Iwagakure

Iwagakure (岩隠れの里, Iwagakure no Sato, English TV: Hidden Stone Village, Literally meaning: Village Hidden by Rocks) is the hidden village of the Land of Earth. As the village of one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, Iwagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Tsuchikage, of which there have been four in its history. The rocky mountain ranges that surround the village provide a natural stronghold that it is very proud of. The village's infrastructure is built from much of the surrounding rock and stone, shaped into tower-like structures that are inter-connected by a network of bridges. The Tsuchikage's residence seems to be the tallest structure with a cone-shaped roof and bears the kanji for "Earth" (土, Tsuchi) on it.

The standard attire for Iwa shinobi consists of red outfit — which can either have one, or both sleeves — a lapel which is usually found on the side without a sleeve and a brown flak jacket — which also may, or may not have a pouch attached to it. They also tend to wear mesh armour around their ankles. Many Iwagakure ninja use Earth Release techniques. Iwagakure is well-known for the rock-hard attitude of its shinobi; as soon as the Tsuchikage gives an order, the Iwa-nin follow it without hesitation, even if it means death.

When the Third Shinobi War came around Iwagakure initially remained in its isolationist ways, but they soon found themselves dragged in when Sunagakure engaged them from the south while Kumogakure came in from the north, it was around this time their Jinchuriki of Son Gokū would flee Iwa. They were now fighting a two front battle up until Suna was forced to draw back due to their own instabilities and a blood thirsty Konoha coming after them. Iwagakure’s military might was enough to match Kumogakure and managed to hold them off in a back and forth battle off their shores till the war ended. After the war, Iwagakure managed to come out in a better shape when compared to the likes of Sunagakure or Kirigakure. But their troubles weren’t over, because twelve years later they would find themselves attacked by the ever greedy Konoha. The war would be long and Konoha would commit many war crimes against them, eventually Iwa’s forces would be pushed far back into their city where they would fortify it for one last defense, but that wouldn’t be enough. Within seven hours Konoha’s forces flooded into the city and killed indiscriminately until the Tsuchikage surrendered. The Tsuchikage would be removed from power and before the remaining high ranking Nin could be rounded up, they would flee the nation and seek asylum elsewhere. Ever since the end of The Stone and Leaf War, Konoha would occupy Iwa under the guise of reconstruction, but in reality they would be draining the nation of its resources. But that would lead to the creation of the Iwagakure Liberation Front.