Template:Suzaku Masamune

Suzaku Masamune (朱雀正宗, Masamune Suzaku) is an unranked member of Amegakure, and in the afterglow of this, no more significant a mere rōnin. He bears the moniker of Vermillion Flame (朱色炎, Shuiro Honō), although it is scarce in common recognition.

Background
Suzaku originally hailed from a distant land, relatively exotic to the continent where those with an absolute reservoir in jutsu resided. It boasted a very much feudal population, provided the lack of knowledge of one's chakra network. He spent his childhood studying various modes of warfare, as males at the time were taught at an early age, particular in the ways of the sword, and the fan. While although Suzaku exhibited sufficient potential, he would occasionally sneak out of class to pay the resident harbor a visit, intrigued by the foreigners who'd attempt to sell their wares in a nearby marketplace. To explore a land unknown to him, that was Suzaku's ambition at the time. And eventually, one which would lead him to ruin.

At the age of fourteen, Suzaku sneaked aboard a merchant ship destined for port in that very land of ambiguity, equipped with his oriental clothing, a traditional jacket worn by high ranking navymen (which he 'borrowed' from his father (while he was asleep)), a couple of gunsen and his katana. As if he were going to let to himself get conscripted into the army. Thus Suzaku's journey to an uncertain paradise commenced, and ended within a fortnight, where he eventually found himself in port.

Spending the following five years wandering the continent as a rōnin, Suzaku learned all about ninjutsu, and his natural affinity for fire, as well as wind. His prowess in kenjutsu was polished in the Land of Iron, his tessenjutsu in Sunagakure. He had mastered to a great extent utilizing his weapons as mediums for broader-scaled ninjutsu, ending up razing down numerous farms in his wake (mostly by mistake), earning his the moniker Vermillion Flame (朱色炎, Shuiro Honō) due to his fire-attributed powers, and general appearance. He was also treated as a vagabond, and cast out of nearly every village he visited due to this notorious reputation of his.

Having experienced quite enough of traveling, and simply wishing to settle down for a little while, in only for a few years, Suzaku began his pursuit of a suitable venue to call 'home'. Eventually he stumbled upon Amegakure, and pleased with the environment and facilities there, in spite of its overall lack in recognition as compared to the five great ninja villages.

Personality
Suzaku is a fierce, but balanced warrior who enjoys combating a worthy opponent. He has a playful attitude and takes a very carefree approach to life, but is quick to work himself into a frenzy during a heated battle. This attitude of his has led to him adopting a very carefree approach to life, leaving him particularly arrogant, and stubborn at times. He enjoys theatrics, poems, painting, daydreaming, and wooing cute girls.

At times though, Suzaku tends to underestimate the potential of his own abilities, often leading to him torching entire vicinities by applying a little more chakra than he should with a particular technique, as an example. He has done this on many an occasion, and with little regret to boot.

Appearance
Suzaku has auburn hair, tied into a ponytail and red eyes. He wears a vermillion-colored kimono of fine silk, overlying it an oriental kimono bearing an insignia depicting the Vermilion bird of the South, one of many acclaimed beings in his homeland, after which he was named after. A hakama is worn, ties to the waist and extending down to just above Suzaku's boots, all sporting patterns of gold, augmented to contrast perfectly with their black canvas'.

He also wears an exotic coat extending down to below his thighs with elaborate shoulder-pads and interior. Notably this attire-component in particular is worn by high ranking naval members in Suzaku's homeland. Suzaku's however, has been modified to better suit his moniker, and hence imposes a more Vermillion Bird-feel; numerous wings, all finely crafted out of an utter multitude of feathers protruding out of the coat, and numerous feathered oriental tails sprouting out the back are all quality examples of this. The color of the coat varies, it appearing vermillion at its foundation, with the shading altering into blue further up it and its cuffed sleeves.

Abilities
Suzaku is a highly skilled and capable warrior specializing in all ranges of combat. He is a keen analyst, being able to easily deduce an opponent's strategies and weaknesses soon after a battle begins, and learn of the means necessary to exploit any of the latter during engagement.

Kenjutsu and Nature Transformation
Suzaku is a master swordsman who wields an unnamed, white-hilted katana. He is a master of Iai — a style of swordsmanship which involves the user rapidly unsheathing his blade to slash the enemies, and then re-sheathing it after completing the attack. The speed and precision of his strikes are able to inflict a lethal blow on his opponent without staining the blade with blood, and even slice open the head of a large summon creature. He is able to produce elemental shock-waves from his strikes to intercept enemy attacks, utilizing either fire or wind depending on the situation, and utilize each for their own offensive advantages for arranging effective ripostes.

Due to his extensive knowledge of swordplay, Suzaku can judge the weaponry skill of his opponents after a single clash. He is also capable of channelling chakra through his sword to increase its cutting power, and can also fire a wave of chakra with a swift swing of his sword as a powerful long-range attack. He is capable of incinerating a significant quantity of opponents in a single instant, even being able to passively exert his possessed affinities in single swings, so long as he possesses the chakra to continue doing so.

Tessenjutsu and Nature Transformation
In actual combat, Suzaku uses his twin in tandem with his Fire Release and Wind Release nature manipulations, sometimes collaboratively, to create severe torrents of wind, or utter firestorms. In addition to being used as a makeshift club or to block attacks, the fans can be used as boomerangs to gain the means to constantly harass distant foes; they sees to be made of some sort of steel, as they are able to deflect kunai and shuriken when opened, and even slice through steel armor when utilized as melee or throwing.

Trivia

 * Suzaku is named after the Vermillion bird of the South (南方朱雀, Nán Fāng Zhū Què), one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations.
 * Suzaku's hobbies include: theatrics, reading poems, painting, and flirting.
 * Suzaku has slain more people accidentally than intentionally.
 * Suzaku's favorite word is "horizon" (地平線).