Fujiwara Family

The Fujiwara clan (藤原一族, Fujiwara Ichizoku), formerly the Fujiwara family, is a small courtesan clan from Demon Country. Members born or adopted into this clan are instructed on how to cultivate "special" chakra in the form of thread-like crystals; it is said that members of the Fujiwara clan are able to weave these crystals into delicate plates in the keratin of their hair, nails, and the outer layer of their skin.

Founding
Sayuri Fujiwara (藤原 幸百合, Fujiwara Sayuri), had served briefly as the consort of the Priestess of Demon Country like her mother and grandmother before her until familial duties took her from the court. Drawing inspiration from her training and experience as a courtesan, she established a monopoly on Demon Country's Flower District. Her granddaughter, their next headwoman, reigned as the Madame Kayō   ( 華陽夫人,  Kayōfujin), marketing herself first as a merchant of pleasure, but more subtly a procurer of information.

Chiyo Fujiwara (藤原 治世, Fujiwara Chiyo), came to inherit the title of headwoman in her stead. Some time before the Second Shinobi War, the Madame Kayō's reputation had allowed the clan to create a franchise of "certified" courtesans. Women and men who came to inherit the Madame's mark of approval would be granted a stamped certificate and a tattoo on their person, and some certified courtesans were given leave to establish their own Flower Houses in separate villages to spread influence and head-hunt for prospective trainees.

Clan Politics
While the Fujiwara have come to be a recognized "clan," the majority of their power does not come from family influence. Their reputation is tied to the success of the Madame Kayō and the House of Flowers, which has since expanded into the wider Elemental Countries.

The Fujiwara were initially a very small family from a female courtesan line. The current clan has a policy of adopting high-ranking members of their staff, often direct apprentices, in order to increase their prospects or to hand over responsibilities for opening new Houses in different districts.

Identifying Features
The Fujiwara often adopt girls who apprentice under the reigning Madame Kayō, so there is a disparity between the original members of the clan and the courtesans it sponsors. Members of the main branch tend to be sloe-eyed with a distinct feminine beauty and a dark tan. Their unexpectedly thick and coarse hair is worn long, with colour ranges between dark red, brown, and black.

Certified courtesans are marked by a purple tattoo of a wisteria blossom on their hip, and a black "key" seal on the pad of their dominant thumb. The tattoo is made using chakra-receptive ink and a clan-specific pattern to discern real tattoos from fakes; if one applies the "key" seal to the tattoo, the wisteria blossom will briefly "bloom."

Elemental Countries
The Fujiwara now have Houses in multiple elemental countries. These Houses are most often patroned by the Daimyō of each country, but, in some rare cases, reigning Kage have been known to make donations for recruits and information.

Chakra and Physical Prowess
The Fujiwara Clan is not much for chakra, but their physical prowess is nearly unmatched in its form and success. Members of the Fujiwara clan are natural adepts in terms of offensive taijutsu, particularly in close-combat suppression techniques.

Fujiwara begin their formal stealth and interrogation training in the Flower District before they are old enough to attend school. Sex-specific training is provided after an individual either graduates basic training or by request, provided significant progress is made under the tutelage of the reigning Madame Kayō. Many Fujiwara adoptees are scouted for the Flower District straight out of the academy.

Members of the Fujiwara clan have also been known to utilize incense sticks laced with narcotics, truth serums, or genjutsu (which require less chakra to create then offensive techniques, but ultimately more stamina to stabilize). They have also trained extensively in techniques designed to circumvent genjutsu-type attacks.

Hair Manipulation Technique
Pioneered by Sayuri Fujiwara, the Hair Manipulation Technique is the foremost technique taught to members interested in infiltration. They are instructed on how to cultivate a "special" chakra in the form of thread-like crystals; they are able to weave these crystals into delicate plates in the keratin of their hair, nails, and the outer layer of their skin to various interesting effects.

They can promote the growth of keratin proteins in their hair and nails to give their hands a claw-like appearance, or cause their hair to toughen and serve as a barrier against damage or stress. It can also be used to cosmetic effect, growing out hair and nails at a faster rate than natural processes. Extended abuse of these proteins can cause users to grow horn-like appendages on affected areas.

By layering their chakra "crystals" along the epidermis, users of this technique are able to minimize the surface damage of cutting, slashing, and bludgeoning weapons provided they aren't helped by chakra or excessive force.

Leaders

 * Sayuri Fujiwara  (藤原 幸百合 ,  Fujiwara Sayuri ): First leader, consort of Demon Country's former Priestess, and founder of the Fujiwara clan.
 * Fujiwara Elder: Former leader, the first (and former) Madame Kayō.
 * Chiyo Fujiwara  (藤原 治世 ,  Fujiwara Chiyo ): Current leader, current Madame Kayō.

Trivia

 * TBA