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Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

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Cariyaga said:
I wouldn't make that assumption when the same update describes the results of the other thing we got permission for. In juxtaposition with that it seems clear that it didn't happen, to me.
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As I said earlier, its perfectly valid to view it as "Oyabun didn't send a response back yet, because we wanted a meeting at his convenience and now isn't convenient. "

If for some reason Hazou totally blanked on sending that one and only sent the Ami one, then we should send it again along with a present for the lieutenant as well.
 
MMKII said:
As I said earlier, its perfectly valid to view it as "Oyabun didn't send a response back yet, because we wanted a meeting at his convenience and now isn't convenient. "

If for some reason Hazou totally blanked on sending that one and only sent the Ami one, then we should send it again along with a present for the lieutenant as well.
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I don't actually think we should meet with the Oyabun. We just got done telling Jiraiya we'd stop fucking around with things above our pay grade politically/socially.
 
I swear to the brush of all sages- wehaveanAkimichiwehaveanAkimichiwehaveanAkimichi

Why is the most monitored clan in the Elemental Nations trying to pull off a disguise in the middle of a forewarned hostile police state instead of trading a trivial favor to somebody for whom it would be literally more suspicious if they weren't making inquiries about restaurants?
 
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Do you have any suggestions as to what to offer Choji in exchange for this favor for someone he has never meaningfully interacted with?
 
Cariyaga said:
Do you have any suggestions as to what to offer Choji in exchange for this favor for someone he has never meaningfully interacted with?
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He's the single most accommodating person Hazou has ever met, to say nothing of the clan alliance. He could probably be persuaded by simply buying him lunch with Hazou's knowledge of local delicacies. We already know that he likes the snap of fried prawn-toxin.
 
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Lailoken said:
He's the single most accommodating person Hazou has ever met, to say nothing of the clan alliance. He could probably be persuaded by simply buying him lunch with Hazou's knowledge of local delicacies. We already know that he likes the snap of fried prawn-toxin.
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Hm. Maybe... I don't want to make assumptions like that, though.
 
MadScientist said:
SHIKAMARU: (panicking) Dad! I think Keiko just broke off the engagement!

SHIKAKU: (suddenly alert) <processing, do not disturb>

SHIKAMARU: (fidgets nervously for several seconds)

SHIKAKU: Clearly, Hazou has--

SHIKAMARU: OH FOR FUCKS SAKE!
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Jokes aside that's how I'm imagining Shikimaru, just pure internal screaming and utter comfusion. I like to think that he has all this plans and ideas going on in his head and keiko throwing that kunai at him just made it all freeze up like a record scratch in his head.
 
@Lailoken don't worry, I will listen to you!

MMKII said:
WC: 394
[X] Action Plan: It's Kinda Sorta The Other Plan But With Shopping and Socializing

Morning:

  • Show new letter to J:
    • Conclusions (?):
      • Letter #1 was deliberately leaked through courier. Implication: Courier #2 secure.
      • Options: hide Letter #2 and court Ami, or use Letter #2 and drop it.
      • Ami might prefer the former since Letter #1 was so aggressive.
  • Talk with Keiko and Noburi:
    • The second letter. Pre-empt concerns, this one's 'good' news.
      • Get their input.
      • Carefully ask Keiko's thoughts on meeting again.
    • Would Keiko like planning help for the finals?
      • Yes: Suggest she overcharge on chakra water beforehand to summon two pangolins immediately. Might sting for a couple days...
      • No: Okay, that's fine.

Afternoon:

  • Once Jiraiya returns, discuss situation (include Noburi and Keiko; high-OPSEC):
    • How long before we leave Mist?
    • Second meeting with Ami:
      • Seeking an honest answer: if she's in danger/wants a political marriage.
      • Need better OPSEC. A walk across the bay and a picnic?
      • We're a bit shaken from recent events. Any advice?
    • If Jiraiya approves, send a letter. Contents:
      • Decline the favour.
      • Set up the second meeting.
        • Place: "near" a random restaurant.
        • Time: tomorrow? (Jiraiya's call.)
  • If Jiraiya allows us outside:
    • Watch finals.
    • Verify Ami's story (if time permits).
      • Persuade Chouji to do the following restaurant sleuthing for us. Meals on us.
        • Check this with Jiraiya beforehand.
      • Visit restaurants. Inquire about their history, then ask about:
        • Connection between Byakuren's Cookbook and Yukizome's.
        • Byakuren's Cookbook serving large groups of ninja.
      • Byakuren's Cookbook: name-drop 'Ami' for regulars-only menu.
  • If anyone talks about Hazou and Ami: no comment.
  • Go shopping with Ino.
    • It's the Exams! Try multinational markets.
    • Spend a third of remaining December allowance on clothes.
      • We trust her to pick nice outfits.
      • She can grab some things on us, as thanks for the help.
    • Spend another third expanding wardrobe for potential disguises.
      • Buy commoner's outfits from various countries.
      • Bargaining: Joke:Our friend here is driving us bankrupt! Can you throw in some practical clothes from your country at a discount? Ninja go through many clothes, you see.
  • Structure route back so you pass by the blacksmith near the Mizukage's tower.
    • Thank Ino for the help, much appreciated.
    • Money was tight in your family growing up, so fashion wasn't an option.
    • Tell her how you used to take bets to jump onto the Mizukage tower as a kid to help pay the bills. Guess that's far in the past.
      • Keep any bloodline details out.
      • Expression: Thoughtful, Musing.
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Velorien said:
"Do you know what she is, Keiko? How much has she told you? Do you know that she caused all this? The woman who chose to take my son from me, and who chose to take Mori Ami—yes, Ren gave me the dossier—from you?"
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Hana knows stuff about Ami and she should be competent at clan politics. She will probably disagree that Ami is a good marriage, but
maybe we can convince her anyway to help with Ami before we cause a greater clusterfuck?

Last time Hazou managed to convince her that the Mist-Leaf alliance was needed so that she would help with Mari, that didn't turn out so well, but Hana doesn't hate Ami, so she shouldn't escalate like that again.
eaglejarl said:
Hazō leaned back slightly, but did not fully release her. "Could you really do that, Momma? Leaf and Mist are on the edge of an alliance. Mist has been hammered over the last two years, and they need the alliance. Leaf has been hit hard as well; not as badly as Mist, but they could use support. Leaf is allies with Sand already, and a Mist/Leaf/Sand alliance would control half the Elemental Nations and all of the long-distance trade routes. Between the three of them they have access to every critical resource; with favored-nation trading status among the three of them and tariffs against the other nations they'd become an economic powerhouse. It would buy Mist time to recruit or train new jōnin and S-rankers to replace their military power. None of that is possible if Jiraiya loses the hat, or if you leave Leaf."

She eyed him flatly. "Was it Inoue who gave you these arguments?"
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Hana herself needs the alliance, after all if Mist and Leaf aren't on very good terms, she can't spend time with her cute grandchildren, but evil Mari will.
 
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Choji intermediary idea shamelessly stolen integrated into my plan too because it's a good idea.
Inferno Vulpix said:
Reposting the plan once again, if anyone has anything to say about it let me know.

Word Count: 299
[X] Action Plan: Reasonable Handling of New Information.
  • Show the letter to Jiraiya. Help him find a clean shirt. In the process, quickly confirm conclusions:
    • Letter #1 was deliberately leaked through a compromised courier. Implication: Courier #2 wasn't compromised.
    • Letter #2 leaves us an opportunity to go along with the marriage (if it wasn't leaked), and signals that Ami'll drop it if we won't
    • Letter #1 was pretty aggressive: likely signals that she strongly prefers the former option. Testing Courier #1 was secondary.
    • If we run out of time, cover these later.
  • Tell Keiko and Noburi about the second letter. Pre-empt their concerns, this one's good news.
    • Let them voice their opinions.
    • Carefully ask Keiko's thoughts on the potential second meeting.
    • Finally get Noburi's full opinion on the situation.
  • Do something calming and rote to relax a little, like making explosives.
  • Help Keiko plan for her upcoming fight.
  • Once Jiraiya returns, discuss the situation (include Noburi and Keiko; high-OPSEC conditions):
    • How long before we'll have to leave Mist?
    • Second meeting with Ami. Should it happen? If so:
      • Should we seek a honest answer regarding whether she's in danger/wants a political marriage?
      • Would require better OPSEC measures. A walk across the bay followed by a picnic?
      • We're a bit shaken from recent events. Any advice?
    • If Jiraiya approves, send a letter. Contents:
      • Decline the favour.
      • Set up the second meeting.
        • Place: "near" a random restaurant.
        • Time: tomorrow? (Jiraiya's call.)
  • If Jiraiya allows us outside:
    • Watch today's matches.
    • Verify Ami's story.
      • Persuade Chouji to do the following restaurant sleuthing. Meals on us.
        • Check this with Jiraiya beforehand.
      • Visit a few restaurants. Inquire about their history, then ask about:
        • Connection between Byakuren's Cookbook and Experimental Cuisine.
        • Byakuren's Cookbook serving large groups of ninja.
      • Byakuren's Cookbook: name-drop Ami for regulars-only menu.
    • If anyone talks about Hazou and Ami: no comment.
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Edits. Just some tinkering and using @Inferno Vulpix 's version of the Chouji thing.

MMKII said:
WC: 394
[X] Action Plan: It's Kinda Sorta The Other Plan But With Shopping and Socializing

Morning:

  • Show new letter to J:
    • Conclusions (?):
      • Letter #1 was deliberately leaked through courier. Implication: Courier #2 secure.
      • Options: hide Letter #2 and court Ami, or use Letter #2 and drop it.
      • Ami might prefer the former since Letter #1 was so aggressive.
  • Talk with Keiko and Noburi:
    • The second letter. Pre-empt concerns, this one's 'good' news.
      • Get their input.
      • Carefully ask Keiko's thoughts on meeting again.
    • Would Keiko like planning help for the finals?
      • Yes: Suggest she overcharge on chakra water beforehand to summon two pangolins immediately. Might sting for a couple days...
      • No: Okay, that's fine.

Afternoon:

  • Once Jiraiya returns, discuss situation (include Noburi and Keiko; high-OPSEC):
    • How long before we leave Mist?
    • Second meeting with Ami:
      • Seeking an honest answer: if she's in danger/wants a political marriage.
      • Need better OPSEC. A walk across the bay and a picnic?
      • We're a bit shaken from recent events. Any advice?
    • If Jiraiya approves, send a letter. Contents:
      • Decline the favour.
      • Set up the second meeting.
        • Place: "near" a random restaurant.
        • Time: tomorrow? (Jiraiya's call.)
  • If Jiraiya allows us outside:
    • Watch finals.
    • Verify Ami's story (if time permits).
      • Persuade Chouji to do the following restaurant sleuthing for us. Meals on us.
        • Check this with Jiraiya beforehand.
      • Visit restaurants. Inquire about their history, then ask about:
        • Connection between Byakuren's Cookbook and Yukizome's.
        • Byakuren's Cookbook serving large groups of ninja.
      • Byakuren's Cookbook: name-drop 'Ami' for regulars-only menu.
  • If anyone talks about Hazou and Ami: no comment.
  • Go shopping with Ino.
    • It's the Exams! Try multinational markets.
    • Spend a third of remaining December allowance on clothes.
      • We trust her to pick nice outfits.
      • She can grab some things on us, as thanks for the help.
    • Spend another third expanding wardrobe for potential disguises.
      • Buy commoner's outfits from various countries.
      • Bargaining:
        • Joke: Our friend here is driving us bankrupt!
        • Can you throw in some practical clothes from your country at a discount? Ninja go through many clothes, you see.
  • Structure route back so you pass by the blacksmith near the Mizukage's tower.
    • Thank Ino for the help, much appreciated.
    • Money was tight in your family growing up, so fashion wasn't an option.
    • Tell her how you used to take bets to jump onto the Mizukage tower as a kid to help pay the bills. Guess that's far in the past.
      • Keep any bloodline details out.
      • Expression: Thoughtful, Musing.
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Click to shrink...
 
@MMKII I have the same concern with your plan as with @Inferno Vulpix's; namely, that we need to not assume that a second meeting with Ami will happen. The other plan was changed to "Second meeting with Ami. Should it happen? If so:", could you change that?

Beyond that...should we be spending time shopping with Ino? I get that we want to establish a rapport and getting disguises, but we aren't exactly on the greatest of terms with her and I feel that us frivolously shopping like this might not make the best impression. Or maybe it will, I dunno.
 
Inferno Vulpix said:
Wait, my version of the Chouji thing? I literally copy-pasted it from your plan and cut out two extraneous words for wordcount.
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Oh dear.

faflec said:
Beyond that...should we be spending time shopping with Ino? I get that we want to establish a rapport and getting disguises, but we aren't exactly on the greatest of terms with her and I feel that us frivolously shopping like this might not make the best impression. Or maybe it will, I dunno.
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I don't think the Ino <=> Hazou relationship is filled with enough salt that a shopping trip combined with allowing her to pick our clothes1​ is off the table.2​ The bit about our past should be nice. It's a touching moment of reminiscence and/or juicy personal info.

Let me see what I can do on the other thing.
1. I emphatically recall that this is like drugs to a teenage girl.
2. It will suck though. Ah well.
 
Cariyaga said:
Perhaps we should write a letter of apology and explanation with such careful calligraphy as to have taken hours of painstaking work as a gesture of apology? And include that one of the reasons he didn't bring up to Jiraiya, that he wanted to meet Ami, was that he wanted to find out what kind of person could hurt his sister like that? (Now, naturally, he knows.)
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How does this sound @Evenstar?
 
Not a big fan of the Ino stuff.

[X] Action Plan: Reasonable Handling of New Information.

@Inferno Vulpix , What do you think about my suggestion of talking to Hana about Ami (if Jiraiya approves)? Also verifying Ami's favors doesn't seem very important, hell maybe Hana knows something about it, or the Mori in general that would help. Plus we could try to figure out if Hana has any insight about Ami's stance on Keiko.
 
@faflec I have changed the verbiage regarding the second meeting according to your desires.

MMKII said:
WC: 396
[X] Action Plan: It's Kinda Sorta The Other Plan But With Shopping and Socializing

Morning:

  • Show new letter to J:
    • Conclusions (?):
      • Letter #1 was deliberately leaked through courier. Implication: Courier #2 secure.
      • Options: hide Letter #2 and court Ami, or use Letter #2 and drop it.
      • Ami might prefer the former since Letter #1 was so aggressive.
  • Talk with Keiko and Noburi:
    • The second letter. Pre-empt concerns, this one's 'good' news.
      • Get their input.
      • Carefully ask Keiko's thoughts on meeting again.
    • Would Keiko like planning help for the finals?
      • Yes: Suggest she overcharge on chakra water beforehand to summon two pangolins immediately. Might sting for a couple days...
      • No: Okay.

Afternoon:

  • Once Jiraiya returns, discuss situation (include Noburi and Keiko; high-OPSEC):
    • How long before we leave Mist?
    • Second meeting with Ami. Should it happen? If so:
      • Seek an honest answer on if she's in danger/wants a political marriage.
      • Need better OPSEC. A walk across the bay and a picnic?
      • We're a bit shaken from recent events. Any advice?
    • If Jiraiya approves, send a letter. Contents:
      • Decline the favour.
      • Set up the second meeting.
        • Place: "near" a random restaurant.
        • Time: tomorrow? (Jiraiya's call.)
  • If Jiraiya allows us outside:
    • Watch finals.
    • Verify Ami's story (if time permits).
      • Persuade Chouji to do the following restaurant sleuthing for us. Meals on us.
        • Check this with Jiraiya beforehand.
      • Visit restaurants. Inquire about their history, then ask about:
        • Connection between Byakuren's Cookbook and Yukizome's.
        • Byakuren's Cookbook serving large groups of ninja.
      • Byakuren's Cookbook: name-drop 'Ami' for regulars-only menu.
  • If anyone talks about Hazou and Ami: no comment.
  • Go shopping with Ino.
    • It's the Exams! Try multinational markets.
    • Spend a third of remaining December allowance on clothes.
      • We trust her to pick nice outfits.
      • She can grab some things on us, as thanks for the help.
    • Spend another third expanding wardrobe for potential disguises.
      • Buy commoner's outfits from various countries.
      • Bargaining:
        • Joke: Our friend here is driving us bankrupt!
        • Can you throw in some practical clothes from your country at a discount? Ninja go through many clothes, you see.
  • Structure route back so you pass by the blacksmith near the Mizukage's tower.
    • Thank Ino, the help was much appreciated.
    • Money was tight growing up, so you're bad with fashion.
    • Reminisce:Tell her how you used to take bets to jump onto the Mizukage tower as a kid to help pay the bills. Guess that's far in the past.
      • Keep any bloodline details out.
      • Expression: Thoughtful, Musing.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
[X] Action Plan: It's Kinda Sorta The Other Plan But With Shopping and Socializing
 
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