Following the Second Great War, the Earth daimyo declared Keisuke, Takumi and Ayame amongst many others as heroes who had died on the battlefield. Ishigami Doi also awarded each member of Natsumi's task force with a medal of honour for their bravery. By the end of that year, Kazuo graduated from his grandfather's ninja school and joined the Battalion Corp.
After six months, Kazuo finished serving under Captain Natsumi and Asuka prepared him to become the next leader of the region. When the first year after the war concluded, Sage Asuka passed the baton over to her pupil. The new Sage and his girlfriend Mikoto got married by the start of the second year and four months later, they had a daughter named Shiori. Two years later, they welcomed their second child, a boy named Kazuto.
The land of Nihon saw a time of peace and harmony as states such as the Earth, Artisan, Fire and Lightning signed treaties amongst one another. This united alliance became a possibility thanks to Kazuo's relationship with the leaders of the other countries. The Artisans shared some of their technology with the other regions in the alliance. Construction of a steam railway line connecting the Lightning and Fire countries land started the following year.
Since General Yuji had no heirs, there had been a civil war between the noble clans, over which one would take the ruling seat of the Water region. Whilst the country recovered from their loss, the Shadows seized power by crushing the heads of the noble families. Queen Rina had two states under her rule, and her grandfather's dream of a Shadow Empire was slowly becoming a reality.
Kagami's sect that had already been established in the Shadow, Grass and Water regions began to spread rapidly in the Rice and Earth as well. Water heishi, Shadow ninjas and other members of his organization enforced the abolishment of existing faiths to support the new Shadow Religion. His plan was now set in motion…