#but when Lee was finally actually in the same place as Gaara. it was Neji who had the limelight there.

[orcelito]

Oh, that was MEAN!!!!!

Just finished ep 413, aka the end of the filler chunin exams arc. It did offer a reasonable explanation for how it wrapped up so quickly (third exam canceled bc of circumstances), as well as how so many of them managed to reach chunin (in lieu of the 3rd exam, detailed reports were given for each of their performances, which Tsunade used to promote them all)

THE ENDING THO...

Somehow I didn't realize that Ajisai was the girl that became the summoner Pain for the attack against Konoha. Not until they showed Konan giving the girls an S class mission (for their first mission as chunin????) & it started on the next scene with the guys lugging the body in. I just felt my heart Sink... it was rly sweet to watch Ajisai bond with Tenten & grow to accept that ppl from the big nations aren't all full of themselves and all. And then Ajisai is fucking DEAD!!! Konan, why?!?! And what happened to the other 2?!?! Implied dead too probably, considering they were on the mission together... aughhgh it's so sad

AND THEN FUU BEING CORNERED BY KAKUZU AND HIDAN..... which I actually hadn't realized that Kakuzu was from Taki as well, mostly bc I hadn't really registered his headband. So it was interesting to hear a bit about his past with what Fuu said about him. But it was also rly sad bc she was all "I'd like to become friends!" To him too. Which maybe it was partly an act, but she was also very focused on making friends throughout the time we knew her. Which makes me so sad 😭😭😭 bc she definitely did lose that fight, even though we didn't see it. Such a sweet soul, lost to plot progression... augh!

AND THEN!!!!!!!! The scene with the Konoha genin being promoted to chunin and Neji to jonin. Tenten and Lee being like "we'll always be a group of three!!!" And Neji being like "Yeah... I do hope so." BUT THEN KISHIMOTO KILLS HIM OFF FOR ROMANCE PROGRESSION!!!!! And not even good progression!!!!!!! Just to push Naruto and Hinata together. Just spit on his corpse why don't you, Kishimoto. Ngl im still mad he killed Neji. It was such an insult in so many ways.

Anyways I finished the filler arc, which means it's back to main shit now. I'll probably keep watching later tho. Oh no naruto and sasuke are dying!!! What else is new lol. They'll get better 👍

I Am looking forward to seeing Guy beat up Madara... I am episodes away from that iconic fight now... excited...!!!

[bishoukun]

🌊 for the Naruto ask game.

Th-there as an anon in my askbox?!

I may or may not have actually jumped in shock.

And then spent the next several hours writing expositions to mentally process the fact that I got an ask.

🌊 favorite story arc (and why)?

WHY DID YOU GIVE ME SUCH A HARD ONE?

My answer (all of our answers, actually) changed over the years, for sure. While I still think Shika vs Hidan is one of the most incredibly well-done arcs of the series, I have hindsight now that I didn't used to.

Now? I cannot stop returning to the three of the first arcs, the Naruto Bridge, the Chuunin Exams, and the Sasuke Retrieval. Haku, Zabuza, understanding each of them more than I ever thought I would, understanding who Zabuza was trying to kill and why, AGREEING with his goal, realizing that Haku was officially a Kirinin as well, seeing their dynamic in a whole different way. (and yes, still hard shipping them.)

Gaara. I haven't updated our carrd page yet, but uh, yeah. Obvious reasons for loving him are obvious. But even just as a character, he's always been high on the favorite list. Neji. The wonderful asshole genius I want to punch hug at the same time. (I did a breakdown to some friends once about the single panel of all the Jounin stopping him at once and the significance of who did what where.) LEE.

Now, put the three of them together.

Gaara and Lee's dynamic and relationship, the way their interactions change each other so drastically, and then how Lee being the most sweet precious cinnamon roll basically secured Gaara's stability. (Also the fact that we get to see him use his kekkei genkai here when we don't anywhere else, and when it happened nobody knew it was a fucking kekkei genkai he was using with his sand!)

Neji and Lee's relationship changes so drastically. I have something I'm writing with my writing partner that goes through the full transition of Neji and Lee fighting outright to beginning to realize what's at risk for Lee and that he understands him more than he would previously admit. Both of them are based heavily in a martial art culture that none of the other characters outside of Gai adhere very strongly to, so when others are telling Lee to stop trying to train, Neji gets pissed off. We see how much he's processed his trauma and how it's no longer holding him back, he's not a tiny whirlwind of anger and fear anymore.

And then there's Kakashi.

I could go on for hours and hours and hours about this man. The amount of personal growth and recovery we see is astounding, and terribly subtle. This is another area where hindsight makes me appreciate what he goes through in these arcs even more.

To know how much all three of Team 7 resembled his own, to know everything Naruto doesn't understand about his own situation and not be allowed to say a thing - because it would probably get him removed from the team, and he has his priorities in the right places, to know he is directly tied to both boys of the team through one's father and the other's brother having been student to one and mentor to the other, to be in a state of complex and complicated emotions in regards to the one man easily responsible for doing the most harm to himself and the only child of his teacher as he goes from being streamlined for war to being the village grandfather to everyone except Asuma as the village finally secures peace and has what he believes is necessary for his own teacher's and Hashirama's dreams to be reality. What a fucking transition, even if he's still far from perfect. Even if it took Asuma playing the "I'm literally your son, so fucking listen to me" card to get Kakashi out of ANBU and then kept him off S-Rank and likely off most A-Rank for years, to the village at large he was a very different influence. He's clearly conflicted when Hiruzen dies.

And that's only a small facet of the complex ball of anger and anguish that is Hatake Kakashi.

I could go on, and on, and on, about four of the aforementioned (Kakashi, Haku, Gaara, Neji), indefinitely. I have a deep love for them and the relationships they have, all of the complexities and intricacies, in-depth analysis. I write for all four of them, among other characters, such as my blond namesake.

But this has taken me, uh, ten... hours... (admittedly with a four hour break, but still).

It's now 8pm and I need some pain meds and lying down time.

Thank you, anon. This really, really made my week.

[omg-gojo]

Metal Lee and Rock Lee appreciation post  (things that i notice and things that i want to see)

because i'm so done that all in the anime and i'm saying All (including the writers) put them aside. And i'm gonna put some things that i think straight up. 

first i wanna start with Metal’s skills. I MEAN LOOK AT THIS!! Metal has more strength in one hand that Boruto has making the Boruto stream! that's what we can notice in the episode where he goes mad. and i’m just not gonna put him as the strongest child in the generation just for ONE and only ONE child that is Sarada, that come to thing on it, i hope that her strength is for training by herself and not for “she's the daughter of sakura” i swear i almost scream when in the anime they say so, Sarada deserves becoming stronger by her own hand equal as she opened the sharingan by her own.

another point of Metal is this! those were not just one kunai, he stopped eight ninja star on bare hand. that shows that he have the reflex, the speed and the coordination of a shinobi. Jus look at his face of “please bitch”. For this only scene that i saw i thought that Lee had a rivalry with sarada on the academy. Come to think of it...

i think that a lot of people forget but i don’t! LEE IS LEVELS ABOVE THE OTHER STUDENTS (that´s obvious) but i mean even from the other protagonist characters like Inojin, Chouchou, Sumire, Denki, Wasabi, for sometime of Shikadai (that this comes in) and i'm gonna include the sassy blondie here and the rest of the class, for some exceptions, as Mitsuki and competing with Sarada (again amazing me that this two aren’t rivals). But it appears that the writers forget always this: METAL HAS BEEN TRAINING FOR HIS WHOLE LIFE and yet he lost in 1 minute in the chunin exams at the teams fight and shikadai trains just WEEKS before the exams and gets to the finales and also put in another level his dad’s jutsu?!? WHAT?! 

I mean what was the fricking rush?! recycling the whole movie? They just lost a great opportunity, i mean it was a fight of Metal Lee, son of ROCK FRICKING LEE, and Shinki, son of SABAKU NO FUCKING GAARA, who i don´t know if you all know, but in their Chunnin Exams they had the most epic fight . ( I remember when i was in primary school and  i enter the Naruto anime when the Chunnnin individual fights were on the middle, and Gaara and Rock Lee fight on CN was starting, and when Lee take out his weights that was a moment that it is still print on my memory) AND NOBODY TALKS ABOUT THAT neither the public and the shinobis that were there! Didn’t Gaara mentioned to Shinki the boy he broke the arm and leg and almost ruins his ninja future? the one who forgive him and became one of his first friends?

the point that i like from this moments was when in boruto´s movie, shinki shocked face when Metal kick the hell out of his puppet and then again in the anime, in the 1 minute of the fight that we saw, Metal was the last standing and even with his knuckles bleeding he said that he's just starting, that was pretty great, but all ends when shinki took the flag without ending the fight (i just hope that he didn't think Metal is a waste of time). I think that lee could have done a great job in the finales but he´s team, that’s my net point.

What the hell with Metal´s team?! the writers just put extra weight on Metal´s shoulders, and i meant it, yes, Iwabe is a “good fighter” but he's a hot head: he has disobeyed orders 

(bonus that in that Metal´s ended up being hurt. EXTRA points to Metal that he ACTUALLY reacts in danger)

and in just one messed up in a mission he wants to give up in something that he has being searching for a long time (becoming a ninja) (EXTRA points to Lee that convince him of becoming literally a traitor). You can’t just put characters THAT DIDN'T EXIST IN THE MANGA with a principal a character that just make of that character just another extra, and even making them the worst team (at least in the team of Sumire the three actually do something).  And yes METAL HAS ANXIETY but in the serious moments he's always in place of act like a real shinobi and we´re seen him controlling it (on his own way). 

i would like to put a parenthesis here to talk about something that it's bothering me a lot. The way of all the other kids and the writers themselves use Metal´s anxiety as a joke or for making fail. That for me is not even nearly funny, i had anxiety, and thinking of someone reminding me every time they can something that i´m fighting against don´t make me laugh. I remember the episode we’re girls and boys were competing and in not once but TWO times someone use his anxiety to make an advantage. That was the worst. 

A theory that i have is that Metal´s has eyebacks for insomnia, not as deep as Gaara’s but he had they.

TURNING BACK TO THE POINT i was hoping to see Metal´s team from the movie were the other kids are using the iconic green spandex of YOUTH, because that made me thing that Metal was the leader and also that Rock Lee have become a Famous sensei. that let me to two other points.

1) When kakashi goes and interview all the class, in MY OPINION, Lee was the only boy who was ensure on the ninja’s path and really shows it. Yeah Boruto said that he wanted to become a shinobi better than his father, but then happens all of the cheating soo...  Lee for the contrary says that he wants to become strong as his dad, Metal knows what his that it's capable and know the effort that he needs to make it true and he’s already doin it. Kakashi had to put everyone on the same level for the exam’s objective. But from all i tell you, Metal is the one who truly is making a great ninja path: he shows strength, ability, skills, goals of being better and helping his team to being better (even if his team sucks), he shows determination and a passion of what Gai, his father and the generation before his had made. he’s the legacy that the Gai, Tenten, Neji and Tenten’s team left, he is just starting clearly, but it shows a bright path of youth.

2) Lee has a Doje that it's not specialise in just shinobis, it's for everyone, taijutsu is for everyone and lee has accomplished his goal of leading people for the path, making merch ang hopefully buying Tenten´s merch.

but something that i don't forgive is the situation with Metal´s mother, i mean WTFH?! what’s that stupid thing of “we haven't designed her yet”? You mean you design characters that didn't need to exist, but you don’t make the wife of one of the 12 of Konoha?! (ME QUIERES VER LA CARA DE ESTUPIDA?) you just needed to said like  “Oh yeah, she died” or “She´s an important character that would appear later” or what if “Oh Metal is adopted and his other father is Gaara” it such an insult for a character that has now the same if not more of the power that made Madara proclaims that “Gai was the strongest man” in the world AND YOU DIDN´T DESIGNED HIM A WIFE?! i’m so done.

the things that i want to see (that i'm not saying that IT HAS TO BE DONE, but that i would enjoy seeing)

Lee and Sakura being Taijutsu friends (my leesaku side would never die)

Sarada and Metal being friends for the reason before

Metal lee being called sama for the students of his father

Metal having a big house but he doesn't  care about that

Metal talking with Tenten (VERY IMPORTANT)

That konoha make a cone memorial for the people lost in the last war and uzumakis and Hyuga family meeting in neji´s memorial with Gai, Rock lee, tenten and Metal.

shinki and his team becoming friends (or other thing cof cof) with metal

Metal in the beach being the handsome tough boy that he is.

Metal meeting Gaara (isweartogodthatiwillcry)

Mistress Lee appears (but if it ended up being Gaara that would be better)

More Gai and kakashi moment (with Metal involved sounds good to)

epic moment where Rock lee and Sakura fight back to back (I'M CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL)

iwabe and Denki trying to follow Metal’s daily routine

Araya being helped for Metal lee with his panic problems (i don’t believe in coincidence)

  In conclusion Metal is not the one who has to be on scene every time, but he deserves equal respect and presence as the other children and being more involved with the whole group, at the end, he’s all that team Gai have left for the next generation in meaning of representation.

[shikadainara]

discussing the sad naruto deaths because why not:

zabuza and haku: OF COURSE this still makes me bawl my eyes out, “if possible, i wish... to go to the same place as you” is such an iconic naruto quote for a good reason. 10/10. (and the way haku finds out post-mortem how, really, zabuza didn’t see him as a mere tool all this time after all....!!! i hope they rest easy in the afterlife.)

hayate: does this even count. even on “sad naruto death” collages i don’t think i’ve seen a single person acknowledge that he was killed LOL

hiruzen: i cannot believe i actually cried over this bitch as a kid LOOOOL like??? it does make me the tiny smidgest sad how he was still trying to believe in the good in orochimaru until the very end but that’s all i’ll say. when you find out later how he was complacent in the uchiha clan massacre and also i realize now that i’m older that he could’ve VERY EASILY done something about how naruto was neglected but chose to do jackshit, that and reread the konoha crush it feels like this fight gets dragged on for so long and i’m just waiting for him to die faster bye bitch!!! 👋👋

dan and nawaki: eh i do like tsunade and all but also they’re kinda just. there. dead.

chiyo: NOOO MILF YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TOO SEXY TO DIE!! 😭😭💔 ok but seriously, chiyo’s death it doesn’t have the “nooooo!!!” factor because she did willingly give up her life, not going out torn up and bloody, just peacefully transferring her life force away, but... wow. her death speaks so much about how she was willing to past things onto gaara, and his generation. it’s such a fitting death. and you know what i honestly want to say that chiyo is the best written female character in the whole damn manga...

asuma: HHHHHH???? i mean OF COURSE i love team 10 the most OF COURSE this tears my heart into pieces but!!! i wish it was better written!!! like of course his death cuts into shikamaru deep and by proxy it makes me so emotional because of it but... asuma you do have two other students Hello... the first half what he says to ino about how caring she is great, the second half about not losing to sakura in ninjutsu or in love is... kinda Uh but. the first half of what he says to chouji about how big his heart is is great, the second half about asuma spouting fatphobia is just??? WHAT!?!? THIS IS BOTH A HORRIBLE THING TO SAY, LET ALONE AS YOUR DYING WORDS TO YOUR STUDENT, AND DOESN’T EVEN MAKE SENSE!?!? hhh like i do think that!! asuma loves his students if not he wouldn’t treat them to barbecue all the time but!!! for fuck’s sake i reallllly wish we got to see what he actively did to teach both ino and chouji before he died... at least. at least i think the manga’s self aware because when his edo tensei is brought back, no one brings up the second halves of what he told to both ino and chouji, and his new final words of “your inoshikachou formation is complete.” is WAY better...

itachi: i don’t fucking know. itachi’s character is all over the place what am i Supposed to feel

shisui: ok honestly i remember like nothing about him sorry pass

jiraiya: hhhh?? like his whole death scene was great, it does make me sad with the build up of tsunade betting on his life since she never wins her bets, the way he’s fighting to the bitter end, him putting his pen down with “the tale of naruto uzumaki”, seeing both tsunade and naruto break down over the news of his death... BUT. yeah idk i wish he was a better person while he lived that would’ve been cool.

minato and kushina: well the impact of this one is lessened imo since well they were dead long before the series started their deaths was uhhh kinda what put the whole series in motion. it still is sad tho thinking about the AU where what their family could’ve been if they lived :( 

nagato: i do like the rain kids and all but the rinne rebirth shit was pretty dumb like it felt like kishi just wanted to backtrack on actually killing off some characters lol

konan: uhhhh honestly i don’t remember what happened in her fight against tobi at all sorry. i’m sure her death was sad tho

neji: neji’s not even anywhere near my list of top favorite characters and his death was an absolute shitshow. you know why but the whole angel thing for NH shit is awful, the way tenten isn’t allowed to mourn for him she just says “lee...” ??? (idc about the ship i just mean as being his teammate), the fact that he goes down so easily, THE UH. THE DISTURBING IMPLICATIONS OF HIS CHARACTER ARC AND HOW HE DIED TO PROTECT THE MAIN FAMILY UHHHH. er. now that’s what i call Yikes!!!!

shikaku: NOOO DILF YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TOO SEXY TO DIE!! 😭😭💔 i’ve expressed before but i do think the whole “i grew up watching your back” thing is kinda weird since it makes it feel like shikaku wasn’t that actively in shikamaru’s life but. we know that’s a lie??? we know that he’s konoha’s best father and is also sexy as hell??? the whole “live and guide them yourself, shikamaru.” MAKES ME BAWLLLL AAAAAAAAAAA (i do think that the whole “make sure to hide that from your mother” thing is also kinda weird but whatever i don’t think it detracts from the impact of his death lol)  i hope you keep thotting it up in heaven king

inoichi: NOOO DILF YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TOO SEXY TO DIE!! 😭😭💔 we know less about his relationship with ino but it’s abundantly clear from this scene alone how much ino absolutely loved her father... and again as someone who loves team 10 so SO much!! yeah. i do absolutely fucking hate the “POSITIVE LOVE *PICTURE OF SASUKE*” fuck off with that shit but. the “WHAT I’M MOST PROUD OF AS YOUR FATHER... IS YOUR FEELINGS TOWARDS YOUR FRIENDS” AWWWWWWWW and the way they both die by welcoming oblivion by saying that they’ll always still be in their children’s hearts.... AAAAAA

rin: idk i’ve seen both “you let rin die.” and the whole “haha you sure know how to steal a girl’s heart!!! *picture of chidori going through her chest*” memed on to death it’s so hard to take it seriously anymore i am sorry

obito (not the rock but for realsies): “YOU WERE THE COOLEST GUY!!!!!” that’s all i have to say

[sakura-blossom28]

Heartbroken

I guess I can’t stop writing! This is a more set up chapter if anything with some sweet bits at the end which I love writing! The next chapter should be fun and I’m going to jump around with the time a bit to speed this up to get to more Gaara Sakura gushy bits! Hope you guys like it let me know what you think!!

Part 1 / Part 2  / Part 3

Going out, piece of cake.  But what to wear? If she was just going to Naruto’s apartment Sakura would have just changed into some pajamas to hang out in, but they hardly went out like this, and this was barely going out.  To overdress or underdress?  Sakura did like getting dressed up but this was hardly the place to do it, and besides, she hadn’t had a reason to look nice in a while.  Even when she was dating Sasuke they never went out.  The bar scene just wasn’t for him.  Sakura didn’t mind, they went to a lot of casual dining places so there was never a need.  

She did miss dressing up, doing her hair, and using the nice makeup she got for Christmas.  Maybe with the warm weather, Sakura could convince everyone to go out to the nice rooftop bars.  Maybe even dancing!  The thought made her happy.  Even though she wasn’t good at it, Sakura still liked to dance.  It was just a fun way to let loose and feel good.  

Sakura chose to straighten her hair after her shower.  She definitely needed one after kickboxing.  She chose a chunky green turtle neck sweater that was darker than her eyes, dark jeans, and a pair of brown boots with a little bit of a heel.  Sakura looked casual but nice enough that her mother would approve of since she was going out in public.  Her makeup was light, just some blush and mascara to bring out her eyes more, and just a shiny tint lipstick to finish her look.  Sakura grabbed her off-white coat and walked out the door.  Her parents were away this weekend on a mini-vacation that Sakura couldn’t get time off of work for.  It was fine they needed some alone time.  She locked up and made her way out.

The bar was a few blocks away from Sakura’s apartment building.  She remembered going there a few times with friends in the neighborhood when they all turned 21.  Even her parents stopped in from time to time to get a bite to eat after work.  She loved their wings.  Just the thought of them made Sakura quicken her pace.  As she arrived she saw two familiar people standing outside.  

XxX

“Hey, Gaara, isn’t that the girl you’re crushing on? She’s way cute.  If you’re not gonna make a move I will,” Kankuro said to his younger brother.  At the sound of her name, Gaara looked down the street to see in fact it was Sakura.  His heart squeezed a bit at the sight of her.  His mind instantly played the memory from this morning of Sakura smiling so brilliantly at him during her workout.  She was the first girl to catch his attention in a long time.  

Sure there had been other girls before, but either they didn’t stick around, or Gaara just lost interest.  Hopefully getting to know Sakura would be exciting, he could use something different in his life.  Temari already liked her so that was a good sign.  She never liked the girls he brought around so he just stopped.  

“Not a chance Kankuro,” Gaara said and moved off the wall he was leaning on and walked up to Sakura.  

“Oh hi, Gaara!  I thought I would be the first one here! Hey Kankuro, nice to see you again,” Sakura said and peaked around Gaara to say hi to his brother.  

“Sakura! Long time no see! You’re looking great as usual,” Kankuro said walking up and putting his arm around Gaara.  She was taken aback by his comment.  Sakura had never been comfortable with people complimenting her, especially not guys.  She decided to brush it off, he was just being nice.  Sakura was too flustered to notice Gaara practically shoving Kankuro into the street after his little comment. 

“Let’s go inside and grab a table,” Sakura suggested with a nervous chuckle as she walked inside.  Gaara quickly followed right behind her, making sure to close the door right in Kankuro’s face.  The bar was quiet like Sakura expected.  It would be very easy to push some tables together for the nine of them.  After about twenty minutes everyone was finally there.  

Sakura managed to be sitting next to Gaara, thanks to Temari, and across from Naruto and Hinata.  For a while, everyone was chatting nicely, but then her conversation with Hinata stopped when she got up to go to the bar.  

“So how are you feeling? You were doing great for the first time,” Gaara said casually leaning back into his seat to talk to Sakura. 

“I actually really enjoyed it.  I’m pretty tired, but I feel great!  Do you always teach the beginner’s class?”  

“No, I don’t usually teach all that much.  I was filling in for one of the instructors since they were sick,” which wasn’t true, he wanted to see Sakura again after the other day.  

“Aw, that’s too bad.  I think you’re a great teacher,” she said with a smile, and Gaara smiled back.  

“Do you think you’ll be coming back?”

“Definitely.  The gym’s pretty close to my job so I can go right after work.” 

Their conversation went forward from that point without an awkward pause or break.  Gaara was really easy to talk to.  They covered everything from their day to day, to what they enjoyed doing in their spare time.  Sakura was happy to find that they had a lot in common.  They both like to take it easy by reading and watching movies.  Gaara was very intrigued in her cooking and baking efforts.  

“I need to start cooking more. Kankuro can’t even boil a pot of water to save his life.  And I’ve been staying late at the gym most nights that I can’t cook for him,” Gaara said throwing a sideways glance at his older brother who was happily chugging down his beer.  

“I like to keep myself busy after work so I’ve been trying a lot of new things, and I have to say my cooking has gotten a lot better!”

“And why are you trying to be so busy?” Gaara regretted the question as soon as he said it.  He could see Sakura stiffen at the question while her eyes widened.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to pry.” 

“No, it’s alright.  I was seeing someone who preoccupied almost every thought I had and how that I’m not seeing him anymore I realized how much time I had once he was gone. So now I’m trying new things that I want to do,” she said with a small smile.  

“That’s actually really cool.  And good for you to focus on yourself.  Most people would spiral out of control.  I remember Temari did that after her first serious boyfriend dumped her.  What a mess that was.  If she hadn’t gotten her own version of revenge I would have probably punched the guy if I ever saw him again,” Gaara said with a smirk.

“What did she do?”

“She didn’t do anything.  They were both applying to the same tattoo shop at the same time, but she got the job over him.  And the best part was that they were both told at the same time so he knew he lost to her, and as he was leaving he bumped into someone and they spilled their smoothie all over him.” 

“That’s actually hilarious! That’s what he gets for whatever he did to her,” Sakura said trying to hold in her laughter.  

Their night went on much the same way, exchanging different stories or embarrassing things that have happened to them.  Gaara steered clear of any more talk of relationships.  Clearly, something bad had happened to Sakura and he didn’t want to upset her any more than he already did.

Sakura was feeling really happy.  Talking to Gaara felt really natural and they seemed to be clicking.  She was having a really nice time with him.  Letting her guard down for once felt so freeing.  She definitely noticed that she had been smiling more.  It felt really good.  Was she finally ready to put herself out there? Should she take a chance on Gaara?  Worst case she just gets to know him and they stay friends before it can develop into anything more.  Better to play it safe.

Before they knew it, it was almost 11 PM.  Tenten, Neji, and Lee had already left without them noticing.  Their chemistry was so noticeable that even Naruto picked up on it.  

“Hey guys, we’re gonna head out, but stay as long as you want!” Naruto called out with a big smile while quickly shoving everyone else out of the bar.  

Sakura just had to laugh.  Naruto was just so not smooth.  They paid their bill and followed the crowd outside.  

“Well, I’m the other way so I’ll see you guys soon,” Sakura said to the group as they were heading towards the parking lot.

“Did you walk here?” Gaara asked starting to go in Sakura’s direction.  

“Yeah if I walk fast it won’t be too bad.”

“Would it be okay if I go with you? It’s pretty dark.” 

“It’s alright you don’t have to! I’m in the complete opposite direction of you anyway!”

“I really don’t mind. Plus I would feel better knowing you got home safe.”  That was the same thing that Sasuke would say.  Text me when you get home.  It was the only thing he said to Sakura that showed her he cared.  Even when he dumped her the last thing he said was get home safe.  It was nice to hear again. 

“Yeah okay.  Thanks that’s really sweet of you,” she said with a smile.  

The night wasn’t too cold, but some of the street lamps didn’t seem to be working so she was happy that Gaara was tagging along.  They were talking quietly when they heard loud shouting coming towards them.  

“Hey girl what are you doing out here? Come over here!” came from a group of what seemed to be three drunk guys stumbling behind them.  At first, Sakura didn’t register what was happening or who they were talking to.  The next thing she knew Gaara had his arm tightly around her shoulders and pulled her close.  He picked up the pace and it finally clicked in Sakura’s mind that those guys were talking to her.  

“Hey! We’re talking to you! Come back!” one of the more sober men started to say.  Gaara stopped under the next streetlight still holding on tightly to Sakura.  He turned to look at her, clearly, she was shaken up and understandably so.  He couldn’t believe she almost walked home by herself.  

“Stay right here where I can see you.  I’ll handle this,” Gaara said in the calmest voice he could use to make her feel better.  

“Please let’s just go,” Sakura begged.  Her hands were already shaking.  Any confrontation wasn’t her strongest point, especially with drunk men.  

“I don’t want them knowing where your apartment is.  I’ll be right back,” and he was gone.

It felt like hours that Gaara was gone, but Sakura knew that was impossible.  She strained to hear, but could only hear muffled voices.  The next thing she knew Gaara was walking back with his hands in his pockets.  

“See I told you I’d take care of it-,” Gaara said.  He would have said more but Sakura ran up to him and tightly grabbed him into a fierce hug.  He knew she was scared, but feeling her shake against him was even worse. He gently wrapped his arms around her.  She felt so small in his arms.  When he heard her start crying, his heart dropped into his stomach.  He did it again, someone good was scared of him.  

“I’m so sorry.  I didn’t mean to scare you-” he said while he tried to back away from her, but she was holding on too tight which surprised him.  She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, but he didn’t see any fear.

“You didn’t scare me! They did! I-I- That never happens I swear! It’s just awful! How do other girls deal with that all the time? Look at me I can’t stop shaking! I hate it!” Sakura looked so upset, but Gaara didn’t know what to say.  

She realized how close they were, she got embarrassed and let go of Gaara.  Sakura blushed but kept talking, “I just get so angry that I can’t stand up for myself.  That’s why I started kickboxing classes.  I thought if I physically got stronger I would feel it too.” 

Sakura led the rest of the way to the apartment, keeping a little closer to Gaara as they walked.  The whole time she was thinking to herself and having a small argument with herself that she almost forgot Gaara was next to her.  Gaara was fine with the silence.  He really had no response to give to Sakura’s statement.  He felt he didn’t know her well enough to put her mind at ease.  

Her apartment wasn’t too much farther and she was only on the second floor.  She got her key out and opened the dark silent apartment.  At that moment she forgot that her parents weren’t home.  

“Oh right…” she quietly said to herself.  

“Are you home-alone tonight? I thought you said you lived with your parents?” Gaara asked as he looked into a dark hallway.  

“They’re away for the weekend. They won’t be back until Monday,” Sakura said in a small voice.  She turned on the hall light, but it still seemed pretty dark in her home.  “Thanks for walking me home.  I’m really glad you did.  And thank you for taking care of it.  Are you going to be alright by yourself?” 

“I should be fine,” Gaara said giving her a small smile to make her feel better, but she didn’t look convinced.  

“Can you come in for a bit?” Sakura asked without looking at him.  She felt utterly embarrassed for even asking such a question.  She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea about her, but she was still pretty shaken up by what happened.  

“Yeah absolutely.” 

They walked into her small apartment, but it was big enough for 3 people.  Sakura never minded that she lived here, she actually enjoyed it.  She never had to take the garbage out in the rain, or shovel snow in the winter.  The front room was spacious with cream walls and red accents all around the house.  Gaara was jealous of the size of the kitchen.  His apartment wasn’t as nice, but he couldn’t complain his commute to work was zero minutes.  

All around the home were pictures of family, friends, and Sakura through the ages.  The most recent one being her college graduation.  She looked tired but happy.  On one wall was an empty picture frame.  It was an odd sight, but Gaara could put two and two together.  There must have been a picture of Sakura and her ex in there that her family happily hung up.  They really must have liked him.  He would be noisy and ask Temari later on.  

“I think I’m gonna call Naruto and Hinata and see if they can come over.  I don’t think I want to be alone tonight,” Sakura said from the kitchen. “I’d ask you to stay, but I thought that would be creepy and rude of me to ask since we just met.”

“I think that’s a good idea.  And I wouldn’t mind staying if it made you feel better,” Gaara said still wandering around her living room.  Sure it wasn’t Gaara’s usual style to stay over a girl’s house, but seeing her cry like that she could have asked him for anything and he would have done it. 

“Thanks.  I really appreciate it Gaara,” he turned at the sound of Sakura saying his name.  He saw that she relaxed a bit and she stopped shaking, which was a good sign.  “I’m just gonna go get changed.  I’ll get you some clothes.” 

Sakura wasn’t gone too long when there was a knock on the door.  On the other side were Naruto and Hinata.  They rushed past him with small a small greeting and went straight towards Sakura’s room.  If he really wanted to go home and sleep in his own bed this would be his chance.  He turned back around to see Sakura come out in her pajamas and holding some for him.  

She looked so innocent in a matching outfit of light blue button-down pajamas with little cupcakes all over them.  Sakura was even rubbing her eyes like a little kid.  She just looked so cute that Gaara could feel his legs moving back towards her as he shut and locked the door.  

As Naruto and Hinata were fussing over her and asking a million questions, Sakura looked towards him and blushed slightly. Handing him a pair of grey flannel pants and a black long-sleeved shirt, she blushed more handing him the clothes.

“I hope these fit. The bathroom is on the left.”

“They’ll be fine. Thanks.”

When he came back, Naruto and Hinata were already set up on one reclining couch tucked in.  Sakura was on the other and was waiting for him, barely staying away.  He settled in and reclined the couch for them.  Sakura’s eyes were heavy with sleep, but she seemed like she was trying to fight it.  

“You’re okay now, get some rest.  Do you want to sleep in your bed?” Gaara said as he pulled a blanket up around her.  

“No no I’m okay. I feel better that you’re here,” Sakura mumbled, eventually slumping onto Gaara as she fell asleep.  It was so strange to be close to someone else like this.  It felt nice, it felt right.  Sakura was a good person.  She was interesting, funny, smart, and kind.  She was someone he wanted to get to know better.  He wouldn’t deny that he was already interested in her but knew good things took time.  

Gaara knew she went through something pretty rough, but he was a patient person.  Looking at her sleeping so peacefully he realized that waiting would be worth it if she wanted to get to know him.  He knew he was getting ahead of himself, but for the first time in a while, he felt excited about the future.  Maybe getting close to someone, dare he say romantically wouldn’t be the end of the world like he always thought it was.  If everyone else around him seemed okay with a partner, he could give it a shot.  

Part 5  

[raveneira]

Things I’ll never understand about this fandom

Sakura hitting Naruto is abusive and bitchy and makes her a terrible person for hitting nice guy Naruto who doesnt deserve it

But Karin hitting Suigetsu just for making her mad is completely fine and nobody bats an eye

Sakura only liking Sasuke because he was cool and handsome makes her love for him shallow

But Karin liking Sasuke for the EXACT SAME REASON is completely overlooked simply because he saved her and she has a tragic backstory

Karin only ever mentions Sasuke’s smile which is a part of his appearance, when she layed dying she thought of wanting to see that face once more, in the databook it said Karin stayed loyal to Sasuke in hopes of seeing his radiant smile again, this fandom loves to claim that she fell inlove with him because he saved her but Karin herself contradicts that very argument with her own words, even in that god awful filler her final request to Sasuke was to smile for her, not be happy like some people claim is what she wanted, just smile for her like that one time referring back to the chunin exams, but nobody cares about that and instead try to twist it into something more than it actually was, a shallow crush

Sakura not knowing or understanding Sasuke is such a big deal and why they shouldnt be together

But Karin knew nothing about Sasuke either as their encounter didnt even last a minute yet we’re supposed to believe she fell inlove with him and stayed inlove with him for 3 years just from that ONE encounter? he didnt even acknowledge her, just what scroll she had and then left when he saw it wasnt the one he needed, he made no attempt to check on her or ask if she was ok, yet we’re supposed to believe that this was enough for Karin to fall inlove with him and stay inlove with him for as long as she did, according to this fandom that makes perfect sense, but Sakura who actually was on a team with him and spent several months with him? totally shallow and no legitimate reason to have stayed inlove with him as long as she did

Everyone loves to ask WHY does Sakura love Sasuke

But nobody asks WHY Karin loves Sasuke, WHY Lee loves Sakura, the only one who needs a reason for their feelings to be legitimate is Sakura

Sakura lying to Naruto about being inlove with him is bad and makes her a total bitch for toying with his emotions like that

But Naruto transforming into Sasuke to trick Sakura into kissing him and also manipulate her into hating Sasuke by making him seem like a bad person so that he can have a shot at her is totally fine

Sakura ‘making fun’ of Naruto being an orphan is horrible and a bitch thing for her to do

But Ino mocking Sakura’s forehead, her biggest insecurity which Ino is more than aware of is totally fine

Sakura breaking off her friendship with Ino over a guy is terrible and shes a bad friend for that

But Ino allowing their friendship to fall apart over a guy is fine, Ino not fighting for her friendship with Sakura instead of letting a guy come between them is fine, Ino being a bitch to Sakura now is fine, Ino making no attempt to salvage their relationship at all and just going along with the whole thing is fine, Naruto fought tooth and nail for his and Sasukes friendship regardless of his feelings for Sakura he continued to pursue Sasuke for his own reasons, Ino didnt fight for their friendship in the slightest and let it fall apart but thats just fine, the responsibility is all Sakuras

Sakura covering up the Taka photo was horrible and a bitchy thing to do after all Karin did for them

But Sasuke not mentioning Karin or Taka to Sarada at all is completely overlooked, its Sakuras responsibility to tell Sarada about Sasukes former criminal teammates that she barely knows anything about to begin with, its not Sasukes place to explain this part of his past to Sarada its Sakuras, everything is Sakuras responsibility

Sakura not telling Sarada anything about Karin or Taka is bad

But Hinata not telling Boruto and Himawari about Jiraiya, Kiba, Shino, Sasuke is completely fine

Sakura is bad for being a housewife

But Hinata is literally the only one of her generation who is still a chunin and the only thing we see Hinata doing throughout Boruto is cooking and cleaning the house, and no Himawari is not an excuse because Boruto was literally her age running around the village with his friends just fine, and the old gen running around even younger, Himawari is well old enough to not need 24/7 Hinata supervision so that is no excuse, but its fine for Hinata to be a housewife and just cook and clean house but Sakura? how dare she do the dishes and clean the house

Sakura falling to her knees yelling for Naruto in the Pain arc was weak and pathetic

But Hinata tripping and asking Neji, her now-dead cousin to watch over Naruto, who she failed to get to by tripping on a rock

Sakura going up against Madara alone and getting stabbed was stupid and foolish and ha what a weak bitch

But Hinata going up against Pain alone and getting one-shotted was heroic and atleast she tried

Sakura going up against Gaara and being defeated easily is being stupid and useless

But Hinata going up against Momoshiki and being defeated easily is seen as brave and heroic wanting to save her husband

Sakura being flat-chested is a running joke within the fandom and anime as Sakura being less attractive than the other females with bigger breasts

But for some odd reason, Karin doesnt get this same mockery even though she is much flatter than Sakura is, yet no one says a thing, not to mention a flat ass too, but again crickets

Sakura was a bitch to Naruto for no reason even though he was nothing but nice to her and supported her

But Karin was a bitch to Suigetsu even though all he did was poke fun at her and never laid a hand on her Karin was a bitch to him just for speaking the truth, but thats completely fine

Finally, Sakura is stupid and shouldnt have been with Sasuke after he treated her like shit and tried to kill her and rejected her, shes a bad character for being obsessed with Sasuke after all he did to her

But Naruto can chase Sasuke tirelessly despite being told to leave him alone, Sasuke attempts to kill him multiple times, Sasuke rejects his friendship and calls them his ex-team, calls Naruto an outsider, outright asks Naruto why hes so obsessed with him, rejects Narutos friendship again and still threatens to destroy the entire village and kill him, completely fine and true friendship and true love, all of that is completely acceptable and forgivable, but Sakura? downright blasphemy

I could go on but I think I made my point, this fandoms hypocrisy never cease to amaze me

[needdl]

NejitenMonth Day 12: Memories

here’s a lil fun fact, nejitenmonth was july of 2019. yeahhhhhh it’s been a while

Also on FFN and AO3

---

Ever since he’d been forced to break up with her, Neji’s life had slowed down until the days blended endlessly one into another.

He woke up, went to class, went to work, went back to class, ate a perfunctory meal, studied, and went to bed. It was drudging and joyless, and sometimes he still reached over to the other side of the bed on Thursday mornings to see if she was there again- but she never was.

(He wondered, in his darker thoughts, what she did on Wednesday nights and Thursday mornings now, instead of their weekly date night. Maybe she still had dates, just- not with him, anymore, because he forced her away.)

And he made things all the worse for himself, because he couldn’t help but constantly scan for her on campus, because even seeing her from a distance still brightened and pained his day.

The first few weeks after their breakup, when she’d gone along just looking numb and confused, he’d done his best to avoid her, or if that failed then he did his best to avoid looking at her. He’d hurt her so much, and for no real reason.

He felt like the worst person in the world when he bumped into her leaving her lab after a late, unexpected meeting with his advisor, and said words that made her face crack like porcelain before she hurried away; for the time he overheard her quiet conversation with Hinata over the phone and remembered how she used to burrow her face against him in his car on the ride home to whine about work, clinging to his closest hand with both her own; when he’d learned her grandmother had passed away in the middle of a cafe through inadvertent eavesdropping and she had turned and met his stricken gaze, her own eyes wearied and trying their best to hide it- 

He wasn’t there for her any more, and it was killing him.

But she seemed like she was finally moving on, which was- well, he couldn’t decide if he was glad to see her happy again, or if he was devastated that any relationship they had was truly, completely over.

Hiashi’s half-apologies did nothing to ease his quiet, seething anger over the fact that he had been forced to end his relationship with the person in the world who made him the happiest, just to soothe the egos of a few clan Elders who wanted to see him “court a woman alike him in standing-”

After their most recent, violent argument, Neji had stormed out of the Hyuga household and decided not to return until his uncle genuinely showed remorse for how much he had allowed the clan to interfere in his life once more. The choice made a leaden stone sink into his gut, because he knew Hiashi would never care enough about Neji’s happiness to apologize.

Neji stayed up late working on a project and went to bed at 3:00 AM, then got up early to meditate.

---

One day he unthinkingly bought a hot chocolate to go along with his tea.

It was her usual order, and he’d become accustomed to getting it with his own, because she’d usually end up at his side sooner or later and accept it gleefully, with a delighted press of her lips to his cheek-

It was a habit that he thought he had broken, and it wrenched at his heart.

He put the hot chocolate in his other cupholder, because he didn’t know what else to do with it, and then brought it back to his apartment and stared at it for twenty minutes before Hanabi arrived for their tutoring session and he gave it to her to reheat.

It was while he was watching his cousin frown down at her calculus problems that he had something of a drastic realization, and sent a hurried email to his advisor.

---

The fallout from informing one’s family that one would not be following their predetermined plan to go into the family business and would instead be switching to high school education was, in Neji’s experience, drastic.

Things were going very smoothly from his university’s end- he was already pursuing a major in mathematics, so he simply dropped the business double major and registered his next semester’s classes for education- but the Hyuga family was furious with him, as made excruciatingly evident when he was disowned.

Perhaps the saddest part was that he only felt relief over officially being free from their cloying grasp, even if it meant he no longer had their financial support.

So while he was still uncertain about how exactly he’d be funding his education and paying for his rent and utilities, he was also dizzy with triumph. The university lawyers assuring him that yes, his father’s trust couldn’t be touched by the clan and was his to claim, certainly helped.

He would comfortably be able to continue his education, at least, but he needed to downsize his apartment and get another job to build up his savings. After talking to his advisors, and to a few of his professors, he applied for a mathematics tutoring position and was quickly hired on.

He found himself enjoying more than he thought he would- the actual mathematics were fairly straightforward, and coaxing his tutees through their lessons offered training for when he was a teacher.

Slowly, his world began to move forward again, and he thought of her less often.

---

Though he knew she had technically been forbidden by their family from seeing him, Neji was no less surprised when Hinata came barreling out from around a corner and smacked into his arms in a violent form of a hug. 

“Hello, Hinata,” he mumbled into her forehead as she made her usual choking noises that meant she was fighting back tears. Gingerly, he patted her back, then pulled away and redirected her so they started walking into his building.

Not that it would be his building much longer, as he’d be terminating his lease and moving in two months, but for now it was still his. 

He had several new, less expensive apartments in mind, all of which were more than acceptable, but so far the most ideal one was in her building, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to do that to himself, or to her.

He took himself back to the present and held the door open for Hinata, and then for Hanabi as she came sprinting out of the same area where Hinata had been lurking and ducked past him with a wild grin, clomping after her sister. 

He rolled his eyes a little. Subtlety had never been one of their strong points. 

Hinata tearfully hugged him again after they entered his apartment, while Hanabi started rifling through his pantry with very determinedly nonchalant air, though the furtive looks she kept throwing them ruined the illusion a little bit.

When ten minutes had passed and he still couldn’t get any comprehensible words out of Hinata, he turned to Hanabi for an explanation. She was eating a bowl of oatmeal with some banana sliced into it and looking pleased with herself.

“Hanabi, not that I’m not glad to see you both, but why are you here? I know you’ve both technically been banned from seeing me.”

She spooned more oatmeal into her mouth. “Like that was going to stop us.”

“True enough, but why is Hinata so upset? I was disowned weeks ago, I’d think she had time to get over it.”

Hinata let out a sad gurgle. Neji awkwardly patted her hand.

Hanabi mumbled out, in a voice squishy with half-chewed banana, “She misses you- well, we both do- and upon seeing you again her emotions overwhelmed her.”

She swallowed, then added hesitantly, “I think Father-”

Neji stood abruptly. “Hinata, would you like a glass of water?” He strode into the kitchen without waiting for an answer, and Hanabi pursed her lips in grudging acceptance as she settled next to her sister on the couch.

“You’d better not spill,” Neji warned her as he handed Hinata her glass. Hinata looked as though he’d yelled at her, and he hastily corrected, “Hanabi, with her oatmeal.”

“Yeah, spill as much water as you’d like, Hina.”

“That is not what I meant and you know it.”

“Sure it is.”

Hinata, unnoticed by both as they playfully bickered, smiled into her water.

---

Lee was as enthusiastic and helpful as ever, despite the awkward situation Neji had put him in- his two best friends, formerly dating, now no longer spoke at all. 

But Lee chattered lightly about various, non-ex girlfriend related subjects as they somehow got Neji’s couch through the tiny door frame and into his new apartment. Hinata was in the kitchen, organizing his dishes and humming along to the classical music she was playing. 

He had several unpacked boxes still sitting in the various places that their contents would go, but once the couch was in and his kitchen was inhabitable Neji would be fine doing the rest himself.

He and Lee had already brought in all the other furniture and placed it, and Hanabi had put all his clothes away for him that morning before she’d had to leave for her tutoring.

(She’d kept slingshotting his underwear at him to amuse herself, so really her help had been a mixed blessing.)

Neji’s stomach was still churning, however, because despite his best attempts he had not been able to find a better place than her building, and the chances of encountering her were- astronomically high.

He didn’t know what to do- did he contact her to warn her of the possibility, so they could just duck past each other without saying a word? Did he just hope they never saw one another and keep it to himself?

He worried over it as Hinata left after a tight hug goodbye, and Lee began to depart after an even tighter hug goodbye- until Neji abruptly caught his arm and choked out, “Lee, wait.”

Lee turned to look at him, his thick eyebrows raised high with enthusiastic patience. Neji knew he had to leave soon, as he had a “study session” with Gaara that night- but he still couldn’t formulate the words he needed to say.

Lee read his expression carefully, then gently prompted, "Neji?"

"Will you… please tell her, Lee, I don't want this to be an unpleasant shock."

He didn’t quite know what happened- one moment Lee was halfway out the door, his arm caught in Neji’s hand, and then Neji was being hugged within an inch of his life. (His feet were off the ground, what on earth was Lee doing?)

“Of course, Neji,” he muttered into his ear. “You are a good friend.”

Neji said nothing. His throat felt unexpectedly tight.

---

It had been three months, halfway through the second semester, and they had yet to encounter one another in the building. Neji almost thought he was in the clear, but he knew that as time stretched on his luck (good or bad, he wasn’t sure) would not last.

He knew, from word of mouth, that she was battling a severe cold right now, and he couldn’t help but remember how she used to whimper and cling to him dramatically when she was sick, somehow plying kisses out of him despite his deeply germ-averse nature (which had quickly been established after the time Hanabi sneezed straight into his open mouth when she was a baby) and then giggling unsympathetically at him when he inevitably caught whatever it was she’d had.

And when he got migraines she used to scratch her fingers softly against his scalp, easing the tension and distracting him with her soft mouth-

And it was exactly this type of thinking that kept him where he was now, aching with regrets, picturing her cluttering around her apartment four floors up from him. He forced the thoughts away. Her current illness had nothing to do with him.

---

At least, that had been his plan.

He ran into Ino Yamanaka on her way out of the building one day- which was terrifying. He hadn’t had to face her one-on-one since he’d broken up with Te- with her, and he sure Ino would be rightfully furious with him.

But she surprised him by giving him a short nod and then suddenly making a startled face, like she’d had an abrupt thought, and saying, “Neji, do you have a moment?”

He didn’t. “Yes. How may I assist you?”

“It’s weird and kind of uncomfortable and it’s totally fine if you say no, but- ugh, okay. Bunhead is super sick right now, and we’ve been taking shifts staying with her, but the way things worked out she’s going to be home alone all weekend- can you go check on her once or twice?”

Neji’s unreadable mask slammed down over his features even as his mind raced. “I… it’s not that I don’t want to help, Ino, but I don’t think she would want me there.”

“Right, but she’s so hopped up on cold medicine right now I doubt she’ll even notice.” She eyed him for a moment, sensing his trepidation, then sighed and dragged her hand down her face. She looked tired.

“Look, I can’t make you do this- obviously- but you’re in the building and you’d spare us a lot of worrying. Here-” she dug around in her bag and pulled out a key- “I’ll get this back from you later. Use it, don’t use it, whatever. I’ll be back Sunday night, so you’d just need to swing by and check on her during the day on Saturday and Sunday morning. See you around, ‘kay?”

She left before he could articulate a response, staring mutely down at the impossibly heavy key in his hand.

---

Neji stared at the familiar door number in front of him, key clenched in his palm and digging tightly into his skin as he did his best to regulate his breathing and empty his thoughts.

Calm, calm. He would knock, likely end up entering quietly and refilling the pitcher of water in the refrigerator, then leave again with no confrontation whatsoever.

He knocked, waited a few long moments, then knocked again and called quietly, “Hello?”

Silence. He tested the door- unlocked- then slipped in. 

It was dark, unsurprisingly, and he could hear the faint sounds of her noise machine drifting down the hallway from her bedroom. He hesitated, then followed the noise. 

Her door was partially open, and he knocked hesitantly on the frame. There was no response, so- heart in his throat- he entered her bedroom.

She was asleep with her back to him, blankets bundled over her figure as she snuffled away softly. He could see just a bit of her hair sticking out from her bundle, looking decidedly ruffled and baby bird-ish.

Neji tore his eyes away from the rich color he remembered so fondly and his gaze fell to the nightstand, where an empty glass sat next to a bottle of ibuprofen and a bottle of Dayquil. He hesitated, then picked up the glass and went into the kitchen to refill it.

As he’d suspected, her water pitcher was empty- she was terrible about refilling it- so he brought it over to the sink and filled it again before simply putting tap water with an ice cube into the glass. 

He paused in the living room to pick up a coaster from the coffee table, then brought the glass back into the bedroom. Her snores had quieted a little, and he glanced at her briefly before putting the glass down.

She’d rolled just a little more onto her back, and he could see the shape of her cheek and a dark splash of eyelashes in profile- but he looked away quickly.

The glass settled on the coaster with a slight noise, and he straightened to leave.

“Neji?” 

He froze.

“Neji.” There was a soft touch to his forearm, and he turned to watch as an achingly familiar hand brushed against his skin, just the fingertips but it was enough to make his heart spiral in his chest.

Warm fingers wrapped around his wrist and tugged, and Neji turned to face her.

Doe eyes blinked up at him sleepily, and her grip slid from his wrist to his palm as she considered him. She yawned, teeth glinting, then said in a drowsy voice, “Hi.”

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Her fingertips traced over the lines of his palm, and even as a thrill went down his spine he couldn’t help but anguish over how she would react to his presence when she was awake and sober, how angry and horrified she would be-

Her fingers rose up to scrape gently over his wrist. “Slow down.” It was such a non sequitur that his brow pinched in confusion, and- much to his shock- an amused smile shaped her mouth in response. “You’re thinking too much about something. Slow down.”

She squeezed his hand and closed her eyes, and seemed to fall back asleep. He was about to pull away when she whispered, “Ino said you’d be coming by. S’okay. M’not… not really mad at you anymore anyway-” she yawned again- “...and I’m… I’m glad…” she trailed off, and her hand gently dropped from his.

Neji stared at her sleeping face in shock. After a moment, he numbly reached out and placed her arm next to her on the bed.

He hurried out of her apartment, mind spinning frantically. She was glad? Glad about what?

---

He checked in again Sunday morning, just as nervous as he had been before. She didn’t answer his knock again, so he opened the door cautiously.

The apartment was dark except for the light spilling from the bedroom, the door thrown open. Neji walked down the hallway and eyed all the notes and textbooks strewn across the end of the bed- clearly her illness hadn’t prevented her from keeping up with her studies.

Actually stepping into the room showed a different story. She was asleep with her head tipped back against the headboard, her laptop dangerously close to falling off her legs and onto the floor. 

He pried it from her loose grip and saved the program she had been working on, then closed it and set it aside. She stirred, and after a moment of frozen contemplation he walked over and turned off the main lights, so the room was only illuminated by her tableside lamp.

Next he cleared the assortment of papers off the edge of her bed, organizing them as best he could on her desk. That accomplished, he turned and his gaze fell on the glass of water- empty again. 

He filled it- and the pitcher, which of course was empty- and put in a single ice cube, then walked it back to the room and put it on the table. A thought occurred, and he rattled the ibuprofen container softly. It was half-empty, and he put it back down with a thoughtful furrowing of the brows- perhaps he could pick up more for her, if she seemed to use them rapidly enough. 

He took one last look around, to make sure everything was comfortably organized for when she woke up, then allowed himself to look at her again.

She met his gaze with a sleepy smile, and he fought back an instinctive startle- he hadn’t realized she was awake. 

His heart pounded in his chest. He watched, entranced, as she sat up a little and rubbed her eyes, then beckoned him closer.

Every part of him told him this was a bad idea, but he stepped towards her anyway, until he was within reach. Like before, she reached out and took his hand in her own, twining their fingers together. He only hoped she couldn’t feel how rapid his pulse was- but then she slipped the pads of her fingers onto his wrist and he knew he was found out.

Her smile took on a decidedly cunning tilt, and Neji reflexively scowled in response.

(She’d done this all the time when they first started dating. She had liked seeing how flustered he got, although eventually he’d become a little more used to it and could easily keep pace with her acts of affection.

But they’d been broken up for almost seven months and he’d missed her so much, so it felt just as new and nerve-wracking as it had on their first date.

But the dynamic was so easy to slip back into- her, playfully teasing, and him hiding his affection with annoyance.

It was too easy, and too confusing, and it hurt.)

She let her fingers slip back down to rest their palms together, then squeezed his hand. “Thanks for coming by again.”

“Of course,” he murmured instinctively. Her smile widened, but she ducked her chin to hide it a little.

“I…” Neji watched (and tried not to think about it too hard) as she ran her tongue over her lower lip. “I’m…”

He watched as she struggled to say something, only to suddenly let out a wracking cough that shook her shoulders and left her hunched over and gasping for breath.

He found himself kneeling next to the bed, rubbing her lower back with one hand while she still clutched the other, squeezing it tightly in her pain. She was clearly miserable, and for the first time he noticed the sheen on her skin and the glassy look in her eyes.

Neji gently pulled his hand from her grasp and laid his palm on her forehead, hissing through his teeth when he felt how hot it was under his touch. “You’re running a fever. Lay down.”

“M’not sleepy,” she muttered, pressing her forehead against his hand. “Your hands are cold. S’nice.”

“It’s not about sleeping, it’s about resting. Drink.” He grabbed the cup with the hand she wasn’t insistently holding to her forehead and passed it to her, making sure she finished it off before setting it aside once more.

She stubbornly remained sitting upright, clutching his hand to her head and scowling at him when he told her insistently, “Lie down.”

She sulked. He fought back a wave of affection (because if their past experiences were any indication, she would gleefully use his feelings against him to get what she wanted, because he turned into a pushover whenever she pouted) and pulled his hand from her grasp.

“Hey!”

“I’ll give it back when you lie down,” he told her sternly, as if they weren’t having an absurd conversation over whether or not she could clutch his hand to her forehead like an ice pack.

She thumped back against her pillows and immediately grabbed his hand again, curling their fingers together as she plastered it against her forehead again. She harrumphed, and he couldn’t help but grin.

Something odd came over her expression, but it smoothed over quickly as she yawned. Neji leaned over and clicked the lamp off, to her indignant, “Wha- Neji!”

He ignored the butterflies churning in his stomach (her voice, saying his name) and told her, “Again, you don’t have to sleep. I just- I want the lamp off. For me.”

“Yeah friggin’ right,” she muttered.

“I like the darkness.”

That made her laugh hoarsely. “Okay, Batman.”

“I don’t understand that reference.”

“You don’t- that’s such an obvious one! Damn it, Neji, engage in popular culture once in a while-”

He couldn’t quite muffle his chuckles, and she fell into a suspicious silence before exclaiming, “You asshole!”

He laughed aloud, then, and couldn’t help but squeeze the hand that was still entwined with his. “I’m hurt that you think so little of my pop knowledge.”

“Of course I do, you’ve got the habits of an old man-”

“How rude. I’ll have you know that one of my tutor students sent me a meme the other day.”

“Ooh, mister big shot over here getting memes- shut up, grandpa. Lower your head.” A hand reached up and pulled him down by the back of the neck. Puzzled, he allowed himself to be moved, then inhaled sharply as familiar lips pressed softly against his cheek.

“Thank you for taking care of me. I’ll kiss you for real when I’m less sick, germaphobe.” Her voice was already drowsy, and she slowly nodded off.

Neji wouldn’t have been able to formulate a reply even if he wanted to.

---

Neji was puzzled to hear a knock on his door at 8:00 in the evening on a Tuesday, so instead of getting up to answer he just stared blankly at his door.

After a moment, the person knocked again, so he set aside his laptop and many papers and got up to answer it. Hopefully whoever it was wouldn’t keep him away from his work too late, as he had an early morning class.

He opened the door cautiously and very seriously considered slamming it closed again once he saw the warm brown eyes waiting for him on the other side.

“Hi,” she said conversationally. “I’d like to come in.”

He wordlessly stepped to the side and allowed her entry, then stood and stared at her, flummoxed. She smiled back at him, slow and sure. “I’d like a drink.”

“I have wine.”

“Oof. You have terrible taste in wine.”

“I have tea…?”

“Wine sounds great, thanks.”

He started to walk towards the kitchen to pour them each a glass, and he heard her mutter behind him, “Plus wine makes things sexy.”

He stopped short and whirled to look at her again, flushing. “I beg your pardon?”

“Nothing!” She said hastily, her own features pink. “It’s not- I didn’t- Wine! I would like the wine.” She pushed past him into the kitchen, then stopped and windmilled around a little bit. “Um. I don’t know where it is.”

“I don’t suppose you would,” he replied, feeling decidedly nervous. He went over to the cupboard and pulled out the red he knew she’d like the most, then grabbed two glasses and poured wine for each of them. She accepted hers and took a very large drink.

Silently, he took it from her grasp and refilled it, then passed it back.

She was completely flushed by then, and as she took the glass back she muttered an embarrassed, “Thanks,” that was probably the cutest thing he’d ever heard.

Inwardly, Neji winced at his thoughts- he was never going to be over her, was he?

She took another sip of her wine, and he unconsciously mirrored her, allowing the liquid to roll over his tongue before swallowing. (This particular bottle had been a gift from his uncle- from before he was disowned, of course- that had sat unopened for a long time. He’d debated passing it along to someone else after everything unfolded, but it was a very nice wine and he’d ultimately decided he’d get more vindication out of having it himself. Sharing it with her was an even better turn of events.)

They somewhat awkwardly adjourned to his sitting room, with Neji hastily arranging his paperwork to the side so they had room to settle on the couch. She watched him over her glass as she took another sip, her cheeks still pink, and he tried not to think too hard about that, or the fact that she was wearing a slightly too-big sweater that’d he’d always adored on her.

Eventually, she broke the silence with a little cough and said, “Thank you. For taking care of me this weekend.”

“You’re welcome,” he muttered, averting his eyes.

She sighed, and the silence welled. He peered up at her from underneath his eyelashes, trying not to seem obvious in his staring.

Her gaze darted to his, and he hastily looked away. 

Abruptly, she said, “Oh, hell-” and put her wine down so forcefully that he flinched. Before he could admonish her, however, she was moving across the couch to sit next to him, prying the glass from his hand, and suddenly she was leaning up towards his face-

Her lips had just barely brushed against his own when he jerked away, and in his panic at the fact that there was no room for him back away on the couch, he instead surged to his feet and took a few tumbling steps back.

They stared at one another for several long moments. Neji’s chest was heaving.

Her face slowly tensed, and she looked down. “Right.” A smile twisted her lips, wry and unhappy and bleak, and she stood. “I’ll stop bothering you, then.” 

He was at her side instantly, cupping her elbow in his hand and choking out a desperate “Wait.”

She stilled, and when he didn’t say anything else, let out a slow sigh and leaned forward to carefully rest her face against the crook of his neck. Her breath was warm, and he shivered. 

“You broke up with me,” she said slowly, and Neji closed his eyes against the inevitable.

“...because your family was making you.” It wasn’t what he had expected, but it was still  true, so he said slowly, “Yes.”

“And then something went on in your genius, complex brain, and rather than telling me about what was going on you just… actually broke up with me.”

Neji wasn’t sure what direction she was going in, so he remained silent.

“And I found out about that, and I was fucking furious with you, because- well. My boyfriend’s family- which is admittedly a cesspool of horrible people- demanded that he break up with me, and he just did, so I figured that showed how much I meant to him.”

Too much. She meant too much.

“But then-” She moved away from him, but only long enough to drape her arms over his shoulders before settling her head back on his neck. “-I find out that my ex-boyfriend hasn’t spoken to his uncle since the family made the decision, which is significant given that the uncle practically raised him and they’re pretty close, all things considered. Not only that, but he also dropped out of the family business to get a degree in teaching.”

Having the painful events of the past few months so neatly summed up left Neji feeling rather hollow. She continued, “...which went over very poorly with his family, and his refusal to switch back to a business major, plus his apparent ‘disrespect’, led to him being disowned.

“And my source- who is very worried about her dear cousin-” Hinata. Of course. “-tells me that he hasn’t looked back once.” She moved her hand over to the back of his neck, and tangled her fingers very gently in his hair.

“Which means that his family didn’t mean that much to him after all, and maybe the fact that they made him break up with me was enough to finally drive him away.

“So here’s a question for you to answer. Why didn’t you tell me anything, either before we broke up, or after you finally got out of that hellhole and they couldn’t hold things over your head anymore?”

“How could I?” The words burst from Neji before he could even consciously think of an answer, and he instinctively backed away to meet her eyes. “If I told you and we tried to work around them, the Hyuga clan would only pressure us until they got their way again. And then, after everything, how could I come back to you, after hurting you so much, and demand so much of you again?"

“Because I love you.” She said the words easily, like they hadn’t completely knocked the breath from his lungs, like he was still everything she wanted. “And I was hurt, and I’m still angry, and I want to work this out.” 

Her gaze and voice were both steady, and Neji was crumbling.

“Tenten,” he whispered.

“And you love me too,” she murmured, completely confident (and she was right, of course she was right). “And I- I want to try. Us. I want to try ‘us’ again.” For the first time, uncertainty crossed her features, and she started chewing her lip. “If- I mean, if that’s what you want too.”

Too much. He did the only thing he could think of and raised his hand to her face, gently pried her bitten-red lip from her teeth with his thumb, and kissed her.

An immeasurable amount of time later, he drew back again. They were intimately entwined together, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and lower back, and she had her hands knotted in his hair.

He didn’t dare open his eyes, but rested his forehead against hers, feeling her breath puff against his chin. “I love you,” he breathed.

“I love you,” she echoed. She kissed him again.

[sagemoderocklee]

NejiTen + “actually… i just miss you.” and GaaLee + “quiet. they can hear us.”

NejiTen

Neji’s apartment was always clean. He liked it a certain way: minimalist, organized, clean. It had a few personal touches--a team photo on a shelf, a hand-painted scroll on one wall that Tenten had gifted him for his birthday, a weight set against another wall that Lee had given him, a book from Gai that always sat on a corner table. His apartment was the first time he’d felt truly free of his clan. He’d stepped out on his own, separated himself from them as best he could, but somehow his apartment still didn’t feel like home. He only spent what time he had to in it--meals, rest, and hygiene. He rarely used it for much else. He preferred Tenten’s house, where it felt lived in and warm. Her grandmother had died recently, leaving her their family home with its attached forge and weapons shop, and if Tenten wasn’t away on a mission, she was in the forge, covered in soot and bending over a hot furnace, working on refining a new weapon.

Neji loved that about her. She was soft beneath the soot and callouses, but she had a hardness that she infused in her weapons. Every blade she made was made with love, made with expert hands that could touch so lightly. Ever blade she made was like a kiss.

He pushed aside his bed sheets, rising to greet the day. Lee would already be down at the training grounds, burning holes in the earth. Tenten would be in her kitchen, just putting on a pot of coffee and starting her breakfast. Neji wished he’d, more than ever, that he’d accepted Tenten’s offer to move in with her.

But he’d been scared of rushing things, and he’d wanted to know what it felt like to have his own home--a home without brands and Main family’s. Except, his home wasn’t a home. It was a cold house that didn’t feel like his. Yet he didn’t know how he could feel like Tenten’s home was his when it was hers.

There was a knock at his door, an unexpected occurrence so early in the morning. When he opened the door, it was to find Tenten, waiting with a steaming thermos and a bento. “Tenten.” She smiled up at him, all the hardness of her stripped away until all that remained was the softness he’d fallen in love with. “Good morning.” “What are you doing here?”

She shrugged, stepping closer and her eyes shining up at him, a knowing look in them. “I just missed you.”

----

GaaLee [i wanna let your love consume me, i'm gonna burn you up with my need]

Lee giggled, pressing his body close to Gaara’s in the dark of the alley Lee had pulled him into unexpectedly. He’d only arrived in Suna that morning, but he clearly couldn’t wait for their scheduled rendezvous later that night. “Lee,” Gaara greeted quietly, glancing back into the street he’d been whisked away from. Right under his ANBU’s nose, no less. “What are you doing?” 

“I wanted to see you,” Lee said, his smile faltering as if Gaara had reprimanded him. “I know I should have waited, but I have missed you greatly.” He pressed his forehead against Gaara’s, leaning closer, asking silently for a kiss. Gaara happily obliged, but he kept it brief. “I have meetings, you know. And we’re in public.” Lee’s smile returned, a touch blissful, his focus on Gaara’s mouth and not the words Gaara spoke as Lee leaned down to capture his mouth in another kiss. Gaara didn’t resist, never one to pass up the affection Lee offered him in excess. The abundance of Lee’s love was always a little overwhelming, but Gaara never could get his fill of it all the same. He craved it when Lee was away, craved it even more when he had it right before him. He could bask in Lee’s love for a thousand years and still not have his fill. But he did not have the luxury of basking in this love. He did not like to think on the many reasons he and Lee had been forced to hide their love in the shadowy places of their lives, but it was an unavoidable reality. “Forgive me,” Lee said against Gaara’s mouth, pressing another kiss at the corner of it. “I have gotten carried away.” Gaara smiled slightly. “You always do.” “With you,” Lee said, something soft in his voice. 

Sometimes, when his work was done and the night’s were filled with the soft silence of the desert, Gaara often dreamed of a day when they could get carried away; a day where Lee might whisk him off someplace far away and they could be happy without the weight of the world pressing in around them. He didn’t know if that day would ever come, but he silently hoped for it with every breath he took. 

“You should return to your quarters,” Gaara murmured, his mouth chasing Lee’s contrary to his words. He wound his hands into Lee’s vest, keeping him from moving if he decided to heed Gaara’s words. He didn’t. Lee laughed, rich and warm. “Come with me.” “I can’t.” “You are the Kazekage,” Lee said, his words hot against Gaara’s mouth and his hands roaming. He kissed along his jaw until he reached Gaara’s ear, where he whispered, his voice a caress against Gaara’s skin, “You can do anything.” Gaara wished that were true, he pulled Lee’s face back to his, kissing him with a neediness that could not be satiated, pressing closer, closer, closer--

“He was here only minutes ago!” a panicked voice in the street said. 

“What happened?” 

“I don’t know! He just vanished!” 

“Did he use a teleportation jutsu?” “No!” 

“Oh, dear,” Lee breathed, stifling a laugh. “I think I have upset them.” Gaara felt his own answering smile, pressing his finger to Lee’s mouth. “Shh. They’ll hear us.” Lee looked down at him, his eyes shining with mischief that was so unlike Lee. He kissed Gaara’s finger, leaning closer. “Take me to your home.” “I have things to do,” Gaara tried to argue, but it was a losing battle. He hadn’t seen Lee in months. There was an ache deep in his soul, a need to wrap himself up in Lee; to kiss him until they were both breathless; to ride the euphoria and ecstasy of Lee’s strong hands on him; to finally lie in his normally unused bed with Lee draped across him, tracing little patterns into his bare chest. He didn’t want to wait until tonight.

And if he decided to skip his meetings who was going to give him a dressing down? Temari might, but he’d feign being overworked and she’d relent.

His sand swirled around their feet, rising around them. 

The look Lee gave him was as surprised as it was electric. “Really?” 

“I’m the Kazekage,” Gaara said, pulling Lee close. “I can do anything, and right now I want to be kissing you.” 

Lee wrapped his arms around Gaara, kissing him deeply, as the sand whisked them away.

[my kofi] // [ao3]

[pinkbarefacedbeauty]

NS fanfics

Listen. I just want a fanfic that ends the way it should be. Naruto ‘saved’ Sasuke at the valley of the end after the 4th war. Sasuke doesn’t remain this evil guy who seeks to separate or kill Naruto, Sakura and the village again (even though he had valid reasons for why he wanted to). Sasuke is not an obstacle between Naruto and Sakura because he was not interested in a first place. (I see a lot of SS/NH shippers say that NS seem like siblings, but that is just not the case.  When I think of SS and NH all the feelings are one sided on Sakura and Hinata’s side respectively. Even though Sakura is canonically older of the three, Sakura reminds me of a girl who has a crush on the handsome older neighbor guy who is friends with her friend, Naruto who has a crush on her, and Sasuke in the equation treats her like a little sister. Absolutely NO INTEREST. Let me get back, I want Sasuke to have not gotten off lightly, but I also do not forsee him wanting to stay in Konoha. I want the truth about the UCHIHA MASSACRE to be revealed. Itachi is dead and gone, it is time for Sasuke to have justice and not people looking at him like he had no reason for doing what he did to Danzo. Plus it would be nice if people recognized just how much Itachi sufferred to protect the village (JUSTICE!!)

I want Naruto and Sakura and whomever else to be complacent in the fact that Sasuke isn’t going to go around doing evil things and let Sasuke travel around with Team Taka until he feels ready to come back to Konoha, and when he does feel ready he adopts Juugo and Suigetsu as Uchihas and they move into a compound in or just outside the village (I do not think Sasuke would be fine mentally to go back to the Uchiha compound so maybe he gives that as an orphanage space for kids who lost their parents, ect,), but Karin doesn’t want to be adopted because she loves him and they explore their relationship and talk out their issues/feelings. (SASUKARIN) 

Also Orochimaru is NOT given a pass to roam around Konoha freely and he is not given a pass to EXPERIMENT ON HUMANS which is what he was exiled for IN THE FIRST PLACE. NARUTO and the village as a whole are NOT OKAY WITH THAT. Orochimaru is under heavy surveillance, not doubting Yamato’s prowess but maybe chakra restraints on Orochimaru, idk the dude (?) is weird.

MEANWHILE 

Naruto and Sakura just as what was shown canonically hang out in Sasuke’s absence, occasionally meeting up with the other teams, squad leaders (funny Gai and Kakashi Inserts, Iruka (Iruka does not look 70, he looks as he should- younger than Kakashi). When they meet up with other teams, Naruto remembers Hinata’s confession, and feels that before he can confess to Sakura he goes to HInata to show her gratitude for putting her life on the line for him twice but tells her he cant return her feelings as his heart already belongs to one woman (just as Jiraiya did). (Also since NH like to try to spout BS about Hinata being a healer, maybe she actually healed Neji until more professional help came instead of just watching him bleed out right in front of her-a medic no matter where is supposed to heal, periodt!),  Neji is ALLLIVEEE.

After one particular outing, Naruto walks her home (not being forced but because he wants to) everything is calm and Naruto finallly confesses her feelings, he even tells her EVERYTHING, about disguising as Sasuke to kiss her. He either leaves to let her collect her thoughts but tells her he wont stop wooing her. Sakura does not need to react then and there. She starts to think of everything he has ever done for her, him encouraging her and protecting her and more, remembers the times Sasuke even told her how much Naruto cared like the gaara fight. How he is her motivation to become stronger. She thinks about how she had to revive him TWICE, how his heart was and is in HER hands and knows that they complete each other. Heaven and Earth symbols galore.

She finds him the next day (training with Kakashi/Tsunade or whomever as works on studying to become hokage (he is a good fighter, but needs to learn more leadership and hardships of a leader.-> I actually didn’t mind Kakashi as Hokage I do wish he did cooler things or was more badass as Hokage but I like the Idea of Tsunade passing down the mantle to Naruto.) SHE asks him on a date.(Now you know how symbolic this is). They walk together, Naruto fumbles/doesn’t know where to put his hands in nervousness until she uncrosses her arms from behind her back and takes hold of his hand with a blush on her face. Maybe a little clip/ image of their younger selves holding hands/walking together as they did. (I love younger Sakura’s cute little green dress).

Further down the line, Naruto reminsces about meeting Sakura’s parents for the first time and how accepting they were and no cliches about Mebuki knowing or being friends with Kushina. (Becasue i’m like why weren’t they more around Naruto even though his parentage was a secret anyone could look at his face and know that he is Minato’s child and thus Kushina’s, especially if they were close friends). OR maybe Mebuki remembers when she had invited Naruto over for dinner once or twice way when they were genin and she noticed how their personalities complimented then but said nothing because she knew Sakura was so Sasuke- focused then (I don’t like adding to much noncanon things but this is not bad). --MAYBE RTN COULD BE INPUT HERE INSTEAD to satisfy the whole meeting the parents concept.

On a Hinata note,  watanukisakuya has a good idea for rewriting the Last movie. This would show Hinata’s growth and ability to do something without thinking about n-n-naruto kun. I rather a badass mother and clan leader Hinata than a housewife (no offense to housewives but this is the ninja world hunny). I do not know who she would end up with but I admit to being biased to KibaHina ShinHina or maybe someone from within a clan. It would be cool if it was a lower branch member (not Neji they are cousins), and work to end the slavery (She sves her own family, especially out of gratitude for Neji, no help needed from Naruto).

The wedding

The night before I do want Naruto’s swing in frame (XD) think about his lonliness and the waterfall training with Bee when he thought about his anti self, to how much love he is receiving now and how happy he is. This would essentially be in Naruto and Sakura POV. This doesn’t need to take 40 minutes of characters finding gifts, but be focused on NARUSAKU’s journey together. Naruto thinks of all the people who have helped/supported him. I did like Iruka standing in as his father. I want Naruto to think about his parents and their sacrifice so that he could be here. Sakura remember’s Minato request of her to take care of his son and promises to do just that. Tsunade and Naruto thinks of Jiraiya.

Beocming Hokage

They do have their son Shinachiku, Hanami and Hanako, and Lastly Arashi. (Shinachiku is already born and twins are on the way, Arashi has not been concieved yet).

We finally get to see Naruto become Hokage.  Yes, Shikamaru is his advisor. (Even though I hate the Boruto series, I love the idea of a bond between their children).

 Naruto has to deal with the after affects of the war. Addressing smaller villages concerns about 5 nations having all of the power and wars that essentially hurt small villages the most. War relief fund set up between all the big villages to help smaller villages. (I do not know how to manage the ideas of the Daimyo’s v. leaders of villages yet.) Though Hinata would have dealt with Slavery in her clan, I would like their to be some failsafe that Narutoo put in place to make completely sure. I want Naruto to make sure that there is never another Danzo.

Sakura deals with the strains of motherhood, being a wife, and the head of the hospital, helping run the orphanage w/ Team Taka and Ino in the old Uchiha compound.

Naruto the Next GEN

It would not be titled after new character. Everyone did not pair up and have babies at the SAME TIME. Sasuke would probably have had a baby first out of everyone with Karin. I think NaruSaku would follow. Maybe Ino has a baby by the time NS are on the twins. SOME Pairings babies would be the same age, give or take a few months, but split up ages amongst the rest. 

Pairings:

Naruto and Sakura

Sasuke and Karin

Shikamaru and Temari

Chouji and Ino

Kiba and Amaru (met on a mission)

Tenten and Rock Lee (I’ll admit I like RockTen or NejiTen, idc)

Neji and whomever, i’m still thinking

Hinata and ex-lower branch member (or Shino or Kiba, I like Amaru with Kiba too though)

Hanabi and Konohamaru

(Though there is peace times, I will think that there would be a few strangler bad guys, but nothing that they can not handle, and there is still the matter of the rest of the otosuki. NO NO ASTRONOMY. I hate it. No trains. No futurama look to the village, Leave it as the same aesthetically pleasing rustic village look)

(Ninjas will be ninjas so people will still train, if not only to just defend themselves and keep the tradition alive (like dojos) but yes some people do fall off on being ninjas. Not as many people want it.) There are more jobs though.)

For some reason, I have the impression that the world of Naruto as we know it is not the entirety of the globe, so there are still other villages (Yes, they might have been caught up in the infinite tsukuyomi as well without knowing whats going on)..I don’t know if the other villages are evil or not etc)

More to be added later...

[recentanimenews]

THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH Opens the Gates in Episodes 43-49!

  Welcome back to THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH! I'm Nate Ming, and I'll be your host this week as we make our way through all 220 episodes of the original Naruto. Last week, we covered episodes 36-42, and we continue this week with episodes 43-49.

  This week is all about the FIGHTS, as we witness some of the best action in the series yet--and the start of what many consider the best showdown in all of Naruto! The "elimination tournament" portion of the Chunin Exam heats up, and we get to see a whole bunch of characters show what they're really made of--Kiba, Neji and Hinata, Shikamaru, and of course, Rock Lee and Gaara all get a chance to shine.

  But first, a reader question from last week--this one's from twintailedmadness:

  Hey, what happened with the two people impersonating the grass ninja along with Orochimaru? At the beginning of the forest exam part when they run in he says "you know what to do, we only have one target" and they go separate ways. Its not the two with Kabuto, you also see them at their own gate. Is it a plot hole or something that will come up later?

That's a really good question! They actually do vanish and we only see Shiore/Orochimaru-in-disguise--I think that Orochimaru was either controlling their corpses, or he had two underlings impersonating them. Sound off in the comments with your thoughts on the two random Grass Ninja who entered the Forest of Death and never returned!

  And now, this week's Q&A!

  This week we've got three, four… FIVE fights all in a row, and yet we're also getting a whole bunch of great character moments and development. How are you feeling right now with the show's pace?

Kevin: Knowing what’s coming with the third exam, I wish that they had saved some of the more poignant moments for after the prelims. Maybe of the people that completed the second exam, the slowest half need to fight, and then everyone else moves on to the actual third exam, so that the likes of the Hyuga fight and Lee versus Gaara would happen while the plot was actually moving forward?

Paul: No objections here. The show is moving along at a brisk pace, especially considering that it's a shonen action series, and by comparison sometimes a single fight in One Piece or Dragon Ball will last like five or six episodes. Two to three episodes per fight, maximum, is about my attention span these days.

Jared: This set of episodes in particular really felt like it moved quickly. Which isn’t bad, considering all the fights and moments that were packed into these episodes, it’s amazing how well it kept the flow up. Which really is how I’d characterize the pace, in that it does a good job of keeping things moving and the only time it really feels hindered is when it can go into recap mode.

Danni: I watched all of this batch’s episodes in one day without even realizing it until I was done. It was extremely tempting to just go ahead and keep watching. It feels like we’re really moving along right now.

David: The pace hasn’t been consistent--the recaps and long-winded explanations of stuff that should be easy to grok come to mind - but these episodes were all incredibly solid and left me wanting more. It’s very easy to see why this arc is remembered so fondly.

Noelle: I don’t have any complaints. It’s mostly fighting, but it’s compressed enough, especially when compared to a lot of other shonen series of the time.  What we get really isn’t that bad, and is engaging enough that I didn’t feel like it was dragging.

Kara: I think I may be in the minority that actually enjoys when fights cut away to back story. We had a lot of characters introduced all at once, and they seemed genuinely interesting. Especially considering the techniques a lot of them use. I dig the sheer amount of action, but I’m also enjoying finding out more about these people as we go.

Joseph: I’m loving the pacing of these episodes because, with a couple exceptions (especially Gaara vs. Rock Lee), I don’t really think they needed to spend too much more time on anything here. The stakes aren’t that high, but they still make it seem as if each fight is a deathly serious affair.

Carolyn: I’m also in the minority but for a different reason. I actually really like when the fights are sprinkled with backstory, I feel like it makes their fights more relevant and emotional. But I’m really over how many fights are dragged across multiple episodes. It feels like they are stretching them out to fill time.

Peter: What’s. With. The. Constant. Split. Screen. Facial. Reactions. That aside I was pretty pleased with the animation treatment Kiba and Hinata got. The show really set its pace to the moment whether it was comedy, dramatic reveals, character moments, or even just taking an extra second so you can appreciate how f**ked-up Temari’s finisher was.

How does it feel getting to truly see Shikamaru in action, even if it was for only a half an episode?

Kevin: Shikamaru is one of the characters that grew on me over time. Early on, he’s just lazy and doesn’t do much, but as we get to see him fight and plan more, he just gets more awesome. So finally getting to watch him execute a plan in the moment was a great taste of what’s to come.

Paul: While I enjoyed it in the moment, I almost instantly forgot that Shikamaru defeats his opponent by using his understanding of the layout of the battlefield to trick them into banging their own head against a wall. For some reason, the details weren't sticking with me.

Jared: For me, seeing him in action was pretty similar to everyone else we hadn’t really seen fight yet. I was glad to see them all get screen time and actually see what they can do. With Shikamaru we kind of saw what he could do in the forest with his shadow possession, but this fight really showed the extent of that power and how dangerous it can be.

Danni: Shikamaru seems cool, but I don’t understand why people call him a galaxy brain level strategist. He seems no smarter than the other top genin.

David: The best of Shikamaru has yet to come. As of now, he’s interesting, but not much more interesting than the rest of the cast.

Noelle: This fight is more of a Shikamaru 101 than anything. Where he really shines has yet to come, but it’s nice seeing that his intellect and creativity has been highlighted even this early on.

Kara: One thing I’m learning about Naruto is there are very few one-trick ponies, despite what early episodes may lead you to believe. It was cool seeing Shikamaru step up from being the “mendokusai” guy to having some good in-the-moment tactics.

Joseph: I think I mentioned his power as being the type I’d like to have myself. I loved the strategy of using his environment to his advantage, even it if seemed like a totally wild gambit.

Carolyn: Shikamaru! I love him so much. I love that everyone tends to think he’s just a lazy jerk when really he could be the most grounded of them all. Reality/knowledge leads to depression and all that. In my opinion, he’s incredibly observant and clever.

Peter: I have never understood why he doesn’t just hit someone with a damn shuriken when he’s got them trapped. Even with all holsters being coincidentally placed in the same location, he could have another one just for this purpose or pull a needle out of himself. Then even him taking damage was part of his plan.

We're seeing more and more ninja animals show up--Kakashi's ninja dogs, Shino's ninja bugs, Guy's turtle that only showed up once, and now Kiba's dog, Akamaru. What animal companion do you think would be the most useful for a ninja to have?

Kevin: The insects would probably be the single most useful creature a ninja could be in charge of. Reconnaissance that no enemy would think to check for, setting up traps that are practically invisible and a weapon that drains the enemy’s chakra, making them much easier to defeat, all in one. The only problem is that the bugs live in their host, which would make me run away so fast that Lee wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Paul: Definitely a turtle, because while your enemies are busy wondering why on Earth you brought a turtle to a ninja fight, you could sneak up behind them and shank them in the kidneys. Ninja are all about sowing confusion, and the only ninja animal that would be more confusing than a turtle would be an inexplicably out-of-water shark.

Jared: Having a bunch of bugs would probably be very beneficial since you could have just thousands upon thousands of them swarm an opponent. Just having that numbers advantage is going to be beneficial in most circumstances.

Danni: Without contest bugs are the most useful for a ninja to have. Control a few and you have the most stealthy intel team imaginable. Control a swarm and you will never, ever lose.

David: For the sake of variety, I’d argue that rodents like mice and squirrels would be similarly useful to insects. They are everywhere, which is useful for surveillance and such, and they easily carry disease for assassination purposes. Also, you probably wouldn’t have to let them live in your body, so it’s just a win overall.

Noelle: Bugs, all the way. There are so many kinds that each specialize in different things- poisons, paralytic agents, webbing, heightened senses- even reconnaissance from away is very easy for something so small nobody would notice. It’s a lot easier to catch sight of a mammal than a fly. I also am pretty fond of bugs, so it’s not like dealing with them would be a problem.

Kara: Guinea pigs, and not just because me owning four of them kind of obligates me to say that. Those little suckers are faster and stealthier than potatoes on legs have any right to be.

Joseph: I’m down with the dogs, because when you’re not fighting to the death with them by your side you got yourself a ride or die buddy.

Carolyn: Based on what’s in the show and not just any animal we choose? Because, sharks maybe? I dunno. But I guess bugs would make the most sense. Dogs could be useful in a fight but they would need to be exceptionally trained, I would think. Bugs at least give you a shock factor.

Peter: Really can’t argue with chakra eating demon bugs. Such a variety of insects too. Always thought Shino was an underutilized character given how freaky his power is. Little sad they turned him on his head to be an awkward joke character in Boruto. I’ll always have my Ninja Storm ougis I guess.

Neji and Hinata's fight had a lot of raw emotion to go with the really brutal combat. For those of you who are new to the series, how do you think this story's gonna play out?

Paul: I don't honestly know where they're going with the conflict between Hinata and Neji, although I doubt they'll let Neji remain victorious in the long-run. Neji demonstrates the sort of rigid thinking that's a prime candidate for karmic retribution, and pride goeth before the fall. It was also nice to see that Hinata practices Hokuto Shinken.

Jared: Neji’s gonna have to get his comeuppance eventually, although you could probably go about this in a few ways. One could be that eventually Neji finally realizes that Hinata is deserving of his respect and they go that route. Or they have Hinata save him from something and that’s what makes him change his mind. Either way or with whatever they do, I’d be surprised if this beef extended throughout the entirety of the series and they aren’t at least tolerable of each other.

Danni: The conflict within the Hyuga clan is one I can easily see becoming tied in with a civil war were that to ever happen. The lesser clan families will likely attempt to usurp the main family through assassination and align themselves with a greater evil threatening the Hidden Leaf Village, is my guess.

Kara: For me, Neji reads so much like the personification of Hinata’s self-doubt—at least in this fight. That feeling of self-doubt never goes away; we kind of resolve ourselves to it, admit it’ll be there, but learn not to let it overtake us. With all the focus Naruto has on personal growth, I feel like their relationship will mirror this to at least some degree, with Hinata coming to a point where Neji’s thoughts about her don’t even matter. Whether he’ll ever respect her? No idea. I hope so.

Joseph: I think it’s gonna end up with Hinata shocking him with her prowess later on, and bringing out his own lurking self-doubt in a way that mirrors how he messed with her at the start of the fight. I’d like to see more psychological ninja warfare either way.

Carolyn: I’m not new to the series, but I’ll answer with my thoughts on the episode, anyway. I was very happy with Naruto throughout Hinata’s fight. He pays close attention to his friends, which often comes across as being callous or inappropriate, but he knew Hinata wasn’t out of it yet even when everyone else thought she was down for the count. I appreciate that.

Peter: I don’t think this question's for me because I already know, but just wanted to say I forgot how brutal the whole affair was and the anime delivered. Right when the board had their names next to each other you knew Hinata was afraid and their opening combo was basically psychological torture. Bless Kurenai for being a good wingman.

We're here, at my single favorite fight in the series: Rock Lee vs. Gaara. For newcomers, how was the experience? For those of us revisiting Naruto, what was it like coming back?

Kevin: Rock Lee versus Gaara will always be one of the hypest things in all of Naruto, and the hypest part of it comes next week, once Lee starts tapping in to the Eight Inner Gates. It is taking all of my discipline to wait to watch the next episode.

Paul: One of these days, Rock Lee is going to hit a Lotus on somebody that doesn't use Ninjutsu trickery to cushion the blow or replace themselves with a decoy, and that day will be glorious. Until then, I'm just going to have to wait to see how the final episode of the fight plays out next week. I can see why people like this fight, but I still have difficulty taking Sandy Murder Cinnamon Roll (aka Gaara) seriously as an antagonist.

Jared: Maaaaaaaaaaaan, this fight rules. I’d seen the gif of Rock Lee’s weight moment before watching this so knew at some point it was coming, but I’m so glad to finally see the context and know it’s even cooler. The animation in the first episode of this fight was just astonishing with how much it let that fight feel so dynamic and fluid. Rock Lee continues to solidify himself as the coolest character in this show and the best boy.

Danni: This is the only fight I’ve ever heard anything about in Naruto, and I’ve seen the weights dropping already. It was still extremely kickass to see my favorite boy landing shots through Gaara’s impenetrable defense. Rock Lee is the ultimate underdog and I want nothing more than to see him dominate.

David: Ridiculously good. I haven’t watched this fight in years, and it’s really amazing how supremely it holds up. Taijutsu is straight-up the coolest form of fighting in the series, and it’s already being set up to be outclassed overall, and while that’s kind of sad, it ends up making Rock Lee’s underdog status so easy to see and root for that this fight benefits from it.

Noelle: Rock Lee!! Appreciation!!! This fight, and I think a lot of old fans would feel the same, was one of the most spectacularly awesome moments in the series. I haven’t rewatched it since I finished the series, but it’s just as hype as I remembered. Gaara, the boy who has never taken a hit, finally is forced to eat a blow from someone who only uses pure martial arts, and it’s great.

Kara: Everyone’s been talking about how this fight is The Best. I get it, I see it, I believe you now. It’s amazing and hype, but also a little weird because we’ve got two characters who wandered in from other genres going at it—Rock Lee being every sports anime personified, and Gaara genuinely belonging in a horror movie. (Seriously, the sand shell was hitting my creepy doll vibes more than Kankuro’s literal creepy doll.)

Joseph: It’s Frieza eyes vs. Usopp eyes and it rules. I’ve read the source material but I like the anime version of the event even more. When Rock Lee dropped the weights I got chills.

Carolyn: I actually liked the flashbacks more than the fight itself. Seeing baby Rock Lee so dedicated and driven, holding himself to impossible standards, it’s why I love him so much.

Peter: I thought there was still one episode to go until I saw literally ANY animation. Azuma was talking to Choji or something and I was thinking to myself “why does this look so good?” They gave every second of that episode special treatment. Lee dropping the weights is still iconic.

This is less of a Naruto question, and more a general question about action anime. Can you think of 1-2 other instances that were your "Rock Lee dropping the weights" moments from other shows?

Kevin: After giving it some thought, nothing I can remember did the same thing. In Lee versus Gaara, we had no idea that Lee was holding back, but then suddenly he’s on a whole new level and managing to injure a character who was previously untouchable. The closest comparisons I can think of are various moments from Dragon Ball Z. In the Raditz fight, Goku and Piccolo wore weighted gear, and Gohan had his first berserk moment that showed he had further untapped powers, and later on Goku going Super Saiyan for the first time also showed off the hero managing to one-up the villain with powers the audience had never seen, but each of those moments have a part of what made Lee dropping his weights such a memorable scene, not the whole picture.

Paul: There are plenty of direct parallels, such as Sky Star removing her weighted shoulder pads in Air Master, but I think my favorite recent example of someone taking the limiters off (at least in a metaphorical sense) is when Satsuki Kiryuin stabs her mother, Ragyo, in the heart before openly declaring her rebellion in Kill la Kill. That moment has the same transcendent impact, dramatically speaking, because you can kind of see it coming just an instant before it happens, but the reveal is still glorious.

Jared: These maybe aren’t direct comparisons, but for me it’d be something like Joseph vs. Esidisi from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency where we see the fruits of Joseph’s training and cunning pay off. Although, I might also put what Jotaro is able to pull off in the final episode of Stardust Crusaders as one that got me hyped in the same way.

Danni: Dragon Ball has quite a few moments where characters literally take off weighted clothing, but the most "Rock Lee dropping the weights" moment in the show I can think of is when Goku unleashes the Kaioken on Vegeta for the first time. I think a good recent example would be Uraraka vs. Bakugo in My Hero Academia. Everyone completely underestimated her and it looked like she was being ripped to shreds, but then she reveals it was all part of her plan to launch a meteor attack.

Noelle: This is hard, because I don’t think there are any direct comparisons. The fight shows a capable fighter showing their true strength, but also in a way that nobody expected, even the audience. There are many good fights, and many surprises, but none that we can’t see coming, at least on some level. I think the thing that elicited the closest feeling to that was Black Lagoon when Roberta was first introduced, and despite her demure appearance, she started blasting through absolutely everything.

Kara: It’s really kind of the “I am not left-handed” of anime, isn’t it? Except turned up to a ludicrous extreme. Funnily enough, the first one I think of is sort of an inverse—the mid-point of GaoGaiGar, where after a battle to the near-death that leaves our heroes and multiple robots on the point of falling apart, we get a post-credit scene that shows us the villains have been holding back. Definitely not a “punch the air” moment so much as a “drain the glass” moment.

Joseph: I have a really bad memory so no, this is the only one ever.

Carolyn: Not to be repetitive, but I think Uraraka and Bakugo are a pretty good example, as well. I tend to watch darker anime over action anime, so I don’t have a lot to draw from.

Peter: I have to thank Carolyn since I was trying to find a way to shoehorn in that in retrospect you can see a lot of the Hinata/Neji fight in Uraraka/Bakugo. As far as a moment where the series reveals its been underselling a character? Maybe Killua ripping that dudes heart out in the Hunter exam? Or Kenpachi pulling off his eyepatch is probably closest. I love when Ichigo claims there’s a trick and Kenpachi admits the trick was he had a demon eating his power the whole time.

  COUNTERS:

"I'm gonna be Hokage!" count: 19

Bowls of ramen consumed: 2 bowls, 3 cups

Shadow Clones: 123

And that's everything for this week! Remember that you're always welcome to join us for this rewatch, especially if you haven't watched the original Naruto!

Here's our upcoming schedule!

-Next week, on MARCH 8th, the Chunin Exam finals begin in EPISODES 50-56, with CAROLYN BURKE hosting!

-Then, on MARCH 15th, DANNI WILMOTH covers EPISODES 57-63--Naruto settles a grudge as the finals heat up!

-On MARCH 22nd, the Chunin Exam ends as NICOLE MEJIAS covers EPISODES 64-70!

  Have any comments or questions about episodes 43-49? What about our upcoming installment, featuring episodes 50-56?

-----

Nate Ming is the Features Editor for Crunchyroll News and creator of the long-running Fanart Friday column. You can follow him on Twitter at @NateMing. Check out his comic, Shaw City Strikers!

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[darquedeath4444]

First Time to See the World

Chapter SIXTEEN

The next battle, between Rock Lee and Sabaku no Gaara, was soon called out. The two made their way down to the battle field, and the match began.

Sakura had heard rumors of both. Lee was Neji's teammate and a Taijutsu specialist. He couldn't mold chakra.

Gaara was, well, Gaara. She remembered how he had come to her hospital room when she was still out and had sealed up Kubikirobocho's scratches. She had wondered, more than once, if this was a sign of respect. He had killed before, or had at least injured enough that his sand smelled of the blood he had drawn from his opponents.

When the battle started, it had seemed like Gaara would win. His sand was both an offence and a defense. Of course, people almost always seemed to think that the louder, more flashier jutsu were more powerful.

What they had forgotten, however, was the Gaara didn't have his shield up 24/7. It detected danger, then it moved accordingly. Even the sand needed the time to form the defense. If one was fast enough, they could attack before the shield completely formed.

And Lee was one of the very few people in the world who were fast enough.

Gaara had a lot of talent.

Lee, apparently, had none. But he had hard work and preparation, and he proved that sometimes, born talent wasn't enough.

In the end, Gaara finally caught the Taijutsu user with a well placed trap and knock him out. However, Sakura could see that the Suna nin hadn't expected Lee to put up such a fight.

Had she not just witnessed it, she too, would have seen her Kekkei Genkai as a line between victory and loss. She glanced down at her hands, where she could see her bones shifting beneath her skin as though it was feeling her itch to fight.

She wondered how far she could have gone if her bones were not the way they were.

The next battle was between Temari, Gaara's sister, and Shikamaru.

The Nara complained about it until Naruto knocked him over the balcony, where he landed in a heap on the floor. Temari jumped over the edge and waited patiently for the Nara to drag himself to his feet.

The battle that followed might have been dull to some. It was part the Nara laziness and part Temari’s caution that everything Shikamaru was doing might be a trap. Still, Sakura had fought in more fights and faced off against more skilled shinobi in her life as a missing nin than most of her peers, and she knew skill, talent and power when she saw it. 

Sakura decided that if this was the average skill of the Genin of the Shinobi Nations, maybe things weren't so bad.

She would never admit it, thought.

Shikamaru drove Temari into a very well concealed trap, and then promptly gave up.

Sakura heard protests form his teammates and friends, but she knew what he had done. If this had been a real battle, he would have won. He proved that he was Chunin material. The rest was the well known Nara laziness.

However, she noticed a few things too. Shikamaru's attacks were mostly based on his knowledge, intelligence, and patience. It could be said that Temari was a good opponent for him, because she was a long range fighter. If his opponent had been a Taijutsu user, like Lee or even her, he wouldn't have lasted that long. 

Shikamaru needed time to plan. He was good at stalling, but Taijutsu users knew to end battles as quickly as possible.

Strategy was important, Sakura knew that, but sometimes, speed was superior. If an opponent got to you before you could lay a trap, or even come up with a plan, it was all over.

The last battle of the first round was between Temari and Sasuke.

Naruto demanded that he win, and that they would all make Chunin together. Kakashi just smiled and Itachi nodded encouragingly at him when he turned towards where his family was seated in a group.

Sakura nudged him, and didn't meet his eyes when he looked at her.

He allowed a smirk of confidence to appear on his face and jumped over the balcony with ease. After all, he had a huge advantage in this battle.

Temari was a Wind user and from what he had seen, a damn good one. However, the fire techniques the Uchiha clan were well known for had, of course, been passed down to Sasuke. His fire would easily consume Temari's wind and turn it against her. 

Still, he knew overconfidence was not the way to go, and with that thought, he glanced back at Sakura again. After all, he had seen how even the strongest could fall. 

The pair started the fight by throwing long ranges ninjutsu around, trying to gauge the skill level of the other. Temari was the first to reveal another part of her arsenal, and Sasuke found out that the huge fan strapped to her back was not a mere ornament.

Deciding that he could return the courtesy of revelation, he skidded to a halt. His eyes flickered to crimson, glowing brightly even while the rest of his figure was hidden by the dust conjured up by Temari's fan.

His vision instantly became sharper, and the dust, which did not contain chakra like Sakura’s mist hiding technique had, did not obscure his vision. He countered every single one of Temari's techniques with his own fire techniques. Thanks to his Sharingan, he could see exactly when she executed hers and matched the timing with his, taking full advantage of the wind to make his fires bigger. A few times, Temari had attempted to put the fire out with a huge gust of wind, but had given up, having to resort to jumping and dodging.

Sasuke's flames greedily ate up the oxygen Temari's wind sent towards it, turning the battle field red. Hungry flames lapped at the feet of the two competitors. Sasuke looked right at home, while Temari had her fan brandished in front of her, breathing heavily.

As a long range fighter used to overwhelming their opponent from a distance, Temari's stamina ran out long before Sasuke's did. There was also the fact that she had played cat and mouse with Shikamaru in her previous match, and it wasn't long before Sasuke just appeared behind her, out of no where, and the match was over.

The competitors were given an hour to rest before the next battles. The pairings would be announced in half an hour.

Naruto dragged his teammates into a empty room he had found and made them sit. "Okay. Since all three of us are still in, and there are four people doing the fighting, two of us will be fighting each other."

Sasuke and Sakura began clapping at the same time.

"Wow. you actually realized," Sasuke smirked.

"Wha- Of course! I'm actually smart!"

Sakura smiled. "It would be better if you showed this smart side of yours more often."

"Not you too, Sakura-chan!" Naruto pouted.

"The other person will be fighting that Gaara kid," Sasuke said. "He might actually be a threat."

"That sand of his might be a problem," Sakura agreed.

Naruto glanced between them. "You guys-"

The two of them fixed him with a look.

Naruto shrugged. "Nothing."

The sound of static filled the room, coming from the speakers set up in every room. "The pairings of the next battle have been decided."

Team Seven looked up.

Chapter SEVENTEEN>

<Chapter FIFTEEN

Chapter List

[jacksgreysays]

"An Unbearable Weight" ... ??? I have no idea, I just had this sort of feeling of something pressing down on the shoulders and I can't place anything else with the title (almost spelled it tightle, lol).

A/N: So the first thing I thought of with that title, anon, is the show Leverage. I mean, true, it’s not exactly far from my thoughts, but specifically there’s a spiel about how the crew of criminals is the leverage that normal people need to remove the weight that evil rich people have put on them, etc…

And so my brain followed that train of thought to my Friendship is a (Mutual) Con ‘verse, of course. And then, well, with a title like that… this would be a season finale-esque fic within that 'verse. But what would it specifically be about? Hm…

~

An Unbearable Weight

Even myths can grow complacent: when that happens, the world shakes.

-

I’ll be honest, my brain went originally to Atlas Shrugged–as an idea, not the novel itself–but that was very western of me and so I decided to research the equivalent. Namazu is a giant catfish that causes earthquakes, Kashima is the god who is meant to restrain him to prevent that. However, sometimes Kashima fails.

Which I quite liked the idea of, but that seemed a little too specific to be used by name in the summary, so I abstracted the concept enough that really it could be either the western or Japanese myth that I’m referring to!

Anyway, from that summary, I suppose this is later in Team Seven’s “career” when they’re at the top of their game–no con is impossible to them–and they’ve unwittingly created their own enemy. Someone who knows them so well, knows their weaknesses and exactly where to hit.

Part of me, because of the word “weight”–the BEST scene in Naruto will always be Lee taking off his leg weights and beating Gaara’s ass (though I do love him, also)–wants to include at the very least Gai and Lee if not also Neji and TenTen… I wonder if they’re law enforcement who are supposed to be tracking down the “ruthless band of criminals” but are actually quite friendly with Team Seven, not knowing that they are the same.

Like FBI Agents McSweeten and Taggert from Leverage but more competent.

And like in canon, Kakashi and Gai are BFFs which would mean that whoever the big bad in this “episode” would somehow reveal to Gai that Kakashi is the leader of the “dastardly crew of renegades” that he’s been trying to catch for years. Which would, of course, strain their relationship but ALSO impede Kakashi’s ability to act on behalf of his team.

All part of big bad’s plan.

It would all resolve itself in the end–of course–most likely with Team Gai acting as Team Seven’s Detective Bonanno equivalent. That is, Team Seven cons the bad guys and gets the evidence that Team Gai needs to convict them.

… yeah… I like this idea.

So probably Team Gai has shown up in “previous episodes” individually–Shikako is TenTen’s go-to for locksmithing and questions on vaults/security systems, Neji and Sasuke probably met as kids during the upper class soirees that Noble clans all attend, Lee probably had an absolute SNAFU of a case and Sakura was the one who found/healed him… and, of course, Kakashi and Gai are BFFs… but while each of them probably knew Team Gai were FBI (in a vague sort of sense for Sasuke, probably) none of them knew that they were on a task force together and especially not that said task force was assigned to track down/capture Team Seven.

Until, you know, one of Team Seven’s normal milk run cons suddenly gets infested with law enforcement. Familiar law enforcement.

Sakura probably has to fake flirt some information out of Lee, Sasuke and Neji probably have a snooty “Hyuuga” “Uchiha” exchange before hella pummeling each other into the dirt, and Shikako definitely ends up promising TenTen that she’ll tell Shikamaru what it is she actually does for work.

Kakashi mopes around guiltily like the saddest string bean he is, until Gai forgives him in a heartbeat and challenges him to a push up contest.

~

Ask Box Event Now Open!

[keepyourpantsongohan]

Ayesha Liveblogs Naruto Shippuden S19

Lmao @ Shikamaru flirting with Temari before greeting the Kazekage #Priorities 

Why bother giving these kids the data from those chunin exams they were there they ARE the data

“You'd know more about the reason behind the interruption of the final rounds and its chronology” Shizune fucking calling out the Sand omg ‘remember when u tried to murder us? I do’

“She hasn't changed a bit” and u love her for it Shikamaru

Why is Kakashi even here lmao he doesn't have a team of Genin this time around it's just because he's competent and adorable I guess

The Team 7 outro I weep SP is really stabbing me in the heart

Fu is a handful and I love it

“You want to find some way to bond with the rebels?” historically that's actually worked out pretty well it seems

I'M SCREAMING ARE WE GONNA SEE SAKURA'S CHUNIN EXAM

“She just might be tougher than [Shikamaru]” Ino <3 Sakura 5ever

KAKASHI COME INSPIRE YOUR BABY GENIN SHE DESERVES THIS

I feel a little ripped off that Kakashi didn't get to be the Angel of Cheering People Up but I'm proud of Sakura either way and I am i n  l o v e with the idea of watching her Chunin exams

They were so excited to see Naruto it's a shame he's not real

This timeline where everyone takes the Chunin exams a year before Naruto comes back implies that there were at minimum 9 Leaf Chunin made in a single exam

It also puts very little distance between Neji making Chunin and Jonin but I guess to be fair Kakashi was made a jonin at 9

Hjghdskhfhlvhl Team Guy Dynamics:

Tenten: We're being split up?

Lee: We'll be on our own for this?

Neji: [already walking away]

SHIKAMARU INVIGILATES LIKE A SUPER VILLAIN WHAT A DRAMA HOE

“Thanks for having my back” Literally half of Shikamaru's screen time is flirting with Temari I love it

Neji why do you have to be so dramatic do you really need to use jutsu as visual aids in your explanations

THIS BITCH FIGHT BETWEEN NEJI AND THE SAND SHINOBI IS SO GREAT

Sand Siblings @ Gaara probably: Will you stop talking about Naruto for like ten fucking seconds

Neji stepping in to save his girl Tenten my heart

Fu is so cute omg “I want to make a hundred friends”

I'm willing to believe Neji can recognize a jinchuriki's chakra right away bc of his fight with Naruto

“Dwelling on the misfortunes of birth is meaningless” same Shira same

I have a hard time believing Sakura couldn't take down that scorpion without Fu but plot I guess

I CAN'T BELIEVE FU JUST ASKED THE KAZEKAGE TO TAKE A BATH WITH HER

“Gaara!” “Sorry, just thinking” Fuck how often does Temari have to shake Gaara out of thinking about Naruto lmao

Kiba has to spread his legs as widely as possible mid-air his philosophy is truly ‘Dicks out for Shinobi’

Ninja who are about to partake in infiltration, loudly: Scatter!

I also have a hard time believing that a Byakugan user of Neji's skill would be so easily taken in by genjutsu

Honestly Team Guy is prime OT3 material their teamwork is amazing and they lift each other up constantly  

This is the second time in this set of exams that Team Guy has helped not only their competitors but also ninja from a different village the Leaf truly raises their babies right

“I wanna know which one's more valuable to the village... is it the boulder or you?” Still working on the charisma thing huh Gaara

Every mission Team Guy goes on:

Tenten/Neji: Lee how about we think about this before we start-

Lee: JUMPING INTO ACTION

“Please apologize to him!” I adore Lee

I'M SCREAMING NEJI IMPLYING THAT HE IS RIVALS WITH NARUTO INSTEAD OF LEE HE'S TRYING TO BREAK UP THE BAND

‘Hey Shira what's your technique?’ ‘Breathing really hard’

“Two Heaven scrolls. When should I break it to them?” Further proof that Dad!Neji would be ridiculous he has trouble breaking bad news to friends let alone babies

Kiba @ Hinata: Pay! Attention! To! Me!

I fucking love how Kiba has no qualms about anything gross like biting a slimy guy ‘let me at him’, breathing into my dog's nose ‘of course’, running around covered in dog urine ‘just a Tuesday’

These episodes have reawakened the inner Kiba/Hinata shipper in me

“Forget I ever mentioned Naruto okay?” omg I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Kiba blush before but the second he was called out about Naruto there it is

“Their persistence is extraordinary” this is true about the entire village tbh 

It’s not fair of you to compare your shadow clone abilities to a boy with a chakra demon inside of him Kiba 

“I can tell just how hard Naruto trained out here” so what ur saying is that u smell Naruto’s sweat

Kiba’s sure ready to brag for someone whose plan was just playing dead

“It’s the fault of the whole team” I don’t remember this guy’s name but I have a feeling that if Minato were alive he’d love him

“No you’re wrong it was me” Ggfkjghdfkghkd Kiba pls why are you like this

“Be nice and give us your scroll” tru Shinobi of the Leaf 

The Look(TM) Neji gives Lee when he gets Tenten in a bad mood

TENTEN’S HONESTLY WATCHING NEJI FROM THE BUSHES WHILE HE TRAINS LIKE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE BYAKUGAN 

“We’re able to fight so aggressively because we know that you have our backs” Guy is such a supportive sensei 10/10 (no pun intended)

“How did they turn out anyway?” “I have my doubts about them” LEE PLS

Real talk does the Akatsuki not know that the person hosting these exams is a jinchuriki he is the Kazekage

“Hi there, are you guys cliff-climbing too? Hang in there” KAKASHI HATAKE WITH SHITTY TRAINING PUNS COMING 2 SAVE MY LIFE 

Honestly Guy is the only sensei who seems to train his own kunoichi directly because both Ino and Hinata have clan-based jutsu and all of Kakashi’s babies were taken in by the Sanin

“The great nations don’t understand pain” like half the Leaf Village is orphans what more do u want from them Ajisai

“The Hidden Rain will soon be reborn” “Does that mean you’re gonna be more friendly then?” suffice to say the answer was no

Love my Leaf boys who won’t let people from other villages be attacked in an unfair way even by their own fellow villagers

Lee realizing that trash-talking insects doesn’t really work lmao 

Props to Lee for not holding a grudge against Gaara because he was both the reason he was injured before the last invasion and also one of the invaders  

“Sensei, have I gotten stronger since the last Chunin exam?” “Well, you should have” Inspiring self-confidence with Might Guy 

What a gentle and peppy intro it’s a change of pace from the intense bops

Thank you!!!!! I still don’t understand why Sakura couldn’t take out the first insect because she’s like the strongest woman alive

Omg Ino gently taking Sakura’s hand to heal it my bisexual heart <3 

“Where’s Shikamaru?” “He’s seeing off the delegates from the Hidden Sand” HE’S FLIRTING WITH TEMARI MY BOI

I aspire 2 be as committed to avoiding talking about my feelings as Asuma Sarutobi

Tsunade just doesn’t have the energy to entertain student rivalry lol 

“You just broke my concentration since you kept peeking over at me” this entire episode is incredibly gay and I love it 

“Because of you, I’m going to the place where I belong” this is ninja code for gay marriage (see: Tenzo’s infinite Tsukuyomi scene)

I LOVE SAKURA SHE PICKED A FIGHT WITH A SCORPION TO GET DINNER FOR HER FRIENDS MY KIND OF GAL

It actually makes complete sense that Tsunade never intended for Ino to become a medical ninja because it’s not Ino’s strongest technique but it’s useful on multiple levels 

I don’t know what Ino’s future job is supposed to be but I hope it’s Head of the intelligence division bc of Inoichi’s legacy

Honestly Sakura becomes even more impressive when you consider every battle she fought up until the war she was consistently depleting her chakra it’s a disadvantage similar to Kakashi’s sharingan and yet she not only managed to keep from being hospitalized but also was able to fight the Akatsuki and perform surgery

Honestly what on earth is this Sasuke business what a non-sequitor

Take a shot every time Orochimaru kidnaps a child

The fact that Sakura braces for impact bc she won’t even consider dodging at the cost of abandoning Ino’s body nfdgbfdgjdhfb

“I don’t care about the Chunin exams, I want to have my revenge!” okay Anime Bride of Chuckie 

“He’s probably forgotten all about you and has already found a better partner” Kurama truly hitting Naruto where it hurts 

I’m so proud of Sakura she is absolutely fucking adorable 

“Gaara, let’s get dinner” I’ve never heard those words said so intensely

Why is the animation on this sand so much better than the animation on literally anything else 

“Make sure he doesn’t step foot outside” lmao @ Gaara’s siblings trying to babysit him even though he’s the leader of the village

FURTHER LAUGHTER AT GAARA SNEAKING OUT OF HIS ROOM LIKE THE TEENAGER HE IS 

“This will take a lot more than gutsiness to overcome” [Naruto in the distance: How dare u Neji]

TEAM GUY CUDDLING OUT THE SANDSTORM I LOVE THEM!!!!

“I told you I was right,” said Mikoshi, as he began to drown in a pit of sand

Oh my god Fu wants to make a hundred friends to end all wars what a gal

“He sounds exactly like the kind of guy I’d like to meet and become friends with” that’s actually sad both because she dies before she can really know Naruto but he does meet her eventually through the tailed beasts

“Well, see ya!” jbfjhdkfjhgkjh Team Jonin Sensei is truly a beautiful thing 

It takes the Akatsuki like three days to extract a tailed beast and this dude is trying to do it in 30 seconds good luck my dude

Poor Neji he can’t stand to disappoint other people 

“We can’t just ignore someone in distress” Team Guy Saving People During the Chunin Exams Count: 4 <333

Take a shot every time someone on this show fantasizes about Naruto

“Yes, but that’s only because he’s a fool” this might be the closest Gaara has come to insulting Naruto in years

I want so badly for Neji and Gaara to be friends I love lonely ninja boys

"Get ready Fu, you’re next!” “Okay!!” I’ve never seen someone look so excited to get poked in the stomach

“I thank you, Neji. Never thought you’d rescue me” Team Guy Saving People During the Chunin Exams Count: 7

Take a shot every time Gaara tells someone about his crush on Naruto

“I wanted to try to heal the hurt I’d caused everyone” Gaara <3

Why are there so many heaven scrolls that seems to be all that anyone has

Gaara @ all the exam participants: You get to be a Chunin! You get to be a Chunin! Everyone gets to be a Chunin! 

OH MY GOD I JUST REALIZED THAT AJISAI IS ONE OF THE BODIES OF PAIN I DIDN’T REALIZE IT UNTIL THE EXAM WAS OVER BUT THEY’RE ABOUT TO CONFIRM IT

Are we about to watch a montage of all the people who died since the Chunin exams 

Oh my GOD Fu trying to befriend Kakuzu RIP 

Well I guess Neji’s double promotion makes way more sense than him taking a Jonin exam like months after his Chunin exam but still what an arbitrary decision-making process

[darquedeath4444]

First Time to See the World

Chapter ELEVEN

"What if-" he asked,

Sakura was jolted form her state of blood lust.

Her sudden movement knocked away the balance she had managed to keep in mid air. Her sword weighed her down and she swung it backwards, the weight of it allowing her to change directions. Sasuke used this chance to catch his balance and create space between them. He watched the girl with narrowed eyes but made no further moves to attack.

Sakura brought a hand up to her head and took in a shuddering breath.

He smiled, and reached out his hand towards her.

"Go away..."

"Hey, Sakura." Warm arms wrapped around her.

"You're not here anymore. You're dead, so just leave me alone." She whimpered.

The smile, his smile, flashed through her mind. That gentle smile that chased away the bloody nightmares during the night.

"It's okay, Sakura." He'd say.

"No, it's not. You're dead. You left me behind, so you have no say in this!"

Sakura was breathing heavily at this point. She stabbed her sword into the ground and leaned on it. She was shaking badly, her knuckles white from her grip on the sword handle.

"No. No no no no no..."

'Don't say it. Please.'

"We weren't killers?"

Sakura yanked out a kunai, something she had been trying to forgetting threatening to overwhelm her mind. Sasuke tensed, only to jump when Sakura stabbed her kunai into her arm. Her Shikotsumyaku blocked the blade from going in too far, but the pain was still enough to shake her out of the moment of panic.

"Maybe I would have been pure and innocent like you," Sakura said, firmly, to the image in her mind in her mind. Then, she smiled. "But probably not. I can feel it, you know? The blood lust. The crave, the need to feel the life ebbing away from my opponents. I am a Kaguya. I was born a killer. I cannot be pure like you."

She could feel the names of the deadly dances of bones at the tip of her tongue. All she needed to do was say them and this would end, with her as victor.

Sasuke was watching her now. Just standing there and watching her, no signs of moving in to attack her vulnerable state.

Had it been another time, Sakura would have laughed at his fake sense of mercy. Or maybe he was just curious.

But it wasn't another time, and Sakura, for once, was grateful.

"But I wish I was, sometimes. I really do." She pulled out her sword form the ground and slowly reached behind herself with her free hand. "I could have been free. I could have lived life like all the pampered little children with choices they can make of their own free will whenever they want."

She was no longer in the arena; none of it existed. It was just her, the phantoms of possibility, and the ghosts of what she had lost. She brushed the back of her neck before pressing a pressure point, knocking herself out.

'Maybe then, I would have been worthy enough to stay with you, Haku.'

"Hokage-sama."

Minato looked up form where he had been looking at the match. He, too, had been surprised by the turn of events.

"Orochimaru," he nodded at the Snake Sannin.

"Would it be possible for you to let the girl advance into the next round?" He asked.

Minato raised an eyebrow. It was true that he could do this with his authority. However, "Why would you ask for something like that?"

Orochimaru smiled. "There is someone I want her to meet, and I want to see how much of an impact it will have on her. Wouldn't the best way to test a Kaguya be on a battle field?"

After a long silence of shock, Gekko opened his mouth to declare Sasuke the winner. However, he was interrupted when Sasuke himself raised his hand.

"I...I, Uchiha Sasuke, forfeit this match!"

The crowd became quiet again, before there was an uproar.

Sasuke ignored them, and looked at Gekko determinedly. "Sakura would have won that fight. It was obvious. I don't want to pass through as the winner just because of something like that." 

Each word felt like needles in his throat, but he forced them out. He would never live it down if he advanced only because his opponent suddenly deemed herself unworthy of advancing. 

He and Sakura had been living together for a few weeks now. They had slept under the same roof and ate at the same table. However, all that had made him forget that just mere weeks ago, Sakura had been an enemy. She had slept alongside Zabuza and Haku, and had eaten next to them too. 

Her entire life had changed in mere moments, and something must have brought it all back to the girl who had acted so nonchalant about it until this point.

Gekko looked uncertainly at him but when Sasuke stood his ground, the man slowly nodded. However, before he could make an announcement, the Hokage stood up. Everyone became quiet again, to hear what the man was going to say.

"It is clear that Sakura is very advanced skill wise,” Minato began. “However, it is obvious that there is some sort of emotional wall holding her back. I wish to see how far she can advance with the right kind of teaching. Sasuke has a vibrant Will of Fire burning within him. He has decided to choose his teammate rather than take advantage of the turn of events." He straightened. "Both Uchiha Sasuke and Kaguya Sakura will move onto the next round."

Sasuke climbed the stairs back up to the stands where his team was waiting, looking dazed and deep in thought.

Naruto didn't say anything.

Kakashi simply patted Sasuke on the shoulder.

Sasuke just nodded at them numbly before he sat down on one of the seats.

A while later, all the winners of their rounds were sent down to the field, where the match ups for the next rounds, which would be held in a months time, was introduced.

Namikaze Naruto VS Aburame Shino

Hyuuga Neji VS Kaguya Sakura

Rock Lee VS Gaara

Temari VS Nara Shikamaru (Winner VS Uchiha Sasuke)

"Why don't we go see Sakura?" Kakashi asked. "We will discuss training once she wakes up."

When they reached the room Sakura was resting in, they realized that they weren't the only ones there. Someone had beaten them to her.

Kakashi opened the door and nodded at the person standing beside Sakura's bed. "Orochimaru-sama."

Orochimaru turned around and returned the gesture. "Hello, Kakashi-kun." He spared the Genin behind him a glance before he turned back to the girl lying unconscious on the medical bed. 

"Sakura-chan will be fighting the Hyuuga?" He asked, but it wasn't really a question. After all, Kakashi was sure he knew the answer.

He just nodded, though, and was about to speak when Naruto interrupted him. "Orochimaru! What’re you doing here?”

Sasuke whacked him upside the head. "Be quiet,” he hissed. “This is the hospital.”

Naruto scowled. “Did you just hit me?” He demanded.

Orochimaru chuckled, then turned back to Kakashi. "You have a month to prepare for the finals," he said. "I would like to train Sakura-chan here."

Kakashi tilted his head. "Oh?" It was very rare for any of the Sannin to offer training. 

Orochimaru folded his arms. "Well, actually, I want one of my...someone I know to have a go."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes just a little. "And who will that be?"

Orochimaru smiled and turned towards the door. "Come in."

A boy slightly older than Naruto and Sasuke stepped into the room. He nodded respectfully at Kakashi and Orochimaru, before giving nods of acknowledgement to the two Genin.

Orochimaru beckoned the boy over and placed his hands on his shoulders. "This is Kimimaro, Kaguya Kimimaro."

Chapter TWELVE>

<Chapter TEN

Chapter List

[recentanimenews]

ESSAY: Dropping The Weights — How The Chunin Exams Define Naruto

  Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is one of the defining series of both the '00s and the 2010s, the original manga spanning 15 years and the accompanying anime lasting a few years after. It is a touchstone franchise that was often compared by critics and even by some fans to Dragon Ball Z when it reached American soil on the Toonami programming block. Its story of Naruto Uzumaki’s quest to not only become Hokage but learn the secrets of his past are equal parts epic and empathetic. Naruto is relatable to anyone who has ever strived for success while feeling out of place. Heck, Naruto could be a stand-in for anime itself in the 2000s, capable of accomplishing great things, yet treated like a juvenile foreign “other” by mainstream media pundits. 

  And when you look back at Naruto’s early chapters and episodes, it’s obvious why fans were so quick to latch onto the series. The characters are funny, action-ready, and layered, each one striving for their own brand of ninja greatness and each one devoted to ideals that are desperately personal. As a setting, the Hidden Leaf Village rides the line between fantastical and approachable. The plot from the onset has many working gears, but nothing too overwhelming. Unlike some series that bog themselves down in copious, plodding exposition, Naruto has, well, stuff going on. 

    These strengths of the early parts of the series come to a head with the Chunin Exams, an arc that is not only known as one of the best in the entirety of Naruto, but also one of the best “tournament arcs” in the history of anime. The tournament arc is a lauded staple of the medium, and when done well, like in My Hero Academia’s Sports Festival or Yu Yu Hakusho’s Dark Tournament, they’re a series of memorable contests that accentuate the running themes of the show while also exemplifying the struggles of the beloved characters. However, when done poorly, they mostly seem like an excuse to just get everyone in the same arena, a “Get Out Of Character Development Free” card that can be played when the cast is too big to adequately balance.

  Not only does the Chunin Exams manage to balance Naruto’s burgeoning league of characters, it thrives in the escalating counts and chaos. This is because of its disbursement of goals, a process that ensures that not only does every character have a common quest to conquer (reach the Chunin rank of being a ninja) but side achievements and inner victories. Thanks to Kishimoto’s deft hand, none of these ambitions usurp the others, and none of the characters come off as looking unimportant or especially weak. A side-effect of tournament arcs is often that they wreak havoc on the “power levels” and scales of the series, fixing the rank of characters due to their placement relative to the finals. The Chunin Exams, which starts as a series of tests and challenges and slowly advances to a proper tournament, never lets this happen.

  It’s not enough that I just tell you this, so let’s explore these strengths in play with a look into the four most prominent participants of the Exams — Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Rock Lee.

  Naruto

    Out of anyone, Naruto’s intentions are probably the most simple: He wants to become a Chunin because being a Chunin is another important stepping stone toward being Hokage. He has a rivalry with Sasuke, a tumultuous friendship with Sakura, and is eager to please his team leader Kakashi. He is the main character and the series is named after him, so he constantly teeters toward the precipice of “Everyone stop and pay attention to what Naruto is doing.” But the Chunin Exams doesn’t allow that. Rather, it delights in subverting it. 

  In the written portion of the exam, Naruto doesn’t answer any of the questions. Rather, he makes it clear that failing the test won’t block his ambitions. Along with maintaining a thematic thru-line that was established during the earlier Bell Test in which Team 7 didn’t technically win, but passed thanks to their devotion toward the betterment of each other, it establishes that Naruto is imperfect. He might seem “destined” for the role of Hokage, but the road will not be an easy one.

  This continues with the Forest of Death, in which Naruto and Sasuke face Orochimaru, a villain whose power towers over all of them. Naruto is eager to fight and puts up a valiant effort, but is eventually rendered unconscious. Naruto being taken out allows for other characters to step in and gain the spotlight, but it also shows that this will not be a case of “New bad guy emerges, Naruto gets powerful and defeats new bad guy, repeat.” 

  The after-effects of this battle last into the actual tournament portion where Naruto puts up a poor showing in the preliminaries against Kiba until he literally farts out a victory. He trains with Jiraiya, mid-tournament, to cover some of the weaknesses he’s experienced thus far and he is eventually able to beat Neji using his improved skills. Naruto succeeds, not because he’s able to 100 percent all of the objectives of the exam, but rather because he works to cover his weaknesses. 

  Sasuke

    Sasuke’s intention is to pass the Chunin Exams as well, but this goal is almost over-shadowed by the other things he has going on. His relationship with Naruto is evolving into a kind of troubling rivalry, and his various obsessions lead him to constantly cast a blind eye toward Sakura. He relates to Kakashi in ways that have yet to be fully explored and he harnesses a grudge against Rock Lee, whose strength angers and befuddles him. Meanwhile, he searches for his murderous brother Itachi and his arc involving Orochimaru is set to soon begin. 

  In short, Sasuke and Naruto are reversed heading into this arc. Sasuke actually cheats to answer the questions in the written exam, while Naruto passes through a kind of dramatic showcase of his morals. For Naruto, becoming Chunin and becoming Hokage IS the goal, and the rest is leading up to it. For Sasuke, gaining this kind of power is the lead-up to the revenge he aspires for. 

  Sasuke “copying” to progress in the exams comes into play again with his fight against Yoroi, as he is “inspired” by a move he saw Rock Lee use and delivers his own variation. And finally, in his match against Gaara, he unleashes the Chidori, a move he learned from Kakashi. All of these imitations don’t imply that Sasuke is any less of a warrior. Rather, they reveal the cracks in Sasuke’s own delusions (“I don’t need anybody! I can find my brother/beat Orochimaru/do all the cool ninja stuff I want all by myself!”), while hinting at his eventual reconciliation with his friends and the Hidden Leaf Village. Sasuke needs others just as much as they need him.

  Sakura

    Out of anyone, Sakura has the most complicated tie to the exams. Already, Sakura feels relegated to being a supporting player, both by the events of the story and by her own personality. Constantly second-guessing herself and others, she struggles to deliver on her own strengths. So the Chunin Exams don’t just test her abilities, but they also establish what her abilities even are.

  First off, she answers all of the questions on the written test, and then, when Naruto and Sasuke become injured by Orochimaru, she’s quick to provide aid. However, she soon finds herself tangling with Kin of Team Dosu, who taunts her while grabbing her hair. It is here that Sakura surpasses her original conception of herself as she cuts her hair off and turns the tables on her opponent. 

  This kind of revelation of inner strength is on display again during Sakura’s fight with Ino, her rival. While lacking the big “power” moments of Rock Lee and Sasuke’s fights, it brings Sakura’s arc in this storyline full circle. She does not have the combative skill of Naruto or Sasuke, but she is a warrior nonetheless and her double KO with Ino illustrates her willingness to go the distance, just as her peers do.

  In a way, Sakura has the most to gain from something strenuous like the Chunin Exams, which places emphasis on her skills as both a team player and a solo fighter. Naruto has made it clear that his success is outside of the bounds of what any formal examination can provide, and Sasuke has no personal ties to the rigors of the contest. But Sakura needs it, a structured push that ends up with an emotional breakthrough. 

  Rock Lee

    If any character delivers the defining moment of the arc, it’s Rock Lee as he drops the weights in the fight against Gaara. It’s a moment that would go on the Mt. Rushmore of memorable Naruto moments if such a thing existed. And it epitomizes the theme that Rock Lee stands for: That, despite extremely human weaknesses, we’re capable of wonderful, awe-inspiring things. 

  Unlike the rest of the characters here, Rock Lee’s performance in the Chunin Exams is funneled toward one specific moment. Though he is able to compete with Sasuke, his time in the Forest of Death is fairly unremarkable, especially when compared to Gaara, who is the Naruto equivalent of a slasher movie character, easily dealing with anyone in his path. This contrast is built for a reason, and Rock Lee constantly wanting to prove himself matches nicely with Gaara’s feeling that he has nothing to prove.

  The fact that Rock Lee’s Taijutsu stuns Gaara and that he nearly dies in his fight with the sand-controlling ninja is more important than any victory would’ve been. Like Sakura, Rock Lee is searching for a way to affirm his place in the world, but the way he does it calls into question the entire process of becoming a ninja. Is it wrong to push these children this way? How far is too far? Rock Lee’s inability to use any other Jutsu than Taijutsu brings all of these concerns down to earth and reverberates around the other characters. An integral part of Rock Lee’s arc is the sudden realization that the other ninjas aren’t just superpowered anime characters but teenagers trying to accomplish their dreams while grappling with terrifying, potentially deadly obstacles.

  In short, the Chunin Exams doesn’t just provide a series of cool tests and match-ups, but it examines the importance of the main characters’ personal goals. It explores who they are, what they want, and why they want it. And in the end, it reveals that, for young ninja, triumph is secondary, the main mission, often, is to survive.

      Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features.

  By: Daniel Dockery

[keepyourpantsongohan]

Ayesha Liveblogs Naruto Shippuden S17

It’s ironic that Kakashi is criticizing the logic of Obito’s Hokage stone face plans when he wanted to keep his mask on when they were going to put his face up

Kakashi’s not even fighting back my poor baby

“These Leaf Shinobi, they all act so tough” YOU BET THEY DO

How has no one wondered where Tenzo is the duration of this whole war 

“Nine-Tails, you’re acting kind of like a captain” I can’t believe Kakashi is making friends with the creature who killed his sensei

I guess even massive demonic chakra animals need to rest sometimes

“I’ll make you Hokage inside this jutsu” Obito needs to stop trying to fulfill people’s dreams through murder

I am simultaneously so relieved and frightened that the Allied Shinobi Forces have finally arrived

Sakura my daughter goes straight to healing Kakashi as soon as she arrives I love her so much 

Logically Kakashi is the only one who stands a chance against Obito but I don’t think anyone wants to ask that of him

Ten-Tails is sporting quite a Look 

Jesus Christ haven’t Shikamaru and Ino been through enough

“Shikamaru and Ino’s fathers might say that as Shinobi they’re glad they died before their children” Neji is trying to comfort Naruto about a death that didn’t even happen to someone he loves

The Hyuga are so beautiful and dramatic bless them

I’m so concerned for Neji please don’t hurt him

NEJI NO

“You hold more than one life in your hands” Even Neji’s last words are about protecting Hinata RIP me but mostly RIP Neji fuck

But who is going to be Tenten’s old man husband 

Sasuke for once in your goddamn life please don’t make things worse

“It looks he’s a bit concerned... about Naruto” Even Orochimaru fucking knows about Naruto and Sasuke how much more Extra can they be

I’m not saying it means something that Ino says “optimistic love” and they cut from her thinking of Sasuke to her thinking of Sakura but  👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

“Which is why I keep telling myself, this time, I will protect them, but then I end up having to face the fact I couldn’t once more” Kakashi has tried so hard to protect everyone but especially his Baby Shinobi and everyone keeps kicking his heart in the ass

 Lee has lost his best friend oh no

Hinata’s so metal she just smacked Naruto’s shoulder back into place midair 

Fkfghdjfgkdfhg these cutaways are killing me always switching between Naruto and Sasuke after they’ve said something Gay

“Let’s go... to the place where all the secrets sleep” Orochimaru loves vague drama too like mentor like student

Sasuke misses the Leaf Itachi you woke up his little bitch heart bless you 

ARE WE GOING TO SEE THE HOKAGE COME TO THE BATTLE

MINATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

For once it’s actually unclear where Sasuke has made things worse or not but I’m very excited

“How, Mr. Orochimaru?” Minato’s so cute and polite event to his enemies

I love Hashirama he’s so beautiful and ridiculous 

“No clan feels deeper love than the Uchiha, and that’s why they suppressed and sealed it away” Tobimara has just summarized Sasuke’s entire life

Listen................. now that we know Uchiha power awakens because of love and Sasuke’s Sharingan awakened because of Naruto........ Sasuke’s love for Naruto is #exposed to the world

“I don’t care, for I am neither innocent nor a child” I mean at least one of those things is true

Sasuke is v bitter about everyone calling him ‘this child’

At this point who isn’t made of Hashirama’s cells it’s like [Oprah voice] “you get a skin graft, you get a skin graft, everybody gets a skin graft!”

Oh no I just realized Minato doesn’t know what Obito has become

Fdfghkjdfhgkfjhg Hashirama and Madara were so adorable 

“To make amends, I’ll let you throw me into the river” HASHIRAMA PLS

I’m not sure what I love more Hashirama’s depressive episodes or his unending snark 

Oh no poor little Senju what has he done except exist

“I considered Madara a gift from the divine” the gayest season of all bless

Madara and Hashirama decided to found a village like most kids decide to form a band

There are so many things which could serve as references to Tenzo but no one is trying to help him

I never expected to have so many feelings about Hashirama and Madara but here they are

[Hashirama as Flynn Rider voice]: Madara you were my new dream

Tobirama wants to propose democracy in a feudal state let’s be real man you created an oligarchy

Hashirama sits on top of his own face to meditate

All the Uchiha want is love and when they get it they’re like “no stop get away from me”

EVERY TIME:

Tobirama: Elder brother’s naivete

Hashirama: [soft indignant gasp]

If Sasuke’s doling out apologies for trying to murder his friends I can think of at least three people who VERY MUCH NEED IT

Madara is hyped af to see Hashirama he’s going wild with glee

Rin used to be a jinchuriki oh no “jinchuriki are treated the same way in every village” :(((

“I won’t be alone,” said Kakashi, before summoning nine puppies

Every time I think Kakashi’s life can’t get any sadder I am wrong

“This hole was opened up by this world of hell” jesus Obito you’re so dramatic

He’s just like Itachi trying to save everyone around him from themselves in the middle of a battle please don’t hurt this sweet and gentle man

I DEMAND that Kakashi live to see Sasuke change he needs this right now 

I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT THESE EPISODES ARE CALLED “HOLE” AND “SOMETHING TO FILL THE HOLE” WHO ALLOWED THIS WHO MADE THAT ACTUAL DECISION

Ten-Tails is completing with Orochimaru for grossest thing alive

“If we’re going to die anyway, we might as well die fighting” SAKURAAAAA

JKGFDKJGHFKJDHGDJHFKJ KURAMA LOVES MINATO

Why does Sasuke say “Sakura huh” as if hasn’t seen her for forty years it’s been like a few months at the most??

“I will become Hokage” SASUKE PLEASE

BOYFRIENDS AS CO-HOKAGE I LOVE IT SO MUCH

Literally everyone on this battlefield thinks Sasuke is Rosemary’s baby and Sakura and Naruto are just like “SASUKE IS OURS NOW GOODBYE”

Shino is so bitter about being ignored for three years that he’s loving the opportunity to make fun of Kiba

“Kiba, well I heard you loud and clear” Hinata sticks up for her bff’s unrealistic dreams

I was a little hesitant about Sasuke coming back to the village after listening to a story from the Hokage but fucking showing up in the middle of everything to declare he’s going to eventually run the village without even bothering to says sorry first is the most Sasuke thing to happen ever probably

I’m so glad Sakura stood up for herself and decided to fight with the boys 

It’s unsurprising that Sasuke’s first real smile in three years was because of an explosion

YASSSSSSSSSSSS SAKURA KDJGGKHFGHKJ TAKE THEM ALL ON

I think Sasuke finding out that Sakura could’ve killed him turns him on a little bit

I love it when Sakura makes boys frown it’s beautiful

Lmao @ Naruto and Sasuke checking each other out on the battlefield 

This is exactly what happens when you put a bunch of teens together they all start flirting and showing off even if it’s a war zone

Sasuke glancing at Sai: Listen bitch I have the monopoly on the dark-haired strategist on Team 7

NO ONE DOES DRAMA LIKE TEAM 7 MY BABIES

“He tried to kill me and it was irresistible” someone get Karin in therapy

I can’t believe the villains are having a weird-off contest

I understand Orochimaru even less than I ever have but I’m glad Gaara’s going to be okay