Kaiu Sugimoto

Kaiu Sugimoto has not only led one, but three walks of life. He is a grizzled old man with a stiff right arm, always accompanied by a large crow, the same bird that had always accompanied Shinsei.

Soldier
An experienced soldier of the Hida dojo, he was stationed in the Crab Embassy in Otosan Uchi when Daigotsu mounted his attack on the Forbidden City. The defense of the Embassy left him with his wife and son dead and his right arm crippled, making him useless for combat duty in the eyes of the Crab.

Armorsmith
His Lord ordered him to serve as an armorsmith, a skill he had learned in his youth. He was apprenticed to his cousin Kaiu Tasuku.

Keeper of Earth
It was his cousin and master who had the idea to meet Rosoku's challenge, he had the plan to win the trial of Earth for Hida Kisada. Knowing of a rare iron ore that could only be found in the lands of the Badger Clan, he had arranged that they were dispatched on a diplomatic mission there. It was there that Sugimoto risked his life in opposing his master, advising the Badger Lord against attacking the yobanjin tribes, as would have been the plan of Hideo-no-oni, thus earning the Book of Earth] and the hand of [[Kasuga Mino.