>>6165297
“One of the two has a troubling effect on people,” Koji continues. “In fact, ‘infatuation’ is not even adequate description – ‘mind control’ would be closer to the truth.”

“Hate abilities like that,” Fū grumbles.

“So how does this ability work?” Sasori asks calmly, with slightly-narrowed eyes.

“That I cannot say,” Koji admits, “because I do not know. Only Amado-san knows how this affect was achieved.”

“So it isn’t a natural ability…” you muse to yourself.

“Does that help?”

“Yeah, so maybe,” you reply. “I’ve spent a bit of effort modernizing traditional kenjutsu with the philosophy that any technological trick or ridiculous ninjutsu has a comparatively straightforward answer. That hasn’t been untrue so far.”

“It sounds as if you have two options,” Sasori observes, “either speak to this ‘Amado’ directly, or find these two creations of his.”

“Assuming they’re still alive,” you frown. “If they were, where might we find them?”

“All of Kara have their own ‘secret’ facilities,” Koji tells you, revealing through his tone what he thinks of his mostly now-former comrades in the organization. “Including Boro, who had a cult of Ōtsutsuki-worshippers to do his bidding.”

“You think that’s worth looking into?” Fū wonders. “Certainly sounds like something you might wanna clean up, Nakkun.”

>I think it makes sense to deal with the cultists before they turn into a problem.
>The cult isn't my problem right now. But if these 'cyborgs' are there, we should investigate.
>Can't we just... you know. Deal with this last guy you mentioned? Code, wasn't it?

>>6165303
>>The cult isn't my problem right now. But if these 'cyborgs' are there, we should investigate.
This isn't how I remembered Shinigami Savant

>>6165309
... so here's what happened. The keyboard on my laptop is failing, and so when it gave me an autofill option I went for it instead of fighting my keyboard.

It autofilled to the wrong quest.

Well.

>>6165315
It was a close call, but rather than add to the confusion by putting up a second thread with the same OP image and sorting out the archive I'm leaning towards leaving this thread up. I'll give it a few more hours, see who turns up, and determine what needs to happen from there.

>>6165303
>>I think it makes sense to deal with the cultists before they turn into a problem.

>>6165303
>>The cult isn't my problem right now. But if these 'cyborgs' are there, we should investigate.

>>6165303
>Can't we just... you know. Deal with this last guy you mentioned? Code, wasn't it?

>>6165303
>3d6
>best of three

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>6165990

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>6165990

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>6165990

File: GRHIUo-WYAAqkX3.jpg (71 KB, 1536x864)

71 KB JPG

>>6165992
>>6166075
>>6166077

>>6165990
“That cult isn’t my problem right now,” you decide after considering the matter for a few moments. “Unless they suddenly start doing murders or terrorism on quite a large scale.”

“It seems doubtful,” Sasori-han muses.

“Why’s that?” Fū asks, curious to follow the logic.

“Most people do not make such leaps so quickly or readily,” Sasori-han explains patiently. “If this group of cultists were already prone to mass murder they would already be well known, like the Jashinists.”

“And I would’ve wiped them out sooner,” you add.

Sasori-han inclines his head politely. “As you say. That fact is unlikely to change without some drastic outside influence, which we have no evidence to suggest is imminent.”

“And you’re not worried about Jigen becoming that ‘outside’ influence?” Koji asks with a frown.

“No,” Sasori-han frowns back. “Jigen clearly does not care enough about humans to do anything of the sort.”

“Why did you say that so aggressively?” Koji demands, gesturing at Fū. “This one got a pass.”

“Because Fū-san is a special case,” Sasori-han answers. “She is still quite innocent, where you should have known better than to ask questions to which you should have known the answer.”

“The man has a point,” you shrug. “So yeah, anyway, we’ll need to start looking into these cyborgs. Thank you for your assistance, Sasori-han… if you want to head off we can part ways at any point that’s convenient.”

“Yes, I think I will take my leave here,” Sasori decides. “I will continue to listen for any information which you might find interesting. If you would be so kind, a shadow clone to take me to the Land of Grass would be appreciated.”

…

“Well, that was every bit as destructive as I expected.”

Ever since you took Sasori where he wanted to be you’ve been going about sealing various bits of machinery and possible evidence into a scroll, while Fū keeps an eye on Koji for you. Two eyes, as a matter of fact, as well as the senses she has which you gather are improved by Chōmei’s presence.
>1/2

>>6167510
“Think you’ve got enough to go on?” Fū asks curiously.

“Doubt it,” you admit. “But someone might see something I didn’t.”

“Fair,” she shrugs.

It takes you just a few minutes longer to process the scene, collecting all the evidence you can including photographs you take on your phone. This way, a specialist can stitch it all together in such a way as to have have a coherent view of things even without having to come out here and look at everything themselves.

“Alright,” you sigh, “I think this is about as good as we’re going to get.”

…

When you return to the hiraishin marking outside Ichiraku’s, you’re greeted with an immediate sense that something is wrong. Unfortunately you can’t quite put your finger on what. So you reach out and summon Isoka-han onto your fingertip.

“Ma’am,” she chirrups politely. “Something up?”

You place your fingertips over your left eye, invisibly linking your own optic nerve to hers. “Maybe.”

“What?”

“Something, maybe nothing,” you grumble, “it’s hard to say.”

“So you want me to help you with the context, that it?”

“Please.”

“No problem!” she tweets, before zooming off into the sky.

“Problem?” Fū asks quietly.

“Maybe,” you admit. “My kid’s not here.”

“Shikkun? Off on a mission maybe?”

“Yeah, so they don’t tell me for the small stuff,” you shrug, forming a seal with your left hand and creating three shadow clones. “It’s weird though… who else you sense ain’t here right now?”

“… can’t sense the fox,” Fū realizes.

“Nor Sasuke,” you add.
>2/3

>>6168758
You send one shadow clone to Shiki’s apartment to check for him, and one shadow clone to Kakashi-sensei and Konan-sensei’s home as well. The third you send to the Uchiha residence, while you yourself head for the Hokage’s office with Fū and Koji in tow.

…

“Yeah,” Shiki’s neighbor, a kindly-looking older woman who answers the door when you knock, replies when you ask. “Your son asked me to water some of his plants while he was away on a mission – that would have been yesterday morning, a little before lunch.”

“Thank you kindly,” you incline your head politely.

“You’re very welcome, miss…”

“Uzumaki,” you reply, and the poor woman’s coffee-cup shatters on the doorstep.

…

“Sasuke’s off on some mission or other with Naruto,” Karen shrugs. “Chasing down some lead on a terrorist organization or a cult or something. He didn’t specify which.”

“Are there really that many terrorist organizations and cults out there?” Sarada asks curiously, looking up from a late breakfast.”

“Seems like there’s always another one,” Karen replies. “Ōtsutsuki worshipers, leftover Jashinists, rogue shinobi, rogue samurai, idiots who managed to pool their lunch money and buy a bomb or two.”

“But they’re together?” you press.

Karen nods. “Yeah, Sasuke was clear about that much. So probably more important than idiots and their lunch money.”

“Probably,” you agree. “Thanks, Karen.”

“Sure. Next time stop in for coffee or something with your real body.”

…

“You will find Kakashi in the Hokage’s office,” Konan-han informs you quietly, as she pours herself a cup of freshly-steeped tea. “Naruto-san asked for him to take over for a day or two while he attends to something personally.”

“And he didn’t explain what it is?”

Konan-han shakes her head. “I assume something of international significance… shall I make preparations?”

“Probably,” you agree. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”
>3/4

>>6171236
The regular staff in charge of deciding who can and cannot meet with the Hokage prove to be woefully inadequate at keeping you out of the office, and so you appear in front of Kakashi-sensei without having to explain even a single word of what’s going on to anyone between his door and the front door of the building.

“Where are Naruto and Sasuke?” you demand.

“On a mission,” he informs you. “Intel suggested it might be related to Kara, so Naruto went himself.”

“And my kid and his team?”

“Off on an unrelated mission,” Kakashi informs you. “Still a sensitive one though, which is why his phone is off.”

“Good,” you nod. “Good, then back to the topic at hand. Did either of them say where they were going and what, exactly, they were doing?”

“Investigating some sort of cult linked to Ōtsutsuki-worship,” Kakashi tells you. “Apparently they’ve got it in their heads that the Infinite Tsukuyomi was some sort of worldwide salvation, and that you denied them that.”

“Wait,” Fū interjects. “You mean like Nakkun specifically is some kinda… what, like some kinda anti-savior?”

“I guess that tracks,” you shrug.

>Koji, what are the chances that there’s TWO completely unrelated Ōtsutsuki cults out there?
>Okay, so where EXACTLY is this cult based out of, how do we get there, and how much backup do we get?
>Well, I guess that means the cult is now officially my problem – lucky them. Koji, tell me where we’re going.
>Other?

>>6171273
>>Koji, what are the chances that there’s TWO completely unrelated Ōtsutsuki cults out there?

>>6171273
>>Koji, what are the chances that there’s TWO completely unrelated Ōtsutsuki cults out there?

>>6171273
>3d10 best of three

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>6171658

Rolled 3, 3, 9 = 15 (3d10)

>>6171658

Rolled 10, 10, 6 = 26 (3d10)

>>6171658

Rolled 3, 8, 10 = 21 (3d10)

>>6171658

>>6171658
“So yeah Koji,” you muse in grim tones, “what are the chances that there are two completely unrelated Ōtsutsuki cults in this region?”

“In this region?” he repeats his stipulation. “And of any significant size? Not likely.”

You nod. “I figured as much.”

Kakashi watches Koji with a skeptical frown that you can read solely from his single exposed eyebrow. “Your name is Koji?”

“Yes,” Koji nods.

“You resemble Jiraiya of the sannin,” Kakashi observes.

“That’s because genetically speaking I am,” Koji clarifies.

“Under observation?” Kakashi spares you a glance.

“For now,” you answer.

>Koji, I need to know where this cult is located. We’re going to attack, in force, as quickly as possible.
>Then it sounds as if Naruto and Sasuke are providing me with exactly the sort of distraction I wanted.
>Then I will go. If I need help, I will let the rest of you know – but I will be the one to assess things.
>Other?

>>6172979
>>Then it sounds as if Naruto and Sasuke are providing me with exactly the sort of distraction I wanted.

>>6172979
>>Then it sounds as if Naruto and Sasuke are providing me with exactly the sort of distraction I wanted.

>>6172979
>>Then it sounds as if Naruto and Sasuke are providing me with exactly the sort of distraction I wanted.

>>6172979
>1d6, best three of four

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>6175025

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>6175025

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>6175025

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>6175025

>>6175025
“So yeah, it almost sounds like Naruto and Sasuke knew what I’d want,” you muse. “A good distraction can be hard to come by these days.”

Kakashi pinches the bridge of his nose, suppressing a sigh. “I understand your intentions… and I suppose I lack the power to stop you. But can I at least ask that you be ready to call in myself and your former sensei should the need arise?”

“Yeah, I can do that,” you quickly agree. “In fact I’ve already let Konan-sensei know that something is happening.”

“You certainly don’t waste time.”

“Sasori-han would never let me,” you shrug, before turning to Fū and bumping foreheads with her. “Hey, thanks for tagging along, sis.”

“Any time!” she replies cheerfully. “You figure the tailed beasts factor into these guys’ plans?”

“Can’t help noticing you never mentioned it to me,” Koji butts in.

You shake your head. “Why would I ask you? If you knew it were the case you’d have volunteered it by now.”

“And even if it were, he might not have been told,” Kakashi-sensei muses. “So it would even be meaningless to ask in that case.”

“Either way, I’m just gonna be cautious,” you shrug.

“Funny, that sort of behavior wasn’t in the dossier we had on you,” Koji grumbles.

“Yeah no, I don’t show that side to just anyone,” you roll your eyes. “So, you gonna tell me where I need to go or not?”

…

There are signs of a pretty serious fight near the location Koji leads you to, which you reach in just a matter of a few hours thanks to Nyoka-han’s powerful wings despite the fact that you’ve never been here before. At the altitude from which you approach you’re certain that nobody on the ground could possibly know what is happening – from the ground, even the greatest of the shrikes must seem like a more common bird flying at a lower altitude.
>1/2

>>6177302
“This one can see no signs of preparation,” Nyoka-han reports. “Do yours see otherwise, Naori-dono?”

“No,” you answer simply. “Though there is a significant amount of destruction a few miles to the east.”

“Do you sense any unusual chakra?”

“Traces only,” you admit. “But it was a vast amount. Three very powerful belligerents.”

“Are they still nearby?” Koji wonders aloud.

You shake your head. “No, and they likely have not been for some time.”

That doesn’t mean you’re going to ignore it. In fact, far from it – you create a shadow clone and send it back to Konoha with the news. You don’t want to say it out loud here, where Koji will hear it, but you can’t be sure that Naruto and Sasuke won… at least, not outright. Whatever they faced, it must have been sufficient to catch them off their guard.

In the mean time, you look down on the cult compound Koji has guided you to and release a single kunai. It falls through the air, picking up speed, and eventually landing behind a small outbuilding that seems to be unattended. In less than an instant you’re picking up that kunai as Nyoka-han circles high overhead.

Given the clamor, you’d assume that the cult members here knew there was a threat practically knocking at their doors just a few hours ago.

>Blend in with the cultists using the transformation jutsu, gather some information.
>Use some more advanced infiltration techniques, let yourselves into the main building.
>Capture one of the cultists and interrogate them using genjutsu.
>Other?

>>6177790
>>Use some more advanced infiltration techniques, let yourselves into the main building.

>>6177790
>>Capture one of the cultists and interrogate them using genjutsu.

>>6177790
>>Capture one of the cultists and interrogate them using genjutsu.