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>>3939823
“This is unexpected,” you bow politely to the new proctor for this round of the exams: none other than Shiranui-han, who you briefly met in Amegakure not long ago. “What happened to the other proctor?”

“There was an incident,” Shiranui-han explains cryptically to you and the other candidates.

Assembled here are Misumi, Tenten, Hyūga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto, and Nara Shikamaru from Konohagakure, along with the three Sunagakure genin Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara. Notably absent from the group is Uchiha Sasuke.

“I don’t get it,” Naruto-kun grumbles. “How could he be late for this? I hope he hasn’t picked up any of Kakashi-sensei’s bad habits while they were training… one of that guy’s more than enough, ya know!”

“Hey, pay attention kid,” Shiranui-han declares, drawing Naruto-kun’s attention to the crowd as if the latter has only now noticed. “Let them all get a good look at you.”

At three on the dot you’re led up to a special section of the stands for competitors, with Misumi and Tenten remaining in the arena for the first match.

>Naruto seems really excited. Watch the match with him and provide some context so he can understand what the hell he’s looking at.
>Hinata seems… unusually troubled. Go see what’s got her so worked up.
>Go talk smack at Kankuro, get in the poor Sand bastard’s head a little before your match.
>Other?

>>3939830
>>Hinata seems… unusually troubled. Go see what’s got her so worked up.

>>3939830
>>Hinata seems… unusually troubled. Go see what’s got her so worked up.
she is one of the kiba team and i kinda like them, also them being afraid of us after the prelims hurt a little

>>3939830
>Hinata seems… unusually troubled. Go see what’s got her so worked up.

>>3939830
>Hinata seems… unusually troubled. Go see what’s got her so worked up.
Noari feels bad about missing her match. And also a bit miffed that she didn't get any information on her as a result, so she takes the opportunity to measure her up a little.

>>3939830
>>Hinata seems… unusually troubled. Go see what’s got her so worked up.

>>3939830
>1d6, high roll
>taking the first three

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3939857

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3939857

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3939857

>>3939858
>>3939859
>>3939861
I get the distinct impression that we aren’t breaking Hinata out of her shell any time soon.

>>3939869
at least we get some bad rolls out of the way

>>3939857
“You look jumpy,” you observe, and perfectly in time Hyūga Hinata practically jumps out of her skin.

“I-I’m not!” she insists.

You simply give her a deadpan stare. “You know it’s okay to feel nervous.”

“I said I’m fine!” she lies.

“Yeah, no,” you counter. “It’s fine if you don’t wanna talk about it, but you’re not good enough at lying to get away with it.”

“… how are you so calm?”

“Hm?” you ask. “About what?”

“About fighting like this?” she asks awkwardly.

“Would panicking help?”

She seems to concede the point as Misumi and Tenten’s fight begins.

Misumi creates a water clone straight off the bat, but can’t seem to pin Tenten down… it’s like he didn’t even bother training to counter his round one opponent. Tenten easily dispels each of his water clones while keeping her distance from the close-quarters specialist, and despite the fact that her weapons don’t cut him at first she manages to eventually bind him with her wires.

Then once he’s thoroughly tied up by the wires, she starts to pummel him repeatedly with blunt weapons from a distance.

Eventually, Misumi is on the ground motionless.

“The winner is Tenten!” Shiranui-han declares.

After Tenten receives her applause for advancing, you decide to make a dramatic appearance. Using genjutsu to enhance your entrance you leap down into the arena, unfurling one of your parasols as you land to shield yourself from the crowd’s view. Then, with a flourish, you rise to your feet and sweep the parasol upward to rest it against your shoulder.

Shiranui-han seems thoroughly amused at the crowd’s response. “Well, seems like you get the picture.”

“These people came here for a show,” you smirk. “May as well give them one.”
>1/2

>>3939872
The only thing missing now is your opponent, who remains stubbornly in the viewing box set aside for contestants.

You stare at Kankuro, who stares right back down at you.

“Kankuro!” Shiranui-han calls out. “You’re up, kid! If you don’t come down here, it’ll be considered a forfeit!”

The crowd is starting to jeer now, but not at you. What is he thinking…

“I forfeit!” Kankuro calls back.

“Are you sure!?” Shiranui shouts.

“There’s no way I’m fighting that crazy chick!”

You’re fairly confident that you could beat him, that much is true. But for him to not even try? Your own unspoken question remains what the hell does he think he’s doing?

Shiranui-han shakes his head in disbelief as he calls the second match in your favor with no contest.

“Tenten, please return to the arena for the third match!”

Tenten returns as ordered, seemingly frustrated that she has to fight back-to-back like this.

“I can’t believe this!” she grumbles. “So rude.”

“Hey, if it wasn’t you it’d be me that had to fight back to back,” you shrug. “So I can’t complain.”

You offer the traditional Seal of Confrontation, preparing to launch your attack.

>Let Tenten make the first attack, use your shield parasol to block and counter.
>Set your three parasols, drop smoke and shower her with poisoned needles.
>All of the exploding Kunai, all of the time. Don’t give her a chance.
>Other?

>>3939877
>>Set your three parasols, drop smoke and shower her with poisoned needles.
let's start sizzling medium

>>3939877
>>Set your three parasols, drop smoke and shower her with poisoned needles.

>>3939877
>Set your three parasols, drop smoke and shower her with poisoned needles.

>>3939877
>Set your three parasols, drop smoke and shower her with poisoned needles

>>3939877
>Let Tenten make the first attack, use your shield parasol to block and counter.

>>3939877
>>Set your three parasols, drop smoke and shower her with poisoned needles.
In the immortal words of Captain Boreal, “we shall call this tactic steel rain!”

>>3939877
>1d6, DC 12
>taking first three

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3939885

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3939885
Show time

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3939885

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>>3939885
You decide to make the first move, opening and hurling your parasols skyward. Tenten produces a pair of sealing tags and unseals handfuls of shuriken that spin towards you at the same time as you release smoke bombs from one of the parasols.

It’s not hard to counter the shuriken with a few fistfuls of exploding anken, scattering the paper tools around the arena before you disappear into the smoke.

Then you release the poisoned senbon, using the paper shuriken to target Tenten’s chakra using your sensory technique. After about sixty seconds of this you detonate the anken, clearing the smoke to reveal your handiwork.

Both of Tenten’s arms hang limp and numb at her sides, summoned weapons like kama and staves laying around her feet. There are needles still sticking out of her shoulders and biceps, with craters all around where your anken were… this way nobody can see them now to figure out how you aimed your attacks in the smoke.

The two of you stare each other down as your parasols continue to spin… what’s left now are the anken sealed inside two of them, which you’d rather not use due to their obvious lethality. The third you allow to drift down into your hand, grasping it by the hilt of the hidden short sword.

“So,” you ask your opponent aloud. “What now?”

Tenten struggles for a moment to produce one more tag, dropping it onto the ground and falling to her knees to get her palm pressed against it.

“Unsealing!” she shouts, and a large burst of smoke announces that she’s unsealed something huge: a giant metal ball loaded with spikes, each of which is wrapped in an exploding tag. Next she kicks off her sandals, with some difficulty, and forms the seal of confrontation with both of her hands.

You’re so engrossed in what you’re watching that you let her do it… you really want to see where this is going, and by your estimation you still hold all the cards.

Tenten grasps a chain attached to the ball between her toes, raising that leg into a crane stance.

“Alright, let’s see if I can pull this off!” she grins. “You’ve had your turn to attack, and now it’s my turn!”

>Cut the chain using Umekiri, but don’t hurt Tenten herself. Her determination has earned her some courtesy, and anything more than disarming her is unnecessary.
>Take her down with an illusion-enhanced attack. No holding back.
>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.
>Other?

>>3939900
>>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.

Wasn't the whole point to use the expendable tools before revealing what Umekiri can do? If so let's do this

>>3939900
>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.

>>3939900
Cut the chain

>>3939900
>>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.

>>3939900
>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.

>>3939900
>Cut the chain using Umekiri, but don’t hurt Tenten herself. Her determination has earned her some courtesy, and anything more than disarming her is unnecessary.

>>3939900
>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.

>>3939900
>>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.

>>3939900
>>Cut the chain using Umekiri, but don’t hurt Tenten herself. Her determination has earned her some courtesy, and anything more than disarming her is unnecessary.
I'm fine with giving her courtesy, and I'd rather not reveal even more of the gimmicks our parasols give us.

>>3939900
>>Cut the chain using Umekiri, but don’t hurt Tenten herself. Her determination has earned her some courtesy, and anything more than disarming her is unnecessary.

>>3939900
>>Use the shield parasol to defend against her ball and chain, then counter.

>>3939900
>1d6, DC 11
>Taking the first three

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3939943

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3939943

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3939943

>>3939943
>6/6 SP
Use 3 SP to pass?
>Yes
>no

>>3939948
>yes

>>3939948
yes

>>3939948
Yes

>>3939948
yes

>>3939948
>Yes

>>3939948
>>Yes
That stings a little but yes.

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>>3939948
>3/6 SP
Using just her feet to swing the chain, Tenten sets off one of the explosive tags and arcs the massive spiked ball towards you. Instead of evading you raise your shield parasol and parry it, only for Tenten to set off another explosion that causes the weapon to push you off balance and destroy the parasol in your hands.

As the ball follows through Tenten leaps off her back foot, raising her heel high for an axe kick which you barely manage to evade, drawing your sidearm out of the wrecked parasol and turning to place its edge right against the back of her neck.

You stand there for a few seconds, motionless, the very edge of the sword in your hand drawing the smallest trail of blood from Tenten’s neck. Neither of you so much as breathes, trying to anticipate what the other will do next.

Then, the tension leaves Tenten’s body as she releases the chain from between her toes.

“You got me,” she admits as you lower your own sword. “Fair and square. I yield.”

You toss the mass-produced sword aside, reaching down for Tenten’s hand. She smiles lightly as she returns the Seal of Reconciliation, marking an end to your bout.

“The winner is Raishō Naori.”

Maybe because of the excitement of Tenten’s last stand, or perhaps it’s because of the show of sportsmanship between two opponents who have treated one another with respect, but the cheers at Shiranui-han’s announcement feels like they’re not just for you.

>Offer to help Tenten return to the contestants’ stands. She needs to put her sandals back on, and she can’t use her hands.
>Suggest that Tenten see the medic-nins despite the fact that your anaesthetic won’t kill her, just to be certain.
>Just politely excuse yourself.
>Other?

>>3939971
>Offer to help Tenten return to the contestants’ stands. She needs to put her sandals back on, and she can’t use her hands.

>>3939971
>>Offer to help Tenten return to the contestants’ stands. She needs to put her sandals back on, and she can’t use her hands.
I really want to befriend Tenten. Finally getting what she deserves that canon forever denied her like holy shit.

>>3939971
>>Just politely excuse yourself.

>>3939971
>Offer to help Tenten return to the contestants’ stands. She needs to put her sandals back on, and she can’t use her hands.

>>3939971
Offer to help tenten

>>3939971
>Offer to help Tenten return to the contestants’ stands. She needs to put her sandals back on, and she can’t use her hands.

>>3939971
>>Offer to help Tenten return to the contestants’ stands. She needs to put her sandals back on, and she can’t use her hands.

>>3939971
>>Offer to help Tenten return to the contestants’ stands. She needs to put her sandals back on, and she can’t use her hands.

>>3939971
“You, um...” you mutter, awkwardly waving at the whole scene. “Need a hand with this?”

Tenten glances down at her hands, which she still can’t really lift, and you realize your unintentional pun. Then she just starts laughing.

“Actually, that’d be helpful,” she admits. “Maybe start with the sandals?”

“Here,” you offer, bringing the discarded footwear over, “lean on my shoulder for a second.”

You manage to pull her sandals back on while the arena attendants pile up her discarded weapons and wire to clear the field for the next match. Tenten waves the medic-nins off when they offer to help, insisting that her wounds aren’t bad enough that she needs their attention. She’s right of course, the little holes from the senbon should heal easily enough. But one insists on coming along to the viewing box anyway with you to close the holes.

“Quit squirming,” you sigh as you pull each needle out of your former opponent in turn. “It’s just a couple of needles sticking out of you.”

“Sorry about your parasols,” Tenten apologizes sheepishly.

“I don’t really use them that much anyway,” you shrug, tossing the last senbon aside. “Here. It’s just an anaesthetic, no need to treat her for poison.”

“Why only an anaesthetic?” Tenten asks curiously.

>I use it on shuriken mostly. Shallow muscular wounds aren’t good for lethal poison.
>I didn’t feel like killing anyone today. I’m actually a nice person, you know.
>Because we have poison users in the finals. Poison users are prepared for common poisons.
>Other?

>>3940029
>>Because we have poison users in the finals. Poison users are prepared for common poisons.

>>3940029
Because most know how to counter poisons, especially common ones

>>3940029
>I didn’t feel like killing anyone today. I’m actually a nice person, you know.

>>3940029
>>Because we have poison users in the finals. Poison users are prepared for common poisons.

>>3940029
>>Because we have poison users in the finals. Poison users are prepared for common poisons.

>>3940029
>I use it on shuriken mostly. Shallow muscular wounds aren’t good for lethal poison.
Besides,
>I didn’t feel like killing anyone today. I’m actually a nice person, you know.

Some people might disagree, but these are basically friendly sparring matches to show off our skills. Any killing here is needless.

>>3940029
>>Because we have poison users in the finals. Poison users are prepared for common poisons.

>>3940029
>I use it on shuriken mostly. Shallow muscular wounds aren’t good for lethal poison.
>Plus, poison users are usually prepared for common poisons, not anaesthetics.

>>3940029
>>I didn’t feel like killing anyone today. I’m actually a nice person, you know.

>>3940029
>I didn’t feel like killing anyone today. I’m actually a nice person, you know.

>>3940029
“What’d be the point?” you shrug dismissively. “Any poison users in the finals would be prepared to counteract most common poisons anyway.”

“Nah,” Tenten chuckles. “I’ve got you pinned… you may look tough, but you’re actually a softie, aren’t you?”

“We’re not friends,” you frown. “So you don’t get to tease me like that and have it be okay. But to be fair… you’re not entirely wrong, and it does tend to frustrate my teammates.”

“I knew it,” Tenten grins, leaning up against the wall to rest from her back-to-back fights. “Sorry if I crossed the line there though.”

“It’s fine,” you sigh, leaning on the railing. “Don’t sweat the small stuff too much.”

It’s a lot quieter up here now… because the next match is Naruto-kun against Hinata. One of them looks ecstatic to be fighting in front of a crowd, and the other seems less than thrilled. Like she wants to tuck herself inside her own parka and disappear.
>1d6, High roll
>taking three

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3940054

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3940054

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3940054

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3940054

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3940054

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940054

>>3940054
Naruto leads off with simple taijutsu… and by ‘simple’ you really mean it. His skills are basically genin level, aside from the raw amount of chakra he has at his disposal. Hinata easily blocks his attacks using her Byakugan… so she really is from the same clan as Neji, despite being obviously slower and less skilled than the older Hyūga.

It’s also increasingly obvious that she’s not really taking advantage of any of the numerous openings Naruto is leaving her. He draws a kunai and keeps attacking, without making any obvious progress. Is she waiting for something, or…

Ah.

“She has a crush on Naruto,” you realize.

Nara Shikamaru, who until now has just been watching quietly further down the railing, chuckles. “So, it took you that long to figure it out? She’s not exactly subtle.”

“I don’t know anyone in this village,” you sigh. “So how should I know any better? I just figured she was an awkward, shy sort of girl.”

“Oh, she definitely is,” Shikamaru clarifies. “So you’re not wrong. It’s just always been worse around Naruto for some reason. And the only thing that really explains that would be a crush.”

“Alright,” you admit your ignorance on the subject. “So what is she going to do?”

“No clue,” Shikamaru shrugs. “It’s really not my problem, you know?”

Naruto has escalated things to using shadow clones now to circle around Hinata, throwing shuriken and kunai in between charging haymakers and flying kicks that Hinata easily manages to weave her way through. Your guess is that her range of vision is probably near complete… if she has any sort of blind spot it must be small, somewhere around the base of her skull.

“She’s not half bad,” you admit.

“She’s nothing next to Neji,” Tenten declares. “If he were down there instead, that blonde kid would be on the ground by now.”

“Unless he has a secret crush on Naruto-kun too,” you observe.

“… he better not,” Tenten grumbles, before realizing what she just said. “I mean, what?”
>Shout some advice to Hinata, tell her to stop disrespecting her opponent and fight seriously.
>Shout at Hinata to just quit if she’s not going to hit Naruto.
>Shout some encouragement to Naruto, tell him to use his head.
>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.

>>3940081
>>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.
This is between them.

>>3940081
>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.

>>3940081
Keep your mouth shut, sensei was displeased we did it at the prelims

>>3940081
>>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.

Pretty sure we got scolded for yelling out last time during the prelims and this is during the finals in front of a giant crowd.

>>3940081
>>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.
I have no bone in this fight.

>>3940081
>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.
>Talk with shikamaru instead
>"So, what do you think about gaara? He might be a problem."

>>3940081
>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.

>>3940081
>talk to shikamaru about Gaara

>>3940081
>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.

>>3940081
>”KISS HIM YOU FOOL!”

>>3940081
>”KISS HIM YOU FOOL!”

>>3940081
>Just keep your mouth shut and let them sort it out.

>>3940081
You decide to keep your mouth shut this time and show some discretion.

Naruto grows more and more obviously frustrated at the match, understanding that if Hinata wanted to hit him she would have by now. Even he has to understand what’s going on here, at least superficially, and he doesn’t like it.

Eventually he just stops and shouts at his opponent. “Come on, Hinata! Fight me like you mean it or leave if you don’t wanna, but don’t jerk me around like this!”

“W-wait… what do you mean?” Hinata pleads her case. “I-I’m not...”

“Yes you are, ya know!” he shouts back. “At least all those other people came out and said it to my face!”

“But I...”

“But what!?” he keeps shouting. “Am I not worth your time or somethin’? What happened to you? You’ve never been like that before!”

“I just don’t wanna hurt you!”

Naruto flinches like he’s been smacked across the mouth, but quickly recovers. “Then hit me like you mean it, Hinata. I don’t care if I get banged up, I don’t even care if I lose. Just take me seriously!”

After a few seconds, and a few deep breaths, Hinata takes a stance. “Okay, Naruto-kun. I understand.”

“That’s better!” Naruto grins, cracking his knuckles.
>1/2

>>3940129
>Hinata takes a stance
It was at this moment he knew he fucked up.

huh. time for naruto to go out like deku. destroyed by an enemy he helped unleash their power.

>>3940129
It’s even less of a fight once Hinata starts sealing his tenketsu.

But as Naruto lies on the ground, you get a distinct impression that his chakra is getting stronger rather than weaker. His appearance seems to grow more feral for a moment, a look in his eyes and thicker whisker-markings on his cheeks.

But then, abruptly, he collapses and rolls onto his back.

“Alright,” he admits to Shiranui-han. “I’m throwin’ in the towel… I can’t keep fighting like this.”

Then he flashes an upside-down thumbs-up to Hinata. “Thanks, Hinata. Guess I have a lot more training to do, don’t I?”

That’s… surprisingly mature from him.

“That was surprising,” Shikamaru muses. “From both of ‘em. Since when is Naruto that self-aware?”

>Hey, you’re up next right?
>So, Temari, how you feeling? Not going to chicken out like Kankuro I hope?
>See how Naruto is really feeling about all this.
>Other?

>>3940143
>See how Naruto is really feeling about all this.

>>3940143
>>Hey, you’re up next right?

>>3940143
>See how Naruto is really feeling about all this.
>"Yo, idiot cousin. You alright?"
naruto's face when he finds out we're his cousin, actual living family

>>3940143
>See how Naruto is really feeling about all this.

>>3940143
>>Hey, you’re up next right?

>>3940143
>>Hey, you’re up next right?

>>3940143
>>Hey, you’re up next right?

>>3940143
>Hey, you’re up next right?

>>3940143
>see how Naruto is feeling

>>3940143
“You’re up next, aren’t you?” you realize aloud. “Against Temari?”

“Yeah, and I’m not looking forward to it,” he grimaces. Now that he mentions it… Temari’s already on her way down, floating atop her fan.

“This is gonna suck.”

“Hey, come on!” Tenten tries to cheer on her fellow Konoha genin. “Just give it your best, okay!”

“This whole thing isn’t my style!” Shikamaru protests.

Shiranui-han is getting restless down below by the time Naruto returns to the stands with Hinata.

“What, you’re not gonna go down there?” Naruto asks before smacking Shikamaru on the back… way too hard, as it turns out.

Shikamaru tumbles off the platform and into the arena, landing unceremoniously at the base of the wall.

“Is he going to be okay?” Tenten wonders aloud.

“Who knows?” you shrug.

>1d6, high roll
>Taking three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3940177

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3940177

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940177

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3940177

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940177

>>3940180
>>3940181
>>3940182
Oh no. Naruto is going to say something profoundly stupid and we'll miss this fight while we mentally reboot.

>>3940180
>>3940181
>>3940182
...Unfortunate.
I just hope she hasn't hit her head again. Maybe there's a huge distraction in the stands that makes her miss the match, probably from Naruto? Her she's led away, again probably by Naruto dragging her along for some reason?

>>3940177
“I’m not interested in this fight,” you declare, settling in against the back wall as the jeers start. “If that Shikamaru guy’s not really going to put his back into it, why should I be interested?”

Instead of watching Shikamaru’s fight you have a light snack and some tea to replenish some of your chakra. You gather that he drags the fight out for some time, giving you the opportunity to come back after several failed attempts to capture Temari in his shadow binding technique. That lets the sun fall low enough that the shadows of the wall of the stadium grow deeper, extending his range with every passing minute.
>1d6, high roll

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3940190

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940190

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3940190

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3940190

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940190

>>3940188
Last time we got our head hit we got to lay in sensei's lap so it wasn't all bad.

>>3940190
Who are we talking to?

>>3940202
naruto and tenten probably, or whoever was near to hear us

>>3940190
As it turns out, you were probably missing a good fight.

“He’s got her,” you realize.

“Hang on, what?” Naruto demands loudly. “What do you mean?”

“What are you still doing here?” Kankuro mutters.

“Same question,” Gaara counters under his breath, the first words he’s spoken so far to your awareness.

“Look,” you point down into the arena. “It’s not just the shadow of the wall that’s getting deeper.”

“What!?” Temari demands loudly as your observation proves accurate. “I was careful to factor in the shadow from the wall, so how...”

“The craters I left in the fight with Tenten,” you explain for Naruto’s benefit.

“I see,” Tenten agrees. “He was using all the other attempts to draw Temari’s attention upwards, so she’d be less likely to notice the shadows from the edges of the craters growing deeper.”

“His heart may not be in it,” you summarize, “but he’s a clever one.”

In a tense moment, Temari raises her hand to mirror Shikamaru’s movement.

“I quit.”

The entire arena goes insane as Shikamaru forfeits the match.

“I can’t make you say you give up,” he explains as he releases Temari’s shadow, “and I don’t have enough chakra left to finish you off. So it’s your match. I’m withdrawing.”

Naruto’s absolutely beside himself.

“Whaddya mean you quit!? Shikamaru, you slacker!”

>Calm down, Naruto. My guess is the only move he had from there would be lethal.
>It’s Gaara and Sasuke’s match next. Shut up and pay attention, this is going to be interesting.
>Good judgement and planning… honestly, he’s the best candidate for chunin so far.
>Other?

>>3940210
>>Calm down, Naruto. My guess is the only move he had from there would be lethal.

>>3940210
>>Good judgement and planning… honestly, he’s the best candidate for chunin so far.

>>3940210
>Calm down, Naruto. My guess is the only move he had from there would be lethal.

>>3940210
>>Good judgement and planning… honestly, he’s the best candidate for chunin so far.
its true

>>3940210
>>Calm down, Naruto. My guess is the only move he had from there would be lethal.
>Which an intentionally lethal attack to someone at his mercy would not only likely get him kicked out of this, might also get him thrown in jail or evens tart another war depending on how much fuss the Sand wants to make over it. *Hint Hint Gaara*

>>3940210
>Good judgement and planning… honestly, he’s the best candidate for chunin so far.

>>3940210
>Calm down, Naruto. My guess is the only move he had from there would be lethal.

>>3940210
>Good judgement and planning… honestly, he’s the best candidate for chunin so far.
>>3940205
So we are just talking to anyone that gets near us or will listen? Even though we don't know them? Seems odd. I guess we are way friendlier than I thought.

>>3940210

>"And have Shikamaru be as bad as Gaara? Are you seriously advocating for Shikamaru to stoop to Gaara's level?"

>>3940225
we are, our greatest weakness to date
aside from shit at nature transormation

>>3940210
>>Calm down, Naruto. My guess is the only move he had from there would be lethal.

>>3940227
>SAying this
>When Gaara is right there

really?

>>3940234
It's okay, he's just retarded.

>>3940210
“It’s pretty good judgement on his part,” you counter, “and his planning was excellent. He’s probably the best candidate for promotion so far.”

“Including you?” Tenten presses.

You nod. “Based on our performances so far, yes. I’d say I’m stronger than he is, but he’s shown better qualifications to be a squad leader.”

“Besides, my best guess is his only move from there would be lethal.”

“What makes you say that?” Tenten muses.

“If your clan had a technique like that, wouldn’t you be interested in devising a way to finish off an opponent once they were immobilized?”

“Point.”
>1/2

>>3940239
And now you wait, because Sasuke still isn’t here.

Even Gaara seems… well, more agitated than usual waiting for him. The whole crowd seems to be anticipating this next match, the name Uchiha having likely drawn in many interested parties and creating its own special betting line for those who came to participate in the gambling.

“He’s late,” you grumble.

“He’ll be here,” Naruto insists.

Eventually a chunin comes up to the contestants’ box to make an announcement.

“We may need miss Raishō and miss Hyūga to fight their match early,” he declares, “so be prepared for that.”

“This is getting ridiculous,” Tenten sighs. “I’m gonna go join my teammates in the stands, if you don’t mind?”

“Your arms feeling better?”

“Finally,” she nods. “Thanks for the fight… you’ve given me a lot to think about. So don’t expect it to go the same way next time!”

“Good luck with your training,” you reply with a polite bow.

The chunin eventually returns. “Alright, Raishō and Hyūga, you’re up!”

>I’m not gonna bail you people out just because you’re too cowardly to disqualify Sasuke.
>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?
>Didn’t Kakashi-sensei tell you where they would be training? Just go get them already!
>Other?

>>3940244
>>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?

>>3940244
>>Didn’t Kakashi-sensei tell you where they would be training? Just go get them already!
>I’m not gonna bail you people out just because you’re too cowardly to disqualify Sasuke.

>>3940244
>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?

>>3940244
>>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?

>>3940244
>Didn’t Kakashi-sensei tell you where they would be training? Just go get them already!

>>3940244
>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?

>>3940244
>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?

>>3940244
>>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?
Just fucking call them out on it lol

>>3940244
>So I assume Sasuke has been DQ’d, right? You’re not shafting me to cover for his absence, right?
Nice to see konoha being fair and impartial. Oh wait.

>>3940244
>1d6, DC 13
>Taking first three

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3940268

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3940268

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3940268

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3940268

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3940268

>>3940268
>3/6 SP
Use 2 SP to convince the Hokage to fuck off with this delaying bullshit and disqualify Sasuke?
>Yes
>No

>>3940275
no

>>3940275
yes

>>3940275
>Y
Cause fuck that and fuck him

>>3940275
>No
Not worth 2 SP.

>>3940275
No
Reminder to everyone, crush is incoming

>>3940275
No

>>3940275
>yes

>>3940275
>>No
Not worth it with the Crush coming nigh immediately.

>>3940275
>No

idr how we get more SP but we didnt recover any since the last time we used some and we will need it to survive the invasion

>>3940284
>>3940280
oi! that's meta knowledge! you can't cast your vote with that as your reason!

>>3940287
SP is a meta mechanic

>>3940286
When doubles on a 1d6 roll come up. Out of the three rolls I take you get the value of the third, non-dubs roll refreshed to your SP pool.

>>3940275
no

>>3940286
>>3940290
dice are cunts atm and i really don't want to be at their mercy

>>3940275
No
Rather have him show favoritism anyways, makes things more convenient.

>>3940290
Does that mean the double 1 and the 2 we rolled before shikas fight mean we should have gained 2 SP? or do we need to pass the roll dc to get the SP?

>>3940296
we don't need to pass, we need to not have full sp
we were full at 6, so we didn't gain any before we spent them

>>3940275
>>Yes

>>3940299
We were at 3/6 and rolled two ones and two afterwards for the shika temari fight.


he's asking if that roll where we were not at full sp counts to giving us sp or not because we failed the dc.

>>3940299
We used 3 Sp in tentens fight before the roll for watching shikamaru. we weren't at the full 6/6

>>3940275
“This is stupid,” you sigh dramatically. “Any other genin would be disqualified and we’d move on. But I know your precious little Uchiha brat isn’t going to be disqualified, is he? You’re just using our semifinals match to buy time for a kid whose tardiness should disqualify him for promotion anyway.”

Not one of the genin present objects, not even Naruto who has a vested interest in seeing Sasuke’s match go forward.

“I don’t make the rules,” the chunin admits. “But you’re right. It’s bullshit.”

“Well, so long as we’re all on the same page at least,” you grumble. “Come on, Hinata-han. Let’s go have our clearly less interesting and important semifinals match so that Uchiha Sasuke can have time to do… whatever it is he’s wasting all our time doing.”

You stomp down the hallway towards the arena with Hinata following behind you, giving you some space due to your obviously foul mood. It’s along the way you find yourselves interrupted by two Kusagakure shinobi.

“The hell do you two want?” you bark.

“Our client’s betting a lot of money on the semis,” one of the shinobi informs you. “He thinks you’re putting that money at risk, so we’re gonna need you to throw this match, little lady.”

“And if I refuse?” you ask.

The second shinobi draws a kunai from his jacket.

“That would be… unwise.”

>Incapacitate.
>Kill.
>Genjutsu their brains out.
>Other?

>>3940275
>No

>>3940306
>Genjutsu their brains out.

>>3940306
>>Genjutsu their brains out.

>>3940306
>>Genjutsu their brains out.

>>3940306
>Genjutsu their brains out.

>>3940306
>Genjutsu their brains out.
METH SPIDERS NO JUTSU

>>3940306
>>Genjutsu their brains out.
Holy shit we took Gaara's place.

>>3940306
>>Genjutsu their brains out.
its more our style, i would vote kill if we werent on enemy territory

>>3940306
>>Genjutsu their brains out.

>>3940306
>Kill

>>3940306
>>3940306
>ninja equivalent of Jedi mind trick (aka Genjutsu)

>>3940296
QM can you let me know about this please

>>3940323
as far as i understand it, if the choice for SP isn't given we don't get any as well, but Queen could have made a mistake
i would bet on the former

>>3940296
>>3940323
High rolls don't count, because they're not pass/fail and don't use the SP system at all.

>>3940306
>1d6, DC 8
>taking the first three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3940332

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3940332

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940332
fuck the dice gods

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940332

>>3940332
pre-emptive YES to burning 1 SP

>>3940332
>spend 1 SP to pass?
>yes
>no

>>3940334
GO AWAY.

>>3940340
YES

>>3940340
fuck those fucking dice headed cunts
YES

>>3940340
>yes

How annoying needing to waste energy and a SP before the match even starts

>>3940340
>Yes.

>>3940340
>>no

>>3940340
yes. DICE IS SUCH A CRACK WHORE

>>3940340
>>yes

>>3940340
>>yes
These fucking dice

>>3940340
>SP: 2/6

You quickly dodge the kunai thrust and twirl one of your remaining parasols, disappearing behind it as you use genjutsu for just a moment. Then you make a series of hand seals.

“Oh shit!” one of the Kusagakure shinobi shouts. “What the fuck is this!?”

“Get it off!” the other screams. “What did that little bitch do to us!?”

“Kill it!” the first shouts, stabbing himself in the arm with his kunai as he sees illusionary spiders crawling from his tenketsu. “Kill it kill it kill it!”

“Aaaaah!” the other replies in a wordless howl as he also stabs himself repeatedly with his kunai.

Finally, with both men bleeding profusely from multiple self-inflicted stab wounds all over their bodies, you step over them and past a stunned Konoha chunin who rushed in to investigate the screams.

“These two were going to murder me and throw the fight for their rich patron,” you quickly explain. “Be a dear and clean this up, would you?”

Then you glance over your shoulder at an equally stunned Hinata. “Kindness deserves kindness in return, generosity merits generosity. But this sort of behavior I have no patience for.”
>1/2

>>3940361
>Meth spider jutsu
Holy shit Queen actually did it the madman.

>>3940361
jesus christ, they didn't even notice the genjutsu, fucking morons

Queen wouldn't that first stab released them from the genjutsu though?

>>3940361
yo Queen, shouldn't the stab have released the genjutsu when they get hurt?

>>3940369
>>3940370
Not if you continuously re-up the genjutsu.

Naori's style of genjutsu so far involves making people see things for just a moment at a time.

>>3940361
Once below in the arena, your fight can begin. Hinata takes up a cautious position several paces away from you as Shiranui-han calls out your names to the crowd and tells you to start.

“You could withdraw,” you tell her calmly. “I’ve made note of your speed and fighting style… this is a mismatch. You shouldn’t feel obligated to go through with this just because the Hokage wants to buy time for Sasuke.”

“I… I plan to fight!” Hinata declares nervously. “I want to show that I can do this!”

“Though I don’t want to see anyone hurt for such stupid reasons, I also don’t want to lose,” you inform her, your left hand finding Umekiri’s sheath. “And knowing you use the Gentle Fist style of the Hyūga, I can’t afford to just let you hit me at will.”

>Attack at full speed using iaido, quick-draw style.
>Use the parasols for spacing, stay out of her space.
>Quickly summon Isoka for ranged support.
>Other?

>>3940376
>>Use the parasols for spacing, stay out of her space.
keep the bird hidden

>>3940376
>Use the parasols for spacing, stay out of her space.

>>3940376
>Use the parasols for spacing, stay out of her space.
She has basically no defense against explosive anken

>>3940376
>>Quickly summon Isoka for ranged support.
Let’s test that ‘blind spot’ theory

>>3940376
>>Quickly summon Isoka for ranged support.
then parasol for spacing

>>3940376
>Quickly summon Isoka for ranged support.
BIRB

>>3940376
>>Use the parasols for spacing, stay out of her space.

>>3940376
>>Quickly summon Isoka for ranged support.

>>3940377
hiding the bird behind a parasol wouldn't work against her special eyes.

>>3940387
It would if we ran our chakra through it.

>>3940389
Yeah that's right, nevermind then.

>>3940376
Summon bird
>Yes
>No

10 minutes

>>3940395
>>No

>>3940395
hell yes, isoka is great

>>3940395
>yes

>>3940395
>>No

>>3940395
yes. BIRB.

>>3940395
>>Yes
time to show off

>>3940395
>>Yes

>>3940395
No

>hinata's speed is 2
>naori's speed is 4
>hinata cannot use rotation
>hinata has nothing but shuriken and kunai for ranged attacks

we can goof off here a bit.

>>3940395
Yes

>>3940408
That is how you lose anon

>>3940395
>>No

>>3940395
>>3940409
Blah, phone posting sucks
>Yes

>>3940395
You quickly bite your thumb, then make the required hand seals before sticking out one finger.

“Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Isoka!”

The tiny shrike appears in a puff of smoke, perched on your outstretched fingertip. She watches Hinata appraisingly. “So, I take it you called me to actually do something this time?”

“The bird talked?” Hinata wonders aloud.

“Non-lethal only,” you instruct Isoka. “You can do that for me, right?”

“Who do you think you’re talking to!?” Isoka chirps, taking off from your finger. “Just watch me!”

>1d6, DC 7
>Taking the first three

>>3940412
nigga what?

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3940412
>>3940414
cmon dice

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3940414
And somehow we still fail this DC.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3940414

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3940414
>>3940416
>>3940417
doubt it heh

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3940414

>>3940415
I thought you were correcting me about my formatting. Clearly I’m mistaken.

>>3940414
>DC 7
>first three rolled 11
Hinata never stood much of a chance, huh?

>>3940414
>inb4 Hinata just runs around like a chicken while Isoka throws Water Senbon and generally pecks Hinata into surrendering

>>3940414
You can hear some laughter in the stands at the unimpressive size of your summons… well, they won’t be laughing in a moment.

Isoka zips around the arena, practically disappearing from view, then zips back into fairly close range.

“Water Release: Tenkyū!” she chirps shrilly, firing a sharpened needle of chakra and compressed water from her beak. It streaks towards Hinata at the same time as a handful of shuriken, forcing her to take a few of the anaesthetic-coated anken across the left arm.

Then Isoka repositions once, twice, a third time as you keep Hinata occupied with shuriken and brief attacks using Umekiri’s edge. Then a second Tenkyū strikes Hinata’s left arm, the one that was numbed from your anken before.

After that point you close in, sticking mainly to Hinata’s left side. You make a few harrying cuts here and there, never giving your slower opponent a chance to fight back with her Gentle Fist style, until she steps too far into your space in an attempt to seal one of your tenketsu.

Your left arm meets hers, elbow to elbow, and you lock her arm by grabbing her shoulder with your left hand. Then, as she’s restrained, Isoka takes her chance.

“Tenkyū!”

This time the needle strikes Hinata in the neck, and she can’t move out of the way. Then you lift her by that shoulder as the water needle dissolves, and flip her through the air. She lands hard on her back, the wind knocked out of her lungs and her body robbed of its strength by the needle strike against a key pressure point.

Isoka perches once more on your fingertip.

“We’re faster than you are, and our reach is better,” you explain your advantages. “You did well to make it this far, and I was impressed with your technical knowledge of your clan’s style. But you still have room to improve.”

“Please withdraw and try again next time.”
>1/2

>>3940414
Birds are definitely the best, nothing preens quite so well.

>>3940432
Even after you turn away, expecting Shiranui-han to call the match.

But to your surprise, Hinata struggles back to her feet.

“I can’t do that,” Hinata informs you breathlessly. “I don’t give up… that’s part of my nindō.”

>I understand. (Knock her out)
>I refuse to strike someone who can’t effectively resist. That’s part of MY nindō.
>Argue that Shiranui-han should call the match.
>You may be able to manifest incomplete chakra chains to restrain her more gently.
>Other?

>>3940432
>You can hear some laughter in the stands at the unimpressive size of your summons… well, they won’t be laughing in a moment.
Fuck those guys.
>“Please withdraw and try again next time.”
God DAMN that felt good. Super sized summons are a vanity, being speedy as hell is just as good if not better for every day use.

>>3940435
>I understand. (Knock her out)

>>3940435
>>I understand. (Knock her out)
sure, its your brain

>>3940435
>>I understand. (Knock her out)
I respect Hinata's resolve, so just knock her the fuck out.

>>3940435
>I understand. (Knock her out)

>>3940435
>I understand. (Knock her out)

>>3940435
>>I understand. (Knock her out)

>>3940435
>I understand. (Knock her out)
>Genjutsu: Make Hinata fall asleep.

How do we fight Garra?

>>3940435
>>I understand. (Knock her out)

>>3940447
muddy his sand
or we just wait for him to chicken out in the fight against sauce boy, like in canon

>>3940435
>Gentle using genjutsu (failure may give Hinata a chance to attack)
>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)

>>3940435
>I understand. (Knock her out)
>Use Genjutsu. No need to rough her up more than necessary.

>>3940450
>gentle using genjutsu

>>3940450
>>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)
i still don't trust the dice

>>3940450
>>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)

>>3940450
>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)
Let's not potentially drag this out.

>>3940450
>>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)

>>3940447
Lots and lots and lots of bombs, coupled with a speed onslaught and misdirection.

>>3940450
>>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)
don't blame us for this, blame the dice

>>3940456
dragging it out really just means more chances to refill our SP pool, so i don't see an issue with it

i mean, she's down an arm. she can't do too much even if she hits us.

>>3940450
>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)

this isn't a spar or anything. this is a competition. holding back for no reason would be more insulting

>>3940450
>>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)
This seems like a better affirmation of her resolve. Also, we’ve given her plenty of opportunities to withdraw without lumps.

>>3940450
>Gentle using genjutsu (failure may give Hinata a chance to attack)

>>3940450
>>Rough using the back of Umekiri's blade (lower chance of failure)
Honestly fuck the dice today they've been all over.

>>3940450
>1d6, DC6 (Less than Easy)
>Taking first three