>>5088504
Meanwhile your shadow clone continues to fight alongside Kurama, who is locked in battle with the giant stone golem that Toneri created. You can see that battle of giants through her eyes, and through Nyoka’s eyes from above. She’s had to weave and swoop wildly to avoid the debris, but you can see what she’s trying to do – it’s just you’re not sure that with gravity working the way it does around here that storm clouds will actually work as they should.

While the stone figure is able to regenerate its body from the surrounding materials, with your help Kurama is doing more damage much more quickly than it can recover.

You can also feel something strange... as though the air is getting thinner the longer you fight. What you realize is that it’s the natural energy present on the moon being used more rapidly than it can recover. Just like the golem, it’s being expended at a tremendous and unsupportable rate.

No people here, few animals, not nearly enough space – it’s no wonder there’d be less to go around.

>This can work to your advantage – use up so much natural energy that Toneri loses his chakra cloak.
>You can end this quickly the second you hear back from Hinata and Naruto that the Tenseigan is destroyed.
>You may be able to find a way to undermine Toneri’s mental state – ‘defeat’ him, and he may reverse the moon’s course.
>Other?

>>5088506
>>You may be able to find a way to undermine Toneri’s mental state – ‘defeat’ him, and he may reverse the moon’s course.

>>5088506
>You can end this quickly the second you hear back from Hinata and Naruto that the Tenseigan is destroyed.

>>5088506
>You may be able to find a way to undermine Toneri’s mental state – ‘defeat’ him, and he may reverse the moon’s course.

>>5088506
>Try to seal ALL of the natural energy in this space into an alternate dimension
When all the natural energy is sealed, only we will have access to it. He'll be severely weakened at that point.
They maybe we can talk his dumb ass down.

>>5088506
>>You may be able to find a way to undermine Toneri’s mental state – ‘defeat’ him, and he may reverse the moon’s course.

>>5088506
>You may be able to find a way to undermine Toneri’s mental state – ‘defeat’ him, and he may reverse the moon’s course.

>>5088506
>This can work to your advantage – use up so much natural energy that Toneri loses his chakra cloak.

>>5088506
>1d6, best three of four
>higher means you really fuck with his head

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5089351

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5089351

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5089351

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5089351

>>5089351
“If I were just about any other human this’d look a lot more dramatic, for sure,” you muse, stepping in with hiraishin to drive Umekiri’s hilt into Toneri’s wrist before he can unleash another moon-slicing sword strike. “Swinging around our overcompensation until the moon comes apart like a tangerine certainly would look cool at the time, but I’d rather show some restraint!”

Toneri wheels about to strike at your back, which you parry with Umekiri over your shoulders before teleporting behind him to strike with her edge – for a second time, leaving behind a few fluttering strips of sealing paper. He takes a step forward and turns, having anticipated exactly that move, but notices too late that you’ve extended the two fingers of your left hand, without even releasing your grip on your hilt. “Raiton: Gian!”

One of Toneri’s truth-seeker orbs is already in position to intercept, and your attack splits around it into many smaller lance-like arcs. Out of these only one clips his shoulder, while the others all impact against buildings or debris beyond him.

“How!?” he demands with a scowl as he expands one of the orbs like a spear that barely misses you, before you teleport in close and find your blade halted by a second orb. “How is it that one human has amassed so much power? The orange brat I can understand, he has a fragment of the Ten-Tails inside of him. But what purpose could this much power possibly serve?”

“Look in a mirror some time,” you muse, blocking another strike after using hiraishin to close and bind his blade. “You’ll see a good example of my purpose staring back at you.”

He tries to kick you, but you block it with your shin. He tries to release his transformed truth-seeker orb and punch you in the side of the head, but with your own sword now unbound you turn under has fist and strike at his ribs with Umekiri’s hilt. The blow slips entirely past his guard and knocks him off his feet, sending him careening towards a chunk of floating debris.

You toss a few Kongō Fūbari after him for good measure, which stick into his body before you teleport behind him and flow chakra into Umekiri’s blade for another massive Tenrangiri. That blow changes his trajectory ninety degrees, and he falls completely out of the central barrier-sphere protecting the Tenseigan.

After he impacts the inner surface of the moon you reappear near him, and create four shadow clones which teleport back to the clusters of tags to raise a Shikonbenjin barrier that seals off the “sun” at the moon’s center.

“And what about you?” you challenge Toneri as he staggers to his feet and pulls your glowing golden needles out of himself. “Why did you attain this much power? Why did your ancestors attain power?”
>1/2

>>5090064
He glances up at the Tenseigan barrier’s shell, realizing how hard it would be to get back up there. And so he chooses to engage with you.

“Because that is the will of Hamura-dono,” he answers.

“To do what?” you press. “To destroy the world I come from? Because let’s be clear, your people have already done a good job on your own.”

“You mean the struggle between our main house and the branch family?” Toneri replies. “Do you know how the Tenseigan was created? Our eyes, the eyes of the branch family, where sacrificed to fill the vessel.”

“To what end?” you press again.

“For power!” Toneri answers, exasperated.

“The power to do what?” you demand. “To control the branch family? Clearly they could already do that. To enact this ridiculous ‘will’ you claim Hamura left you? Do you really think Hamura would tell you to punish humanity’s abuse of chakra for power by abusing chakra for power?”

“I...”

“Or is it wrong when I do it to protect the people I love, but it’s okay when you do it to murder millions of people who can’t even use chakra?”

“... I...”

“You what?” you snap. “You didn’t know? Don’t give me that nonsense. You’ve been watching us, haven’t you? You’d have to be to know anything about the Hyūga clan, which of their little girls to kidnap and mutilate so that you could murder their entire family.”

“That’s not...”

“No, it’s not right,” you continue, refusing to let up for an instant. “It’s factually correct though, that’s exactly what you’re doing. So you want some unsolicited advice? If it’s that easy to make you sound like a monster, maybe you should stop to think about what you’re doing before you become one.”

Toneri seems to be legitimately stunned.

>Take advantage of his momentary hesitation, knock him out.
>Little steps first. Try to convince him to drop his chakra cloak.
>Draw it out, see what happens when the Tenseigan is destroyed.
>Other?

>>5090304
>Just stop and think about what you're doing for a second. Nevermind what someone else told you, what are YOU doing and WHY are you doing it?
>And is it really worth it? Is this what you want? What has it all gotten you so far?

>>5090311
>>5090304
i like this

>>5090304
>>5090311
Support

>>5090304
>Just stop and think about what you're doing for a second. Nevermind what someone else told you, what are YOU doing and WHY are you doing it?
>And is it really worth it? Is this what you want? What has it all gotten you so far?

>>5090304
>this>>5090311

Talk no Jutsu

>>5090304
You grab Toneri by the ‘collar’ of his chakra cloak, getting right in his face. “Forget about Hamura for a minute, forget your clan and the Tenseigan and all the nonsense you’ve been told. Who are you? Who is Ōtsutsuki Toneri, what does he want from life? And is this – ”

– you gesture at the devastation all around you with your free hand, with Umekiri still grasped in it, at all the ruins of his clan’s extinction, at the smoking craters where the debris from your battle has fallen, at the scar running right around the inside of the moon as far as the eye can see –

“ – really all you want to be? A mindless force of destruction, a heartless puppet controlled by some twisted misinterpretation of a dead man’s wishes?”

“Look at me!” you insist sharply, forcing him to look you straight in the eyes.

After a few uncomfortable seconds, you hear a new voice. “That’s enough, Naori-san. Please let him go.”

You spare Hyūga Hinata a sidelong glance where she stands with Naruto and one of your clones. “Is it done?”

She nods, an unusually resolute look in her eyes. “It is. Thank you... for bringing Naruto-kun to help me do it. It was... it was the right instinct.”

Your eyes fall back onto Toneri, and linger there for a moment before you carefully release him and slowly lower your arms.

“Naori-san may be... intense,” Hinata begins, now sounding a little less sure of herself, “maybe even too intense sometimes, but I think she’s a really good person in her own way, and what she said is right. Hamura-dono’s spirit explained everything to me – he left earth to watch over Kaguya, but he was also ready to come back if Hagoromo-dono ever needed him to. He wanted to help humanity find the right path, not judge us if we ended up on the wrong one.”

You notice something change – Toneri’s eyes, just moments ago a piercing featureless blue, have started to grow dull and lose their color. “I just have one question.”

“Yes?”

“If all that is true,” he presses, “then why didn’t Hamura-dono speak to me?”

>If you had a biological sample you could ask him that yourself.
>Probably because he would have to manipulate your beliefs.
>All three of them play favorites with their descendants, like a lot.
>Other?

>>5091392
>>All three of them play favorites with their descendants, like a lot.
>"Gods"
Not even once.

>>5091392
>If you had a biological sample you could ask him that yourself.
i wanna use edo tensei

>>5091392
>All three of them play favorites with their descendants, like a lot.
However...
>If you had a biological sample you could ask him that yourself.

>>5091392
>If you had a biological sample you could ask him that yourself.

I hope that this doesn't use up too much energy seeing as we're on the moon

>>5091392
>If you had a biological sample you could ask him that yourself.

>>5091392
“If you had some trace of his remains you could ask him yourself,” you shrug, “but since I doubt you do after so many centuries, you’ll just have to take Hinata-kun’s word for it that she heard from him, and my word for it that this isn’t unusual.”

“How so?” he demands.

“The Ōtsutsuki like to play favorites,” you shrug. “I’m Kaguya-hime’s for example.”
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5093179

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5093179

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5093179

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5093179
only a 33% chance to do better and break the 4 streak.

Well, at least it wasn't four 4s in a row. Toneri might have actually killed himself with a result like that.

>>5093179
“You mean the Rabbit-demon addressed you personally?” Toneri stares at you dubiously.

“For sure,” you nod slowly. “It may have been only a small part of her mind that managed to maintain its perspective after eating the fruit of the Shinjū, but it was definitely her.”

“Why would such a being choose to speak to you?”

You frown. “She had her own reasons, just as Hagoromo-dono and Hamura-dono had theirs.”

“Toneri-san,” Naruto joins in, “it’s starting to look like none of the reasons you’re doing this are even true, so maybe it’s time to call it quits, ya know?”

“There are other things you could do,” Hinata suggests awkwardly. “You could even come to earth.”

“You would make such an offer, even after all this?” Toneri asks, still obviously doubting everything he’s hearing. “After trying to drop the moon on your world and stealing your younger sister’s eyes, you would... what even would that be?”

“Not forgiveness,” Hinata insists quietly. “Please don’t misunderstand me, it’s more... more.... well...”

“Forgiveness takes time,” you butt in to take up where Hinata faltered. “But it could be considered unfair not to give you the time to earn it.”

“That’s a surprisingly good way of putting it,” Naruto-kun muses.

“Yeah no, I’m not into cruelty or vengeance,” you roll your eyes. “Those are different from harshness.”

“The difference being?”

“I’m harsh because I care,” you insist. “If I didn’t care it’d be cruelty.”
>1/2

>>5094108
“I... cannot accept your offer, in any event,” Toneri admits. “These events should force a reckoning on my part, and I doubt I will find any resolution on the earth. With Hamura-dono dead and his intentions for our clan here muddled by the effects of time I will have to determine the correct path to take for myself.”

Naruto glances at Hinata. “He’s your distant relative. Are you okay with that answer?”


After a moment she nods. “I am.”

“I do have one question however,” Toneri asks. “Your sister’s eyes... they’ve begun to be overwhelmed by the tenseigan chakra mode.”

“Oh, that’s not a problem,” Hinata quickly insists. “Naori-dono healed Hanabi, so they’re completely regenerated.”

Toneri stares at you awkwardly. “Favored by the demon indeed. I assume she had something to do with the appearance of that jōgan of yours?”

You nod. “Something like that, yes.”

“Well then, I can only advise you to be careful about how often you use it,” Toneri tells you calmly. “I know precious little about it, though I know that my clan fears it for a reason.”

>And so what about you? Will you really just remain up here alone, as you have been for years?
>We could relocate you to the moon that actually has Kaguya sealed inside it if you’d prefer it.
>All this available land with no one left to settle on it – seems like a bit of a waste.
>Other?

>>5094200
>>We could relocate you to the moon that actually has Kaguya sealed inside it if you’d prefer it.

>>5094200
>We could relocate you to the moon that actually has Kaguya sealed inside it if you’d prefer it.
>All this available land with no one left to settle on it – seems like a bit of a waste.

>>5094200
>And so what about you? Will you really just remain up here alone, as you have been for years?

>>5094200
>>All this available land with no one left to settle on it – seems like a bit of a waste.

Eye lore question: is it Izumi's eye that became the Jyogan? And does it ever show any of its original typical sharingan appearance? Like the active tomoe or the mangekyo pattern?

>>5094480
It was formerly Izumi's yes. It's now red when inactive, same as Naori's would be, but its appearance when active is more like the Tenseigan. Just more lavender-silver tone with a slight iridescent sheen.

>>5094200
“So yeah, it doesn’t quite feel right leaving you here,” you frown, “with all these empty ruins and uninhabited land, and not even Kaguya-hime sealed away to watch over. I could help you get set up on the second moon where Kaguya actually is now, and I’m sure there’d be people willing to relocate here from earth.”

“Why?” Toneri looks at you in confusion. “What exists up here that does not down on earth?”

“Plenty of scientists would kill for the chance to put an observatory on the moon,” you muse thoughtfully. “Just as an example.”

“So that it’s outside the atmosphere,” Naruto nods along in understanding. “Yeah, I guess you could look at it as a huge opportunity.”

“You read that somewhere?” you smirk. “I’m proud of you, cousin.”

“What, I can read,” Naruto insists. “Not well, but I can read.”

“If you’d be open to it, we could discuss ways to make it happen,” you extend your offer to Toneri.

After a few moments, Toneri nods. “I should remain here, to review the few remaining records from my clan’s history. However, if you feel that there are humans who might wish to come here, I would not be opposed... though any conflicts on earth must remain there.”

>1d6, high roll, taking the first three

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5095353

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5095353

>>5095353

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5095353

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5095353

Oh come on! The one damn time this happens, it's a not even a Best 3 of 4 roll!

>>5095353
The next few months are a bit of a rush of activity – spurred on by Naruto and Hinata’s sudden announcement that they’ll be getting married, mostly. As Naruto’s only living family you and Karin are both extended invitations immediately and without question, much the same way as the ranking members of the Hyūga, and so because of that both Ryūzetsu and Sasuke become anticipated guests as well. The Kages all receive invitations, as does Konan-sensei, and Sakura is invited as the only remaining member of the former Team Seven without some other excuse. Tsunade receives an invitation as the only former Kage remaining alive in retirement.

Everyone else, you learn, has to actually earn a space in the limited number of seats for actual attendees at the ceremony – or else realize that they won’t be able to go. And many members of Konohagakure’s regular forces won’t be able to attend because someone has to serve as keepers of the peace, along with carrying out more limited duty missions. So despite the fact that almost everyone in the village wants to see the big hero of the fight against Pain and the war against Obito and Madara get married to the eldest daughter of the Hyūga, very few will actually get the honor of attending.

It gives you enough time to arrange guard duty for when you and Konan-sensei will be absent from the village, and to commission a kimono for the occasion.

It’s going to have to be a kurotomesode, but as a bit of a twist the printed pattern is not a traditional one – instead it features the work of a well-known street artist in Amegakure, who does graffiti of flower patterns clustered around downspouts and external piping. The result is quite striking, a mix of traditional formality with the five Uzumaki crests and modern artistic styling, without being inappropriate for the occasion or risking up-staging the bride. Over this, you wear a black haori with five Uzumaki crests – signifying your standing as head of what remains of the Uzumaki clan.

A bold choice, you think, worthy of your mother’s legacy as a trend-setter who bent convention to serve her own sensibilities and abandoned it when it became too stifling.

Ryūzetsu chooses a more subdued kurotomesode with a more traditional design of swirling river-currents and simple wildflowers, but she too makes a clear statement. To any who might be paying attention the spiral that her pattern ends in by her right ankle makes it clear that her loyalties go beyond her parents’ clan which appears as her five crests.

“So, cousin,” you muse over lunch the day before the wedding, “I hope the planning is finished?”
>1/2

>>5096176
He nods once. “Yeah, finally. Who knew there were that many different kinds of flowers... other than the Yamanakas that is?”

“It’s a big event,” you chuckle. “The flowers are called-for.”

You’ve been mulling something over for a while now... something he mentioned a few days before about the fact that his parents wouldn’t be able to see this day. He never really considered those words, but they stuck in your mind. Of all the people to mention it to he thoughtlessly mentioned it to the one person who could do something about it.

>Bring it up.
>Don’t mention it, but do it yourself in secret.
>Just... no. It’s definitely not appropriate.
>Other?

>>5096177
>Bring it up.
Naori is intentionally tactless. This will be a fun disaster.

>>5096177
>Bring it up.
If i was dead i would love to be brought back for a day like this.

>>5096177
>>Bring it up.
The occasion calls for it.
Also, the time has come for the part where every single cast member has a child. So either we make a child the Orochimaru way, or invent futanari no jutsu, or get a sperm donor, or just miss out on the fad.

>>5096177
>Bring it up

>Bring it up.

>>5096177
>>Bring it up.
How could we not?

>>5096304
. . . Or just adopt one of the many war orphans around.

>>5096304
>>5096692
no worries, Queen has a plan.

>>5096692
But muh blodlain

>>5096692
>>5096719
>>5096799
I'm having a bit of a busy day but I'll mention one factor that, in character, Naori might be considering - adoption only helps one or two war orphans. For someone with a bit of a complex who's actually in a position to make a systemic change in her homeland and set an international example on an issue close to her own heart (she's an orphan herself remember), helping one or two lucky little shits just wouldn't be enough.

>>5096841
shine/orphanage is a go
we'll raise a whole generation of little shrine maidens!

let's build an uzumaki shrine in shin amegakure while we're at it!

>>5096177
“... so yeah, I never did figure out where my father was buried,” you admit with a sigh. “And I probably never will. But I do know where your parents are buried – I helped you rebury them.”

Naruto frowns at you. “What are you trying to say here, Naori?”

“Hinata would understand,” you continue, “and nobody else would have to know. Leave two empty chairs in the front row and they could be the empty chairs.”

It seems to dawn on him what you mean. “You’re talking about bringing my parents back?”

You reply with a curt nod. “One day only. Just long enough to see this – if you want, that could be my gift to the happy couple.”

“I’m actually a little stunned,” he admits. “I know I mentioned it, but I never considered the possibility that you might actually want to do something about it, ya know?”

“I know,” you nod. “I don’t plan to make a habit out of doing this, but it’s a benefit of leading a clan that I can decide when it’s okay to bend my own rules.”

After a few moments, Naruto nods once. “I’ll talk with Hinata and see what she thinks... and thanks, you know. For offering.”

...

“I wouldn’t know, of course,” Orochimaru frowns, arms crossed as he sits behind bars when you mention the wedding to him a few weeks later. “Oddly enough I wasn’t invited. I’ve begun to suspect that I’m not well-liked in this village.”

“You’re a clever man as usual,” you roll your eyes. “I’m hoping you’ll be just a bit more insightful than that when I ask you what I came here to ask.”

“I can only promise to try,” he smirks. “Assuming it’s an interesting question, that is.”

“I’d like to have a child,” you tell him.

“When a man and a woman love each other very much...” he begins.

“My partner is another woman. And it’d be nice if there was a random chance of having a son.”

Orochimaru raises his eyebrow. “That got significantly more interesting in just a few words. First of all you have my respects – those of us who look for more important things in people can’t afford to get too hung up on the little details.”

“I’m not sure I want to know what ‘important things’ you look for,” you frown. “But if it means you’ll offer some insights I’ll accept your compliment.”

“If your instinct is that it could be accomplished through ninjutsu,” Orochimaru muses, “then you’re only half-right. But then if you’ve come here you must already understand that it’s a bit more complicated than the transformation jutsu. No, to do what you’re asking you’ll need two things, the first you already have – senjutsu. The second...”
>1/2

>>5096952
“We’d need a y-chromosome donor,” you summarize. “Normally that gets passed down from father to son relatively unchanged...”

“But neither of us inherited one,” Ryūzetsu summarizes. “My father was buried in a communal grave, and yours is missing entirely.”

“One of our fathers’ would simply approximate a scenario where one of us were male,” you reason, “which would be a reasonable approach to the problem. But since that’s not possible, it has to be based on another set of criteria.”

“I assume you considered this before telling me?” Ryūzetsu asks you... and she’s not wrong. It was easy enough to create a shortlist of possible donors.

>Uchiha Sasuke. Your clans will already be related by marriage, and it’s not like asking makes him your still-hypothetical child’s “father”. But it MIGHT allow for the sharingan to appear in your family’s line as well as his and Karin’s.
>Senju Tobirama. He’s your distant relative already, and he was a powerful enough shinobi that the closer genetic ties will be a definite benefit to your family line. Most of all, he’s dead – so it wouldn’t be as awkward for him should he agree.
>Hyūga Neji or Hyūga Kō. They’re both decent guys who you know at least passingly well, and the logic here would be largely the same as with Sasuke – except substituting the Hyūga’s byakugan for the Uchiha’s sharingan. If that’s even possible, that is.
>Ōtsutsuki Toneri. It’s not an option without some risk, but Toneri’s lineage is already very diluted which could minimize that risk. It would also avoid complicating any matters between your clan and your allies on earth who possess other dōjutsu.
>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.
>Other?

>>5096953
>Could we craft one of our own, out of nothing? It might take a while, but it shouldn't be impossible.

>>5096953
>>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.
Then our kid will be like a sibling for Konan's kid. And Kakashi is hot.

>>5096966
I'll make an immediate ruling and say that's WAY beyond the current technical capability.

>>5096953
>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.

>>5096953
>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.

We're not here to play eugenics so this is a no brainer out of the available choices.

>>5097001
Damn, i guess naruto is the best option genetically speaking, then
Maybe someone else if we have the remains, but i'd try to stick within the uzumaki clan regardless

i dunno, i'm way too fucking drunk to make a well thought out decision right now
merry christmas, queen

>>5097016
don't forget he is also our closest living male relative, that means some ... issues
also weird dude

>>5096953
>>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.

>>5096953
>Senju Tobirama. He’s your distant relative already, and he was a powerful enough shinobi that the closer genetic ties will be a definite benefit to your family line. Most of all, he’s dead – so it wouldn’t be as awkward for him should he agree.

Just going for genetic ties here

>>5097029
there would be no issue even amongst second cousins, even if he "directly contributed" if you get my meaning
the amount of actual DNA he would contribute would be miniscule

>>5096953
>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.

>>5096953
>>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.

I can't really see any downsides here

>>5097383
I mean it's pretty much concluded here, but the only "downside" to asking Kakashi is that it won't add anything dramatic to Naori and Ryuzetsu's bloodline. Kakashi without sharingan transplants is perhaps the pinnacle of what a normal shinobi could aspire to (Gates notwithstanding).

>>5097419
Yeah. I think Kakashi is the best choice not simply because of how he'll take the request in stride, but because he'll be alive to interact with the child. Not to mention that we are currently the most stupidly broken and overpowered shinobi. That means we get to teach little RyuKaNaori EVERYTHING. You thought Nart and Sauce were busted in the anime...

>>5096953
>Hatake Kakashi. Less genetic potential there but honestly, he’d be the one most likely to understand it in its appropriate context and not make a big deal out of it – it’s a favor to help keep your bloodline going, not a personal or political commitment.

>>5096953
>>Ōtsutsuki Toneri. It’s not an option without some risk, but Toneri’s lineage is already very diluted which could minimize that risk. It would also avoid complicating any matters between your clan and your allies on earth who possess other dōjutsu.

>>5097419
Considering how good the Uzumaki bloodline is, and how untapped Ryu's bloodline potential may be, I think it's aight.

I also think he'll be secretly touched

>>5097784
Is that a hint that naori is gonna steal his DNA?!

>>5096953
“Kakashi-han,” you address the man himself politely, before gesturing towards Shizune-han. “May we speak privately, please? This is a very... personal... matter.”

Kakashi frowns for a moment.

“... okay?” he finally agrees, glancing up at Shizune and nodding. “Give us a few minutes please.”

“Apologies,” Ryūzetsu nods once towards Shizune as she passes, “for interrupting your work.”

“No, this happens sometimes,” Shizune sighs for a moment. “I get it. When Naori-san asks for privacy it’s probably important.”

...

Once the door closes, Kakashi-han sits back in his chair. “Okay, so what’s all this about?”

“Ryūzetsu and I have decided we want children of our own,” you explain directly, “and we’ve discussed having ways to eliminate any sense that they’ve been ‘designed’ in a way other children are not.”

“Part of that means random genetic inheritance,” Ryūzetsu adds. “Including sex chromosomes.”

After a moment, Kakashi-han nods in understanding. “That would become a problem if there isn’t a Y mixed in there somewhere. Is that why you’re here?”

“We’ve talked it over,” you insist, carefully, “including with Konan-sensei. We didn’t want a known kekkei genkai or any clan politics involved beyond what the two of us bring ourselves, but we did want someone who had distinguished themselves as a cut above the average jōnin.”

“We also wanted it to be a good person,” Ryūzetsu adds.

“You’re either winding up to saying you want Naruto-kun,” Kakashi muses, “or you’re about to ask me.”

“It would require just a few drops of your blood,” you clarify. “As for relationships to any children we have this way, you’d be no closer or more responsible than Konan-sensei, who we agreed should be a guardian were anything to happen to us.”

“The Uzumaki never once ignored a call for aid from our village,” Kakashi-han recalls a time when there were more of your clan still alive, including the wife of his own teacher and mother of one of his cherished students. “It would be my honor to rise to your call now. What do you need me to do?”
>to be continued

>>5098000
“Raishō Naori versus Yamanaka Ino!”

The fight is a short one, as Ino’s eyes can hardly even track the initial movement of Naori’s body and sword as one. When there’s no coordinated response the blade stops, its edge drawing a little blood against the side of Ino’s neck.

A moment later a high roundhouse kick collides with the blonde’s temple, sending her sprawling onto the floor.

....

“Raishō Naori versus Nara Shikamaru!”

A few moments later, on the floor, Shikamaru’s hand goes up. “I’m pretty sure I can’t win.”

Naori doesn’t lower her blade. “Yeah no, that wasn’t a forfeit and I know it.”

“Fine,” Shikamaru chuckles. “I forfeit.”

When the blonde girl on his team starts to chew him out he simply shrugs. “She’s obviously stronger and faster than me and I’m already low on chakra from the forest. The only way I had to win was to catch her off guard – so when that trick failed, the best option left was to forfeit and try again some other time.”

...

“Raishō Naori versus Inuzuka Kiba!”

Naori watches carefully as genin and puppy walk down into the arena, and speaks up shortly after the proctor tells them to begin. “I wish I could say that I’m surprised Konoha is capable of such cruelty, but yeah, no, I know more than most. Compared to what happened to my homeland using a puppy as a disposable tool seems positively humane.”

“Akamaru here’s no tool!” the genin insists proudly. “He’s my partner, and you’re gonna see our teamwork right now!”

He flicks a pill to his pup, who swallows it in one gulp. “Man-beast transformation!”

“Judge!” Naori calls out, having held back from drawing her sword. “You heard him – if his dog’s not classified as a tool this is a two-on-one.”

She glances up at where the third Hokage is sitting. “That sounds like favoritism to me, Hokage-tono.”

After a moment of conferring with the Hokage, while Kiba watches stunned, Hayate makes his announcement. “For the purposes of this match an animal companion is considered a partner, not a tool. Akamaru will leave the field or Inuzuka Kiba will have to forfeit.”

“What!?” Kiba demands incredulously. “You’ve gotta be kidding me!”

“Sorry,” Naori shrugs dismissively. “Now then, shall we continue?”

Deprived of his partner and his clan’s signature style of taijutsu, the swordswoman makes short work of the empty-handed genin.
>1/2

>>5098080
“Raishō Naori versus Temari!”

Temari circles around down the stairs, watching her opponent carefully. “At least this will be more interesting than fighting most of those Konoha brats.”

“Interesting,” Naori narrows her eyes. “Sorry, but I don’t do ‘interesting’ fights. I’m not here to entertain you.”

She stands ready, calm and upright, hands waiting patiently for the signal to start which the proctor Hayate soon gives. “Begin!”

The movement is immediate, a burst of speed, Naori’s vitality pushed to the extreme as she draws her blade. Temari’s fan comes off her back to defend herself, but Naori adjust instantly to slide her elbow past Temari’s guard and into her ribs. She holds fast, and the two shift their stances around one another searching out any advantage. Eventually Temari is obliged to reveal her true strengths, blasting at Naori with a gust of wind from her fan.

She stays on her feet, sliding back towards the far wall. “Now that’s more like it!”

...

“Raishō Naori versus Gaara!”

The only two fighters with red hair in the room descend to the floor, one glaring at the other who watches him cautiously. “So yeah, I don’t like the way you’re looking at me right now,” Naori admits with a frown. “So with your permission I think I’m going to try ending this sooner rather than later.”

“Fine by me,” Gaara grumbles back. “Means wasting less of my time, so start whenever you...”

Without waiting to even hear the official start of the match Naori rushes Gaara down and draws her sword, only to find it stalled against a layer of floating sand just inches from Gaara’s neck.

“I figured you’d already started,” she muses, wrenching her weapon free from the sand with a little burst of chakra running through it. “It’s a good trick, but I could smell the blood in your sand, so I suspected you were up to something.”

“Smell, huh?” Gaara muses. “I’ll have to remember that.”

The sand shifts and swells, attacking Naori in great waves and crashing tendrils like a living creature, all while Gaara stands motionless at the center of it. Naori’s blade smashes through those formations, severing the sand from the main body where it falls temporarily motionless to the floor, but so much of it roils and seethes at his feet that she can’t quite get close.

So she throws kunai unsealed from a formula etched onto her left palm, each hilt wrapped in an explosive tag, testing the limits of Gaara’s durability and finding it entirely capable of being overwhelmed... until one blast lightly peels away the innermost layer of sand sitting against his skin.
>2/3

>>5098172
THe fight against gaara is taking a little more time, so I'll finish that and the Claymore omake I had planned tomorrow.

>>5098172
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zm9XLjPY2w
“That girl... she’s fighting evenly with Gaara,” Temari whispers to her brother. “No... I think for now she’s actually putting pressure on him.”

“That’s a technique typically used by samurai,” Kakashi explains to Naruto and Sakura as they watch the fight unfold. “Some jōnin might combine it with a change in chakra nature as well, but even now as it stands... they’re both way out of any genin’s league.”

“The timing on her fūinjutsu is impressive,” Guy crosses his arms, thinking deeply about it. “Her kenjutsu also seems like it’s original too. Forget the other candidates, those two could probably give the proctors a fair fight.”

And yet, there’s something about the leer Gaara responds with that Naori doesn’t seem to like. She throws two kunai at a time now, staggered so that one can hide in the shadow of the other, the first exploding as the sand stops it to clear the path for the second. But then Gaara counters by raising his hands, and the speed of his sand increases dramatically, fast enough now to tangle Naori several times by the ankle or wrist so that she has to break herself free.

She responds by raising her hands, forming the correct seals despite having a sword in one hand. “Kirigakure-no-jutsu!”

“Without a water source?” Kakashi muses as Naori conjurs a thick fog bank from the air in the auditorium.

Naruto shivers as the air temperature drops and the arena fills with fog. “Not this jutsu again...”

“Watch carefully,” Kakashi insists. “This is what your chakra could do with Sakura’s control and Sasuke’s talent.”

“What’s there to watch?” Naruto grumbles. “She’s just gonna disappear into the fog, right? Booo-riiing!”

But Naori does no such thing. Instead she continues to duck and weave, goading Gaara into attacking her at a distance. It’s not long before Sakura notices what Kakashi picked up on almost instnantly after this change in tactics.

“The water...” she realizes.

“So you figured it out,” Kakashi muses thoughtfully. “The amount of sand in the arena never changed since Gaara-kun dissolved that gourd on his back, so that means he has to stretch it thinner to attack at a longer distance. When he does, Naori-kun uses her mist to soak it...”

And the sand starts to crumble rather than flow freely. When Naori notices this, she grins. “So this is absolutely a good time to experiment,” she muses, concentrating on the blade in her hand. “Come on, Umekiri, we just need a little more power...”

As she dashes forward, past the crumbling sand defenses, her kodachi takes on a slight glow and crackles with static...

"It's now or never!"
>3/4

>>5098357
“Two chakra natures, at her age?” Guy-sensei muses after Naori lands a solid blow that penetrates Gaara’s sand armor at the shoulder. “What sort of training did Amegakure put her through?”

“If she were in our village,” Kurenai mutters to her own team, “she’d have been recruited into ANBU straight out of the academy.”

Gaara’s thoughts on the situation are borderline incoherent as he looks down at the blade in his shoulder, and the trickle of blood running from the wound. “Mother... what is this?” he whispers. “It hurts, mother... is this... blood?”

Naori has been trying to withdraw her blade since she lodged it in there in the first place, and works with a renewed sense of urgency as she must realize the direction Gaara’s rants are taking. “Is this MY blood!?”

Naori resorts to more lightning-nature chakra, bracing her feet against the wound and using her whole body to wrench the blade free and gain a little distance at the same time. A pulse runs through all the sand in the arena, almost wringing it out as it forces most of the mixed-in water out like squeezing a sponge.

The sand collects around Gaara’s body, building into something almost like scales or like matted fur, complete with a broad black-tipped tail.

“I will handle this for now,” a voice assures Naori, who has almost begun to visibly panic at what she’s seeing and sensing from her opponent. “This is no longer an examination.”

Sarutobi Hiruzen rests his hand on Naori’s shoulder, and offers her a quick sidelong grin. “We old men left you quite the mess to clean up with this one, Uzumaki-ojōsan. So with your permission, I’ll be stepping in now to help.”
>4/4
>tbc?

>>5098366
Fun omake, would this match lineup have changed anything drastically in the timeline? No Gaara in Finals = no invasion = Hiruzen lives. Hiruzen living would delay Tsunade's arrival in Konoha, and Kakashi might have become the Godaime, instead? A more stable Konoha could delay the Akatsuki's plans, and I can see Zetsu trying to start a NATURAL Fourth Shinobi War from the shadows. It could even lead to Naori gaining access to the Gates :^)

>>5098373
You have to remember though that both Konan and Orochimaru are also in the room at this point, so a fight where someone can push Gaara to that point throws a LOT out of whack - and does so where Konoha, Suna, and Oto can't back up their respective representatives in the room. Some of it would also depend on how many Sound genin are even left for Orochimaru to expend in place of acting himself.

>>5098384
Christ, now I'm sad that this didn't actually happen. This would cause SO many issues, it's hilarious.

Konan would side with Konoha because Orochimaru was there, Orochimaru's involvement would be outted on the spot and who knows how Baki of all people would respond. Actually, if Orochimaru was actually there and not sending a clone in his place, the calculus weighs against him HEAVILY with so many Konoha jonin and Konan herself being present.

So then it becomes a question of how many Genin get stepped on in the crossfire?

>>5098391
Forget genin, some of the jonin-senseis might not make it out alive if they're trying to cover for shitters like Choji's entire team at this point

>>5098412
And let's not forget Sakura of all people is in the room. If someone (probably Naruto) doesn't dramatically die facetanking a hit for her as she stands there, paralyzed with fear, probably looking in shock at a mutilated sasuke, I'd eat my hat.

Upside is she might actually come away from the incident with a 'let's not be a fucking waste of potential' mindset. Ya know, assuming she doesn't die or end up crippled for life.

>>5098428
Hell, at this stage in the story even Kakashi was basically shitting himself, wondering why the hell he thought he even stood a chance against Orochimaru. It's also likely that anyone in Akatsuki could slap any of the Jonin there pretty easily. Like Hidan actually beat Asuma together with a team of chunin, it may not have been pretty but Hidan's far and away the least impressive member of the organization.

If it turns into a fight at that specific point in the story Konan, Orochimaru, Saru, and Guy are the only people who are even relevant.
>writing

>>5100580
I feel like Hidan got fucked over by being forced into a confrontation with the most jobber-esque, unimpressive ragtag team of side characters imaginable. He's an incredible Buki- and technically Fuuinjutsu user who jobbed HEAVILY because Kishimoto wrote himself into a corner by designing a team of pathetic shinobi unfit for combat.

>>5100650
>He's an incredible Buki- and technically Fuuinjutsu user
By the standards of the setting, so is Tenten.

>>5098000
You are Uzumaki Naori, and you have just succeeded in securing a sample of Hatake Kakashi’s blood, with his permission, to use in resolving a bit of of an existential dilemma. At this precise moment everything seems to be lining up and settling in for you, for the first time in a long time.

...

You are Uzumaki Naori, and things haven’t quite gone according to plan.

Maybe it’s something about Kakashi-han’s Y-chromosome, or maybe its that good old Uzumaki vitality, but either way it works out the same: fraternal twins. A son, named Shiki for Ryūzetsu’s father, and a daughter, named Makoto for your own mother. Uzumaki Shiki and Uzumaki Makoto both share your red hair, though Makoto’s is a slightly more pinkish shade compared to Shiki’s blood red, though they notably have Ryūzetsu’s eyes and at this age are closer to her in terms of their complexion.

“Long night?” you ask Karin over tea one afternoon, shortly after your twins’ first birthdays. She looks like she’s barely alive, and while Hinata looks to be a little more composed you can tell she’s not all there either.

Karin turns her bleary eyes to you. “Fine! Fine! I totally didn’t jump at a chance to ditch Sarada with her dad for the day, not at all, nope! Not me!”

“You look fine!” Fū muses playfully, after having sipped her pearl tea while Karin ranted like a crazy woman. “I know these two are never gonna ask, but I’m curious how you do it?”

“I cheat for sure,” you reply with a smirk. “The benefits of being able to put half your brain to sleep at a time.”

“I hope that means you deal with the twins,” Hinata sighs. “I don’t know where I’d be if Naruto-kun didn’t help out with Boruto so much... he’s gotten way better.”

“Hasn’t dropped the poor tyke lately, has he?” you roll your eyes. “Guy’s a powerhouse of a human being, but he definitely wasn’t ready for parenthood.”

“He never dropped Boruto,” Hinata insists. “Only ‘almost’ dropped him, and just the one time!”

“I know, I tease,” you smile. “I wonder how they’re holding up...”

...

“I don’t understand why she keeps crying!” Sasuke insists in complete disbelief at Sarada’s wailing.

“It’s cause you look scary, ya know!” Naruto insists, trying to get Boruto to stop crying now that Sarada’s set him off. “You never smile!”

“Nobody ever taught me how!” Sasuke shoots back. “Dopey grins weren’t exactly my thing if you’ll remember, Naruto!”

...

“... they’re probably fine,” you decide.
>1/2

>>5100721
This is adorable, though it does raise the question of how far you intend to go.

>>5100721
“Anyway, I figured Ryūzetsu carried them for nine months,” you shrug. “So I can handle the heavy lifting for a little while.”

You glance down at your watch. “Ah, damn. I should wrap things up here pretty soon, I had a meeting with Konan-sensei scheduled for ten minutes from now. Same time next week?”

“Sounds good,” Hinata agrees.

“Hey, miss Ayame!” Fū calls out, “can we get a couple of boxes please?”

“Sure thing!”

...

“So, what’s new?” you muse politely, sitting down on the tatami across from your mentor.

In the last year there have been a few notable changes – the number of students at your dojo has increased to seven for example, the ones who weren’t weeded out by your admittedly rather insane standards and training regimen. The airship line has also been solidified between Shin-Amegakure, Rōran, and Yukigakure, as well as a few other locales, while the infrastructure is being built to connect rail lines to your immediate neighbors.

“The Shinobi Union wishes to hold a meeting next week,” Konan-sensei informs you. “I want you to represent our village.”

“You mean without you present, don’t you?” you realize immediately.

Konan-sensei nods. “I feel it is time to begin handing responsibility off to you, Naori.”
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5100736

>>5100737
Respectable result tbf

>>5100737
That would have been great in West Blue Seadogs

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5100736
please be better than a 1

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5100736

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5100736

File: 1441741320885.gif (2.85 MB, 298x224)

2.85 MB GIF

>>5100721
>“Nobody ever taught me how!” Sasuke shoots back.

>>5100736
Dammit. Guess we couldnt outrun the hat forever.

>>5101003
You don't even get a hat.

>>5101183
what about a cool cape?

>>5101183
We're the hat guy now, we can *make* the hat.

>>5101183
Can we have a crown then? "Empress Naori 'Divine Storm' Uzumaki, Head of Clan Uzumaki, Envoy of Nations, Blessed of the Moon, Keeper of the Dead, Heir to the Will of Rabbits, and Champion of Shinobi.'

>>466128
>"Literally a tapeworm with a hilt."

>Sad tapeworm sword noises

>>5100736
You come to an abrupt recognition. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

Konan’s expression is almost always very tightly controlled, as it has been ever since you first met her. She avoids showing any flashes of emotion, especially anger and surprise, favoring more subtle smiles and frowns and body language that can honestly take a little while to learn. This is the first time in a while you’ve seen her briefly slip and show something she didn’t intend – surprise.

She reigns it in quickly. “I only found out last week. Are your senses really that sharp?”

“No,” you admit. “People forget that I’m actually pretty sensitive towards others. All the little hints added up to one most likely reason, so congratulations."

“Well, you’re correct,” Konan confirms, “and in a few months everyone else in the village will know. Adopting your children before marrying Ryūzetsu resolved the invented issue of inheritance, but the identity of the father of my child will not change.”

“Kakashi-han,” you sigh. “The leader of a foreign village.”

“Yes, Kakashi,” Konan nods. “While I have sufficient political capital to avoid it becoming a scandal, that is true only if I hand off official leadership in good time.”

“I see,” you shut your eyes for a moment, nodding as you come to your conclusion. “Okay. I guess I couldn’t avoid this forever... I’ll go. Where is it being held?”

...

“Good morning,” you greet the Kages, their assistants, and the leaders of some of the smaller villages. Kakashi-han is present along with Shikamaru, Mei-tono and Chōjūrō have come from Kirigakure by airship for the first time, Gaara has come alone for once presumably because neither of his siblings are available, and A-tono has come with Darui. Natsuhi and Princess Koyuki are both here by television stream, but there’s one familiar face who isn’t where they ‘belong’ to your mind.

“Kurotsuchi-han,” you greet your old acquaintance warmly, “you’re looking unusually official. Where is Ōnoki-tono?”

“Still in the village,” Kurotsichi-han informs you, removing her hat. “I’ll be acting as the Tsuchikage for the day. You?”

“I’m taking over for Konan-sensei,” you clarify without explaining, though you do shoot Kakashi a glance. “So thank you all for coming.”

“Thank you and Amegakure for having us,” Gaara replies amicably.
>1/2

>>5101837
“So what is the order of business that brings us all here?” you inquire.

“Mostly just the monthly update,” Kakashi informs you. “But there is also the ongoing matter of the lunar colonization effort, for one thing.”

“Yeah no, I’ve only had the barest basics of updates,” you confess, before gesturing to the conference table. “Please.”

“It has taken a year of cooperative effort to return enough of the settlements within the moon to a habitable state,” Gaara recounts, “given the fact that there is a rather serious limitation to the materials that can be safely transported.”

“And of course we are grateful for your personal assistance in repairing the false sun,” Mei-tono adds. “Without which, there would be no degree of self-sufficiency.”

You exchange a glance with Kurotsuchi, the other ‘stand-in’ present today. “Anything else?”

“Industrialization has proven more difficult,” A-tono admits with a frown. “Services are much too limited to attract more settlers, so at the moment it’s mainly researchers.”

“International access and contribution has also been a thorny issue,” Natsuhi confesses. “Certain smaller nations feel under-represented in the lunar settlement and development efforts, particularly more advanced nations like the Land of Snow which have offered significant technical advising and contribution.”

“There is also one more issue, which only recently came to my own attention,” Gaara admits, folding his hands. “Otherwise I would have warned Konan-dono about it before our meeting. It involves a certain missing shinobi, one with whom I think you may be familiar.”

“... go on,” you frown. “What, you’re acting so sheepish it feels like you’ve found a solid lead on Sasori-han or something.”

There’s a prolonged pause.

“... why do I say things.”

>Okay, best that you put all that information out in the open. We’ll discuss it at the table.
>I’ll handle it, but my price is that you let me do it alone – no interference from any of you.
>... your point being? Unless he’s doing something particularly egregious just leave him alone.
>Other?

>>5101987
>>I’ll handle it, but my price is that you let me do it alone – no interference from any of you.
After alll this years...

>>5101987
>I’ll handle it, but my price is that you let me do it alone – no interference from any of you.

>>5101987
>>Okay, best that you put all that information out in the open. We’ll discuss it at the table.
Transparency and open communication.

>>5101987
>I’ll handle it, but my price is that you let me do it alone – no interference from any of you.
welfaaaaaare cheeeeeck bestie!

>>5101987
>>Okay, best that you put all that information out in the open. We’ll discuss it at the table.

>>5101987
>Okay, best ...

>>5101987
>I’ll handle it, but my price is that you let me do it alone – no interference from any of you.

>>5101987
>Sasori's obsession is with his art. Unless he has gone back to hunting shinobi in search of materials for human puppets, I don't see what the problem is.

>>5101987
>>>Okay, best that you put all that information out in the open. We’ll discuss it at the table.

>>5101987
“I’ll absolutely deal with this myself,” you insist curtly, “but I have three conditions. First, everyone present gets to hear the information you have on his whereabouts and activities. Second, I deal with him alone – no interference will be tolerated.”

There’s a brief pause before Kurotsuchi speaks up. “And the third?”

“I want each of the five Kages to verbally agree to the first two conditions,” you add.

Kurotsuchi’s response is immediate. “Okay, that’s fine then. I agree.”

“I can agree as well,” Gaara agrees calmly. “Since there is no security consideration to prevent it.”

“I understand your concerns,” Kakashi nods once. “So yes, I agree.”

“I agree as well,” Mei-tono offers, settling into her seat. “Having fought with this particular member of Akatsuki I can also understand why you would wish to deal with this by yourself.”

“Before I agree to any terms,” A-tono frowns, crossing his arms defensively, “I’d like to know what the Mizukage is implying.”

“Sasori of the Red Sand is a notorious poison user,” Mei-tono clarifies, “and has previously killed a Kage. The former Akatsuki are all, if you’ll forgive me for saying the obvious Naori-san, incredibly dangerous. Better to trust in Naori-san’s intentions rather than waste jōnin’s lives for no reason.”

“He’ll absolutely have changed his poison composition,” you add. “Sakura-san’s antidote is useless by now.”

“In that case, I will also consent to this plan,” A-tono nods. “Kazekage-san, if you please.”

“Alright,” you nod. “What have you got?”

“Sasori wiped out several smaller shinobi villages in the Land of Wind,” Gaara recalls his nation’s history. “Rōran was not among these, of course. He also had several hideouts known to Akatsuki, which Konan-san and Naori-san shared with our own intelligence services.”

“He no doubt had others which he never mentioned, even to me,” you point out, “much like how I had several I never mentioned even to Konan-sensei.”

“That is why we instructed our patrols to focus on likely areas away from the known hideouts, and away from Rōran where Naori-san would be able to sense any intrusions.”

“And one of those was a village he wiped out?”

Gaara nods curtly. “That’s correct.”

“Is there any indication what he’s doing?” you press.

Gaara shakes his head. “None. However the location is near a riverbed with a known source of clay for puppetmaking-ceramics, so our belief is that he could be manufacturing weapons.”
>1/2

>>5102672
“Have any shinobi disappeared in the area recently?” you ask.

Gaara shakes his head. “Not to our knowledge.”

“And has he recovered any of the puppets that were destroyed in his fight against Chiyo and Sakura-han?”

“Doubtful. We have had those under constant surveillance.”

“So he isn’t attempting to repair his existing collections,” you reason, “nor has he resumed manufacturing human puppets.”

“That seems to be a reasonable set of assumptions,” Kakashi-han agrees. “So one of your objectives will have to be confirming his current intentions.”
>1d6, taking the best three of the first four

Ah, the consequences of showing mercy to a murderous madman because of his sob story. Naturally, it only happens to us; never to Naruto.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5102694

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5102694

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5102694

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5102694

>>5102697
What consequences? The bits about destroyed villages are a thing of the past, he's literally chilling near a riverbank, in a ruined village for the sole purpose of making puppets that aren't useful as weapons for him (no human sacrifices)

>>5102836
inb4 he's been using puppets to rebuild the village

>>5102697
He's literally out there trying to perfect his craft and delve into the philosophy of what makes Art qualify as 'Art.' He's like a monk, except with poison and a weird puppet fetish.

Why were they even looking for him in the first place?

Do they know Naori let him go? I can't remember what all was said when Kankuro got his Secret Santa gift, but I thought Naori was circumspect and didn't totally give the game away.

How long have they been searching? Did something happen to make this a pressing issue? It sounds like he didn't kill another village, he's just hanging out in one from the distant past. Why risk poking a sleeping scorpion?

>>5102953
What, you don't wanna catch up with your senpai?
Also he's still a freaky serial killer, we are not being too cautious for making sure he stays retired.

>>5103009
Naori would be fine, but she wasn't the one trying to find him.

What was their plan?

>>5103359
Ask her?
Gaara knows they worked together, parted in peace and had an understanding. That, aside from her being OP is enough to put her on that potential problem.

>>5102694
This is a task with which you want Nyoka-han’s aid, and so you summon the giant shrike once you teleport to the hiraishin you left in Rōran, which is the closest marking you currently have.

“Sorry, Sāra-han,” you apologize quickly to the queen, “but I’m in a hurry this time. But I did bring tea, maybe we could drink it when I’m done?”

After she collects herself Sāra-han nods in agreement. “That sounds lovely. Though, I had hoped that the next time you visited you would bring the twins.”

“Yeah, we don’t take them out much,” you admit. “We might start a little more now that they’re a year old already.”

“This one has not met them either,” Nyoka observes.

“We’ll have to remedy that,” you agree. “But for now I’m more focused on the mission here.”

“Which would be, Naori-san?” Nyoka inquires.

“Sasori-han has been spotted southwest of here,” you explain, “in a little river valley where there used to be a small shinobi village.”

“Well then be safe,” Sāra insists. “And let us know how things develop.”

...

When you reach the location Gaara told you about the river is easy to spot from above – a green ribbon slithering its way through a series of low spots in the surrounding desert. You can see palm trees and grasses, along with low, wide areas right by the river that seem to have once been planted with rows of rice but which are now long-since overrun with weeds and rushes. A little ways away from the river are the remains of buildings, what looks to be thick bricks with patches of whitewashed plaster still clinging to them topped with wooden superstructures. The latter are bizarrely well-preserved next to the bricks, the dry air having served to preserve them for decades as though the whole place burned down yesterday.

Sasori it seems is making no attempt to hide – smoke drifts from a kiln tucked away amid the ruins, and the man himself is walking out in the open, glancing up at you occasionally. He must know you’re here, but he makes no effort to make any preparations or to escape. So you guide Nyoka-han into a slow turn, so that she can keep one eye on Sasori and the surrounding town while you go to ground.

You grasp the kunai you dropped from Nyoka-han’s back, having teleported to it rather than jump from that height, and reseal it into your left palm. You were careful to ‘land’ a good distance away from Sasori, who crosses the street and walks out a short way into the disused field to meet you.

“So yeah, you don’t seem surprised to see me, senpai.”
>1/2

>>5105333
“Why would I be?” he replies, almost blankly. “I practically invited you here myself.”

“So that’s how Sunagakure figured out where you were,” you realize. “You were counting on Gaara to bring it to my attention.”

Sasori-han turns and starts back towards the remains of the village. “There is something I wish for you to see. Follow me.”

He leads you to what must be his workshop, a ruined building with a new roof tucked into it where the floor of the second story would have originally been. Inside it clearly has electric lighting, running water, a small kitchen, and a bed against one wall. But what immediately catches your eye are the racks upon racks of puppet limbs. Many of them are seemingly incomplete, and a surprising number all share a common design.

“I have been trying to create the ideal prosthetic device,” Sasori-han explains, recognizing that this must strike you as a rather odd choice of decor. “Which requires it to be simple and inexpensive to build, easy to use with minimal training, and adjustable to fit any specific individual, while mimicking the original functionality as closely as possible.”

A closer inspection reveals that each of these puppet limbs features some combination of sliding and locking components, hollowed-out frames, simplified joints, and so forth. “So you’ve been testing designs on yourself.”

“You noticed,” Sasori muses, pulling off one of his arms, placing it onto a rack, and taking his usual arm off a different rack to reattach it. “What gave it away?”

“The design looked cheap,” you observe. “I assume you have designs that fit each of those goals, and now you’re trying to balance them in a final product?”

“Correct,” Sasori nods in confirmation. “But that is not what I wanted you to see.”

He opens one of the arms, showing you the inside of one of the outer ceramic plates. “This limb has been designed for one additional feature.”
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5105626

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5105626

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5105626

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5105626

>>5105626
“A pseudo nervous system,” you recognize the point behind the sealing script you see inside the limb. “I knew you were working on something like this, using an electrical signal in place of nerves. How far have you gotten?”

“I can only imitate your style, which I believe will work,” Sasori-han confesses. “It has not been successful yet.”

“You need an unbroken single line to serve as a conductive bundle,” you muse, tracing the script with one finger. “You’re using solid copper wire inlay, which is less cost-effective than it could be.”

“You have a better approach?”

“Copper dust suspended in resin would be cheaper,” you suggest. “Both in terms of material costs and tooling.”

“But less effective at carrying a current,” Sasori replies curtly.

You nod. “No yeah, I consider that a feature.”

“To limit its utility as a weapon.”

“Yes.”

Sasori actually frowns. “Why?”

>If technology becomes BETTER than a limb, what do you think people are going to do?
>It’s my clan’s heritage. I’m going to be VERY careful about how it gets used by others.
>Because weapons are expensive. This is meant to be accessible, is it not, Sasori-senpai?
>Other?

>>5107006
>>If technology becomes BETTER than a limb, what do you think people are going to do?
>Not that it won't ever end up that way, but I"d like the world to become slightly less comfortable with the idea of casual military actions first.

>>5107006
>>Because weapons are expensive. This is meant to be accessible, is it not, Sasori-senpai?

>>5107006
>>If technology becomes BETTER than a limb, what do you think people are going to do?

>>5107006
>Honestly, i don't personally want even prosthetic limbs to be used for war. Restoring a person's ability to live comfortably is enough.
>I've had enough fighting, Sasori. Haven't you?

>>5107006
>If technology becomes BETTER than a limb, what do you think people are going to do?
>It’s my clan’s heritage. I’m going to be VERY careful about how it gets used by others.

>>5107006
“If a puppet limb becomes better than a human limb,” you muse, “what do you think people will do then? Using what you know about shinobi, what outcome would you predict?”

Sasori-han considers it for a few moments before giving you his answer. “I did what I did to myself for the sake of my art. But for the sake of a little power, I suppose many would sacrifice a part of themselves.”

“For me personally?” you continue, “the one of you is absolutely enough.”

“Very well then,” Sasori grumbles, “I could probably use the extra internal space for something other than weapons anyway.”

“Such as?”

“Mechanical pistons,” Sasori explains his thinking. “It would take no training to use, unlike the puppet prosthetics currently used by Sunagakure.”

“What would you need me to do to make that design work?”

“Five fūinjutsu circuits for the fingers or toes, two for the wrist or ankle – that completes the distal limb segments. One each for knee and elbow – the hip or humerus would have to be done by a more conventional joint replacement surgery.”

“I see,” you frown, working it out in your head. “I think it should be simple to implement the circuits themselves, it’s just a matter of ensuring that it cannot be weaponized and that no Uzumaki fūinjutsu formulae are incorporated.”

“You mean to say the form required is individual rather than something traced to your clan?”

You nod. “Yeah no, the only techniques I have that use the Uzumaki fūinjutsu are the ones based on Kongō Fūsa.”

“I see, so that will keep your clan’s hiden from spreading any further than they have to,” Sasori nods in agreement. “I will admit, the thought of lesser shinobi mimicking the Uzumaki techniques is rather repulsive to me as an artist. But I also have to ask, how do you feel about the spread of technology based on shinobi technique more generally?”

“Yeah no, how do you mean?”

“I see it as an inevitable development in a time of peace,” Sasori-han muses. “Both in domestic use and in weapons.”

>I don’t see it as inevitable, and I’ll do what I can to steer people away from it.
>Domestically that’s fine, give people jobs. I’ll deal with the weapons as they become a problem.
>They’re just tools, same as any other. Shinobi with pride in their skills will just have to be better.
>Other?

>>5108303
>It's not my place to judge if other countries want to rely on such a crutch, but as the new amekage, i'll see to it that amegakure remains dedicated to it's traditional ninja arts.

>>5108303
>Domestically that’s fine, give people jobs. I’ll deal with the weapons as they become a problem.

>>5108303
>They’re just tools, same as any other. Shinobi with pride in their skills will just have to be better.

>>5108303
>>They’re just tools, same as any other. Shinobi with pride in their skills will just have to be better.

>>5108303
>>Domestically that’s fine, give people jobs. I’ll deal with the weapons as they become a problem.

>>5108303
>They’re just tools, same as any other. Shinobi with pride in their skills will just have to be better.

>>5108303
>Domestically that’s fine, give people jobs. I’ll deal with the weapons as they become a problem.

While policing the world sounds like something Naori would definitely balk at, it also feels like Naori has at least a modicum of sympathy and perspective for how things went so far from the original sage's ideals and led to the continuous devaluation of human life and, ultimately, radical groups like Akatsuki.

Pushing back against an unchecked arms race just makes sense.

>>5108303
>Domestically that’s fine, give people jobs. I’ll deal with the weapons as they become a problem.

>>5108303
“So I absolutely have mixed feelings,” you admit. “On the one hand I can see the potential in domestic and economic contexts. On the other hand, turning ninjutsu into a technology means gaining no sense of perspective or discipline in training how to use it. But then again, it’s just another tool and a dependency on it is something to be exploited.”

“You of all people should be able to devise a counter,” Sasori muses calmly. “All the more reason for you to pass on your skills directly through your own dojo.”

“Fair point,” you admit. “I’ve already built the building, actually.”

“Have you found any likely students?”

“Two, maybe,” you admit, “though one is still only... four, I think?”

“Not too long ago that would be considered old enough,” Sasori reminds you. “In the present era, not so much.”

“Yeah, part of why we were fighting in the first place was to prevent that sort of thing,” you sigh.

“Now then, am I to assume you have no further concerns?” Sasori asks you.

>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5109581

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5109581

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5109581

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5109581

>>5109581
“Yeah, no, I think we’re good here,” you nod, before sinking a hiraishin-marked kunai into the floor at Sasori’s feet. “I’ll return when I have any news, but for now you’ll have to settle for me talking to the Kages to keep them off your back.”

“I would appreciate it if you could,” Sasori muses. “I doubt they could do anything more than annoy me, but they could certainly annoy me quite a bit if they chose to.”

...

“He’s designing prosthetic limbs,” you explain after returning to Amegakure and recalling the Kages from their quarters, and reconnecting with Koyuki-hime and Natsuhi-tono. “With chakra-activated mechanisms for movement and a fūinjutsu-based analogue for nerves.”

“Can he do that?” Mei-tono wonders aloud, glancing over at you for confirmation.

“For sure. I’m already considering how to make it happen,” you admit. “The materials will be inexpensive and hard to weaponize, and the fūinjutsu won’t include any of the Uzumaki technique. Only my own stylistic cursive finish.”

“And your advice on how to handle Sasori going forward?” Gaara asks, his expression carefully neutral.

>Leave him alone for the time being. I saw no evidence of any weaponmaking in his compound.
>Keep an eye on him if it makes you more comfortable. After all he’s not in the Land of Storms.
>Personally? I think Sunagakure will have a key role in mass-producing Sasori’s designs.
>Other?

>>5096953
>Personally? I think Sunagakure will have a key role in mass-producing Sasori’s designs.
>Making cheap artificial limbs for the masses won't undo all he's done, but... it's something.

>>5110490
>>Personally? I think Sunagakure will have a key role in mass-producing Sasori’s designs.

>>5110490
>>Personally? I think Sunagakure will have a key role in mass-producing Sasori’s designs.
>>Making cheap artificial limbs for the masses won't undo all he's done, but... it's something.

>>5110490
>Personally? I think Sunagakure will have a key role in mass-producing Sasori’s designs.
>Making cheap artificial limbs for the masses won't undo all he's done, but... it's something.

>>5110490
>>Personally? I think Sunagakure will have a key role in mass-producing Sasori’s designs.
>>Making cheap artificial limbs for the masses won't undo all he's done, but... it's something.
I am not even sure if he wants to make up for what he has done, so don't expect him to try. It could just as well be a case of exploring new avenues in what he calls his 'art', but that should be encouraged, not building weapons is already a step in a direction that would make him less of a danger and just something of a hazard, or a shaky ally.

>>5110490
>other
Honestly, I see no justifiable reason to do anything rash at this time. All he wants for the foreseeable future is to be left alone. My personal advice is to stamp "Retired; Extremely Dangerous" on his file and leave it at that.

>>5110490
“Yeah no, I’d just leave him alone until he’s done,” you shrug. “And at that point, it might be beneficial if Sunagakure helped supply his designs to people who need them after the war. That’s my thinking.”

“I tend to agree,” Gaara admits, “so I will relay your reports to the council.”

...

“So, what’s up next?” Kurotsuchi asks you, stretching her arms above her head as she joins you out on the balcony.

“Yeah, so I was thinking I’d take Ryūzetsu and the twins to Rōran,” you muse, leaning over the rail and watching the rain fall. “It’d be nice for Sāra-han and Seiryū-kun to see them again.”

“Hmmm?” Kurotsuchi smirks. “You’re really set on having those two meet all sortsa people while they’re still young, aren’tcha?”

“It helped make me who I am,” you shrug. “I like what that perspective did for me growing up, and it’s so easy for them to grow up with it too.”

“If I hadn’t met you I’d think that was weird coming from an Ame-nin,” Kurotsuchi confesses. “So how many of your fellow villagers feel the same way?”

“Yeah no, most are more tired of fighting than they are bitter at the other nations,” you explain your observations, “and many fought alongside shinobi from our former enemies during the war. Some even have friends in other villages, which helps break down any prejudices that still remain.”

“I take it things aren’t going as smoothly in Iwa?”

“Ha!” Kurotsuchi snorts. “I wish ‘not smooth’ was all it was... a lot of our shinobi have softened a little towards the rest of the world, but our daimyō are all being assholes.”

“Wow, that’s a surprise,” you roll your eyes. “How about you? Other than being here how are things going with you lately?”

“I’ve been through three boyfriends,” Kurotsuchi sighs. “Can you believe that?”

There’s a pause.

Kurotsuchi narrows her eyes. “You have something to say?”

>Nope. I just got lucky with Ryūzetsu, that’s all
>If they can’t handle you they don’t deserve you.
>To the average guy, you could be a bit intimidating.
>Other?

>>5111300
>I understand how difficult it can be to find a partner. It took me a very long time to find someone as well. But i did find someone, and i'm sure you will too if you keep at it.
>Just... try to consider things carefully before you actually go dating someone. You wouldn't want to start any rumors.

>>5111300
>Just marvelling at your poor luck.

>>5111300
Other
>Not really, but I'd be happy to listen: that just sounds rough. You want to talk about it?

>>5111300
this >>5111378
and >>5111461

>>5111300
>Nope. I just got lucky with Ryūzetsu, that’s all

>>5111464
>>5111300
What anon said

I just feel like Kurotsuchi is one of the few people even willing to entertain the idea of having Naori as a gal-pal. Might as well try to be a good friend and see where it goes.

>>5111300
“... you wanna talk about it?”

Kurotsuchi crosses her arms and frowns. “Not really, no.”

You wait for it.

“So I don’t get it!” she admits after a moment. “Apparently I’m ‘too intimidating’ or some shit like that?”

“I can see how a normal guy might feel that way,” you shrug. “I don’t agree but I can see it.”

“How?” she raises her eyebrow. “How am I intimidating when people like you are a thing that exists?”

“Yeah no,” you reply, “for one thing you’re a Kage candidate at our age – so that’s immediately ninety-ninth percentile. You’re noticeably better than the average jōnin and anyone with eyes can see it.”

“Same with you though,” Kurotsuchi points out, “and you already have kids – and you’re both girls on top of it. Literally how?”

“Which question do you want me to answer?” you ask, turning and leaning against the railing with your back and unsealing two bowls of steaming Ichiraku ramen, handing one to Kurotsuchi. “Because yeah no, that’s two questions.”

“Either one really,” she admits.

“Well, the twins were born because of senjutsu chakra and a y-chromosome donor who’d rather stay anonymous,” you explain. “It’s a really dangerous technique too, so I’ve actually labeled it a kinjutsu. As for finding someone, I do something that I’ve noticed you don’t often.”

“And that is?”

“Calm down,” you suggest. “You’re not just strong, you have a really intense personality. Especially in a woman, people can find that intimidating as well.”

“And is that a problem?” Kurotsuchi frowns, having finished a slurp of noodles. “Should I change who I am to get a guy?”

You shake your head. “No, it just makes it harder. Ryūzetsu knows what I’m like and accepts it. You just need to find someone like that, and it can be hard. Not all of us can be lucky AND good.”

“Sorry that probably doesn’t help.”
>1/2

>>5112698
Wanted to mention, if Kurotsuchi wants someone to relate to her problems, the mizukage is in pretty much the same position, it won't help either get a guy, but talking and complaining to someone that understands exactly what it's like? Probably helps to know you aren't alone.

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>>5112698
The next little stretch of your life is a comfortable one, as families and settlements mature without any immediate crises worth noting. You take on the role of village leader by the end of the year with Ajisai as your right hand, while Konan-sensei eventually leaves Amegakure to raise her child with Kakashi-han. They had talked about a lot of names – Sakumo, Nagato, Jiraiya, Yahiko, Minato – but the moment they saw his silver hair “Gin” is what leapt to mind. Hatake Gin is about a year and a half younger than Shiki and Makoto, but they don’t seem to pay it any attention.

Your home remains something of a black box at the heart of a growing Amegakure, with few people ever being invited in and only a handful of your closest companions and trusted friends making it past the reception room. Those who do find an understated elegance, an attention to detail, and a sense of intimacy that anyone who stayed in your safehouses would recognize. Onsen-dori remains a desirable and fashionable neighborhood, popular with the tourists and foreign businessmen who start to appear in Shin-Amegakure with the train line and the airship terminal, but other neighborhoods around town develop to be almost as nice.

Even your own appearance evolves a little, with yukata being reserved for the most casual occasions, and kimono with hakama for the most formal. In-between you find yourself drawn to the same sort of modern and somewhat bold dress design Konan-sensei favors worn over close-fitting pants, albeit fused with some more traditional elements. Your outfits all bear three Uzumaki crests as a mid-formality kimono might, two under your collarbones and one high on your back, and their two-tone silk linings reference the old aesthetic concept of ‘iki’. The softest and smoothest silk with beautifully subtle artistic designs, only visible in glimpses around the hem, while the outside is presented as finely-crafted but more reserved in aesthetic principle. In a sense, ‘iki’ almost describes you perfectly as an adult – reserved and consciously-poised when you need to be, but with a warmer side that most people only catch glimpses of.

The biggest deliberate change however is to the academy.

There were always orphanages in Amegakure, but that never quite felt like an adequate response to the scope of the problem. And so instead what you decided to implement is a semi-boarding system, which subsumes the role of an orphanage and rolls it into early schooling. It provides room and board for children without parents (of which there are still hundreds in the Land of Storms) as well as meals for students whose parent or parents are struggling to get by.
>2/3

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>>5113630
>They had talked about a lot of names – Sakumo, Nagato, Jiraiya, Yahiko, Minato – but the moment they saw his silver hair “Gin” is what leapt to mind.

>>5113630
The intent is to give the orphans a place to stay even into their academy training, and to help place them into jobs by the time they move out as legal adults. The academy itself has also expanded its curriculum with a general studies program, with some general education being required even on the shinobi track and an extra year of studies being required for all students. For the top shinobi candidates this includes a similar advanced training regime in their final year like the one you and Ajisai went through, among others.

In many ways Shin Amegakure’s influence in the shinobi world has increased dramatically since the war, with other medium to large-sized villages implementing similar changes in their academies and the leaders of smaller villages closely cooperating with you and Natsuhi-tono. Amegakure, Kusagakure, Hoshigakure, and Yukigakure serve as the core of this loose affiliation, with Takigakure slowly coming into the fold and Rōran’s interests being represented to the new Shinobi Union by Amegakure’s leader.

But that’s not the limit of your homeland’s spreading influence. You’ve noticed that fashion and interior design that has become popular in Amegakure (partly because of you in some cases) has also become popular in other nations, with traditional craftsmen and the productions of young design collectives in the Land of Storms selling unusually well abroad. Strange as it may seem, Amegakure is apparently “popular” now.

...

But things don’t stay so idyllic – because soon, Shiki and Makoto are old enough to start to understand how unusual their family is. And when they reach the phase of their childhood where every single thing has to become a game of twenty questions, Shiki finally asks the obvious one.

“Naori-ue, so are you really our other parent?”

Neither of the twins ever refers to either you or Ryūzetsu as their “mother”, nor “father”, which while nonsensical in every other sense could be considered accurate for you from a purely genetic perspective. Instead they refer to you both by your given names, and use the honorific -ue to show their respect in the same way that a father would be “chichi-ue” or a mother could be “haha-ue”. It’s a system that works for them, and that in public can be made sense of by anyone they’re speaking to, so you’ve always left it alone.

The question though...

“Yeah, so I knew this day was going to come,” you sigh as Makoto tries too late to hush her brother, “but still, it feels like it came so soon.”

>Try to explain as best you can how they came to exist despite the obvious hurdles.
>Make it clear that they’re only “adopted” because it’d be harder to explain the truth.
>They have your hair and hiden, and Ryūzetsu’s kekkei genkai, so... yes? Clearly?
>Other?

>>5113822
>Yes, i am. We used some special methods to have you, despite us both being women, but you came from the two of us.
>Don't worry, if you were adopted i wouldn't hide it from you. Mommy is just kind of weird.

>>5113822
>>They have your hair and hiden, and Ryūzetsu’s kekkei genkai, so... yes? Clearly?
>Your mom is weird, what can I say

>>5113822
>Try to explain as best you can how they came to exist despite the obvious hurdles.

Just tell them.If they're old enough to ask, they're old enough to know.

>>5113822
>Try to explain as best you can how they came to exist despite the obvious hurdles.

>>5113822
This is tricky since the answer is more or less "Well, you see, normally two women can't make children together, but momma Naori can do things nobody else can and decided to play God just a little bit and bend the rules. Because making a child with the one she loved was more important than the laws of nature--which are really more like guidelines anyway."

>>5113822
>>Try to explain as best you can how they came to exist despite the obvious hurdles.

>>5113822
>The Snake Sannin is a useful fellow to know.

>>5113822
“... yeah no, don’t worry about it,” you muse with a sigh, after a brief delay. “Your parents are just a bit of a weird case, that’s all. In every sense, including the one you mean, you’re ours.”

Shiki stares at you, as if caught between wanting to believe you and not fully understanding. “But how were we even born then?”

You place your hand on the floor of the inner sitting room of your home, and lines of sealing script flow outward along the floors, walls, and ceilings until they cover every visible surface. “This is the fūinjutsu formula that helped us conceive.”

Shiki and Makoto stare at the seal – your work – in unconcealed and beautifully honest wonder. “You made this?” Makoto asks breathlessly.

You nod with a little smile, a little bit in love with your daughter’s fascinated expression. “It took me three months and twenty shadow clones... in some ways, it’s the most complex technique I’ve ever created – and it’s incredibly dangerous to perform.”

“Dangerous?” she asks curiously. “Why?”

“Because it means sharing senjutsu chakra,” you explain. “Ryūzetsu’s life was in my hands the whole time... that’s why we’ll never use this technique again.”

“So... is that why we both have Ryūzetsu-ue’s eyes and your hair?” Shiki asks with a frown.

You shake your head. “Yeah no, that was just luck. I went out of my way to make this work as close to naturally as possible, except for the addition of a Y-chromosome... you’ll probably learn what that is when you’re older and it’ll make sense why, but it’s the reason either of you had a chance of being a boy.”

“So we’re not adopted,” Makoto sighs in relief.

“No, you’re adopted too,” you admit. “But purely for legal purposes – there are people who wouldn’t accept you because of how you were born, but those same people have no ability to complain about heirs who were adopted. So Ryūzetsu and I waited to get married until after you were born and I had adopted you into the Uzumaki clan. That way nobody could deny you as my successors one day.”

“Who are you talking about?” Shiki presses intently.

You offer a nervous laugh. “Hey, don’t worry about that, okay? It’s just the daimyō and I don’t always get along – some of them are my friends like Sāra and Koyuki, but others are jerks.”
>1/2

>>5114959
Eventually, the time comes for the twins to start their training. You may not always have time, and Ryūzetsu will also be busy with her security duties, but you want to be there for them as not only a parent, but as a mentor.

“You don’t have to be shinobi,” Ryūzetsu tells them after you’ve both talked about it. “But you were both born with the potential to be excellent shinobi.”

“It’s something you’ll have to choose some day,” you shrug. “But Ryūzetsu and I talked, and we agreed you should at least know how to look out for yourselves, and each other.”

What you don’t teach them, you can probably have them learn from others. You and Ryūzetsu can both train them in taijutsu and in their respective natures – with her ranton nature you can teach Makoto a little more, but Ryūzetsu will need to teach Shiki the fire side of his futton nature. As for genjutsu, you’ve managed to convince a supremely dubious Tayuya to pick up any slack in your own tutelage caused by your day job, while Ajisai has agreed to cover basic fūinjutsu and tag manipulation.

Which just leaves the question of how to focus your own teaching efforts.

>Focus on determining their aptitudes, and preparing them to make early use of their unique skills.
>Keep them strictly working on fundamentals until they have a solid foundation to work with.
>Emphasize self-defense techniques and combat theory over advancing their ninjutsu or genjutsu.
>Other?

>>5115007
>>Keep them strictly working on fundamentals until they have a solid foundation to work with.

>>5115007
>Keep them strictly working on fundamentals until they have a solid foundation to work with.
It's called a "foundation" for a reason

>>5115007
>>Keep them strictly working on fundamentals until they have a solid foundation to work with.

Fundamentals are fundamentals for a reason. Building blocks that’ll last for the rest of their career if they choose to be ninja.

>>5115007
>>Focus on determining their aptitudes, and preparing them to make early use of their unique skills.

>>5115007
>>Focus on determining their aptitudes, and preparing them to make early use of their unique skills.

The thing about fundamentals is that they can be focused on and improved at any point, identifying specialities early is always a good thing.

>>5115007
To clarify, futton is steam release.

>>5115132
Isn't it boil release?

>>5115231
Translation is also sometimes vapor release, but yeah. All of those things mean the same thing, water+fire.

>>5115239
Boil sounds cooler, desu.

>>5115007
>Keep them strictly working on fundamentals until they have a solid foundation to work with.

>>5115007
>Keep them strictly working on fundamentals until they have a solid foundation to work with.
Something something one kata a thousand times

>>5115007
>Focus on determining their aptitudes, and preparing them to make early use of their unique skills.

Fundamentals can be learned from anyone

>>5115852
you are fundamentally retarded

>>5115007
>Keep them strictly working on fundamentals until they have a solid foundation to work with.

Their specialties are already being worked on in all honesty, and by solidifying the foundations they're going to be able to determine what their aptitudes are anyways.

>>5115007
“Each of you will have your own specialties,” you tell Shiki and Makoto one morning on the dojo floor – the room having been closed even to your own students for today. “You may favor elemental ninjutsu, or my own kengen style, or fūinjutsu. But yeah, no, all of that starts in the same place – with the basics.”

You open a small case and set it down on the tatami to reveal a pair of kunai and some shuriken, and the twins watch intently as you explain. “Empty hand, kunai, shuriken... the basics of taijutsu, one of the three shinobi combat arts. It’s the least flashy of the three, but in many ways the most reliable.”

“Pay close attention.”

...

You train Shiki and Makoto at least twice a week in person, demonstrating the turning and direct hit methods for thrown weapons, overseeing their training, and running down the basics of fighting with a kunai. You also walk them through a basic form of empty-handed taijutsu that, should either prove proficient in it, should transition naturally into kengen-ryū’s nagare-te forms. You also give them math problems, and logic problems, with the intention of starting to broaden their minds early, and to get them ready for success at the academy.

You and Ryūzetsu share the task of training them in hand seals, and while you teach them water techniques your wife teaches Shiki about his fire nature, and you teach Makoto about her lightning nature. You both pitch in with fūinjutsu training though you tend to leave Ajisai to do that for you thanks to your busy schedules, and you leave basic genjutsu entirely to Tayuya.

They prove to be phenomenal students, quickly picking up basic academy techniques like the water clone and the amegakure technique. By the time they’re officially enrolled in the academy, at the age of eight, they can both use their second chakra nature as chakra flow through their fists – flaming punches and kicks for Shiki, and shocking jolts for Makoto.

Overall both seem equally skilled, though they’re set to excel in different areas – Shiki is better at genjutsu and chakra flow, while Makoto is already skilled at manipulating paper tags the way you and Konan-sensei do.

>1d6
>best three of four

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5116871

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5116871

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5116871

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5116871

>>5116871
One day, you get a letter from Konohagakure.

“Hinoko-kun,” you greet the carrier politely as she seats herself on a cushion in your office – a very formal and traditional space in a tatami room where in-person meetings are regularly conducted in seiza. “Or should I call you Soku?”

“Does it, like, really matter?” she sighs dramatically. “You’re just gonna call me whatever you feel like anyway.”

“Probably,” you admit. “So what is this about?”

“So Lord Seventh wants to talk to you about something,” she informs you, handing you the letter. “Says it’s some sort of international cooperation deal.”

You open the letter and read it, tossing aside the first page of pleasantries much to Ajisai and Hinoko’s consternation. “Ah, so that’s what this is about.”

You pivot to face Ajisai, who is sitting on a cushion near the wall to your left. “Naruto wants to trade academy students for a little while.”

“May I?” Ajisai asks, and you let the paper fold itself into a glider as it drifts over to her waiting hands. “So they want one student for one student?”

“That’s what he says, yes,” you confirm. “What candidates would make our village look good?”

“Two come to mind,” Ajisai admits.

...

You are Uzumaki Shiki, and you and your sister Makoto almost never get called into Naori-ue’s office for anything serious. So it’s a little weird to you that you’re being escorted into the room, where you’re encouraged to sit on (surprisingly comfy) cushions on the (immaculately clean) tatami floor. With her are auntie Ajisai and a young woman with brown hair that you don’t recognize, wearing a shinobi headband that you vaguely do.

“Hi,” Naori-ue greets you with a smile. “So here’s the answer to what you’re probably asking yourselves – your cousin Naruto sent me a letter today. He’d like one of our academy prospects to come to his village, and send one of his to our academy.”

“And you’d like one of us to go to Konoha,” Makoto finishes the thought.

You watch Naori-ue consider her words, and then nod. “Yeah no, that’s exactly right. Ajisai and I talked, and we agree you would be the best representatives we could ask for.”
>1/2

>>5117754
"I think it would also be good for you, for sure," your mother continues. "I know I really gained a lot from leaving home, seeing other places and other ways of thinking. Things were a little different back then of course, but that part I've always remembered fondly."

"And of course you're both free to say no, and if one of you does go we could all see each other on the weekends if you'd like."

"You'd teleport," you realize. "Would the Hokage be okay with that?"

She shrugs. "I'd knock some sense into him if he makes a fuss about it."

"You can 'knock sense' into the Hokage?" Makoto glances at you, a little surprised at that.

Naori-ue shrugs. "Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last."

"Anyway, Lord Seventh doesn't need an answer right away," the stranger from Konoha offers.

>I'll go. Who knows, it could be fun!
>... would I have to go to class with Boruto?
>Can Makoto and I talk about it together?
>Makoto, you want to go instead?
>Other?

>>5117759
>Can Makoto and I talk about it together?
I'd like to get to know the two girls as characters better.

>>5117779
>two girls
Shiki is Naori and Ryuzetsu's son.

>>5117759
>>Other?
Can we both go together?

>>5117759
>Can Makoto and I talk about it together?

>>5117759
>I'll go. Who knows, it could be fun!

>>5117787
Welp, that was a massive failure of reading comprehension on my part. Would still like to see some more interaction between the siblings.

>>5117759
>>Can Makoto and I talk about it together?

>>5117759
>>... would I have to go to class with Boruto?

>>5117759
>... would I have to go to class with Boruto?
>Can Makoto and I talk about it together?

>>5117759
>>Can Makoto and I talk about it together?

>>5117759
“... you mind if Makoto and I talk about this?” you ask with a frown. “Like, alone, I mean?”

Naori-ue smiles and nods, gesturing over her shoulder at a set of doors behind her. “My private office is back there. Feel free.”

“Um... thanks,” Makoto replies for the both of you, surprised as you are at that. Normally she’s only this open and agreeable in private, though you suppose she and Ajisai are childhood friends so if this newcomer is someone she feels comfortable around then there wouldn’t be an issue. “We’ll be back in a sec.”

...

Once you close the doors behind you, Makoto sighs and walks around the formal desk for the village leader (currently your mom, previously her sensei Konan-san), before sitting in Naori-ue’s chair. “So I totally think you should go.”

“That’s abrupt,” you sigh, rubbing the back of your neck. “So why’s that?”

“It’s a gain for no cost,” she lays out her thoughts for you. “Ryūzetsu-ue won’t teach either of us the Ryūmei until we’re chūnin, and until then Naori-ue can teach me ranton. But your futton... you’re gonna have to learn that yourself for sure.”

“And you think I might learn something about it in Konoha?” you realize. “Yeah, you’re probably not wrong.”

“Naori-ue can probably even teleport you around to do it, too,” Makoto shrugs. “Pick you up from school, you know?”

“Probably true,” you admit, sitting on the corner of the desk. “Certainly takes a lot of the stress out of it I guess, though it’ll be a little sad not to have any friends around here.”

“Let’s be real,” Makoto sighs, “we’re not going to have those anyway. All the kids our age are either scared of us or desperate to kiss up to us.”

“And you’re gonna say one of us needs to stay here for appearances.”

“That’s right.”

“And you’re gonna just tough it out here, like you always do.”

You can hear your sister do that thing she does – the curt little sigh that comes with a frown sometimes that lets you know something actually bothered her a little. She tells you that you do the same thing, to be fair, so she’s not the only one with a ‘tell’.
>1/2

>>5119284
“... it won’t be that bad,” she declares. “Sure it’s just our parents and their friends, but one day kids our age will understand.”

You can tell she believes that, and you want to believe it too. But the thought of it does bother you, and you know that it won’t be easy for her.

“I can tell what you’re thinking, dummy,” your sister frowns. “You’ll have it tough too, and we both know it. But we’ll both be fine.”

She sounds like she’s made up her mind what the right decision is.

“... we always are,” you sigh. “Alright, I think I’ve decided.”

...

When you re-emerge, Naori-ue watches you with a smile.

“What is it, Naori-ue?” you ask her with a slight frown. “What’s with that smile?”

“Oh, nothing,” she lies with that same, knowing smile (Translation: she heard every word). “I’m just eager to hear what you decided.”

>I’ll go.
>I’ll pass.
>... do I HAVE to be in Boruto’s class?
>Other?

>>5119338

>I’ll go.

>>5119338
I'll go


Do I HAVE TO be in borutos class?
He is such a brat ...

>>5119338
>I’ll go.
>... do I HAVE to be in Boruto’s class?

>>5119338
>I’ll go.
But
>... do I HAVE to be in Boruto’s class?

>>5119338
>>I’ll go.

>>5119338
>>I’ll go.
>>... do I HAVE to be in Boruto’s class?

>>5119338
>I’ll go.
>... do I HAVE to be in Boruto’s class?

>>5119338
“I’ll go,” you agree quietly. “But one thing.”

“Yeah?”

“... am I gonna have to be in Boruto’s class?”

- Later -

“Shiki!?” Naruto exclaims loudly. “You’re the new transfer student?”

Well, so much for that.

...

Let’s wind that back a little.

“Hey there, you all!” a familiar face greets you at the gate to Konohagakure.

“Hey yourself, Mirai-kun,” Naori-ue smiles as your greeter smiles back and bows politely. “It’s been a while. I’m glad you’re the one Naruto sent.”

“Yeah, I volunteered,” Mirai admits, turning her attention to you. “Hello Shiki, Makoto. Have you been keeping up on your training?”

“Kengen-style kenjutsu is still a stretch for me right now,” you confess, “but I’ve kept up with my nagare-te.”

“And I’ve been using the taijutsu forms,” your sister admits, “but it feels like my skills like... somewhere else, I suppose? And how are you, miss Mirai?”

“Fine, fine!” she smiles. “So let’s show you around town, sound good?”

“Sounds fine to me,” you agree. “Where to first?”

Mirai takes you into town, off a busy street fairly close to what looks like the academy building, and up some stairs. “This is the apartment Naruto-dono set aside for you.”

She produces a key from her pocket and lets you and your family in, flicking on the lights. “It’s only one bedroom, but the kitchen and bathroom are actually pretty nice.”

“The view too,” Ryūzetsu-ue muses, glancing out the window.

“I’ll only be spending some nights here,” you add (without getting into the details), “so this is way more than enough. Thanks, Mirai-san.”

“You’ll be taking him to Amegakure in the evenings, Shishō?” Mirai muses.

“Yeah no, only some of the time,” Naori-ue insists.
>1/2

>>5120194
>“Shiki!?” Naruto exclaims loudly. “You’re the new transfer student?”
Was this supposed to be Boruto?

>>5120198
Yes, it was. I'm still adjusting to the split narrative a little.

>>5120194
- NAORI -
“So what’s this you wanted to talk about?” you ask Naruto with a frown, having been asked to visit his office after taking Ryūzetsu and Makoto home and saying goodbye to your son for the time being.

“Hopefully it’s nothing,” he sighs. “But lately there’ve been some weird things going on that I might want your help with investigating.”

“That so” you muse. “Why? Do you not think your own ANBU can handle it?”

“I don’t know,” he admits. “It’s still too early to tell, but there have been a few incidents of people behaving as though they were possessed by something.”

“And you think it’s... what, the Root?” you wonder aloud. “The Ōtsutsuki? Or is it something else you’re worried about appearing?”

“That’s part of why I’m letting you know,” Naruto nods, “is because I can’t rule any of that out. It would seem strange for the Ōtsutsuki to take such a roundabout approach, but I can’t put it past them, ya know? Especially if it involves a weird technique.”

“Okay,” you agree curtly, ending the conversation for now. “If you decide you need me, you know how to find me. And Naruto?”

“Hm?” he raises an eyebrow.

“Anything happens to Shiki and I give it to you twice as bad,” you glare at him. “Do we have an understanding, cousin?”

“Of course, of course!” he insists. “You’re way too scary to cross, ya know... and I’m a parent too,” he admits with a more serious expression. “So I can appreciate how you must feel letting your son study here at our academy. I hope you’ll extend the same protectiveness towards the student we’re sending you.”

“Naturally,” you counter with a grin. “Assuming that is they can keep up.”

- SHIKI -

“Hey there, new guy,” a woman greets you with a keen, evaluating look. She has her hair done up in a fan-like style in back, and wears a dark dress over mesh, all beneath a tan cloak with large utilitarian pockets. She carries herself with the innate athleticism and poise of a trained ninja, though she clearly tries hard to project nonchalance. “I’m Anko-sensei, I’ll be your teacher here! If you’re even half as good as your mom was when I first met her you’re gonna fit right in around here... but be careful, my class is a bit of a handful!”

“Thanks, Anko-san,” Mirai bows politely. “And Shiki, if you ever want to spar come find me, okay?”
>2/3

>>5120231
“Anko-sensei,” you address your new teacher while walking through the hall. “Can I ask you a favor?”

“It’s a bit early in the year for that, but shoot,” she muses.

“Can you please not use my full name when you introduce me?” you ask. “I’d prefer to make my own impression, and my clan name might lose me that opportunity, you know?”

“Yeah, I think I can see that,” Anko-sensei agrees with a smirk. “It’s a fresh start here after all, so sure. I can oblige.”

She slams the door of one of the rooms to your right open and strides in, with everyone in the room immediately stopping what they were doing and springing to their feet and bowing almost before a dark-haired girl with braids in her hair can tell them to do it.

“Listen up kiddos!” Anko-sensei declares, hands resting on her hips. “This here’s Shiki, our new transfer student from Amegakure! Make him feel welcome or else!”

“I’m Shiki,” you offer calmly, despite spotting something rather unfortunate in the room already. “I’m looking forward to meeting you -”

“Shiki!?” Boruto exclaims loudly from somewhere in the middle of the class. “You’re the new transfer student?”

Well, so much for that (can he really not take a hint?).

Sarada, standing out with her familiar crimson hair, crosses her arms and sighs. “Boruto, did it occur to you that he didn’t want this to turn into a scene?”

There’s some muttering in the room now. You sigh.

>Yes, your full name is Uzumaki Shiki. Yes, that Uzumaki. No, you’re not that closely related.
>Ignore it. Let them know who you really are and what you can already do.
>Just... admit defeat on this one and ask if there’s anywhere in particular you can sit.
>Other?

>>5120242
>Just... admit defeat on this one and ask if there’s anywhere in particular you can sit.
Red hair Sarada?

>>5120242
>Just... admit defeat on this one and ask if there’s anywhere in particular you can sit.

>>5120242
>>Just... admit defeat on this one and ask if there’s anywhere in particular you can sit.
Red hair and black eyes, or maybe she inherited the red eyes too

>>5120242
>Just... admit defeat on this one and ask if there’s anywhere in particular you can sit.

>>5120242
>Just... admit defeat on this one and ask if there’s anywhere in particular you can sit.

>>5120231
It is kinda funny thinking back to the fact that if it weren't for Anko, Naori wouldn't have had an opportunity to learn senjutsu (at least as early as she did). I wonder if Anko knows how much she had a hand in that.

>>5120242
“So, should I...”

The questions come fast, almost too fast to keep up with who’s asking them.

“Wait, so are you Lord Seventh’s nephew or something then?” (A dark-haired boy with a jagged hairline and a messy ponytail.)

“We’re not that closely related,” you reply. “But we’re in the same clan.”

“So what’s Amegakure like?” (A girl with short brown hair, wearing a lot of green.)

You cock your head slightly. “Rains a lot.”

Before you can elaborate, a boy with a lower-half face mask asks a question. “So what do academy students learn in Amegakure?”

“A little of everything,” you reply vaguely. “But our year barely...”

“But if you had to just say two things you were good at?” (A boy with straight blonde hair and pale green eyes.)

“Nintaijutsu and fūinjutsu, I guess?”

“Aren’t those both, like, really kinda hard?” (... chubby.)

“I... maybe?” you reply, a little confused by the question. “It’s hard to say?”

“If you know nintaijutsu, then what’s your chakra nature?” (The girl who told the class to bow has been trying to get the class’s attention for the last few questions now.)

“Futton, but...”

“And what’s with your eyes?” (You glance at the girl for help.)

“It’s a kekkei genkai,” you sigh. “But I’ve never...”

“So you have two kekkei genkai and a hiden?” (An older boy who you guess looks kinda tough?) “Isn’t that kind of over the top?” (He’s asking one of the other boys in class.)

“Probably?” you shrug. “Is there like somewhere I should be sitting, or...”

“Yes!” the girl finally insists, a little more loudly. “You can sit next to me, Shiki-kun.”

It’s a strange sensation... she helped you out just there, so why do you feel like you’re being lied to?

You quickly take your seat, where the girl offers you a handshake. “I’m Kakei Sumire, the class representative.”

“Uzumaki Shiki,” you mutter under your breath. “Thanks for the assist.”

“Not a problem, Shiki-kun.”
>1/2
>tbc tomorrow

>>5120380
For those of you playing along at home, the speakers in order were:
>Shikadai
>Wasabi
>Houki
>Inojin
>Chocho
>Rando
>Rando
>Iwabe
>Sumire

>>5120452
I was honestly expecting you to edit chocho out

>>5120492
Thank God Choji got his shit together in the war, even if he had to loose a few fingers for that, chocho is one of the few good things in the show.

Does Redhead Sarada not need glasses? Coz that'd be a hoot. But seriously: that kid will be scary strong. Also a potential Rinnegan.

She still raised with Sakura as her mother? Oddly enough that'd still fit with her canon conclusion to her intro arc, considering she decides that the genetics don't matter. About the only thing I don't think anyone is likely to criticize Sakura for is being a good mom to Sarada.

>>5120720
Not sure about the glasses, don't know what Queen is planning there, but yeah, she is gonna be strong, but the bar is quite high in this generation in general: Sarada, Boruto and now Shiki and Makoto are gonna be pretty broken.
About the Rinnegan, she has the potential, but that still needs 2 or even 3 rather intense emotional moments according to Queen to trigger the progressive stages of eye hax, sharingan to mangekyo to rinnegan iirc.

Nope, Karin is her mom, in a small piece in an earlier post Karin mentioned she left her with Sasuke.
And yeah Sakura is a good mom, at least in my opinion, in this version of events she is the mom of Shikadai tho, i think that is the reason for the jagged hairline he has here.