Steps Towards Nirvana: Rebirth [Naruto, Reincarnation]

Completely new here? Steps Towards Nirvana is a Quest about the adventures of one poor reincarnating soul, set to flit between worlds until he can find some measure of peace. It began as a thread started three years ago, one fitfully updated and faithfully followed for an entire year. Then my muse departed and I started writing elsewhere. My goal is to write this Quest in such a way that no one has to go back and read the old thread, or have anything explained to them.

Here is a link to the previous thread, and here is a delicious and satisfying TVTropes page.

It's recommended you read through the current story first, rather than try to read the informational posts. They're kept as current as possible, and spoilers abound.

Welcome to the Quest, I hope you enjoy your stay.

Four ninja survey the ruins of Training Ground Twelve.

Wisps of fog slowly dissipate, revealing chunks of earth scattered as far as the eye can see, with corresponding craters gouged out of the ground. Between the craters, scorch marks with scraps of paper in the middle, and puddles soaking into the ground, there's not a single stretch of unmarked ground to be seen. The trees aren't immune to the damage; all but the farthest bear ripped bark, missing branches, and in one case lie uprooted on the ground instead of standing upright.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turns to his three students with pride.

"You're ready."

[*]

Your name is Aburame Kento. You are a genin of Konohagakure (hopefully a chuunin soon!) and you are very, very comfortable.

You and your companions sprawl out through a cozy living room in the Senju district, either on the furniture or being used as it. You lean against Senju Tsunade's leg, her hand resting on top of your head. She's usually protective of her personal space, but this is a break, a breather. You've all worked hard for the past two and a half years; you deserve it.

(And who knows when you'll have another chance to take it easy? The first part of the Chuunin Exams starts in a week. You'll take as much time as you can get now and be thankful for it.)

If you were adults, this is the part where everyone would be drinking. Since you range in age from ten to twelve, instead there's enough water and sweet juice to go around. Next to the drink pitchers sit platters of finger-foods: cheese, bread, chunks of meat. Even the least physical among you are still active ninja, and the food has been steadily disappearing all night.

Jiraiya, pale skin flushed under his stark crimson tattoos, claps his hands. Like the rest of you, he's starting to grow into the promise of adult features, puberty looming on the horizon. Despite focusing on fuinjutsu and infiltration, he's got some decent muscle to him, and his loose clothing hides more seals than should be possible. "Story time!"

The rest of the room perks up, even Shikako's eyeroll is half-hearted at best. Storytelling varies through the rest of your group, but Jiraiya's stories are always good.

"We're all gonna take turns--" That gets a genuine eyeroll, and grumbling throughout the room, "--but since I'm so generous, I'll take the lion's share."

"What's the topic?" Yuuhi Bena asks, sitting primly next to Orochimaru on one of Jiraiya's couches. Last year she switched to her clan's traditional whites, wearing a gauzy not-dress and pulling her hair into a tight bun. You know she has senbon hidden somewhere on her person, but you never quite manage to see her take them out or put them away.

Jiraiya grins, spreading his hands. "Favorite genin stories. Keep it light-hearted; we're trying to have a good time here."

A thoughtful silence descends, then Tsunade launches into the Sake Incident. You've heard this story enough times to have long ago committed it into memory, so instead of listening, you study her.

Most blondes' hair darken as they get older, but hers remains the same brilliant platinum as when you met her. One thing that has changed is her colors: she's switched to the grey-and-green palette you remember from the show, represented in a lightweight grey tank top and pants combo with a green sash, and a dark black coat Jiraiya got her for some holiday.

When Tsunade finishes the story, she looks to you pointedly. You smile, and take the hint.

During your recollection of the Watermelon Incident - technically an Academy story, but no one says anything - you sneak peeks over to Shikako. She's been quiet tonight, and you can guess why: she has strong feelings about child soldiers. The two of you are adults in almost every sense of the world, but your companions are actual children, being sent into certain danger. It would be a horrific thing in your old world, but in this one people think it's strange that you've been held back when you're clearly capable of holding your own.

By the time you're done, grinning wide, Shikako looks a little more relaxed. She even tells a story halfway understandably, instead of making it as dense and flowery as possible to get out of telling one again. You smile to yourself, and relax.

[*]

Night starts tipping towards late night, and the party breaks up. You and Shikako walk Tsunade home, you walk Shikako home, and then you turn towards the Aburame district, thoughts flitting this way and that as you go.

It's been a good two years. When you graduated, you figured Sensei would have you in the Chuunin Exams within six months, but instead he passed a law prohibiting anyone from entering the Exams before they turn ten. The three of you only recently became eligible, resulting in a lot of hard training. Sometimes Tsunade has chafed under the restriction, but even she can't argue that you're much better-prepared than you would have been.

What exactly have you been working on since Hell Month?

[ ] Write-in first skill priority; techniques will be learned as appropriate
[ ] Second skill priority
[ ] Third skill priority




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The majority of your accumulated XP will go to these three skills. The rest will go towards skills that Hiruzen deems crucial for a genin to know, such as woodcraft. If you choose ranton, then suiton and raiton will be raised as well; ranks in ranton cannot exceed those in suiton and raiton. Skills training will also raise the associated attributes.

Votes must be in plan format.

If you would like to make your own specific XP plan, go right ahead. There's a total of 6336 XP, and the costs of raising skills is detailed in the system explanation threadmark.

The character sheet presented here is from 2.5 years ago, and will be updated after the XP is distributed.