The Setting & Story

The Setting and Story

Honor, Courage, Hope, Peace, Heroes; Twenty years after the Fifth Ninja War, these principles have become nearly nonexistent. Instead, the land lays dead as the survivors of the gruesome war grovel in despair. Only recently have the Five "Great" Nations begun to ascend their misfortune, albeit with much struggling. Each nation faces unique obstacles, relying heavily on the remaining ninjas to make their goals a reality and ultimately shape the future of the world, whatever path it may take.

Meanwhile, a wind blows. And with the wind, it carries story, fable, legend. Legend with which no origin can be traced nor credibility can be established and yet acceptance is undoubtedly granted. Legend with which potential is recognized, ambition is awakened and yet anguish is sure to follow. Legend that describes of a location. A haven or a hell, that has yet to be answered but the truth is sought... and The Legend of The Hidden Village is soon to be told.


World Map:




Konoha
War torn, the once-great village lays mostly in ruins, the remaining structures including a mutilated Hokage Monument, a ransacked Hokage Building, a shambled Village Wall and a thriving ghetto. Not surprisingly, the Village is currently suffering a major depression and with high inflation and unemployment, its been unable to make any progress since the Fifth Ninja War twenty years ago. The villagers and the Fire Country itself blames Ninjas for the travesty that has befallen the Country, creating current political conflict. The Fire Daimyou wishes to rid the Fire Country of Ninjas and employ the Samurai instead. The impending threat of Kumo and Iwa coupled with the current weak state of their allies in Suna only make matters worse. Repairing the Village and the Economy are Konoha's primary goals at the moment.
Suna
The once impenetrable cliff walls of Suna remain leveled, leaving the entire Village vulnerable to the unforgiving desert sands that surround. While the country has managed to restore the majority of its buildings and structures through the use of its emergency funds, the economy is still weak and unable to take on the task of repairing the cliff walls. As a result, various bandit organizations and the sand nomads have taken control of the Village's outer territories/borders, ambushing unsuspecting travelers, charging toll for passage and effectively secluding Suna from the outside world. These organizations also periodically raiding the village and as their influence grows, so has the frequency of the raids. Lacking access to resources, Suna's people are under dire circumstances and with their only ally, Konoha, so weak, the task of ridding the organizations and rebuilding the wall are up to Suna itself.
Kiri
Secluded and protected by the surrounding waters, Kiri managed to avoid the brute damage of the war and for the most part remains untouched. Acting as a neutral territory between the bitter hostility of Konoha/Suna to Kumo/Iwa, the Country remains at peace. As a result, its economy is thriving, although, the thriving economy could actually be contributed to the flourishing Black Market, controlled by a revived Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. The Market trades with all countries, including Suna but its greatest partner is Kumo. Despite these positive Economic benefits, the Black Market has also been linked to the prevalent crime rates, plaguing the nation and weakening its military strength.
Kumo
Focused purely on military strength, Kumo's armed force is arguably the most powerful in the world. The country concentrates primarily on training ninjas and advancing its weapon technology, stressing research. Kumo also imposes strict laws and regulations on its people, acting under the authoritarian rule of the Raikage and Daimyou. Under these laws, leaving the Village is prohibited and censorship is widely exercised, ensured by the ever omniscient "Big Brother". While the country receives a great majority of its weapons from the Kiri Black Market, its greatest trading partner is Iwa, investing an enormous amount in the growing Iwa economy. In response to these conditions, underground resistance forces have been amassing over the past decade. They plan to stage a coupe and take control of the nation.
Iwa
Exploiting its numerous and abundant natural resources, Iwa is recognized as the strongest economic power in the world. Hundreds of mines have appeared across the nation with an equal number of trade routes linking with its primary trade partners, Kumo and Kiri. In order to manage so many mines at such a cheap rate and high efficiency, Iwa utilizes its newfound slave workforce, composed of a war prisoners, unruly citizens and captured peoples. But despite its strong economy, Iwa lacks a strong military and its mines/trade routes are subject to hijackings. In an attempt to combat this, the country has employed Kumo ninjas to provide protection.