Nerima of Konoha

[WG_Writer]

I just got back from Botcon 2007 and got an idea I needed to post or it would eat at me.

But first the inspiration, while I was there I saw a Naruto style forehead protector with an Autobot symbol. My first thought was "Hidden village of the Autobot." after that idea was killed (Brutally) I decided to keep it within the confines of the Naruto story itself, and came up with the idea of the Hidden Village of Henshin. Basically a village where Henge and Bushin is the main techniques that they use. but I could not come up with a story until (unfortunatly) I added Ranma, or rather a twist Idea I posted in my cross over twists thread. I am placing this first so you know where this sucker came from.

Story takes place before the start of the Ranma Manga, and at the start of Naruto. Specifically Ranma is not a nin, 'technically' his family is that of known Martial artists, or Taijutsu specialists. His family is concidered half civilian, not half by members, but rather as a type of civilian ninja. They are typically allowed access to any village, and act as "guardians" of taijutsu skill. For this universe the Tendo's don't exist, and instead of Soun training under Happosai, it was Might Gai, albeit briefly.

Ranma undergoes his training trip mostly as normal, but since it is running under Naruto rules in terms of training and power he gets as strong as he is at the start of the Ranma manga at age 13 (not much of an age difference but its important for the over all plot). The story starts as Ranma is returning for a brief visit back home during the ten year training trip.

This time the main engagment was setup by his mother (Nodoka is still a non-combatant and carries her sword around. The engagment was with the Haruno's... Ranma gets engaged to Sakura.

Hinata comes into play as a fiancee at the same time as Sakura when Nodoka is away in another village with Sakura's mother arranging the Sakura/Ranma marriage. Hinata's father insults the "Anything Goes" school and Genma challenges him to defend its honor (genma in my opinion would, he knows that Ranma is not ready for this and in a moment of virtue, which he does have, albeit rarely. The challenge is worded as if genma wins then Hiashi would "Publicly acknowledge the school as strong," Genma wins and Hiashi, in an atttempt to improve Hinata's standing in the clan and bring in the taijutsu skills that were proven able to defeat his clan's abilities, announces the engagment between Hinata and Ranma, which made Genma decide to drag Ranma off for more training before he heard of this.


When they leave everyone knows they will return soon, mostly because nobody would want the hyuuga's hunting them. Nodoka and the Haruno's express they will leave the choice up to Ranma, even if they will not admit to it they will press it.

The story jumps forward at this time to part two of Naruto, Hinata, who never really met Ranma still has her crush on Naruto and Sakura was still not told of the engagment.

The current Teams Seven and Eight get assigned to escort Hiashi to the hidden village of Henshin (name is a work in progress) where the legendary springs of juusenkyo exist.

Ranma was visiting the village at the time as was Tenten and ranma is already cursed when the others arrive. Tenten is Mousse's cousin and the village is otherwise just the amazon village. it is not a "Ninja" village as such, and is located in the country of Fire. however many Amazons do migrate to Konoha to become Ninjas. As a matter of treaty point between Henshin and Konoha the marriage laws are in effect only within Henshin, Konoha will not support the laws elsewhere. Further on the point the law stipulates that only Ninjas from Konoha can be affected, not civilians. since Ranma is classified as "Half civilian, and half ninja" instead of an "amazon wife" he gets Tenten as a fiancee. (don't know how yet.)

The story basically reacts the path of the Ranma manga.

The other characters react to Ranma like this:
Naruto: Forms a rivalry with Ranma, he likes Sakura alot and now Ranma is engaged to her. But their Rivalry is friendly, albeit with Naruto occasionally attacking Ranma to prove superiority.

Lee: Looks up to Ranma as a symbol of his desires. Ranma is classified as strong as Neji (so at least Jounin level, although Ranma will not be able to defeat Neji until he gets Amazon training (chestnut fist and rising Dragon) )As such Ranma is the embodyment of all he strives to be. although he still follows Might Gai around and idolizes him far more.

Neji: He acts like an over protective big brother for Hinata when nobody but Ranma is around. over the last few years he grew to care for her especially with the posibility of Hinata being transfered to the branch family. He acts normally otherwise but does come to blows with Ranma often, and neither will admit to what when its over Hinata.

Kiba: Takes the place of Kuno in the story, to a slight degree. He is told that Ranma and "Ranko" are twins and belives it. Despite what his nose and Akamaru tell him he refuses to believe they are the same person. He is unaware of the springs, as it is a closely guarded secret as to their existance. (Ranma being an exception to all the rules in this regard because of his half ninja position, but still tries to keep the curse secret out of personal pride/prefference) Kiba devolops a crush on Ranko and keeps hitting on her, only to be hit on back, only physically, and involving visits to his doctor. yet he still keeps trying.

Shino: He is aware of the curse and acts like nothing is wrong at any time. he just treats Ranma like he treats everyone else.

Choji: Is generally friendly to Ranma and challenges him to eating contests, they oth can eat alot, but Choji usually wins.

Shikamaru: He and Ranma are neutral to each other at first but eventually ranma picks up his saying of "Women are troublesome" after about two months of the three fiancee problem. Shikamaru becomes Ranma's friend in the storm when he needs someone to talk too, all he asks in return is to play shogi and go with him.

Sakura: Reluctant tomboy fiancee, she is more interested in Sasuke and Naruto then Ranma, and would happily drop the engagment if she could. But she does get along with Ranma very well. However she is more then willing to throttle Ranma when he uses his girl form to scam free food, "demeaning kunoichi everwhere" She has found that Ranma dislikes people who know about his curse to refer to his girl form in proper gender contexts and takes great joy in teasing him with such.

Ino: Is mostly uninterested in Ranma or Ranko, neither are a threat or "real ninja" the only acknowledgement she gives Ranma is the engagment with sakura, which she brings up constantly in their presence.

Hinata: Is willing to go along with the engagment on the surface, but still stalks Naruto habitually, to the point that everyone but Ranma, his father, naruto, and Hinata's father, know where her feelings are at.

Tenten: resents the circumstance of the engagment, and even more the half ninja she is engaged to. Its not so much Ranma that she dislikes, its his position. As people they get along friendly, and could devolop more, but as the engagment is forced on to her by the village elder Cologne, who is also her great grandmother (Cologne is not related to Mousse).



"Half ninja"
The Saotome clan predates most other clans in the world, they are always a small, clan, but one who relies on Taijutsu in combat. However until recently (two generations ago)they were nomatic, and still are by many respects. However the current and previous two clan heads were of questionable character. as such Many other Clans in the Hidden villages want Ranma to become Honorable and Strong. The position of Half ninja is one that allows the Saotome to accept a mission directly from any village's kage so long as it is not directly against another village. further in a War they may only act to protect their home and not the village itself or its people.

The Saotome family is the inheritors of their adaptive arts, "Anything goes" unfortunately Happosai had stolen part of the art a generation ago and Genma was trying to retrive it while "training under him". He succeeded, but discovered what Happosai taught in terms of techniques were weaker then what the family already had, the only good points were the training methods. Might Gai had joined up and after three weeks under Happosai devoloped his "flames of youth" obsession and helped Genma seal Happosai. Unfortunately neither was great at seals

The benifits of the "Half Ninja" position was their ability to move as, if not more easily as civilians, since they were not "enemy ninja". Even Nodoka is ranked as Genin level and she is concidered non-combant for the family (her skills are in hand to hand, and not the sword, like in the Ranma Manga though she carries the family sword around, although she actually wears it in the open straped to her side)

The big draw back is that they often get called upon to do C and B ranked missions. Although Genma is strong enough he rarely will do A ranked, except when it does not atually require killing which he is morally against. Kakishi once insulted Genma as a coward for this, Genma then attacked him after he would not let up, Kakishi was hospitalized along with three Anbu, other Anbu which subdued Genma let him go after ordered by the Hokage at the time. This was about a month before they left on the first training trip.
Since they are "Half Ninja" D ranked missions, which are used for training purposes are never offered to the Saotome.

In truth the Saotome are often asked to accompany a Gennin team as a second jounin or chuunin level person when the situtation warrents it, such as a Genin team being sent on a C ranked mission.

---

Ranma has a cousin and family in Sand, but rarely sees them. During the Chuunin exam the known Saotome homes in Sand and Leaf were unscathed both by their location and the fact that harming the family was taboo. The Sand Saotome family specializes in using any weapon they can touch, but lacks heavily on the hand to hand. However both branches of the family are more along the lines of rival schools rather then any animosity because of the differing views.



(this is all I have come up with, any ideas of what to do with it?)

[Mitchell]

I'm a bit iffy on this idea. the term 'half ninja' really rubs me the wrong way. Besides you would REALLY need a good explanation of WHY Genma is against killing. In the modern world, its doable, but In the world of Naruto, its blindly stupid. Unless there is a very good reason, the Saotome clan would be viewed as weak and useless if they don't kill their opponents.

Personally I don't think that without the amazon training Ranma could not defeat Neji. In the Naruto verse, speacial techniques are increidbly more common than in the Ranma universe. Ranma if he trained as hard as he did in cannon would know a lot of techniques.

I did not really get the part where the Saotome clan were allowed into any village as guardians. What are they guarding? If its the hidden villages themselves that could be expanded upon, though I think it would be more likely that that they would guard civilian villages and not enter Shinobi territory unless a very spacial event took place. One thing you would have to look at is that you have Set the Saotomes up as newtral and then have Ranma engaged to marry a Kohona nin, one of them the heiress of a very major clan. If it goes ahead, the Saotomes are going to be absorbed into Kohona. You cant have the marrige or even the engagement taking place and retain the nuetral stance you had the Saotomes going with.

Furthermore you seemed to be sticking the Naruto characters to much into the mold of the Ranma charecters. I would recommend having a look over the reactions and drastically altering them. Mostly this is focusing on Naruto and Sakura.

As said before even the mention of 'half ninja' is REALLY irritating. change that name at least please.

[Spokavriel]

Come up with a plot that is better than what Naruto has and make the writers of the Manga post time skip ashamed they ever defiled the series?

Beyond that I like what you have but don't really think you should hold so close to Ranma situations. This settup is great for blending.

[Musouka]

I'm a bit iffy on this idea. the term 'half ninja' really rubs me the wrong way. Besides you would REALLY need a good explanation of WHY Genma is against killing. In the modern world, its doable, but In the world of Naruto, its blindly stupid. Unless there is a very good reason, the Saotome clan would be viewed as weak and useless if they don't kill their opponents.

Maybe it could be explained as having a fear of blood like Tsunade? Most jutsu in the Narutoverse look like they are more liable to cause bloody and messy deaths.

I did not really get the part where the Saotome clan were allowed into any village as guardians. What are they guarding? If its the hidden villages themselves that could be expanded upon, though I think it would be more likely that that they would guard civilian villages and not enter Shinobi territory unless a very spacial event took place. One thing you would have to look at is that you have Set the Saotomes up as newtral and then have Ranma engaged to marry a Kohona nin, one of them the heiress of a very major clan. If it goes ahead, the Saotomes are going to be absorbed into Kohona. You cant have the marrige or even the engagement taking place and retain the nuetral stance you had the Saotomes going with.

They could be sort of a neutral peacekeeping force. If you don't want them to be absorbed into Konoha you can make the Hyuuga engagement political and make it a way to seal an alliance with the Saotomes. Hinata does have a sister after all, this way neither one will need the Cursed Bird cage seal.

[camk4evr]

I'm a bit iffy on this idea. the term 'half ninja' really rubs me the wrong way. Besides you would REALLY need a good explanation of WHY Genma is against killing. In the modern world, its doable, but In the world of Naruto, its blindly stupid. Unless there is a very good reason, the Saotome clan would be viewed as weak and useless if they don't kill their opponents.

I did not really get the part where the Saotome clan were allowed into any village as guardians. What are they guarding? If its the hidden villages themselves that could be expanded upon, though I think it would be more likely that that they would guard civilian villages and not enter Shinobi territory unless a very spacial event took place. One thing you would have to look at is that you have Set the Saotomes up as newtral and then have Ranma engaged to marry a Kohona nin, one of them the heiress of a very major clan. If it goes ahead, the Saotomes are going to be absorbed into Kohona. You cant have the marrige or even the engagement taking place and retain the nuetral stance you had the Saotomes going with.

Perhaps the Saotome clan hold some ceremonial/special purpose such as announcing/determining when and where the chunin exams take place or carrying messages to and from hidden villages and/or the various daimyo so that lines of communication will always remain open (even in times of war), or maybe they are the ones who carry petitions for ninja missions from civilians. The 'no killing' taboo may be the result of their neutrality

[Mitchell]

The reason I thought the no killing taboo was utterly stupid, aside from the stupid idea of somebody in the elemental countries not liking killing, is that Kakashi thought Genma was a coward for having the view. Now if Genma had a ceremonial role where he carried messages, then it is unlikely he would be considered a coward for following the rules of that role.

[WG_Writer]

I see your point, but honestly I was trying to not alter any characters to make this work. I guess I can alter Genma a bit so that he is willing to kill when needed, but keep him hating the idea.

As to guardians of what, I stated they were guardians of taijutsu knowledge, I did expand the Saotome clan as well, I guess I should expand it more. Basically the clan has "traditionally" married in to acquire taijutsu skills which they protected and added to what they had.

The Half Ninja thing is meant to be a little derogatory, It would not be used as a title at all, its just the way to describe their situation. They can not accept any mission that would directly harm another village.

The Ranma vs Neji thing. I wanted to set power levels, as to ability plus the Hyuga perfect defense would be a factor. I wanted Ranma to refine the HSH he gets from the amazons to defeat Neji.

There would be taijutsu knowledge that the Saotome's are not given because anything they are given could end up in another village, but usually their taijutsu abilities are greater then any ninja in any main village anyway so its moot.

[Mitchell]

Thats my problem, you have hit it on the head. You are trying to keep the characters the same but it would not work in this situation. Unless you had the Saotomes appear from Nerima in Tokyo, you have to change how the characters react to situations because the world they grew up in is radiclly different.

Besides Neji's absolute defense is relativly easy to get around. Just chuck a couple of Shruiken or Kunai at it, and Neji goes into Kaiten. Just stand there as he spins and wait for him to come out and repeat as nessary. Depending on the time-line Neji is going to go through an enourmess amount of chakra before he switches tactics.

As for the Saotomes as guardians of Taijutsu knowedge, why are they guarding it? And what is preventing them from taking missions that would effect a village? is it a self imposed rule or is there some body that would come down on them if they did take a mission that effects another village.

I soppose Genma willing to kill but hating it works, but again it rubs against one of my anger buttons. In the Naruto world, the idea that somebody hates killing, or gets workedup about killing somebody makes no sense. You would need a INCREDIBLY good reason for why Genma hates killing. Perhaps he took an assasination job and killed Nodoka before he left with Ranma on the training trip.

It would be an accident. Genma gets a job to assasinate some minor noble or such, and Nodoka happens to be a guest or something. Genma is to kill all the people in the room and eos before finding his wife or something. Whatever the reason, there needs to be a very good explanation for this seemingly foolish option.

If the Saotomes are the guardians of Tai-jutsu are there guardians of Ninjutsu (other than the Uchiha and their cheatagan)

[Scratx-chan]

Well, the 'half-ninja' idea is silly. In the Naruto world, either you're considered a ninja or you're considered a civilian. A 'half-ninja' as you describe would most certainly be treated as a ninja.

Plus, I don't see why any hidden village would give up even a fraction of its income to someone not in their ranks. They're more than willing to kill in the Chuunin Exam for the chance of more contracts, why would they give any up to a foreigner?

That said, you shouldn't try to force any character into a role that was occupied by another series' character, for example Kiba replacing Kuno. Unless they're VERY similar, that's just asking for people to roll their eyes and go read something else. Kiba is, in fact, a very poor choice for a Kuno replacement. His nose alone would clue him in, and he'd very likely assume, if not a curse, that it is some form of Henge. Which leads me to the next point...

This IS a village of Ninja, and there are very weird jutsu and bloodlines in the world. Something so out of this world as it would be water-triggered gender changing curses in Tokyo would barely bat a ninja's eye in Naruto-verse. Maybe they'd raise an eyebrow if they realised it was not a jutsu, but even so they might just chalk it off as a bloodline.

I may speak more about it later, but I don't have time right now. I hope you address these points before you start writing as I feel they can't be ignored.

[Spokavriel]

Ranma's change from the curse is as complete as if born that way. Scent glands and all. If anything the nose would be telling him that they often share clothes without sending it to the wash. Beyond that there are family level sent similarities.

Looking at it that way I could seriously see Akamaru and Kiba's noses telling them that it is impossible for them to be the same individual.

Edit used wrong name.

[TheFallensoul]

I really don't see what everyone's problem with the term 'half-ninja' is.
To me, it seems like the term is intentionally made to be insulting.
Kind of like how Neji insults Lee because he can't use nin- or genjitsu.
It actually sets it up well for Ranma to be constantly trying to excel to prove he's as good as any "real" ninja.

[WG_Writer]

TheFallensoul is correct, it is an insult, I described it as a title earlier (mostly because it was so late) but its an insult, as TheFallensoul said like how Neji treated Lee.

In terms of village rank the Saotome's "officially" would have Ninja status, but not be listed as Genin, chunin, jounin, etc... This is what leads to the origin of the insult, half ninja, they are unranked nins with no village loyalty (officially).

As to Genma hating to kill... I think the easist way was to have him and Hizashi be close frineds (read best friends) and have Genma be the one that helps to Kill Hinata's kidnapper. After losing Hizashi because Genma did not down the kidnapper with non-lethal force he lost his best friend. After that he always tries to make killing a last resort.


Kiba being the Kuno of the story was simply saying that Kiba was being too stubborn about seeing the change occur. I believe that Ranma's two forms would have a similar enough "smell" that Kiba would write it off as they are twins (i don't think there were enough twins in Narutoverse for him to know better) and basically ignore the subtle difference, or if he notices just delude himself in some way. I don't plan on letting the situtation run for ever, just until he actually sees the transformation shortly after he sees another jusenkyo cursed person transform.


As to other guardians, I really don't see it working well. taijutsu existed before the villages and as such would be "old knowledge" for the most part. Jujutsu and ninjutsu are mostly village specific and as such would be more reliant to internal protection. I toyed with the idea of having the third hokage being from a family that acted as such guardians, explaining his skills (and nick name of the Professor) but I had to toss that idea, there was just no way that any village would allow their techniques to be shared to that level. Taijutsu I can see traded, but not the techniques.

[Mitchell]

My main problem with this idea, other than the Genma issue, and the reason you offered up above could certainly qualify though you might make that the last straw untop of something else, is you have included two radiclly diffrent story lines.

On one hand you have the Saotomes as Tai-jutsu guardians who travel around the world perfecting the craft and occasionally including some more forms into their style, and on the other hand you have the Ranma 1/2 romantic comedy part.

Naruto randomally Attacking Ranma to prove he is superior? Once or twice I can see but multiple times? Kiba's refusal to acknowledge the curse or what not? My suggestion is you drop the romantic comedy idea and rewrite the idea. The idea that the Saotomes are part of some old order of Tai-jutsu masters who travel the world, honing their skills and keeping the knowledge complete is a good one. The problem is I have trouble seeing it mesh with the romantic comedy storyline you outlined without basically re-doing Ranma's life in Nerima with the girls from Naruto. One girl is easy enough but ...

[WG_Writer]

I think I will just drop the idea, if someone else wants it they can run with it.

[TheFallensoul]

I think it is and idea that has a lot of potential.
I just tend to agree that you are trying to hard to merge that two stories.
I'm sorry to hear that you're thinking of dropping it.