Apologies in advance for the text bomb.
So I read all the conversation in the discord since chapter 702 dropped for all the laughs it gave me and to see if this would be a potentially useful contribution:
One of the more appealing ideas to me is exploring the other Paths.
Personally, I want Hazo to truly contend with what Orochimaru said to him.
I want his death to have an impact on him. To see some movement on an arc for him (which to me appears less likely in Leaf). To get Hazo on a journey that's satisfying for the players and the QMs.
A very logical thing for Hazo to do for many reasons is head back to leaf ASAP and handle business for those he cares about. I suppose you could have time be moving unevenly but how does Hazo know that? (someone could tell him, King of Hell?)
If he doesn't know, he should be acting under the assumption that time runs the same or potentially faster on the Human path.
As I understand the QM model of the world, Hazo would be safe in leaf and could stick to light-housing. And after what he just went through, why wouldn't he?
I suppose Akatsuki is potentially at the door and won't believe the rift and Orochimaru aren't there, at least not immediately. Digging in fortifications is interesting, but it's not the most exciting thing.
I suppose Jashin's immortality could lure Hazo into battle but it feels like we're leaving cloned meat on the bone when there's a juicy possibility ahead.
What if Hazo goes on a trip to another path more immediately after dying, a path we haven't seen before.
Why?
It gives time for a character arc that wouldn't be possible around old characters.
It puts Hazo in new and (even) stranger circumstances.
Those alien circumstances are an opportunity for growth and trauma through internalizing the lesson Orochimaru taught him. To become strong enough that he can protect his secrets and his goals (Uplift). Perhaps Hazopilot becomes a little less sharing and feeling like he must be the beacon by which Uplift shines all the time (less Uplift fuck yeah speeches?). It's a loss of something profound, it's a sacrifice of part of his character and it can be temporary while he goes through this arc. A thematic cost for the boons Jashin/Iron nerve give. Could be a good time to replace or begin to replace his Foot-In-Mouth aspect. It's not where he'll end as a character but I'd like to see him drift and pay a cost at least temporarily. I'm sure when he sees his family again, he'll drift back but not be the exact same. There might be some bittersweet feelings of the changes in himself and what he missed with Team Uplift.
There's an opportunity here for them to grow and accomplish things in Hazo's absence, which is also very interesting for me.
Perhaps the rift Jashin leads him toward is a connection to one of the other paths and whatever's in charge there won't let him leave without completing a grand quest (A fae-like set of beings?). We know Summon Bosses can prevent dimensional travel through summoning. Through some mechanism (a binding fey promise, the being in charge controlling the dimensional 'key' to safely get out) Hazo cannot trivially escape. This being can also inform him of dimensional time shenanigans so he's at least not catastrophically concerned about getting home (or informs him after he is catastrophically concerned).
I realize this is similar to the idea of The King of Hell giving a quest which someone brought up, I like the idea!
With this version of events, Orochimaru's resurrection plans have an even more obscured timeline due to Hazo being on a new path.
Given inconsistencies in the flow of time among the paths, Hazo can re-enter the main narrative when it's most fun.
Hazo can become the Sage of Three paths. Or Four or Five, I wouldn't complain (I don't want him to trivialize his opponents in a short period away but I don't have strong ideas or feelings on power levels beyond that)
Extra paths open up opportunities for more or less time cost options and commensurate rewards. Go to double-time path and risk the consequences but you can get some incredible stuff. It's an interesting cost to explore after Hazo's work squeezing every second of value out of the day. Could easily go wrong so perhaps with the value proposition clearly stated.
I don't expect it'll make sense for Hazo to want to increase the length of his journey away if he can help it without being forced to or changing his characterization but one can dream of adventures. It's probably also a lot to ask of QMs to create multiple paths back to back.
Maybe one of the places we can go can be something like a pocket dimension (less work than a whole path) the Sage or his companions setup for supplies that has a puzzle one can solve with the hive mind and being a rune master. Maybe we find runes to copy or copy some esoteric and exotic stuff with the Iron Nerve giving TYS points or a bonus to that sealing feat. Or a journal that humanizes the Sage or his companion just a little. Or something blood-chilling on the nature of Jashin, this entity now tied to us further.
Maybe we find Whirlpool's pocket dimension. Could be a fun place to be stuck for a while, they would certainly appreciate our sealing… might not let us escape though.
The idea of a new path does kick the can on resurrection even further down the road which some folk have been long awaiting and working toward so that's a point against this idea. Counterpoint: What would a resurrection war with Orochimaru look like? Is that fun?
Also, it would be amazing to see Akane, Jiraiya and other characters from the setting as well.
Pretty excited to see them come back to the human path, reconnect with Hazo, everyone they care for and help with the many problems.
But if it happens too soon or with too many S Rank Leaf badasses I worry it trivializes the setting in a way that isn't satisfying.
Daydreaming here:
Don't we want to punch Snuncle's head off using a combination of some awesome new minatosealing that combine with our fists. Perhaps a minatosealing counter to his bioseals, make HIS chakra network explode. It'd be a very poetic way to end him.
To be clear, I have no idea how minatosealing works so that might be really silly but exploding Orochimaru seems like raddest thing we can do. Am I right people? Using a sealing discipline he didn't know about, even better. And after that lesson on not giving away secrets too easily. If we can murder him with sealing in conjunction with traditional Ninja methods (like fists) even better, Orochimaru can see he taught us the last lesson well. No monologue, we don't expect him to come back to learn from this experience (though maybe destroying his contingencies as well is a reach even in a daydream)
Circling back to the new Path Hazo explores:
It can be a great way to explore themes and answer questions we've been building toward. What if they're an Uplifted society? What does conflict in a post Uplift world look like? Are there problems Hazo would expect to not exist? What does their understanding of lore of the setting look like? Perhaps information on the Sage and other beings is more common given the stability on the path?
Feel free to take anything and nothing from this y'all. I hope it was interesting or sparks thoughts. It's probably clear from what I wrote, I'm interested in the narrative, lore and loot at least as much as punching. It may not be everyone's cup of tea and I'm not trying to write a fan fiction (Though with the length of this post maybe I accomplished that…). I hope these ideas are worth sharing.
Let me know what you like, don't like. Any and all responses are welcome!
Many of the popular ideas I've seen put forth are very fun and interesting so whether any of this is relevant or not I'm very excited to see what's in store!
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