Section 8A: Stage of Teamwork.
Teamwork is hailed as an imperative for all teams to possess. People who work with each other are able to achieve a higher degree of battlefield dominance than lone actors. This is independent of skill set.
It is a given that as a Shinobi of Konoha you are able to achieve this level, more generally known as Cooperation, with any other Leaf Ninja. To do any less is to be the lone wolves feeding yourselves to the pack.
The next level of teamwork is colloquially known as meshing. Expectations are that any permanent teams should actively invest a minimum of 8 hours per week towards meshing skills together to increase battlefield effectiveness. (per section 3A of this handbook: Unpaid Time Commitments per Rank) This involves building adapted team formations, training in non-optimal skills to bolster a teammates effectiveness, and many other varied cohesiveness exercises. For example a ninja with an Earth affinity training in a Wind Support Jutsu for a combination attack with a teammate with Fire affinity, or teammates of a Hyuuga learning to navigate in smoke bombs.
It is warned not to over train in meshing as overall effectiveness will be lowered when a team mate is moved, or most likely, killed.
The first level, Cooperation, requires a basic level of Mental connectivity to act in tandem and coordination.
The second level, Meshing, requires an higher level of Physical connectivity to increase overall team capabilities.
The third level, Synergy, requires a tremendous level of Spiritual connectivity.
Synergy is far less tangible. It comes with time spent training, and ultimately shared life and death experiences. Trust in trying has long since evolved into Trust in doing. Even more than trust in doing what you know they need to do, but trusting they will do what needs to be done even though you likely suspect that have no clue at all what it is.
A teammate jumps off a bridge. Do you try to save them or follow them into the water? It is suspected that Synergy is achieved through Chakra, but the specifics still are unknown. At a certain point of rising higher in Synergy the chakra effects of the last level start to become detected. The First theorized that Synergy and Synchronicity chakra effects may be the same thing but the breakthrough that occurs with achieving Synchronicity amplifies them a million fold.
It is expected for 100% of nins to master Cooperation.
It is expected for 100% of Chuunin to have mastered Meshing.
It is expected for 100% of Jonin to have experienced Synergy.
Less than 1% of Jonin build the bond of Synchronicity, the almost unattainable connection of souls.
Any team who has achieved Synchronicity is well known for their actions. The Three Sages. Ino-Shika-Cho. The Third's team.
The Seven Swordsman of the Mist.
Even famous duos who have done likewise like Hashirama & Madara, Minato & Kushina, Captain & Tennille are well known.
When encountering a group who has achieved Synchronicity in whole it is standard standing order to Flee On Sight. (per section 5B of this handbook: Standing Orders for Chuunin level clearance)
After all it is almost impossible to defeat a team that can share chakra, bloodlines, communicate telepathically, has perfect knowledge of and ability to use each other's skills, and most dangerous of all the ability to literally resurrect a teammate who dies while in that state.
The only saving graces are that it requires the full team to be within distance, that when not in the Syncronistic state none of the perks transfer over, and that the death of a teammate while not in the state causes a debilitating backlash of at least a day(even if the team hasn't entered into the state of decades!). Obviously when one member is killed the bond is shattered for the entire team entirely. (Historical Note: It is believed the Mizukage assassinated a swordman due to fearing their power, and that it would be used against him when he enacted the bloodline purges. [[SS Rank Council Edition of this handbook addendum: It was Danzo who encouraged the Mizukage to take that step and did it with his permission so it would be untraceable back to the Mizukage. Danzo intern traded classified intelligence on Iwa to Orochimaru to have this done so it would be untraceable back to the leaf. An unintended side effect to Hokage-sama (but perhaps intended by Danzo?) was placing Orochimaru in a possition to be able to reap his reward as he pleased when the bloodline purges started. It is known he acquired at least 24 slaves of at least 7 different bloodlines. [[[[SSSS Rank Hokage Eyes Only: It is believed this is when Orochimaru was recruited into the Akatsuki, Strangely all signs point to the Mizukage being the recruiter.]]]] ]])
Teamwork is hailed as an imperative for all teams to possess. People who work with each other are able to achieve a higher degree of battlefield dominance than lone actors. This is independent of skill set.
It is a given that as a Shinobi of Konoha you are able to achieve this level, more generally known as Cooperation, with any other Leaf Ninja. To do any less is to be the lone wolves feeding yourselves to the pack.
The next level of teamwork is colloquially known as meshing. Expectations are that any permanent teams should actively invest a minimum of 8 hours per week towards meshing skills together to increase battlefield effectiveness. (per section 3A of this handbook: Unpaid Time Commitments per Rank) This involves building adapted team formations, training in non-optimal skills to bolster a teammates effectiveness, and many other varied cohesiveness exercises. For example a ninja with an Earth affinity training in a Wind Support Jutsu for a combination attack with a teammate with Fire affinity, or teammates of a Hyuuga learning to navigate in smoke bombs.
It is warned not to over train in meshing as overall effectiveness will be lowered when a team mate is moved, or most likely, killed.
The first level, Cooperation, requires a basic level of Mental connectivity to act in tandem and coordination.
The second level, Meshing, requires an higher level of Physical connectivity to increase overall team capabilities.
The third level, Synergy, requires a tremendous level of Spiritual connectivity.
Synergy is far less tangible. It comes with time spent training, and ultimately shared life and death experiences. Trust in trying has long since evolved into Trust in doing. Even more than trust in doing what you know they need to do, but trusting they will do what needs to be done even though you likely suspect that have no clue at all what it is.
A teammate jumps off a bridge. Do you try to save them or follow them into the water? It is suspected that Synergy is achieved through Chakra, but the specifics still are unknown. At a certain point of rising higher in Synergy the chakra effects of the last level start to become detected. The First theorized that Synergy and Synchronicity chakra effects may be the same thing but the breakthrough that occurs with achieving Synchronicity amplifies them a million fold.
It is expected for 100% of nins to master Cooperation.
It is expected for 100% of Chuunin to have mastered Meshing.
It is expected for 100% of Jonin to have experienced Synergy.
Less than 1% of Jonin build the bond of Synchronicity, the almost unattainable connection of souls.
Any team who has achieved Synchronicity is well known for their actions. The Three Sages. Ino-Shika-Cho. The Third's team.
The Seven Swordsman of the Mist.
Even famous duos who have done likewise like Hashirama & Madara, Minato & Kushina, Captain & Tennille are well known.
When encountering a group who has achieved Synchronicity in whole it is standard standing order to Flee On Sight. (per section 5B of this handbook: Standing Orders for Chuunin level clearance)
After all it is almost impossible to defeat a team that can share chakra, bloodlines, communicate telepathically, has perfect knowledge of and ability to use each other's skills, and most dangerous of all the ability to literally resurrect a teammate who dies while in that state.
The only saving graces are that it requires the full team to be within distance, that when not in the Syncronistic state none of the perks transfer over, and that the death of a teammate while not in the state causes a debilitating backlash of at least a day(even if the team hasn't entered into the state of decades!). Obviously when one member is killed the bond is shattered for the entire team entirely. (Historical Note: It is believed the Mizukage assassinated a swordman due to fearing their power, and that it would be used against him when he enacted the bloodline purges. [[SS Rank Council Edition of this handbook addendum: It was Danzo who encouraged the Mizukage to take that step and did it with his permission so it would be untraceable back to the Mizukage. Danzo intern traded classified intelligence on Iwa to Orochimaru to have this done so it would be untraceable back to the leaf. An unintended side effect to Hokage-sama (but perhaps intended by Danzo?) was placing Orochimaru in a possition to be able to reap his reward as he pleased when the bloodline purges started. It is known he acquired at least 24 slaves of at least 7 different bloodlines. [[[[SSSS Rank Hokage Eyes Only: It is believed this is when Orochimaru was recruited into the Akatsuki, Strangely all signs point to the Mizukage being the recruiter.]]]] ]])