Hoichi Tenome

Hoichi Tenome ('てのめ 芳一Tenome Hoichi) 

She is a non-shinobi OC created by Shikadeidara on Deviantart.

Background
Hoichi is a non-shinobi that hails from Takigakure, and is currently travelling the world as a musician playing the satsuma biwa. She is blind, having her eyes taken out upon birth due to her family traditions. She is accompanied by her horse, Higosha.

Her clan is known for the tradition of having their eyes taken out because of the dangers it can have later. The women are also born physically weak, and although they can train to surpass that, some choose to live civil lives instead. The males function as regular shinobi because they are not intuned with their nature as well as females. Her clan is wealthy because of the various jobs they hold throughout the world as both works and shinobi.

Although she has gained access to travel the world as a biwa hoshi, she must be accompanied by her horse, Higosha, because she is defenceless. She helps her travelling and is also a trained shinobi horse to know basic maneuvers to escape situations. Higosha doesn't speak, though she understands Hoichi well.

Personality
She has a very stern personality, going so far as to lash out at ill-mannered people, even if she has no way of defending herself. She was born and raised as a Yamato Nadeshiko (personification of an idealized Japanese woman) and lives by a very strict code of conduct. She is polite and speaks in a very mature and lady-like disposition.

"Humans become jealous and materialistic with the possession of eyes. We need to live in this world by hearing and feeling the beauty of nature. Being blind makes us no weaker or lesser of a person, it strengthens us to what the world truly is."

-Hoichi Clan Motto

Appearance
Hoichi is 5'9" tall and wears very traditional clothing, made in Takigakure. Since she is a performer, she values appearance to please the crowds, even if she can't see herself. She wears a kanzashi that resembles horns with crystal balls held in place. Along with several necklaces and a blindfold (she wears only when in public or performing), she wears a Takigakure headband around her left arm, given to her as a present before she left to travel the countries.

She has long white hair, going as far as the floor, but is tied up in a bun, and two rings to the sides of her head. One sleeve of her kimono-like outfit is ruffled, while the other is long.

Abilities
Although she is strictly a non-shinobi, having almost no fighting capabilities, she is strategical and witty, allowing her to escape a dangerous situation with words. Her horse, which was sent to protect her, is a shinobi horse. She is trained to merely protect her in times need. Beside's her musical talent which she mainly uses as a job, she also works as a foretune teller. Her clan specializes in being an oracle, but since the removal of their eyes, they cannot fore'see' the future, but instead feel it. This way, they cannot drastically change the future in any way. They can make general predictions of what will happen in the future through feeling, hearing, smelling or tasting it. This can be used in no way during battle as it requires a large amount of concentration and being stationary.

Her stat's are almost non-existant, though her genjutsu stats count for her foretune telling ability.

Part I
Appearing to have visited many of the main villages, she visits Konoha to speak with Tsunade, playing her a song to which she gained access to play for a night festival in the village.

She is concerned about the coming fortellings that she reads off of several villagers, and she becomes curious as to what will happen in the near future. She happens upon the Akatsuki pair, Kakuzu and Hidan, though spared only because of her family wealth and that her death would mean Kakuzu wouldn't be able to collect any money to which she promised to give. Though, because of this meeting, she becomes dangerously close to death and becomes weary of the future war.

She spends most of her life telling tales of heros or stories that have been passed through generations from many villages.

Part II
During part II of the series, she continues her journey to tell her tales. She is indebted to Kakuzu for sparing her life still, but owes him large amounts of money.

Her travels and musical journey will continue throughout the story.

Trivia

 * She is a vegetarian.[[File:Hoichi_Height_chartSMALL.png|thumb|Hoichi at age 29 (left)

Hoichi at age 8 (right)]]
 * Her hobbies include playing her biwa, singing and taking care of Higosha.
 * Hoichi was also the name of the famous blind biwa player, Mimi-nashi Hōichi  ( 耳なし芳一 ).
 * Tenome(手の目, eyes of hand) is also from Japanese mythology of the creature with eyes on his hand, rather than face.
 * She chose not to become a shinobi, but instead a musician.

Reference
http://shikadeidara.deviantart.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoichi_the_Earless

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:%E9%BB%84%E9%87%91%E3%81%AE%E4%BA%BA/Tenome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biwa_h%C5%8Dshi