>>5838787
At the age of fifteen you, like your mother Naori-ue before you, are a Sage with a wide range of lethal and effective techniques at your disposal: many of which creatively hybridize Naori-ue and Ryūzetsu-ue’s own specialties and bloodline techniques in ways even your parents consider impressive. Chakra chains that burn a bound enemy when they try to use chakra, splitting an undetectable ‘ghost’ off from your own soul and teleporting to it without requiring an obvious marking, unleashing storms of burning ‘petals’ from your sword that rob a target of their sense of balance and orientation – you consider these and more to be not just possible, but your responsibility to pursue.

And when these things feel inappropriate you can always swarm an opponent with shadow clones like an idiot, or summon your giant salamander companion Momo-chan (who is now the size of a train car), or rely on Kiburi, the representative of the Shrikes whose weaponized feathers can carry your sealing formulae.

“Well, here we are,” you sigh, settling into a seat around a table in the Hokage’s office. Uzumaki Naruto, the Seventh Hokage, sits behind his desk while Uchiha Sasuke leans back against the window sill over his comrade’s right shoulder. Sumire and Wasabi sit at the table with you, along with Konan-neesan who was with you on your recent mission to the Land of Silence. “And do we ever have a lot to talk about.”

“So I’ve heard,” Naori-ue, who’s sitting with Ryūzetsu-ue in two more chairs that have been brought in and positioned along one wall for their use. “Can we see the results of your little shopping trip?”

You gesture to Konan-neesan, who uses a technique you never knew she had – she turns her left hand into paper, revealing one which bears an Uzumaki-style fūinjutsu formula, and unseals the two objects you purchased at the auction. One, a sample of cultured tissues taken from the corpse of Senju Hashirama, and the other, one of the black chakra receivers created by Nagato, the former leader of Akatsuki. The former she passes into Sasuke-san’s hands, and the latter she hands to Naori.

“Yeah, so this is genuine,” Naori-ue decides after a moment of considering it. “We’ll take it with us. Sorry for you to have to handle such a thing, Konan.”

“Sasuke-han, is the same true of that thing?”

Sasuke-san observes the cells carefully using his sharingan for a little while, then nods, blinking once and deactivating his eyes. “I can confirm it, yeah.”
>2/3

>>5838791
“Well done,” Naruto nods curtly, before looking to you. “Now then, there’s one more thing we need to discuss. I think you know what that is.”

“Kasshin Kōji,” you grumble.

“Right,” Naruto confirms. “Can you confirm, absolutely, that the man you fought was an exact clone of Jiraiya-sensei?”

>I fought alongside the real Jiraiya, so yes. I can say with absolute confidence.
>Everything about him is a match, so I’d be willing to stake my reputation on it.
>I have some questions I have to ask of the Toad clan to confirm things.
>Other?

>>5838793
>I fought alongside the real Jiraiya, so yes. I can say with absolute confidence.

>>5838793
>>I fought alongside the real Jiraiya, so yes. I can say with absolute confidence.

>>5838793
>>I fought alongside the real Jiraiya, so yes. I can say with absolute confidence.

>>5838793
>>I fought alongside the real Jiraiya, so yes. I can say with absolute confidence.

Drop this line, explain nothing. Profit.

>>5838793
“I fought alongside the real Jiraiya-sensei so yes, I’m fairly confident.”

You ignore both the stares of dawning comprehension from your teammates and the exasperated sigh from the Hokage, although you note that Sasuke-san is grinning to himself.

“Well, I guess you’re her son after all,” the Hokage sighs.

“Hey Sumirin,” Wasabi mutters. “Do you ever doubt sometimes that Shikkun is even real?”

With no hesitation, Sumire confirms it. “Sometimes.”

“Ah, so it’s not just me.”

Naruto coughs into his hand. “Anyway, a freelance sage is a big problem. Shiki-kun, can you share a little more detail about your fight?”

“Of course,” you confirm. “His battle insight and strategy were excellent, and he was quick on his feet. His techniques seemed to emphasize fire release and close range nintaijutsu, and at one point he used toad oil to try to buffer against my acid mist. I also suspect he relied on frog kumite to counter my use of hiraishin.”

“Sounds like something you’d do,” Naori-ue points out to Naruto with a smirk. “I take it your answer was to boil the man instead with a wide area attack?”

“Burned right through his oil,” you recall. “Which was strange, I could’ve sworn it would’ve exploded.”

“Exploded?” Naruto asks curiously. “An acid attack with the vapor release, right?”

“Mine tends to act like perchloric acid,” you clarify. “It explodes in contact with organic substances… typically, at least. I’ve never tried it on oil from the toad clan before.”

“How sure can we be that this was the same toad clan?” Naruto asks.

This time it’s Sasuke who speaks up. “If we’re talking about an exact clone of Jiraiya-sensei, it would make sense. The toads use keppan, right? Then it’s the same blood.”

“In that case wouldn’t it make sense to talk with the toads?” Ryūzetsu speaks up, glancing between Naruto and Naori. “It makes sense, right? I’m not the crazy one here?”

“Yeah, no, it definitely makes sense,” Naori confirms. “I can’t go though.”

“Well, obviously,” Ryūzetsu agrees. “But who?”

>Naruto-san makes sense, right?
>I can do it.
>Our team can go. Could be fun.
>Other?

>>5839954
>Our team can go. Could be fun.

>>5839954
>>Our team can go. Could be fun.

>>5839954
>Our team can go. Could be fun.

>>5839954
>>Our team can go. Could be fun.

>>5839954
“Our team can go,” you offer calmly.

“Are you sure?” Naori-ue asks curiously. “I mean, you know that means going to another summoning clan’s turf, right?”

“Yeah, I know,” you reply. “It could be fun.”

“He’s definitely one of yours,” Sasuke-san muses with a smile. “I like it.”

“Alright,” Naruto eventually agrees. “I’ll write a letter of introduction, so take it to the geezer toads.”

“So yeah, I want you to synchronize with my hiraishin for a sec,” Naori-ue suggests. “Let you use the marking I left on Myōboku-zan the last time I was there.”

>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5840981

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5840981

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5840981

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5840981

>>5840981
It actually takes you a little while to get the hang of using your mother’s hiraishin markings instead of your own, and no matter how much effort you put into practicing you realize you’ll always have to use a significant amount more chakra for a given amount of mass to do it this way. There’s no getting around it. But the important part is that you do eventually figure out how to make your mother’s hiraishin markings work for you – the hardest part as it turns out is managing to identify and focus on the specific marking you wish to target, which for you right now is only possible with her help.

…

“So this is the land of the toads…” Sumire muses curiously at your new technicolor surroundings, covered in colorful mushrooms and flowers with strange insects flitting between them. Even the water here seems to have a vivid color of its own, as you can see a small creek flowing in the grass roughly parallel to the little trail you’ve found yourselves standing in the middle of – underneath a stone torii gate, which must be where Naori-ue placed her marking. “It’s quite…”

She struggles to find the right word, so Wasabi steps in. “Ridiculous?”

“Perhaps that or ‘garish’ would suit it,” Sumire agrees.

“What’re you callin’ ridiculous?” something croaks from a nearby purple bush, before a toad the size of a large dog hops out and seats itself in the center of the road in front of you. “For that matter who the hell are you brats anyway?”

>We don’t need to explain anything to you, toad. We don’t need your guidance or permission either.
>I am Uzumaki Shiki. I summon shrikes and salamanders. These young women are my companions.
>I was sent here by Uzumaki Naori and Uzumaki Naruto to speak with your elders about a mutual problem.
>Other?

>>5842242
>My name is Shiki, and these young women are my companions. Nice to meet you.
>I was sent here by my mother Uzumaki Naori and Uzumaki Naruto to speak with your elders about a mutual problem.

>>5842242
>>I am Uzumaki Shiki. I summon shrikes and salamanders. These young women are my companions.

>>5842366
>>5842242
We are guests and a representative of the shrike clan, politeness and manners are what's required.

>>5842242
Since i am here, maybe Sumire could benefit from a Toad summoning contract?
Considering in the wild toads can have poisons and hallucinogenics as defense, a toad like that would be right in her wheelhouse.

>>5842242
>>5842366
Supporting.

>>5842242
“My name is Uzumaki Shiki,” you announce yourself with a polite, but also bare minimum, bow. “I have established summoning contracts with the shrike clan, as well as with a giant salamander. These young ladies are my companions, Izuno Wasabi and Nagao Sumire.”

“Ah, a shrike brat,” the toad nods sagely. “That’d explain why you’re so damn stuck up… well, we don’t wantcha here!”

Sumire is visibly taken aback, while Wasabi is furious. “Bold talk coming from pond scum.”

“Pond scum!?” the toad shouts back.

After collecting herself, Sumire seems to agree. “Shikkun greeted you properly, and you answered with insults. That makes you pond scum.”

“Well, there you have it,” you shrug. “So are you gonna take us to see your elders so we can talk or are you gonna sit here all day croaking like an idiot?”

A few moments later, the toad laughs. “Well, what the hell! Never thought I’d get chewed out by a shrike summoner… you kids may be okay after all.”

…

“Hey ma, pa!” the toad shouts after leading you to what looks like a little village tucked away in a clearing in the jungle’s vivid understory. “Uzumaki Shiki’s here to talk to ya!”

“We don’t want any!” comes a voice like that of an old woman’s from inside a little house.

“They don’t want any,” the toad repeats to you.

“I heard,” you grumble. “I’m not a salesman!”

“He’s not a salesman!” the toad repeats even louder.

“Is there an echo on this mountain?” Sumire wonders aloud.

“What does he want!?” a voice like an old man’s comes from inside the house.

“I wanna talk about something important!” you call out.

“He wants to…” the toad begins, before Wasabi slams her foot on the ground. A square-shaped piece of the ground thrusts upwards underneath the toad, propelling him high through the air and into a pond that you passed on the way here.

“Thank you,” Sumire muses.

“No prob, that was getting old.”
>1/2

>>5844671
Eventually, a toad who’s pretty much too old to be believed emerges – complete with a grey mustache and a pointy beard. “Ah, it really is one of the Uzumaki kids. Hey ma, get out here and greet our guests!”

“Who is it out here, darn it!?” the female toad demands as she hops out as well. “Oh, it’s one of the Uzumaki kids? Well why didn’tcha say so, pa!?”

“You’ll hafta forgive ma,” the toad referred to as ‘pa’ insists. “She’s a little hard of hearing these days.”

“Is this going to be okay?” you ask curiously.

“Oh, don’t mind me boy,” ‘ma’ replies. “I can read lips, ya know!”

“That helps,” Sumire agrees.

“Especially since I’ve been havin’ a little hard time hearin’ these days,” ma declares.

… you don’t say.

“Anyway,” pa thankfully moves the conversation along, why don’t the three of you come on inside and we’ll get to whatever it was that brought you here.”

…

“You’re kidding! Jiraiya-kun!?” pa roars at the news.

“A clone of him,” you reiterate. “An exact biological copy.”

“And he serves this ‘Kara’ thing that has Naruto-chan so nervous?” ma demands.

“Seems that way.”

>Your clan can also reverse-summon, correct? If so, could you assist us?
>Our clan’s stance is that contracts should be adjusted to prevent another situation like this.
>This is just a warning. Do as you will with the information.
>Other?

>>5844868
>>Your clan can also reverse-summon, correct? If so, could you assist us?

>>5844868
>Your clan can also reverse-summon, correct? If so, could you assist us?
>I don't think anybody wants this prick running around willy-nilly in Jiraiya's body.

>>5844868
>>5844891
Supporting.

>>5844868
“Your clan can use reverse-summoning, right?” you ask.

“And what makes you think we’d wanna do a dirty thing like that?” ma demands.

“This isn’t Jiraiya-sensei,” you counter stiffly. “Kashin Koji is a terrorist running around with Jiraiya’s face, amd using his contract with you as part of his terrorism.”

“Are you really gonna tell me you’re fine with that?”
>1d6 best three of four

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5846064

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5846064

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5846064

>>5846064

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5846064

>>5846064
“No,” pa eventually admits. “It’s definitely not fine, but Jiraiya-chan… is still a sore spot. I’m not sure you’d get much support for pulling that kind of trick, even given the circumstances – it’s a matter of trust, you see. If we go around using a reverse summons to knock off someone who has a contract with our clan, what’s that say about the whole thing?”

>I understand. It’s not my place to force the issue.
>I think Naruto-san will have something to say on the matter.
>It’s a contract you never approved and that I don’t recognize.
>Other?

>>5848952
>It's not his contract, it's Jiraiya's. By blood, and by will. If you don't put a stop to this, it says you don't really care who uses that contract for what.

>>5848952
>>I understand. It’s not my place to force the issue.

>>5848952
>I understand. It’s not my place to force the issue.
There is a time for being pushy and this definitely ain't it, despite the dangers.
The Toads actually knowing about what's going on is helpful enough on it's own right.

>>5849067
Aye, Jiraya was a hero, both to the world at large and especially to the toads, forcing them into this impossible situation will burn goodwill with them, regardless of if it works or not. And frankly, i am not quite sure what we even want out of it.
What we could do is ask them to keep thinking about it and that in the mean time the clans try and address the broader issue of the summoning contracts being misused in that way. If humans continue to make advances like this, its prudent to stop similar exploits before it happens again.
>>5848952
Queen, could you add a question along these lines into the next update?
The toads don't have to commit yet, but the clans probably have to think about solutions to this.

>>5848952
>>I understand. It’s not my place to force the issue.

>>5848952
>>I understand. It’s not my place to force the issue.

>>5848952
“Here’s what I think you should know,” you sigh, crossing your arms as you consider the right way to get this point across. “Amegakure and the Shrike clan would take Kasshin Koji out right here and now, with no hesitation. But I understand that I can only speak for my own side, and that it’s not my place to force the issue with your own clan.”

There’s a pause. “On the other hand, I think any clan should be able to agree that the problem Kasshin Koji represents is one we have to deal with somehow.”

“True, true,” Pa agrees, with something like a sagely tone as he scratches his head. “We’ll, uh, have to get back to ya about that.”

“You… don’t have a solution in mind already?” Sumire asks with a confused frown.

“Well, to be fair,” Ma observes, “it’s not like it’s ever happened before.”

“So, Shiki-chan wasn’t it?” Pa asks you.

You nod. “Right.”

“What do you and your teammates plan on doing now?”

“Whaddya mean?” Wasabi asks with a slight frown.

“I mean do you plan to wait while our clan debates this?” Pa asks.

>I was actually hoping to refine my senjutsu control here, if you don’t mind.
>We can wait. I’m sure we can amuse ourselves while you do what you have to.
>No, I can return any time I need to using the hiraishin – with your permission.
>Other?

>>5850137
>>I was actually hoping to refine my senjutsu control here, if you don’t mind.

>>5850137
>>I was actually hoping to refine my senjutsu control here, if you don’t mind.
"Maybe my companions here can learn something new as well, its not every day that you visit such a venerable clan." (trying to suck up to them a bit)

>>5850137
>1d6, high roll is better
>first three count

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5850999

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5850999

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5850999

>>5851005
>>5851105
>>5851146
well RIP

cosmic karma backlash

>see problem
>ignore it

>>5850999
“Well, I was actually hoping to refine my senjutsu control here,” you muse thoughtfully, seemingly startling the toads somewhat. “I can sense that the natural energy is dense here, and it feels a little different from the shrike forest.”

“… am I going blind now too,” Ma demands of Pa, “or is he talking about doing sage mode here?”

“No, you saw that right,” Pa admits, scratching the side of his head where you’d imagine an ear would be on a human. “No offense intended, Shiki-chan, but there’s no way in hell we’re gonna allow that.”

“In fact, you should probably go – and take your mom’s hiraishin anchor with you.”

Ah. So this is what they mean by ‘overstaying your welcome’? It’s strange to you that things accelerated that quickly, but you guess that having a sage from a rival clan within their territory isn’t something they feel comfortable with, and that the suggestion of training here may have gone too far for their liking. That may be even more true right now because you came here uninvited.

>Is it really that much of a problem that I’m a sage? I don’t understand.
>This is all really sudden considering I’m here to help you. Why don’t we just take things easy for a moment?
>If you want to keep the Shrike clan as your rivals indefinitely, then that’s none of my business.
>Other?

>>5853627
>>If you want to keep the Shrike clan as your rivals indefinitely, then that’s none of my business.

>>5853627
>Sorry, everyone. It seems the toads have no interest in dealing with the problem at hand, or even pretending to be friendly. Coming here was a waste of time.

>>5853627
Everyone's going for salty options over a faux pas. Yeesh.

Something along the lines of
>I didn't realize it was that big of a issue, but alright I understand.
would be my pick.

>>5853627
>>This is all really sudden considering I’m here to help you. Why don’t we just take things easy for a moment?

>>5853627
>>Is it really that much of a problem that I’m a sage? I don’t understand.
I apologize if i overstep a line here, i wasn't aware there was one. We are willing to leave, but please at least explain it to me.

>>5853755
They refused to help up with jiraiya's clone, refuse to let us visit and even told us to take the hairaishin marking with us when we leave.
In other words, fuck off and stay fucked off. You call that a faux pas?

>>5853780
Yes, a Faux pas WE made, they seemed massively insulted that a sage from another clan would practice in their territory.
Its apparently a breach of conduct we weren't even aware of, the way to deal with that isn't to also scream and leave, but to stay calm and ask whats wrong.

>>5853788
If they're insulted then it's their problem. They known damned well that this never happens, and nobody should have any expectations of "knowing the rules"
nobody's screaming, my suggestion was to make it clear that we're not happy with the way they acted, which is much more tactful and in line with shiki's teachings than what i actually wanted to do.

that being to straight up tell them "you want me to leave? alright, make me."
which is much more in line with how an uzumaki would usually act.

>>5853802
But we aren't just an uzumaki here, we are also an envoy of the shrike clan, a clan very much standing for politeness and protocol. If you like it or not, this isn't just a small visit, this is also politics.
And to be frank, this overreaction is to be expected from the toads, who are known to be brash and expressive, so not playing into that is a better way to not invite any conflict.

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>>5853807
there's a difference between being polite and being a doormat.
the toads have basically refused to interact with us at all, and i'm not fucking having it.

you vote how you want, but i've already thought all of this through and came to my conclusion.
if you treat a guest like shit, you don't deserve any respect from them. i'm more shitty remark away from pinning someone to a fuckin' branch.

>>5853627
“Then I’ll be taking my leave,” you reply curtly. “If you need to contact our clan, feel free to do so through Kijani-san.”

…

“The hell was that all about?” Wasabi wonders aloud after you take them back to Konoha.

You have to sigh for a moment – this sort of thing isn’t really talked about unless by those directly involved, so it’s little wonder your teammates aren’t aware of it. “How much do you know about summons?”

“I know Sumire can do it.”

“Mine is an unusual case,” Sumire insists. “I did not establish a contract with Nue – instead a technique was carved into my body that serves the same purpose.”

“Well then, what else do I need to know?” Wasabi changes tack.

“There are two ways to do it – contracting with an individual creature,” you explain, “and contracting with a clan. The former is pretty common, like how in my village some people summon giant salamanders. There’s no salamander clan…”

“Which is probably a good thing,” Sumire chimes in.

“… I don’t disagree,” you confess before moving along. “The clans however are groups of intelligent creatures living in one geographic area that all answer the calls of shinobi who establish a contract with them. The toads, snakes, and shrikes are all examples of that, but there are also ninja dogs, ninja cats, and others probably that I don’t know about because they’re even less common.”

“So why are the toads such assholes in particular?” Wasabi presses.

“They’re not necessarily,” you admit. “But there’s a lot of bad blood between some of the clans for various reasons – Orochimaru’s rivalry with Jiraiya made things worse between the toads of Myoboku-zan and the snakes of Ryuichi cave, for example. The shrikes have also resented both for a while since they tend to actively ‘poach’ the most talented summoners, while the toads are wary of snakes and shrikes because they’re both natural predators.”

“In fact, probably pretty much everyone gets nervous around shrikes in particular because of their reputation.”

“Which is?” Sumire asks curiously.

“Do you know the nickname wild shrikes have earned?”

“Murderbirds, right?” Sumire recalls.

You nod. “I guess there’s a natural nervousness about the duality – the capacity for both courtesy and propriety as well as stunning acts of violence. Same is true of my parents for that matter.”
>1/2

>>5855818
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5856205

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5856205

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5856205

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5856205

>>5856205
It’s a few days before your team gets a mission of any note – in fact you’ve had to take some C and D-rank missions just to pass the time. All the while, you wait for any news of Kara, or of the man you fought before.

“Well, Konan-neesan did obliterate one of their members,” you point out over burgers one day. “So it’s not surprising they might be laying now right now.”

“True,” Sumire muses.

Wasabi, in the mean time, glances over your shoulder.

“… is it that guy again?” you wonder aloud.

“You guessed it,” she mutters quietly.

It’s Mitsuki, Orochimaru-san’s… son, you want to say? Something like that. Anyway, he’s been created by Orochimaru somehow and is now on the same team with Boruto and Sarada, but since you returned to Konoha you’ve seen him pretty often. And a confusing amount of the time he’s been alone, and quite obviously following you.

“He’s not even trying to hide it,” you grumble. “But he’s not speaking up either.”

“Not like he could hide from any one of us anyway,” Sumire observes. “But instead he’s just…”

“Yeah, it’s like he’s just… watching us,” Wasabi shudders. “It’s kinda creepy.”

>Turn around and tell Mitsuki off for being a bit of a creep. There’s really no excuse for it.
>Suggest that Mitsuki could come over and sit with you if he has a reason to do so.
>Ask Mitsuki to take it outside for a moment, so you can talk in private about… whatever this is.
>Other?

>>5858363
>>Ask Mitsuki to take it outside for a moment, so you can talk in private about… whatever this is.

>>5858363
>>Suggest that Mitsuki could come over and sit with you if he has a reason to do so.

>>5858363
>Suggest that Mitsuki could come over and sit with you if he has a reason to do so.

>>5858363
>>Suggest that Mitsuki could come over and sit with you if he has a reason to do so.

We are having a "nice" meal here and its already interrupted, doesn't matter now.

>>5858363
“Mitsuki-kun,” you speak up without even bothering to look over your shoulder at him. “If you’re going to just follow us around all day anyway, why not come over, sit with us, and speak your mind?”

“Ah, so I’ve been found out.”

A few moments and some seat-shuffling later, your four-person booth is full with Wasabi having swung around to sit next to you leaving Sumire straight across from you. You realize immediately this keeps your team close, while also putting the guy who wants to talk to you across the table from you so that you can more easily look each other in the eyes.

“So why are you following us?” you ask curiously.

“To observe your team,” he replies.

“We noticed,” Wasabi interjects. “But why?”

“You all seem so close,” Mitsuki clarifies. “Closer even than many of the other genin teams our age. I wished to understand that.”

“Because you’re so sheltered,” you observe.

Mitsuki looks to you without any gesture of agreement, or even much of a change in expression, but somehow you can tell he agrees even before he speaks. “Quite. Despite that it’s not difficult to see that my own team’s cohesion is unusually poor, even though I myself lack the ability to define the reasons or offer any solutions.”

>If you’re thinking of replicating my ‘solution’, I don’t think that’s going to be possible.
>Well, how comfortable are you all together? How often do you train in cooperative formations?
>These things just take time. And remember, you’re their second “third person” since graduation.
>Other?

>>5859747
>>These things just take time. And remember, you’re their second “third person” since graduation.

>>5859747
>You seem to lack a basic understanding of social structure and emotion in general. Is it possible that you're autistic?

>>5859747
>>Well, how comfortable are you all together? How often do you train in cooperative formations?

>>5859747
>>These things just take time. And remember, you’re their second “third person” since graduation.

>>5859747
>These things just take time. And remember, you’re their second “third person” since graduation.
>That said, how often do you train in cooperative formations?

>>5859747
“Sometimes,” you muse, “all it takes is some time. In this case, I don’t think there’s a substitute for patience.”

“How so?” Mitsuki asks you curiously.

“Well, look at it this way,” you muse. “What you’ve got are two teammates who aren’t exactly easy to work with…”

“What do you mean?”

“Boruto can get pretty headstrong,” you quickly clarify, “and Sarada’s a bit of a perfectionist. Anyway, you’ve got both these people who were probably just getting settled in with their last teammate from outside the village and now – poof – they have a new third teammate.”

“Think about how you’d feel,” Wasabi interjects.

“At the level of jōnin, which both Boruto-kun and Sarada-kun are capable of reaching, they will have to adapt to being assigned joint missions with unfamiliar personnel,” Mitsuki observes – quite correctly, in fact. “I would be happy for my former teammate, who moved on to do something very important to her, and try my best to make the new team organization work smoothly as quickly as possible.”

“… okay, bad example,” Wasabi admits after hearing what even she probably has to admit is the ‘right’ answer from Mitsuki.

“Take what you may have observed about Boruto-kun and Sarada-kun,” Sumire offers a change in approach, “and consider it from their perspective.”

Mitsuki seems to consider it for a little while, long enough that your food arrives at the table in the mean time. While he’s deep in thought Wasabi pokes her fries at him, and after another moment he pulls one out and noshes on it.

“I think that Boruto-kun is probably frustrated,” Mitsuki decides. “I think he tends towards impatience, and that he and his teammates learned to keep that in some degree of check. With that balance thrown off, even if the results are good the perception is probably different.”

“That sounds reasonable to me,” you agree with a curt nod. “Now what’s Sarada-kun thinking?”

“She’s probably more concerned about Boruto-kun,” Mitsuki reasons. “This would be a guess, but I find it likely that Tsubaki-kun shared a similar personality with Sarada-kun, in her sense of responsibility.”

“As a samurai you mean,” you observe.

“That is my understanding, yes.”

“Then what role do you think Tsubaki-kun filled in the team?” you ask. “And can you find a way to do the same?”
>1d6, taking the first three

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5862530

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5862530

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5862530

>>5862530
“Boruto-kun and Sarada-kun are very different people in many ways,” Mitsuki muses. “Although they are similar in the sense that they are both stubborn in the extreme.”

“I don’t disagree,” you nod.

“I suppose in some ways Tsubaki-kun split the difference between the two,” Mitsuki decides. “More aggressive than Sarada-kun, but more patient than Boruto-kun. Not a… what is the phrase… a ‘team player’? At least at first, but she appears to have grown into the role.”

“And so…”

“In that sense, she became the glue that held the team together.”

“Again, I don’t think you’re wrong,” you agree calmly.

“I’m not sure I can do the same,” Mitsuki admits.

You nod. “Not a lot of people could admit that openly.”

>I think you should come up with a solution yourself – otherwise it wouldn’t be genuine.
>You can try considering team-building exercises. Just showing the effort may do the job.
>How much time have you spent with them both outside of missions? Maybe try that.
>Other?

>>5863656
>I think you should come up with a solution yourself – otherwise it wouldn’t be genuine.

>>5863656
>>I think you should come up with a solution yourself – otherwise it wouldn’t be genuine.

>>5863656
>>I think you should come up with a solution yourself – otherwise it wouldn’t be genuine.

>>5863656
“Now I think you need to take over from here,” you decide calmly. “Otherwise it wouldn’t be genuine.”

“Genuine?” Mitsuki-kun repeats curiously. “How do you mean?”

“If it comes from me, then it’s not really coming from you,” you try to clarify, before considering your words a little more carefully. “Think about which one would probably mean more to your teammates – you acting on your own feelings and your own understanding of them, relying on your own ideas, or just doing what I said you should?”

“I would hazard a guess that it would be the former,” Mitsuki replies.

You nod once. “Right. It’s not just the quality of the idea, it’s the fact that it’s coming from you. That’s the quality of being genuine.”

“I think I understand,” Mitsuki eventually confirms. “I don’t know whether I’m really up to the task, but I’ll do what I can.”
>1d6, considering the first three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5865797

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5865797

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5865797

>>5865797
It’s about a week before a mission comes up that would be worth writing home about, and on the day that mission finally falls into your proverbial laps you and your team meet with Hanabi-sensei in the Hokage’s office. He sighs wearily, folding his hands on his desk. “Thanks for joining us on such short notice.”

“It must be serious,” Wasabi observes with a furrowed brow, “if Hanabi-sensei’s here too.”

“You aren’t wrong,” your sensei confirms. “Morning, everyone.”

“Morning, sensei,” you bow politely.

“You never bow to me,” Naruto-san mutters.

“Are you my sensei?”

“Not the last time I checked.”

“Then there you are.”

Naruto-san coughs into his fist before continuing. “Anyway, I’ll explain now. Two jōnin have recently gone missing while on a mission to investigate a crashed airship near the border. I contacted Team 3 this morning to divert from their current mission to check the situation and report back, but I’m sending you guys after them too.”

“You don’t think Boruto-kun’s going to stick to the mission plan?” you ask.

“One of the jōnin who’s missing is Konohamaru-san,” Hanabi-sensei informs you. “There’s nothing to indicate a problem at this point, but sending a genin team to help their jōnin-sensei out like this is potentially like throwing fuel on a fire.”

“If I sent your team to save Hanabi-san,” Naruto-san muses, raising one eyebrow, “I’d have to plan for national catastrophe-level collateral damages.”

“Well,” Sumirin glances at you. “You’re not wrong?”

Hanabi-sensei also glances at you. “While I’d be flattered like any girl would be, it’s in the village’s best interests that our shinobi don’t end up going too far.”

“I don’t expect Boruto-kun to destroy any small countries,” Naruto-san admits, “but it’s the same basic problem, ya know? Even Sarada-kun might not be thinking clearly right now.”
>1/2

>>5866944
Your team strikes out soon after meeting with the Hokage, heading for the border where Konohamaru-sensei and the other jōnin went missing.

>Try to meet with Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki before they get into trouble.
>Head for the airship crash site and begin searching from that location.
>Approach with caution, using Hanabi-sensei and Wasabi-kun’s senses.
>Other?

>>5867768
>>Approach with caution, using Hanabi-sensei and Wasabi-kun’s senses.

>>5867768
>Approach with caution, using Hanabi-sensei and Wasabi-kun’s senses.

>>5867768
>>Try to meet with Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki before they get into trouble.

>>5867768
>1d6 best of three

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5868029

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5868029

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5868029

>>5868029
Right now, you have to admit that you’re almost spoiled for choice when it comes to sensory abilities – the Hanabi-sensei has the byakugan, Wasabi has her keen sense of smell and hearing, you have the ability to extend your senses using sage mode, and even Sumire – the least remarkable of your all in terms of sensory techniques – can sense vibrations through the ground and has a well-honed ‘sixth-sense’ for traps and ambushes. Not to mention that you have summons that you can fall back on should any of that somehow prove to be inadequate.

“I mean,” you muse, pointing out the obvious, “we’d have to be complete idiots not to be using sensory techniques at all times.”

“Take it in turns?” Hanabi-sensei guesses your mind.

You nod in response. “Between you and Wasabi that should suffice for early warning. In case not, Sumire will be our last line. I’ve got the most options and the most chakra to work with, so I’ll adjust my strategy to fit the situation as I see it.”

“That sounds fine to me,” Hanabi-sensei agrees. “Since the wind is working against us, I’ll take the first shift.”

“Gotcha,” Wasabi agrees, understanding what she means. “I’ll wait until you give the word.”

“Do you think we should adjust our approach?” Sumire asks. “Ensure that we’re downwind of the target area?”

“I’d prefer it,” you reply. “But it also depends on what we find as we get closer – if it becomes obvious that Team 3 needs our help…”

“Then we help them,” Sumire confirms, “even if it means breaking cover. Is that your thinking?”

“Yeah,” you nod. “That’s what I’m thinking.”

…

It takes you several hours to get to the area where Team 3 is supposed to be looking for the two missing jōnin, including Konohamaru-sensei. Thanks to Hanabi-sensei’s byakugan, your own team spots them well away from the location they’re trying to reach.

“I can see the crash site,” Hanabi-sensei tells you. “I don’t see anyone there – at least, no humans that are alive. Team 3 is heading there on foot – if we hurry we can catch them, or even beat them to the scene.”

“Which would you recommend, sensei?” Sumire asks.

“The former. While the latter is an option I see no reason to do it, and it’s possible that could cause complications if we made contact with the enemy first by surprise.”

>Try to intercept Team 3 before things get too far out of hand.
>Don’t rule anything out yet, but you want to use Sage Mode to look ahead yourself.
>Summon Kiburi as an advanced scout while you intercept Team 3.
>Other?

>>5869197
>>Try to intercept Team 3 before things get too far out of hand.

>>5869197
>>Summon Kiburi as an advanced scout while you intercept Team 3.

>>5869197
>>Try to intercept Team 3 before things get too far out of hand.

>>5869197
>1d6 high roll
>best three of four count

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5870814

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5870814

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5870814

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5870814

Wow. This one was a real "either or", huh?

>>5870814
“We’ll intercept them before things get out of hand,” you declare. “Hanabi-sensei, keep us going at the right pace. Sumirin, Wasabi, get ready to restrain them if necessary.”

“You really think we’ll have to go that far?” Wasabi asks you.

“This is Boruto-kun we’re talking about here,” you insist with a slight frown. “If he gets it in his head he has to do something he’s going to give it his all – it’s both his best and worst characteristic.”

“I understand,” Sumire replies calmly. “If we can’t predict it, we can at least prepare for the unpredictability.”

“My thoughts exactly,” you confirm.

…

Thankfully, you manage to do just that – stopping Team 3 short of its goal by about five hundred meters.

“Hana-neesan?” Boruto-kun frowns at your sensei. “You guys are here too?”

“Yeah,” Hanabi-sensei replies. “Shiki-kun and I were ordered to assist.”

“Well then let’s go!” Boruto-kun declares.

You spare the rest of his team a glance…

>Hold up. If we’re going to do this, we should approach it tactically.
>No. Your team is going to stay in reserve for the time being.
>I wonder about that. Let’s ask your teammates what they think we should do.
>Other?

>>5871893
>>Hold up. If we’re going to do this, we should approach it tactically.

>>5871893
>>Hold up. If we’re going to do this, we should approach it tactically.

>>5871893
>>Hold up. If we’re going to do this, we should approach it tactically.

>>5871893
“If we’re going to do this,” you declare, “then we should at least be strategic about it.”

“What does that mean!?” Boruto-kun demands angrily.

“Think hard,” you insist, your tone curt. “I’m sure Sarada-kun and Mitsuki-kun already get what I’m saying.”

“If we have Team 15 here,” Sarada muses, “then that means we have Hanabi-sensei’s byakugan, Wasabi-kun’s senses, and Sumire-kun and Shiki-kun’s summons.”

“Exactly,” Hanabi-sensei joins in. “It doesn’t help anyone to rush into an unknown situation, especially when we don’t have to.”

It seems like having Hanabi-sensei say it makes Boruto actually listen, and so he agrees to follow with your team’s plans. Skirting around to one side, keeping the area within the range of Hanabi-sensei’s byakugan, takes more time than Boruto probably would have liked, but it also allows you to approach the site from downwind.

That means that as your two teams draw closer, you can use both Hanabi-sensei’s bakugan as well as Wasabi’s keen nose to examine the situation well in advance.
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5872975

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5872975

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5872975

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5872975

>>5872975
As it turns out, it was a good plan.

“Hostiles, coming this way!” Hanabi-sensei hisses. “And fast!”

“How fast?” you ask before anyone else can.

“We maybe have three minutes!” she guesses.

Three minutes… she wasn’t kidding, they’re coming in fast.

“I can’t smell anything yet,” Wasabi admits with a frown. “You know how far I can smell?”

“Yeah,” Hanabi-sensei confirms.

“Let me know when they’re in range.”

“Alright,” Hanabi-sensei agrees. “Fifteen seconds.”

“Ten.”

“Five.”

Even after the targets spotted by your sensei should be well within Wasabi’s detection radius, given the strength and direction of the breeze, her reaction is one of confusion.

“I can smell blood… two people, one badly hurt.”

“There’s way more than that,” Hanabi-sensei declares. “Puppets?”

“We should set an ambush,” you decide. “Team Three, you guys stick together. “Hanabi-sensei…”

“Sumire-kun?” Hanabi-sensei guesses.

You nod. “Right. Wasabi, with me.”

This way, each team has a specialist sensor and the two three-person teams each have a shinobi who can summon – yourself, Kiburi or Momo, and Wasabi across from Hanabi-sensei, Sumire, and Nue. Then there’s Team Three, where you’re going to just have to trust that Sarada. Boruto, and Mitsuki can all work together well enough together that they can look out for each other in a fight.

With the remaining seconds you have, the three teams prepare.

>Step in and cover for the fleeing shinobi using the tenrō fūsa barrier.
>Attack the pursuers with a powerful, wide-area attack. See what happens.
>Observe as they all pass, then launch a series of hit and run attacks.
>Other?

>>5873942
>>Step in and cover for the fleeing shinobi using the tenrō fūsa barrier.

>>5873942
>>Step in and cover for the fleeing shinobi using the tenrō fūsa barrier.

>>5873942
>Step in and cover for the fleeing shinobi using the tenrō fūsa barrier.

>>5873942
>1d6 best three of four

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5874436

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5874436

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5874436

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5874436

>>5874436
Without hesitation you step in as the retreating jōnin pass you by, raising a tenrō fūsa barrier at the last possible second. The two puppets at the front of the group collide with the barrier and immediately try to force their way through, only to be set alight for their trouble. The remainder back off, and raise their hands to launch a series of fireballs that impact harmlessly on the other side of the barrier.

“Hey, are you two okay?” Wasabi demands, slipping in behind you as the other teams launch their own ambush. “Konohamaru-sensei, what happened here?”

“No time to explain!” Sarutobi Konohamaru insists. “Focus on Mugino-san’s wounds first, I’ll be fine!”

Looking at him you can tell that Konohamaru-sensei’s definitely not going to be fine. You create a shadow clone, electing to hang back behind your barrier to keep Wasabi safe while she heals Konohamaru-sensei and Mugino-san. Instead, it will be your shadow clone that takes the fight to your enemies.

…

You are a shadow clone of Uzumaki Shiki, and thanks to inheriting his memories up to this point you think you have a pretty good grasp of the situation. On the other side of the barrier that the original created there’s a real storm brewing – Team 3 lacks a jōnin and so they’re struggling somewhat, while your teammate Sumire and your sensei Hanabi-san are doing just fine even against these puppets that can seemingly fire off an endless chain of fireballs.

It’s actually a pretty tough nut to crack.

>Jump in and back up Team 3, whether Boruto-kun appreciates it or not.
>Just get in there and break stuff. The sooner this wraps up the better.
>If there’s puppets, there’s a puppet-master. Figure out who and where.
>Other?

>>5875384
>>If there’s puppets, there’s a puppet-master. Figure out who and where.

>>5875384
>If there’s puppets, there’s a puppet-master. Figure out who and where.

>>5875384
>>If there’s puppets, there’s a puppet-master. Figure out who and where.

>>5875384
>1d6 best three of four

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5875907

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>5875907

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5875907

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5875907

>>5875907
Well, there’s one thing you’ve come to know about even the most ridiculously powerful opponents that you could ever end up facing – that every form of jutsu, whether it be ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu, must inherently follow the same rules as every other form within that category. So, because you see that there are puppets in front of you, it must mean that somewhere there is a puppet-master. You’re not sure where that person might be, or how they’re currently related to the puppets you’re seeing in front of you, but you’re certain that it’s true. You’re also certain that if you take the time to examine the situation strategically what you learn will benefit your side well after this battle has been won.

And so you watch as your teammates and cousins face off against the puppets, focusing on the bigger picture while they deal with the details. These puppets are definitely autonomous, since it’s obvious that there aren’t any chakra threads attached to them. If there were, you’re certain that Hanabi-sensei would be able to see and target them the way she normally would.

Their speed and strength is pretty remarkable, but more important is the way they keep firing off fireballs one after the other like there’s no bottom to their supply of chakra. Which really shouldn’t be possible… should it?

“Keep them fighting!” you declare loudly. “There’s something I want to check!”

You take a moment to collect natural energy, and as one of the puppets turns to attack you Hanabi-sensei intercepts it with a shout and a rapid series of punches that blast it aside with compressed air, leaving it open for Sumirin to slide her blade into the base of its neck.

With a slow, calm breath, you switch from collecting to releasing and step into battle.

The attacks are almost comedic with the benefit of being able to sense attacks through senjutsu, and even simple punches begin to break down the puppets one at a time. All the while you fail to track down any sort of contact or signal whatsoever – so does that mean these puppets are controlled through some sort of mechanical means, not relying on chakra at all?

…

It takes some time and coordination, but eventually both your team and Team 3 manage to defeat the puppets without suffering any additional casualties. Your shadow clone dispersed, you consider the new situation. Aside from Konohamaru-sensei and the yet-to-be-introduced jōnin the injuries are fairly limited, with little more than a few mild burns, cuts, and bruises. While poisons were initially a concern, Sumirin does give Boruto-kun and Mitsuki-kun clean bills of health after examining their cuts.

“Well then,” you sigh wearily. “Seems like things are settled here for now.”

“Looks that way,” Hanabi-sensei agrees. “But we can’t just leave things as they are.”

“What do you mean?” Boruto-kun asks with a frown.
>1/2

>>5877615
>We still need to complete the original mission, you know. We’ll need a hand with that.
>You should escort the wounded back to the village. We’ll stay here a bit longer.
>Those puppets are something we need to investigate. Honestly… we need Denki.
>Other?

>>5877616
>>Those puppets are something we need to investigate. Honestly… we need Denki.

Side mission time. Let Boruto go off and do the main mission or whatever, I don't want to babysit. Sink or swim.

>>5877616
>>We still need to complete the original mission, you know. We’ll need a hand with that.

>>5877616
>Those puppets are something we need to investigate. Honestly… we need Denki.

>>5877616
>1d6, taking the first three

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5878445

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>5878445

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5878445

>>5878445
As much as you were able to figure out about these puppets from having fought them, anything more than the obvious is a bit outside your area of expertise. So before you do anything else, you have to make sure that the area has been fully secured and that in pursuing the mystery behind the puppets you won’t be overlooking any relevant information here.

“What are we missing…” you wonder aloud. “Does anyone else feel like we’re missing something?”

“Shouldn’t there be a puppeteer somewhere nearby?” Sarada asks with a frown, having yet to drop her guard despite Boruto having already done so.

“Why’s there gotta be?” Boruto counters. “If it’s all using tech, then maybe it follows different rules?”

That’s actually not an unreasonable observation.

“Fair,” you admit. “But still, what’s the range of your byakugan sensei?”

“Twenty kilometers,” Hanabi-sensei replies. “Ish.”

“For there to not be an operator within twenty miles still seems a little unusual,” you continue. “Sensei… are there ways to hide objects from your byakugan?”

“There are,” she confirms, frowning a little. “They’re not widely known outside Konoha’s senior shinobi – the Hokages, the village elders, a few jōnin within the Hyūga.”

“Is it possible there’s been a leak?”

“Always,” she acknowledges.

“But is it likely?”

“No.”

“Then what does that leave?” Wasabi muses, glancing at Sumire.

Then a thought occurs – evidently all at once, because the same two words come out all four of your mouths at once.

“The wreckage?”

…

Team Hanabi secures the site while you have a shadow clone return Team Konohamaru, Konohamaru-sensei himself, and the wounded jōnin to the village.

…

After arriving in the village, you create more shadow clones yourself – one to ensure that Konohamaru-sensei and the other jōnin are seen to, one to report to Naruto-san along with Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki, and three more to search the village with you for Denki-kun.
>1/2

>>5879077
“Denki-kun!” you proclaim loudly, having tracked him down to – where else – the Lightning Burger where so many of your class tend to hang out. “Great, I’ve been looking for you!”

“Shiki-kun?” Itoi-kun answers, seemingly surprised. “Why does it seem like you ran here from somewhere outside the village?”

“… Itoi-kun?” you muse, glancing from her back to Denki-kun. There’s nobody else at their table, and no sign that there ever was – no other plates or drinks or anything so it’s not like the rest of either of their teams is here but just in the bathroom or something. Oh well. Not like it’s any of your buisness. “Good to see you, Itoi-kun… and yeah, I’ve been running around looking for Denki-kun here.”

“You?” Denki-kun wonders. “You’ve been looking for me?”

You look around awkwardly for a moment. “Um, yes? Is there another Denki-kun here I haven’t met yet?”

“No, pretty sure it’s just the one,” Itoi-kun replies with a smile. “Why, is it something important?”

You shrug. “Well yeah, I’d say it’s pretty important.”

“Well, why don’t you tell me about it?” Denki-kun asks you politely. “Maybe I can help after lunch?”

“Nope,” you reply. “No time. Sorry, Itoi-kun… but if the Hokage asked you about what I say here, you’d talk.”

“You’re not wrong,” she admits.

…

“So this is what you brought me here for?” Denki-kun asks quietly after your shadow clone brought him to join you and your team. From this ridgeline you can see the downed airship, a light haze of smoke from a few small fires still burning at the site. “What seems to be the problem?”

“A bunch of puppets with no strings,” Hanabi-sensei explains patiently. “Wasabi-kun, can you smell anything?”

She shakes her head. “No, sorry. Too much smoke.”

>Then we’ll need to be extra careful. Move as a team, and cover each other thoroughly.
>We’ll need to rely on other techniques to scout, like maybe from the air.
>I’ll scout ahead as a ‘ghost’ using the ryūmei. Cover for me for a little bit here.
>Other?

>>5879660
>>I’ll scout ahead as a ‘ghost’ using the ryūmei. Cover for me for a little bit here.

>>5879660
>>Then we’ll need to be extra careful. Move as a team, and cover each other thoroughly.

>>5879660
>>Then we’ll need to be extra careful. Move as a team, and cover each other thoroughly.

>>5879660
“We’ll move as a team,” you decide. “Maintain a formation with sensei at the rear, Wasabi at the front, Sumirin and me at the flanks. Denki-kun will be at the center. Agreed?”

“Got it,” Wasabi nods.

Sumire is also quick to agree.

“I do have one question,” Denki-kun insists. “Could you explain the reasons to this formation to me?”

Ah, so he’s taking the opportunity to learn. Honestly? That’s kind of admirable of him. You’ve somewhat kept track of how other teams formed among your former classmates, but you know that hardly anyone else has bothered to do the same – because a lot of them don’t think they need to. That’s especially true for those (like Boruto) who could really use the perspective most.

“Wasabi-kun’s senses and strongest attacks are best at shorter ranges,” you muse, “and are better at finding traps that may be hard to see. Hanabi-sensei’s vision and reaction speed are both the best, so being at the back of the formation gives her the best field of view and opportunities to counter threats. Sumire-kun and I are both midrange fighters, so positions on the flanks give us the ability to shift our focus forward, backward, or to one side.”
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>5880848

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>5880848

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5880848

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5880848