My view of them are simple.

Ranks are just ways for me to generalize how powerful certain ninja are when I have not introduced them yet. Nothing more.

The thing you will get acquainted with in terms of how powerful ninja are is the Bingo book, which is actually going to show up when you get kidnapped, and something Ayako will start to carry on her person at all times.

The bingo book is a tool to recognize the most dangerous, monstrous and baddest motherfuckers in the whole world, and whoever is in it needs to be respected and feared, or killed for money.

But people of all ranks are within the Bingo book because Ranks are in a sense, meaningless to them. A skilled genin who may be a "D-rank" in his village because of his lack of specializations, may have a million Ryu bounty on his head because he's a sneaky boi who can escape anything.

Basically, trust the book where the most dangerous badasses are kept in.


Oh wow!

I'm used to most Naruto quests actively avoid the Bingo Book. That's quite the novel difference.

Although, does your version of the Bingo Book lack the theorized grudge bounties (the ninja that goes around sleeping with Lord's wives and daughters is a common example) and the guy who's bounty greatly undersells how much of a badass they are (usually because they've been sandbagging, although sometimes because everyone likes them despite how powerful they are)
 
Oh wow!

I'm used to most Naruto quests actively avoid the Bingo Book. That's quite the novel difference.
Hey, when theres a book of the biggest badasses in the world and their bounties, you might as well use it.

Although, does your version of the Bingo Book lack the theorized grudge bounties (the ninja that goes around sleeping with Lord's wives and daughters is a common example) and the guy who's bounty greatly undersells how much of a badass they are (usually because they've been sandbagging, although sometimes because everyone likes them despite how powerful they are)
Yes, and yes.

It also includes people who are long dead, but everyone is too afraid of going out and looking for the body.
 
Don't be shocked when there's almost nothing there.
Nah I mean all I expect is:
Sage of Six paths, name unknown.
Rank: Probably a fairy tale, maybe? Probably the theoretical most powerful Ninja there can be though if he is alive.
Known Powers: Creation of all Chakra, Creation of Ninjutsu, Creation of Biju
Bounty: 0 Dead (May provoke bounties to be placed on the killer) Kumo offers a 'All the Money' reward for willing recruitment.
 
while true, Madara's methods and tactics to achieve his goals make him no better than the villages as well. In some ways they're worse.
Hit or miss. It depends on Village and time period and sometimes Village faction. Late-canon Kiri, for example, was approaching Pol Pot while Ame was taking notes from Kim Il-Sung. But, yeah, Madara is still playing a very dirty game.

The one big plus the man has is that he actually has an end goal. Everybody else is just perpetuating the same brutal stalemate forever with occasional dreams of feeding your enemies their own loved ones piece by peace. He is very much one of the villains here but having any sort of exit strategy or final reward at all nets him a couple points in my book.

Probably the best outcome here, though, is he manages to get the idea that things can change and all it takes is one man to start it into the heads of the children and then manages to die horribly before going any further. Suddenly you have all the up and comers of the generation and many future influential clan members thinking that it doesn't need to be this way. And, of course, having suffered a mutual traumatic bonding experience that gets them interacting with each other closely enough when they get back.

Madara loses the battle today but has a worthier successor to his cause.
 
Probably the best outcome here, though, is he manages to get the idea that things can change and all it takes is one man to start it into the heads of the children and then manages to die horribly before going any further. Suddenly you have all the up and comers of the generation and many future influential clan members thinking that it doesn't need to be this way. And, of course, having suffered a mutual traumatic bonding experience that gets them interacting with each other closely enough when they get back.

Madara loses the battle today but has a worthier successor to his cause.
Last I checked, at this time, Madara is like really old and acting through Zetsu most of the time because he's working on the eye of the moon plan.

But that's the best case scenario for us... because if he keeps us around, bad things will happen to us. We may become awesome through training, but we may also become successors to a mad man's plan.

Or we just become heroes and kick off Zetsu's plan early.

But he also isn't likely to drop dead without some help from a bunch of kids who want to be assassins.
 
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Last I checked, at this time, Madara is like really old and acting through Zetsu most of the time because he's working on the eye of the moon plan.
Which means that Zetsu can play fast and loose with his commands, which worries me as much as Madara does. If Madara seeks a successor (as an individual or an aggregate) to carry the torch while he is dead, Zetsu is going to be arranging chess pieces so that his own plans can be salvaged. Whether Madara abandons his intended function or whether Madara dies for good.

With something like this I imagine that Madara will take a slightly more personal touch, even if he is leaving the broad strokes for others. Probably more than just Zetsu. Maybe not anything close, but this damn thing is huge and the man puts a lot of weight on his force of personality being able to open doors for him.

Zetsu is not charismatic. If he isn't going to use his own voice, he will need a better voice than the Zetsu we know.
But that's the best case scenario for us... because if he keeps us around, bad things will happen to us. We may become awesome, but we may also become successors to a mad man's plan.
If we become successors, I'm hoping to make the plan a little less mad.
But he also isn't likely to drop dead without some help from a bunch of kids who want to be assassins.
I have zero hope of any of us striking the killing blow... unless that is also part of Madara's plan. As seen with Obito, dying could very well just be another move of a chess piece. He does that sort of thing. Or, arguably, if we are part of his organization long enough that one of us goes Itachi levels of terrifying.

That doesn't matter though because he is going to have to roll dice here too and a lot of powers are going to be rolling dice against him. And maybe we could leave a minuscule chink in his armor someone else could capitalize on.

The right move is probably to just observe, take anything that can be used, look for opportunities, and make no strong statements either that you are supporting or opposing. Just weigh things, make sure there is unity among the victims, and prepare. I don't even know what to prepare for: Just prepare for some opportunity.
 
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That doesn't matter though because he is going to have to roll dice here too and a lot of powers are going to be rolling dice against him. And maybe we could leave a minuscule chink in his armor someone else could capitalize on.
Unfortunatly for us, other world powers are going to be looking for us as well.

And that all depend on us getting to him, because a lot can happen when going through a few nations to get to his cave base.
 
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Unfortunatly for us, other world powers are going to be looking for us as well.

And that all depend on us getting to him, because a lot can happen when going through a few nations to his cave base.
Which means after a certain point we need to decide if we really want to escape. I don't know how different the modus operandi of the other nations are different now but, yeah, I wouldn't trust Cloud to not go on an eye and ovary harvesting spree. At some point we might end up helping our captors even while trying to figure out how to get shanked.

This is probably intended. The perfect way to break the ice on this diabolical, hell-frozen shindig. He could extract his victims more cleanly but he isn't.
 
Which means after a certain point we need to decide if we really want to escape. I don't know how different the modus operandi of the other nations are different now but, yeah, I wouldn't trust Cloud to not go on an eye and ovary harvesting spree. At some point we might end up helping our captors even while trying to figure out how to get shanked.

This is probably intended. The perfect way to break the ice on this diabolical, hell-frozen shindig. He could extract his victims more cleanly but he isn't.
Like i said, welcome to the Children's Crusade, where the best possible outcome is getting home alive with trauma, and the worst is getting sold into slavery for a military dictatorship that wants to destroy your old homeland.:V
 
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Do we even know about Madara's betrayal of the village yet? Do we even know who he is? In character that is.

Shit, he might be able to get away with just blaming Tobirama's hatred of the Uchiha the fault of most things that went wrong.

Far from the whole truth, but a decent start of the messed up picture of what stopped Konoha from becoming an incontestable power.


Take everything I say about the founding era with a grain of salt though, since I subscribe to the believe that a good chunk of the issues would have been solved if Madara had just gotten laid.


Which means after a certain point we need to decide if we really want to escape. I don't know how different the modus operandi of the other nations are different now but, yeah, I wouldn't trust Cloud to not go on an eye and ovary harvesting spree. At some point we might end up helping our captors even while trying to figure out how to get shanked.

This is probably intended. The perfect way to break the ice on this diabolical, hell-frozen shindig. He could extract his victims more cleanly but he isn't.

One thing I've never really understood about the fandom. There always seems to be an assumption that girls are in more danger if an enemy village wants to steal a bloodline. But unless chakra magic makes things weird*, a man should be significantly more useful in successfully stealing a bloodline by virtue of the number of children he can father.

Although that might just be a double standards/perception thing

...that on second though isn't worth getting into.

Start thinking about bloodlines like CKII eugenics and end up somewhere weird. And I can't even blame lack of sleep this time

*which it could be
 
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Like i said, welcome to the Children's Crusade, where the best possible outcome is getting home, and the worst is getting sold into slavery for a military dictatorship that wants to destroy your old homeland.:V
Like i said, welcome to the Children's Crusade, where the best possible outcome is getting home alive with trauma, and the worst is getting sold into slavery for a military dictatorship that wants to destroy your old homeland.:V
I love the fact that you had to edit in the 'with trauma' part a couple minutes after your initial post. I pictured you thumbing your chin and making contemplative "hmmmmmm" sounds for several minutes while wearing an embroidered smoking cap and jacket like something from a black and white film.

"I know what this story needs more of: Trauma."
One thing I've never really understood about the fandom. There always seems to be an assumption that girls are in more danger if an enemy village wants to steal a bloodline. But unless chakra magic makes things weird*, a man should be significantly more useful in successfully stealing a bloodline by virtue of the number of children he can father.
There was no deep thought from me there. That specific event was just the most notable one in the franchise so it was the one I thought to reference.
 
I love the fact that you had to edit in the 'with trauma' part a couple minutes after your initial post. I pictured you thumbing your chin and making contemplative "hmmmmmm" sounds for several minutes while wearing an embroidered smoking cap and jacket like something from a black and white film.

"I know what this story needs more of: Trauma."
Well... Ditch the cap and jacket, add some gum and some Venetian blinds with a dusty old lamp right next to my keyboard, and yeah, that was my thought process.
Do we even know about Madara's betrayal of the village yet? Do we even know who he is? In character that is.
Only that he founded the village, and that he betrayed it.
 
Children’s Crusade: Taken
Children's Crusade: Taken

The morning had started slowly enough, with you and Tsunade throwing insults at each other, nothing new there. Hell, it was so routine that you looked at what the rest of your class was doing.

Asahi gathering all of her bugs back into her body after eavesdropping on everyone, that was something that you were jealous of, but considering how poisonous they were, eavesdropping was hardly their most dangerous use.

Orochimaru came in late again, his hand and clothes green from flower picking, and setting them onto his parent's graves again. Even though it had been only a month, he still visited them every day, putting fresh flowers

Jiraiya was writing in his scroll, probably one of his short stories that he always tried to sell to the teachers or civilians that came by the academy. They weren't the worst pieces of literature you have ever read, but his characters could use some work, his plot lines could be less predictable, and perhaps he could give the female characters some agency… and character besides being pretty faced damsels. But early days.

Eien and his puppy Yuri were in a staring contest with each other, each of them, trying to get the other to blink. Neither was successful and only succeeded in making themselves look like idiots.

Ren was wearing a pair of prank glasses, or wacky glasses as he likes to call them, a pair of glasses that were without the glass lens. He was trying to look like some socialite at the daimyo's court that wanted exotic goods and spent a pretty Ryu for them. Unfortunately for him, he was bored.

And Yoshi was only making him angry. The green haired boy, 'Brocholi-kun' you sometimes called him, was poking Ren, trying to get his attention to show him a manga character he was drawing for a story. Each poke made Ren angrier and angrier, but Youshi knew Ren could not hurt him without getting in trouble.

It was the game they played. If Ren got angry and shouted, Yoshi would win because the cool, collected Uchiha couldn't keep himself from being annoyed by 'the lowly civilian.'

It was hilarious how much Ren could take before he would absolutely lose it.

The rest of the civilians in the class, however… were about as interesting as a bag of apple. Sure they were good, and they had personality, but they were all so young and boring that none of them were interesting.

You wished the day would be more interesting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sakumo POV)

You sighed. "Why are we going to the academy again?" You asked your Sensei as you tried to relax.

Mako-Sensei gave a laugh. "Because, I need to tell Mito that another Kurama is on the way, and I want her to be the godmother."

Your teammate Minako was not amused by being dragged out of bed to find out her pregnant sensei was going on what was basically a milk run. "But did you really have to drag us here with you?"

"Yes," Mako-Sensei replied before looking around. "Wheres Kei?"

"He has the flu, so he's at the hospital until it passes." you replied.

Mako-sensei sighed. "Oh well, his loss." She gave you a look. "You can visit a few of your friends at the academy, I'm going to be a little while."

Great. The academy, while certainly a fun place, was not someplace you really wanted to spend time in any more than you had to. Your father only made you stay for four years because he wanted you to have a childhood.

You were grateful for it, but... you still were happy to finally get your headband. You liked being able to help out your home in the way you set out on it.

The White Chakra Saber weighed heavily on your back like that little blade was the weight of the world.

At least it will be a good day. Maybe you would say hi to Ayako. You may not have seen her in a while, but she must have had her reasons for not being able to stop by and say hi.


"Because you looked like you need a friend." She was so nice to a total stranger and offered her friendship without a second thought.

You wished more people were like that. Maybe the world would be a nicer place.

You would say hi to her today.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(No POV)

Zetsu looked at the missing-nin he hired. "Remember, when the bomb goes off, you will have a three-minute window to grab the targets and bring them to the rendezvous. Getting spotted is not an option."

"Great… a daylight bag and grab in the center of the village… anyone else heard of the phrase 'Suicide mission'?" One of the nin joked.

"The escape tunnel has already been prepared for you. Just make sure you get the targets master wants, and any extra are bonuses." Zetsu stated. He then looked up to the morning sun. "It's almost time. Get to your position."

The ninja vanished in the breeze.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ayako POV)

Sakumo coming into the classroom was a big surprise, his mere presence silencing the room of children with the sight of his headband.

"Ah, Sakumo… a pleasure." You heard your teacher say with a growl.

"Hello." Sakumo bowed respectfully, before reaching out the door and grabbing what you could only assume was his teammate. "We just wished to say hello to some of our friends before going to the admin desk for our next mission."

The teacher sighed. "Fine."

It was then you heard an explosion and saw gas seep into the classroom.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Mako POV)
You and Mito ran to the window to see the fires near the wall. "We're under attack." Mito whispered.

"No shit Mito, would you like a promotion for that observation?" You replied.

"Now is not the time to be a smartass, we need to lock down the academy before there is a panic," Mito ordered as she walked back over to her desk. Mito than fumbled around at the desk, grabbing a hold of the microphone. "I hope this damn thing works." She then pressed the button. "All personnel, we are under attack, lock down the classrooms and get too defensive positions. Make sure the students stay calm."

Mito than set down the microphone speaker. "You mind if you help out since your here?"

You smiled. "With pleasure."

You both exited Mito's office and started to see that some of the children in the halls were starting to panic. "Stay calm and get into your classrooms, now!" Moto ordered.

"I didn't know you were so good with kids?" You joked.

"Are you sure your other isn't taking over?" Mito asked.


"How rude," Hotaru stated. "She knows I can hear her."

"Not the time Hotaru." you whispered.

You both started checking the rooms. All of them were accounted for and the chunnin were at their defensive position.

Until you reached the final classroom and heard voices.

You kicked the door open to see most of the students unconscious.

And your little girl missing, along with many other students and your two students.

"Hotaru… Take over." You said. "Release restraint level one. Find my daughter."

"
Mako that doesn't seem like a good idea." Hotaru replied.

"Now!" You shouted.

Hotaru did as you asked, and everything went dark.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Ayako POV)

You awoke with your hands bound, your mouth gagged, and the bouncing of a wagon on an uneven road shaking you around. It was dark and it was very hard to see.

Besides, you were a few of your classmates, Sakumo and his teammate, but they were not awake.

Then your mind started to process what had happened. You've just been kidnapped.

Well crap. Your bindings were made out of rope, and tough ones at that. You aren't- "I can't believe this shit." A voice said. "My bounty's only 100,000 Ryu."

"Oh quit complaining. Having a small bounty is not the worst thing." The other voice.

"At least I'm not going to need this stupid thing after this job." The first voice said, throwing it in the back.

It landed right on top of you.

And it was a true, honest to the sage Bingo Book.

Those things were so rare, it wasn't even worth carrying around unless you were a hunter-nin. And this guy was just going to throw it away?

Idiots.

Well… You need to come up with a plan. And try to get out of this.

What do you do?:

[]Try to wake up one of your classmates: You can't see that well, so you're going to try to wake someone up.

[]Roll out of the wagon: You need to get out of here and try to find out where the hell you were.

[]Read the Bingo Book: you have the book, might as well make use of it and try to find out who kidnapped you.

[]Talk to Aka and the Beast: Your going to need all hands on deck to get out of this.

[]Wait: You can't panic right now, you need to learn about your surroundings, gather intel and make a plan with your fellow prisoners.

[]Make your presence known: Your awake and hungry, maybe you'll get some food and water from your captors.

AN: Let the Childrens crusade begin.
 
[X]Talk to Aka and the Beast: Your going to need all hands on deck to get out of this.

Allll hannnnndssss oooonnnn deeeeeeckkkk.
 
Man, if only we had picked the option to have weapons available to us at any moment to surprise our kidnappers and take them out. It isn't like we had any foreknowledge whatsoever going into the vote that we were going to be attacked/taken. :V

[X]Talk to Aka and the Beast: Your going to need all hands on deck to get out of this.

Our best option is probably going to end up being handing control over to our Shadowy Beast-friend and hope that he is just like 'Pride' and therefore seemingly invincible in this tunnel that is full of darkness.
 
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Man, if only we had picked the option to have weapons available to us at any moment to surprise our kidnappers and take them out. It isn't like we had any foreknowledge whatsoever going into the vote that we were going to be attacked/taken. :V
Ah but now you only have the power of friendship on your side.;)
 
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