Kiyoko Hoshizaki is an extremely skilled samurai and strategist from the famous Hoshizaki clan, one of the main clans under the banner of Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo. She is unparalleled in swordsmanship, strategy and politics compared to most people her age due to her upbringing. She had studied under the most prominent minds of the land and was poised to succeed her father. However, an internal conflict within the Uesugi Borders broke out between her clan and the much smaller Genkido clan.