Alchem Clan
The Alchem clan is one of the most fabled and respected clans in all of Iwagakure no Sato. Up until the last decade they were a decently sized community within the village, and contained some of the most noteworthy and powerful ninja the village had ever seen. However, since the Akatsuki Invasion in 2104 only two known surviving members continue the bloodline.
Clan Statistics
Clan Name: Alchem
Clan Village: Iwagakure no Sato, Alchem Clan Estate
Clan Head: Alchem Syaoran
Clan Age and Status: Old and Respected with Iwagakure no Sato, unknown outside of the Country of Earth.
Clan Bloodline: Alchemy
Clan Element: All
Clan Size: Two Known Members.
Clan Emblem
The Alchem Clan emblem is tattooed to the upper right arm of all the clan's children at a young age. The ink used in the marking reacts specifically to the chakra that Alchem possess when they access their bloodline, creating a crimson glow when it is used. This tattoo exists for two purposes, the first being a signal to other clan members and people that the Alchem is about to use their bloodline and also as a right of clan membership, the tattoo with the ink that could only be created by clan members proving that they were truly an Alchem.
In recent times the tattoo was continued as a ceremony, the need to prove membership no longer necessary in these times when information can be gathered so quickly.
Clan History
For centuries, most of humanity has been preoccupied with two things: Wealth and immortality. To this end was developed alchemy, forever in pursuit of these two things, through knowledge. Back in the dawn of the golden age many shinobi were taken in by this idea, developed long before, and decided to go out and away from their villages to try and change the substance of many different elements. They formed small villages on their own and pursued their alchemic studies. But soon many neighboring villages became jealous of their power and attacked them, forcing them to scatter and become broken.
Centuries later as the culture of ninja and the first major villages started up these ancient ideas came back into existence. But before long the leaders of the villages decided their science to be forbidden and punishable under death. Most of the ninjas who had started this movement left after this, but one ninja, the head of the Alchem family stayed with the movement and fled to outside the villages reach of power. They were so absorbed with it because it had been the root of their family and their wealth. Their name, Alchem, was even derived from the word Alchemy like many people would from their professions, not too different from Smith or Pewter. For many years him and his family studied and experimented with their new found Alchemy. They found that through use of arrays (precisely designed circles, inscribed with runes and lines) and using their chakra, they could change some basic elements into other elements. They also found that it was very easy to change most elements into stone. With this new found ability they sought refuge in the Stone Village. After the people of the Stone saw how great their abilities were they decided to allow them to stay in the village.
Being in a single and permanent home helped the Alchem clan out incredibly. Their methods, while at first it was at best crude, began to grow and grow until the present, where it is possible to convert between elementary particles, or create substances of the utmost detail, even for the youngest of alchemists. The ability to just change the composition of a substance became easier and easier for those of the Alchem family. Over time while living in Iwagakure no Sato the family chakra began to mutate. By constantly using their chakra for one means, which was transmuting matter, it became honed and tuned to that purpose. Eventually the Alchem grew a bloodline ability that allowed them to perform alchemy much easier than anyone else. Usually it would take years of practice and research for a person to perform alchemy, but an Alchem child could naturally do it if they so much as learned the basics of chakra control.
Another discovery of alchemy that came from the Alchem clan was that it was in fact possible to do away with arrays, but because this was both dangerous and required questionable practices, it was soon forbidden. Even so, it would take a master of Alchemy to achieve this.
The clan has many different traditions which it still celebrates to this day. The first of which is that the clan puts the clan symbol on the upper right arm or their children at a very young age. This separates the child from others and marks them as an Alchem member. Also, the only weapon the clan provides their young with is a single piece of chalk. All Alchem members can use chalk to make a transmutation circle to perform alchemy by using the array to channel their chakra in complex ways that a simple ninja cannot do on his own. Though this does nothing in battle by itself (for the truly terrible weapons that alchemists could unleash are strictly forbidden to them), it is powerful if certain techniques are used with it. Because of this power though the clan is very secretive and hides all of its secrets very well.
The weakness of Alchemy, even when mastered, is equivalent trade - you can't make something out of nothing. So if you have 5 grams of water, you can only make 5 grams of sand, though at very little cost in energy. No more, no less.
Recent events in the history of the clan though have left only two known survivors (See Akatsuki Invasion). Alchem Syaoran and Alchem Sanji, two cousins, are the only remaining members.