Ito Clan Information

Ito Clan

History and Beginnings:

The Ito clan has rather humble beginnings stemming from the marriage and merging of two clans somewhere between the first and second shinobi wars. One clan was ruled by Otokoke, a strong and stubborn man. The leader of the other was Onnake, a demure and feminine woman. Both, where good examples of the opposite sex. Onnake was determined to prove to Otokoke that women where just as strong if not stronger than men, while Otokoke on the other hand vehemently opposed this and insisted men where superior in every way. They infuriated each other and caused terrible clashes between their two clans to the point of almost annihilating each other.  It became so bad to the point that Otokoke and Onnake had no other choice. Putting differences aside they signed a truce to merge their failing clans into one starting with the marriage between the two of them. It's whispered that all the bickering and fighting was really just a way for these two to mask any romantic feelings they may have had for each other but it's not spoken much of now. Onnake and her clan brought with them good looks and allure that had a way of charming people. Otokoke and his clan had a distinct chakra sensing ability and a keen sense of smell. Many years later and with the merging of their bloodlines, it became apparent that some offspring where taking strongly after Otokoke while others took after Onnake. So the two agreed yet again to split the clan into two, a main branch and a secondary branch. All those who possessed comely good looks where considered main branch members while the ones who had senses of smell superior to others where placed in the branch family. There is no conflict or disagreements between the two branches whatsoever and the two get along quite fine. They are both treated equally as important as the other. One final agreement between the patriarch and matriarch of this clan involved the roles of men and women. Believing themselves to never be able to agree on which was the superior sex, it was decided that all children within the family would be raised to look neither male nor female. Boys and girls would not be treated any differently from one another even to the point that they could and would be mistaken for the opposite gender. Both branches, however, are blessed with chakra sensing and manipulating abilities. Many more years of time passed and the main and secondary branch separated further. The main branch continuing on the traditions in the shinobi world, while the secondary branch no longer participated in these activities and began to put their sense of smell to use properly...they had always been the more creative of the two branches. Perfume making became a trade mark of theirs so even still today the strength of the father and the beauty of the mother lives on. Ito's are spread into only a few other great shinobi nations. The main being Konoha but they can also be found in Kusagakure, Sunagakure and Kumogakure

Appearance:

Ito Clan members from the main and secondary branch have slightly different appearances. Regardless of which branch a man hails from the vast majority keep long hair, as do the women. It is very rare to see an Ito with short hair. Although they are allowed to dress and behave in a more masculine way then the main family, branch members generally stick to the old ways and customs of the clan. Men from the main branch are moulded from a young age to accept a feminine aspect of themselves and are taught many refining techniques that most male shinobi would never be put through. Tea ceremony and formal dance are two. They are also in the habit of training to heighten their voices to be able to blend in further. Members of the main branch tend to carry themselves with a great amount of grace and poise regardless of being male or female. Women from the main branch on the other hand try to make themselves stronger and go through training to put on muscle as well as they are taught to deepen their voices when they speak. Women also are in the habit of binding their chests although most women of the Ito clan have very small busts. Secondary branch women, again have more choice in how they look and speak. Why do they do this? Ito's of the main branch are renowned for their information and intelligence gathering. They are masters of blending in. A man can very easily slip into a group of Geisha or courtesans unnoticed or a woman can fit in with a group of soldiers as if it were nothing. It's also customary for main branch members to give their children unisex names. Anything to further assimilate them and abolish the gender roles. Men are not much taller then the women and both have similar builds, neither being overly womanly or manly in appearance. For the unsuspecting it's very easy to mistake an Ito, particularly from the main branch as the opposite sex.

Skin pigments range from very fair to slightly tanned in the main branch while the secondary branch tend to be darker skinned.

Hair colours in the main branch are blacks, greys, blondes and brunette on occasion while secondary branch members are usually born with dark greens blondes and brunettes as well. Hair colours are the main distinguishing ties between the branches.

Eye colours in the main branch are a variety of blues and greens and the secondary branch are a variety of purples and reds.

Personalities:

Depending on which branch you happen to come across the personalities generally found in the Ito clan tend to run the gamut of one extreme to the other. Ito's of the main branch often have high opinions of themselves and can be rather annoying when they begin gloating. They also have a bit of a deviously sneaky streak in them and they get their kicks by messing with unsuspecting people. You may think you're talking to a friendly young man when in actuality you've been having a conversation with a young woman...and they get a big kick out of that. Within their own homes, main branch members are free to dress and sound as they please. But they must keep up the appearance of being androgynous in public.

Branch members on the other hand tend to keep to themselves and often have shy or nervous personalities but are not unfriendly. Usually relaxed in they're own world but flustered when faced with situations or people they are not accustomed to. 

Abiities:

Main branch members focus on their looks primarily as their main weapon. The fact that their genders are virtually indistinguishable are advantages to them in their work of information gathering as they can blend into any situation seamlessly and with very little trouble. Chakra sensing lends a hand to this so they can help sense when someone is getting too close for comfort or to pinpoint where and who a person is. Main branch members are also recruited for assassinations from time to time for the very same reasons. Chakra natures found in this clan are most commonly water, fire and lightning.

Branch members use their keen senses of smell to concoct the intoxicating scents for their perfumes and their senses of smell are rivalled only by the superior Inuzuka clan. Branch members also pride themselves in their chakra sensing abilities and even though the vast majority of branch members are civilians, children are still sent to academies for shinobi to learn and train to harness their chakra sensing abilities. They are quickly pulled from training once they master it. They put it to use when they are asked to create custom perfumes for people. Simply by contact alone (holding a hand or touching an arm) an Ito branch member can pick out the perfect scent for you based on your chakra signature. It's more of a novelty then anything but there are some that say they can be persuaded to make specialty scents for genjutsu users to help enhance their illusions with bewitching aromas, infused with chakra. Branch members work under one perfume shop in a shinobi nation and are run by Ito's with the keenest sense of smell and the most experience. Usually an elder.

Family:

Main and secondary branches are both close to one another. It's not uncommon for the two to get together for gatherings and social events. Children in the main family are usually boasted about. Clansmen and women can be caught comparing their children to one another and gloating to one another about whose child has the better looks or the better features. Of course it's common in the clan so there are never any ill feelings brought on by this...except it does spur on some rivalries between them.

Branch members keep their children close to them and don't brag about them nearly as much as the main branch does, their egos are not that big! Branch children are primarily taught from home except for the few years they are sent for proper training for chakra sensing and manipulations so they can be rather sheltered. It's also fairly common for main branch children and secondary branch children to form close friendships that could be considered sibling like. Their personalities contrast each other usually so it can make for a rather amusing dynamic for a friendship.

Marriage:

No matter the branch, Ito's generally do not marry inside their own clan and look elsewhere for suitable husbands and wives. Men tend to be attracted to women with full figures and breast sizes. They are sick of looking at their own clanswomen who generally have very little to no curves and very small chests. So they tend to like the opposite extreme when looking for a woman. Women are the same and look for men with strong masculine builds, the bigger the better in their opinions! 

When marrying, a certain ceremony is usually preformed. It's an old superstition within the clan that because of the bitter bickering between their patriarch and matriarch, they are cursed to marry someone whom they will bicker with forever. Priests will perform specific chants and sutra to ward off this so called curse. Old wives tales, but most feel it is better to be safe rather then terribly sorry!

They are not an overly affectionate people but with the right person, the one they give their hearts and love to for the rest of their lives, they can manage it just fine. It's also customary for any member, branch or not, to gift their significant other with a special scent some say is connected to both their chakra signatures which works as a special aphrodisiac. Again this is up to speculation.