I would rather not end it on such a note, so there will be some way to continue, most likely, even if I have to say 'it was all a dream' from the fatal decision on. Before anyone asks, the Tiger Dojo may or may not make an appearance.
Well, you already hinted that Rin's magic circuits mean that she most likely would merely discorporate into a ghost and could then use True Magic to regain a/her body:
If her Magic Circuits are the reason Hollow-san was kept out of the afterlife, then you are going to be stuck as a ghost… unless, of course, you make sure that you survive, and that you get a body back by using the Second Magic if you die and are stuck in the living world as a ghost.
It might potentially come at the cost of a major degradation of her eyesight if she needs to use her MS* to its limits, but that's the price one has to pay for literal time travel.
*Our unique Sharingan trait boosts the Second Magic, so I suspect the MS will go in the same direction similar to how Shisui's trait synergized with his Kotoamatsukami:
Uchiha Rin
Sharingan special ability: Maho no Mangekyo (Magical Kaleidoscope)
(While her Sharingan is active, Time-Space and Dimensional True Magic/Magecraft/jutsu are boosted in power and efficiency Beyond Colossally-Sky-high
Uchiha Shisui
Sharingan Special Ability: Uzumaki Booster
(Boosts the Mangekyo Sharingan's abilities' power, both straightforward and conceptual. (E.g. KotoAmatsukami becoming all but inescapable.) The drawback is that Uzumaki and Senju heritage and grafts don't boost jutsu such as Izanagi.
Well, you already hinted that Rin's magic circuits mean that she most likely would merely discorporate into a ghost and could then use True Magic to regain a/her body:
It might potentially come at the cost of a major degradation of her eyesight if she needs to use her MS* to its limits, but that's the price one has to pay for literal time travel.
*Our unique Sharingan trait boosts the Second Magic, so I suspect the MS will go in the same direction similar to how Shisui's trait synergized with his Kotoamatsukami:
BTW, might I mention that it feels rather foreboding that you added which Sharingan traits carry over with a transplant?
An Uchiha gets only one Sharingan Special Ability unless that Uchiha transplants eyes for the Eternal Mangekyo and that ability carries over. Some abilities only work or work better with the Mangekyo Sharingan; some are the same all the way to the Eternal Mangekyo.
As for carrying over with a transplant or not, it's because it explains some things... such as Kakashi in canon not fully losing eyesight, Itachi becoming sick but Sasuke remaining fine, Itachi being able to use the abilities of the Mangekyo Sharingan a total of three times (plus normal jutsu) in a fight on Chakra reserves equal to the average Chuunin, Shisui's Kotoamatsukami being all but inescapable yet Danzo using it failing more than once in canon and here (the only reason Kagami's eyes' Kotoamatsukami is functionally identical with Shisui's eyes' when Danzo is using them is that Shisui's is nerfed due to lack of the Uzumaki Booster).
An Uchiha gets only one Sharingan Special Ability unless that Uchiha transplants eyes for the Eternal Mangekyo and that ability carries over. Some abilities only work or work better with the Mangekyo Sharingan; some are the same all the way to the Eternal Mangekyo.
I'm sorry, but how do you explain Itachi having Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo? That's not even getting into the Izanagi and Izanami that every Mangekyo receives.
If think you overestimated Zetsus ability to pull this off a bit. Not that he couldn't do this, but it would be far too risky a could have backfired horribly, not to mention its too soon bijuu are not yet collected.
You mean he overreacted and messed things up for his stated goals and plans and made everything much harder than it had to be out of some emotional impulse only tangentially related to his current situation?
Wow, it's almost like he's an Uchiha or something.
I'm sorry, but how do you explain Itachi having Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo? That's not even getting into the Izanagi and Izanami that every Mangekyo receives.
By Special Ability, I didn't mean a jutsu; I meant a passive effect that is my head-canon/creation. Look at the Character Sheet.
Of course Mangekyo Sharingan gets Susano'o plus two jutsu, or the former plus (two versions of?) one jutsu.
As for Izanagi and Izanami, even the normal Sharingan can manage them, though considering Madara's resurrection after the Valley of the End, the Mangekyo does it better.
@unLuckerII : it could backfire, yes, but BZ isn't immune to getting impatient, even after ~1000 years.
Edit: the Bijuu can be gathered way more quickly with Madara anyway.
[W] What were those two creatures on your shoulders, Jiraiya-sama ?
[W] How are you doing Karin? Do you feel well enough to continue? Naruto is an Uzumaki too by the way
[W] Where is Naruto? Is he safe, Jiraiya-sama?
[W] What was that Lightning jutsu, Kakashi-san?
[W] Jiraiya-sama and Kakashi-san, would one of you be willing to let me try to copy your Chakra Reinforcement?
+Considering what I did to my legs, I think we can all agree my Chakra Reinforcement is... lacking
+I want to be better prepared for any future ambush
Allowed a fifth question because the 'Chakra Reinforcement' option got a lot of votes on SV.
With the way the dialog went, I might as well not have limited the options. Oh well, my muse does as it will.
Obviously, Konohamaru has been aged up to Naruto's year and Hanabi is Hinata's younger twin here. I had intended to age them up slightly less, but because Rin will most likely graduate earlier than projected, they are now Naruto's age. Yes, they have always been meant as Rin's teammates.
Warning: socially awkward mini Hyuuga and Sarutobi alert.
Interlude Konohamaru and Nearing Tsunade
You're hiding under the shade of a huge tree (even if the weather's cold), a tree that people say was made by the First Hokage. Well, at least that weirdo Moegi isn't around; she keeps trying to talk to this tree – she likes it a bit too much for some reason…. You have some room and stuff to hit – not the tree; the rocks next to it. You don't want the weirdo to yell at you again. As for why you wanna hit stuff, well, it's because- because- it's not fair! Why won't your father let you graduate earlier!? He has said that he might change his mind 'if there are available teammates' or something like that, but that's a bunch of crap! It's not like he ever has time for you, to train or in general – after your mother died, he-
You wipe your eyes with your sleeve; nobody saw, you hope.
...Anyway, that Uchiha with the girly face and the white-eyed bastard with the girly hair... the crazy girl who told you she would make you a living target for her weapons when you bumped into her and accidentally broke her mirror, too; the ones in the class above. They are going to be allowed to graduate early if the rumors are true. You've also heard another Uchiha, this one a girl in class 'A' in your year, entered the Academy a year early. Damn it!
"It's not fair, kore!" You say, punching a rock – the way your uncle, Asuma, has shown you, and not at full power; you don't want to break a knuckle again. Then, you punch it a second and a third time.
"I know," the voice of a girl says.
You look up and see – is that white-eyes?
"My name is Hyuuga Hanabi. Not white-eyes!" She says, snapping at you.
Oops – you said that out loud? You lift your hands in surrender, apologizing; you normally wouldn't do that so easily, but even if you won't admit it, you like Hanabi (not that way! Damn it – that Asuma, he never gets his mind outta the gutter!). She's one of the few who use your name; you should return the favor, at least. You sit on a small boulder, ignoring the jagged edges; you hear someone sit down next to you and turn to look, only to see Hanabi folding her legs all proper and ladylike.
"Well?" Hanabi says.
" 'Well', what, Hanabi?" You say.
"What has you sulking, Konohamaru?" Hanabi says, her expression too blank to be normal.
That blankness doesn't bother you, though. Other students find her creepy or scary, but you know that she at least won't judge you too harshly. You say, "I'm not allowed to graduate now – my father is being annoying and all- all overprotective, kore! It's not like he knows how strong I am; it's Asuma and sometimes the old geezer- I mean, my uncle and my grandfather, who have trained me… after the stick-in-the-mud closet pervert got fired from being my tutor because he was caught spying on the women's side of the hot springs."
Hanabi is not saying anything, and her expression hasn't changed.
You say, "no- my father… it's like he doesn't even care! When mom died, he- he shut down. All he does is train, drink sake and smoke his cigars when he doesn't have clan stuff or a mission. Now that he's Clan Head, it's even worse… even if he's been calling the shots in the Sarutobi clan for years, even if it means he's stopped taking missions, he's found an excuse to be away even longer because he is o-ffi-cially the Head!"
Hanabi moves her hand; after hesitating, she pats your head a few times. You look at her, she looks at you… what does she think you are, a dog? Or is she really that awkward? You hold back a snort, then another and, before long, you are snickering.
Hanabi looks at you, her eyebrows joining together, her bottom lip a tiny bit in front of the other one. She says, "what did I do wrong?"
"Besides pouting? I'm not a dog," you say, "patting the head is for pets, not people!"
"I see," Hanabi says, nodding, "what should I do to cheer someone up, then?"
"You already have," you say, grinning at her.
She frowns again, looking thoughtful; then, her face goes completely blank. She says, "I am glad I was able to amuse you," and you could swear lightning was coming out of her eyes to smite you.
As Hanabi turns to walk away, you cringe and try to apologize, but she doesn't even turn back to look at you.
You sigh, saying to yourself, "this could have gone better, kore. Damn it."
-----
-----
While taking care of Kakashi's wounds, you feel some kind of emotional spike in both men's Chakra; have you reminded them of someone? Or is it unrelated?
Well, you have a few questions to ask them. First, checking on Naruto. You say, "so, where is Naruto, Jiraiya-sama? Is he safe?" Glaring at him, as if daring him to tell you he screwed up.
He tells you that he has stationed two battle Toads and a Shadow Clone of his with Naruto; if there is trouble, Jiraiya can reverse summon Naruto, now that Naruto is also a Toad Clan summoner – he has already taken Naruto as his official apprentice.
This is news to you; you knew that Jiraiya took Naruto as a student, but not that your cousin is his actual, official apprentice.
"Naruto is our distant cousin; he is an Uzumaki too," you explain to Karin.
Unfortunately, Karin is unresponsive. You try to draw her attention, but only after you pinch a thigh does she respond.
"Owowow! Why!?" Karin says, snapping out of her daydreaming – or maybe she's in shock.
"Are you all right, Karin?" You ask her, worry in your voice.
She stops clinging onto you, then says, "now that you pinched me, my leg is sore!" Whining and pouting like a brat.
You turn around to look at her and say, "welcome to the club."
"Ah," Karin says, her eyes opening wide, "you're hurt. You should bite my arm-"
You can sense that doing so even once will scar her, going by her approximate Chakra level and power left at the moment.
[W]You say no
[]You say yes
"Don't even finish that sentence," you say, "I absolutely refuse."
She seems both relieved and disappointed; it seems like she wants to ask something, but says nothing.
"Are you good to go, Karin?" You tell her, " Naruto, our distant cousin, is somewhere nearby."
Karin nods, but Jiraiya says, "wait, little lady – how do we know that this girl isn't a spy planted to get to you or even Naruto?"
You just about bite his head off, then you consider it. It's actually a valid concern. You say, "go ahead then – ask her a few questions," signaling that you have a lie-detecting skill.
Jiraiya shakes his head and says, "you first… I want to see what questions you can come up with; also keep in mind that the phrasing is important."
[] (Questions for Karin) Write-in
+This has a chance to lower, raise or keep the same Rep with Jiraiya and may allow you to find out things about Karin
-----
After you and the perv ask some questions and you confirm that Karin is clean, you apologize to her for pushing her like that.
"No," Karin says, "I get it – you are valuable in your village. Which village is it, by the way?"
There's no need to be vague anymore, so you tell her after you take a look at the two high-level shinobi with you.
"Konoha, huh?" Karin says.
You have a few more questions to ask. You say, "so, Kakashi-san – what was that Lightning jutsu you used earlier?"
His single uncovered eye looks into your own pair, then says, "did you manage to copy it?" Sternly.
"Yes, I did," you admit, "should I 'forget' about it?"
Kakashi lets out a snort, then says, "I'm not that much of a hypocrite. I'll even throw in a free lesson on Chidori, its lesser version; the jutsu you saw is Raikiri. Because they share the same hand-seals, you'd be more likely to get the former rather than the latter if you try to use it. You are even more likely to fry yourself, especially considering those three hand-seals aren't all of them, so wait until I've given you that lesson – or more lessons, if you are willing to pay for them or become my official apprentice. You might also want to apologize to Asuma; you copied his jutsu in the Danzo fight."
"Asuma – that is Shigaru-san's younger brother, the one who helped you save me and Sasuke, right?" You say, remembering the nightmare that was that day. You had completely forgotten about copying that jutsu without permission. You leave what he said about paying for lessons for later; this isn't the time to be distracted by penny-pinching- uh, being money-conscious; yeah, that's it.
Kakashi nods.
"Speaking of copying," you say, "would either of you be willing to let me try to copy your Chakra Reinforcement, Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi-san? Considering what I did to my legs, it's obvious my current level of skill is... lacking, to say the least. I also wish to be ready for possible future ambushes."
They fall silent for a bit, then Jiraiya says, "if you take shortcuts now, with basic techniques, what will you do with higher-level ones...? Though, considering the work ethic I've seen from you so far... sure, I'll show you."
You activate every sensory technique you have, including your Sharingan, and watch him carefully while he's demonstrating the technique. (You need a name for your 'complete' sensory technique. You will consider this further.)
Kakashi-san is a lot more accommodating; you think that Jiraiya only said yes because he thought you won't manage anything due to not seeing any hand-seals. On the other hand, Kakashi gives you tips on how to use Chakra Reinforcement, how to use the Sharingan to copy -and how to use your eyes in general- and on the use and theory of Elemental ninjutsu. He also demonstrates more than one of those until you stop him out of worry for his health.
You make a few hand-seals to try a particular jutsu Kakashi-san showed you and you copied but nothing happens… until you see Jiraiya's shoulders shaking, and even Karin's, who had averted her eyes in order not to see secret jutsu not her own.
Why does it feel like they're laughing at you?
Karin says, "Rin… why is there a small rainbow coming out of your butt?"*
"WHAT!"
"...Let this be a lesson to you, kid: always be careful when executing a jutsu for the first time, especially copied ones. If I had shown you a suicide jutsu, or something that needs a trait only I possess to keep from killing the user directly or indirectly, you would be dead now," Kakashi-san says, his expression solemn.
You our teeth… you want to rage against Kakashi, but he has a good point, damn it! The giggles coming out of Karin and Jiraiya don't help your mood any, though.
"Nothing happened when I tried that jutsu of Kakashi's," you say evenly, "too bad it failed; that hasn't happened to me before."
Jiraiya seems ready to make a smartass comment, so you look at him, then the others and say, "have you ever been so sick you were puking daily for a few weeks?" Smiling 'sweetly'.
"Now see here, little lady-" Jiraiya says before you interrupt him.
You say, "I wonder what would happen to someone who wants to peep in Konoha if a sensor who can feel across the entire village keeps warning people about said peeper; especially if the peeper is too… excited to suppress his Chakra perfectly," smiling again.
Jiraiya lets out something that sounds like 'urk'.
You look Jiraiya directly in the eyes and say, "nothing happened when I tried to use that jutsu," not even bothering to activate your Sharingan.
Kakashi-san clears his throat, making you turn your glare on him. He says, "maa, maa… we got it, Ri- Rin. Never happened."
Karin nods many times quickly, so you let the matter go.
Chakra Reinforcement has gone up! D → C+
Omni-Science has gone up thanks to being used to help copy something! D- → D
Element Mastery: Lightning has gone up more than usual because of an Omake bonus! C+ → A-
(You can now use Lightning jutsu you have mastered at A++ rank and above with only a single hand-seal as long as you have Reduced Incantations&Hand-Seals at the same skill level as Element Mastery: Lightning or above)
Element Mastery: Earth has gone up! C+ → B-
Element Mastery: Water has gone up! C+ → B
Academia has gone up! B → B+ (0/2)
Ninjutsu stat has gone up! B (2/8) → B (5/8)
Chakra Control stat has gone up! B+ (0/9) → B+ (3/9)
Intelligence stat has gone up! A+++ (8/16) → A+++ (10/16
Chidori has gone up further than expected! G+ → E-
(You can now use Chidori with the full nine hand-seals)
Thanks to Omake Rewards boosting you when learning more about the Lightning Element and the Chidori, you have progressed way further in the quest to reverse engineering the Third Raikage's most famous jutsu
Hell Stab / Raiton Chakra Mode 3/? → 7/18
Unlocked a mutation; see below.
Learned a prank jutsu
Thanks to an Omake bonus, you have A++ Sealing skill now. You have learned how to make tri-dimensional seals and how to shrink them into two-dimensional forms; another bonus of this is that your seals are all but impossible to reverse engineer now. You have also learned how to make B-ranked Element Sealing Method scrolls, and the Five Elements Seal/Unseal. Choose the two fields you've practiced in the most below.
Your Sealing has improved thanks to (Omake bonuses) (offscreen training) somehow. Choose the fields in which you made the most progress(pick 2)
[] (Sealing) Barrier Seals
+Allows you to learn the Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Formation); you will be able to use it if alongside three others who can use it (or with Shadow Clones, granted you have enough Chakra)
[] (Sealing) Bijuu and Jinchuuriki
+Your mother slipped you a handwritten scroll, by someone called Uzumaki Mito. The name 'Mito' is rather familiar
+Learn how to seal away Bijuu with your Four Elements Seal
+Your 'Four Elements Seal' will be more powerful, and you will be able to use it with fewer hand-seals
+Learn how to make a Jinchuuriki-suppressing tag
+For that matter, learn what a Jinchuuriki is and more about the Bijuu
+Will progress in Adamantine Attacking Chains slightly
[] (Sealing) Cursed Seals (mainly countering them)
+Also known as Juuinjutsu
+Learn Evil Sealing Method
+Unlock the possibility for the Self-Cursing Seal (an immobilization Cursed Seal) and the Evil Unsealing Method
+Even Kakashi-san is ahead of you in this one; ever since Orochimaru became a missing-nin, Kakashi-san immersed himself in that field, and you haven't even touched it
[] (Sealing) Contracts / Space-Time
+Learn about breaking someone's connection to their summon with the Contract Seal
+Learn about making Summoning Tattoos, though you won't be able to take full advantage of them without a contract with an animal clan
[] (Sealing) Making/Enhancing Weapons (Uchiha specialty)
+Once upon a time, there was a clan whose Bright Eyes allowed them incredible clarity; they could also breathe out fire really well. As such, the ninja clans of the Land of Water, with their mist, Silent Killing and Water jutsu, were a dangerous counter. The Bright-Eyed clan were smart though, and made an ally out of those other clans, gifting them with weapons of incredible power.
+Centuries later, the most important secrets of the Uchiha Sealing Style have been lost; the Uchiha cannot use the backdoors built into the weapons that are now traditionally in the hands of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist (in case the clans of the Water betrayed them), nor are they able to make such dangerous weapons anymore. Will you be the one to rediscover those secrets?
You feel as if something is changing in your body. (Thanks to progressing more than 1/3 of the way through learning the Hell Stab and Raiton Chakra Mode, you can choose between two mutations (though it might take a while as you grow, and more progress in the Raikage's jutsu until it shows))(Pick 1)
[] (Mutation) The Strongest Spear
+All your ninjutsu, elemental or not, will become Highly more powerful at the same level of Chakra Control without any extra Chakra cost
+You will sacrifice directly offensive Elemental Magecraft forever, except that used through jewels
+A bit more Chakra available
+???
[] (Mutation) The Strongest Shield
+Your body will become far more tough and durable (Colossally so), able to shrug off a lot of damage naturally; will also heal a bit faster; your physical strength and speed may rise due to this
+You will not be able to perform Reinforcement Magecraft on your body ever again. Any other object is fine, including your clothes, as is using Chakra for self-reinforcement
+A bit more Chakra available
+???
[] (Mutation) Nothing
+You are certain the other options will come at a cost
+???
As you and your companions run towards Naruto's location, with Jiraiya carrying you and you carrying Karin, you ask the man a last-minute question. You say, "by the way, Jiraiya-sama, I sensed two creatures on your shoulders before they disappeared. What were they? It felt like they were somehow... fused with you...?"
Jiraiya explains the Summoning jutsu and contracts, giving you some details you didn't know, but doesn't elaborate on the 'fusing' part. Hmm... suspicious, but you let it drop. Perhaps he's still angry you threatened him earlier.
Academia skill has gone up! B+ (0/2) -> B+ (1/2)
Intelligence stat has gone up! A+++ (10/16) -> A+++ (12/16)
The four of you reach Naruto's location, but Karin suddenly starts squirming while you are still carrying her.
Karin murmurs, "what is this Chakra...? So bright! So... good!"
She jumps off your back and runs ahead... towards Naruto. You try to hold her back, but she goes and latches on to him. The Toads and Jiraiya's clone have frozen in place, looking at the two Uzumaki like they were seeing a train-wreck in progress.
"Oi, oi, crazy girl! Get off me!" Naruto says, but Karin is sticking to him like glue.
The real Jiraiya is no help; he's shaking from suppressed laughter – you think he's about to start rolling on the floor in guffaws, so you get off his literal back quickly. Kakashi is harder to read, but you are sure he's also amused. Naruto manages to look at you pleadingly. You simply smirk at him. You would take pity on Naruto, but you don't feel like it today.
After Naruto has managed to pry Karin off his body, you introduce them to one another properly. Naruto is constantly trying to edge away from Karin without being obvious about it.
"Wait – this crazy girl is a relative -ttebayo?" Naruto says, a shiver going through his body.
"How rude!" Karin says, harrumphing and putting her hands on her hips.
"No," Naruto says, "what's rude is hugging me out of nowhere!"
Karin adjusts her glasses and says, "I couldn't resist… you felt- I mean your Chakra felt… amazing!"
"You're a Chakra sensor? Like- like Auntie Korin and Rin -ttebayo?" Naruto says, looking at Karin in a new light.
"Hmph," Karin says, scoffing, "I'm an awesome sensor, better than anything you've ever seen!"
"That's why you couldn't tell Rin was there, while she felt you from kilometers away?" Naruto said, smiling mischievously.
...You are so proud of Naruto right now….
He and Karin keep arguing for a few more minutes; the bickering of the two idiots is getting annoying, so you snap at them – they both shut up immediately. Ah, it's good that you've gotten Naruto house-trained, but the way Karin flinched in fright just won't do.
"Relax, Karin," you say, "this is just not the time for bickering; we need to get our head back into the game. The adults, Naruto and I are here on a ninja mission."
Karin seems calmer after that, but she is still a bit skittish. You don't want to let Karin out of your sight, and the adults apparently agree, because they haven't objected to Karin's presence, so you are going to take her with you.
-----
You are back in Shiruku Town, known for its high quality sake – not silk, despite the similar-sounding name of the place. Jiraiya asks around, and apparently Tsunade took her newly-acquired bottles of sake and hightailed it all of a sudden when she heard something like thunder. You think back to the explosions you caused; it's fortunate I didn't start a forest fire, now that I think of it.
"You nearly did," Jiraiya says, "fortunately, Ma and Pa, my summons smothered it before it could truly get started."
You said that out loud? "That's a relief," you say.
You've got to get a summon of your own. You try to get a handle on Tsunade's Chakra – it must be similar to your mother's. Unfortunately, you can't find anything like that anywhere.
Jiraiya presents Kakashi with a few bottles of sake Tsunade has touched and a few sheets from her hotel room, asking him if he can get her scent. You really don't want to know just how Jiraiya got those sheets. Kakashi tilts his head and sniffs at the sheets, then bites his thumb and makes several hand-seals, saying something about wanting to be sure, only to reveal… a pug dog?
The pug talks, saying, "hey Kakashi. What do you need me for?"
"The dog talked!" Naruto says, pointing at the pug, incredulous.
While you knew that most summoned animals are capable of speech, this is possibly the first time you've heard and seen that in person. You are better at hiding your emotions than Naruto, though… shouldn't he have seen Jiraiya's toads before, maybe even summoned them, though?
The dog summon looks at Naruto for a moment, but it then turns back to Kakashi.
"Pakkun," Kakashi says, "what can you tell us about the people who slept on these sheets?"
The dog -Pakkun- sniffs at the sheets, like Kakashi earlier; with similar motions, too. It says, "it was a female aged between twenty and twenty-five and a female of indeterminate age; likely older than the other. They both went that way," showing a direction.
"Please lead the way, Pakkun," Kakashi says.
Pakkun holds up a paw, looks at you, Karin and Naruto and then says, "hello, kids – I'm Pakkun. It's nice to meet you. I would offer to let you touch my paws… well, maybe when we have more time. As for you, Jiraiya-sama – you aren't allowed to touch me; I don't know where those hands have been. No, wait... I do know, but that's even worse – my nose can be a disadvantage sometimes."
Jiraiya grunts at Pakkun. You simply say, "nice to meet you, Pakkun-san; I am Uchiha Rin," glaring at Naruto and Karin, making them hastily introduce themselves, too.
"Just Pakkun is fine, girly," Pakkun says calmly.
You and the others start jogging once you are outside the town, following Pakkun. Karin is being carried by Kakashi-san because of Pakkun's little jab at Jiraiya earlier. Your leg is in far better condition now, so you are able to jog at increasing speeds. As much as you hate the thought, you are the weak link now, even if your muscles are healing quickly. Fortunately, after taking care of your legs and examining them, you can tell that you are already at a point where light exercise helps rather than hinders; praise be to your Uzumaki ancestors.
-----
Vote in plan format on this turn, please.
*Credit for the butt-rainbow jutsu goes to Lucillia on FFnet - at least, that's where I first saw it. I apologize for turning the mood so light all of a sudden, but I did promise to make Kakashi more of a trickster/bastard mentor thanks to Ink Well 's omake on SB.
Your plan for drawing in Jiraiya with a huge explosion was very good; unfortunately, it had the side-effect of driving Tsunade away, too. Be glad you have Kakashi with you – it might have been an unintentional stroke of genius when you picked him.
The search for Tsunade will be continued in the next chapter
Mutation I'm sure I want Nothing. I don't think its beneficial enough, since Rin's big thing is her versatility, sealing off an entire category of her magic permanently isn't worth it unless she needs power RIGHT NOW to not die.
But I don't know what questions and its a Plan vote so I'll just wait for some answers that make sense.
Konohamaru has been aged up to Naruto's year and Hanabi is Hinata's younger twin here. I had intended to age them up slightly less, but because Rin will most likely graduate earlier than projected, they are now Naruto's age. Yes, they have always been meant as Rin's teammates.
I'm happy about Hanabi being our future teammate, but a bit disappointed that we didn't get Yakumo Kurama, especially since I never liked Konohamaru. Oh well.
Hmm... @AoMythology, what counts as 'directly offensive'? Jutsu are far better at DPS than magecraft, so if the Gandr and similar count as indirect due to not dealing immedate damage, it might be worth taking this. Especially when a bit of preparation lets us circumvent that restriction with jewelcraft.
I definitely agree with veekie that the weapon imbuement is the best sealing specialization on offer, especially since we might be able to combine it with magecraft-based enchantments for more conceptual effects.
Potential questions we could ask Karin:
(Use S+++ diplomacy for rapport with Karin)
Are you alright with me asking a few questions, even if they might be harsh or hurtful?
Include a relatively unimportant question she'll lie about to get a baseline on whether she's a good liar.
Have you ever seen Orochimaru before today?
Which village do you come from and what is your relationship with them?
Is it correct that you are from Kusa and hold absolutely no loyalty to them?
Is there any other group you work for?
Do you even have any shinobi training?
What about infiltration training?
Who taught you about the healing bite, then?
Where did you want to go before we met you?
Did you recognize or know about any of us before today?
What are your intentions towards our village?
Towards me or Naruto?
Are you planning to betray our trust?
Did someone 'help' you flee that might have arranged for you to meet either Orochimaru or us?
Note: Yes, she mentioned that she's afraid of being taken back to Kusa because she was "pretty much their slave", but we need to verify that information.
Honestly, that defensive mutation sounds very useful.
While offense makes us hit above our weight class, and for less, the defensive sounds like it will prevent 90% of enemies from insta-killing or crippling us, as well as boosting our physical parameters a ton.
It sounds like it will lead to us having EX BEYOND HUMANITY durability.
Unless we can learn reinforcement to upper servant levels, then it seems like the choice to go for.
[ ] (Sealing) Making/Enhancing Weapons (Uchiha specialty)
[ ] (Mutation) The Strongest Shield
+Your body will become far more tough and durable (Colossally so), able to shrug off a lot of damage naturally; will also heal a bit faster; your physical strength and speed may rise due to this
+You will not be able to perform Reinforcement Magecraft on your body ever again. Any other object is fine, including your clothes, as is using Chakra for self-reinforcement
+A bit more Chakra available
+???
Hmm... @AoMythology, what counts as 'directly offensive'? Jutsu are far better at DPS than magecraft, so if the Gandr and similar count as indirect due to not dealing immedate damage, it might be worth taking this. Especially when a bit of preparation lets us circumvent that restriction with jewelcraft.
Only of the four basic Elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth) (Ether on its own doesn't count as an element for the purposes of this), but basically anything of those four that mimics offensive ninjutsu other than those using indirect means is nixed - so, a poisonous cloud, even if it is classified as Wind Magecraft, is not counted as direct... thus, most Gandr-like stuff will still remain in your reach.
On the other option, you lose the ability to use Reinforcement Magecraft on your body directly, but you still will keep the ability to Reinforce objects, including your clothes and weapons.
Edit: @dxd3895 : please vote in plan format... also, don't forget that I'm allowing 2 options for the 'Sealing' part of the voting.
Edit2: unless you only meant to showcase what you intend to vote for, but it's better if you don't use the X
I would have chosen more barrier sealing because its rare, at least to me, that anyone can fight like Kushina with chains and barriers thus holding positions on the battlefield.
But they are traveling with Jiraiya. Being able to hold off that fusing thing that others with summons can do or just getting rid of summoning as an option is a great tactical option.
I think she would also get some sadistic glee at removing options from others arsenals.
My reasoning against the Strongest Shield was that
We would give up on Self-Reinforcement, which admittedly isn't much by itself, but it can stack with Chakra Reinforcement and might synergize with Sage mode.
Unlike the Strongest Spear, which refers to one of A's techniques and would therefore probably mutate our chakra system, the Strongest Shield grants a bit of his physical toughness. The issue with that is that the mutation will most likely affect our skin and physique, something that would be quite noticeable considering A's looks.
Alright, all of those offensive spells can be replaced with corresponding jutsu, so the boost to our elemental jutsu should outweigh the loss of our offensive elemental magecraft.
[X] Plan Chakra Boost
-[X] (Mutation) The Strongest Spear
-[X] (Sealing) Making/Enhancing Weapons (Uchiha specialty)
-[X] (Sealing) Bijuu and Jinchuuriki
-[X] (Questions for Karin)
--[X] Use S+++ diplomacy for rapport with Karin
--[X] Are you alright with me asking a few questions, even if they might be harsh or hurtful?
--[X] Include a relatively unimportant question she'll lie about (e.g. due to embarassment) to get a baseline on whether she's a good liar.
--[X] Have you ever encountered or been in communication with Orochimaru before today?
--[X] Is it correct that you are from Kusa and hold absolutely no loyalty to them, nor to any single person in Kusa?
--[X] Excluding us, are there any other groups or individuals that you are involved with, in contact with, or hold loyalty to?
--[X] Do you have any shinobi training?
--[X] What about infiltration training?
--[X] Who taught you about the healing bite?
--[X] Where did you want to go before we met you?
--[X] Did you recognize or know about any of us before our meeting today?
--[X] What are your intentions towards our village?
--[X] Towards me and Naruto?
--[X] Are you planning to betray our trust?
--[X] Did someone 'help' you flee that might have arranged for you to meet either Orochimaru or us?
--[X] Do you have seals, tattoos, or other notable marks aside from scars anywhere on your person?
Edit: Forgot the second sealing specialization.
I selected "Bijuu and Jinchuuriki" because our Origin gives us a colossal bonus against anything considered demonic, including Bijuu and partially Jinchuuriki. Might as well play to our strengths.
Edit 2: Used ferian's modifications of the questions block.
[X] Plan: What do you mean we can't get servants?
-[X] (Sealing) Contracts / Space-Time
-[X] (Sealing) Making/Enhancing Weapons (Uchiha specialty)
-[X] (Mutation) Nothing
-[X] (Questions for Karin)
--[X] Use S+++ diplomacy for rapport with Karin
--[X] Are you alright with me asking a few questions, even if they might be harsh or hurtful?
--[X] Include a relatively unimportant question she'll lie about (e.g. due to embarassment) to get a baseline on whether she's a good liar.
--[X] Have you ever seen Orochimaru before today?
--[X] Is it correct that you are from Kusa and hold absolutely no loyalty to them, nor to any single person in Kusa?
--[X] Is there any other group you work for?
--[X] Do you have any shinobi training?
--[X] What about infiltration training?
--[X] (Assuming she lacks training) Who taught you about the healing bite, then?
--[X] Where did you want to go before we met you?
--[X] Did you recognize or know about any of us before today?
--[X] What are your intentions towards our village?
--[X] Towards me and Naruto?
--[X] Are you planning to betray our trust?
--[X] Did someone 'help' you flee that might have arranged for you to meet either Orochimaru or us?
Contracts > Summoning > Servants
Weapons > NP/Mystic codes
Any mutation we get we're going to have to spend more time on learning how to use it and it takes away from things we have already learned. Neither seem that good even if the have boastful names.
[X] Plan Preserving Strengths
-[X] (Mutation) Nothing
-[X] (Sealing) Making/Enhancing Weapons (Uchiha specialty)
-[X] (Sealing) Bijuu and Jinchuuriki
-[X] (Questions for Karin)
--[X] Use S+++ diplomacy for rapport with Karin
--[X] Are you alright with me asking a few questions, even if they might be harsh or hurtful?
--[X] Include a relatively unimportant question she'll lie about (e.g. due to embarassment) to get a baseline on whether she's a good liar.
--[X] Have you ever seen Orochimaru before today?
--[X] Is it correct that you are from Kusa and hold absolutely no loyalty to them, nor to any single person in Kusa?
--[X] Is there any other group you work for?
--[X] Do you have any shinobi training?
--[X] What about infiltration training?
--[X] (Assuming she lacks training) Who taught you about the healing bite, then?
--[X] Where did you want to go before we met you?
--[X] Did you recognize or know about any of us before today?
--[X] What are your intentions towards our village?
--[X] Towards me and Naruto?
--[X] Are you planning to betray our trust?
--[X] Did someone 'help' you flee that might have arranged for you to meet either Orochimaru or us?
The drawbacks are too bad, Rin's big perk is that she's basically competent in every area, theres no weak point and she ALWAYS has a sideways option to take you in yours.
Chakra reinforcement is better at producing buffs in mechanical output, Nasuverse reinforcement is better at creating things that'd normally be a Bloodline Limit, noting that Reinforcing the eyes can produce Byakugan-like telescopic vision as a readily available example.
Elemental ninjutsu is better by far for producing energy blasts, especially wide area ones, but magecraft includes direct spiritual attacks and other things that the ninja world isn't really equipped to know how to counter.
1)The 'mutations' are passive effects, though you will need to grow a bit in order to get their full impact. You could get them a bit faster by learning the Raikage's jutsu all the way, but that's all.
2)Anything that affects the spirit, because there's probably a conceptual aspect to it, won't be affected - only straightforward and direct damage spells are lost.
2)Anything that affects the spirit, because there's probably a conceptual aspect to it, won't be affected - only straightforward and direct damage spells are lost.
[/] (Mutation) The Strongest Shield
+Your body will become far more tough and durable (Colossally so), able to shrug off a lot of damage naturally; will also heal a bit faster; your physical strength and speed may rise due to this
+You will not be able to perform Reinforcement Magecraft on your body ever again. Any other object is fine, including your clothes, as is using Chakra for self-reinforcement
+A bit more Chakra available
+???
This seems like a great deal for us.
Not only do we get a very good baseline reinforcement (much) stronger than what our current magecraft gives us, along with a few lesser benefits like improved healing, but it's also going to be always up. Sleep or ambushes are now much less of a threat.
Moreover, it frees up the time we would need to spend upgrading our reinforcement magecraft skill for more useful goals. And if we do end up spending time on the skill anyway we can end up with stacked defenses since the reinforcement magecraft can still be used on any armor/clothes/weapons/other gear we carry. Without the ridiculous money cost of throwing jewels at the enemy for each shot.
[] (Sealing) Barrier Seals
+Allows you to learn the Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Formation); you will be able to use it if alongside three others who can use it (or with Shadow Clones, granted you have enough Chakra)
Kinda useless. A major ongoing chakra cost for, at best, isolating your opponent. Even if we assume the barrier gives "perfect" defense while it's up (protip: it probably doesn't) what's the point of it? wouldn't basically draining your chakra pool give a better return than that?
More to the point how is that more useful than anything else on the list?
[/] (Sealing) Bijuu and Jinchuuriki
+Your mother slipped you a handwritten scroll, by someone called Uzumaki Mito. The name 'Mito' is rather familiar
+Learn how to seal away Bijuu with your Four Elements Seal
+Your 'Four Elements Seal' will be more powerful, and you will be able to use it with fewer hand-seals
+Learn how to make a Jinchuuriki-suppressing tag
+For that matter, learn what a Jinchuuriki is and more about the Bijuu
+Will progress in Adamantine Attacking Chains slightly
While boring, Jinchuuriki and Biju are a major threat to basically anyone that isn't beyond S rank. Learning how to defeat, or at least defend against, them is a boon for our overall survivability.
[] (Sealing) Cursed Seals (mainly countering them)
+Also known as Juuinjutsu
+Learn Evil Sealing Method
+Unlock the possibility for the Self-Cursing Seal (an immobilization Cursed Seal) and the Evil Unsealing Method
+Even Kakashi-san is ahead of you in this one; ever since Orochimaru became a missing-nin, Kakashi-san immersed himself in that field, and you haven't even touched it
Besides Orochimaru's single example I struggle to remember any other "Cursed Seal" in canon. It's pretty damn niche and Kakashi already covers it.
[/] (Sealing) Contracts / Space-Time
+Learn about breaking someone's connection to their summon with the Contract Seal
+Learn about making Summoning Tattoos, though you won't be able to take full advantage of them without a contract with an animal clan
Summons are a Major strength multiplicator. The ability to remove it from our enemies is equally if not more broken. It'd also be a major push for us to get a summon contract at all (and with it the obvious pathway to Sage Mode)
[] (Sealing) Making/Enhancing Weapons (Uchiha specialty)
+Once upon a time, there was a clan whose Bright Eyes allowed them incredible clarity; they could also breathe out fire really well. As such, the ninja clans of the Land of Water, with their mist, Silent Killing and Water jutsu, were a dangerous counter. The Bright-Eyed clan were smart though, and made an ally out of those other clans, gifting them with weapons of incredible power.
+Centuries later, the most important secrets of the Uchiha Sealing Style have been lost; the Uchiha cannot use the backdoors built into the weapons that are now traditionally in the hands of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist (in case the clans of the Water betrayed them), nor are they able to make such dangerous weapons anymore. Will you be the one to rediscover those secrets?
Imo the swords are pretty much shit on a stick. A gimmick that hardly matters. Case in point how many S rank ninjas are known for their weapon? answer: One out of dozens. And i'd argue that if you take away Kishame's sword he's still a pretty solid S rank anyway.
Better spend the time and effort on our abilities.
[x] plan for the future
-[x] (Sealing) Bijuu and Jinchuuriki
-[x] (Mutation) The Strongest Shield
-[x] (Sealing) Contracts / Space-Time
This seems like a great deal for us.
Not only do we get a very good baseline reinforcement (much) stronger than what our current magecraft gives us, along with a few lesser benefits like improved healing, but it's also going to be always up. Sleep or ambushes are now much less of a threat.
Moreover, it frees up the time we would need to spend upgrading our reinforcement magecraft skill for more useful goals. And if we do end up spending time on the skill anyway we can end up with stacked defenses since the reinforcement magecraft can still be used on any armor/clothes/weapons/other gear we carry. Without the ridiculous money cost of throwing jewels at the enemy for each shot.
As mentioned before, this is most likely a physical mutation of our skin and physique. A very visible change, going by A.
The "stacks with reinforcement of clothes" is much less powerful and versatile than stacking Self-Reinforcement. Clothes only enhance your endurance, not your speed, reflexes, and senses.
The "ridiculous cost" of jewels would only come into play in the extremely unlikely case that we can't use chakra - in which case our magic circuits will be taxed to the max anyhow, which means stored spells would be preferable to casting those spells from our reserves. Ergo, the Strongest Spear won't incur the massive cost you seem to fear. At most we'll carry one jewel per element with us as a trump card.
Since the same question was raised on SB, I'll just copy my answer from over there.
Counterpoint: How many heroic spirits heavily rely on a weapon-type Noble Phantasm?
Because as AoMythology pointed out, we can use "Magecraft along with Fuuinjutsu", which means the more conceptual effects from NPs could potentially be within our grasp if we go down that path.
Oh well, my muse does as it will.
