Chapter One: Battle Claws

In this world, there have been tales of ancient clans that once lived in the way of the Shinobi. The Nekonome clan is one of these Ancient Clans. Once part of the original twelve, the Nekonome clan lived in peace along the rest, until a mighty war broke out to see who was strongest. Several of the clans did not survive the war, unable to make a comeback from the ruins that they were left in, they died out. The Nekonome clan however managed to survive.

They are known to be a clan that have unique abilities with their nature type of earth. After being blessed by the one the twelve called "God" the group known as the Nekonome clan took on the form of the creature they're named after. They took to their form with pride and formed their own village to live in peace deep in a beautiful green forest. The head of the clan has been passed down all the way to the modern-day Shinobi.

The Ancient Clan was led by Bardo Nekonome and his wife Kazane Nekonome until Bardo's sudden death. Now the clan is led by Bardo's younger brother Rai Nekonome until his nephew comes of age. Before Bardo's death, Kazane bore him two sons. The eldest son's name is Leaks. A handsome boy who keeps to himself and is the head of his village's Assassination Division. Although he's the eldest son and it was his father's wish for him to become the next clan leader, this wasn't Leaks' wish. Then there's the youngest son, Konoe. He's also a handsome boy like his brother, and after hearing that his brother didn't want to be the next clan leader, Konoe was more than happy to take on the responsibility. Studying hard and learning what he can from his uncle. When Konoe isn't studying to be the next clan leader he's hanging out with his three best friends Tokino, Asato and Kagari. Going down to the hot springs or just goofing off like kids usually do.

The Nekonome clan is known for using Earth Style Ninjutsu.

For a long time, the twelve clans lived in peace with each other. A dream that had been realized after thousands of years of war and death. But now a sudden eruption of conflict broke out between two clans. A great battle was taking place. Claws of Werecats and feathers of Tengus were scattered across the battlefield. Rai Nekonome, the brother of the Nekonome clan leader, Bardo Nekonome, fought fearlessly against the leader of the Tori clan, Hato Tori. Hato's use of Genjutsu was too overwhelming for Bardo, putting him on the verge of death. Rai fought hard for revenge against the Tengu witch in his brother's honor.

"Hato! You will pay for what you've done!" Rai held his brother's dying body in his arms. Tears spilling from his eyes. "Killing our leader is an act of war! You will pay for this!"

"You talk tough for such a naive boy. Your skills are feeble compared to the brother who's laying there, dying in your arms. Consider yourself lucky that he protected you for as long as he did." Hato's black wings spread out about twenty feet. She gave them a strong flap and landed next to Rai. "But I can't let you leave here without losing something yourself." Hato suddenly plunged her fingers deep into Rai's eye socket and pulled out one of his eyes.

Rai let out a horrid scream. He held his brother with one hand and covered where his eye once was with the other. Blood poured from the eye socket, flowing through the young Nekonome's fingers. Drops dripping onto his brother's face. He looked up at the Hato with anger filled in his remaining eye.

"Thank you, Rai of the Nekonome Clan, for a perfect souvenir from this battle. I'll be sure to put it to good use in the future." Hato opened her wings and took off into the skies with her fellow Tori clan members following behind her.

The battle was over, and many lost their lives on both sides. Bora, the Nekonome Clan leader was slowly dying in his younger brother's arms. Bora looked up at Rai, his dark skin was starting to go pale. Knowing that he wasn't going to make it back home, Baro needed to appoint a new leader of his clan.

He reached up and placed his hand on his brother's blood-stained face. The sadness on Rai's face was something he couldn't bear. He fought hard for the both of them and for their clan. And that was something that he was proud of. Rai had done well while he couldn't even stay alive to watch his children grow.

"Rai," Baro struggled through a mouth full of blood.

"Please brother, don't speak! We're going to get you some help and then we can take you back home to your wife and sons!"

"No Rai, I'm done. I won't be returning home with you and the surviving men."

Tears started to pour from Rai's eye. Dripping down onto his brother's face.

"Please don't say that brother. Who will lead our people if you're not there? Our people look up to just like they did with father. There's no one else who can lead them but you!!"

Life was quickly leaving Baro's eyes. With a smile he was able to say his final words.

"You will lead them until Leaks is old enough to take over. You will make a great leader my brother. Just have confidence in yourself. You're strong, I kn-know you can do it, just as I had, and our father did before me. Just do me one thing..."

"Anything brother."

"Take care of Kazane and my sons. Tell Leaks and Konoe stories of our brotherhood and the victories we had in battle together. P-please, sh-show them and teach t-them in the way of our clan," Baro's tan brown skin was starting to grow even paler. He was in his final moments.

"I swear brother, I'll do my best to raise your sons the way you would, and I swear I'll make Hato pay for what she has done---"

"No!" Baro suddenly snapped. "If you fill you heart with anger and seek out revenge against her, she wins. She'll control you through that. Promise me... promise me you won't give into anger and hatred, for the sake of our people."

Rai wanted Hato to pay for what she had done to his brother, to his people. Baro was the greatest leader the Nakonome clan had since the days of their father. He ruled over their people with respect and love. Never showing disrespect to anyone in their village. He put them first before himself and the ones he loved the most, the ones he cherished with all his heart was his wife Kazane and his two sons, Leaks and Konoe. They were everything to him and he would gladly give his life to keep them safe.

"Alright brother, I won't let that bird witch win. I'll do my best."

With a smile on his face Baro closed his eyes as he took his last breath. An honorable death for a great leader, brother and worrier. Rai clanged to his brother's body, crying uncontrollably. Surviving clan members of the Nekonome clan gathered to mourn over the death of their fallen leader.

"Master Rai, what do we do now? Do we go after Hato?" One survivor asked.

"No, we do as my brother said. Prepare his body and all those who had fallen for transport. We're heading back to the village, where my brother and the others will receive a proper barrel." Rai placed his brother's body on the ground, his clothes now soaked in his brother's blood. Before letting his men prepare his brother's body he took Baro's tiger claws from his wrist and placed them on his own.

He would honor his brother's finally wish but would never forgive the one who did this. Not knowing that this was only the begging of events that not only change their world, but possibly the entire ninja world.

Standing by the gate to the Nekonome village, Kazane waited anxiously for her husband's return, waiting with her were her sons. Far off in the distance she could see the men of the village returning. As she took a few steps forward she realized that she couldn't see Baro. There were so few who were returning, and she could sense that her husband was among those who didn't make it back alive.

"Leaks, take Konoe back home and wait for me there." Kazane asked her eldest son.

"But I want to see daddy!" A young Konoe protested.

"Do as I say Konoe and return home with your brother!" Kazane snapped at her youngest son. Having his mother yell at him like that was a first for Konoe. Without protesting with his mother any further Konoe turned and went back home with his brother Leaks.

Kazane slowly made her way to Rai and all those who had returned home. When she saw what had happened to Rai's face she quickly rushed to him.

"Rai! What happened to you?!"

"I'm fine Kazane. I'm lucky this is all that happened to me compared to what some of the others went through."

"You have always been a tough one to beat Rai, but... where is Bora? Where is my husband?"

Rai pulled out his right hand that he kept hidden underneath his cloak, took Kazane's hand in his left and then placed Baro's tiger claws in her hand. Right away she knew. Rai wouldn't be giving her, her husband's tiger claws if he wasn't dead.

"Where is he?" Kagari softly asked.

Rai averted his eyes to the tarp that was behind him. Slowly Kazane walked over to it to see Bora holding his sword in his right hand on top of his chest. Tears started to form in her eyes. How was she going to tell her sons that their father was never coming home? That they would never hear his voice again? She knows that the one who will take it the hardest will be Konoe.

"Kazane, Bora fought bravely, like a true leader he led his men into battle with no fear and he died with a smile on his face. It was a death he always wanted. Until Leaks comes of age to take control has the village leader of Nekonome village Bora asked me to lead the people and to look after you and the boys. To tell Leaks and Konoe stories of our brotherhood and the victories we had in battle together. And to please show them and teach them in the way of our clan."

"That does sound like Bora. Worry about others even on the verge of death. Come, these men deserve to rest in peace for their bravery and for their sacrifice they made for their families and their village! We will remember them because if we forget them, it will be like killing them twice! We will overcome this time of grieving like we've overcome everything else. The time of healing may go by slowly, but it will be a time when we all will grow close. Go to your families and cherish the time you have with them. Tomorrow we bury the dead."