>>3926466
“Very interesting,” Kakashi-han muses.

Sasuke chuckles. “So the other two monsters are going to fight each other, then?”

“Who’s that other guy going down there with bushy-brows?” Naruto asks, clearly confused.

“He’s one of the Hyūga clan,” Kakashi-han explains. “The other clan in Konohagakure which possesses a dōjutsu.”

You pause for a moment. “Wait, what do you mean the ‘other two’ monsters?”

“You countered that Sound genin’s attack by striking his gauntlet using chakra flow,” Kakashi-han clarifies, “forcing the ultrasonic vibrations back into his body. Am I right?”

“Something like that,” you admit as Neji and Lee begin to take their positions.

“Chakra flow, even using a specialized sword, is a technique usually limited to chūnin,” Kakashi-han explains. “Your fūinjutsu is similarly advanced.”

“So you noticed that as well?” you muse, watching as Neji and Lee exchange some brief pre-fight banter.

“This is too bad. I had hoped to meet you in the finals,” Lee declares, offering Neji the traditional courtesies which the Hyūga returns. “But this will have to suffice.”

“It is too bad,” Neji replies, settling into a prepared stance. “Of all the opponents you could have drawn, I was your worst match.”

“And that is what makes you my best match!” Lee counters with an excited grin. “When I defeat you, it will finally force you to acknowledge that hard work can overcome natural talent!”

“What’s this?” you mutter.

Sasuke frowns. “He said something like that when we fought. About there being ‘two kinds’ of shinobi.”

“He probably gets that from Guy-sensei,” Kakashi-han muses. “So that would make that Hyūga boy the ‘me’ to Lee’s ‘Guy’, I suppose.”

You shake your head. “I’m… not even going to pretend I followed that.”

“Hey wait… I remember something about that too!” Naruto adds. “The two kinds were guys who were born with talent, and those who have to work hard, wasn’t it?”
>2/3

File: Kakashi_Hatake.png (588 KB, 1439x1076)

588 KB PNG

>>3926469
“That’s not quite right.”

Kakashi-han glances at you. “How do you mean?”

“There are four possible combinations of ‘talent’ and ‘hard work’,” you reply. “The two they’re ignoring are those born without talent and who don’t try, and those who are born talented but work hard anyway.”

“I wonder which type ‘Hyūga Neji’ really is?”

“We’re about to find out,” Sasuke observes, pointing back to where the action is about to begin.
>1d6, high roll
>taking the first three

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3926472

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3926472

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3926472

>>3926472
>10: Moderate-Hard
You watch and dissect the first few exchanges between Neji and Lee, which amounts to pure taijutsu with no tricks, no ninjutsu, or even any weapons.

“Interesting,” you mutter. They’re both as fast as you are, though you can tell Lee is significantly stronger based on how hard his strikes meet Neji’s guard. But what surprises you somewhat is how little their exchanges amount to.

“They’re still checking each other out,” Sasuke realizes.

“What!?” Naruto exclaims loudly. “Ya mean they’re not even fighting seriously?”

“They are,” you observe. “I think Lee is wary of whatever technique Neji is trained in… see how most of his movements rely on hitting with his fingertips?”

“Pressure-point attacks?” Sasuke wonders.

Kakashi-han shakes his head. “Not quite. Look around Neji’s eyes.”

… veins?

“He’s using a dōjutsu,” Sasuke realizes.

“The Byakugan can see the tenketsu, chakra points, within an opponent’s body,” Kakashi-han explains further. “Neji is a user of the Gentle Fist style, which focuses on attacking and sealing those points.”

“So despite being stronger, Lee has to remain on guard,” you summarize. “I see.”

“I don’t get it at all!” Naruto protests as the two continue to exchange blows. “It sounds like you’re saying they’re holding back!”

“Say, Naori-kun,” Kakashi-han offers politely. “What say we have a little wager? Who would you bet will win, between these two?”

>Lee, easily. He has the strength, and I doubt this is the limit of his speed.
>Neji, naturally. Lee seems like the type to make mistakes, and Neji will take advantage.
>That’s easy, neither of them.
>I’m not the betting type, I’m afraid.

>>3926499
not knowing enough of their abilities i can't make a certain enough prediction, it should be an interesting fight tho

>>3926499
>"what's the wager? Can't make a bet if I don't know the stakes."

>>3926499
>>Lee, easily. He has the strength, and I doubt this is the limit of his speed.
then again, neji doesn't need much either
it's a very hard comparison, though I do bet we'll see some ranged attacks most unusual

>>3926499
>>3926507
Supporting

And i want lee to win. i'm a fan of hard workers.

>>3926499
>Lee, easily. He has the strength, and I doubt this is the limit of his speed.

>>3926499
>>I’m not the betting type, I’m afraid.

>>3926499
>>3926518
I posted wrong, i meant Neji

>>3926499
>I’m not the betting type, I’m afraid.
The only thing I can wager on are my own skills.

>>3926499
>I’m not the betting type, I’m afraid.
kick his ass Lee.

>>3926499
>>3926507
Supporting.

>>3926499
“Can’t say,” you admit. “I’m not exactly a betting sort of girl, and I haven’t seen enough of what they can do to pick a winner.”

“Come on, Lee’s clearly got this!” Naruto insists. “Ten ryō says he does!”

“You actually brought your wallet into the forest?” Sasuke sighs dramatically. “Man, what a dope… but I’d put ten ryō on Neji if you’re willing to wait.”

Kakashi-han merely watches in amusement. Does he know something you don’t?

Lee seems to be pressuring Neji, at least at first glance.

“It seems that ordinary means will not be sufficient!” Lee declares, taking a few backflips to get away from Neji. “Sensei, I will have to resort to more extreme measures!”

He pulls two belts of weights out of his leg warmers.

“Weights?” Kakashi-han muses. “That’s rather old-fashioned, even for Guy.”

“What does he think dropping a few pounds is going to do?” Sasuke scoffs.

Neji stares in apparent dismay. “Why were you even wearing those in the first place, Lee?”

But when Lee drops the weights, the sheer scale of the impact seems to leave everyone except for Guy-sensei in shock. That’s almost nothing next to how much it improves Lee’s foot speed.

“That’s… excessive,” you muse as Lee literally runs circles around Neji, who simply lowers himself into a defensive crouch.

As Lee comes at him, Neji begins to rotate in place, blasting his attacker backwards without seemingly making contact.

Lee tumbles across the arena but immediately gets back to his feet, just in time to evade a series of thrown kunai.

“So, your perfect defense already?” Lee declares. “That will be tough to beat!”

“You knew it was coming,” Neji declares. “Do you have a way to get through it? If not, then quit wasting both our time.”

“Lee!” Guy calls down to the floor. “This is a battle to protect your way of life, so go ahead and do it!”

“Right, sensei!” Lee calls back, loosening the wrappings around his wrists.

“So, you intend to use that technique against me?” Neji asks with a confident smirk. “Very well.”

“First Gate: Gate of Opening!” Lee shouts, releasing chakra that you can practically feel from here. “Primary Lotus!”
>1/2

>>3926563
After a very brief skirmish, Lee succeeds in kicking Neji skyward, with the fuzzy-browed genin following close behind and matching his speed and direction. Then, from the zenith, Lee wraps Neji with the bandages and begins to spin downwards towards the arena floor.

But, Neji eventually responds.

“Body Blow!” he shouts, releasing chakra from his body again to burst free from the wrappings.

He then uses what seems to be the same technique to mirror Lee’s movements from behind, initiating a frantic midair melee as both genin fall back to the floor.

Neji lands hard, rolling to his feet panting as he surveys the results. Lee seems exhausted by his own attack, and one arm hangs limp.

“Your dominant arm will no longer move,” Neji pants. “You fought well, Lee, but you should give up. Hard work alone can’t beat the skills of the Hyūga clan.”

>Shout something positive and encouraging to Lee.
>Demand that Lee show the fruits of his ‘hard work’. Or is he all talk?
>Stay silent.

>>3926570
>>Demand that Lee show the fruits of his ‘hard work’. Or is he all talk?

>>3926570
>Demand that Lee show the fruits of his ‘hard work’. Or is he all talk?
>Shout something positive and encouraging to Lee.
Fuck you Neji you huyga shit

>>3926570
>Demand that Lee show the fruits of his ‘hard work’. Or is he all talk?

>>3926570
>Observe that you doubt Lee will back down that easily. His type seem like they'll keep fighting so long as they're able to, regardless of how their chance of victory looks.

>>3926570
>Stay silent.

>>3926570
>"Lee! Show us your determination! If you have the strength to protect something, now's the time to prove it!"

>>3926570
>Demand that Lee show the fruits of his ‘hard work’. Or is he all talk?

>>3926570
>"OH SHUT UP YOU. FIGHT AIN'T EVEN OVER AND YET YOU HAVEN'T BROKEN YOUR LIMITS. WHERE'S THAT LIMIT!? HARD WORK IS SUPPOSED TO BREAK LIMITS!"

>>3926590
>Demand that Lee show the fruits of his ‘hard work’. Or is he all talk?

>>3926570
>>Stay silent

>>3926570
“Oh, shut up!” you shout angrily. “As if anyone cares what clan you’re from!”

Then you round on Lee, as both the fighters are too stunned at your outburst to immediately act. “And you, Lee! Is that all? If your hard work has produced anything else now’s the time!”

“I’d hate to think you’re all talk!”

“That is right!” Lee declares, staggering back to his feet. “I have come too far and worked much too hard to be discouraged now!”

“Second Gate: Gate of Healing!”

Seemingly revitalized, Lee springs into motion. His charge is met by another rotating counter by Neji… but this time, it takes a lot longer for Neji to blow him back and Lee remains on his feet even when he does.

“The second gate?” Neji exclaims. “When did he...”

“Third Gate: Gate of Life!”

This ‘gate’ seems to turn Lee’s skin red, and sets his hair standing on end. The force of his movements shatters the stone tiles, sending pieces of the arena pinging off the walls and forcing even the watching jōnin to cover themselves reflexively.

“Just how many gates did Guy teach him how to open?” Kakashi-han, muses, raising his headband to reveal one red eye framed top and bottom with an old scar. That eye… so that’s the Sharingan that made Hatake Kakashi infamous around the world?

Somehow Neji manages to keep up, but only by maintaining his rotating defense constantly. But even that is starting to fail him, as the force of Lee’s attacks physically moves the spherical chakra barrier around the arena like he’s rolling a ball.

“Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain!”

Lee’s speed further increases, so fast now that you can’t even keep up with him. But then, something abruptly changes.

Neji’s barrier breaks down as he steps behind Lee, who’s stopped unexpectedly, and the Hyūga lands two strikes on Lee’s back.

Then they both collapse.

>1d6, high roll
>Taking three

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3926616

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3926616

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3926616

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3926616
Damn that was cool. Double elimination huh? Damn I regret not voting for that.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3926616

>>3926616
>11: Hard
“I don’t get it!” Naruto declares loudly. “What just happened!? It’s like they just fell over ya know!”

“Did you see it clearly with your Sharingan, Kakashi-han?” you ask, glancing at the jōnin sensei.

“Did you?” he asks you in return.

“Lee’s speed and strength exceeded what his body could handle,” you guess. “When he started tearing ligaments it gave Neji an opening… am I right?”

“The Eight Gates are a potent technique,” Kakashi-han explains. “But they involve opening a series of tenketsu. Neji quickly closed those tenketsu, but doing so took him too long. He’s so exhausted he can’t even get up.”

“So even after all that neither one’s gonna get promoted?” Naruto demands.

You shake your head. “Probably not. Neither one’s suitable to lead… one is too reckless, the other is too arrogant.”

“The two of you could learn from their example,” Kakashi-han chides his students.

The proctor coughs. “As neither candidate is capable of continuing, this match will be declared a draw.”

>Remain here.
>Head over to the Sand genin.
>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.
>Other?

>>3926651
>>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.
>i apologize for my outburst sensei

>>3926651
>>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.

>>3926651
>>Remain here.

>>3926651
>Head over to the Sand genin.
>Thank you for your time. Good luck in your matches Orange Fashion Atrocity and Edgy McBroodsalot.

>>3926651
>>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.

>>3926651
>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.
>i apologize for my outburst sensei

>>3926651
>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.
>Bemoan that you won't get to test your mettle against either of these two.
>Ask sensei what she thought of the match.

>>3926651
>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.

>>3926651
>>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.

>>3926651
>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.

>>3926651
>Head back to Tenshi-sensei.

>>3926651
“Thank you all for your time,” you politely bow to Team Kakashi, “but I suppose I should be keeping my own sensei company. She did after all come all this way on my behalf.”

“Don’t let us keep you,” Kakashi-han shrugs.

As you turn to head back you can hear Naruto shouting something after you, something about looking forward to fighting you. Sasuke on the other hand reminds him that he’ll have to pass the preliminaries first… do they really need to be so loud about it?

“Apologies for my outburst, sensei,” you bow as you rejoin Tenshi-sensei, “and for wandering off for so long. It was rude.”

“You’re far too friendly sometimes,” Tenshi-sensei chides you. “Keep in mind that many of these people may be your opponents in the future.”

“As if I’d forget that,” you shake your head. “I just prefer to be friendly sometimes. Keeps the mood up.”

The next match is announced:
>2d10, taking the first non-dubs

Rolled 4, 1 = 5 (2d10)

>>3926674

Rolled 1, 3 = 4 (2d10)

>>3926674

Rolled 7, 2 = 9 (2d10)

>>3926674

>>3926674
Kankuro vs Kiba.

Kankuro, the older of the two boys on the Sand team, makes his way down the stairs with quite the air of confidence. Meanwhile Kiba, who as it turns out is the boy with the puppy who you met a few days ago, jumps down into the arena and is ready to fight well before Kankuro reaches the floor.

"Alright, time to take these Sand ninja down a notch, right Akamaru!?" Kiba encourages his partner, who yaps determinedly.

"That's funny!" Kankuro muses with a forced smile. "But don't think I'm the kinda softie who wouldn't hit a puppy. You don't want him getting hurt, you should leave him out of this."

"Akamaru and I fight together!" Kiba declares. "And you're gonna learn just how badly you've underestimated us!"
>1d6, high roll
>taking three

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3926692

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3926692
Looks like Naruto is 100% not getting his canon free win then.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3926692
and now, a 2v2.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3926692

>>3926701
seems more and more likely that he’s going to get his ass handed by sauce boy

>>3926757
i want him to loose against hinata, that would really be good for both of them

>>3926692
“They still think they have Kankuro outnumbered?” you realize.

Tenshi-sensei nods, confirming your assessment. “Puppets often lack a distinctive smell.”

Sure enough, while their initial tactic of performing a paired transformation using a food pill is pretty impressive Akamaru and Kiba stumble straight into Kankuro’s trap.

“What!?” Kiba demands in shock as ‘Kankuro’ is revealed to be nothing more than a puppet, revealed in a puff of smoke as Akamaru strikes at it.

Instead, the package that was on his back opens itself from within to reveal the true Kankuro and a cluster of senbon that stick into Akamaru’s chest and arms.

“A substitution?” you realize. “That’s a neat trick.”

“This match is all but over,” Tenshi-sensei concludes.

“Damn!” Kiba curses, getting back on his guard. “Come on, Akamaru, we’re not done yet!”

“… Akamaru?”

The puppy transforms back into his original form, lying down on his belly and starting to whimper. Ah, so that’s what Tenshi-sensei meant.

“What’s wrong!? What did you do to Akamaru!?”

“I told you that you should’ve left him out of this,” Kankuro smirks. “I poisoned the crap out of that puppy of yours.”

“Damn you!” Kiba growls. “Was it the senbon, or the smoke?”

“Both.”

While you can already hear Naruto shouting about how much of a cheap move that was, you can honestly concede the point… it’s not like you haven’t been known to use poison yourself, and bringing Akamaru into the fight did make him fair game. But that being said, you’re still not sure you’d feel comfortable winning that way.

Kankuro certainly seems to have no qualms. “I have the antidote, though. Withdraw and I’ll give it to you, just that easy. Refuse, and I could just… pour it out right here.”

To make his point Kankuro actually shows Kiba the vial he’s talking about, popping the stopper out.

“Your call, kid.”
>1/2

>>3926771
Thankfully, Kiba withdraws from the match and Kankuro holds to his word. The Sand genin returns to the stands looking even more smug than before, if that's even possible, while the Leafe genin sulks back to his team to lick his wounds.
>2d8, taking the first non-dubs

Rolled 5, 2 = 7 (2d8)

>>3926775

Rolled 5, 5 = 10 (2d8)

>>3926775

>>3926771
Choji versus Hinata

The fat Konoha genin from the forest stage and the shy girl from Kiba’s team head down to the floor next. Both their respective senseis seem somewhat concerned about their students’ performance… could it be that these are both their respective teams’ weak links? You could see a lack of confidence being a problem in direct combat, which seems to be Hinata’s problem, and Choji… unless he has some sort of clan hiden that uses all that flub you can’t see it serving him well in a fight.
>1d6, high roll
>taking three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3926785

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3926785

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3926785
A fight between the nice guy/gal of their teams? Interesting.

>>3926791
Looks like someone isn't very nice.

File: 1510429046846.png (25 KB, 295x225)

25 KB PNG

>>3926788
>>3926790
>>3926791
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat is even happening right now.

>>3926793
yeah, thats the right face and reaction to that
i guess naori slips and hits her head to notice NOTHING

>>3926793
Naori fell asleep.

File: 51785484_p0.png (311 KB, 600x890)

311 KB PNG

>>3926785
You lean forward against the rail, waiting for the fight to start...

…

“I’m sorry,” you yawn. “I must have dozed off there for a sec, sensei. What happened?”

Tenshi-sensei glances down at you, seemingly confused. “You got hit in the head by debris.”

Wait, why was your head in sensei’s lap?

Looking up you feel your head swim, and you catch a glimpse of damage across the arena that wasn’t there before, right where team Kakashi had been standing. Naruto still seems completely stunned, while Kakashi and Sasuke have already dusted themselves off.

“Okay,” you repeat yourself. “What happened?”

“That blonde boy over there called the large boy in the arena fat several times, and the latter...” Tenshi-sensei struggles to find the right words. “Well, he lost his temper and destroyed part of the stands. Disqualified… the proctor had to help his opponent restrain him.”
>2d6, high roll
>first non-dubs

>>3926801
That was gonna be my guess as well lol

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d6)

>>3926802

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d6)

>>3926802
Wait Naruto called CHoji fat to the point of him throwing the match in rage? Wow

Rolled 4, 5 = 9 (2d6)

>>3926802
you'd think choji'd be used to it by now

>>3926802
The next match is Naruto versus Zaku.

Aside from the fact that the former is apparently an Uzumaki you really can't be brought to care much which of these two numbskulls wins. Even more so now that your head is still ringing like a bell.

>Just lay back and rest a while longer, be at your best for the next one.
>Watch, but with the minimum attention.
>Try to get up and force yourself to pay attention properly.
>Other

>>3926819
>>Try to get up and force yourself to pay attention properly.

>>3926819
>>Try to get up and force yourself to pay attention properly.

>>3926819
>Try to get up and force yourself to pay attention properly.

>>3926819
>Just lay back and rest a while longer, be at your best for the next one.

>>3926819
>>Just lay back and rest a while longer, be at your best for the next one.

>>3926819
Watch with some attention

>>3926819
>>Try to get up and force yourself to pay attention properly.

>>3926819
>Try to get up and force yourself to pay attention properly.
Cheer for the brat, he is an Uzumaki.

>>3926819
There’s a lot of big talk on both sides that just makes the pain in your head worse, before Zaku shoots wind out of his palm. Well, one palm: the other arm is still in a sling. That’s cool and all, but it’s not as good as Temari and Naruto seems to take it in stride. And for a while ‘taking it’ is all Naruto seems to be able to do.

That changes when Naruto uses a smoke bomb to give himself a little time, before throwing a fūma shuriken that turns out to be a transformed shadow clone. Not half bad… maybe he’s not as dumb as you thought at first. The clone attacks at Zaku’s right side, the arm which doesn’t work, and hits Zaku with a kunai that he’s forced to pull out and throw to the floor.

Then Zaku forces himself to use both arms, blowing both the real Naruto and the clone away… or so he thought. In reality the true Naruto had transformed into the kunai, and lands a devastating uppercut to Zaku’s chin that knocks him out cold.

“That was better than I expected,” you admit, still leaning against your sensei. “I’d pinned him as a complete idiot, but Zaku gave him just enough time to prepare something that elaborate. Awesome!”

“Are you starting to feel better?” Tenshi-sensei asks you.

“I’ve been better for a while now,” you admit. “I just like having someone to lean on, I suppose?”
>2d4, first non-dubs

Rolled 4, 3 = 7 (2d4)

>>3926854
fore of shadow at the ing terminal

Rolled 3, 1 = 4 (2d4)

>>3926854

>>3926854
Shikamaru vs Shino

The third member of Kiba's team, along with the lazy-looking guy on Choji's team that you took for the most talented of the three, head down to the arena floor.
>1d6, high roll
>taking three

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3926861

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3926861
welp goodbye Shikamaru, worst match up he coulda gotten.

>>3926861
Oh yikes, that's a really bad matchup for Shikamaru.

>"Go on, paralyze me. See if my millions of bugs care."

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3926861

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3926861

>>3926872
He might be able to get all the bugs? Or force him to step on his own bugs?

>>3926861
The match starts off slow, with Shikamaru using a smoke bomb to give himself some time… you’re not sure what his aim is, but he’s not the only one who uses those few precious moments. Even from here you can see Shino’s response.

“Are those...”

“Insects,” Tenshi-sensei confirms. “Thousands of them… they live within his body.”

“Gross,” you declare flatly. “That’s gross. Konoha is gross. I wanna go home.”

After a few moments something emerges from the smoke, traveling along the floor… an extended shadow? Shino gets captured by the surprise move, and freezes in place as the smoke clears.

“Kagemane no Jutsu… success!” Shikamaru declares.

“I see,” Shino muses. “So that is what you were preparing. But you were foolish to think I would not also be making preparations.”

“What!?” Shikamaru cries out, noticing that he’s been surrounded by the bugs.

You concentrate your chakra to get a clear view of what’s really going on here. “Genjutsu: Release!”

“Man, what a drag!” Shikamaru declares wearily, standing nowhere near the spot where Shino has directed his insects to surround. “I can’t really fight against that, can I?”

Except he doesn’t really say that… he’s just making Shino think that. Then Shino turns around to leave the arena. That’s what Shikamaru was up to? He put Shino under a genjutsu to get him to leave the arena early and disqualify himself.

It almost works too, when Shino notices something: his bugs aren’t moving. They must lack complex nervous systems that would render them vulnerable to genjutsu?

“I see,” Shino declares. “It seems I’ve been fooled.”

“Too late!” Shikamaru declares. “Kagemane no Jutsu… this time, for real!”

Shikamaru struggles to walk forwards, Shino resisting him as he’s forced to mimic those movements towards the stairs. But that’s not what Shikamaru’s aim is.

Instead Shino trips over a piece of rubble created by Choji’s rampage earlier, the one you missed entirely, causing him to fall forward. Then Shikamaru finishes the match by forcing Shino to bang his head against the floor until he passes out.

“And that is what you call using your head!” Shikamaru declares, seemingly exhausted from using too much chakra.
>1/2

>>3926913
>“Gross,” you declare flatly. “That’s gross. Konoha is gross. I wanna go home.”
Absolutely adorable.

>>3926913
“That one is quite clever,” Tenshi-sensei declares quietly. “They both are, but the Nara boy in particular was not just thinking ahead. He had formed multiple contingency plans ahead of time, factoring in the condition of the battlefield.”

“I figured he was one to watch out for,” you agree.

The last match, of course, is Sasuke versus Ino. The latter turns out to be the blonde girl on Shikamaru’s team.
>1d6, high roll
>taking three

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3926924

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3926924

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>3926924
RIP Ino

>>3926926
>>3926927
>>3926929
So Naori misses the curse mark completely?

>>3926944
Assuming it comes out at all.

>>3926946
against Ino?
no need, at all

>>3926924
Ino gets flattened… eventually. She just doesn’t seem to be okay with hitting Sasuke, which is counterbalanced by the fact that Sasuke seems to have taken a bad injury in the forest stage that you failed to notice before. He’s clearly faster and stronger, with much greater skill in taijutsu, but any time he tries to put that to use he struggles.

But again, eventually, Sasuke manages to put up an offense for himself that ends with him blacking Ino’s eye. Neither one shows you anything even remotely interesting. Either they don’t have any specialized techniques, or for whatever reason they can’t use them right now.

Tenshi-sensei spends the whole time watching Kakashi-han, as well as the Otogakure jōnin, who despite having lost all three of his genin is watching this match with almost disturbing interest.

Perhaps the name Uchiha just demands that much interest in and of itself.

The proctor stares down at Ino, then coughs. “She’s out cold. Uchiha Sasuke advances.”

Strangely, both genin are ushered away by medical personnel, with Kakashi following close behind Sasuke.

Several minutes later, the board displays new details.

“Congratulations, finalists!” the Third Hokage declares in a loud voice. “These will be the brackets for the finals, to be held one month from now. Memorize them well!”

The first two matches will be Misumi fighting Tenten, and you fighting Kankuro. Then the winners of those matches will fight in the quarterfinals, followed by Naruto versus Hinata, Shikamaru versus Temari, and Gaara versus Sasuke.

One month… that means you’ll have one month to prepare?

>Ask Tenshi-sensei if she can train you for a month.
>Tenshi-sensei has other things to deal with, like Karin. Ask the Third directly.
>Just wait to be told tomorrow morning. Everything else has been extensively planned, you’re sure this will be the same.
>Other?

>>3926949
It may come out on its own like it did against the chakra absorbing guy in canon. Maybe while they're mind transferred and his consciousness takes a back seat, giving the curse and opening to make him go crazy.

>>3926958
>>Tenshi-sensei has other things to deal with, like Karin. Ask the Third directly.
no loss on either, let's do it anyway

>>3926958
>Ask Tenshi-sensei if she can train you for a month.

>>3926958
>Tenshi-sensei has other things to deal with, like Karin. Ask the Third directly.

>>3926958
>Ask Tenshi-sensei if she can train you for a month.

It's cute to ask.

>>3926958
>>Ask Tenshi-sensei if she can train you for a month.

>>3926958
>>Ask Tenshi-sensei if she can train you for a month.
I don't even care about the answer, being an adorable student is too cute to miss out on.

>>3926958
>>Ask Tenshi-sensei for advice how you should train for this month, assuming she doesn't have the time

>>3926958
“Are you sure you can’t spare the time to train me a little, sensei?”

Tenshi-sensei shakes her head. “I’m afraid not. There are other priorities I must see to… though I doubt you will have any problem. If there is anything positive to be said about the Third Hokage, it’s that he has a sense of fair play. He will want all the continuing genin to be given equal opportunity to train during this month.”

So, you guess that means you’ll just be stuck with whatever third-rate teacher the Third Hokage decides to saddle you with. Great. How exciting.

The exit from the Forest of Death turns out to be much easier: an underground access tunnel that runs from the tower all the way out past the edge of the training grounds. You say your goodbyes to Karin and wish her luck in her training, and she wishes you the same in return, before you part ways with her and Tenshi-sensei. But not before your sensei passes off a load of coins on you.

You collapse into your bed at the cheap hotel, without even counting up how much money you have to last the month.
>1d100, taking the highest of three

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>3926995
rolling for ankos

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>3926995
Nat 100 baby

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>3926995

>>3926819
>Just lay back and rest a while longer, be at your best for the next one.

>>3927013
You are phenomenally late

>>3927000
May not be a 100, but I'm damn proud of my roll all the same.

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>>3927020

>>3927020
And you have the right to, well done anon

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>>3926995
The next morning you find a letter for you at the check-in desk, with instructions to head for a numbered training field: the Third Training Ground. There you’re told you’ll meet your instructor.

It’s a nice little training area, with a mix of forests and fields, with a little river running through it. You’re pretty sure it’s the same river you saw on a map this morning, which runs through the Konoha Hot Springs district.

This is the place, but where’s your instructor.

“Why, hello there!” a troublesome-sounding voice greets you.

>I though this place was for shinobi to train. What exactly are you supposed to be?
>So, the Third Hokage sent a weirdo to train me… figures.
>How long were you watching me, you creep?
>Other?

>>3927029
>>I though this place was for shinobi to train. What exactly are you supposed to be?

>>3927029
>>I though this place was for shinobi to train. What exactly are you supposed to be?

>>3927029
I thought this place was ...

>>3927029
>>Other? Good morning. I'm sorry but can you leave? I'm waiting for my ninja instructor.

>>3927029
>"Oil?"

>>3927029
“I… was under the impression this was a training ground?” you muse, staring in disbelief at the man who’s staring back at you. “So… what exactly are you?”

After standing awkwardly, perhaps having expected more of a response, the man quickly coughs into his fist. “It seems I was most fortunate in taking an alternate route this morning. It’s not every day you get to meet a young woman of the Uzumaki clan.”

“That answered none of my questions,” you reply awkwardly. “In fact I just have more questions now, like why you’re throwing around clan names all of a sudden?”

The man reaches out and places his hand atop your head, surprising you so thoroughly that you actually let him at first. By the time you swat his had away he’s already done.

“Well, with hair and… an eye those colors,” he explains, “and naturally spin-neutral chakra, what else could you be?”

“Spin-neutral?” you repeat. “I’m not following you at all. And I still have no idea who you are.”

The man chuckles, striking a dramatic pose. “You’re talking to none other than the famous Jiraiya of the Sannin, Sage of Mount Myōboku and favorite of the ladies everywhere!”

“One question answered,” you reply, setting aside his baseless claims of being one of the Sannin aside. “I don’t believe it for a second, but it’s an answer. What were you saying about my chakra?”

“Uzumaki who inherit that hair and eye color combination also tend to have their unique chakra,” this so-called Jiraiya explains. “Most people’s chakra tends to naturally spin either clockwise or counterclockwise, but some Uzumaki lack that property. It’s the basis of their old hiden techniques, and it seems like you inherited that.”

Who is this man, and how does he know so much about the Uzumaki? Or if he’s lying, how is he making this crap up so quickly?

>If you’re Jiraiya, prove it.
>Setting your identity aside, how do you know all this about my clan?
>EVERYTHING else aside, why are you telling it to a foreign shinobi?
>Other?

>>3927061
>EVERYTHING else aside, why are you telling it to a foreign shinobi?
>If you're Jiraiya, prove it.

>>3927061
>>If you’re Jiraiya, prove it.

this could go wrong on so many levels

>>3927061
>>EVERYTHING else aside, why are you telling it to a foreign shinobi?

Reminder that we've been forbidden by Tenshi to use certain techniques in front of him.

>>3927061
>>EVERYTHING else aside, why are you telling it to a foreign shinobi?

>>3927073
I mean understood but if we can learn Rassengan or something similar it might be worth letting something slip it push comes to shove.

>>3927077
just don't use our anken and the seal on our left wrist, but we need him to prove his claim first

>>3927061
>>EVERYTHING else aside, why are you telling it to a foreign shinobi?
Oh man, Naori better get ready for her destiny.

>>3927086
The Hyuga find out there's another Uzumaki Chakra battery to have kids with?

>>3927061
>>EVERYTHING else aside, why are you telling it to a foreign shinobi?

>>3927088
their clan head: NEEEEEJIIIIII!!!

>>3927088
>>3927095

Neji is an awful husbando though.

>>3927088
Crusader Kings aside, the idea that Naori might hijack the Jiraya student destiny thing from Naruto because of a high dice roll makes me giggle.

>>3927061
“Setting aside all of the other numerous problems with this scenario,” you tell the strange man, “why would one of the Sannin be telling this to a foreign ninja?”

Your question draws a sudden sober tone from the man, whose expression darkens somewhat. “Because at one point the Uzumaki were close allies of the Senju, even before the founding of Konohagakure and Uzushiogakure. It’s the reason why our shinobi often wear the symbol of the Uzumaki on their uniforms.”

“The fact of the matter is you may not be from around here, but if Konoha were able to protect our allies properly you’d have grown up in Uzushiogakure instead of Amegakure… and we would be allies. Heck, you’d probably already know your clan’s hiden techniques if what Hiruzen-sensei said is even half true.”

Hiruzen-sensei… does he mean the Third Hokage?

“Plus, I feel like I owe it to the Uzumaki clansmen I’ve known who are gone now,” Jiraiya muses, “to at least pass on what little knowledge I have of their techniques, so that they won’t go totally extinct.”

“So, just this one time, are you interested in a one-time lesson? I have some spare time today.”

>Sure.
>No thanks.

>>3927102
>Sure.
>>3927098
Yeah I don't like him either.

>>3927102
>>Sure.
that does sound honorable of you, old creep

>>3927102
>>Sure

>>3927102
>>Sure.
No brainer from someone claiming to be aware of our clan's techniques. Think we can actually get chains?

>>3927110
he is a mysterious man, with many opposing sides to him

>>3927102
>>Sure.
>My mother taught me how to geld a man 127 different ways before she passed.
>Also did you know your village has an Uzumaki of their own? bright orange jumpsuit, louder than a tailed beast attack, ring a bell?

>>3927102
>>3927117
Supporting

>>3927114
I too desire the adamantine chains.
They're just stupid useful.

>>3927117
Supporting. Especially the gelding.

>>3927102
>>3927117
Support the loud orange part.

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>>3927102
Jiraiya quickly moves through the basic theory: the fact that your chakra doesn’t naturally spin means it will be much easier than for most people to learn how to counteract the natural spin of some other chakra source you’re trying to seal. If you can produce those chakra chains you saw Karin using, and have a sealing key prepared to do the job, you can manifest the chains, match the spin of your target, and use that connection and opposition to place the seal.

In it’s completed form, the ‘Kongō Fūsa’ as he calls it sounds incredibly powerful, and can apparently be used to form barriers and seal massive amounts of chakra at the price of mobility. Thankfully, you have a workaround for that drawback in the form of your Anken techniques, which you don’t mention to Jiraiya.

“So how does one train for this technique?” you eventually ask out of curiosity.

In response, Jiraiya tosses you a rubber ball. “Concentrate chakra within this ball and spin it either clockwise or counterclockwise. When you can do it in both directions, powerfully enough to burst the ball, you’ll be ready to use the Kongō Fūsa.”

You thank Jiraiya for his time, and he leaves you to go do… whatever it was he was planning on doing this morning.

Not long after, Mitarashi Anko emerges from the bushes.

“Holy crap!” she declares. “You’re one hell of a lucky genin, you know that? Getting a lesson from Master Jiraiya!”

“So I guess that really was him?” you muse. “I… expected someone less…”

Mitarashi-han simply stares at you expectantly.

“Yeah, no. I don’t know where I was going with that.”

“Well, I can’t promise to teach you any freaky hiden techniques or anything,” Mitarashi-han grins. “But how would you like to learn how to summon stuff?”

“That sounds fun!” you smile.

Mitarashi-sensei’s grin widens. “Oh really now...”
>to be continued

>>3927151
Thanks for running king and see you tomorrow

You make me crave ever more ninjas, King.

>>3927181
RIP

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This quest is pretty good

Also I'm digging the chance for Naori to learn snake summons

>>3927243
IF we learn snake summons do we have to deal with Orochimaru? He's already interested in us apparently and I'd prefer to not end up his next pedo project

>>3927243
nah man, salamanders and murderbirds is where its at

>>3927181
Why did you have to remind me

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>>3927279

>>3927247
This big vote for the murderbirds

>>3927328
I donno man tiny angry squeaking salamanders are pretty great too.

>>3927333
We probably can get the same salamander as Hanzo if we wanted

>>3927243
Snakes suck.

>>3927151
“Now listen up, punk!” Mitarashi-han declares loudly. “First, the Summoning Technique isn’t an ordinary ninjutsu… it’s way more like a cooperation technique, since a lot of the time you’ll be summoning something with a mind of its own. So it’s better to think of it that way, which lets you get creative with how you use your summons.”

“Second, I can’t teach you anything about how to use your summons unless you end up with snakes,” she continues. “Which if you really wanted I could set you up, but the big ones are such a pain in the ass I never use ‘em anymore myself.”

“So how does one form a contract without being introduced?” you ask.

“Ah, so you know someone with their own summons!” Mitarashi-han smirks. “That simplifies things a bit! But to answer your question the other way to do it is to do the technique without signing a contract at all… that’s supposed to end with you getting teleported to whatever summons you’ve got an affinity for.”

“So I’d be taken outside the village?” you press.

Mitarashi-han nods emphatically. “Yup!”

“With a month before the finals,” you continue.

She nods again. “That’s right!”

“And so how do I get back?”

Mitarashi-han’s expression shifts slightly as it becomes obvious she hasn’t thought that far ahead at all. “Well… that is… you see… huh.”

She scratches her hair for a few moments. “Well, that’s annoying. But I’m sure if I just think about it for a bit, something’ll come to me. There’s always a workaround… can’t be reverse-summoning, not even Manda knows that… come on, think Anko! Think!”

You remain quiet for a few minutes before speaking up. “You okay there, sensei?”

“I’ve got it!” she shouts. “All you need to do is send a clone!”

“All I know is the regular clone technique,” you point out. “I can’t do anything that would send a physical body.”

“Well then, we’ll just need to get someone to teach you the Shadow Clone!” Mitarashi-han declares. “Easy peasy!”

>Do you have someone in mind?
>Is the Third Hokage doing anything?
>There any scrolls about it anywhere?
>Actually, there’s that Naruto kid. Isn’t it like the one thing he can do?
>Other?

>>3928627
Do you know it Mitarashi-Han?

>>3928627
>>Do you have someone in mind?
>>Actually, there’s that Naruto kid. Isn’t it like the one thing he can do?

>>3928634
>>3928627
we saw him do it, might as well ask

>>3928627
>>Do you have someone in mind?

>let's teach a foreign nin a jutsu we keep locked up in what we named the Forbidden Scroll just to safely facilitate a reverse summons.
Damn, Hiruzen's sense of fair play is insanely strong.

>>3928627
>Do you have someone in mind?
>Actually, there’s that Naruto kid. Isn’t it like the one thing he can do?

>>3928627
>Do you have someone in mind?
>Actually, there’s that Naruto kid. Isn’t it like the one thing he can do?

>>3928627
>Do you have someone in mind?

Hope the Naruto vote doesn't win. He isn't a teacher at all he is the type to just throw everything at the wall till something sticks and we dont have the reserves to learn it like that

Also kinda feels like Konoha is trying to poach us from Ame

>>3928643
To clarify, basically everyone knows about the Shadow Clone technique, and it's broadly used outside Konoha. The one in the scroll is the multi-Shadow Clone version, which was kept inaccessible because it has a huge risk of accidentally killing its user.

>>3928627
>>Do you have someone in mind?
>>Is the Third Hokage doing anything?

>>3928627
>Actually, there’s that Naruto kid. Isn’t it like the one thing he can do?
Make friends with that lil shit
and he's an uzumaki.

>>3928650
Wouldn't you?

>>3928627
>>Actually, there’s that Naruto kid. Isn’t it like the one thing he can do?
Might as well get it out of the way
Plus since we have cheat ass Uzumaki levels of chakra we should be able to get at least a few clones out without dying

>>3928627
“If you don’t know it, do you have someone in mind?” you ask Mitarashi-sensei.

“Actually I do!” she declares. “Follow me!”

Mitarashi-sensei leads you to a different training ground, where you find a Konoha shinobi wearing a blue outfit, a bandanna, and small, round sunglasses. He’s currently busy muttering to himself about something or another that seems to have him worked up.

“Hey, Ebisu!” Mitarashi-han calls out, seemingly startling him. “Where’s the brat?”

“Late!” the ninja scoffs, before turning to you. “Who’s this?”

“Raishō Naori!” you greet the man with a polite bow.

“I needja to teach her the Shadow Clone technique real quick!” Mitarashi-han declares.

“Absolutely not!” Ebisu replies firmly.

Mitarashi’s eye twitches. “That so?”

“I’m supposed to meet Uzumaki Naruto here this morning,” Ebisu declares. “So if he pulls a no-show, I’ll have to go back to the Hokage and request a new assignment that isn’t a waste of...”

Mitarashi-han takes a few steps closer and whispers a threat into Ebisu’s ear.

Ebisu stops mid-sentence and his skin turns slightly pale.

“I see… you make a convincing argument, Mitarashi-san,” he changes his tune abruptly.

“So, to perform the Shadow Clone technique requires a special hand seal, and for you to split half your chakra into the clone. It’s done like this.”

Ebisu crosses his fingers in front of himself. “Kagebunshin no Jutsu!”

Suddenly there are two Ebisus, each of them indistinguishable.

“Now, you try.”
>1d100, taking the best of the first three

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3928678

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>3928678
that seems... oddly easy?

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>3928678

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>3928678

>>3928627
>Do you have someone in mind?
>Is the Third Hokage doing anything?
>There any scrolls about it anywhere?

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3928678

>>3928678
“That seems… oddly easy,” you frown. “Where’s the catch?”

“There’s no catch, really,” one of the Ebisus tells you. “Even Naruto can do it… not with any efficiency of course, but he can do it.”

Well then, you guess there’s nothing else to do but give it a try. Mimicking Ebisu, you focus your chakra. “Kagebunshin no Jutsu!”

Surprisingly, you create an exact copy of yourself with right around half your chakra. It’s strange, you’re vaguely aware of her distinct existence… but you can tell that both of you are surprised at how much of a reduction in available chakra ‘half’ actually amounts to.

“Yeah… no… I don’t like it,” you admit.

Your clone nods in agreement. “It does basically make everything cost twice as much chakra, doesn’t it?”

“Which is why you should always limit the number of clones you use at any time,” Ebisu tells you, dispelling his clone. “What your limit is, you’ll have to figure out yourself.”

“Thanks!” Mitarashi-han grins. “Come on, you two. Back to our own field!”

“Thank you,” you bow politely.

“Sure,” Ebisu sighs. “Just remember what you promised, Anko!”

“Yeah, yeah!”

Mitarashi-sensei then teaches you the hand seals to perform a summining, before you hand off control to your clone.

“Alright,” she sighs. “Let’s do this!”

CHOOSE ONLY ONE:
>Shrikes: also known as murderbirds, come in varying sizes and abilities
>Salamanders: come in varying sizes with different abilities
>QM TAKE THE WHEEL: a loose collection of unique summons (think mythological stuff)

This vote will take 30 minutes, so feel free to discuss it as well.

>>3928706
MURDERBIRD

>>3928706
>Salamanders: come in varying sizes with different abilities

Guess the snake option was removed. But I don't think anyone was gonna choose it, honestly. Snakes are better for Hinata anyway.

>>3928706
As cool as both the other options are, mystery box here we go
>QM TAKE THE WHEEL: a loose collection of unique summons (think mythological stuff)

>>3928706
>>Shrikes: also known as murderbirds, come in varying sizes and abilities

>>3928706
>Shrikes: also known as murderbirds, come in varying sizes and abilities

Is the QM lets lose anythig like what Tatuya summons?

>>3928706
>>Shrikes: also known as murderbirds, come in varying sizes and abilities

MURDERBIRDS FTW

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>>3928706
>>QM TAKE THE WHEEL: a loose collection of unique summons (think mythological stuff)
LEETT'S FOKIIIIN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

>>3928715
Good taste

>>3928706
>QM TAKE THE WHEEL: a loose collection of unique summons (think mythological stuff)
Oh yes. Mystery box.

>>3928706
>Salamanders: come in varying sizes with different abilities

>>3928709
>>3928706
Just to make it clear, it's a vote for the shrikes

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>>3928720
Doki that was their name. They creeped me out the first time I saw them.

>>3928720
Along those lines, sort of.

>>3928730
>Shrikes: also known as murderbirds, come in varying sizes and abilities

If they are anything similar to those things no thank you. Even if they were unique summons.

>>3928735
Like I said, they'd all be unusual, but more like Japanese mythology.

>>3928742
So things like Ōmukade, Jorōgumo or Nue?

>>3928750
That would be the direction I meant, yes.

>>3928706
>>Shrikes: also known as murderbirds, come in varying sizes and abilities
Because it seems like the most handy. Little birds for messages and sneaking explosive tags around, big birds for a possible flying mount.

>>3928706
>>Salamanders: come in varying sizes with different abilities

>>3928706
>>QM TAKE THE WHEEL: a loose collection of unique summons (think mythological stuff)

>>3928706
Your clone performs the technique, then disappears in a puff of smoke. You can tell she still exists, but she’s been pulled… somewhere else.

“So… what now?” you muse.

Mitarashi-han shrugs. “I dunno. I assumed you’d wanna work on that thing Master Jiraiya told you about?”

“I can think of worse things to do,” you agree, sitting down in an informal wariza and focusing your chakra into your palms. “Keep an eye on me, okay? I wanna make sure I don’t exhaust myself and undo the Shadow Clone too quickly.”

“Can do,” Mitarashi-han agrees, pulling out some sort of snack from her coat pocket.

>MEANWHILE...
>1/2

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>>3928779
You are Raishō Naori’s clone, and you’ve appeared… somewhere else. The air here is absolutely oppressive. Not only is it humid, but there’s something else that presses down on your like the air itself is actively trying to smother you.

“Well this sucks,” you gasp, struggling to orient yourself in your new surroundings.

You’re in a thick forest, an old forest. The moss here has grown thick over fallen trees which must have been laying there since before you were born. There’s nothing that would even indicate the presence of a path, no sounds of people… no sounds of anything, really, aside from the distant calls of birds.

You wander around in the undergrowth for a while, not really finding anything worth noting or that would give you any bearings.

>Head for high ground. Try to get a look around.
>Secure food and water first and foremost.
>Just wander. You were brought HERE for a reason.
>Other?

>>3928817
Do we need food and water as a clone?

>>3928817
>>Just wander. You were brought HERE for a reason.

>>3928817
>Just wander. You were brought HERE for a reason.

>>3928817
>>Secure food and water first and foremost.

>>3928817
Just wander

>>3928817
>>Just wander. You were brought HERE for a reason.

>>3928817
>Just wander. You were brought HERE for a reason.

>>3928817
>Head for high ground. Try to get a look around.

>>3928817
>>Head for high ground. Try to get a look around.

>>3928817
>>Head for high ground. Try to get a look around.
And then, surprise bird attack!

>>3928817
>>Just wander. You were brought HERE for a reason.

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>>3928817
You decide to take a look around the spot where you appeared, figuring that it must have been here for a reason. And so eventually you find yourself sitting on a stone in the closest thing you can find to a clearing, listening to the calling of the birds.

Then, abruptly, the calls stop.

On edge, you crouch atop the stone with your hand on Umekiri’s hilt. The sounds of a forest don’t typically just stop like that, not abruptly with no explanation.

“So you’re not totally unaware after all!”

The new voice chrips seemingly from out of the forest, and you can’t quite pin down where.

“Who are you?” you ask.

The voice comes from somewhere else this time. “The real question is who are you? It’s not every day a human appears in our forest!”

“My name is Raishō Naori,” you declare yourself. “I attempted a summoning for the first time, and was brought here.”

“I am Isoka, guardian of this forest!” the voice declares. “Summoner Raishō Naori, I assume that you are here to sign a contract?”

“I am.”

From the forests emerges a tiny bird, like a larger than average hummingbird with a fringe of feathers around its head.

“Then let us reconcile with the Resplendent One, Raishō Naori,” Isoka insists dramatically. “She’ll determine your worth as our would-be summoner.”

>Where are we, Isoka? What is this place?
>Who is this Resplendent One, Isoka?
>What contract are we even talking about?
>Just follow quietly and politely.

>>3928872
>>Who is this Resplendent One, Isoka?

>>3928872
>Who is this Resplendent One, Isoka?

>>3928872
Where are we?
Who is the resplendent one?

>>3928872
>Where are we, Isoka? What is this place?

>>3928872
>>Who is this Resplendent One, Isoka?

>>3928872
>>Where are we, Isoka? What is this place?

>>3928872
How will our clone sign the contract when it will pop trying to get blood to sign

>>3928894
Clones can usually take a little bit of damage before popping. Pricking her finger won't be a problem.

>>3928872
>Who is this Resplendent One, Isoka?

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>>3928872
“Please tell me more about this Resplendent One, Isoka.”

“She is the greatest of our kind!” Isoka chirps excitedly. “I am but a hunter and a guardian, but Lady Nyoka is a true sovereign of the skies in this land. When you meet her don’t you dare disrespect her, or I’ll poke out your eyes!”

You’re pretty sure the little bird means every word of it.

Isoka leads you uphill through the forest, up to the top of a ridge where there stands a single, solitary granite rock that overlooks the mist-shrouded forest below. Miles and miles of untouched wilderness the likes of which you’ve never seen… and which you get the feeling don’t exist anywhere else but here.

Into this rock a perch of sorts has been impaled, seemingly a whole tree trunk stabbed into the side of the stone itself.

“We will wait here for Lady Nyoka,” Isoka declares, settling onto a nearby branch. “You will know her when you see her.”
>1/2

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>>3928920
Sure enough, you can see this Resplendent Lady Nyoka from afar. A shimmering green bird with trailing plumage, elegant and effortless in flight, almost more in command of the rising air currents she floats upon than reliant on them. Spotting you, she settles in on the trunk… her titanic wingspan no less than forty feet across makes it impossible to land next to the rock, so instead she lands on the end of the trunk before sidling closer and settling in.

“So you are the human?” she coos. “This one heard of your arrival upon the winds. All the forest is awake in a way that it has not been in many years, young one.”

“My name is Raishō Naori,” you bow politely, remembering Isoka’s threat. “How should I call you, Lady Nyoka?”

“Simply Nyoka is fine,” the great bird tells you. “This one must be ever-vigilant against the slow encroachment of arrogance.”

“With her power, arrogance would be understandable!” Isoka chirps behind you.

“Isoka,” Nyoka greets her smaller counterpart. “Thank you for bringing Raishō-kun to me promptly, but if this one might trouble you for a favor, could you fetch us that old rascal Kijani?”

“Of course, Lady Nyoka!” the tiny bird chirps before zipping away.

“She is always so excitable,” Lady Nyoka muses. “Ah, to be so young and carefree… now let us get a closer look at you. It has been a long time since last we hosted a human summoner… since Tobirama brought that brat of his to our forests to contract with the Baku.”

>Tobirama? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?
>Would it be rude to ask your age? I’ve never seen a bird this size before.
>So… do I meet with your approval so far?
>Other?

>>3928944
>>Tobirama? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?

>>3928944
>who’s tobi?

>>3928944
>Tobirama? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?

>>3928944
>Tobirama? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?

>>3928944
>Tobirama? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?

>>3928944
>>Tobirama? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?

don#t ask a lady for her age

>>3928944
>>Tobirama? If you don’t mind me asking, who is that?

>>3928944
“Tobirama?” you ask. “Is that a name I should know, Nyoka-han?”

The great resplendent bird shakes her head. “Perhaps not, but once upon a time the name Senju Tobirama was well-known throughout the world.”

Wait… does she mean the Second Hokage?

“That Senju clan?” you ask. “The ones who founded Konohagakure?”

“Alongside the Uchiha, yes,” Nyoka corrects you. “The Senju were known as ‘the Senju of the Forest’ because so many of them contracted with the clans located here, in this last vestige of the primeval forest which once covered the world. Most normal humans could not withstand the chakra here.”

“I see… so this is a place connected to the Senju clan.”

“And to the Uzumaki clan,” Nyoka adds thoughtfully. “Of course, this one recognized your nature. We have seen the occasional Uzumaki here over the long count of years...”

“… I know you want to ask, and the answer is more than three hundred.”

Three hundred years? Seriously!?

“I hope I look even half as spry in three hundred years,” you mutter before thinking.

That might be the first time you’ve ever heard a bird laugh.

“This one thinks you will get along with our clan famously,” Nyoka intones.

Eventually Isoka returns with a third bird, this one with a wingspan around six feet. This third bird extends its neck, unrolling a scroll.

That’s… odd.

“This is the summoning scroll for our clan,” the bird informs you. “The Shrike clan of the Forest.”

“Lady Nyoka didn’t say to do that yet!” Isoka protests.

Lady Nyoka, who has been preening herself patiently, answers before the scroll-bird can. “This one would not have called for Kijani if she did not intend for Raishō-kun to sign the scroll.”

“So we finally have a human summoner!?” Isoka chirps, taking a complete 180.

“It would seem so,” Lady Nyoka agrees. “Assuming she will agree?”

>So, what can I count on your clan for?
>I’ve seen enough (Sign the scroll)
>Could I get back to you about this?

>>3928987
>>I’ve seen enough (Sign the scroll)
Do we still get the down low on what they can do? I just want to sign right off the bat.

>>3928987
>>So, what can I count on your clan for?

>>3928987
>>So, what can I count on your clan for?
>>I’ve seen enough (Sign the scroll)

>>3928987
>>So, what can I count on your clan for?
>I’ve seen enough (Sign the scroll)

>>3928987
>So, what can I count on your clan for?
Ask first. I know we're definitely signing it, but let's at least seem like we aren't jumping in blind.

>>3928987
>I'm honored but what exactly would I be agreeing to?

>>3928987
>>I’ve seen enough (Sign the scroll)

>>3928997
>>3928987
i can support this, just prepare to sign and ask the question

>>3928987
>So, what can I count on your clan for?
>I’ve seen enough (Sign the scroll)

Defenetly sign but bit of curiosity also.

>>3928987
>So, what can I count on your clan for?

>>3928987
>>I’ve seen enough (Sign the scroll)
let's get our shrike on

>>3928987
“I intend to sign,” you admit, “however I am curious what I’m agreeing to, what I can expect if I call on you.”

“I can spit water senbon, and I’m the best tracker you’re ever gonna meet!” Isoka chirps.

“I have a scroll built into my neck,” Kijani sighs. “That’s what I do. Not very interesting, but I suppose I would be a swift messenger if ever you decided to call on me.”

Lady Nyoka looks down at you. “This one is the second-generation Mistress of the Storms. Call upon her and she will gladly carry you upon the winds, or bend the weather to suit your needs, up to and including calling a thunderstorm from an otherwise clear sky.”

Thunderstorms… water and lightning, and on top of it you had to be either a Senju or an Uzumaki to withstand the chakra of this place. No wonder you were brought here.

You sign your name using shuin script, and place a single bloody print with your left thumb to seal the deal with an extremely old-fashioned keppan ‘blood seal’.

>Admit that as a Shadow Clone, you probably can’t do much serious training here and end the technique. It’d be better to practice summoning from the other side.
>Spend some time to look around, get your bearings a little more.
>Ask more about the Shrike clan, as well as the other clans in this part of the forest.
>Other?

>>3929043
>admit to being a shadow clone

>>3929043
>Sit down right there in the forest whose air is literally full of chakra and work on your chakra control

>>3929043
>>Admit that as a Shadow Clone, you probably can’t do much serious training here and end the technique. It’d be better to practice summoning from the other side.

>>3929043
>Ask how you're going to let the 'main Naori' know what happened here. You're just a shadow clone, after all.

>>3929043
>Spend some time to look around, get your bearings a little more.
>Ask more about the Shrike clan, as well as the other clans in this part of the forest.
Is there time for both of these?

>>3929043
>Admit that as a Shadow Clone, you probably can’t do much serious training here and end the technique. It’d be better to practice summoning from the other side.

File: Senjutsu Explanation.png (148 KB, 754x1100)

148 KB PNG

>>3929043
>>Other?
I'm gonna second this>>3929050
get dat sage mode son

>>3929043
>Spend some time to look around, get your bearings a little more.
>Ask more about the Shrike clan, as well as the other clans in this part of the forest.