Kikuta

[Kikuta]
[Clan Location] Kirigakure
[Bloodline Name & Type] War Spirit Evocation
[Current Clan Leaders]

• [Empty - Zinogre / Yellow - Main]
  
• [Empty - Nergigante / Black - Main]
  
• [Empty - Mizutsune /  Pink - Main]
  
• [Empty - Brachydios / Purple - Side]
  
• [Empty - Paolumu / White - Side]
  
• [Empty - Valstrax / Grey - Side]
  
• [Empty - Odogaron / Red - Side]
  

[Current Clan Members]

• [Empty - War Spirit - Main/Side]
  
• [Empty - War Spirit - Main/Side]
  
• [Empty - War Spirit - Main/Side]
  

Clan History/Description

Spoiler:

Clan/Bloodline Traits & Characteristics

Appearance
The Kikuta clan as a whole dress in a traditional manner akin to their ancestors, wearing various variations of kimono. Each family having their own colors that are worn to represent them, the colors matching their respective war spirit. The clan heads each sport a haori with the Kikuta symbol on the back. They always opt for loose-fitting clothing even going into battle, a Kikuta clad in armor is a sight yet to be seen. This can either lay in their pride as great warriors or that having armor inhibits their movements.

Physically, the clan is quite diverse across the seven families, but one can easily tell each from the other, as the genes in each family is exceedingly dominant over any outsiders' that are married into the clan. Notable features for the Kikuta range from family to family depending on their designated spirit, consisting of but not limited to enlarged canines, horns, and tails. Such natural features always appear in small portions on the Kikuta's body.

Typical Clan Attire:

Government
The clan is run by a council made of the three heads of the main branches and the four heads of the side branches. All decisions go through them and are debated upon to reach a reasonable conclusion that is best for the clan first and the village second. Which is normal for one to look out for their family first but in every case, they do look for what causes the least trouble for the village and kage. No clan is without its power struggles and the Kikuta are no different. The main branch heads hold the majority of deciding power but can be overruled in the case all four side branch heads disagree, so it is a matter of sides taken and what each head values. This has and still does cause factions within the clan to arise leading to a number of disputes between clansmen. In such cases where no conclusion can be made from those within, the kage's opinion and authority are sought to quell the issue before worse comes to the health of the clan. This is only done instances as bringing outsiders in to see the inner workings of the clan is frowned upon.

Culture
The Kikuta are a warrior clan through and through, making their titles as “The Beast Clan" and "The Children of the Shinigami" more widely known. Despite these monikers, they are not a clan of bloodthirsty shinobi who only seek battle, many of them investing just as much time into other practices rather than their battle prowess. Keenly intelligent the clan leaders promote various outlets for broadening one's outlook on life. As such besides the Academy, within the clan young Kikuta are instructed in various arts and studies varying from those of the pen and brush to the likes of philosophy. Along with those are classes passing on the knowledge of battle tactics and art of warfare. Despite the seemingly peaceful times the leaders and older members remember the wars and as such refuse to allow the skills that assured the clan's survival to be lost.

Due to this precaution many of their traditions may seem exceedingly cruel to outsiders, but then again no outsider is allowed to know of such things as the information flow is strictly controlled by the main branch heads. The Kikuta are at their core merciless and fierce in battle, known as beasts to the few who survived a conflict with them. This is reflected in their tradition to choose future leaders and secure the place for heirs wanting to ascend their parents. A war between those born within the same generation are put to the test in an all-out war simulation once they reach a certain age and have attained genin rank. The young ones are given but one kunai and are taken to one of many secluded clan holy areas within the Land of Water to wage war on each other before all seven heads of the clan. The heads supervise the event and grade each participant individually then again as a whole for their skills in battle ranging from cunning, creativity, and downright oppressive power. The mock war lasts for three days and two nights as the secluded area's size is immense, allowing for those within to rely on their survival training and hunt for sustenance. The event is also over when all participants save for one are rendered unconscious.

Religion

Shinigami:

"We all came from the one to become many, and we shall return from many back into the one."
"We are but merely hands of the one kami, the god of death, the Shinigami."
"You may die here but your soul shall soon be one with the great spirit."

All bearing the mark of their war spirit, the Kikuta give thanks daily to the one who bestowed such a gift onto them, the Shinigami. For he was the one who answered their call in their time of need and cut them a deal in which gave them the strength to survive. Though the level of faith from member to member can vary greatly, they all without a doubt worship the Shinigami in some way. Places to worship the shinigami have been erected throughout the land of water by the Kikuta clan along with the help of those who were won over by the faith.  These structures range from simple shrines to large temples, in the case of the latter many young Kikuta are sent to such places to gain a stronger faith. Though, such actions aren't mandatory.

Many of the Shinigami faith aren't forceful of their religion and although they worship the god of death, they do not kill on a whim any who simply come before them. Death is seen as something glorious and beatiful, and should come as the Shinigami wills it.


War Beasts

Appearance & Traits:

Bloodline Description & Abilities

War Spirit Evocation:
Every Kikuta has been born with a seal somewhere on their body that took the shape of one of the seven spirits of their clan. This has been true since the days long past of warring clans, when the first seven Kikuta recieved the seal from the Shinigami, as part of a deal. This mark alters a kikuta's biological nature as well as their chakra network, morphing the former and melding with the latter. By controlling this through a means of temporarily quickening the alteration, a Kikuta is able to evoke the beastial nature of their war spirit granting them physical and biological features to enhance themselves in combat. This can range from horns, scales, fangs, claws, fins, tails, wings, and specialized organs (e.g. flame sac, electricity producing organs). Although some organs allow access to the elements through naturally producing them, any attempt to mold the element into something going beyond the body(source) without the actual affinity will fail. It can also simply lead to further enhanced senses. Though the level of evocation determines how drastic a feature can get and the feature is always something resembling the war spirit.  However, this is all done at a permanent cost to the Kikuta.


Paths of the Kikuta
When a Kikuta wants to surpass their limits or fully gain access to their War Spirit's full capabilities they perform Suimin senso (Sleeping war), a ritual where the Kikuta in question drinks a concotion that puts them in a comatose state. In this state, the Kikuta stands before their war spirit and eventually engages the spirit in a life and death battle where four possible outcomes are possible, one being death. Those who come out of the battle alive do not always succeed in defeating their war spirit or awaken to a path. A Kikuta can only awaken to one path. The ritual itself is not restricted by rank or class within the Kikuta allowing those who believe themselves ready to engage in the ritual, however, the risk of death is real and many no not to simply toss away their lives. Another reason for abstaining it until truly prepared is that the corruption cap seems to lock in at the class the Kikuta undertook the ritual, whether they succeeded or not.


Burst Path
Kikuta obtaining access to the Burst Path gain the ability to alter their war spirit's evocation. This is possible as they're chakra system is improved to better meld with their mark, allowing them to take on a second elemental affinity from the basic natures. Examples of such allow for a war spirit to become half elemental or rather when invoked the features manifested can be purely elemental and switch at the user's whim. Another bonus to this path is that when in bestial state, the user is granted an expansion in size to rival that of a small house. Around sixty-five percent of surviving Kikuta achieve this path.

Achievement via ???

Stygian Path
Kikuta obtaining the Stygian path seem to undergo a complete change as they awaken. Though it seems to vary from each Kikuta, some see their hair become completely white or simply a few streaks, others gain red rings around their irises. The colors of the spirit dull greatly, many simply becoming a mix of black and ashen grey. The hide being either black or ashen with cracks along them emitting a red glow. The Stygian path allows full domination of the war spirit as if the Kikuta is the very spirit themselves incarnate. Although not granting any size bonus, the Stygian path allows the Kikuta to undergo evolution to a different form when awakened. A humanoid form much like that of a werebeast is permanently attained, where their features are forever mixed with that of the spirit. This form grants exceptional boosts to their physical capabilities and unlocks certain clan techniques which wouldn't be accessible beforehand. One being a technique to stall the rate of corruption throughout their chakra network, although temporary.

Stygian Mode (Zinogre) Example:

Achievement via ???

Zenith Path
Those who awaken to the Zenith path are easily noticeable among the Kikuta like those of the Stygian path. However, those who follow this path find themselves without any of the war spirit features they may have had before taking the ritual. Becoming appearance wise simply normal. It is not until they invoke the spirit that they truly note what they are now capable of. Whereas before their mark materialized scales and claws, now in their place armor fashioned after their war spirit is granted. They are also able to materialize a weapon fashioned the same way but whatever the weapon is upon their first time using Zenith mode will be locked in. The Zenith path follows a theme of unity with the Kikuta and their war spirit. The armor and weapon seem to be almost lifelike and being tied with the user's chakra network causes them to grow stronger with the Kikuta. Example: B-class Kikuta attains Zenith, armor and weapon manifested will be B-rank. Kikuta then reaches A-class, armor and weapon will represent this growth and also become A-rank. However, retraining Zenith mode will still be necessary to get used to the new strength.

Zenith Mode (Zinogre) Example:

Achievement via ???

Bloodline Limits & Drawbacks

- Single Element
Clan members are limted to only one element.

- Rage
A state where a Kikuta is forced into enragement where their sanity is overidden by the war spirit.
This is caused by the user being below 30% of their chakra pool as well as being fatally wounded for two full rounds. In this state, the Kikuta is no longer able to distinguish between friend and foe becoming nothing more than a wild beast. The enraged beast will lash out at any and everyone with the area with the intent to kill until knock unconscious or killed. Must attack or attempt an attack on a NPC or PC within the same thread each round.

- Chakra Virus[Corruption Cap]
It has come to be known by the Kikuta as a form of chakra virus that eats away at the user's chakra network deplenishing the amount of chakra capable of being used. This occurs as the user evokes their war beast and the effect being greater depending on how much of the beast is evoked or how complex the evocation. It is to be noted that Kikuta with high constitutions have been seen to resist the effects somewhat longer than those without.

Spoiler:

Clan Techniques
- TBC -