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Game of the Year: A Naruto Quest

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Droman said:
Because really, there's no inherent reason why we should upset the applecart of the originally formed teams, even considering Ves went out of his way to give us two additional genin candidates as friends to form a team with.
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by simply existing we might have butterflied those teams away.

The most likely to be the same is the ino-shika-cho, mostly because of politics (and an history of successes)

Kakashi (or maybe Yamato) needs to be Naruto's leader in case of Kyubi.

Kakashi should preferably have Sasuke as well to teach how to use the sharingan, but he could eventually give some extra lessons later even without being his jonin.

Everything else could easily change, no matter what we do now
 
Quest said:
Naruto just has shit chakra control. Making a larger number of academy-style clones would just exhaust him faster.
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No, it really wouldn't, considering that even weak civilians with no shinobi parents can learn to make a simple bunshin within a couple months. Naruto's chakra levels outclass that by a huge margin.

Quest said:
I suspect that the reason naruto can use the Kage Bunshin so well has some other reason rather than simply requiring lots of chakra. Either the scroll explained it really well, or for once Naruto was actually invested in learning the technique. The sheer amount of clones Naruto makes is probably because he's just stretching the amount of chakra he has across the clones. I think this because of how easily Naruto's clones die in Part 1, whereas in part 2 Naruto made much fewer clones but they were much more effective.
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No, it's because the Kage Bunshin technique literally just takes half your chakra each time. It takes huge amounts of chakra to do, but on the flip side, it's exceptionally easy to do even with shitty chakra control like Naruto had which was why it fit him so perfectly with his extremely high reserves and low control and also is why it's very hard for people not to kill themselves with the technique since they don't have Naruto's reserves and can't summon much more than 2 or 3 unless they've trained really hard. It is a Jonin level technique for a reason after all.

For example, Early/Pre-Chunin Exams Sakura would've killed herself outright if she even tried it due to her extremely small reserves not matching the power requirement. Pre and Post Chunin Exam Sasuke might've been able to pull it off, but it would be close and would wipe himself out with that 1 clone when it would be better and more cost-effective to save his chakra for his Grand Fireballs, Chidori, and the like.

And Naruto's clones were just dying en masse because he a) didn't have the Rasengan in the beginning(Garra fight especially shows this) and b) when he did, he was up against bad match-ups(Kimimaro) and didn't use it then and c) he just threw them into physically attacking the enemy each and every time instead of using them to plant traps or something smart.

Quest said:
Furthermore, Naruto hardly has that much chakra. We know in Shippuden that Naruto has about four times Kakashi's chakra without kyuubi, this was covered when he learnt wind chakra transformation. To actually create hundreds of clones for the training, he needed to tap into Kyuubi which is probably what he did in canon.
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Yes, without the Kyuubi. With the Kyuubi is a different matter. And that remark by Kakashi is one of the many inconsistencies in the series. If Naruto has 4 times Kakashis's chakra and Kakashi can only summon up to 1-2 Kage Bunshin(So Full->half(1 clone)->half that(2 clones)) at most, then there's no way Naruto should be able to pull out 100+ clones with his own chakra without fucking dying. If we follow the 4 times the amount of chakra logic, based off Kakashi's own admissions, if Kakashi could only do 1-2 clones safely, than Naruto should only be able to make 4-8 clones safely. And then that's not forgetting that each and every one of his individual clones were all using their chakra for god knows how long/hours on end to rip their own individual leaves while the original was doing the same thing and then re-summoning any clones that dispersed. There's no fucking way he only had 4 times the amount of chakra of Kakashi when he ran that 100+ clones each day for a full week straight to gain 3+ years worth of experience, mentally and chakra wise!
 
Droman said:
You know, I don't know if it ever got definitely settled in canon whether genin could operate in a teacher-apprentice relationship without teammates, or if genin could simply be without a teacher at all. Anyone have any confirmation on those two things?
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From the top of my head there's only Shizune and Tsunade, that were shown without other teammates. Those two however probably qualify as special circumstances given, that they left Konoha.

Even the other established teacher-apprentice relationships were shown to be preceded by regular teams.
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Genin without teachers are propably adult drop-outs given that Kabuto's team still had a regular teacher.

When Team 2 is first formed it consists of Itachi Uchiha, Tenma Izumo, and Shinko Inari, all fresh Academy graduates. The team develops a stellar mission record during their first year, earning them the honorary task of escorting the Land of Fire's daimyō on one of his routine trips to Konoha. Tenma is killed by the masked man during the mission, and Tenma's death convinces Shinko to withdraw from the life of a shinobi. They are replaced by Yōji Aburame and Himuka Suzukaze, themselves newly graduated.

After only a few months of the team's new roster, Itachi leaves due to his promotion to chūnin. Yōji disappears without explanation shortly after that. Himuka stays on, and once yet two more new team members are found, Team 2 resumes its mission load under Yūki's leadership.
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It seems like they try to keep teams with the regular formation.
 
Pittauro said:
not without kyubi. While his chakra is SUPPRESSING the Kyubi's chakra.

If he's not suppressing it, he has about 100 times Kakashi's chakra (and it's all Naruto's).

It's possible, though it's just my speculation, that with the seal having been loosened a bit after the timeskip A bigger percentage of Naruto's chakra is devoted to keeping the Kyubi under control
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You read it wrong I think. Yamato is suppressing the Kyuubi not Naruto. Kakashi seems to be counted Kurama's chakra as Naruto's.

EDIT: Though an argument could be made either way.
Khepri14 said:
No, it really wouldn't, considering that even weak civilians with no shinobi parents can learn to make a simple bunshin within a couple months. Naruto's chakra levels outclass that by a huge margin.
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The image I linked clearly shows that when Naruto needs 30% chakra (as an example number) for the basic clone technique, he creates 40% instead and after that only ends up using 10% in the actual technique which causes it to fail. I really don't get what your point is. Naruto uses too little chakra for the clone technique, not too much.
Khepri14 said:
No, it's because the Kage Bunshin technique literally just takes half your chakra each time. It takes huge amounts of chakra to do, but on the flip side, it's exceptionally easy to do even with shitty chakra control like Naruto had which was why it fit him so perfectly with his extremely high reserves and low control and also is why it's very hard for people not to kill themselves with the technique since they don't have Naruto's reserves and can't summon much more than 2 or 3 unless they've trained really hard. It is a Jonin level technique for a reason after all.
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It doesn't take half the chakra each time. It evenly distributes the user's chakra among the clones.

I don't think we don't need a special excuse for why Naruto couldn't do the Academy clone in the beginning. He was pretty much a delinquent who only focused on things that he found funny. He grows out of this attitude really quickly, but he was pretty much a brat at the beginning.
 
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The Melancholy of Mariko by Vermeer (canon)
  • Sidestory
    • @Vesvius, this started as an answer to the prompt about Yamanaka family dinners and went into radical places from there. At this point I don't know what it is.

    Mariko Yokota panted. Dropping herself to a crouch, she snatched her water battle from the ground, and greedily drunk from it. Once the bottle was empty, she let herself fall completely backwards, focusing only on her breathing to turn her shallow wheezing into an even pattern of inhalation and exhalation. As she laid on her back, she let the exhaustion she had been holding back spread through her body. With that exhaustion, she let the disappointment settle in. She had not expected to win the practice spar her aunt, a chunin, had initiated, but she hadn't even landed a single good blow.

    "Well done Mariko, you're really improving!"

    Mariko was tempted to shift her body back up so she could address her aunt, but her body was too tired to lift herself up. Her dilemma was settled when Kasai Yamanaka strode into her line of sight and grabbed Matiko's unresisting arm, before pulling her up with strength uncharacteristic of the small frame Kasai' possessed.

    "You didn't have to be so rough!" Mariko complained, as she instinctively shifted back into balance to prevent stumbling.

    For a quick second, Kasai Yamanaka's amused smile harshly reminded Mariko of Ino's smiles, from a time before Daisuke Satomura ruined everything. The sting from the reminder made Mariko look down at her feet, and a familiar anger filled her thoughts. She knew intellectually that Daisuke had done nothing wrong, and that she herself was partly to blame for the deterioration of her relationship with Ino, but that didn't stop the hate from boiling in her gut.

    When she felt a hand gently cup her face and pull it up to meet Kasai's eyes, her own gaze widened. The amusement in Kasai's eyes had given way to love, understanding, and acceptance. An emotion which Mariko was unable to identify welled up inside of her and made her eyes fill with tears and her throat clench, leaving her unable to speak.

    "You know, Mariko, you don't have to compare yourself to Ino all the time. That was an impressive genjutsu you just cast on me. The Hell Viewing Technique isn't easy to learn, especially at your age. You're a talented shinobi yourself." Kasai gently stated, as she brushed Mariko's dirtied hair clean.

    That wasn't what Mariko was thinking about. But that didn't mean that Kasai's comment had not hit home. Had this been in any other circumstance, Mariko would have let that comment go, with an agreeable reassurance. However, the current situation was far from normal; Mariko was exhausted, both mentally and physically. With a shove that was more forceful than the gentleness of her aunt deserved, Mariko separated herself from her aunt.

    "Why can't you master the Mind Body Switch Technique Mariko? Why can't you be more like your cousin, Mariko?" Mariko mockingly imitated her mother's . As she continued her mimicry, she turned away from Kasai, not wanting to see her reaction.

    "Aunty, all my parents do is compare me to Ino! What the hell am I supposed to do?" she yelled. Despite her words being directed at her aunt, Mariko yelled to the heavens, into the sunset sky that glowed above her.

    "Ino takes half as much time to get twice as far as me. She can perform the Mind Body Switch Technique, She is one of the top 5 ranked students in my own class and learning kenjutsu, while I am stuck on the curricular shinobi arts. How am I not supposed to compare myself?"

    Mariko whirled on Kasai, "And you! Why are you even helping me train? I'm competing against your daughter. Is this out of pity? I-" Her rant was stopped when Kasai wrapped her up in a full hug.

    "I am training you, Mariko. Neither out of pity, nor to sabotage you. I am teaching you because I love you. You are my sister's daughter, I have seen you grow up into a fine kunoichi." Kasai reassured her, while tightening her grasp.

    At that, a dam broke inside Mariko's heart. First her shoulders started shaking, and tears started streaming down her face. Without hesitation, she returned Kasai's hug and burrowed her face in Kasai's shoulders, staining Kasai's dress with her tears. She opened her mouth to speak but no words would come out.

    Kasai started stroking Mariko's back as she replied. "Your mother isn't a ninja so she doesn't understand. Don't mind about her. Don't worry about Ino either. She may have talent with the Yamanaka Clan Jutsu, but you don't need it to succeed in your career. I struggled with it as well."

    Mariko tried to respond, but only sobs and hiccups came out.

    Kasai continued, "I wasn't kidding about your talent in Genjutsu by the way. You mastered a difficult technique for beginners. Work on it and develop it more. And I am sure you will be fine."

    As Mariko nodded into her shoulder, and her tears subsided, Kasai smiled.

    "Let's get you home. You did well today."

    With that, Kasai escorted a sniffling Mariko out of the training grounds.
     
  • Sidestory
    • Vermeer said:
    @Vesvius, this started as an answer to the prompt about Yamanaka family dinners and went into radical places from there. At this point I don't know what it is.


    [/spoiler]
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    The only problem i see here is that Mariko isn't a Yamanaka, there is no real reason that she should be able to do the mind-body switch. It's strictly a clan jutsu.
     
    INSIGHT by kenmadragon (canon)
  • Sidestory
    • This is an omake idea that has been on mind for a while. First time taking a crack at writing an omake like this, so... yeah. It's set sometime during Daisuke's Academy days, but nowhere definite in the timeline. Hopefully, it can be a kind of In-Character explanation for Daisuke's ability to gain insight and mastery of stuff rapidly gained via Reward XP.

    INSIGHT

    Daisuke sat in seiza upon the ground beneath an old tree. Shaded by its boughs, the young warrior steadily ignored the aches in his body as he kept his back straight and legs tucked beneath him in the posture of the thunderbolt. The position was demanding, yet Daisuke had trained his body over the years under the supervision of Maito Gai and gotten so used to it that he could sit like this for hours on end if he had to.

    He had just returned from training, refreshed himself with a hot bath, and was now meditating. According to his various teachers, meditating after training was an excellent way to hone the mind. Not to mention that it also helped regenerate a shinobi's chakra as well as improve their control and reserves if one kept the habit up.

    Though, what all those knuckleheads at the Academy always seemed to be forgetting, was that Chakra wasn't simply just energy you used to strengthen yourself or to fire off jutsu in combat. It wasn't wholly reliant on strength and vitality so constant training wouldn't improve it at all. No, what too many shinobi seemed to forget was that chakra wasn't just physical, it was spiritual too.

    So, meditation.

    Gai-sensei had stressed the importance of breathing in "Fanning the Flames Of YOUTH!" many times to Daisuke over the course of his mentorship. Breathing was essential to combat and after translating the numerous analogies, Daisuke wasn't surprised to realize that it was also vital to the art of meditation, he was however surprised by the extent.

    Apparently, meditating was also a skill that Gai-sensei believed had to be taught to "properly fan the FLAMES OF YOUTH!!!!, to meditate in silence and stillness is to grow strong in spirit and provide greater fuel with which to spark the FIRES OF PASSION which make a Gentleman refined and strong! Doing so after Youthful Training shelters the Embers of Youth so they may burn brighter and brighter for an Eternal Springtime of Youth!!!"

    It took Daisuke about a week to realize that Gai-sensei had been trying to tell him that he had to meditate every day he trained to review what he had done, learn from his mistakes and unwind while further bolstering his spiritual strength. Apparently the rush of chemicals in the body caused by training made the mind sharper, and thus the meditation afterwards much more effective.

    After years of doing so, Daisuke could say he had to agree. It was certainly... refreshing to meditate after subjecting himself to Gai's tender ministrations during training. The long soak in the tub hadn't hurt either.

    But, it was when Daisuke had decided to improve his Chakra Control and Reserves via meditation, that things went odd.

    In. Hold. Out. Hold. In. Hold. Out. Hold.

    The timing for inhaling and exhaling varied depending on how much he wanted to focus or relax and what kind of training he had been doing, but for the most part, concentrating upon his breathing was one of the most essential parts to the meditation exercise. It didn't work properly without the right breathing rhythm. Again, a lesson that Gai-sensei was incapable of communicating clearly.

    Daisuke sighed, drawing his thoughts inward and away from the reflection of learning some of Gai-Sensei's "E-rank Taijutsu", which was just a fancy name for specific, relatively basic maneuvers.

    Like the awe-inspiring and training-ground smashing "Leaf Drop"... which was basically a falling axe-kick delivered with earth-shattering force via enhancing the body with chakra. It didn't even require you to do anything special, all you had to do was an axe kick from above.

    Of course, since it was Maito Gai doing it, the "Leaf Drop" managed to shatter a boulder and split a stream in half through sheer force, and Gai-sensei had decided the best way to truly appreciate and learn the technique was to be on the receiving end of it.

    Nevertheless, Daisuke let the thought go as he sunk deeper into his meditation. Such ruminations were only distractions to his focus after a certain point and he wanted to delve deep to confront it again.

    Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold.

    Deeper and deeper Daisuke sank, his meditative form diving into himself as he allowed his hands to clasp into the Dragon hand-seal that felt most natural to him, chakra circulating through his body in time with his breath. Deeper and deeper, Daisuke fell into himself as his mind, body and soul synchronized. Chakra circulating through his body, nerves alighted in sync with the rushing of blood through his veins and arteries, in time with his breathing.

    He was so close to bringing it all into Harmony, when It showed up again.

    The Dragon.

    Daisuke opened his mind's eye and took a glance about the dream. Open wilderness growing untamed by man, forests full of trees that rivaled those around Konoha, mountains that touched the skies, rivers of the clearest blue that rushed along their paths, rolling plains of grasses and grains, and yet there was not a living soul here. None but Daisuke and the Dragon.

    It was fitting, he supposed. This was his own daydream after all, it would be strange if anything remained here that wasn't a figment of his own imagination. However, while meditating in this manner, there was little that Daisuke could focus on dreaming up other than himself and the Dragon.

    Even now it danced through the heavens of his dreamscape, its long and serpentine body writhing as it danced among the clouds. It snorted fire and lightning and bellowed with the force of thunderclaps. It stirred up hurricanes and marshaled storms. Rains fell as it danced through the skies and the wind seemingly howled with every breath it took. The ground shook beneath the dragon's fury and all of the world bowed to its majesty.

    Daisuke marveled at the Dragon once more. It was a beautiful and terrifying creature, conjured from dreams, memories, and the promise of power. There... that was a representation of his very soul. Clad in an armor of 117 glimmering, invulnerable scales the Dragon danced, shaking its wild and crested mane, the sinuous undulation of its body and the flickering of sharp claws and fangs that could shred the skies, the motions engraving themselves within his mind. Those same claws jealousy clutched a flaming pearl of spiritual power and wisdom as it turned upon Daisuke and roared.

    Winds blasted him with the force of a hurricane, yet Daisuke remained undeterred. Once, he had been terrified at this self reflection. It's myriad, chimeric form was always awe-inspiring, yet after confronting it time and again, Daisuke felt somewhat inured to its majesty.

    It still amazed him, but no longer was he afraid.

    The Dragon was him, after all. In a sense.

    He wasn't entirely sure what the Dragon was, or where it came from. Gai-sensei's exuberant response about the "Passion of Youthful Training!" stirring up a creature that was literally a symbol for Emerging Yang and the season of spring within his pupil's mind and soul was difficult to parse. But once Daisuke had managed to calm his taijutsu teacher (calm for Gai, that is), the only advice Gai-sensei had had for the youngster was that this could be both a good thing and a bad thing.

    The good news was that Gai-sensei believed this was just Daisuke finding a way to train while meditating. In observing the Dragon, Daisuke would gain insight into himself. In confronting the figment of his own mind, Daisuke could likely learn a lot about himself, and develop his own mind and soul through the "Springtime of Youth abundantly gifted by his own Erupting Passionate Self". Daisuke translated that as "visualization training".

    The bad news? It was also highly likely he'd just fallen asleep while meditating and had simply hallucinated the entire thing. Repeatedly. Which was kind of embarrassing.

    Even if it was all just a strange, recurring dream, at least he could try to make the most out of it. So all Daisuke had to do was man up and challenge the Dragon directly.

    Maito Gai was full of such Wisdom.

    Braced against the typhoon, Daisuke roared back at the storm. His clothes shifted about his body, disappearing into clouds that replaced his simple, comfortable robes with fitting battle attire.

    His ensemble mixed that of the shinobi from the Warring Clans Era with those of the Samurai. The "Kote of the Watchmen" covered his arms, his body was sheathed in shinobi-maille and a samurai's plate-cuirass while the sode spaulders protected his shoulders and neck with a manju-no-wa. Fauld plates draped about his waist in a skirt of armor, suneate greaves encased his shins and tabi encased his feet. His mother's fan resting beneath his armor, protected by his will and sheltered by his heart. A tessen made for war was tucked within his tasseled belt, while kunai, shuriken and other ninja tools were strapped to his thighs and waist.

    The Sword of the Watchmen, the blade of his once-protector and would-be-assassin was sheathed at the hip, its tassels binding the sheath to his armor.

    The gauntlets clinked as he reached and gripped The Watchmen's hilt. The hitai-ate upon his forehead glistening under the crackle of lightning and blaze of dragon-fire. The symbol of the Satomura billowed proudly on his tabard.

    The Dragon reared up in the sky, roaring in challenge, glowering eyes illuminated with power. Its might immeasurable, its movements impossibly graceful. Its methods mysterious and unknowable, yet unequivocally powerful.

    The Dragon coiled and danced and dared Daisuke to ascend, to overcome. The Heavens of the realm of Daisuke's mind's eye shook as the Dragon bellowed once more in answer to the hubris of his young challenger.

    The Dragon was Bold. Noble. Destructive.

    Daisuke drew the Sword of the Watchmen within his mind's eye and marveled at the creature conjured from the depths of his own soul.

    Every time he challenged the Dragon, he grew. In small, virtually immeasurable ways, he grew from this, drawing from the flaming pearl and the Dragon who kept it. Insights, understandings, revelations and sudden clarity came to him during these battles as all the pieces he accumulated during his waking life simply fell into place.

    He grew in leaps and bounds as concepts and ideas consolidated while he attempted to grasp the immaterial form and majesty of the Dragon. It was erratic and difficult, but there was always some progress to be made from this. There was always more to learn, more insight and revelations to be gain in pursuit of the ultimate mastery. So that one day, he himself might be the Dragon of his dreams.

    And one day, he would be.

    But until then...

    The Dragon roared.

    Daisuke let out a battle-cry of his own, singing the song of his heart as he answered the Challenge.

    Who knew what insights he would gain this time?

    @Vesvius

    Thanks @emberwing for the Beta!
     
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  • Sidestory
    • A Burgeoning Story by Shapeless Phobos (canon)
  • Sidestory
    • Vesvius said:
    Shirai Kairi is a kunoichi of many talents. She draws, she writes, she acts, but what she's the most proud of is that she's the shadow editor of the student paper.
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    A mix and match of some of the prompts along with something completely different...:V
    I'm not apologizing for the first 1/3 of this.

    Satomura Daisuke gazed at the moonlit sky of Konoha with an expression that was more solemn than usual. He was clearly deep in thought yet his deep, unrelenting anguish was clear as day to his current observer. The way his left hand held his sheathed sword in a vice-like grip and the heat in his emerald orbs.

    All of this was clear to Shinsato Ren, driving the intrepid investigator to find the root of his comrade's pain.

    Even if he already had his suspicions...

    Daisuke calmly turned his head to see who had interrupted his sombre musings. No surprise was shown as Ren stepped from shadows to join the Satomura Swordsman on the rooftop.

    "Shinsato Ren..." Daisuke called quietly, unconsciously loosening the hold he'd had on his samurai forged blade. Piercing green met soft brown for a short moment even if it felt infinitesimally longer for the owners of those eyes. Finally after what to them had been hours Daisuke turned to fully face his one-time desk neighbor, causing the hitai-ate in his right hand to glimmer under the moon's glow. "What is it you want?"

    "You're officially a ninja now, Daisuke-san." Ren stated softly, moving to stand only a few steps away from the Satomura heir. "Yet you have never seemed more troubled to me. Why...?"

    "It is because..." Daisuke began before halting, turning away from Ren with a look of confused anguish as his hand tightened it's hold over his hitai-ate. Ren was stopped from stepping forward to comfort his lost friend by a sudden gust of wind that blew Daisuke's silken hair wildly. To Ren it looked like the swordsman's locks had become strands of silver moonlight, wafting through the air.

    "D-daisuke-san..." Ren called haltingly once the gale subsided leaving Daisuke's hair handsomely disheveled. Hearing his name called by Ren seemed to stir the newly-made Genin from his brooding thoughts.

    "I am now...one step closer to fulfilling the oath I swore all those years ago...!" Daisuke declared, green eyes nailing the thick-coat wearing Genin to his place.

    "To assume your rightful place on the Throne of Iron." Ren stated, tone growing nervous at both the stoically fierce expression on the Satomura princeling's face and at danger inherent in such a goal. Still, he persevered in uncovering the truth as he had done countless times before! "And to avenge your beloved teacher."

    "I shall cast my usurping Uncle from my Father's throne...and make him pay for assassinating Toki-sensei!" The Iron Prince swore, his fury briefly breaking through his cool, noble exterior to reveal the angst-filled human interior!

    Ren had never seen this side of Daisuke before yet he felt the irresistible urge to support him in this mission. Just as Daisuke had on their first days at the Academy by gifting him so many school supplies! "Let me help you Daisuke-san! I may not be the strongest or smartest...but I can find the truth of Toki-san's murder, no matter how far-fetched!"

    Ren's sudden promise, given from within the very deepest part of himself, surprised the Satomura Shinobi. Enough so that he found himself moving closer to the Shinsato Genin. "Ren..."

    "Daisuke-san..." Ren moved nearer as well, their faces nearly nose to nose, his face turning a rosy pink...

    "Ren...of everyone, to you I have always-"

    "You misspelled the samurai guy's name, Kairi-chan." You hear someone say over your shoulder.

    You find the resulting instinct of loosing shuriken and senbon in their direction a justified response!

    Even if Izumi's good-natured chuckling as the weapons soar over his head into their usual holes in the wall still grates the nerves.

    You are Shirai Kairi. 13 years old, in your final year at the Academy. Avid purveyor of the arts in all of it's myriad forms. Whether that be drawing or acting yet your heart lies most firmly in your writing. Whether that be for the Theater club, your various Fan Clubs, or most importantly to you the Academy Newspaper!

    Even if none know of your place in the latter beyond the teachers (How else are you going to get Credits for it?! Kunoichi classes were stupid anyways, even Mizuki-sensei admits it.) and of course the 'Face' of the Newspaper...one (Vice) Chief-Editor Date Izumi.

    Who was currently intruding upon your 'personal writing time'!

    "...what is it, Izumi?" You growl out in question...though you also glance between him and your current work. The unspoken question clear to your associate.

    "It's Tokei, not Toki." Damn that idiot Ueda! He'd pay for almost ruining your work with his lazy research later. Your reputation for factual accuracy in your works was very important. It added a layer of authenticity to even the most unlikely of your creations! It's why you'd found out the exact shade of green that were Satomura Daisuke's eyes and the precise type of tomato Sasuke packed into his Bento!

    This is why you preferred Ren for such detailed investigations...even if he often got sidetracked.

    Izumi continued giddily after allowing you the requisite amount of time to plot vengeance against his fellow journalist."As for why I came by...well I was hoping to brainstorm with you for our last paper."

    That statement actually puzzled you, however. The Academy paper still had at least two more issues before the last was set for print. You two still hadn't ironed out which of the Conspiracy Corner's stupid stories to use as filler between the story on the upcoming school play and Naruto's latest crazy attempt to woo Haruno for this month's paper!

    Personally you were leaning towards Ren's piece theorizing Tsunade-Hime of being the founder of that new Village in Rice Country. Even if it was mostly him rambling about what his cousin's teammate's ANBU girlfriend had heard about body modifications from a chance encounter with some of those Oto ninja. And that it was 'In her blood" to found a Village. It was crazy enough to be entertaining while not possibly being banned by Iruka-Sensei like Takagi's story about the Five Kage being Tailed Beasts in disguise. (Even the Hokage! All four of them!)

    Thankfully Izumi knew when to take certain silences on your part as requests to continue. One might not think it from how you and he were outside of the Newspaper room but the two of you worked together quite well. Izumi was the perfect 'Face' for your newspaper. Everyone knew he was smart, only Haruno could truly challenge him in pure academics, and he had enough charisma to wrangle even the most unruly of your staff. He was also the only person you trusted to serve as editor for your own works...even the less...scholastic kind. And he never judged what you wrote like you think the other girls in your fan clubs might.

    Not even your One True Pairing...as he had done just now.

    Even if he was never as unnerved by you as you'd prefer(if he ever was), or truly enjoyed your artwork like the others did. He didn't seem to really have any particular thoughts on your writings beyond story structure, fact-checking, or grammar. Regardless of all that you think he might well be the closest thing you have to a best friend.

    "I was thinking we could have our final piece focus on what we all want to do after graduation." He told you with a dopey smile before quickly adding. "Besides just being Genin! I mean what we want our lives to be like. What kind of Chuunin we'll be or Jounin even. Garrison-duty, Gate Attendant, T & I, or even ANBU! Everyone from here to Tea Country knows Naruto wants to be Hokage for some reason but what about the rest of us?"

    To you it sounded a bit too much like a fluff story, the kind you'd put at the end of the paper to leave things on a positive note to help boost sales. Yet, the way Izumi talked about it with his eyes nearly sparkling during his explanation...it might be worth running by everyone. Maybe it was the romantic you tried to only let out when creating your art or perhaps it was just you trying to do a kindness for Izumi at least once before you might never work with him again. Whatever the reason a strong part of you wanted to give the go-ahead for this...so you did.

    "...okay."

    Izumi pumped his fist into the air with a shout of excitement and even for your unusually cheerful co-worker it was a rather big show of happiness. He was usually rather more circumspect about it, often just making due with a smile or chuckle. It made you wonder why he was so intent on this?

    "...what about you?"

    That question brought him up short as you'd expected it to, leaving him blinking in incomprehension. It didn't take him too long to return to a more normal bearing though he was obviously embarrassed at the sudden question. Taking a seat across from you and pushing up his glasses enough to have light glare off them in a dramatic gesture you couldn't help but approve of Izumi gathered his thoughts.

    It was a soundless few minutes before he spoke and it was in a quieter tone than the usually cheerful journalist used. "To be honest, Kairi-chan, I'm not sure. I think that's why I really want to do this, to maybe get some kind of idea for myself. I know...when it comes to the actually useful ninja arts I'm not all that great. 90% of our class can send me crashing to the ground in the taijutsu spars in five minutes flat. My ninjutsu and genjutsu are pretty basic even if I've got the Academy Three down well enough to pass. Math, history, and all the scholastic subjects I'm the top of the class in but that's about all I've got going for me."

    A part of you wanted to say something to boost your friend's confidence but...he was right. Date Izumi may be the fifth highest ranking student in your Academy class but most of that was because no one matched him in the written subjects. You might not be Kunoichi of the Year material but even your practical skills far surpassed his...and you were six ranks behind him!

    "So, I thought that maybe if I found out what's driving everyone else to push themselves so hard... I mean just a few months ago Daisuke-san was in fifth place but now he's suddenly number three! I can guess what Sasuke-san's drive is focused on but Daisuke-san...Shino-san and even Ino-san! I want to know what drives the top four so that I might prove I'm worthy of being in the top five!"

    You watched as Izumi calmed his breathing and found yourself thinking on his words. It was true that Daisuke had suddenly seemed to be paying particular attention in class and had even started using some strange, new jutsu during the daily sparring sessions. You had never truly cared about the class rankings so long as you were in at least the top third...but now you were number 12. A Shirai kunoichi falling firmly into the middle...you couldn't allow that to happen for long. Yui-san was directly behind you and if she took after Daisuke or Ino in building herself up then not even your mastery of your family's Silent Murder Step technique could help you prevail. Everyone knew of Yui's skill with Substitution!

    "...Izumi-kun." You called quietly, your determined red eyes meeting his own confused glance.

    "...let's investigate...and become even better."

    Your friend nodded energetically to your declaration, leaving you to begin plans on this coming piece. It would be the pinnacle piece of your career at the Academy Paper. And as for becoming stronger...

    ...maybe Cousin Kurenai would have some tips? She was a Jounin herself now after all!
     
  • Sidestory
    • DerHesse said:
    @Vesvius

    Inoichi was tense.

    If he was to describe the situation, he would compare it with someone telling you to go and disarm a faulty explosive tag … with a smile.
    He was just waiting for the fireworks, the question was how big the damage was going to be.

    "Honey, they should be here soon, did you put on the water for the tea?"

    "Yes, dear, everything is ready." 'Oh kami, just let it be quick and painless.'

    Maybe he was overly dramatic, but it couldn't be healthy, that every knock on the door felt like Shinigami dragging more and more of his happiness to the realm of the dead.

    "Ino!"

    "Yeah, yeah, I'm on my way!" A quick control-glance towards his daughter, good, no sword hidden.

    Breath in, breath out, let's get this show on the road.

    Thankfully most of the evening was like a ritual for the adults, going through the motions like every Sunday before. Tea, food, pleasant conversations and at the end a few rounds of Daifugō for the adults.

    Getting up to gather the plates Inoichi felt a bit of tension leave him, so far so good, Ino was behaving like a prim and proper little lady, no doubt Manami's influence, and Mariko was copying her to the best of her abilities.
    Putting the dishes into the sink Inoichi returned just in time to hear his wife playing with fire.

    "So, how is the academy going for you two? Graduation feels like just around the corner."

    Eyes widening 'oh no, Kasai, why?!' Seeing the grin on his daughter was like hearing the fizzling of the lit exploding tag.

    He knew how it was going for both of them. Ino was practically gloating the entire day in the shop yesterday.

    "It's great, I managed to establish my fourth place, I mastered the Shintenshin no Jutsu and Daisuke is going to teach me a new Ken-jutsu kata."

    "It's going alright, I aced the last history test." He couldn't help the wince, he wouldn't call 21st place alright.

    "That sounds great!" Quickly grapping the cards from a nearby shelf.
    "But I feel like today is my lucky day, so girls, let the adults be adults and off you go!"

    His smile looked absolutely genuine, at least that's what he kept telling himself.
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    Nicely done. Take 50 XP and canon.
    Katsuragi said:
    I've spent more time on this one than any of the others, it frustrated me to no end, and turned out the worst. Blargh. >_>

    Edit: Really wasn't happy with it. Switched to a higher resolution base and changed the color patterns to a less realistic style.


    @Vesvius
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    Wow. I saw it before you changed the resolution and after, and it's a world of difference. Really nice piece here. Take another 170 XP.
    Pittauro said:
    This afternoon Daisuke had taken a pause from his training and from his various projects.

    He was spending his time writing, a neat stack of papers to his right waiting for his story to be copied on them.


    It would take him some time to have a copy made for every student in his class, and it would take even longer to make it so his handwriting was not recognisable.. but it was worth it.

    He had tried to ask nicely. He had tried to be reasonable.

    Now, it was time to adopt his enemy's weapons, and maybe take advantage of the occasion to kill two birds with one stone.

    Eye for an eye as they use to say.
    It was soon, very soon, both teachers and students still had to arrive to the classroom.

    This suited Daisuke just fine. Making sure that every seat had his own copy of the paper was easier like this.

    And even if someone came sooner that expected, who would ever find anything strange in Mizuki leaving a few papers at his students desk?

    With his work done Daisuke quickly made his way home. He had to be back before Ino arrived to wake him up if he didn't want to be discovered after all.
    Their morning training had taken longer than usual, and Ino and Daisuke were nearly late once they reached the class.

    Exactly as planned.

    When they reached the classroom what they found was chaos. Some students, like Kiba, were trying to defend their own copy from an incensed Mariko. Others had already failed, their papers teared to pieces and the fragments everywhere on the floor.

    What surprised Daisuke more though was Kairi's reaction. She was reading it and... why wasn't she angry? Had he failed?

    "What's going on here? Why all the chaos?" asked Ino, surprised by all the confusion

    "here" Yui hesitantly passed her copy to Ino "It's...well..." she stammered, embarassed.

    uh. he would have expected her to be more annoyed than flustered. Had she actually LIKED it?

    ...nah, impossible.

    Ino simply read the title out loud, now curios "creepy love triangle..what's this, another of Kairi's story?"

    in a small voice, Yui simply answered "keep reading"

    ...

    "...and then Ino saved her maiden, Kairi, from the hands of the evil Mariko, and their love bloomed in a majestic kiss..."

    Ino was now blushing as well, her eyes glued to the paper. And Daisuke was so focused on her reaction that he actually stopped looking to Kairi...who was apparently making some small corrections to her copy.

    Dear Future Daisuke,

    this is past Daisuke writing. The plan failed. Instead of being embarassed, annoyed or even disgusted Kairi apparently LIKED the story, so much that she decided to publish it in the academy journal.

    At least nobody accused us of being the author, though i fear Kairi suspects the truth.

    At least Ino wasn't angry. She actually told me she was flattered by her role in the story, especially as she was clearly the heroine of it and Mariko the unlikable villain.

    She had a strange expression on her face when she told us... could she possibly know?

    ...Nah, no way.

    Still, this was a bust. Next time think twice before trying something this stupid.

    Best wishes,

    Past Daisuke.

    letter completed, Daisuke read it twice, commiting it to memory.

    And then he burned it.
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    I lol'd. Take 50 XP.
    Vermeer said:
    @Vesvius, this started as an answer to the prompt about Yamanaka family dinners and went into radical places from there. At this point I don't know what it is.

    Mariko Yokota panted. Dropping herself to a crouch, she snatched her water battle from the ground, and greedily drunk from it. Once the bottle was empty, she let herself fall completely backwards, focusing only on her breathing to turn her shallow wheezing into an even pattern of inhalation and exhalation. As she laid on her back, she let the exhaustion she had been holding back spread through her body. With that exhaustion, she let the disappointment settle in. She had not expected to win the practice spar her aunt, a chunin, had initiated, but she hadn't even landed a single good blow.

    "Well done Mariko, you're really improving!"

    Mariko was tempted to shift her body back up so she could address her aunt, but her body was too tired to lift herself up. Her dilemma was settled when Kasai Yamanaka strode into her line of sight and grabbed Matiko's unresisting arm, before pulling her up with strength uncharacteristic of the small frame Kasai' possessed.

    "You didn't have to be so rough!" Mariko complained, as she instinctively shifted back into balance to prevent stumbling.

    For a quick second, Kasai Yamanaka's amused smile harshly reminded Mariko of Ino's smiles, from a time before Daisuke Satomura ruined everything. The sting from the reminder made Mariko look down at her feet, and a familiar anger filled her thoughts. She knew intellectually that Daisuke had done nothing wrong, and that she herself was partly to blame for the deterioration of her relationship with Ino, but that didn't stop the hate from boiling in her gut.

    When she felt a hand gently cup her face and pull it up to meet Kasai's eyes, her own gaze widened. The amusement in Kasai's eyes had given way to love, understanding, and acceptance. An emotion which Mariko was unable to identify welled up inside of her and made her eyes fill with tears and her throat clench, leaving her unable to speak.

    "You know, Mariko, you don't have to compare yourself to Ino all the time. That was an impressive genjutsu you just cast on me. The Hell Viewing Technique isn't easy to learn, especially at your age. You're a talented shinobi yourself." Kasai gently stated, as she brushed Mariko's dirtied hair clean.

    That wasn't what Mariko was thinking about. But that didn't mean that Kasai's comment had not hit home. Had this been in any other circumstance, Mariko would have let that comment go, with an agreeable reassurance. However, the current situation was far from normal; Mariko was exhausted, both mentally and physically. With a shove that was more forceful than the gentleness of her aunt deserved, Mariko separated herself from her aunt.

    "Why can't you master the Mind Body Switch Technique Mariko? Why can't you be more like your cousin, Mariko?" Mariko mockingly imitated her mother's . As she continued her mimicry, she turned away from Kasai, not wanting to see her reaction.

    "Aunty, all my parents do is compare me to Ino! What the hell am I supposed to do?" she yelled. Despite her words being directed at her aunt, Mariko yelled to the heavens, into the sunset sky that glowed above her.

    "Ino takes half as much time to get twice as far as me. She can perform the Mind Body Switch Technique, She is one of the top 5 ranked students in my own class and learning kenjutsu, while I am stuck on the curricular shinobi arts. How am I not supposed to compare myself?"

    Mariko whirled on Kasai, "And you! Why are you even helping me train? I'm competing against your daughter. Is this out of pity? I-" Her rant was stopped when Kasai wrapped her up in a full hug.

    "I am training you, Mariko. Neither out of pity, nor to sabotage you. I am teaching you because I love you. You are my sister's daughter, I have seen you grow up into a fine kunoichi." Kasai reassured her, while tightening her grasp.

    At that, a dam broke inside Mariko's heart. First her shoulders started shaking, and tears started streaming down her face. Without hesitation, she returned Kasai's hug and burrowed her face in Kasai's shoulders, staining Kasai's dress with her tears. She opened her mouth to speak but no words would come out.

    Kasai started stroking Mariko's back as she replied. "Your mother isn't a ninja so she doesn't understand. Don't mind about her. Don't worry about Ino either. She may have talent with the Yamanaka Clan Jutsu, but you don't need it to succeed in your career. I struggled with it as well."

    Mariko tried to respond, but only sobs and hiccups came out.

    Kasai continued, "I wasn't kidding about your talent in Genjutsu by the way. You mastered a difficult technique for beginners. Work on it and develop it more. And I am sure you will be fine."

    As Mariko nodded into her shoulder, and her tears subsided, Kasai smiled.

    "Let's get you home. You did well today."

    With that, Kasai escorted a sniffling Mariko out of the training grounds.
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    Very nicely done. Take 60 XP and canon.

    This also seems like a good place to go into a little bit of my Yamanaka Headcanon. Basically, the InoShikaCho may not have bloodlines like the Hyuuga or the Uchiha, but they do have their own little talents. The Yamanaka's whole thing is that their chakra is spesifically bred to make and handle mental jutsu. Other people can still learn those jutsu but it's much harder for them.

    And on the subject of Mariko's exact relationship with the Yamanaka: plainly put, she's a branch family member. Her mother is Ino's mom's sister, and her father is a non-clan ninja. Her family isn't a branch like the Hyuuga have them; more like a noble family. Her branch is descended from the original Yamanaka line, with their common ancestor being almost ancient history. As such, the purity of the Yamanaka bloodline has been mostly lost in her family, but she's still able to be trained in the jutsu even if she's not very good at them.
    kenmadragon said:
    This is an omake idea that has been on mind for a while. First time taking a crack at writing an omake like this, so... yeah. It's set sometime during Daisuke's Academy days, but nowhere definite in the timeline. Hopefully, it can be a kind of In-Character explanation for Daisuke's ability to gain insight and mastery of stuff rapidly gained via Reward XP.

    INSIGHT

    Daisuke sat in seiza upon the ground beneath an old tree. Shaded by its boughs, the young warrior steadily ignored the aches in his body as he kept his back straight and legs tucked beneath him in the posture of the thunderbolt. The position was demanding, yet Daisuke had trained his body over the years under the supervision of Maito Gai and gotten so used to it that he could sit like this for hours on end if he had to.

    He had just returned from training, refreshed himself with a hot bath, and was now meditating. According to his various teachers, meditating after training was an excellent way to hone the mind. Not to mention that it also helped regenerate a shinobi's chakra as well as improve their control and reserves if one kept the habit up.

    Though, what all those knuckleheads at the Academy always seemed to be forgetting, was that Chakra wasn't simply just energy you used to strengthen yourself or to fire off jutsu in combat. It wasn't wholly reliant on strength and vitality so constant training wouldn't improve it at all. No, what too many shinobi seemed to forget was that chakra wasn't just physical, it was spiritual too.

    So, meditation.

    Gai-sensei had stressed the importance of breathing in "Fanning the Flames Of YOUTH!" many times to Daisuke over the course of his mentorship. Breathing was essential to combat and after translating the numerous analogies, Daisuke wasn't surprised to realize that it was also vital to the art of meditation, he was however surprised by the extent.

    Apparently, meditating was also a skill that Gai-sensei believed had to be taught to "properly fan the FLAMES OF YOUTH!!!!, to meditate in silence and stillness is to grow strong in spirit and provide greater fuel with which to spark the FIRES OF PASSION which make a Gentleman refined and strong! Doing so after Youthful Training shelters the Embers of Youth so they may burn brighter and brighter for an Eternal Springtime of Youth!!!"

    It took Daisuke about a week to realize that Gai-sensei had been trying to tell him that he had to meditate every day he trained to review what he had done, learn from his mistakes and unwind while further bolstering his spiritual strength. Apparently the rush of chemicals in the body caused by training made the mind sharper, and thus the meditation afterwards much more effective.

    After years of doing so, Daisuke could say he had to agree. It was certainly... refreshing to meditate after subjecting himself to Gai's tender ministrations during training. The long soak in the tub hadn't hurt either.

    But, it was when Daisuke had decided to improve his Chakra Control and Reserves via meditation, that things went odd.

    In. Hold. Out. Hold. In. Hold. Out. Hold.

    The timing for inhaling and exhaling varied depending on how much he wanted to focus or relax and what kind of training he had been doing, but for the most part, concentrating upon his breathing was one of the most essential parts to the meditation exercise. It didn't work properly without the right breathing rhythm. Again, a lesson that Gai-sensei was incapable of communicating clearly.

    Daisuke sighed, drawing his thoughts inward and away from the reflection of learning some of Gai-Sensei's "E-rank Taijutsu", which was just a fancy name for specific, relatively basic maneuvers.

    Like the awe-inspiring and training-ground smashing "Leaf Drop"... which was basically a falling axe-kick delivered with earth-shattering force via enhancing the body with chakra. It didn't even require you to do anything special, all you had to do was an axe kick from above.

    Of course, since it was Maito Gai doing it, the "Leaf Drop" managed to shatter a boulder and split a stream in half through sheer force, and Gai-sensei had decided the best way to truly appreciate and learn the technique was to be on the receiving end of it.

    Nevertheless, Daisuke let the thought go as he sunk deeper into his meditation. Such ruminations were only distractions to his focus after a certain point and he wanted to delve deep to confront it again.

    Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold.

    Deeper and deeper Daisuke sank, his meditative form diving into himself as he allowed his hands to clasp into the Dragon hand-seal that felt most natural to him, chakra circulating through his body in time with his breath. Deeper and deeper, Daisuke fell into himself as his mind, body and soul synchronized. Chakra circulating through his body, nerves alighted in sync with the rushing of blood through his veins and arteries, in time with his breathing.

    He was so close to bringing it all into Harmony, when It showed up again.

    The Dragon.

    Daisuke opened his mind's eye and took a glance about the dream. Open wilderness growing untamed by man, forests full of trees that rivaled those around Konoha, mountains that touched the skies, rivers of the clearest blue that rushed along their paths, rolling plains of grasses and grains, and yet there was not a living soul here. None but Daisuke and the Dragon.

    It was fitting, he supposed. This was his own daydream after all, it would be strange if anything remained here that wasn't a figment of his own imagination. However, while meditating in this manner, there was little that Daisuke could focus on dreaming up other than himself and the Dragon.

    Even now it danced through the heavens of his dreamscape, its long and serpentine body writhing as it danced among the clouds. It snorted fire and lightning and bellowed with the force of thunderclaps. It stirred up hurricanes and marshaled storms. Rains fell as it danced through the skies and the wind seemingly howled with every breath it took. The ground shook beneath the dragon's fury and all of the world bowed to its majesty.

    Daisuke marveled at the Dragon once more. It was a beautiful and terrifying creature, conjured from dreams, memories, and the promise of power. There... that was a representation of his very soul. Clad in an armor of 117 glimmering, invulnerable scales the Dragon danced, shaking its wild and crested mane, the sinuous undulation of its body and the flickering of sharp claws and fangs that could shred the skies, the motions engraving themselves within his mind. Those same claws jealousy clutched a flaming pearl of spiritual power and wisdom as it turned upon Daisuke and roared.

    Winds blasted him with the force of a hurricane, yet Daisuke remained undeterred. Once, he had been terrified at this self reflection. It's myriad, chimeric form was always awe-inspiring, yet after confronting it time and again, Daisuke felt somewhat inured to its majesty.

    It still amazed him, but no longer was he afraid.

    The Dragon was him, after all. In a sense.

    He wasn't entirely sure what the Dragon was, or where it came from. Gai-sensei's exuberant response about the "Passion of Youthful Training!" stirring up a creature that was literally a symbol for Emerging Yang and the season of spring within his pupil's mind and soul was difficult to parse. But once Daisuke had managed to calm his taijutsu teacher (calm for Gai, that is), the only advice Gai-sensei had had for the youngster was that this could be both a good thing and a bad thing.

    The good news was that Gai-sensei believed this was just Daisuke finding a way to train while meditating. In observing the Dragon, Daisuke would gain insight into himself. In confronting the figment of his own mind, Daisuke could likely learn a lot about himself, and develop his own mind and soul through the "Springtime of Youth abundantly gifted by his own Erupting Passionate Self". Daisuke translated that as "visualization training".

    The bad news? It was also highly likely he'd just fallen asleep while meditating and had simply hallucinated the entire thing. Repeatedly. Which was kind of embarrassing.

    Even if it was all just a strange, recurring dream, at least he could try to make the most out of it. So all Daisuke had to do was man up and challenge the Dragon directly.

    Maito Gai was full of such Wisdom.

    Braced against the typhoon, Daisuke roared back at the storm. His clothes shifted about his body, disappearing into clouds that replaced his simple, comfortable robes with fitting battle attire.

    His ensemble mixed that of the shinobi from the Warring Clans Era with those of the Samurai. The "Kote of the Watchmen" covered his arms, his body was sheathed in shinobi-maille and a samurai's plate-cuirass while the sode spaulders protected his shoulders and neck with a manju-no-wa. Fauld plates draped about his waist in a skirt of armor, suneate greaves encased his shins and tabi encased his feet. His mother's fan resting beneath his armor, protected by his will and sheltered by his heart. A tessen made for war was tucked within his tasseled belt, while kunai, shuriken and other ninja tools were strapped to his thighs and waist.

    The Sword of the Watchmen, the blade of his once-protector and would-be-assassin was sheathed at the hip, its tassels binding the sheath to his armor.

    The gauntlets clinked as he reached and gripped The Watchmen's hilt. The hitai-ate upon his forehead glistening under the crackle of lightning and blaze of dragon-fire. The symbol of the Satomura billowed proudly on his tabard.

    The Dragon reared up in the sky, roaring in challenge, glowering eyes illuminated with power. Its might immeasurable, its movements impossibly graceful. Its methods mysterious and unknowable, yet unequivocally powerful.

    The Dragon coiled and danced and dared Daisuke to ascend, to overcome. The Heavens of the realm of Daisuke's mind's eye shook as the Dragon bellowed once more in answer to the hubris of his young challenger.

    The Dragon was Bold. Noble. Destructive.

    Daisuke drew the Sword of the Watchmen within his mind's eye and marveled at the creature conjured from the depths of his own soul.

    Every time he challenged the Dragon, he grew. In small, virtually immeasurable ways, he grew from this, drawing from the flaming pearl and the Dragon who kept it. Insights, understandings, revelations and sudden clarity came to him during these battles as all the pieces he accumulated during his waking life simply fell into place.

    He grew in leaps and bounds as concepts and ideas consolidated while he attempted to grasp the immaterial form and majesty of the Dragon. It was erratic and difficult, but there was always some progress to be made from this. There was always more to learn, more insight and revelations to be gain in pursuit of the ultimate mastery. So that one day, he himself might be the Dragon of his dreams.

    And one day, he would be.

    But until then...

    The Dragon roared.

    Daisuke let out a battle-cry of his own, singing the song of his heart as he answered the Challenge.

    Who knew what insights he would gain this time?

    @Vesvius

    Thanks @emberwing for the Beta!
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    I enjoyed this immensely. Take 80 XP and canon.
     
    the current iteration of the skill shortlist
    Linguistics: Practiced (330/400)
    Henge no Jutsu (Ninjutsu): Basic (420/500)
    Appraise: Simple (120/200)
    Beastmastery: Untrained (020/100)
    Yin Release: Tone of Discord: Advanced (900/1000)
    and skills people want to invest in for other reasons:
    Disguise: Practiced (250/400)
    Bluff: Practiced (240/400)
    Reserves: Above Average (1040/1300) - achievement
     
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    Question: A lot of canon omakes seem to getting put up in between updates, which is cool, but for the people who don't follow the t h i c c ness of the thread other than updates... @Vesvius how essential are the omakes to the enjoyment/understanding of what's going on? Or does it only impact people who care about what's happening behind the scenes?
     
    Khepri14 said:
    Tbh, I don't think it's fanon, when you take into account the sheer number of clones Naruto pulls off on a casual Kage Bunshin summoning. Like, seriously, his first time against Mizuki was in the hundreds. You need to survive cutting/folding your chakra in half each time for every shadow clone you create. That's a fuckton of chakra to pull on, wayyyy more than the standard clone ever demonstrated(Which even civilian kids who had no shinobi parents can pull off with some time and effort), which is why most people can only do 1 or 2! And that's not getting into the Mass Shadow Clone. With such an excess of chakra and such shitty control, there's no way for Naruto to produce just 1 or 2 basic clones without them crapping out like he did in the beginning. Had he just focused less on getting just 1 or 2 and gone with as many as he could make, he'd create a decent (amount of) bunshin because the chakra would be spread evenly(Or near evenly as it gets with his shitty control) across the clones, thereby smoothing out their features and looking less like they're dying before popping like a balloon or deflating. Of course, I'm sure Iruka/Mizuki would then just dock him points for the excess of clones because it's not great for stealth, lack of chakra control or something, but it would prove he can do a bunshin, they just forgot he has a totally different chakra level than every other kid in his school.

    Had Sarutobi himself, or any smart nin in the Academy, simply fucking remembered that Uzumaki were well known for their huge reserves of chakra and as such, the Konoha Academy standards can't really be held to him in some ways. Sarutobi especially had more reason to remember that considering he knew Kushina personally and that Naruto was her kid and as such would get her big reserves to start, he knew Naruto was a Jinchuuriki and that seal was slowly but surely leaking Kyuubi's chakra into Naruto's system thus increasing Naruto's reserves even more, meaning it would become increasingly harder for Naruto to perform the basic jutsus without leaking so much excess chakra that it ruins the technique or can't perform it at all! But instead of noticing that and making allowances for it in the Academy or just getting him to start on chakra control real early so as to cut down on that problem, he either somehow "forgot" entirely or just ignored it until we got the freaking Mizuki incident.
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    TBH I think you're kind of overstating the "Naruto has much chakra" thing. It was a factor, but it wasn't just that. Kushina was also a jinchuriki as a genin (but she had the entire Nine-Tails, and was also an Uzumaki), but she didn't have trouble passing. (they probably made an exception for her, or she was a Minato-level prodigy).

    While his condition contributed to this, I think Sarutobi would have made an exception if he felt Naruto was ready. It's more that Naruto was both a slacker, and not in a mental state fit for shinobi service. It took a long time for him to become mentally mature enough to be a good ninja, and this was part of the reason Kakashi didn't teach him anything advanced.
     
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    Pandemonious Ivy said:
    Question: A lot of canon omakes seem to getting put up in between updates, which is cool, but for the people who don't follow the t h i c c ness of the thread other than updates... @Vesvius how essential are the omakes to the enjoyment/understanding of what's going on? Or does it only impact people who care about what's happening behind the scenes?
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    As someone that follows everything, I'm pretty confident saying they're only as relevant as the information that gets pulled from them into updates proper.
     
    Is there a perk for keeping invested omake experience over lives? So that the work carry's over and doesn't get lost in one moment of carelessness?
     
    Put together a list to see what Daisuke would look like at the moment without bonus exp.

    Physical
    Strength: Above Average (810/1300)
    Constitution: Superhuman (1330/2000)
    Dexterity: Simple(730/800)

    Mental
    Intelligence: Above Average (1020/1300)
    Willpower: Above Average (930/1300)
    Wits: Simple (790/800)

    Social
    Appearance: Above Average (1170/1300)
    Charisma: Above Average (840/1300)
    Empathy: Above Average (870/1300)

    Other
    Luck: ??? (Who knows?!)

    Physical
    Acrobatics: Practiced (340/400)
    Climb: Student (170/200)
    Escape Artist: Student (130/200)
    Sleight of Hand: Student (180/200)
    Stealth: Student (150/200)
    Swim: Student (170/200)
    Travel: Student (140/200)

    Mental
    Appraise: Student (100/200)
    Disable Device: Student (130/200)
    Disguise: Practiced (230/400)
    Heal: Student (120/200)
    Linguistics: Practiced (250/400)
    Perception: Practiced (300/400)
    Survival: Practiced (340/400)

    Social
    Beastmastery: Untrained (020/100)
    Bluff: Practiced (240/400)
    Diplomacy: Practiced (320/400)
    Intimidate: Practiced (240/400)
    Manipulation: Practiced (240/400)
    Perform: Adept (590/800)
    Sense Motive: Adept (250/400)

    Chakra
    Control: Above Average (950/1300)
    Reserves: Above Average (800/1300)
    Senses: Simple (450/800)

    Jutsu Schools
    Fuinjutsu: Untrained (000/100)
    Genjutsu: Practiced (250/400) (Reward XP Invested: 700)
    Kenjutsu: Adept (620/800)
    Ninjutsu: Student (120/200)
    Shurikenjutsu: Student(150/200)
    Taijutsu: Journeyman (1190/1600)

    Bunshin no Jutsu (Ninjutsu): Basic (360/500)
    Kawarimi no Jutsu (Ninjutsu): Intermediate (580/750)
    Henge no Jutsu (Ninjutsu): Basic (350/500)

    Yin Release: Tone of Discord: Basic (330/500)
    ​
     
    Shapeless Phobos said:
    A mix and match of some of the prompts along with something completely different...:V
    I'm not apologizing for the first 1/3 of this.

    Satomura Daisuke gazed at the moonlit sky of Konoha with an expression that was more solemn than usual. He was clearly deep in thought yet his deep, unrelenting anguish was clear as day to his current observer. The way his left hand held his sheathed sword in a vice-like grip and the heat in his emerald orbs.

    All of this was clear to Shinsato Ren, driving the intrepid investigator to find the root of his comrade's pain.

    Even if he already had his suspicions...

    Daisuke calmly turned his head to see who had interrupted his sombre musings. No surprise was shown as Ren stepped from shadows to join the Satomura Swordsman on the rooftop.

    "Shinsato Ren..." Daisuke called quietly, unconsciously loosening the hold he'd had on his samurai forged blade. Piercing green met soft brown for a short moment even if it felt infinitesimally longer for the owners of those eyes. Finally after what to them had been hours Daisuke turned to fully face his one-time desk neighbor, causing the hitai-ate in his right hand to glimmer under the moon's glow. "What is it you want?"

    "You're officially a ninja now, Daisuke-san." Ren stated softly, moving to stand only a few steps away from the Satomura heir. "Yet you have never seemed more troubled to me. Why...?"

    "It is because..." Daisuke began before halting, turning away from Ren with a look of confused anguish as his hand tightened it's hold over his hitai-ate. Ren was stopped from stepping forward to comfort his lost friend by a sudden gust of wind that blew Daisuke's silken hair wildly. To Ren it looked like the swordsman's locks had become strands of silver moonlight, wafting through the air.

    "D-daisuke-san..." Ren called haltingly once the gale subsided leaving Daisuke's hair handsomely disheveled. Hearing his name called by Ren seemed to stir the newly-made Genin from his brooding thoughts.

    "I am now...one step closer to fulfilling the oath I swore all those years ago...!" Daisuke declared, green eyes nailing the thick-coat wearing Genin to his place.

    "To assume your rightful place on the Throne of Iron." Ren stated, tone growing nervous at both the stoically fierce expression on the Satomura princeling's face and at danger inherent in such a goal. Still, he persevered in uncovering the truth as he had done countless times before! "And to avenge your beloved teacher."

    "I shall cast my usurping Uncle from my Father's throne...and make him pay for assassinating Toki-sensei!" The Iron Prince swore, his fury briefly breaking through his cool, noble exterior to reveal the angst-filled human interior!

    Ren had never seen this side of Daisuke before yet he felt the irresistible urge to support him in this mission. Just as Daisuke had on their first days at the Academy by gifting him so many school supplies! "Let me help you Daisuke-san! I may not be the strongest or smartest...but I can find the truth of Toki-san's murder, no matter how far-fetched!"

    Ren's sudden promise, given from within the very deepest part of himself, surprised the Satomura Shinobi. Enough so that he found himself moving closer to the Shinsato Genin. "Ren..."

    "Daisuke-san..." Ren moved nearer as well, their faces nearly nose to nose, his face turning a rosy pink...

    "Ren...of everyone, to you I have always-"

    "You misspelled the samurai guy's name, Kairi-chan." You hear someone say over your shoulder.

    You find the resulting instinct of loosing shuriken and senbon in their direction a justified response!

    Even if Izumi's good-natured chuckling as the weapons soar over his head into their usual holes in the wall still grates the nerves.

    You are Shirai Kairi. 13 years old, in your final year at the Academy. Avid purveyor of the arts in all of it's myriad forms. Whether that be drawing or acting yet your heart lies most firmly in your writing. Whether that be for the Theater club, your various Fan Clubs, or most importantly to you the Academy Newspaper!

    Even if none know of your place in the latter beyond the teachers (How else are you going to get Credits for it?! Kunoichi classes were stupid anyways, even Mizuki-sensei admits it.) and of course the 'Face' of the Newspaper...one (Vice) Chief-Editor Date Izumi.

    Who was currently intruding upon your 'personal writing time'!

    "...what is it, Izumi?" You growl out in question...though you also glance between him and your current work. The unspoken question clear to your associate.

    "It's Tokei, not Toki." Damn that idiot Ueda! He'd pay for almost ruining your work with his lazy research later. Your reputation for factual accuracy in your works was very important. It added a layer of authenticity to even the most unlikely of your creations! It's why you'd found out the exact shade of green that were Satomura Daisuke's eyes and the precise type of tomato Sasuke packed into his Bento!

    This is why you preferred Ren for such detailed investigations...even if he often got sidetracked.

    Izumi continued giddily after allowing you the requisite amount of time to plot vengeance against his fellow journalist."As for why I came by...well I was hoping to brainstorm with you for our last paper."

    That statement actually puzzled you, however. The Academy paper still had at least two more issues before the last was set for print. You two still hadn't ironed out which of the Conspiracy Corner's stupid stories to use as filler between the story on the upcoming school play and Naruto's latest crazy attempt to woo Haruno for this month's paper!

    Personally you were leaning towards Ren's piece theorizing Tsunade-Hime of being the founder of that new Village in Rice Country. Even if it was mostly him rambling about what his cousin's teammate's ANBU girlfriend had heard about body modifications from a chance encounter with some of those Oto ninja. And that it was 'In her blood" to found a Village. It was crazy enough to be entertaining while not possibly being banned by Iruka-Sensei like Takagi's story about the Five Kage being Tailed Beasts in disguise. (Even the Hokage! All four of them!)

    Thankfully Izumi knew when to take certain silences on your part as requests to continue. One might not think it from how you and he were outside of the Newspaper room but the two of you worked together quite well. Izumi was the perfect 'Face' for your newspaper. Everyone knew he was smart, only Haruno could truly challenge him in pure academics, and he had enough charisma to wrangle even the most unruly of your staff. He was also the only person you trusted to serve as editor for your own works...even the less...scholastic kind. And he never judged what you wrote like you think the other girls in your fan clubs might.

    Not even your One True Pairing...as he had done just now.

    Even if he was never as unnerved by you as you'd prefer(if he ever was), or truly enjoyed your artwork like the others did. He didn't seem to really have any particular thoughts on your writings beyond story structure, fact-checking, or grammar. Regardless of all that you think he might well be the closest thing you have to a best friend.

    "I was thinking we could have our final piece focus on what we all want to do after graduation." He told you with a dopey smile before quickly adding. "Besides just being Genin! I mean what we want our lives to be like. What kind of Chuunin we'll be or Jounin even. Garrison-duty, Gate Attendant, T & I, or even ANBU! Everyone from here to Tea Country knows Naruto wants to be Hokage for some reason but what about the rest of us?"

    To you it sounded a bit too much like a fluff story, the kind you'd put at the end of the paper to leave things on a positive note to help boost sales. Yet, the way Izumi talked about it with his eyes nearly sparkling during his explanation...it might be worth running by everyone. Maybe it was the romantic you tried to only let out when creating your art or perhaps it was just you trying to do a kindness for Izumi at least once before you might never work with him again. Whatever the reason a strong part of you wanted to give the go-ahead for this...so you did.

    "...okay."

    Izumi pumped his fist into the air with a shout of excitement and even for your unusually cheerful co-worker it was a rather big show of happiness. He was usually rather more circumspect about it, often just making due with a smile or chuckle. It made you wonder why he was so intent on this?

    "...what about you?"

    That question brought him up short as you'd expected it to, leaving him blinking in incomprehension. It didn't take him too long to return to a more normal bearing though he was obviously embarrassed at the sudden question. Taking a seat across from you and pushing up his glasses enough to have light glare off them in a dramatic gesture you couldn't help but approve of Izumi gathered his thoughts.

    It was a soundless few minutes before he spoke and it was in a quieter tone than the usually cheerful journalist used. "To be honest, Kairi-chan, I'm not sure. I think that's why I really want to do this, to maybe get some kind of idea for myself. I know...when it comes to the actually useful ninja arts I'm not all that great. 90% of our class can send me crashing to the ground in the taijutsu spars in five minutes flat. My ninjutsu and genjutsu are pretty basic even if I've got the Academy Three down well enough to pass. Math, history, and all the scholastic subjects I'm the top of the class in but that's about all I've got going for me."

    A part of you wanted to say something to boost your friend's confidence but...he was right. Date Izumi may be the fifth highest ranking student in your Academy class but most of that was because no one matched him in the written subjects. You might not be Kunoichi of the Year material but even your practical skills far surpassed his...and you were six ranks behind him!

    "So, I thought that maybe if I found out what's driving everyone else to push themselves so hard... I mean just a few months ago Daisuke-san was in fifth place but now he's suddenly number three! I can guess what Sasuke-san's drive is focused on but Daisuke-san...Shino-san and even Ino-san! I want to know what drives the top four so that I might prove I'm worthy of being in the top five!"

    You watched as Izumi calmed his breathing and found yourself thinking on his words. It was true that Daisuke had suddenly seemed to be paying particular attention in class and had even started using some strange, new jutsu during the daily sparring sessions. You had never truly cared about the class rankings so long as you were in at least the top third...but now you were number 12. A Shirai kunoichi falling firmly into the middle...you couldn't allow that to happen for long. Yui-san was directly behind you and if she took after Daisuke or Ino in building herself up then not even your mastery of your family's Silent Murder Step technique could help you prevail. Everyone knew of Yui's skill with Substitution!

    "...Izumi-kun." You called quietly, your determined red eyes meeting his own confused glance.

    "...let's investigate...and become even better."

    Your friend nodded energetically to your declaration, leaving you to begin plans on this coming piece. It would be the pinnacle piece of your career at the Academy Paper. And as for becoming stronger...

    ...maybe Cousin Kurenai would have some tips? She was a Jounin herself now after all!
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    Excellent work! A real quality crop of omakes today. Take 70 XP and canon.
    Pandemonious Ivy said:
    Question: A lot of canon omakes seem to getting put up in between updates, which is cool, but for the people who don't follow the t h i c c ness of the thread other than updates... @Vesvius how essential are the omakes to the enjoyment/understanding of what's going on? Or does it only impact people who care about what's happening behind the scenes?
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    They are certainly not required reading. You can read or skip as many as you'd like.
    Katsuragi said:
    @Vesvius - 210 to perform, 80 to linguistics. Going to knock that presentation out of the park.
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    Vermeer said:
    @Vesvius 60 to chakra reserves
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    Heard!
     
    Daniel14541 said:
    Is there a perk for keeping invested omake experience over lives? So that the work carry's over and doesn't get lost in one moment of carelessness?
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    that doesn't make sense as a perk.

    We'll probably keep it, or maybe we'll get some bonus in character creation depending on the amount, or whatever Vesvius decided to do once we die... but buying a perk to change the rules would certainly not be allowed.

    And even if it was, shouldn't we consider a perk like that only AFTER we die?
     
    Pittauro said:
    that doesn't make sense as a perk.

    We'll probably keep it, or maybe we'll get some bonus in character creation depending on the amount, or whatever Vesvius decided to do once we die... but buying a perk to change the rules would certainly not be allowed.

    And even if it was, shouldn't we consider a perk like that only AFTER we die?
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    Well that is your opinion man. I'm of the opinion that hard work should not be lost because of one mistake. So we are at in impasse. No way to convince the other of our views.
     
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