Campaign created Monday, September 19, 2005 09:12:48 PM by Trickster Priest

A few months after a devastating battle, starting ninja begin taking missions for the village; learning what it means to be a ninja, developing themselves, and working as a team. It occurs in the setting of Naruto, but knowledge of the series isn't needed. This takes place over a decade before, and won't adhere strictly to the source's timeline.
Based on Bruce's HLV, IM if Interested.

(Description Edited From Original HLV)

The Following is an excerpt from the journal of the 3rd Hokage (Ho-ka-gay):

"It has been 5 months since the Nine Tails Fox Demon attacked. Casualties were high. Many good shinobi (ninja) lost their lives defending our village. Where the beast came from is still unknown. But it was very powerful, more powerful than anything I have ever seen. So powerful in fact, that the only way it was defeated was to have it be sealed inside a newly born baby. The 4th Hokage was the one to seal it. He saved our village and the tens of thousands that live here. The 4th gave everything he had. Unfortunately that also included his life. I have since then retaken the title of village leader and am doing my best to rebuild.

Construction and rebuilding is still underway. Most of the physical scars that the beast left behind are slowly disappearing. But I am afraid that the mental scarring will never vanish completely. Most everyone has lost someone close. I myself lost many dear friends. The fear is still there however. For the beast is not gone, only held captive inside an innocent child.

As for the boy, well... he has a rough life ahead of him. I doubt anyone would want to be in his place, including myself. It is unknown why the 4th select this infant to be the prison for such a beast. And now the knowledge of this has died with the man. The infant's name is Uzumaki Naruto. Most everyone knows it. His name has been on the lips of everyone I've talked to the past few months. His location has been undisclosed for his protection. Just before the 4th sealed the beast inside of Naruto, he said to me, 'I do not want Naruto to be viewed as the container of a monster yet as a hero who saved the Leaf Village from annihilation.' I will always remember that.

Well, I am off to the first Genin ceremony since the disaster. I am the guest of honor and will be handing out the forehead protectors to those who graduated. I guess all we can do now is look to the future of the Hidden Leaf Village. But never forget our past."

-Sarutobi "3rd Hokage"-

REGION

The world of Naruto is one filled with mystery, deception, and danger. Ninja's, or shinobi as they are sometimes called, are commonplace. They make up the police and military forces of the region. This campaign does not take place on the earth that we know. It is an alternate earth, with very different laws of nature.

The region is split up into countries. The 5 strongest countries (Fire Country, Water Country, Wind Country, Earth Country, and Lightning Country) each have their own Ninja training academy. These academies are located in villages.

NINJA RANKS

Kage: Village Leader

Jounin: Upper Ninja -and- Special Jounin: Specialized Upper-Ninja

Chuunin: Middle-Ninja

Genin: Lower-Ninja

Academy Students: Pre Ninja

Genin (Gen-in) (Lower Ninja)
Apprentice Ninjas. Most of the Konoha (Leaf) Shinobis rank in this section. They become members of a team and obey the orders of the Jounins and Chuunins.

Kage (Ka-gay)
Ho-(Fire), Kaze-(Wind), Rai-(Lightning), Mizu-(Water), and Tsuchi-(Earth) Kage. Given the title of Kage as the strongest leader of one the Five Great Shinobi Countries. They rule their Villages and stand equal in power with the rulers of their Country. Although reign over the thousands of Ninja in the world is solely theirs.

Ninja Academy Student
Ninjas which are in training and have not yet graduated to the Genin level. To pass their first test and become a Genin, they must know basic ninja skills such as hiding and setting traps. They must also know a few simple Jutsus such as Henge no Jutsu, Bunshin no Jutsu and Kawarimi no Jutsu - Transformation, Clone and Subsitute Body techniques. Along with this, they must also have adequate knowledge of a few basic Ninja tools: Kunais, Shurikens, and the like.

CHARACTER CREATION

*** ALL Players will be classified as Genin***

Ages: 16 and 18
All players must be human.

150+100 Character Points

No NCM, but most should be below 20
0-10 pts.- Resistant Defenses

Requirements
25 points of Martial Arts. You can even create your own moves and combos as appropriate.

Genin Prefab! This Prefab has many highly recommended and required abilities. Look in the Campaign Messages for more on character creation.
There is also an Equipment prefab, containing free equipment as well as equipment occasionally given for missions:
Equipment Prefab.hdp

Power Limitations: (Nearly ALL powers must have these.)

Gestures (Both hands)

Requires Skill (Chakra Control) Roll
Requires END (If default power does not)
Incantation (Sometimes)

Powers

Most ninjas, in the Naruto universe anyway, tend to focus their skills into one main power or "idea". For example, in the Manga and Anime, Naruto's main skill is Shadow Clone. Shadow Clone is basically duplication. He can create as many "hims" as he wants. Another character, Kiba, has a multiform of a half-human half-dog creature. Now both Naruto and Kiba have other powers as well, but then tend to revolve around their main focus power. Another way to make your powers is to have a theme. One girl from the Hidden Sand Village, her name escapes me at the moment, carries around a very large fan as a weapon. All of her powers are related to wind with her fan as a focus.

When creating your powers, you also must keep in mind the country and village you come from. All players will start in the Hidden Leaf Village in Fire Country. No this doesn't mean that all your powers have to be about making plants grow or setting fires, but you wouldn't have any powers dealing with water, wind or sound just to name a few. Leaf Village ninjas tend to steer towards animal, stealth, nature, fire, or even just plain speed related powers. But these are just a few. And remember it's ok to specialize. Don't spread your points out too thin. A ninja has to be powerful and exact. Spreading points out between too many powers will weaken you. Also, ninjas usually work as a team, so your team will back you up.

Not everyone has to have ninja abilities as their main way of attacking. Some just rely on good ol' hand to hand combat and speed. Your character may be a martial arts expert, and use his abilities to boost speed, strength, and accuracy of his attacks.

Where the powers come from are your clans (families). There are any number of clans that inhabit Fire Country. Your clan is represented by your last name. Each Clan has it's own unique skills and abilities that are passed down from generation to generation. Each can generation create new abilities, or tweak existing ones. But they must keep in mind not to stray to far from their clan's roots.
Sometimes clans will split and develop similar, yet unique powers.

Technique

Unlike a normal Hero's game, simply pounding the crap out of you opponent will not work in this world. In fact, that's a good way to get yourself seriously injured or even killed. Ninja's are known for their stealth and their trickery. Most ninjas, not all, have little or no honor and will take advantage of their opponent whenever possible. Creating illusions and "dirty fighting" is the way most will win battles. Waiting for the right moment to attack in another must for a ninja. Simply racing at your enemy with your shurikens flying, unless it's part of a bigger plan, is not the way to overpower your opponent. The way superman, and a ninja go about winning are very different. Thinking ahead is another trick ninjas use. Try to imagine how your opponent will react and plan your attack accordingly. But be prepared and have a backup plan. Opponents may not react the way you expected.

Chakra and Power Usage

Chakra is the essence of a ninja's power. It is his fuel. Chakra is the energy a ninja needs when performing a Jutsu (technique). That energy has two parts. The first part is the body energy that is in each of the billions of your cells, and the second is the spiritual energy gained through training and other experiences. To release Chakra means to bring out these two types of energy and mix them together within your body. By bringing out and releasing Chakra, you can use a Jutsu. This is done through the process of performing a Seal (In) with your hands. Based on what Jutsu you use, the type (fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning) and amount of Chakra used will be different. Unless Chakra is controlled properly, the Jutsu will be weakened or will not work at all. So, even if you have a high amount of Chakra, not being able to use it properly will effect your stamina. If you expel all of your Chakra, you pass out.

The RSR is important on Jutsu, as it represents the difficulty in transforming the Chakra of the body into the Chakra used in the Jutsu. It is important to remember that while RSR rolls have penalties, failing them isn't an automatic failure. I will be implementing the rules with them, so I suggest reading the last portion of the RSR section in 5Ed.
For one, failing an RSR roll by 1-2 will still result in a success, but with additional END expended (+50%, rounded up), and failing by 3 will result in a slightly wonky power at x2 END cost. As well, there may be penalties to the roll for situations (typically for maintaining multiple powers or while very injured), and bonuses like the same.

The gestures that are also among the limitations that are required, are the seal that you must create with your hands in order for powers to go off. Most powers only require one seal. But more complicated, stronger, and higher-level powers require a chain of seals in order the work. The seals are based on the Japanese zodiac.

PLAYERS
Only 6 players will be selected to start the game. If the game goes well I might and an additional 3 later on.
PM or email me if you are interested.

56 BK (Before Kyuubi)- February 8th	Sandaime (Sarutobi) is born.
~48 BK	First Great Ninja Wars (may have run for years earlier)
48 BK	Shodaime and Nidaime found Kohona, the Village of the Hidden Leaf, uniting numerous ninja clans
approx ~45 BK	Second Great Ninja Wars. Nidaime is killed at start of war; Sandaime (Sarutobi) becomes the Third Hokage (some period between 48 BK and 33-32 BK)
~44-45 BK	Nidaime founds the Ninja Academy system
24-25 BK	The Kohona/Kumo (Hidden Cloud Village) war, but is continuing as a 'cold war' for a couple of decades so far
2 BK ~ 0 AK (After Kyuubi)	Third Great Ninja Wars (may have started earlier) Yondaime is officially made the Fourth Hokage
O AK- October 10th	The Kyuubi attacks Hidden Leaf Village and is defeated. Yondaime dies. Sandaime is reinstated as the Third Hokage.
0 AK- April	Campaign Begins Numerous Academy Students become Genin of Kohona