Orochi [prn: Oh-Roh-Chee]: Japanese for Serpent
According to the fabled Japanese tales, the Orochi was the clan that lived two centuries ago, in Feudal Japan. They were the strongest of all the clans and dominated the country. Building upon this fable, SNK branched out to include the three legendary clans that built upon a pact to defeat and seal the Orochi. Here is the story....
Ancient Scriptures
Long ago, around 1800 years from the present, spiritual and martial arts clans flourished in Feudal Japan. Of these clans, a large sect called the Orochi clan, named after the mystical serpent, became powerful and wished to control all the smaller clans. Realising they had to control the chi power of the human soul, they aimed to release the Orochi dragon from its mystical bounds and aide them in their conquest of the world. The Orochi dragon, keeper of the greatest chi energy in the world, was annually given the kushinada, seven sacrificial maidens so that it would stay dormant. The Orochi made a pact with the dragon and became an incredibly powerful clan. Small clans were devoured by the powerful Orochi and only three clans remained. The Kusanagi, Hakkeshu and Yata. The three clans made a pact to eliminate the Orochi and sent their best warriors to help defeat the Orochi clan. After a fierce battle between the supernatural Orochi and the mortal Kusanagi, Hakkeshu and Yata, the three clans defeated the Orochi. Using each clan's fabled weapons, the Kusanagi Sword (to slay the Orochi dragon), the Hakkeshu Magatama (a mystical orb that neutralised the Orochi power) and the Yata Mirror (to seal away the Orochi power). The three clans could only subdue, not destroy the Orochi, so the entered into a pact to join and seal away the Orochi every 200 years. So the Orochi re-emerged, and each time, the Orochi were sealed again. But, 1200 years later, exactly 660 years from the present day, the Hakkeshu entered into a fatal blood pact with the Orochi. In return for unsurpassed power, the Orochi would taint the blood of every Hakkeshu descendant with the Orochi blood. In greed, the Hakkeshu agreed and so began the re-birth of Orochi. Little did the Hakkeshu know that if Orochi blood was alive, Orochi himself will be alive. The Orochi lay silent, sealed away, awaiting to gather strength to return.
Because of the Orochi-Hakkeshu blood pact, the Hakkeshu became the dominant clan of Japan, even during the modern era of the 20th century, controlling power figures from the darkness. Changing it's clan name from Hakkeshu to Yagami after the blood pact, it controlled much of modern history's leaders and amassed huge power. The Yata clan, responsible for the seal of Orochi and the Kusanagi clans were preparing for the battle with Orochi, a final encounter. The Yata, an old clan, had instilled the seal into the leaders two twin daughters. They together sealed the Orochi. The Kusanagi clan however were silently preparing their heir, Kyo Kusanagi, son of clan leader, Saisyuu Kusanagi. The Yagami clan however, all but disappeared from the world, the Orochi blood overcoming them and destroying their minds and bodies. The Orochi blood cold not be controlled and destroyed all but one of the clan. The remaining survivor of the clan, Iori Yagami, was the lone descendant and lived his life lonely and dark. He only had one purpose, since birth one purpose. To destroy Kyo Kusanagi. The two enemies knew little of their hatred, yet felt this hatred throughout their soul. They knew they would battle to the death. The Yata however suffered the fatal loss of one of the seal-keepers, initiating a fatal turn of events....
The Present Day
Realising their destiny, Chizuru Kagura (the surviving seal-keeper), Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami battled Orochi. After the appearance of the Four Heavenly Kings, Orochi's protectors controlling all elements of the world. Wind [Goenitz], Earth [Yashiro Nanakase], Fire [Chris] and Light [Shermie] . They had successfully fulfilled Orochi's prophecy and set the world on course to end at the hands of Orochi. The re-birth of Orochi. Orochi was defeated by the three clans once again and sealed forever within the Yata mirror. The clans parted, agreeing to join once more to seal the Orochi, and the Orochi within themselves. [See Storyline for detailed information regarding slaying of Orochi]