen by the Yellow-Billed Loon but was found wanting of even that. Without the Highest Skies, Ejiki will surely never be made head of the clan, meaning a new heir who can manifest the ability is required and urgently sought by the clan elders, who train all other children diligently and ignore Ejiki. --- DEFINING TRAITS: Members of the Hayabusa family have glossy white hair and dark eyes while those of the Norisaki typically have darker grey hair and light eyes. In inter-married families these features are used to assign surname rights, leading to siblings with different names but a clearly defined hierarchy within the clan. Members of the family are typically below average in height and with light builds, advantageous for flight, and senior members are honoured with intricate tattoos around the temples, in a distinctive blue ink which only the clan can create. This often leads elder members to shave their heads, the better to show their accomplishments, and long hair is seen as foolish and dishonourable. In terms of temperament the clan are usually calm by nature, learning patience and observation as key skills growing up, the better to scout from the air. --- ABILITIES: The Highest Skies - details to be updated. ---