Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were not in fact the only rookies in that year. This genin was going to be normal, emotionally well-balanced and happy if it killed her. Which, in Konoha, was almost a statistical certainty.
I read this over the winter holiday. And then I went back to work, came home again, sat down on the couch, opened up a tab to see if the story had updated and then when I looked up again, five hours had passed, the cat was hungry, and I still hadn’t made dinner.
...I had also reread the entire dang thing.
So, let me start out by saying that this is one of my favorite fics discovered in 2017. Wrought’s writing is dynamic, engaging, and occasionally like a punch of emotion to the face (our main protagonist, Raiku, is the most adorably oblivious character ever and I would physically punch people in the stomach for her. I love her and her reactions). The characters are well-written and spring off the page; the plot is unique and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
Meet Raiku of the Gairano “family united under a common goal.” They can see what is called the Genematrix, “the source of every tragic story, dramatic interlude and attractively damaged character alive and precious.”
The beginning author’s note says that this is a parody and comedy, in my opinion, this work far outstrips what typically is written as a parody in fandom circles and has become a beautiful, fleshed-out interpretation of Naruto canon (disclaimer: I stopped reading Naruto canon after everyone died and was MIRACULOUSLY brought back to life the next chapter because my poor heart couldn’t take the trauma. I still enjoy every scrap of fic I read!). I love and feel for all of the characters introduced through the story. Raiku’s internal monologues (especially during time skips), had me literally howling with laughter (the cat was Not Amused) and having to take breaks to gain my breath back.
This fic is funny and brilliant. I have to go back and reread chapters again, finding crumbs of foreshadowing and piecing together what’s actually happening vs. what Raiku thinks is happening. I would never be a ninja - I can barely read the underneath, let alone underneath the underneath, but this story is so fun to puzzle out!
Fanart and other fic can be found on the author’s tumblr, @northwrought and is all adorable (and occasionally heart breaking in the best of ways).
So, for 2018, I’ll be trying to rec a fic a day (it’s already February, so I’ve got a lot of catch up to do, but wish me luck!). This review has been on my mind for a while, but it updated today and pushed me into actually making a post.
