To be fair in canon Gaara fought like a noob and only got away with it because Jinchuuriki OP. Standing there and taking hits doing nothing else or massive battlefield wrecking attacks that needed a long battle to build up is...not wise unless your opponent either literally has no attacks capable of hurting you, or decided to give you the time to set up the battlefield.
The Illuminators: Last Trinity (A Naruto AU)
Episode 5.2: New Age of Heroes - Eye For Quality
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Is there a reason you have three times as much as the rest of us?" Hannah asked.
"I bought it all. There doesn't need to be any further explanation, ma'am."
Haru huffed and placed her bucket of fried chicken in her lap. Her companions had smaller boxes.
"You said you wanted meat, ma'am. You have it now, as requested. Unless there's something else you need..."
"No, I was just curious. It seems that this is your guilty pleasure. Interesting," Hannah mused.
"..." Haru shifted her mask up so she could nibble at her chicken.
"This is good though," Joshua said with a nod.
"The best place in town just happened to have a stand out here, fortunately. Otherwise I would have to waste more energy than necessary for a trip, sir. Not that it would be a terrible inconvenience..."
"I see." Joshua reasoned that - as always - since Grandma West's cooking was the best, her version of fried chicken would be a life-changing experience for Haru. But that day would be a while away.
"Can you focus on your work like that?" Ritsu asked Haru.
"I should be just fine, ma'am. Thank you for your concern."
"We're always here to help if you should need it," Hannah added in.
"The chicken is mine, ma'am."
"Listen, I'm not asking for the whole thing, just one extra piece."
"No."
"Hmph."
Joshua and Ritsu simultaneously gave Hannah an extra piece of chicken, to her delight. She happily nibbled away as the preparations for the second match concluded.
"Kuronuma and Uchiha, positions," Hayate called out. The two fighters got themselves ready before descending to the ground floor.
"You've got this, Sasuke," Naruto said.
"Yeah. You'd better win your fight too..."
"Count on it. That Junko looks tough, so don't go letting your guard down, ya know."
Sasuke nodded and they bumped fists.
"Good luck, Sasuke."
"Thanks, Sakura. You did really well today."
"Thanks," she said with a smile. "Although...if you win this match, I'll be up against you next."
"Looking forward to it?"
"I'd say hardly, but...well, I can't back down from a challenge now, can I?"
"Heh. You'll have a few days to study tape, don't worry." He smiled and poked her forehead. "See ya."
"Yeah..." She smiled back, blushing as he left for the stairs.
"Ready?" Shiori asked her sister.
"Yep. Gonna be a barn-burner," Junko said with a grin. "I'll go out and do my best. Couldn't have asked for a better challenge with the Sharingan...I know what my strategy is and all, just hope it works out."
"I do too. But...no matter what happens, I know everyone will be proud of you. I'll be proud of you, most of all."
"I know, sis. Thanks for always being there."
"Forever and always. Go out there and fight, Junko."
"Yeah." They shared a long hug before Junko started her sprint towards the stairs.
The two reached the middle of the arena at the same time, to thunderous applause. Sasuke's name was being chanted in the stands, and he soaked it in while maintaining some visible indifference.
"Rules are the same. Fight as best you can. Surrender if you feel that you're in any danger." A cough. "When I call it, the match is over. Try not to kill each other. Participants, acknowledge."
"Acknowledged," Sasuke said.
"Acknowledged," Junko said.
"Both participants affirm. Fighters ready."
"Let's have ourselves a good fight," Sasuke said to Junko. "I'm not going to look past you."
"Same here. I appreciate the hospitality and everything. You're a good guy, Sasuke."
"I try. I also wanted to extend respect to you because of your attitude. You've been good about not getting too carried away while remaining competitive."
"Heh. Well, I try on my end too."
They shook hands firmly before taking their proper positions. Hayate raised his hand.
"Ready and..."
Hayate quickly checked both fighters before bringing his hand down.
"Begin!"
Junko drew the tanto at her back and charged ahead. Sasuke quickly drew a kunai and their weapons clashed briefly before they separated.
So he's not going there yet. It's my move.
She made seals quickly and gathered water in her mouth.
"Gunshot!"
The bullet raced towards Sasuke, who made quick calculations before weaving seals himself.
Easy does it.
"Fireball!"
He effortlessly breathed out a large fireball, engulfing the water bullet and snuffing it out as it kept going. Junko dodged to her right and dashed back in to engage Sasuke. They moved back and forth, weapons clashing and throwing up sparks.
Kushina let out a low whistle from her place in the stands. "It's too easy for the kid."
"I know, right?" Mikoto smiled, sitting right beside her best friend. "He's been able to do that since he was four or five. Bet he could do it all match if he wants."
"Yeah. Though that Junko girl is something. How many kids would try to bluff a Sharingan user?"
"Sasuke's got his eye on her, I can see it. Gonna be interesting to watch."
Junko disengaged before throwing a wave of shuriken at Sasuke, who dodged and parried everything in front of him. He caught the movement of her body flicker and blocked her incoming attack, then disengaged again.
You're really on the ball, Junko. Maybe I should break the deadlock...
"What's the boy doing?" Oonoki asked.
"Trying not to let Junko get the upper hand," Mei replied. "She took a gamble and it worked. Sasuke isn't going to use the Sharingan until he's sure he has a clear path, and Junko was betting on that. They have a good understanding of each other's moves...you saw the fireball, didn't you?"
"There's no need to make it look like more than showing off," A said.
"It wasn't. A strong fireball like that was meant to keep the field as it is. He's wary of Junko's techniques."
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower!" Sasuke jumped backwards and sent a flurry of fireballs towards Junko's position. She blinked once and went into a familiar set of seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!" A wall of earth immediately rose up in front of her, blocking the fireballs and the shuriken hidden within. She felt a shift in Sasuke's chakra and understood what it meant.
Go time.
Sasuke's eyes turned crimson as he hit the ground, three commas evenly spaced within them. He made his move, body flickering forward and jumping over Junko's wall, then landing and rushing back towards her. He slid to a stop and threw a shuriken at her head, piercing it and making her fall to the ground as a puddle of water. Sasuke ducked the real Junko's strike and hit her with a rapid flurry of punches, finishing with a kick that sent her rolling along the ground.
Wasting no time, he gave chase and threw a kunai at her as she stood up; it hit her in the chest and she again turned into water.
You don't need that much time to start the mist technique. What are you hiding?
"I can't let you run around all day, Junko." He threw several shuriken at her new position in the nearby tree, following up with senbon to redirect them midflight. Junko dropped out of the tree and moved towards Sasuke, who breathed out another large fireball that shot across the field.
Ah...good move. So much for my resources.
She dodged the attack easily and it carried on, turning the water on the ground to steam as it skimmed above the two sources.
You can't keep the Sharingan up forever...but I can't let you keep reading me like this. Your taijutsu is too good as you are. What would you do, eh?
"Is my hand forced? No...not yet. I want to give you something to chew on," she mused. "But at this point it'll give the game away. Okay. I'll go for broke and try to end it, before you use that nasty tech on me..."
Junko concentrated before spitting an orb of water high into the air.
Sasuke kept his eyes focused on Junko's hands as she made seals.
It's three seals, coming up. Ox, Snake...mirrored Ram?
"What the..."
The orb fell and exploded into droplets. Junko held her hands in position.
"Water Release: Black Mist Technique."
A hazy darkness came into being, spreading quickly over the area where Junko and Sasuke stood. It was a thick black mist that was forming, obscuring the two fighters from each other and everyone else watching.
"She went for it," Mei said from her seat. "This is going to be a tough one for sure."
"!" Minato's eyes widened in surprise.
This kid...the mist isn't like it's supposed to be at all...
"This chakra isn't...normal," Hinata said as she watched.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked. "I get that it's a technique that can block out other visual techniques like the Sharingan, and Sasuke trained for it..."
"No, it's different," Naruto said. "I can't make heads or tails of anything. Mom and Dad must have noticed it too...whatever the heck this mist is, it can block sensing techniques."
"What?"
"And the Byakugan should have enough insight to see through the mist, but...everything is cloaked," Hinata said with a frown.
"This is weird as hell, though. Junko's a sensor type too...why would she put herself in that kind of position? Not likely she can get to Sasuke with taijutsu since he knows how to track and react to sound pretty well, and he's got the Sharingan to slow things down in a pinch." Naruto furrowed his brow. "Hm."
"..." Shiori watched quietly as the mist continued to thicken, spreading out towards the edges of the field.
Sasuke swung his hand through the black mist, perplexed.
"I can't see anything, obviously...but I can't hear anything either. Or get a grip on my surroundings. I know what the Hidden Mist technique feels like, and this is...alien. Did she customize it into a new technique? This is water and...Yin chakra mixed together."
He drew a kunai and twirled it in his hand once. Thought a moment. Then holstered it.
"I'll have to use it, then. A fireball will give me away too soon...it's her move, anyways." He smirked. "You're a troublesome enemy, Junko."
"Seems like he's thinking it over. Good. I don't want to run headlong into Chidori...that'd be an embarrassing way to go out."
Junko made a new set of seals as she backed out to the edge of the black mist. A shuriken was in her hands.
"Hopefully you haven't moved too much...I can't see where you are, either. But this drawback isn't too much to overcome..."
She clapped her hands together and slowly pulled them apart, the shuriken floating in the middle. It then started to spin vertically around its axis, going faster and faster until it was like a buzzsaw.
"This technique needs cover, so it's not very effective on its own. But in situations like these..."
She transferred the rapidly spinning shuriken to her left hand, stretching it forward.
"Ninja Art..."
One amber eye closed to focus.
"Dead Spiral."
A loud crack went through the air, muffled by the mist ahead as the spinning projectile shot towards Sasuke at high speed. He could make out something coming and drew his kunai to defend...
"Gah-!"
His weapon was sliced apart as he barely managed to deflect the shot away, feeling it rip through the top of his right shoulder.
"What the hell was that?!"
He grit his teeth and made the necessary seals.
That was a damn shuriken...there's no way that I'm sticking around while she reloads! I'm going for it!
"I can make out something through the path...she's moved left. I can work with it, for sure."
He finished his seals and gripped his left arm.
"Here it is..."
Lightning chakra jumped from his palm before the technique burst out, forming a mass of electricity around his hand. The sound that came from it was like chirping birds.
"Chidori."
Sasuke accelerated forward and to his left, gauging where he thought Junko would reposition. She could hear the chirping come closer, and moved to her left as Sasuke burst through the mist. She made seals and prepared to pounce.
"I have...!"
"Not this time!" Sasuke crossed his left arm over his right. "Sharp Spear!"
"!?" Junko felt the spear of electricity tear through her right shoulder. "Ugh...!"
Difficult...gotta load up again!
Chidori fizzled out after its sudden extension, and Sasuke made seals to fire it up again. Junko recovered enough to back away into the mist.
"Damn...alright, now what." He shut off the technique as he considered his next move.
Junko came to a stop and quickly applied field medicine to her wound. It was more than enough for the time being.
"Shape manipulation like that? Holy crap. I should ask him out when this tournament is over...what a guy."
Took a lot to extend, but I can't fault him since he's probably just learned the technique. Shocked the hell out of me, pun intended. Heh.
Sasuke moved back towards the wall and stood on it vertically, observing the cloud of mist ahead.
"What should I do? I can figure out that Silent Killing is a no-go...no sound or anything to go on, and she can't sense in there either. Though...she could maybe get near the edge and sniff me out."
He dropped down from the wall and made handseals, turning off his Sharingan.
"But then again...it's not something completely unknown. It's mist. And I can deal with that...just fine from here."
He took a deep breath in, pulling his head back.
It's more than worth the chakra.
"Grand Fireball!"
Sasuke exhaled, producing a massive, brilliant fireball that shot across the battlefield. The entire stadium took a deep breath in, looking at the jutsu with amazement.
"He just went for it...cutting right through the mist," Junko muttered. She jumped into the air, letting the fireball hit the wall some distance behind her and bathe the immediate area in intense heat.
"Lord Hokage...what do you have those children eat?" Mei asked, stunned.
Minato grinned back sheepishly. "Three square meals a day is all we ask, but...well, I guess Sasuke's been having something extra for breakfast."
The black mist was all but gone, and Sasuke took time to catch his breath before activating his Sharingan again, calling up Chidori once more. He moved forward to engage Junko as soon as she touched ground; her tanto was bisected as she used it to just barely deflect Sasuke's thrust away. He spun and kicked her in the chest, sending her tumbling briefly before she recovered and retreated.
"Chakra's running a bit low on both sides," Naruto commented.
"Close combat is not in Junko's favour," Hinata followed. "This should be the final sequence..."
Junko moved and shifted as Sasuke chased her with Chidori in hand. She substituted with a water clone and deflected a kunai with her broken tanto before retreating to the back wall, making seals.
Now or never. I don't have it in me for more of the mist, and he's damn eager to end it here. Gotta go for broke, one more time!
She started her technique and ran forward towards Sasuke, the shuriken spinning between her hands.
"So that's the jutsu that hit me earlier. Pure chakra to launch an object...can't get hit again or it's over!"
I've got one more move...
They huffed and puffed as they ran at each other, Sasuke pushing the intensity of Chidori while Junko transferred her technique to her left hand.
"I should have it...here!" she yelled.
"It's over!" he yelled back.
"Ninja Art...!"
"Lightning Release...!"
Their arms went forward at the same time.
"Full Burst Dead Spiral!"
"Chidori Driver!"
The crack of thunder ripped through the air, sending a shockwave up into the stands to wash over every patron.
A bolt of lightning ripped through Junko's right side.
A shuriken jammed itself into the right side of Sasuke's chest.
They both popped into the air before coming down painfully on their backs.
Hayate watched as the two went from motionless to stirring slowly. Sasuke was the first to rise, getting onto his knees and pulling out a kunai as he grimaced in pain. Junko was much slower, her right arm burned and face raked with scorch marks. She was unsteady, barely able to focus, and well aware that she was low on chakra.
She wanted to pass out.
What...do I want to do?
She fell to her knees.
Oh, yeah...that's right. I got back up...for one reason.
Pride. Because...even if I lost...
She slowly, painfully raised her good left arm into the air.
I wanted it to be my choice. Not the village's...not even Shiori's.
Mine...and mine alone.
"You're...amazing, Sasuke."
He blinked as he got to his feet. "Junko...you...?"
She managed a smile. "I surrender. This is part of being a shinobi too...isn't it..."
Her eyes closed and she fell forward.
Sasuke and Hayate both caught her at the same time, placing her on her back gently.
"It is, Junko. You really are the pride of the Hidden Mist...and an incredible opponent."
I'm really glad...I had this fight. Just the same as you are.
"Junko Kuronuma has surrendered. Winner, Sasuke Uchiha of the Hidden Leaf," Hayate announced.
The crowds clapped and cheered as the match came to an end.
"Looks like your kid wasn't enough to stop Uchiha," A said out loud.
Mei smiled, watching as Shiori ran to her sister's said.
"No...she was more than enough. I didn't think I could be more proud of her...but here and now, I am."
"What a gal," Mikoto commented while clapping. "I'm glad that my Sasuke won, but that was an amazing match. And that last act...the tenacity to decide for yourself what your destiny would be..."
"That's the stuff of elite shinobi. ANBU, even. She's gonna be great!" Kushina said with a smile. "Mei's really done well by those kids...the Hidden Mist is gonna be better than ever once they grow up. I know it."
Junko's eyes fluttered open, feeling warm chakra against her skin. She turned her head to see Shiori working with the Mystical Palm, and Sakura trying to help Sasuke nearby.
"Couldn't pull it off," she said weakly.
"It's fine. Everyone loves you. Did you really force yourself back up just to surrender?" Shiori asked.
"Nothing else came to mind...I just felt like it was the right thing to do. For the village, but...for myself most of all."
"Well, that sounds just like you. Can you stand?"
"Yeah, enough anyways. I'll go to the hospital later...I wanna watch you..."
"I guess we can grant that request."
Shiori and Junko focused in on the new voice. Standing over them was none other than Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade? To what do we owe the honour?" Shiori asked.
"Girl power. What else?" she replied with a wink. "Let me cut in a bit, and I'll have you in good enough shape to watch the rest of this show properly. Sound neat?"
"Hell yeah," Junko said, grinning. "Appreciate it to the max!"
"I can't overlook an inspiration like you, kiddo. You've got girls of every age jumping out of their seats. Now hold still, we've got plenty of time during the intermission..."
---
Next update coming up Friday latest. Enjoy.
"I bought it all. There doesn't need to be any further explanation, ma'am."
Haru huffed and placed her bucket of fried chicken in her lap. Her companions had smaller boxes.
"You said you wanted meat, ma'am. You have it now, as requested. Unless there's something else you need..."
"No, I was just curious. It seems that this is your guilty pleasure. Interesting," Hannah mused.
"..." Haru shifted her mask up so she could nibble at her chicken.
"This is good though," Joshua said with a nod.
"The best place in town just happened to have a stand out here, fortunately. Otherwise I would have to waste more energy than necessary for a trip, sir. Not that it would be a terrible inconvenience..."
"I see." Joshua reasoned that - as always - since Grandma West's cooking was the best, her version of fried chicken would be a life-changing experience for Haru. But that day would be a while away.
"Can you focus on your work like that?" Ritsu asked Haru.
"I should be just fine, ma'am. Thank you for your concern."
"We're always here to help if you should need it," Hannah added in.
"The chicken is mine, ma'am."
"Listen, I'm not asking for the whole thing, just one extra piece."
"No."
"Hmph."
Joshua and Ritsu simultaneously gave Hannah an extra piece of chicken, to her delight. She happily nibbled away as the preparations for the second match concluded.
"Kuronuma and Uchiha, positions," Hayate called out. The two fighters got themselves ready before descending to the ground floor.
"You've got this, Sasuke," Naruto said.
"Yeah. You'd better win your fight too..."
"Count on it. That Junko looks tough, so don't go letting your guard down, ya know."
Sasuke nodded and they bumped fists.
"Good luck, Sasuke."
"Thanks, Sakura. You did really well today."
"Thanks," she said with a smile. "Although...if you win this match, I'll be up against you next."
"Looking forward to it?"
"I'd say hardly, but...well, I can't back down from a challenge now, can I?"
"Heh. You'll have a few days to study tape, don't worry." He smiled and poked her forehead. "See ya."
"Yeah..." She smiled back, blushing as he left for the stairs.
"Ready?" Shiori asked her sister.
"Yep. Gonna be a barn-burner," Junko said with a grin. "I'll go out and do my best. Couldn't have asked for a better challenge with the Sharingan...I know what my strategy is and all, just hope it works out."
"I do too. But...no matter what happens, I know everyone will be proud of you. I'll be proud of you, most of all."
"I know, sis. Thanks for always being there."
"Forever and always. Go out there and fight, Junko."
"Yeah." They shared a long hug before Junko started her sprint towards the stairs.
The two reached the middle of the arena at the same time, to thunderous applause. Sasuke's name was being chanted in the stands, and he soaked it in while maintaining some visible indifference.
"Rules are the same. Fight as best you can. Surrender if you feel that you're in any danger." A cough. "When I call it, the match is over. Try not to kill each other. Participants, acknowledge."
"Acknowledged," Sasuke said.
"Acknowledged," Junko said.
"Both participants affirm. Fighters ready."
"Let's have ourselves a good fight," Sasuke said to Junko. "I'm not going to look past you."
"Same here. I appreciate the hospitality and everything. You're a good guy, Sasuke."
"I try. I also wanted to extend respect to you because of your attitude. You've been good about not getting too carried away while remaining competitive."
"Heh. Well, I try on my end too."
They shook hands firmly before taking their proper positions. Hayate raised his hand.
"Ready and..."
Hayate quickly checked both fighters before bringing his hand down.
"Begin!"
Junko drew the tanto at her back and charged ahead. Sasuke quickly drew a kunai and their weapons clashed briefly before they separated.
So he's not going there yet. It's my move.
She made seals quickly and gathered water in her mouth.
"Gunshot!"
The bullet raced towards Sasuke, who made quick calculations before weaving seals himself.
Easy does it.
"Fireball!"
He effortlessly breathed out a large fireball, engulfing the water bullet and snuffing it out as it kept going. Junko dodged to her right and dashed back in to engage Sasuke. They moved back and forth, weapons clashing and throwing up sparks.
Kushina let out a low whistle from her place in the stands. "It's too easy for the kid."
"I know, right?" Mikoto smiled, sitting right beside her best friend. "He's been able to do that since he was four or five. Bet he could do it all match if he wants."
"Yeah. Though that Junko girl is something. How many kids would try to bluff a Sharingan user?"
"Sasuke's got his eye on her, I can see it. Gonna be interesting to watch."
Junko disengaged before throwing a wave of shuriken at Sasuke, who dodged and parried everything in front of him. He caught the movement of her body flicker and blocked her incoming attack, then disengaged again.
You're really on the ball, Junko. Maybe I should break the deadlock...
"What's the boy doing?" Oonoki asked.
"Trying not to let Junko get the upper hand," Mei replied. "She took a gamble and it worked. Sasuke isn't going to use the Sharingan until he's sure he has a clear path, and Junko was betting on that. They have a good understanding of each other's moves...you saw the fireball, didn't you?"
"There's no need to make it look like more than showing off," A said.
"It wasn't. A strong fireball like that was meant to keep the field as it is. He's wary of Junko's techniques."
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower!" Sasuke jumped backwards and sent a flurry of fireballs towards Junko's position. She blinked once and went into a familiar set of seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!" A wall of earth immediately rose up in front of her, blocking the fireballs and the shuriken hidden within. She felt a shift in Sasuke's chakra and understood what it meant.
Go time.
Sasuke's eyes turned crimson as he hit the ground, three commas evenly spaced within them. He made his move, body flickering forward and jumping over Junko's wall, then landing and rushing back towards her. He slid to a stop and threw a shuriken at her head, piercing it and making her fall to the ground as a puddle of water. Sasuke ducked the real Junko's strike and hit her with a rapid flurry of punches, finishing with a kick that sent her rolling along the ground.
Wasting no time, he gave chase and threw a kunai at her as she stood up; it hit her in the chest and she again turned into water.
You don't need that much time to start the mist technique. What are you hiding?
"I can't let you run around all day, Junko." He threw several shuriken at her new position in the nearby tree, following up with senbon to redirect them midflight. Junko dropped out of the tree and moved towards Sasuke, who breathed out another large fireball that shot across the field.
Ah...good move. So much for my resources.
She dodged the attack easily and it carried on, turning the water on the ground to steam as it skimmed above the two sources.
You can't keep the Sharingan up forever...but I can't let you keep reading me like this. Your taijutsu is too good as you are. What would you do, eh?
"Is my hand forced? No...not yet. I want to give you something to chew on," she mused. "But at this point it'll give the game away. Okay. I'll go for broke and try to end it, before you use that nasty tech on me..."
Junko concentrated before spitting an orb of water high into the air.
Sasuke kept his eyes focused on Junko's hands as she made seals.
It's three seals, coming up. Ox, Snake...mirrored Ram?
"What the..."
The orb fell and exploded into droplets. Junko held her hands in position.
"Water Release: Black Mist Technique."
A hazy darkness came into being, spreading quickly over the area where Junko and Sasuke stood. It was a thick black mist that was forming, obscuring the two fighters from each other and everyone else watching.
"She went for it," Mei said from her seat. "This is going to be a tough one for sure."
"!" Minato's eyes widened in surprise.
This kid...the mist isn't like it's supposed to be at all...
"This chakra isn't...normal," Hinata said as she watched.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked. "I get that it's a technique that can block out other visual techniques like the Sharingan, and Sasuke trained for it..."
"No, it's different," Naruto said. "I can't make heads or tails of anything. Mom and Dad must have noticed it too...whatever the heck this mist is, it can block sensing techniques."
"What?"
"And the Byakugan should have enough insight to see through the mist, but...everything is cloaked," Hinata said with a frown.
"This is weird as hell, though. Junko's a sensor type too...why would she put herself in that kind of position? Not likely she can get to Sasuke with taijutsu since he knows how to track and react to sound pretty well, and he's got the Sharingan to slow things down in a pinch." Naruto furrowed his brow. "Hm."
"..." Shiori watched quietly as the mist continued to thicken, spreading out towards the edges of the field.
Sasuke swung his hand through the black mist, perplexed.
"I can't see anything, obviously...but I can't hear anything either. Or get a grip on my surroundings. I know what the Hidden Mist technique feels like, and this is...alien. Did she customize it into a new technique? This is water and...Yin chakra mixed together."
He drew a kunai and twirled it in his hand once. Thought a moment. Then holstered it.
"I'll have to use it, then. A fireball will give me away too soon...it's her move, anyways." He smirked. "You're a troublesome enemy, Junko."
"Seems like he's thinking it over. Good. I don't want to run headlong into Chidori...that'd be an embarrassing way to go out."
Junko made a new set of seals as she backed out to the edge of the black mist. A shuriken was in her hands.
"Hopefully you haven't moved too much...I can't see where you are, either. But this drawback isn't too much to overcome..."
She clapped her hands together and slowly pulled them apart, the shuriken floating in the middle. It then started to spin vertically around its axis, going faster and faster until it was like a buzzsaw.
"This technique needs cover, so it's not very effective on its own. But in situations like these..."
She transferred the rapidly spinning shuriken to her left hand, stretching it forward.
"Ninja Art..."
One amber eye closed to focus.
"Dead Spiral."
A loud crack went through the air, muffled by the mist ahead as the spinning projectile shot towards Sasuke at high speed. He could make out something coming and drew his kunai to defend...
"Gah-!"
His weapon was sliced apart as he barely managed to deflect the shot away, feeling it rip through the top of his right shoulder.
"What the hell was that?!"
He grit his teeth and made the necessary seals.
That was a damn shuriken...there's no way that I'm sticking around while she reloads! I'm going for it!
"I can make out something through the path...she's moved left. I can work with it, for sure."
He finished his seals and gripped his left arm.
"Here it is..."
Lightning chakra jumped from his palm before the technique burst out, forming a mass of electricity around his hand. The sound that came from it was like chirping birds.
"Chidori."
Sasuke accelerated forward and to his left, gauging where he thought Junko would reposition. She could hear the chirping come closer, and moved to her left as Sasuke burst through the mist. She made seals and prepared to pounce.
"I have...!"
"Not this time!" Sasuke crossed his left arm over his right. "Sharp Spear!"
"!?" Junko felt the spear of electricity tear through her right shoulder. "Ugh...!"
Difficult...gotta load up again!
Chidori fizzled out after its sudden extension, and Sasuke made seals to fire it up again. Junko recovered enough to back away into the mist.
"Damn...alright, now what." He shut off the technique as he considered his next move.
Junko came to a stop and quickly applied field medicine to her wound. It was more than enough for the time being.
"Shape manipulation like that? Holy crap. I should ask him out when this tournament is over...what a guy."
Took a lot to extend, but I can't fault him since he's probably just learned the technique. Shocked the hell out of me, pun intended. Heh.
Sasuke moved back towards the wall and stood on it vertically, observing the cloud of mist ahead.
"What should I do? I can figure out that Silent Killing is a no-go...no sound or anything to go on, and she can't sense in there either. Though...she could maybe get near the edge and sniff me out."
He dropped down from the wall and made handseals, turning off his Sharingan.
"But then again...it's not something completely unknown. It's mist. And I can deal with that...just fine from here."
He took a deep breath in, pulling his head back.
It's more than worth the chakra.
"Grand Fireball!"
Sasuke exhaled, producing a massive, brilliant fireball that shot across the battlefield. The entire stadium took a deep breath in, looking at the jutsu with amazement.
"He just went for it...cutting right through the mist," Junko muttered. She jumped into the air, letting the fireball hit the wall some distance behind her and bathe the immediate area in intense heat.
"Lord Hokage...what do you have those children eat?" Mei asked, stunned.
Minato grinned back sheepishly. "Three square meals a day is all we ask, but...well, I guess Sasuke's been having something extra for breakfast."
The black mist was all but gone, and Sasuke took time to catch his breath before activating his Sharingan again, calling up Chidori once more. He moved forward to engage Junko as soon as she touched ground; her tanto was bisected as she used it to just barely deflect Sasuke's thrust away. He spun and kicked her in the chest, sending her tumbling briefly before she recovered and retreated.
"Chakra's running a bit low on both sides," Naruto commented.
"Close combat is not in Junko's favour," Hinata followed. "This should be the final sequence..."
Junko moved and shifted as Sasuke chased her with Chidori in hand. She substituted with a water clone and deflected a kunai with her broken tanto before retreating to the back wall, making seals.
Now or never. I don't have it in me for more of the mist, and he's damn eager to end it here. Gotta go for broke, one more time!
She started her technique and ran forward towards Sasuke, the shuriken spinning between her hands.
"So that's the jutsu that hit me earlier. Pure chakra to launch an object...can't get hit again or it's over!"
I've got one more move...
They huffed and puffed as they ran at each other, Sasuke pushing the intensity of Chidori while Junko transferred her technique to her left hand.
"I should have it...here!" she yelled.
"It's over!" he yelled back.
"Ninja Art...!"
"Lightning Release...!"
Their arms went forward at the same time.
"Full Burst Dead Spiral!"
"Chidori Driver!"
The crack of thunder ripped through the air, sending a shockwave up into the stands to wash over every patron.
A bolt of lightning ripped through Junko's right side.
A shuriken jammed itself into the right side of Sasuke's chest.
They both popped into the air before coming down painfully on their backs.
Hayate watched as the two went from motionless to stirring slowly. Sasuke was the first to rise, getting onto his knees and pulling out a kunai as he grimaced in pain. Junko was much slower, her right arm burned and face raked with scorch marks. She was unsteady, barely able to focus, and well aware that she was low on chakra.
She wanted to pass out.
What...do I want to do?
She fell to her knees.
Oh, yeah...that's right. I got back up...for one reason.
Pride. Because...even if I lost...
She slowly, painfully raised her good left arm into the air.
I wanted it to be my choice. Not the village's...not even Shiori's.
Mine...and mine alone.
"You're...amazing, Sasuke."
He blinked as he got to his feet. "Junko...you...?"
She managed a smile. "I surrender. This is part of being a shinobi too...isn't it..."
Her eyes closed and she fell forward.
Sasuke and Hayate both caught her at the same time, placing her on her back gently.
"It is, Junko. You really are the pride of the Hidden Mist...and an incredible opponent."
I'm really glad...I had this fight. Just the same as you are.
"Junko Kuronuma has surrendered. Winner, Sasuke Uchiha of the Hidden Leaf," Hayate announced.
The crowds clapped and cheered as the match came to an end.
"Looks like your kid wasn't enough to stop Uchiha," A said out loud.
Mei smiled, watching as Shiori ran to her sister's said.
"No...she was more than enough. I didn't think I could be more proud of her...but here and now, I am."
"What a gal," Mikoto commented while clapping. "I'm glad that my Sasuke won, but that was an amazing match. And that last act...the tenacity to decide for yourself what your destiny would be..."
"That's the stuff of elite shinobi. ANBU, even. She's gonna be great!" Kushina said with a smile. "Mei's really done well by those kids...the Hidden Mist is gonna be better than ever once they grow up. I know it."
Junko's eyes fluttered open, feeling warm chakra against her skin. She turned her head to see Shiori working with the Mystical Palm, and Sakura trying to help Sasuke nearby.
"Couldn't pull it off," she said weakly.
"It's fine. Everyone loves you. Did you really force yourself back up just to surrender?" Shiori asked.
"Nothing else came to mind...I just felt like it was the right thing to do. For the village, but...for myself most of all."
"Well, that sounds just like you. Can you stand?"
"Yeah, enough anyways. I'll go to the hospital later...I wanna watch you..."
"I guess we can grant that request."
Shiori and Junko focused in on the new voice. Standing over them was none other than Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade? To what do we owe the honour?" Shiori asked.
"Girl power. What else?" she replied with a wink. "Let me cut in a bit, and I'll have you in good enough shape to watch the rest of this show properly. Sound neat?"
"Hell yeah," Junko said, grinning. "Appreciate it to the max!"
"I can't overlook an inspiration like you, kiddo. You've got girls of every age jumping out of their seats. Now hold still, we've got plenty of time during the intermission..."
---
Next update coming up Friday latest. Enjoy.
Last edited:
Episode 5.3: New Age of Heroes - Sister Act
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It had reached the midway point of the tournament's opening round. The crowd was buzzing after the first two exciting matches, with both of the Leaf's shinobi making it through.
Sasuke had the shuriken stuck in his chest skillfully removed by the world's best medic, and was standing with the aid of a crutch in order to watch the remaining matches with his comrades. Hinata had made her way downstairs ahead of schedule.
Junko leaned against Shiori's shoulder quietly, the two standing together and counting down the moments before the third match would begin.
The Five Kage enjoyed a round of appetizers and drink, and many of the normal patrons went off to the many bathrooms and concession stands during the extended break.
"What a day already," Joshua commented. Haru had walked off to dispose of everyone's trash, and to get everyone a 'slush', which was a type of flavoured ice drink that was very popular in Kennedy Port. It was an import from the Far West and the Outer Continent.
"Indeed. And we still have quite a few matches left to go for the week. The next round will be much more intense, and then the final will have our opponents going all out. I predict that it will be Naruto and Sasuke in the final," Hannah said. "What are your thoughts, beloved?"
"Gonna go with you on this one. Ritsu?"
"Hmm...I think that Shiori has a good chance. I want to guess it will be her and Sasuke in the grand final. Haru, what do you think?"
"Naruto and Sasuke. I don't believe Miyajima has what it takes to move on against such an unpredictable character, and Shiori probably doesn't have enough in her to overcome Naruto's talents. The match with Sakura is..."
"She's definitely not bad, but I think we all know that the Sharingan is going to pick her apart," Joshua said with a grimace. "Poor kid. She's gotta know already. But as long as she puts up a good fight, she should be proud of herself."
"Agreed," the ladies said in unison.
Announcements went through the loudspeakers placed all around the stadium. The intermission was over and the third match was set to begin. Work was done to patch over some of the damage left on the field, but not too much; the craters in the walls from Sakura's opening match attacks were still present, as well as the scorch marks from Sasuke's fire and lightning attacks.
"Time to go, then..."
Junko raised her head and gave Shiori a tight hug, even as her body protested. "Good luck, sis. Get one for us, yeah?"
"No guarantees. The Hyuuga aren't about empty boasts lately. But...I'll give my all, just like you did. Promise."
"All I need to hear. Give 'em hell."
"Yes." Shiori made her way downstairs, going over her strategy one last time.
"You've got it, Hinata. Go get 'em!" Naruto said with a smile.
"Yeah, you're gonna be great," Sakura added.
"Keep your eyes open, Princess. If you saw the earlier fight, you'll understand that those two complement each other as the Phantom Maids," Sasuke warned. "Don't be shocked at what comes your way."
"Right. Thank you, Sasuke."
"Yeah. It'd be nice to have an all-Leaf final," he said with a smirk, "but nothing's guaranteed in this world. Just put it all out there. Oi, loser. You don't have any more encouragement for your woman?"
"She's not-"
"He's not-"
Naruto and Hinata both stopped, looking away from each other and blushing. Sakura tugged once on Sasuke's ear.
"Oi..."
"Stop teasing them, idiot."
"Hmph."
"I mean, there doesn't need to be much else, you know?" Naruto said. Hinata slowly turned her head to meet his eyes.
"That's true. I...already understand," she said.
"Yeah. So, uh..."
"Yes, of course. I'll see you soon...Naruto."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before hopping over the railing and towards the battlefield.
"Hopefully she isn't too excited now. Ow...dammit, woman."
"I told you to stop bullying, Sasuke."
Naruto rubbed his cheek slowly and grinned.
Hinata landed gracefully and applause followed. She walked towards the middle of the stadium where Hayate stood and waited for Shiori to arrive. Shiori stopped on Hayate's other side and flexed her hands while waiting.
"Same rules as before. Surrender if you're in danger. Listen to my instructions; when I call a match, it's over. Try not to commit murder while you're here. Please acknowledge," Hayate said.
"Acknowledged," Shiori said.
"Acknowledged, sir," Hinata said.
"Excellent. Fighters, get ready."
"Let's have ourselves a good fight." Hinata pressed her hands together and bowed at the waist towards Shiori.
"Agreed. Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Hyuuga." Shiori followed suit, bowing slightly lower before coming up.
"The pleasure is mine. Shall we begin?"
"Yes."
"Ready!" Hayate called out. Shiori placed a hand on the grip of the tanto behind her back. Hinata raised her palms, taking the famous Gentle Fist stance immediately.
"Begin!"
Shiori drew her blade and immediately accelerated, to the shock of almost everyone.
"Close combat. Get on your guard, Hyuuga," Sasuke muttered.
Hinata activated her Byakugan, watching as the blade came towards her. She calculated what she needed to do in order to block or deflect it, then the counterattack, then the first advance.
But then the edge of the tanto was wreathed in flames.
She quickly moved backwards, dodging everything except the wave of heat that came from the blade. Shiori spun and snuffed out the flames before advancing, slashing at Hinata who effortlessly dodged every strike.
"Vacuum Palm!"
"Hm!" Shiori crossed her arms to block the air blast that suddenly came from Hinata's palm. She sailed backwards a few feet before sliding to a stop and sheathing her blade.
"I'll go, then."
Shiori accelerated before going into a cartwheel, then three front flips, weaving seals after each rotation. On the last flip as she reached Hinata, earth rose up and her arms were quickly coated in dense rock as she sprang into the air.
"Here!"
"!" There's no space...!
Hinata dodged backwards again as Shiori brought her hands down for a hammer blow, buckling the ground inwards. She discarded her rock fists and drew her tanto again, chasing Hinata down and dodging air blasts.
"Talk about aggressive," Minato said. "That Shiori is really moving."
"The Hyuuga are supposed to be masters at taijutsu, aren't they?" Oonoki asked.
"It's nothing wrong with Miss Hyuuga there, Shiori simply did a lot of homework," Mei said. "Taking advantage of reach and knowledge of the Hyuuga abilities, as well as adopting a super aggressive strategy. A lot of things are coming together at once."
"All it takes is one blow with the Gentle Fist and it's over. Luck will only take you so far."
"Of course, Lord Raikage. But that's why we create contingencies, no?" Mei replied with a smile.
Hinata grit her teeth and shot forward to meet Shiori, going on the offensive. Shiori responded by quickly plunging her arms into the ground and forming another pair of rock gauntlets. Hinata weaved inside and struck at Shiori's arms; Shiori quickly shattered them apart and flipped backwards while gathering more earth to form another pair of gauntlets as Hinata advanced.
"That looks like a waste of chakra," Sakura commented as Shiori again burst apart her gauntlets.
"The alternative is having your points sealed. Those girls are something else," Sasuke said.
"What do you mean?"
"Shiori understands the lag time for the Gentle Fist. Striking the body directly allows for the pressure points to be sealed quickly. But if there's another object layered over it, the chakra has to travel through the object and then to the relevant pressure points."
"Using those rocks as a buffer in close combat," Naruto concluded.
"Exactly. She can't do it forever obviously, but it's enough to frustrate Hinata, making her reconsider her combat strategy."
"Hmph!"
Hinata drove Shiori back, forcing her to discard another pair of gauntlets.
The move is to try and wear me down. She's got excellent chakra control, even for a Hyuuga. So I can't sit here and tank all of her hits forever. Also, there's no way she's going to get baited into using the Sixty Four this early.
"I won't let her push me towards that bridge so soon. We'll start with this."
Shiori made seals and slammed her hands to the ground.
"Earth Flow River!"
A path of thick mud spread out in front of her, branching into two paths and then several smaller ones as they reached Hinata.
"And one more!"
Hinata stood calmly as Shiori breathed out flames, lighting the mud on fire and creating barriers around her. She could still see the other girl's chakra flow easily enough and watched as she prepared another technique.
Shiori plunged her arm into the earth once more and created a thicker, heavier gauntlet over her right arm. The surface then started to glow a bright orange as she ran forward. She burst through the wall of flames ahead and charged Hinata, who still did not move.
You think you're ready? Fine...we'll see what you've got, Hyuuga!
The rocks surrounding her arm suddenly burst into flame.
"Try this one! Ninja Art: Fatal Buster!"
"Eight Trigrams: Palms Revolving Heaven!"
The attack clashed with Hinata's whirling dome of chakra, throwing up an explosion that sent both girls flying. They recovered looking slightly worse off, as Shiori made a seal and had the trails of flame on the battlefield die off. She then made another set of seals before waiting for Hinata's next move.
That technique isn't simply a physical attack...Rotation can defend against normal blows, but things like explosive waves...
"I'm still in this." Hinata surged forward and engaged Shiori again. Shiori drew her blade and advanced in turn, keeping Hinata at a distance with swipes and slashes.
You can't keep this up forever. I'm almost there!
Hinata ducked and weaved around the blade coming for her, interupting each moment that Shiori tried to make handseals. She kept close as the two went around the battlefield, hopping over the mud flows from earlier. Hinata kept her focus and shifted her stance, becoming more aggressive by the second.
"It's time, then. I won't hesitate," she said.
"What...?"
"Here!" Shiori thrust forward, landing a shallow stab into Hinata's left shoulder. Before she could withdraw, Hinata took hold of the edge and quickly flowed chakra through it.
"This is...!"
"I have you!"
"?!" Shiori retreated with a body flicker and felt something wrong. Her right hand was...
"It's no good, is it? Your right hand..."
Shiori grit her teeth. The points on her hand were sealed, she could feel them.
"What a move," Sakura said from above. "Hinata's got a lot in her."
"Figuring that Shiori wasn't committed to any attack and using that momentum against her. Now she can't use any techniques with her arm sealed," Sasuke said.
"But that can't be it," Naruto said.
"Of course not. She's got something planned, but I don't know what it could be."
Hinata saw her chance and rushed Shiori again, ignoring the blood that now stained her white jacket. She put on extra bursts of speed, aggressively attacking her opponent who had switched to using two kunai. In response, she drew her own and used her free hand to prepare chakra for the Gentle Fist.
"An opponent with no jutsu is severely weakened. She's making the correct choice in being this aggressive," Hiashi Hyuuga said from his seat.
"Look at her go. She's all the way in control, Father." Hanabi Hyuuga watched from beside her father, wrapped in a pink kimono with patterns of white flowers on the edges. "Seems like this is almost over."
"Hyuuga blood is thick, but...you remember the match with the other Mist girl and Uchiha, don't you?"
"Yeah. She had some surprises."
"Then observe, Hanabi. We are the pride of the Hidden Leaf, but we are not yet invincible. If the first of the Phantom Maids could surprise us with techniques, then the second must be able to do the same. Keep your eyes sharp, my daughter."
"Yes, Father." Hanabi watched with interest as Hinata continued to put pressure on Shiori.
"I can almost see the ending," Hinata said to herself. She pulled out a set of explosive tags and wrapped them around several kunai.
"Tch...this book isn't about to close yet, Princess."
"I disagree. Let's start with this..."
She threw the first kunai and had it light up in midair. Shiori dodged wide as it exploded and charged towards the second one, slashing it aside with her tanto and spiking it into the dirt.
Hinata flipped the last kunai into the air and let it fall before backing away. Two small objects were attached to it.
"Flash..." Shiori swiftly moved to her side and avoided the flash...
...but not the kunai from earlier.
"!"
The chakra surged through the tag after a delay and exploded, throwing Shiori into the air briefly. And that moment was what Hinata was waiting for.
"You're within my divination, Shiori Ishikawa."
"Delayed explosion? That chakra control..."
"My apologies...but this is over." Shiori's feet touched ground and Hinata made her first turn.
"Eight Trigrams, two palms!" Two strikes.
"Four palms!" Two more as Shiori rocked back helplessly.
"Eight palms!" Four more as the tanto dropped from her hand.
"Sixteen palms!" Eight more as cyan eyes went wide.
"Thirty two palms!" Sixteen strikes as the crowd reacted with excitement.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty Four...!"
Eight seven six five activate!
"Pa-!"
"Valiant Overload!"
Hinata was two strikes away, and didn't notice the half seal that Shiori made during the final thirty two strikes. Lightning chakra suddenly surged through the other girl's body, throwing up an explosion and sending the two in opposite directions once more.
"Ugh...!"
"T-that...was so brilliantly executed...I didn't think I'd get hit with that so early, Hinata..."
Shiori slowly rose to her feet, and flexed chakra through her right hand.
Back in business...just barely.
Both girls were breathing heavily, trying to catch their breaths. Hinata looked at Shiori closely and gasped.
I don't believe this...she used that attack to force open her chakra points again! No wonder she waited until that moment! If she wasted it on just her sealed arm, and I noticed sooner, then...
"But I can still go...and she doesn't have her weapon anymore! Vacuum Palm!"
"Won't let you! Fireball!"
Shiori breathed out a ball of flame that sailed through Hinata's wind bullet. Hinata swiftly dodged and moved in, only to be met with a wall of earth. She jumped over it and frowned to see that there was a dome of earth behind that. Shiori was camped inside.
"Her chakra is getting low. If I can wear her down further, then she won't be able to save herself with that technique again," Hinata reasoned. She watched for movement, but saw nothing from the other girl.
"Set the tags and delay them with chakra. Nothing too reckless."
Hinata quickly slapped several explosive tags on the side of the dome opposite the earth wall, infusing them with chakra precisely so that they would only explode after a set period of time. She drew back and went into her Gentle Fist stance, gathering chakra for a big air blast that would seal Shiori's exit route.
The crowd was quiet, on the edge of their seats.
Hinata blew away a wet strand of hair, watching the dome closely as sweat rolled down her cheek.
The tags started to burn, and Hinata tightened her stance.
"Here...and..."
An explosion.
"Now!"
Hinata sent out her Vacuum Palm a moment before, watching as it swallowed up the heat and flames before exploding inside of the dome remnants. Shiori's chakra dropped and she rushed out, wearing rocks as body armour. Hinata charged back as Shiori shifted all the rock to her right arm, lighting it on fire.
"This is it!" she yelled. "And you know it, too!"
"Hm!"
"I'm not the clever one out of us...but..."
Hinata slid to her left, moving to get around Shiori and into a favourable position.
"I'm not just the older sister because I was born earlier. Whenever there's danger...I have to be the stronger one, in order to protect Junko."
"Something like that...you're not alone with those thoughts," Hinata called back.
"I figured you would understand. It means that there's only one thing left to do."
Hinata charged at Shiori's right side. Shiori slammed her fist into the earth, her back to Hinata.
"Fatal Buster! Detonate!"
"!"
The explosion propelled Shiori backwards rapidly, towards Hinata who elected to forge ahead and strike Shiori's back with an open palm.
"Got you!"
"Not yet...! Earth Wall!"
"What...!"
A wall of earth appeared underneath both girls, throwing them high into the air suddenly.
"A big sister...has to be bigger than the world. Her back has to be broad and tough."
Shiori threw an exploding tag into the air behind her.
"That endurance will move me forward, and into the future."
She grit her teeth as the tag detonated, blowing her forward and towards Hinata.
"Gh-!"
Hinata lashed out, hitting Shiori with multiple strikes even as a hand went around her throat.
"Chakra won't be needed for this one!"
I can't move! She was trying to get close so that I couldn't rotate? The entire time...! But I can't give up! Not now! Not ever!
Shiori readied a set of shuriken in her off hand.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
Hinata sent an air blast right into Shiori's chest, making her cough out blood and lose her grip on Hinata. She fell far, slamming into the ground.
Shiori threw the shuriken in desperation, missing Hinata before she too fell and hit the ground hard. Both girls were slow to move, ears ringing as the crowd got more and more excited.
With a sharp grunt, Shiori rolled away a short distance, panting. Hinata struggled to force herself to her knees.
She blinked before closing her eyes in resignation.
Those shuriken weren't supposed to hit me.
Shiori clapped her hands, and the tag-wrapped shuriken then exploded around Hinata.
"..."
The dust fell and the smoke slowly cleared. Hinata had her arms crossed over her body, jacket sleeves tattered and torn. Her arms came down slowly, and she gave Shiori a tired, rueful smile.
"How cruel. I...really wanted...to win."
She fell to the dirt on her face, unmoving. Hayate watched for a moment before coming to a decision.
"I'm calling it. Hinata Hyuuga is unable to continue. Winner, Shiori Ishikawa of the Hidden Mist."
"Yeah. It sucks. But losing isn't all bad...especially here." Shiori rose to her feet and walked over to Hinata. Her chakra was enough to start some healing, she reasoned, and so she rolled the other girl onto her back.
The crowd clapped and cheered loudly, calling out Hinata's name. Shiori smiled.
"Yeah. No shame in being a loser, eh?"
"That's my big sis. We got one!" Junko cheered.
"What a fight," Minato said while clapping. "Lady Mizukage, I should be asking you what you have your kids eat."
Mei laughed. "We'll ask them together. Shiori really pulled it off!"
"So that's who I'm looking at fighting next. Man, she's scary. And I don't have pressure point sealing, either," Naruto said with a sigh. "I'm gonna go check on Hinata. See you guys soon."
"Don't make it too obvious you're dating, otherwise Hiashi will throw a fit. Ow."
"No bullying," Sakura scolded Sasuke.
"Hmph."
"What did you think, Hanabi?" Hiashi asked his daughter.
She smiled, adoration in her eyes as she looked out over the battlefield.
"I think...I'm more proud of my sister than ever."
Hiashi nodded sagely.
"Whether in triumph or defeat...the strength of Hyuuga burns bright. You are right to be proud of your elder sister. As we all are."
"Oh, no! Hinaaaaaaaa!"
"Lady Hinata! We're coming!"
Two robed figures dashed out of the stands and towards the field below. Hiashi sighed and Hanabi cringed at the sight of Hizashi and Neji respectively freaking out. Their custom robes had Hinata's name stitched on the backs, in bold and distracting rainbows of colour.
"Of course...there are limits to such pride," Hiashi grumbled.
"When can we disown those two weirdos?"
"Hanabi...that is not how it works..."
---
Monday latest for next update. Hope you enjoy.
Sasuke had the shuriken stuck in his chest skillfully removed by the world's best medic, and was standing with the aid of a crutch in order to watch the remaining matches with his comrades. Hinata had made her way downstairs ahead of schedule.
Junko leaned against Shiori's shoulder quietly, the two standing together and counting down the moments before the third match would begin.
The Five Kage enjoyed a round of appetizers and drink, and many of the normal patrons went off to the many bathrooms and concession stands during the extended break.
"What a day already," Joshua commented. Haru had walked off to dispose of everyone's trash, and to get everyone a 'slush', which was a type of flavoured ice drink that was very popular in Kennedy Port. It was an import from the Far West and the Outer Continent.
"Indeed. And we still have quite a few matches left to go for the week. The next round will be much more intense, and then the final will have our opponents going all out. I predict that it will be Naruto and Sasuke in the final," Hannah said. "What are your thoughts, beloved?"
"Gonna go with you on this one. Ritsu?"
"Hmm...I think that Shiori has a good chance. I want to guess it will be her and Sasuke in the grand final. Haru, what do you think?"
"Naruto and Sasuke. I don't believe Miyajima has what it takes to move on against such an unpredictable character, and Shiori probably doesn't have enough in her to overcome Naruto's talents. The match with Sakura is..."
"She's definitely not bad, but I think we all know that the Sharingan is going to pick her apart," Joshua said with a grimace. "Poor kid. She's gotta know already. But as long as she puts up a good fight, she should be proud of herself."
"Agreed," the ladies said in unison.
Announcements went through the loudspeakers placed all around the stadium. The intermission was over and the third match was set to begin. Work was done to patch over some of the damage left on the field, but not too much; the craters in the walls from Sakura's opening match attacks were still present, as well as the scorch marks from Sasuke's fire and lightning attacks.
"Time to go, then..."
Junko raised her head and gave Shiori a tight hug, even as her body protested. "Good luck, sis. Get one for us, yeah?"
"No guarantees. The Hyuuga aren't about empty boasts lately. But...I'll give my all, just like you did. Promise."
"All I need to hear. Give 'em hell."
"Yes." Shiori made her way downstairs, going over her strategy one last time.
"You've got it, Hinata. Go get 'em!" Naruto said with a smile.
"Yeah, you're gonna be great," Sakura added.
"Keep your eyes open, Princess. If you saw the earlier fight, you'll understand that those two complement each other as the Phantom Maids," Sasuke warned. "Don't be shocked at what comes your way."
"Right. Thank you, Sasuke."
"Yeah. It'd be nice to have an all-Leaf final," he said with a smirk, "but nothing's guaranteed in this world. Just put it all out there. Oi, loser. You don't have any more encouragement for your woman?"
"She's not-"
"He's not-"
Naruto and Hinata both stopped, looking away from each other and blushing. Sakura tugged once on Sasuke's ear.
"Oi..."
"Stop teasing them, idiot."
"Hmph."
"I mean, there doesn't need to be much else, you know?" Naruto said. Hinata slowly turned her head to meet his eyes.
"That's true. I...already understand," she said.
"Yeah. So, uh..."
"Yes, of course. I'll see you soon...Naruto."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before hopping over the railing and towards the battlefield.
"Hopefully she isn't too excited now. Ow...dammit, woman."
"I told you to stop bullying, Sasuke."
Naruto rubbed his cheek slowly and grinned.
Hinata landed gracefully and applause followed. She walked towards the middle of the stadium where Hayate stood and waited for Shiori to arrive. Shiori stopped on Hayate's other side and flexed her hands while waiting.
"Same rules as before. Surrender if you're in danger. Listen to my instructions; when I call a match, it's over. Try not to commit murder while you're here. Please acknowledge," Hayate said.
"Acknowledged," Shiori said.
"Acknowledged, sir," Hinata said.
"Excellent. Fighters, get ready."
"Let's have ourselves a good fight." Hinata pressed her hands together and bowed at the waist towards Shiori.
"Agreed. Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Hyuuga." Shiori followed suit, bowing slightly lower before coming up.
"The pleasure is mine. Shall we begin?"
"Yes."
"Ready!" Hayate called out. Shiori placed a hand on the grip of the tanto behind her back. Hinata raised her palms, taking the famous Gentle Fist stance immediately.
"Begin!"
Shiori drew her blade and immediately accelerated, to the shock of almost everyone.
"Close combat. Get on your guard, Hyuuga," Sasuke muttered.
Hinata activated her Byakugan, watching as the blade came towards her. She calculated what she needed to do in order to block or deflect it, then the counterattack, then the first advance.
But then the edge of the tanto was wreathed in flames.
She quickly moved backwards, dodging everything except the wave of heat that came from the blade. Shiori spun and snuffed out the flames before advancing, slashing at Hinata who effortlessly dodged every strike.
"Vacuum Palm!"
"Hm!" Shiori crossed her arms to block the air blast that suddenly came from Hinata's palm. She sailed backwards a few feet before sliding to a stop and sheathing her blade.
"I'll go, then."
Shiori accelerated before going into a cartwheel, then three front flips, weaving seals after each rotation. On the last flip as she reached Hinata, earth rose up and her arms were quickly coated in dense rock as she sprang into the air.
"Here!"
"!" There's no space...!
Hinata dodged backwards again as Shiori brought her hands down for a hammer blow, buckling the ground inwards. She discarded her rock fists and drew her tanto again, chasing Hinata down and dodging air blasts.
"Talk about aggressive," Minato said. "That Shiori is really moving."
"The Hyuuga are supposed to be masters at taijutsu, aren't they?" Oonoki asked.
"It's nothing wrong with Miss Hyuuga there, Shiori simply did a lot of homework," Mei said. "Taking advantage of reach and knowledge of the Hyuuga abilities, as well as adopting a super aggressive strategy. A lot of things are coming together at once."
"All it takes is one blow with the Gentle Fist and it's over. Luck will only take you so far."
"Of course, Lord Raikage. But that's why we create contingencies, no?" Mei replied with a smile.
Hinata grit her teeth and shot forward to meet Shiori, going on the offensive. Shiori responded by quickly plunging her arms into the ground and forming another pair of rock gauntlets. Hinata weaved inside and struck at Shiori's arms; Shiori quickly shattered them apart and flipped backwards while gathering more earth to form another pair of gauntlets as Hinata advanced.
"That looks like a waste of chakra," Sakura commented as Shiori again burst apart her gauntlets.
"The alternative is having your points sealed. Those girls are something else," Sasuke said.
"What do you mean?"
"Shiori understands the lag time for the Gentle Fist. Striking the body directly allows for the pressure points to be sealed quickly. But if there's another object layered over it, the chakra has to travel through the object and then to the relevant pressure points."
"Using those rocks as a buffer in close combat," Naruto concluded.
"Exactly. She can't do it forever obviously, but it's enough to frustrate Hinata, making her reconsider her combat strategy."
"Hmph!"
Hinata drove Shiori back, forcing her to discard another pair of gauntlets.
The move is to try and wear me down. She's got excellent chakra control, even for a Hyuuga. So I can't sit here and tank all of her hits forever. Also, there's no way she's going to get baited into using the Sixty Four this early.
"I won't let her push me towards that bridge so soon. We'll start with this."
Shiori made seals and slammed her hands to the ground.
"Earth Flow River!"
A path of thick mud spread out in front of her, branching into two paths and then several smaller ones as they reached Hinata.
"And one more!"
Hinata stood calmly as Shiori breathed out flames, lighting the mud on fire and creating barriers around her. She could still see the other girl's chakra flow easily enough and watched as she prepared another technique.
Shiori plunged her arm into the earth once more and created a thicker, heavier gauntlet over her right arm. The surface then started to glow a bright orange as she ran forward. She burst through the wall of flames ahead and charged Hinata, who still did not move.
You think you're ready? Fine...we'll see what you've got, Hyuuga!
The rocks surrounding her arm suddenly burst into flame.
"Try this one! Ninja Art: Fatal Buster!"
"Eight Trigrams: Palms Revolving Heaven!"
The attack clashed with Hinata's whirling dome of chakra, throwing up an explosion that sent both girls flying. They recovered looking slightly worse off, as Shiori made a seal and had the trails of flame on the battlefield die off. She then made another set of seals before waiting for Hinata's next move.
That technique isn't simply a physical attack...Rotation can defend against normal blows, but things like explosive waves...
"I'm still in this." Hinata surged forward and engaged Shiori again. Shiori drew her blade and advanced in turn, keeping Hinata at a distance with swipes and slashes.
You can't keep this up forever. I'm almost there!
Hinata ducked and weaved around the blade coming for her, interupting each moment that Shiori tried to make handseals. She kept close as the two went around the battlefield, hopping over the mud flows from earlier. Hinata kept her focus and shifted her stance, becoming more aggressive by the second.
"It's time, then. I won't hesitate," she said.
"What...?"
"Here!" Shiori thrust forward, landing a shallow stab into Hinata's left shoulder. Before she could withdraw, Hinata took hold of the edge and quickly flowed chakra through it.
"This is...!"
"I have you!"
"?!" Shiori retreated with a body flicker and felt something wrong. Her right hand was...
"It's no good, is it? Your right hand..."
Shiori grit her teeth. The points on her hand were sealed, she could feel them.
"What a move," Sakura said from above. "Hinata's got a lot in her."
"Figuring that Shiori wasn't committed to any attack and using that momentum against her. Now she can't use any techniques with her arm sealed," Sasuke said.
"But that can't be it," Naruto said.
"Of course not. She's got something planned, but I don't know what it could be."
Hinata saw her chance and rushed Shiori again, ignoring the blood that now stained her white jacket. She put on extra bursts of speed, aggressively attacking her opponent who had switched to using two kunai. In response, she drew her own and used her free hand to prepare chakra for the Gentle Fist.
"An opponent with no jutsu is severely weakened. She's making the correct choice in being this aggressive," Hiashi Hyuuga said from his seat.
"Look at her go. She's all the way in control, Father." Hanabi Hyuuga watched from beside her father, wrapped in a pink kimono with patterns of white flowers on the edges. "Seems like this is almost over."
"Hyuuga blood is thick, but...you remember the match with the other Mist girl and Uchiha, don't you?"
"Yeah. She had some surprises."
"Then observe, Hanabi. We are the pride of the Hidden Leaf, but we are not yet invincible. If the first of the Phantom Maids could surprise us with techniques, then the second must be able to do the same. Keep your eyes sharp, my daughter."
"Yes, Father." Hanabi watched with interest as Hinata continued to put pressure on Shiori.
"I can almost see the ending," Hinata said to herself. She pulled out a set of explosive tags and wrapped them around several kunai.
"Tch...this book isn't about to close yet, Princess."
"I disagree. Let's start with this..."
She threw the first kunai and had it light up in midair. Shiori dodged wide as it exploded and charged towards the second one, slashing it aside with her tanto and spiking it into the dirt.
Hinata flipped the last kunai into the air and let it fall before backing away. Two small objects were attached to it.
"Flash..." Shiori swiftly moved to her side and avoided the flash...
...but not the kunai from earlier.
"!"
The chakra surged through the tag after a delay and exploded, throwing Shiori into the air briefly. And that moment was what Hinata was waiting for.
"You're within my divination, Shiori Ishikawa."
"Delayed explosion? That chakra control..."
"My apologies...but this is over." Shiori's feet touched ground and Hinata made her first turn.
"Eight Trigrams, two palms!" Two strikes.
"Four palms!" Two more as Shiori rocked back helplessly.
"Eight palms!" Four more as the tanto dropped from her hand.
"Sixteen palms!" Eight more as cyan eyes went wide.
"Thirty two palms!" Sixteen strikes as the crowd reacted with excitement.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty Four...!"
Eight seven six five activate!
"Pa-!"
"Valiant Overload!"
Hinata was two strikes away, and didn't notice the half seal that Shiori made during the final thirty two strikes. Lightning chakra suddenly surged through the other girl's body, throwing up an explosion and sending the two in opposite directions once more.
"Ugh...!"
"T-that...was so brilliantly executed...I didn't think I'd get hit with that so early, Hinata..."
Shiori slowly rose to her feet, and flexed chakra through her right hand.
Back in business...just barely.
Both girls were breathing heavily, trying to catch their breaths. Hinata looked at Shiori closely and gasped.
I don't believe this...she used that attack to force open her chakra points again! No wonder she waited until that moment! If she wasted it on just her sealed arm, and I noticed sooner, then...
"But I can still go...and she doesn't have her weapon anymore! Vacuum Palm!"
"Won't let you! Fireball!"
Shiori breathed out a ball of flame that sailed through Hinata's wind bullet. Hinata swiftly dodged and moved in, only to be met with a wall of earth. She jumped over it and frowned to see that there was a dome of earth behind that. Shiori was camped inside.
"Her chakra is getting low. If I can wear her down further, then she won't be able to save herself with that technique again," Hinata reasoned. She watched for movement, but saw nothing from the other girl.
"Set the tags and delay them with chakra. Nothing too reckless."
Hinata quickly slapped several explosive tags on the side of the dome opposite the earth wall, infusing them with chakra precisely so that they would only explode after a set period of time. She drew back and went into her Gentle Fist stance, gathering chakra for a big air blast that would seal Shiori's exit route.
The crowd was quiet, on the edge of their seats.
Hinata blew away a wet strand of hair, watching the dome closely as sweat rolled down her cheek.
The tags started to burn, and Hinata tightened her stance.
"Here...and..."
An explosion.
"Now!"
Hinata sent out her Vacuum Palm a moment before, watching as it swallowed up the heat and flames before exploding inside of the dome remnants. Shiori's chakra dropped and she rushed out, wearing rocks as body armour. Hinata charged back as Shiori shifted all the rock to her right arm, lighting it on fire.
"This is it!" she yelled. "And you know it, too!"
"Hm!"
"I'm not the clever one out of us...but..."
Hinata slid to her left, moving to get around Shiori and into a favourable position.
"I'm not just the older sister because I was born earlier. Whenever there's danger...I have to be the stronger one, in order to protect Junko."
"Something like that...you're not alone with those thoughts," Hinata called back.
"I figured you would understand. It means that there's only one thing left to do."
Hinata charged at Shiori's right side. Shiori slammed her fist into the earth, her back to Hinata.
"Fatal Buster! Detonate!"
"!"
The explosion propelled Shiori backwards rapidly, towards Hinata who elected to forge ahead and strike Shiori's back with an open palm.
"Got you!"
"Not yet...! Earth Wall!"
"What...!"
A wall of earth appeared underneath both girls, throwing them high into the air suddenly.
"A big sister...has to be bigger than the world. Her back has to be broad and tough."
Shiori threw an exploding tag into the air behind her.
"That endurance will move me forward, and into the future."
She grit her teeth as the tag detonated, blowing her forward and towards Hinata.
"Gh-!"
Hinata lashed out, hitting Shiori with multiple strikes even as a hand went around her throat.
"Chakra won't be needed for this one!"
I can't move! She was trying to get close so that I couldn't rotate? The entire time...! But I can't give up! Not now! Not ever!
Shiori readied a set of shuriken in her off hand.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
Hinata sent an air blast right into Shiori's chest, making her cough out blood and lose her grip on Hinata. She fell far, slamming into the ground.
Shiori threw the shuriken in desperation, missing Hinata before she too fell and hit the ground hard. Both girls were slow to move, ears ringing as the crowd got more and more excited.
With a sharp grunt, Shiori rolled away a short distance, panting. Hinata struggled to force herself to her knees.
She blinked before closing her eyes in resignation.
Those shuriken weren't supposed to hit me.
Shiori clapped her hands, and the tag-wrapped shuriken then exploded around Hinata.
"..."
The dust fell and the smoke slowly cleared. Hinata had her arms crossed over her body, jacket sleeves tattered and torn. Her arms came down slowly, and she gave Shiori a tired, rueful smile.
"How cruel. I...really wanted...to win."
She fell to the dirt on her face, unmoving. Hayate watched for a moment before coming to a decision.
"I'm calling it. Hinata Hyuuga is unable to continue. Winner, Shiori Ishikawa of the Hidden Mist."
"Yeah. It sucks. But losing isn't all bad...especially here." Shiori rose to her feet and walked over to Hinata. Her chakra was enough to start some healing, she reasoned, and so she rolled the other girl onto her back.
The crowd clapped and cheered loudly, calling out Hinata's name. Shiori smiled.
"Yeah. No shame in being a loser, eh?"
"That's my big sis. We got one!" Junko cheered.
"What a fight," Minato said while clapping. "Lady Mizukage, I should be asking you what you have your kids eat."
Mei laughed. "We'll ask them together. Shiori really pulled it off!"
"So that's who I'm looking at fighting next. Man, she's scary. And I don't have pressure point sealing, either," Naruto said with a sigh. "I'm gonna go check on Hinata. See you guys soon."
"Don't make it too obvious you're dating, otherwise Hiashi will throw a fit. Ow."
"No bullying," Sakura scolded Sasuke.
"Hmph."
"What did you think, Hanabi?" Hiashi asked his daughter.
She smiled, adoration in her eyes as she looked out over the battlefield.
"I think...I'm more proud of my sister than ever."
Hiashi nodded sagely.
"Whether in triumph or defeat...the strength of Hyuuga burns bright. You are right to be proud of your elder sister. As we all are."
"Oh, no! Hinaaaaaaaa!"
"Lady Hinata! We're coming!"
Two robed figures dashed out of the stands and towards the field below. Hiashi sighed and Hanabi cringed at the sight of Hizashi and Neji respectively freaking out. Their custom robes had Hinata's name stitched on the backs, in bold and distracting rainbows of colour.
"Of course...there are limits to such pride," Hiashi grumbled.
"When can we disown those two weirdos?"
"Hanabi...that is not how it works..."
---
Monday latest for next update. Hope you enjoy.
Last edited:
VileScurvy
Verified Pirate
- Location
- Malaysia
Lol overprotective uncle and cousin!!It's fun to watch, that's for sure!
Episode 5.4: New Age of Heroes - Lethal Weapon
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"I'm sore all over, but I'm fine. I promise."
Hinata found her way back to the stands with Naruto's help. She had a seat beside Sasuke and they exchanged friendly nods.
"It was a good effort," he said sincerely. "That woman took a lot of risks in order to beat you."
"Yes. She was very skillful in doing so, though. I'm sure that promotion won't be an issue for her when the tournament ends. She also was very clever defensively...I can see how she and Junko work so well together."
"Yeah. Both dangerous in their own ways. You're okay to watch Naruto's match, right?"
"Yes, I'll be fine. Father is thankfully keeping my...admirers...away from the area for now."
"I have to admit," Sakura said with a frown, "that was a little much from them, even if it is family and all. I really thought the two of them were going to fight Lady Tsunade..."
"Their robes were pretty snazzy, though."
"Sasuke, hush."
"Guess I'm next," Naruto said with a thumbs' up. "Should be a good one...though I'm getting weird vibes offa that Miyajima already. Her chakra's wonky. Nerves, I guess?"
"Keep your guard up either way," Sasuke warned. "She might throw something pretty tough at you."
"Yep. I'll keep a few eyes on her, hehe."
"Naruto...be careful out there. And bring one more win home for the Leaf," Hinata said with a smile. She let out a breath and stood up to hug him. He smiled and hugged back as gently as he could.
"Yeah, no worries. Hey, you were great out there, you know?"
"Thank you. I was disappointed that I couldn't win, but I wasn't sad. With all of the people who love me, I couldn't be. There won't need to be a next year, hopefully, but if there is...I'll be more than ready."
"Go get 'em, Naruto," Sakura said.
"Yep. See you guys later." He hopped over the railing and towards the battlefield.
As soon as he landed, what seemed like the entire stadium burst into cheering and applause.
"Right, no pressure! Nothing like home field advantage, I guess..."
He turned and blinked as Hisano descended towards the middle of the field, gliding with streams of electricity following her form. She touched down quietly and said nothing, looking at Naruto closely with her weary golden eyes.
"Guess it's about time," Naruto said.
"It is. I...don't mean you any harm, Naruto Uzumaki," she replied with a gentle, fragile voice. "I...I simply have to do...go further than anyone else. For the sake of my country."
"Right. Let's have a good fight, then."
She paused in thought a moment before bowing deeply, then taking a step backwards so that Hayate could get in between the two fighters. He gave Hisano a critical look before starting his routines.
"Same rules as before. Don't get too carried away. Surrender if you sense danger, no killing intentionally. Listen to my commands. Fighters acknowledge."
"Acknowledged. Ready to go," Naruto said as he bounced on his feet.
"Acknowledged..."
"Fighters affirm. Get yourselves ready."
"..." Minato watched quietly and shifted his chakra to a sensing state. He shot a quick look towards A before returning his focus to the match.
"Kushina? Check something for me, hon."
"Yeah, what is it?" she asked Mikoto. Taking another look, she noticed that her friend's Sharingan were active.
"I need you to check her intent. Sorry, it might be difficult in such a large crowd..."
"No worries, I've been working on that." Kushina closed her eyes and focused, sifting through the various emotions in the crowd and moving towards Hisano. A quick check returned nothing. "Got it. Nothing doing."
"Something's definitely up...her chakra's wobbling all over the place and it's...packed real tight, I think. She has a whole lot of it, Kushina."
"Sounds unusual. What else do you see, though?"
"It's...hm. I don't recognize it. It's like some sort of gate around her left arm. Like it's keeping her power down..."
"Power...down? Oh, no."
"Kushina?"
"Mikoto, keep an eye on her. I gotta talk to the hubby." Kushina rose from her seat and headed for the press box where the Five Kage sat. She was immediately joined by Hikari.
"Ma'am. Awaiting orders, ma'am."
"Stick close to me for now. We'll check in with the Hokage and figure things out. Situation is that we might be dealing with more than we can handle with Miss Miyajima."
"Ma'am, understood, ma'am."
"Ready, and..."
Hayate checked over both fighters one last time, then brought his arm down.
"Begin!"
Naruto made the Tiger seal immediately.
"Here we go! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two clones popped into existence and rushed at Hisano, kunai in hand. She stood calmly and flexed her chakra, sending out a crackling field of electricity around her body. The clones dodged away from the expanding bubble and reset themselves as the original Naruto moved further back. He had his arms crossed, watching and thinking.
Her chakra jumped up as soon as the battle started. She can't be using the Gates...can she? Nah, there's no way. Gotta keep an eye on it.
"Static field, though. Seems perfect...maybe she's baiting me out. Let's test it."
Naruto made a seal and more clones popped into existence, moving into position around Hisano. She watched closely, starting to bring an arm out from under her cloak.
"Ready! And! Wind Release: Air Bullet Super Barrage!"
The clones all made seals before firing off air blasts from their mouths, racing towards Hisano. She grunted and the static field increased in intensity before exploding outwards, slamming into the incoming air bullets and wiping them out. The clones jumped back to avoid the wave of electricity.
Again, huh. Why's her chakra so compressed? Something is definitely off, here. But I don't want to go in so soon...
"Hrm. Taijutsu is a no go right now, and it doesn't make sense to bust out the good ninjutsu just yet."
Hisano shook nervously as she stood at length from Naruto and his dozen Shadow Clones. She wondered if she would have to go on the offensive. She wondered what the right choice would be as the battle wore on. There were jutsu, techniques...but leaving him open with that speed and ability wouldn't be good at all. That technique...Rasengan. She remembered it, recorded it in her mind. It had to be stopped. But he was too patient. He was taking his time.
Time. Time.
There wasn't...any. Time.
She shifted an eye towards the Raikage, his gaze etched into her mind. She grit her teeth and activated her chakra mode, lightning shooting out around her before she accelerated forward. Her hands went into a flurry of seals before she clasped them together tightly.
"Storm Release...!"
"Uh oh," Naruto said with a grimace.
"Laser Circus!" A bright white glow came from her hands before twisting beams of light shot out from it, neatly piercing through all of the clones and making them disappear with puffs of smoke. Naruto dodged through the rest before sensing that the missed shots were twisting back towards him.
"Is that all...heh."
He faced the incoming attacks and made seals before forming a triangle with his hands.
"Wind Release..."
A smirk.
"Gale Palm!"
Naruto shot backwards through the air towards a surprised Hisano.
"Bad move to leave yourself open so early, yeah?" He twisted around in the air and made another seal, calling out two clones that materialized behind him and dropped to the ground.
"I...can't. Let it...!"
"!" Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. She wasn't going to stop her attack, even if it meant she would hit herself. "No good, then!" He made another clone and used it as a foothold, jumping over Hisano's head. The light bursts continued towards Hisano, popping the clone just ahead before slamming into her and throwing dust into the air.
"What...the heck..."
"What's she doing?"
"Is...no, she's not trying to lose, is she?"
Naruto and his two clones stood around Hisano, unsure of what to do.
Mikoto watched with worry from her position in the stands, and Sasuke eventually turned on his own Sharingan to see what was happening.
"What the hell's this...?"
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked. "Do you see something?"
"Yeah. Hinata, are you watching?"
"I...can see all of it. There's some sort of system embedded in her arm, a network of chakra. It forcibly suppresses her chakra levels...as she lifts each limit, her chakra becomes stronger and more potent. But the true nature of the chakra is so violent...this isn't right at all," she said, feeling an ache in her heart. "None of this is right...why is she like this?"
"It's...because she was born like that. Her chakra...it has to be suppressed. And that system was installed into her at some point after she was born. She needs it to control her power, otherwise..."
"..." Hinata sniffled.
"Sasuke...what are you talking about?" Sakura asked fearfully.
"That girl...she wasn't given a choice." Sasuke clenched a fist. "She was born this way. She's a living weapon. Her own chakra...if it's not suppressed, it would kill her. She would be burned inside out, destroyed by her own power."
"That...that can't be true!"
"...it's right in front of us, Sakura. I don't know if Naruto realizes it yet, what the true nature of her power is. But he knows that something is wrong."
"S-she's...her mental state is shifting. Her chakra keeps wavering, and I can...make out ten levels."
"Partitions of ten percent each," Sasuke said after Hinata's observation. "From what I can make out myself...she's at three. The power is leaking already. This isn't good." He looked to the stands across the way and noted active chakra signatures. "Auntie Kushina is gone, so she must have noticed. Mom is watching and so is Itachi."
"Something is seriously slipping," Joshua said as he looked on.
"Oh...oh god."
"Hannah?"
"Joshua...please, check again. Please...look at her left arm, if it's visible. Do you...see them?"
"...ten bands. Three are lit up, the other seven are still black. Hannah? What's going on?"
"It's no wonder her chakra was wavering so much. The stress, on top of the system's limitations and everything in between. I didn't think that the Cloud would stoop this low, but they have. This is an abomination."
"Ma'am? What is happening?" Ritsu asked.
"That girl has a Limiter System."
"She fucking has what?!" Joshua hissed. "You have to be kidding me!"
"Ma'am, you can't be saying...no, they wouldn't," Haru said, shaking her head.
"They have. They placed an overdrive in her, possibly before she was even born. When that became impossible to control, they then added a Limiter to her. Ritsu, the Cloud has made that girl into someone with no purpose, no future beyond being a weapon. She cannot live without that system to suppress her chakra. Without it, her energy would tear her apart from the inside and destroy anyone and anything in the vicinity. And that kind of system is only found on the black market...it's recently been used as a way for people who have abused their bodies to achieve some state of normalcy, but it is meant first and foremost to keep overflowing power at the ready for those who need it. Those who manipulate the Inner Gates or chakra modes, who want to forcibly increase their own strength by forcing themselves to a high limit and then tamping it down for later. It's not something meant for long and healthy lives as it puts an immense amount of stress on the body and mind, and when the mental aspect is compromised..."
"That...does that mean that..." Ritsu swallowed. "Her default state is a living power plant?"
"Yes. That is it exactly. And every moment, she has to focus on keeping that limiter in place. She can't be weak. She can't rest, no matter how tired she might be. She has to fight forward, unceasingly. For her village. For her country."
"Damn it all," Joshua growled. "Something like that..."
"I won't forgive it either. No matter how much he and his wretched village might beg." Hannah gently placed her hand over Joshua's.
Kushina appeared on the steps before the Five Kage, Hikari at her side.
"Lord Hokage..."
Minato saw his wife's eyes, and knew what it all meant. "Is it..."
"Lady Uchiha said...in the left arm."
"Left arm?" Oonoki echoed.
"Shadow Clone!"
Naruto made two dozen clones for his next move and had them all throw shuriken at once. Hisano quickly made a wall of water laced with electricity, but a lapse in concentration left a gap for a shuriken to slip through. She raised an arm and cried out as the throwing star slammed into it.
"Hurts...I can't...I can't keep failing. Screwing up...what's wrong with me? I'm not useless. I can't be...I can't be." She tore the shuriken from her arm and threw it to the side.
Naruto again stood at a distance with his real body, frowning as he felt Hisano's chakra continue to shift up and down.
"I think I gotta go for it. Right now."
He held both of his hands in front of his body and concentrated. Chakra started to spin in his palms, growing and solidifying into brilliant, solid spheres. The spheres continued to spin rapidly, making a distinctive sound as Naruto moved his arms to his sides.
"Let's do it!" he said as the crowd roared in recognition of his signature move. "Rasengan!"
Hisano dropped her water wall and winced as another headache rippled through her. Another band on her left arm glowed with white light, bringing the total to four. Her body shook as electricity shot out of it at random, streams of lightning shooting into the air and raking the ground beneath her feet.
"I'm no sensor, but...I don't think that looks particularly healthy," Mei said. "Lord Raikage, what's going on with your child? Why is Lady Uzumaki here, and what's this about a 'left arm'?"
Kushina let out a shaky breath. "Lord Hokage, based on the accounts of Lady Uchiha and myself...we have reason to believe that the child currently fighting, Hisano Miyajima, is outfitted with a Limiter System."
"She has a...Limiter?" Tears came to Mei's eyes. "That's not true...I can't believe that. Lord Raikage...?"
"..."
"Even for you...that is beyond ruthless," Oonoki said quietly. "That girl has no future. Not even as the lowest of the low in this world. As soon as she breaks, her life might as well be over."
"..." Rasa looked over at the Raikage, but said nothing.
"What...was it all for?" Minato asked. His voice was soft, but the anger within it was palapble. He kept his face pointed straight ahead, watching as Hisano frantically tried to dispatch clones with wild blasts of lightning from her fingertips.
"She is serving her village. In the best way she knows how, now. You who say I took away her future...she never had one until now. She was a failure, destined to die until I intervened," A said.
"Failure...that is to say, that..." Minato paused. "Your scientists conducted that kind of experiment. With chakra overdrives."
Mei hunched over and put her face in her hands, sobbing.
"Even with two jinchurriki, it wasn't enough. And the unknown weapon that you have concealed," Oonoki said. "That girl...how can she be called a shinobi?"
"Because she endures. That's what you want to say...A."
The Raikage stared back at the Hokage, seeing his blue eyes filled with a cold fury that he had never encountered before.
"Kushina...I'll need you in a bit, I think." Minato rose from his seat and walked down to the railing. His wife stood beside him quietly. "If anything happens, we need to protect what's precious to us. First, our son. And next, the village and all of its people."
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I swear on my life that nothing precious to us will come to harm."
"Hikari."
"Sir, Lord Hokage, sir! Awaiting orders."
"Please rendevous with Haru. She will be responsible for further orders."
"Sir, understood, sir. Commencing operations."
Hikari disappeared from sight, leaving the Five Kage and Kushina alone. Rasa and A looked out indifferently, and Oonoki sat conflicted. Mei continued to cry quietly, unable to continue watching the fight below.
Minato and Kushina watched over their son, and the troubled girl in his sights.
If I let her get to five...that's halfway, right? She's not doing too hot as it is...
"Alright. Won't be the most entertaining, but I gotta put this one away."
"Won't...let you! Ugh...!"
"You don't exactly get a say, you know!" Naruto charged forward, two clones following behind him. The others banded together in front of Hisano, obscuring the real Naruto from view.
"You can't fool me with that...it's no good," Hisano said as she made more handseals. "I have more to show...that's the reason I'm here!"
"You're not just some-"
"Don't tell me that kind of lie! I was born a weapon!" she screeched. "Lightning Release! Black Panther!"
Black lightning surged from Hisano's body, taking the form of two black panthers that slashed erratically through the wave of clones running forward. They converged on Naruto as he ran with his two Rasengan, and slammed into him. Arcs of electricty shot out from the impact, dazzling the spectators.
"I told you...it's no use!" Hisano whirled around and fired a bolt of lightning at the Naruto coming from behind. She heard an odd sound and blinked before watching the boy transform into a shuriken.
"Instrument...?"
Another copy came from behind, in her blind spot. Her golden eyes flashed as she felt something disturb her personal field, and she aimed behind her head to dispatch it with another blast of lightning. Her other hand moved to to snatch the kunai coming for her out of the air.
"Slow."
Naruto grinned before disappearing.
"Nah..."
Hisano got a look at the kunai in her hand.
There was a formula written on it.
"That's my line!"
And now he was in front of her. With two Rasengan.
"No...!"
"Here's one from me to you! Rasengan Warp Barrage!"
Hisano's eyes widened in shock and fear. The spiralling spheres came closer, and she was helpless. There was nothing she could...
...no, there was. But it was so dangerous. But losing...what would losing do? What would losing do but shame the village? What would it do but shame the Raikage?
What would it do but make a case for why she should no longer exist?
Fear. She was scared, beyond anything she knew. There was enough fear to make it so that she would do that one thing she knew she shouldn't. But the alternative was not trying, and...
She could feel the chakra. She could feel her cloak being torn up by the rotations, she could feel her skin tingle. She could feel the Rasengan starting to grind into her body.
This pain wouldn't be terrible.
But the pain to come would.
And she had to...she had to...
"I...must...I...will!"
The fifth band on her left arm changed to white.
A violent blast of lightning came from Hisano's position, and she was thrown backwards from the initial impact of the Rasengan. They dissipated in Naruto's hands as he tumbled along the ground before quickly righting himself, sliding to a stop.
He froze in fear.
"Hisano...? What is..."
"T-turn off...please...stop..."
She was crying, clutching her left arm, shaking her head frantically as her pink hair stood on end.
"I quit! I quit! I surrender! Please! Just stop it all! Run away!"
"Hisano!"
"I don't want it! Naruto! Run away!" she screamed. "Don't let it hurt you! Please! Get away from me!"
She sunk to her knees, tears streaming down her face just as quickly as they were ripped away by the electricity coming from her.
"Turn off! Turn off! TURN OFF TURN OFF! STOP! TURN OFF!"
"You should do as she says and get to safety," Hayate said.
"..." Naruto shook his head and reached for his headband, pulling it tight once more. "Sorry, Sleepy Dude. I won't leave her alone."
"Please! I'm not even from your village! You don't have to-"
"I do have to! Don't go making assumptions and talking like an idiot!"
"H-huh...?"
"You're like me, aren't you? A shinobi. You're like me, and you're like everyone else out here. You're out here fighting, just like the rest of us. You're not some kind of terrible person," he said to her.
"I...?"
"We're here to represent our families and our villages, that's all true. But we're not just tools! And we're connected by being shinobi! We fight for what we believe in, right? Even if it's just that, it's something that pulls us together! So I can't leave you alone, not here!"
"Connected? How is it..." She screamed as another power surge ran through her.
"We might be from different places, but that doesn't mean we can't stand together!" Naruto yelled. He made a handseal. "That's why...!"
"Naruto."
"Eh? Dad?"
Minato and Kushina each put a hand on their son's shoulders.
"Mom too?"
"I know you have a plan in mind...and honestly, I'm incredibly proud of you right now," the Hokage said to his son. "You've got all the makings of a great leader already. But...you need to stay out of this one for now."
"Why? This is-"
"This is something that's our responsibility," Kushina said gently. "It was our generation that caused this tragedy. So it's us that needs to deal with it for now. I know...we won't be able to keep you away from reality forever. I don't think we could, nor should we. But let us spare you this pain, even if it's just this one time."
"Mom..."
"We love you, Naruto. And that's why you should keep your eyes open. I want you to see what the world is like, and what it means to endure." She looked to her husband. "Is it ready? Just in case?"
"Yeah. They're all well protected."
"Okay. Then...I'll start." Kushina made a series of handseals, and glowing chains of chakra emerged from her back. They formed a barrier around Hisano as her power continued to spike out of control, and Kushina walked forward towards her.
"Stop! Stop, you don't need to come closer!" Hisano yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I can't control it! You're the Hokage's wife, what's wrong with you?!"
"I'm the Hokage's wife. Someone who tries her hardest to be a mother to this village. And that's why...it only makes sense to do this. Do you know what I am?"
"J-jinchurriki...host..."
"Yes. And do you know what helped me control this power inside of me?" Kushina asked as she knelt in front of Hisano.
"I...a seal...power?"
"No...none of that. Do you want to see? Do you want me to show you?"
Kushina pulled Hisano into her, feeling harsh currents of electricity run through her body. She held tight and had a set of chains wind around them both.
Hisano froze in shock and confusion.
Her question had been answered.
"You can do it. You're not a monster. You're a human being. I know you don't believe it. You never have...but it's the truth."
Hisano was confused, but she felt something come over her. She felt the warm hand on the back of her head and didn't want to run from it. The warmth of another person. The feeling of being treated like...someone.
It didn't make sense.
But it felt...good.
This was what they called...love.
The arcs of electricity died down slowly. Kushina continued to endure, holding Hisano against her until the younger girl's eyes closed and she passed out. There was a small flare before her energy faded off, sealed and suppressed by the chakra chains.
"She's out, finally...honey, could you get Tsunade down here?" Kushina asked Minato. Her hair was a mess, standing on end and shooting out every which way.
"She's on her way already," he replied. He took a deep breath before turning to address the crowd.
"What you've witnessed...this is part of what it means to be a shinobi as well. Hisano Miyajima took on a power bigger than herself, something that she knew she could lose control of. She used this strength to compete in these examinations. She put herself at great risk, for the sake of her comrades and her village. And she did it all quietly, without a single complaint. She demonstrated great bravery in doing something like that. She was willing to make sacrifices and even...become a sacrifice herself. Things like this are painful. But they happen all the time."
He looked sadly at the girl sleeping in his wife's arms.
"This is reality. It's what these children will face every day in the field. It's what we adults have seen for years. It's what we of the Five Kage keep in mind every time we send our loyal shinobi on missions, when we fight and go to war, when we defend our territory. We realize that some of us will go beyond our limits, and that...it might mean that we never return home. We realize that those hard choices will make us hated, make us outcasts. We realize that sometimes for there to be a path forward, for there to be a future...the futures of some brave individuals will come to an end. And there's nothing we can do about it. There's nothing we can do but fight forward for their sakes. We have to continue on. We have to endure. Just as Hisano here has."
Minato nodded to Hayate. The referee coughed before nodding back.
"Hisano Miyajima surrendered prior to the disturbance, and in any case is unable to continue fighting. Your winner is Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf."
The crowd stood up and politely clapped, showing support for everyone on the field. Tsunade placed a hand on Hisano's head as soon as she arrived, trying to see if she could do anything in the moment.
"You said she has a Limiter?" she asked the Hokage.
"Yes."
"We'll need to look her over at the hospital, then."
"I'll take you guys over. Just...give me a moment."
Minato warped himself back into the press box with the other Kage.
"Tsunade is going to look over Hisano. I trust you don't have any objections to that, Lord Raikage."
A looked at Minato's back and grunted once. "No, I don't."
"Thank you. If you don't want to make the trip over, we can provide you with a detailed report later. I'll see you all later. Sensei...if you could announce the end of the first round for me."
"Of course," Hiruzen said.
"Thanks."
"Hokage. Why did you make that speech?" A asked.
"Because I'm not like you," he replied tersely. "I'm not so petty as to damage someone's public reputation like that, especially as a leader of the free world. But...more importantly, I understand why you did such a thing."
"Do you?"
"It was to protect him."
"..."
"After losing your father...you didn't want to have something like that come down on you again."
"And you wouldn't do the same?" A asked. "You would sacrifice your family? Allow them to die in service to your nation?"
Minato thought back to the night of the Nine-Tails attack. He remembered what he and Kushina were about to do.
He remembered what he was going to pass down to Naruto.
"We would make that sacrifice. Without question. And we would endure. We would change the world."
"..."
"Have a good afternoon, Lord Raikage." Minato disappeared in a flash of light.
---
Monday latest for next update. Hope you all enjoy.
Hinata found her way back to the stands with Naruto's help. She had a seat beside Sasuke and they exchanged friendly nods.
"It was a good effort," he said sincerely. "That woman took a lot of risks in order to beat you."
"Yes. She was very skillful in doing so, though. I'm sure that promotion won't be an issue for her when the tournament ends. She also was very clever defensively...I can see how she and Junko work so well together."
"Yeah. Both dangerous in their own ways. You're okay to watch Naruto's match, right?"
"Yes, I'll be fine. Father is thankfully keeping my...admirers...away from the area for now."
"I have to admit," Sakura said with a frown, "that was a little much from them, even if it is family and all. I really thought the two of them were going to fight Lady Tsunade..."
"Their robes were pretty snazzy, though."
"Sasuke, hush."
"Guess I'm next," Naruto said with a thumbs' up. "Should be a good one...though I'm getting weird vibes offa that Miyajima already. Her chakra's wonky. Nerves, I guess?"
"Keep your guard up either way," Sasuke warned. "She might throw something pretty tough at you."
"Yep. I'll keep a few eyes on her, hehe."
"Naruto...be careful out there. And bring one more win home for the Leaf," Hinata said with a smile. She let out a breath and stood up to hug him. He smiled and hugged back as gently as he could.
"Yeah, no worries. Hey, you were great out there, you know?"
"Thank you. I was disappointed that I couldn't win, but I wasn't sad. With all of the people who love me, I couldn't be. There won't need to be a next year, hopefully, but if there is...I'll be more than ready."
"Go get 'em, Naruto," Sakura said.
"Yep. See you guys later." He hopped over the railing and towards the battlefield.
As soon as he landed, what seemed like the entire stadium burst into cheering and applause.
"Right, no pressure! Nothing like home field advantage, I guess..."
He turned and blinked as Hisano descended towards the middle of the field, gliding with streams of electricity following her form. She touched down quietly and said nothing, looking at Naruto closely with her weary golden eyes.
"Guess it's about time," Naruto said.
"It is. I...don't mean you any harm, Naruto Uzumaki," she replied with a gentle, fragile voice. "I...I simply have to do...go further than anyone else. For the sake of my country."
"Right. Let's have a good fight, then."
She paused in thought a moment before bowing deeply, then taking a step backwards so that Hayate could get in between the two fighters. He gave Hisano a critical look before starting his routines.
"Same rules as before. Don't get too carried away. Surrender if you sense danger, no killing intentionally. Listen to my commands. Fighters acknowledge."
"Acknowledged. Ready to go," Naruto said as he bounced on his feet.
"Acknowledged..."
"Fighters affirm. Get yourselves ready."
"..." Minato watched quietly and shifted his chakra to a sensing state. He shot a quick look towards A before returning his focus to the match.
"Kushina? Check something for me, hon."
"Yeah, what is it?" she asked Mikoto. Taking another look, she noticed that her friend's Sharingan were active.
"I need you to check her intent. Sorry, it might be difficult in such a large crowd..."
"No worries, I've been working on that." Kushina closed her eyes and focused, sifting through the various emotions in the crowd and moving towards Hisano. A quick check returned nothing. "Got it. Nothing doing."
"Something's definitely up...her chakra's wobbling all over the place and it's...packed real tight, I think. She has a whole lot of it, Kushina."
"Sounds unusual. What else do you see, though?"
"It's...hm. I don't recognize it. It's like some sort of gate around her left arm. Like it's keeping her power down..."
"Power...down? Oh, no."
"Kushina?"
"Mikoto, keep an eye on her. I gotta talk to the hubby." Kushina rose from her seat and headed for the press box where the Five Kage sat. She was immediately joined by Hikari.
"Ma'am. Awaiting orders, ma'am."
"Stick close to me for now. We'll check in with the Hokage and figure things out. Situation is that we might be dealing with more than we can handle with Miss Miyajima."
"Ma'am, understood, ma'am."
"Ready, and..."
Hayate checked over both fighters one last time, then brought his arm down.
"Begin!"
Naruto made the Tiger seal immediately.
"Here we go! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two clones popped into existence and rushed at Hisano, kunai in hand. She stood calmly and flexed her chakra, sending out a crackling field of electricity around her body. The clones dodged away from the expanding bubble and reset themselves as the original Naruto moved further back. He had his arms crossed, watching and thinking.
Her chakra jumped up as soon as the battle started. She can't be using the Gates...can she? Nah, there's no way. Gotta keep an eye on it.
"Static field, though. Seems perfect...maybe she's baiting me out. Let's test it."
Naruto made a seal and more clones popped into existence, moving into position around Hisano. She watched closely, starting to bring an arm out from under her cloak.
"Ready! And! Wind Release: Air Bullet Super Barrage!"
The clones all made seals before firing off air blasts from their mouths, racing towards Hisano. She grunted and the static field increased in intensity before exploding outwards, slamming into the incoming air bullets and wiping them out. The clones jumped back to avoid the wave of electricity.
Again, huh. Why's her chakra so compressed? Something is definitely off, here. But I don't want to go in so soon...
"Hrm. Taijutsu is a no go right now, and it doesn't make sense to bust out the good ninjutsu just yet."
Hisano shook nervously as she stood at length from Naruto and his dozen Shadow Clones. She wondered if she would have to go on the offensive. She wondered what the right choice would be as the battle wore on. There were jutsu, techniques...but leaving him open with that speed and ability wouldn't be good at all. That technique...Rasengan. She remembered it, recorded it in her mind. It had to be stopped. But he was too patient. He was taking his time.
Time. Time.
There wasn't...any. Time.
She shifted an eye towards the Raikage, his gaze etched into her mind. She grit her teeth and activated her chakra mode, lightning shooting out around her before she accelerated forward. Her hands went into a flurry of seals before she clasped them together tightly.
"Storm Release...!"
"Uh oh," Naruto said with a grimace.
"Laser Circus!" A bright white glow came from her hands before twisting beams of light shot out from it, neatly piercing through all of the clones and making them disappear with puffs of smoke. Naruto dodged through the rest before sensing that the missed shots were twisting back towards him.
"Is that all...heh."
He faced the incoming attacks and made seals before forming a triangle with his hands.
"Wind Release..."
A smirk.
"Gale Palm!"
Naruto shot backwards through the air towards a surprised Hisano.
"Bad move to leave yourself open so early, yeah?" He twisted around in the air and made another seal, calling out two clones that materialized behind him and dropped to the ground.
"I...can't. Let it...!"
"!" Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. She wasn't going to stop her attack, even if it meant she would hit herself. "No good, then!" He made another clone and used it as a foothold, jumping over Hisano's head. The light bursts continued towards Hisano, popping the clone just ahead before slamming into her and throwing dust into the air.
"What...the heck..."
"What's she doing?"
"Is...no, she's not trying to lose, is she?"
Naruto and his two clones stood around Hisano, unsure of what to do.
Mikoto watched with worry from her position in the stands, and Sasuke eventually turned on his own Sharingan to see what was happening.
"What the hell's this...?"
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked. "Do you see something?"
"Yeah. Hinata, are you watching?"
"I...can see all of it. There's some sort of system embedded in her arm, a network of chakra. It forcibly suppresses her chakra levels...as she lifts each limit, her chakra becomes stronger and more potent. But the true nature of the chakra is so violent...this isn't right at all," she said, feeling an ache in her heart. "None of this is right...why is she like this?"
"It's...because she was born like that. Her chakra...it has to be suppressed. And that system was installed into her at some point after she was born. She needs it to control her power, otherwise..."
"..." Hinata sniffled.
"Sasuke...what are you talking about?" Sakura asked fearfully.
"That girl...she wasn't given a choice." Sasuke clenched a fist. "She was born this way. She's a living weapon. Her own chakra...if it's not suppressed, it would kill her. She would be burned inside out, destroyed by her own power."
"That...that can't be true!"
"...it's right in front of us, Sakura. I don't know if Naruto realizes it yet, what the true nature of her power is. But he knows that something is wrong."
"S-she's...her mental state is shifting. Her chakra keeps wavering, and I can...make out ten levels."
"Partitions of ten percent each," Sasuke said after Hinata's observation. "From what I can make out myself...she's at three. The power is leaking already. This isn't good." He looked to the stands across the way and noted active chakra signatures. "Auntie Kushina is gone, so she must have noticed. Mom is watching and so is Itachi."
"Something is seriously slipping," Joshua said as he looked on.
"Oh...oh god."
"Hannah?"
"Joshua...please, check again. Please...look at her left arm, if it's visible. Do you...see them?"
"...ten bands. Three are lit up, the other seven are still black. Hannah? What's going on?"
"It's no wonder her chakra was wavering so much. The stress, on top of the system's limitations and everything in between. I didn't think that the Cloud would stoop this low, but they have. This is an abomination."
"Ma'am? What is happening?" Ritsu asked.
"That girl has a Limiter System."
"She fucking has what?!" Joshua hissed. "You have to be kidding me!"
"Ma'am, you can't be saying...no, they wouldn't," Haru said, shaking her head.
"They have. They placed an overdrive in her, possibly before she was even born. When that became impossible to control, they then added a Limiter to her. Ritsu, the Cloud has made that girl into someone with no purpose, no future beyond being a weapon. She cannot live without that system to suppress her chakra. Without it, her energy would tear her apart from the inside and destroy anyone and anything in the vicinity. And that kind of system is only found on the black market...it's recently been used as a way for people who have abused their bodies to achieve some state of normalcy, but it is meant first and foremost to keep overflowing power at the ready for those who need it. Those who manipulate the Inner Gates or chakra modes, who want to forcibly increase their own strength by forcing themselves to a high limit and then tamping it down for later. It's not something meant for long and healthy lives as it puts an immense amount of stress on the body and mind, and when the mental aspect is compromised..."
"That...does that mean that..." Ritsu swallowed. "Her default state is a living power plant?"
"Yes. That is it exactly. And every moment, she has to focus on keeping that limiter in place. She can't be weak. She can't rest, no matter how tired she might be. She has to fight forward, unceasingly. For her village. For her country."
"Damn it all," Joshua growled. "Something like that..."
"I won't forgive it either. No matter how much he and his wretched village might beg." Hannah gently placed her hand over Joshua's.
Kushina appeared on the steps before the Five Kage, Hikari at her side.
"Lord Hokage..."
Minato saw his wife's eyes, and knew what it all meant. "Is it..."
"Lady Uchiha said...in the left arm."
"Left arm?" Oonoki echoed.
"Shadow Clone!"
Naruto made two dozen clones for his next move and had them all throw shuriken at once. Hisano quickly made a wall of water laced with electricity, but a lapse in concentration left a gap for a shuriken to slip through. She raised an arm and cried out as the throwing star slammed into it.
"Hurts...I can't...I can't keep failing. Screwing up...what's wrong with me? I'm not useless. I can't be...I can't be." She tore the shuriken from her arm and threw it to the side.
Naruto again stood at a distance with his real body, frowning as he felt Hisano's chakra continue to shift up and down.
"I think I gotta go for it. Right now."
He held both of his hands in front of his body and concentrated. Chakra started to spin in his palms, growing and solidifying into brilliant, solid spheres. The spheres continued to spin rapidly, making a distinctive sound as Naruto moved his arms to his sides.
"Let's do it!" he said as the crowd roared in recognition of his signature move. "Rasengan!"
Hisano dropped her water wall and winced as another headache rippled through her. Another band on her left arm glowed with white light, bringing the total to four. Her body shook as electricity shot out of it at random, streams of lightning shooting into the air and raking the ground beneath her feet.
"I'm no sensor, but...I don't think that looks particularly healthy," Mei said. "Lord Raikage, what's going on with your child? Why is Lady Uzumaki here, and what's this about a 'left arm'?"
Kushina let out a shaky breath. "Lord Hokage, based on the accounts of Lady Uchiha and myself...we have reason to believe that the child currently fighting, Hisano Miyajima, is outfitted with a Limiter System."
"She has a...Limiter?" Tears came to Mei's eyes. "That's not true...I can't believe that. Lord Raikage...?"
"..."
"Even for you...that is beyond ruthless," Oonoki said quietly. "That girl has no future. Not even as the lowest of the low in this world. As soon as she breaks, her life might as well be over."
"..." Rasa looked over at the Raikage, but said nothing.
"What...was it all for?" Minato asked. His voice was soft, but the anger within it was palapble. He kept his face pointed straight ahead, watching as Hisano frantically tried to dispatch clones with wild blasts of lightning from her fingertips.
"She is serving her village. In the best way she knows how, now. You who say I took away her future...she never had one until now. She was a failure, destined to die until I intervened," A said.
"Failure...that is to say, that..." Minato paused. "Your scientists conducted that kind of experiment. With chakra overdrives."
Mei hunched over and put her face in her hands, sobbing.
"Even with two jinchurriki, it wasn't enough. And the unknown weapon that you have concealed," Oonoki said. "That girl...how can she be called a shinobi?"
"Because she endures. That's what you want to say...A."
The Raikage stared back at the Hokage, seeing his blue eyes filled with a cold fury that he had never encountered before.
"Kushina...I'll need you in a bit, I think." Minato rose from his seat and walked down to the railing. His wife stood beside him quietly. "If anything happens, we need to protect what's precious to us. First, our son. And next, the village and all of its people."
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I swear on my life that nothing precious to us will come to harm."
"Hikari."
"Sir, Lord Hokage, sir! Awaiting orders."
"Please rendevous with Haru. She will be responsible for further orders."
"Sir, understood, sir. Commencing operations."
Hikari disappeared from sight, leaving the Five Kage and Kushina alone. Rasa and A looked out indifferently, and Oonoki sat conflicted. Mei continued to cry quietly, unable to continue watching the fight below.
Minato and Kushina watched over their son, and the troubled girl in his sights.
If I let her get to five...that's halfway, right? She's not doing too hot as it is...
"Alright. Won't be the most entertaining, but I gotta put this one away."
"Won't...let you! Ugh...!"
"You don't exactly get a say, you know!" Naruto charged forward, two clones following behind him. The others banded together in front of Hisano, obscuring the real Naruto from view.
"You can't fool me with that...it's no good," Hisano said as she made more handseals. "I have more to show...that's the reason I'm here!"
"You're not just some-"
"Don't tell me that kind of lie! I was born a weapon!" she screeched. "Lightning Release! Black Panther!"
Black lightning surged from Hisano's body, taking the form of two black panthers that slashed erratically through the wave of clones running forward. They converged on Naruto as he ran with his two Rasengan, and slammed into him. Arcs of electricty shot out from the impact, dazzling the spectators.
"I told you...it's no use!" Hisano whirled around and fired a bolt of lightning at the Naruto coming from behind. She heard an odd sound and blinked before watching the boy transform into a shuriken.
"Instrument...?"
Another copy came from behind, in her blind spot. Her golden eyes flashed as she felt something disturb her personal field, and she aimed behind her head to dispatch it with another blast of lightning. Her other hand moved to to snatch the kunai coming for her out of the air.
"Slow."
Naruto grinned before disappearing.
"Nah..."
Hisano got a look at the kunai in her hand.
There was a formula written on it.
"That's my line!"
And now he was in front of her. With two Rasengan.
"No...!"
"Here's one from me to you! Rasengan Warp Barrage!"
Hisano's eyes widened in shock and fear. The spiralling spheres came closer, and she was helpless. There was nothing she could...
...no, there was. But it was so dangerous. But losing...what would losing do? What would losing do but shame the village? What would it do but shame the Raikage?
What would it do but make a case for why she should no longer exist?
Fear. She was scared, beyond anything she knew. There was enough fear to make it so that she would do that one thing she knew she shouldn't. But the alternative was not trying, and...
She could feel the chakra. She could feel her cloak being torn up by the rotations, she could feel her skin tingle. She could feel the Rasengan starting to grind into her body.
This pain wouldn't be terrible.
But the pain to come would.
And she had to...she had to...
"I...must...I...will!"
The fifth band on her left arm changed to white.
A violent blast of lightning came from Hisano's position, and she was thrown backwards from the initial impact of the Rasengan. They dissipated in Naruto's hands as he tumbled along the ground before quickly righting himself, sliding to a stop.
He froze in fear.
"Hisano...? What is..."
"T-turn off...please...stop..."
She was crying, clutching her left arm, shaking her head frantically as her pink hair stood on end.
"I quit! I quit! I surrender! Please! Just stop it all! Run away!"
"Hisano!"
"I don't want it! Naruto! Run away!" she screamed. "Don't let it hurt you! Please! Get away from me!"
She sunk to her knees, tears streaming down her face just as quickly as they were ripped away by the electricity coming from her.
"Turn off! Turn off! TURN OFF TURN OFF! STOP! TURN OFF!"
"You should do as she says and get to safety," Hayate said.
"..." Naruto shook his head and reached for his headband, pulling it tight once more. "Sorry, Sleepy Dude. I won't leave her alone."
"Please! I'm not even from your village! You don't have to-"
"I do have to! Don't go making assumptions and talking like an idiot!"
"H-huh...?"
"You're like me, aren't you? A shinobi. You're like me, and you're like everyone else out here. You're out here fighting, just like the rest of us. You're not some kind of terrible person," he said to her.
"I...?"
"We're here to represent our families and our villages, that's all true. But we're not just tools! And we're connected by being shinobi! We fight for what we believe in, right? Even if it's just that, it's something that pulls us together! So I can't leave you alone, not here!"
"Connected? How is it..." She screamed as another power surge ran through her.
"We might be from different places, but that doesn't mean we can't stand together!" Naruto yelled. He made a handseal. "That's why...!"
"Naruto."
"Eh? Dad?"
Minato and Kushina each put a hand on their son's shoulders.
"Mom too?"
"I know you have a plan in mind...and honestly, I'm incredibly proud of you right now," the Hokage said to his son. "You've got all the makings of a great leader already. But...you need to stay out of this one for now."
"Why? This is-"
"This is something that's our responsibility," Kushina said gently. "It was our generation that caused this tragedy. So it's us that needs to deal with it for now. I know...we won't be able to keep you away from reality forever. I don't think we could, nor should we. But let us spare you this pain, even if it's just this one time."
"Mom..."
"We love you, Naruto. And that's why you should keep your eyes open. I want you to see what the world is like, and what it means to endure." She looked to her husband. "Is it ready? Just in case?"
"Yeah. They're all well protected."
"Okay. Then...I'll start." Kushina made a series of handseals, and glowing chains of chakra emerged from her back. They formed a barrier around Hisano as her power continued to spike out of control, and Kushina walked forward towards her.
"Stop! Stop, you don't need to come closer!" Hisano yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I can't control it! You're the Hokage's wife, what's wrong with you?!"
"I'm the Hokage's wife. Someone who tries her hardest to be a mother to this village. And that's why...it only makes sense to do this. Do you know what I am?"
"J-jinchurriki...host..."
"Yes. And do you know what helped me control this power inside of me?" Kushina asked as she knelt in front of Hisano.
"I...a seal...power?"
"No...none of that. Do you want to see? Do you want me to show you?"
Kushina pulled Hisano into her, feeling harsh currents of electricity run through her body. She held tight and had a set of chains wind around them both.
Hisano froze in shock and confusion.
Her question had been answered.
"You can do it. You're not a monster. You're a human being. I know you don't believe it. You never have...but it's the truth."
Hisano was confused, but she felt something come over her. She felt the warm hand on the back of her head and didn't want to run from it. The warmth of another person. The feeling of being treated like...someone.
It didn't make sense.
But it felt...good.
This was what they called...love.
The arcs of electricity died down slowly. Kushina continued to endure, holding Hisano against her until the younger girl's eyes closed and she passed out. There was a small flare before her energy faded off, sealed and suppressed by the chakra chains.
"She's out, finally...honey, could you get Tsunade down here?" Kushina asked Minato. Her hair was a mess, standing on end and shooting out every which way.
"She's on her way already," he replied. He took a deep breath before turning to address the crowd.
"What you've witnessed...this is part of what it means to be a shinobi as well. Hisano Miyajima took on a power bigger than herself, something that she knew she could lose control of. She used this strength to compete in these examinations. She put herself at great risk, for the sake of her comrades and her village. And she did it all quietly, without a single complaint. She demonstrated great bravery in doing something like that. She was willing to make sacrifices and even...become a sacrifice herself. Things like this are painful. But they happen all the time."
He looked sadly at the girl sleeping in his wife's arms.
"This is reality. It's what these children will face every day in the field. It's what we adults have seen for years. It's what we of the Five Kage keep in mind every time we send our loyal shinobi on missions, when we fight and go to war, when we defend our territory. We realize that some of us will go beyond our limits, and that...it might mean that we never return home. We realize that those hard choices will make us hated, make us outcasts. We realize that sometimes for there to be a path forward, for there to be a future...the futures of some brave individuals will come to an end. And there's nothing we can do about it. There's nothing we can do but fight forward for their sakes. We have to continue on. We have to endure. Just as Hisano here has."
Minato nodded to Hayate. The referee coughed before nodding back.
"Hisano Miyajima surrendered prior to the disturbance, and in any case is unable to continue fighting. Your winner is Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf."
The crowd stood up and politely clapped, showing support for everyone on the field. Tsunade placed a hand on Hisano's head as soon as she arrived, trying to see if she could do anything in the moment.
"You said she has a Limiter?" she asked the Hokage.
"Yes."
"We'll need to look her over at the hospital, then."
"I'll take you guys over. Just...give me a moment."
Minato warped himself back into the press box with the other Kage.
"Tsunade is going to look over Hisano. I trust you don't have any objections to that, Lord Raikage."
A looked at Minato's back and grunted once. "No, I don't."
"Thank you. If you don't want to make the trip over, we can provide you with a detailed report later. I'll see you all later. Sensei...if you could announce the end of the first round for me."
"Of course," Hiruzen said.
"Thanks."
"Hokage. Why did you make that speech?" A asked.
"Because I'm not like you," he replied tersely. "I'm not so petty as to damage someone's public reputation like that, especially as a leader of the free world. But...more importantly, I understand why you did such a thing."
"Do you?"
"It was to protect him."
"..."
"After losing your father...you didn't want to have something like that come down on you again."
"And you wouldn't do the same?" A asked. "You would sacrifice your family? Allow them to die in service to your nation?"
Minato thought back to the night of the Nine-Tails attack. He remembered what he and Kushina were about to do.
He remembered what he was going to pass down to Naruto.
"We would make that sacrifice. Without question. And we would endure. We would change the world."
"..."
"Have a good afternoon, Lord Raikage." Minato disappeared in a flash of light.
---
Monday latest for next update. Hope you all enjoy.
Last edited:
VileScurvy
Verified Pirate
- Location
- Malaysia
Ooo!Things are gettimg very,very interesting!And touching,too..
Episode 5.5: New Age of Heroes - First Intermission
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Thank you all for attending this event. The battles for the semi-final round are now set, and will take place midway into next week. We hope to see you there. Please be safe, and continue to enjoy your time in the Hidden Leaf."
With the Third Hokage's announcement, the crowds inside and outside of the stadium slowly started to disperse. Minato and Kushina were at the Leaf's largest and most advanced hospital, Hidden Leaf Central. Tsunade personally saw to Hisano's treatment while the Raikage and his entourage made their way over as the tourney ended. Temari was within the same facility, watching as her younger brother Gaara slept peacefully for the first time in ages.
Mei walked to the green room to see her girls.
"Lady Mizukage!" they both said enthusiastically, saluting. "We hope that we did-"
She pulled Shiori and Junko into her, holding them tightly.
"Lady Mei?" Shiori asked.
"I know that I look weak. But...I didn't want to act like nothing was wrong..."
"You don't look weak at all. Please don't say that, ma'am," Junko replied. "I know what they did to that girl, and you...you were thinking of us. Isn't that why you were crying earlier? It's really cruel..."
"..."
"Thank you, Lady Mei. We won't forget this warmth," Shiori said as she pressed herself into Mei further. Junko did the same, and Mei put a hand on the backs of their heads gently.
"You're sweet, wonderful girls. Never forget that. Never forget that you're loved, and that you will always be more than weapons or soldiers," Mei said gently. "I'm so proud of you both. Thank you for your courage...thank you for everything you've sacrificed. I pray that you live to see the beautiful future we'll create together."
"Thank you, Lady Mei."
"Thank you so much, milady."
Kisame...you've grown a pair of beautiful flowers. Soon it will be my turn to help them grow, and protect them with everything I have.
Down the hall, Naruto sat in his green room alone. He tapped his fingers on the rests of his chair and thought about what had happened earlier with Hisano. Was there something he could have done sooner? He wasn't sure, and it bothered him. Things could have been worse for her. All of it was unsettling.
"Hey. I was looking for you."
He lifted his head to see Sakura walk in. She took a seat beside him and let out a breath.
"Where's Sasuke?" he asked her.
"Getting treated at one of the satellite hospitals near the Uchiha District. Auntie Mikoto wanted to get him home as soon as possible, since there's gonna be a few days before the next round. Hinata wanted to stay but...well, you know."
He chuckled. "Yeah. She's never liked causing a scene."
"Hanabi was doing a pretty great job protecting her, though," Sakura said with a giggle. "She's fine, and she said she'd talk to you later."
"Cool, cool."
"You don't look so hot. I know about what happened thanks to Sasuke and Hinata, and Lord Hokage did a really good job covering up what happened. Apparently knowledge on Limiter Systems and Chakra Overdrives is top level stuff..."
"Yeah, Sasuke was explaining it to me before it left. So they inserted some kind of freaky thing to make her chakra super strong, only it eventually went berserk. So then they got something off the black market to control her chakra...only it messes with your brain a whole lot. And she has to live with that every day."
"Yes..."
"Mom...used to have to live with the grumpy fox in her, always trying to cause havoc. She was scared at first. It was just like Hisano, kinda...she didn't have a say in any of it. She had to leave her home to come to the Leaf, just to be a container for a chakra monster forever. But she met Great Granny Mito, the First Hokage's wife...the advice she got was to live with love. Loving and being loved, you know? And then she ended up meeting Dad, and then she and Dad had me. She had us, and Auntie Mikoto, and Grandpa Third, and a bunch of other people who she loved and loved her back. And then eventually...she won her fight."
Sakura looked at the ceiling. "Is that to say...Hisano has never been loved?"
"When Mom hugged her...even before that, when I decided I was gonna try to save her...she was so confused. She didn't know what it meant to be liked, forget someone loving her...how sad is that? How...does that happen?" Naruto asked. "Is the Cloud that cruel? Dad always talked about the Raikage, how he was super hot blooded and junk, but was really straightforward and generally principled and stuff. Sure he did some underhanded stuff, but...I guess he assumed there was a limit to it. Taking away someone's whole life..."
"It's not the same as choosing to live as a shinobi. That's what makes it so much worse," Sakura said. "Before she was born, her entire life was taken from her."
"Yeah. She thought her only purpose in life was being a tool. And she wasn't even happy about it. It was just how she needed to live, to continue to exist. Even that Gaara guy had something in him. Maybe it was just selfish love, what'd they call it?"
"Narcissism."
"Yeah. He had at least that. A goal. Something to live for, even if it's all wrong. Hisano, she..." Naruto shook his head sadly.
"It's terrible, isn't it..."
"Not just terrible. Something we need to put a stop to one day for good."
"Yeah. You're right. I'll be there with you."
Naruto raised a fist and smiled. "Thanks, Sakura. We'll do it together, the three of us."
"First thing's first, though. You've got a tournament to win later."
"Yep. Guess I should stop moping and head home." He jumped up from his chair and stretched. "Definitely starved. Guess since Mom and Dad are out, I'll make something for myself. You gonna see Sasuke?"
"Yeah. I think being there would help, even if it's just a little. But you take care of yourself too, okay?"
"For sure. See you around, Sakura."
The two teammates went their separate ways, and in the meantime Joshua went over the events of the last match as he walked. His group made their way out of the moving crowd and into the streets of the Leaf.
"Are you alright, darling?"
"No. I'm thinking about what happened earlier," he said to Hannah.
"..." Ritsu clutched her wrist as images of Hisano came to mind.
"Something like that...it's almost certain that there are more people like her in the Cloud. Possibly elsewhere. Kids who had their entire lives taken away. Even shinobi aren't subjected to that kind of torture daily," Joshua continued. "I could..."
"Joshua..."
"I could feel it, Hannah. When she was screaming and crying. She was so scared. I'm not sure why it's affecting me so much. Maybe it's because we look similar...I don't think that's it at all, but it's possible."
"I...could feel it too. More intensely than I cared to admit," Hannah said. "Feeling scared and helpless, like you're about to stop existing and there's nothing you can do but hurt. Nothing else but screaming and crying as your end approaches." She looked at Ritsu, who had her head down as she walked.
"..."
"Ritsu...are you alright?" Hannah asked her. "If you want to talk, please don't hesitate."
She looked up at her companions. Joshua who carried concern. Hannah who carried compassion. Haru who, behind her mask, was carrying sympathy.
"I...felt pain. I saw myself in her, being destroyed over and over again. I saw her disintegrating with no means of saving herself. It made me remember what I went through. It made me remember wanting to die so that I would finally know peace."
She clenched her fists tightly.
"And then I was filled with so much rage."
She looked into her mistress' eyes.
"Can you feel it? This pain is endlessly shifting into anger. I want to erase the kind of world that would bring an innocent child to that kind of harm. I know that I'm weak. I know that I'm small in stature and in talent. But it hurts and it makes me angry. I can't forgive it. I can't ever...forgive it!"
Ritsu shook from head to toe, clenching her fists harder and piercing her palms with her nails. Blood trickled down and slid past her wrists.
"It's climbing. This anger is climbing and I don't know why, but I can't stop thinking about it. I can't stop thinking about myself, how I was abandoned, how I was thrown away, how much I hurt and how much it was someone else's fault! And to watch her scream and cry, to watch her fall into despair with nobody to pull her upwards, to see that kind of terror etched onto someone's soul in the name of selfishness! It's not fair! None of it is ever fair! Nngh...it's just...it's just...!"
Hannah placed a hand on Ritsu's cheek. "I can feel it in its entirety. I can see your pain, and I acknowledge it. I accept it, just as I have before. At any moment, I can grant you a wish. I can become whatever you choose, Ritsu."
The smaller girl slowly calmed down, and her shaking stopped. She let out a long, harsh breath and unclenched her fists.
"Not just her. I'll become vengeance as well."
She looked towards her master, seeing how much he had steeled in an instant. Her head moved up and down to acknowledge him.
"Of course. You...are also justice. My master and mistress...those chosen of heaven."
"And you are in that number, my love. Never forget that. Never forget this anger that swirls and swells inside of you. This righteous anger will help you grow, and it will help you change this world," Hannah said.
"Yes, ma'am. I won't ever forget..."
Haru gently took Ritsu's hands, covering them in a soft green glow and erasing the cuts in her palms from earlier.
"Anger is part of our living as shinobi. But remember the words of your family. Do not let that rage consume you, and let them fulfill the desires of your heart. Take care of yourself. You are not alone."
Ritsu nodded towards Haru. "I understand. Thank you, Miss Haru."
"There's a place with exquisite sushi and tempura nearby. Perhaps we should stop in and relax before heading back to the hotel," Haru suggested to Joshua.
"That sounds good. Lead the way."
"Of course, sir."
--
--
You had a good meal at the restaurant, though everyone was mostly quiet. Haru indulges herself with an extra bit of sake and you make sure to watch over her. She seemed stressed over what happened to Hisano.
You all were rattled by that in your own ways.
She wasn't anyone you knew. But that didn't matter. The agony she was in, all alone on the ground and moments away from exploding...it made your heart ache. You weren't thinking of anyone in particular, you just knew that it was all wrong and that you wanted to jump out of your seat to help. Thank heaven for Kushina. She really is amazing in every way.
When you get back to your room, you insist that Haru go to sleep for a while. She obeys and immediately drifts off after sitting on the couch; you wake her up and make her sleep in your bed despite her weak protests. As you leave, she slips off her mask and holds it against her chest.
"I'm going for a swim. The pool seems lovely enough," Hannah says. "If either of you want to join me, you'll know where to look."
"Alright. Have fun."
"Thank you." She gently kisses you on the cheek before going off to get ready.
"I'm...I need to think about what I want to do for the rest of the evening. Sorry," Ritsu says.
"No need to apologize. You okay?"
"Fine, sir. Thank you for...caring so much. I know I don't need to say such a thing, but...it feels right. Thank you. I feel like I need some time alone."
"Yeah. You've got my number if anything," you say with a smile.
"Right, sir." She smiles back before heading into her room.
"Sir. At your service, sir."
"Hm?" You turn to see Hikari behind you, saluting firmly as always. "Oh, Hikari. Nice seeing you."
"Sir, it's always my pleasure, sir. I can assist you in any matters while Sister Haru is resting, sir."
"Alright." You scratch at your head. "I'll let you know if I need anything. Everyone's location is clear enough, yeah?"
"Sir, I have tabs on everyone in the group, sir. All clear, sir."
"Good. Thanks for your help as always," you say as you pat her head.
"Sir, thank you, sir."
You feel slightly drained after everything that happened earlier, but not too bad. It's still early enough in the day, as evening is just starting. With the tournament over there are some places you can visit. There's also the option of simply sticking close to home, or resting and waiting for the next day to arrive.
Tomorrow is Sunday. Right, you had things to do yourself.
---
[] Hang around your hotel suite. No need to do much else, the day has been long enough.
- [] Take a nap. You're tired and can't think of anything to do.
- [] Hannah had the right idea with the pool. Maybe you should join her for a while.
- [] Maybe you could talk to Hikari. You're curious about her.
- [] Custom option.
[] Head outside for a while. Maybe some more air would do you good.
- [] Go out to the local park and take in nature. Sounds calming.
- [] You hear they had some baseball cages recently installed. Maybe go down and work off some steam, you haven't thrown a ball around in a while.
- [] The central library doesn't ever close. It's possible that you could get some information that you had overlooked in one area or another.
- [] Custom option.
[] Perhaps not the greatest idea, but...you could go to Leaf Central Hospital. Hikari would be your escort.
- [] You want to see how Hisano is doing.
- [] You're wondering about that Gaara kid. Did he learn his lesson?
- [] You want to talk to Tsunade about what's been going on, and congratulate her on Sakura's advance.
- [] Custom option.
[] Something different from all of those. (custom option).
---
Current timeline in story is Saturday late afternoon/early evening. Everyone is winding down after the tournament opening round. Quite a bit of time/update cycles potentially before the next round on Wednesday. You can do and suggest whatever you like at this point.
Monday is the aim for the next update. Happy reading.
With the Third Hokage's announcement, the crowds inside and outside of the stadium slowly started to disperse. Minato and Kushina were at the Leaf's largest and most advanced hospital, Hidden Leaf Central. Tsunade personally saw to Hisano's treatment while the Raikage and his entourage made their way over as the tourney ended. Temari was within the same facility, watching as her younger brother Gaara slept peacefully for the first time in ages.
Mei walked to the green room to see her girls.
"Lady Mizukage!" they both said enthusiastically, saluting. "We hope that we did-"
She pulled Shiori and Junko into her, holding them tightly.
"Lady Mei?" Shiori asked.
"I know that I look weak. But...I didn't want to act like nothing was wrong..."
"You don't look weak at all. Please don't say that, ma'am," Junko replied. "I know what they did to that girl, and you...you were thinking of us. Isn't that why you were crying earlier? It's really cruel..."
"..."
"Thank you, Lady Mei. We won't forget this warmth," Shiori said as she pressed herself into Mei further. Junko did the same, and Mei put a hand on the backs of their heads gently.
"You're sweet, wonderful girls. Never forget that. Never forget that you're loved, and that you will always be more than weapons or soldiers," Mei said gently. "I'm so proud of you both. Thank you for your courage...thank you for everything you've sacrificed. I pray that you live to see the beautiful future we'll create together."
"Thank you, Lady Mei."
"Thank you so much, milady."
Kisame...you've grown a pair of beautiful flowers. Soon it will be my turn to help them grow, and protect them with everything I have.
Down the hall, Naruto sat in his green room alone. He tapped his fingers on the rests of his chair and thought about what had happened earlier with Hisano. Was there something he could have done sooner? He wasn't sure, and it bothered him. Things could have been worse for her. All of it was unsettling.
"Hey. I was looking for you."
He lifted his head to see Sakura walk in. She took a seat beside him and let out a breath.
"Where's Sasuke?" he asked her.
"Getting treated at one of the satellite hospitals near the Uchiha District. Auntie Mikoto wanted to get him home as soon as possible, since there's gonna be a few days before the next round. Hinata wanted to stay but...well, you know."
He chuckled. "Yeah. She's never liked causing a scene."
"Hanabi was doing a pretty great job protecting her, though," Sakura said with a giggle. "She's fine, and she said she'd talk to you later."
"Cool, cool."
"You don't look so hot. I know about what happened thanks to Sasuke and Hinata, and Lord Hokage did a really good job covering up what happened. Apparently knowledge on Limiter Systems and Chakra Overdrives is top level stuff..."
"Yeah, Sasuke was explaining it to me before it left. So they inserted some kind of freaky thing to make her chakra super strong, only it eventually went berserk. So then they got something off the black market to control her chakra...only it messes with your brain a whole lot. And she has to live with that every day."
"Yes..."
"Mom...used to have to live with the grumpy fox in her, always trying to cause havoc. She was scared at first. It was just like Hisano, kinda...she didn't have a say in any of it. She had to leave her home to come to the Leaf, just to be a container for a chakra monster forever. But she met Great Granny Mito, the First Hokage's wife...the advice she got was to live with love. Loving and being loved, you know? And then she ended up meeting Dad, and then she and Dad had me. She had us, and Auntie Mikoto, and Grandpa Third, and a bunch of other people who she loved and loved her back. And then eventually...she won her fight."
Sakura looked at the ceiling. "Is that to say...Hisano has never been loved?"
"When Mom hugged her...even before that, when I decided I was gonna try to save her...she was so confused. She didn't know what it meant to be liked, forget someone loving her...how sad is that? How...does that happen?" Naruto asked. "Is the Cloud that cruel? Dad always talked about the Raikage, how he was super hot blooded and junk, but was really straightforward and generally principled and stuff. Sure he did some underhanded stuff, but...I guess he assumed there was a limit to it. Taking away someone's whole life..."
"It's not the same as choosing to live as a shinobi. That's what makes it so much worse," Sakura said. "Before she was born, her entire life was taken from her."
"Yeah. She thought her only purpose in life was being a tool. And she wasn't even happy about it. It was just how she needed to live, to continue to exist. Even that Gaara guy had something in him. Maybe it was just selfish love, what'd they call it?"
"Narcissism."
"Yeah. He had at least that. A goal. Something to live for, even if it's all wrong. Hisano, she..." Naruto shook his head sadly.
"It's terrible, isn't it..."
"Not just terrible. Something we need to put a stop to one day for good."
"Yeah. You're right. I'll be there with you."
Naruto raised a fist and smiled. "Thanks, Sakura. We'll do it together, the three of us."
"First thing's first, though. You've got a tournament to win later."
"Yep. Guess I should stop moping and head home." He jumped up from his chair and stretched. "Definitely starved. Guess since Mom and Dad are out, I'll make something for myself. You gonna see Sasuke?"
"Yeah. I think being there would help, even if it's just a little. But you take care of yourself too, okay?"
"For sure. See you around, Sakura."
The two teammates went their separate ways, and in the meantime Joshua went over the events of the last match as he walked. His group made their way out of the moving crowd and into the streets of the Leaf.
"Are you alright, darling?"
"No. I'm thinking about what happened earlier," he said to Hannah.
"..." Ritsu clutched her wrist as images of Hisano came to mind.
"Something like that...it's almost certain that there are more people like her in the Cloud. Possibly elsewhere. Kids who had their entire lives taken away. Even shinobi aren't subjected to that kind of torture daily," Joshua continued. "I could..."
"Joshua..."
"I could feel it, Hannah. When she was screaming and crying. She was so scared. I'm not sure why it's affecting me so much. Maybe it's because we look similar...I don't think that's it at all, but it's possible."
"I...could feel it too. More intensely than I cared to admit," Hannah said. "Feeling scared and helpless, like you're about to stop existing and there's nothing you can do but hurt. Nothing else but screaming and crying as your end approaches." She looked at Ritsu, who had her head down as she walked.
"..."
"Ritsu...are you alright?" Hannah asked her. "If you want to talk, please don't hesitate."
She looked up at her companions. Joshua who carried concern. Hannah who carried compassion. Haru who, behind her mask, was carrying sympathy.
"I...felt pain. I saw myself in her, being destroyed over and over again. I saw her disintegrating with no means of saving herself. It made me remember what I went through. It made me remember wanting to die so that I would finally know peace."
She clenched her fists tightly.
"And then I was filled with so much rage."
She looked into her mistress' eyes.
"Can you feel it? This pain is endlessly shifting into anger. I want to erase the kind of world that would bring an innocent child to that kind of harm. I know that I'm weak. I know that I'm small in stature and in talent. But it hurts and it makes me angry. I can't forgive it. I can't ever...forgive it!"
Ritsu shook from head to toe, clenching her fists harder and piercing her palms with her nails. Blood trickled down and slid past her wrists.
"It's climbing. This anger is climbing and I don't know why, but I can't stop thinking about it. I can't stop thinking about myself, how I was abandoned, how I was thrown away, how much I hurt and how much it was someone else's fault! And to watch her scream and cry, to watch her fall into despair with nobody to pull her upwards, to see that kind of terror etched onto someone's soul in the name of selfishness! It's not fair! None of it is ever fair! Nngh...it's just...it's just...!"
Hannah placed a hand on Ritsu's cheek. "I can feel it in its entirety. I can see your pain, and I acknowledge it. I accept it, just as I have before. At any moment, I can grant you a wish. I can become whatever you choose, Ritsu."
The smaller girl slowly calmed down, and her shaking stopped. She let out a long, harsh breath and unclenched her fists.
"Not just her. I'll become vengeance as well."
She looked towards her master, seeing how much he had steeled in an instant. Her head moved up and down to acknowledge him.
"Of course. You...are also justice. My master and mistress...those chosen of heaven."
"And you are in that number, my love. Never forget that. Never forget this anger that swirls and swells inside of you. This righteous anger will help you grow, and it will help you change this world," Hannah said.
"Yes, ma'am. I won't ever forget..."
Haru gently took Ritsu's hands, covering them in a soft green glow and erasing the cuts in her palms from earlier.
"Anger is part of our living as shinobi. But remember the words of your family. Do not let that rage consume you, and let them fulfill the desires of your heart. Take care of yourself. You are not alone."
Ritsu nodded towards Haru. "I understand. Thank you, Miss Haru."
"There's a place with exquisite sushi and tempura nearby. Perhaps we should stop in and relax before heading back to the hotel," Haru suggested to Joshua.
"That sounds good. Lead the way."
"Of course, sir."
--
--
You had a good meal at the restaurant, though everyone was mostly quiet. Haru indulges herself with an extra bit of sake and you make sure to watch over her. She seemed stressed over what happened to Hisano.
You all were rattled by that in your own ways.
She wasn't anyone you knew. But that didn't matter. The agony she was in, all alone on the ground and moments away from exploding...it made your heart ache. You weren't thinking of anyone in particular, you just knew that it was all wrong and that you wanted to jump out of your seat to help. Thank heaven for Kushina. She really is amazing in every way.
When you get back to your room, you insist that Haru go to sleep for a while. She obeys and immediately drifts off after sitting on the couch; you wake her up and make her sleep in your bed despite her weak protests. As you leave, she slips off her mask and holds it against her chest.
"I'm going for a swim. The pool seems lovely enough," Hannah says. "If either of you want to join me, you'll know where to look."
"Alright. Have fun."
"Thank you." She gently kisses you on the cheek before going off to get ready.
"I'm...I need to think about what I want to do for the rest of the evening. Sorry," Ritsu says.
"No need to apologize. You okay?"
"Fine, sir. Thank you for...caring so much. I know I don't need to say such a thing, but...it feels right. Thank you. I feel like I need some time alone."
"Yeah. You've got my number if anything," you say with a smile.
"Right, sir." She smiles back before heading into her room.
"Sir. At your service, sir."
"Hm?" You turn to see Hikari behind you, saluting firmly as always. "Oh, Hikari. Nice seeing you."
"Sir, it's always my pleasure, sir. I can assist you in any matters while Sister Haru is resting, sir."
"Alright." You scratch at your head. "I'll let you know if I need anything. Everyone's location is clear enough, yeah?"
"Sir, I have tabs on everyone in the group, sir. All clear, sir."
"Good. Thanks for your help as always," you say as you pat her head.
"Sir, thank you, sir."
You feel slightly drained after everything that happened earlier, but not too bad. It's still early enough in the day, as evening is just starting. With the tournament over there are some places you can visit. There's also the option of simply sticking close to home, or resting and waiting for the next day to arrive.
Tomorrow is Sunday. Right, you had things to do yourself.
---
[] Hang around your hotel suite. No need to do much else, the day has been long enough.
- [] Take a nap. You're tired and can't think of anything to do.
- [] Hannah had the right idea with the pool. Maybe you should join her for a while.
- [] Maybe you could talk to Hikari. You're curious about her.
- [] Custom option.
[] Head outside for a while. Maybe some more air would do you good.
- [] Go out to the local park and take in nature. Sounds calming.
- [] You hear they had some baseball cages recently installed. Maybe go down and work off some steam, you haven't thrown a ball around in a while.
- [] The central library doesn't ever close. It's possible that you could get some information that you had overlooked in one area or another.
- [] Custom option.
[] Perhaps not the greatest idea, but...you could go to Leaf Central Hospital. Hikari would be your escort.
- [] You want to see how Hisano is doing.
- [] You're wondering about that Gaara kid. Did he learn his lesson?
- [] You want to talk to Tsunade about what's been going on, and congratulate her on Sakura's advance.
- [] Custom option.
[] Something different from all of those. (custom option).
---
Current timeline in story is Saturday late afternoon/early evening. Everyone is winding down after the tournament opening round. Quite a bit of time/update cycles potentially before the next round on Wednesday. You can do and suggest whatever you like at this point.
Monday is the aim for the next update. Happy reading.
VileScurvy
Verified Pirate
- Location
- Malaysia
[X] Perhaps not the greatest idea, but...you could go to Leaf Central Hospital. Hikari would be your escort.
- [X] You want to talk to Tsunade about what's been going on, and congratulate her on Sakura's advance.
I am waaay too curious about that chakra limiter thing. Tsunade must have some deep insight about that!
- [X] You want to talk to Tsunade about what's been going on, and congratulate her on Sakura's advance.
I am waaay too curious about that chakra limiter thing. Tsunade must have some deep insight about that!
Episode 5.6: New Age of Heroes - Interview with a Princess (First Intermission 2)
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"I'm gonna head over to the central hospital. Mind being my escort, Hikari?"
"Sir, it's my pleasure, sir."
"Thanks. Tell Ritsu we're heading out."
You do a quick check in the bathroom mirror and confirm that you're good to go. Hikari returns from her checks and says that Ritsu will let Hannah and Haru know where you are. You adjust your hat and make your way out onto the streets of the Leaf, which are busier than normal on account of the tournament day. People from outside of town are getting a good look at the sights, buying souvenirs and food from the street vendors. This was, quite possibly, a once in a lifetime event with all of the Five Kage present at once. There was also intense debate about whether or not this was the most talented group of examinees ever; the question about most talented rookie class had been long settled. Those children from the Leaf had raised that mark all on their own.
As you head through the village, you almost expect to run into someone important before you reach your destination. Your walk, however, ends up uneventful. The clear doors at the hospital entrance slide open as you approach. Several people in white coats move ahead of you, having animated discussion. There isn't terribly heavy traffic here either, with medical shinobi delivering supplies and reports. Some seem to have recently come back from missions, with dirt and cuts on their clothing. A few carry containers which you understand have organs in them, kept cold before they reach their final destination.
Hospitals aren't foreign to you. This kind of place is where your grandmother spent most of her life working, saving many lives and changing even more than that. And she still does it to this very day, extremely well. Those of the five great nations are known to send people to the Iron just so that she could treat them, but it's also been established that she won't have the reputation of her colleagues sullied for a paycheque. She looks over every potential out-of-town case, and whenever possible, remotely assists doctors, surgeons, and nurses.
Your grandmother, Rebecca West. She has a lofty dream too...
"Only if it's possible, ma'am." Hikari politely talks to someone as you wait.
"Of course, it's no trouble at all. I'll send for her right away." The brown-haired nurse at the front desk scribbles something onto a clipboard and then leans away to speak into a microphone beside her. A muffled response comes back and she nods before replying.
"Thank you for your patience, Captain. If you could head up to Floor Three, she would greatly appreciate it."
Hikari gives her a salute. "Thank you, ma'am. Proceeding. Sir, if you would follow me, sir. Lady Tsunade is waiting upstairs."
"Yeah."
"Please have a good day," the nurse says with a smile.
"Thank you. You have a good day yourself, and get some extra sleep," you reply.
"You're perceptive, sir. I'll do my best." She winks at you before going back to work. Hikari takes you towards the nearest elevator and you enter, waiting for the approaching doctors and nurses to pile in.
"Hold on, hold on. We've got a straggler with organs," an older man says from outside.
You put your hand against the door and hold it open as a frail looking young woman rushes inside and makes herself smaller in order to fit. She catches her breath and the old man nods to you before you take your hand away, letting the doors close.
"What've you got in there?" someone asks her.
"Lungs. Four, actually."
"Why would they do that?"
"I know it's sloppy, I have to make two stops because they put them all in the same container. But if I waited, I'd miss the deadline. Can't have that. Then we'd all be dead without question," she says with a wry smile. "They're properly separated, at least."
"Seeing as it's Lady Tsunade, she'll probably kill you anyways," another woman jokes from the far corner.
"Heh. Two lives for the price of one ain't bad." Hikari pushes the button for the third floor. The elevator heads upwards with a small lurch.
"Kid, you haven't been working here long enough to be that morbid. You gotta enjoy life...for a few more years at least."
"Eh, ossan...my springtime's long passed, if you know what I mean."
"Where's your stop?" someone else asks.
"Floor Three."
"We'll make room, then." The elevator stops at the second floor. "Oi, we got room for two."
"You've got someone with live ones onboard. No rush, go on up while we wait for the next one."
"Aye, see you soon."
"Push the button there, son." You nod to the older lady and press the door close button. The elevator cruises up as light conversation continues, and stops a few moments later. The young woman heads off first with her delivery and you follow Hikari out. There's still enough work going on up here, but it's much quieter than the first floor, or what you heard from the second.
"This way, sir."
You head right and follow past a few rooms where patients are resting. Some of the doors are open and you catch glimpses of nurses making their rounds, or people watching television in black and white. You wonder briefly how Tsunade swung that expense with the Hokage's Office. She probably had a lot more pull than you thought as one of the Three.
Finally, you reach a relatively small office, bookshelves lining three of the four available walls and papers stacked up on both sides of the wooden desk. There are coffee cups from different shops and a few glass bottles joining them on the surface. The smell of liquor is faint but present, sneaking underneath the subtle enough perfume that the person sitting on top of her desk wears. Hikari closes the door behind you and makes a seal before pressing two fingers to it briefly.
It's your first look at Tsunade, the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, proclaimed the world's greatest medic and one of the Three Shinobi - so named by Hanzo of the Salamander. As Hannah described her, she's close to your heights and built solidly, with strong and firm limbs that make her seem at home on the battlefield as opposed to being a doctor. And of course, those big breasts of hers that make her the talk of the town for other reasons. Her attire is simple enough; a green jacket, stylish grey blouse cut low, and dark pants that stop above her ankles.
"Gimme a sec, yeah."
"Ma'am. We can wait, ma'am."
"Mm." She slowly raises her head from the clipboard in her hands and looks at Hikari. You can see the violet rhombus in the middle of her forehead. "Wasn't expecting you here, short stuff. Something happen to Haru?"
"She was a bit rattled after the last tournament match," you explain. "Drank an extra bit of sake to tamp down the nerves, so we insisted she sleep it off."
"I see. Yeah, the kid's a bit sensitive at times. But I really like that about her. Most of the ANBU are fucking robots and it drives me nuts. Can't send their asses to do anything complex half the time. Hold on a sec," she says as a chime comes from her desk. She twists around to push a button. "Yeah, talk to me. Yeah, I fuckin' know. That's why I picked her, she's so goddamn paranoid I'll kill her that she won't fuck it up. She's good like that, the best even. They did what? Speak up. Oh, go fuck yourself. Are they sealed? Then get your head out of your ass! If I find out you gave the kid shit over something that she wasn't even responsible for, I'll poke a hole through your neck and you can use a voicebox for the rest of your life. Unprofessional, yeah fuck you too. Make sure the guy's lungs are installed properly, just do that for me and we're cool. I'll even get you some smokes later. Yeah, bye." She presses another button. "Hey, hon. You remember from this morning? Uh...shit, hold on." Tsunade grabs a paper from one of her piles and looks at it. "Thirty nine. Twenty one. Sixty two. Yeah. Yeah, get those down to Lab Eight for me, please. Within twenty four, but I know they'll get there faster. No, don't you dare worry, hon. If it's about Orochimaru, he can talk to me himself. Touch nothing. Danzo can fuck himself sideways. Yes, dear. Okay, take care down there."
She presses another button and sighs before returning her attention to you, gesturing towards the seats. As you sit, she gathers up the coffee cups and bottles before sliding them into a plastic bin and shoving it into a corner with her foot.
"Don't mind the mess too much. It's part of a mostly normal day here."
"Right." You stand and start to bow before recalling what Hannah told you earlier. Instead, you extend a hand towards Tsunade, who shakes it firmly.
"Joshua West."
"Tsunade's just fine, no need for formalities."
"Got it." You sit down and Tsunade sits on top of her desk again. "I wanted to congratulate you on your student's results. We met before the matches started, and Sakura is a really nice girl. Sharp and disciplined."
"Yeah, she came in built for the work. I just taught her to do a couple things really well: heal and punch. And curse, I guess." She sniffs at the air. "S'why they call her the Savage Blossom and all that. I'm proud of her. Not expecting too much since she's up against Sasuke next round, obviously I want her to win, but...they're teammates, so we all know the score. If she can do her best and survive for more than sixty seconds, I'll be happy. Heh."
"That's what I was thinking myself. She did a great job against Gaara."
"Didn't beat him up too badly either - least for her - he just was in shock from all of the sudden pain he took on during that match. I don't think the kid's even been hugged since he was born. Him and that Hisano..." Tsunade shakes her head. "Anyways, what else brings you up here? I'm not complaining and I'm not busy at the moment, but with all the excitement I thought you'd wanna lay low for a while longer. You kicked Guy's ass earlier, and I gotta say that was something to hear about. The injuries were a sight to behold in their own way. Well, that and those 'anti-darkness' seals," she says with air quotes, frowning. "Jiraiya is a sick fuck sometimes, I swear."
"What were those about?" you ask.
"It was goddamned paint."
"..." You sigh.
"I know, right? Do you want me to kick his ass for you? I asked your woman earlier but she declined."
"It's fine. I'll take care of it when the time comes...we've got our own beef to cook."
"Heh. Man's man, huh. I like it," she says with a smile. "Oh, if it's not too much prying...are you two like, together together? You know, horizontal tango and all that?"
"Platonic. Mostly."
"Hm. Interesting. Well I gotta say, she's a nice catch. You should put a ring on it some day."
"I'll keep it in mind," you say. "My reason for showing up all of a sudden had to do with today. Hannah and I figured out that Hisano was fitted with a Limiter System, and that it was because of Chakra Overdrive. She's cooling off by doing laps in the pool, so I thought I'd ask you what was going on while I had some free time."
She nods and lets down her hair from its ponytail, crossing her legs over and leaning back on her hands. "How much do you know about the whole deal, first off?"
"Vague on the Overdrives. The Limiters I know more about."
"Your grandma tell you?"
"What she could. I've learned a lot since I was smaller, so she could talk about it without the data going in one ear and out the other."
"Yeah. Judging from your reaction to it, you know enough. The details aren't distributed to everyone equally, and I've only dealt with a few cases...post-mortem, anyways. Miyajima is the first living Limiter user that I've encountered. Probably the first anyone in the Leaf has seen, cause you know. Black Ops and all that. Orochimaru popped in to have a look at her a few hours ago when he heard. He'd have her body worked on if she didn't make it, since he's better than me with corpses and all. Don't ask why. It's a long and creepy story."
"Right."
"So, Hisano was made into a weapon by the combination of two dangerous components. First is Chakra Overdrive, commonly known as Overdrive. They're a product of the Chakra Overdrive Project which was started in River Country and made its way to the Cloud - god knows who the hell was the one to start that mess in the first place. Probably a bunch of dead bastards by now. It's been a thing since the end of Whirlpool, so a long while ago, but mainly kept secret, as one does with violations of natural order. Overdrives involve modifying the body's speed and ability to create chakra. This naturally makes the chakra stronger and more potent. There are two ways to do this. Modifying the body's output physically, like by hacking into enzymes and the like for example, or messing directly with DNA. The latter is more popular, despite the rate of success being...well, complete shit to say the least. Not that the former works much better."
"How...ah. So that means Hisano's..."
"A test tube baby, yeah. Surrogate mother, modified egg or sperm. Can't tell which from here, but I would guess the egg based on known patterns. So she was modified before birth. This doesn't succeed very often, like I said. Rate of...one out of a thousand tries. Rounding up, anyways." She shrugs. "Out of those kids, maybe one out of a hundred don't fry themselves inside out instantly. This is all based on the info we could scrape up from our spies, and Cloud is pretty damn shady as it is so it might not even be accurate. I'd expect them to fudge the numbers to look better. Overdrive experiments might have been some of the reason behind trying to get their hands on Hyuuga and Uzumaki women. 'Cause...I don't think I have to explain too much there why they wanted girls."
"Pretty clear," you say.
"Yeah. So in Hisano's case, Chakra Overdrive works. Keep this in mind...it increases speed and rate of chakra creation, as well as potency in some cases if the kid is gifted enough. It doesn't increase capacity. That means that you can build up more chakra than your body can handle if your system runs wild. Hyuuga can easily regulate and expel chakra even as brats. Uzumaki have swimming pools for chakra reserves where most of us have bathtubs, again from the moment they're born. So if Hisano has a fucked up system where her output doesn't match with her reserves, you know, like most normal people do, then it creates a situation where she loses a grip. Enter the hotfix, Limiters. Repeat to me what you know about Limiters, kiddo."
You nod. "The Chakra Limiter System, also called the Limiter System and commonly known as Limiters. Grams called them junk."
"To put it as lightly as possible," Tsunade says.
"Yeah. Limiters are chakra constructs, rather they're systems that force the body to consume chakra for a specific purpose, to forcibly compress chakra and restrict its flow. Chakra normally flows through all parts of the body by way of a circulation system. Limiters create artificial gates in one place or another, around a specific medium. It can be some kind of mineral or metal, even a natural substance. In any case, it's surgically inserted and then the technique is sealed into it. The artificial gate is made of chakra and becomes reliant on the strength of the user, or rather their willpower."
"That's pretty detailed. I think you know more than you realize. Ah, sorry. Go on."
"Thanks. So the gate or gates are made of chakra and reliant on the user's will. Chakra flows into the gates, and less chakra comes out from behind them. This continues for a few cycles until the user is stabilized, and their chakra reaches a 'natural' forcibly suppressed state. When more power is needed, the user mentally lifts one or more of the gates. Chakra flows through at a higher rate than normal. The user is stimulated and they can take advantage of the increased potency. But as a result, since the chakra is more intense than normal, it puts strain on their circulation system constantly."
"That's basically it," Tsunade says. "Hisano's situation was that she needed this system in order to continue to exist. The Overdrive was tearing her apart and she had no hope of controlling it herself. She was constantly generating power and it was being converted to lightning chakra instantly, the only thing her body knew how to do. I suspect that she was designed to be adept with Lightning Release from birth as well. Because of that, the Limiter System was necessary. And we both know that the Limiter System...it puts a strain on the user's mind. Depending on your amount of willpower, it goes from easier to incredibly difficult. If you lose your grip on reality, your control on your Limiter goes with it. What's worse is that the more stages you put on your limiter, the harder it is on your mind. Most people in the dark world have two or three at most in recognition of that. Hisano...has ten. Releasing all of those means that she could wipe this village off the map and survive for a few more minutes at best, even if she could manage to pull herself back to normal."
"Something like the Eight Gates, then."
"At the very least on that scale. I'm even willing to bet she'd far outstrip anyone who used the Gate of Death. Possibly a tailed beast, too. The potential on that kid is frightening if she decides to throw her life away one day. That's probably what the Cloud was pushing her into. Living and dying for the sake of the village."
"..."
Tsunade leans forward, her hands in her lap. "Ten stages means that Hisano has an immense amount of strain on her mind. She was giving everything she had to keep herself from exploding in the middle of that fight, and she was leaking chakra once she hit stage three. And her mind...it's already shattered into pieces that she's just barely holding together. She's devoted to the Raikage, or at least you could call it that. The stress of the tournament, the pressure coming from her superiors, having to fight the Hokage's son, and worrying about what would happen to her if she lost. Her whole life was built around being a weapon. If she became a useless weapon, then she'd have nothing left. She knew her limitations, and even that didn't help."
"It's not a system built for use by shinobi. Period," you say. "It's already horribly optimized, and the strain it puts on the mind reduces combat effectiveness so sharply that it becomes a liability. That's why it's used in the underworld and not regularly on the battlefield. That's why it was a final resort to control Hisano's power when Overdrive started to fail."
"There are definitely more kids like her, even if they're not in the same exact fucked-up state. Hisano is unique in that she's currently the program's upper limit. But they don't need that much to create their little troupe of super soldiers." She pauses. "Those bottles...I don't like to drink while I'm in the hospital. I have a little office just outside here that I use for my thinking and serious crunch time study. Place where I can unwind. That's where I usually get my drink on. Lately, though...I was just working and drowning myself in caffeine and alcohol."
"To...get rid of the pain, you mean?" you ask.
"No. To keep myself in a haze. To dull my thoughts. As a shinobi, all of this made me saddened like the Hokage was. As a medic, I'm appalled beyond anything. As a human being..."
"..."
Tsunade stares at the far wall. You can feel her murderous aura bleeding out. It's potent. Almost frightening. There's so much weight and grief, shifting into a fury that you don't think you could take full force without at least rethinking your life choices.
"I don't think I could properly describe the rage I felt. I still feel it now. I wanted to rip A's head from his neck the moment I saw him, and that's why I drained a few bottles after making sure Hisano was stabilized. I needed some sort of barrier. It's shit, it's unhealthy, it's not professional or doctor-like. The alternative was that I ripped the fucker's spine out through his throat, and that's not ideal for a lot of reasons."
Her voice is quiet and wearied. Something like that hit her on multiple levels, and she couldn't do anything but watch the person responsible walk away while an innocent child fought for her life.
Ritsu's earlier anger comes to mind. Her tears, her shaking, her anger at being so helpless in that terrible situation. If she could share that anger with a legendary shinobi, then...you know something has to change. And it will. You made that promise to yourself, and to your beloved companions.
"The kid's gonna be okay. Hisano, I mean," Tsunade says as she comes out of her melancholy slightly. "Body's as fine as it could be, and I can't exactly do anything to her without authorization. Even at that point, it'd take a long time to start working on solutions. Orochimaru would have to get involved. I fix people. He's better at looking at their components and junk. I don't think I explained that terribly well, but the gist of it is that this isn't really my wheelhouse as of yet. Maybe when I get to Sensei's age."
"I'm sure you of all people can do whatever you put your mind to."
"Hm. That's what your old man told me, too."
"Yeah?"
She makes another contemplative sound. "Family's strange like that. I picked up my grandfather's habits, too. The bad ones, anyways. Don't gamble unless it's for pleasure, kid. Not worth it, whether you win or lose. Drinking is kind of the same. Actually no, that's fine. People make too much of it sometimes." She leans back on her desk again and swings her legs lightly. "Thursday sounds good for our lunch date with Blondie. We'll talk more about juicy personal stuff then. In the meantime, there anything else you want from me? Questions, thoughts? General stuff is fine. The Leaf's home, after all."
---
[] Nothing else. Thank Tsunade for her time and head back home.
[] There's stuff you want to ask about.
- [] She mentioned to Hannah that she followed your grandmother's work.
- [] Some extra insight on Jiraiya.
- [] The talk about Wood Release revival.
- [] More on the Limiter System and its associated effects.
- [] Other items.
[] You wonder if it's possible to see Hisano for a while.
[] Ask Tsunade about herself, at least a few questions.
[] Custom option.
---
Items are set to approval voting as a reminder. The current time is Saturday evening and your full lunch meeting with Tsunade is Thursday afternoon along with Hannah. However, you're not restricted from any particular topic right now.
Thanks for reading. Tuesday will be next deadline.
"Sir, it's my pleasure, sir."
"Thanks. Tell Ritsu we're heading out."
You do a quick check in the bathroom mirror and confirm that you're good to go. Hikari returns from her checks and says that Ritsu will let Hannah and Haru know where you are. You adjust your hat and make your way out onto the streets of the Leaf, which are busier than normal on account of the tournament day. People from outside of town are getting a good look at the sights, buying souvenirs and food from the street vendors. This was, quite possibly, a once in a lifetime event with all of the Five Kage present at once. There was also intense debate about whether or not this was the most talented group of examinees ever; the question about most talented rookie class had been long settled. Those children from the Leaf had raised that mark all on their own.
As you head through the village, you almost expect to run into someone important before you reach your destination. Your walk, however, ends up uneventful. The clear doors at the hospital entrance slide open as you approach. Several people in white coats move ahead of you, having animated discussion. There isn't terribly heavy traffic here either, with medical shinobi delivering supplies and reports. Some seem to have recently come back from missions, with dirt and cuts on their clothing. A few carry containers which you understand have organs in them, kept cold before they reach their final destination.
Hospitals aren't foreign to you. This kind of place is where your grandmother spent most of her life working, saving many lives and changing even more than that. And she still does it to this very day, extremely well. Those of the five great nations are known to send people to the Iron just so that she could treat them, but it's also been established that she won't have the reputation of her colleagues sullied for a paycheque. She looks over every potential out-of-town case, and whenever possible, remotely assists doctors, surgeons, and nurses.
Your grandmother, Rebecca West. She has a lofty dream too...
"Only if it's possible, ma'am." Hikari politely talks to someone as you wait.
"Of course, it's no trouble at all. I'll send for her right away." The brown-haired nurse at the front desk scribbles something onto a clipboard and then leans away to speak into a microphone beside her. A muffled response comes back and she nods before replying.
"Thank you for your patience, Captain. If you could head up to Floor Three, she would greatly appreciate it."
Hikari gives her a salute. "Thank you, ma'am. Proceeding. Sir, if you would follow me, sir. Lady Tsunade is waiting upstairs."
"Yeah."
"Please have a good day," the nurse says with a smile.
"Thank you. You have a good day yourself, and get some extra sleep," you reply.
"You're perceptive, sir. I'll do my best." She winks at you before going back to work. Hikari takes you towards the nearest elevator and you enter, waiting for the approaching doctors and nurses to pile in.
"Hold on, hold on. We've got a straggler with organs," an older man says from outside.
You put your hand against the door and hold it open as a frail looking young woman rushes inside and makes herself smaller in order to fit. She catches her breath and the old man nods to you before you take your hand away, letting the doors close.
"What've you got in there?" someone asks her.
"Lungs. Four, actually."
"Why would they do that?"
"I know it's sloppy, I have to make two stops because they put them all in the same container. But if I waited, I'd miss the deadline. Can't have that. Then we'd all be dead without question," she says with a wry smile. "They're properly separated, at least."
"Seeing as it's Lady Tsunade, she'll probably kill you anyways," another woman jokes from the far corner.
"Heh. Two lives for the price of one ain't bad." Hikari pushes the button for the third floor. The elevator heads upwards with a small lurch.
"Kid, you haven't been working here long enough to be that morbid. You gotta enjoy life...for a few more years at least."
"Eh, ossan...my springtime's long passed, if you know what I mean."
"Where's your stop?" someone else asks.
"Floor Three."
"We'll make room, then." The elevator stops at the second floor. "Oi, we got room for two."
"You've got someone with live ones onboard. No rush, go on up while we wait for the next one."
"Aye, see you soon."
"Push the button there, son." You nod to the older lady and press the door close button. The elevator cruises up as light conversation continues, and stops a few moments later. The young woman heads off first with her delivery and you follow Hikari out. There's still enough work going on up here, but it's much quieter than the first floor, or what you heard from the second.
"This way, sir."
You head right and follow past a few rooms where patients are resting. Some of the doors are open and you catch glimpses of nurses making their rounds, or people watching television in black and white. You wonder briefly how Tsunade swung that expense with the Hokage's Office. She probably had a lot more pull than you thought as one of the Three.
Finally, you reach a relatively small office, bookshelves lining three of the four available walls and papers stacked up on both sides of the wooden desk. There are coffee cups from different shops and a few glass bottles joining them on the surface. The smell of liquor is faint but present, sneaking underneath the subtle enough perfume that the person sitting on top of her desk wears. Hikari closes the door behind you and makes a seal before pressing two fingers to it briefly.
It's your first look at Tsunade, the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, proclaimed the world's greatest medic and one of the Three Shinobi - so named by Hanzo of the Salamander. As Hannah described her, she's close to your heights and built solidly, with strong and firm limbs that make her seem at home on the battlefield as opposed to being a doctor. And of course, those big breasts of hers that make her the talk of the town for other reasons. Her attire is simple enough; a green jacket, stylish grey blouse cut low, and dark pants that stop above her ankles.
"Gimme a sec, yeah."
"Ma'am. We can wait, ma'am."
"Mm." She slowly raises her head from the clipboard in her hands and looks at Hikari. You can see the violet rhombus in the middle of her forehead. "Wasn't expecting you here, short stuff. Something happen to Haru?"
"She was a bit rattled after the last tournament match," you explain. "Drank an extra bit of sake to tamp down the nerves, so we insisted she sleep it off."
"I see. Yeah, the kid's a bit sensitive at times. But I really like that about her. Most of the ANBU are fucking robots and it drives me nuts. Can't send their asses to do anything complex half the time. Hold on a sec," she says as a chime comes from her desk. She twists around to push a button. "Yeah, talk to me. Yeah, I fuckin' know. That's why I picked her, she's so goddamn paranoid I'll kill her that she won't fuck it up. She's good like that, the best even. They did what? Speak up. Oh, go fuck yourself. Are they sealed? Then get your head out of your ass! If I find out you gave the kid shit over something that she wasn't even responsible for, I'll poke a hole through your neck and you can use a voicebox for the rest of your life. Unprofessional, yeah fuck you too. Make sure the guy's lungs are installed properly, just do that for me and we're cool. I'll even get you some smokes later. Yeah, bye." She presses another button. "Hey, hon. You remember from this morning? Uh...shit, hold on." Tsunade grabs a paper from one of her piles and looks at it. "Thirty nine. Twenty one. Sixty two. Yeah. Yeah, get those down to Lab Eight for me, please. Within twenty four, but I know they'll get there faster. No, don't you dare worry, hon. If it's about Orochimaru, he can talk to me himself. Touch nothing. Danzo can fuck himself sideways. Yes, dear. Okay, take care down there."
She presses another button and sighs before returning her attention to you, gesturing towards the seats. As you sit, she gathers up the coffee cups and bottles before sliding them into a plastic bin and shoving it into a corner with her foot.
"Don't mind the mess too much. It's part of a mostly normal day here."
"Right." You stand and start to bow before recalling what Hannah told you earlier. Instead, you extend a hand towards Tsunade, who shakes it firmly.
"Joshua West."
"Tsunade's just fine, no need for formalities."
"Got it." You sit down and Tsunade sits on top of her desk again. "I wanted to congratulate you on your student's results. We met before the matches started, and Sakura is a really nice girl. Sharp and disciplined."
"Yeah, she came in built for the work. I just taught her to do a couple things really well: heal and punch. And curse, I guess." She sniffs at the air. "S'why they call her the Savage Blossom and all that. I'm proud of her. Not expecting too much since she's up against Sasuke next round, obviously I want her to win, but...they're teammates, so we all know the score. If she can do her best and survive for more than sixty seconds, I'll be happy. Heh."
"That's what I was thinking myself. She did a great job against Gaara."
"Didn't beat him up too badly either - least for her - he just was in shock from all of the sudden pain he took on during that match. I don't think the kid's even been hugged since he was born. Him and that Hisano..." Tsunade shakes her head. "Anyways, what else brings you up here? I'm not complaining and I'm not busy at the moment, but with all the excitement I thought you'd wanna lay low for a while longer. You kicked Guy's ass earlier, and I gotta say that was something to hear about. The injuries were a sight to behold in their own way. Well, that and those 'anti-darkness' seals," she says with air quotes, frowning. "Jiraiya is a sick fuck sometimes, I swear."
"What were those about?" you ask.
"It was goddamned paint."
"..." You sigh.
"I know, right? Do you want me to kick his ass for you? I asked your woman earlier but she declined."
"It's fine. I'll take care of it when the time comes...we've got our own beef to cook."
"Heh. Man's man, huh. I like it," she says with a smile. "Oh, if it's not too much prying...are you two like, together together? You know, horizontal tango and all that?"
"Platonic. Mostly."
"Hm. Interesting. Well I gotta say, she's a nice catch. You should put a ring on it some day."
"I'll keep it in mind," you say. "My reason for showing up all of a sudden had to do with today. Hannah and I figured out that Hisano was fitted with a Limiter System, and that it was because of Chakra Overdrive. She's cooling off by doing laps in the pool, so I thought I'd ask you what was going on while I had some free time."
She nods and lets down her hair from its ponytail, crossing her legs over and leaning back on her hands. "How much do you know about the whole deal, first off?"
"Vague on the Overdrives. The Limiters I know more about."
"Your grandma tell you?"
"What she could. I've learned a lot since I was smaller, so she could talk about it without the data going in one ear and out the other."
"Yeah. Judging from your reaction to it, you know enough. The details aren't distributed to everyone equally, and I've only dealt with a few cases...post-mortem, anyways. Miyajima is the first living Limiter user that I've encountered. Probably the first anyone in the Leaf has seen, cause you know. Black Ops and all that. Orochimaru popped in to have a look at her a few hours ago when he heard. He'd have her body worked on if she didn't make it, since he's better than me with corpses and all. Don't ask why. It's a long and creepy story."
"Right."
"So, Hisano was made into a weapon by the combination of two dangerous components. First is Chakra Overdrive, commonly known as Overdrive. They're a product of the Chakra Overdrive Project which was started in River Country and made its way to the Cloud - god knows who the hell was the one to start that mess in the first place. Probably a bunch of dead bastards by now. It's been a thing since the end of Whirlpool, so a long while ago, but mainly kept secret, as one does with violations of natural order. Overdrives involve modifying the body's speed and ability to create chakra. This naturally makes the chakra stronger and more potent. There are two ways to do this. Modifying the body's output physically, like by hacking into enzymes and the like for example, or messing directly with DNA. The latter is more popular, despite the rate of success being...well, complete shit to say the least. Not that the former works much better."
"How...ah. So that means Hisano's..."
"A test tube baby, yeah. Surrogate mother, modified egg or sperm. Can't tell which from here, but I would guess the egg based on known patterns. So she was modified before birth. This doesn't succeed very often, like I said. Rate of...one out of a thousand tries. Rounding up, anyways." She shrugs. "Out of those kids, maybe one out of a hundred don't fry themselves inside out instantly. This is all based on the info we could scrape up from our spies, and Cloud is pretty damn shady as it is so it might not even be accurate. I'd expect them to fudge the numbers to look better. Overdrive experiments might have been some of the reason behind trying to get their hands on Hyuuga and Uzumaki women. 'Cause...I don't think I have to explain too much there why they wanted girls."
"Pretty clear," you say.
"Yeah. So in Hisano's case, Chakra Overdrive works. Keep this in mind...it increases speed and rate of chakra creation, as well as potency in some cases if the kid is gifted enough. It doesn't increase capacity. That means that you can build up more chakra than your body can handle if your system runs wild. Hyuuga can easily regulate and expel chakra even as brats. Uzumaki have swimming pools for chakra reserves where most of us have bathtubs, again from the moment they're born. So if Hisano has a fucked up system where her output doesn't match with her reserves, you know, like most normal people do, then it creates a situation where she loses a grip. Enter the hotfix, Limiters. Repeat to me what you know about Limiters, kiddo."
You nod. "The Chakra Limiter System, also called the Limiter System and commonly known as Limiters. Grams called them junk."
"To put it as lightly as possible," Tsunade says.
"Yeah. Limiters are chakra constructs, rather they're systems that force the body to consume chakra for a specific purpose, to forcibly compress chakra and restrict its flow. Chakra normally flows through all parts of the body by way of a circulation system. Limiters create artificial gates in one place or another, around a specific medium. It can be some kind of mineral or metal, even a natural substance. In any case, it's surgically inserted and then the technique is sealed into it. The artificial gate is made of chakra and becomes reliant on the strength of the user, or rather their willpower."
"That's pretty detailed. I think you know more than you realize. Ah, sorry. Go on."
"Thanks. So the gate or gates are made of chakra and reliant on the user's will. Chakra flows into the gates, and less chakra comes out from behind them. This continues for a few cycles until the user is stabilized, and their chakra reaches a 'natural' forcibly suppressed state. When more power is needed, the user mentally lifts one or more of the gates. Chakra flows through at a higher rate than normal. The user is stimulated and they can take advantage of the increased potency. But as a result, since the chakra is more intense than normal, it puts strain on their circulation system constantly."
"That's basically it," Tsunade says. "Hisano's situation was that she needed this system in order to continue to exist. The Overdrive was tearing her apart and she had no hope of controlling it herself. She was constantly generating power and it was being converted to lightning chakra instantly, the only thing her body knew how to do. I suspect that she was designed to be adept with Lightning Release from birth as well. Because of that, the Limiter System was necessary. And we both know that the Limiter System...it puts a strain on the user's mind. Depending on your amount of willpower, it goes from easier to incredibly difficult. If you lose your grip on reality, your control on your Limiter goes with it. What's worse is that the more stages you put on your limiter, the harder it is on your mind. Most people in the dark world have two or three at most in recognition of that. Hisano...has ten. Releasing all of those means that she could wipe this village off the map and survive for a few more minutes at best, even if she could manage to pull herself back to normal."
"Something like the Eight Gates, then."
"At the very least on that scale. I'm even willing to bet she'd far outstrip anyone who used the Gate of Death. Possibly a tailed beast, too. The potential on that kid is frightening if she decides to throw her life away one day. That's probably what the Cloud was pushing her into. Living and dying for the sake of the village."
"..."
Tsunade leans forward, her hands in her lap. "Ten stages means that Hisano has an immense amount of strain on her mind. She was giving everything she had to keep herself from exploding in the middle of that fight, and she was leaking chakra once she hit stage three. And her mind...it's already shattered into pieces that she's just barely holding together. She's devoted to the Raikage, or at least you could call it that. The stress of the tournament, the pressure coming from her superiors, having to fight the Hokage's son, and worrying about what would happen to her if she lost. Her whole life was built around being a weapon. If she became a useless weapon, then she'd have nothing left. She knew her limitations, and even that didn't help."
"It's not a system built for use by shinobi. Period," you say. "It's already horribly optimized, and the strain it puts on the mind reduces combat effectiveness so sharply that it becomes a liability. That's why it's used in the underworld and not regularly on the battlefield. That's why it was a final resort to control Hisano's power when Overdrive started to fail."
"There are definitely more kids like her, even if they're not in the same exact fucked-up state. Hisano is unique in that she's currently the program's upper limit. But they don't need that much to create their little troupe of super soldiers." She pauses. "Those bottles...I don't like to drink while I'm in the hospital. I have a little office just outside here that I use for my thinking and serious crunch time study. Place where I can unwind. That's where I usually get my drink on. Lately, though...I was just working and drowning myself in caffeine and alcohol."
"To...get rid of the pain, you mean?" you ask.
"No. To keep myself in a haze. To dull my thoughts. As a shinobi, all of this made me saddened like the Hokage was. As a medic, I'm appalled beyond anything. As a human being..."
"..."
Tsunade stares at the far wall. You can feel her murderous aura bleeding out. It's potent. Almost frightening. There's so much weight and grief, shifting into a fury that you don't think you could take full force without at least rethinking your life choices.
"I don't think I could properly describe the rage I felt. I still feel it now. I wanted to rip A's head from his neck the moment I saw him, and that's why I drained a few bottles after making sure Hisano was stabilized. I needed some sort of barrier. It's shit, it's unhealthy, it's not professional or doctor-like. The alternative was that I ripped the fucker's spine out through his throat, and that's not ideal for a lot of reasons."
Her voice is quiet and wearied. Something like that hit her on multiple levels, and she couldn't do anything but watch the person responsible walk away while an innocent child fought for her life.
Ritsu's earlier anger comes to mind. Her tears, her shaking, her anger at being so helpless in that terrible situation. If she could share that anger with a legendary shinobi, then...you know something has to change. And it will. You made that promise to yourself, and to your beloved companions.
"The kid's gonna be okay. Hisano, I mean," Tsunade says as she comes out of her melancholy slightly. "Body's as fine as it could be, and I can't exactly do anything to her without authorization. Even at that point, it'd take a long time to start working on solutions. Orochimaru would have to get involved. I fix people. He's better at looking at their components and junk. I don't think I explained that terribly well, but the gist of it is that this isn't really my wheelhouse as of yet. Maybe when I get to Sensei's age."
"I'm sure you of all people can do whatever you put your mind to."
"Hm. That's what your old man told me, too."
"Yeah?"
She makes another contemplative sound. "Family's strange like that. I picked up my grandfather's habits, too. The bad ones, anyways. Don't gamble unless it's for pleasure, kid. Not worth it, whether you win or lose. Drinking is kind of the same. Actually no, that's fine. People make too much of it sometimes." She leans back on her desk again and swings her legs lightly. "Thursday sounds good for our lunch date with Blondie. We'll talk more about juicy personal stuff then. In the meantime, there anything else you want from me? Questions, thoughts? General stuff is fine. The Leaf's home, after all."
---
[] Nothing else. Thank Tsunade for her time and head back home.
[] There's stuff you want to ask about.
- [] She mentioned to Hannah that she followed your grandmother's work.
- [] Some extra insight on Jiraiya.
- [] The talk about Wood Release revival.
- [] More on the Limiter System and its associated effects.
- [] Other items.
[] You wonder if it's possible to see Hisano for a while.
[] Ask Tsunade about herself, at least a few questions.
[] Custom option.
---
Items are set to approval voting as a reminder. The current time is Saturday evening and your full lunch meeting with Tsunade is Thursday afternoon along with Hannah. However, you're not restricted from any particular topic right now.
Thanks for reading. Tuesday will be next deadline.
VileScurvy
Verified Pirate
- Location
- Malaysia
[X] There's stuff you want to ask about.
- [X] She mentioned to Hannah that she followed your grandmother's work.
- [X] Some extra insight on Jiraiya.
- [X] Nothing else. Thank Tsunade for her time and head back home.
Well then. I'm hating A more and more.
I'm dying to ask Tsunade the above two, specifically because I wanted to know a little bit more about dear old Grandma. And Jiraiya's shtick as well.Other than that,I got nothing, rest can wait.
- [X] She mentioned to Hannah that she followed your grandmother's work.
- [X] Some extra insight on Jiraiya.
- [X] Nothing else. Thank Tsunade for her time and head back home.
Well then. I'm hating A more and more.
I'm dying to ask Tsunade the above two, specifically because I wanted to know a little bit more about dear old Grandma. And Jiraiya's shtick as well.Other than that,I got nothing, rest can wait.
Episode 5.7: New Age of Heroes - Interview with a Princess 2 (First Intermission 3)
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"You mentioned to Blondie that you followed Grams' work over the past few years," you say, relaxing a bit in your chair. Hikari as always is sitting attentively near the edge of her seat, and you rub her head gently to acknowledge her.
"Yeah, for sure. She's wicked good at what she does, you know? Lots of experience packed into each inch of material. Let's see...I mean, you know all this stuff already. But she made her way over with your old man, started with her hand in various lines of work but settled on medicine. Studied up on various styles, got a handle on combat medicine when she was working with the samurai, and became an elite when it came to traditional medicine. After that, she learned how to use chakra properly, and...well, it was a different experience. You know what I mean?"
"Not quite," you admit.
"Ah, okay. Well, it's like this...we're all shinobi over here, right? We learn about chakra, how to use it, shape it, all of that. Then medical arts involve learning about everything that comes with that specific field - we obviously learn about surgical procedure, treatments, diagnoses, all of the things you would need to become a doctor pretty much anywhere. We can handle everything...in theory. When you're talking about stuff like very specific or invasive surgeries, special medicines, or maybe something like fine motor control, you have to specialize further. Being a shinobi doesn't automatically make you some sort of all-knowing god about every single medical procedure. You still have to know your shit. And if the area is delicate enough, you have to spec right into that area at full tilt. Chakra won't help with jack shit if you don't know the finer points. It's just about the same as with civilian medicine. Right, so my point. Your old lady approached the situation without chakra initially, and then learned it later and applied it to her expertise which was...like, everything. Okay, another sidebar to help you understand some more, cause...the magnitude of what she does is understated as fuck."
"Okay, I'm listening."
"Good. Medical ninjutsu. What's in the name?"
"Medical and ninjutsu. Ah, what you're getting it at is that it's still ninjutsu. Combat arts."
"Sharper than a Muramasa, kid," she says with a grin. "Yep, it's all still ninjutsu. Repurposed to save lives, but still ninjutsu. Everything about shinobi arts is meant for combat. All of it, from top to bottom. Other applications? Sure. But they're all derived from things meant for combat, or to supplement combat in some way. Increasing survivability, boosting chakra, boosting jutsu, enhancing movement. How far have we actually deviated from all of that in the centuries since we first came upon ninjutsu? Stuff like Mystical Palm heals wounds. But you and I both know that you can fucking end someone with that same technique in an instant. Like the balance between venoms and antivenoms, poisons and antidotes. Yin and Yang, all of that. Chakra scalpels? Same thing that can save one man easily gets repurposed to slit another's windpipe. Everything is a weapon, medical ninjutsu is just the stuff that affects a person on a specific enough level to be used as healing more often than not. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that this is my field. It's awesome. But it's also tough to get into, and a little challenging to recruit for. Even then, most people are out in the field with the combat types, healing injuries sustained from fighting. Those of us who are elite researchers escape those shackles only to slip right into new ones, chained to their desks researching or looking into different ways to keep super-humans from becoming human in any way until their missions are over. New techniques, new chemicals and stimulants, constant research on bloodlines. So who's doing the boring medical work, who's running the hospitals all the time? Not too many of us. Anyways, a bit off the beaten path. So. Becca West."
"Grandma," you reply, noting the sparkle in Tsunade's eyes.
"She's approaching this from a new angle. Not from some civvie angle, or from some expert shinobi with their head up their ass, or even me. She's done shit in her field. She knows where the box is and which parts are worth looking at inside and outside of it. So what she does is take apart all of our medical ninjutsu. Like, all of it. She doesn't look for 'inefficiencies', none of that pretentious bullshit. Mednin stuff is already pretty tightly optimized far as chakra burn is concerned. Rather, she looks into stuff that allows her to extend application and reach. But it's haaaaaard to pick up on right away, like secret top tier stuff that only a few of us have actually grasped. But the biggest thing she did, far as I'm concerned, is force us all to take a look at all of the procedures we've learned, and reapply them from the perspective of normal human bodies. Taking all the advanced field work, all the research, all the procedure. Packing it up. Breaking it down. And then starting from the very bottom, modeling it against an average, powerless person. When I heard about it, I thought to myself...well shit, missy. I can treat civvies just fine, better than any fuckwit normie doctor and with more tools to boot. What's this gonna do for me? Hey, spoilers."
"Spoil away."
"That shit changed my life," she says as she slaps the desk with one hand. "Heaven have mercy! I read her work, and then I applied it and fuck me! My brain was in so many pieces it took me a fucking month to pull myself back together. The perspective, kiddo. The things you just overlook and skip over because of your foundations. It's not enough to heal and help, it's not enough to teach and lecture. You gotta do it the right way. You gotta research the right way. You gotta train the right way. Ugly shit like postmortems and extracting organs. But also things like teams and hospital networks and satellite stations. Learn, adapt, then you optimize the fuck out of everything you can. Rebecca helped with all of that. She thought about all of that, and thoroughly before she made anything public."
"I heard about that," you say. "But I'm wondering what she optimized so well that people like you would be so floored by it. Like you said before, shinobi medics and civilian medics are on different levels, and you have chakra to work with in addition to all of that medical knowledge."
"Good question," she replies. "There are quick answers. One is that we didn't have that much knowledge and analysis on different ailments and diseases and the like before Becca started her diving into those. We mainly had the ability to treat things, hold them back, and occasionally eliminate them if we found them. Our training focus was, again, on combat situations. Extracting poison for example is quick and obvious because we know to look for it. Broken bones we can figure out at a glance. But things like chronic illness or some kind of obscure internal injury that disappears for a bit after we put some glowy blue hand on it, those escaped us for a long, long while. The ideas of widespread external databases to supplement rote learning, or variable levels of treatment for the same kind of sickness. And we still have to research mental health...like, a lot. I can make someone functional again after a genjutsu or something similar, but anything beyond that is a mess. It's not the same as fixing a person, which...well, that really isn't a thing, not the way people believe it is. Another quick answer is communication and response, which also wasn't a thing until recently. As you might guess, things don't work the same in the Leaf as they do in the Cloud. Each country is like a world to itself. The things we've worked on here don't necessarily transfer over, and there's the whole culture thing that everyone has that makes things even more complicated. I'm trying to wrangle the village into providing some sort of therapy service for shinobi, for example. Sand or Rock or whoever, they'd laugh me out of the room for suggesting it. But someone respected from the outside, giving out knowledge for literally nothing like Becca has, they can help change how things are and make it easier for us, at least in the medical community, to come together on a few things here and there as a starter. That'll make us all better off. For example, there are minerals in Earth Country that could be useful for certain medicines...those don't appear so readily in Fire Country or anywhere else. We could like, steal some of them. Obviously. But that's not an actual solution. We don't want to concentrate the knowledge or hoard it for ourselves, the aim is to save lives all over the place. Heh, I said 'quick answers', didn't I? It's just that there's so much to go over that these are what the small pieces look like."
"Okay, you mentioned that Grams worked on a couple of super high level medical ninjutsu," you say as a means of focusing the conversation.
"Yeaaaaaaah, I did go on about that," Tsunade says, rubbing her hands together. "Yeah, so I mentioned how she took apart our jutsu and put them back together in different ways. One of these was the Mystical Palm. Normally, you basically just put your hands on someone and emit a very specific amount of chakra to heal the wound, whether it's inside or outside of the body. Too little and it doesn't do anything. Too much, and like I mentioned much earlier, you can hurt someone really badly. It accelerates the natural healing ability that every person has, doesn't matter if they're shinobi or not. So you gotta be extra delicate with the normies. Becca's solution was a high-level variant that uses both hands, same as everyone is taught, only each hand does something different and they're linked. So for example, I put my right hand on the patient. That's the lead hand, and you have the technique in a low power state, then you make it spin and slooooowly pulse downward through the body. Then you take the off hand and use the technique at normal power. When you do that, you're getting the same feedback that you do from Mystical Palm, only it's even more detailed than before and it allows you to pinpoint which areas to stimulate first with the most amazing precision. That's not the only trick she came up with for it, but it's the most immediately useful one, especially in the field. Not too many can use it yet, but from what I've observed...survival rates have gone through the roof when that variant of the technique has been applied. It's just that the control needed for it is, again, super high level. Here's another one that I went nuts over. Chakra Scalpel, we talked about this one earlier too. You can use it to cut people up, but the main use is to avoid making external wounds. That means if you have enough control, you can use it to perform pretty delicate surgeries. What Becca did was make it into a two stage technique. First you make your normal chakra scalpel. Easy enough. Then you compress that, and put more chakra over it. It seems like a lot, but here's the thing: you might have an inkling that there's something else going on before you're about to go in, or maybe you're going into a really tight space that you can't afford to brush up against."
"So you're creating an extra lane to focus through, a buffer?" you ask.
"Yes, exactly. And because it's chakra based, you can do pretty much whatever you want with it. You can make it thinner to minimize the disruption, use it to isolate an operating area, the works. And the reason you want this one to be a single-hand technique is so that you could use the off hand to perform other procedures, as an anchor, or to hold other materials. Also, the extra sheath of chakra can be used to induct medicines and other important substances into the body if you manipulate it enough. You can also make incisions and seal the area with that extra chakra primed. It's an amazing technique but still, super high level stuff that only a fraction of us have been able to learn properly so."
"The moral of the story then is to work on your technicals in order to move stuff forward. Grams had the perspective of working without chakra for a long time, so she saw different ways of applying the techniques that you knew already. All of your knowledge and understanding of procedure, along with the various combat orientations, meant that you saw the world through a different lens," you conclude.
"Yes, yes, and yes. Put the modified techniques together with an advanced database, new methods, and better protocol...and you get to where we are today. Revolution is just around the corner, kiddo."
You cup your chin and nod. It wasn't that you underestimated how good your grandmother was, just that you didn't think that it would have this much impact on the shinobi world, or on someone called the greatest medical shinobi of all time. Tsunade keeps weaving on and off topic, that's how excited and optimistic she is about all of this. Something that your grandmother, your family, started.
"Also, also, aaaaaalso. I told Blondie that she read my research papers! Like, she actually based some of her work off stuff that I published! Okay, so...poison and antidote synthesis, right? I figured out a sweet-ass hack for that with a mineral that's available in the south of Fire Country. But there's not a lot of it, and the process is difficult for refining it. So she looks at it - what she said in the report - and decided to ask some guys who did work with mineral extraction. I was like," she slaps her head with one hand. "Fucking duh! Talk to more people outside of your field, Tsunade! You know what she has? She has a bunch of people on staff that work in different specialized areas, with connections to other parts of industry so that if there's something she doesn't get, she has access to people and data. So she gets an efficient means of extracting that mineral, but she also goes ahead and has it analyzed. Guess what? We can make something like that mineral from something else in the ground, something there's a lot more of. Guess what else? We can make that shit out of thin air ourselves. As humans. And if we want, we can mimic it with elemental recomposition because, hello, ninjutsu. Obviously, it gets less potent the further away it gets from naturally derived stuff - because there are certain natural processes that stabilize the minerals that take a long time, and jutsu are pretty instant? - but it's a very very very useful thing in times of crisis or just wanting something done right away, like giving a patient means to stave off the effects of those poisons. We've mostly been talking back and forth in terms of medical business and stuff, but I'd like to meet her in real life one day. Maybe when we're not killing ourselves trying to save lives!"
"I'm sure she'd like that. She's talked about you too, in the past. The work you did in getting medical shinobi integrated into regular formations really changed the world. All of that experience comes back home from each mission, you see all sorts of different cases, and work through how to resolve them," you point out.
"Yeah. I mean, I definitely take credit for the idea, but...well, we can talk about that another time. Anyways, I'm done fangirling for now," she says with a smile. "Anything else, kiddo?"
"Yeah...something a bit sour this time. I was wondering if you had any insight on Jiraiya."
She sighs and nods slowly. "Yeah, that's only fair. I mean, I was his teammate for a long time and you did get fucked over a few times thanks to him. He preyed on Guy because...well, I love his enthusiasm enough, but he's got lead for brains sometimes. Competent, knows well enough to get serious when the time calls for it. Contrary to popular belief, you can hold a decent conversation with him on just about any subject. Just...the whole youth thing is who he is, and he loves this village like nothing else. He gets a little excited. But yeah, the Lord Jiraiya. Likes to drink, likes to shove his dick into girls, or tries to, writes stuff I don't care about, gambles, eats like a pig, and is pretty damn good at intel gathering. Funny guy in more ways than one, prankster, pervert, all around weirdo. He's not a bad person, just...hrm."
"Were you two...you know."
"Nah, and I figured you'd ask. Better that you did it in private, too. We were never a thing. Obviously, he tried. I mean..." She makes her chest bounce to emphasise her point. "And the fact that we were teammates made it a bit easier to try and make passes. I kicked his ass more than once, but we like each other. He honestly cares and he was a damn good squad leader. Knew what to work on and how to get it done. We hung out together a lot. Oro...he's a good guy too, just a loner sometimes. And I guess he had the idea that it would be nice for us to get together. The thing about Jiraiya is that damn prophecy. Hikari, what's the status on that?"
"Ma'am. Lord Hokage has already discussed the details with Master Joshua and Mistress Hannah, ma'am."
"So Speedy told you already, then. Cool, makes it easier. That whole toad thing changed his life. It wasn't bad at first. Seemed to make him more focused at times, more observant. Still a massive pervert, so maybe those powers of observation were in all the wrong places, though. Hm. But yeah, as you might have heard from Minato, the prophecy changed him and shaped a lot of his life. Recently, though...after the Nine-Tails attack, and Red coming back as the host with half the fox in her, he started to change further. Then when Jake West caught us slipping and whipped the shinobi world's collective ass, he really started shifting. Jiraiya used to be the kind of guy who would say fuck the world and really put his dick in the dirt to do it, no matter how dumb he looked as a result. The kind of guy who you would be pissed with one moment but fight to your last breath for in the next. After he started devoting himself to prophetic bullshit and trying to find peace and all that...well, he's pretty dickless right now. I tell him as much every other time I see him, or he pisses me off...which is every other time I see him. We don't talk all that much these days."
"Sorry to hear that," you say sincerely.
"Ah, don't sweat it too much," she says with a lazy wave. "We'll figure it out, or we won't. Nothing else to it. I know that he's trying his best to look for a way to change the world, and that he thinks that this is the way to do it. He's seen and been through a lot, maybe more than I could comprehend with his spying and all of that stuff he does on the outside. I don't know. Travelling the world a bit has been eye opening on my part too, and Oro says about as much, which is why he founded the Hidden Sound in the first place. It's just that I don't see it his way. I don't think we can rely on chosen children, or hope that people will come to peace through understanding. It's not just about understanding, because two people can easily see the same things, the same kinds of solutions, but disagree on how to reach them. He thinks that when we understand, we'll unify. That we just need to keep walking down the path and clearing it out so that we can reach peace at some point. I don't agree with that at all."
"Is there something that could change his mind?"
Tsunade thinks for a moment, feet kicking lightly at the air. "I wouldn't know. He's pretty committed to this ideal and is putting his life into it. And I don't know what would happen if he suddenly lost faith in it. I don't know what an alternative would be. It feels like he thinks that there's no way to change or reform what we have now, or reach people on an individual level. Or...it's that he's spooked."
"Scared? Of what?"
"Of things falling through. Your old man charging through the elites of the world like he was on a stroll was another life changing event. It scared a lot of people for sure, but in Jiraiya's case...it also made him want to go further when it came to his vision. Helped that Jacob became the enemy as far as his whole drive for peace was concerned. Power concentrated in one place, and someone willing to use all of it to upend the world's order. What would that lead to? Wasn't an option for the Toad Sage. He saw a much worse future."
"They hailed my grandfather as the next Sage of Six Paths," you say. "And he may have been hostile, but he wasn't lethal. He left everyone alive and their villages intact. What more could he have done?"
She lets out a heavy sigh. "I don't know, kid. I really don't know. I'm sorry I can't help you more with getting Jiraiya off your back, because I don't understand his goal either. I mean, I get what he's trying to do. Stop the fighting, stop the violence. So many lives cut off and ruined, especially the children. We're like this because of what happened during the Third War...we were so depleted in terms of manpower that we accelerated our training programs. We slipped back into the routines that my grandfather worked to eliminate. I think he'd be disappointed. But then...he didn't have the path plotted out for how we would get to a world without barriers. You're wondering something else, aren't you?"
"..."
"Why was your grandfather treated so differently from Hashirama? The founder of the Hidden Leaf who used his overwhelming power to gather clans together. The same man who changed the world through strength and little else. Maybe he was a good person - I mean, I know he was, but I'm saying it for the sake of argument - but it was terror and fear that created the conditions we live in today. And it was ultimately his lack of vision that allowed the cycle of hatred to continue."
"It would help. I'm trying to find the old man, after all. Figure out what he did, if it was even right or wrong...but in this world, I can't make heads or tails of any of it."
Tsunade nods. "Yeah. Sorry that I couldn't do more. For what it's worth, I think you're on the right track. Just like your old man was. Can't promise you support all the time, but I'm in your corner. I'll do what I can as the leader of the Senju."
"A lot of people said your clan was pretty much dead," you say.
"Pretty close. We've still got two relatively thick-blooded kids, and then there's the thing Oro and I have been working on. Neither are interested in being shinobi, though they'd like to take part in the government's workings. Plenty of options on that end. But that's something else to mumble about later. Anything else you wanted to go over, kiddo?"
"Nothing for now. I think that's it until our next meeting."
"If you have any more questions, ask any time."
"Alright. Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it," you say as you stand up. Hikari follows suit beside you and salutes Tsunade. "I know you're busy and pretty stressed out with all this happening."
"Ah, it's a welcome break and I wanted to pick your brain a bit anyways. S'alright. You take care now, kiddo."
You shake hands again and she waves you goodbye as you leave the room. After that, the hospital altogether. Briefly, you think about Hisano. Hopefully she really is okay.
---
"Good evening, darling."
Hannah greets you with a hug as you step inside your hotel suite - home, for the time being. The smell of dinner reaches your nose and you're ushered to the table where you have a meal with the girls. Haru decided on chicken stir-fry, lightly seasoned.
Dinner is light in general, and quiet. The day has been long. Ritsu is silent and you talk a bit to Hannah about your meeting with Tsunade.
"She is a dynamic woman, yes. I'm looking forward to a proper meeting later on. You can tell me all of the details from today another time...is that alright?" she asks.
"Sure. You're okay, though?"
"Somewhat. Today has been...rather emotional. I think I would like to sleep it off more than anything. Ritsu, do you still need your space?"
"No, ma'am. I should be fine if you feel like turning in early. I won't be up to anything."
"Please be sure."
"I am, ma'am."
"Alright. Then I'll consider an early night."
"I'll do some studying and look into our protocol again. Good to check on it with all the incoming events," you say.
The rest of dinner is quiet between the five of you. Everyone passes on dessert, instead taking a cup of lightly sweetened tea each and dispersing after the cleanup is done. Ritsu and Hannah give you a hug each before disappearing into their room together. Hikari curls up on the couch and holds her mask against her, much like Haru did. Haru informs you that she's going to do a few more hours of surveillance before handing security off and going to sleep herself.
"Are you sure you're okay?" you ask her.
She nods. "Yes, sir. I promise that I am. It'll only be a few more hours."
"Alright. Good night, Haru."
"Good night, sir. Thank you."
You head to your room and set out a few books and scrolls on the provided desk. Grabbing one each of a pen and thin brush, you settle in with your cup of tea and start to look over your notes.
---
Your body eases you awake, at the same time it did every Sunday morning. It was part of your routine, and had been since you were a child. Since Hannah usually slept in - Sundays were one of the few days she regularly had little to no work - she didn't really take note of your rituals or notice them since you were done before she got up. Ritsu was much the same when she joined you, as Sundays were also off days for her.
Simple stuff. Meditation and prayer. Opening your mind to the universe, the heavens, and their many secrets, though not so much as to lose yourself. After all, you were still human, and no amount of knowledge gained would change that fact.
"..."
Hand of God, huh. That was one of his many titles. Maybe one day it would be yours, if you reached towards the sky like he once did. But...maybe that's not for you to decide in the end. In any case, you're up and ready to go. You take a quick shower and put on clean, comfortable clothes. The gilded scroll goes into your front pocket, sticking out some, and you grab the book with the red cover and tassel, along with a notepad for the necessary notes.
You open your door and blink as you see Hannah preparing to knock, still visibly drowsy. She has a flowery nightgown on and fuzzy slippers.
"Hey. Morning."
"Good morning, love." She yawns before eyeing the book in your hands. "Studying...ah, right. Today is Sunday."
"Yeah. Everything okay? Did you need something?"
"Actually, I meant to try and catch you. I noticed you getting up at this time recently, but never paid it any mind..."
"Ah."
"It's nothing I was concerned about, simply curious." Hannah rubs sleep out of her violet eyes. "Well, I was wondering if you had time to spend with me. I mean to say, not in lieu of your morning studies...perhaps giving me a lesson or two? I understand if you would like to spend the time on your own, or have a reason to."
"Hm."
"It was simply that...among other things, I note that we have a similar view of divinity, and of heaven's teachings and movements. More than identifying it as another reason we're so compatible, I want to understand your thoughts and views on the world better. Only if it's alright with you...please, don't force anything on my behalf."
It wouldn't be a terrible hassle, honestly. Did you want to take some extra time out of your day today?
---
Sunday Morning Studies
[] It's no trouble. You'll take Hannah out with you for the morning.
- [] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
- [] Actually, bring everyone along, your masked helpers included.
[] You feel like you should do your studies alone. For now, at least.
[] Custom option.
---
Remainder of Sunday
[] Rest for the day (skip to Monday).
[] Take one of the girls out for a few hours in the evening. Might ease some tension.
- [] Hannah
- [] Ritsu
[] Hang out with one of your friendly ANBU.
- [] Haru
- [] Hikari
[] Go to the Central Library and do some studying.
[] Training.
-[] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
-[] Research day. Improve your current abilities or create new ones.
--[] Improve a non-taijutsu technique by one level, unlock a new form of one non-taijutsu technique, or gain one element level over one session.
--[] Improve a non-Gates taijutsu technique, taking two sessions to increase a technique by one level.
--[] Improve the Gates by one stage over three sessions.
--[] Further refine Amenozenshin over three sessions.
--[] Create the basis of a new technique to be finished later.
---[] Automatic
---[] Custom (voter pick)
-[] Train alone.
-[] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[] Hannah
--[] Ritsu
-[] Custom training (write in).
[] Create custom schedule (either solely for the day or beyond).
---
It's currently Sunday morning and Joshua is off to do his routine studies. Joshua and Hannah are the only ones up at the moment. The next major event is on Wednesday morning, and you have about 72 hours between now and then.
You're free to plan things out day by day, at which point I will largely give you the same slate of options, or you can plan multiple days out at once with those same options or others added by voters. You have the freedom to do what you think is sensible, like meeting with others in the village or asking for advice. If there's anything objectionable I'll let you know, though I don't expect it.
Thanks. Next deadline will be Thursday.
"Yeah, for sure. She's wicked good at what she does, you know? Lots of experience packed into each inch of material. Let's see...I mean, you know all this stuff already. But she made her way over with your old man, started with her hand in various lines of work but settled on medicine. Studied up on various styles, got a handle on combat medicine when she was working with the samurai, and became an elite when it came to traditional medicine. After that, she learned how to use chakra properly, and...well, it was a different experience. You know what I mean?"
"Not quite," you admit.
"Ah, okay. Well, it's like this...we're all shinobi over here, right? We learn about chakra, how to use it, shape it, all of that. Then medical arts involve learning about everything that comes with that specific field - we obviously learn about surgical procedure, treatments, diagnoses, all of the things you would need to become a doctor pretty much anywhere. We can handle everything...in theory. When you're talking about stuff like very specific or invasive surgeries, special medicines, or maybe something like fine motor control, you have to specialize further. Being a shinobi doesn't automatically make you some sort of all-knowing god about every single medical procedure. You still have to know your shit. And if the area is delicate enough, you have to spec right into that area at full tilt. Chakra won't help with jack shit if you don't know the finer points. It's just about the same as with civilian medicine. Right, so my point. Your old lady approached the situation without chakra initially, and then learned it later and applied it to her expertise which was...like, everything. Okay, another sidebar to help you understand some more, cause...the magnitude of what she does is understated as fuck."
"Okay, I'm listening."
"Good. Medical ninjutsu. What's in the name?"
"Medical and ninjutsu. Ah, what you're getting it at is that it's still ninjutsu. Combat arts."
"Sharper than a Muramasa, kid," she says with a grin. "Yep, it's all still ninjutsu. Repurposed to save lives, but still ninjutsu. Everything about shinobi arts is meant for combat. All of it, from top to bottom. Other applications? Sure. But they're all derived from things meant for combat, or to supplement combat in some way. Increasing survivability, boosting chakra, boosting jutsu, enhancing movement. How far have we actually deviated from all of that in the centuries since we first came upon ninjutsu? Stuff like Mystical Palm heals wounds. But you and I both know that you can fucking end someone with that same technique in an instant. Like the balance between venoms and antivenoms, poisons and antidotes. Yin and Yang, all of that. Chakra scalpels? Same thing that can save one man easily gets repurposed to slit another's windpipe. Everything is a weapon, medical ninjutsu is just the stuff that affects a person on a specific enough level to be used as healing more often than not. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that this is my field. It's awesome. But it's also tough to get into, and a little challenging to recruit for. Even then, most people are out in the field with the combat types, healing injuries sustained from fighting. Those of us who are elite researchers escape those shackles only to slip right into new ones, chained to their desks researching or looking into different ways to keep super-humans from becoming human in any way until their missions are over. New techniques, new chemicals and stimulants, constant research on bloodlines. So who's doing the boring medical work, who's running the hospitals all the time? Not too many of us. Anyways, a bit off the beaten path. So. Becca West."
"Grandma," you reply, noting the sparkle in Tsunade's eyes.
"She's approaching this from a new angle. Not from some civvie angle, or from some expert shinobi with their head up their ass, or even me. She's done shit in her field. She knows where the box is and which parts are worth looking at inside and outside of it. So what she does is take apart all of our medical ninjutsu. Like, all of it. She doesn't look for 'inefficiencies', none of that pretentious bullshit. Mednin stuff is already pretty tightly optimized far as chakra burn is concerned. Rather, she looks into stuff that allows her to extend application and reach. But it's haaaaaard to pick up on right away, like secret top tier stuff that only a few of us have actually grasped. But the biggest thing she did, far as I'm concerned, is force us all to take a look at all of the procedures we've learned, and reapply them from the perspective of normal human bodies. Taking all the advanced field work, all the research, all the procedure. Packing it up. Breaking it down. And then starting from the very bottom, modeling it against an average, powerless person. When I heard about it, I thought to myself...well shit, missy. I can treat civvies just fine, better than any fuckwit normie doctor and with more tools to boot. What's this gonna do for me? Hey, spoilers."
"Spoil away."
"That shit changed my life," she says as she slaps the desk with one hand. "Heaven have mercy! I read her work, and then I applied it and fuck me! My brain was in so many pieces it took me a fucking month to pull myself back together. The perspective, kiddo. The things you just overlook and skip over because of your foundations. It's not enough to heal and help, it's not enough to teach and lecture. You gotta do it the right way. You gotta research the right way. You gotta train the right way. Ugly shit like postmortems and extracting organs. But also things like teams and hospital networks and satellite stations. Learn, adapt, then you optimize the fuck out of everything you can. Rebecca helped with all of that. She thought about all of that, and thoroughly before she made anything public."
"I heard about that," you say. "But I'm wondering what she optimized so well that people like you would be so floored by it. Like you said before, shinobi medics and civilian medics are on different levels, and you have chakra to work with in addition to all of that medical knowledge."
"Good question," she replies. "There are quick answers. One is that we didn't have that much knowledge and analysis on different ailments and diseases and the like before Becca started her diving into those. We mainly had the ability to treat things, hold them back, and occasionally eliminate them if we found them. Our training focus was, again, on combat situations. Extracting poison for example is quick and obvious because we know to look for it. Broken bones we can figure out at a glance. But things like chronic illness or some kind of obscure internal injury that disappears for a bit after we put some glowy blue hand on it, those escaped us for a long, long while. The ideas of widespread external databases to supplement rote learning, or variable levels of treatment for the same kind of sickness. And we still have to research mental health...like, a lot. I can make someone functional again after a genjutsu or something similar, but anything beyond that is a mess. It's not the same as fixing a person, which...well, that really isn't a thing, not the way people believe it is. Another quick answer is communication and response, which also wasn't a thing until recently. As you might guess, things don't work the same in the Leaf as they do in the Cloud. Each country is like a world to itself. The things we've worked on here don't necessarily transfer over, and there's the whole culture thing that everyone has that makes things even more complicated. I'm trying to wrangle the village into providing some sort of therapy service for shinobi, for example. Sand or Rock or whoever, they'd laugh me out of the room for suggesting it. But someone respected from the outside, giving out knowledge for literally nothing like Becca has, they can help change how things are and make it easier for us, at least in the medical community, to come together on a few things here and there as a starter. That'll make us all better off. For example, there are minerals in Earth Country that could be useful for certain medicines...those don't appear so readily in Fire Country or anywhere else. We could like, steal some of them. Obviously. But that's not an actual solution. We don't want to concentrate the knowledge or hoard it for ourselves, the aim is to save lives all over the place. Heh, I said 'quick answers', didn't I? It's just that there's so much to go over that these are what the small pieces look like."
"Okay, you mentioned that Grams worked on a couple of super high level medical ninjutsu," you say as a means of focusing the conversation.
"Yeaaaaaaah, I did go on about that," Tsunade says, rubbing her hands together. "Yeah, so I mentioned how she took apart our jutsu and put them back together in different ways. One of these was the Mystical Palm. Normally, you basically just put your hands on someone and emit a very specific amount of chakra to heal the wound, whether it's inside or outside of the body. Too little and it doesn't do anything. Too much, and like I mentioned much earlier, you can hurt someone really badly. It accelerates the natural healing ability that every person has, doesn't matter if they're shinobi or not. So you gotta be extra delicate with the normies. Becca's solution was a high-level variant that uses both hands, same as everyone is taught, only each hand does something different and they're linked. So for example, I put my right hand on the patient. That's the lead hand, and you have the technique in a low power state, then you make it spin and slooooowly pulse downward through the body. Then you take the off hand and use the technique at normal power. When you do that, you're getting the same feedback that you do from Mystical Palm, only it's even more detailed than before and it allows you to pinpoint which areas to stimulate first with the most amazing precision. That's not the only trick she came up with for it, but it's the most immediately useful one, especially in the field. Not too many can use it yet, but from what I've observed...survival rates have gone through the roof when that variant of the technique has been applied. It's just that the control needed for it is, again, super high level. Here's another one that I went nuts over. Chakra Scalpel, we talked about this one earlier too. You can use it to cut people up, but the main use is to avoid making external wounds. That means if you have enough control, you can use it to perform pretty delicate surgeries. What Becca did was make it into a two stage technique. First you make your normal chakra scalpel. Easy enough. Then you compress that, and put more chakra over it. It seems like a lot, but here's the thing: you might have an inkling that there's something else going on before you're about to go in, or maybe you're going into a really tight space that you can't afford to brush up against."
"So you're creating an extra lane to focus through, a buffer?" you ask.
"Yes, exactly. And because it's chakra based, you can do pretty much whatever you want with it. You can make it thinner to minimize the disruption, use it to isolate an operating area, the works. And the reason you want this one to be a single-hand technique is so that you could use the off hand to perform other procedures, as an anchor, or to hold other materials. Also, the extra sheath of chakra can be used to induct medicines and other important substances into the body if you manipulate it enough. You can also make incisions and seal the area with that extra chakra primed. It's an amazing technique but still, super high level stuff that only a fraction of us have been able to learn properly so."
"The moral of the story then is to work on your technicals in order to move stuff forward. Grams had the perspective of working without chakra for a long time, so she saw different ways of applying the techniques that you knew already. All of your knowledge and understanding of procedure, along with the various combat orientations, meant that you saw the world through a different lens," you conclude.
"Yes, yes, and yes. Put the modified techniques together with an advanced database, new methods, and better protocol...and you get to where we are today. Revolution is just around the corner, kiddo."
You cup your chin and nod. It wasn't that you underestimated how good your grandmother was, just that you didn't think that it would have this much impact on the shinobi world, or on someone called the greatest medical shinobi of all time. Tsunade keeps weaving on and off topic, that's how excited and optimistic she is about all of this. Something that your grandmother, your family, started.
"Also, also, aaaaaalso. I told Blondie that she read my research papers! Like, she actually based some of her work off stuff that I published! Okay, so...poison and antidote synthesis, right? I figured out a sweet-ass hack for that with a mineral that's available in the south of Fire Country. But there's not a lot of it, and the process is difficult for refining it. So she looks at it - what she said in the report - and decided to ask some guys who did work with mineral extraction. I was like," she slaps her head with one hand. "Fucking duh! Talk to more people outside of your field, Tsunade! You know what she has? She has a bunch of people on staff that work in different specialized areas, with connections to other parts of industry so that if there's something she doesn't get, she has access to people and data. So she gets an efficient means of extracting that mineral, but she also goes ahead and has it analyzed. Guess what? We can make something like that mineral from something else in the ground, something there's a lot more of. Guess what else? We can make that shit out of thin air ourselves. As humans. And if we want, we can mimic it with elemental recomposition because, hello, ninjutsu. Obviously, it gets less potent the further away it gets from naturally derived stuff - because there are certain natural processes that stabilize the minerals that take a long time, and jutsu are pretty instant? - but it's a very very very useful thing in times of crisis or just wanting something done right away, like giving a patient means to stave off the effects of those poisons. We've mostly been talking back and forth in terms of medical business and stuff, but I'd like to meet her in real life one day. Maybe when we're not killing ourselves trying to save lives!"
"I'm sure she'd like that. She's talked about you too, in the past. The work you did in getting medical shinobi integrated into regular formations really changed the world. All of that experience comes back home from each mission, you see all sorts of different cases, and work through how to resolve them," you point out.
"Yeah. I mean, I definitely take credit for the idea, but...well, we can talk about that another time. Anyways, I'm done fangirling for now," she says with a smile. "Anything else, kiddo?"
"Yeah...something a bit sour this time. I was wondering if you had any insight on Jiraiya."
She sighs and nods slowly. "Yeah, that's only fair. I mean, I was his teammate for a long time and you did get fucked over a few times thanks to him. He preyed on Guy because...well, I love his enthusiasm enough, but he's got lead for brains sometimes. Competent, knows well enough to get serious when the time calls for it. Contrary to popular belief, you can hold a decent conversation with him on just about any subject. Just...the whole youth thing is who he is, and he loves this village like nothing else. He gets a little excited. But yeah, the Lord Jiraiya. Likes to drink, likes to shove his dick into girls, or tries to, writes stuff I don't care about, gambles, eats like a pig, and is pretty damn good at intel gathering. Funny guy in more ways than one, prankster, pervert, all around weirdo. He's not a bad person, just...hrm."
"Were you two...you know."
"Nah, and I figured you'd ask. Better that you did it in private, too. We were never a thing. Obviously, he tried. I mean..." She makes her chest bounce to emphasise her point. "And the fact that we were teammates made it a bit easier to try and make passes. I kicked his ass more than once, but we like each other. He honestly cares and he was a damn good squad leader. Knew what to work on and how to get it done. We hung out together a lot. Oro...he's a good guy too, just a loner sometimes. And I guess he had the idea that it would be nice for us to get together. The thing about Jiraiya is that damn prophecy. Hikari, what's the status on that?"
"Ma'am. Lord Hokage has already discussed the details with Master Joshua and Mistress Hannah, ma'am."
"So Speedy told you already, then. Cool, makes it easier. That whole toad thing changed his life. It wasn't bad at first. Seemed to make him more focused at times, more observant. Still a massive pervert, so maybe those powers of observation were in all the wrong places, though. Hm. But yeah, as you might have heard from Minato, the prophecy changed him and shaped a lot of his life. Recently, though...after the Nine-Tails attack, and Red coming back as the host with half the fox in her, he started to change further. Then when Jake West caught us slipping and whipped the shinobi world's collective ass, he really started shifting. Jiraiya used to be the kind of guy who would say fuck the world and really put his dick in the dirt to do it, no matter how dumb he looked as a result. The kind of guy who you would be pissed with one moment but fight to your last breath for in the next. After he started devoting himself to prophetic bullshit and trying to find peace and all that...well, he's pretty dickless right now. I tell him as much every other time I see him, or he pisses me off...which is every other time I see him. We don't talk all that much these days."
"Sorry to hear that," you say sincerely.
"Ah, don't sweat it too much," she says with a lazy wave. "We'll figure it out, or we won't. Nothing else to it. I know that he's trying his best to look for a way to change the world, and that he thinks that this is the way to do it. He's seen and been through a lot, maybe more than I could comprehend with his spying and all of that stuff he does on the outside. I don't know. Travelling the world a bit has been eye opening on my part too, and Oro says about as much, which is why he founded the Hidden Sound in the first place. It's just that I don't see it his way. I don't think we can rely on chosen children, or hope that people will come to peace through understanding. It's not just about understanding, because two people can easily see the same things, the same kinds of solutions, but disagree on how to reach them. He thinks that when we understand, we'll unify. That we just need to keep walking down the path and clearing it out so that we can reach peace at some point. I don't agree with that at all."
"Is there something that could change his mind?"
Tsunade thinks for a moment, feet kicking lightly at the air. "I wouldn't know. He's pretty committed to this ideal and is putting his life into it. And I don't know what would happen if he suddenly lost faith in it. I don't know what an alternative would be. It feels like he thinks that there's no way to change or reform what we have now, or reach people on an individual level. Or...it's that he's spooked."
"Scared? Of what?"
"Of things falling through. Your old man charging through the elites of the world like he was on a stroll was another life changing event. It scared a lot of people for sure, but in Jiraiya's case...it also made him want to go further when it came to his vision. Helped that Jacob became the enemy as far as his whole drive for peace was concerned. Power concentrated in one place, and someone willing to use all of it to upend the world's order. What would that lead to? Wasn't an option for the Toad Sage. He saw a much worse future."
"They hailed my grandfather as the next Sage of Six Paths," you say. "And he may have been hostile, but he wasn't lethal. He left everyone alive and their villages intact. What more could he have done?"
She lets out a heavy sigh. "I don't know, kid. I really don't know. I'm sorry I can't help you more with getting Jiraiya off your back, because I don't understand his goal either. I mean, I get what he's trying to do. Stop the fighting, stop the violence. So many lives cut off and ruined, especially the children. We're like this because of what happened during the Third War...we were so depleted in terms of manpower that we accelerated our training programs. We slipped back into the routines that my grandfather worked to eliminate. I think he'd be disappointed. But then...he didn't have the path plotted out for how we would get to a world without barriers. You're wondering something else, aren't you?"
"..."
"Why was your grandfather treated so differently from Hashirama? The founder of the Hidden Leaf who used his overwhelming power to gather clans together. The same man who changed the world through strength and little else. Maybe he was a good person - I mean, I know he was, but I'm saying it for the sake of argument - but it was terror and fear that created the conditions we live in today. And it was ultimately his lack of vision that allowed the cycle of hatred to continue."
"It would help. I'm trying to find the old man, after all. Figure out what he did, if it was even right or wrong...but in this world, I can't make heads or tails of any of it."
Tsunade nods. "Yeah. Sorry that I couldn't do more. For what it's worth, I think you're on the right track. Just like your old man was. Can't promise you support all the time, but I'm in your corner. I'll do what I can as the leader of the Senju."
"A lot of people said your clan was pretty much dead," you say.
"Pretty close. We've still got two relatively thick-blooded kids, and then there's the thing Oro and I have been working on. Neither are interested in being shinobi, though they'd like to take part in the government's workings. Plenty of options on that end. But that's something else to mumble about later. Anything else you wanted to go over, kiddo?"
"Nothing for now. I think that's it until our next meeting."
"If you have any more questions, ask any time."
"Alright. Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it," you say as you stand up. Hikari follows suit beside you and salutes Tsunade. "I know you're busy and pretty stressed out with all this happening."
"Ah, it's a welcome break and I wanted to pick your brain a bit anyways. S'alright. You take care now, kiddo."
You shake hands again and she waves you goodbye as you leave the room. After that, the hospital altogether. Briefly, you think about Hisano. Hopefully she really is okay.
---
"Good evening, darling."
Hannah greets you with a hug as you step inside your hotel suite - home, for the time being. The smell of dinner reaches your nose and you're ushered to the table where you have a meal with the girls. Haru decided on chicken stir-fry, lightly seasoned.
Dinner is light in general, and quiet. The day has been long. Ritsu is silent and you talk a bit to Hannah about your meeting with Tsunade.
"She is a dynamic woman, yes. I'm looking forward to a proper meeting later on. You can tell me all of the details from today another time...is that alright?" she asks.
"Sure. You're okay, though?"
"Somewhat. Today has been...rather emotional. I think I would like to sleep it off more than anything. Ritsu, do you still need your space?"
"No, ma'am. I should be fine if you feel like turning in early. I won't be up to anything."
"Please be sure."
"I am, ma'am."
"Alright. Then I'll consider an early night."
"I'll do some studying and look into our protocol again. Good to check on it with all the incoming events," you say.
The rest of dinner is quiet between the five of you. Everyone passes on dessert, instead taking a cup of lightly sweetened tea each and dispersing after the cleanup is done. Ritsu and Hannah give you a hug each before disappearing into their room together. Hikari curls up on the couch and holds her mask against her, much like Haru did. Haru informs you that she's going to do a few more hours of surveillance before handing security off and going to sleep herself.
"Are you sure you're okay?" you ask her.
She nods. "Yes, sir. I promise that I am. It'll only be a few more hours."
"Alright. Good night, Haru."
"Good night, sir. Thank you."
You head to your room and set out a few books and scrolls on the provided desk. Grabbing one each of a pen and thin brush, you settle in with your cup of tea and start to look over your notes.
---
Your body eases you awake, at the same time it did every Sunday morning. It was part of your routine, and had been since you were a child. Since Hannah usually slept in - Sundays were one of the few days she regularly had little to no work - she didn't really take note of your rituals or notice them since you were done before she got up. Ritsu was much the same when she joined you, as Sundays were also off days for her.
Simple stuff. Meditation and prayer. Opening your mind to the universe, the heavens, and their many secrets, though not so much as to lose yourself. After all, you were still human, and no amount of knowledge gained would change that fact.
"..."
Hand of God, huh. That was one of his many titles. Maybe one day it would be yours, if you reached towards the sky like he once did. But...maybe that's not for you to decide in the end. In any case, you're up and ready to go. You take a quick shower and put on clean, comfortable clothes. The gilded scroll goes into your front pocket, sticking out some, and you grab the book with the red cover and tassel, along with a notepad for the necessary notes.
You open your door and blink as you see Hannah preparing to knock, still visibly drowsy. She has a flowery nightgown on and fuzzy slippers.
"Hey. Morning."
"Good morning, love." She yawns before eyeing the book in your hands. "Studying...ah, right. Today is Sunday."
"Yeah. Everything okay? Did you need something?"
"Actually, I meant to try and catch you. I noticed you getting up at this time recently, but never paid it any mind..."
"Ah."
"It's nothing I was concerned about, simply curious." Hannah rubs sleep out of her violet eyes. "Well, I was wondering if you had time to spend with me. I mean to say, not in lieu of your morning studies...perhaps giving me a lesson or two? I understand if you would like to spend the time on your own, or have a reason to."
"Hm."
"It was simply that...among other things, I note that we have a similar view of divinity, and of heaven's teachings and movements. More than identifying it as another reason we're so compatible, I want to understand your thoughts and views on the world better. Only if it's alright with you...please, don't force anything on my behalf."
It wouldn't be a terrible hassle, honestly. Did you want to take some extra time out of your day today?
---
Sunday Morning Studies
[] It's no trouble. You'll take Hannah out with you for the morning.
- [] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
- [] Actually, bring everyone along, your masked helpers included.
[] You feel like you should do your studies alone. For now, at least.
[] Custom option.
---
Remainder of Sunday
[] Rest for the day (skip to Monday).
[] Take one of the girls out for a few hours in the evening. Might ease some tension.
- [] Hannah
- [] Ritsu
[] Hang out with one of your friendly ANBU.
- [] Haru
- [] Hikari
[] Go to the Central Library and do some studying.
[] Training.
-[] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
-[] Research day. Improve your current abilities or create new ones.
--[] Improve a non-taijutsu technique by one level, unlock a new form of one non-taijutsu technique, or gain one element level over one session.
--[] Improve a non-Gates taijutsu technique, taking two sessions to increase a technique by one level.
--[] Improve the Gates by one stage over three sessions.
--[] Further refine Amenozenshin over three sessions.
--[] Create the basis of a new technique to be finished later.
---[] Automatic
---[] Custom (voter pick)
-[] Train alone.
-[] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[] Hannah
--[] Ritsu
-[] Custom training (write in).
[] Create custom schedule (either solely for the day or beyond).
---
It's currently Sunday morning and Joshua is off to do his routine studies. Joshua and Hannah are the only ones up at the moment. The next major event is on Wednesday morning, and you have about 72 hours between now and then.
You're free to plan things out day by day, at which point I will largely give you the same slate of options, or you can plan multiple days out at once with those same options or others added by voters. You have the freedom to do what you think is sensible, like meeting with others in the village or asking for advice. If there's anything objectionable I'll let you know, though I don't expect it.
Thanks. Next deadline will be Thursday.
VileScurvy
Verified Pirate
- Location
- Malaysia
[X] It's no trouble. You'll take Hannah out with you for the morning.
- [X] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
[X] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
--[X] Ninjutsu
Preliminary vote. @FortePlus can we take more than one training option per day? Can we take multiple sessions per day or is it limited (a session per day)?
- [X] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
[X] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
--[X] Ninjutsu
Preliminary vote. @FortePlus can we take more than one training option per day? Can we take multiple sessions per day or is it limited (a session per day)?
[X] It's no trouble. You'll take Hannah out with you for the morning.
- [X] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
[X] Training.
-[X] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
--[X] Ninjutsu
-[X] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[X] Hannah
--[X] Ritsu
- [X] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
[X] Training.
-[X] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
--[X] Ninjutsu
-[X] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[X] Hannah
--[X] Ritsu
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You can take on more than one option per day, and you can take on more than one session per day.
The restrictions are:
3 sessions/day max
You can train 1 area for 1 session in a single day max
ex: You have 3 slots/sessions for training on a free day. You cannot fill them all with ninjutsu/ninjutsu/ninjutsu, you have to develop something like ninjutsu/taijutsu/genjutsu if you want to spend all 3 sessions training.
More time in training means less for other things like socials also, though you're not likely to spend every bit of time training even at 3 sessions a day.
VileScurvy
Verified Pirate
- Location
- Malaysia
Fair enough. In that case, just to consolidate votes:
[X] It's no trouble. You'll take Hannah out with you for the morning.
- [X] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
[X] Training.
-[X] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
--[X] Ninjutsu
-[X] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[X] Hannah
--[X] Ritsu
[X] It's no trouble. You'll take Hannah out with you for the morning.
- [X] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
[X] Training.
-[X] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
--[X] Ninjutsu
-[X] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[X] Hannah
--[X] Ritsu
- [X] Actually, bring Ritsu along as well.
[X] Training.
-[X] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
--[X] Ninjutsu
-[X] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[X] Hannah
--[X] Ritsu
Episode 5.8: New Age of Heroes - Those Enlightened by Heaven (First Intermission 4)
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Okay. We'll bring Ritsu along as well. Take a few minutes to get yourselves ready, there's no rush. Dress comfortably."
"Yes, understood." Hannah nods gratefully and heads back the way she came. You head to the kitchen, set your books on the dining table, and start making a fresh pot of tea with a few specialty leaves from home.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning, Haru." You pat her head gently. "I'll be heading out in a bit with the girls for my Sunday studies."
"Understood. I'll keep a wide perimeter along with Hikari. Please call if you have need of us, as always."
"I will. Thanks."
She bows before starting to head off.
"Have some tea before you go," you say. "Hikari, you too."
"Sir. Thank you, sir."
Hannah and Ritsu appear after another minute, wearing loose shirts and jogging pants while carrying small notebooks of their own. You pour and lightly sweeten a cup of herbal tea for everyone before slowly drinking down your own.
"Mm. Lovely," Hannah comments. "Refreshing and warm all the way down. What kind of tea is this?"
"You probably won't believe it. Couple of the old dust leaves as they like to call them."
"The dust leaves, sir?" Haru asks. "You're right, I don't quite believe it..."
"They're hard to handle. Takes a while to get them right, but once you do, they're great. Pretty versatile as far as drinking goes, too. The Port's one of the few places that makes tea out of them frequently. You can thank my uncle Reuben for that one; we've been using them in the family for years, but he was the one that made it go commercial. There are a few high end tea shops here and there that make the stuff too, but it's never really the same without the process."
Ritsu sips on her tea and some of the drowsiness seems to leave her. "You only make this once a week, sir?"
"Yeah. Part of the routine, and partly cause I didn't want to gulp down this big batch so quickly," you say with a smile. "Grams made it herself and sent me off with it. Good thing you only need a little at a time, flavour's pretty heavy compared to other teas."
"Part of why it's not used in this manner so often," Hannah says. She inhales the tea's aroma before taking another long sip from her cup.
"Two or so years of practice helps. Okay, when you ladies are finished, we'll head out. I see you've got your notebooks, so that's good. We'll be learning about the culture, since that's where everything starts, pretty much. Or rather, before that...what makes the culture the culture."
Everyone finishes their tea, double checks the hotel suite, then heads out for the morning. Haru and Hikari move in different directions, following you silently as always towards your eventual destination. The girls are quiet as you lead them through the village and towards the western half of town, where there are a few secluded areas within the trees. Part of the reason the Leaf is so green is because of all the protected areas, both inside and outside of the walls. Any worry about these areas being used as hiding places for the enemy is largely unfounded, both because of the proximities from any significant information centers, and the village's robust communications monitoring.
"Sometimes it's good to head out some distance, but this is perfectly fine for now," you say as you come to a stop. "Let's set up here." You tap the ground with one hand and shake your head, then take out a small scroll and unseal three cushions. Hannah and Ritsu take one each as you hand them out, and then you have a comfortable seat on the grass. You sit together in a close circle, close to an arm's length from each other.
"Okay. I want you two to close your eyes and meditate a bit. But I don't want you to empty your minds completely. Find something to latch onto, then focus on it for a while. When you feel you've done enough, you're gonna stop, take a deep breath in and out, and then open your eyes."
They nod and close their eyes. You then do the same, finding something to focus on.
Weather cycles, huh. Not too out there, considering. You work on that for a while, thinking about what you were taught about clouds and how they affected local weather patterns. Clouds were obviously created by something else, out of something else. So what made clouds? What mechanisms kept them in the sky, and allowed them to create various types of moisture? There were a lot of things, but you weren't trying to construct a theory or solve any sort of problem. You were just thinking.
You open your eyes after a few minutes, feeling like you were done. Hannah and Ritsu have their eyes closed for a few more minutes before opening them slowly, letting out deep breaths and looking to you for guidance.
"How was it?" you ask.
Hannah pauses a moment before answering. "Very different. I found it...interesting how my mind reacted to simply wanting to stop and let go of the puzzle I was deconstructing. Within myself, I felt I could easily let go. But inside of my head, it felt like there was too much left undone. A small bit of anxiety that melted away once I made the decision to open my eyes."
"It was hard to pull away," Ritsu said. "I remembered that you said to stop when I had done enough. But there was a loud voice saying that I had to finish what I was doing first. I was pulled along by it for a while, and it felt a bit frantic trying to get back to...here, I think."
"But you both feel better now," you say.
"Yes, very much so. I feel relaxed," Hannah replies.
"I feel the same. I don't feel so heavy anymore," Ritsu says.
"Not that I'm surprised, but you've both got the basics down quickly. That was a small exercise to stretch your minds, since we're all pretty tense a lot of the time. Always thinking and worrying about the next move or the next attack, who's watching you and who's around the corner potentially. You don't want to get trapped by any one thing or subject. Helps a lot in the long term." You pick up your red book, but don't open it. "So, now that we've got that out of the way, we can start getting into it. My first question is...what are the kami to you?"
"The kami are all things," Hannah says, sitting cross legged on her cushion. "Those spirits who live above and below the earth, as well as within and without. They are nature and nurture. They are light and dark."
"And those sit below the presence of the Supreme One."
"Of course. The Almighty who weaves the fabric of all creation with single characters, with mere words imprinted onto the collective consciousness of all existence. All that was, is, and will ever be."
"Is it we who stand above all?" Ritsu asks, now resting on her knees. "As chosen of heaven?"
"Not for the reasons you think," you say to her. "As all of creation was woven by the hand of the divine, as Hannah said, so are we. But not just woven, as mortal beings, singularly gifted with the divine breath of life. As I am, as you are, God is."
Ritsu blinks. "That is...to say...we are also God?"
"In a way. We have the essence of Almighty God within us, so we're capable of great things. Without that essence, becoming favoured by the heavens is impossible. This is the true strength of God's creation, of which humans are included. Those who are on a higher level of being, for them it goes without saying. All people carry this gift, so we are all children of heaven. However, not all of us are equipped with the tools or structure to ascend and use the full strength inside of us. The world, as we see, is a dark and harrowing place to live in."
You hold up four fingers, which the girls look at curiously.
"Out of the totality of all those mortal and sapient beings, four-fifths are stuck in ignorance of the world's true nature, and of their true strength. These are those people who are shepherded to and fro by the people above them."
"You mean the shinobi?" Ritsu asks.
"No. They're included in that number as well, among others." You close your other fingers and hold up your thumb. "So that leaves one fifth who are at least somewhat aware of the strength that flows within them." You hold up four fingers again, then take away one. "Out of that, we have those who are aware of the world's flow, but not in totality. Even so, they take control of the world's strength and resources for their own dark and selfish purposes. Madara is in that number, this fifteen percent who seek to build their power at the expense of all others."
You hold up your index finger. "That leaves us. Those chosen of heaven and the allies of justice. Those who see and understand the world's flow, and unite to fight against the darkness created by others. By unlocking the true strength of heaven's children, we mean to bring salvation to the world and all of its people. The one-twentieth, or five percent of all peoples. The warrior scholars who unlock the truth of all things."
"And as chosen of heaven, the hands of the Almighty, a number even smaller than that," Hannah concludes.
"Yes. Those who are gifted the true strength of heaven, in order to become warrior kings and queens, are of an unknown quantity. But that plane is only reached when we gather our knowledge and crystalize it, in order to form the tools needed to grasp heavenly power."
"I see...what a remarkable thing. The ways of heaven lie beyond even the wildest dreams of mortals like us, enlightened as we are. To grasp heavenly strength...the words that came from my lips were of a greater design than I could conceive. Magnificent."
You can feel the joy radiating from her words.
"What can we do?" Ritsu asks, eyes wide open. "What do we do, with this knowledge?"
"True strength, the strength to leverage the power of chakra among other things to change the world, comes from true knowledge, the understanding of self. Within each sapient being, gifted with the breath of life, lies the greatest potential. This is represented by 360 degrees of knowledge, made into power by refined wills. A circle, called the cipher."
"Three hundred...sixty. Cipher."
"Chambered within the body, called the Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head." You raise your right arm. "It's clockwise. The flow that matches the movement of the Sun, moving from east to west and back again. The right arm to represent strength and justice. The right leg to represent swiftness of spirit and thought. The left leg to represent stability and fortitude. The left arm to represent true skill and tactical understanding on many planes. And the head to represent the meeting place of all knowledge, the focal point of self, and the mastery of self on different levels. To complete even the initial understanding of this concept means that the Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head are linked, allowing one access to the heavenly power stored within."
"Not becoming a god...but a closer connection to the strength of heaven, and an understanding of the heavenly forces," Ritsu says quietly. She stares at the ground for a few moments, drinking in the information.
"This is just the beginning, isn't it?" Hannah asks you.
"Yeah. To cultivate 360 degrees of knowledge and forge it into 360 degrees of godhood, as intended by the ancestors, study is required to reach understanding of self. Meditation is always the best way to go about it, but stronger understanding comes from challenge and collaboration with your brothers and sisters. The important thing to remember is that this is not a religion you have to hold yourself to. There is nothing to worship, nor are there any priests to consult. Those who are kings, queens, and gods have themselves and each other to talk to, as well as guidance from the Almighty."
"Who are the kings and queens?" Ritsu asks.
"We are. It's already known by the fact that we are heaven's children, and those who take up the task of bringing justice to the world," you reply.
"And...those who are called gods?"
"The same."
"Oh...I see," she says with surprise. "Those who are called gods are those who have complete knowledge of self, and take up the blades of justice to cut through the darkness."
"It is becoming known to you already," Hannah says to her calmly. Ritsu seems taken aback and thinks for a moment on it.
"Is...that so? It must be. It's resonating...and so quickly, too." She looks to you, questions of all sorts swirling behind her green eyes. "Am I...grasping for it? It's possible that I simply want something out of this."
"It's possible. But that destiny can't be carved out by anyone else but you."
The wealth of questions seems to quiet down. She settles, and the pure glow you remembered comes from her eyes.
"Then let it be so."
You smile and nod. "Yes. You're on your way, Ritsu."
"Sensei, what should we do to make our strength manifest?" Hannah asks you.
"As said before, this is not a religion. It's a way of life, a culture that should be embedded into you. It's possible to hold to these teachings without knowledge or faith in Almighty God - knowledge is not restricted to those who hold this or that belief. All peoples, because all peoples carry the blessings of heaven within, are welcome to partake in this knowledge and share it. However, it is my belief that all of this is connected to the divine, who exist both with the kami who govern nature's flow, and above them in the plane of heaven."
You pause for a moment and think.
"Beloved? What are you thinking?" Hannah asks.
"Hm. There was something...but it's a heavy subject. An alternate plane that exists alongside heaven, and dips into it. Do you remember the Inugami?"
"Yes."
"Of those who have passed, they say there was a clan mother, the fiercest and most graceful of her kind. They called her the Luminous Black Wolf, and they say that she floats among the stars, within a place called the Cosmic Plane that sits in the narrow space between life and death. Those who attain the most powerful knowledge of self, and could connect it with the power of chakra unbound, could reach that place through the strength of the Cosmic Flow."
You let out a breath.
"The godmother who told me that story passed a few weeks before I left the Port. It's not a story anyone else is familiar with, but maybe the old man heard of it. Maybe."
"Is it something you think about a lot?" Hannah asks you.
"Just on days like these. I wouldn't know where to start with the research, so it means I still have a ways to go. Makes me feel small sometimes...but it also keeps you focused in the same way. I'm glad for the experience. But that's very advanced knowledge, yeah? You can chew on it once you're comfortable with everything here first."
"Understood. We'll be in your care, sensei."
"Yes, sir. We'll do our best," Ritsu says.
You smile and pat her head. "I know you will. Count on me, I'll get you guys started."
"Ah, wait..."
"What is it, Ritsu?" you ask.
"To say all of this...isn't it that your people are different? This is something of the kokoahito, isn't it? Are you teaching us because of how much you care?"
"Not just that. You're worthy of the knowledge." You look down at your hand and flex it a few times. "My blood is closer to that of the original peoples than yours is, which you realize. But that doesn't make you any further from grace of heaven than I am. We're all brothers and sisters united under heaven, no matter what we look like. Out of many, we form one people."
"I see...I didn't mean to sound like..."
"It's alright. Like I said, not a lot of people know about this stuff, much less their own strength."
"Does this connect to the Sage of Six Paths?" Hannah asks.
"It does, actually. The history of chakra has had an effect on the teachings that take place on this continent, though they haven't resulted in changes to what was and is. The warrior kings and warrior queens were philsophers and researchers. Also, since the Sage travelled back and forth so often, the wisdom of Ninshuu spread some distance beyond the continent. Experiments with the early stages of chakra were pretty common, though unfortunately certain teachings were lost over time. Partly because of the emergence of the shinobi and the era of endless wars."
"In other words, an understanding of chakra was reached before the current era of shinobi."
"Yep."
"There's so much to learn," Ritsu says. "Where do we start?"
You put a hand on top of your head. "Here."
She tilts her head to one side. "The brain?"
"I said it before. It starts with you. There are techniques and things to read, but it has to come from you. Your own thoughts. Your own way of thinking. You have to develop your own way of understanding and seeing the world. From there, you can enforce your will and better explain the concepts you come up with. For some, it's easier to follow another dream or a path that someone else has built. And there's no shame in that."
"It is not the king who creates his home with merely a word and a vision," Hannah interrupts. "If everyone is a ruler, who builds the estates they live in? Every person to their purpose, and every soul to its calling. The king leads, the architect draws, the carpenter shapes, and the common labourer assembles. There is no such thing as a lesser man according to his talents...only his character. Such is the way of the world."
"It's as she said. But you know what you're meant for, Ritsu."
"I'm meant for more. To turn the world and reject the turning wheel of darkness. And so, it's my job to aim ever higher. Is that right?"
"That's right," you say to her. "You're both learning quickly."
"A wonderful teacher helps."
You smile and rub the back of your head. "I'm not there yet, but...thanks. I'll do all I can, as I said. Remember these three things above all, both of you."
The girls nod eagerly and lean close.
"First, that word is bond. Second, that everything is everything. And third..."
You point to yourself.
"I am."
You point to Ritsu. "Say it for yourself."
"...I...am. I am." She takes a breath in and steadies herself. "I am."
You nod and point to Hannah.
"I am," she says confidently. Flawlessly, even. But she wouldn't be Hannah otherwise.
"Good. Remember those things. Keep them close to your heart, and you'll overcome anything and everything."
"Yes, sensei," they say in unison.
"Now...we'll start with the observations of chakra on the physical plane. Instead of reinventing the wheel, our focus will be on understanding the concepts on ninjutsu and their interaction with the observed world."
"We should look into a basic structure. The Fire Ball technique I believe is good to start with," Hannah suggests.
"Okay. Ritsu, did you want to start?"
"I would like to hear everyone else's positions first, and ask questions if possible."
You nod. "We can do that."
"I shall begin, then," Hannah says. "To start, we can discuss the application of fire-type chakra in this manner in a neutral environment."
---
The usual session goes a lot longer than you're used to, but you don't mind. It was the first time, after all, and as you learn together your routine will become more balanced.
Haru gets everyone lunch and you enjoy it together. You mention wanting to train a bit and the girls ask if they could join; it's not a problem and Haru guides your group to a free training space. Everyone lets the food settle properly before starting up the next session. Today's lesson is, appropriately enough, ninjutsu. Hannah takes the lead this time as the most proficient of the group.
"Take proper breaths in, give them weight. Focus your chakra in time with them...let it flow in and out of you slowly."
Every so often you feel her hand on your back, checking that you're getting things right.
"Very good. Now, the next part. Continue with the same flow, but push chakra out to your extremities and burn it off, a little at a time. Keep doing it until you feel a bit of strain, then stop."
You do as she says for several minutes, and because of your reserves it takes a while to get that slow burn she was talking about. Ritsu has already finished resting and is on her second cycle.
"You're doing quite well, my darling. Breathe for me," she says while putting a hand on your stomach. "A little shallow, take more air in. Yes, wonderful. At that pace, and don't accelerate. Remember, you have much in the way of chakra. It won't do to have a sloppy method, especially if you want to pull off certain techniques."
You go through the process several more times as Hannah guides you. She glides over and holds your face in her hands, looking diligently for any sorts of abnormalities. Ritsu gets the same treatment until she completely exhausts her reserves and finishes for the day.
"How do you feel, loves?" she asks as you finish.
"Tingly all over," you reply.
"I feel the same," Ritsu says. "It's not unpleasant, but my body feels like it's been pretty well worked out."
"Mm-hm. It should make sense, with the physical component of chakra and all. This is a direct method of increasing your proficiency in ninjutsu, and a simple enough one. Rather than simple practice and repetition of the mechanical parts, I wanted to make it so that faster chakra flow felt more natural to you first. Try and practice your breathing from time to time, especially for those techniques that don't require using breaths. We forget sometimes in stressful situations and every little bit of efficiency helps."
You test yourselves with different techniques. Ritsu makes an Earth Wall and you use a Fire Ball to attack it. The wall resists a bit before crumbling as the fireball consumes it and carries on before exploding.
"Very good, you've both improved. One step at a time, alright?"
Hannah kisses you both on the cheek, smiling brightly afterwards.
"Let's head home. The remainder of the day will be for rest, and nothing else."
---
Joshua has gained 1 point in ninjutsu (3 -> 4).
Ritsu has gained 1 point in ninjutsu (1 -> 2).
Hannah has gained 1 point in ninjutsu (7 -> 8).
---
Sunday Evening (rest mode)
[] Custom options.
---
Monday
[] Rest for the day (soft skip to Tuesday).
[] Take one of the girls out for a few hours. Might ease some tension.
- [] Hannah
- [] Ritsu
[] Hang out with one of your friendly ANBU.
- [] Haru
- [] Hikari
[] Go to the Central Library and do some studying.
[] Meet with someone in the Leaf (free pick).
[] Training.
-[] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
-[] Research day. Improve your current abilities or create new ones.
--[] Improve a non-taijutsu technique by one level, unlock a new form of one non-taijutsu technique, or gain one element level over one session.
--[] Improve a non-Gates taijutsu technique, taking two sessions to increase a technique by one level.
--[] Improve the Gates by one stage over three sessions.
--[] Further refine Amenozenshin over three sessions.
--[] Create the basis of a new technique to be finished later.
---[] Automatic
---[] Custom (voter pick)
-[] Train alone.
-[] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[] Hannah
--[] Ritsu
-[] Custom training (write in).
[] Create custom schedule (either solely for the day or beyond).
---
It's Sunday evening and nobody is going to be doing anything substantial for the rest of the day. You still have a few days before the next phase of the tournament. In the same manner you can plan things out a day at a time or organize training sessions among other things. The day is set again to approval voting.
Databooks will be updated soon.
The next deadline will be next Thursday again. Thanks for reading.
"Yes, understood." Hannah nods gratefully and heads back the way she came. You head to the kitchen, set your books on the dining table, and start making a fresh pot of tea with a few specialty leaves from home.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning, Haru." You pat her head gently. "I'll be heading out in a bit with the girls for my Sunday studies."
"Understood. I'll keep a wide perimeter along with Hikari. Please call if you have need of us, as always."
"I will. Thanks."
She bows before starting to head off.
"Have some tea before you go," you say. "Hikari, you too."
"Sir. Thank you, sir."
Hannah and Ritsu appear after another minute, wearing loose shirts and jogging pants while carrying small notebooks of their own. You pour and lightly sweeten a cup of herbal tea for everyone before slowly drinking down your own.
"Mm. Lovely," Hannah comments. "Refreshing and warm all the way down. What kind of tea is this?"
"You probably won't believe it. Couple of the old dust leaves as they like to call them."
"The dust leaves, sir?" Haru asks. "You're right, I don't quite believe it..."
"They're hard to handle. Takes a while to get them right, but once you do, they're great. Pretty versatile as far as drinking goes, too. The Port's one of the few places that makes tea out of them frequently. You can thank my uncle Reuben for that one; we've been using them in the family for years, but he was the one that made it go commercial. There are a few high end tea shops here and there that make the stuff too, but it's never really the same without the process."
Ritsu sips on her tea and some of the drowsiness seems to leave her. "You only make this once a week, sir?"
"Yeah. Part of the routine, and partly cause I didn't want to gulp down this big batch so quickly," you say with a smile. "Grams made it herself and sent me off with it. Good thing you only need a little at a time, flavour's pretty heavy compared to other teas."
"Part of why it's not used in this manner so often," Hannah says. She inhales the tea's aroma before taking another long sip from her cup.
"Two or so years of practice helps. Okay, when you ladies are finished, we'll head out. I see you've got your notebooks, so that's good. We'll be learning about the culture, since that's where everything starts, pretty much. Or rather, before that...what makes the culture the culture."
Everyone finishes their tea, double checks the hotel suite, then heads out for the morning. Haru and Hikari move in different directions, following you silently as always towards your eventual destination. The girls are quiet as you lead them through the village and towards the western half of town, where there are a few secluded areas within the trees. Part of the reason the Leaf is so green is because of all the protected areas, both inside and outside of the walls. Any worry about these areas being used as hiding places for the enemy is largely unfounded, both because of the proximities from any significant information centers, and the village's robust communications monitoring.
"Sometimes it's good to head out some distance, but this is perfectly fine for now," you say as you come to a stop. "Let's set up here." You tap the ground with one hand and shake your head, then take out a small scroll and unseal three cushions. Hannah and Ritsu take one each as you hand them out, and then you have a comfortable seat on the grass. You sit together in a close circle, close to an arm's length from each other.
"Okay. I want you two to close your eyes and meditate a bit. But I don't want you to empty your minds completely. Find something to latch onto, then focus on it for a while. When you feel you've done enough, you're gonna stop, take a deep breath in and out, and then open your eyes."
They nod and close their eyes. You then do the same, finding something to focus on.
Weather cycles, huh. Not too out there, considering. You work on that for a while, thinking about what you were taught about clouds and how they affected local weather patterns. Clouds were obviously created by something else, out of something else. So what made clouds? What mechanisms kept them in the sky, and allowed them to create various types of moisture? There were a lot of things, but you weren't trying to construct a theory or solve any sort of problem. You were just thinking.
You open your eyes after a few minutes, feeling like you were done. Hannah and Ritsu have their eyes closed for a few more minutes before opening them slowly, letting out deep breaths and looking to you for guidance.
"How was it?" you ask.
Hannah pauses a moment before answering. "Very different. I found it...interesting how my mind reacted to simply wanting to stop and let go of the puzzle I was deconstructing. Within myself, I felt I could easily let go. But inside of my head, it felt like there was too much left undone. A small bit of anxiety that melted away once I made the decision to open my eyes."
"It was hard to pull away," Ritsu said. "I remembered that you said to stop when I had done enough. But there was a loud voice saying that I had to finish what I was doing first. I was pulled along by it for a while, and it felt a bit frantic trying to get back to...here, I think."
"But you both feel better now," you say.
"Yes, very much so. I feel relaxed," Hannah replies.
"I feel the same. I don't feel so heavy anymore," Ritsu says.
"Not that I'm surprised, but you've both got the basics down quickly. That was a small exercise to stretch your minds, since we're all pretty tense a lot of the time. Always thinking and worrying about the next move or the next attack, who's watching you and who's around the corner potentially. You don't want to get trapped by any one thing or subject. Helps a lot in the long term." You pick up your red book, but don't open it. "So, now that we've got that out of the way, we can start getting into it. My first question is...what are the kami to you?"
"The kami are all things," Hannah says, sitting cross legged on her cushion. "Those spirits who live above and below the earth, as well as within and without. They are nature and nurture. They are light and dark."
"And those sit below the presence of the Supreme One."
"Of course. The Almighty who weaves the fabric of all creation with single characters, with mere words imprinted onto the collective consciousness of all existence. All that was, is, and will ever be."
"Is it we who stand above all?" Ritsu asks, now resting on her knees. "As chosen of heaven?"
"Not for the reasons you think," you say to her. "As all of creation was woven by the hand of the divine, as Hannah said, so are we. But not just woven, as mortal beings, singularly gifted with the divine breath of life. As I am, as you are, God is."
Ritsu blinks. "That is...to say...we are also God?"
"In a way. We have the essence of Almighty God within us, so we're capable of great things. Without that essence, becoming favoured by the heavens is impossible. This is the true strength of God's creation, of which humans are included. Those who are on a higher level of being, for them it goes without saying. All people carry this gift, so we are all children of heaven. However, not all of us are equipped with the tools or structure to ascend and use the full strength inside of us. The world, as we see, is a dark and harrowing place to live in."
You hold up four fingers, which the girls look at curiously.
"Out of the totality of all those mortal and sapient beings, four-fifths are stuck in ignorance of the world's true nature, and of their true strength. These are those people who are shepherded to and fro by the people above them."
"You mean the shinobi?" Ritsu asks.
"No. They're included in that number as well, among others." You close your other fingers and hold up your thumb. "So that leaves one fifth who are at least somewhat aware of the strength that flows within them." You hold up four fingers again, then take away one. "Out of that, we have those who are aware of the world's flow, but not in totality. Even so, they take control of the world's strength and resources for their own dark and selfish purposes. Madara is in that number, this fifteen percent who seek to build their power at the expense of all others."
You hold up your index finger. "That leaves us. Those chosen of heaven and the allies of justice. Those who see and understand the world's flow, and unite to fight against the darkness created by others. By unlocking the true strength of heaven's children, we mean to bring salvation to the world and all of its people. The one-twentieth, or five percent of all peoples. The warrior scholars who unlock the truth of all things."
"And as chosen of heaven, the hands of the Almighty, a number even smaller than that," Hannah concludes.
"Yes. Those who are gifted the true strength of heaven, in order to become warrior kings and queens, are of an unknown quantity. But that plane is only reached when we gather our knowledge and crystalize it, in order to form the tools needed to grasp heavenly power."
"I see...what a remarkable thing. The ways of heaven lie beyond even the wildest dreams of mortals like us, enlightened as we are. To grasp heavenly strength...the words that came from my lips were of a greater design than I could conceive. Magnificent."
You can feel the joy radiating from her words.
"What can we do?" Ritsu asks, eyes wide open. "What do we do, with this knowledge?"
"True strength, the strength to leverage the power of chakra among other things to change the world, comes from true knowledge, the understanding of self. Within each sapient being, gifted with the breath of life, lies the greatest potential. This is represented by 360 degrees of knowledge, made into power by refined wills. A circle, called the cipher."
"Three hundred...sixty. Cipher."
"Chambered within the body, called the Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head." You raise your right arm. "It's clockwise. The flow that matches the movement of the Sun, moving from east to west and back again. The right arm to represent strength and justice. The right leg to represent swiftness of spirit and thought. The left leg to represent stability and fortitude. The left arm to represent true skill and tactical understanding on many planes. And the head to represent the meeting place of all knowledge, the focal point of self, and the mastery of self on different levels. To complete even the initial understanding of this concept means that the Arm-Leg-Leg-Arm-Head are linked, allowing one access to the heavenly power stored within."
"Not becoming a god...but a closer connection to the strength of heaven, and an understanding of the heavenly forces," Ritsu says quietly. She stares at the ground for a few moments, drinking in the information.
"This is just the beginning, isn't it?" Hannah asks you.
"Yeah. To cultivate 360 degrees of knowledge and forge it into 360 degrees of godhood, as intended by the ancestors, study is required to reach understanding of self. Meditation is always the best way to go about it, but stronger understanding comes from challenge and collaboration with your brothers and sisters. The important thing to remember is that this is not a religion you have to hold yourself to. There is nothing to worship, nor are there any priests to consult. Those who are kings, queens, and gods have themselves and each other to talk to, as well as guidance from the Almighty."
"Who are the kings and queens?" Ritsu asks.
"We are. It's already known by the fact that we are heaven's children, and those who take up the task of bringing justice to the world," you reply.
"And...those who are called gods?"
"The same."
"Oh...I see," she says with surprise. "Those who are called gods are those who have complete knowledge of self, and take up the blades of justice to cut through the darkness."
"It is becoming known to you already," Hannah says to her calmly. Ritsu seems taken aback and thinks for a moment on it.
"Is...that so? It must be. It's resonating...and so quickly, too." She looks to you, questions of all sorts swirling behind her green eyes. "Am I...grasping for it? It's possible that I simply want something out of this."
"It's possible. But that destiny can't be carved out by anyone else but you."
The wealth of questions seems to quiet down. She settles, and the pure glow you remembered comes from her eyes.
"Then let it be so."
You smile and nod. "Yes. You're on your way, Ritsu."
"Sensei, what should we do to make our strength manifest?" Hannah asks you.
"As said before, this is not a religion. It's a way of life, a culture that should be embedded into you. It's possible to hold to these teachings without knowledge or faith in Almighty God - knowledge is not restricted to those who hold this or that belief. All peoples, because all peoples carry the blessings of heaven within, are welcome to partake in this knowledge and share it. However, it is my belief that all of this is connected to the divine, who exist both with the kami who govern nature's flow, and above them in the plane of heaven."
You pause for a moment and think.
"Beloved? What are you thinking?" Hannah asks.
"Hm. There was something...but it's a heavy subject. An alternate plane that exists alongside heaven, and dips into it. Do you remember the Inugami?"
"Yes."
"Of those who have passed, they say there was a clan mother, the fiercest and most graceful of her kind. They called her the Luminous Black Wolf, and they say that she floats among the stars, within a place called the Cosmic Plane that sits in the narrow space between life and death. Those who attain the most powerful knowledge of self, and could connect it with the power of chakra unbound, could reach that place through the strength of the Cosmic Flow."
You let out a breath.
"The godmother who told me that story passed a few weeks before I left the Port. It's not a story anyone else is familiar with, but maybe the old man heard of it. Maybe."
"Is it something you think about a lot?" Hannah asks you.
"Just on days like these. I wouldn't know where to start with the research, so it means I still have a ways to go. Makes me feel small sometimes...but it also keeps you focused in the same way. I'm glad for the experience. But that's very advanced knowledge, yeah? You can chew on it once you're comfortable with everything here first."
"Understood. We'll be in your care, sensei."
"Yes, sir. We'll do our best," Ritsu says.
You smile and pat her head. "I know you will. Count on me, I'll get you guys started."
"Ah, wait..."
"What is it, Ritsu?" you ask.
"To say all of this...isn't it that your people are different? This is something of the kokoahito, isn't it? Are you teaching us because of how much you care?"
"Not just that. You're worthy of the knowledge." You look down at your hand and flex it a few times. "My blood is closer to that of the original peoples than yours is, which you realize. But that doesn't make you any further from grace of heaven than I am. We're all brothers and sisters united under heaven, no matter what we look like. Out of many, we form one people."
"I see...I didn't mean to sound like..."
"It's alright. Like I said, not a lot of people know about this stuff, much less their own strength."
"Does this connect to the Sage of Six Paths?" Hannah asks.
"It does, actually. The history of chakra has had an effect on the teachings that take place on this continent, though they haven't resulted in changes to what was and is. The warrior kings and warrior queens were philsophers and researchers. Also, since the Sage travelled back and forth so often, the wisdom of Ninshuu spread some distance beyond the continent. Experiments with the early stages of chakra were pretty common, though unfortunately certain teachings were lost over time. Partly because of the emergence of the shinobi and the era of endless wars."
"In other words, an understanding of chakra was reached before the current era of shinobi."
"Yep."
"There's so much to learn," Ritsu says. "Where do we start?"
You put a hand on top of your head. "Here."
She tilts her head to one side. "The brain?"
"I said it before. It starts with you. There are techniques and things to read, but it has to come from you. Your own thoughts. Your own way of thinking. You have to develop your own way of understanding and seeing the world. From there, you can enforce your will and better explain the concepts you come up with. For some, it's easier to follow another dream or a path that someone else has built. And there's no shame in that."
"It is not the king who creates his home with merely a word and a vision," Hannah interrupts. "If everyone is a ruler, who builds the estates they live in? Every person to their purpose, and every soul to its calling. The king leads, the architect draws, the carpenter shapes, and the common labourer assembles. There is no such thing as a lesser man according to his talents...only his character. Such is the way of the world."
"It's as she said. But you know what you're meant for, Ritsu."
"I'm meant for more. To turn the world and reject the turning wheel of darkness. And so, it's my job to aim ever higher. Is that right?"
"That's right," you say to her. "You're both learning quickly."
"A wonderful teacher helps."
You smile and rub the back of your head. "I'm not there yet, but...thanks. I'll do all I can, as I said. Remember these three things above all, both of you."
The girls nod eagerly and lean close.
"First, that word is bond. Second, that everything is everything. And third..."
You point to yourself.
"I am."
You point to Ritsu. "Say it for yourself."
"...I...am. I am." She takes a breath in and steadies herself. "I am."
You nod and point to Hannah.
"I am," she says confidently. Flawlessly, even. But she wouldn't be Hannah otherwise.
"Good. Remember those things. Keep them close to your heart, and you'll overcome anything and everything."
"Yes, sensei," they say in unison.
"Now...we'll start with the observations of chakra on the physical plane. Instead of reinventing the wheel, our focus will be on understanding the concepts on ninjutsu and their interaction with the observed world."
"We should look into a basic structure. The Fire Ball technique I believe is good to start with," Hannah suggests.
"Okay. Ritsu, did you want to start?"
"I would like to hear everyone else's positions first, and ask questions if possible."
You nod. "We can do that."
"I shall begin, then," Hannah says. "To start, we can discuss the application of fire-type chakra in this manner in a neutral environment."
---
The usual session goes a lot longer than you're used to, but you don't mind. It was the first time, after all, and as you learn together your routine will become more balanced.
Haru gets everyone lunch and you enjoy it together. You mention wanting to train a bit and the girls ask if they could join; it's not a problem and Haru guides your group to a free training space. Everyone lets the food settle properly before starting up the next session. Today's lesson is, appropriately enough, ninjutsu. Hannah takes the lead this time as the most proficient of the group.
"Take proper breaths in, give them weight. Focus your chakra in time with them...let it flow in and out of you slowly."
Every so often you feel her hand on your back, checking that you're getting things right.
"Very good. Now, the next part. Continue with the same flow, but push chakra out to your extremities and burn it off, a little at a time. Keep doing it until you feel a bit of strain, then stop."
You do as she says for several minutes, and because of your reserves it takes a while to get that slow burn she was talking about. Ritsu has already finished resting and is on her second cycle.
"You're doing quite well, my darling. Breathe for me," she says while putting a hand on your stomach. "A little shallow, take more air in. Yes, wonderful. At that pace, and don't accelerate. Remember, you have much in the way of chakra. It won't do to have a sloppy method, especially if you want to pull off certain techniques."
You go through the process several more times as Hannah guides you. She glides over and holds your face in her hands, looking diligently for any sorts of abnormalities. Ritsu gets the same treatment until she completely exhausts her reserves and finishes for the day.
"How do you feel, loves?" she asks as you finish.
"Tingly all over," you reply.
"I feel the same," Ritsu says. "It's not unpleasant, but my body feels like it's been pretty well worked out."
"Mm-hm. It should make sense, with the physical component of chakra and all. This is a direct method of increasing your proficiency in ninjutsu, and a simple enough one. Rather than simple practice and repetition of the mechanical parts, I wanted to make it so that faster chakra flow felt more natural to you first. Try and practice your breathing from time to time, especially for those techniques that don't require using breaths. We forget sometimes in stressful situations and every little bit of efficiency helps."
You test yourselves with different techniques. Ritsu makes an Earth Wall and you use a Fire Ball to attack it. The wall resists a bit before crumbling as the fireball consumes it and carries on before exploding.
"Very good, you've both improved. One step at a time, alright?"
Hannah kisses you both on the cheek, smiling brightly afterwards.
"Let's head home. The remainder of the day will be for rest, and nothing else."
---
Joshua has gained 1 point in ninjutsu (3 -> 4).
Ritsu has gained 1 point in ninjutsu (1 -> 2).
Hannah has gained 1 point in ninjutsu (7 -> 8).
---
Sunday Evening (rest mode)
[] Custom options.
---
Monday
[] Rest for the day (soft skip to Tuesday).
[] Take one of the girls out for a few hours. Might ease some tension.
- [] Hannah
- [] Ritsu
[] Hang out with one of your friendly ANBU.
- [] Haru
- [] Hikari
[] Go to the Central Library and do some studying.
[] Meet with someone in the Leaf (free pick).
[] Training.
-[] Training day. Increase your physical stats. Get +1 to any stat of your choosing that is not at 10. Roll d100 to train stats already at 10 or above 10.
-[] Research day. Improve your current abilities or create new ones.
--[] Improve a non-taijutsu technique by one level, unlock a new form of one non-taijutsu technique, or gain one element level over one session.
--[] Improve a non-Gates taijutsu technique, taking two sessions to increase a technique by one level.
--[] Improve the Gates by one stage over three sessions.
--[] Further refine Amenozenshin over three sessions.
--[] Create the basis of a new technique to be finished later.
---[] Automatic
---[] Custom (voter pick)
-[] Train alone.
-[] Train with a friend or two. Your companions will gain at the same rate as you where applicable, and there may be bonuses that come along with them.
--[] Hannah
--[] Ritsu
-[] Custom training (write in).
[] Create custom schedule (either solely for the day or beyond).
---
It's Sunday evening and nobody is going to be doing anything substantial for the rest of the day. You still have a few days before the next phase of the tournament. In the same manner you can plan things out a day at a time or organize training sessions among other things. The day is set again to approval voting.
Databooks will be updated soon.
The next deadline will be next Thursday again. Thanks for reading.
VileScurvy
Verified Pirate
- Location
- Malaysia
Sunday Evening
-[X] Hang out with Hannah at the local jounin bar. Get a feel of the other teams that didn't make it to the tourney finals!
Monday
-[X] Research day. Improve your current abilities or create new ones.
--[X] Further refine Amenozenshin over three sessions.
We're actually Buddha, enlightening his disciples on the path to enlightenment!
Also I'm curious about the rest of the rookie 9 that we haven't met yet up until now.
-[X] Hang out with Hannah at the local jounin bar. Get a feel of the other teams that didn't make it to the tourney finals!
Monday
-[X] Research day. Improve your current abilities or create new ones.
--[X] Further refine Amenozenshin over three sessions.
We're actually Buddha, enlightening his disciples on the path to enlightenment!
Also I'm curious about the rest of the rookie 9 that we haven't met yet up until now.
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'll wait a while (maybe Tuesday) before deciding on what to do for the rest of Sunday. Training vote seems to be locked in, so I can go ahead with that.
Any small questions/comments &c can be asked while we wait.
Any small questions/comments &c can be asked while we wait.
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FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Was thinking everyone who's comfortable with going, but its been long enough that I'm not entirely sure of my intent anymore.