Reimagining the Inuzuka

Etymology: 犬塚 "Dog Mound"

History

The Inuzuka are a remnant of the Inugami clan who, unlike the other divisions, used a more benevolent means of making familiars of their canines: treating them as one would an equal. This is speculated to be the source of their collaboration jutsu and their ability to understand their canines.

Generations later, the Inuzuka would join Mount Oinari, as their keen sense of smell was deemed useful for search missions.

Physical Characteristics

The Inuzuka tend to be brunet. They also have feral eyes and red fanglike markings on their cheeks.

Naming

Inuzuka clanspeople are always named after body parts.

Examples: “Kiba” [牙] means “Fang”; “Hana” [鼻] means “Nose”; “Tsume” [爪] means “Claw”; “Gaku” [額] means “Brow”

The Inuzuka’s canine partners are always named after colors, with male names ending in “-maru” [丸] and female names ending in “-ko” [子].

Examples: “Akamaru” [赤丸] means “Red”; “Kuromaru” [黒丸] means “Black”; “Haimaru” [灰丸] means “Gray”

Language

In addition to their human language, Inuzuka communicate much like the canids they’re based on—growls, barks, whines, howls, movements of ear and tail, baring of teeth, etc.

Behavior

Like canids and their lupine cousins, the Inuzuka operate like a pack: led by the Alpha and enforced by the Alpha’s children or siblings, the Betas, with everyone else—including deposed Alphas—as Omegas. Once a Beta Inuzuka achieves the rank of Jōnin, they may challenge the Alpha for their position. Should the Beta win, they will be the new Alpha and the deposed Alpha will become an Omega. Should the challenging Beta lose, they must wait a full year before challenging the Alpha again.

Diet

Omnivorous, with carnivorous leanings.

Bloodline

Once an Inuzuka enters the Ninja Academy, they will receive a canine partner or pack with whom they can perform collaborative jutsu such as the Headed Wolf.

Berserker Form

The Inuzuka have a Berserker Form induced by eating soldier pills made from the seeds of a species of hornbeam: the Mad Dog, a form resembling a rabid werewolf with wings and glowing eyes. In this form, the Inuzuka in question can bite through even bones with their strong jaws and infect their opponent with their rabid spittle. They can also leap great heights with their powerful legs.

In addition to the effects on the owner, the Inuzuka’s partner/pack experiences a similar transformation and can fuse with its partner to the next form: the Hellhound.

Once the transformation is over, both Inuzuka and canine partner will be unable to fight for a week.