Cosmos Quest (Naruto/Lupin III)

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

If they do bring us aiming too low at the age, remind them that she's still a ninja who made it this far. Age making people hesitate is another effective tool.

That, and we remember what an enormous pain in ass we could be at eight years old. Especially if we'd had dedicated genjutsu tutoring then.

Hell, even her sensei is looking forward to seeing us fight in the finals. That plus what we suspect of her just makes us so....curious.

 

[uju32]

Hell, even her sensei is looking forward to seeing us fight in the finals. That plus what we suspect of her just makes us so....curious.

Click to shrink...

Point of order: Deidara is looking forward to seeing us fight KUYO, the Earth and explosives user.
Not Kibi.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Point of order: Deidara is looking forward to seeing us fight KUYO, the Earth and explosives user.
Not Kibi.

Click to shrink...

Ahhh, balls. My bad.

Although where is Kuyo listed as an explosives user?

 

[uju32]

Ahhh, balls. My bad.
Although where is Kuyo listed as an explosives user?

Click to shrink...

The intel briefing, by Shikamaru.
I quote

"Anyone have anything on the Sound kids besides the little girl?" Kiba asks, obviously trying to change the subject.

"The older girl uses a lot of Earth techniques and exploding tags, supposedly," Shikamaru says. "But if you're asking where the hell Sound came from and who those guys really are, all I have are my own theories based on what little I do know."

Click to shrink...

 

[uju32]

*snips*

Click to shrink...

QUESTIONS
I need to ask a few questions about the chakra mechanics we're running on
1) In this Quest, do you need a Fire affinity to use Fire techniques? Or a Water affinity to use Water techniques?
Or are you going with canon, where anyone can learn an elemental technique that's not a bloodline, with affinities only making things easier to learn and/or cheaper to cast?

2) What element would we need to investigate to figure out a Predator-style invisibility technique?

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

The intel briefing, by Shikamaru.
I quote

Click to shrink...

Ahh, tags. I thought your meant like Deidara explosions, bloodline and all. Possible I suppose though.

 

[FurikoMaru]

QUESTIONS
I need to ask a few questions about the chakra mechanics we're running on
1) In this Quest, do you need a Fire affinity to use Fire techniques? Or a Water affinity to use Water techniques?
Or are you going with canon, where anyone can learn an elemental technique that's not a bloodline, with affinities only making things easier to learn and/or cheaper to cast?

Click to shrink...

Canon reigns supreme on this count. You need a Fire affinity to 'afford' the best fire techniques, unless you have quite decent control and jounin reserves, and everyone has that one element they just suck at (with you it's Lightning, with Ami it's Water). But everyone can potentially learn a low-level technique from every element; it just takes a lot out of them unless they have a Rinnegan.

2) What element would we need to investigate to figure out a Predator-style invisibility technique?

Click to shrink...

Yin Release stuff. You'd have to study with a Nara expert.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Canon reigns supreme on this count. You need a Fire affinity to 'afford' the best fire techniques, unless you have quite decent control and jounin reserves, and everyone has that one element they just suck at (with you it's Lightning, with Ami it's Water). But everyone can potentially learn a low-level technique from every element; it just takes a lot out of them unless they have a Rinnegan.

Click to shrink...

Our weak element is Lightning, and we get Ranton.

Good grief.

 

[FurikoMaru]

Our weak element is Lightning, and we get Ranton.

Good grief.

Click to shrink...

I love the smell of Ranton in the morning. Smells like irony. ^_^

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

I love the smell of Ranton in the morning. Smells like irony. ^_^

Click to shrink...

Really? I woulda guessed cheese.

 

[uju32]

Canon reigns supreme on this count. You need a Fire affinity to 'afford' the best fire techniques, unless you have quite decent control and jounin reserves, and everyone has that one element they just suck at (with you it's Lightning, with Ami it's Water). But everyone can potentially learn a low-level technique from every element; it just takes a lot out of them unless they have a Rinnegan.

Click to shrink...

Or a Sharingan.

So Hiding Like A Mole is well within our repertoire.
Kinda amusing to have Lightning be our suckiest element though

Yin Release stuff. You'd have to study with a Nara expert.

Click to shrink...

Hmm.
Tempting.
Really tempting ability for a thief.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Hmm.
Tempting.
Really tempting ability for a thief.

Click to shrink...

Eh. Not terribly. Genjutsu covers most problems and as long as it isn't detected is even better in a lot of cases by targeting mental blind spots. It'd help some with recording devices, but that's rather niche. Especially when we have masks and can appear to belong that way.

Plus it'd probably be ninjutsu and thus probably more taxing than genjutsu. It's a nice idea, but we have a lot of other stuff to do before considering it.

 

[uju32]

Eh. Not terribly. Genjutsu covers most problems and as long as it isn't detected is even better in a lot of cases by targeting mental blind spots. It'd help some with recording devices, but that's rather niche. Especially when we have masks and can appear to belong that way.

Click to shrink...

Masks are an inflitration tool that rely on hiding in the crowd.
And genjutsu relies on getting inside the other person's head.
This...thing would allow for an entirely different approach to stealth in addition to our existing skills.

Plus it'd probably be ninjutsu and thus probably more taxing than genjutsu. It's a nice idea, but we have a lot of other stuff to do before considering it.

Click to shrink...

But it's major benefit is that it doesn't rely on your opponent's weakness, but your skill.
And we might be able to lick the power issue with seals; the main reason our Ninjutsu rating is so low is because we haven't practiced it.
As a straightforward combat technique it would be crazy scary.
But we'll see if we can actually find the time; you are right that we have a bunch of things ahead in the queue.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Masks are an inflitration tool that rely on hiding in the crowd.

Click to shrink...

Someone doesn't read much spy literature.

No, the masks true use is appearing to be someone else who DOES belong. There was even a snippet in the archives where Lupin pretends to be Zenigata to order around Zenigata's cops. Much like how we became a proctor.

I think you greatly underestimate the use of masks.

And for other things, there is Henge. Wonderful Henge. Between the two and genjutsu we've covered most stealth scenarios.

And genjutsu relies on getting inside the other person's head.
This...thing would allow for an entirely different approach to stealth in addition to our existing skills.

Click to shrink...

It only covers a niche. And genjutsu getting inside people's head is a tremendous asset. Hell, Furiko pretty much gave the green light to one custom genjutsu I wrote where a person straight up fails to notice things out of the ordinary, or even notice that they are currently injured and being hurt. That's pretty insane. Scary broken in fact.

Getting inside people's heads is by far more valuable and versatile than not being seen, especially when we're almost a 5 in genjutsu. Most people are not gonna be able to resist us or notice because that's how stupid good we are at genjutsu.

Ninjutsu? That's a new skill to train up we haven't shown such natural talent in.

But it's major benefit is that it doesn't rely on your opponent's weakness, but your skill.

Click to shrink...

I....see no difference between that and genjutsu, or I can draw parallels between an opponent too incompetent to notice ripples in the air or other tells of us interacting with the environment besides visual. Minimizing visual cues that an experienced eye can spot by thing like the grass bending beneath our feet or dust swirling or even flow of air currents is not really that big.

As genjutsu gets into the mind, I would argue that genjutsu is far and away the superior at fooling people into seeing what they expect. Why Kai after all when you expect everything to be normal, when you think you know what would happen?

Stealth ninjutsu I suspect will be more limited. And frankly a lot more boring than the roleplaying involving in the acting, the disguises, and the power plays. We've got so much devoted to be other people that invisibility seems trite.

And we might be able to lick the power issue with seals; the main reason our Ninjutsu rating is so low is because we haven't practiced it.

Click to shrink...

Didn't demonstrate talent in it either IIRC. Not like genjutsu where we were in the 3-4 range with only a simple Heaven/Hell Viewing technique.

That's some outrageous talent.

As a straightforward combat technique it would be crazy scary.

Click to shrink...

Not even close to what genjutsu can do to a person's head in combat, like confuse them into attacking an ally, not notice us, et cetera.

Besides, the invisibility technique? Bringer of Darkness already does practically all of that and better with regards to combat. And if we can't attack while holding the invisibility technique its use is greatly limited.

 

[Unclouded]

I don't mind you guys messin' around, but d'ya hafta lift jokes from other stories? Kankuro being the scary one because he makes puppets was already done in It's For A Good Cause, I Swear!

... not very well admittedly, but...

Click to shrink...

I'm going to be honest. I copy and pasted Hymn's thing he was thinking about and didn't even notice it wasn't the same brother as the last update. I thought you made the joke not him. Sorry about that go ahead and remove it if you want I'll just keep the part about Kibi.

 

[FurikoMaru]

[X] Help me, information, get me Memphis, Tennessee...

"Kibi!" you declare, pointing her out.

"... what, the guy behind the little girl?" Kankuro asks.

You frown. "No, the little girl! Word around the campfire is she's a genjutsu specialist. And since I'm the only other genjutsu specialist here, as far as I know, I wanna get a firsthand look at the competition."

"... well, the competition is currently picking her nose," Kankuro replies, "so if I were you I'd wait a sec to take that look."

"Cute." You roll your eyes. "Look, genjutsu takes cunning, refined chakra control, attention to detail, keenly honed senses, an instinct for psychology, and a perfectionist streak a mile wide - most people who are good enough at it to be known as genjutsu specialists are adults. I'm a freak of nature to be as good at it as I am at this age." Your eyes flick over to the oblivious Kibi, who's sitting on the railing and innocently kicking her shoe off her foot and catching it with her toes, over and over again. "So what does that make her?"

"Hm. I guess you've got a point," Temari says with a frown. "Genjutsu isn't like taijutsu; you can't just look at someone and tell how good they'd be."

"Well, that Lee kid looks like a lot of fun," Gaara says, "if he can keep up that turtle-mode longer than he did here. It's been too long since I got some actual exercise." He grins at you fiercely. "Wouldn't mind taking you out dancing, though."

"Hey, I never say no to a free meal."

Ahahahahaha oh god I'm dead.

What's up?

Gaara wants to fight me.

Oh, don't worry about it. There's a note of distaste in Lupin's voice, but he doesn't sound disapproving, exactly. He's just the type of jerk that likes to flirt violently. He won't actually hurt you if you don't hurt him first; he'll just scare you half to death to impress you.

Oh, so he's like you?

What? No!

"What about you?" you ask Temari, ignoring your other-self's indignant defensiveness for the moment.

"The auntie over there," she replies, nodding at Sayuri. "A quick win to take me into training for the finals with no injuries. After that, who knows?"

Wow. Harsh.

Gaara gestures expansively. "Ah, poor Temari; you've got no appreciation for-"

"No. I don't," Temari cuts him off. "I didn't come here to play around, I came here to get promoted."

"Temari vs Ira!"

"I withdraw," the Sound boy says in a clear but quiet voice.

Temari frowns. "... that doesn't mean I didn't come here to fight," she says peevishly to the air.

And my suspicions of him already being a chuunin are almost completely confirmed. Why else would he travel all this way just to resign? We must be hammering out some kind of alliance with Oto.

Iwa's gonna be pissed.

"Next match," the proctor says, barely missing a beat, "Hyuuga Neji vs Kibi."

Kibi beams, and turns around to hop off the railing and hug first Ira and then her sensei.

Neji casts a brief glance in a worried-looking Hinata's direction, and shunshins to the lower floor.

"Aw, man!" you whine. "There go my chances of facing her. Stupid magic eyes."

"I have something to say before we begin," Kibi calls, bouncing down the stairs. Hopping the last three steps, she smooths out her skirt and strolls casually over to face Neji.

"I came to Konoha for these exams because my mother said this town was full of strong and kind-hearted people," she says, smiling up at the dark-haired boy, who waits, listening with a politely neutral expression. "And she was right! Everyone from Konoha who's fought today has been really strong and really nice. That pretty nee-chan with the exploding seals could have made them lethal, but instead she just played happily with her friend. That boy in the funny jumpsuit let the pretty Mist boy have a chance to give up. Even the doggie nii-chan helped his friends out by trying to fight the mean demonboy for them!" She clenches her hands in two excited fists and bobs up and down in excitement. "That's why no matter what happens in our fight, or who wins, I wanted to say thank you for facing me, and I hope we can be friends afterward."

Well, now we know why they're called Sound. All in all, you're impressed; this is a pretty intricate aural genjutsu she's weaving, here.

"Kai," you whisper, and the reality is laid clear before you. She's hypnotizing Neji to respond to certain keywords or actions on her part with hesitation or even outright fear, and he isn't even noticing.

That idiot. After all his talk about not overestimating yourself...

"I will take your request under advisement," Neji says stoically.

"Begin!"

[X] Cheer Kibi on. Genjutsu that can fool a Byakugan is always impressive to see in action.

[X] Cheer Neji on in such a way that you make him snap out of it.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Oh I really like Kibi here. We saw through it but that was damned clever.

I'm not sure whether or not I want to vote for Neji or Kibi. On one hand, home town. But this would also e skirting pretty damned close to the not helping rule if not stepping over.

Still. Girl's got the moves.

 

[Unclouded]

[X] Cheer Kibi on. Genjutsu that can fool a Byakugan is always impressive to see in action.

No question for me anyone that plays up the cutesy act for their benefit unless they're directly against me always gets my vote. All about underestimating people. Also if Neji's not good enough to break the Genjutsu without help he needs to reevaluate his abilities in comparison to others.

 

[Guile]

[X] Neji's prettiness wins. Cheer for Neji.
Something like, "Good luck Neji! If you get taken down by genjutsu I'll never let you hear the end of it! Like, ever! We'll be eighty years old and I'll hobble on over to the compound and rib you for falling for it!"

Don't really come out and help him directly, because if he needs our help to pass against a genjutsu then he's not really ready to be chuunin. But his family would be SO DISAPPOINTED in him if he falls to genjutsu in the second stage. And that's not very healthy for Neji to be disappointing the Main House like that.

 

[Torgamous]

I'd be happy to cheer for Neji if we could do it without snapping him out of it, but helping him break a genjutsu specialist's genjutsu is at about the same level as if we'd kept Lee informed about Haku's location. He wins or loses on his own.

Besides, if we don't snap him out of it both he and Hinata will learn a very valuable lesson about their bloodline.

[X] Cheer Kibi on. Genjutsu that can fool a Byakugan is always impressive to see in action.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

[X] Cheer Kibi on. Genjutsu that can fool a Byakugan is always impressive to see in action.

No question for me anyone that plays up the cutesy act for their benefit unless they're directly against me always gets my vote. All about underestimating people. Also if Neji's not good enough to break the Genjutsu without help he needs to reevaluate his abilities in comparison to others.

Click to shrink...

To be fair, he's probably used to genjutsu he can see. Also to be fair, he should be prepared for others.

If Kibi wins, I rather doubt the Sibs will be harboring doubts about our choice of opponents.

Man I am torn between rooting for the home team and rooting for the eight year old that just made the Byakugan her bitch.

One thing's for sure, I am not in favor of letting Neji know he's under genjutsu. He came in knowing it was an option, us giving him a freebie like that here....nope, I've decided, none of that. Especially not if Konoha really is making an alliance with Oto. No screwing them over. Kibi or write-in.

 

[FurikoMaru]

I will allow write-ins. Guile's is too adorable not to.

 

[Guile]

Hell, he was involved in the debrief where we explain Kibi is a genjutsu specialist, wasn't he?

 

[FurikoMaru]

He was indeed.

 

[Torgamous]

Guile's write-in is cute, but it still seems a bit too wink-wink-nudge-nudge for my liking.

I am, of course, absolutely in favor of using it if he loses.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

You know, Neji getting his ass kicked and us declaring we will avenge his honor would be hilarious.

 

[MrGazzer]

Well on one hand, Neji getting beat by a little girl is a wonderful way to make sure he never underestimates anyone pulling the cutesy act again.
Then again.

Look at him. LOOK HOW PRETTY HE IS.

If I were Ino, I would help him regardless.

And so, my point having been made.

[X] Cheer Neji on in such a way that you make him snap out of it.

 

[Serous]

[X] Cheer Kibi on. Genjutsu that can fool a Byakugan is always impressive to see in action.

 

[Selias]

[X] Cheer Kibi on. Genjutsu that can fool a Byakugan is always impressive to see in action.

That was really impressive.

 

[Torgamous]

You know, Neji getting his ass kicked and us declaring we will avenge his honor would be hilarious.

Click to shrink...

It's unfortunate that this is incompatible with cheering for Kibi and cheering for Neji could have undesirable effects.

...Could we just remain silent out of professional courtesy for the aural genjutsu user? Cheering in a battle that's being fought at least partly with words seems odd.