Mizu no Kuni, or “the Land of Water”, is one of the five great countries in the Sagaverse. The Land of Water is governed largely by a Daimyō, while smaller towns and villages may be internally governed by independently elected officials. The Land of Water hosts one of the great shinobi villages of the world, Kirigakure no Sato, also known as the “Hidden Mist Village”. The residents of the Land of Water are appropriately oriented toward the element of water.

The Land of Water is known for their large amounts of rainfall, resulting in locations that range from rainforest to everglade to swamp within a relatively short distance of one another. The Land of Water also sports a number of small mountains, and some dry areas that are usually dedicated toward the Water Country’s minimal agriculture.

The land area of the entirety of Mizu no Kuni is approximately 882,360 km². In terms of contiguous land area, the Land of water is third in size behind the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.

The Land of Water does not share a land border with any other nation, however they do share a sea border with the Land of Fire, the Land of Noodles, and the Land of Waves.

The Land of Water consists of two main biomes; subtropical and tropical rainforest. Smaller biomes are scattered throughout the main island and the smaller bordering islands, such as tropical broadleaf forest in the western islands. The majority of the Land of Water’s climate is humid subtropical, cold subtropical, and tropical, with some southern coastal regions receiving a warm-humid mediterranean climate. The mountains in the Water Country are relatively small and thus do not receive especially cold climates. In general, the Land of Water’s environment is very damp, and more often than not cold or near-cold.

Kirigakure no Sato, also known as the “Hidden Mist Village” is the current capital of the Land of Water. Located just shy of the western sea border on the main Mizu no Kuni landmass, Kirigakure is a vast improvement on how fate has treated them in the past. The village is often shrouded in a thick mist, giving it the name.

Kirigakure’s architecture primarily consists of stone and clay, with wood being used scarcely. Roofs are constructed from clay and to a lesser extent wood in traditional curved tile rooftops. Within the city there are many districts, markets, shops, cherry groves organized with residential districts furthest out with interspersed local markets and shopping areas before moving into the central shopping district further towards the centre breaking for several large cherry groves and parks. In the innermost circle are the mansions of the villages' noble houses as well as ninja academies and barracks' before finally the administration building standing as a pillar at the City Centre.

Population: 4.9 Million
Military Demographic

Active: 1.3 Million career (approx. 17% of total population)Reserve: 720k (includes non-shinobi)Shinobi: 65k

Shinobi Demographic Breakdown

Genin: 43,000Chūnin: 14,300Special Jōnin: 5,000Jōnin: 2,700

Economy: Good, on the incline

Kirigakure has a heavily trade-based economy that is mostly supported by their large quantities of exported naval-based goods to other countries. Their fishing trade is the most prosperous, a direct result of their location upon a large archipelago, and is followed by extensive arms dealing and labour exporting. Their farm trade is considerably lesser, and mostly used for internal trading among other towns that help maintain stability for their independent economy.

Kirigakure tends to import the goods that they are incapable of manufacturing en masse themselves, such as metal for their arms trading and also for recreational goods such as appliances.

Transportation is dominated by foot traffic that traverse a large network of public roads. Major trade routes to Kiri start at one of Mizu no Kuni’s multitude of port cities and trading hubs, eventually making its way to the village proper. Much traffic is done over public roads of cobble or sandstone, or across the islands via ferry or gondola. Within the city, foot traffic still dominates as the main form of transportation, however gondolas and smaller vessels often use Kirigakure’s many aqueducts and waterways to transport goods and personnel around the city without bodily obstruction.

Kirigakure is a hard working, militaristic culture, where membership of the military is a highly coveted social position of great communal virtue. In the past, they were known as the Bloody Mist because of barbaric customs that included pitting shinobi students against one another in fights to the death. Although the village has made strides toward becoming more civilized in their methods, remnants of the Bloody Mist remain, seen most clearly in the treatment of criminals within their nation and the eye-for-an-eye policy in place of proper prison systems.

Kirigakure is second to Konohagakure when it comes to celebrations and festivals, hosting their own myriad of holidays throughout the year. From honouring their fallen to celebrating the start of autumn, many of Kirigakure’s festivals are traditional and old fashioned.

The Infinity Fete - A festival celebrated annually that begins in spring. As the rice and fruit trees come into bloom, aromas waft about the entirety of Water Country, gracing both the landlocked towns and greeting small islands with a laced sea breeze. The holiday celebrates food and involves plentiful picnics, wine, and casual familial gatherings.

Clear Seas Festival - A festival celebrated annually that begins in early autumn. Many boats will join together on the seas just outside docks and ports, allowing sailors to celebrate alongside the shore. Traditional games and festivities flood the streets alongside stalls and vendors. The festival ends with fireworks over the sea.

Solemn Week - A festival celebrated annually in observance of the autumnal equinox, when the Winter Mist Cherry trees start to bloom. It's a formal commemoration of fallen comrades and all Kiri war heroes, but also represents the rebirth that winter heralds. A time both of pensive thought and promise for the future, traditional shinobi sparring with Academy graduates is customarily held in front of the monuments of the dead.

Kiri was founded after the Warring States Period by the First Mizukage. Shortly after the formation of their villages, Konoha's First Hokage sold tailed beasts to Kiri as a sign of friendship and to ensure a balance of power amongst their new villages. The goodwill this fostered was short-lived, and Kiri would become involved in different conflicts over the following decades. The Second Mizukage and Iwa's Second Tsuchikage who would clash against one another countless times eventually met in what would be their final battle and killed each other.

Over time, the village became infamously known as the "Village of the Bloody Mist" for a cruel reason — in the Kirigakure Academy, students wishing to graduate had to fight to the death, and only those who survived could advance to the ranks of the ninja. The Academy's graduation methods were discontinued after Zabuza Momochi, not yet a student himself, killed an entire year's graduating class, but by then the Bloody Mist had already tainted the Fourth's reputation.

The Fourth Mizukage's reign was a time of darkness for Kiri, with corruption plaguing those in charge and the pursuit of power becoming paramount for many. Defection became widespread amongst Kiri's ranks, with several members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and even the Six-Tails' jinchūriki abandoning the village.

In addition to foreign conflicts, Kirigakure has experienced several periods of internal unrest. The Kaguya clan once waged war against Kiri to quench their lust for battle, but were slaughtered by the village's superior forces. Those with kekkei genkai were regarded with suspicion by the people of Kiri and the wider Land of Water due to their efficiency during times of war. As such, persecution and even murder of anyone with a kekkei genkai was common; in the case of the Yuki clan, it no longer exists in an organised sense and its few surviving members live in secret, fearful of their abilities being discovered. Some time after the Third Shinobi World War, Kiri and Iwa joined forces on a mission to reclaim intel stolen by Kumo. Once the information was secured, Iwa betrayed Kiri and killed most of the ninja sent on the mission in order to take the intel for themselves, an incident that would come to be known as the Tragedy of Yosuga Pass.

Under the Fifth Mizukage, Kiri has tried to move passed the memories of the Bloody Mist by reforming internal policies and improving its image abroad as being an open-minded nation. After Akatsuki captures a number of tailed beasts, including both of those previously possessed by Kiri, the Fifth attends a Kage Summit in order to improve diplomatic relations with the other villages and disprove the rumour that Akatsuki was founded in Kiri. As a further display of this, Kiri joins the Allied Shinobi Forces to oppose Akatsuki. The war is won and the village's image is redeemed.

Several Mizukage overtook the mantle following the Fifth Mizukage's peaceful retirement and passing. Kirigakure and Mizu no Kuni experienced a long era of peace along with the majority of the world at the time, until the reign of the Thirteenth Mizukage, Hikou. Although young, his taking of the mantle was accompanied by a plethora of bright and hopeful dreams to bring Mizukage into a golden age. During his short rule, Hikou brought the land of Mizu no Kuni to the stability that it had been working toward for centuries. His time as Mizukage was cut short with the appearance of Chichiouza, namely Uchiha Hao, who turned his black flame upon both Hikou and the entirety of Kirigakure, reducing it to cinder and ash.

The fourteenth Mizukage, Juro, took over shortly after Hikou’s death. A noble attempt at reviving the village and rebuilding what was lost was made as Juro coveted the Seven Swordsmen blades. Under his rule, Kirigakure began to return to old ways, revitalizing the name “Bloody Mist” and turning the village into a mercenary state. Within a year of his rule, Juro was killed, and Kirigakure was burned once again by Hao.

Sero Osada took the reins from Juro and, once again, the process of raising Kirigakure from the ashes began anew. During this process, the plots of an organization named Schichiouza was discovered, and Hao Uchiha was learned to be spearheading the organization’s efforts. During the Gokage Summit that occured not long after, several members of Schichiouza attacked, and Sero was killed by Utau.

Following Sero’s death, the sixteenth Mizukage, Ayakashi, began to pick up the pieces left behind and continued the process of rebuilding Kirigakure. The country grew to be more militarized in response to their continued loss. The village was making large strides toward returning to their former glory until Utau was killed by a former Mizukage’s asset, who was surprised to see Kirigakure change radically and reject him. This rejection sparked the Seven Bells war. During the war, all of the major clan leaders were assassinated, marking the largest loss on Kirigakure’s side. Despite this loss, Kirigakure managed to fight back and proclaimed their victory of the conflict. Since then, Kirigakure has risen to retake its place as one of the major shinobi nation superpowers, alongside the other great villages

1. Byakuren (First Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
2. Hōzuki, Gengetsu (Second Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
3. Hōzuki, Mugetsu (Third Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
4. Karatachi, Yagura (Fourth Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
5. Terumī, Mei (Fifth Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
6. Chōjūrō (Sixth Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
7. Hōzuki, Hangetsu (Seventh Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
8. Kaguya, Kioshi (Eighth Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
9. Hoshigaki, Masaru (Ninth Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
10. Momochi, Nori (Tenth Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
11. Hōzuki, Shingetsu (Eleventh Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
12. Kōri, Takumi (Twelfth Mizukage, deceased) {NPC}
13. Hikou (Thirteenth Hokage, deceased)
14. Juro (Fourteenth Mizukage, deceased)
15. Osada, Sero Sr. (Fifteenth Mizukage, deceased)
16. Kōri, Ayakashi (Sixteenth Mizukage, current)

The Land of Water is an archipelago, whose many islands house a myriad of inhabitants, usually of seafaring occupation. While the majority of these settlements are rather mundane and too small to be worth mentioning, there are a few that stand out as cornerstones of the Land of Water’s prosperity.

Kibo is the city of riches and gold. Named as the City of hope, it is largely a Samurai city surrounding a singular expansive castle and the rural mansions surrounding it. Kibo is the home to Mizu no Kuni's Daimyo and many of the noble houses of Kirigakure. Built in the shadow of Kirigakure from the direction of Terumi, Kibo is grand and wealthy, every building decked with luxury and traditionally built to house the Vassals of the Daimyo as well as the court, their vassals, noble Samurai houses and all of their families and clans within tiered protective walls guarded by over ten thousand of Mizu no Kuni's strongest samurai at any given moment. Surrounding Kibo is expansive farmland and agriculture used to sustain those within Kibo on a daily basis, many a farmer flocking to Kibo due to the protection it serves.

Demographics
Population: 85,000
Population Density: 450/km²
Land Area: 50/km²

Economy: Great, on the decline
Relationship with Kirigakure: Poor

Terumi City is a massive port city that acts as the gateway to Mizu no Kuni, and is named after a former Mizukage. As the backbone of Water Country’s infrastructure, the city extends over a great distance and is famous for the great many boats and ships docked in its harbours.

Architecture in Terumi is simplistic, pragmatic though aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Terumi is surrounded by tiered fortress walls that surround each district leading into the city with only one entrance way, being the port. The village itself is set low and wide, though towards the centre of the village there is a noble district that houses several noble clans, notably estates of merchant lords from Gyosha no Kuni who rely deeply on trade attained here. Mizu no Kuni banners hanging proudly from their walls and flags as well as flags of Kirigakure's allies. Aqueduct rivers and drainage pathways sport gondolas for transportation as well as the many maintained roads that cut through the city’s border posts.

Demographics
Population: 370,000
Population Density: 2,500/km²
Land Area: 450/km²

Economy: Excellent, stagnated
Relationship with Kirigakure: Good

Gyōsha no Kuni, or the Nation of Merchants is an isolated city off the southern coast of Kirigakure. Home to the merchant lords; a second government aside from the Daimyo comprising of the most profitable merchant clans that ship their goods to and from the mainland continent and control much of the external trade flow concerning Mizu no Kuni. The city itself rivals Terumi in population, with little of the elegance and far more spread out. The city itself, while wealthy beyond measure, is a veritable Tortuga-like shanty town of vibrant colors, banners, spice scents and art... all to hide the cracks in the shoddily made shacks that line it. Banners with every color under the sun pepper the housing, as pirates, merchant sailors, mercenaries, killers and thieves of all kinds make their homes within them. At odds with any strict law enforcement, Gyōsha no Kuni has tentative trade alliances and non aggression pacts with Mizu no Kuni.

Demographics
Population: 420,000
Population Density: 3,200/km²
Land Area: 1,250/km²

Economy: Excellent, on the incline
Relationship with Kirigakure: Poor

Uzushiogakure is a small island north of Kirigakure, and allied with Mizu no Kuni due to Water Country's close ties with Konohagakure. While the former home of the Uzumaki has long been rebuilt, its founders seldom return home. Instead populated with an up and coming generation of ninja from varying clans, the nation's capital is found in an expansive cave-like structure building into the bedrock heart of the island and looking upwards out of an ancient crater-like basin. The city is largely constructed from volcanic marble and is a beauty to behold, though still to date there are many districts within the city in varying stages of ruin since its destruction in an attempt to eradicate the Uzumaki.


Demographics
Population: 80,000
Population Density: 400/km²
Land Area: 110/km²

Economy: Fair, stagnated
Relationship with Kirigakure: Fair