Sakuragakure

Sakuragakure (桜隠れの里, Sakuragakure no Sato; The Village Hidden Amongst Cherry Blossoms) is the official ninja village of the newly formed Haru no Kuni (春の国, Land of Spring) and to the former Hana no Kuni's village (花の国, Land of Flowers). Although it might have the same name, Haru's Sakuragakure isn't the exact one and the same as Hana's Sakuragakure, but incorporated several structures, style and people from it. Haru no Kuni's Sakuragakure is located in the place where the former Hogakure no Sato (火隠れの里, The Village Hidden Amongst Fire) was set in Honō no Kuni (炎の国, Land of Flames), being the creation of this Sakuragakure a way the rulers found after the unification of Haru no Kuni.

The village itself is set in a Valley surrounded by vulcanic mountains with dense forests of large biodiversity and several waterfalls that descend to the lands. The trees that often make the access to the village hard to invaders or travelers blossom into beautiful flowers during the whole year. The village's abundance in water is unpaired to the rest of Honō no Kuni's lands. Because of the vulcanic structure, the soil is extremely fertile in that part of the country, being a land that has a high potential for large and diverse agriculture. Also, the cherry blossom trees are naturally abundant on the village, hence the name Sakuragakure. Another plant that also carries a very strong symbolism in the Land's culture is the Lotus flower, that blossoms on the waterfalls and is present in the name and crest of the most important clans in Honō no Kuni's history, the Great Clan Renjouji and the Royal Family, House Renge'en.

Sakuragakure is subdivided in three Districts: District of Moon, District of Sun and District of Thunder. District of Sun is the northern one, where most of the administrative buildings gather and that has access to the main gates; District of Moon is the southern one, mainly where most residences are settled - including the Royal Palace - and the District of Thunder is the central one, where the commerce is usually located and where Gap of Great Lake Acuity is found, a enormous underground lake that connects Haru's Sakuragakure to Hana's former Sakuragakure and home to the Great Loch Ness Serpents.

The city meshes the style of old Sakuragakure's eastern buildings and Hogakure's exotic looking ones, creating an unique place for people to live in. The streets are broad and cobblestone covered, often surrounded with plants. The sakura trees are a common view, and the phenomenon of kurui-zaki (insane growth: phenomenon that happens when a tree blossoms out of season) is quite frequent on the place. This grants the view of the pinkish flowers during the whole year.

The fields of the farmers are located just outside the village and down the mountain fields, in connection to the frontiers of the rest of the country. Because of the rough terrain, the farmers got quite skilled in the plantation in contour lines style.

Land of Spring

The Land of Spring is a country that was born after several war campaigns of Honō no Kuni (炎の国, Land of Flames) over the countries that boarded it, trying to expand until they reached the sea under the banner of Honō no Tei Koku (炎の帝国, Empire of Flames). The countries added to the domain of Honō no Tei Koku by The Emperor and former General of Honō no Kuni, Kaiba Iwagarashi, were the Land of Flowers (花の国, Hana no Kuni), Land of Fruits (果実の国, Kaijitsu no Kuni) and Land of Oasis (オアシスの国, Ohajisu no Kuni). After the riot caused by Honō no Kuni's former princess, Ashura Renge'en, the Empire of Flames became the Land of Spring, with the overthrown families of the Daimyos of the conquested lands now composing the noble ranks of Spring, under Queen Ashura's command. The Capital is set in Sakuragakure.

Land of Flames

The Land of Flames was a country to the extreme southwest of the main continent and one of the world's largest in territorial extention. The land is covered by a desert on the northern area, specially near the frontiers to the Land of Oasis and the Land of Sands. It's southern part is immersed in rough vulcanic mountains and dense forests. This is the part where the former capital, Hogakure, was located. The Land of the Flames is also known as The Land of Gravity because in several points around the country there are gravitational distortions and as The Land of Ice and Flames, because of the country's most prominent clans, Renge'en and Renjouji.

After the cue organized by General Kaiba Iwagarashi, the country began a violent expansion to the northwest, incorporating the lands of Oasis, Fruits and Flowers to it's territory.

Land of Flowers

Marked by dense mountains with diverse wildlife and abundance of flower types, the Land of Flowers was known for being a touristic nation because of it's natural beauty, but if one delved through the wrong places, that could be lethal. Amonsgt the forest of Land of Flowers, one withstands as the deadliest: Shimori Forest, a wretched place filled with poisonus and carnivorous plants and insects that are as mortal as they are beautiful.

Home to the former Sakuragakure no Sato, the small country was often targeted by nukenins or attacks of other nations, causing several problems to the Daimyo, Seiya. The village was rebuilt twice: under the rule of Shodai Hanakage, Konami Haruno and Nidaime Hanakage, Keita Uzumaki, until it was destroyed by Yomi and Usotsuki when the Kage was missing in action. After the village was moved to Hogakure, Sandaime Hanakage Shion Renjouji became responsible for commanding the shinobi of the once great village.

Land of Fruits

A small country of tropical weather to a large part of it's territory, the Land of Fruits is a peaceful nation that takes agriculture as it's main activity. It's climate is pleasant and it does not have any shinobi village. After it was incorporated in Honō no Tei Koku, it's economy became dependant of Honō no Kuni's, causing dramatic impoverishment of the population. The situation changed when it became part of Land of Spring, becoming once again a prosperous region.

Land of Oasis

The small country's main economic activity was tourism because of it's sole tropical aspect, working for many wealthy families as a beach resort. The Land of Oasis was also very important in water trade with countries like the Land of Sands and Land of Wind. After it was taken by Honō no Tei Koku, the shinobi violence against the several local riots scared away any tourists that sought peace in the tropical refuge.

History

As the first great ninja countries began their attempts to obtain power, one great country emerged from the peace agreement between two rival ninja clans. No, it's not the Land of Fire, but the Land of Flames, that for generations was ruled by the Royal House Renge'en. Under the rule of Shakka Renge'en, the country was facing difficult times. The King's hand was heavy on taxes, and a few conflicts with bandits and law enforcement issues being severely handled helped on making his fame of the Blood King, by the way he mercilessly asked his shinobi to perform violent acts. Although he was violent and in general a power hungry person, the man married someone equally as disturbed as him and had two children: Ashura and Yakusa.

[TBC]