u/Transparent_Prophet

So in my AU project, I'm changing some things from Akatsuki for a bit. Certain members will be stronger and more threatening. There's two new members (a movie antagonist and an OC). Both of which I'll keep close to my chest for now. The OC, in particular, I already made a complete profile with. So my final setup will consist of twelve members.

• Regular Lineup (9) - Pain, Konan, Zetsu, Kisame, Itachi, Kakuzu, Sasori, Deidara, the Movie Character

• Unofficial (2) - Tobi (unknown benefactor/secret leader like in Canon) and the OC (a "reserve member" due to being an assassin so they'll be acting in the shadows)

My issue is that I'm struggling for the last of the regular lineup. I'm sure you noticed that Hidan was gone. I have plans for him and he can't be in the Akatsuki for it so he got the boot. I could have just finalized this one but I feel like I can still fit in another spot and was just asking for potential candidates. Anyone you have in mind?

Any ideas would be appreciated, thank you.

So I have a Non-Massacre AU project and one of the few things I've been on the fence about was Itachi. I would've considered just putting him as a Konoha jonin (or a genin team instructor) like in most AUs but I feel like that's a waste of potential since I can't think of any realistic way he can be uniquely relevant given how reputable he was as a powerful shinobi regardless of the Mangekyou. I feel like still making him a spy in Akatsuki... but it's actually important unlike in Canon where he's a lousy double agent.

In this AU, the Uchiha aren't ostracized and are prospering as a clan, Danzo and ROOT were ousted decades ago (different incident and not important to the topic) and became a cerberus-like terrorist organization (yes, they'll be antagonists in this).

My ideal scenario is that Itachi will do something catastrophic to sell the whole "traitor" ruse and ensure he can infiltrate the Akatsuki without people asking questions about his legibility as an S-Rank missing nin (not just in power but in reputation). It's something I've been struggling in. I can't think of a crime that has enough weight in it. Something that seems harmful to Konoha but actually isn't. I was honestly thinking that Itachi will just be assigned an off-the-books assassination of the village elders but I think that's still open to suspicion and again, doesn't hold enough weight to be "S-Rank criminal" material, like say, killing an actual Kage (Sasori comes to mind). I don't know.

Any ideas would be appreciated, thank you.

EDIT: By that, I meant aside from the example I'll be giving (even then, this one is still early so things are still subject to change). Sorry, the title was worded incorrectly.

I'm been wanting to read more of these.

I'll be honest. I randomly came across this one fic where an adult found himself waking up as a 10 year old Ben Tennyson. Most Ben 10 fans imagined a scenario where they get an Omnitrix, him as well, but actually finding himself in the Canon user's body so suddenly... he actually reacted in a way that you'd say is realistic. The way he reacted for being in someone else's body. The awkwardness he felt interacting with the previous owner's parents that are, in truth, strangers to him. The horror of high-school. Of course, he got an Omnitrix (doesn’t really have a choice with the threats around the planet) and was naturally queasy about the dangers of Vilgax, discomfort in dragging a 10 year old girl (Gwen) and a retired old man (Max) into a dangerous lifestyle. It's just those little things. It's actually funny that his situation can be summarized as "the SI finds the summer trip more interesting than the hero lifestyle".

They eventually found out the truth but it's not for the sake of pointless drama, it's actually became a plot point because the Self Insert is trying to find out what actually happened to the real Ben Tennyson.

Anywho, this also gave me an idea for a post-Self Insert fanfic (though probably for a different fandom) where the Self Insert finds a way to escape his situation and the Canon MC returns to his body... but they ended up becaming a stranger to their own life. The expectations unwittingly set by the SI due to their accomplishments. The tense and awkward gazes their associates gave the MC. The comparisons that both sides knew were unfair but can't help doing so. Heck, maybe there's even unrequited love where the love interest(s) look at the MC with a barely concealed heartbroken look. Even hearing his name, it feels like it no longer belongs to him.

I'm NOT saying the MC should become evil. Not my type of character progression and a bit too much of a misery porn for my taste, but basically, he sets out wanting rebuilding his life after the entire incident and there's struggles along the way, but he managed it.

Basically, the typical progression when it comes escalating storyline (supernatural gene) conflicts is that the protagonist grows stronger in response to them. While I WILL be doing such, I'd like to put a twist where they'll truly reach their absolute limit at some point in the series... which leads to the focus switching to a new stronger protagonist, as a result.

The approach I'm currently making is this. The 1st protagonist is the student of the sequel protagonist (unlike common stories where it's the reverse). Maybe they die or the conflict has truly escalated past their scope thus the teacher takes over as the main focus (although the 1st protag's character arc WILL be resolved). This is a subversion of the typical "student will surpass the teacher" concept but the teacher doesn't really hold it against them (he's prospering and she couldn't be prouder for that) and the student has no issues with it because his goal isn't really to surpass the teacher anyway (he wants to "resolve his teacher's regrets").

Naturally, I'll have to build up the teacher during "Part 1". The idea is that she's an "obnoxious mentor" (she's NOT tropish, however) common in most anime/manga - loves to mess with her student with hard labour (that are actually useful life skills she wanted him to learn), can be eccentric that the student rants about her whenever her existence is reminded but deep down, the two has that mother-son relationship on the side because they made great memories despite the former's shenanigans and never failed to nurture and take care of him to the best of her ability.

Impression wise, I also want to build the teacher as that prime "prequel protagonist who already went through significant character development" but still has room for growth. She's powerful, built strong foundation in her ideals, and throughout Part 1, her influence will be noticed in many places the current protag and his group will be in.

I'll even go as far to make the whole hype slightly "memetic". Criticism with the character flaws aside, the protag and the associates of the teacher will hype her up so much due to their individual impressions and will obviously be biased so there'll be some contrast regarding her actual character and the impression built around her. The difference is not significant (to prevent "fraud" allegations) but still more... elaborated.

Currently wanted to optimize my approach thus I'd like some advice so I can avoid pitfalls and potential blind spots.

As so many manga, novel, and anime demonstrated, it doesn't matter how good a story is if it tripped its way to the ending so although I've already set up what kind of story I'll write and how I want major plot threads to go, I wanted to create my take for a satisfactory ending and tie things together.

I won't elaborate too much about what story I'll write or who are the characters I'm referring to.

To share a bit, it will end up in the typical "world reset" because the storyline conflict will escalate beyond everyone's control (protags and antagonists alike). Same time point but certain events were pruned to accommodate the "fix". Key individuals remember it still happened but majority don't including the new "versions" of the main group. To kick the horse while it's down, the female cousin of the main protag remembers the entire journey but he doesn't. She wanted to believe he's the same person but deep down, she consider her true cousin "dead" because memories makes the person.

Yeah, it's very reminiscent to Chainsaw Man...

... but here's the twist. Unbeknownst to everyone, the actual MCs are still alive but "outside the current timeline" so to speak. Due to the overall story conflict, they've become too powerful (and immortal) and while they wanted their "happy ending", they believe their continued existence will cause issues but at the same time, they also believe themselves necessary in case another world ending disaster occurs in the future. That, and they went through too much together to just forget everything they went through. So when they set up the whole "reset plan", they didn't include themselves.

Simply put, the MCs became the unseen guardians and are fine with everything because they get to do what they find meaningful together while their loved ones get to live their lives without the horror they once dealt with even if the main team aren't really truly them.

I'll admit. I actually wanted to set the ending up this way so if I ever decided to truly go ahead and expand it into a crossover, the transition will be smooth. Yes, the whole thing is more of a bittersweet ending, which is my intent. They can no longer be with their individual friends and family but they still have each other.

It's not about validation or anything of the sort. I'll do it regardless but a secondary opinions would be appreciated so I can minimize potential pitfalls and optimize my approach to it.

So basically, my story (AU) will be a three parter with multiple MCs - two OCs and Naruto. No, I'm not doing pairings nor will I consider it as if it's some mandatory checklist I have to fulfill. It spoils the organic development of relationships for me. They're also not on the same genin team (actually my female OC will be Naruto's and my male OC's "senpai", if that makes sense). They won't also be introduced at the same time (e.g. Naruto grew up outside Konoha due to circumstances and will appear in the graduating year).

The three will be the MCs of Part 1 but something catastrophic will happen at the end of it that all three will end disappearing and not return to Konoha out of necessity. A five year timeskip then occurs.

However, throughout most of Part 2, the focus will be on Hinata and Sasuke. Naruto and my female OC will reappear at the start but they're antagonists (NOT villains nor the main antagonists) simply because they'll do doing things that will clash against Konoha (and other villages) although Hinata and Sasuke both suspect that they're in the center of the overall conflict and has full context of everything. They also noted that the male OC is nowhere to be seen.

Of course, by the late end of Part II and onwards, the three MCs will retake the focus.

Ignoring character development and such, but most fanfics usually makes it so that when conflicts escalate, the MCs' power levels will grow in parallel. My idea is basically that during the five year timeskip, my MCs grew both in power and mentality that they've... outgrown shinobi conflicts, which Hinata and Sasuke will be more involved with and whatever it was that Naruto and the others were into, they're no longer compatible with national interests and are more about "saving the world".

TL;DR - My story will be a three parter AU. Part 1 ends in a catastrophe, Part 2 is about shinobi conflicts (with a conspiracy on the side). Part 3 will switch on the conspiracy. My MCs (Naruto and the two OCs) will be more involved in said conspiracy that they'll end up inadvertently clashing with the shinobi villages at Part 2, thus they're (hero) antagonists from that perspective.

I don't mean the summons (I already have plans for this) or the bijuu, but basically new concepts that express that the world isn't just "old era Japan but with magic wizards".

Here are my current ideas...

Chakra-Enhanced Minerals - Inspired by the Gelel Stone (Movie concept), chakra metals (like Asuma's blades) and whatever trees were used to create chakra papers. The concept is that due to the remnants of the God Tree's roots being in the earth for centuries, it led to the formation of new minerals. I'm still thinking of unique metals/stones to have but I have a few things in mind.

• Nullite (The Blind Stone) - True to its name, it's a deceptively unremarkable dark mineral that "blocks out" dojutsu and sensors. The mineral loses its potency the more impure it becomes and doesn't have particularly concentrated deposits thus it's not cheap.

• Mysterium - A unique chakra-conductive mineral that can store the absorbed chakra for an extended period of time. It glows a mystical light blue sheen that seems to hum as if singing in response to the stored chakra. However, despite the potential benefits of the stone, it's noted to be particularly dangerous and volatile that there were records of Mysterium suddenly detonating without warning.

• The Underworld Amber - A mystical crystal that can be found deep underground and is very common in the Land of Earth. For reasons researchers have yet to identify, this crystal sustains Fire Style chakra specifically (and the stone makes them glow a spectral white) and not any other flames (shinobi tried to apply this to combat but they confirmed the mineral is not practical for such). The non-shinobi residents within the country (outside Iwa) treat this with religious superstition due to its supernatural beauty.

Elementals - Same as the chakra-enhanced minerals, these elementals can be considered off-shot remnants of the Ten Tails. And no, they don't monopolize a certain area (Land of Fire = Fire Elementals) but are more... environmental based. So fire/molten/ash elementals can be found in volcanos or something of the sort. They're not common and the phenomenon of their birth is still under study but they're noted to be strong. Shinobi missions area with Elementals in proximity are always B-Rank at minimum.

Chakra-Mutated Animals - They're NOT summons (those from tribes, specifically). They're closer to the non-speaking summons, however. It's in the word. These animals mutated with whatever new quirk they have due to chakra throughout the centuries. It's a bit more grounded with biological mutations rather than going full Japanese myth references. For example, flying spiders with webs between their legs as wing membranes or maybe a bipedal shark that can walk on land.

Basically fics where Peter was naturally more skeptical about the whole thing with Mysterio. Maybe he actually has the Avengers on speed dial to contrast Fury's argument (after Infinity War and Endgame, I feel like the participants would have more of a community of sorts so they can contact one another in case of emergencies) or to confirm the validity of the multiversal issue because it's above Peter's paygrade (Dr. Strange would be interested in this).

That or Peter just doesn't give Beck EDITH. Maybe Tony adds a note regarding the user-case and intended purpose of it (so he keeps it under lock and key - prevent theft and having a stricter authentication security so Peter can't just pass the glasses and grant someone else usage on it so easily.)