Land of Birds

Biodata

Geography

• The Land of Birds is a small country bordered by the Land of Earth to the north, the Land of Wind to the south, and the Land of Rain to the east. Its position leaves it vulnerable to neighboring conflicts 75.
• Its capital is known for prosperous streets, scenery, and fragrant flowers 75 104.
• Before the end of the Third Shinobi World War, the Land of Birds annexed the Land of Stone to its west, gaining territory and refined iron ore deposits 143.

Economy and Intelligence

• A previous daimyo preserved the country's peace by exporting avian ninja beasts to nearby military powers. Their ability to fly makes them valuable for reconnaissance and message delivery 75.
• Trade in ninja beasts and intelligence brought the country considerable wealth, despite its limited territory and military strength 75 105.
• The national intelligence network gathers information primarily through avian ninja beasts. The country's Bounty Stations are part of that network 106 107.

Government and Armed Forces

The Qinghe Daimyo sought to end the country's dependence on its neighbors for security. He partnered with Uesugi Shinji to establish the Ninjutsu Sect Office rather than a conventional ninja village. The daimyo's government retained civilian administration, funding, and the existing intelligence network; Shinji took sole command of ninja training and military operations, with access to the network's reports 106 107.

• The daimyo funded Shinji's ninjutsu laboratory and the new force's equipment 106 107.
• The country's ninja headband bears its national emblem, a silhouette resembling a bird's head 145.
• Under Shinji, the Ninjutsu Sect Office favored a smaller force of elite ninja over extensive recruitment 171.

History

• Founding of the Ninjutsu Sect Office: Shinji and the Qinghe Daimyo agreed to build an independent defensive force. Meng Zong, a trusted high monk secretly plotting to seize the country, learned of the plan after the agreement was made 106 107.
• Resistance from neighboring powers: Iwagakure and Sunagakure opposed the new force and secured Hanzo of Amegakure's intervention. At a meeting with the daimyo, Hanzo demanded that construction stop, but the daimyo asserted the Land of Birds' right to defend itself 113 117.
• Defeat of Hanzo: Shinji defeated Hanzo in the ensuing contest. Hanzo's delegation withdrew, leaving the Land of Birds free to continue developing its forces. Meng Zong subsequently fled 124 130.
• Expansion and trade dispute: After annexing the Land of Stone, the country planned tighter controls and higher prices for exports of ninja beasts, intelligence, and refined iron ore. At later talks in Konoha, Rasa protested that ninja-beast and intelligence prices had risen by nearly thirty percent while supplies had fallen 143 157.
• Rise as a military power: Eleven years later, the Ninjutsu Sect Office was regarded as a major shinobi power. Its elite ninja had repelled local challenges from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind 171.

Notable People

• Qinghe Daimyo — ruler who financed the Ninjutsu Sect Office while retaining control of civilian government and the national intelligence network 105 107.
• Uesugi Shinji — General and sole commander of the country's shinobi forces 106 107.
• Rin — assisted in establishing the Ninjutsu Sect Office and took charge in Shinji's absence 130 145.
• Jin Buhuan — Bounty Station manager who arranged Shinji's meeting with the daimyo 104 105.
• Meng Zong — false high monk who had plotted to seize control of the country 107 130.