Yuki Hisashi

Character Template
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Name: Yuki Hisashi
Age: 17
Village: Kirigakure
Rank: Genin


Appearance:

At seventeen, Hisashi has almost reached his full adult height, standing proudly at around 5'9", maintaining a constant effort to keep his body physically fit and appropriate for a young ninja. He is healthy, fairly well built and relatively broad-shouldered, with a handsome, if young, face. He has a slender jaw and short nose, with dark brown eyes, high brow and high cheekbones. Taking after his mother, he has the typical pale skin often seen in the people of the land of water, and boasts a head of healthy shoulder-length loose black hair. While in public, he usually ties this back into a convenient high ponytail or topknot for formal occasions. His eyes glimmer with a notable intelligence, often flicking around as if analysing or calculating. He is right-handed and sure-footed, and tries to carry himself in a confident and resolute manner.

As a genin, he wears his village forehead protector tied loosely around his neck, serving as a steel throat guard. Although he longs to don one of the famed flak-jackets distributed to ninja of Chuunin rank and higher, he currently makes do with a longsleeve white shirt beneath a dark collared jacket, usually unzippered at the front. The jacket has small built-in pockets on the lower left and right abdomen, as well as a concealed pouch across the lower back, within which various tools and items can be stored and accessed with ease. Small dark grey pads adorn the upper shoulders and elbows, providing a base level of protection from impacts and light shrapnel. It is undecorated beyond a small, 12-pronged silver snowflake pinned on the left collar, representing Hisashi's heritage. He wears grey three-quarter-length trousers with side-accessible pockets and a kunai holster on his right, leading, thigh, met by generic dark ninja-tabi and sandals on his feet. A pair of dark gloves with similar grey padding on the back of the palms complete his standard gear. When carrying valuables, he does so in a beige bag slung on his back, supported by a strap diagonally across his torso from left shoulder to right waist, linking into a similarly tanned belt.
When carrying a weapon, a simple, indiscrete black leather strap is added to the torso, allowing a sheathed blade to be held across the back, with the hilt over the right shoulder for quick access.

On days off, Hisashi can be seen relaxing in a soft white pull-over jacket and more comfortable running shoes, and is likely to have a book about his person if not in hand. For the rare formal event, he compliments the only-then worn topknot with a reasonable quality blue hakama inlaid with white snowflake emblems, over a white kimono, with wooden geta footwear.



Personality:

Hisashi may seem quiet and uninteresting to the casual observer, but this public persona conceals a quick mind and careful approach to most situations. He is slow to befriend and trust, and although he does not innately dislike other people, takes first impressions seriously. He is loyal to a fault for the sake of his village and comrades, and is always struggling to better himself in both his own eyes and those of his peers. His friends would describe him as a stoic and reserved young man, ambitious yet sensible. While he is outgoing and friendly, it is rare for him to fully open up and discuss his feelings, and very few of his peers know details of his past and upbringing.
Despite this "calm and collected" attitude, Hisashi is attractive and charismatic among those who know him well, and since enrolling in the ninja academy has made strong bonds with a number of fellow shinobi and instructors. He has always displayed a relaxed and at-ease manner which makes him generally easy to get along with.

Perhaps a little mature for his age, he has a great love of culture, admiring many artists and writers that he encounters, as well as having an admirable appreciation of music and philosophy. He is very scientifically minded and open to new concepts, a trait which generally makes him a pleasure to teach or perform for.

Hisashi's past grants him a sympathy for those in difficult circumstances, and he has been known to go out of his way to assist those in need should they appeal to his softer side. Similarly, deep down he is somewhat envious of those who have comfortable, easy lives and loving families. In the field however, he transforms his attitudes into a cold and resolute tenaciousness, unhesitant and dedicated to the task at hand. He can quickly weigh scenarios and odds in his head, assessing objectives and tactics as they become available. In a group of peers he is often looked to as a leader rather than follower, although he knows his place in the village hierarchy and is unlikely to step beyond his rank should he disagree with an order from above.

In everyday life, Hisashi is relatively independent, and dislikes having to rely on his friends or comrades beyond the necessary. He is troubled by the opinions and schemes of others although makes an effort not to show it in order to keep face. In summary, Hisashi is equally at ease on the battlefield or among friends, although his tensions rise when under judgement or scrutiny. He has a strong intolerance of disrespect and foolishness, perceiving such traits as unsuitable for adults or ninja.



Story:
To tell the story of Yuki Hisashi first requires the tales of the Yuki clan, his parents, and a part of the history of the Land of Water.

Fire in the Eyes of Men:
While generations may forget, none forgive. It is common knowledge amongst many of the peoples of the Land of Water that ninja, particularly those with the foulness of kekkai genkai running through their veins, are not a welcome presence. The past history of the land is one of tumult and war, village fighting village and man fighting man, a story familiar to many in such a chaotic world. It wasn't until the establishment of the current government under the Water Daimyō that the level of political instability began to subside, but conflict remained across various islands within the nation until after the foundation of Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist. This brought a new and devastating tool to the battlefield - the Ninja.

Trained to terrifying extremes, these men and woman rewrote the rules of combat with their devastating strength and unrivaled cunning. Instead of long and costly wars, disputes between clans and villages were now solvable by only meeting the price of hiring a ninja, and such often resulted in the outright annihilation of ones foes. In the years before the unification of the country the usage of these tactics were common, leaving many a bitter memory and a relative sea of blood. Eventually, as the country became unified as one nation, such large scale in-fighting was extinguished, however conflicts still remained to a smaller, or more concealed degree.

One such conflict between two families sparked almost a century after the foundation of Kirigakure, bringing an end to several decades of relative calm. Each members of the nobility, and rich from the prosperity gained from a unified country, the clans exacerbated hostilities to the brink of civil war, calling upon allies on both sides and hiring ninja en-masse. The resulting conflict would eventually become known as the War of Fives Isles, wherein the Yamashiro clan, joined by their allies, the Yodo, Kaga and Sakai families, waged a power struggle against the Heian and Miyoshi clans. Although the details of the conflict are often disputed or forgotten, the sorest memory is that of the destruction caused. For nearly five years the locked blades of these families cleaved a bloody path through the Land of Water, expanding across parts of the mainland and engulfing several smaller islands into the fires of war.
During this war, the families made an almost unprecedented use of shinobi, frequently leveling a battlefield from overuse of destructive techniques and leaving nothing bar rubble and corpses for the world to remember. In time, this lead to the ostracisation of Ninja, in particular those most notorious - which leads us to the story of Yuki Shozen, oft nicknamed "Kiri no naka no shiroi yūrei", or the "White Spectre in the Mist".


The Yuki clan has never been as large as some of the more prominent clans in living memory, but nevertheless held incredible potential thanks to their bloodline limit, the ice-release kekkai genkai. Although aligned with Kirigakure, many branches of the family lived beyond the confines of the village, often resulting in a closer bond with the citizens of the nation than is likely for ninja. They were one of many clans called to arms in the War of Five Isles, hired by the Heian to counter ninja on the opposing side. Although initially mere footsoldiers, the prowess of their members soon lead to them becoming a leading force in the fighting. Yuki Shozen, the head of the Yuki family at the time, is often regarded as one of the strongest and most brutal of all the Yuki, being personally responsible for the eradication of countless villages and their inhabitants. An arrogant and bloodthirsty man, he abandoned his family and duties within Kirigakure in order to better focus on the war as the fighting intensified. He, with the Yuki at his side, along with the majority of the Heian and mixed Kaga-Yodo-Sakai forces, were eventually slain in the now almost-legendary Battle of Kiso Gorge.

Such were Shozen's atrocities during the war that the name of the Yuki, already suffering from his going rogue, became as a taint upon the land. With such signature techniques the members were easily identifiable, and became prime targets for both remaining enemies and those bitter from the long conflict. Many regard the years after the war as the end of the Yuki clan, so feared and despised that most were killed upon discovery. The few surviving members had but two options; to submit to their shame and die, or to live a false life, running and hiding from the world that would rather see them gone. Shozens abandoned family, a young wife and infant son, Shosui, were among those who fled in the hope of starting a new life.


Shosui, raised under the name Toyonari Hitoshi, grew up ignorant of his heritage and family history. Biased by the wishes of a dying mother and the society around him, he both shunned and despised ninja. For many years his mother, in fear he would grow to become a ninja like his father and thus discover his innate abilities, wove tales of evil and manipulation at the hands of ninja, blaming them for the death of his "innocent" father and the shattering of their family. As a young man trying to survive in poverty, he eventually joined the local militia and found an uncanny skill at fighting. Before long he became a sword-for-hire, a mercenary soldier selling his services to the highest bidder. For several years he wandered the land in this manner, fighting in small conflicts wherever they would arise and searching for a purpose in his life. Although vicious on the battlefield, he was a much more caring and sympathetic man than his father. In his early twenties, he and several others were hired to uncover and eradicate a group of bandits who had been plaguing the citizens of a small village, but were unsuccessful. Arriving at the settlement, they found it burning and looted, many of its people killed or kidnapped. Among the wreckage Hitoshi discovered a young woman, her left side crushed under fallen debris. She gave the name Kiyoshi, and the two became involved after her rescue. Despite the crippling damage to her body rendering her unable to walk or live as normal, she successfully - miraculously - bore a healthy child, Hisashi, a year later.

The family lived in relative serenity throughout Hisashi's young life, until at age six, he began to show signs of skill as a ninja. Having fought such enemies in the past, Hitoshi recognised his sons' ability to mold and release chakra, initially trying to dissuade or trick his son into not using such abilities, to no avail - the young boy was simply too disillusioned with his new talent, despite knowing his parents' hatred of the art. Hisashi began to practice in secret, believing that a ninja's skills could be used for good as well as evil, to protect his family - perhaps, even, to help heal the disabilities of his mother. Less than a year later, he attempted to prove this.

In early spring, on one crisp young morning, a group of would-be bandits chased a lone merchant into the village, cutting him down in the middle of the small hamlet. Dissatisfied with his meagre possessions, they turned their sights upon the village itself. With less than a dozen resident families and fewer still capable grown men, Hitoshi was one of the few to respond, his martial prowess overcoming several of the bandits before they even realised his presence. Riled up, the remainder assaulted him, and with his years of inaction working against him, he was outmatched. He knelt, exhausted, before the bandit leader, a sword poised to strike his throat, and closed his eyes. Moments came and passed and still he lived, and eventually he chanced a look - to see a solid shard of ice, like a giant spike, erupting from his aggressors' chest. As the body crumpled and fell, Hitoshi could clearly see his son, Hisashi, silhouetted against the morning fog. The boy was panicked, a pained and desperate expression on his face slowly giving way to relief at having been able to save his father - until Hitoshi rose, face downcast, knuckles white on the hilt of his recovered sword. Without acknowledging his son, he gave chase to and cut down the remaining bandits, routed through fear at the sight of Hisashi's ninjutsu. Hitoshi did not return to his wife and son for four days following the event, disappearing after killing the bandits.


Just as they began to question his return or survival, he slipped quietly back into his home in the dead of night and sought out Kiyoshi. As if the fighting and days alone had washed away the calm exterior he had built up by settling down with his family, Hitoshi was aggressive and full of both accusation and anger. Knowing full well that his sons' abilities were that of a foul bloodline trait, he believed, in error, his wife to be to blame. He questioned her at sword-point, threatening and demanding answers until, pained and tearful, he took her life in belief that it would be for the good of the nation. Hisashi witnessed the event, and blinded by rage and confusion, struck out at his father in revenge with his full fury. The following morning, nothing but a burnt husk remained of the house, his fathers' body turned to ash and dust in the inferno. In a nearby copse, a freshly dug mound topped with a single flower marked the resting place of Kiyoshi, and Hisashi left never to turn back.


The next two years saw him wander the Land of Water, surviving through his continually-improving skills and, on rare occasion, the sympathy of others. Out of necessity the young boy became highly independent, until, after endless months, he heard rumour of Kirigakure - a place not only welcoming to ninja, but created by and for them; a place he could, possibly, be accepted without fear of his life. Around age eleven - at his best guess - he was successfully orphaned within the village and enrolled in the ninja academy. Although lacking many years of experience and knowledge held by his peers, and being somewhat older than many, his dedication and abilities allowed him to progress quickly. At the age of fourteen he graduated a Genin of the Hidden Mist. During his years in Kirigakure, he learnt much of the history of the nation, finally understanding both his parents' hatred of ninja and his true heritage. Through stories and comparisons to Yuki Shozen, he determined his descent from the clan through his fathers' line. While at first he hated every part of this reality, he eventually came to accept it - and moreover, develop a pride in his heritage. Although tainted through the previous few generations, he believes there was once a time when the Yuki were honourable and respected, talented ninja who lived decent lives in service to a greater good. Casting off his despised fathers' name, he began to see himself as the successor to the Yuki.


Since then, as Yuki Hisashi, he has continued to learn and hone his skills as a ninja, living alone in the village and setting his sights high in order to prove himself and his blood to the world. Taking the mantle of a clan head, he hopes to re-establish the Yuki in Kirigakure and expand them into a respected and honourable family.




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Other Information
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Family/Siblings: Toyonari Hitoshi, a.k.a Yuki Shosui, Father [Deceased]. Toyonari Kiyoshi, Mother [Deceased].

Morals: Hisashi believes in respect among peers, and tries his utmost to treat others well until they suggest they deserve otherwise. He will even acknowledge foes respectfully if he recognises their resolve or ability. He is loyal and does not agree with looking down upon those weaker or less fortunate than he.

Values: Hisashi holds his friends in high regard, and prizes loyalty, respect and manners. He values his pride and nation, with a respect of tradition and rank.

Boundaries: Hisashi would never betray those who are close to or trust him, believing, perhaps naively, that the same is true in reverse. He does not condone the harming of innocents.

Motto: To be a ninja is to live two lives; only one of them should be seen or heard. The other lives in the shadows, watching and waiting to strike.

Likes:

• Culture - Unexposed to art, music and books until leaving his village and encountering the world, such works of culture suggest a greater world to Hisashi than he currently knows. He bears a great love of culture and media because of this.
  
• Ninjutsu and other techniques - His talents awakening him to a whole new life, Hisashi holds a love for the way of the ninja and the vast range of techniques and abilities available. He strives to learn as many as he can, and witness the rest.
  
• Medical Arts - Having grown up with a crippled mother for whom he cared deeply, Hisashi has begun to learn the subtlety and preciseness of medicine and surgical techniques. He believes that which can save the lives of those in need is a boon to the world, and appreciates such methods deeply. He longs one day to become a reliable and capable medic to support and save those he cares about in times of need.
  
• Steaks, spiced meats and grills - Everyone has a favourite food, and Hisashi's happens to be succulent, juicy cubes of grilled steak drizzled with sauce. It just hits the spot, every time.
  
• Physical fitness - Hisashi commonly spends his time training and exercising, believing it to be the key to health and vigor. He strives to be fit and strong, maintaining readiness for any task set upon him.
  
• Pride - Seeing himself as one of the few surviving members of the Yuki clan, Hisashi places great pride in his heritage despite the horrors caused by such people and abilities in the past. He believes he has the will and potential to correct such wrongs and earn the respect of his country.
  
• Kirigakure - Grateful for the village that accepted him and his abilities as what they are, he holds a great appreciation for Kirigakure in his heart, hoping to one day gain the opportunity to repay the kindness.
  

Dislikes:

• Unassertiveness, lack of motivation - Having lived a hard life since his childhood, surviving alone for many years and commonly a target for hate, Hisashi believes that one should strive to obtain ones dreams and ambitions. Wasting time that could be well spent working towards a goal is something Hisashi cannot agree with.
  
• Disrespect - Getting shunned and looked down upon has become a frequent event in Hisashi's life, with much of the world despising his heritage. It is natural that he grew to disapprove of such hatred in strangers, and hopes one day that people will treat him - and each other- with respect. It riles him up to witness disrespect, either to him or to others.
  
• Heatwaves - Growing up in a sombre land of frequent mist, rain and cloud has given Hisashi a small dislike of scorching hot weather. Although he may tolerate or - or even enjoy - a nice summer spell, the thought of spending time in the deserts of the Land of Wind, for example, does not please him.
  

Specialty/Skills
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Specialty:

• Sub-specialty: Ninjutsu
  
• Sub-specialty: Ijutsu
  
• Sub-specialty: Fuuinjutsu
  
• Sub-specialty: Weaponry (See below)
  

Skills: Total 0 Points:

• Opening Month of Site everyone gets +2 skill points: +2 Skill Points
  
• Creating a Genin during the first month the site is open: +1 Skill Point
  
• Genin/D-Rank: +4 Skill Points
  
• Character starts off as an organisation leader [Yuki Clan]: +1 Skill Point
  
• With 8 points, purchase: Gain one sub-specialty: Weaponry.
  

Bloodline and Jutsu information:
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Bloodline: Hyōton [Yuki Clan]
Starting Element: Fuuton [Wind Release] & Suiton [Water Release].



Roleplay Sample (Optional for genin): Happy to if required, but as I'd like to get this submitted ASAP; No thanks!

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[OOC: Since lore on the Yuki clan is mostly non-existant beyond their going into hiding following wars, and I was trying to avoid a boring/generic story, I thought to take some liberties about the history of the country and clan, defining people and events. If this is not ok or contradicts anything on the site that I've yet to see, please allow me to correct or alter the story. Thanks.]

Approved