Crackle-Kapow!
"Oops. Still had that set on Dramatic Lightning."
"Ouch," said Sakura, smouldering a bit around the edges.
"Well, there's her potentially useful power-up on her right wrist. You see that device?"
"Yes?" asked Kakashi.
"Based loosely off of the Ben-10 alien shapeshifting device, which itself bears a vague resemblance to the Dial H-For-Hero device in another set of realities. It has a single other form unlocked now, with nine alternates that can be unlocked as she develops as a character."
"What do you mean 'develops as a character'?" asked Naruto, as darn little of this made any sense to him.
"Right now she's little more than an obsessed fangirl who sneaks looks at Sasuke Uchiha whenever she gets the chance, while despising the one male in her age group that actually shows her affection in his admittedly limited manner."
"Eh?" asked Naruto.
"Meaning she's got a crush on me, and she despises you, moron," supplied Sasuke.
"Oh," said Naruto, slumping a bit.
"The Tentrix will allow her to alter into alternate forms, each with its own strengths and vulnerabilities. She can maintain these forms for an hour at a time, with a one-hour cool-off period between changes while the device recharges itself."
"But if it's that watch-thingie that does it, doesn't that mean someone could steal it?" asked Naruto.
"Yes, but the device will only work for her or someone of her bloodline."
"What did you mean by 'vulnerabilities'?" asked Kakashi, having caught that.
"The form unlocked will reflect the circumstances she is undergoing," rumbled the cloud. "If she unlocked an efreeti form she would become a being of living flame. As such, she would be immune to fire but could be hurt by large amounts of water or ice being wielded against her - forcing the form to be revert early before it could become fatal."
"Ah, elemental vulnerabilities," said Kakashi, being quite familiar with that. "Or a being of air that could be overwhelmed by fire?"
"Precisely. Thereby requiring her to use her intellect to assess the situation and choose a form that balances the strengths she needs against the vulnerabilities it brings."
"What about me?" said Sasuke. "Anything for me in that grab bag?"
"You seek power, Sasuke Uchiha. To avenge yourself, your clan, and your previous dreams. The Sharingan is born of the power of the Ten-Tailed Beast, and is a curse that has haunted your family and clan for generations. It grants power, carries its own price, and all those who have unlocked its greater powers have been tainted by madness."
Sasuke was about to say "So?" but realized that just maybe this was not the best response. It would also explain a few things he'd read and just maybe what had happened to his brother.
"Therefore this."
Bamf!
Sasuke looked at the metal flask on the ground but made no move to pick it up. "What is this?"
"Magic potion. Basically would activate your Sharingan if it isn't active, then shift it into another sort of dojutsu. Instead of competing against your more experienced and older brother in the same abilities, you would face him with something completely different."
"Why a potion?" asked Kakashi.
"He can choose to take it. Or not take it. The same with the device for Sakura, she can simply take off the device and leave it behind. In either case - it is a choice of the person involved to utilize the gift or not."
"Is this a stronger dojutsu?" asked Sasuke, used to thinking of the Sharingan as the Ultimate Dojutsu.
"Roughly equivalent, staged dojutsu. While the First Stage Sharingan allows you to predict movements and copy techniques, this one has more general utility uses while not allowing the instant memorization and theft of special techniques."
"So, no instant stealing of jutsu?" asked Kakashi.
"No. I understand that this was a point of conflict with other clans whose clan techniques were stolen by Sharigan users who were on the same side of the battle. It does however allow for instant analysis of the the techniques and the ability to find counters."
Sasuke glanced up at the cloud with the eye and then down at the flask, understanding what was being said. Not particularly trusting the "passing deity" about this, but understanding the offer. If his brother tried a genjutsu on someone with this altered Sharingan, they'd immediately know how to break out of it and what exactly was being done.
"That's done then. I just need to respond to one other's heartfelt wish. Our paths will not cross again, try to make the most of this Divine Intervention would you?"
"Whew," said Kakashi as the presence and cloud faded away. "Who do you suppose that 'one other' was?"
"Is it safe to stick my head up yet?" asked Sakura, still lying in the crater.
"Yes, Sakura," said Kakashi.
As Sakura got back up she gave an uncertain look at the "fancy wristwatch" on one wrist.
"Might as well see what you've got, since you have one of those unlocked already," noted Kakashi.
Sakura nodded, brought that wrist up to mid-chest level, and spoke. "Change!"
There was a blur and Sakura shifted to become:
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(Posted Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:49)
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