I do not own Ranma ½, it is published by Viz Media, and is a work by Rumiko Takahashi.
Likewise, nor do I own Naruto, which is a work by Masashi Kishimoto, and also published by Viz Media.
This work is for the enjoyment for all who read it, and is not for profit any any sort of way.Stepping stones: Prolog
Setting up the board
Two figures charged through the forest. One, a young girl in her early teens with bright red hair braided in a pigtail, wearing an oversized old and dirty gi, the other being a panda. In pursuit, a young girl, with lavender hair tied up in buns carrying two bladed swords, stalked the two figures.
"Damnit, it was just some lousy food! Besides, I won it fair and square! Damn crazy chick," muttered Ranma, the young red haired girl running alongside the panda. It wasn't the first time this thought ran through her head, nor will it be the last time, as they decide to take refuge running into a cavern at the base of a hill!
As they entered the entrance, Ranma got this odd feeling in the back of her head, and instantly ducked. She was barely quick enough to avoid the swipe from severing her head from her neck, though not so quick enough to escape the severing of the pigtail her hair was tied up in. Quickly, both girl and panda ran in the cavern, seeking shelter.
Weary from the chase, the lavender haired girl, with the buns in her hair swipes at the entrance of the cave with a large wooden mace, causing the entrance to cave in on it self. The lavender haired girl, called by Xian Pu by the other clans-woman of her group cupped both her hands together.
"This is a three thousand year old Amazon technique. Legend has tells the story of a fox spirit plaguing the neighboring village of Nii Xangfon. It took the form of a beautiful young woman and seduced the governor of the village." A golden sphere appeared between the hands of Xian Pu. "This very technique was used to seal the fox spirit to this very day, Banishing No Jutsu!" As she said these words, she thrusted her hands towards the rock fall covering the entrance of the cavern. Black pigment shot up from the ground, making runes and arcane symbols along the caverns vault.
Xian Pu grimly looked at her handy work. "Yay! I get to go home! Great grandmother will be very impressed! Not even she learned this old Amazon technique!"
With a sword in one hand, wooden mace in the other, Xian Pu merrily skipped her way back home.
Stepping Stones:
Chapter 1 Crazy chick say what?
Four months later…
"Report," said the man sitting at the desk. His faced was wrinkled by time and experience. He is known as "the Professor", because of his vast knowledge and experience, he is the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi.
Almost immediately, a masked figure appeared wearing a mask in the shape of a hamster. He was a member of among the most elite of the Third Hokage's ninjas. "The stranger appears to have stopped moving at the moment. The stranger is female, approximately 4'8" and appears to be in her young teens. She is apparently a well-trained taijutsuist, her knowledge of genjutsu and ninjutsu are as of yet, unknown. She spends most of her time training in taijutsu, showing an approximately chuunin level proficiently. She is traveling with a panda, possibly a summons. It is apparently been training the girl in taijutsu, and has possibly jounin class proficiency. The fact that for the past week since we started tracking her, she has yet to unsummon the creature, questions the validity of my theory."
"If she wasn't the one to summon the panda, then perhaps it was a sort special summons," replied a third figure.
"Please explain, Asuma," replied the third Hokage.
"Well, if the summoner was strong enough, and had a pretty good reason, then the summoning animal could have been summoned for a length of time or until certain orders have been fully carried out," explained Asuma.
"Such as…"
"Such as making sure if someone was safe, especially if that someone could be their daughter." Said Asuma.
"So, you think she might have been orphaned, and while the girl could still be in danger, the animal won't be able to return, if this theory is correct, then whoever summoned the panda would be really powerful, or the girl is really important. Perhaps a daughter of a noble," replied the Third Hokage. "Though until we know for sure, I'm afraid we have no choice but to label her as an enemy combatant until we know for sure."
"There's another possibility, and certainly a long shot, but we can't just assume that she's here on a mission," reasoned Asuma. "She could be here for the chuunin entrance exams. The panda might be something like one of the Inuzuka dogs." Turning to the Anbu agent, he continued, "Did you happen to get a good read on her charka reserves?"
The figure in the hamster mask shook his head and replied, "Unfortunately, no, if I got too close to her, she seemed to become aware of my presence."
"Which could be an indication she's well trained in chakra manipulation, possibly a genjutsu specialist."
The Third Hokage paused a moment in thought, before turning to his son, "Asuma, I want you to take your team, and assess the risk she might be to Konohagakure. If she presents a risk to the village, confront and eliminate the threat. If she presents no threat, then let her be."
"So, you just want me to walk on up and ask her what her intentions are?"
"I expect you to do whatever you deem as necessary. At the moment, consider the mission a B-class, possibly an A-classed mission, considering we don't know the full extent of her abilities."
Ranma and his… well, her father was having a spar. "Damnit, old man, this is all your fault!" Ranma was letting off a little frustration at the moment.
Ranma ducked a swipe from the old panda's paw, and countered with a sweep kick, which her father easily leaped over. They have been going at this for a while now. "If it wasn't for you're stomach, that crazy purple haired chick wouldn't be following us, and I wouldn't have lost the dragon whisker!"
Unfortunately, having let her anger get the better of her, she over extended one of her punches, which was all her father needed to take advantage in order to throw her off balance. 'Oh, what a miserable son I have, to let his emotions so easily cloud his judgment! Has he learned nothing in our travels," thought Genma sadly, 'I'm never going to retire at this rate!'
Ranma Saotome, just 14 years old and already a master level practitioner of many schools of martial arts, was thrown into a tree rather hard. His father took him on a training trip when he was just 6 years old, and was a prodigy of a student. His father was a very proficient teacher in the "Art" as they like to call it. Though, a proficient teacher does not always make a very good father.
Six months earlier, they swum to China from Japan in order to continue Ranma's education, that education being the ways of the martial artist. They were unfortunate to happen across Jusenkyo, a cursed valley in China that contained springs that, if you happen to fall into one, you would turn into whatever happened to have fallen in it previously. Now, whenever Ranma comes into contact with cold water, he turns into a she. Only with contact with warm water can change her into her true gender.
Which is doubly unfortunate for Ranma is doubly coursed. Not soon after he received the curse, he got another one. One day, after being separated from his father, while in female form, he bravely stopped a thief who stole a bowl porridge, from a restaurantier. As reward for herself, she finished off the bowl herself, for she was quite hungry at the time.
The porridge happened to have been made with the stock that was made from the dragon whisker. A powerful medicinal ingredient used in Chinese cooking. It has no effect on women, but if a man happened to eat it, it fulfills… "a certain ambition." Fortunately the effects have been sealed, by using another dragon whisker and tying it around his braided hair.
Which is triply unfortunate because it was this braid tied with the dragon whisker that was used as proof of the demise of the girl who dishonored the young Amazon, Xian Pu in combat? So now, if she happens to try to revert back to her former gender, the dragon whisker curse will manifest.
Quadruply unfortunate if you count the figure they tripped over in the cave while trying to escape said homicidal girl.
So once again, Ranma sulked as she banged a stake into the ground with the hammer end of a small hatchet while setting up their tent.
Somewhere…
Ryouga was currently wandering around, lost. It wasn't too unusual for him to be lost, so he wasn't really all that worried. His one thought, destroy the happiness of the guy who ruined his life, and maybe give a stern talking to with that girl who tripped over him.
His two thoughts, destroy the happiness of the guy who ruined his life, an give a stern talking to the girl who tripped over him while he was sleeping, and perhaps kills that other girl who pushed him into the cursed spring…
His three thoughts…
Asuma was traveling through the forests of Konohagakure with his three genin, or lower ninjas.
"So what are we doing here again?" asked one of the shinobi.
"Well, Shikamaru, we're here to assess a possible threat. Basically a meet and greet assignment. If she's an enemy ninja, she'll probably go ahead and retreat. She's most likely a genin with chunin level taijutsu. It's possible she might be here for the chuunin selection exams, and got separate from the rest of her group!"
"We're after a girl, how troublesome. What's this about the chuunin entrance exams," queried Shikamaru.
"Ah yes, the selection exams, I've actually been meaning to talk to all of you about that."
That statement brought attention to all three of the genin.
"Well, I think that you're all on your way to becoming elite shinobi of Konohagakure, the next step would be the chuunin entrance exams. I was wondering if all three of you wanted to go ahead and take them."
"Eh? I don't know, do you think we're ready for them?" Asked Chouji.
"Wow! The Chuunin entrance exam already! First year rookies rarely get to enter the chunnin exams, eat that, fathead!" crackle Ino, the only female of the group.
"I don't know, it seems way too troublesome," answered Shikamaru.
Asuma just scratched his hairy chin, "Well, it's kinda too late. I already signed all three of you up for it. So you're going to have to take it no matter what!"
"Then why the hell did you bother ask if we wanted to take them then?"
Asuma's genin team watched the redheaded girl dressed in some sort of oversized white training outfit and her panda. Their observations consisted of mainly watching the girl, and panda engage in some sort of arcane version of taijutsu, of the likes that none of them witnessed before. They figured that the best time to confront the girl would be after her workout, when both the girl and her panda were worn out from the day's training.
The group assembled together to form their plan.
"Ok, this is how we are going to play it. Chouji, you will approach them from their back on the west side. Stay well hidden though, wait for any sort of confrontation. Ino, you take the south side, if it comes to actual combat; I want you and Chouji to target the redhead. Shikamaru, you're going to take the north. If things come down to a fight, I'll take the panda, go wherever you're needed most, backing up either Ino and Chouji, or me if I need it. Use your shadow bind jutsu only if necessary. We don't know if she is in fact here for the exam, and we don't want to show off any special technique beforehand. Remember; do not engage unless I give you the signal. Everyone know what they're suppose to do?"
Asuma's genins gave an affirmative nod, and then they each disappeared, in order to surround Ranma.
Asuma slowly walked slowly towards the red-haired girl. Looking closely at the girl for the first time, Asuma took note the state the girl was in. She was dirty, very dirty, and thin as well, wearing clothes that are possibly a size or two big for her. It's possible that she hasn't bathed in weeks, or ever.
Ranma noticed someone walk out of the thickets. She turned to his father, "Easy now, he doesn't look like anyone we ripped off recently, he could just be passing through. Just in case, be ready to bolt!"
The man started talking, it didn't seem to be in Chinese. How far off course could they have gone?
"Excuse me, girl, we are ninjas of Konohagakure, we'd like to ask you what your business here is," asked Asuma, tensing his body for either fight or flight. His body started to ease when she started speaking in a language that he's never heard before. "Shit," he muttered, "what the hell am I suppose to do now?"
Shikamaru was in position up in a tree, when he heard the strange girl start talking in a strange language. Great, he knew this was going to be troublesome from the start. Suddenly, it looked like the girl was looking directly at him. Then she glanced at Ino. It looks like she hasn't noticed Chouji yet. Well, it looks like their cover is blown, but that doesn't mean that they totally lost their advantage. There were 7 ways this scenario could turn out. Shikamaru quickly signaled to Ino.
She was spotted. It didn't look like the girl saw her, but Ino's presence was definitely spotted. She saw Shikamaru signal her, and then signaled Chouji. Ino frowned, Shikamaru never struck her as being crazy before!
Ranma frowned. They were surrounded. He caught movements to his left and right. Most likely someone was covering the rear as well. Not to mention that bearded guy didn't understand what he said when he called him an asshole. Well, looks like Ranma was going to have to handle this delicately.Asuma cursed to himself. First his team was spotted, which wasn't a big problem; he already figured that they were going to be spotted anyway. Shikamaru and Ino obviously had a very good reason for breaking their cover. Whatever it might be will have to wait for the moment because the red-haired girl just suddenly started to attack him.
Asuma noted that Shikamaru already caught the panda in a shadowbind technique. Ino already had a kunai out ready. Asuma had to admit, the girl was very good at taijutsu, however, she has yet to demonstrate her ninjutsu or genjutsu abilities!
Ino tensed up. It looks like Sarutobi sensei had the fight under control. He was obviously better, and what the girl was getting through didn't seem to have much effect on her sensei. Ouch, spoke too soon. That quick in the head had to hurt! Then the girl punched him in the stomach, and he was doubled over. Ino then panicked, she decided to use her mind exchange technique on the girl, then all she remembered seeing from that point on was a pair of eyes, and then darkness.
Genma frowned. What did he do to deserve to have such a worthless son to be beaten so easily? Well, once they escaped, he'd definitely needed to retrain the boy. Oh well, time to play panda for now.
Shikamaru went over to check on Ino. Once the girl fainted, all fight left the panda. Sarutobi-sensei was there just as Ino regained consciousness. "What happened?"
"I… I don't know, I tried to use the mind exchange jutsu, but it must have backfired or something. So, what do we do now?"
"Well, we haven't yet determined if she's a threat or not. Since she doesn't speak the language, interrogation is out at the moment. Search the camp, maybe we find a clue to what she's here for. Bind the animal until we're done," answered Asuma.
After searching the camp, they found some tools, food, clothes, cooking utensils, and scrolls. The scrolls were in another language, so they were still unable to determine the risk the redhead presented. For all they knew, she could be on a scouting mission, mapping out the layout for an invasion of some sort. As unlikely as that might be, there was still a possible threat. "Pack up her gear, looks like we're going to have to bring her back to the village, perhaps there's someone there that will be able to translate for us. We can use the animal to carry everything." Asuma frowned. It was going to take longer to get back home because of the slow pace. If she had any friends around, they would be sitting ducks.
Ryouga sneezed. Must be Ranma's fault! Just another reason to beat down his eternal rival! Damn, when did he arrive in the desert?
Chouji was snacking on some potato crisps. So far this assignment was a piece of cake. Cake sounded pretty good right now as well. His culinary bliss was interrupted by the unconscious redhead at the end of his figure tips with his last potato crisp in her mouth.
Shikamaru was walking peacefully along, when suddenly he heard his best friend and team mate give an angry yell, "You Bitch!" Shikamaru's head swiveled around to see the red-haired chick devouring Chouji's last potato chip. He readied his shadow bind jutsu once more that day, when the thought, "this is not going to end well," passed through his mind.
Ino saw Shikamaru use his shadowbind jutsu on Chouji, most likely so he wouldn't hurt their prisoner too badly. Ino decided to hold the tied up redhead because she looked liked she was about to kick Chouji.
"Calm down, Chouji, calm down… the girl's probably just a bit hungry. Why don't we just stop for a bit of lunch before heading back to the village," said Asuma.
That certainly cheered Chouji up!
They quickly made some lunch. Asuma was about to signal that they'd untie the girl for a moment to allow her to use her hands to eat. Unfortunately, she never gave them the chance, as she dove head first into the food.
Yeah, Ranma knew they were staring at her. She didn't care… this was the first real food she had in months that her father couldn't steal from her.
Author's notes:
06Jan08:
Corrected stuff... added stuff... did stuff... still in draft format.
17Dec07:
This idea was conceived through a passing thought, as most of what I've done has been conceived. It was just the image of Ranma-chan, riding a panda, while carrying a spear. Since then, the story has mutated quite a bit, as I have yet to figure out a way to have Ranma-chan riding Genma, while carrying a spear.
An aspect of the story I would like to point out, is a non sequitur observation that really has no bearing to anything really. It just seemed that you can write a story, using Shikamaru, Ino, and Chouji, while drawing a parallel to the scarecrow, the tin woodsman, and the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz.
Let me explain:
In the movie, the Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow character is one who is suppose to be like a brain. However, in one of my late night pondering, I was thinking—the scarecrow is really just representative of someone seeking knowledge. Its not that he's not smart, it's just that he's not sure if he's smart enough—but is always seeking knowledge.
Likewise, the tin woodsman isn't really heartless, it's just that he doesn't know love. Whereas Ino is always seeking a hopeless kind of love, never really giving a concern for what she already has.
As far as the cowardly lion, that is left for Chouji to fill. Chouji, in this story, is going to be portrayed as a coward, in order to mask that cowardness, he eats. He's strong, but he knows that, compared to his teammates, he's not sure if he can measure up, but through the course of the story, he finds the courage that he thought he was missing.
Which, I guess, means that Ranma is Dorthy. A character displaced from home. And of course, Genma is Toto…
Yeah… I know I'm stretching it pretty far… but I'm sure it'll turn out ok. (I hope)
Naruto, isn't going to appear in the beginning of the story, however, there was this other thought I had.
You can draw a parallel from Freud's idea of the subconscious with Naruto.
Bear with me for just a sec….
The Kyuubi is a representation of the Id in man, the bas natural instinct to survive, for sex, and for pleasure.
Counterbalanced by Naruto's nindo, which would represent the superego, the moralistic ideal that is in direct conflict of the Id.
And Naruto himself would represent the Ego.
I'm not sure how I'm going to do it yet, or even if it will be noticeable, but those are the rules I set up in this fiction.
Anyway, this is still technically a draft—I'll be doing some traveling, and I wanted to post it before I left, because I won't be near a computer for most of the time.