Assuming they know Air Dome and 5SB ofc. We also could do skyslicers, which would be pretty good for killing Zabuza
Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest
- Thread starter eaglejarl
- Start date
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- Tags
- naruto rationalist romance armageddon is looking better and better damn you kishimoto explosions everywhere explosives solve everyone if in doubt surrender to the mercy of zabuza it seemed like a good idea at the time looks like a really bad case of being a jōnin my god. where does the lore end? precommitting is the winning plan screaming in kagome screw the rules i have explosives something bad might still happen sometimes you gotta sociopath stabby zabby subsection c of paragraph 9 should include we can weaponize this so hard open voting
- Location
- The Soviet Republic of Canuckistan
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Wallbang macerators might work.
The main issue is convincing Shikigami (sp?) before he murders us for being a Yagura spy. But if we can get his confidence then we can identify who stays loyal to preserve manpower and infodump survival tips.
- Location
- Book Fort
- Pronouns
- They/Them
You're right, Hazou still has Iron Nerve, which downloads seals. If he has his memories, there's a good chance he still has his internal library of seals... it's jsut a matter of getting his Sealing back to where it was. And if his TYS is still the same (or higher, because of this?), then it should be relatively easy.
- Location
- The Soviet Republic of Canuckistan
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Honestly it seems like we kept FiF.
- Pronouns
- She/Her/They/Them
Well there are questions to ask. Does Hazō have all his memories - can he remember downloading the Sealing scrolls? Can he remember the skywalker seals that he might as well offer Leaf right the fuck now?
Can he retrain Sealing from nothing, his memories being his teacher even though his muscles and chakra pathways lost the familiarity with calligraphy and infusing? He knows an awful lot of theory.
Can he train jutsu he used to have, just from knowing it before?
Does he still remember the pattern of the tattoo that says where Arikada will be? Etc.
honestly this time travel AU omake thing would probably have been a lot more intersting imo had Hazou kept his stats (with the possible exception of Physique and Chakra reserves) now he just has fuckall stats, and there's realistically not anything he can really do to help the Hidden Swamp survive. (Bringing along the skills you gained in the future is half the fun in a peggy sue scenario)
Granted even if he got to keep his sealing stat then he would still not have any sealing supplies to work with.
Though then again Velorien may very well prove me thorougly wrong when it comes to Time traveller Hazou not having his future statline not being as interesting.
Here's to hoping you'll make me eat these words.
Granted even if he got to keep his sealing stat then he would still not have any sealing supplies to work with.
Though then again Velorien may very well prove me thorougly wrong when it comes to Time traveller Hazou not having his future statline not being as interesting.
Here's to hoping you'll make me eat these words.
- Location
- The Soviet Republic of Canuckistan
- Pronouns
- He/Him
He knows when Zabuza arrives and where they settle safely, as well as how to survive the swamp. Just being able to say 'that plant is deadly, that one is just annoying' is huge.
- Location
- The Maple Syrup Mountains
There's something you see very often in stories that start with an implausible premise like this: how do you communicate the strangeness of your situation to other people and have them believe you? Whether you're dumped into another world, tossed back through time, inheritor of ancient magicks, you're left keeping a secret from everyone around you simply because nobody would believe you if you tried to convince them.
Often, this is where that line of thought ends. The protagonist simply keeps their secret close to their chest, even after becoming close to people. They have a plausible fake story by now, maybe handed to them by other people who guessed based on available information, and they don't feel any urge to correct the misunderstanding.
It's horribly lonely to watch.
Imagine if Hazou hadn't opened up here, if he hadn't steeled his resolve and put his faith in Mori and Wakahisa. He might lead them with supernatural intuition and impossible insight. He might help them overcome threats within and without, and guide them to a happy life working to save the world. But every step along the way, he would be second-guessing his actions. Mori and Wakahisa would have their own theories for why Hazou has this knowledge, and Hazou's every action would have to be compared against those theories for fear of inconsistencies. He wouldn't be able to speak what's really on his mind because so often it'll be related to context he can't share lest he reveal the lie.
And the lie would build on itself, solidifying with every action he takes to reinforce it and every moment he allows it to continue. If it's hard to come clean initially, it's much harder to come clean after spending months or years deceiving them. They might rightly ask if Hazou saw them as little more than tools to be guided and manipulated. Mori especially, since we know how much Kei values her agency.
Many stories are content with the double life, with the protagonist having nobody they can truly trust and rely on, but that makes it all the more valuable to me when I see a story that refuses to take the easy way out. There are so many interesting and novel plot developments you can do when the main cast all knows the truth that you can't do at all when the protagonist is keeping up a cover story, and on top of it you get these moments of intense emotional release where it's like the world opens up and settles into a new configuration. I absolutely adore when a story has the strength to take this route and show genuine trust between the main cast, even when it's hard.
Often, this is where that line of thought ends. The protagonist simply keeps their secret close to their chest, even after becoming close to people. They have a plausible fake story by now, maybe handed to them by other people who guessed based on available information, and they don't feel any urge to correct the misunderstanding.
It's horribly lonely to watch.
Imagine if Hazou hadn't opened up here, if he hadn't steeled his resolve and put his faith in Mori and Wakahisa. He might lead them with supernatural intuition and impossible insight. He might help them overcome threats within and without, and guide them to a happy life working to save the world. But every step along the way, he would be second-guessing his actions. Mori and Wakahisa would have their own theories for why Hazou has this knowledge, and Hazou's every action would have to be compared against those theories for fear of inconsistencies. He wouldn't be able to speak what's really on his mind because so often it'll be related to context he can't share lest he reveal the lie.
And the lie would build on itself, solidifying with every action he takes to reinforce it and every moment he allows it to continue. If it's hard to come clean initially, it's much harder to come clean after spending months or years deceiving them. They might rightly ask if Hazou saw them as little more than tools to be guided and manipulated. Mori especially, since we know how much Kei values her agency.
Many stories are content with the double life, with the protagonist having nobody they can truly trust and rely on, but that makes it all the more valuable to me when I see a story that refuses to take the easy way out. There are so many interesting and novel plot developments you can do when the main cast all knows the truth that you can't do at all when the protagonist is keeping up a cover story, and on top of it you get these moments of intense emotional release where it's like the world opens up and settles into a new configuration. I absolutely adore when a story has the strength to take this route and show genuine trust between the main cast, even when it's hard.
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- He/Him
One of the advantages of resetting things to zero is the ability to write without having to keep track of every single player ability and option (the thing that killed combat scenes for me). "Hazō uses his superior character sheet to break the setting" would have this problem and also be boring for me to write. Hazō having to use his knowledge and increased competence to solve his problems (including the problem of rebuilding his abilities) is much more appealing.
Why, yes, I do love Re: Zero and Log Horizon and especially hate isekai power fantasies, how could you tell?
Why, yes, I do love Re: Zero and Log Horizon and especially hate isekai power fantasies, how could you tell?
Unaligned Player
Agony that desires to meet Extinction
- Location
- Adrift between sanity and madness
- Pronouns
- Shrug
Well said. Although the agony of loneliness that Subaru and Homura experience is gut-wrenching, it's nice to see someone that is both able and willing to open up.
- Location
- Yes.
@eaglejarl @Velorien @Paperclipped Any chance we can move the corresponding chapter to the same threadmark, for clarity?
- Location
- The Void
- Pronouns
- She/Her
So there are essentially 3 options that I see. First we could try to figure out a way to actually win the fight. Adding in Mari and having us come up with the plan increases the odds of swamp becoming a thing. The second option involves finding Jiraiya and trying to get him on board with our future knowledge. Third is convince people that this is a loosing effort and break off into separate teams and try to vanish
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Your wish is my command, Loremaster.
- Location
- Book Fort
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[x] (Asuma) Action Plan: Asuma's Response
Words: 299
Words: 299
- Dragonwar has two objectives: killing Dragons, and repairing the Great Seal.
- Low-hanging fruit: bringing in the Akatsuki/AMITY.
- Akatsuki contains 2 S-rank Summoners (Itachi, Kisame), and an S-rank sealmaster (Sasori).
- Several AMITY signatories also have their own Summoners and sealmasters (no comment on their skills).
- No clue if they'll believe us, or if they'll meaningfully contribute (as opposed to taking advantage of us.)
- We're not knowledgeable enough about geopolitics to know the cost-benefit analysis.
- Bring in the Nara? Ami who's been heavily involved with AMITY?
- If there were a time for AMITY to be united in a goal, this would be it.
- NB: Tread carefully: Akatsuki is a sensitive topic. Hazou-pilot can elect to talk in context of AMITY, rather than AMITY plus Akatsuki.
- Low-hanging fruit: bringing in the Akatsuki/AMITY.
- Other things:
- The Great Seal is a puzzle we have few pieces of: we need lore.
- Records of Sage's works are few, but clans have long memories (in the EN, the Seventh Path, or the Eastern Continent.)
- An obstacle to 3D Sealing is a lack of chakra-conductive stone. Know anything?
- Borrowing a dragon part from Orochimaru would let us present it at the Conclave.
- If Orochimaru shows up with Manda, he could display a part, then? Might be more palatable.
- Plans for edge-case scenarios. Invoke the Nara's help with tactics? Do the Inuzuka have anything for souldrinkers applies here? Or the Uchiha from the Karasu Clan?
- Ex: If a dragon escapes the Crusade and flies off, or if a dragon makes it to the EN early.
- The Great Seal is a puzzle we have few pieces of: we need lore.
- Thanks for everything you're doing.
- You have patience for us, despite our mistakes, and you took us seriously about the Dragons, despite countless other pressing matters.
- The rest of the world is idle but Leaf is moving, and it's thanks to you.
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- Location
- Book Fort
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Made an edit of @faflec's plan. I added a suggestion about bringing in Ami, the Nara, and some of the other clans, for various reasons included in the plan.
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- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
So... Is the future of β up to us or will this storyline be more akin to Fated To Die and other continuous apocrypha?
Also, did Hazō-β retain any of his mental and social skill levels? He apparently forgot his jutsu and he definitely forgot all seals he ever learned, due to his Bloodline and how it made him not memorize them naturally. But he should still have a massive bonus to relearning stuff due to his memories of sealing theory. And hus TYS should probably also be completely retained.
I could see his Deceit dropping quite a bit (again due to his Bloodline) and his Rapport and Presence could go either way. But his Resolve should probably still be sky high.
Finally, I know that this is HDK, but I'm curious how the Grue is doing. It would be interesting to see if it transcends time and space completely. On the other hand the much earlier disappearance of henge and Sand skysliders would butterfly so so much even without any derailing on Hazō's part.
Seriously, of all the bloodlines we've encountered, the Kurosawa one might well be the least suited for a Peggy Sue event. If I were a QM for this side story then I'd invert it and make it apply a -3 to every skill it applies to until Hazō invests at least one point in each, representing active training and familiarization to his new old body through kata and such.
Also, did Hazō-β retain any of his mental and social skill levels? He apparently forgot his jutsu and he definitely forgot all seals he ever learned, due to his Bloodline and how it made him not memorize them naturally. But he should still have a massive bonus to relearning stuff due to his memories of sealing theory. And hus TYS should probably also be completely retained.
I could see his Deceit dropping quite a bit (again due to his Bloodline) and his Rapport and Presence could go either way. But his Resolve should probably still be sky high.
Finally, I know that this is HDK, but I'm curious how the Grue is doing. It would be interesting to see if it transcends time and space completely. On the other hand the much earlier disappearance of henge and Sand skysliders would butterfly so so much even without any derailing on Hazō's part.
Pretty sure Hazō relied on storing every single seal he ever learned in the bloodline of his previous body. Drawing seals perfectly each time through pure magical muscle memory was his whole thing. He probably can't draw to straight lines correctly right now. It's a miracle he isn't tripping over his own feet due to his mind memory instinctively trying to grasp for the elegant movements of a chūnin and pulling up nothing but error 404 messages.
Seriously, of all the bloodlines we've encountered, the Kurosawa one might well be the least suited for a Peggy Sue event. If I were a QM for this side story then I'd invert it and make it apply a -3 to every skill it applies to until Hazō invests at least one point in each, representing active training and familiarization to his new old body through kata and such.
Don't worry. All we have to do is find Kagome. He will remember us.
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I have vague plans, but the hivemind is collectively much smarter than me so I will definitely be paying attention to any ideas that are floating around.
- Location
- The Maple Syrup Mountains
Mari would immediately notice when she saw him, because she hand-picked Kurosawa Hazou for this mission and knows how he behaves. No matter how Hazou tries, he's not going to perfectly emulate his past self, and Mari's going to see that.
At best, she simply assumes it's the stress of the situation bringing out personality traits then-unexpressed. At worst... Mari left Swamp because she values her life over Shikigami's vision. If she thinks there even might be subterfuge afoot, that Hazou's a threat to her safety, she won't be faking our death to say the least.
- Location
- Yes.
Therefore, our plan needs to get us away from the Swamp ASAP.
I vote we run, grab Akane, and lighthouse in the woods with Kagome-sensei, as the QMs intended.
@eaglejarl @Velorien @Paperclipped should we plan for Conclave next update or Asuma or both? I assume voting is indeed open. I just don't want to pick the wrong one and suffer consequences for neglecting the other
- Location
- Under a Rock
Hmm... in the past quest, we are incapable of defending the swamp via brute force. A message needs to get to Jiraiya. If the Iron Nerve still has future data, we could perfectly mimic one of Jiraiya's seals, and leave it somewhere he will find it. That should be anywhere not directly inside the camp, because Leaf was on our tail more or less instantly.
In the present, we ask Asuma for
In the present, we ask Asuma for
- propaganda Leaflets (pun intended).
- Time off from skywalker duty
- Necromancy help
- Someone to investigate the living rock
- Maybe it could take over the mountain and shut out the dragons? Would we have to give it a scroll?
- Someone to test if Snake Uncle's No-Sleep seal is safe.
- Ask the Yamanaka if they have some doozy of a jutsu that would let us take on a tonof shadow clone stress.
- Ask Naruto if he knows anything about taking on a ton of shadow clone stress and is willing to share.
- Ask if the Aburame can do something with mirrors or shaded lenses so that we never directly see the dragons.
- Incidentally, this means we will be saving the world while wearing badass sunglasses.
- If any clan in Leaf or Mist has any lore on the seventh path that they are willing to share, now is the time.
- A conversation with Enma about the Sage? I keep forgetting who is supposed to have met the guy, and if our boss summon has or not.
- The Junchuriki seal. Could we use that to contain the dragons, or a modification thereof?
- Location
- Book Fort
- Pronouns
- They/Them
"Asuma, did you hear that Orochimaru has a No-Sleep bioseal? It might help with your paperwork..."
Notably Asuma doesn't know about this and I don't feel like telling him. It's also not related to the Dragons
Cannai and Enma are both younger than the Sage. Cannai is a couple hundred years old and Enma is older but neither of them are a thousand years old. The Toad Sages are close, but I think they're more like 800-900 years old.
We already have everything on the Jinchuuriki seal, that's the Minato seal chain