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Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

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Roomba said:
Plus, this way @Velorien gets to reveal Akane's fate, as was prophesized, and you guys get to have more time to figure out what happens next, which I imagine to be a challenge.

What do you think?
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You really think I'm not going to stretch out the revelation of Akane's fate for as long as I possibly can?

Shard said:
Who are the known surviving S-Rankers incidentally? Is Hiashi S-Rank or 'only' jounin?
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Bearing in mind that S-rank is an arbitrary convention that I'm not even sure exists in canon, much less existing and being applied across the board, Hiashi is not S-rank.
 
I feel like we need to get a read of the room. A lot of people just died, including the parents of our peers. Should we go straight into Hokage-campaining or would that be considered improper?

On the one hand, not giving time to mourn before talking politics might make us seem heartless or give the impression that we did not actually care for the people in question. Certain voices might say this is because we aren't proper Leaf ninja.

On the other hand, if I understand the situation correctly, Leaf and Mist, for the second time in a row, lost disproportionatly more ninja than other villages, in which case an attack from said other villages seems now more probable than ever. Meaning we need a united front asap.

It might be a good idea to feel out the 'standard ninja' as well as civilians (merchants espescially since the village seems to be trade-dependant). Who would they trust as new Hokage?


Same with Hiashi. Jiraiya (our main/only(?) source of information/characterisation on Hiashi) probably wasn't the most objective source of information on him. Maybe we can ask around to get a proper read on his character and political intentions.
If I've learned anything from history than it's that there's no reason ideologically opposite parties can't come together against someone they both hate.
 
I think if Hiashi is not given the hat this time, he is going to lose it.

Like, last time, sure, dude was passed over for the strongest ninja alive, who is also a hero of the village, and who has served as spymaster for decades, etc. And he was grudging about it then. This time he is a walking war hero, leader of the greatest clan, yada yada.

And he would be being passed up for...the Princess of Suckers. Someone who hasn't been village leadership or anywhere close to it, basically ever.

It is going to look like what it is, a vote for ANYONE BUT HIASHI.

Plus, like, Jiraiya was old, but Tsunade is seems younger, and is a medical ninjutsu prodigy, Hiashi can't realistically believe she'll die before him (absent being the Hokage being mad dangerous). If he misses this chance he has no reason to suspect another.

All of this is to say that if Hiashi doesn't get the hat we need to keep a close eye on the Hyuga. I could easily imagine him becoming a traitor, with some sort of fig leaf of 'saving the leaf from itself'.
 
faflec said:
Yes.
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So, you think that there is no way that the following is true:
We should not go straight into Hokage-campaining and going straight into Hokage-campainging would not be considered improper?

But what if, while people might not consider campaining straight away improper, there are unrelated reasons making it a bad idea to campain straight away regardless of the impression this makes?
 
Well, that was nothing like I expected.

Also an awful outcome. Honestly don't see what path forward there is now. The assumption that Naruto is just going to join the Gōketsu is strange. I don't really see Gōketsu as having any true allies, really, so our political opponents basically auto win against us. Jiraiya was our major enabler so there goes our agency. Plus I'd bet we just got the good guys killed.

Basically all-round horrible outcome. Good luck people.
 
Torpling said:
On the other hand, if I understand the situation correctly, Leaf and Mist, for the second time in a row, lost disproportionatly more ninja than other villages, in which case an attack from said other villages seems now more probable than ever. Meaning we need a united front asap.
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I feel like an accurate summary of the international situation is thus:

Leaf= Fucked (?), but from an outside perspective its actually not clear by how much (its not like others know that Naruto is or isn't in a super coma). We lost a lot of dudes in both of those battles.

Mist=Still Super duper incredibly fucked. Between the Noodle Incident, the Ultimate Showdown, and Battle of the Gods, I would be surprised if Mist had anything remotely resembling combat ready forces.

The answer to "How many Jonin do you guys have?" is pretty much "Hana, Ami, and like twelve unnamed people in the back room over there."

Luckily for them they have a Jinchuuriki now so thats less bad than it could be?

Sand= Super duper fucksd. Similar to Mist sorta but with no upside.

Rock= Not really too fucked? We can presume they took decent hits from whenever their bijuu containers got kidnapped (presumably violently) maybe, but they still make out of this less fucked comparatively.

Lightning= They come out pretty decently as well.
 
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Inferno Vulpix said:
Hold on a minute.

The only survivors for Rock and Cloud's divisions are their Jinchuuriki - people who may or may not have even been lucid during the battle.

It's quite possible that Rock and Cloud still don't know about Skywalkers. It's also possible that back when everyone was sharing intel and getting ready they sent messengers back and included the knowledge of Skywalkers, but there's a real possibility our super-secret trump card still remains a super-secret trump card.
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Any information they received before they sent their tournament participants home was probably sent back to their villages with them as insurance against that precise eventuality. It'd be bad for anyone else to get away alive knowing your secrets while you don't know theirs'.
 
MMKII said:
I feel like an accurate summary of the international situation is thus:

Leaf= Fucked (?), but from an outside perspective its actually not clear by how much (its not like others know that Naruto is or isn't in a super coma). We lost a lot of dudes in both of those battles.

Mist=Still Super duper fucked. Between the Noodle Incident, the Ultimate Showdown, and Battle of the Gods, I would be surprised if Mist had anything remotely resembling combat ready forces.

The answer to "How many Jonin do you guys have?" is pretty much "Hana, Ami, and like twelve unnamed people in the back room over there."

Luckily for them they have a Jinchuuriki now so thats less bad than it could be?

Sand= Super duper incredibly fucksd. Similar to Mist but with no upside.

Rock= Not really too fucked? We can presume they took decent hits from whenever their bijuu containers got kidnapped (presumably violently) maybe, but they still make out of this less fucked comparatively.

Lightning= They come out pretty decently as well.
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Yeah, wasn't Killer B the Raikage's brother in canon at least? If he's mentally stable, Lightning seems to have a better chance than anyone else at consolidating quickly.
Hmm, maybe Leaf has spies in Lightning monitoring the situation. If not, we might just get surprise-rushed by a flying octopus raining thunder from the sky.
 
Lord Marshal said:
So, important questions first:

@eaglejarl What is going to happen to Jiraiya corpse?

This said
[X] Action Plan: To Stride Forward



Suggestions:

I suggest talking not only with the ones who lost someone, but the ones that did not.
Hiashi is still alive, this doesn't mean Hinata will be.

On Naruto: Jiraiya was our father too, the "Poppa" things is something to retain, very good thinking, but we should reframe it as "We already lost a father once, this is second time and we know it's shitty" instead of "We lost our father before, we know how it feels", especially because it is true.
Jiraiya at the end of the day became Hazou father in a way.

I would discourage antagonizing Akatsuki, let's someone else take point at least
1)Konan jutsu would greatly help us become more powerful + she is only of the few that knows something about Rinnengan research.
2)Two, their goal roughly align with us, we can help each other in the future
3)I want to punch Konan in the face for what she did to Jiraiya, can't do that if she's dead.
4)It antagonizes the strongest asset in existence.

And...a line about Analyzing assets?
What Jiraiya left for us, Orochimaru research ect? The Rinnengan?
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See, I'm already cutting it to the razor's edge at under 300 words; I legitimately don't think I could wordcount optimize it any more.

But then my mind engaged.

If we were willing to spend 1 XP on Sealsmith of the Gods...

Hinata, on the other hand, would've been well the hell away from the Titanomachy; she doesn't have the powerlevel.

We're not necessarily antagonizing Akatsuki, but we are suggesting that in our diplomatic attaches to Rock and Cloud that that's what the not-alliance is for.

In general, though, implemented.
huhYeahGoodPoint said:
Hm. I think I want to give planmaking a shot.

Word count: 351

[X] Action Plan: To Stride Forward
  1. Allies
    1. In general: invite to Goketsu mourning, strategy meeting.
    2. Noburi
      1. Parents might've been in the strike force.
      2. There were only three Mist survivors.
      3. Emotional support, not speech.
    3. Tsunade
      1. Go past anyone that tries to stop you.
      2. Hand her Jiraiya's will.
      3. Are you aiming for Hokage?
    4. Naruto
      1. Go past anyone in way. Do not yield.
      2. See what state he's in.
      3. If lucid, talk to him.
      4. We lost Poppa. Jiraiya, now. It sucks, so, so, much.
      5. Emotional support, no speech, until he's ready.
      6. Wants re:
        1. Hokage?
        2. Goketsu?
        3. Anything?
    5. Akane
      1. Ask about adoption.
      2. Help with Mari?
    6. Mari
      1. Emotional support until safe.
      2. Discuss starting over.
        1. Don't go back.
        2. We don't need the evil Inoue Mari the Heartbreaker. Let her die, if necessary.
        3. We need the brilliant Mari Goketsu, jonin of the greater Team Uplift.
    7. Kagome
      1. Tell him about the runup to the attack.
        1. Including giving Jiraiya his seals.
          1. Against Akatsuki, well, it seemed like the only thing.
          2. It wasn't enough.
          3. His final suicide attack was yours.
      2. We'll patent his seals.
      3. You're a top sealmaster. Best in Goketsu, at least.
        1. Anti-Hyuuga, if we don't have it already.
        2. Give all of Jiraiya's sealing notes.
        3. Sealing instruction needs to become priority.
    8. ISC
      1. Attend services, if invited.
      2. Emotional support, not speech.
  2. Sort through Jiraiya's will and notes.
    1. Figure out what he's leaving us.
    2. Invite anybody you can find out he wanted to invite to the funeral, or whoever he thought might work with us.
    3. Store his body. There's a chance, now.
    4. Draw skywalkers while reading, if capable.
  3. Feel out:
    1. Sarutobi
    2. Uchiha
    3. Aburame
    4. Support that Jiraiya noted.
  4. Strategy meeting
    1. Hokage
      1. Who are we pushing for Hokage?
      2. How can we turn clans?
      3. Coordinate strategies; we cannot win if we don't support one candidate.
    2. Overall geopolitics
      1. We can't win if we focus on Leaf, on any level.
        1. Rock and Cloud are likely stronger, let alone Akatsuki.
      2. Aim for international alliances and cooperation.
      3. Strengthen Sand, Mist, and minor ties.
      4. Send out feelers towards Rock and Cloud. Coordinate, if not ally, against Akatsuki.
  5. Mourning
    1. MEW granite surface at compound. Carve Jiraiya's name in.
    2. Read his will. Bequeath as per his request.
    3. Take turns reminiscing.
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Walter said:
I think if Hiashi is not given the hat this time, he is going to lose it.

Like, last time, sure, dude was passed over for the strongest ninja alive, who is also a hero of the village, and who has served as spymaster for decades, etc. And he was grudging about it then. This time he is a walking war hero, leader of the greatest clan, yada yada.

And he would be being passed up for...the Princess of Suckers. Someone who hasn't been village leadership or anywhere close to it, basically ever.

It is going to look like what it is, a vote for ANYONE BUT HIASHI.

Plus, like, Jiraiya was old, but Tsunade is seems younger, and is a medical ninjutsu prodigy, Hiashi can't realistically believe she'll die before him (absent being the Hokage being mad dangerous). If he misses this chance he has no reason to suspect another.

All of this is to say that if Hiashi doesn't get the hat we need to keep a close eye on the Hyuga. I could easily imagine him becoming a traitor, with some sort of fig leaf of 'saving the leaf from itself'.
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I'm not sure they'll go that far. The hyuga are loyal and have a strong position in the village. Hiashi trying so hard makes complete sense, he saw a window of opportunity and took what could be his only chance to take that hat. He will try again of course because why wouldn't he take this last chance to take the hat, but if he does lose than he'll be more likely to try to fortify his clan's position and keep them strong while trying to work with (or around) the hokage as best as he can.

Obviously it will be a major loss to his clan, and he will still be a major political enemy to the Goketsu's more progressive views, but he won't throw a complete shitfit over it and hurt his clan's image in the process. He's a politician and a good one at that, he'll play ball and keep pushing his views within the system. We will need to watch him though, he should not be underestimated.
 
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Veedrac said:
Well, that was nothing like I expected.

Also an awful outcome. Honestly don't see what path forward there is now. The assumption that Naruto is just going to join the Gōketsu is strange. I don't really see Gōketsu as having any true allies, really, so our political opponents basically auto win against us. Jiraiya was our major enabler so there goes our agency. Plus I'd bet we just got the good guys killed.

Basically all-round horrible outcome. Good luck people.
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The outcome is sure horrible. One of the reason why this setting is considered "grimdark".

But the playerbase continued to hope anyway.
 
Walter said:
Plus, like, Jiraiya was old, but Tsunade is seems younger, and is a medical ninjutsu prodigy, Hiashi can't realistically believe she'll die before him (absent being the Hokage being mad dangerous). If he misses this chance he has no reason to suspect another.
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Point of information: Tsunade is universally known, for obvious reasons, to be the exact same age as Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Incidentally, according to canon, her youthful appearance is a ninjutsu effect: when she uses up her chakra fighting Kabuto, we briefly see her hand shrivel up into an old woman's.
 
Oneiros said:
I definitely feel like we are being to passive here
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You're right. The path forward is clear.

[x] Action Plan: Make a K.A.O.S. Suit

  • After the debriefing:Spend the next 48 hours preparing to leave Leaf and then do so.
    • Make sure to bring the Toad and Snake scrolls with you too if possible, along with a copy of every relevant power source or repository of knowledge thereof that you can possibly find in this time frame.
  • Head to Isan, chill out there for a while.
  • Begin figuring out a way to track down each and every Akatsuki member.
    • "Civilians are important go uplift!" Yadda yadda convince them to work with us
    • Return to Isan.
  • Figure out a way to convert their ritual (which is a giant storage seal that stores chakra: coincidentally with how sealing works this would store all of it)into an apotheosis one by inverting the parameters: we're bringing the Out(er Path) into this path with Hazou as a medium.
  • Instrumental objectives:
    • Figure out edo tensei, revive the legendary sealmasters/technique hackers Minato Namikaze and Tobirama Senju
    • Exploit a vulnerability in the Flying Thundergod Technique's mechanics that allow you to summon hundreds of past!Minato 's from doomed timelines.
      • Time travel is trivial in the forwards direction. Just add magic!
    • Hack the Mori Voice (after first learning of its existence) to optimize the above.
    • Figure out how to summon Death, the entity Pandaa warned you against summoning.
      • Might need to do this anyway to get Edo! Minato, since he very well could be in Death's stomach.
  • This time we do it right. Commence the operation.
  • Ascend.
  • Win.
 
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