Suna is the capital of the Wind Country and one of the 5 Great villages. The following information might be helpful to anyone think of creating a Suna character or wanting an Idea of the village’s political, economic and geographical nature.
History
Suna was founded around 110 years ago by the first Kazekage and was one of the earliest shinobi villages formed. Since its inception is has always retained it status as a great village though for the better of the last century only dubiously so. Formed out of the bandit infested ruins of the Archeon Empire that once ruled all the wind country, rain, river and tea it was built to provide a protected home from bandits and raiders and went on to become the center of the wind nation. The Archeon ruled over by the false god Hemanutep had ruled over the area for the best part of 80 years prior only to collapse in on itself when the false god was defeated in a civil war after years of suppression and abuse. The Archaeon Empire was once the most powerful nation of the shinobi world centred around the vast city of Luxor during a time when Suna was still fertile. However its glory was built on the back of mass enslavement and when its God King fell its temples, palaces and colonnades crumbled with it. Large groups of bandits and raiders swept into the wind country at its full like vultures on a carcass to strip the once golden kingdom of its wealth and give the occupants a fresh hell.
The first Kazekage’s reign was largely taken up with driving the bandits and raiders out and liberating the wind country. This was momentous undertaking and has ensured he is among the best remembered of the Kages. It was he who forged Suna’s rock hard mentality and instilled within them their legendary resilience and stubbornness.
The second Kazekage, Gaara the Great, was without doubt the most revered, considered a saint in modern days. It is common for the more pagan population of the wind country to pray in thanks to him and ask him to protect over their families and loved ones. It was under him the Suna rose from one of many shinobi villages to one of the great ones. He created the academy, Nin codes and doctrine and was a skilful administrator and politician whose dealing ensured Suna’s first major trade routes and put it on the map. He eventually died aged 82 and his death is considered a national holiday even this day
The third Kazekage, Kibotamaru the Fool, is largely considered the most incompetent Nin to ever be elevated to the rank of Kage. Gaara’s son there was assumption that he would turn out like his father but more wrong they could not be. He effectively took arguably the strongest of villages and all but destroyed it. Two ill advised campaigns against alliances of other villages and high taxes to pay for them led to almost irreparable loss of manpower and bankrupted the wind country. Even so he managed to last 14 years before the council unanimously voted as one to expel him, never to return.
Unfortunately Kiba’s failure as a Kage extended to lacking any real clear successor leading to the first of Suna’s two civil wars. This wasn’t an open one so much as one of political manoeuvrings and surgical strikes, open war could be ill afforded with Suna as weak as it was. During this period the council was openly divided and the aging Daimyo too sick to act. This was a dark time for Suna both politically and economically. It became more insular and paranoid of attack
The Civil war was finally won by the Shiko Temura, who would become the fourth Kazekage. A great war and a skilled negotiator he restore internal harmony to Suna though even he struggled to reinvigorate the village economically and raise the funds needed to rebuild Suna to her former glory. Suna, even its weakened state, was still paying war reparations. He tried a number of schemes however they ultimately failed due to be undermined by his rivals and enemies on the council. In the end it led to a second shorter war with Iwa to end the reparations. The war came to a head at the Shangra Pass which would later become known as a famous victory, where over 1/3 of Iwa’s entire army was lured into the pass and wiped out to a man. Iwa was forced to pull back and all mention of further tribute went with them. Unfortunately Shiko Temura did live to see the fruits of his labour dying from a fatal wound inflicted by the Tsukikage days after the battle
The led to the second and are far more bloodier civil war. It would last for nearly a decade and only weaken and isolate Suna further then it had been seen its inception. The recent victory in Iwa and the vicious of the nature the conflict ensured outside involvement was largely kept to a minimum. During this period the council changed many times and several claimed the title of Kage but never lived long enough to actually attain it. After seven years of draining conflict Suna was a shadow of her former self, conditions with in the city were appalling and her coffers bear yet still the conflict continue unabated. It was not helped that there was no clear choice for Kage, there were very few of necessary skill and even less motivated to take over the fatal position. It was during this time that a man called Howl Ichushiro appeared on the scene. Armed with a way for words, a vision of hope, a deadly range of unknown techniques and loyal supporters he swept away his competition. Using powerful genjutsu and long forgotten fuuinjutsu he broke his enemies and took control.
Lord Ichushiro as he is now known has ruled for over 12 years now. Suna has changed much both politically and economically. Under his guidance Suna has grown and recovered at a rate not believed possible growing from a conflicted society barely worth the name of a great village to among the most powerful with a well funded military and ever growing affluent economy. However such development was not achieved by mere hard work and consensus. Suna is no longer the free village it was once. The council have been disbanded, its daimyou banished. Far from just a military leader Lord Ichurshiro is a tyrant and has absolute authority and is not afraid to use it. He drives Suna to excel and develop whatever the cost and has crushed any who stand against him.
The Village
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Once a city of sand and earth with a simple high wall and isolationist attitude with regard to outsiders, Suna could not have changed more in recent years. The vast amount of new money from Suna’s recently opened mines and new trade routes and the political will to pump into the city has led to an unprecedented rate of development for the Shinobi World. The earth, sand stone are still there in parts but the centre of the village has changed beyond belief, redesigned to meet the requirements of the continents wealth and trading elite. Changes in laws and reduction of key taxes have encouraged vast investment and now among the stone are towers of glass and steel. Suna’s centre has been replaced by what is now known throughout the shinobi world as the strip and is full of Casinos, theatres, spas, banks and clubs offering anything and everything. Suna is now a mecca, an economic and recreational hub attracting millions of eager visitors a year. It is said that the Jewel in the desert has never shine brighter.
The civilians of Suna while political repressed are much more economically and socially liberated then others. Hobbies and addictions are common and the general standard of wealth is higher then anywhere in the Shinobi world. Suna is very forward looking city, embracing the future like its going out of style. Traditional style buildings and clothes tend to be overlooked in favour of modern designs and suits.
Politics
Suna is the official capital of the Wind Country. Once upon a time it was ruled through the tripartite system of Kage, Council and Daimyou with each incharge of respective aspects. The last civil war has seen the end of this system, at least for the foreseeable future. Suna is now an enlightened Tyranny ruled by its mad tyrant Howl Ichushiro, enlightened in that the actions of the tyrant are selfless and in Suna’s benefit. There can be no doubt whatever else one says about the Tyrant that Suna has benefited immensely under his administration with vast improvement in the standard of education, health and general standard of living. He has turned Suna from a second rate village into a thriving commercial and entertainment hub with dozens of trade links. Suna and he people have never been richer or enjoyed such a life style but this has come at a price. Suna has traded stability, wealth and security for its rights and freedom of speech. It is illegal to hold rallies without approval, illegal to gather in groups larger then 10 without approval, political dissent is considered treasonous slander and impeding Suna’s development or disputing the tyrants will is dealt quickly and ruthlessly. The military has sworn oaths of loyalty directly to Lord Ichushiro instead of the country and is trained to deal with any internal threat to the regime. Informants are everywhere in Suna and the ministry of Internal harmony spreads the tyrant’s propaganda and deals with any who lack the try spirit Suna demands of its people.
The Tyrant (The Kazekage)Howl is the Tyrant of Suna. His power is absolute and his will is law. All Nin within Suna are required to have sworn personal oaths of loyalty to him personally upon joining Suna’s ranks. That said his rule has greatly benefited Suna and its people and Suna is more powerful now then it has ever been. Most respect the Kage and are thankful for what he has done but they fear him as much, if not more. They are well aware that while one day he might approve funding for new hospital equipment he might as easily send men to take them from their homes at night never to be seen again. Most of her residents love living in vibrant Suna love the facilities available to them but are not keen on visiting the tyrant’s palace and avoid attracting unwanted attention on themselves.
The Ministry of Internal HarmonyThe Ministry of Internal Harmony is tasked with ensuring public order and cohesion. It is reports directly to the tyrant and is filled with only the most loyal citizens. In practice it issues continuous propaganda to prop up the tyrant’s regime and ensure loyalty and runs the secret police. Suna is perhaps the only village who spies heavily on its own population and shows no qualms ruthlessly crushing civilian troublemakers. Crime is nearly none existence thanks to the ministry extensive network of informers and the very harsh penalties attached to most crimes discouraging all but the rare few hardened/deranged criminals.
