>>3946727
>>Just wait quietly.
I'm curious on if they'd try to attack us on the spot once the invasion starts up.

>>3946727
>>Ask Temari and Kankuro why the put up with Gaara if they’re clearly so terrified of him.

>>3946727

>Ask Temari and Kankuro why the put up with Gaara if they’re clearly so terrified of him.
Curious

>>3946727
>Ask Temari and Kankuro why the put up with Gaara if they’re clearly so terrified of him.

>>3946727
>Ask Temari and Kankuro why the put up with Gaara if they’re clearly so terrified of him.

>>3946729
I don’t see why they would. We don’t have any attachment to the hidden leaf, as far as they know.

>>3946741
Naori is a strong wildcard that leans heavily towards being honorable. I don't think Temari and Kankuro would believe she'd just sit tight while the Leaf are being attacked.

Either way it's not like I believe it'd happen 100% guaranteed, I'm just wondering if it would and wanted to set up circumstances to see what'd happen.. Talking to them basically fulfills the same thing, I just thought the topic would be insensitive to bring up.

>>3946727
>1d6, DC 11
>taking the first three

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3946748

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3946748
incoming shit dice.

>>3946748
Sorry, DC should be 9, not 11.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3946748

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3946748

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3946753

>>3946744
Fair point. I suppose we’ll have to wait and find out. I suspect that they won’t have to much time to devote to us, given that they are largely surrounded by Konohagakure genin.

>>3946766
*Konoha

>>3946753
“Why do you stick around that guy if you’re so terrified of him?”

Temari and Kankuro both turn to you like they’ve forgotten you were still around, looking more than a little uncomfortable at the reminder that you’ve been listening in the whole time. They exchange nervous glances, before Temari answers you.

“Because… he’s our younger brother,” she explains. “That’s the reason why.”

“Not like he ever acts like it,” Kankuro grumbles. “He’d kill us just as quick as he’d kill anyone else.”

You can’t help but shake your head. “How the heck’d he end up like that?”

“From day one,” Kankuro grumbles.

“Kankuro!” Temari snaps, rounding on what you now know to be her brother. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“You’re not saying I’m wrong,” he observes, before turning his attention back to the ring. “You wonder why our old man keeps trying to kill him? Mom’s the reason why, Temari. It’s gotta be.”

“Kankuro!” Temari snaps again, even louder this time. While Kankuro doesn’t apologize, he seems to realize he crossed a line when he mentioned their mother… who you gather is dead now. ‘From day one’ seems to imply she died in childbirth. Not reasonable, to hold a child responsible for that sort of thing, but perhaps understandable especially if their mother was a kindly sort of soul.

That sort of loss could easily break a family… you think.

The three of you fall silent.

Eventually, just as he’s about to be disqualified… Sasuke and Kakashi-han finally turn up. After a brief back-and-forth between Kakashi-han and Shiranui-han, the former leaves and Sasuke remains in the arena.

>Continue watching from here.
>Find where Kakashi and his other teammates are in the stands.
>Find Tenten’s team in the stands.
>Other?

>>3946776
>Continue watching from here.

>>3946776
>>Continue watching from here.

>>3946776
>Find where Kakashi and his other teammates are in the stands.

>>3946776
>>Continue watching from here.

>>3946776
>>3946791
Ignore this I'm changing my vote
>>Find Tenten’s team in the stands.

>>3946776
>1d6, high roll
>taking first three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3946796
and here comes the low rolls.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3946796

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3946796

>>3946796
>8: Easy
>writing

>>3946800
>>3946799
>>3946797
>8
fuckin mediocre

>>3946796
The first moments of the match between Sasuke and Gaara are something of a shocker: Sasuke is moving in a way you haven’t seen before, much more like Lee was in his match against Neji. In fact, you’d be willing to bet that he’s copying Lee’s taijutsu style… though he seems to be moving a bit slower than the original, it’s still entirely quicker than you’d expect of a genin. In fact you’d say that out of the genin you’ve seen fight so far Sasuke is currently the third-fastest, behind you and Lee.

He literally runs circles around Gaara, and you find yourself entranced by their fight so much that while you’re aware of Kankuro and Temari talking next to you it’s not clear what they’re saying. Their tone however is tense… which all things considered is to be expected.

“So this is the power of the Sharingan,” you muse, watching him carefully as he lands a series of blows on Gaara, battering him around despite the shield of sand that would ordinarily protect him.

The battle goes poorly enough in fact that Gaara raises a shell of sand around himself, protecting against attacks from every angle. Every time Sasuke tries to attack the sand morphs into spikes, all guided by a floating eye manifested outside the shell to maintain line of sight. Too small and mobile a target for Sasuke to hit individually, especially given its proximity to the shell itself: well within spiking distance.

Instead of continuing to fight like this, giving Gaara time to prepare whatever technique he’s doubtless preparing within his shell, Sasuke backs off. And not just a little… he backs off all the way up the side of the arena to about your own eye level.

>1d6, high roll
>Taking first three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3946819

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3946819

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3946819

>>3946822
DAMMIT SLEEPY!

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3946819

>>3946822
>SP: 5/6
This is a kinda big point, so:
>Spend 1sp to up the result from 8 to 9 (Moderate)
>YES
>NO

>>3946830
y

>>3946830
YES

>>3946830
Yes

>>3946830
yes

>>3946830
>>NO

>>3946830
no

>>3946830
>YES

>>3946830
>>YES

>>3946830
>SP: 4/6
>writing

>>3946830
Sasuke makes a few swift hand seals, then starts to do something dramatic.

“What is he doing?” Kankuro wonders aloud.

“It’s densely-concentrated chakra,” you realize. “Lightning-transformed by the look of it, so dense that it’s destroying the side of the arena.”

“When did he learn something like that?” Temari asks, completely dumbstruck. “I always assumed he was going to be a dangerous opponent, but this?”

Then Sasuke charges, straight down the wall and across the arena towards Gaara’s stationary shell of sand. So that’s why Kakashi-han focused on his speed… combined with the Sharingan to react more quickly to a counterattack like those spikes Gaara has been using, and it’s an extremely deadly charging thrust that largely mitigates the worst drawbacks to a blind charge.

That thrust penetrates straight through the shell, up to Sasuke’s elbow. The entire arena falls silent.

“Did he...” Temari practically whispers.

“The sand shield is still up,” Kankuro observes tensely. “But damn… who knows what’s going on inside there?”

You don’t have long to wait before you find out the answer, as Gaara lets loose an unearthly scream.

“I knew it!” Temari exclaims. “He’s hurt! Gaara’s actually hurt!”

“This is bad...” Kankuro mutters.

With some effort and another surge of electricity Sasuke wrenches his arm free of the sand, which was apparently trying to crush his arm at the elbow, and he backs off as an inhuman limb of sand lashes out from inside the shell before withdrawing.

“No… not again!” Kankuro practically pleads.

“Was that…” Temari begins before Kankuro cuts his sister off.

This is getting more and more suspicious. Kankuro clearly knows more about the situation than he’s letting on, but refuses to say anything about it or let Temari say too much either. What’s with this tension? Even the chakra you feel from Gaara is different somehow… darker, denser.

That’s when you start to feel it: genjutsu.

>Dispel the genjutsu immediately, keep alert.
>Dispel the genjutsu, but pretend that you haven’t.
>Dispel the genjutsu and confront the Sand Siblings.
>Other?

>>3946878
>>Dispel the genjutsu immediately, keep alert.

>>3946878
>Dispel the genjutsu immediately, keep alert.

>>3946878
>Dispel the genjutsu, but pretend that you haven’t.
If those two actually buy that from Naori, then they deserve what happens next.

>>3946878
>Dispel the genjutsu, but pretend that you haven’t

>>3946878
>Dispel the genjutsu, but pretend that you haven’t.

>>3946878
>>Dispel the genjutsu, but pretend that you haven’t.

>>3946878
>>Dispel the genjutsu immediately, keep alert.

>>3946878
>dispel genjutsu, stay alert

File: 1293101757847.png (251 KB, 937x1023)

251 KB PNG

>>3946878
You bite the inside of your lip, hard enough to draw blood, but when the Sand siblings move to dispel the genjutsu you collapse as though you hadn’t, first slumping over the railing then falling to one side to lie on your back.

“It’s finally time,” Kankuro declares. “She actually out?”

“I’ll check,” you hear Temari reply, and you soon can sense her leaning over you.

>Play ‘dead’ for now.
>Blind her with the blood.
>Attack her from the floor.
>Other?

>>3946894
That's everything Naori needed to know that they're in on whatever's going on.

>Blind her with the blood.

>>3946894
>>Blind her with the blood.
Letting someone check us over doesn't seem smart to me. It's playing a deadly game of chicken where she might notice, or choose to stab us 'to make sure'. I feel like it's better to take the initiative here.

I assume Naori has heard enough that I won't have to write in getting up and backing away from the two people who seem to be in on whatever the heck is going on from an IC perspective?

>>3946894
>Blind her with the blood.

>>3946894
>>Blind her with the blood

>>3946894
>>Play ‘dead’ for now.

>>3946894
>>Blind her with the blood.

>>3946894
>Blind her with the blood.

>>3946894
>1d6, DC 9
>Taking the first three

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3946923

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3946923

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3946923
Double 5s, nice

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3946923

>>3946894
Haha spitting blood at people is becoming our signature move.

I vote not helping Konoha and instead just following sensei.

>>3946923
>SP: 6/6
>Writing

>>3946959
We haven't even confirmed if she's here yet.

>>3946923
At what proves to be exactly the right moment, you spit the blood from your lip straight into Temari’s eyes. She cries out and backs away from you as you roll back onto your feet in a low crouch, but you find that her first instinct was a good one: she’s unfolded her fan.

The blast of wind basically destroys the viewing box, tearing the railing out of the wall with big chunks of concrete that tumble down into the arena in a massive jumbled pile. You manage to vault sideways over that railing before you’re seriously injured, though you do have to dust yourself off. Kankuro swings on chakra threads attached to the ground beyond you to reach the spot where Gaara has now collapsed near Sasuke, while Temari glides down atop her fan. They’re quickly joined by Baki, the burly jōnin who observed their preliminary fights, who barks his orders.

“Get Gaara out of the village!” he shouts. “He’s no good to us like this!”

“Right!” Temari acknowledges as she shoulders her injured younger brother and takes off for the wall even as you close in on them.

“Sasuke, you’re already at the chūnin level!” you hear Shiranui-han shout at Sasuke over the sound of distant explosions. Then he orders Sasuke to chase after the siblings.

You, on the other hand, find your progress barred.

“You...” you grumble, narrowly dodging a scything blade of compressed wind sent your way by the Suna jōnin. “Why are you doing this? You’re endangering innocent lives!”

“That’s part of the mission,” he declares, drawing a kunai. “I’ve already told Temari and Kankuro that you’re too strong for either of them to take on, and with Gaara wounded, my new mission is to deal with you myself.”

>I’m a neutral party here, and intend to do as I please. If you attack me however, that makes us opponents.
>I do not intend to pursue them. I’ll withdraw, if you’ll allow it.
>What you’re doing here is EXACTLY like when your villages overran my homeland, and I won’t stand idly by while you do it.
>Other?

>>3946981
>I’m not going stand idly by

>>3946981
>What you’re doing here is EXACTLY like when your villages overran my homeland, and I won’t stand idly by while you do it.

>>3946981
>>What you’re doing here is EXACTLY like when your villages overran my homeland, and I won’t stand idly by while you do it.

>>3946981
>What you’re doing here is EXACTLY like when your villages overran my homeland, and I won’t stand idly by while you do it.
Oh yeah, we are going there

>>3946981
>>What you’re doing here is EXACTLY like when your villages overran my homeland, and I won’t stand idly by while you do it.
Man fuck this bullshit and fuck you too.

Man, fighting a jonin is gonna do good things for our rep, depending on how it pans out.

>>3946981
>I’m a neutral party here, and intend to do as I please. If you attack me however, that makes us opponents.

>>3946981
>>What you’re doing here is EXACTLY like when your villages overran my homeland, and I won’t stand idly by while you do it.

>>3946981
>1d6, high roll
>taking three

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3947015

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3947015

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3947015
Off to a good start with a 3 and a 4

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3947015
Oh shit

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3947015

>>3947020
and then I ruined it.
>>3947021
>>3947022
Fuck I really ruined it.

>>3947015
“What you’re doing here,” you growl uncharacteristically as you unsheath Umekiri, “is exactly like what’s been done to my homeland so many times… I may not have some undying love for Konoha, but I’ll be damned if I let myself become the kind of hypocrite who would look the other way.”

Baki seems somewhat taken aback by your declaration, before smiling grimly. “That’s good… it’s been a long time since I fought someone with such strong convictions. I think I’m beginning to respect you, Raishō Naori. However...”

The jōnin lunges at you with his kunai, the force behind his swing at a totally different level from your own upper body strength… the strength, after all, of a fifteen year-old girl.

“… I can’t let that respect get in the way. So keep that hard edge of yours, otherwise you’ll die.”

You manage to quickly recover, only to find that not only is Baki stronger than you he’s also faster. His taijutsu however isn’t quite at your level… his swings are well-controlled and precise but predictable, almost mechanical in nature. Were it not for your own mastery of kenjutsu you’d probably already be dead.

>Open up some distance and use your exploding shuriken. Try to blast him.
>Use an illusion to create an opening for poisoned shuriken, cut his strength and speed advantage.
>Use an illusion and attack at his neck/arm from above. The shoulder pad should make it hard to raise his arm.
>Other?

>>3947026
>Use an illusion and attack at his neck/arm from above. The shoulder pad should make it hard to raise his arm.

>>3947026
>>Use an illusion and attack at his neck/arm from above. The shoulder pad should make it hard to raise his arm.

>>3947026
>>Use an illusion to create an opening for poisoned shuriken, cut his strength and speed advantage.
>>3947026
>>Other?
If/when he's slowed down, summon Isoka to watch your back and help out.

>>3947026
>Use an illusion and attack at his neck/arm from above. The shoulder pad should make it hard to raise his arm.

>>3947026
>>Use an illusion and attack at his neck/arm from above. The shoulder pad should make it hard to raise his arm.

>>3947026
>Use an illusion to create an opening for poisoned shuriken, cut his strength and speed advantage.
His arms and legs don't seem armored.

>>3947026
>>Use an illusion to create an opening for poisoned shuriken, cut his strength and speed advantage.

>>3947026
>>Use an illusion to create an opening for poisoned shuriken, cut his strength and speed advantage.

>need a tiebreaker

>>3947026
>>Use an illusion to create an opening for poisoned shuriken, cut his strength and speed advantage.

>>3947026
>1d6, DC 10
>taking three

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3947073

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3947073

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3947073

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3947073

>>3947073
You keep close, focusing your chakra into Umekiri’s blade and making three quick hand seals ending with the seal of confrontation. Baki also weaves a few hand seals after throwing the kunai at you and missing, before sending more wind blades your way. These meet an afterimage, an illusion that stood where you were moments before. The second he sends at another afterimage, only to find you peppering him with Suzumebachi-Anken from behind. Two strike his legs, and one strikes his right arm, leaving thin cuts across his limbs before they disappear in puffs of smoke.

“Damn!” he grunts, quickly retaliating with shuriken of his own which you evade with a graceful pirouette through the air.

Next it’s just a matter of staying defensive on your feet until the anaesthetic goes to work, leaving his legs and dominant arm sluggish and his steps noticeably less coordinated.

“Those shuriken were poisoned,” he realizes with a grunt. “Very clever, Raishō Naori.”

“It’s impressive that we’ve been left alone this long,” you realize, sparing a glance at the stands. It seems like the Konoha jōnin, including Kakashi-han and Shiranui-han, have been taking care of large numbers of chūnin… not just from Sunagakure, but strangers wearing camouflage clothing like those genin from Otogakure. You also notice a large barrier around the rooftop where the Kages were spectating, attended by a group of Konoha ANBU.

“Our momentum is stalling,” Baki realizes. “Without Gaara we’re missing a decisive edge.”

>Then you should withdraw. End this foolishness while you have time.
>Attack Baki using the Kengen Sōkō-ryū.
>Attack Baki, but try to incorporate a shadow clone with an exploding seal.
>Other?

>>3947098
>Attack from a distance, use your speed to keep away and pepper him with explosive anken

His limbs are numbed, he shouldn't be able to keep up or dodge effectively

>>3947098
>>Attack Baki, but try to incorporate a shadow clone with an exploding seal.

>>3947102
>>3947098
This

>>3947098
>Attack Baki using the Kengen Sōkō-ryū.

>>3947098
>Attack Baki using the Kengen Sōkō-ryū.

>>3947098
>>Attack Baki using the Kengen Sōkō-ryū.

>>3947098
To clarify, the sealing paper shuriken were what Tenshi told Naori not to use in front of any of the Sannin, especially not Jiraiya.

>>3947121
Thanks for that Queen. I was trying to recall the specifics of what she said not to use.

>>3947098
>1d6, DC 11
>taking the first three

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3947128

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3947128

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3947128
Gonna need at least a 5 here.

>>3947128
pre-emptive YES to burning 2 SP

>>3947128
>SP: 6/6
Pass with 2 SP?
>Yes
>No

>>3947139
>>Yes

>>3947139
>Yes

>>3947139
Yes

>>3947139
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

>>3947139
>>Yes

>>3947139
You clash with Baki several more times, leaving a few more small cuts to renew the anaesthetic effect as you wear him down. His wind blades become less and less well-aimed, and his movements are now clearly slower than yours despite still packing a heck of a punch. That’s when you decide to make your move.

Weaving some one-handed seals you set up the illusion, briefly confusing Baki as to your body’s movements before shifting your attention to your sword. For an instant Baki sees three swords, strikes aimed at his neck, head, and upper arm. He uses his wind blades one more time to try and hit you before any of the possibly-real blades in your hand can find their target, only to find that you’ve vaulted into the air and are now attacking from above.

His right arm comes up to parry, but his armored pauldron slows the movement. His eyes widen as he realizes that he can’t actually parry you in this position with his limbs weakened and his own armor restricting his movement… and as you tumble in the air you slice Umekiri’s edge through his right bicep to land behind him, completing the aerial flip.

The severed arm lands nearby as you pivot and kick off, opening up space again.

Instead of pursuing you Baki pops a pair of smoke bombs, escaping across the arena and leaving his missing limb where it fell.

You haven’t managed to kill him… you get the distinct impression that if he were fighting to the death he could have stayed and continued fighting. But his endurance has come to an end, and pushing as far as he has led to a crippling injury. It was a wise decision to withdraw while he still could, and your first inclination is to allow him to do so.

>Pursue Baki, ensure that he doesn’t rejoin the battle.
>Head up to the stands to back Kakashi-han and the other Konoha jōnin up.
>Summon Isoka, use Gaara’s blood on the field to track him and his siblings.
>Other?

>>3947158
>summon ishoka, track gaara

>>3947158
>>Head up to the stands to back Kakashi-han and the other Konoha jōnin up.
I trust the Konoha genin, and fuck taking part in their scenes. I never see shit going down in the stadium with the other jonin.

>>3947158
>>Summon Isoka, use Gaara’s blood on the field to track him and his siblings.
Sausuke vs. those three is a bad match, also something is up with Gaara.

>>3947158
>>Head up to the stands to back Kakashi-han and the other Konoha jōnin up.

>>3947158
>>Summon Isoka, use Gaara’s blood on the field to track him and his siblings.
maybe killing gaara now would be a wise choice
(in character thought, meta knowledge is that naruto would be on persuit)

>>3947158
>>Summon Isoka, use Gaara’s blood on the field to track him and his siblings.

>>3947158
>Go check out the barrier and what's going on inside.

>>3947158
>Head up to the stands to back Kakashi-han and the other Konoha jōnin up.

>>3947158
>1d6, high roll
>taking the first three

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3947195

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3947195

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3947195

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3947195

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3947195

>>3947195
Baki must have thought that he bought enough time for his students to escape. And he may be right, but you can’t know until you try… and it’s worth trying, because something’s very wrong with Gaara.

You quickly sheath your sword near the spot where Gaara was wounded, then bite your thumb and weave the seals.

“Kuchiyose: Isoka!”

The tiny shrike flits through the air excitedly. “You called again, Miss Naori?”

“I did,” you nod calmly, kneeling by Gaara’s blood. “Can you track the person this blood came from?”

“Leave it to me!” she declares triumphantly, perching on your finger as you lower your hand towards the bloodstain.

After a few seconds, she takes to the air. “This way!”

Isoka leads you up the wall and out of the arena, and then into the forests surrounding Konohagakure. You leave the chaos of the invasion behind you in the distance until you start seeing signs of a fight. Then you spot Temari, who seems to barely be on her feet after having been beaten by someone: probably Sasuke.

That means you’re on the right track.

>Keep pushing onwards after Isoka.
>Stop to interrogate Temari.
>Stop to capture Temari.
>Other?

>>3947223
>>Stop to interrogate Temari.

>>3947223
>>Keep pushing onwards after Isoka.
Well if we're committed I at least want to wow the fuck out of the konoha genin.

>>3947223
>>Keep pushing onwards after Isoka.

>>3947223
>Stop to interrogate Temari.
we need information

>>3947223
>Keep pushing onwards after Isoka.

>>3947223
>>Keep pushing onwards after Isoka.

>>3947223
>>Stop to interrogate Temari.

>>3947223
>interrogate Temari

>>3947223
You elect to pass Temari by, continuing instead to follow Isoka towards where Gaara is. Soon you can hear the sounds of titanic crashes and blasts, and can feel the wash of massive explosions.

“There’s a smaller chakra here!” Isoka chirps, taking refuge against the blast waves by perching on your left shoulder.

Swooping in, you find Sasuke standing in total shock as a massive toad wielding a tantō fights against a giant tattooed sand monster of some kind… like a badger, or a tanuki or something along those lines.

“What’s going on here?” you demand.

“It’s insane,” Sasuke declares, staring at the battle wide-eyed. “I couldn’t stop him… but Naruto...”

“Is that…” Isoka realizes, flitting away from your shoulder to perch on your outstretched finger. “What is that? Maybe Lady Nyoka would know?”

>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.
>This is nuts. Stay out of the battle and make sure Sasuke is safe too.
>… didn’t you have a third teammate?
>Other?

>>3947258
>>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.

>>3947258
>>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.

>>3947258
>… didn’t you have a third teammate?
>She's still being useless I see.
>>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.

>>3947258
>>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.

>>3947258
>>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.

>>3947258
>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.
Um, where did Kankuro go? Is he fighting Shino, and if so, why?

>>3947258
>last vote for tonight
>will continue tomorrow

>>3947258
>Nyoka sounds like a good idea right now for a LOT of reasons. Dismiss Isoka and summon Nyoka.

>>3947258
>Summon Nyoka

>>3947258
>>… didn’t you have a third teammate?
The shade is real

Also, I get the distinct impression that Sasuke’s inferiority complex is gonna go into overdrive after we’re done here.

>>3947290
should be fine, took several things to cause sauce's break down.

>>3947273
So that means the update will come tomorrow then?

>>3947258
>>… didn’t you have a third teammate?

>>3947258
>1d6, high roll
And, in a new mechanical twist:
>Considering the first four, dropping the lowest

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3947953

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3947953

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3947953

>>3947953
looks like we fuck it up, could we try again after this with new rolls, or is it a one time deal?

>>3947971
Let's wait and see what happens with the fourth roll before I make any decisions.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3947953

>>3947973
Alright, time to go with a secondary roll.
>1d6, DC 11 (Hard)
>taking the first three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3947987

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3947987

Rolled 4, 5, 3, 6, 3, 6, 5, 6, 4, 4 = 46 (10d6)

>>3947992
aight, let's shake these bad rolls out.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3947987

>>3947987
Well, on the upside that 6 recharges your SP entirely, so it's basically cut the cost to increase to a pass to 1 SP (4 to 6 to 3).

On the down side I'll have to start with an update including your previous failure, and then a vote whether to spend that SP.

>>3948000
>5: Failure
“Thank you for your help, Isoka,” you incline your head politely to the little bird. “But I think it’s time to try summoning Nyoka.”

“That’d be smart,” Isoka agrees, before disappearing into a puff of smoke.

You bite the tip of your thumb and begin weaving the seals as Sasuke watches dumbfounded.

“Don’t tell me you have a summons that can fight that monster too?”

“Kuchiyose: Nyoka!”

>5: Failure

There’s a puff of smoke… but no bird. You must not have put enough chakra into it to summon the bird you specified, and so instead of pulling in Isoka or Kijani or some other bird of lesser abilities and size, it simply failed.

You failed. At a moment like this, after exhausting a jōnin in single combat before slicing off his arm, you failed at a technique you should have control over by now. At such a crucial moment too, with a transformed Gaara rampaging around… and of all people, the one who pulled through wasn’t even Sasuke.

NARUTO succeeded at a technique where you failed.

>FAILURE
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2l6g_3ubdc

You draw Umekiri almost as a matter of instinct, but that isn’t your focus. Your chakra concentrates in your left palm, spinning violently as you add a third aspect inspired by Sasuke’s technique earlier: compression. You’re not even sure why you’re doing it, but you’re not going to stand here and just try the same technique over again. It’s high time to go on the attack, although it may be more honest to admit that you’re upset and ready to lash out at the most obvious target. On the other hand, the simple act of admitting that to yourself doesn’t change how you feel.

But yet again, something seems to be holding you back. Maybe it’s your emotional state, maybe it’s your relative inexperience in relying on ninjutsu. Maybe you’re starting to reach the limits of your own stamina. Whatever it is, it’s held you back already today… no, it’s been holding you back for years.

>SP: 6/6
Spend 3 SP to pass?
>Yes
>No

>>3948031
The update came together quicker than I thought, but I still plan to start properly at 10am PST. This vote will just decide how that session begins.

>>3948031
yes

>>3948031
yes
and someone get me the address for those diceheaded soon to be deadcicles, cause i am gonna freeze em to death

>>3948031
>Yes

>>3948031
>Yes
Though I'm curious what would happen if we fail again here.

>>3948031
>Yes

>>3948031
>Yes

>>3948031
>>Yes

>>3948042
someone would get really pissed
actually a lot of people
for example all of us
King
and Naori
and sauce would look confused and down on us

>>3948031
Yes

>>3948031
>>Yes

>>3948031
>SP: 3/6
You refuse to let yourself fail again, not when the proverbial chips are down like this. And so you continue to focus your chakra in your left hand, spinning it faster, agitating it and amplifying it, all while compressing that power as tightly as you can manage. When it feels like it’s almost too much you back off slightly in one regard, bringing it all back into balance when otherwise you might have failed.

Through that perseverance, you’re finally able to create a stable sphere of compressed, violently rotating chakra in your left hand. This is not an elemental release technique: it’s all raw power and shape manipulation, so it’s probably less powerful than it could be if you were capable of transforming its nature at the same time. Even if you do some day learn water and nature release, you somehow doubt you’ll ever have the ability to combine this shape manipulation with that nature transformation.

But for now, this should be enough.

With a low roar of agitation you leap from the tree limb where you found Sasuke, charging up the back of the giant toad.

“This girl...” the toad realizes as you charge straight past Naruto and vault from the toad’s head and across the short gap between him and the head of the monster, out of which Gaara protrudes.

“Not enough!” you cry, slashing through and springing from several sand tendrils that lash out to bar your progress.

“What the hell!?” the monster roars. “No… no no nononono...”

The sand around Gaara’s waist quickly wraps the boy and hardens around his body as a last defense, just before your ball of chakra meets it.

Time to see what this new technique is capable of.

The rotating chakra grinds into the shield of hardened sand, cracking it, then eventually blowing it apart as your bare fist crashes into Gaara’s exposed jaw.

“I just got free!” the monster protests loudly. “Damn you, little witch! Damn youu!!!”

As the sand reacts to your presence you kick off from Gaara’s chest, falling backwards through the air towards the forest below…
>1d100
>Best of four

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>3948264
Dice is a whore
fuck the dice

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>3948264
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAÁAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>3948264
Go for the catch!

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3948264

>>3948264
>“This girl...” the toad realizes as you charge straight past
Did he recognize Minato's rasengan?

>>3948264
It’s now or never.

Cutting your thumb on Umekiri’s blade as you sheath her, you flash through the hand seals in record time and extend your left palm trailing a little stream of blood. This time, you yell it.

“KUCHIYOSE: NYOKA!”

This time, a giant shrike appears at the palm of your hand, and as Nyoka pulls out of the dive you slowly settle in atop her back in a croch, just ahead of the base of her wings.

“Must you be so loud, Lady Naori?” your summons asks jokingly as she gains a little more height.

“Ask that after you’ve seen what we’re dealing with here,” you counter breathlessly.

Nyoka wings over, then spies the giant monster. “You summoned this one to fight Shūkaku?”

“Shūkaku?” you repeat, confused as to how Nyoka knows the name of this beast. “You know of this thing? How?”

“This one has faced Shūkaku before in the past, long before you were born, young one,” Nyoka explains, beating her wings gently as Gaara regains control over his transformed form. “I see… so the one in his forehead is the jinchūriki.”

“Please speak in words I can understand!” you practically plead with Nyoka. “I’m a fifteen year-old girl, Lady Nyoka, my experience with the world is limited.”

“This one must apologize,” Nyoka responds. “A jinchūriki is a human into which one of nine chakra beasts of unrivalled power have been sealed. These beasts are known as the bijū, and have between one and nine tails.”

“The sand-tanuki before us is Shūkaku, the One-Tail, and his jinchūriki.”

“Gaara of the Sand,” you supply the name.

>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?
>Keep us clear, Nyoka. I’m already exhausted from all the fighting today.
>Other?

>>3948292
>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?

>>3948292
>>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?
Because the only thing better than a kaijuu fight is a three-way kaijuu fight.
And I just want to show off, honestly. Be a badass and all that jazz.

>>3948292
>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?

>>3948292
>>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?

>>3948292
>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?

>>3948292
>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?
Teamwork is the dreamwork.

>>3948292
>>Is there some way we can attack? Coordinate with that giant toad?

>>3948292
“Is there some way we can help them?” you ask Nyoka.

After a few seconds, Nyoka replies in a calm voice. “This one’s main ability is to give my partner more resources to work with. But this one can do some damage… on the condition that you return to train in cooperation ninjutsu as soon as possible.”

“Done,” you reply immediately.

“That is what this one wished to hear!” Nyoka tells you cheerfully, before swooping into the fight.

“Toad! This one will give you an opening!”

“I have a name, bird...” the massive toad grumbles mutinously as Nyoka snatches up a pair of fallen trees. Then after gaining altitude again, Nyoka dives down on Shūkaku before releasing the trees. These slam into Shūkaku’s back legs, pinning him in place for just a moment as the toad charges.

Naruto leaps from the toad’s head and tries to attack Gaara again, but finds himself caught in tendrils of sand. The toad is thrown back by a powerful hammering blow.

Not one to give up, Naruto finally manages to land a hit… using his forehead.

Gaara, and the sand monster he’s become, freeze in place.

Then the body that was Shūkaku crumbles.

Gaara and Naruto both tumble into the forest below.

>Dismiss Nyoka, check on Gaara and Naruto.
>Dismount from Nyoka, wait and see how the rest plays out.
>Head over to Sasuke, see if he and his other teammate are okay.
>Other?

>>3948337
>Dismiss Nyoka, check on Gaara and Naruto.

>>3948337
>>Dismount from Nyoka, wait and see how the rest plays out.

>>3948337
>Dismiss Nyoka, check on Gaara and Naruto.

>>3948337
>>Dismiss Nyoka, check on Gaara and Naruto.
Might as well check on the knuckleheads I suppose.

>>3948337
>Dismount from Nyoka, wait and see how the rest plays out.

>>3948337
>>Head over to Sasuke, see if he and his other teammate are okay.
Nart is probably fine. I’m sure his hard head prevents him from taking falling damage.

>>3948354
Point. Changing to.
>Head over to Sasuke, see if he and his other teammate are okay.

>Dismiss Nyoka, Check on Gaara and Naruto.

If we get the chance as we taking out Gaara? I saw someone mention it earlier in threads, and he was in on this attack that is triggering PTSD of our homelands getting fucked after all.

>>3948337
>Dismiss Nyoka, check on Gaara and Naruto.

>>3948337
>>Head over to Sasuke, see if he and his other teammate are okay.

>>3948337
>Head over to Sasuke, see if he and his other teammate are okay.

>>3948337
>Dismiss Nyoka, check on Gaara and Naruto.

>>3948337
>1d100, best of three

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>3948396

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>3948396

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>3948396

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3948396

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3948396

>>3948400
Nice save.

>>3948400
A 95 and then a 96? The dice gods have finally ended their punishment for our hubris.

>>3948396
You direct Nyoka to land a short distance from where Naruto and Gaara fell, and give her beak an appreciative stroke.

“You saved my life, Nyoka,” you admit. “So I promise, I’ll be along to train with you as soon as possible… so that next time, I’ll be a partner you can rely on.”

“This one is glad to hear you say that with such sincerity,” Nyoka replies warmly, “and looks forward to our next meeting. At long last, it is gratifying to meet with such a dedicated summoner… this one is certain Isoka feels the same, despite the fact that she would never say so.”

You bow politely as Nyoka disappears, then turn your attention back to the congregation of chakra in the nearby forest.

In a small clearing you find Naruto face-down in the dirt, with Temari and Kankuro holding a barely-conscious Gaara up between them. Sasuke has caught them at it, and nobody has moved yet… they’re all too exhausted and hurt to fight. When Temari catches sight of you, Umekiri drawn at your side, her sheer terror is obvious.

“That’s good,” Sasuke pants. “Like this we can fight them.”

But is that wise?

Gaara is clearly a war power for Sunagakure, to the point where releasing Shūkaku was the centerpiece of their invasion plans. And their two respective Kages were fighting each other behind that barrier… that’s the only thing which makes sense, and strategically speaking tying them both down allows the invasion to continue without being impeded by the Hokage. So one of them is probably dead by now.

So if Gaara dies… that’s a problem. The Tsuchikage is almost certainly waiting for an opportunity to launch an attack on his ‘important’ neighbors. So in the case that the Hokage is dead there will be an invasion across your homeland and the Land of Grass against the Land of Fire… into which Sunagakure will probably be drawn. In the case that the Kazekage is dead, the invasion will be across your homeland and the Land of Rivers to the south. And if Gaara and the Kazekage are both dead, the likelihood of invasion instead becomes an absolute certainty.

Gaara may deserve to die. You’re not entirely sure you’re the one to make that judgment, but it’s certainly possible that the world would be better off without him. But if you kill him here, or allow him to die, the geopolitical consequences could very well be disastrous not just for your home, but for all the nations that would be dragged into the subsequent world war.

>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.
>Sheath your sword, and demand that Sasuke do the same. This needs to de-escalate starting RIGHT now.
>This is an opportunity to capture Gaara, but Sasuke needs to be out of the way.
>Other?

>Sheath your sword, and demand that Sasuke do the same. This needs to de-escalate starting RIGHT now.

>>3948429
>>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.

he is gonna hate us and i love it

>>3948429
>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.

Sadly I am in a no win situation. Hope you forgive me.

>>3948429
>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.
ok, yeah
we're not gonna start hoarding tailed beasts and request the second's corpse using the beast chakra as deterrent.

>>3948429
>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.

>>3948429
>>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.

>>3948429
>>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.

>Sorry Sasuke boy-han but this is bigger than just the fight in front of us.

Kinda what I imagine happening.

>>3948429
>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.

>>3948445
mfw I tried to pull a Pegasus and accidentally combined it with Naori's verbal tics.

>>3948429
>Sheath your sword, and demand that Sasuke do the same. This needs to de-escalate starting RIGHT now.

>>Raise your sword against Sasuke, explain your reasoning. You'll need to be ready to stand behind your position.

Are we really just going to let Gaara get away this easily though? I really feel like we should at least attempt a capture and hand off to Sensei, Kakashi, Anbu, Toad Sage?

IC reasoning is thinking if killing him is a confirmation of invasion then having him as a prisoner can be a good deterrent. Of course there's always the risk of Shikaku breaking bad again. I just feel Gaara is too big of a risk to let go free, at least shatter the gourd or something.

>>3948429
>Sheath your sword, and demand that Sasuke do the same. This needs to de-escalate starting RIGHT now.

>>3948429
>”this war just escalated into another world war. And I’m not keen on letting the world powers trample amekure again.”
>

>>3948456
Doing that would run the risk of turning Konoha into a full hegemon, and basically giving a village with a history of aggression towards ours dominance within the ninja world. Better to maintain the balance of power than tip the scales to the hidden leaf.

>>3948429
>capture Naruto as hostage if push comes to shove in order to make saiske back down

File: DVVNwHKVMAAF5qw.jpg (88 KB, 1181x558)

88 KB JPG

>>3948429
Instead of joining Sasuke, you step between him and the Sand siblings and raise your sword.

“What are you doing?” he demands. “These people just invaded my home, and now you’re defending them!?”

“Gaara was the centerpiece of Sunagakure’s invasion plans,” you observe calmly, staring past the tip of Umekiri’s blade to meet Sasuke’s eyes. “If we killed him, how long do you think it would be before the Tsuchikage launched an attack of his own? How many thousands of people in my homeland do you think would die because of it?”

Sasuke scowls and looks away, but doesn’t contest what you’ve told him… because he knows it’s true.

“Good,” you mutter. “There may be another world war some day… but I’m not going to be the one who starts it, nor am I going to sit back and watch someone else start it.”

“Thank you,” Temari begins behind you, only for you to round on her.

“Get out of here,” you order them. “And don’t thank me… you’ll just have to owe me one.”

She looks like she’s about to say something, but then nods instead. “Right. I understand.”

Then she and Kankuro take off, taking Gaara with them.

“Heh,” Naruto chuckles from the ground .”See, Sasuke? Toldja letting them go… was the right thing to do.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Sasuke grumbles. “You’re a real mess, you know that?”

“You’re one to talk,” you counter. “You’re barely on your feet.”

“Yeah,” he smirks. “But I am on my feet.”

>I feel like we’re forgetting something…
>So what happened out here before I arrived?
>We should get back to Konoha as soon as possible.
>Other?

>>3948486
>>I feel like we’re forgetting something…

>>3948486
>So what happened out here before I arrived?

>>3948486
>I feel like we’re forgetting something…

>>3948486
>pick up the blonde, toss him at sauske.
>Aren’t we forgetting someone? that pink hair girl, where is she?
>We better head back to Konohagakure, I think your hokage is in trouble

>>3948486
>>I feel like we’re forgetting something…

Wonder where Sakura was this whole time lol

>>3948486
>I feel like we’re forgetting something…

>>3948486
>We better head back to Konohagakure, I think your hokage is in trouble

File: 3fffff329d45d9f410376364b(...).jpg (45 KB, 1024x1024)

45 KB JPG

>>3948502

>>3948486
>I feel like we’re forgetting something

>>3948502
SakuWho?

i just realized, Naori has effectively replaced Sakura.

>>3948541
That'd require for Sakura to have done things equivalent to what Naori has been doing.

>>3948486
“I feel like I’m forgetting something,” you muse. “I’m forgetting something, aren’t I?”

“Sakura!?” Naruto realizes suddenly.

“No, Umekiri,” you reply, returning your blade to its scabbard. “And I’ve got her right here, see?”

“He means our teammate,” Sasuke clarifies. “You met her, remember? And she’s fine, by the way… when you beat Gaara the sand released her on its own.”

“Wait, she was here?” you ask curiously. “Since when?”
>1d6, high roll
>taking the first three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3948547

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3948547

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3948547

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3948547

>>3948555
>>3948557
>>3948558
9/18 averige

>>3948547
By the time you return to the gates of Konoha, the scale of the damage is clear. Bodies of shinobi lie everywhere, Konoha, Suna, and Oto alike all laid out chaotically wherever they fell. Smoke hangs in the air from tags, bombs, and fire, and the stench of fresh blood and burning bodies is inescapable.

But it seems like Konoha has won the day, driving off their attackers albeit at a heavy cost.

You’re carrying Sakura, while Sasuke is helping Naruto, when a Konoha shinobi finds you. He’s a fairly tall man in a bandana-style headband, with triangular red markings under his eyes and what appears to be a heavy shuriken launching weapon in one hand.

“It’s you kids,” he recognizes your little group immediately. “Asuma-san told us to keep an eye open for you… Kakashi-san is still in the arena. You’ll… understand why when you find out.”

You accompany team Kakashi back to where your whole crazy ordeal began, meeting up with Kakashi-han in the stands which have now been evacuated of civilians. Now all that’s left are a few bodies which haven’t yet been removed, and the victorious shinobi of Konohagakure. But for a victory, the mood seems decidedly grim.

“Here,” Kakashi-han insists, taking Sakura off your hands and laying her aside, well away from the fallen invaders. Sasuke places Naruto nearby before slumping against the wall.

“Is it over?” he mutters. “How bad?”

“It’s… not good,” Kakashi-han admits. “The Third Hokage was killed. We just found out a few minutes ago.”

Naruto and Sasuke both seem shocked at the news.

“Wait… what are you saying, Kakashi-sensei?” Naruto demands weakly. “Quit jokin’ around...”

>Was it the Kazekage?
>Did you see a one-armed Suna jōnin anywhere?
>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.
>Other?

>>3948578
>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>Was it the Kazekage?
>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>Was it the Kazekage?
>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
>Offer your account of what happened. Keep it professional.

>>3948578
“Kakashi-han, I have a report for you,” you bow politely. “There have been developments your village should be made aware of.”

“Let’s hear it,” he nods curtly.

“Gaara is the jinchūriki of the One-Tail,” you explain immediately. “After cutting Baki’s arm off I used my summons to track Gaara, but by the time I caught up he had already transformed and Naruto had engaged with a giant summoned toad. I summoned a giant partner of my own and between the two of us we were able to reverse his transformation.”

“Sakura was already out of the fight by then, and Sasuke was exhausted. Because I was the only one left in fighting condition at the end… barely… I insisted that Gaara and his siblings be allowed to withdraw alive.”

Kakashi-han sighs. “That’s a relief to hear… the last thing we need right now is for another world war to break out over this.”

“But they killed Lord Third!” Sasuke protests.

Kakashi-han shakes his head. “No, actually, they didn’t. It was Orochimaru posing as the Kazekage the whole time, so it’s likely that Sunagakure assisted the invasion on his orders.”

“You think the Kazekage was already dead before the exams began?” you realize.

Kakashi-han nods in agreement. “In all likelihood. So for Sunagakure to lose their jinchūriki as well… would all but guarantee a massive strike from Iwagakure.”

“So Naori-san was right...” Sasuke mutters. “I apologize for doubting you.”

“It’s okay,” you shrug. “It wasn’t my village that was attacked, so I can understand that you’d be angry. I would be too in your position.”

“You left part of the story out though,” Sasuke frowns. “That strike you used on Gaara the first time...”

>A fluke.
>A gamble.
>A new trick.
>Not your business.
>Other?

>>3948650
>>A new trick called 'None of your business'.

>>3948650
>Not your business
It's always bugged me that so many ninjas explicitly describe their techniques to everyone.

>>3948655
>no Jutsu

>>3948650
>A new trick.
>"Nothing but a dense mass of rotating chakra."

>>3948650
>>A new trick.
>And say nothing else.

Nin-nin motherfucker

>>3948650
>Not your business.