Long before the formation of the great Shinobi Nations there were a multitude of clans that sought out to become masters of the world around them. There were some who harnessed the latent power of particular bloodlines, while others mastered their own secret arts and honed special powers. During these times there was great chaos through out the lands all around the nations. Between all the warring clans around them, there came to be a lower class of warriors, who never mastered the great skills of the ninja. Those who found themselves lacking such an advantage found another way to survive; they began to stick together. 150 years before the formation of the great Ninja Nations, four oppressed families came together for mutual protection.

The four familes of Harutomi, Yazigatsu, Kazemitsu, and Saru all were one time at war with each other. The four families lived on opposing shores of a large round lake, and battled each other for the resources around them. They battled for thick tree lands as often as they fought for open prairie. They fought over the use of the lake, and warred over ownership of the wandering wildlife in the forest. Like the rest of the small cities at the time, they were suspicious of outsiders, and unwelcoming to all strangers. Such was the way of this dangerous time, and though they had plenty of practice in fighting, they were rules of nothing. All around them, other clans were developing jutsu. Their fighting prowess soon found huge improvement from their mystical techniques, and the lesser clans languished as inferior. Vast sections of land began to be consumed as the fledgling ninja clans claimed their domain.

The wise elders of all four families saw that their downfall would come from the more powerful cities, if they did not find a way to increase their own power. The decades of warring against each other had helped instill the talents they needed, but they had also worked well to thin their numbers. All four elders arrived at the same conclusion, and a grand peace was finally announced. The four nations warred, but had always been a good hostility. All four families had a mind for war, and too many of them saw it as a grand game of strategy. Life spans were counted in a handful of decades for all but the most special of warriors, but none of these people would complain about their lives. These families were warriors through and through, and when their peace was established they chose a new name for their clan. They took the name of Ashigaru, meaning soldier, and have always lived up to the name.

With the great peace, warriors from all the families put down their weapons for one full year. They took up axes and hoes, spades and wagons and put their hands to work on the land. They felled trees to expand on a vast field, and burnt many of them in a massive pyre of celebration. The first pyre was lit on April 27th, and lasted for three days before the last smoldering coals were reduced to just ashes. The three days were full of drunken reverie of all indescribable sorts, and helped solidify the bond of the Ashigaru clan. Once the festival was over, a grand training ground was established on the site of their first celebration, and they still maintain the sight as a fort today. While the clan may have fallen apart after the initial celebrations had faded, such was not the case. Unified by the plight of all the other nations, they found solidarity in a familiar past time.

The people of the Ashigaru clan are still a warrior people to this day. They keep with their old traditions, use their old tools, and maintain their old ancestral haunt. Their keep is a bastion for them these days, but kept them safe from the other families for all the years previous to the formation of Konoha, and the rest of the nations. Even the Uchiha clan had difficulty in conquering the Ashigaru clan, and in time found need not to bother trying. War is something trained into an Ashigaru from their birth. New born children are dressed in war paint before they are even given to their own mother, and laid on a small shrine to weaponry. Sitting among the ancestral weapons of the tribe, the new born is given their name, and told their purpose in life. Only once the child has stopped crying is it finally allowed to see its parents.

Ashigaru children do not last long with their parents. They clan lives a very clustered life, and all those they are raised around are considered family. Parents do not teach skills to children, instead a dedicated few act as communal mothers of a sort, and see to the younger children’s well being. Children are raised in this group society to help them receive a pack mentality from even a young age. Until five years of age an Ashigaru child is permitted to play and learn, but the family has certain expectations. After five years old children are then dedicated to the warrior trade, boys and girls alike. Among the entire clan, there's not a single one that can not lift a weapon. As many invaders once learned, even the women and children are a lethal threat when underestimated. Some outsiders think this treatment is harsh to their children, but amongst the fine soldiers of the clan there's not a one that doesn't look back on their training with great fondness.

As the clan was beginning to age, and other nations were growing weary of assaulting this unbreakable clan, they began to make a new name for themselves. With attacks on the decline and children being born quickly, the clan soon found itself overstocked with fine soldiers. Other nations began to contact them, and when they needed bulk troops, the Ashigaru became the default choice. No other militia was considered to have greater skill. Once they began to act as mercenaries, the family's coffers began to fill to abundance. More construction began, stone work was improved upon and what exists now was built. Their fortress is a solid stone wonder with 30 foot walls. Though many have breached its defenses, not a single force has every held their home for more than a night. The entire family would have to be destroyed before the clan ever stopped fighting to protect their ancestral home.

Among their notable traits, the Ashigaru clan is stoic. They are unbreakable, and immovable. Nothing inspires fear in an Ashigaru, except the thought of running from a battle. Among their society, nothing is considered worse than giving in to cowardice. They are known for their great martial skill, and ability to work in formation. While a single Ashigaru is rarely a huge threat, when twenty of them are standing in a double line, with their long-spears presented before them, approaching them is all but impossible. Their skill with their spear is only slightly more notable than their skill with the katana. Their swordplay is deadly and fast, often used to create openings for a single soldier's partners to get a good strike in on their opponent. The common Ashigaru soldier is also trained with well balanced and razor sharp throwing axes as a standard issue weapon, and acts as a way to harass groups of resting armies, or opponents with a higher ground advantage. The Ashigaru also have a large battalion of soldiers that have trained extensively with use of the common longbow, and act as snipers and a great defense to their homeland.

After the formation of the great shinobi nations, the Ashigaru clan continued to supply other clans with soldiers. The new tradition of training ninjas in the use of jutsu became the norm, and more and more of the special techniques were quickly picked up on. Most of the Ashigaru clan has no experience in jutsu, but some are able. Qualifying as a ninja from this clan requires a great deal of natural aptitude. Only the clan’s finest soldiers are ever send to the ninja academy, and if they do not get sent by nine years of age, they never get sent at all. At age seven the first great tournament is held for the children. Rank and organization is decided by how far a student advances, so they all try their hardest. They fight with padded or wooden weapons, and only those who win have any chance at becoming shinobi. A child must become the champion to be considered worthy, but any who are able to reach the semi-finals without being hit are given secondary consideration as well. As such, the Ashigaru clan has only four or five potential ninjas each year. These ninjas are sent away from their clan to which ever village will pay the 1,000 gold bounties offered for having them in their care.

From that day on the Ashigaru ninja is no longer a soldier, but a ninja in the care of their new homeland. It is a rare Ashigaru that gets homesick after assimilating into their new land, for each one has worked extremely hard to achieve the honor of being sold and sent away. Still, there is a tradition of returning home at least once to mark their coming of age, and passage into adulthood. Unlike other cultures who count their wisdom or maturity with years spent alive, the Ashigaru have a single qualification to become adults. They must slay a foe in glorious combat. Only after this has been accomplished is the soldier taken home, and able to take part in a twice yearly ceremony, where they are stripped of their training weapons, and gifted with the ancestral heirlooms all Ashigaru live to covet and perfect. These weapons are masterfully crafted, often belonging to the new owner’s great great grandparents or some mythical hero from ages even older, and as such they are the soldier’s most cherished possessions. So important are these weapons to the Ashigaru family that they are returned after the soldier’s eventual death; and losing one is the ultimate in dishonor, and disgrace.

Name: Formation Yari
Rank: C-A
Type: Close
Quantity: 1
Description: The formation Yari for the Ashigaru clan consists of a 17 foot long pole of lacquered and leather bound bamboo. It is strong, ridged, and topped with a foot long metal spike. The spike is a three sided metal blade, whose point is razor sharp and constructed to punch holes through armor and horses alike.
Special Abilities/Characteristics: The reach of this weapon makes it ideal for dealing with mounted troops. The bamboo the poles are constructed from is cut into strips, assembled in a tight pole, and bound with long strips of leather. After being carefully lacquered the weapon is rendered almost unbreakable.

Name: Footman's Yari
Rank: C-A
Type: Close
Quantity: 1
Description: The Footman's Yari consists of a six foot long staff. The staff is constructed of strips of bamboo formed into a tight shaft, and wrapped with long leather strips. It is then lacquered, which renders the weapon almost unbreakable. A long blade is affixed to the end of the staff that can vary from between 1 to 2 feet long. The footman's yari does not have a single thrusting tip. Instead it is topped with a strong double edged blade that can be used for slashing as well as it can be used for piercing armor. The blade has a considerable tang on the end, which when inserted into the shaft makes it very hard to snap the blade off.

Name: Fine Throwing Axe
Rank: D
Type: Long
Quantity: 4
Description: This weapon is forged in whole from a single piece of steel. It is well balanced, a little heavy, and has a razor sharp cutting edge. It can be used as a melee weapon in a pinch, but is made to be thrown with speed and precision. This is a heavier and more damaging form of a typical ninja's Kunai, and can be treated just as such

Name: Footman's Sword: Katana
Rank: C-A
Type: Close
Quantity: 1
Description: This is a finely crafted long sword with a graceful curved blade. It is forged of solid steel and folded over and over to give it surprising durability in spite of its light design. It is a common weapon among warriors all over the various ninja nations. The Katana of the Ashigaru clan are almost all very old. Ancestral weaponry is issued to the soldier, however is expected to be returned. This weapon is not owned by the Ashigaru Soldier, it is owned by the elders of the clan. The weapons perfect functionality, as well as it's time tested and battle proven edge, make it a lethal and dangerous weapon in the hands of a skilled warrior. This weapon is a fine example of its kind, and is razor sharp and much harder to break than a regular one.

Name: Ashigaru Chain Tunic
Rank: C
Type: Armor
Quantity: 1
Description: This suit is made from tiny steel links that have been woven together. Each suit is tailored to the wearer and provides a great amount of protection. While the links can be weak on their own, they are light enough to be worn beneath more traditional leather types of armor. It helps greatly in reducing the damage done by slashing of piercing weapons.

Name: Ashigaru War Armor
Rank: C
Type: Armor
Quantity: 1
Description: Ashigaru armor is light. It protects the vitals from serious injury, while allowing free mobility of arms and legs. Armor from the Ashigaru family has seen countless repairs, however still maintains its masterful quality. The clan usually designs its armor to take the appearance of an oni or an ogre to help instill fear in their enemies. Most soldiers wear a traditional helmet with metal face plate resembling such a beast as well.

Name: Soldier’s Endurance
Rank: D-S
Type: Taijutsu
Range: N/A
Element: N/A
Description: Pushing on in spite of all odds is what makes the Ashigaru the true blooded warriors they are. Hours upon hours of battling in formation, and charging enemies lines, has ingrained in them a die hard attitude and endurance far beyond normal capabilities. While this ability does not allow them to heal actual damage, the use of this ability still gives them the energy to fight on when other soldiers would have grown far to tired to even lift their blade in defense. Depending on how much chakra is spent, the effects are varied.
D rank chakra: Restores all lost energy due to fatigue or exhaustion. This allows them to march all day, and still be fresh and ready for immediate battle. This same amount of chakra can simulate a full night of sleep; however the effect will only last for 2 hours. Using it again can allow for this clan to march their army for days straight without resting.
C rank chakra: By releasing more chakra the Ashigaru is able to numb the pain coming from wounds received in battle. While it will not truly heal, it will allow the Ashigaru to fight on, in spite of the pain.
B rank chakra: By releasing more chakra still, the Ashigaru further tends to their wounds. Bleeding will stop, as well as the pain the soldier is feeling. They will be able to fight on no matter how badly they are injured, even standing on broken legs, assuming the limb is still attached
A rank Chakra: By releasing yet more chakra than before, the Ashigaru is able to physical heal small wound. Contusion and abrasions that can not be considered deep wounds will fade considerably. Bleeding will cease and all the pain from battle will vanish. This level also brings with it a physical high similar to a second wind, leaving the user feeling as though the battle has just started. This allows the leaders, lieutenants, and battalion captains to lead their troops no matter how damaged they have become. This is how heroes are made, and where the tales of their walking dead warriors come from. An otherwise mortal wound can be ignored until the heat of battle has faded.
S rank Chakra: Like A rank, this will mend minor wounds and bruises, however this will also cause a small portion of wounds to truly be healed. All the effects felt by the previous use of this still take effect, however the Ashigaru will also be able to heal up to a C ranked injury. This can be done only once per battle.
Use of this ability is somewhat dangerous as it can lead to excessive injury once the battle is over. Immediate medical attention is suggested as ignoring your wounds can lead to death, or extreme injury.
Chakra Cost:D1, C2, B4, A8, S16

Name: Swift Spear
Rank: E-S
Type: Taijutsu
Range: N/A
Element: N/A
Description: This jutsu makes the Ashigaru faster when using their standard issue weapons. By expending an amount of chakra, the shinobi is pushes it out into their muscles and joints to make them more flexible and faster. A shinobi will find themselves 5% faster per rank of chakra expended. This increase lasts for two posts before it fades, with no lasting side effects. (E-5%, D-10%, C-15%, B-20%, A-25%, S-30%)
Chakra Cost: E1, D2, C4, B8, A16, S28

Name: Warrior’s Strength
Rank: E-S
Type: Taijutsu
Range: N/A
Element: N/A
Description: This jutsu makes the warrior stronger, allowing them to power through tough enemies or armor. By powering chakra into their muscles and making them work harder, the shinobi is able to increase their strength to surprising heights. Like the swift spear, this technique is used with any weapon. It gives a 5% increase to the shinobi's strength on the same scale of chakra used. This technique also lasts for two posts before fading, leaving no ill effects. This jutsu may not be used at the same time as the swift spear jutsu, and vice versa. (E-5%, D-10%, C-15%, B-20%, A-25%, S-30%)
Chakra Cost: E1, D2, C4, B8, A16, S28