云娈
Yun Luán
AGE: Twenty-one
GENDER: Female
VILLAGE: Iwagakure
RANK: Godaime Tsuchikage
NATURE MANIPULATION:
Futon-Katon-Doton
RELATIONS:
Yun Liànshi- Mother
Yun Xiuying-Younger Sister
Yun Guan Zho-Father
Togashi Peneki-Step Father
PERSONALITY:
She is, by all accounts, a woman of contradictions, unpredictability, and cruel cunning. Behind a silken smile and honeyed words lay a woman of fierce intelligence and ruthlessness practically unheard of since the days of the Warring States era. She is an aggressive opportunist, shockingly pragmatic, and vehemently intolerant of weakness. All of these facets mold together to shape a woman who appears to have been born to rule the village under the throes of an iron fist.
Yet, Luán's unpredictability is demonstrated in her curious sense of kindness and virtue. Her loyalty to her clan is without question nor pause. The lengths she goes to preserving her village's strength is often guided by genuine love for the people she finds herself leading. Though naught a tactic or a means to victory seems beneath her, Luán's actions are all internally justified of not doning what's right-but what she 'must'. Prideful of her clan and village's culture, she views the other nations as vastly inferior, hoarding resources that would benefit the people of Tsuchi no Kuni vastly.
Egocentric, Brilliant, Brutal, Loyal. The complexity of Yun Luán is about as dynamic as the combinations of Jutsu themselves, all completely malleable to the present for a woman who looks to the horizon, vying for an even greater state for the people of the nation.
STORY:
Tadakatsu Shoji was the shinning jewel of Iwagakure. Since the era of the Allied Ninja war and the dawn of peace in the aftermath, nay was the village of Hidden Stone, that had endured considerable lost since the conflict, recognized themselves to be blessed with such a promising ninja prodigy. His mastery of techniques was insurmountable, second only to perhaps the Tsuchikage and his fore-bearers.
Shoji inspired leadership, kindness, ignited the stone resolve that seemingly went missing as the warriors hidden in earth mended their losses sustained even decades after the series of conflicts. Loved by his people, revered by his elders, and even feared by those who turned their ire to Iwagakure, it was unanimous and greatly rejoiced when he became the Tsuchikage of Hidden Rock, paving the way to lead the nation into a new era of prosperity.
And then, he died.
But Shoji did not perish without a legacy, yet the heir of all the principles, integrity, and honor he had stood for lay ambiguous, if not outright absent of the child who would find themselves baring the responsibility of Hidden Rock's future. His death, sudden, left no answers to his own demise or the future that lay in store for the nation. His reasoning, to why he ensured specifically in his will the promotion of his apprentice, bore no explanation. And the capacity of his student, outside of technique and martial might, did they have the character to ensure the village's continued path towards progress, was instead shrouded in suspicion and scrutiny.
And perhaps she held the answers to all of these questions and the weight of reality bore heavily upon a heart cased in jade.
But a cruel smile betrayed none of the inner thoughts that bore within.
The Yun Clan in all of its years, was no stranger to controversy and strife. Their history known and renowned through the world, they endured all manner of tribulation and conflict to steadily forge a legacy that garnered respect to the shinobi forces that held power within the land. Heeding to a curious religion, fixated on a culture of wealth, inspired only by a mindset of discipline and ambition, the Yun through the tests of time, war, inner turmoil, still survived where many noble families had perished to the test of time.
Yun Luán was another child born to adopt this doctrine of hardship and aspiration. Born to the leaders of the clan, she was baptized with honor and herald with praise as all births to the Yun. Time was not squandered in educating her fiercely of clan techniques, martial arts, and the values integral to being a dedicated warrior to Iwagakure. Spared no expense to have the finest teachers, perpetually drowned in knowledge and technique, it was no surprise that the end result of her training delicately engineered a genius that held the makings to re-define greatness.
And then abruptly, without demonstrating nearly the entirety of her talents, Yun Luán barely a genin, was taken to be the sole apprentice to the Tsuchikage Tadakatsu Shoji himself. The people were divided in a curious mix of surprise and hope, not in the place to question the wisdom of their revered leader, yet inquiries remained. Perhaps most perplexing itself, was the reaction of the Yun, who appeared neither delighted nor surprised, but with a bowed head and indifference-minus one who smile went unseen behind a lifted fan...
They were an odd but enlightening combination. Shoji's benevolence tempered the glory seeking impulsiveness of the younger Yun. Luán's fierce hunger for success and cunning partnered well with the ruler of Hidden Rock, filling the few holes to his already seemingly flawless character. Rumors and fable would often be littered with tales that the very mountains bowed at the peeks to regard their strength, and exaggerated stories dismissed as they are, there was little to question the reality of the pair's tenacity and power in battle. The Twin Dragons of Iwagakure became a name that gave pause to all the nations of the world during a time of serenity forged from sacrifice.
And then years later, the great leader of Hidden Rock died. Swept away in a peaceful slumber, Tadakatsu Shoji left the people of Iwagakure to an uncertain future. No signs of assassination, poison, nay a trace to a single suggestion of foul play, the people wept before the serene expression Shoji left them to bare. The council delegated, argued, fought over who should take the reigns of leadership in such a critical time of the nation's history. With tensions rising to the point of civil unrest, silence wash over the council, strangled by the startling declaration of a woman seeped in mistrust.
A will, penned by the Tsuchikage himself, per-determining that should he fall, to elect without question his apprentice to the mantle of rule.
The Council protested with passion. Though not wanting to dishonor the last wishes of their honored leader, the idea of promoting a lofty apprentice, a Yun nonetheless, to the full responsibility of all the people of Iwagakure was preposterous. She had demonstrated none of her character beyond emulating her clan's constant vigil to garnering power. She appeared absent of all the traits of kindness, wisdom, temperance, and resolve that the great Tadakatsu inspired through example. She, figuratively speaking, looked little more than a scheming snake, questioning the will and influence of her elders with no merits to make her a candidate to reign.
“Your strength is in question.” They all said to her in unison.
So Luán conquered their voices and doubt, shocking all the inhabitants of Iwagakure through awe and fear.
The council was defeated swiftly. Other champions of Hidden Rock, who too considered themselves worthy of the village mantle were put to the ground. Regardless of how many duels or fights against incomprehensible odds, Luán defeated each and every one, ensuring that they lived to spread word of her victories. The Council, the Clans, and not surprisingly, the Daimyo eventually recognized her power and this girl was elected Tsuchikage of Iwagakure.
Three years have passed since that day and Iwagakure has undergone a transformation that the village had not seen in generations. Luán's rule has been a just, if not, distressing era for the people of Hidden Rock. Though the village continues towards a bountiful future, exterior affairs since her reign have soured. She has established a political atmosphere of strong arm tactics and refusal to compromise. Fortifications have gradually been building along the borders and throughout the nations, maneuvers best saved for war. Bandit attacks, natural disasters, and political murders are rumored to have increased in the nations that Tsuchi no Kuni calls neighbor-yet they remain a sanctuary of harmony. Leaders of other nations see her rarely, and if at all, little more than to briefly address the formalities expectant of a major superpower.
Whispers and stories take a life of their own leading down the road that evolves into more questions.
And perhaps Yun Luán holds all the answers, indeed maybe she already foresaw the future that lay before the people of not just Iwagakure but the world.
Yet a cruel smile betrayed nothing of the thoughts that waltz behind the mask of supremacy...
HOLDING:
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