Background Description: Before the creation of villages, and even before the long feudal wars that plagued the lands, the Nara clan acted as record keepers and master tacticians and strategists, valuing knowledge over all others. As herders of deer, the Nara were humble and peasant like in their early stages of clan life. In order to protect their deer while surviving the wilderness, they taught themselves the art of war, and how to avoid violent conflicts, becoming tacticians.
Unlike most other ninja clans, the Nara avoided involving itself in the feudal wars between the daimyo and their hired clans. They knew the consequences of their neutrality, but continued their policies, understanding the true meaning to being a shinobi. If a battle raged nearby, they turned the other way. If threatened, they held their ground (unless circumstances were not in their favour). The resilience of the Nara clan made their own allies and enemies. The war brought it together with the clans Yamanaka and Akimichi, who all found benefit in banding together. Together, the Ino-Shika-Cho team, as nicknamed by other clans, became known for their cooperation in a time of turmoil.
Soon after the establishment of the Hidden Leaf Village, Hashirama of the Senju clan invited the three clans to join them, offering military protection in exchange for the clans' skills. The Nara clan accepted the offer, under the additional request to set aside a patch of land for its deer to be taken care of. Though not one of the founding clans of Konohagakure, the Nara clansmen are respected for their strategic skills and vast amounts of information.
As time went on, cooperation and unity between the ninja villages were gradually encouraged more and more. As a result, the Nara clan has volunteered to expand their horizons and spread their clansmen to reside in the other villages.
Though they do not have a kekkei genkai, the Nara has gradually developed the technique of shadow manipulation. Shadow manipulation involves the focusing of chakra into the portions of the body creating shadow, closer to the feet than anywhere else. However, the shadow manipulated must be the person's own shadow, rather than supplied by a larger body. This makes the technique most difficult to use at night. All clansmen are capable of using these jutsu, and the Shadow Imitation Technique, which allows the user to force a caught victim to mimic his or her own movements, is often used as the first step in learning this sort of jutsu. Because of the difficulty involved in channeling chakra into efficient shadow manipulation, younger and less experienced clansmen are often forced to improvise with what little techniques they possess to outwit their opponents.
The Nara has added information to their libraries over the years, and soon began specializing in the medical fields. The clan helped establish Konohagakure's own hospital, and supply much of its information in regards to the treatment of rarer ailments.
Through the above information, the Nara value strategy, knowledge and ninjutsu in combat over everything else, though combining elements of taijutsu and/or genjutsu with the others is not unknown.
Elements: Shadows, they manipulate Shadows.
Bloodline: The Nara Clan - Shadow Manipulation.
Extras: Some Tend To be lazy.