A YJA Moment - The Hand

The origins of The Hand lie within the destruction of the Iga clan of the ninja by Oda Nobunaga in 1581. Untold numbers of shadow warriors escaped the massacre, forced from their province and into enemy territory.  

Salvation came from the mysterious figure known as The Black Sky, who came to their aid. Possessing great wisdom and mystical knowledge, he led the tattered remains of the Clans and brought them to a hidden village that was magically shielded from detection by the outside world.  There they found shelter, food, and safety.

Though they did not know their benefactor the necessity of an alliance for survival drew them together.  The Black Sky knew this and used his natural charisma to take advantage of their need.  Within a generation, they were united in body and spirit and became known as the Yaminote.  The Hand.  The Black Sky organized ninja under five generals, who became the Five Great Fingers of the Hand.

Over the years, the Hand swept across Japan, absorbing other Ninja Clans, warriors, and assassins into their fold - occasionally voluntarily but mostly by force.  From the island, they moved across the globe, making and breaking alliances as they went.  

For a brief time, they were allied with the League of Shadows, long enough to gain access to the waters of the Lazarus Pits.  From the fluid, they created a means of resurrecting the dead and promptly betrayed Ra's Al Ghul.  In retaliation, The Demon's Head took some of their best Ninja, including a famed family that would eventually to the League's legendary Sensei.

In New York, the Hand found an excellent base to wage operations in the Western world. Though they clashed with heroes such as Daredevil, the ninjas maintained a level of security within the Big Apple.  At least until the Apokalips invasion.

The attack caused great damage to the Hand organization, fragmenting their supply chain and killing vital warriors and leaders in collateral damage.  After the attack ended, S.H.I.E.L.D. and an alliance of street heroes took down most of the Hand leadership, including one of the Great Fingers. Nobu Yoshioka.

Elements of the Hand that could not make their way back to the Japanese homeland were forged into a new Ninja clan, by the ruthless Shredder, Oroku Saki.  After refusing to rejoin the Great Fingers of the Hand, he named this group The Foot.