Yoritomo's Alliance was formed at the onset of the Clan War by Yoritomo, daimyo of the Mantis Clan. Yoritomo realized the time to make a name for his clan had arrived. Seeing that many of the minor clans were being caught in the middle of battles they had no hope of winning, he banded together with the Fox Clan, the Wasp Clan, and the Centipede Clan. Alone, none of the minor clans could hope to stand against any of the Great Clans, but united they were a force to be reckoned with. [citation needed] The Alliance protected the minor clans' holdings and territories, and they shared in profits made by working as mercenaries for various clans, mostly the Crane Clan.