A crossover concept of my own that owes much to the brainstorming done a while back for Ashaman's suggested "Konoha 12 Pirates" which you can find in a thread down this very page.
First, a fragment of prologue I wrote on a whim.
And next, assorted thoughts and concepts about the crossover mechanics.
Though collectively known as haki, it is not one single force with three different manifestations, but rather three different forces each of which originates from one of the three aspects found in all living things: kenbunshoku/observation haki (which draws strength from the mental aspects of life), busoshoku/armament haki (which is powered by the corporeal aspects of life) and haoshoku/conqueror's haki (which represents the spiritual strength of life and despite popular belief is found in all things... just in extraordinarily small amounts, except for a vanishingly small number of individuals).
Chakra is an intermediate energy state that combines the mental and physical aspects and which only rarely appears in natural form. The ability to deliberately generate chakra in large amounts by combining energies was the great discovery of the Sage of the Six Paths, a development unknown to the broader world which made possible the rise of the ninja world and its myriad techniques within the relatively narrow boundaries of the Elemental Countries. Its dual nature makes it more flexible than either of its individual components and, ultimately, easier to work with. Sufficiently skilled molders of chakra can thus theoretically develop techniques that allow them to replicate anything and everything that can be done with the base components by altering to the adequate degree the mental/physical balance of their energy (and much, much more), although this requires deliberate and conscious action and cannot be sustained nigh-indefinitely in the way masters of haki (or individuals strongly attuned to a particular form of haki) do subconsciously.
The spiritual aspect, however, is almost as poorly understood among shinobi as it is in the rest of the world. What the world government calls conqueror's haki, the ninjas call killing intent. Both sides have a somewhat vague understanding of ways in which this can be trained and strengthened, but neither has anything solid beyond the purely intuitive level.
In summary:
Observation haki = mental energy.
Armament haki = corporeal energy.
Conqueror's haki = spiritual energy/killing intent.
Chakra = mental + corporeal = observation + armament.
With chakra you can theoretically do anything you can do with observation and armament haki and then some, however to do so you need to design a technique (for example, the Yamanaka clan techniques mimic the mind-reading aspect of observation haki) and you need to activate it. However, mastered haki gives you better mileage and can be used almost automatically.
Sage mode enhances mental (super-senses) and corporeal (super-strength) energies, but also requires high spiritual energy to be reached (Jiraiya never mastered Sage mode because his spiritual strength and drive was never quite high enough). Sensor type ninjas (like Karin) are naturally attuned to observation haki, ninjas reputed for their physical capabilities (like Uzumaki, Senju or the Raikage line) are naturally attuned to corporeal energy.
Elemental countries have developed some very refined understanding of chakra, but have mostly abandoned use of the mental/corporeal components and therefore lack true masters of haki and the best they can do is somewhat bastardized mimicry through use of chakra techniques. Outside world has masters of haki, but lacks comprehensive understanding of chakra as a mixed energy and bastardized forms of chakra manipulation can only be found in things such as Rokushiki or the super-techniques used by high end swordsmen.
Also, nature transformation (turning raw chakra into elemental chakra) is something known only to the Elemental Countries and thus jutsu-like techniques are rare beyond its boundaries (and when one encounters such things, the users don't really grasp what they are doing and the broader potentials they could unlock with better understanding of chakra). Examples of these bastardized elemental jutsu include Diable Jambe (which uses Sanji's natural fire nature) and the water manipulation exercises of Fishman karate (as a result of most fishmen and mermen being water natured).
To finish, haki users could learn to mold chakra and chakra manipulators could learn to develop their hakis in the fashion of the outside world. However, doing so would require a somewhat lengthy learning period, a willing (and able) teacher and learning to do things in ways they would find strange and counter-intuitive.
Thoughts?
First, a fragment of prologue I wrote on a whim.
Once upon a time there was a room. By every account, it was a nice room. Large, elegant, well-lit... but what really matters in our tale is not the room, but rather those who were in the room.
Because in the room there were five old-looking men, who were actually considerably older than they looked, as well as two snails, one yellow and one white.
The men were collectively known as the Gorosei, the Five Elder Stars. Together, they were the heads of the World Government and their voice was that of the ultimate authority.
The snails were Den Den Mushi, the snailphones used to carry that voice to the farthest regions of the world and communicate with those who had sworn fealty to their rule.
The mood in the room was subdued, if not grim. That, by itself, wasn't unusual. The masters of the world wielded unmatched power, but keeping the world in balance was a titanic and utterly thankless job. Revolution, pirates, rebellion, natural disasters... Rare was the day in which they didn't have to deal with a dozen different situations, each complex in its own right.
But all those were largely known quantities. Dragon might dream of toppling them, but his revolutionaries were simply too weak, and some semblance of order had eventually been born from the chaos born of the last words of the Pirate King. As things stood, the World Government as an entity had little to fear.
But today... today they faced the unknown. An unknown great enough to potentially upset their precious balance for good and that was something that was to be prevented, no matter the cost. There were plans that would one day, not so distant anymore, make their control over the entire world utterly secure.
But... not yet.
And so, they all agreed, balance had to be preserved, until it could be safely discarded. To do so, they needed to know more, much more, about this latest threat and so the one chosen by mutual agreement to speak for the group turned to one of the snail
"The line is secure in our side and we are all in attendance. If you are ready, you may begin your full report now, vice admiral Comil."
The yellow snail started talking with a vigorous voice then, "Very well, sir. To begin, I can report that criminal Haido Jekyll is reported to have died shortly before my arrival. Although the circumstances are not entirely clear and the body has not been recovered, the natives are quite adamant about this point and I am inclined to take their word for it. I have also been granted personal access to the... remains of his three bountied underlings, as well as the stolen vessels, after a promise of financial compensation. As an aside, I strongly suggest that the promise be honored as soon as feasible."
"Your suggestion is noted and will be taken under consideration. Continue."
"Very well, sir. As I was saying, I can confirm the deaths of 'Thunderbeast' Ranke, 'Howler' Fugai and 'Screech' Kamira, as well as the total or partial destruction of seven of the ten class A artifacts that were reported stolen from Karakuri."
Because in the room there were five old-looking men, who were actually considerably older than they looked, as well as two snails, one yellow and one white.
The men were collectively known as the Gorosei, the Five Elder Stars. Together, they were the heads of the World Government and their voice was that of the ultimate authority.
The snails were Den Den Mushi, the snailphones used to carry that voice to the farthest regions of the world and communicate with those who had sworn fealty to their rule.
The mood in the room was subdued, if not grim. That, by itself, wasn't unusual. The masters of the world wielded unmatched power, but keeping the world in balance was a titanic and utterly thankless job. Revolution, pirates, rebellion, natural disasters... Rare was the day in which they didn't have to deal with a dozen different situations, each complex in its own right.
But all those were largely known quantities. Dragon might dream of toppling them, but his revolutionaries were simply too weak, and some semblance of order had eventually been born from the chaos born of the last words of the Pirate King. As things stood, the World Government as an entity had little to fear.
But today... today they faced the unknown. An unknown great enough to potentially upset their precious balance for good and that was something that was to be prevented, no matter the cost. There were plans that would one day, not so distant anymore, make their control over the entire world utterly secure.
But... not yet.
And so, they all agreed, balance had to be preserved, until it could be safely discarded. To do so, they needed to know more, much more, about this latest threat and so the one chosen by mutual agreement to speak for the group turned to one of the snail
"The line is secure in our side and we are all in attendance. If you are ready, you may begin your full report now, vice admiral Comil."
The yellow snail started talking with a vigorous voice then, "Very well, sir. To begin, I can report that criminal Haido Jekyll is reported to have died shortly before my arrival. Although the circumstances are not entirely clear and the body has not been recovered, the natives are quite adamant about this point and I am inclined to take their word for it. I have also been granted personal access to the... remains of his three bountied underlings, as well as the stolen vessels, after a promise of financial compensation. As an aside, I strongly suggest that the promise be honored as soon as feasible."
"Your suggestion is noted and will be taken under consideration. Continue."
"Very well, sir. As I was saying, I can confirm the deaths of 'Thunderbeast' Ranke, 'Howler' Fugai and 'Screech' Kamira, as well as the total or partial destruction of seven of the ten class A artifacts that were reported stolen from Karakuri."
Though collectively known as haki, it is not one single force with three different manifestations, but rather three different forces each of which originates from one of the three aspects found in all living things: kenbunshoku/observation haki (which draws strength from the mental aspects of life), busoshoku/armament haki (which is powered by the corporeal aspects of life) and haoshoku/conqueror's haki (which represents the spiritual strength of life and despite popular belief is found in all things... just in extraordinarily small amounts, except for a vanishingly small number of individuals).
Chakra is an intermediate energy state that combines the mental and physical aspects and which only rarely appears in natural form. The ability to deliberately generate chakra in large amounts by combining energies was the great discovery of the Sage of the Six Paths, a development unknown to the broader world which made possible the rise of the ninja world and its myriad techniques within the relatively narrow boundaries of the Elemental Countries. Its dual nature makes it more flexible than either of its individual components and, ultimately, easier to work with. Sufficiently skilled molders of chakra can thus theoretically develop techniques that allow them to replicate anything and everything that can be done with the base components by altering to the adequate degree the mental/physical balance of their energy (and much, much more), although this requires deliberate and conscious action and cannot be sustained nigh-indefinitely in the way masters of haki (or individuals strongly attuned to a particular form of haki) do subconsciously.
The spiritual aspect, however, is almost as poorly understood among shinobi as it is in the rest of the world. What the world government calls conqueror's haki, the ninjas call killing intent. Both sides have a somewhat vague understanding of ways in which this can be trained and strengthened, but neither has anything solid beyond the purely intuitive level.
In summary:
Observation haki = mental energy.
Armament haki = corporeal energy.
Conqueror's haki = spiritual energy/killing intent.
Chakra = mental + corporeal = observation + armament.
With chakra you can theoretically do anything you can do with observation and armament haki and then some, however to do so you need to design a technique (for example, the Yamanaka clan techniques mimic the mind-reading aspect of observation haki) and you need to activate it. However, mastered haki gives you better mileage and can be used almost automatically.
Sage mode enhances mental (super-senses) and corporeal (super-strength) energies, but also requires high spiritual energy to be reached (Jiraiya never mastered Sage mode because his spiritual strength and drive was never quite high enough). Sensor type ninjas (like Karin) are naturally attuned to observation haki, ninjas reputed for their physical capabilities (like Uzumaki, Senju or the Raikage line) are naturally attuned to corporeal energy.
Elemental countries have developed some very refined understanding of chakra, but have mostly abandoned use of the mental/corporeal components and therefore lack true masters of haki and the best they can do is somewhat bastardized mimicry through use of chakra techniques. Outside world has masters of haki, but lacks comprehensive understanding of chakra as a mixed energy and bastardized forms of chakra manipulation can only be found in things such as Rokushiki or the super-techniques used by high end swordsmen.
Also, nature transformation (turning raw chakra into elemental chakra) is something known only to the Elemental Countries and thus jutsu-like techniques are rare beyond its boundaries (and when one encounters such things, the users don't really grasp what they are doing and the broader potentials they could unlock with better understanding of chakra). Examples of these bastardized elemental jutsu include Diable Jambe (which uses Sanji's natural fire nature) and the water manipulation exercises of Fishman karate (as a result of most fishmen and mermen being water natured).
To finish, haki users could learn to mold chakra and chakra manipulators could learn to develop their hakis in the fashion of the outside world. However, doing so would require a somewhat lengthy learning period, a willing (and able) teacher and learning to do things in ways they would find strange and counter-intuitive.
Thoughts?