Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

Velorien said:

Alas, Orochimaru only loves science.

(And science does not exist as a concept at this level of civilisation, which explains why he's always so grouchy.)

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Xilentxium said:

Plan is simple. We found the concept of science, thus securing Snuncle's approval and devotion forever. No there are no flaws to this.

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_The_Bomb said:

I propose the founding of the Gōketsu Akane Foundation, dedicated to protecting the genin of Leaf.

Any genin, no matter their age or status, can claim a free kit of TBD seals once per year, specifically chosen to be the most useful for increasing genin survability. We'll expand the foundation to do more later, but that's where we'll start.

"Akane died trying to save her genin. While even her sacrifice wasn't enough to save them, we'll make sure that many more Leaf ninja life on because of it."

---

There are many good reasons to do this, but the one I care about most is that it will help Hazō get through his grief in the most healthy way possible. By reinforcing that we are Forged in Fire and that we turn our trauma into empathy for others. In this case, empathy for the many in Leaf that have lost family and for those who have to go out on missions knowing that there's a very real chance they might not come back. That's the reality that genin, the majority of the ninja of Leaf, face.

The Gōketsu Akane Foundation will help many more ninja survive and contribute to the Will of Fire. In addition to saving lives being enough all on its own, this would be amazing be for Leaf's security and the perception of our clan. It will also make Naruto, Asuma, and a lot of others see Hazō himself in a better light, for doing the really hard but incrediblly noble task of channeling his grief towards generosity and the Will of Fire instead of into the revenge we so rightfully deserve.

If for some reason that isn't enough for you...

If The Gōketsu Akane Foundation is successful, it will spread Akane's name and story to nearly the entire population of Leaf's ninja. She will be remembered much more strongly, and that will persist for as long as Leaf stands.

In other words, it'll buy us some time to pull her out of the Naraka realm.

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• Break the news to Akane's parents.
• The speech:
  • Sanity-check with Kei and Mari; run it by Asuma if needed.
  • Tone: Genuine; no mealy-mouthed bullshit.
  • Manato, Nakajima Nanao, Tomoe Mami, and Goketsu Akane are missing, presumed dead.
    • You are heartbroken: Leaf is poorer by four outstanding ninja taken far too soon.
    • You know that they touched many lives.
    • You will be making time over the next few days to meet with their families and friends - to mourn, and share stories.
  • While all of their deaths represent tragedies, you were particularly close to Akane. She was courageous, kind, and held the Will of Fire in her heart.
  • "The will to protect is the Will of Fire, which warms your comrades and illuminates your path even as it burns your enemies." We know this to be true.
    • "But taking this too far leads to everybody getting hurt, and risks everything in the end, like a wildfire annihilating a forest."
    • In our grief, we threatened the Hagoromo with annihilation. We unreservedly recant our words.
    • Desires for vengeance, taken too far, are not the Will of Fire. We were wrong, and beg forgiveness.
    • Akane would expected no less. She has returned to the Will of Fire, but she remains in your heart. You will not disappoint her.
• Earthshape stone in Akane's image. Preserve her memory.
• Attempt a second seance to find Akane, using those things close to her.
• The rest:
  • Instruct the Goketsu to not, under any circumstances, retaliate against the Hagoromo. No exceptions, no loopholing.
  • Thank Naruto: he authorized the mission and Skywalkers.
  • Apologize to Rock Lee. He didn't deserve that.
  • Spend time with friends & family.
• Sealing Research
  • If Kagome approves (Hazo's mental state etc.) research Directional Explosives/the next Minato seal.
    • Eschew prep, use SSA, reroll -9/-12 on Sealing/Calligraphy rolls.

Rafin said:

We at the very least have to obey the Hokage's direct orders and officially recant our threat. As I said before, my preference is doing that dryly and leaning on Leaf traditions, while emphasizing through subtext how the Hokage is making us do this but that we agree with his judgement.

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Black King said:

• Sanity check with Mari, Kei
  • Have Asuma and other summoners bring items/foods from other nations for Canvass to cross reference with the smell of Akane's attackers
  • Ask Asuma for payout of jutsu/seals ASAP. We've lost a lot. Personally and for future Dragon plans. Maybe mention SC for Yuno, Noburi, Kagome.
  • Establish AKANE (Assault Kits of Advanced Ninja Equipment), free explosive and storage seals for clanless genin. Have our sealsmiths handle this.
  • Prepare for Akane mourning and memorial service
  • Release public statement recanting Hagoromo war, written, insincere
  • Blood Tracking Clan, can we use them to locate Akane? Thoughts on using Hidan/alerting him to AMITY violation
  • Loop in Ami on everything with Akane and her disappearance

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Dictator4Hire said:

If Asuma really becomes so horrible after learning about FOOM that we find him intolerable as a leader Noburi has the ability to simply abscond to Toad territory on the 7th path until Asuma either chills out or is replaced. I really don't expect this to happen but it is a potential back up plan

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_The_Bomb said:

Hey guys, can you do me a huge favor? I am terminally low on spoons right now and don't have the mental energy to engage with the thread. The timing of this really sucks because yesterday I had an idea I was really proud of and wanted to bring to the thread's consideration before next plan.

If it's not to much to ask, could you guys please take a look at it? There's so much more about it I would write but I just really can't right now, so I can only give you the initial thoughts that I posted right in time to be buried by the new chapter, as well as some additional snippits from my half of a conversation yesterday.

It would mean the world to me if you took a look at those and considered the idea. If you don't like it, that's totally fine! I suspect a lot of you will though, especially since it can be done alongside any current(?) plans, so I would be quite sad if real-life kills the idea in the cradle.

All I ask is that you take a look. Perhaps you'll end up really like the idea and bat for it in my place. Or, perhaps not. I'll be really grateful that you went out of your way to give it a chance either way.

Spoiler: Snippets From My Conversation

It just hit me out of no where yesterday. The more I thought about it, the less I felt my hatred and desire for revenge.
It helped. And I'm so excited about it because I think it would help Hazō too.
~~~~
I envision it being an extraordinarily healthy way to process his grief.
I was inspired by *Forged in Fire*
There are many in-character ways Hazō could process his grief
I'm sure you can see Hazō sinking into a deep rage and pursuing vengeance at all costs
This idea really helped me with that.
I'd much rather Hazō overcome this by leaning on his noblest traits ("WWAD?") instead of his darkest.
~~~~
It's what Akane would have wanted.

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Black King said:

No he doesn't? That could be years and Noburi would like to see his family and his wife sometime.

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faflec said:

I'm iffy about the Seal Bank plan for a variety of reasons, so I've forked @FaintlySorcerous' plan and made some other edits he is free to take as he sees fit.
(yes, I'm a plagarizing hack)

[X] Action Plan: Life Carries On No Bank
Word count: ???

• Break the news to Akane's parents.
• The speech:
  • Sanity-check with Kei and Mari; run it by Asuma if needed.
  • Tone: Genuine; no mealy-mouthed bullshit.
  • Manato, Nakajima Nanao, Tomoe Mami, and Goketsu Akane are missing, presumed dead.
    • You are heartbroken: Leaf is poorer by four outstanding ninja taken far too soon.
    • You know that they touched many lives.
    • You will be making time over the next few days to meet with their families and friends - to mourn, and share stories.
  • While all of their deaths represent tragedies, you were particularly close to Akane. She was courageous, kind, and held the Will of Fire in her heart.
  • "The will to protect is the Will of Fire, which warms your comrades and illuminates your path even as it burns your enemies." We know this to be true.
    • "But taking this too far leads to everybody getting hurt, and risks everything in the end, like a wildfire annihilating a forest."
    • In our grief, we threatened the Hagoromo with annihilation. We unreservedly recant our words.
    • Desires for vengeance, taken too far, are not the Will of Fire. We were wrong, and beg forgiveness.
    • Akane would expected no less. She has returned to the Will of Fire, but she remains in your heart. You will not disappoint her.
• Spend time with friends and family.
  • Share memories about Akane, that not everyone has. Tell each other about her, and bring her to life inside them.
• Earthshape stone in Akane's image. Preserve her memory.
• The rest:
  • Instruct the Goketsu to not, under any circumstances, retaliate against the Hagoromo. No exceptions, no loopholing.
  • Thank Naruto: he authorized the mission and Skywalkers.
  • Apologize to Rock Lee. He didn't deserve that.

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Black King said:

Would any of you care if I removed the 'full time "fuck Hagoromo" line from my plan?

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FaintlySorcerous said:

Omake: Speech​

Every part of Hazo hurt.

He could remember, dimly, his father's death. The memories felt dreamlike, almost unreal, memories of someone else who happened to be observing a mourning child. He could see, now, that the child had been drowning - drowning in grief, drowning in confusion, drowning in anger.

But that child hadn't known they were drowning. They'd just felt the water, felt resistance when they thrashed, felt their throat fill and their lungs spasm, felt a leeching cold.

They hadn't been able to see the ocean, empty and heartless. They hadn't known how far they were from shore, they hadn't known that no one was coming. They hadn't known that they would not drown, but swallow lungful after lungful of frigid brackish seawater as they drifted with agonizing slowness back to land.

Hazo knew. He knew exactly what was coming and part of him whispered that he would fail. This would break him. It whispered that Akane was dead, would always be dead, and that he would never recover the part of him that had died with her. The wound in his soul would not heal, but blacken and turn and seep through him until it claimed him.

"Hazo?"

Mari put her head around the door. She was resplendent in Leaf mourning garb; black with reds, oranges, and yellows. He catalogued her makeup before peeling it back, the powder revealing worry lines, smudged darkness at the corners of her eyes distracting from barely-visible bags, mascara offsetting bloodshot eyes. He kept peeling, drawing her sk1n from her muscles to reveal tension in her jaw, and then the muscle separate to uncover cle1Vched teeth and t#en b0ne gave wa -

"Hazo. It's time."

He stood. His back hurt. She put a hand on his shoulder. Guilt washed over him. She was keeping it together, and that worried him. Later, he'd sit down with her.

Thinking of later hurt.

The crowd was a decent size. Reo had done well with the impromptu stage, wrought from the red granite which was becoming synonymous with Goketsu. It was simple - an elevated platform, with a backdrop covered in calligraphy and tapestries. Goketsu colours, and Goketsu words. Hazo looked over but not at the throng of people. If he saw a Hagoromo, he didn't know what he'd do. He took a breath, and began.

"Manato, Nakajima Nanao, Tomoe Mami, and Goketsu Akane are missing, presumed dead."

The air was still. Speaking hurt, even as the Iron Nerve played the speech back.

"Leaf is poorer by four outstanding shinobi, taken too soon. They touched many lives, and it's good to see so many of their comrades, friends, and family here. I'd like to speak to all of you - not just here and now, but in the coming days and weeks, to mourn and share stories. Every moment I had with Akane was precious. It would be wrong to hoard those moments: we may never have more, but we can share the wealth of knowing her, knowing Nanao, and knowing Mami, knowing Manato. I would like to share the memories I was gifted with you. I hope that you'll do the same for me."

Someone wept.

"All of their deaths constitute tragedies - tragedies which should be unimaginable, but which are all too easy to conceive for everyone here. I wish to honour this tragedy, their sacrifice, but first - "

Mari had coached him through the slip. An apology delivered by the Iron Nerve would be picked over, analyzed, and taken as insincere. Almost no one in Leaf would be able to tell the difference, but Ritsuo would make sure that someone who could was in the crowd and Hazo would not provide him with anything he could use to deflect even a shred of the Hokage's fury. So, they'd rehearsed, over and over. His bloodline hurt, but he could do it, now. He let go of his face - he seemed to let go of his face. The slightest of slight exaggerations, so everyone would see, would believe, that he'd made this real.

" - I must apologize to the Hagoromo. By now, you have likely heard rumour that I made threats against their clan, and by extension, the village. These rumours are true. I am deeply ashamed. I unreservedly recant those threats, and my words. The Goketsu will not act against the Hagoromo - no aggression nor provocation will be tolerated. Akane would expect no less. She may have returned to the Will of Fire, but she remains in my heart, and I will not disappoint nor dishonour her."

His teeth hurt. The words hurt, like choking down kunai and vomiting molten metal.

He waited for a heartbeat, and continued.

"I wish to honour Akane, and Mami, and Manato, and Nanao. Goketsu wishes to honour their sacrifice and their memories."

He gestured - first, the handsign for 'safe', to frowns, and then behind him. Mari, out of sight, triggered the MARS chain attached to the charges placed last night. The backdrop crumbled, and so did a carefully-chosen portion of the wall of the Goketsu clan compound, revealing a small building. The shockwave - barely noticeable by Goketsu standards, and a sudden, strong wind by anyone else's - grabbed at Hazo's robes, blew dust and pebbles through the crowd.

It was a marriage of stone and wood. It was green and brown and red. Ken and Hazo had agonized over it, almost come to blows, and agreed on a structure that they thought Akane would have liked. It was small. It had a doorway but no door. The roof hung over the entrance, protecting the space from the weather. Four names were carved into the lintel. It was barely big enough for two people, one standing and one seated behind a desk, but it still looked open and inviting. They'd put it together in a frenzy last night, working almost silently. They'd both wept when it was finished.

Shouts and confusion competed with the muted roar. Hazo projected over both.

"The Goketsu have endowed the Team Akane Seal Bank." He'd flat-out rejected the inclusion of the word 'memorial'. "Any shinobi may withdraw a package of four seals - one storage, three explosive tags - free of charge, at any time. These seals will be replaced as they are destroyed, consumed, or wear out."

The shouting had crescendoed at the words 'seal bank', only to vanish as Hazo held up four seals. The clicking of abacus beads was nigh-audible as every numerate member of the crowd, which had grown since the explosion, reached the same conclusion. This would be a massive expense.

"Leaf provides seals to its shinobi at reasonable prices, but circumstance and misfortune leave these tools too expensive for many shinobi. If there is one thing a Goketsu knows, it is the power of the right seal, in the right place, at the right time. We would see all of Leaf's shinobi thus equipped."

Kei had thrown a fit. Shikamaru had raised both eyebrows. Mari had pursed her lips. Noburi had whistled, and Yuno had clutched Satsuko. Kagome had grumbled, dumped a stack of explosives on the table, and started scribing, then and there. No one had argued.

(Akane's absence hurt.)

"We ask four things of those who would use the seal bank."

"Please limit your use of the bank to your need: we trust that no Leaf shinobi would dishonour the memories of dead comrades through greed or a desire to hurt the Goketsu through inappropriate use of the bank. If we find that the bank is being abused, we will investigate and respond accordingly."

One seal flickered out of sight, leaving two explosives and the storage seal.

"However, if you are in such need, do not hesitate to make use of the bank. The right seal, at the right time, in the right place, can make all the difference between the success and failure of a mission, between your death and life, between mourning and joy."

One explosive and the storage seal remained visible. The crowd was still. Hazo ventured a look at the crowd - a real one. He caught the eye of a stunned genin, and continued.

"If you do make use of the bank, and later find yourself in a position to make a contribution of seals or ryo, please do so. These seals and this money will be held independently of Goketsu - at present, the plan is to work with the KEI and Nara to provide independent bookkeeping, allowing donors absolute confidence that donated seals and funds will be used exclusively for the bank."

Only the storage seal remained.

"Finally, we ask that when you use these seals, you think of Team Akane."

The murmuring was still shocked, but it had a different timbre. Hazo lowered his hand, and let the Iron Nerve go - properly, this time.

"The bank will open tomorrow. Please excuse any missteps or issues as we launch this new initiative: our clan is grieving, but we are committed, and appreciate your patience. Team Akane may no longer be with us, and this is a poor substitute for what their legacy could have been, but we will honour them. Make no mistake: this is a significant expense. We welcome and encourage any sealsmith capable and willing to contribute to the bank. We will be reaching out to the KEI and other clans to see if they are interested in donating other to augment the offered seals, but let me be clear: as long a Goketsu sealmaster can hold a brush and mould chakra, as long as the memories of Goketsu Akane, Manato, Nakajima Nanao, and Tomoe Mami burn in our hearts, the bank will stand, and it will serve the shinobi of Leaf."

The confusion coalesced into shouted questions. Hazo ignored them, instead bowing deeply before walking off the stage and back into the compound, passing Noburi and Mari, ready to deter anyone who followed him. His hands hurt - cramped from holding a brush, the same strokes, over and over. He'd stopped counting seals at some point, and just kept going until Kagome made him stop.

Every part of Hazo hurt.

A little less than before.

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_The_Bomb said:

Hey guys, can you do me a huge favor? I am terminally low on spoons right now and don't have the mental energy to engage with the thread. The timing of this really sucks because yesterday I had an idea I was really proud of and wanted to bring to the thread's consideration before next plan.

If it's not to much to ask, could you guys please take a look at it? There's so much more about it I would write but I just really can't right now, so I can only give you the initial thoughts that I posted right in time to be buried by the new chapter, as well as some additional snippits from my half of a conversation yesterday.

It would mean the world to me if you took a look at those and considered the idea. If you don't like it, that's totally fine! I suspect a lot of you will though, especially since it can be done alongside any current(?) plans, so I would be quite sad if real-life kills the idea in the cradle.

All I ask is that you take a look. Perhaps you'll end up really like the idea and bat for it in my place. Or, perhaps not. I'll be really grateful that you went out of your way to give it a chance either way.

Spoiler: Snippets From My Conversation

It just hit me out of no where yesterday. The more I thought about it, the less I felt my hatred and desire for revenge.
It helped. And I'm so excited about it because I think it would help Hazō too.
~~~~
I envision it being an extraordinarily healthy way to process his grief.
I was inspired by *Forged in Fire*
There are many in-character ways Hazō could process his grief
I'm sure you can see Hazō sinking into a deep rage and pursuing vengeance at all costs
This idea really helped me with that.
I'd much rather Hazō overcome this by leaning on his noblest traits ("WWAD?") instead of his darkest.
~~~~
It's what Akane would have wanted.

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acidshill said:

[X] Action Plan: Life Carries On No Bank

I would like to do the seal bank thing, but I want to figure out how logistically viable it is first. Also, like, it may actually take some time to scribe enough seals for the bank to not immediately run out on opening. And I don't think we're harmed by delaying for a few weeks.

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charlesrwest said:

Our seal smiths can produce enough seals to give every ninja 24 seals per year.

If all Hazo did was make seals, he could make 120 seals per ninja per year.

We aren't going to run out.

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Velorien said:

That's fine.

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Sir Stompy said:

Not to be a downer, but Akane probably died in large part due to a lack of Awareness - to spot the ambushers. And Reusable Rocket Boots - to fight them off. So I commit to voting for all plans that research the following.

• Seal Research
  • Use Shadow Clones, invoke if Hazou thinks it will make the difference between finishing on this research roll or taking another one.
  • Directional explosives
    • Use SSA, eschew prep, reroll -9/-12 on Calligraphy
  • Macerators V4.0.2
    • Do one prep day to gauge difficulty
  • Rocket boots
    • Follow SOP
  • Banshee Lovers
    • Use SSA, eschew prep, reroll -9/-12 on Calligraphy

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Black King said:

Seal Research

• Minato seals, with Kagome if possible for aid.
• Do 1 day research to see difficulty of all seals, proceed if seals are easy enough without SSA, use SCs
  • Security Button Seal (Possibly have Kagome work on this as well).
  • Poison Gas Seals
  • Force Wall -> Force Wall Domes, Force Wall Shurikens, Force Wall Spikes, Force Wall Shields
  • Flamethrower Seal
  • Blood tracking Seal (have Kagome work on this as well).

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Black King said:

Security Seal Button: A super small seal, button sized, that stops seals from being used by anyone but the registered user (bonded via chakra) and the sealmaster.

Flamethrower Seal: Shoots out TN 60 Fire streams, does damage equivalent to a mid level fire jutsu at the sealing AB of the Sealmaster

(Not sure on poison rules so this is what I came up with)

Poison Gas Seal: TN 60 Physique check that inflicts (Sealmaster's AB)/2 stress per turn. The gas covers 1 zone and is persistent. Lasts for (Sealmaster's AB) hours.

Blood Tracking Seal: Track the location of the person/body from whom the blood is taken, showing direction and distance. The blood should be stored, so there shouldn't be a time limit for said blood to expire. Can only be used for one blood signature per seal.

I think the Force Wall stuff is explanatory, if not, I can add them as well.

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faflec said:

OTOH Hazou and Kagome are going to be working on other things, and it's very likely we'd have to rely on Kagome's other sealing students - not something I would want to make them do.

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faflec said:

I, personally, am also ashamed that we only reacted in such a way when one of our inner circle died, and not when Mai, or Jinno, or any other Goketsu died.

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charlesrwest said:

Our seal smiths can produce enough seals to give every ninja 24 seals per year.

If all Hazo did was make seals, he could make 120 seals per ninja per year.

We aren't going to run out.

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