Sa.ba.ku

[Rhap Sodos]

Sabaku.no.Bake.no.Shikaku

Organization Name: Sabaku.no.Bake.no.Shikaku [sA.BA.KU/SABAKU] The Assassins that Shape the Desert

Organization Head: Ma'at [Takashuri] Akilah

Organization Base: Intra-Village, Sunagakure no Sato

Organization Goals: The preservation of Sunagakure no Sato and her interests.

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"A SABAKU is never seen, but others feel our presence. A SABAKU makes no sound, but others speak of our passing. We are ever changing, ever shifting. We are the Wind who Shapes the Sand." –SABAKU Motto

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Forward:

The Sabaku no Bake no Shikaku, or SABAKU for short, are the elite black ops shinobi-based organization that swears loyalty to the Kazekage of Sunagakure no Sato. Silent, efficient, and tempered by the desert sand, a SABAKU is built to endure whatever task is given to them. From couriers to assassins, SABAKU are trained in a wide variety of fields in order to protect the vast expanse Kaze no Kuni. Unlike the standard Shinobi cell, the various divisions of SABAKU may require solo missions, or team assignments varying in size.

Like a mirage, a SABAKU hides in plain sight. The truth strength of their force is known only to themselves, for it is rare to see a SABAKU in the garb of their rank. They live as civilians, shinobi, and nomads, appearing as one thing but swearing loyalty to another. Like the desert sands, a SABAKU lives a shifting experience in order to serve the needs of the mission.

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History:

While various covert and black-op organizations have existed in Sunagakure no Sato since the formation of the village, the organization known publicly as SABAKU traces it’s history to more recent years, beginning with the NCIA occupation. Previous organizations that excelled in the darker aspects of the Shinobi arts were quickly dissolved or annihilated by the NCIA to prevent their specific skill sets to be used against the foreign usurpers. Any members who managed to survive the purging quickly went into hiding with the rest of the Resistance Fighters of Kaze no Kuni.

Once the invasion was completed, the current Daimyo, Takashuri Shiro, quickly embraced the new government, utilizing it as a way to terrorize the citizens of the country. In his madness, he horded the main water supply to Sunagakure no Sato, and allowed the NCIA to poison the others. This monopoly on such a valuable resource left many citizens locked in desperation to survive, too weak to combat the unwanted occupants. It was Takashuri Keito, illegitimate son of Takashuri Shiro, currently in the Western Deserts in self-imposed exile, who would come to their aid. Enlisting the men and women he had originally planned to use to stage a coup in the country, Keito devised a system of "water carriers" to bring the necessary resource to those needed it.

While on the surface, these “water carriers” served primarily to bring the much needed water to the thirsty citizens of Kaze no Kuni, many of these operatives were secretly recruited and trained to participate in sabotage or assassinations with the hopes of overthrowing the NCIA. Such members were usually ninjas prior to the occupation, or chakra capable clansmen who wished to free their deserts of the foreign usurpers. Under direction of Takashuri Keito, and the desert nomad Ma'at Akilah, the most elite of the resistance movement were drafted into an organization that later formed the basis for SABAKU. Once the war had ended and Takashuri Keito began his role as both Kazekage and Daimyo, the force was established as the official black ops organization of Sunagakure no Sato, and took up the mantle of "SABAKU" for their services during the War.

Because of the events leading to their formation, members of SABAKU answer only to the Kazekage, serving primarily as the village leader's personal task force. While they were initially used for covert missions involving sabotage and assassination, the group has also expanded to include those skilled in espionage, infiltration, and scouting the vast terrain of the Wind Country. Their work has also leads them to areas outside of the nations borders, attempting to keep closer eyes on their Shinobi neighbors.

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"The sun never sets on the desert..." -SABAKU Saying

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The Sun-Burst is the official symbol of SABAKU, used as a seal on all documents related to SABAKU missions, and is also the mark which is painstakingly tattooed on all the accepted applicants. The newly admitted member is tattooed by hand in the traditional tebori style, a long and arduous process that can be quite painful. However, the intricacies of the procedure, as well as the manufacturing of the specific ink used for the tattoo is a closely kept secret to prevent and correctly identify forgeries. The tattoo is traditionally placed between the members shoulder blades, a location easily concealed by most articles of clothing meant to cover the upper-torso. In the instances where further concealment is necessary, medical jutsu is used to push the dye deeper into the dermis to prevent visual recognition. After such missions are completed, the dye is pulled back up to it's original position.

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Total Members: Unknown

Entrance Fee: Entrance by Invitation Only.

Founder: Takashuri Keito

Commander: Ma'at [Takashuri] Akilah - Designation: Lion

Members:

Sato Ume - Designation: Chameleon, Tier 1

Organization Skills:

Currently: N/A

Organization Jutsu:

Currently: N/A

Organization EQ:

SABAKU Mask

Armor Kind: Porcelain Mask

Body Placement: Face

Attributes: N/A

Special: N/A

Description: An animal mask shaped after the wearer’s choice. A SABAKU mask most often serves as the official recognition of being a part of this elite task force, for they are only gifted to an applicant after they have completed the enrollment process. A SABAKU agent only wears his or her mask on officially designated missions were a visible presence is acceptable, and recognition as a SABAKU is permitted. Generally, SABAKU operatives adhere to “hiding in plain sight”, and avoid wearing any piece of equipment that would identify them as a SABAKU.

Cost: Free upon entry, SABAKU Exclusive.

SABAKU Cloak

Armor Kind: Cowl

Body Placement: Body

Attributes: Armor, or other village regalia is Hidden

Special: N/A

Description: Like the SABAKU mask, the SABAKU Cloak is only worn on officially designated missions were a visible presence is acceptable, and recognition as a SABAKU is permitted. Very much so “ceremonial wear”, the SABAKU cloak, alongside the mask, is used as a clear indicator that the person wearing it is a member of this elite task force

Cost: Free upon entry, SABAKU Exclusive.

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Organization Ranks:

While all members of SABAKU are expected to be able to perform all the necessary functions of the organization to a certain degree, special designations, or call-signs, might be given to certain members who excel in one of the specialized fields. Within each rank is a Commander, and any number of operatives who have shown aptitude, ranked by tiers.

Please note: Not every member of SABAKU is given a designation, nor is their designation reflective of the mask they wear.

• SABAKU Falcon:
  
• Primary Function - Scouting, Couriers
  
• Team Based
  SABAKU Chameleon:
  
• Primary Function - Espionage/Infiltration
  
• Solo Based
  SABAKU Snake:
  
• Primary Function - Medical
  
• Team Based
  SABAKU Scorpion:
  
• Primary Function - Assassination, Hunter-nin
  
• Solo/Team Based
  SABAKU Jackal:
  
• Primary Function - Interrogation
  
• Solo/Team Based
  SABAKU Coyote:
  
• Primary Function - Intelligence
  
• Solo/Team Based
  SABAKU Armadillo:
  
• Primary Function - Border Patrol, Defense
  
• Team Based
  SABAKU Lion
  
• Primary Function: Command, Administration
  
• Solo Based
  

Tiers

Similar to the Ranking System used by the average shinobi, a SABAKU's Tier is reflective of their skill and experience, and the type of missions they receive.

Tier 3 - The entry level for most SABAKU. While missions of this Tier span all the designations [including Assassinations and Espionage], they are usually low profile, or in non-hostile environments. Missions of this Tier allow SABAKU to explore and gain experience in the various tasks required of them without the high-risk environments of Tier 2 or Tier 1 Missions. Failure of Tier 3 missions generally have little direct repercussions, though do make future advancement more difficult. Equivalent to B Rank Missions

Tier 2 - The middle level of SABAKU, which involves a marked increase of difficulty and risk from Tier 3. Tier 2 Missions generally involve neutral or unknown territory, where there is a moderate degree of danger for the shinobi involved. Failure of a Tier 2 missions may result in demotion back to Tier 3, as well as appropriate disciplinary actions dependent on the assignment. Equivalent to A Rank Missions.

Tier 1 - The highest SABAKU Tier, reserved for Shinobi who have a history of dedicated service to Sunagakure no Sato and SABAKU. Missions are almost always high risk, and generally in hostile territory. These missions are rarely "on record", for they are rarely publicly endorsed by the Sunagakure no Sato Government. Failure of such missions usually result in death, or capture. Equivalent to S Rank Missions.

Edited July 24, 2010 by Rhap Sodos

[Rhap Sodos]

.:Reserved:.

[Rhap Sodos]

.:Reserved:.

[cntrstrk14]

APPROVED

[Azure]

Approved.