You are a shadow clone of Uzumaki Naori, the one now spoken of in hushed tones as the ‘shadow’ of Queen Sāra of Rōran - for good reason. Over the years you’ve rarely had to use any of your abilities to protect her, because as it turns out if you do a job right you only ever really have to do it once. In saving her life during the fall of her kingdom and its evacuation, you became infamous for cutting down not one but two teams of Kirigakure anbu in front of numerous witnesses from their regular forces.After that, it seemed like other shinobi rarely wanted to cause any further trouble for the queen, and by extension for you. So it’s been a long time since you used this technique, which others might call an ‘assassination-jutsu’ but which for you is simply proper application of the basics.“How… did I lose?” the Ōtsusuki’s severed head wonders aloud with what must be the last of its waning energy, still somehow able to speak even if just for a few seconds.Because there are still thoughts going through his mind, you find that it feels appropriate to offer an explanation. “Before the shadow clone you struck dissipated I switched places with it, and immediately hid in your shadow. That was where I struck from.”After a few seconds of silence, you reason that the Ōtsutsuki can no longer answer you - his chakra has either disappeared or faded to such an extent that you can no longer sense it even with your senjutsu still moulded. And so, you finally allow yourself to relent and sheath your sword.“That was a hell of a technique,” Jiraiya-tono admits in a slight growl, still poised as though wary of you. “Attacking from out of the victim’s own shadow while using silent killing… he didn’t stand a chance.”You shake your head. “Yeah no, were it not for the proper timing he may still have avoided death.”You glance at Sasuke-han. “Well done.”“Some of our techniques do seem to dovetail fairly nicely,” Sasuke-han admits. “Are you okay?”“Fine,” you confirm. “Just a little tired. Yourself?”“I’ve been better,” he replies in something of a grumble.Now that the Ōtsutsuki has been killed, the younger shinobi who narrowly avoided getting dragged into this fight move to join you. Boruto-kun and Naruto-kun seem shocked at the scene, while your own future son immediately gets to work by pulling out a small scroll.>1/2
>>5673330Shiki seals away the Ōtsutsuki’s body first as Naruto-kun and Boruto-kun continue to gawk at the display. You can tell that neither of the latter has ever seen a man decapitated before, let alone one who was so obviously powerful.“I’ll need the head,” Shiki-kun informs you, his tone rather delicate and controlled.You glance at him. “Yeah, of course. It doesn’t belong here.”“Thank you.”While he continues to take care of that, Jiraiya-tono gestures to you with a subtle nod… and you find a moment when Sasuke-han is talking to Boruto-kun and Naruto is going on about something while Shiki’s working to join Jiraiya.“I think you know what we have to discuss now,” he tells you quietly.>What do you want, Jiraiya-han?>Sure. But just know that I won’t be able to answer every question.>No comment.>Other?
>>5673604>>Sure. But just know that I won’t be able to answer every question.
>>5673604>Sure. But just know that I won’t be able to answer every question.
>>5673604“Of course,” you reply calmly, “but just to make it clear - I won’t be able to answer every question you might ask, though I will answer the ones I can.”Jiraiya-tono nods in understanding, before beginning. “Let’s dispense with the pretenses, shall we?”“Sure.”“Then what do you intend to do from here?” he asks you sternly.“Simple,” you insist. “What I’ve already done once, apparently.”“Can you be more specific?”“Yeah, so I conveyed certain information,” you explain. “Memories, breakthroughs in technique, and so on.”“Do you see why I might have a problem with that?”“I do,” you admit. “But if I don’t do what I did last time, the results could be catastrophic.”“What sort of techniques are we talking about here?” he frowns. “Hiraishin?”“Yeah no, among other things.”“... sage mode,” he realizes.“Don’t be too worried,” you sigh. “I was her once, so I can tell you - she’ll be judicious.”“I wish that were enough of a reassurance,” Jiraiya-tono continues to frown. “I’ve seen evidence of her potential already, even at her age. Evidence that should what you say prove untrue, would suggest that she could become the greatest threat to Konohagakure in a generation.”“What would you say to that argument? The elders of my village may never have said it like that, but slow as they are they’ve already begun to consider things from that perspective.”>I can offer you no guarantee but this - that should we deviate from my intended plan, I’m confident it will spell disaster for us all.>Ignore all the nonsense and consider whether she is, underneath it all, still a human being. I already have my own answer to that.>You really don’t have much of a choice in the matter. We’re going to erase all trace of Shiki and Sasuke-han’s group having been here.>Other?
>>5675076>I'd say our kids get along well enough that i don't think it's a problem. In fact... the fact that we have children at all says a lot.>Whatever the future may hold, i think we can both look forward to it.
>>5675082+1though sadly, they won't really get to experience it...
>>5675076>>5675082Support.
>>5675076>>5675082This
>>5675076“Jiraiya-tono…” you frown. “In their time, I married a former ANBU from Kusagakure. We have a son and a daughter together, and my son came here with a girl from Kirigakure, Sasuke-han, and Naruto-kun’s son. What does that tell you about the world they must have grown up in?”Jiraiya-tono considers this point. “It sounds nice.”“It does,” you agree.He sighs softly, watching Shiki-kun end an argument between Kōshū-kun and Boruto-kun by bopping Boruto over the head with the scroll he sealed the Ōtsutsuki’s corpse into. “I won’t get to see it.”You shake your head. “No.”“Well, that’s too bad,” he shrugs, before putting on a smile and joining his student. “Well, seems like things went better than expected!”“I barely got to do anything, ya know!” Naruto protests.“You managed to pull a fast one on that guy with a transformation technique,” Jiraiya-tono contends. “Sometimes outsmarting and outlasting is enough.”…You are Uzumaki Shiki, and your mission in the past is over.“So what now?” Boruto asks, after you manage to get him and Kōshū to stop bickering over who got a chance to do what to help in the final fight.>Well, the turtle probably just needs to be charged with chakra. That will just take time.>We need to erase all traces we were ever here - you need to retrace your own steps.>There are still some things I’d like to go over with Naori-san and Sasuke-san.>Other?
>>5676259>>Well, the turtle probably just needs to be charged with chakra. That will just take time.
>>5676259>>We need to erase all traces we were ever here - you need to retrace your own steps.
>>5676259>We need to erase all traces we were ever here - you need to retrace your own steps.
>>5676259>>There are still some things I’d like to go over with Naori-san and Sasuke-san.
>>5676259wait a second, how does this Naori know about Makoto? She has to have Sharinganed that out of Shiki's brain, no way she deduced it from his shampoo or something dumb like that
>>5676763I figured Shiki would have mentioned it some evening before bed. Seems like a pretty obvious thing to mention.>writing
>>5676259“We need to erase every trace that we were ever here,” you declare flatly. “So that means you need to retrace your own steps with Sasuke-san while we do the same with Naori-san.”“Can you do that?”“Yeah, yeah,” Boruto-kun sighs, waving his hand.“This is serious,” Kōshū insists. “Come on, dude.”“Okay, fine!” Boruto-kun protests. “I’ll make sure I get it done, alright?”“So, what’s going on over here?” Naruto asks curiously. “Why’re you all arguing like that? And did you just say Naori? Like, that freakshow from the chūnin exams?”“... we’re going to have to leave it at that, Naruto-kun,” Sasuke-san insists curtly, before putting Naruto-kun under using his sharingan.>1d6, best three of four
Rolled 2 (1d6)>>5676902
Rolled 1 (1d6)>>5676902
Rolled 6 (1d6)>>5676902
Rolled 3 (1d6)>>5676902
>>5676902It’s not hard to retrace your steps through the previous few days, and at each step of the way Naori-san carefully eradicates the memories of every single person you met who spoke with you, or who got to know you at all. That means of course that most of Naruto-kun’s friends get a double-dose of mind-altering genjutsu. Finally, you come to a familiar face.“Ah, Shiki-san,” Hanabi-chan greets you with a restrained cheer, as if forcing herself to show poise despite being pleasantly surprised. “Funny we ran into each other again like this.”You and Naori-san tracked her down to a grocery store again.“Hanabi-chan,” you smile, ever so slightly. “I just wanted to say goodbye to you before we left the village.”“That’s thoughtful of you, Shiki-san,” she smiles back. “If you or your aunt ever come back to our village, let me know - the Hyūga clan can show you proper hospitality.”“I’d like that,” you bow politely. “Thank you for your generous offer.”Hanabi-chan glances at Naori-san, who takes the blindfold off her eyes. “Ma’am, I thought you were…”Then she pauses mid-sentence, her pale eyes slightly unfocused. Before she comes around a few seconds later you both step around the corner of the aisle.“... I could have sworn…” you hear her mutter, before she goes about her business.…“Everything settled, Sasuke-han?” Naori-san asks once you meet again back at the training ground, having been careful to ensure that you weren’t observed.He nods. “Everything.”“Okay then,” she nods. “Then prepare the turtle.”As Sasuke gets your group ready to swing the pendulum back forward to your own time, Naori-san catches your eye. She approaches, resting her hand on your shoulder. “So yeah, see you in a couple of decades, Shiki-kun.”You give her a little smile. “And I’ll see you in a couple of minutes.”>1/2
>>5677545Even before Sasuke puts the turtle away, you realize that you haven’t come back to an empty field like what you left. What you returned to was familiar faces - the ones that you should expect to see in this ‘now’. Naori-ue and Ryūzetsu-ue are here, along with Makoto-kun… and Hanabi-sensei.>Mom, did you release the genjutsu on Hanabi-sensei?>... how many people know now?>Just… let things go however they go from here. Today should be a nice day.>Other?
>>5677554>Mom, did you release the genjutsu on Hanabi-sensei?Man, Shiki really missed the ultimate opportunity to create a decades long plan for gathering Hana stamps
>>5677554>>... how many people know now?
>>5677554>... how many people know now?
>>5677554>>... how many people know now?>>5677555Fuck I forgot about the Hana stamps
>>5677554“... how many people know about this?”Naori-ue smiles. “Well me, Ryūrin, and your sister obviously. Naruto-kun and Kakashi-han were involved so I told them both, and Tsuna-han was Hokage at the time so I figured she should know too. And then there’s Hanabi-kun, your sensei - who if memory serves, you were quite sweet to when she was little.”“You’re going to get about a half-dozen Hana stamps for that, Shiki-kun,” Hanabi-sensei grins a little wider. “And I think I promised you and your mother tea - so as soon as the formalities are dispensed with why don’t you come to the Hyūga compound and we can make good?”…“So that’s your report?” Naruto-dono summarizes.You nod. “That’s right.”“I remember all that now,” Naruto confirms. “So you were certain to clean up after yourselves?”“Yeah, dad,” Boruto-kun grumbles. “Sasuke-san and Naori-san were with us, ya know.”Naruto-dono nods once. “Sure. I just want to hear you say it, for the record.”“We understand that,” you jump back in. “I can guarantee you that we didn’t miss anything.”“Then I see no reason why we shouldn’t wrap this up here,” Naruto sighs. “This whole thing was dangerous, ya know. So please, at least try to avoid doing anything like it again?”“I won’t pick up any more turtles,” Boruto-kun promises.“That’ll do. Shiki-kun, please remain here for a moment.”After Boruto-kun spares a glance over his shoulder before stepping out of the room, Naruto-kun addresses you directly. “So what did you learn from Naori-san’s shadow clone?”>Nothing. Just a few building blocks, basic elements of other techniques.>I may have progressed in a few techniques that might freak your elder council out.>With due respect, Lord Hokage, if you want to know you should ask Naori-ue.>Other?
>>5678092>>I may have progressed in a few techniques that might freak your elder council out.
>>5678092>Nothing. Just a few building blocks, basic elements of other techniques.Hokage or not, he's got no business knowing about our techniques. Neither does the council.
>>5678092>>Nothing. Just a few building blocks, basic elements of other techniques.>about a half-dozen Hana stampsThis pleases me
>>5678092>Nothing. Just a few building blocks, basic elements of other techniques.
>>5678092>I may have progressed in a few techniques that might freak your elder council out.Pretty sure they'll notice if you omit too much, they were there after all.It's not like they're going to be obnoxious about us progressing? Right? Riiiiiight?
>>5678092>Nothing. Just a few building blocks, basic elements of other techniques.>“You’re going to get about a half-dozen Hana stamps for that, Shiki-kun,”OH FUCK YEAH
