Land of Iron

Leader:

The **Land of Iron** (鉄の国, *Tetsu no Kuni*) is the oldest known established nation within the Ninja World, being founded some time after the Sage's deaths, and existing since. Unlike the majority of the world the Land of Iron doesn't employ Ninja, instead relying on Samurai and weaponry for war and other matters.

## ***Climate and Geography***

Like most of the Lands in the main continent of the Shinobi World the Land of Iron is mountainous, existing at an altitude where the temperature is constantly close to freezing and experiencing a considerable amount of snowfall year round due to the humidity in the area.

Despite its cold climate the Land of Iron is actually a now long inactive volcano born from the same plume that causes the vulcanism in current Land of Earth. For some unknown reason the lava that this plume released in the Land of Iron was incredibly rich in iron and rare earth metals, which is why the land was nicknamed as the Land of Iron by the people who first settled in it due to the incredible abundance of it.

Because of the overabundance of iron in the soil the Land of Iron was able to establish itself as a steel manufacturing powerhouse for many centuries, relying on imports of food to feed its industry and military, and although its recently lost some of that power with the advent of the Ninja Villages it still very much is considered a prime manufacturing centre of the world for steel.

## ***History***

The Land of Iron's history is long and tumultuous yet also very samey. There have been many warriors that bore the title of Shogun and many more will likely bear it as well.

### **Shogun**

Unlike the other lands, the ruler of the Land of Iron is known as the **Shōgun** (将軍, Army Commander), short for ***Sei-i Taishōgun*** (征夷大将軍, "Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force Against the Barbarians").

They are the ultimate military and civilian authority of the Land of Iron, like the Kage of the neighbouring villages and lands. Unlike the Kage who reside in villages the Shogun resides in his massive castle with his army, and this castle is not surrounded by a village or a city, but rather is within a day's distance of population centres.

The title of Shogun is given to the greatest military asset within the Land of Iron, only those with great tactical and combat ability are allowed to ascend to the title of Shogun.

### **Ninshu**

Unlike the Shinobi who abandoned Ninshu in favor of the power of Ninjutsu the people of the Land of Iron still actively practice Ninshu as a form of worship, seeing chakra as more spiritual and sacred phenomenon than the Ninja do.

Though they have a different name, calling it **Ki** (気), they understand its power to connect people, living and dead, and this has in turn shaped their culture thoroughly leading to the century old neutrality of the Land of Iron, possessing only a military to protect itself.

## ***Military***

Unlike the other Lands the military of the Land of Iron is composed of **Samurai** (侍) rather than Shinobi, a trend that started many centuries before the formation of the villages and which predate the creation of Ninjutsu.

### **Chakra and Ninshu**

While the Samurai of the Land of Iron do not utilize Ninjutsu like their contemporaries the Ninja, they are still able to use the techniques of Chakra Flow and Shape Transformation to increase their fighting ability to many times above normal. What the Samurai lack in versatility and power due to the inability to use Nature Transformation they make up for in reliability and training, being masters of Taijutsu, Kenjutsu and Shape Transformation instead.

Notably Samurai also employ Ninshu as part of their regular tactics, using it as a means to communicate wordlessly by sharing their chakra.

### **Technology**

Because of their knowledge and their infrastructure created for metallurgy the Land of Iron, is able to supply and equip all their men with high quality steel weapons and armor, giving samurai an edge in frontal combat against the average ninja.