#fandom group-dynamics are of course more complex than just haters vs fans

[comikadraws]

besides itachi what other naruto characters do you like?

do you dislike any ones?

Mmm. I like many characters, I'd say, but to varying degrees, and not always do they bring me as much joy in canon as they do in fanon.

I've been into Naruto since I was 12, and my interest in the series has gone up and down over time. Back then, I don't think I gave much of a shit about Itachi at all and instead, my favorite character was Obito. Oh, how the turns have tabled. I also liked Gaara a lot early on, but that period was fairly brief.

Currently, my biggest favorites are Itachi and Sasuke. I'd vote in Shisui as well, but unfortunately, I think many of my opinions are shaped primarily by fanfiction 😭 Which brings me to my next point...

It's a joke at this point, but sometimes the fanfiction - not even by altering a character's characterization but by diving deeper into their existing psychology and expanding upon its human aspects - does a better job at portraying a character, leading the fandom to develop a new commonly accepted lore which is referred to as "fanon". This is how I often end up enjoying characters like Madara, Izuna, and Tobirama as well even though their canon characterization might not speak to me personally (because nothing goes over a tsundere adopting children /hj). Fugaku is on the list as well-ish. He is the one that I got attached to IN SPITE of fanfiction telling me otherwise. My entire issue is that I am no longer certain whether the personality I have in my head for Fugaku is actually canon or just... made-up (he barely has any screen time, why is my interpretation of him so complex?).

There are also a lot of characters that I like a moderate amount. That list includes Kakashi, Tsunade, and Choji. And if we include Boruto characters, I do enjoy Sarada and Mitsuki as well. It simply just isn't enough for me to become very attached to or even just seek out fanfic that portrays them as more complex or more compelling characters. A good fanfic could probably change my perception of them but that's just where I am currently at.

As far as characters I hate go... I do dislike Jiraiya. His "quirks" don't translate well for me personally. That's a me-problem, though, and I understand and support anybody who likes him regardless. I also have beef with Hiruzen, though I have to admit it is mostly a show-vs-tell conflict in which the show pretends he isn't that bad when actually he is and I am not sure whether to prioritize the show or tell version.

Then there are characters I hate and that list includes Danzo and the two elders. Go to super-hell 😊

Regardless of any of this, I do not support harassing anybody over liking or disliking a character (though I don't mind venting). Like and dislike do not necessarily need a justification. They just are and why should we waste our energy on fictional characters of all things? Fandom activism? Too often are favorite ships and characters used to establish group dynamics of fans shitting on other fans.

It's a different story if said people are harassing other fans, publically insulting them, or making shit up. Still not worthy of harassment but definitely deserving of a call-out as, if not regulated, hatred just breeds more hatred and eventual transgressions. I am sure all of us had someone popping up on our blog before only to tell us how stupid we are (not even discussing but just immediately insulting us) for liking something.