An uneasy peace has remained in the ninja world, making it almost four decades since the last Shinobi War was declared. Citizens spanning many backgrounds and creeds look upon their leaders in times of great tention, hoping that the twenty-six years of peace and economic prosperity will remain, but as time progresses the likelihood of peace remaining seems less and less likely. All villages except Sunagakure and Yukigakure have seen dramatic changes in leadership marring the age with great instability. So much so that this new era has been called
'The Worst Generation'. While they have managed to keep the peace, the shinobi of this day age have been seemingly more self-interested and underhanded in comparison to the generations before them.
In the span of the last two years,
Iwagakure has seen itself go through three different Tsuchikages. Kamizuru Akatsuchi, Tantetsu Kyoya, and
Noihime Kouen all from the village's most esteemed clans. Enormous amounts of power has remained in the hands of only a few, each clan vying for their own bits of power and favors in which they could get from their kinsfolk in power, at the disadvantage to the silent majority. During Kyoya's breif reign, the village had seen itself broker a few deals with foreign lands which had seen to be subservient on their part in the eyes of some of the village's elite. Kouen, a famous war veteran had appealed to the Tantetsu to stop these new, yet inadequate policies. When he refused, Kounen started to amass a large enough following to attempt a coup. After a terribly bloody campaign that had seen the village loose many lives Kounen had executed the Third, and implanted himself as the Fourth Tsuchikage.
Kouen's administration was quick to act. As they worked hard to bring the village to 75% of it's former capacity, they ventured into the the lands of their political adversaries, making sure they caused massive damage. Working along side with Hi no Kuni's worst criminals, they were able to make Hi's northern borders a small banana republic. They were even able to get as far as assassinating Hiyashi Ayame, the Rokudaime Hokage. Their resolve did not end there. Working with some shinobi from their allies in Takigakure, they were able to synthesize a deadly disease that they spread within the walls of Kumogakure. The disease was so viral and dangerous that it had wiped about approximately one third of the village's shinobi force in addition to the Raikage. In his most recent action inspired by the 'Will of Stone', the Tsuchikage has proceded to invade and annex Ishi no Kuni, a land to the south.
Also in the south, lies
Sunagakure. In comparison to the neighboring villages, it has seen its most stable days. While the village still works adamantly on recovering from the Ame-Suna Pipeline War, they have seen the Daimyo essentially neglect his duties toward the country. This has forced the Kazekage,
Oonakayama Takato to manage Kaze no Kuni. The village works to combat minor insurrections in their autonomous communities in the country's West. The extremely diverse region has a myriad of clans that continue to produce excellent shinobi, which give their expertise in combating the problem. In order to gain quicker access to that part of the region, the country invests heavily in its infrastructure, and to pay, it has taken on massive loans from their allies.
The day Hayashi Ayame, the Rokudaime Hokage, was assassinated had been a dark day for
Konohagakure. The summer day was supposed to be a happy occasion in which relations with Kusagakure would be renewed, and the alliance strengthened. However, it proved to be an international embarrassment because it had been in front of an otherwise well trained shinobi force while many dignitaries were in attendance. To its allies, it seemed that Konohagakure could not even protects its most important shinobi, to its enemies, it was a laughable situation. The dilemma had quickly fallen into the hands of
Kawai Niko, an assistant to the three previous Hokages. The Nanadaime Hokage quickly acted by meeting with some of the village's top shinobi and councilors in an effort to show to the rest of the country that the Will of Fire still stood strong in Konoha, and that whomever had been the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice.
An investigation was quickly brought up, and after her shinobi making thorough findings, the Hokage had strong reason to believe that their avowed enemies in Iwagakure had infiltrated the village, and caused not only insurrections in Northern Hi no Kuni, but had been behind Ayame's assassination. In the meanwhile, the village had seen itself exert some of its vast resources on the international stage by lending Kumogakure is medical team in order to help contain the spreading disease, and invest in Sunagakure's infrastructure by giving them loans. While many have seen it as a benevolent act by none other than Konoha, the current administration sees it more as a way to ensure that their allies return a favor when they require it the most.
To the east, on the island nation of Mizu no Kuni,
Kirigakure has had to deal with several issues. As they still recover from their terrible civil war, they have seen themselves go through utter destruction, a time of brief stability, then utter destruction once more. The Sanbi Jinchuuriki was no longer able to maintain control of their Bijuu, and as a result a rampage ensued. In the struggle, masses of Kirigakure shinobi were killed which included the Yondaime Mizukage, Yuki Nanami and the total eradication of the village's founding clans; the Ran and Sato. After the beast was defeated
Hozuki Shingetsu remained as the most qualified candidate for being the Godaime Mizukage. He worked briskly in finding a new host for Isobu and looked to the far west and found Iwagakure as a seemingly good ally.
While the disease in
Kumogakure had managed to wipe out a third of their shinobi force, the village has been able to continue to running almost at a similar capacity prior to the outbreak. Each and every Kumogakure shinobi has taken it upon themselves to double their efforts in order to keep the village running at a similar capacity. Raikage,
Kagawa Imojin, and her husband Kagawa Keisuke have worked hard in shaping the policies of the village despite their ages. They look forward towards avenging the deaths of so many of the village's shinobi in addition to the beloved Raikage Kyuten Aoi.
In
Takigakure,
Mikatakujira Yosaiyma has retired from the mantle of being the Taki Lady and as left the village in the hands of the next generation. Having seen the village throughout its days from its founding, the jurassic centurion looks to see is there is anyone who can possibly handle the big shoes to fill.
The village of
Kusagakure has seen itself amass a good amount of income by hosting the Chuunin Exams. It had helped significantly in their expensive militarization campaign from two years ago. The Kusa Lady,
Midori Kane continues to look for ways in which she can improve her village.
The world's fate lies in the balance of these Lords, Ladies, and Kages. Each of them looks for ways in which they can better their village, even if ti means drastic measures must be taken.