[center][hider=Yuki Clan][B]Clan Name:[/B] Yuki
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Land of Fire
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B] The Yuki clan is one of the oldest clans from the Land of Fire. They are guardians of the ancient relic known as the Gensho and have an innate ability with the written word. They are gifted with detailed and creative minds, making them skilled with not only their clan's signature techniques which utilize writing and paper techniques, but quite adept at utilizing Genjutsu.

The Yuki clan is run by the oldest member of the clan that has completed all of the Rites of Passage and has read from the Gensho.
[B]History:[/B] The Yuki clan itself was formed before the Sage as a group dedicated to the preservation of information. One of the first groups to develop a very formal language, the clan utilized the the abilities gained through the revelations of the Sage to enhance their ability to preserve information. The clan actually shrank due to the sacrifice of the members to craft the Gensho itself.

After crafting the book, and realizing the full extent of its power, the Yuki clan stayed within a small area in the Land of Fire. Fearful of those that might take the book, as well as members of their own clan that might tell others about the book. Thus, they developed a very unique set of techniques to guard the Gensho from not only outsiders, but those within the clan who may misuse it. However, much of the safeguards were not needed given the reverence the clan members had for the book.

It was noted early on in the years after the Gensho that no Yuki clan member lived past their 150th year. It would be later researched that it was due to their connection with the Gensho that caused their very static lifespan. It is theorized by the clan, that if a child was not exposed to the Gensho at all, they would theoretically be able to life past 150. However, the clan's obsession with the book has left this theory completely untested even hundreds of years later.
[b]Misc:[/b] Many clan members chose to read large sums of the Gensho when they fall into ill health or to end their lives peaceful. By careful, methodical timing, this results in a very peaceful end to the Yuki clan member's life.
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[center][hider=Masazane Clan][B]Clan Name:[/B] Masazane
[B]Country of Origin:[/B] Land of Iron
[B]Hierarchy and Focus:[/B] The Masazane clan hierarchy is determined through a yearly test of skill and overall commerce. Heralded as some of the best smiths in the world, the Masazane clan has a gift with the shaping of metal.

Clan leadership is determined by whichever members of the clan has the most verified sales of weapons or by any individual who has completed a work of superb caliber. After those members are identified, they are faced with forging a sword for a champion of their choice in a contest known as the Tetsu no Shōtotsu [Clash of Iron]. The winner, by either through defeating an opponent or by breaking the sword of the opposing champion, becomes leader of the clan. Lethal attacks are considered a violation of the rules of the current Tetsu no Shōtotsu, but this is has only been the rules for the last few years.
[B]History:[/B] The Masazane clan are a small, yet widespread clan that is noted for their ability to produce weapons.

Originally from the Land of Iron, the Masazane are an old clan and have forged weapons for the samurai from the land for their entire existence. Smithwork in the Land of Iron was considered exceptionally noble, and much like nobles trade marry off children to other royals, the early smiths of the Masazane clan used their children to form connections with other smiths.

One smith, whose original name was long forgotten, was said to have had so many sons and to have made the most legendary weapons, that he was only referred to by his surname. Owning a weapon of the smith Masazane, or being married into his family (to be able to put the Masazane stamp on their productions), was considered an badge of honor. After awhile, all of the smith families within the Land of Iron were related.

Once the original Masazane died, leadership of the family fell into chaos. It was proposed by Masazane's third son that they determine who is to lead the clan through the Tetsu no Shōtotsu. It was not unheard of in the early days for this to be a bloody affair with assassinations of smiths and champions alike. After the first Tetsu no Shōtotsu, leadership of the clan fell to Masazane's fifth son, Ito, who was considered to be almost as skilled as his father.

Ito would run the Masazane in the longest reign of the clan for over 63 years. It was during Ito's reign that the Sage changed the world. With the heavy relation to a singular bloodline, many of the Masazane developed the ability to manipulate steel through a kekkei genkai known as Kōton, using a mixture of the fire and earth elements. It was also not unheard of for members to develop Jiton either in addition to Kōton or as a solitary alternative.

After the reign of Masazane Ito, leadership of the clan fell once again into disarray with leadership cycling repeatedly through a series of smiths that were closely matched between each other. Each year, the one currently in power would lose to one of the smiths he had defeated the year before.

It would not be for over a hundred years before the leadership would yet again stabilize. However, this stabilization of leadership would continue to the reign of Masazane Io, who has lead the clan for the last 62 years. Io is often considered the reincarnation of the original founder of their clan with near unrivaled skill in the forging of weapons and the manifestation of both Jiton and Kōton at a high level. This is often considered because of Io's great number of male heirs.

With the creation of Kyokujitsu no Tochi, many members of the clan have spread themselves out to other territories within their nation. Smiths who stay in the Land of Iron often look down on these members are trying to escape the significant competition within their historical homeland for the Tetsu no Shōtotsu and qualify through sales in another land where the smiths are less skilled. The clan itself, despite its age, is relatively small.
[b]Misc:[/b] While rare, some Masazane do forge weapons for themselves for the Tetsu no Shōtotsu. Most members of the clan fall under competent or skilled with a weapon. For the Tetsu no Shōtotsu most form relationships with kenjutsu masters.

It is said some still participate in an underground version of the Tetsu no Shōtotsu known as the Ketsueki no Shōtotsu [Clash of Blood] as a form of gambling or a way to display power between Tetsu no Shōtotsu.
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