Kuregata

Kuregata (日暮れ; Literally meaning Nightfall) is an alliance of seven powerful samurai forged in the Land of Iron spanning three incarnations. The goal of Kuregata has always been one&mdash;to eliminate the leaders of Shichidaken. The original incarnation of Kuregata was composed of seven iron samurai, each said to possess the power of a Kodenbushi. Kuregata has only seven members at any given time, no more, although upon the death of a member, there have been, at times, less. Because of this, individuals has sometimes nicknamed Kuregata as the Seven Samurai (七人の侍, Shichinin no Samurai). Unlike most organizations with limited members, the members of Kuregata seldom work in pairs or more, and far more often operate alone. Although initially a team exclusive to the whims of the Land of Iron, Kuregata is currently composed of samurai from several lands.

The first incarnation of Kuregata was the team belonging to the Land of Iron's Tetsushogun. This initial Kuregata team had little acknowledgment outside the Land of Iron, as they mostly functioned as a private force. During the samurai world's first open conflict with Shichidaken, both organizations were exposed. Although the initial Kuregata team was slain during the battle with the seven Taiyō, their courage became widely known, and paved the way for their successors.

The second incarnation of Kuregata was unarguably the most famous, largely due to their known status, more active roles, and international membership. Unlike the first team, the second Kuregata possessed samurai from the Lands of Iron, Storms, Tornadoes, Forests, Volcanoes, Echoes, and Spirits. With the growing size of Shichidaken, the second Kuregata waged more open warfare, wiping out entire outposts in their search for any of the seven Taiyō. In consequence, the successors to the first Kuregata inflicted greater damage than their predecessors ever did. The second Kuregata were eventually slain, albeit over time, as they came into combat with the Taiyō. Kuregata, according to the understandings of the samurai world, ended with their deaths.

The third incarnation of Kuregata was the only team made in secret, and by far the most fragile of the three alliances. Realizing that the only way to put an end to Shichidaken was to do so in the shadows, the seven Shoguns secretly called upon the services of seven powerful ronin to defeat Shichidaken. Although their formation initially remained unnamed for caution, upon the capture of a one of the seven Taiyō, they were secretly monikered as Kuregata, making them the third and current incarnation.