Gōkuni Tei-Kyoku

"The world is changing, Tsuchikage-sama, and I'm sure you can agree that it'd be prudent to be ahead of the curve rather than being left behind. I'm simply interested in building a more connected world through trade and intelligence gathering. Intelligence gathering in particular will allow the major villages to better coordinate with one another and respond to transnational threats such as the recent Serean disaster. Just imagine if our villages were better connected prior to that. The first village to be attacked by that wretched creature could have warned the other ones, provided reliable intel that would have allowed the other ones to better prepare for an impending attack." - Tobias Augustus Keys



Current Ruler: Tobias Augustus Keys

Currently ruled by the Emperor, Tobias, the Gokuni Empire is a rapidly expanding supranational empire situated within the shinobi world and based in the Land of Whirlpools and numerous islands surrounding it, including but not limited to: Land of Waves, Land of Moon, Land of The Sky, Land of The Sea, Nagi Island, and O’uzu Island. The Gokuni Empire was founded by Tobias following the string of attacks on various major villages by the entity known as Serean. Since then, he has been using his control of Uzushiogakure's military and the clout as the reigning Pirate King to expand Uzushiogakure's influence past its borders.

It is an ethnically diverse and empires, the product of large-scale  to the different states that comprise the empire. Every land of the empire must also pay the taxes levied on them in the form of the souls of irredeemable criminals and war prisoners, and material that is known as the Imperial benefaction. These resources go to the service of Custodis, Gokuni's army, and the Imperial Navy, the armed forces which keep the Empire united and safe. The Imperial benefaction supports the overall economy of the empire by redistributing resources where needed, usually to shore up one region of the Empire where conflict is raging by drawing resources from more peaceful sectors.

Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace is the seat of the Gokuni Empire and the center of imperial power and administrative authority. Originally just the Shinigami Shrine, it has since been expanded into a massive palace in which Tobias spends most of his time. It is primarily defended by the Custodis Beneloventia, although Custos forces are also known to protect the massive complex. The Imperial Palace is not just a single building but a massive interconnected series of underground passageways several kilometers beneath the surface of the land. This complex is divided into two security perimeters which essentially function as separate urban regions, the Outer and Inner Palaces.

Inner Palace
The heart of the Inner Palace contains the Shinigami Shrine, the Hall of the Great Throne, deep within the Inner Palace where the lord of the Gokuni Empire resides. Only the members of the Grand Council and a few select Imperial servants are allowed to pass through the Inner Palace and enter the presence of the lord of the Gokuni Empire.

The grand hallway of the Inner Palace that leads to the Emperor's chambers, called the Hall of the Fallen, is filled with statues of those men and women who witnessed a glorious death in service of the empire. So far, the hall is empty.

The Gokuni Anthology
The Gokuni Empire is extremely vast in which it has seven great nations under its collective reign. Each great nation provides a different source of, economic, diplomatic, educational, and military support to the empire as a whole. Each nation plays a role in their supranational defense. As similar to other great nations each land is ruled by a daimyo, and a respectively.

Each minor village has their own head ninja who in turns reports matters of international conflict to their respective kage's and council of elders. However, the kages and daimyo report to their higher authorities which are the of the Gokuni Empire. Gōkuni Tei-Kyoku comprises a bewildering variety of departments, bureaus, sub-divisions and offices, each of which deal with a particular aspect of maintaining the continuity of the Imperium. Each order has an obligation to care for its given area of control.