"In this world, the only two certainties are death, and taxes. And I've learned that tax collectors are mortal."
~Kyokai Moe, Leader of the Batsu no Katana

The Batsu no Katana ("Katana Group") are a loose coalition of lordless soldiers operating out of Kefka. They respect no laws other than their own, and generally have a policy of "Might Makes Right". Frequently members of the Batsu no Katana are trained in the use of that titular weapon, and more often than not are Ninja, Assassins, or variants thereof. Membership in the clan is based entirely on merit, and due to the overall secretive nature of the group, expulsion from the order usually means death.

The Five Kiritsu, or Rules of the Group:
-Respect the Kyokai and his officers. They are there for a reason. (Uyamai - Respect)
-Respect the dead, especially those you kill. (Sonkei - Honour)
-Do not draw attention to yourself or the group. Kill only when you must. (Chin Sei - Stillness)
-Take only what you need, or what you are ordered to take. (Kenson - Humility)
-Only two of the Batsu may serve the same contract. (Kouhei - Fairness)

Accepted Jobs:
-Ninja
-Assassin
-Shinobi
-Assassin Cross
-Karunai-kage
-Raiozensoku
-Street Performer/Acrobat
-Various related personal jobs

Current Membership:
Officers:
Moe (Ninja/Black Mage) - Kyokai, Master of Flames (Fire Jutsu Trainer) - Phoenix Clan
Mitzugusuri (Ninja/White Mage) - Mistress of the Healing Touch (Clan Healing Trainer) - Crane Clan
Shimai (Ninja/Torture Master) - Master of Darkness (Clan Stealth/"Dark Arts" Trainer) - Scorpion Clan
Ou (Ninja/Paladin) - Master of Light (Clan Holy Jutsu Instructor/Philosopher) - Spider Clan
*These are the names the officers go by. As they actively encourage members to hide their identities, it is reasonable to assume these are only aliases.

The four current officers have been given "Clan" titles. That still leaves several clans open for leadership, namely Crab, Mantis, Unicorn, Dragon and Lion.

Here are the clan definitions:
Phoenix - Manipulators of Magic. Potent in both normal magic and ninja tech. Phoenix clan members only take extremely dangerous missions, and are more frequently seen training new recruits.
Scorpion - Manipulators of Perception. Though seen as complete villains even by the standards of the Batsu, most Scorpion are simply trying to sew the seeds of fear, and are honourable in their own way. Powerful ninja, they are hired out as assassins for the most part.
Crane - Manipulators of Image. Often potent illusionists, summoners, and white mages, though less skilled at the ninja arts than the other clans. While the other clans go about doing the true operations... like stealing government records, it is often the Crane who misdirect and distract opponents, such as by starting riots. Crane ninja are often hired as negotiators, and one entering combat can often end it before it begins.
Lion Clan - Powerful and mighty warriors, though less skilled at magic. Often times Lions stand out in the clan, being more overt than the rest. They are therefore used for missions where stealth is not as important as getting the job done.
Crab - Crabs protect the hideouts and hidden caches of the Batsu, and are thus rarely seen. This clan is almost never hired out, as too few members exist to make it viable.
Mantis - Mantis clan consists of pilots and tradesmen, who, while being skilled at battle, are one of the few to move around dressed as civilians. Without the Mantis clan, most thefts would not be nearly so useful as there would be nobody to fence them. They are usually hired to protect cargo in transit, or even to transport it themselves.
Unicorn - Explorers, often scouting out areas before the actual raids. Many clans hire them for this purpose.
Dragon - As the Phoenix clan makes influences in Magic, so does the dragon in spirituality. Many dragons are able to use monk-like abilities. They rarely take missions, since they are more akin to researchers than soldiers.
Spider - The spider clan, much like the scorpion clan, remains in the shadows, though as the scorpion are feared world-wide as unseen evil, the name of Spider Clan is often invoked for protection. Many Spiders usually take personal protection missions, and even the rumour of having a Spider under contract can sometimes be enough to prevent attempts on the contract-holder's life.