Cosmos Quest (Naruto/Lupin III)

[Disminded]

[X] Sabotage the puppet in some minor but vital way, exposing the whole scheme publicly.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Vin I would not be counting on gratitude to be carrying the day with Kankuro here. Attracting the Sand Team's collective attention at this time....yeah, pass for now.

That said, I'm not sure on outright sabotage here either. But only because Furiko will apparently be disappointed with us if we knock the Sand Sibs out of the exam. If the puppet is Kankuro's big trump and he doesn't have a back-up plan, and his teammates can't spot for him, they're kinda screwed unless they just cheat relatively blatantly and eat the points.

That said, I am amused by fucking over Kankuro's battle strategy by revealing his puppet.

EDIT: Also, is Z-Slash still in effect for the during or the exam?

 

[LightMage]

I find the idea of us slapping on a -2 points for him to find to funny to resist.

[X[ Leave a note on the puppet reading "-2 points."

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

And oh yeah, if we do leave a note?

Leave it in Kankuro's hand-writing.

 

[FurikoMaru]

And oh yeah, if we do leave a note?

Leave it in Kankuro's hand-writing.

Click to shrink...

As amusing as that would be, you haven't seen his writing.

The Z-Slash is still in effect, though. It lasts until the exam is up.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

As amusing as that would be, you haven't seen his writing.

The Z-Slash is still in effect, though. It lasts until the exam is up.

Click to shrink...

Really? We can't peek at his exam sheet? Or does he have nothing on it?

And it occurs to me that this could be an example of showing off our speed....if we're caught. Hmm. Food for thought.

Still. Z-Slash, and funny.

 

[uju32]

[X] A cunning drama with a mysterious plot begins
*snip*
What's the next exam going to be like that he doesn't want people to know I can steal faces?

Click to shrink...

Seems my paranoia had a basis.

"Was that really necessary? She could have a concussion, man!"
"She'll be fine," Menka says dismissively, "she just won't be waking up for about an hour. Now quick, get her tied up."

Click to shrink...

Here's hoping noone else coming to the bathroom unties her.

You point at the checklist of the proctor next to you. "I got you twice earlier, this guy got you twice while I was out with blondie over there, and just now makes five. You're out."
He frowns. "But-"

Click to shrink...

He has more range than we thought, to identify the difference in chakra at that distance.
Almost blew our cover.

The Oto trio, for example, haven't lost any points at all. Your pride is injured somewhat that the answers you put elbow grease into stealing are apparently not beyond the ken of an eight-year-old girl, but at least you know those three most definitely are ready for primetime, which is more than you knew about them when you walked in.

Click to shrink...

Huh.
Not much more competent than Dosu was in canon.

A member of the Suna elite team sticks his hand up. "Can I hit up the bathroom?" he asks.
The proctor beside you stands, and you realize that it isn't a proctor at all, but a puppet.
How creepy!

Click to shrink...

:-[ For shame Ino; you didn't realize the proctor beside you wasn't human?
Despite the lack of endogenous chakra?
Are you SURE you're ready for this exam?

[X] Sabotage the puppet in some minor but vital way, exposing the whole scheme publicly.

Click to shrink...

Nah.
Part of the unspoken deal is that she act like a proctor after all; there's no way Ibiki didn't notice this

[X]Leave a note on the puppet reading "-2 points."

Click to shrink...

This FEELS like Ino.
And if she's fast enough(and uses other handwriting) he won't know who wrote the note.
Provided he doesn't stumble upon the proctor in the bathroom.....
Voting for this.

EDIT
Use the handwriting of the proctor we replaced; if Ibiki doesn't want us giving away hints of our ability, then let's not.

[X] Leave the puppet be. It's not as clever or audacious as your own plan, of course, but not everyone can be perfect.

Click to shrink...

True
And it would keep Kankuro in ignorance about how detectable his puppet is.

[X] Look to Ibiki to get his wordless input on the matter. There's no way he hasn't spotted an extra proctor.

Click to shrink...

Given her antipathy to authority, I really don't see her asking permission for little things.

 

[FurikoMaru]

:-[ For shame Ino; you didn't realize the proctor beside you wasn't human?
Despite the lack of endogenous chakra?
Are you SURE you're ready for this exam?

Click to shrink...

Writin' a sensor is tricky work; I keep forgetting little things. ^_^; Let's just say she was focusing most of her attention on the other competitors and on keeping up her henge, okay?

Provided he doesn't stumble upon the proctor in the bathroom.....

Click to shrink...

Kankuro's Magic Ladies' Room Adventures~

At least it isn't another Hinata-rape plot. -_-

 

[uju32]

Writin' a sensor is tricky work; I keep forgetting little things. ^_^; Let's just say she was focusing most of her attention on the other competitors and on keeping up her henge, okay?

Click to shrink...

Okay

Kankuro's Magic Ladies' Room Adventures~

Click to shrink...

>Kankuro:
"And this is an example of why people say Konoha is soft; building separate sets of facilities for the sexes, instead of by seniority.
Back in Suna they would be unisex and you wouldn't DARE COMPLAIN.
None of this confusing stuff.
Soft Konoha ninja and their damn fripperies....."

At least it isn't another Hinata-rape plot. -_-

Click to shrink...

Wait, what?

 

[FurikoMaru]

>Kankuro:
"And this is an example of why people say Konoha is soft; building separate sets of facilities for the sexes, instead of by seniority.
Back in Suna they would be unisex and you wouldn't DARE COMPLAIN.
None of this confusing stuff.
Soft Konoha ninja and their damn fripperies....."

Click to shrink...

Pretty much, yeah.

Wait, what?

Click to shrink...

The idea of Kankuro coming across the proctor in the ladies' room made me think of this:

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYqpi2tNAC0[/embed]

Which made me think of Naruto porn doujinshi, in which there are entirely too many Hinata-centric rape scenes and not nearly enough of Anko being Anko. Fuckin' teenager-obsessed philistines. I'd kill for a decent Sannin threesome.

 

[Vindictus]

Vin I would not be counting on gratitude to be carrying the day with Kankuro here. Attracting the Sand Team's collective attention at this time....yeah, pass for now.

Click to shrink...

Eh. I'm not banking on a last minute jesture of kindness making him actually like us or anything [although that could open doors]- I just like the idea of fucking with him too much to want him gone yet.

That said, I'm not sure on outright sabotage here either. But only because Furiko will apparently be disappointed with us if we knock the Sand Sibs out of the exam. If the puppet is Kankuro's big trump and he doesn't have a back-up plan, and his teammates can't spot for him, they're kinda screwed unless they just cheat relatively blatantly and eat the points.

Click to shrink...

If I'm not mistaken, Gaara had a sand-eye thing which wouldn't be good for teamwork, but Temari's trick/cheating was not gone into.

That said, I am amused by fucking over Kankuro's battle strategy by revealing his puppet.

Click to shrink...

That would be a dick move.

... Note, that doesn't mean I have a problem with it winning. Just, y'know, saying.

 

[FurikoMaru]

No update tonight, guys. I have an 8 am flight tomorrow I have to make for Thanksgiving weekend. Until then I'm just gonna unwind with some Archer and maybe finally see if Cabin in the Woods is any good.

 

[Guile]

Thanksgiving? Does Canada do Thanksgiving in October?

 

[FurikoMaru]

Colder autumns, earlier harvest. *nod*

I think I will close the voting, though. Just so I have something to work on during the flight.

I take it

[X] -2 points

won?

 

[uju32]

No update tonight, guys. I have an 8 am flight tomorrow I have to make for Thanksgiving weekend. Until then I'm just gonna unwind with some Archer and maybe finally see if Cabin in the Woods is any good.

Click to shrink...

Fair enough.
Have a safe trip.

Colder autumns, earlier harvest. *nod*
I think I will close the voting, though. Just so I have something to work on during the flight.
I take it
[X] -2 points
won?

Click to shrink...

*checks*
Yup.
No real objections were raised to the handwriting thing either, so I guess that's a go as well.

 

[Guile]

Was there something handwriting-related? Did we try to dot our I's with hearts?

 

[Selias]

Was there something handwriting-related? Did we try to dot our I's with hearts?

Click to shrink...

For the -2 points? That's what we're giving Kankuro for cheating.

 

[iamnuff]

Was there something handwriting-related? Did we try to dot our I's with hearts?

Click to shrink...

thw handwriting vote was to try and do it in his own handwriting.


it didn't seem to have many votes though (not anti-voting an addition to the vote is not the same as voting to support it)

either way, it doesn't matter much.

 

[The Nobody]

I think I should mention this here... From the morning of Monday the 14th, till next Monday's morning I will be busy. I might vote, but don't wait for me.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Too late to change now, but it occurs to me that even if we had sabotaged the puppet, Kankuro wouldn't have been knocked out if he thought quick on his feet. Just snatch the answer key from his puppet openly.

He'd be humiliated, his secrets revealed, and possibly wondering how this happened, but he'd get a pass.

If he thought fast enough and wasn't shamed into his seat without going for broke. Worst case scenario, -4 points.

 

[FurikoMaru]

[X] Ten percent luck, twenty percent skill

It'd be a shame to knock out someone who is ready to be a chuunin before you get the chance to kick his ass. You're probably not going to get promoted for picking on the office ladies, after all.

So you leave him a little note and call it good.

You manage to get a few more teams knocked out, but most of the ones you see, the real proctors catch too. The flow of washouts slows as the minutes roll by, then stops entirely. There are now about 66 people left in the room.

The boy and his puppet return from the washroom just as Ibiki announces that it's time for the tenth question.

"Now before we proceed, we have to go over the additional rules for this question."

Shit! More rules? Oh, please, god, don't make it something to do with proof of identity.

"These are..." He stares ominously out over the crowd. "... the rules of desperation."

Wait, is this where we get permission to throw down? Shit, Ibiki-san, you're colder than I thought, lullin' the bookworms into a false sense of security like this.

"First," Ibiki continues, "you must choose whether or not to attempt to answer the question."

"Choose?" the Kazekage's daughter asks. "What happens if we choose not to?"

"Your points will be reduced to zero and you'll fail," he replies. "Along with your teammates."

"Then it's not really much of a choice, is it?" someone says scornfully. "Of course we'll answer it."

"And now the other rule," Ibiki says grimly. "Anyone who makes the attempt and answers the question incorrectly will lose the right to take the chuunin exams ever again."

There is a moment of stunned silence. Then-

"Bullshit!" Kiba declares. "There are people here who've taken the exam loads of times!"

A roar of protest bubbles up

"You were unlucky this year," Ibiki says with a smirk. "My test, my rules."

"Wow. What kind of career path do you have to take to get to the point that you can decide whether people who aren't even from your village can get promoted?" Gaara asks, amused. "Just curious."

"The Kage and other leaders of villages participating in the exams have agreed to abide by the assessment of the proctors," Ibiki counters. "This agreement is renewed every time the exams are held; those who promote genin against the recommendations of the shinobi administering the tests are not invited to the next exam."

That's the big punishment? you wonder. Well, it's no big deal; even if we answer wrong we can still get field promotions. The exam isn't the only way to climb the ladder.

Ami looks less optimistic. Sagiso looks downright terrified.

"Those that do not wish to take the tenth question, raise your hands now. Once you hear your number confirmed, you may leave."

Your heart skips a beat as you see Ami's shoulder shift and her arm start to come up, when all of a sudden a middle-aged man right in front of her springs to his feet and raises his hand.

"I resign," he says hastily. "I'm sorry, Yunako-chan, Tori-san, but we can't take a risk like this, not after how hard we worked."

Ami's hand immediately stops its rise, and she crosses her arms, glaring at the man as he leaves. She glances at Ibiki again for a moment with an expression that makes it clear she wants to cry, but then looks away, hmph'ing and tossing her braided hair.

You try not to smile. That's my girl.

Leaning forward to rest your chin on the thumbs of your folded hands, you run through the handseals of Utsusemi, prepare your voice to imitate Gaara, toss in a little creepy breathing-down-your neck supplemental genjutsu, and target the ears of (pick up to seven):

[X] The Oto-nin
-> [X] The 8-year-old girl
-> [X] The teenage girl
-> [X] The boy in his late teens

[X] One of the Mist-nin
-> [X] The girl
-> [X] The blond apparent-water-user wild-boy
-> [X] The black-haired apparent-swordsman boy

[X] Tenten. Hey, you love Lee, but you really don't wanna face him in a fight if you don't have to; you're pretty sure he's as fast as you are with his weights off, and he's way stronger and waaaaaaay better at taijutsu. Nor are you terribly fussed to go up against Neji, seeing as he's the one person your age who's consistently kicked the crap out of you every time you've fought him.

[X] That Taki-nin. You don't know for sure he's a sensor, but it couldn't hurt to get rid of him, could it?

[X] A selection of fine mooks for your trolling pleasure.

 

[Serous]

[X] A selection of fine mooks for your trolling pleasure.

We're not going to get promoted for kicking the ass of small fry, so they can go away now.

 

[uju32]

[X] Ten percent luck, twenty percent skill

Click to shrink...

Remember the name- Fort Minor.
Ka-ching!

"Choose?" the Kazekage's daughter asks. "What happens if we choose not to?"

Click to shrink...

Temari is here.
So all three Sabaku kids are present.

"Bullshit!" Kiba declares. "There are people here who've taken the exam loads of times!"

Click to shrink...

Lol!Kiba.
No subtlety whatsoever.

"Wow. What kind of career path do you have to take to get to the point that you can decide whether people who aren't even from your village can get promoted?" Gaara asks, amused. "Just curious."

Click to shrink...

Dude.
The hell happened to you?
You're actually cool.

Leaning forward to rest your chin on the thumbs of your folded hands, you run through the handseals of Utsusemi, prepare your voice to imitate Gaara, toss in a little creepy breathing-down-your neck supplemental genjutsu, and target the ears of (pick up to seven):

Click to shrink...

Taki-nin, for sure.
Get rid of the sensor.
Are we sure that's a he, come to think of it?
Fu always looked pretty mannish.

Besides him, dunno.
Mist have a rep, and they were picked for this exam to uphold Village honor.
As were that Sound team.
Neither of them is likely to up and quit, and both might bear a grudge.
OOC, I actually want to see them fight; they sound interesting.
I really am of two minds here.....

And picking on a Konoha team this early is kinda cold, and defeats the entire purpose of the Will of Fire schtick.
As well as taints your rep with your friends.
Especially if it's one that contains your friend.
And given that you don't know what the next exam is, kinda premature anyway.


EDIT
And Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Selias]

[X] The Oto-nin
-> [X] The 8-year-old girl
-> [X] The teenage girl
-> [X] The boy in his late teens

[X] One of the Mist-nin
-> [X] The girl
-> [X] The blond apparent-water-user wild-boy
-> [X] The black-haired apparent-swordsman boy

[X] That Taki-nin. You don't know for sure he's a sensor, but it couldn't hurt to get rid of him, could it?

 

[Selias]

Damn. Hit quote, instead of edit.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Hmmm. I'm not sure I'd try and crack the Sound team at all. They struck me as the real deal. And that eight year old girl? I might be willing to bet she's the strongest on her team, Sound's own Itachi. It wouldn't surprise me, for sure.

The Taki-nin, that fucker is gone. He's already scared of Gaara, Gaara made his voice known, his ass is ours.

Incidentally? Lee is an example of Paralysis >> Blindness. Sweet mother of fuck I don't wanna fight him now. I don't want Menka to fight him either. I think Menka will get his ass kicked. Lee is tough enough shit that he'd let us hit him while blind just because then he'd know where we are and he'd crater the general area he thinks we're in.

But, Konoha, best not screw our team over, even if over half the team can chew us up, spit us out, and murderize the remains.

We might get the Mist out. Maybe. Mist are also creepy shits and amongst the most likely to see through our little stunt.

 

[uju32]

Hmmm. I'm not sure I'd try and crack the Sound team at all. They struck me as the real deal.

The Taki-nin, that fucker is gone. He's already scared of Gaara, Gaara made his voice known, his ass is ours.

Incidentally? Lee is an example of Paralysis >> Blindness. Sweet mother of fuck I don't wanna fight him now. I don't want Menka to fight him either. I think Menka will get his ass kicked. Lee is tough enough shit that he'd let us hit him while blind just because then he'd know where we are and he'd crater the general area he thinks we're in.

But, Konoha, best not screw our team over, even if over half the team can chew us up, spit us out, and murderize the remains.

We might get the Mist out. Maybe. Mist are also creepy shits and amongst the most likely to see through our little stunt.

Click to shrink...

Lee?
Heaven-Viewing Technique, and you layer it.
Or you do take a tip from Dosu, and hit him with a balance-impairing genjutsu, then double team him with Menka before he adapts.

But if we had to fight him seriously, it would be Bringer of Death, then throwing weapons.

Mist? Are there any sensors on that team?

 

[Selias]

Lee?
Heaven-Viewing Technique, and you layer it.
Or you do take a tip from Dosu, and hit him with a balance-impairing genjutsu, then double team him with Menka before he adapts.

But if we had to fight him seriously, it would be Bringer of Death, then throwing weapons.

Mist? Are there any sensors on that team?

Click to shrink...

I'd feel kind of guilty using the Heaven-Viewing Technique on an ally. Remember our reaction to it?

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

Lee?
Heaven-Viewing Technique, and you layer it.
Or you do take a tip from Dosu, and hit him with a balance-impairing genjutsu, then double team him with Menka before he adapts.

But if we had to fight him seriously, it would be Bringer of Death, then throwing weapons.

Mist? Are there any sensors on that team?

Click to shrink...

Better HOPE Heaven-Viewing works on him like that, and that people are willing to use it. And we don't have balance impairing genjutsu.

Also, it's Lee. You really think he won't predict our location if we use throwing weapons?

If he's nearly as fast as us with his weights off, then with the Gates open if need be he can just do a damned search formation in the arena and find us that way.

Don't recall any sensors on Mist, but a team out is a team out. I think a Z-Slash can cut anything the author wants to be cut, but no more. So Furiko may not let us usher out teams she's fond of and can justifiably stay in the exam. It is just a higher step up on the test of boldness.

Also, Mist is almost definitely gonna figure out the voice was false, and may even figure out the voice came from us. Infiltration from year one, remember? Whispering Mist is the least likely to be fooled here.

 

[uju32]

Better HOPE Heaven-Viewing works on him like that, and that people are willing to use it. And we don't have balance impairing genjutsu.

Click to shrink...

Note I said Heaven, not Hell.
Persuasion/seduction is the key to beating him.

Also, it's Lee. You really think he won't predict our location if we use throwing weapons?

Click to shrink...

When we match him in speed?
Because we won't be standing still.

If he's nearly as fast as us with his weights off, then with the Gates open if need be he can just do a damned search formation in the arena and find us that way.

Click to shrink...

Blind?
Against Prankster!Ino?
Basic Poison skill is go, as are exploding tags.
No one compensates well for sight loss mid-fight.
Not against a peer opponent.
Not unless you're named the Professor.

Don't recall any sensors on Mist, but a team out is a team out. I think a Z-Slash can cut anything the author wants to be cut, but no more. So Furiko may not let us usher out teams she's fond of and can justifiably stay in the exam. It is just a higher step up on the test of boldness.

Click to shrink...

Oh yeah, the two sensors are on Sound.
And I do not see that handpicked squad quitting.

Also, Mist is almost definitely gonna figure out the voice was false, and may even figure out the voice came from us. Infiltration from year one, remember? Whispering Mist is the least likely to be fooled here.

Click to shrink...

I suspect much of that may be bluff as much as anything.
We'll see.