Discuss Chuunin-Shiken [M-LV]

[Onix]

[COLOR=SlateGray][SIZE=1]Fans of the show [I]Naruto[/I] probably know what the above means, or at least have a guess. Shiken means "examination," like a test. Basically, the Chuunin Exam, where the Genin (Low-level Ninja) have a chance to become Chuunin (Mid-level Ninja), but often at the cost of their own lives. The Exam has three parts, and each one is grueling on mind, body, and spirit. Those that possess strength and leadership are promoted to Chuunin; those that don't, can try again in half a year.

For those unfamiliar with the world of [I]Naruto[/I], I'll do a little run-down on major events. There are five major countries, the Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Lightning countries. There are several Hidden Villages, one in each of these countries, and several others scattered around. The Villages produce ninja, which act as the key military forces for each country. They go from Genin, then Chuunin, and Jounin. The leader of the five major villages are called the Kage (shadow), and are the Hokage, Mizukage, Tsuchikage, Kazekage, and Raikaze.

The villages are Konohagakure no Sato ("Village Hidden in the Leaves") in the Fire Country; Kirigakure no Sato ("Village Hidden in the Mist") in the Water Country; Iwagakure no Sato ("Village Hidden in the Stones") in the Earth Country; Sunagakure no Sato ("Village Hidden in the Sand") in the Wind Country; Kumogakure no Sato ("Village Hidden in the Clouds") in the Lightning Country; and the minor villages of Waterfall (Takigakure), Rain (Amegakure), Grass (Kusagakure), and Sound (Otogakure).

Ninja use various techniques in battle, ranging from the physical Taijutsu, to the illusions of Genjutsu, to the Ninja Arts of Ninjutsu. Others include Kinjutsu, Forbidden Arts, and the Bloodline techniques which are only present in certain Clans. The techniques are activated by combining Chakra (a la Chi or Spirit Energy) and the twelve hand seals.

The Chuunin Exam is the real focus of the story, of course. The Chuunin Exam is held twice a year in Konohagakure Village, and can be taken as long as you are a Genin and have a team of three. It has three-parts, the third being a tournament held in front of various dignitaries and Daimyo (Fuedal Lords). However, the winner will no become the only Chuunin; all of the participants could become a Chuunin or, far more likely, none could. It all depends on how well they fight; winning more means more opportunities to show their skills, of course.

The first two parts of the exam focus solely as a way to narrow down the amount of participants for the third. The first part is usually a paper test, proctored by Konoha's Torture and Investigation Expert. The second is held is a suvival test, held in the Forest of Death which always whittles the teams down to at most 50% the previous numbers. Usually by the third exam, there are no more than 5 or 6 teams left, but occasionally, there are more.

[B]{Begin Plot}[/B]
It is time for the biannual Chuunin Exam to be held again. This time, however, there's great controversy due to Kuroigakure no Sato ("Village Hidden in the Dark"), a recently created village that is entering. The leader, calling himself the Kuroikage (Dark Shadow), is notorious for allowing Nukenin ("Missing Nin" who leave their village without permission) into the village, recruiting them to his teams, and killing the following Hunter Nin. Nonetheless, his Genin are entering the exam this time, and they are said to be extremely strong.

However, the Kuroikage's ambitions do not cease at showing the prowess of his Genin. He is, in fact, planning to kidnap promising students in the exam to recruit them to Kuroigakure - or at least interrogate them, learn their secrets and techniques, and kill them. Many of his Genin are there solely for this purpose, while others remain in the dark about their villages schemes.

What will become of the Chuunin Exam this year? Only time will tell. The only thing that is known is that it will be brutal, grueling, and cut-throat as the ambitious Kuroi-nin struggle to bring power to their village and reshape the face of the world as they know it.
[B]{End Plot}[/B]

Now, to pull this off, I've decided to try something a little new. You see, it wouldn't be very fun if it was just me playing against all the participants, and nor would I want to just sit back as a judge. So, instead, I've decided that it might be interesting to have a few, devoted fans step in as judges to aid me. And not only would we be watching and seeing who to knock out of the game; we be participating.

Essentially, the judges would be combination Chuunin - Entrants, who would act as opponents for the "actual" entrants. We'd be rival teams in the second trial, and fighters in the third. Then, based on your performence against these Testers, you'd either move on...or die. Or, perhaps, just be removed from the test.

As a last note, I'm having a bit of difficulty figuring out what to do for the first trial. It'd be fairly hard to pull off a paper test...so, if anyone has any suggestions, that would be lovely.

Comment/Criticize, please.[/SIZE][/COLOR]