Kazehaya: Masters of the Shimmering Step

[Hisashi]

The Infamous Kazehaya Clan. HISTORY: The Kazehaya. Even among the many clans who helped to found Hinanagakure, their name stands out as one of the few to have earned the prestige of being one of the four Sacred Clans. Armed with their Kekkei Genkai, the Shimmering Step, this proud family can trace its history back through dozens of generations of famous shinobi, cementing their reputation as one of the finest suppliers of talented Ninja. But where did it all begin? Hundreds of years ago, before Hinanagakure was founded, the Land of the Dead was engulfed in war. Spurned on by conflicting religious ideologies and the promises of power, thousands of Shinobi fought each other, all driven by promises of the Paradise their gods promised. The Kazehaya were no different in this regard, save for the fact that their motivations were simply that of mercenaries. They had no permanent ties to any one cause; While one battle might find them fighting for the ferocious followers of Rimdes along the banks of an Oasis, another would see them joining one of the infamous night raids of Ephine. So long as they received payment in the end, no employer was refused, and no task ignored. That particular mindset changed the night they were betrayed. The mission was to be an easy, standard raid, and the rewards promised were so tempting that the entire clan was called home to mobilize; Esris and her followers were planning to attack the monks of Inir, and they wished to gather as many Kazehaya as they could to assist. All around the camp Kazehaya celebrated, their minds racing with the promises of riches and fame. Even the most cynical of the clan members smiled and cheered. After all, what could go wrong? Everything could. While the Kazehaya had earned their reputation as peerless shinobi well worth their prices, Esris had grown tired of how often she was forced to use them. Why should a Goddess have to pay for mortals to serve her? After all, was she not the Goddess of Death? All she needed was their bodies and souls, not their loyalty. And so her plan was hatched; Every able-bodied adult would be sacrificed to her, while their children would be enslaved to her will, to ensure her an endless supply of untouchable servants for eternity. Of the hundreds of Kazehaya present that night, only one escaped her clutches; Asamaru, the 15 year old nephew of the Clan Head. Sent out to hunt for food at a nearby Oasis, Asamaru returned to the camp only to see the wide-spread massacre of his entire family. With an entire army of undead warriors between him and his clan, Asa fled the scene with hot tears streaming down his face: the shame of his necessary retreat burning within him like bright coals. Into the desert he flew, the wind at his back and the screams of his family ringing in his ears. Night turned into day, and still he ran until he could no longer muster the strength. Still, he crawled onward, pressing forward among the countless dunes to escape Esris. No one knows for certain how long he marched onward, for even Asamaru could not recall much about his time out there. All that is certain is that, when he finally reached the end of his endurance, he finally collapsed, awaiting death to finally take him. Fate is a curious thing. Before the betrayal, Asa had been looking forward to prove his worth as a man by slaughtering the peaceful followers of Inir. He would have shown no mercy to any, for the contract wouldn't allow it. And yet, in spite of this, it was a young priest who found him half-dead in the desert; and this young mpriest who had never met this young man before, took it upon himself to bring him to a nearby temple. When Asa finally woke, he found himself in a infirmary, his swollen feet bandaged and his throat finally quenched. Touched by this act of kindness, when Asa finally regained enough strength to stand, he sought the priest out, and made two vows that he and his descendants would carry out until the end of days. "From this day forward, the Kazehaya shall forever consider the order of Inir as Brothers; No matter what their faith or personal beliefs, a Kazehaya shall always respect the followers of Inir, for without their kindness there would be no Kazehaya. This I swear on my life, and my legacy." "Just as Inir has proven himself worthy of admiration, Esris has earned nothing but contempt. For dealing in bad faith, for the slaughter of my brothers and the enslavement of their children, I swear that the Kazehaya shall never rest until she comes to understand the pain of losing everything she has ever known." DEFINING TRAITS: ABILITIES: