>>4347992
Eventually Sāra emerges into the central plaza, where the men Naruto freed have reunited with their families.

“… your name was Naori-san, wasn’t it?” Sāra asks you, as she keeps a polite distance.

“That’s right,” you acknowledge.

“Thank you, for helping to make this possible,” she tells you quietly. “For helping me realize what I needed to do, and for helping me to see it through.”

“Of course. I didn’t get a chance to meet your mother… but I think she’d be proud of you.”

“I’d like to think so too,” she thanks you, holding back a tear. “Thank you.”

A rumbling from deep below puts the celebrations on hold as the frightened civilians crowd together at the edge of the plaza. You’re about to speculate about what’s causing the rumbling when any question is put to rest, as a giant centipede-like puppet with massive green eyes and a pincer tail bursts from the ground.

You can barely hear yourself wishing Sasori-han was here over the sounds of the screams.

“That… hasn’t gone well at all,” you muse. “Has it?”

“You think!?” Sāra snaps back. “We left Naruto fighting those puppets, how did one of them somehow get bigger!?”

“Yeah, I thought given how much older he seemed he’d be better at this,” you admit. “It almost seems like he’s gotten less competent. That’s a real head-scratcher.”

>Sāra, get your people to safety. I’m going to take a crack at this giant puppet myself.
>Get your people to safety. I’ll protect you from the puppet.
>I’ll protect you from the puppet and use a few shadow clones to examine that thing up close.
>Other?

>>4347999
>Sāra, get your people to safety. I’m going to take a crack at this giant puppet myself.

Send the kid to do the job, end up doing it by yourself.

>>4347999
>>Sāra, get your people to safety. I’m going to take a crack at this giant puppet myself.

>>4347999
>>Sāra, get your people to safety. I’m going to take a crack at this giant puppet myself.

>>4347999
>Get your people to safety. I’ll protect you from the puppet.

>>4347999
>>Get your people to safety. I’ll protect you from the puppet.
naruto wtf

>>4347999
>Sāra, get your people to safety. I’m going to take a crack at this giant puppet myself.

>>4347999
>1d6, best three of four
>high roll

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4348281

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4348281

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4348281

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4348281

>>4348287
>>4348291
>>4348292
i blame Yoruichi

>>4348686
you know, i am not even mad in that case
best cat is best

File: Okita_Drama.png (496 KB, 823x933)

496 KB PNG

>>4348281
“Sāra, get your people to safety,” you insist, creating a shadow clone that pops out of her shadow and leaving her to continue your plan.

…

You are a shadow clone of a shadow clone of Raishō Naori, created from an abundance of caution.

“I want to take a crack at this giant puppet myself,” you admit, picking up where your other self left off. You’re wise to her plan even without mentioning it. “Go now. And remember… you’re so much stronger than you think.”

After a moment she nods in understanding. “I will leave this to you then. But you should try to remember… a knight is no good to her queen if she’s dead.”

“A knight, huh?” you muse. “Yeah. I kinda like the way that sounds.”

With that out of the way, and a slight bounce in your step, you confront the monstrous Anrokuzan just as Naruto gets himself slapped through a wall.

“So, the coward hiding in the shadows emerges!” Anrokuzan bellows, his massive eyes glowing as one of the large hands on his forelimbs fires a claw larger than your own body towards you. “Just in time to be crushed like a...”

His taunt ends abruptly as you sidestep, posture and expression unchanged, as though he had just missed wide right.

“Far from it,” you muse playfully, folding your arms over your stomach. “I wasn’t hiding, I just hadn’t seen anything worth my time. But now, with the limitless flow of power from the Ryūmyaku, you have my attention.”

“Wait… I know that outfit...” Anrokuzan muses. “How is the Akatsuki here?”

“I’m here because you were sloppy,” you counter. “So don’t get mad at me when you brought this on yourself.”

“It’s no matter!” Anrokuzan insists loudly. “With this eternal form, none shall be able to stand in my way!”

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

With a single shout of exertion, mostly because it feels appropriately dramatic, you finish drawing in natural energy and enter sage mode, dropping into a lower stance with fists clenched and your arms at your sides. Just that exertion cracks the stone pavement in a wide spiderweb around your feet, and the plaza seems to reverberate with the sound like the inside of a great stone drum.

If Anrokuzan were capable of taking a single step back, you get the impression he’d be doing exactly that.

“What say we turn this into a kaijū battle?” you smirk, reaching out to beckon Anrokuzan towards you with your hand. “I can show you who the real monster here is.”

"Spoilers: it's me."
>1/2

>>4349459
With a roar the monster that was once Anrokuzan strikes the stone pavers where you were standing an instant before, but instead of crushing you in a single blow as he probably intended he simply leaves himself open for you to scale his right arm. Drawing Umekiri you counter, slashing through his puppet body once, twice, then again at the elbow, a fourth time, and then a fifth as you separate the limb at the shoulder joint. Next you proceed by delivering a savage blow to the side of his head.

“Ranton: Rekuyemu!”

The storm chakra-enhanced strike feeds on the chakra from the Ryūmyaku running through Anrokuzan’s artificial body and so the exit wound blows out the entire right side of his face.

He howls in fury, his violent writhing forcing you to leap from his shoulder and onto the side of a nearby tower. While it clearly wasn’t a finishing blow you’ve learned several things from what you’re going to charitably call an ‘exchange’. First, you now know that despite his increased size the materials he used in constructing this body are unremarkable, nowhere even close even to Sasori-han’s early works before he left Sunagakure.

Second, as is becoming clear, the giant body can regenerate itself so long as it has access to the energy drawn from the Ryūmyaku. It’s inconvenient, but you suppose you simply haven’t found a fatal spot… and you know that even a puppet always has at least one such weakness regardless of how well constructed it is. It’s just a question of reasoning it through, and to you the most likely answer is whatever is serving as the ‘core’ through which the power of the Ryūmyaku is flowing.

Third, and this comes as a surprise to you, it seems that anyone can technically use the power of the Ryūmyaku. Your senjutsu-enhanced attack drew in and transformed the chakra inside Anrokuzan’s puppet, so it stands to reason that you should be able to do the same yourself drawing power from the Ryūmyaku to enhance your own sage mode.

“He can regenerate!” Naruto shouts at you.

“Believe it or not I noticed!” you shout back. At this very moment in fact, Anrokuzan is doing just that.

“I’ll admit it was an impressive effort, girl!” Anrokuzan crows as his head reconstructs itself. “But ultimately useless!”

Hopefully less useless than Naruto are the three shinobi from this time period’s Konohagakure, including Minato-han, who are just arriving at the plaza.

>Let them handle this for now… you know that Naruto’s chakra blade has to end up in Sāra’s possession at some point, and you’re curious to see how that happens.
>You can keep the pressure on him just as you are. You’ve proven that you can go trade blows with him favorably even when he has this much power at his control.
>You can draw in energy from the Ryūmyaku while in sage mode, you’re sure of that now. Withdraw for now and test that out.
>Other?

>>4349476
>>You can keep the pressure on him just as you are. You’ve proven that you can go trade blows with him favorably even when he has this much power at his control.
give the others a chance to finish him or find the weakspot

>>4349476
>You can keep the pressure on him just as you are. You’ve proven that you can go trade blows with him favorably even when he has this much power at his control.

Give opening for rest of the Konoha lads to deal with the threat.

>>4349476
>You can draw in energy from the Ryūmyaku while in sage mode, you’re sure of that now. Withdraw for now and test that out.

>>4349476
>You can keep the pressure on him just as you are. You’ve proven that you can go trade blows with him favorably even when he has this much power at his control.

>>4349476
>You can keep the pressure on him just as you are. You’ve proven that you can go trade blows with him favorably even when he has this much power at his control.

>>4349476
>>Let them handle this for now… you know that Naruto’s chakra blade has to end up in Sāra’s possession at some point, and you’re curious to see how that happens.

>>4349476
>>>4349476 #
>>You can draw in energy from the Ryūmyaku while in sage mode, you’re sure of that now. Withdraw for now and test that out.

>>4349476
>You can draw in energy from the Ryūmyaku while in sage mode, you’re sure of that now. Withdraw for now and test that out.

>>4349476
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4351189

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4351189
GO HIGH MY ROLL!

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4351189
>>4351198
nope

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4351189

>>4351216
Bless your dice

>>4349476
“Naruto!” you demand. “You’re already pushing your chakra limits. Go find princess Sāra and make sure she and her people are safe.”

“But I...” he begins to protest, only for Minato-han to intervene.

“I agree with her,” he insists. “Protecting the innocent bystanders is an important task too. We’ll all be counting on you.”

After a few moments, Naruto nods curtly. “Okay, got it.”

…

“Now then,” you muse as you turn back to the task at hand. Anrokuzan’s massive puppet body has long since finished regenerating, and he’s gone back to wreaking havoc on the city. “How to go about this...”

“We can handle it,” the Akimichi declares, stretching his shoulder. “You just stand back and let us handle it!”

“Go,” Minato insists, before turning to you. “I’ll ask that you wait until you see the results of their engagement.”

“Is this part of some clever plan?” you muse.

He shakes his head. “Not so clever, no. I just want to set up multiple lines of defense, and my teammates are going to be the first line. By the time they withdraw we’ll have had a chance to plan the next step.”

You shake your head. “Sorry, but I still think it’s a waste of time.”

“How so?”

“I’ve already discerned his weaknesses,” you insist. “That’s what Kengen Sōkō-ryū, the “Sword-Illusion Armor Style”, is based on.”

“I see,” he muses, “so it’s based on the ‘shingan’ principle?”

You pause. “You’re… familiar with the concept?”

You both pause for a moment as his teammates engage Anrokuzan, at least judging by the noise you think that’s what happened.

“Come with me for a moment,” he insists.

…

From a vantage point atop a tower with a clear view of the scene, where you can see that somehow Sāra has ended up with Naruto’s chakra blade as it should have been, you watch. And Namikaze Minato makes a sudden comment that changes the whole tone of the situation.

“That’s my son, right?”
>1/3

>>4351380
“I’ve never been told so explicitly,” you admit, “but yeah, I’m pretty sure he is.”

“I’m the same way you are,” Minato-han tells you, “in that even in the heat of the moment I like to always observe things closely. The same way you’ve probably picked up on the fact that Anrokuzan’s weak point is his original puppet body through which chakra from the Ryūmyaku flows, I’ve been picking up on details this whole time as well.”

“Have you now?”

“It’s not hard to see it,” Minato admits with a chuckle. “He is a blonde Uzumaki who knows the Rasengan. All the signs are pretty obvious that Kushina-san and I are going to have a child at some point, and name that child for the character in Jiraiya-sensei’s book.”

“Sorry,” you apologize rather lamely.

He shakes his head. “It’s not a problem, I plan to erase everyone’s memories of this anyway. And it’s not like you called me here knowing Naruto-kun was going to show up, right?”

“That’s right,” you admit. “I asked for you in particular because I knew you had to be here… I see Naruto-kun and Sāra-han have gone back underground.”

“And Shibi-san and Chōza-san are having trouble,” Minato-han realizes as the battle begins to take a turn against the Konoha shinobi. “Too bad… using the Kikaichū to try and drain the excess chakra was a decent plan. But the rate he’s drawing on it is too great.”

“You don’t sound surprised,” you frown.

“I’m not,” he shrugs, rising to his feet. “After all, I think you and I both know why I set things up this way.”

...

You follow Minato-han as he chases after Anrokuzan, who has begun to chase after Sāra and the others.

“This is starting to get tedious,” you grumble. “I probably could have killed him by now.”

“I know that,” Minato-han replies. “You’re a Sage after all, I know better than most what that means. But I also know you’re keenly aware of the risks involved in your simply being here. Otherwise I’d have tried to disperse you by now.”

“You’re not wrong,” you admit. “That’s what makes it so tedious.”

“For what it’s worth I think you’re doing great,” Minato-han smiles, reaching out to touch your shoulder. “Hang on for a moment, this may be a little disorienting.”
>2/3

>>4351384
You instantly reappear just in time to hack a claw off one of Anrokuzan’s hands while Minato-han pulls Naruto away from a blow that would have connected with him directly.

“Are you okay?” Minato-han asks his son.

Naruto nods curtly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Good timing, I could use your help taking this guy out.”

“Actually, it’s me that needs your help again,” Minato replies calmly as you ward off another attack from Anrokuzan. “I need you to keep protecting Queen Sāra. Catch up with her and catch your breath, your friend and I are going to locate Anrokuzan’s weak point.”

“His weak point?” Naruto repeats.

“Less talking more running!” you shout, slicing through Anrokuzan’s palm and watching the purple chakra from the Ryūmyaku repair the damage in front of your eyes. “Go, Naruto-kun!”

“Okay, I got it,” he agrees, running down the stairs after Sāra and her group.

Once Naruto is clear, you get to see Minato-han in action. He draws a strange-looking kunai with a wooden handle, marked with the same sealing formula as before when you first saw it, and hurls it at Anrokuzan.

“Shuriken Shadow Clone!”

The kunai explodes into a hail of marked Hiraishin kunai midflight, peppering the surface of Anrokuzan’s puppet body and slowly peeling the outer layer of armor away. Eventually, you spot it: a puppet like a black ant embedded in the upper right chest of the larger, monstrous body, exposed by a series of strikes to the same spot.

You’re sure that Minato can see it too.

>He can end this easily by preparing a rasengan and teleporting to one of the kunai. He’s got this in the bag.
>Your turn. It may be hard, but you can get past the kunai and deliver the killing blow yourself.
>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.
>Other?

>>4351405
>>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.
We can afford to be thorough about this thing.

>>4351405
>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.

TEAMWORK!

>>4351405
>>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.

>>4351405
>>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.

>>4351405
>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.

>>4351405
>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.

>>4351405
>>Start gathering chakra from the Ryūmyaku for yourself. Get ready to exceed Anrokuzan’s ability the moment Minato-han gives you the word.

Super contentious here.

>>4351405
Hell, let's go ahead and roll for it.
>1d6, DC 10
>best three of four

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4351579

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4351579

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4351579

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>4351579

>>4351579
You start drawing in chakra from the Ryūmyaku, using your enhanced senses… really, it’s not that different to natural energy. If anything it’s significantly easier to handle once you’re familiar with the unique sensation of the chakra.

The resulting form feels significantly stronger even than your regular sage mode, though you’ll have to be careful not to exceed your limits too much. If this new form carries some sort of backlash, that backlash might be sufficient to disperse you.

“Just say the word,” you tell Minato-han.

The stream of shadow cloned kunai slacks.

“Minato-han?”

“Gōryūka!” Anrokuzan roars, unleashing a massive torrent of purple flames at the spot where you and Minato are standing, forcing you to use a shunshin to evade and Minato to disappear back up the vertical tunnel with his Hiraishin. A wide stretch of the stairs and walls are left covered in flickering purple wisps that cling to the stone.

A second blast and a crash of limbs allows Anrokuzan to charge down into the depths.

“Damn it all!” you curse. Why didn’t Minato-han finish the fight? Unless…

… once you can put the wall of flames out you can safely chase after Anrokuzan. You’re beginning to suspect that Minato-han hasn’t intended to stop Anrokuzan himself from the start, and instead intends to help Naruto-kun do it in whatever ways he’s needed.

…

Far below, you find the source of the Ryūmyaku. This is where you came the first time, where the sealing formula which you were placed into as a silent guardian was located and where you first met the Fourth Hokage.

You arrive just in time to watch Minato-han, who teleported to Naruto’s side, form what looks like a green rasengan that he merges with Naruto’s own blue rasengan.

“Use this, Naruto,” Minato instructs before naming the technique. “The Ultimate Supreme Rasengan!”

“What is that jutsu!?” Anrokuzan demands. “Nevermind, I’ll just have to send the two of you to Hell before Sāra!”

With a roar and a flash, a powerful surge of chakra from the Ryūmyaku strikes Anrokuzan’s massive body and charges him to stupid levels of raw power… still, not enough to challenge you head-on.

“Ultimate Gōryūka!”

The blast misses of course. Minato-han made sure of that. But it certainly looked impressive up until the Konoha-nin make their counterattack.
>1/3

>>4351657
“Shuriken Shadow Clone!”

Another barrage of kunai exposes the same core as before, just as Minato-han practiced on the stairs above this chamber.

“Naruto!” Minato-han calls out. “There’s his vital spot!”

“Got it!” Naruto replies, charging with his blue-green rasengan in hand. “Let’s end this!”

Wire-guided claws lash out to intercept Naruto as he charges, only to careen out of control and crash down as folded paper shuriken slice the chakra threads guiding them. You’re not about to let that happen.

“Take this!” Naruto shouts, leaping high into the air. “Ultimate Supreme Rasengan!”

Anrokuzan raises an arm to block, only for Naruto’s attack to churn through it like it’s not even there. Not only does he destroy the target, he wipes out the entire left side of Anrokuzan’s puppet torso and half his head in one go, obliterating everything it touches.

“Curse you, Sāra!” Anrokuzan growls, realizing that the Ryūmyaku having been shut by her sealing technique means he won’t be able to regenerate. “Curse you all! The five great nations… I was supposed to rewrite history!”

He begins to thrash madly. “I refuse to die like this! You will all perish with me, starting with you, Sāra!”

He stops at the edge of the bridge leading out to the central pillar as he finds you waiting for him.

“Still you stand in my way!?” he demands.

“How graceless,” you grumble. “Get out of my sight.”

“Rekuyemu Hiryūtō.”

With a single blast of storm release chakra, enhanced by the last of your Ryūmyaku chakra, you shatter the remaining puppet and burn the fragments away into dust.

“Coulda done that from the start,” you grumble.

Minato-han appears at your side. “But you do understand, right?”

You shut your eyes and sigh wearily. “Seriously, what is it about being a parent...”

He chuckles. “Maybe some day you’ll understand how it feels, but until then let’s just say it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Now then, I think there’s one more thing I have to do to set things right here. Will you come with me for a moment?”
>2/3

>>4351658
“Naori-san?”

You turn to look at who’s joined you at the Ryūmyaku source to find an unfamiliar Konoha jōnin and a very familiar white-haired brat.

“Sensei,” Kakashi-kun greets Minato-han. “I found this guy by the main gate to the city, passed out. Looks like one of ours?”

“So he is!” Minato recognizes as the jōnin bows politely.

“It’s an honor to meet you,” he greets his senior. “Naori-san, how are you also here?”

“Do I know you?” you ask.

He seems completely crushed by your lack of recognition. “Come on, don’t you think that’s just a little cold?”

Minato places one of his marked kunai right where it should be, and re-engages the seal on the Ryūmyaku.

“There,” he declares, turning to you. “I guess I’ll see you again in twenty years or so?”

“Something like that,” you agree.

Sāra seems startled, pointing at Naruto. “Naruto-kun, you’re glowing!”

“Seems as though the pendulum has started to swing back,” the nameless Konoha-nin muses. “Figures.”

“There’s not much time,” Minato-han declares, placing a palm on the ground. “I’m going to erase everyone’s memories of this event, including the people of Rōran. It’ll only take a moment.”

“Hey, wait,” Naruto interrupts. “Old man, are you… by any chance...”

“If I have a son,” Minato-han insists, “I’d be proud if he grew up to be like you, Naruto.”

“Wait a minute,” Kakashi-kun. “Doesn’t anyone else think it’s strange that girl isn’t glowing?”

…

“I see,” Minato-han muses. “So the mission was a success… but something strange must have happened. Seems like I erased a lot of the details from our memories.”

“Why, sensei?” Kakashi-kun wonders.

“How did I get here?” Sāra asks. “I recall something about a battle… Anrokuzan was guilty of treason, and of murdering my mother?”

“That matches my remaining memories,” Minato agrees. “It seems the three of us defeated Anrokuzan and sealed the Ryūmyaku. I probably took precautions against polluting the timeline… it seems the rumors that Minister Anrokuzan came from the future may have had some truth to them after all.”
>3/4

>>4351676
“That sounds a little too ridiculous,” Akimichi Chōza admits with a frown. “But, all’s well that ends well, I guess.”

“You did well protecting the princess, Kakashi-kun.” Minato-han declares. “I’ll be sure my report reflects that.”

“I did?” Kakashi-kun wonders aloud. “Funny, I don’t remember any of it too clearly, sensei. But I’ll take your word for it.”

“Along with the credit,” Aburame Shibi muses.

“That’s not fair!” Kakashi-kun protests. “You don’t have to tease me, Aburame-san!”

…

“It seems he missed a spot,” you finally muse around breakfast time the next morning, causing Sāra to yelp and drop her teacup.

She pauses for a moment. “Naori-san?”

“The same,” you muse, stepping out of her shadow with a smirk. “I’ll take care of that… seriously, my fault for the bad timing.”

"How!?"

"I was in your shadow the whole time."

“I… my memories are fuzzy from yesterday,” Sāra admits. “There are things I don’t remember about you. I feel like I have forgotten something important.”

“A side-effect of Minato-han’s memory erasure technique,” you explain. “Try not to focus on it too much and it should go away in time.”

“Were your memories affected?” she asks.

You shake your head, throwing the porcelain away and grabbing a towel. “No, I still remember everything. He was right, it’s better that the rest of you don’t remember what really happened.”

“All I remember is what was important,” Sāra muses. “That you were there for me, even when I didn’t know it. And I truly appreciate that.”

“I can never repay your kindness.”

“You owe me nothing,” you insist. “Seriously, I enjoyed watching out for you.”

>And I’d like to continue to do just that, if you’ll allow me. Nothing too intrusive, just a little extra security for when you need it. (Guardian Angel route)
>And I thought that before I disappeared, I should at least say a proper goodbye. I’ll try not to make it too mushy. (Non-Interference Route)
>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)
>Other?

>>4351686
Would we have ANY clue on the mechanics of memory transfer if somehow our clone survives until we are born? Would Naori be like five and suddenly gain years of memories? Or does that sort of thing de-sync after a while?

>>4351686
>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

>>4351686
>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

>>4351686
>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

>>4351686
>>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

>>4351703
IC Naori's clone knows she can edit her own memories with her copy of Izumi's Mangekyo. So she'd be able to transfer just the gist of it when the time comes so long as she's careful, by parsing out all the years worth of day-to-day minutiae. And that's assuming that in twenty years the clone won't figure out how to extract memories and place them into a sealing technique for later browsing.

>>4351686
>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

>>4351686
>>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

>>4351686
>>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

>>4351686
>I’ll be sticking around for a while. I want to do a favor to a young girl, who was kind to me once when she didn’t have to be. (Save Sāra in the war so Sēryū won’t be orphaned)

“It’s an honor to meet you,” he greets his senior. “Naori-san, how are you also here?”

“Do I know you?” you ask.

He seems completely crushed by your lack of recognition. “Come on, don’t you think that’s just a little cold?”

Hey uh who was this?

>>4352119
Shino, I think. It's his running gag.

>>4352119
>>4352170
I think Yamato was part of the movie, since he lead the team from time to time and this naori hasn't met him yet, so she can't recognize him.

>>4352119
See >>4352753
Yamato was leading Team 7 on this mission, but hadn't engaged at all with Naori (Past) in his time there so he didn't realize that she was actually from a different time period than they were.

You'll see him again shortly.

>>4351686
“I plan to stick around for a while,” you admit to Sāra. “I want to do a favor to a young girl I met once, who was way kinder and friendlier to me than I had any right to expect, at a time the rest of the world still thought I was comically evil.”

“Comically evil?” Sāra repeats your words, uncertain how anyone could reach such a conclusion. “You must forgive me if I find that hard to believe.”

“It’s a story I can’t tell you just yet,” you explain. “But in time, maybe.”

…

You are Raishō Naori, and something that never made sense to you before suddenly clicks.

“I see what you did there,” you tell Tsunade-han with a chuckle. “I’ll be back to report on what happened in a minute.”

You weave your shortened series of three hand seals, instantly teleporting to Princess Sēryū’s side in the desert, right on the outskirts of the ruins of Rōran. Naruto, Sakura, and Sai are all stunned, immediately leaping to combat readiness, while Captain Yamato doesn’t really react at all.

“Hm?” Sēryū muses, realizing you’re here. “Aunt Naori! I didn’t realize you were going to be here!”

“Aunt Naori!?” comes a chorus from the stunned onlookers.

“Sēryū-rin,” you smile, giving your god-daughter a quick hug. “Let me explain a few things real quick?”

“Okay!” she replies, letting you take the chakra blade from her hand and flip it round to show the hilt.

“See, Tsuna-han had the sealed records from the Fourth Hokage’s mission here,” you explain, “so she realized that there was going to be a temporal anomaly. She apparently decided to modify your chakra blade, Naruto-kun, using one of my Hiraishin-marked tags. That’s the strange sensation I got from the blade when I first met Princess Sēryū here about a year ago.”

“It’s also why I feel like I have two sets of memories of that day, one where she felt familiar and one where she was a particularly friendly stranger.”

“I’m… not following you,” Sakura admits.

“I think you have a scroll for me?” you ask Sēryū.

She nods, pulling a scroll out of a pouch at her side and handing it to you. “Mom gave this to me this morning, said I would need it?”

“Excellent,” you muse.

You open the scroll and scan its contents.
>1/2

>>4352832
The first things in the scroll are a series of specific historical dates: the beginning and ending of the Third Shinobi World War, Kurama’s attack on Konohagakure, the date and time of your mother’s death, the date of your graduation when you met Konan-sensei, the date and outcome of your first official mission as a genin, the key dates and details of your chūnin exams as well as the outcome of the attempted invasion of Konoha, the day you started and completed your senjutsu training, the date of Ajisai’s death, the date of your departure from Akatsuki.

There are also detailed mission records from your time in Akatsuki and details about your battles against them since then, major actions defending Konohagakure and their outcomes, key contacts you’ve met, details about your relationship with Konan-sensei, and your self-imposed mission to promote international cooperation. There are also several key testimonials from Temari, Fū, Karin, Yugito, Ryūzetsu, and even three Kages: Terumi Mei, Tsunade, and Gaara.

Everything tracks closely with your own memories, as well as the memories your shadow clone recorded. So while much changed surrounding the fate of Rōran and its people, those changes don’t seem to have had any ripple effects that you can discern in your own life experiences. You are still, substantively speaking, the same Raishō Naori who existed before your clone went back in time, and the people around you are largely unchanged as well… for better or worse.

“Wow, she was thorough,” you muse.

“Who was?” Naruto demands.

“I left a shadow clone sealed into the formula that kept the Ryūmyaku closed,” you explain, “so when Mukade absorbed the formula and got sent back in time, it dragged her back as well. But you don’t recall that, do you?”

“No?” Naruto insists, before eventually relenting slightly. “Well, not really… I feel like I was dreaming.”

“I was about to tell Sakura-kun not to be too harsh on you,” Captain Yamato muses, “because I felt the same sense that I’d been dreaming.”

“That’s the work of the Fourth Hokage,” you explain. “He erased the memories of everyone involved… except for the original shadow clone of me that was sent back, who was hiding in Queen Sāra’s shadow.”

There are a few other things sealed into this scroll… memories, it seems. Touching the first of these sealing formulae marked “techniques” floods your mind with about a half hour of technical experiences that detail how your shadow clone devised this sealing formula using the self-hypnotic abilities of a Mangekyō sharingan. It also transfers her understanding of the Hiraishin technique after having seen and experienced Minato-han’s use of the technique firsthand…
>1d6, high roll
>best of three

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4352841

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4352841

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4352841

>>4352841
… both of which are techniques you now know.

The second set of memories is labelled “guardian angel”, and highlights five years worth of memories from the time your clone spent safeguarding then-princess Sāra. It totals about three hours of memories, that leave you reeling slightly from the sudden transfer of knowledge.

“Are you okay, Naori-san?” Sēryū asks you anxiously.

You nod. “Yeah, it’s just a lot to take in at once. My clone spent five years watching over the princess from inside her shadow… comforting her when she felt alone or scared, even saving her life once. They’re seriously warm and fuzzy. She cared for Sāra pretty deeply.”

“See?” Naruto insists to Sakura. “Told ya it wasn’t anything weird.”

The next set of memories are about an hour total from Anrokuzan’s rebellion, which Naruto, Yamato-han, and especially Sēryū are eager to hear a summary of. After that you get about an hour detailing the invasion of Rōran and how you saved Sāra’s life when the time came: like your past self suspected it was a gas attack that would have all but destroyed her lungs, which would have led her to a similar death to your mother Makoto’s some time when Sēryū-rin was a child. But your past self, fond as she was of both princesses, simply couldn’t allow that to happen.

It was reckless, and potentially dangerous, but feeling even a fraction of what she did for the royal family of Rōran you can’t say you fault her for doing it.

You also get a further seven hours of living in Queen Sāra’s shadow after that point, split into two easier chunks. Her marriage, the birth of her daughter Sēryū and being told that you would be her godmother, the death of her husband in a tragic accident that you couldn’t have predicted, all of Sēryū’s birthdays, flashes of the daily minutiae as she grew up, insight into how the kingdom of Rōran was re-established at a different oasis, becoming a modest but peaceful kingdom Queen Seramu would have approved of.

The clone of you kept them all safer than they would have been in that time, while they reestablished themselves, helping Sāra and Sēryū any way she could. You also get flashes of how she would occasionally send a clone who looked more like you do now out to gather information to help you confirm the extent of any changes in your subjective timeline.

Then she extracted and encoded these memories into fūinjutsu formulae, wiped most of the rest of her own memories, and popped herself, to save you the agony of having to incorporate a quarter of a century worth of her memories and experiences, leaving the scroll for Sāra to deliver to you.

The only thing she ever asked for in return.

“Are you… crying?” Naruto realizes suddenly.

>Yeah, I am. Let’s just leave it at that while I go re-seal the Ryūmyaku.
>Try to explain, as best you can, how you came to gain a second family.
>Other?

>>4352856
>>Try to explain, as best you can, how you came to gain a second family.

>>4352856
>>Try to explain, as best you can, how you came to gain a second family.

>>4352856
>Try to explain, as best you can, how you came to gain a second family.

>>4352856
>>Try to explain, as best you can, how you came to gain a second family.
>>Hug Sēryū for comfort

>>4352856
>>Try to explain, as best you can, how you came to gain a second family.
>>Hug Sēryū for comfort

File: 7686178464_fdc8ea66c7.jpg (48 KB, 600x325)

48 KB JPG

>>4352856
>Try to explain, as best you can, how you came to gain a second family.
>Hug Sēryū for comfort

>>4352856
“Yeah,” you admit curtly. “I am crying, and I’m not ashamed of that.”

“The shadow clone I left within the Ryūmyaku seal lived twenty-five years, had a full and fulfilling life all her own,” you explain, “watching over the people who were important to her, for long enough to contemplate her own mortality, and to leave me with the memories of what she became.”

“I… don’t get it,” Naruto admits.

“The royal family of Rōran is like a second family to me,” you continue. “My clone protected Sāra with her life for years with no desire for recognition, she changed the timeline so that Sēryū-rin wouldn’t end up an orphan like I did.”

You give Sēryū-rin a warm embrace. “It was stupid, and reckless, and honestly it probably wasn’t her place. But you know something? I can’t fault her for doing it… because her life left behind something beautiful, something to cherish and protect.”

“Not a bad run for a shadow clone. Not bad at all.”

“Aunt Naori,” Sēryū-rin mutters, “you’re embarrassing me.”

You eventually release her. “I’ll take care of the seal. After all, even if the timeline’s been muddled I did promise that… twice from my perspective.”

“You’re all welcome to come back with us to the oasis,” Princess Sēryū tells the Konoha-nin. “I know my mother wants to thank you personally.”

“I… suppose we have the time,” Captain Yamato admits. “Besides, what Naori-san was saying about ‘two memories’ is kind of familiar. I remember Rōran both being a kingdom and not being a kingdom.”

“That would make writing a report rather difficult,” Sai agrees.

“I’ll catch up later,” you tell Sēryū-rin. “Tell your mother I shouldn’t be too long, okay?”

“Mhm!” she agrees. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you again!”

…

The fūinjutsu is surprisingly easy to replace, this time using a kunai marked with your new Hiraishin formula instead of Minato-han’s. In addition you place a delayed-action genjutsu trap onto the whole area, which should add another effective level of protection in case someone tries to absorb the whole formula like Mukade evidently did.

With any luck, there won’t be a repeat of this series of events. Despite not being able to hold your own indiscretion against yourself, it’s not something that should ever happen again. You know better than anyone else alive the risk of abuse that time travel carries even when it’s someone with a kind heart and noble intentions who does it.
>1/2

>>4352982
Teleporting one last time with your old Hiraishin formula, you arrive in a town very different to the soaring towers of old Rōran. Pale stone blocks, mortar, and firey-red bricks make up the walls, with plenty of arches both decorative and structural, and red tile rooftops. The windows are small and the walls low, with heavy wooden doors and storm shutters that keep the fierce desert winds at bay.

You’re standing in the courtyard of a beautiful villa, Queen Sāra’s home, modest by the standards of kings and queens and feudal lords. There are trellises for flowering vines, and a small well to supply them with water, and a little tree in a low round planter that provides some shade from the afternoon sun.

You know you’ve never been here before and yet it’s totally familiar.

You let yourself in.

Queen Sāra, now seemingly about the same age as Konan-sensei, lights up when she sees you. She leaves her other guests behind as she rushes to embrace you.

“My god, you’re so young!” she exclaims, practically squishing you in her arms. “I knew it was going to feel strange but it feels as if you’ve walked from my very memories!”

“It’s good to meet you,” you smirk, “at least… I think we’re meeting? Last I remember from my own timeline you weren’t around.”

“Yes, the other you told me to expect this,” Sāra admits, finally releasing you. “Come, let me show you all some proper hospitality.”

…

“It’s very strange,” the queen admits as Sēryū refills your glass of water. “To think that you and the woman who was almost like a second mother to me is a teenager in this time and place. And yet it’s undeniable that she was you. Different, yes, but of the same basic essence.”

“Thank you,” you thank Sēryū politely. “I’m sure that she… that I… would be happy that you’re treating… us?”

You pause awkwardly. “That you’re being so warm and accepting after everything that’s happened.”

“You may not be her,” Sāra admits, “but she was the legacy of your commitment, your sense of compassion and decency. And you inherited her legacy, the memories and the feelings she implicitly trusted you with.”

“Both of you are inextricably linked, and linked to myself and to my daughter. I cannot separate my gratitude to you from that which I feel to her, nor would I seek to.”

“You will always be welcome here as family, Raishō Naori, and you will always enjoy my kingdom’s full support such as it is.”

>Try not to cry. Cry a little.
>Thank her for accepting all this with such grace.
>Take some time to get caught up, then make your report to Tsunade.
>Other?

File: Naori_Kongo_Hiraishin.png (7 KB, 95x304)

7 KB PNG

>>4353023
Because I'm an idiot, this is the image of Naori's revised Hiraishin formula I intended to post with the first half.

>>4353023
>>Thank her for accepting all this with such grace.
>Try not to cry. Cry a little.

File: 1200px-St_Stephen_church_(...).jpg (296 KB, 1200x967)

296 KB JPG

>>4353024
And this is what I was using as inspiration for the new Roran's appearance/feel.

>>4353023
>Try not to cry. Cry a little.

>>4353023
>>Try not to cry. Cry a little.
>>Thank her for accepting all this with such grace.
>>Take some time to get caught up, then make your report to Tsunade.
ALL OF IT

>>4353023
>Try not to cry. Cry a little.
>Thank her for accepting all this with such grace.
>Take some time to get caught up, then make your report to Tsunade.

>>4353023
>Try not to cry. Cry a little.
>Thank her for accepting all this with such grace.

We are not in hurry to report to Tsunade.

>>4353023
>Hug her.
>Try not to cry
>cry

>>4353023
>>Try not to cry. Cry a little.

>>4353023
>Try not to cry. Cry a lot.
>Thank her for accepting all this with such grace.
>Take plenty of time to get caught up, then make your report to Tsunade.

>>4353023
There’s that slight burning in your eyes again.

“Thanks for taking this in stride,” you tell Sāra with what must be the dopiest-looking grin. “I get the feeling we have a lot to catch up on.”

“You aren’t wrong, old friend,” Sāra replies warmly. “But if you don’t mind, I have other guests at the moment to entertain?”

“Of course!” you agree. “By all means.”

“Naruto-kun, Captain Yamato,” Sāra muses, “how much do you recall about your involvement in the Rōran Anomaly?”

“Only that we were involved,” Yamato admits. “And if what Naori-san said is true we also have some memories from before things were changed.”

“I feel like it was a dream,” Naruto adds, “like that feeling when you know you had a dream the night before but you can’t remember anything about it and all day things randomly remind you about it for some reason and you can’t quite figure out why it’s bugging you?”

“You’re babbling, Naruto,” Sakura sighs.

“You shouldn’t be so dismissive,” you chastise Sakura with a quick glare. “Sāra-rin, you mentioned something like that years ago, if I remember correctly?”

The queen nods politely. “Naruto-kun’s description is startlingly accurate to how I remember feeling after Anrokuzan was defeated twenty years ago.”

“Wait, really?” Sakura frowns.

“Naruto-kun is literally describing how a temporal paradox feels,” you insist. “Sakura, you shouldn’t be so quick to write him off.”

“It is a rather exceptional experience,” Sāra muses thoughtfully. “In any event, Naori-san told me once that Naruto played a rather important role in defeating Anrokuzan, who in your time was known as the criminal Mukade.”

“And what was my role?” Yamato wonders. “I must confess I’m a little curious.”

“You spent the whole time unconscious!” Sēryū chimes in.

Yamato hangs his head in despair. “What a boring role for such an interesting story!”

“You got to meet Minato-han at least,” you muse. “That was one of the memories I inherited.”

“And I wasn’t allowed to remember it,” he grumbles.
>1/2

>>4354700
>“And I wasn’t allowed to remember it,” he grumbles
Well now Naori has to share her memories with Naruto.

>>4354700
It’s late in the evening when you, Sāra, and Sēryū-rin have caught up to your mutual satisfaction… not only do you have a second adoptive family here in Rōran, but you have another small nation in your corner.

…

“So that’s what happened,” you inform Tsunade, having teleported yourself into her office. “My clone was responsible for the change to the timeline and a lot of the events in Rōran.”

“I see,” she nods politely. “I trust you won’t be doing that again?”

“I don’t know how I’d manage to do it again if I wanted to,” you admit. “Seriously, I don’t think it can be replicated.”

“Well then that’s good to know,” Tsunade nods curtly. “I’ll close the file on the Rōran Anomaly.”

>Head home, don’t talk about it.
>Head home and tell everyone the story.
>Ask Tsunade if she has any other open files you should know about.
>Other?

>>4354794
>>Head home and tell everyone the story

>>4354794
>>Head home and tell everyone the story

>>4354794
>Head home and tell everyone the story.

>>4354794
>>Head home and tell everyone the story.

>>4354794
>>Head home and tell everyone the story.

>>4354794
>Head home and tell everyone the story.

Today was a good day. So it would be nice to spread that good feeling.

>>4354794
>>Head home and tell everyone the story.
>inb4 tobi found our home while we were time lapsed.

>>4354794
You recount the day’s events… or rather, the highlights of the last twenty-five years… over a shared soak in the large wooden tub. Karin is immediately intrigued by the complex temporal mechanics your misadventures have basically demonstrated, where once there was only theory, and asks a lot of technical questions that drag your story out till nearly midnight. Fū on the other hand admits that she’s heard about Rōran, the desert oasis kingdom rather than the city of towers, and has wanted to go there for a while.

Yugito on the other hand seems troubled.

“The Raikage will take this as a potential threat,” she explains. “Twenty years ago, you could probably have killed him fairly easily compared to how he is today. I know you better than that, but he will see you through that lens, so be prepared for it.”

“Why didn’t you?” Sasuke asks from the opposite side of the privacy screen you raised, leaving him to an almost embarrassingly small bathing area all his own. You really should expand the bathing facilities here if Sasuke’s going to be staying here for very long.

“Change the timeline in that way?” you ask for clarification.

“You already did it once,” he explains, “for the sake of someone you barely knew, this princess Sēryū. You could have used it to strangle your enemies in the proverbial crib, you could have tried to save your own mother… if it had been me I could have helped Itachi save my clan.”

“That’s all true of course,” you admit. “But the runaway effects of one major change to the timeline make it hard enough to avoid any serious paradoxes. I was lucky this time, not just careful.”

“So you figure the limit was one major change to the timeline?”

“That’s right,” you agree, turning to Yugito-han. “And had I wanted to really meddle your Raikage would be kidding himself thinking he’s that important. If I wanted maximum effect I’d have killed Shimura Danzō before he forged his alliance with Hanzō of the Salamander.”

“And what would that change?” Karin asks curiously.

“Akatsuki wouldn’t have been wiped out,” you explain carefully. “They’d be a transnational peacekeeping organization in line with their founding philosophy… and I’d probably still have both my parents. Seriously, with Danzō out of the picture everything about our current situation changes.”

“Including you,” Fū realizes.

You nod curtly. “Yeah, no… especially me. I’d have never met you. Any of you. Hell, the “me” you know probably would never have existed, and that’s the trap: exploiting this for my own sake would’ve destroyed me.”

“So instead I just made sure a kind, friendly young girl got to grow up with her mother this time around.”

Surprisingly, it’s Sasuke who says it first. “That’s… actually sweet.”
>1/2

>>4355977
December.

The mountaintop in the Land of Hot Water gets to be a cold retreat… but unfortunately, with the number of people you have with you who all want to be training while staying at what has become your home? You really don’t think that the hideout in the Land of Grass is suitable. There’s less space around the compound and it’s more visible from its surroundings, so despite the weather being a bit more hospitable you decide against moving there.

Instead you keep the Land of Grass hideout carefully maintained as an alternate hideout, along with the bamboo teahouse you’ve used as a meeting location, and make a few changes to winterize the hideout in the Land of Hot Water. This means adding additional insulating layers between interior surfaces and the rock strata outside the compound that can be activated by lightning-transformed chakra from a sealing tag, as well as insulating lines in the roofing tiles that can melt away built-up snow so that it won’t slide off and accumulate in your small gardens.

You also cover up any plants that might not survive hard frost as winter grows deeper atop the mountain. But even with all that preparation you have to acknowledge that some days are likely to be too grey and dismal to deny yourself the luxury of changing the scenery. And so, with Queen Sāra’s permission, you build a detached addition on the rather small grounds of her own property.

Using a number of shadow clones and sage mode to speed through the work, you build a matching stone and brick ground floor ‘shell’ into which you can transport a communal living space using fūinjutsu, same as you did for your other hideouts. Above that you build a loft with a heavily sloped and mortared tile roof. It has everything you need for a short stay: space for several guests to sleep, a small kitchen, a bare-minimum bathroom, and a very small sitting space all crammed into a fifteen by fifteen footprint.

Trellises of flowering vines and ceramic urns with plants growing in them help make the addition look a little less obvious, and thanks to the fact that there are several small oases clustered here in Rōran you essentially have a beach house for your troubles.

>1d6
>taking the third roll

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4356083

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4356083

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4356083

>>4356094
>>4356091
rip

>>4356083
You begin to hear rumors, fed to you through your various contacts in the hidden villages, which paint a picture of what is soon to come: an all-out attack against civilian targets by Akatsuki’s remaining strength. The two likely scenes for this attack are Konohagakure and Kumogakure, the hidden villages which currently have jinchūriki either living in them or working for them.

The logical choice in your view would be to attack Kumogakure in hopes of drawing you and Yugito-han out to defend her home. This presents a risk however, since your own strength along with that of two fully-realized jinchūriki plus a kage and his entire village is a big objective. You’re not sure even all of the remaining members of Akatsuki could succeed in such an effort without risk of a total wipeout.

Personally you’d be tempted to take the risk, since seizing Matatabi and Gyūki would all but cement a strategic Akatsuki victory.

But Konohagakure is a much easier target, an incremental advancement of the proverbial game state. Seize Naruto and Kurama, deprive Konohagakure of its sole jinchūriki, and cause as much military damage as possible in the process… that leaves Yugito-han in your charge and B-han in Kumogakure’s. Section engagement would dictate attacking your little faction next in that case, potentially by using Kurama to attack another village.

Again, if it were you, you would use the tailed beasts to attack either Hoshigakure, Sunagakure, or Rōran… those are your three most public supporters. Kusagakure isn’t quite in your proverbial camp to the same degree, despite Ryūzetsu’s involvement in their internal politics.

The only question is what Tobi will end up deciding to do.

You’re about to go home to the hideout and raise your thoughts with Yugito-han when a messenger hawk arrives for you in Sunagakure, the letter brought into Gaara’s office by Temari.

“What’s the message, Naori-san?” she asks you.

“It’s from a young Daimyō,” you frown. “From the Land of This.”

“Why’s a Daimyō sending you a message through Sunagakure?” Temari asks you with a frown.

>I don’t like this. I’ll figure it out, I’m relocating to the Land of Grass for a few days in the meantime.
>They probably need my help. Akatsuki helped the Land of That annex the Land of This, it was one of my missions.
>I thought I told them that the kind of help I can provide isn’t what they need… Gaara, can you spare a team to investigate?
>Other?

>>4356383
>>I don’t like this. I’ll figure it out, I’m relocating to the Land of Grass for a few days in the meantime.
>>They probably need my help. Akatsuki helped the Land of That annex the Land of This, it was one of my missions.

>>4356383
>I don’t like this. I’ll figure it out, I’m relocating to the Land of Grass for a few days in the meantime.
>I thought I told them that the kind of help I can provide isn’t what they need… Gaara, can you spare a team to investigate?

Idea that Naori provides overwatch for a Suna team and steps in if needed. Otherwise stays put and doesn't act. It will not be great to use the Suna ninja as decoys or as a bait, but this way we can get an advantage if Akatsuki decides to do anything.

>>4356383
>>I don’t like this. I’ll figure it out, I’m relocating to the Land of Grass for a few days in the meantime.
>>I thought I told them that the kind of help I can provide isn’t what they need… Gaara, can you spare a team to investigate?

>>4356383
>>I don’t like this. I’ll figure it out, I’m relocating to the Land of Grass for a few days in the meantime.

>>4356383
>I don’t like this. I’ll figure it out, I’m relocating to the Land of Grass for a few days in the meantime.

>>4356383
>I thought I told them that the kind of help I can provide isn’t what they need… Gaara, can you spare a team to investigate?

>>4356383
>I don’t like this. I’ll figure it out, I’m relocating to the Land of Grass for a few days in the meantime.

>>4356383
“I don’t like this,” you admit quietly, to Temari’s obvious surprise and a grim expression from Gaara. “I already told them once that I can’t help them in the way they really need.”

“What do you mean?” Temari asks you with a frown. “Normally you’d leap at a chance to help people, so what’s different this time?”

“One of my early missions in Akatsuki was to destabilize the Land of This ahead of an invasion by the Land of That,” you begin to explain. “Sasori-han and I compromised their defenses and assassinated the previous daimyō… after that, the ‘invasion’ was basically bloodless as I had intended to ensure.”

“The daughter of the This daimyō and the son of the That daimyō, who had been held as a political prisoner by the former daimyō in the Land of This, I left alive and unharmed,” you continue. “Their samurai bodyguard Tatewaki-han should still be with them after I convinced him to live for their sake rather than commit seppuku.”

“I see,” Gaara muses quietly. “So it’s what you’d call a complicated situation.”

“Complicated is an understatement,” you admit. “Before I left them Lord Shū tried to hire Akatsuki himself. I refused. I tried to explain to him that hiring Akatsuki wouldn’t resolve their problem in the way they wanted… it’d just be the same as when the Land of That hired us. Nothing would really change.”

“But now they’re asking for your help anyway?” Temari asks. “Your help, by name?”

“Seems that way,” you nod.

“That seems pretty suspicious,” Temari agrees with a frown. “I wouldn’t trust that either, it could easily be an attempt by Akatsuki to track you down.”

“Gaara-tono, can you lend me a team?” you ask politely. “While they’re being assembled I can move my faction to a different hideout for the short-term, just to be sure.”

“I don’t mind,” Gaara agrees. “Temari, can I delegate this responsibility to you?”

“Not a problem,” Temari agrees. “I’ll be back within the hour.”

“Same,” you agree.

…

There’s some consternation at being forced to move abruptly, but the move itself is rather simple. Once Fū, Karin, Yugito-han, and Sasuke are all relocated to the Land of Grass hideout, and the wards and barriers around the location have been reinforced, including a spacetime technique that will teleport all occupants of the hideout to Rōran in the event that your barriers are breached, you intend to return to Gaara’s office to wait.

“I want to join you,” Sasuke insists.

>Sure. You can tag along.
>I need you guarding Yugito-han.
>I need to know your reasons first.
>Other?

>>4357672
>>I need to know your reasons first.

>>4357672
>>I need to know your reasons first.

>>4357672
>>Sure. You can tag along.
May i ask your reasoning?

>>4357677
supporting

>>4357672
>>Sure. You can tag along.

>>4357672
>I need to know your reasons first.

>>4357672
>>I need to know your reasons first.

>>4357672
>May I ask your reasoning
>Sure. You can tag along.

Basically ask why he should come and if it isn't pants on the head retarded, just allow him to come. We can teleport his ass to safety if something is happening.

>>4357672
>>4357794
supporting

>>4357672
>>4357794
Also supporting

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>>4357672
“Why?”

Your question comes as a surprise to Sasuke. “What do you mean, why?”

“I mean I want to know why you want to come with me,” you clarify. “What do you expect to gain from this?”

“Two reasons,” he eventually admits. “First is that I’m curious to see how you do things. I don’t actually know much about you, at least not based on what you do and how you carry yourself.”

“And the second reason?”

“I know even less about Akatsuki,” Sasuke tells you. “I should remedy that, shouldn’t I? Especially since it seems you think they may have some interest in me.”

“You don’t want to fight them because of what happened to your brother?” you ask. “Because that’s my concern right now.”

“You were Akatsuki too until recently,” Sasuke muses quietly. “Between the two of us you know their missions and their members. I don’t know enough about them to even judge.”

“So you don’t know which ones you should consider killing if you get the chance,” you guess.

He frowns. “If it comes to that, at some point.”

“It may come to that,” you admit, considering his answers. “Okay. You can come with me, but I need your word that you’ll at least try to follow instructions.”

…

“You brought Uchiha Sasuke?” Gaara muses when you reappear on his balcony. “That’s an interesting decision.”

“He made an interesting point,” you admit with a shrug.

“Gaara,” Sasuke inclines his head slightly. “I hope it’s not a problem.”

“I know that my siblings would not be happy to see you,” Gaara admits, “but the Hokage informed me of the situation and I intend not to interfere.”

“That’s all I ask,” Sasuke replies calmly.

…

About a half hour later, you learn that Gaara was right about one thing: Temari’s not happy to see Sasuke.

“You know how much trouble we all went through when you ran off with Orochimaru,” she frowns, “right?”
>1/2

>>4359549
“Only vaguely,” Sasuke admits stoically.

Temari glances at you. “You sure about this?”

You shake your head. “About bringing him along? Yes. About if it’s a good idea? No.”

“Well then that answers everything,” she grumbles. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to the whole team.”

“Thanks,” you bow politely.

“Gaara,” Temari bows to her brother before departing.

“Temari.”

…

“This is Nonota,” Temari begins the introductions downstairs, starting with a plain-looking chūnin with blue-green tattoos on his cheeks like paired ‘mountain stripes’. “A sealing expert.”

The man offers you a curt nod and a grunt of recognition.

Temari gestures towards a woman with short brown hair and a white top underneath her shoulderless flak jacket, with an obi and several small scrolls wrapped over the light armor. “This is Ameno, a medic-nin.”

“Don’t worry, Naori-san,” she insists with an actually polite bow. “We may have been enemies until recently, but your life will be in good hands should it come to that.”

“Thank you,” you reply politely. “I hope I won’t have to trouble you for your expertise.”

The third member has mousy brown hair tied back in a high and rather bushy ponytail, with mesh sleeves poking out from under her flak jacket.

“This is Sen,” Temari introduces you. “A genjutsu specialist.”

“Hey, you didn’t tell me there was gonna be a cutie with her,” Sen smiles. “So what’s your name, tall dark and handsome?”

Sasuke glances at you. “Do I have to?”

“It’d be polite,” you gesture towards Sen.

“Uchiha Sasuke,” Sasuke mutters.

Temari rubs her forehead in exasperation. “Sen, now is not the time to start fangirl-ing.”

“Can’t help it,” Sen replies with a playful shrug.
>2/3

>>4359588
“Well, now that we’ve all met,” Temari says after coughing into her hand to awkwardly change the subject, “let’s get on with the mission.”

“Naori-san, what can we expect?”

“I have no clue,” you admit. “We’re supposed to meet with a pair of young nobles and their samurai bodyguard on neutral ground. I don’t know what the young lord and lady intend, or if this is all just an elaborate trap for me set by Akatsuki.”

“That’s great,” Nonota grumbles.

“No-one’s asking you to fight them,” Temari-han chastises him. “None of us here would stand a chance on our own.”

“Then why are we here?” Ameno-han asks. “Not for Akatsuki I take it?”

“That’s right,” Temari nods. “We will be there just in case our being there would help solve whatever problem it is that the noble kids have brought us.”

“Hopefully,” you muse, glancing at Ameno-han, “we won’t be needing my expertise. But if we do, you’ll be in good hands.”

>Offer a briefing on the remaining members of Akatsuki
>Proceed to where the noble brats told you they would be
>Offer a briefing on your mission in the Land of This
>Other?

>>4359641
>Offer a briefing on the remaining members of Akatsuki
>Proceed to where the noble brats told you they would be
>Offer a briefing on your mission in the Land of This

All of it. Briefing on probably Akatsuki opposition which should in nutshell be just "run away and fast" and briefing on our previous mission and what to expect from the noble brats.

>>4359641
>>Offer a briefing on your mission in the Land of This
>>Offer a briefing on the remaining members of Akatsuki

The briefing on the mission first for context, the members of Akatsuki for recognition purposes and knowing who to run the fuck away from

>>4359641
>>Offer a briefing on your mission in the Land of This

>>4359641
>>Offer a briefing on your mission in the Land of This
>>Offer a briefing on the remaining members of Akatsuki

>>4359641
>Offer a briefing on your mission in the Land of This
>Offer a briefing on the remaining members of Akatsuki

>>4359641
>Offer a briefing on the remaining members of Akatsuki
>Offer a briefing on your mission in the Land of This

Side question: what, specifically, is Naori able to do with her Sharingan? I know it can help with rolls, but it's a bit unclear to me how. She can't do EVERYTHING a full blooded Uchiha could, I think, but unsure beyond that.

And beyond enabling access to other Chakra natures and something to do with self-hypnosis, I have no idea how or what her Mangekyo does either.

>>4360616
her mangekyo sharingan can, beside enhancing her senses, somewhat influence the flow of time

giver her more time to react, make her faster for a short moment, things like that
the reduction in SP points is the mechanical resulut of that

>>4360616
>>4360628
It also influences the flow of chakra, making chakra flow techniques that would otherwise be impossible for her achievable. For example, Mangekyo+Sage Mode would let Naori perform fire release chakra flow despite otherwise not being able to manipulate fire.

She hardly ever uses it because she's aware of the lasting strain it places on her eye. And as an Uzumaki, she doesn't feel compelled to abuse the sharingan the same way an Uchiha under the curse of hatred would.

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>>4359641
“The mission I undertook with Sasori-han was to destabilize the Land of This,” you explain, “prior to an invasion by the Land of That. I left Lady Chiyo of the Land of This and Lord Shū of the Land of That in the care of Lord Shū’s samurai bodyguard, Tatewaki.”

“And after that they’re asking for your help specifically?” Ameno-han asks.

“Sometimes it’s better the devil you know,” you admit. “And even though Lady Chiyo’s probably still mad at me, at very least I’m a known quantity.”

“Where is the meeting location?” Temari asks you.

…

On the way to the small castle town in the Land of Rivers, you give Temari and her team the rundown on the remaining members of Akatsuki.

“First there’s Hoshigaki Kisame, one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. He looks like he’s about half shark, and he uses water release as his main style of ninjutsu. His chakra reserves are immense, and his sword, Samehada, is one of the most terrifying killer swords Kirigakure ever devised.”

“Then there’s Zetsu, a non-combatant with the ability to move through solid matter. I don’t know what offensive capabilities he might have, but he’s a real freakshow. He’s mostly responsible for spying.”

“Konan is my former sensei… and the last person I want to fight. Her main skill is ninjutsu using paper tags, up to and including turning herself into paper temporarily. I think the only real limit to her abilities is her stamina, which is… well, it’s mediocre for Akatsuki standards. But it’s at least twice an average jōnin’s.”

“Pain is the leader of Akatsuki on paper. His gimmick is that he uses six bodies like puppets, each with a different power connected to his Rinnegan. I’ve seen one that makes technologically advanced weaponry from its own body, one that uses improved summoning techniques, one that can absorb chakra, and one that can revive the other bodies through some means I haven’t determined. They all share the ability to create chakra-disrupting black rods that are extremely strong, and they seem to be able to share their fields of vision.”

“Last there’s Tobi. From what I understand he can phase through objects and he has at least one sharingan. His potential was high enough that even Uchiha Itachi-han was wary of him. He claimed to be Uchiha Madara, and was evidently skilled enough that Itachi-han couldn’t discount the possibility.”

Sasuke’s expression is grim at that description, but he doesn’t say anything about that.

“Where did Deidara fall in your organization?” he asks you instead. “If you had to rank its members’ abilities against each other?”

“I hate to speak ill of the dead,” you muse, “but he’d be about as much of a threat to any of the remaining members as a chow chow.”

“You say one thing...” Temari raises an eyebrow.
>1/2

>>4360829
“He admitted to being weaker than Sasori-han,” you explain. “Konan-sensei beat and recruited Sasori-han, and Pain and Tobi are more powerful than she is. Kisame’s probably around the same level as Konan-sensei if she’s being serious.”

“So when I barely defeated Deidara...” Sasuke realizes.

“… you almost lost to one of the three weakest members of the organization,” you confirm. “Though to be fair, at least he was stronger than Hidan.”

“That’s the one who nearly butchered Asuma-sensei and his team?” Temari enquires.

You nod in agreement. “Poor, stupid Hidan. If he wasn’t functionally immortal we wouldn’t have bothered.”

“Wait, hang on,” Sen insists. “What do you mean, immortal?”

“I mean he was basically immortal,” you repeat. “You could cut his head off and he’d just be annoyed.”

“How’d you beat him?” Sasuke asks.

“Cut his head off,” you shrug. “Then sealed his body and head into different scrolls.”

“Well that would probably do it,” Sen admits.

“So, let me get this straight,” Temari presses. “The member of Akatsuki who defeated our Kage was… a joke to the rest of you?”

“Well to be fair Deidara was still a town-destroying beast,” you point out. “But yeah, no… within Akatsuki he wasn’t all that unusual.”

“… I know you know this,” Temari muses, “but you’re scary sometimes.”

>Ask the Sunagakure team to stay in reserve when you reach the castle town. You’ll find the noble brats.
>Ask Temari’s team to go in first. She can carry something marked with your Hiraishin formula.
>Scout ahead using paper butterflies.
>Other?

>>4360882
>>Ask Temari’s team to go in first. She can carry something marked with your Hiraishin formula.

>>4360882
>Scout ahead using paper butterflies.

>>4360882
>>Scout ahead using paper butterflies

Splitting the party seems like a sketchy idea considering the circumstances. Mostly that said circumstances are unknown.

>>4360882
>>Ask Temari’s team to go in first. She can carry something marked with your Hiraishin formula

>>4360882
>>Ask the Sunagakure team to stay in reserve when you reach the castle town. You’ll find the noble brats.

>>4360882
>Scout ahead using paper butterflies.

>>4360882
>Scout ahead using paper butterflies.

>>4360882
>Scout ahead using paper butterflies.

>>4360882
“We’ll hold back for a moment,” you decide. “Get comfortable here on the edge of town for a while.”

“We’re not going in?” Sen wonders.

You shake your head. “Not until I’ve had a chance to look around.”

“Well how do you intend to do that from out here?” Sen presses. “You know, in the woods outside of town and all?”

“Easy,” you insist, unsealing a few dozen sealing tags and folding them midair into black paper butterflies. “Like this.”

…

The castle here is actually quite simple, a five-story keep atop a low natural hill, with just enough walls and turrets to look impressive. The town itself is built out around that hill, with the main road in front of the castle’s main entry gate and secondary roads and alleys forming a grid around that irregularly-shaped inner defense. Throughout the town the white-plastered walls and little roadside ditches serve as secondary lines of defense for the merchants and workers living in the town.

Any military presence here is negligible, consisting entirely of rank-and-file soldiers carrying mass produced sabres. A team of genin in this town would want to tread lightly, however none of these guards are individually impressive.

You find five total exceptions to this in the town: one is Tatewaki-han, who you locate with Shū and Chiyo in what strikes you as the nicest inn anywhere in the town, and another is on the grounds of the castle. He’s probably a reasonably-skilled samurai bodyguard for the local lord, much as Tatewaki was. This man however carries a spear rather than a long sword, and seems to notice that he’s being observed even if he never spots your paper butterfly.

The other three are shinobi… two no stronger than a chūnin, and one who might be considered a tokubetsu jōnin or a full jōnin depending on how his skills match his general impression. This fifth individual absolutely notices that he’s being watched, and very nearly catches you in the act of spying on him.

…

“I’ve isolated the three we’ve come here to meet,” you eventually declare. “They’re at an inn in town, called Terumi-ya. The local lord also has a samurai bodyguard worth noting. The problem is there’s three shinobi in town, seemingly trying to lie low. Their leader may be jōnin-level.”

“So that’s the problem you’re here to solve?” Temari wonders aloud.

You nod curtly. “If the Daimyō of the Land of That decided to start sending mercenaries after them? That would be a good reason for them to come to me, and there’s no Akatsuki here.”
>1/2

>>4362072
“So what’s the plan then?” Sasuke asks calmly. “The impression I get of you is that you prefer to take a more active approach.”

“If it’s just a bunch of mercenaries we can handle it,” Temari offers.

“On the other hand your presence might be considered a provocation,” Sasuke replies.

“Also true,” Temari admits. “It really depends on the mercenaries.”

>I’ll go. No need to make this into a bigger deal than it has to be.
>Temari, you go in and meet with them at the inn. I’ll join you once you do.
>Can I leave this in your hands for now? We’ll meet back here and come to a decision.
>Other?

>>4362079
>Can I leave this in your hands for now? We’ll meet back here and come to a decision.

>>4362079
>Can I leave this in your hands for now? We’ll meet back here and come to a decision.

>>4362079
>>Temari, you go in and meet with them at the inn. I’ll join you once you do.

>>4362079
>Can I leave this in your hands for now? We’ll meet back here and come to a decision.
>Give Temari one of your hiraishi tags just in case and monitor the meeting from a far.

>>4362079
>>4362149
supporting

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>>4362079
“Can I leave this to you?” you ask Temari. “If this is still a trap for me you’re less likely to spring it, and if the mercenaries try to cause trouble for you I can take them out fairly easily.”

“We can meet back here and come to a decision once you know why I was called out here.”

After considering your proposal, Temari nods. “I don’t disagree with your judgment… so okay. We’ll try this your way.”

“Thank you,” you bow politely.

…

“Is this how Akatsuki typically acts?” Sasuke asks you after the Sunagakure team has headed into town. “Allowing others to take the risks for them as proxies?”

You shake your head. “Only a few of us ever used discretion period, and even then I typically did all the important stuff myself. It was really only Sasori-han and Kakuzu who maintained any sort of ‘agents’ to call on.”

“And the remaining members?” Sasuke presses.

“Pain, Konan, and Tobi are all extremely confident,” you admit, “but not reckless. They’ll usually only act directly when they know their confidence is justified, and even in such situations I know Konan-sensei prefers to keep her hands clean.”

“It’s really only Kisame who’s a bit of an uncertainty… your brother used to be the one that kept him in line.”

>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4362551

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4362551

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4362551

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4362551

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4362551

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>>4362551
It isn’t more than an hour before Temari returns to you, having left her team with Tatewaki-han, Lord Shū, and Lady Chiyo.

“It’s like you probably suspected,” she informs you. “Those shinobi are from Ishigakure. The Daimyō of the Land of That hired them to assassinate Shū and Chiyo.”

“His own son?” Sasuke scowls. “I see the daimyō can be even worse than unscrupulous shinobi.”

“These things happen when you’re accountable to no one but yourself,” you muse. “It’s a danger for anyone who has power… political power, military, or social.”

“The hidden villages are exactly like that too,” Sasuke declares.

“Not entirely,” Temari insists. “Even the Kages are accountable to their own daimyō, who support the villages economically and who have the final choice in deciding who gets to be a Kage in the first place.”

“Senju Tsunnade, Gaara of the Sand, Terumi Mei, Unruly A, and Ōnoki the fence-sitter,” you muse. “Each of them must command the respect and confidence of their own feudal lords and village elders to retain their authority.”

“It’s not a significant problem in Sunagakure,” Terumi clarifies, “at least not anymore. Though our own ANBU and elders did try to assassinate Gaara on three separate occasions.”

You count quickly on your fingers. “What was the second time?”

“It’s still a secret.”

“Ah.”

“Anyway it’s not how things should be,” Temari concludes, “but knowing that doesn’t change the fact that that’s how things are.”

“I see,” Sasuke nods. “I’ll have to think about that. I’m not sure how I should feel about it.”

“So what do you want to do?” Temari asks you. “Should we escort the three of them for now, or do you want to handle the Ishigakure team yourself?”

>Go ahead and keep a guard on the young Lord and Lady for now. At least until they’re a bit safer.
>These Ishi-nin need to be made aware of who they’re dealing with. I’ll run them off myself.
>Clearly the Daimyō of That is a bigger problem than I anticipated. Once the Ishi-nin are out of the way I’ll ask Shū what he wants me to do.
>Other?

>>4363922
>>Clearly the Daimyō of That is a bigger problem than I anticipated. Once the Ishi-nin are out of the way I’ll ask Shū what he wants me to do.

>>4363922
>Clearly the Daimyō of That is a bigger problem than I anticipated. Once the Ishi-nin are out of the way I’ll ask Shū what he wants me to do.

>>4363922
>>Clearly the Daimyō of That is a bigger problem than I anticipated. Once the Ishi-nin are out of the way I’ll ask Shū what he wants me to do

>>4363922
>>Clearly the Daimyō of That is a bigger problem than I anticipated. Once the Ishi-nin are out of the way I’ll ask Shū what he wants me to do.

>>4363922
>Clearly the Daimyō of That is a bigger problem than I anticipated. Once the Ishi-nin are out of the way I’ll ask Shū what he wants me to do.

>>4363922
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4364071

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4364071

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4364071

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4364071

>>4364071
“I’ll take care of this,” you muse. “Then we can talk with Lord Shū and Lady Chiyo without interruption.”

“I’ll be interested to see you in action,” Sasuke admits.

…

In an izakaya, off the main road through the castle town, you find the team of Ishi-nin. They immediately respond to your arrival, since their jōnin definitely noticed your approach. A few of the wait staff scramble for safety in a blind panic.

“Bold of you to walk right up to a team of trained shinobi,” one of the two lesser fighters muses with a smirk. “Whadya say, Kōga-san? You wanna show these three what’s what before we go kill the pipsqueaks?”

“As if!” you laugh at the notion. “No, all three of you will be fighting me. And I’d prefer to do it outside.”

“Well now, isn’t that interesting?” the jōnin, Kōga, muses to himself. He’s a giant of a man, easily standing head and shoulders taller than you and built like a wall of muscles. His black hair is cut close to his scalp on the sides, and the callouses on his knuckles that you spot when he cracks them suggest to you that he’s inclined towards taijutsu.

Perfect.

“Shall we?” you muse, nodding your head towards the door.

…

Once outside again, you hand Umekiri to Temari-han. “Hold this a moment.”

“You’re not planning on using your sword?” Sasuke asks curiously.

“Why?” you shrug. “Besides, I wanna try something out.”

Kōga cracks his neck and throws a few practice punches. “Alright, let’s get this started.”

“Any time you’re ready,” you insist with a smirk, immediately releasing the first two inner Gates.

The Ishi jōnin’s raw speed is impressive, but there’s no technique to it even at the level of a shunshin. To you he’s practically moving in slow-motion. Instead of dodging you increase your physical strength to about three times normal in an instant, raising your arm to block the punch without so much as flinching or even changing expression.

He’s clearly surprised that his attack was totally ineffective, and so responds with a series of swift punches and kicks. Each of these you duck and weave away from with the bare minimum effort, until you grow bored and catch him by his right wrist.

Then you kick him in the stomach, releasing his wrist so he’s free to fly through the air and slam into a wall on the far side of the road.
>1/2

>>4364143
One of the two chūnin starts to weave hand seals, so you use your Gate-enhanced speed and a shunshin to plant a rasengan firmly in his gut, the uppercut-like movement of your arm lifting him and tossing him onto a nearby roof like a ragdoll. The second chūnin tries to throw a kunai only to find your hand blocking his arm mid-movement, and a series of swift body blows with your right hand essentially knock him out on his feet before you toss him aside.

“So this is what passes for a jōnin in Ishigakure?” you muse, trying to lure Kōga back out from the rubble. “No wonder they’re such a third-rate village.”

With a grunt of exertion Kōga throws the broken brickwork and plaster off himself and leaps to his feet. “Why you...”

“I didn’t think it’d be that easy,” you admit, nonplussed at how little it took to rile him up.

And it’s not that he sends the shadow clone running straight for you that tells you he’s lost his cool, but the fact that his tunnelling is so plainly obvious. You land a powerful, sweeping kick that disperses the clone, and lean back far enough to plant your hand on the street behind you. Then you push off and rise vertically, standing on your hand as Kōga bursts from the ground right where you were a moment before, thrusting upwards with his fist into nothing more than empty air. Turning your body with your legs, you unseal three paper Tenran-shuriken into your free hand and throw them.

The rasengans connect, shredding the man’s flak jacket and sending him tumbling across the street.

This time he doesn’t get up even after you gracefully plant your feet again.

“It’s not every day I get to use my bare hands like that,” you muse playfully, taking your sword back from Temari. “Satisfied, Sasuke-kun?”

“You’re on par with how I remember Rock Lee,” Sasuke watches you cautiously. “And you were just playing around, weren’t you?”

“In a sense I’m better than Rock Lee is now,” you correct Sasuke. “Don’t get me wrong, he can use higher numbered gates than I can. That’s true. But the way I’ve practiced using them to combine them with senjutsu chakra is more advanced. I only exceed my limits for brief bursts, only at the moments when I need it.”

“Sounds way more efficient,” Temari muses.

“It is,” you agree. “Though less powerful on its own.”

>Wake the jōnin up. Tell him that the next team the Daimyō of That sends your way won’t be so fortunate as to walk away alive.
>Leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, go and meet with Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han now.
>Let Temari-han handle the issue with the young Lord and Lady.
>Other?

>>4364160
>>Leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, go and meet with Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han now.

They aren't worth bothering with any further.
And I think the message will be clear even without us spelling it out to the Ishi-nin.

>>4364160
>>Leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, go and meet with Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han now.

>>4364160
>>Wake the jōnin up. Tell him that the next team the Daimyō of That sends your way won’t be so fortunate as to walk away alive.

>>4364160
>Leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, go and meet with Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han now.

>>4364160
>>Leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, go and meet with Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han now.

>>4364160
>Leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, go and meet with Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han now.

>>4364160
>>Leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, go and meet with Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han now.

>>4364160
You decide to leave the Ishi-nin where they fell, understanding that there’s really nothing to be gained by waking them up and further insulting their total inability to threaten you. Instead you head for Terumi-ya where Lord Shū, Lady Chiyo, and Tatewaki-han will be waiting for you.

…

You sit at their table, an out-of-the-way booth against one wall, leaving Temari and Sasuke to sit at the booth behind you with the rest of Temari’s team.

“We meet again,” you greet them calmly. “I took the liberty of beating the Ishi team that Temari-han mentioned on my way here.”

“Did you now?” Tatewaki-han muses. “I suppose there’s a reason Akatsuki sought you as a member.”

“My understanding is that your father is responsible for this, Shū-tono?”

“That is correct,” Lord Shū inclines his head, his expression betraying his discomfort at the admission. “This is the second team of shinobi he has hired to eliminate Chiyo-san and me.”

“Loathe as I am to admit it… we need your help to resolve the matter,” Chiyo-tono resigns herself to the admission.

“Do you intend it to be a peaceful resolution?” you enquire.

Shū shakes his head. “I fear that may no longer be possible.”

“It won’t be long until Lord Shū’s father sends another team,” Tatewaki-han scowls dramatically. “And the next one might finally be competent enough to accomplish its task.”

“So you want me to stop your father sending teams of shinobi after you,” you summarize, “at any cost? Is that right?”

“… I think that at this point killing him would be justified,” Shū admits. “But I also think it would send the wrong message. It would be no better than his methods.”

“Surely you have some other methods of removing him from power?” Lady Chiyo asks you. “Please. This goes beyond our lives, this will set a precedent.”

>I do know a prisonmaster who may be able to help.
>Sometimes killing is a valid solution. This may be one such time.
>Other?

>>4365767
>I do know a prisonmaster who may be able to help.

>>4365767
>I do know a prison master

>>4365767
>I do know a prisonmaster who may be able to help.
>Sometimes killing is a valid solution. This may be one such time.

If prison doesn't work, killing works too.

>>4365767
>>I do know a prisonmaster who may be able to help.

>>4365767
>>I do know a prisonmaster who may be able to help.

>>4365767
>I do know a prisonmaster who may be able to help.

>>4365767
>>I do know a prisonmaster who may be able to help.
Killing is easy and a bad habit to fall into.

>>4365767
“Hang on a moment,” you declare, setting a marked kunai down on the table before disappearing.

…

“You have a free minute, Ryūzetsu-rin?” you ask, appearing in Ryūzetsu’s office.

From behind her desk, she shrugs. “I do now. What’s on your mind?”

“What do you think about holding a daimyō prisoner?” you ask directly. “He’s guilty of multiple successful assassinations and two attempts on his son’s life, as well as the daughter of the former Daimyō of This. Serious scumbag.”

“He could petition the Daimyō of Grass for release,” Ryūzetsu-han muses, shuffling some papers on her desk. “But yes, we could hold him for… I’d say a week? Long enough for what I think you’re thinking.”

“You think you know what I’m thinking?” you muse.

She nods with a smile. “I have a pretty good guess. Do you think you can manage a regime change in a week?”

“Probably,” you nod curtly. “Think you can give me a week?”

“I can’t see it taking much less than that,” she insists. “I’ll take a marked kunai to processing.”

You produce two with your new hiraishin formula. “New and improved. Here’s another for your office.”

“Nice. Anything else for now?”

“I’ll bring you dinner tonight as a thank-you,” you insist. “Anything you want in particular?”

She ponders the question for a moment. “Actually yes, can you get spare ribs?”

“Can do,” you assure her. “Thanks for agreeing to this.”

She nods. “It’s my pleasure to ruin scum who’d try to assassinate their own child, so don’t mention it.”

…

“My friend in Kusagakure agreed to help,” you report to Lord Shū and Lady Chiyo mere moments later as you store the marked kunai you left on their table.

“In… Kusagakure?” Tatewaki-han repeats. “So the rumors I’ve been hearing are true… you’ve somehow kept learning more fearsome techniques since we last met. It would be impressive were it not so intimidating.”

>So Lord Shū, how do I sneak in and capture your father?
>So I’m thinking we march straight through his defenses. Challenge them to attack.
>Can we get his travel schedule, or else draw him away from his defended home?
>Other?

>>4366366
>>So I’m thinking we march straight through his defenses. Challenge them to attack.

Public humiliation sounds fun.

>>4366366
>>So I’m thinking we march straight through his defenses. Challenge them to attack.

>>4366366
>Can we get his travel schedule, or else draw him away from his defended home?

>>4366366
>If you can bring one of my marked kunai to him somehow, i can simply grab him and teleport away.

>>4366366
>>So I’m thinking we march straight through his defenses. Challenge them to attack.

>>4366366
>So I’m thinking we march straight through his defenses. Challenge them to attack.

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>>4366366
“I think the next step is pretty clear,” you muse. “March straight into his castle.”

“What?” Chiyo demands. “That is your plan? What would happen if he ordered his guards to kill us… in public… oh.”

“See?” you smile. “You’re getting the hang of it.”

“What are you saying?” Shū enquires.

“We could not have gotten away with a strategy this bold without help,” Chiyo explains. “But Naori-san’s idea is to challenge your father to give us justification and credibility before the public. Either he is forced to attack us or back down, either of which harms him to our benefit.”

“And with such capable backing we can survive any attempt at attack,” Tatewaki confirms calmly. “It’s a good plan.”

“Then we’ll leave tomorrow morning, first thing,” you declare. “Temari-han, will you be joining us?”

“It’s on our way back,” she explains. “So we’ll observe.”

“I understand,” you agree. “That’s fine.”

…

After collecting some spare ribs and side dishes to go with them, you return to Ryūzetsu’s residence where you find her sitting quietly on the patio ringing her garden. She gestures for you to sit across from her at a little table, with two zaisu-style chairs placed on the floor.

“Thanks,” she greets you warmly as you set out the food. “I appreciate it. As you probably know I don’t get out much… a warden using the Tenrō is almost as much a prisoner as the scum in the cells are. A shadow clone just isn’t the same, you know?”

>Encourage her with a story about what your own shadow clone did. If clone-Naori could do all that, surely a shadow clone can handle Ryūzetsu’s responsibilities for a few days.
>Maybe the time has come for the Tenrō technique to be improved upon? Give the warden a little more freedom to have a real life in exchange for the necessity of their presence.
>Maybe the time has come to consider alternatives to the Tenrō technique? Surely the hidden villages can’t be that paranoid about Hozuki’s security to deny the possibility.
>Other?

>>4367208
>>Maybe the time has come for the Tenrō technique to be improved upon? Give the warden a little more freedom to have a real life in exchange for the necessity of their presence.

>>4367208
>Maybe the time has come for the Tenrō technique to be improved upon? Give the warden a little more freedom to have a real life in exchange for the necessity of their presence.

>>4367208
>>Maybe the time has come for the Tenrō technique to be improved upon? Give the warden a little more freedom to have a real life in exchange for the necessity of their presence.

>>4367208
>Maybe the time has come for the Tenrō technique to be improved upon? Give the warden a little more freedom to have a real life in exchange for the necessity of their presence.
>Still tell her about clone naori, because that was crazy

>>4367389
>>4367208
I entirely agree with this anon

>>4367208
>>4367389
Supporting this anon 110%

>>4367410
>>4367389
You do realize that's all hella classified, right? Like, people knowing that time travel is even possible is super dangerous?

>>4367208
>>Maybe the time has come for the Tenrō technique to be improved upon? Give the warden a little more freedom to have a real life in exchange for the necessity of their presence.

>>4367208
>>4367389
this

>>4367496
I think the warden of a ninja prison, who uses a technique literally every village would gleefully eat babies to know, can keep a secret.

>>4367496
>>4367609
including that she is pretty much our best friend at this point

>>4367622
Best friends 4 life!

>>4367208
“Yeah no, don’t you think it’s time that Tenrō technique of yours got some updates?” you ask, before enjoying a bite of rib. “I know there’s something to be said about making yourself indispensable, but if you can do that without having to remain here… wouldn’t that be better?”

“I suppose you’re right,” Ryūzetsu agrees. “It does almost seem like an intentional flaw in the technique. You remember any of the information you transferred into my mind?”

“I do,” you nod curtly. “Though I can’t use the technique myself.”

“I’ll work on improving the technique myself,” Ryūzetsu decides, “maybe combine it with a barrier. Though I don’t know how I would make that barrier permanent even without my being present.”

“I can do that,” you admit calmly. “Not a problem.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” you insist. “I’ve seen permanent barrier fūinjutsu that do way more complicated things than just serve as a trigger.”

“Well then it’s settled,” she declares. “I’ll revise the formula for you to incorporate into a barrier.”

…

The next day you wake early to make preparations to travel. You’ve been sharing a room with Chiyo, who stirs as you go about the borderline ritualistic meditation, stretching, and gear checks that you do every morning.

“What’re you doing?” she grumbles, rubbing her eyes. “It’s still early.”

“The sun is up,” you correct her. “For most people the day has already begun, and shinobi are no different.”

“Sorry if I woke you.”

“There is no sense complaining,” she admits, stretching in bed before rolling out and going about her own morning preparations. “So I might as well use this time productively.”

“That’s a good attitude,” you muse warmly. “I’ll go check in with Temari-han and her team, then get us some breakfast.”

“I… would appreciate that,” Chiyo admits, seemingly embarrassed to be doted on by someone like you who she still probably considers to be a ne’er-do-well. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

…

You find that Sasuke has excused himself from the room he shared with Shū and Tatewaki, and that Temari and her team are basically ready to go just as early as you are.

“We’re waiting on Shū and Chiyo,” you explain to Temari. “Chiyo-han at least is awake and getting ready. I’m going to take her breakfast.”
>1/2

>>4368109
“And what about Shū?” Temari-han asks.

Sasuke shrugs. “Asleep, last I checked. Tatewaki-san will see to him in time.”

“I just hope it’s a reasonable amount of time,” you sigh, taking two trays of food.

“You hungry?” Temari teases you.

“I woke Chiyo-han by mistake,” you admit. “So I’m taking her something as an apology.”

“That’s nice of you.”

…

You set the trays down at the little table in your shared room, and having donned a relatively simple kimono Chiyo sits across from you.

“You do not have to sit with me,” she insists curtly.

>No I don’t. But I don’t plan on avoiding you either. We can be civil.
>I wanted to ask you what you intend to do after this current crisis has been solved.
>I wanted to make sure that you know to keep your hands clean.
>Other?

>>4368124
>>I wanted to ask you what you intend to do after this current crisis has been solved.

>>4368124
>I wanted to ask you what you intend to do after this current crisis has been solved.

>>4368124
>>I wanted to ask you what you intend to do after this current crisis has been solved.

>>4368124
>>No I don’t. But I don’t plan on avoiding you either. We can be civil.

>>4368124
>I wanted to ask you what you intend to do after this current crisis has been solved.
>I don't mind getting to know you, either. It's important to hear the wisdom of my elders, even if i don't agree with their conclusions.

>>4368277
>elders
You realize Chiyo is a few years younger than Naori?

>>4368340
there are multiple chiyos?
i barely watched naruto, i'm just here because your quests are fun

>>4368343
The Elder Chiyo your thinking of is from Suna.

>>4368343
>>4368353
Ayup. Old Chiyo is like stupidly old, this Chiyo is the daughter of a daimyo that got whacked by Akatsuki in filler. This time instead of Sasori doing it, Naori was the one who did it.

Flattery will get you everywhere

>>4368369
You're the only reason I even visit /qst/ anymore. Even if I add in fiction.live, you're still easily the best there is.

>>4368548
Can’t deny this statement either.

>>4368124
“I have a question,” you muse, ignoring her attempt to drive you off. “Why are you more capable of defending yourself than Shū-tono?”

Chiyo seems somewhat taken aback by your question. “What do you mean?”

“You’re not exactly incapable with a naginata,” you continue. “As plenty of noble girls are taught. But Shū-tono is completely incompetent even with shinai fencing. Why?”

“That is...” Chiyo-han frowns. “Not in his personality, I suppose?”

“Exactly,” you agree. “He lacks ambition and dedication, he lacks the will to stand up for himself. These are key qualities for any would-be leader, don’t you think?”

“I… cannot honestly disagree,” Chiyo-han admits. “What are you trying to say?”

“The most likely result of this gambit is that you and Shū-tono will become the daimyō of your respective lands,” you explain your reasoning. “But seriously, have you thought about what comes next after that? Has Shū-tono?”

After a moment’s consideration, Chiyo shakes her head. “No.”

“You will have to,” you insist quietly. “Maybe not immediately. But eventually your own advisors are going to push you into action against Shū-tono, and it’s an issue you’ll need to deal with carefully. I can only offer you strategic advice, same as I would for Shū-tono, and I don’t think that would lead you to an answer you’d be okay with.”

After a few moments, Chiyo quietly resumes eating without saying another word.

…

It takes some time before Shū finally arrives, evidently surprised to find that everyone else has been awake for some time already. “Am I the last one?”

“Yes,” Sasuke tells him bluntly.

“Come,” you insist. “We’ve let too much of the morning get away from us as it is.”
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4369716

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4369716

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4369716

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4369716
This better not be another 1

>>4369718
>>4369733
>>4369741
>>4369756
I am so mad right now

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These fucking dice hah!

Thing is... against complete normies even an 8 isn't a failure.

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>>4369923
But it's about style, King.

>>4369930
Have to agree. It needs the flash, the shock and awe. A little bit of theatrical approach.

>>4369716
In the afternoon, you arrive at the entrance to the fortified nation-state of the Land of That. Leaving the Sunagakure team at the gate in reserve, you, Sasuke-han, and Tatewaki-han walk into the nation bold as brass, forming a protective echelon ahead of Shū and Chiyo.

“We seem to be attracting attention,” you muse from the tip of the proverbial spear. “So far, so expected. Keep the formation tight.”

“Are you expecting a fight?” Shū wonders aloud.

“Always,” you admit.

“That is why we’re here, is it not, Shū-dono?” Tatewaki-han adds.

“Don’t worry about it,” you insist with a calm smile and a glance over your shoulder. “Seriously, I can hold back enough not to kill anyone.”

“The guards are likely to be spearmen,” Tatewaki-han offers. “Chakra flow techniques should make striking the haft a fairly effective approach.”

“Not bad,” you admit. “Though if I’m honest even drawing my sword probably won’t be needed.”

Sasuke shakes his head to your left. “But if it’s a question of efficiency?”

“Or should it be a question of effect?” you counter. “Drawing my sword would effectively commit to a certain level of force.”

“We’ll see if that level is needed soon, it seems,” Sasuke replies, watching as the throngs of curious citizens are replaced by armed guards wielding spears. Archers stand atop nearby buildings at the ready, and a man carrying a fine longsword at his waist flanked by two spearmen approaches you directly.

“You’re escorting two fugitives,” the swordsman insists sternly. “By order of the Daimyō I’m ordering you to lay down your weapons and surrender them into custody.”

“So that they can be killed?” you retort loudly, so that the remnants of the crowd can hear you. “Yeah no, I’m gonna have to decline. We know your lord send shinobi from Ishigakure after them.”

“That’s outrageous,” the swordsman declares.

“I know, right?” you agree. “Sending assassins after the daughter of an enemy he had killed is one thing, but his own son? Outrageous!”

“Can you prove any of these wild allegations?” the swordsman demands.

“Yeah,” you counter. “I’m the one who he hired for his invasion of the Land of This and I’m the one who stopped the assassins yesterday. I’ll also be the one who puts your lord in a cell today, over your objections if I’ve gotta.”

“This is ridiculous,” the swordsman scoffs. “Seize them!”

That’s your cue.
>1/2

>>4371114
Two flanks of spearmen approach from the sides, while the swordsman and his partners approach you from the front. Flowing your chakra through Umekiri and her precious porcelain saya, made from combat-puppet-grade Hanaseki ceramic that conducts the chakra like a river flows effortlessly through its banks, you smash the two spears’ hafts with a single strike. Then, with a blunted end in your projected chakra, you thrust the end of the saya into the chest of one spearman, cracking his armor and throwing him onto his back, then crack it against the side of the second spearman, knocking him down as well.

As Sasuke and Tatewaki set to work disarming the remaining flanks of spearmen in clouds of flying splinters, the swordsman before you stares you down, reaching for his own weapon’s hilt.

“I am Harada Yayōsu-no-Munenori, of the Munenori Ittō-ryū,” the man declares. “Will you draw, honorless mercenary who is the enemy of my lord?”

You carefully return your saya to your left hip, holding it in your left hand, pressing your thumb carefully against the guard.

“I am Raishō Naori, founder of the Kengen Sōkō-ryū,” you declare, releasing the first two Inner Gates. “Wielder of the Umekiri Ichimonji Norimune. I can afford to humor you.”

When in a moment Sasuke-kun uses a chidori chakra flow technique to raise a cloud of dust to disorient and scatter the attackers on his side, thereby shielding the young Lord and Lady, both you and Harada-han seize the initiative simultaneously. He’s fast but you’re faster, stepping forward and launching Umekiri hilt-first from her saya like a bolt from a crossbow.

Harada-han moves to the side to dodge the unusual attack, keeping his blade sheathed for the moment as he charges you down… or so he thinks. In reality he’s charging an illusory afterimage left as you use the Hiraishin to teleport to your sword, still in the process of turning from your own momentum. Raising her hilt you strike with the saya across Harada-san’s back in a debilitatingly painful kidney shot, which brings him to his knees.

Without flourish you near-instantly return Umekiri-maru to her saya.

“Let’s go before the archers start firing!” you shout. “Shū, Chiyo, I’ll cover you!”
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4371140

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4371140

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4371140

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4371140

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>>4371145
>>4371155