Kitetsu Ryuzaki Kurogane

As a child, against his mentor Sasaki's advice, Kitetsu ventured out into the Mainland and forged an unexpected friendship with the 3rd Hokage, Rui Hyuga. One day, Kitetsu visited Konohagakure with Sasaki and found out that the 48th Shogun, Musashi Tetsu Kurogane, whose mind had been poisoned, was also roaming the Mainlands. Kitetsu and Sasaki confronted him and pleaded for him to return home, only to be attacked. Musashi was chased by the Samurai and the forces of Konohagakure deep into the Land of Iron's capital, where he slaughtered 75% of Tetsu No Kuni's population. For the first time in his life, Kitetsu felt the pull of certain death as Musashi unsealed Kagetsu, the Lord of Yin, at the center of his shrine. His presence alone caused Kitetsu to fall to his knees. He was saved by the First Hokage, Vane Senju, who valiantly sacrificed his life to fight Kagetsu, buying time for everyone to escape his ferocious power. Kitetsu watched as the First Hokage was dismantled and, filled with fear, ran without looking back. He then pledged his allegiance to the newly appointed 49th Shogun, Sasaki Kurogane.

After the First Hokage's fall, the Samurai were forbidden from entering the Mainlands by Ikari Uchiha for many years. During this time, Kitetsu read up on his ancestors' history and discovered the tale of Valentine Tetsu Kurogane, who upheld the Samurai Code of Honor to its highest extent. Kitetsu idolized Valentine's beliefs on what it meant to be a true Samurai and chose to pave his own path of honor. He honed his techniques and vowed to his Shogun, Sasaki, to defend their home from anyone who might dare threaten it. He would become the bastion of honor, upholding the ways of the Tetsu Creed.

The Land of Iron and countries of the Mainland received invitations from the Land of Tea to embark on the first-ever expedition. Kitetsu embarked on this journey alongside his comrades Sasaki and Kendo Miyanaki Kurogane to explore the never-before-seen country of Avalon. Kitetsu forged many bonds with the Shinobi of the Mainlands and the commander of the Avalonian military, Frederick Von Reinhardt, increasing relations with stable nations and befriending those who would become future Kages. After carrying out many dangerous missions on the military's behalf, Kitetsu was supposedly killed in action by a ferocious Chakra Beast, which choked him until he saw nothing but darkness. In an unknown area, he questioned his whereabouts, only to be frozen in shock, seeing an older version of himself. The man uttered the words, “You aren't supposed to be here yet.” In the world of the living, Kitetsu was revived with the help of medical Shinobi Aaron and Zoken Hyuga, reaching his hand out to the sky, showing the mark of his unshakeable will. After defeating Musashi Tetsu Kurogane, the Shogun Sasaki Kurogane retrieved his armor and returned the Samurai home after a two-year-long expedition, resulting in Avalon's destruction by Kagetsu. Suffering from injuries after his supposed death, Kitetsu realized that being revived came with a cost—he had to battle with an immense condition that permanently hindered his ability to speak, altering his way of life.

After building up their forces, the Shogun assembled the entire Samurai to carry out an expedition to the Western Land of Iron. Kitetsu and his comrades went through many obstacles, crossing diminished bridges that resulted in some Samurai falling to their deaths. After overcoming numerous challenges, Kitetsu and his comrades had no time to rest as they ran straight into a Kenrai Squadron. Heeding his Shogun's words to attack, Kitetsu engaged in combat with the Kenrai for the first time, facing the Land of Iron's sworn enemy. His comrades fell one by one to the Kenrai, panicking in the face of death. Kitetsu witnessed the deaths of his friends with whom he grew up, eventually seeing the Kenrai take his childhood friend, Kendo Miyanaki Kurogane. Sasaki called for a retreat, but the Kenrai stopped them dead in their tracks, being faster than them. Filled with nothing but rage for the loss of his friend Kendo, Kitetsu battled each of the Kenrai on the battlefield, using every ounce of his strength to land a blow and defend himself, fighting until only he and his Shogun were left. The Kenrai struck Sasaki down, stripping him of everything he was worth. Out of desperation to save the man he looked up to as a father figure and mentor, Kitetsu aimlessly ran through the battlefield, disregarding his wounds to pick up his dear leader. Kitetsu carried Sasaki back to the Main Land of Iron on his back, covered in injuries and still unable to speak—being the only survivors of the failed expedition. Late at night, unbeknownst to anyone but Mikey Hoshigaki, Sasaki, dishonored and filled with humiliation, committed Seppuku, leaving Tetsu No Kuni without a leader. Kitetsu felt nothing but immense grief over the loss of his dear friend and mentor. Unable to utter a single word, he only shed tears for days, mourning his comrades.

After winning the votes to elect a new Shogun, Kitetsu was elected the 50th Shogun. He trained and raised a new era of Samurai, hoping to pass on his ways of honor. Aaron Hyuga, a friend who once saved his life, created a medicinal sake for Kitetsu, alleviating the unbearable pain that hindered his speech. After years, Kitetsu finally spoke to his people, surprising them and bringing faith to his reign, or so he thought. Due to the friendships he made with Shinobi all over the Mainland from Avalon, Kitetsu spoke with Ikari Uchiha, removing the decree of banishment from the Mainland and establishing friendly relations with the majority of the remaining great nations, ensuring a time of peace within his home for some years. The young Shogun accepted the Kujo Clan into his land—a clan of prominent Samurai with the means to surpass his skill but not his power. Together, they maintained balance within the Land of Iron, though they often questioned Kitetsu's decisions as leader. The temporary peace did not last when the resurgence of the Handan Kurogane Clan was discovered, declaring the 2nd War of Red Snow upon Kitetsu. At the beginning of this war, Kitetsu met and befriended the son of Valentine, Genji Tetsu Kurogane, and Tokei Kurogane, a Samurai whom the Shogun before him had banished from the lands. The three forged a strong friendship. What seemed to be a stalemate war, with each side unable to strike down the other, was shattered during a skirmish between the Shogun's army and the Handan's. The Kujo Clan, out of lust for power, betrayed Kitetsu, announcing a coup d'etat. The Kujo Clan diminished the Shogun's army until only Kitetsu was left to fend for himself. Kitetsu unleashed an ancient Kenjutsu technique known as Dancing Blades, though that alone was insufficient to defeat the entire Kujo Kurogane Clan. Realizing his final moments were before his eyes, he thought there was no more honorable way to die than fighting the Lord of Yin. He sprinted to where Kagetsu resided, with the Kujo Clan idiotically following him each step of the way. Kitetsu came face to face with the man he despised for cursing his land and, realizing it was his end, covered in wounds, uttered the words, “I want you TO DIE!” He unleashed his final Dancing Blades upon Kagetsu, which seemed to only tickle him, resulting in the Lord of Yin unleashing his most powerful known Jutsu, killing the 50th Shogun alongside the entire Kujo Kurogane Clan who betrayed him. His final words were, “Goodbye, my son. It was quite a life.”

Kitetsu Ryūzaki Kurogane's legacy is one of loss, hardship, determination, and above all else, honor. His name shall forever be remembered as the last true Shogun to date, leaving an immense impact upon the Land of Iron's Way of Honor, forever engraving his honorable sacrifice for his home into the land's history.