>>2028627
>Yoko Yamisaki (F)
>Black hair (Sensor)

>>2028627
>>Shiori Yukimura (M)
>Brown hair (Sealing Expert)

>>2028627
>>Shiori Yukimura (M)

>>Blonde hair (Puppeteer)

HOW YA DOIN MATE?!

>>2028627
>Yoko Yamisaki (F)
>Blonde hair (Puppeteer)

>>2028627
>Yoko Yamisaki (F)
>Blonde hair (Puppeteer)

>>2028627
>Shiori Yukimura (M)
>Blonde hair (Puppeteer)

>>2028627
>>Shiori Yukimura (M)
>Blonde hair (Puppeteer)

>>2028627
>Yoko Yamisaki (F)
>Blonde hair (Puppeteer)

>>2028627
>Yoko Yamisaki (F)
>Blonde hair (Puppeteer)

>>2028637
>>2028638
>>2028639
>>2028640
>>2028641
>>2028643
>>2028662
>>2028664
Next vote takes Gender.

>>2028627
>>Black hair (Sensor)
>Shiori Yukimura (M)

>>2028672
Aaaand that's the one.

Writing.

Have the whole thing I forgot while I write.

Welcome to Shinobi Support Quest, a dumb idea I made after realizing that every single Naruto quest MC has dead parents. This quest can be expected to be quite a bit more toned down than saving the Leaf Village, or wiping out scores of enemies, or even being a prodigy. You are an average Genin in the interim between the Second and Third Wars, one who, as evidenced by their condition, isn’t even good at fighting. To make up for this shortcoming though, you are an extremely skilled ninja in a niche specialty, and your home life can help push you forward with Connections. Connections can be used as a back pocket “I need to do this, for ___!” in order to provide bonuses to rolls. Using them too often has consequences, be warned.

Shinobi Support, surprise, has you take the role of a more supportive Shinobi type. Don’t expect to be in constant fights, rushing through the Chunin exams, or constantly encountering legendary figures. The world is at relative peace for now, but things may take a turn soon.

At present, your Type is the only thing affecting you, giving you your base skills. There will be more votes to determine upbringing. Keep in mind that the effects of your upbringing can stack to increase the power of your Type-given traits.

Walking out from the hospital a few hours of rest later with your bag in tow, the world looks bleak. The puppet in your bag with the dummy, it’s all pieces and bits! A few small tears catch from your eyes in the evening light as you think about this, you spent so long making it, it had been there through everything and now it had even broken itself to save you. You’ll fix it, but now it’s saved your life the connection is there. Steeling yourself, you walk forward.

Even in the Academy, you were never exceptional, you even ranked worst in your class in Taijutsu and that class had fucking Sawako in it. Only thing that made you stand out was how little you cared about the big, flashy jutsu other students loved. They always made fun of you, especially after you turned down the Nature test to focus on your puppetry, but that’s where they all made a mistake. As an engineer you were often considered a prodigy, making traps and gadgets nobody had even considered outside of the Sand, all culminating in your puppet. But there’s only so much you can do with wood and metal when you aren’t some rich noble, and not a lot of it’s useful to the Academy. You’re nobody special, you know that, but on a team? Well, you’re the person they’re going to be relying on to save their asses and they’ll realize how stupid they were to dismiss you.

The walk home leads you by the better part of town, where the clans make their homes. It’s annoying, especially the Nara. They don’t have to work half as hard for anything as you do, they can just puppet other people, no building or talent or skill required! Maybe it is a bit of sour grapes, but shouldn’t everyone have that right? If you’re not in a clan or some sort of freaky ninja killing machine, you can’t compete. The odds are stacked against people like you. They’d always tell you to go back to making dolls. Grinding your teeth, you force yourself onwards.

Entering the less well-off part of town brings you to a humble house with fresh paint and a nice, small wooden placard with your family name. Humble but comforting.

You get home and are immediately greeted by the aroma of...

>Freshly-chopped apples (Charming: Creating Connections is extremely easy. You are popular, beautiful, and know the right things to say to get people on your side. DCs for social interaction are reduced greatly, but a good roll won’t save you from a poor argument or bad line)
>Smoking meat (Resilient: Being forged in the flames of the shop, you are like iron. Increases Stamina. Immune to most inclement conditions. Can take more hits than usual and often gets Second and sometimes even Third Winds)
>Incense (Sneaky: You look incredibly generic and walk quietly. Rolls to determine your presence and identity are greatly hindered. You are assumed to be sneaking in addition to any action you take)
>Pastries (Medical: Has a good understanding of the human body. Adds Medical Jutsu as a basic skill and increases Chakra Control by a large amount)
Interrogator >Flowers (Awareness: Has a great understanding of others and surroundings. All relevant items will be included in every post without a roll to see them. Only exceptions are things actively hidden by an opposer, simply granting a lower DC)
>Stew (Poisons: Can create poisons. You are allowed 4 Weak and 1 Specialty Poison as known concoctions. The Weak ones will be self-explanatory, but Specialty is limited only by your creativity. Locked in once created.)
>Drying varnish (Tactical: So long as you are Aware of your surroundings, the most sound conventional option is outlined in the post, but do not let creativity fall away, only applies in Planning and Battle)
>Miso (Friendly: Connections take far more effort to break when established. You are exceptional at cooking, giving advice, and have an overall harmless-looking appearance)

>>2028718
>Incense (Sneaky: You look incredibly generic and walk quietly. Rolls to determine your presence and identity are greatly hindered. You are assumed to be sneaking in addition to any action you take)

>>2028718
>Stew (Poisons: Can create poisons. You are allowed 4 Weak and 1 Specialty Poison as known concoctions. The Weak ones will be self-explanatory, but Specialty is limited only by your creativity. Locked in once created.)

>>2028718
>>Pastries (Medical: Has a good understanding of the human body. Adds Medical Jutsu as a basic skill and increases Chakra Control by a large amount)
Basic understanding of humanity and even better chakra control than what would be needed for puppeteering would really help to improve our overall ability to take down enemies and assist allies.

>>2028718
>>Stew (Poisons: Can create poisons. You are allowed 4 Weak and 1 Specialty Poison as known concoctions. The Weak ones will be self-explanatory, but Specialty is limited only by your creativity. Locked in once created.)

>>2028718
>Pastries (Medical: Has a good understanding of the human body. Adds Medical Jutsu as a basic skill and increases Chakra Control by a large amount)

>>2028726
>>2028729
>>2028730
>>2028738
>>2028739
Stew or Pastries, next vote has it.

>>2028755
>pastries

>>2028718
>>Pastries (Medical: Has a good understanding of the human body. Adds Medical Jutsu as a basic skill and increases Chakra Control by a large amount)

>medical
Literally every time

>>2028767
Medical is a good support skill. Plus the increased chakra control will help with manipulating puppets.

File: Wood.jpg (221 KB, 1024x683)

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The scent of baking wafts through the air, sweet and warm in the fading light. A humming can be heard from the kitchen and when you slam your bag down on the counter, it turns into a startled yelp. Footsteps come around the corner and your mom smiles through thick glasses. She can’t really be described as pretty, but there’s a practiced elegance to her movements.

“How was your day, Yoko?” She’s obviously baiting out the answer. She works in the same building you just spent the last half of your day being treated in, so you’d be surprised if she didn’t already know. Of course, there’s a division between shinobi care and civilian care so you never know.

“It was...terrible. I went out to practice and I thought that wearing a mask would make training worth more but then I got beaten up and they broke my puppet.” You regurgitate the words like bile, every one of them burns your throat and leaves you on the verge of tears again. Mom doesn’t stop smiling though, she never does. It helps, if only a little.

“You’re okay, that’s what matters sweetie. Oh! Dad said he’d be bringing home something you’d get a kick out of later. I can’t tell you, but he seemed excited.” Is it even a mystery? Mom told him about this now he’s bringing something to cheer you up. You’re not stupid. Still, it feels good to know that you’re being taken care of. Really, your day wasn’t that bad. It was your last day off until you actually start training with your team and you felt like you were making some good progress with your senbon. It was just the one thing that changed it to being bad. You’re going to have to stay up all night fixing the puppet, if you don’t nobody will ever believe you’re worth anything. Your mentor might even fail you back to the Academy! Sensing that you’re worried, Mom brings back a cookie.

“They’re still cooling, but this should be fine.” And your sweet tooth betrays you again. The second it’s under your nose you don’t feel half as bad. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that you’re not even an adult yet. “You’ll do fine, Yoyo, you’ll bounce back.” The nickname is a bit annoying, but it’s not nearly as annoying as anything else so it kind of does make you feel better.

You let out a sigh and start eating the warm cookie, very little sugar in it. “You didn’t have enough sugar for this, did you?” Mom shakes her head. This is why you need to be good. Your specialty isn’t cheap, it’s never going to be, so you owe it to her to be the best ninja ever! Feeling more fired up, you unzip the bag. Inside is…

>A mangled, snake-like assembly of wood
>Splinters of a wooden head and torso
>Shreds of tentacles radiating from a large dented ball of metal
>[Write-in allowed, be modest though.]

>>2028842
>A mangled, snake-like assembly of wood

>>2028842
>Shreds of tentacles radiating from a large dented ball of metal
Octo-puppet!

>>2028842
>A mangled, snake-like assembly of wood

>>2028850
>>2028876
Snake wins.

File: Puppet.jpg (57 KB, 570x428)

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The broken snake puppet was made to play on the other student’s fears about poison and the Sannin, Orochimaru. Have to exploit those rumors somehow. But that wasn’t its true purpose. It was made for speed and precision, then capture. The pressure it exerts by coiling could crush most people in less than a minute, and its mouth is lined with saw blades in addition to fangs. You’ve been working on a poison vaporizer to make it breathe poison, but that’s still a ways off. It also looks really cute around your shoulders so there’s that. The poor thing looks to be in surprisingly good condition actually, it was made with the intention of being easy to fix, just replace a few segments and reline the mouth and it should be good! This is going to be a cinch, between that and the cookie you’re over the moon.

Mom takes out some cold noodles for dinner, probably a gift from a patient, and begins serving them. You’re too focused on your puppet, every single detail, to notice. Mind swimming with ideas, you ponder what you would do with more materials. More heads, larger body, this one only takes two threads to control so you could have five of these cute little things on you if you were rich. The broken pieces come out easily and each small link is perfectly intact, it looked worse than it was. “How was work?” Small talk, always good to work out the mind by multitasking.

She laughs. “As good as it can be. Nobody came in stuck full of needles from a failed acupuncturist, so that’s good.” The short blonde hair you have gets in your eyes a bit until you push it away. Who would ever grow it out? Just asking to get yanked in a fight, gets in the way of building, no practical purpose. Stupid.

There’s a thumping on the porch outside the house as someone takes off their shoes, then opens the door, but looking up might mean you’ll mess up this connection. The spare link snaps in easily and then you do so. Dad’s a lot different from Mom, dour, serious, he looks tired with short black hair and baggy eyes. Still, appearances are deceiving. He sits down next to you and takes off a small roll from his bag.

“Yo. I found something you’ll like.” He smiles deviously and makes it clear who you got your talent from. Dad looks down at the snake and the smile drops, making him look actually sad before he opens up the bag. “I got you some parts, for that vaporizer you wanted to make. Can give you a hand if you want.”

His smile returns and something slips out of his coat.

>A few Ryo (Charming: Creating Connections is extremely easy. You are popular, beautiful, and know the right things to say to get people on your side. DCs for social interaction are reduced greatly, but a good roll won’t save you from a poor argument or bad line)
>A kunai (Sneaky: You look incredibly generic and walk quietly. Rolls to determine your presence and identity are greatly hindered. You are assumed to be sneaking in addition to any action you take)
>Some salts and a single pink flower (Poisons: Can create poisons. You are allowed 4 Weak and 1 Specialty Poison as known concoctions. The Weak ones will be self-explanatory, but Specialty is limited only by your creativity. Locked in once created.)
>A few blocks of wood and a pencil (Tactical: So long as you are Aware of your surroundings, the most sound conventional option is outlined in the post, but do not let creativity fall away, only applies in Planning and Battle)
>Some packets of salt and pepper (Friendly: Connections take far more effort to break when established. You are exceptional at cooking, giving advice, and have an overall harmless-looking appearance)

>>2028982
>Some salts and a single pink flower (Poisons: Can create poisons. You are allowed 4 Weak and 1 Specialty Poison as known concoctions. The Weak ones will be self-explanatory, but Specialty is limited only by your creativity. Locked in once created.)
Nerdy and a little toxic.

>>2028982
>Some salts and a single pink flower (Poisons: Can create poisons. You are allowed 4 Weak and 1 Specialty Poison as known concoctions. The Weak ones will be self-explanatory, but Specialty is limited only by your creativity. Locked in once created.)

>>2028982
>A few blocks of wood and a pencil (Tactical: So long as you are Aware of your surroundings, the most sound conventional option is outlined in the post, but do not let creativity fall away, only applies in Planning and Battle)

>>2028982
>>Some packets of salt and pepper (Friendly: Connections take far more effort to break when established. You are exceptional at cooking, giving advice, and have an overall harmless-looking appearance)

>>2028982
>A kunai (Sneaky: You look incredibly generic and walk quietly. Rolls to determine your presence and identity are greatly hindered. You are assumed to be sneaking in addition to any action you take)

>>2028982
>>A kunai (Sneaky: You look incredibly generic and walk quietly. Rolls to determine your presence and identity are greatly hindered. You are assumed to be sneaking in addition to any action you take)

>>2028978
>>Some salts and a single pink flower (Poisons: Can create poisons. You are allowed 4 Weak and 1 Specialty Poison as known concoctions. The Weak ones will be self-explanatory, but Specialty is limited only by your creativity. Locked in once created.)

>>2029032
>>2029024
>>2029014
>>2029009
>>2029007
>>2029004
>>2028998
Toxic it is, fetching stats and writing, Character creation done.

>>2028982
>>A kunai (Sneaky: You look incredibly generic and walk quietly. Rolls to determine your presence and identity are greatly hindered. You are assumed to be sneaking in addition to any action you take)

File: 220px-Slater_rolled_up_fo(...).jpg (17 KB, 220x167)

17 KB JPG

Okay
So the snake puppet has one big glaring weakness
Mobility
What are some ways to get over that?
I suggest more flexible bonds so it can roll up into a ball shape roly poly style

File: Snake Plush.jpg (75 KB, 1500x550)

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Laughing in a slightly robotic manner, Dad slips the reagents back into his pocket. “Can you believe I got the parts from a new thing for clearing out the hood of gas? Using this for the exact opposite of what it’s supposed to do.” Mom puts out the noodles and Dad starts eating quickly. He’s always tired after work, but sniffing chemicals all day will do that to you. Still, someone has to do it and Dad’s the smartest person ever. Mom sits down as well and begins eating, giving him a kiss on the cheek as you finish the last screw in the puppet. Cheerfully you coil it around your shoulders and tuck in.

The noodles are okay. But it’s the simple fact that you can spend tonight with Dad, making some poisons and assembling that little machine, which makes today better. He’s always so busy so whenever he’s home you try your hardest to be nice. You know it’s because he’s trying to pay for your creations, but sometimes you wonder if he gets more joy out of helping with them. Dad puts a hand on your head and ruffles your short hair. That means he wants to work, and that’s exciting, so you finish dinner quickly.

There’s a lot of work to do before tomorrow. All your gear is up to snuff, you have your basic poisoned senbon, stamina, speed, bleed, and blind. Basics. But now you might get to show off what you’ve been working on on your own. Between what Mom taught you about the human body and what dad taught you about poisonmaking, the ideas are almost endless. “Thanks for dinner, Moriko. We’ll be in the workshop.” Dad gives Mom a kiss to return the one from before and you turn away. Ew. Playing with the puppet, you make two Chakra threads to its head and start moving it around, making it jabber in mock speech.

The workshop is a mess, and you spend the whole night with Dad putting together the vaporizer and your own special ingredient. Materials are limited, but making due with so little is half the fun. Poisonmaking is partially knowing the opponent’s body and partially knowing the poison’s effects, you have expertise in both. Smiling and letting loose a maniacal laugh, the final concoction is finished. Shortly after, you eat a cookie and go to bed, snuggling your snake plushie.

File: Poison bracelet.jpg (316 KB, 754x900)

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The next day, you wake up barely on time thanks to Mom and start putting together your clothes. Dark green, with a few dark purple stripes to round it out, a gift from Dad a few years ago that wicks away acids and such. The gloves on it are sort of your sense of style, everything needs an accessory. Speaking of, you tie the headband on your arm so it doesn’t ruin your hair, then wrap the snake around your shoulders to tie together the image you have. You think you look cute. Snakes are cute, short hair is cute, so you have to be cute. A belt along the inside of your jacket holds four vials of your normal poisons, and a hidden compartment in your bracelet has three vials of your special sauce. Just thinking about it makes you giddy.

Mom and Dad are already gone as you stroll out the door, skipping breakfast as any good genius does. Striding past the clan houses again, masking contempt, you run into another Genin from your class. Takuya has a large amount of scrolls all over him, in a manner similar to how you wear your snake he wears his style like a badge of honor. Specializing in Sealing, you consider him a rival, both of you in a race trying to prove people wrong. While you’re terrible at Taijutsu, even you had to laugh at his attempts at Ninjutsu, so it works out. Doesn’t hurt that he’s absolutely hilarious when he tries to figure out how you make puppets work.

“Yoko, going to meet your crappy team that mine’s going to kick the shit out of?” Takuya smiles, his headband on his forehead like a weirdo.

>”Nope, going to meet my awesome team that’ll rip yours a new one.”
>”Yep, how’d you know?”
>”What, with your crayon drawings?”
>[Write-in]

>>2029152
>>”Nope, going to meet my awesome team that’ll rip yours a new one.”
So friendly rival get?

>>2029152
>”Nope, going to meet my awesome team that’ll rip yours a new one.”
begin that rivalry now!

File: naruto_puppet_design_by_a(...).jpg (151 KB, 1063x752)

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Oh baby

>>2029176
You wish you were rich enough to afford that.
>>2029165
>>2029169
Writing.

Also, here's the sheet. You are slightly better than Sakura was, so congrats? https://pastebin.com/7QuPTumY

>>2029182
Damne we be a smart fuck

>>2029152
>”Nope, going to meet my awesome team that’ll rip yours a new one.”

I'm confused, didn't the male name win? Why are we called Yoko?

File: Scrolls.jpg (109 KB, 700x394)

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”Nope, going to meet my awesome team that’ll rip yours a new one.” The words come naturally as you smile back, making the snake give a hiss by revving its saws. Takuya laughs at the truly terrifying puppet and taps it on the nose. “Don’t do that.” You respond automatically and the snake shrinks back. Wouldn’t want to actually hurt him.

He continues walking with you. “Why? It’s an adorable little toy.” You whirl towards him.
“It’s not a toy!” Takuya puts up his hands and pretends to look scared. “Not that you’d understand, you write more poetry or something to prepare for today?”
He frowns and shakes his head. “It’s not poetry, I made every seal I know and put them on scrolls, I’m prepared for everything.” You smile mischievously.
“Except a test.” Takuya turns red.
“Shut up! How was I supposed to know the written test would be so hard!?”
“I forced you to cram you idiot, not my fault you forgot almost everything.”

You jab back and forth the entire walk to the training fields before you eventually have to part ways. Team 9, no information otherwise, or maybe you were just too excited to remember. Doesn’t matter either way, you’re the only one here. Does nobody else show up to things early!? You play with your puppet for a while, moving Chakra threads and testing systems, the new nozzle on the inside of its mouth is amazing, you love it. No need to load it yet though, don’t want to waste good poison.

Finally, someone shows up and… dammit, dammit dammit dammit! It’s an Uchiha, he’s an Uchiha, hopefully you aren’t the only normal person in this team. He doesn’t seem to pay you any mind, even though you kind of recognize him from class. Never caught his name though, probably something stupid and archaic passed down his family line for generations or some crap. Who does he think he is just sitting there and not introducing himself? His eyes don’t even look different, only thing distinguishing him is the fan on his back. He eventually walks over and looks at the snake.

“Oh. You’re that girl.” The disappointment is clear in his voice. “I’m Katsurou.” Does he even want to be here?!

>[Write-in]

>>2029241
male name lost. It was tied and the next vote won it.

>>2029244
Oh. Now I feel dumb.

>>2029243
>[Write-in]

Gee, don't get so riled up on my account. I'm Yoko Yamisaki. Its... nice to meet you.

>>2029243
>"Yoko...Hi"
>Surreptitiously check what equipment he has, see if we can guess his skillset

>>2029253
Deliver with maximum sass and sarcasm.

>>2029253
>>2029257
Mixing these two, will be back with update after some lunch.

>10 votes for gender
>5 are for female which won
>only 2 of those voters left
Makes me sad to see it happen but it happens every time female MC wins

>>2029277
Phone posting, all it affected was internal dialogue. Yoko is only a girl.

At least we are trying puppets in a Naruto quest finally.

And here are our stats for those who didn't click the pastebin link!

Ninjutsu: 2

Taijutsu: .5

Genjutsu: 1

Intelligence: 4

Strength: .5

Speed: 3

Stamina: 1

Hand Seals: 4

The whole girl thing won't matter that much

>>2029277
Actually while I did vote for male and am admittedly a bit apprehensive with female MC's, not because I'm actually against playing a girl but from experience anons get really fucking weird about it and I can only say that I'm happy that newer female mc quests lately haven't been like that for the most part, I actually haven't been playing because I had to work and wasn't near a computer or workable wifi until now.

File: Surrounded by Snowflakes.jpg (86 KB, 938x1023)

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“Gee, don't get so riled up on my account. I'm Yoko Yamisaki. Its... nice to meet you.” You try to bury your feelings about this guy, you’re going to be working with him so it only makes sense to be civil. What does he even do? Looking him over with a keen eye developed in the workshop where millimeters make a difference, a few things are evident. He’s very thin, almost skeletally so beneath his clothes, you can tell from how they fit him. Katsurou obviously doesn’t train for strength, and you can see why when you examine him further. He woke up late this morning, he still has bedhair, yet he isn’t late, meaning he was fast enough to make it here in what would probably be less than a few minutes. Impressive. Extending what you know about the Sharingan, you suppose he must specialize in either Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. How...typical.

He looks tired. “You can call me Katsu if you want. Sorry if I didn’t greet myself properly, I didn’t sleep well.” He sits down in front of you, leaning back before appraising you as well. “I like the snake, it suits you, especially the poisons part.” Katsurou closes his eyes for a moment.

“...thanks.” Huh, maybe he came to the same conclusion you did and you can get along. Maybe he’s a failure to his clan or something for not being an uptight asshole who broods in corners.

“Can you tell me when we’re starting, I’m going to nap a bit.” He pulls his knees up and leans his head against them, letting his messy hair fall over his head as a sort of curtain. Oooor maybe he’s just too tired to focus on being an asshole. That’s possible too. Guess you’ll have to see. Another Genin you actually do recognize comes by and your heart sinks. Hideaki. His white, featureless eyes make you dread the coming time with the team. Another Clan member.

You’re not going to stand out at all. Silently mourning, you almost want to imitate Katsurou and curl up in a ball to fall asleep. He waves. “Heyo!” Katsurou groans at the overly chipper greeting. The Hyuga rushes over to the group and sits down as well.

“I’m Hideaki, you’re Katsurou, and I think...hmm…no we haven’t met.” Asshole. You have. He beat the shit out of you in the Academy. Like almost everyone else. Maybe he’s just too stupid to remember. At least Katsurou shares your frustration.

“You hit her during the last round of exams, dumbass. Granted she was pretty worthless in that exam but at least try to remember those things.” You aren’t sure whether to be thankful or hurt by Katsurou’s comment. Hideaki looks instantly apologetic.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean any offense, I just didn’t remember you. That’s a good skill for someone like you to have.” Wait, what does he mean ‘someone like you’?

>[Write-in]

>>2029585
>Ignore.

>>2029585
>[Write-in]

>Say nothing; just give a venomous glare.

>>2029607
Make the puppet glare at him too.

>>2029585
>Refuse to acknowledge his existence

I remember that being a big deal for people in Naruto.

>>2029585
Refuse to acknowledge his comment.

>>2029585
"Someone like me?"
Keep up a polite tone. Lets see how deep he's going to dig this hole.

>>2029604
>>2029607
>>2029609
>>2029610
>>2029620
Venomous glare x2 is go.

File: Training time fuckers.jpg (101 KB, 1238x491)

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You ignore him, instead glaring at him with the hope that maybe if you glare hard enough, he’ll suddenly not be on your team. Making chakra threads, you have the snake join in. Hideaki looks absolutely distraught, but he eventually just calms down and turns his weird eyes to the ground. He’s wearing his headband on his head like a good boy, but Katsurou’s is displayed on his arm in a manner similar to your’s. The silence must be crushing for crazy-eyes.

Eventually Katsurou picks up his head and yawns. “You think the instructor forgot about us?” You can see something like a dust cloud in the distance and as it gets closer you can see a tall man running very quickly towards the training ground. In the instant it takes you to register that, he’s almost here. Looks like he’s wearing some kind of cloak over his normal gear, and quite soon he’s standing in the middle of the group, before you can even get to your feet. At least you saw him. Hideaki and Katsurou seem surprised, which is odd considering the Hyuga should have seen him coming.

The man has long brown hair and looks more like a post than a person, much taller and skinnier than normal. His gaze focuses on the group and he speak. “I am your instructor, sensei, teacher, any of those and that is all you will know me as. You are the fifth team I have trained and already you are all profoundly disappointing.”

Hideaki looks like he’s going to cry now, Katsurou is just trying to get a read on him, but you already can. He’s similar to the Uchiha, built for speed, not for strength. The cloak is a dead giveaway, Teacher uses Genjutsu to some extent, but the weight of it is what tips you off to its true purpose. That thing is filled with supplies, you can see the outlines of vials and tags and weapons in abundance.

Before anyone can react, he has three senbon in his hand and is throwing them at the group.

>>2029701
>Dodge (Speed)
>Block (Taijutsu)
>Shift the hit to another part of your body (Intelligence)
>Block it with your puppet (Seals)
>Write-in

>>2029711
>>Block it with your puppet (Seals)

>>2029711
>Dodge (Speed)

>>2029711
>Shift the hit to another part of your body (Intelligence)

We've got a 4 in intelligence guys, that's higher than what Sakura had at this age.

>>2029711
>>Block it with your puppet (Seals)

>>2029711
>>Dodge (Speed)

>>2029711
>Dodge (Speed)
Flee! We're back row!

>>2029722
With our background we'd know that senbon are almost always used as a transference medium for poisons. Better to just dodge than to get hit.

>>2029711
>>Block it with your puppet (Seals)

>>2029722
>>2029735
We have a 4 in seals as well vs only 3 in speed, and wood is supereffective against blocking needles

>>2029737

Good point.
Change my vote>>2029722 to
>Block it with your puppet (Seals)

>>2029711
>>Block it with your puppet (Seals)
Bonus if we block it with the snakes tail and flick it back to him.

>>2029701
>>Block it with your puppet (Seals)

>>2029737
That is a good point.

I'll do the same. Change my vote from>>2029729 to

>>Block it with your puppet (Seals)

>>2029717
>>2029721
>>2029722
>>2029723
>>2029724
>>2029729
>>2029736
>>2029745
>>2029748
>>2029767
Okay, looks like we're blocking!

1d100+10, Crits are active on 1 and 100, best of three.

Rolled 78 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>2029771

Rolled 79 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>2029771

Rolled 89 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>2029771

Rolled 58 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>2029771

Rolled 51, 9 = 60 (2d100)

>>2029773
>>2029775
>>2029778
99 is pretty good. Writing. Rolls are for Katsu and Hideaki.

>>2029783
lol poor Hideaki.

>>2029783
Looks like we got the Hyuga clan klutz

>>2029787
Eh, fuck him

>>2029810
He's part of our team now, whether we like him or not. Its not a good thing if he goes down instantly.

Luckily, if he gets hurt, we are basically the best Support Genin possible.

>>2029778
Block without even flinching. We saw this coming a mile away.

>>2029833
Oh I know, and we'll have to develop good teamwork and get to know him and bond and all that. Till then though, fuck him, cause we're a 12 year old and we're allowed to be a little petty for a day.

File: Get Called Out.gif (1.56 MB, 448x252)

1.56 MB GIF

Quickly making chakra threads, you bring your puppet down to block the needle, and smelling the familiar tinge of a certain flower makes you glad you did. This is a poison made with the express purpose of causing total paralysis, a simple one to counteract but nonetheless quite potent. The reagents for this sort of thing are absurdly expensive, mostly due to the nonlethal nature, as achieving this effect lethally is quite easy. In the two seconds it takes for this to register, you see the rest of your group move in slow motion.

Katsurou, looks like he’s staring directly at his needle, the senbon heading straight for his eye before, in an instant it isn’t. Instead whipping through his hair. Of course, being an Uchiha, he tries to be cool and grab it from the air, instead accomplishing little more than scratching himself slightly. That’s enough for the poison to get in. He’s done for if you don’t help him soon. Stupid. Why did he have to show off, there’s nobody here to impress.

Hideaki gets into the position for Gentle Fist style before quickly getting the needle stuck in his hand. Isn’t the Gentle Fist supposed to protect against ranged attack? That was just downright embarrassing, but maybe your comment actually affected him. What a baby.

Sensei is on top of a tree. “You are all now under the effects of a lethal poison, whoever dies first will be replaced b-” You yell up.

“Quit lying! This poison is non-lethal and I wasn’t hit!” He glares down before laughing. You can see the cloak shifting with all his gear.

“Smart, well then now to make it interesting. Your goal is to catch me. If you succeed, I will treat you all to a meal on me and take you on formally as my pupils. Should you be unable to do it today, we will try tomorrow, and the next day. Until you are able to do it, I will teach you nothing, you will not advance. Have at it.” Crap, you thought calling him out would help. He chuckles. “But none of that ‘I am sensei’ stuff, I’m Jun. Have fun catching me.” Jun-sensei stands at the top of the tree.

By now, Hideaki is completely paralyzed and Katsurou appears to be unable to move his upper body. Counteracting this poison is easily accomplished with the bleeding poison you have, so long as you stop it afterwards. It’s actually a bit reassuring that they have to rely entirely on you.

>[Write-in]

>>2029802
That's some good art. Pretty close with the scarf too. It's quite similar to Yoko's boa

>>2029861
Help them, but do it smugly

>>2029873
Support.

File: elitesmug.gif (947 KB, 500x265)

947 KB GIF

>>2029861
>Begrudgingly heal them and start strategizing. We're not much of a fighter and this guy is obviously experienced.

>>2029881
Agreed. Be smug.

>>2029802
Ah, Yura. Now I miss that old Inuyasha quest.

>>2029861
Treat them, while berating them about trying to block pointy objects by the sharp end with their bare hands.

>>2029883
Ok, fuck it
>Heal them and strategize.

>>2029898
Sorry! I wasn't satisfied with why I put on that post.

>>2029429
Some of us are busy

>>2029889
>>2029885
>>2029881
>>2029898
Smug treatment, let's see how good you do this. 1d100+30 from both Medical and Poisons.and Int 4.

>>2029904
Okay? I was explaining why that vote wasn't very important.

Rolled 31 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>2029909
If we fail this I'm going to laugh so hard.

Rolled 6 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>2029909

Rolled 2 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>2029909

>>2029920
>>2029917
>>2029914
You were real close. You passed, only a 1 wouldn't have. But you were close.

>>2029914
>>2029917
>>2029920

We cannot heal very well

File: Laughing Dice.jpg (33 KB, 752x375)

33 KB JPG

>>2029914
>>2029917
>>2029920
I really have to stop taunting them.

>>2029928
We're better at making poisons than treating them, I guess

Rolled 57 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>2029909

>>2029914
>>2029917
>>2029920

Really cutting it close.

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>2029928
Eh
60 shouldn't be that bad
But just to check for bad dice

>>2029933
We were too busy being smug to be better.

>>2029182
>You are slightly better than Sakura was
That's honestly pretty good, actually.
Sakura's stat total at the start of the series was 15.5, and she was the daughter of two "literally who" completely unremarkable chunin.
Ino, heir to a clan, only had 15.
Choji, also a clan kid, 14.
Kiba, clan kid, 14.5.
Hinata, heir to one of the most powerful clans in the village? 14.

Sakura wasn't useless because of her stats, pre-powercreep. Hell in raw stats she was above the class average, only really overshadowed by prodigies like Shikamaru, and badass mother fuckers like Shino.
She was useless because she constantly hesitated over everything and had no real motive beyond wanting Sasuke's sausage.
And then post-powercreep she got relegated to being the party's healbot.
>>2029243
>he's an Uchiha
Filthy fucking eyeniggers. Danzo did nothing wrong, except for not wiping out the damn dirty Hyuugas while he was at it!
>>2029585
>His white, featureless eyes make you dread the coming time with the team. Another Clan member.
FUCKING EYENIGGERS!
GAS THE EYENIGGERS, CLAN WAR NOW!

>>2029981
Whoa... calm down there.

>>2029909
Meant to respond to the guy above you

>>2029981
(User was imprisoned for this post)

File: Pointy Owie Bits.jpg (13 KB, 360x360)

13 KB JPG

Prancing over and ripping the needle from Hideaki’s hand, you laugh a small bit. The wound doesn’t bleed, that’s the issue. So you take out your own senbon covered in a yellow liquid and prick him, color returning to his skin. “I didn’t realize Gentle Fist was so underwhelming outside of close combat. Maybe if you specialized in puppets you could have blocked it.” That feels good, it feels real good. The wound starts to bleed as his muscles relax, so you set about binding it, then a quick application of the medical jutsu Naoko taught you makes the wound heal up. The bleeding stops as the two poisons counteract each other. His mouth must still be a bit stiff, he looked like he wanted to scream, must have hurt.

Flipping the yellow senbon around, you walk over to Katsurou. “And you, you were so close, but you just had to look cool, who were you even trying to impress? That was so stupid I lack the words to express it.” Prodding him with the needle, his cut starts to bleed so you replicate procedure. He actually does scream in pain though as the poisons counteract. Another giggle escapes, he deserved to have it hurt a bit. Katsurou sucks on his thumb.

Getting a bit more serious, you get down to brass tacks. “Okay, now what can you two do?”

Hideaki is the first to respond. “I’m a Taijutsu Specialist. I know a few techniques with the Gentle Fist.” He looks down. “I could track him with my Byakugan.” The Hyuga looks genuinely disheartened by his failure, it’s surprising. Maybe he is just stupid.

Katsurou is more well-spoken. “I am exceptionally fast and know many basic Genjutsu, however my strength and stamina are below average.” He seems to be more focused on the mission, keeping a close eye on Jun. Why did he try to catch the needle? Doesn’t seem like something someone like him would do.

The Training Field looks normal, but you can see that Jun was faster than even you could react to. Lumps in the ground indicate traps. Everywhere. Some barely visible threads run back to him and the only open path is winding and easy for him to attack at a distance. Something tells you that peppering him from afar won’t work.

Maybe you should load a poison into your snake as you strategize.

>[Write-in]
>Loading the Unique Poison will trigger a vote on what it does.

>>2030023
Let's load the unique poison.

>>2030023
Stamina or Speed sap might help as well as the blinding poison I don't think we should use our Unique just yet though.

>>2030023
I agree. Let's use the Speed Sap.Let's save our unique poison for when we really need it. It is our trump card.

>>2030023
>Loading the Unique Poison will trigger a vote on what it does.

>>2030023
Speed sap.

>>2030023
unique poisons
am hoping for hallucinations

>>2030038
>>2030051
>>2030066
>>2030067
>>2030072
>>2030074
As the poison vote is tied, and I have something to attend to, I will simply ask for a second prompt and decide poison on a coin flip should no more votes come in.

>What is your strategy?

>>2030023
>Loading the Unique Poison will trigger a vote on what it does.
Either a coma poison or stamina sapping poison

>>2030081
Wait we were supposed to vote for a poison? I thought we had to vote to use a poison first, and that would then give us our option.

>>2030082
My connecyion just shat itself

>>2030081
We'll use Hyuuga to track him, then have Uchiha run him down with Hyuuga and us behind him. Once we get close, Have our snake on Uchiha and have him release the sapping poison from the snakes vaporizer.

Then we just wear him down.

>>2030081
Have the Hyuuga use his byakugan to look at the mounds and try to identify whats in them. Us and the Uchiha will cover him until he does.

I can easily see Orochimaru taking an interest in this team, it's got two unique sets of magic eyes, and he would probably find us absolutely adorable

>>2030081
Have the hyuuga see if he can spot jun or whats in the mounds
Once we have that information act upon it
Have the hyuuga advance on jun from the front while the uchiha and us flank
Have the uchiha go in first to distract him they spray him with the poison
After that its just the nymbers game
Also make sure that they noth know to not let him touch them at any point

>>2030276
Sounds good. Supporting.

>>2030276
Seems decent. Now for the Poison.

Guidelines:
>No lethal poisons (Dad said no)
>No irreversible poisons
>Maximum of three effects
I'm leaving your super special sauce up to you. I saw coma ideas or stamina draining ones. Hell, feel free to take it into chakra blocking territory. But the nastier it is, the more expensive it will be. Keep in mind that puppets are already extremely expensive as a specialty.

Get suggesting.

>>2030437
Makes them burn chakra faster

>>2030437
Stage 1: Increased passive chakra burn
Stage 2: Loss of fine motor skills.
Stage 3: Paralysis

>>2030437
Increased chakra loss
Blurriness of Vision

>>2030437
hallucinations
vertigo
chakra burn

>>2030447
>>2030461
Good options

Someone suggested Hallucinogenic so here you are.

>Creates a myriad of audio and visual hallucinations determined by Chakra Nature.
>Slowly shifts eyesight from normal, creating an effect similar to cataracts.
>Is easily counteracted by an oil applied under the nose.
Poison that affects anyone other than who you rub the nose of.

My two cents right now, feel free to take parts and mix and match.

>>2030461
Support.

>>2030447
>>2030461
>>2030470
>>2030473
>>2030476
So since I want to get this going on and this isn't the last time you can make your own poisons, I'm going to take Six's idea.

Writing.

Loading in a small vial from your bracelet, pressing it into the snake’s mouth, you start talking. “Hideaki, what’s in those mounds?” He starts looking around.
“Explosive tags.”
“Good, Katsurou and I will flank as you approach. Katsurou, you go in first and I will follow up. "Neither of you let him touch you, got it?”
Both of them nod, accepting your control of the situation and understanding the plan. Maybe they aren’t as dense as you thought. Hideaki starts advancing down the path carefully as you and Katsurou rush off playing an impromptu game of The Floor is Lava. Hideaki seems to be more prepared this time, knocking off senbon with his hands like they’re nothing, getting no scratches as he slowly advances. Katsurou starts fidgeting, obviously having to wait for you is making him antsy.

Jun has been sitting and peppering Hideaki for a while when the Hyuga strikes a thread and breaks it, causing a large earthen pillar to shoot out of the ground. He seemed to be expecting it though, slamming a palm into it and turning it to dust. When you manage to get into flanking position, you’re sure the teacher knows Katsurou is there, but you might have escaped his notice.

The Uchiha launches out to attack, but Jun simply lets loose a whistle, causing him to freeze up his movement. It’s terrifying, but the boy manages to snap out of the Genjutsu with ease before landing and engaging in combat. Now assaulted from two fronts, Jun seems to be losing the advantage and not focused on you particularly. The threads running from your fingers to the snake feel like they’re an inch away from his neck already. All you need to do is find a way to ensure the poison gets him.

>Use the snake to approach while keeping yourself unnoticed (Seals)
>Jump out and hope you get the hit (Speed)
>Try to sneak up with your snake still able to protect you from senbon (Intelligence)
>Use Chakra Threads to pull him close enough for a misting (Ninjutsu)
>[Write-in]

>>2030557
>Use the snake to approach while keeping yourself unnoticed (Seals)
snakey snakey

>>2030557
>Try to sneak up with your snake still able to protect you from senbon (Intelligence)
INT 4, yo.

>>2030557
can we make a decoy puppet using the clone jutsu and then sneak the real snek up without him noticing?

>>2030557
>>Try to sneak up with your snake still able to protect you from senbon (Intelligence)

>>2030579
You could try.

>>2030557
>Use the snake to approach while keeping yourself unnoticed (Seals)

>>2030557
>>Try to sneak up with your snake still able to protect you from senbon (Intelligence)

Rolled 63 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>2030605
>>2030600
>>2030581
>>2030579
>>2030573
>>2030563
Looks like we're going to Sneak.

1d100+15. Affected by int and Puppeteer

Rolled 26 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2030616
sneeki breeki

Rolled 22 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2030616

Rolled 10 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2030616

Rolled 67 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2030616

>>2030626
>>2030634
>>2030635
That's rough. Writing.

>>2030626
>>2030634
>>2030635
...or not... uh oh.

>>2030636
I hope this wasn't best of 3

Rolled 94, 89 = 183 (2d100)

Don't mind me.

>>2030644
Did our boys come through with the assist?

>>2030644
Thank god we got back up.

As you move towards a position to surprise him, Jun throws another senbon at you. It is extremely lucky that you still have your puppet, if you didn’t you’d be done for. This poison smells different, it was meant to put you to sleep. That would make sense, if he heard you hit the ground, he’d know you’re unconscious. Aware of this, you make a large stomp to trick him into thinking it hit. You can see the bits of a smile on his face as he bats off the others. Hideaki is pinning him down in close range, and you see Katsurou making a whole lot of handsigns. Maybe he focuses more on speed than technique?

Jun jumps back and takes a breath, then laughs. “You’ve forgotten your teammate, she’s unconscious in those bushes right now. Your ambush won’t work.” Hideaki and Katsurou continue the assault though, Katsurou getting off whatever technique that was to what looks like no effect. Then Jun starts wobbling. You thought he was a Genjutsu specialist! That must have been some technique, as now Hideaki seems to be holding him back, making him actually work. The teacher keeps trying to disengage but he can’t without facing another attack from Katsurou.

Katsurou is the one who speaks up. “I don’t believe you. You have done nothing but lie this entire time and Yoko isn’t half as incompetent as you seem to think we believe.” It occurs to you that he might be using the words for another jutsu, but it’s still a little flattering in the backhanded way you’re accustomed to. Hideaki seems more tight-lipped.

“It doesn’t matter.” He is completely into this, every bit of his focus on Jun and vice versa. They’re holding him down, but there’s no telling for how long.

>Use the snake to wrap around Jun, catching him. (Seals)
>Use Chakra Threads to pull him closer and mist him (Ninjutsu)
>Hit him with a poisoned senbon (Intelligence)
>[Write-in]

>>2030683
>>Hit him with a poisoned senbon (Intelligence)
The same one he threw at us for extra irony and lols.

>>2030683
>Hit him with a poisoned senbon (Intelligence)
"You're a pathological liar aren't you, sensei?"

>>2030683
>>Hit him with a poisoned senbon (Intelligence)

>>2030694
I like this idea

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>2030694
>>2030709
>>2030710
Gimme the 1d100+15

>>2030683
>Use the snake to wrap around Jun, catching him. (Seals)

We’re supossed to be good at this

Rolled 43 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2030733

>>2030733

Rolled 38 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2030733

Rolled 70 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>2030733

>>2030743
>>2030742
>>2030737
Guess what?

You failed.

Writing.

>>2030733
Dice+1d100+15
Hope I did this right

>>2030745
I did not is it only lower case for dice?

>>2030743
HELL YEAH!

>>2030755
>>2030744
Wait what? Dang better ninja escaping...

>>2030745
needs to go int he Options box

>>2030760
I see thank you

File: Spoiler Image (46 KB, 660x371)

46 KB JPG

Grabbing the poisoned senbon he first threw, the paralysis one, in your gloves, you feel like you have this under control. Recalling the training you were doing in the woods yesterday, you throw the needle in a perfect line. The wind is gone, you lead the shot, it’s all coming down to exactly where it was aimed.

Slightly over Jun’s shoulder.

He appears to notice the needle, you can see the flash of recognition, he hasn’t missed it and continued his defense, Jun is changing his tactics. You can see him jump back, just away from Hideaki, shaking off a hit from Katsurou, but he isn’t jumping away from the needle. He’s jumping towards it. The thin piece of metal impacts him in the neck and he freezes up, falling to the ground.

He threw the fight, he let your missed shot hit him. Katsurou is shaking out his hands as Hideaki breathes heavily. The Uchiha puts up his arms, then falls over into the bushes. “Yay.” The combination of the tone combined with the word is funny enough to make Hideaki laugh. You might have too, if you weren’t still in shock about what Jun did.

The other senbon in your snake comes out easily and drops to the grass. You cuddle the wooden puppet close to your neck, you’re not sure how to feel and the smooth wood provides some measure of comfort to you. Making sense of this is hard, Katsurou stands up and walks over to you.

“Good job.” It hits you like a ton of boulders. In this moment you try to find how to feel.

You feel…

>Angry at Jun failing on purpose
>Relieved that you aren’t going to be failed
>Indifferent, you accomplished the task
>[Write-in]

>>2030803
>Angry at Jun failing on purpose
>But don't say anything just silent angry pout

>>2030803
>Angry at Jun failing on purpose

>>2030803
>>[Write-in]

Bring it up with Jun later in private as to why he let us hit him, then respond to his answer appropriately.

>>2030803
>>2030820
this

>>2030803
>>Angry at Jun failing on purpose

>>2030810
>>2030814
>>2030820
>>2030826
>>2030830
I can mix. Writing.

Angry. You’re angry. But if you show it the rest of them will know. “Yeah.” You look down at the paralyzed instructor slowly regaining control of his body, probably from hitting himself with poison enough to get a resistance, you can’t help but feel mad. So you just cross your arms. “Our sensei is a pathological liar.”

For the first time, Katsurou actually laughs. It’s shocking just how childlike it is, you were expecting something like a grumble from the stoic Uchiha. You feel offended, again, is he laughing at you? “What’s so funny?”

“It’s just the snake, you gave it little painted eyes even though you didn’t have to.” As you’re left processing what he meant, it seems like he gets that you’re confused. “You take care of it like a real snake.” Hideaki rushes over cheering to break the silence.

“We did it! I wasn’t expecting that at all! Thought I was done for until you did that crazy mind ninjutsu and he got all dizzy. Then the girl threw the needle and it hit!” He seems ecstatic that he passed as Jun stands up. You’re still angry at him.

“Her name’s Yoko, you never bothered asking moon-eyes.” Katsurou looks a little angry, must be that he’s trying to be respectful? They do think you won them the day, and as the two converse you can’t take your eyes off Jun. He walks over stiffly and smiles. “Good job, all of you. You managed to work together and trust each other despite the shortcomings you saw. Surprised me that you listened to Yamisaki though.”

“She had the most information, so it was the best choice.” Hideaki phrases it more like a test question than a reply. Katsurou doesn’t respond, still trying to work out his hands by fidgeting.

>Act like you’re satisfied
>Pout
>Call him out
>[Write-in]

>>2030910
>Call him out

>>2030910
>>Act like you’re satisfied
Bring it up later with just us and him.

>>2030910
>Act like you’re satisfied

We know why he did it, but it doesn't make it better. Talk to him later about it.

>>2030910
>[Write-in]
Why did you jump into the senbon? And did Katsurou's genjutsu even work or were you faking that too?

>>2030927
Taking pity on a weakling and passing them in a test they should've failed is a good way to get them killed when they face something they aren't qualified to handle. This isn't something anyone should be okay with. This is monstrous, whether intentional or not.

>>2030930
I think this was an exercise on teamwork, not combat readiness. We needed to prove we could coordinate movements in a single strategy. Taking the needle was more to endear us to the Clan kids over the stigma of not having a bloodline to belong to.

>>2030928
>>2030927
>>2030923
>>2030916
Next vote takes it.

>>2030910
>>Call him out

>>2030936
Seems questionable, there was very little fighting and the instructor picked a tracking objective to test a sharingan user and a motherfucking byakugan user. But if that's true, cool, except for that last part. The clanners need to know what we are and aren't capable of, we'll be fighting alongside them in life or death situations. Better just to say what the real objective is and pass the team.

>>2030939
>[Write-in]
Why did you jump into the senbon? And did Katsurou's genjutsu even work or were you faking that too?

>>2030944
Its no worse than Kakashi's test.

>>2030963
Kakashi's test lasted hours and was brutal, he ragdoll'd those kids.

>>2030981
And he was still sandbagging

>>2030981
Point taken.

Maybe the test isn't over?

>>2030981
>>2030988
Kakashi was also noted as being exceptionally harsh.

“Why did you jump into the senbon? And did Katsurou's genjutsu even work or were you faking that too?” You thought you might be able to hold it in, but you can’t. This is too infuriating to let pass. Katsu looks angry again, extremely so. Hideaki seems confused by the conversation. Jun lets out a sigh and shakes his head. His cloak jingles with all the traps and gadgets he obviously has, making it sound like a dozen little bells and a few clinking glasses falling in a wooden box down some stairs.

“It did. I did not fake any part of this test. Jumping into the senbon was my way of giving you a pass on your strategy and teamwork. Team 9 did better than I expected so I passed them.” Jun’s nonchalance is only undercut by him rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess I’ll have to be honest about this from now on…”

Katsu is grinding his teeth. “But then the challenge wasn’t real!”

Jun becomes serious in an instant. “If it was, you would never be able to pass.”

Hideaki keeps a level head. “This was a test, not a battle, he tested us on what he wanted to so it’s no use getting mad about it.” As much as that makes you angry, he has a point.

The Uchiha and the Hyuga start bickering back and forth, but Jun turns to you and glares. “The strategy would have worked, just try to work on your arm. Remember that the point of this is learning, not proving yourself.” Finally the instructor whistles. “You two done?!”

They slowly come back. “Yes.” Katsu nods.

“Good, you all have a minefield to clean. They’re not actual explosive tags, but they’ll still hurt if you screw up. Katsurou, Hideaki, you both need to work on your precision, Yoko was able to block the strike, you weren’t. She needs some help on that as well.” Is he...turning clean-up into training?

>Accept this explanation
>Pout
>Refuse
>[Write-in]

>>2030991
I had actually forgotten about that. Whelp, still not changing my vote.

>>2030985
Why aren't you voting?

>>2031013
>Accept this explanation
>Pout

We'll accept it, but we're not happy about it!

>>2031013
>>Accept this explanation

>>2031013
>Accept this explanation
>Pout

>>2031013
>Pout
But do it in a cute way

>>2031017
The QM makes calls pretty fast, and I'm not paying a whole lot of attention to the thread. The voting has usually been closed by the time I tab back in. Is that a satisfactory explanation, officer?

>>2031025
>>2031031
>>2031035
>>2031036
Roll me a d100, no mods.

File: pout.gif (1.14 MB, 720x405)

1.14 MB GIF

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>2031036
how's this pout?

>>2031042

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>2031042

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>2031042

Rolling

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>2031042

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>2031042

>>2031058
>>2031048
>>2031045
D'aww

Ignorance is bliss.

Rolled 64 (1d100)

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>2031042

>>2031059
>>2031061
>>2031080
The dice gods mock us.

File: Watching, but not Seeing.jpg (27 KB, 626x626)

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You let out a breath. “Okay.” Crossing your arms and getting to work, you find that this is much harder than you expected. The tags are sensitive, and when you pull one a little too hard you get knocked into a tree, bruising you up. Wish you could say you learned your lesson, but that isn’t true. At least you aren’t the only one having trouble with this, Hideaki is getting kicked back a lot for someone who supposedly “sees everything”. Now that you think about it, he probably is just a bit dumb and didn’t mean anything by not remembering you. It’s hard to get a read on him, but as you pay attention you can tell that he’s not used to being around people, has a hard time with personal space really.

Paying more attention to Katsurou, there are a few things odd about him. He’s definitely a bit of a loner like every other Uchiha in history, but he doesn’t seem to take that as a crutch for being rude or disrespectful. Oddly enough, he really likes your snake puppet and it looked like he was going to melt when an Inuzuka walked by with their dog, it’s actually really cute and completely breaks the brooding illusion. As he prods at mines, you can tell he isn’t always there, like he’s thinking about something sad. Katsu’s probably some kind of pariah at home, he’s too considerate for the rest of his clan to like him, even helped Hideaki up a few times despite obviously having a dislike for him.

Jun, he’s obviously lazy. Sitting in the shade, watching your team pick up, you could definitely see what he’s doing as mixing a drink and making himself comfy in the shade. But that’s not it. Jun’s mixing poisons, putting them in his canteen, and drinking them. You’re too far away to get a good idea of what they are, but one looks like the regular stamina sapping poison you have in your jacket. Is he constantly poisoning himself to make himself stronger when it wears off or something? Whenever he takes a drink, he winces, but continues.

Eventually, the mines are done, all the tags neatly stacked in front of Jun. He grabs them, then puts them in his cloak. You can’t see what’s inside. Giving a half-hearted salute, he smiles. “Be back here the same time tomorrow, until then-”

Katsu looks away from a squirrel in the forest he was watching. “Meal.”

Jun looks confused. “I don’t follow.”

Hideaki shrugs.

“You owe us a meal, you said if we caught you, you would buy us a free meal. We skipped lunch, I’m hungry.” Katsu barely looks like he’s paying attention, thinking again.

“Tch. Fine. I should have guessed I couldn’t slip that past. Where to?”

Hideaki perks up. “I know this place that does great grilled fish, and they have an aquarium.”

“I like fish.”
Jun looks at you with a pleading expression to save his wallet.

>Spare him and suggest another place
>”I could go for that.”
>”We should get dessert too, I think they do ice cream.”
>[Write-in]

>>2031124
>Spare him and suggest another place

>>2031124
>”We should get dessert too, I think they do ice cream.”
We will have our vengeance.

>>2031124
>We should get dessert too, I think they do ice cream
Building a fun character, here

>>2031139
We're sassy, sarcastic, don't like taking the easy way out, and a natural leader.

>>2031139
>>2031136
>>2031133
Ice cream it is.

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”We should get dessert too, I think they do ice cream.” Jun looks like you just physically punched him. Only not you. If you did that he wouldn’t look nearly that hurt. It’s funny and you can’t suppress a giggle at his expense. Hideaki claps his hands once and gives a shout of joy. Katsu raises his arms again. “Yay.” The tone of complete apathy does make that really funny and now that you aren’t as angry, you get the chance to laugh.

>Connection gained with Team 9

Walking to the restaurant, you can feel all the eyes on your team, bruised up, scuffed, they probably think Jun thrashed you all. But no. This was all from training. And you feel good, really good. Making your snake move and showing it off to Katsurou and Hideaki makes you feel proud, they’re actually getting to appreciate something you made! Even though they’re Clan members with all their secret techniques and money and lack of struggles, they aren’t bad people. Even though Hideaki looks like everything you said is going over his head.

The Bowl is what this place is called locally, expensive certainly, partially due to the exotic fish that stock their aquarium. Hideaki and Katsurou are looking at them like they’re the single most amazing things they’ve ever seen, and standing back it’s shocking just how similar they are. Do they both have a love for fish or something? Weird. They’re weird. You rub the head of your snake puppet and adjust your poison bracelet.

Closer to Jun, he leans over. “I had read that you were a talented creator of poison, but I hadn’t expected you to be able to identify my poisons. But one thing stood out. If you’re so talented at that and mechanics, why do you bother being a soldier?”

>My family
>The village
>Love of the profession
>[Write-in]

>>2031190
>[Write-in]

Pure spite.

>>2031190
>My family

>>2031196
I can get behind this. Those clans think they're so much better than us. We'll prove them wrong, even if we have to build all our ninja tools ourselves

>>2031196
>>2031207
Oh boy, writing.

>>2031212
We've basically got ourselves all set up for character development, we're on a roll

You think for a moment. “Why do I bother?” Coming to a conclusion, you start talking. “Because I can, I don’t need a clan, I don’t need special natures, I’m going to become a ninja on my own two feet. I’ll be the best ninja, even if I have to make my tools myself. Because nobody else is better than me.” Remembering your family, that’s what they’d want too. You’re going to make them proud of you and show everyone else that they can’t look down at you.

Jun nods. “I can get that. You should keep that, let it drive you to improve. When you need individual training, I want you to come to me so I can teach you why I’m called Jun the Venomous.” He coughs, an odd scent on his breath as he looks at the two boys. “Don’t let that motivation blind you though, a person isn’t just an extension of their family. I hate the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, but I hate them because of what they do to my students, not because they exist.”

Jun stops being cryptic when the team gets seated. Everyone is extremely happy, and you even have the sweet, strawberry ice cream with enough sweetness that you’re sure it has more sugar than you do in your house. You can’t shake off what he said though, about the clans and what they do to his students. Maybe it has something to do with Katsurou spacing out and Hideaki not understanding how to act around people. Setting it aside, you enjoy the meal after a day of hard work, and nobody can keep a straight face. Until the bill arrives and Jun grimaces as if actually stabbed by the thin paper being offered to him.

“Same time tomorrow, get good sleep or you might end up on a trip to the hospital, we’re starting the real stuff.” Katsurou nods, looking ready, while Hideaki looks scared.

You smile. Things can only go up from here.

>End Session 1
>Will be back Thursday probably
>I made a Discord for questions until then. https://discord.gg/eFHzFV
>Pastebin is updated.

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>>2031231
Thanks for running

Forgot to say, my twitter is @xLostCowboyx, follow me there for shit.

Starting up soon.

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You wake up curled next to your snake plushie and the first thing you realize is how extremely sore you are. Those bruises are painful, but they definitely aren’t anything new. Numbing them would be easy, but feeling the pain can inspire you to not let it happen again, so you don’t. Pulling yourself from the bed, you go through the new ritual of putting on your outfit, then look at your puppet. It really shined yesterday and it’s impossible to hide your chest swelling with pride at your creation being not just useful but instrumental.

“You need more upgrades, don’tcha Oreo?” You make the puppet nod its head and rev its saws a bit, causing you to giggle quietly. Picking up the device, you wrap it around your neck, it was made for you so it feels wrong when you don’t have it on you. The poison vial still sits in its chamber, waiting to be deployed. You made these, these are something that only you and your father assembled, it’s like having him with you in a sense. It’s comforting.

Looking down at the green liquid meant to drain stamina, you’re confident that you could meter your dosage to do something similar to what Jun-sensei does, it would just be at the expense of your current exhaustion threshold. Short term loss for long term gain so to speak. Maybe he’s going to dose you with something today anyways, but you’re not stupid, you can counteract it if it’s too much. You’re still not good enough, you missed that shot, training at a disadvantage could help.

...It’s hard to know if you should or shouldn’t. It could be a bad idea if you mess up, but you wouldn’t mess it up. Worst case you neutralize it later. Yeah, this could work.

>Poison yourself (-.5 Stamina, Increased Stamina Gain)
>Don’t poison yourself
>Poison yourself with another one of your Weak poisons
>[Write-in]

>>2031704
>Poison yourself (-.5 Stamina, Increased Stamina Gain)
Train up that stamina!

>>2031704
>>>Poison yourself (-.5 Stamina, Increased Stamina Gain)

>>2031704
>Poison yourself (-.5 Stamina, Increased Stamina Gain)

>>2031704
>Poison yourself (-.5 Stamina, Increased Stamina Gain)
Going to have to be more careful in fights in this weakened state. Though we could always cure ourselves with medical Jutsu if we need the stat back.

>>2031704
>>Poison yourself (-.5 Stamina, Increased Stamina Gain)

We should probably consult with Jun first before poisoning ourselves, as he's been doing it for probably years and knows his shit.

>>2031704
>Poison yourself (-.5 Stamina, Increased Stamina Gain)
Aw shit ninjas, it's back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pocrix1ZILE

>>2031725
There's not much to be done about it now. So I guess if this ends up being a bad idea, then hey, lesson learned

>>2031726
>>2031724
>>2031721
>>2031715
>>2031712
>>2031710
Roll 1d100 to poison yourselves the correct way, modifier is unseen.

>>2031725
seconding this. At least let him know what we've done

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>2031734

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>2031734

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>2031734
I believe in the heart of the aids virus injection

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>2031734

>>2031740
>>2031739
>>2031738
Good job. Writing.

>>2031704
>Don’t poison yourself

Lets wait and see what kind of training our jounin sensei has for us before we start poisoning ourself

>>2031740
Apparently we've got The Touch.

>>2031744
too late nigga, she's drinking it

>>2031745
When do we get The Power

>>2031754
When we embrace our love of all things serpentine and get lessons from a certain Sannin...
No, not really, that's a fucking TERRIBLE plan.

>>2031754
When all hell's breaking loose and we in the eye of the storm.

>>2031762
Eh I dont think all our puppets should be snakes, gotta diversify somewhat

I say we go Manticore
Snake as the tail - poison and stealth
Lion - physical strikes with claws and shit
Goat - A defensive sort of deal kind of like Kankuro's salamander ?

>>2031772
That would be a Chimera, which I would also be cool with.

Taking a needle and dipping it, you roll up your sleeve and jab it in. It hurts, but that would never stop you. Knowing that isn’t enough to get a good level for training, you jab it two more times to ensure that you feel yourself starting to fade to unconsciousness, on the brink. Then you shake your head and let the feeling set in. Your muscles are sore, you’re out of breath, and you’re confident that chakra is most of what’s keeping you going right now. It feels really good, you can keep going like this, bruised and incapacitated, so long as you know you’re going to get better it doesn’t matter if you feel bad now. Rubbing Oreo’s head, you trot out to the training field, feeling every step.

When you arrive it’s empty except for the holes you had to dig out to get the mines yesterday, so you sit down again, keeping your eyes peeled. Messing with your hair, you think about the whole hairstyle thing, getting struck with the idea of putting a poisoned and barbed hair tie in if you grow it long. That would actually make long hair a good thing. Huh. Ideas for a later date, your hair is short and cute right now. Katsurou shows up a little earlier this morning, looking a bit more well-rested, providing an exact opposite to you.

He takes a seat and looks at the holes around. “You okay?”

“Yep. Just tired.” What are you supposed to say? That you poisoned yourself in hopes of becoming more resilient?

“I’ll watch out if you want to take a nap.” Does he think that’s normal or something?

“No, I’m good.” Like you’d let yourself take a nap right now, that’s completely unreal.

The two of you sit in silence for a bit before it’s obviously too much for even him to bear. “Does your puppet has a name?”

“Oreo.” You always thought it was a nice little play on words considering your sweet tooth and the little snake.

“That’s cute.” A contrast to his tone, his face looks like he meant exactly what he said. Jeez, these clan kids are weirdos.

>”...it’s supposed to be scary.”
>”I guess it is.”
>Make it “hiss”
>[Write-in]

>>2031809
>”...it’s supposed to be scary.”
>Make it “hiss”

>>2031809
>>”I guess it is.”