Saitō Uragami

* **Buddha** (*釈迦*)
* **Saru** (*猿*)
* **Saikōdaihyō** (*最高代表*)

**Saitō Uragami**, a former **Sōhei** of the **Sōtō Monastery**, is now the **Supreme Leader** of the Land of Earth.

## History

### Master Sōjōbō: The Rise of the Sōtō Monastery

The **Sage of Six Paths** was not the only Sage that walked about and spread his wisdom throughout the world. He was merely the most recognized. Many learned from his teachings and this was shown by how many had been inspired by him. There were many that followed his teachings while others had their own variation. The Sage of Six Path’s teachings were either emulated or served as inspirations for others to create their own understanding.

The Sōtō Monastery was one of the many sacred sects that not only emulated the original Sage’s teachings but also discovered their own teachings. The Sōtō Monastery was founded by a man known as **Sōjōbō**, a man who had become a self-proclaimed Sage after seeing the teachings of the Sage of Six Paths in a different light. Sōjōbō, unlike Hagoromo, agreed that Ninshū was important in building relationships and understanding oneself better. However, he was no fool to just how powerful the darkness was. Sōjōbō understood that human emotion naturally produces anger, jealousy, and greed at subtle levels. His understanding of this was what led him to not only be one of the progenitors in developing **Ninjutsu** but also developed a style that would use one’s emotions as fuel. Unknowingly, the group of followers that Sōjōbō had cultivated would become known as **Sōhei**, Warrior Monks, must later down the road of time.

The teachings of the **Sōtō Monastery** were intricate, complex, and ahead of their time. While many still focus on the body and mind for energy, Sōjōbō included another element which was the spirit. The teachings included three principles: the first being the principle of the **body**, the second being the principle of the **mind**, and lastly, the principle of the **spirit**. It was important that they all worked in tandem with one another or else illness would seize the practitioner. The mind could not be stronger than the will and the body nor could the body and will be stronger than the mind. Doing such would serve only as a hindrance in reaching the goal of enlightenment. In order to keep the body, mind, and spirit balanced, rigorous training practices were devised by Sōjōbō.

The **principle of the body** was perhaps the easiest of the three. After all, Sōtō Monastery was not something that could be searched for by merely searching. Sōtō Monastery made itself available to those that were ready. Not only that, but the general location of the monastery was in a location so hellish that it was practically inhabitable. The mountains were harsh and brutal because of the below-freezing temperatures and the lack of oxygen. There, the students were taught to channel their tenacity and survive. In doing so, the ones that made it past the first principle learned to sharpen their body and evolve from within. Here the Sōhei of the Sōtō Monastery were forced to endure the severe pain the mountain had to offer until the mountain had no more to offer.

This would not have been possible had it not been that this principle was taught with the **principle of the mind** hand-in-hand. The teachings of the mind not only included discipline but precision and understanding as well. These traits were important as they forced seamless streams of thought while their body adapted to such rigorous conditions. Training of the mind was crucial as with discipline anything is possible. The teachings of the mind were believed to be optimal when taught at an early age to ensure maximal potential. Training consisted of meditating through various harsh conditions, intense sword and weapon combat training, balancing yourself on exceptionally thin wires, and obstacle courses designated to increase inhuman mobility and releasing hundreds of arrows one after another until absolute perfection. Nothing was allowed to shatter their focus and this was crucial because in order the wield the energy that flows through the mind, one must clear it. Once mastered, the average Sōhei was believed to deflect and redirect any projectile, varying from arrows, bullets, gusts of wind, objects as heavy as boulders, and even waves of sound.

The last principle, the **principle of the spirit**, is something that has not been documented much. Of course, even all that was mentioned beforehand has been lost in the incident that occurred at the monastery, but even back then not much was in writing. Some of the practitioners believed that it was merely a reflection of oneself or that it never existed. Outside of the two exceptions, rarely did anyone master this principle. Mastering this principle was what allowed access to energy that was unlike anything the world had seen before. It was not chakra, but something much more potent and full of vitality, life. Only rumors and myths surround this principle.

### The Birth of Saitō Uragami: The Boy Who Shifted the Balance

Hundreds of years have passed now. Sōjōbō nor Hagoromo were no longer alive, but their spirit lived in more ways than one. Many masters had come and been in charge of the Sōtō Monastery and thus so did the monastery and their active role. Sōjōbō had originally envisioned the monastery as a sanctuary to protect the weak and arm those before the ones who used power to create injustice. As time passed along, that vision had either been watered down or manipulated in a manner to create a **sinister cycle** of **organized crime**.

The training itself had become increasingly challenging as the ones who had lived the entirety of their life within the walls of the monastery had become accustomed to the harsh conditions. Their bodies had already been well above that of humans by the time they have become novices in training and this evolution only increased with procreation. The children's physical features, as well as their potential to naturally use their emotions as energy, were off the charts. By this time, the world had changed and most of the world, if not all, had been captured by **greed**. Thus, the “masters” that were supposed to keep the vision of Sōjōbō alive, had been corrupted by the very thing they swore not to be corrupted by.

During the reign of who was known as the **Demon Monk**, many things were changed and they set the precedent for the monastery to move forward. The Sōhei of the Sōtō Monastery was much more active on the mainland than ever before. Typically they would reside within the walls of the monastery or in their own world, but with the Demon Monk in charge, they were being sent out multiple times on missions with only directions to complete the objectives, not why. The training was expedited and some were pulled from training before they had even been full-fledged Sōhei and forced into missions. Women were forced to reproduce at high levels so the Demon Monk would have an army at his disposal. By now it was clear that the vision that Sōjōbō left behind was no longer in mind but not one word of it was said, much less whispered, for no one had the strength to go against the Demon Monk.

Many remember the night the shift of power occurred. It was unlike any night the people of the monastery had ever experienced. The frozen summit, which was even more chilling with the atmosphere of fear of the Demon Monk, had become unusually warm. Not in heat, but in ambiance. The pit of **despair** and **helplessness**  that the monastery felt because of the Demon Monk had been replaced with comfort and warmth. Meanwhile, the comfort and warmth the Demon Monk felt within the confines of his castle had been replaced with uncertainty and unease of unbearable levels. The very chest cavity of the Demon Monk caved in metaphorically as he would find himself having a challenging time breathing. The very ambiance awoke everyone out of their slumber and to the origin of this radiant energy. Even the Demon Monk had gotten out of his castle and went to find what had occurred. What he would find was a sight he’d never forget. The entirety of the monastery gathered at the doorsteps of a woman’s dorm. Enraged, the Demon Monk charged toward the doorsteps but not a single soul moved out of his way. Once he finally reached the doorsteps, he found a woman holding a child in her arms all while the child giggled before turning his gaze toward the Demon Monk. The child’s shimmering emerald eyes pierced not the Demon Monk himself, but entirely through him. It left him frozen in fear and such unease that he had never experienced before. The Demon Monk was forced to retreat back into his castle. This was the effect the child had. This was **Saitō Uragami**, The Boy Who Shifted the Balance

## Personality

Saitō Uragami is one of the most **eccentric** individuals you'll ever meet. His mannerism is so far outside the spectrum of what is considered to be normal, you may as well consider him an alien. Saitō is primarily seen as **nonchalant** and playful towards everyone, even his opponents, who find it especially **bizarre** that someone that is suppose to be considered their enemy is engaging them in idle conversation and sometimes even concern for them. It can be annoying for most as each word he says has a dash of **sarcasm** hidden.

Saitō is also known to be **goofy** and somewhat **touchy**. Being someone that speaks with his hands, he moves around a lot and touches whoever he is talking to and constantly breaks into just about anyone's' personal space. Uragami is known to be **dramatic** as well. Some of the things he has done is sighing heavily when he needs attention, or even, bored. He'll always insert himself into conversations knowing to be someone that is always around the corner and listening. Whether that be **literal** or not is still something to be discovered.

Despite being laid-back, Saitō is insanely confident in his abilities and believes himself to be invincible in this era of shinobi. This is one of the reason he seems to be care-free and most importantly, himself, regardless of who he is talking too. While he is one to follow rules laid down by the superiors, he is someone that would bend the rules into the grey area if he so choses. Uragami believes himself to be the strongest, not because of raw strength, but because of his **intelligence** and **resourcefulness** to plan for every and any situation. Pealing back the façade, Uragami has that switch that he can flip which brings out his deceptively cunning and serious side when the situations requires such.

It shows that Uragami wasn't always like that. Many eras ago, Uragami was much different and this was because of the environment he was raised in at the Sōtō Monastery. The high monks there preached and sang about many things, but one of them was strength of the mind. Discipline, willpower, and emotions could either be your enemy or your friend. During his time at the **Sōtō Monastery**, Uragami was very quiet and was not one to partake in any behavior that was equivalent to being silly or anything that he is now. He was more serious and reserved. Following every instruction that he was given. Uragami was a soldier and an effective one at that. His best friend was the opposite. Always pranking the other monks in training whenever he could. Even the high monks weren't off limits. However, after the incident, everything changed. Uragami was forced to find a new home and he himself also changed.

A lot could be said about Saitō Uragami but if only one word needed to be used it would be **calculated**. Many that have interacted with him agree that there is a sense of **unpredictability** that steams off him. This makes **silver-tongued** Uragami especially hard for other politicians, shinobi, and even civilians to recognize his intentions.

## Abilities

### Sensory

While Uragami does not have incredible sensory range, he does have a respectable and potent chakra sensing ability. The Daimyo can sense someone out from a thirty-mile radius, but determine a magnitude of things from it. One being he can categorize and remember chakra signatures and determine what element is coming into fruition. He can also determine the shinobi’s homeland and clan as well as gender and age. This is mainly in part due to his absolute understanding of chakra and how they relate to one's body and mind, but also because Uragami is extremely **energy-sensitive**. This essentially means that he can pick up on even the faintest hint of chakra. Uragami can also sense the usage of physical energy and spiritual energy of beings and objects. Illusionary techniques are easily recognizable due to his knowledge and understanding of inner-workings.

What really separates Uragami from the rest is not his chakra-sensory, but his normal sensory capabilities. His body's unique composition and evolution coming from adapting to the harsh conditions of the frozen summit climate resulted in his superhuman sensory capabilities that allow him to register and react to objects or even being moving well beyond Jinchūriki-chakra infused speed. His reaction speed increases even more when his weight has been reduced. The Daimyo is also able to register the movement of objects near him as well as anything carrying mass, including in changes in weight.

### Intelligence

Explaining the intellect level of the Daimyo is no small feat, especially when the Daimyo acts in such an eccentric and jovial manner. No one truly knows just how intelligent Uragami is, but they know he has some form of intelligence especially since he’s made it this far as a politician. Truth be told, not even Uragami could explain his intellect level. There was no class or blueprint, or even explanation, to how he became how he is. One glance at tools, one time reading one of the most complex doctrines or scrolls, and simply understanding them by just knowing? It was unheard of. It is unheard of. Yet somehow Uragami has such capabilities and he learns at an unbelievable rate. How he knows these things he cannot explain nor can he explain the mechanics behind them. He describes it as merely “just knowing”.

Unfortunately, this level of intelligence comes with a **curse** attached to this. Not truly a curse, but Uragami sure believes so. Uragami has a form of low level depression because of his intelligence. Being someone that can understand anything and everything, as well as being able to predict other humans by stepping into their mindset, he sometimes becomes bored and wishes he had not been born so smart. Hang around Uragami long enough and you might even hear him yell it at the stop of his lungs in frustration.

### Hand Signs

Hand signs are **foreign**  to the Daimyo. He has never been seen doing them outside of aiming to imitate fellow shinobi for comedic purposes nor has he ever needed them. Hand signs were merely invented in aiding the shinobi in cultivating their chakra and assisting with transformation and usage. With the chakra control Uragami possesses, such things become **meaningless** and **obsolete**. This does not mean that Uragami does not have an understanding of the hand signs because he is very well-versed in terms of knowledge of each sign and what element it coincides with. It only means that Uragami does not use them.

### Speed & Strength

The hellish conditions of the frozen summit created such **indomitable** physical monsters that it was unheard of. Hundreds of years of adaptation and evolution introduced a gene in the newer generations of the school resulting in an entirely new biological composition. They had complete and utter control of their body and the training and meditation only increased such awareness of one’s self. This new cellular structure in combination with their teachings of improving oneself resulted in them being able to manipulate and control their body at a cellular level. Without getting into too much of the intricacies and complexities, the physical nature of their bodies were vastly improved and became inhuman, especially Uragami’s capability as he was known as the True Enlightened One among them.

While all of them were exceptionally monsters in their own rights, Uragami was always one step ahead. His movement was not only incredible in terms of speed, it was also exceptionally **agile** and **mobile**. To others, it felt as if he were dancing because the movement was so **elegant** and **graceful**. Uragami made it look easy. His speed created compressed pockets of air that could also be strengthened with Yang to create devastating blows of impact. Uragami’s speed rivals a Jinchūriki using three to five tails of chakra power respectively.

It wasn’t just speed that the school saw an evolution in, but also strength. Naturally, they had been blessed with strength that could at minimum rupture the internal organs of someone on connection. They had not only been taught to utilize this in combat at base level and use it for grappling and restricting, but also to unite it with their speed. It was always about balance. In combination with their speed, their strength became nigh immeasurable and deadly when against an experienced practitioner.

### Recovery & Endurance

Their bodies were punished by the frozen tundra mountain until the mountain had no more to **offer**. In retrospect, the benefits surely outweighed the potential of death, but surely at the moment, thoughts may be ever-changing. As a result, their body became akin to steel, and weapons of ordinary resources would shatter when struck against their body. Even ones created out of special material were subject to this, but even if they were able to cut, it would be mere grazes. Their durability allowed them to move at speeds that were unthought of and they were designed to resist speed of even higher levels, especially Uragami. He was built like a tank, but he was not a fool. Just because he was capable of taking an attack does not mean he would do so. Uragami much rather avoids altogether than ruins any of his finely stitched clothes. With this incredible durability came along an immense amount of stamina that allowed him to consistently battle and train for days on end. Fatigue was merely in the mind and allowing for one’s focus to shatter was **practically** a **sin**. Everything was pushed through, even when the training became harder.

Uragami has such remarkable healing and vitality that it may very well be comparable with some of the best. This has to do with Uragami’s body composition which allows him to have a unique understanding of his body down to a cellular level, where he is even able to divide his cells and create clones with a shared consciousness. It’s safe to say that the evolution that the people of the Sōtō Monastery witnessed was once in a lifetime miracle especially when it was well known that the mountain tundra is practically **inhabitable**. It’ll take some pretty serious damage to subdue Uragami, that much is certain.

## Jutsu

### Genjutsu

Being a master illusionist has several prerequisites. Some of them can be taught, some of them cannot. It’s why many steer away from the complexities of genjutsu. But Uragami? He absolutely loves it and even relishes in it. It’s ironically fitting that he favors this form of combat especially since Uragami **himself** is an illusion. Not a single living soul knows of his history, where he was born and raised, or even the fact he has shinobi capabilities. He’s not merely a politician, he only operates under that guise for the advantages it brings him. The type of person Uragami is, someone who takes satisfaction in manipulating people, makes illusions optimals for making others appear foolish or subject to manipulation.

Some of the prerequisites for illusions require incredibly precise chakra control and high levels of intelligence. Uragami not only meets those requirements, but takes it even a step further because of his unique understanding of chakra. Another requirement that Uragami believes is important in creating effective illusions is creativity in how one is placed into illusions. Just like any other illusionist, Uragami is masterful at manipulating any of the five senses in order to create an illusion. He’s done things such as spiking ingredients in foods with chakra, imbuing objects with chakra, casting illusions by touch, and much more. There are some illusions that Uragami casts that do not create illusions and instead confuses the **subconscious** mind and the facilities of the brain rather than the conscious mind. These forms of illusions cannot be broken out by using the standard release technique most shinobi are taught.

### Taijutsu

The **Sōtō Monastery** ensured to ingrain the **principle of the body** into the scholars of the monastery. The inhabitable mountains sharpened their bodies rigorously and without mercy. The hellish landscape created an environment with below-freezing temperatures and a lack of oxygen. Hundreds of years passed and evolution had done its number on the monks, breeding a set of humans that were far beyond regular shinobi capabilities. You’d think that was enough for **Master Sōjōbō**, but it was not. He wanted the body sharpened even more so it would remain in balance with the mind. Various forms of martial arts were practiced in the monastery, primarily ones that focused on the movement of energy in one’s body. It wasn’t until the Demon Monk that hand-to-hand combat was focused to a weaponized level.

The teachings of Master Sōjōbō stated: **“Sharpening the body requires moving the energy within one’s body. Once you master that, you are closer to enlightenment than before.”** However, the **Demon Monk** stated: **“Our bodies are now tools. Now I will teach you how to use them as weapons.”** This saying birthed the rigorous regime of countless styles of martial arts being practiced. While the Demon Monk had ill intentions, he taught some of Master Sōjōbō’s principles as water as well. Never naming the style that was being taught because it was crucial to be like water. One must not become complacent in one style, one must be able to adapt to the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent and counter-act accordingly.

Using one’s hands were not the only weapons in close quarters combat. They were also weapons such as katana, bō, wakizashi, and tantō that were **extensions** of one’s body. Incorporations of these tools made one even more dangerous and further sharpened their body. For the Demon Monk, this was merely breeding his soldiers even more than they had already been. In combination with Uragami’s physical capabilities and indomitable principles of **pursuit**, **cornering**, and **relentless**, yet calculated, attacks, it makes him a dangerous foe in close quarter combat.

### Ninjutsu

So much could be said about Uragami’s ninjutsu capabilities, understanding them would take a life-time, and emulating them, well, that would be nearly impossible. Before explaining Uragami’s ninjutsu, it must first be noted that he has masterful control of **Ninshū** as well. The **Sōtō Monastery** dates back to around the time Ninshū had begun and they were even secretly one of the first to weaponize the teachings. This tradition of understanding Ninshū before Ninjutsu remained a standard practice in the monastery as Master Sōjōbō had deemed it important to understand others' pain before inflicting pain. There are various things that can be done with Ninshū, malevolent or benevolent, but one of the primary techniques Uragami uses is a Ninshū technique that allows him to read someone’s thoughts and memories as well as enter their mental landscape. There are also techniques that allow him to return the damage that was intended upon him tenfold and much more.

Uragami’s ninjutsu mastery is incredible due to his understanding of Ninshū, which focused on creating peace and harmony among the people through chakra. The byproduct of this was not only was he able to create new techniques with ease, but also gave him foundational building blocks to where he can manipulate chakra at high levels in creative manner. This can be seen in the method he manipulates Dust Release. Dust Release is primarily a technique that is transmitted through three-dimensional shapes and originates from the hands. Uragami has taken this a step backwards and instead of using Dust Release as an element, uses it as the base form of Dust Release Chakra. This allows him to bring the destruction capabilities of Dust Release in a much more fluid, water-esque manner. A good analogy of this would be Storm Release which instead manipulates beams of electricity which flow like water. **Dust Release Chakra** allows for such possibilities as well as integrating with other elements. Uragami’s ninjutsu genius is showcased in how **creative** and **resourceful** he is in using whatever he has at his disposal.

### Fūinjutsu

One of **Sōtō Monasteries** main routine in cultivating intellect was through constant learning. If they were not training physically, they were training their mind in either discipline or information. It was important that the material itself was challenging and what was more challenging for the mind than scriptures of sealing techniques? **Fūinjutsu** is an intricate and complex body of study, it requires one to decipher patterns and a magnitude of foreign languages, similar to a bomb being defused and one mishap could be the end. Fūinjutsu itself is deceptive because it can be written in so many ways with so many false, or misleading, language. It’s one of the best studies to increase intuition and intellect as it is necessarily one immense puzzle.

The art of sealing techniques filled an undeniable **boredom** inside of Saitō. The Masters of the Monasteries had not expected the boy to have an uncanny knack for these puzzles. To him, it was merely straightforward in terms of application and countering. While it was important to understand the language, Fūinjutsu could be subdued or broken by not only placing an odd or even seal on top, but also interjecting the seal from the object it had been placed on. Chakra-based, or one’s that use the foundation of chakra, Fūinjutsu placed on the Uragami rarely has substantial effect either as using Kensai it can be purged at a potent level.

Despite his boredom, Saitō was not naive to the potential of sealing techniques. It was true that the art itself was complex and intricate to most, but it was equally as powerful. Saitō pushed through to further his understanding. Afterall, the famed Uzumaki Clan were slaughtered for their brilliance in it. What separated them from the rest? Was it their unique genetic composition or was it their devotion to mastery of Fūinjutsu? The more he was forced to dwell into the concept, the more he found the unyielding capabilities of the art.

You see the user is only limited in Fūinjutsu in terms of their creativity. A boundless art paired with a limited mind. The beauty in that was enough for him to continue. Saitō has exceptional prowess in sealing techniques as he has showcased this by hiding the **Five Tailed Beast** deep within the Land of Earth. The prison is painted in a manner hidden from the rest of the world, but also a seal upon the room that allows for him to pull out the chakra of the beast for his own use. Saitō also has complex Fūinjutsu that can seal energies as well such as kinetic energy to freeze movement in his immediate vicinity. Another one that showcases his Fūinjutsu potential is a seal set upon himself that creates a repulsion effect around him, which does not allow anyone or anything touch him past a set velocity that he can manipulate consciously. Imbuing objects or weapons with sealing techniques is not a hassle for Saitō either as the monks would religiously do this when they would assist regular civilians.

What Uragami did find entertaining was **Jujutsu** and **Juinjutsu**. Alongside developing magnitude of curse techniques that can even cause the strongest insufferable pain, or cause shinobi that utilize Dōjutsu to go blind, Uragami has developed “Cursed Chakra” as well. In reality, it is not cursed chakra at all, but Ninshū being used in a manner it was not intended for. Chakra from these types of techniques cannot be absorbed or fiddled with due to its erosive and detrimental manner. Even for one’s that carry this form of chakra naturally it would cause unbearable suffering because it is essentially a searing pain that overtakes the body. It was worrisome to the Monks of the monastery as they believed Saitō ‘s indulgence toward this form was because of the Demon Monk’s influence.

## Trivia

* Saitō Uragami's **story** is loosely based off of Saitō Dōsan, a **Japanese Samurai** during the Sengoku Period
* The author used Kisuke Urahara and Satoru Gojo as **inspiration** when creating Saitō Uragami