Hidden on a random mountain side somewhere on the outskirts of
Lightning Country a tiny village of religious zealots live in worship for their deity the
Buda. Here life is simple, and has been since the village’s foundation. Yet behind the daily droll drum of everyday life something slightly more has come to fruition…
The pairing of the priestess Kiyo Masa and the vagabond Hiramasa Koden had long been opposed by the temple monks. They feared that marring the royal bloodline would never produce the
enlightened one. For decades generations after generations of devote monks awaited the next coming of the great Buda’s guardian
Jikogisei. This mortal incarnation of the great warrior, as legend told, would eventually defend the village from a peril so vast the villagers merely call it “the long night.”
On this fateful night an evil so great would befall the village aiming to eradicate all followers of the loving Buda. Only the human form of Jikogisei would be able to hold the threat at bay long enough for the villagers to escape with their lives. This reincarnation of the warrior was slated to come from the royal bloodline. As such it was the duty of the temple monks to ensure that each generation only the highest quality individuals would pair with the Masa family heir. And yet sometimes love does truly rule over all, at least that was the case for Kiyo and Hiramasa.
Falling in love with each other as young teens both families worked hard to keep their children distant. The Masa family warned Kiyo of the duty she had to the village, giving birth to a savior was her only mission in life. In the meanwhile the Koden family warned Hiramasa that getting involved with royalty would mean that he would always be under the scrutiny of the village and temple priests. The warnings fell on deaf ears and as time passed their infatuation grew into a love so deep it only happens once in a millennia. Upon marrying the couple gave birth to a baby boy, they named him Hiro, after Hiramasa’s grandfather.
Hiro lived a privileged life, never wanting, never needing. He was educated, and trained by the monks. Yet they always looked down on the boy, never fully expecting much from the union of royalty and filth. Over the years it would seem that their indifference for the child was for not. Though strong physically and mentally he was but slightly above average, for sure not the next coming of great Jikogisei. Hiro grew, being taught both by the well-traveled and highly intellectual monks. His love for knowledge flourished under their guidance, yet there was always longing for more in his heart. As the boy grew into a young teen his desire to leave the village and explore the great lands grew, yet he was technically still royalty and thus his duty to the village required he stay to marry a worthy female.
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Within the massive shinobi village, Kumogakure, two Anbu shinobi studied detailed accounts of a band of rouge ninja whom had begun terrorizing small goat villages about
Lightning Country. The rouge group had been searching for an ancient weapon, something touted as being so powerful it could single handedly alter the landscape of shinobi world as it were. Driven by a lust for power and money they tormented smaller villages in search of the weapon as well as recruiting young boys for their cause. Over time the small-unorganized band of rouges had become dangerous and powerful. As caretakers of all whom fall within lightning country it was the job of the Kumo-nin to defend those whom could not defend themselves. As such two Anbu captains, and their team of young Anbu had tracked and surveyed the group. They discovered that the next village to be attacked was a small village on a random mountainside far from the heart of Kumogakure.
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When the attack began Kumo’s Anbu were still enroute. Hiro woke to the sound of screams, and the flicker of ranging fire. As he ran though his village he watched in horror as men and women fell prey to the violence of their attackers. His parents, had left the village on a religious mecca, and thus were safe. Yet deaths of so many innocent victims plagued him. As he neared the temple the monks fought diligently to keep the attackers at bay, however not trained in shinobi arts they lasted only moments. Hiro hid within the temple as the last of his defenders’ blood were spilled. As the band of violent shinobi entered the temple Hiro found himself surrounded. As the missing-nin’s leader entered he carried the severed head of one of Hiro’s favorite instructors.
Hiro remembered little after that. Losing himself in a blind rage he summoned a hidden power, so vast, so powerful, the rouges couldn’t withdraw fast enough.
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When the Kumo Anbu found the village many lives had been lost. Yet their biggest surprise lay unconscious on the temple floor. Surrounded by several dead and dying highly trained rouge ninja was a young boy covered in sweat and blood. When all was said and done Hiro was hailed a savior by his villages, and a potential genius by the Kumo-nin. For this reason Hiro was taken by the Anbu for further education and training.
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The two Anbu captains who found Hiro argued with their superiors to ensure the boy would be trained as one of their own. Entering the Anbu-in-training program meant that Hiro would instantly be placed at a disadvantage. He had no true shinobi training. Though the monks had taught him a baseline of unarmed taijutsu he was far behind the curve.
A hard and diligent worker he was still behind the ball when placed on several lower ranked missions. Hiro struggled to keep up with other trainees. The two Anbu captains watched closely, as the hopeful developed, waiting for a hint of the power that enabled him to subdue an entire squad of missing ninja.
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It wasn’t until the AiT was nearing his late teens that his latent powers once again emerged. Hiro had always displayed an almost otherworldly ability to sense those around him. His attention to detail and perception were assets during missions even if his taijutsu and ninjutsu weren’t.
Hiro and two other AiT were tasked with the mission of following a high ranked target. Surveillance and intelligence without direct contact. It was supposed to be low risk. Their target a rich and powerful businessman, not exactly a well-abled shinobi. Yet, as is the case with many missions, the unexpected should always be expected. Mr. Hakatashi had lured the team into a trap, and had begun the task of gathering his own intelligence on the young team. One by one he tied the adolescent ninjas to a steel chair and used a powerful form of genjutsu to enter their minds and withdraw any counter-intelligence he could.
Hiro had been beaten badly before it was his turn on Hakatashi’s torture chair. The boy was nearly unconscious when the vile man began his cerebral assault. The barrage began within the deepest recesses of Hiro’s mind. Little by little Hakatashi’s drove further in. The businessman had been slowly taking out his competitors, ensuring that his own import/export business stay ahead of the others and outside of the prying eyes of the shinobi force. Unwittingly Hakatashi found the forgotten memories of the night Hiro defended his village. Fearing the power he saw before him Hakatashi grabbed the blade in his jacket pocket and thrust it into Hiro’s chest.
Starring in horror Hiro’s team watch as their friend and ally sat defenseless on the chair. As Hakatashi moved in for his attack they knew Hiro couldn’t defend. That was until they witnessed his power once again flicker. As the knife moved through the air and into his chest Hiro seemingly became a spectre. Like a phantom he rose from the chair unhurt by Hakatashi’s attack. By opening Hiro’s mind to his own hidden memories enabled him to recall the power that caused his village to see him as a deity reborn.
Hiro then began his own attack on the rich bureaucrat. Turning genjutsu on his attacker the Anbu candidate caused the feeble mind of the bureaucrat to turn to mush. In saving his comrades and unlocking his potential, Hiro had found himself a spot as a member of the Anbu force.
*Side Note: Not an actual Deity just perceived to be such.