Kumogakure Empire

The Kumogakure Empire is the official name of the continental government established by Rai no Kuni following the events of the Kumogakure Invasion. The government itself lasted from the Spring of 2107 until the Spring of 2110 and has become known to history as the most terrifying three years in the last few century. Though the Empire was able to hold a substantial power over all of the villages through the use of the Ninja Crime Investigation Agency (NCIA), it eventually collapsed in itself from what many experts have claimed was an unavoidable case of overexertion. Not one established country on the entire continent was untouched by the Empire during its three year rule, and the effects of their invasion and occupation can still be seen all over the known world, more so in some places than others.

Rise of the Empire

What gave cause to the country of Rai no Kuni to launch an invasion on the entire known world is a mystery given much research and thought to. Many claim it was the ambition of the non-shinobi leaders of the government forcing their army forward on their own greed. Many others believe it was the unstable mind set of the Hachidaime Raikage who believed himself a champion of a god of lightning. Whatever the reason, it was the Kumogakure Invasion that allowed the country to rule with an iron first for the few short years that it existed.

Government Structure

The Kumogakure Empire was a delicate structure of power that started at the top with the Hachidaime Raikage in Kumogakure no Sato and trickled down all the way to individual Captains and Vice Captains in each of the shinobi villages across the continent. The government itself was split into two distinct and often considered separate divisions, though in actuality they were much more connected than was apparent on the surface. The government leaders of the Empire and the NCIA were these two portions, and each had their own power structure. It is important to remember that the NCIA was actually a subsection of the Empire and the leaders of the government were above the members of the NCIA in political power, but the stretch of the NCIA, their local power and impact on the citizens of each village was much more potent than the laws set by the far away leaders.

The head of the government of the Kumogakure Empire was the Hachidaime Raikage, Inabikari Raikou. Directly below the Raikage was a council of advisors who helped to manage the Empire itself with its massive range. As well, the General of the NCIA Force in the Country of Fang, Momochi Rakurai, was equal to the council in political power. The council and Momochi Rakurai both took residence in Nigiyakashufu within the Country of Fang. It was in Nigiyakashufu that the official capital of the Empire was hosted, allowing a central point that was much more convenient than Kumogakure no Sato or Rai no Kuni. However, the Raikage kept his residence in Kumogakure no Sato and traveled between the two countries as he was needed, which surprisingly was not often.

The NCIA power structure is covered in more depth here.

• Ninja Crime Investigation Agency

Fall of the Empire

Though it was not until the Spring of 2110 that the Empire came crashing down completely, it was at least a year before this date that the first signs of what was to come began. Resistance movements, seen as terrorists by the eyes of the Empire, had always been a threat. But two years after the fateful invasion they were finally getting a substantial amount of power to their ranks, staging attempted overthrows of shinobi villages, many of which came close to succeeding before being stamped out by the Empire, one of the most famous examples of which are the events of the Vocals Against Kumo, a resistance movement in Otogakure no Sato and a failed coup in Konohagakure no Sato by an unnamed resistance force. Both of these events set to motion other resistance groups who would ultimately become more successful.

The first country to win its freedom from the Empire was Tsuchi no Kuni during the Metropolis Music Festival Battle in the Summer of 2109. The next telltale sign was the disbandment of the specialized NCIA Hunting Squad, the reasons for its end still are unknown to history. Following in the Winter of 2109, Hara no Kuni and Kaze no Kuni were freed from the Empire in two separate resistance movements. Rumors had it that Kaze no Kuni was aided by an elite team of ninja from Tsuchi no Kuni, however who exactly was involved was unknown. Finally, Mizu no Kuni threw down the shackles of the Empire on the turn of the New Year as 2109 came to a close.

As history knows next, it was the Battle of Nigiyakashufu in the Spring of 2110 that brought the Kumogakure Empire to its knees. Strong forces from Iwagakure no Sato, Kirigakure no Sato and Sunagakure no Sato stormed the capital of Nijiyakashufu in the Country of Fang, aided by resistance members from Konohagakure no Sato, Kusagakure no Sato and Otogakure no Sato. The battle, though fierce, was brought to an end as the eight Hachinin defeated and killed the Hachidaime Raikage, Inabikari Raikou.

Following the Battle of Nigiyakashufu, the NCIA forces remaining in the shinobi villages of Otogakure no Sato and Konohagakure no Sato would fall quickly, their centralized power left.

The Aftermath

In the following months after the fall of the Empire, the new coalition of powers by the once resistance fights created treaties for their neighbor Rai no Kuni, limiting its power and securing a new state of government that had been trying to regain power of the country for years. Though the country has a close eye kept on it, its danger to the world now is relatively low.

Important Events for the Kumogakure Empire

• Kumogakure Invasion
• Metropolis Music Festival Battle
• Battle of Nigiyakashufu