disrupt the discourse

my hobbies include and always come back to fanfiction this includes: meta ramblings, shipping ideas, reblogging and swooning over fanart (bc I am utterly untalented in that area) and in rare cases even writing something myself!

[phlebaswrites]

A World Without Boundaries

Summary:

Ignorance is bliss.

(But the truth can only be avoided for so long.)

Rating: Teen And Up Fandom: Naruto, The Matrix Relationship: Black Zetsu/White Zetsu Word Count: 645 (Complete)

Entry for @narutorarepairweek

Day 1 - August 4: Poison | Unlikely Alliances

Part 3 of A World Where Anything Is Possible

"So." He sits down next to her, long legs in their elegant black suit pants crossing as he folds his body onto the grimy park bench. "You've won."

"That's one way of putting it, I suppose." She tosses a handful of bird seeds onto the ground and pigeons flutter down to peck at them. They're only programs, small ones at that, but they're alive just as she is and she doesn't begrudge them the right to their own lives, their own choices. "That was always your failing, you know? The way you always saw things as a binary set, as winning or losing."

Read the rest on AO3.

[burstsofenergy]

Hello people :D This is the very first time I participate in a fandom event! (I am excited and a bit nervous tbh). This is my contribution to @narutorarepairweek's event!

This is btw also my very first fanfic for the Naruto fandom. So feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you again @narutorarepairweek for hosting this event! I am really glad to have found it and I really loved all the prompts :D

Camaraderie

(Aburame Shino/Hyuuga Hinata)

Her chest heaved under the heavy breaths she was taking. She was sure that everyone around her was aware of her panting breaths. She tried to calm herself, get her breathing under control.

Hide her weakness.

Something warm pressed against her left leg. She glanced down, bracing herself in the back of her mind for another surprise attack.

“Akamaru!” Surprise coloured her voice.

The large ninja dog gave her an answering bark and got closer to her when she crouched down, welcoming her hands in his fur.

“W-what are you doing here? Are you okay?” Hands were moving through white fur, checking for wounds, eyes mustered the dog thoroughly.

“How on earth are you able to keep your fur spotless? Really? You must have some secret you are hiding from me.” She chuckled when she couldn’t feel nor see anything out of order. The white fur of her canine companion shining in the sun that peeked out from the clouds above them.

Akamaru gave her another approving bark, sitting down to give her more access to shower him with attention.

“Figures that you sneaked away from boring briefings to get your daily fill of petting from Hinata!”

“Huh?” A loud voice disrupted the relative silence that had spread around the camp around her.

When she looked up, Kiba was jogging in their direction, a bright grin on his face. She felt something loosen in her chest, as if someone released a tight rope that had been tied around it. Kiba’s left cheek sported a smudge of dirt and his black jacket was covered in dust and his trousers were covered with little flecks of dirt and dried blood, but his gait was as purposeful and secure as ever and judging from the power with which he waved his arm over his head, his upper body was also unscathed.

“You sneaked away from a briefing?” She repeated towards the dog who had moved to show her his belly, basically begging her to rub it.

“Jup, he left me completely alone too! You are some kind of comrade!”

Another hand joined hers, giving the whining animal a pat on the head.

“But really, can’t say I wouldn’t have tried the same.”

“Kiba!” Hinata chided her former team member.

“I know, I know, meetings and briefings are important! Just saying that sometimes I can understand the impulse to just – you know – sneak away.”

A heavy sigh escaped him at that, his eyes getting a far-away look.

“To go back to the village. Running around the forest, lying in the grass under the warm sun. Just forgetting everything else.”

“Kiba-“ Hinata whispered, her hand moving forwards, covering Kiba’s hand.

“Ah! Sorry! Don’t let me drag you down with my sentimental musings!” The young man rushed to say while rubbing his neck in embarrassment. A forced laugh followed his statement.

“No. Your feelings are important, and I am glad that you chose to share them with me!” Hinata’s hair flew around her with the force of her head shaking. Her eyes settling on the young shinobi in front of her, his hand now clasped between hers.

Kiba cleared his throat, before he laid his free hand on top of their clasped ones.

“Uhm, thank you. Really, thank you. Hinata-. I really, I mean I really can’t even imagine being here without you! Like, I know I can’t really complain with my sister and my mother also being in my division!” His eyes wandered off until they landed on the white mutt between them.

“And Akamaru, really. I mean, I probably would be dead already if not for Akamaru- “His voice faded, his eyes closing.

“But” he continued, his eyes open and staring directly into Hinata’s, “I am also really grateful for your continued presence and your continued friendship, Hinata!” He said and squeezed their clasped hands.

“Kiba- “

“Yeah, I know! I am not usually one for all this emotional blabla but, you know, with all that is happening every day,” He shrugged helplessly, “you never know if you get another chance, you know? And really, somethings are better said out loud at least once, right?” He gave her a very obviously forced smile.

Hinata opened her mouth to return the heartfelt words when they were suddenly interrupted.

“Ah, nobody told me we were having a heart-to-heart today.”

Hinata whirled around – her hair once again flying around and nearly hitting Kiba in the face.

“Shino!” She whispered in shock and surprise.

“Well, can’t do that if you are nowhere to be found, can I?” Kiba countered with a smug grin on his face.

Akamaru moved to greet Shino, lying down in front of him with a playful bark.

Shino gave the white ninken a rather unimpressed look, making Hinata chuckle slightly. She once again rubbed Akamaru’s belly showering him with compliments.

“I can’t really help it, Akamaru just has a way with words.” Hinata said teasingly giving Shino a happy smile.

“Aw, com’ on, Shino! As if you can resist Akamaru’s patented puppy eyes!” Kiba was now standing next to Shino and gave him a clap on his shoulder.

As if on cue, Akamaru sat up and focused all his channelled cuteness on the usually stoic shinobi.

“Argh!”

Kiba’s laughter, joined by Hinata’s light giggles echoed through the camp when Shino kneeled down to curl his fingers behind Akamaru’s ears. The triumphant look in Akamaru’s eyes seemed to make even Shino smile as the Aburame was sporting a slight smile.

“So?” Kiba started after some moments had passed.

“So, what?” Shino answered, his attention still on Akamaru.

“Where were you? Like I said, I was looking for you and you were nowhere to be found!” Kiba sighed annoyance written clear on his face.

“Ah, I had a mission.”

“And?”

“And what?”

Kiba groaned in frustration, throwing his hands in the air.

“And what kind of mission?”

“A secret mission.”

Hinata watched the exchange with a fond smile on her face, laughing quietly at Kiba’s growing frustration and Shino’s slight smirk that he hid from him.

“Shino don’t tease poor Kiba like that! You know that he is just worried about you missing. As am I.” She added the last part and gave his hand a small squeeze.

“Poor Kiba?!?” Kiba repeated questioningly.

“I was asked to join a small group of sensor shinobis to check the perimeter once again. The division leader got notice that one of Naruto’s doppelgangers is on his way to us. From what I understand, they should help identify clones made out of White Zetsu.”

“That makes sense, I think. I mean if not even Hinata or Neji can identify them, well…”

“Yes, I also think that it has something to do with the nine-tail.”

“Hm, maybe he is able to sense it because of his training with the toads? I mean back when he was fighting Pain, he was also able to channel nature chakra if I remember correctly.”

Shino and Kiba were watching Hinata now. She was looking down, her eyes following her hand as she caressed Akamaru.

“Do you, I mean, do you think you will be okay?” Kiba had lowered his voice and kneeled next to Shino, aware of the people around them.

Shino and Kiba shared a concerned look before they both focused on Hinata once again.

“With Naruto coming here.” Shino added when Hinata remained silent. Kiba gave him an irritated look and rolled his eyes.

“What we meant to ask is, do you need us to do anything? Because if so, just say the word!” Kiba said slowly watching Hinata closely.

“Really, you wouldn’t believe the range of tactics and skills in our arsenal! We are your guys!” Kiba tried when Hinata was still not answering.

They shared another alarmed look when they heard a sniff from Hinata. She moved her arm in front of her face, drying tears that had run down her cheeks, before she lifted her face.

“H-Hinata?

“A-are you okay?”

Kiba asked very carefully, his eyes moving around her face.

“Yes, I am perfectly fine, thank you both for caring.” She answered, a bright smile etched onto her face.

“You sure?” Kiba questioned with a disbelieving frown on his face.

“Yes. You see, I have realized something recently.” She said and grabbed both of their hand in each of her own.

“While I will probably never stop admiring Naruto, I think that I am finally ready to face the reality, so to say.”

“Which is?” Kiba asked as if he was afraid of the answer.

“Naruto Uzumaki is not reciprocating my feelings. And it looks as if he never will.”

“Uhm…”

“You don’t seem too sad about this.”

“Shino!” Kiba used his free hand to hit himself on the forehead.

“No, it’s okay Kiba. Shino is right with his observation. I am also a bit surprised about my lack of…”

“Devastation?” Kiba offered.

“Yes, that might be the fitting word. After my confession during the fight with Pain, well… I mean, I basically told Naruto that I loved him and he…

“He never approached me afterwards. He never tried to have a conversation about it. He simply continued as usual.

“And at first, I tried to rationalize it. That Naruto is a bit slow when it comes to stuff like that, that he is incredibly busy with all the new fame that he is now enjoying but… Well,”

She squeezed their hands.

“You two were also busy. Still-“

A loud Gong echoed through the whole camp interrupting their conversation and startling them back into the reality.

Akamaru and Kiba were the first on their feet – and paws. Akamaru barked and looked to Kiba as if looking for confirmation.

“Yes, I smell it too, buddy.” Kiba said and turned to the rest of Team 8.

“I think that Naruto will not arrive in time, unfortunately.”

A whistling sound caught their attention and the group looked towards the back of the camp.

“Kiba! Akamaru! Chop, chop!”

Kiba’s mother, Tsume Inazuka, still had her fingers to her lips when her commandeering voice echoed through the camp making the two young clan members snap to attention.

After giving his mother a nod, Kiba turned around to his team members once again.

“Looks like I am now also part of a secret mission.” He teased his chest puffed out in exaggerated pride.

“Good Luck!” Hinata said and her hand once again squeezed Kiba’s before she leaned forward and slung her arms around Akamaru giving him a big hug.

“Take care.” Shino said in his usual monotone manner.

~*~

Active combat situations are characterised by their dynamic and unpredictable nature. Even for strategic masterminds like Shikamaru or his father, it is difficult to maintain an overview. Depending on the position of the observer, the fighting can be perceived as one inter-linked action – or countless small fights. For the person on the ground, it is nearly impossible to focus on the grand scheme of things, as their attention is forced on the fight that is right in front of them – the attacker that is throwing their kunai right at them. Even though Hinata profits very much from her kekkei genkai, she simply lacks the strategic mastermind and intellectual prowess that her cousin Neji is showcasing again and again in this war. Thanks to Neji’s analytical capabilities, he can give precise orders and is able to quickly react when the enemy tries to distract or trap them, making him a valuable member of every team he is put in.

These thoughts run through Hinata’s mind when she watches how her cousin deflects attacks with an ease that reminds her of swatting away an annoying fly. Especially when put next to his former team members, Neji’s skills come to fruition. With practiced ease he gives orders – sometimes only a mere sign to the enemy is enough – and his former team members know exactly what they have to do.

“Hinata! Behind you!”

She swirls around, her eyes glowing with her activated Byakuugan. 

A shinobi that was about to pierce her back reverted back to a White Zetsu and lies on the floor, sliced in two, Akamaru chewing nearly leisurely on the lower half of the mysterious creature.

“Are you alright?!”

Hands are suddenly grasping her shoulders, shaking her body slightly. Wide eyes stare at her face, panic etched into the face of her long-time friend.

“Yes, thanks to you.” She says and Kiba’s panic fades as quickly as it came.

“Phew! You really got me there, Hinata. Really, phew!”

Kiba bent over and rested his hands on his knees catching his breath. Hinata, her kekkei genkai still activated, reached for a kunai and sliced the white clone that had come up behind Kiba in two.

“Yo, Kiba!”

Hinata and Kiba lifted their heads in surprise and saw an orange flash moving towards their location.

Before Kiba could react, a glowing Naruto landed directly in front of them.

“Naruto!” Hinata exclaimed before she could stop herself.

“You never shy away from a dramatic entrance, do you?” Kiba laughed mustering the bright flames that seemed to engulf their friend.

~*~

With Naruto’s help it was easy to identify the clones and they quickly decimating the imposters and pushed the attackers further from the camp. Hinata was glad to see Naruto, even though it was only a doppelganger. It meant that the original Naruto was alive somewhere and had enough chakra and stamina to produce all these copies of himself. She had long wondered how she might feel when she is once again face to face with her long-time crush. But now the only feeling in her chest is relief. She made the right decision when she decided to let go of her feelings for Naruto. Looking back, she could kick herself for all the time she spent yearning for the blonde young man. Her feelings had shielded her from the reality and made her look at it through rose-coloured glasses. The reality looked differently. While Naruto had played a crucial role in her childhood – his support during the Chuunin exams a shining example of that – she never had his undivided attention. Not like Sakura, for example – or Sasuke.

And this carried on until now. Naruto was fighting literally next to her, but he was not even really acknowledging her. It wasn’t as if he was actively avoiding her as if he were embarrassed or unsure how to act. No, he simply treated her like everyone else. And while she was glad that Naruto didn’t avoid her, she knew now that she will never be a top priority for him. And she finally gathered her courage to draw a line. She was finally ready to demand more than just the bare minimum of human decency. Naruto only looked at her when it was easy for him, but he never really moved out of his way for her. And she was happy for him. Happy that he was finally reaching his true potential and gained the recognition and admiration he had always yearned for. But she was also happy for herself, that she had the strength to let go of her fanciful dream of him choosing her.

It made her see the world clearer. Lifting a huge weight from her shoulders and helped her focus more on herself and the people in her life that were really there for her. Like Kiba and Shino, for example.

~*~

The pursuit of the scattered groups of remaining clones drew her further and further from the camp, deeper into the surrounding forest.

The sun was slipping behind the mountains and the blue of the sky above turned darker with each passing moment. Her eyes hurt from the continued use of her kekkei genkai, still she forced her way through the trees, watching closely for clues of any traps or surprise attacks. Her kunai flew through the air and hit one of the clones in the leg slowing him down, she pushed forward and with a well-placed punch the clone was quickly decimated.

Suddenly she was surrounded by White Zetsu clones. They seemed to grew all around her, pushing her into the defence. She was able to defend herself and deflect all their attacks, but she was forced to flee nevertheless, deeper into the forest. She doesn’t know how long the clones were after her, she had lost all sense of time what felt like ages ago. The temperature around her dropped with every meter she ventured deeper into the forest. She run as long as her legs were able to carry her. When even the last rays of sunshine left the world around her, she stopped and checked her surroundings. Only when she was sure that nobody and nothing was after her, she let herself relax.

But the relief was short-lived because now that her body was not pumping adrenaline through her veins, she became aware of her dire situation. She was alone in an unknown forest. It was dark and the sky was too cloudy to use the stars as orientation. And even if she were able to navigate her way back to the camp, she had overused the Byakuugan which meant that she was not only suffering from a terrible headache but also that her vision was restricted. Even without the Byakuugan, her eyes were not working properly.

Remembering how the White Zetsu clones grew out of any plant, she gathered her last strength and was able to find a stone cave that offered her some shelter. She didn’t dare to make a fire, so she simply huddled close to the wall and hugged her knees to her chest. She was lucky that she had the mind to stash some protein bars into her pockets in the morning. She also had to thank Neji for refilling her water bottle. She tried to look at the positive side – she had something to eat and drink. And if she remembered correctly, the temperature shouldn’t drop too low so she also wouldn’t freeze to death. All in all, she had most of the basic needs covered.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel panic rising in her chest. Every time she gave in and closed her aching eyes, her ears seemed to pick up any sounds of the forest and she ripped her eyes open in panic, scanning the entrance of the cave. A small voice in the back of her mind was reminding her that the reason why shinobi usually formed teams and avoided solo missions is because of situations like these. Warmth spread through her when she noted that this voice sounded very much like Neji. She could practically picture the disappointed frown that he would wear when he notices that she was not back in the camp by nightfall. The worry that he would try to hide from the others. Guilt washed over her, and she felt something squeezing her chest. As if her heart was squeezed by an invisible hand. She tried to distract herself, tried to convince herself that Neji was clever, he would know that she was probably stuck in the forest and would return the next day. She tried to force herself to believe that Neji would not think that something happened to her. She tried to resonate with herself that Kiba and Akamaru would be able to smell if she was hurt, that they would know that she was simply too exhausted to make it back safe. They would surely know that she was fine and would not worry too much about her. And even if Kiba would worry about her, Shino would surely step in and calm him down. Yes, she could always count on Shino’s rational mind. He would surely know that she was simply too exhausted, really, he would probably be disappointed if she didn’t try to rest and recover before trying to find a way back to the camp.

She was sure that her teammates would meet her half way tomorrow, using their skills to track her down and help her finding her way back. She had to smile imagining Kiba running around impatient and loud, demanding Neji letting him go and track her down right now. The smile developed into a chuckle when she thought about Shino’s reaction. Because while Kiba was always the most outspoken among them, Shino was probably the most determined. Which would probably surprise many, but not Hinata. She knew how much her quiet friend was trying, how much effort he put into everything he did. Whatever Shino did, he did it with all his being. Whatever decision he made; he stood behind it no matter what. Really, once he makes up his mind, nobody will convince him otherwise. Warmth spread through her thinking about the rare moments Shino had let her look behind his stoic mask. Moments when she saw the genuine care in his eyes, moments when she heard affection and warmth in his voice. While Kiba was easily distracted, Shino’s attention seemed unwavering. He seemed to always know when she was sad, appearing next to her with something sweet in his hand, sitting down next to her, offering a shoulder to lean onto. Really it was Shino’s determined care for her that made her realize that there was more to being friends, that while her feelings for Naruto were strong, they could not hide the lack of attention Naruto was giving her.

Reminded of the feeling of Shino sitting next to her, their shoulders touching, she was feeling especially cold. She yearned for the steady warmth of Shino next to her. She longed for the slight buzzing sounds that seemed to surround him when they weren’t on a mission. A sound she now always associated with warmth and safety. Safety – something she desperately lacked right now, as her eyes were burning with exhaustion, begging for them to be closed. But the fear and apprehension continued to make it impossible for her to rest or even really consider closing her eyes. Additionally, the forest around her seemed to come awake, animals moving around, rustling leaves and stepping on branches. Panic seized her heart as she realized that she was helpless right now. Her stamina was exhausted, and she only had a few kunai left in her pouch.

She pressed her face into her knees, trying her best not to cry. Despair and fear coursed through her, making her feel even more miserable. And incapable. After all, she was a kunoichi, she should have no problem with situations like these. She should be strong and resilient. Stressful situations like these shouldn’t bring her to her knees like that. After all, she is the only one to blame for her situation as well. A skilled kunoichi wouldn’t even be in a situation like that, Hinata thought, and a sob filled her chest. She refused to let it out, refused to capitulate fully, refused to give in to the overwhelming fear that washed over her. Still, here, alone, in this cave, in the middle of an unknown forest, she could admit to herself that she never missed Shino’s presence as much as now. A tear slipped down her cheek, leaving a hot trail behind.

Her head snapped up when she heard movement close to the entrance of the cave. She reached behind her to draw a kunai and forced herself to her feet, trying her best to be as silent as possible. Fear and panic spread through her, making it difficult to breath. She tightened her grip on the kunai and tried to force her attention through the dizzying headache and the burning of her eyes. She suddenly noticed several bugs flying close to her face, the buzzing sound triggering a familiar feeling in her heart. She lowered her kunai a bit, watching the bugs closely, trying to remember if she could identify them somehow.

“Hinata.”

Her head snapped to the direction of the voice.

“Shino.” Her voice sounded very breathless, even to herself.

“You came.”

She uttered, her bright eyes wide in shock. She felt her knees buckle and was mentally preparing herself for the hard ground. But she never felt it, she was suddenly engulfed in a familiar warmth.

“You called.”

[obitoslover]

Kishimoto basically wrote Obito saying "if the system is flawed, then I'll destroy it" and proceeded to never touch on this topic again, only focusing on the first part of his speech

It's interesting to think he said that this early, was it meant as foreshadowing to his villain arc?

It's also worthy saying it's never stated in Kakashi Gaiden he desired to be Hokage at all, only in chapter 607, which can be interpreted as Kishimoto not planning it to Obito's character

Of course both concepts work together, as a kid wanting to be Hokage (apparently to get attention, just like Naruto) and eventually learns the system's flaws, but I doubt that was the original intention

Makes me think how Kishimoto made both Naruto (at the end of Land of Waves Arc, chapter 33) challenging the shinobi system after seeing how harsh shinobi life is and chapters later (Kakashi Gaiden ranges from ch. 239 to ch. 244) makes Obito, who parallels the protagonist, also criticizing the shinobi system

But then Kishimoto ends up making criticizing the system as a bad thing, yikes

[erumai-maadu]

OK let's talk about parallels between team 7 and team gai.

Lee and Sakura, who dreamed of being strong enough to stand on equal ground with the rest of their team. Book-smart Sakura and no-talent Lee, who were seen as liabilities to their teammates in their genin years. Lee and Sakura who wake up every morning to train to their limits and then further still, who train their taijutsu to the point that they can shatter rocks with their pinkies. Lee and Sakura who know hard work better than anyone in the world.

Tenten and Naruto, who dream of being somebody in the world. Tenten and Naruto striving to learn more and more and more just so that others see them as useful and worth something. Tenten and Naruto who desperately yearn to be appreciated by their peers. Naruto, who everyone hates, and Tenten, who nobody knows, admiring a Hokage and wanting to be legendary and loved like they are. Tenten and Naruto who work tirelessly for the hope that one day they will be acknowledged and respected.

Neji and Sasuke, who bear the weight of a clan name on their shoulders and a destiny forced on them because of their eyes. Neji and Sasuke who rage against a system that forces them down and keeps them trapped. Neji and Sasuke whose own family betrayed them at such a young age. Neji and Sasuke whose love for their sibling soured and turned to hatred for a time. Neji and Sasuke, who, despite it all, still take pride in the names Hyuuga and Uchiha.

[team7-headquarter]

ABOUT THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE LAND OF THE WAVES ARC, THE ACTIONS OF TEAM 7 AND WHY ITS ONE OF THE BEST ARCS OF THE ENTIRE FRANCHISE:

I'll never shut up about the Land of the Waves arc.

Here are the facts:

A corrupted man —who was believed to be the richest man in the world due his shipping and transportation business— decided he wanted to make his a small land made out of islands, better known as the Land of the Waves.

In Tazuna's words: "Nami No Kuni (the Land of the Waves) isn't a real prosperous land. Even our local lords are poor..."

The name of the corrupted man is Gato. He was affiliated with drug trafficking and contraband, as well as being a criminal who employed gangs and teams of shinobis to help him (through violence) to take over companies and countries alike. That's what he did to the Land of the Waves, taking hold of all the marine transportation and their shipping industry. Since the Land is made of a number of islands, Gato successfully isolated them. He was now the owner of the local economy and had the power to decide how people lived there.

Tazuna is an old man with no money at all who had been tasked to be the architect and overseer of the new bridge. If completed, it would mean that Gato no longer had absolute control over the Land of the Waves. It'd free them all, bring more movement to their economy and stop the crazy violence promoted by Gato's gangs.

To make sure we all understand the severity of the mission and the power of Gato, let's remember that he employed Zabuza Momochi.

Zabuza is one of the Seven Ninja Swordmen of the Hidden Mist. Kirigakure was known for one of the cruelest traditions regarding shinobis: they'd have to fight each other to death and only the survivors would be promoted. Zabuza put an end to it himself, killing an entire year of graduates. He was not even a student yet.

Zabuza also plotted a coup against the Mizukage, but he was betrayed. He became a rogue nin after that, taking money from men like Gato in order to keep living.

That's the first Team 7 mission.

Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke are staked to help Kakashi free a land of a corrupted businessman and in the process have to fight one of the most legendary shinobis they can encounter out there. We're talking about an entire small nation!!! We're talking about the insane irony of Zabuza being a rogue because he fought against the corruption of his own Hidden Village, and he lost and now he has to work for a man doing the same to others.

The first Team 7 lesson was not only to work as one, to value their teammates, but to question the world around them. Kakashi told them to not follow orders blindly and the narrative throws the Team on a mission to test it.

Kakashi accepted to continue the mission without telling the Hokage anything. He knew he had the jinchuriki and the last Uchiha with him, that it was a great risk, but he accepted because he wanted to help Tazuna and the Land of the Waves and he knew Tazuna had not enough money to pay for a class B mission. Hell, he was lucky Kakashi got a genin team. One of the best jonins of the Hidden Leaf could give his service under the disguise of a rank C. Kakashi was using a loophole to disobey orders and he complains the whole time in his head because he knows it's gonna be a mess of a mission, but he does it anyway.

Do you want to know why is my favorite arc?

The reality of the Land of the Waves is a perfect scenario to force Team 7 to wake up. Naruto and Sasuke sure know loneliness and misery, but they were also part of a very rich land and a powerful Hidden Village. Sakura didn't go through anything like Sasuke or Naruto, which is worse in the sense that she was more naive than them.

Their world falls apart when they meet Haku and Zabuza, when they realize this is not s fairytale of good heroes and bad villains, but people who had to become violent to survive.

Like Kakashi said, the only reason he and Zabuza are trying to kill each other is because they were paid to do so. Zabuza works for Gato, Kakashi for Konoha, that's it. Kakashi didn't want to kill Haku and Haku didn't want to kill any of them, but the Naruto world is old and messy, the customs and the means to survive are others.

Shinobis are no heroes. They're mercenaries, they act as the military force for the strongest nations. They are tools and weapons. It's not advanced in any sense, so many years after the Warrant Era and the world was just as cruel and wild. People with kekkei genkais were forced to practice that violence to protect themselves, like Haku, Sasuke and Neji. People with bad luck like Naruto and all the jinchurikis were the same. People like Sakura, who loved and cared for those others, devoted their lives to joining the fight, to try and protect the ones dear to them.

That's why the final conversation of Team 7 —the one after the events of the bridge that ended with Zabuza and Haku dead— went the way it did. The members of Team 7 weren't happy with the reality of the shinobi life. Naruto even ended up saying that he would make his own ninja way, basically denying such reality and promising to break the traditional ways that kept all shinobis chained to violence, fated to kill each other.

Just look at it:

Sakura: ... But still... Master Kakashi...

Kakashi: Hmm~~?

Sakura: ... I can't help wondering. Were those two right about what a ninja should be?

Kakashi: A Shinobi shouldn't be concerned with a reason for her own existence... It is important merely that we exist as a tool for our homeland to use in whatever way they need. That's as true for us in Konohagakure as it for any ninja anywhere else.

Naruto: Is that really what becoming a full-fledged ninja's gonna be about? I don't like the sound of it!

Sasuke: Do you really feel that way, master Kakashi?

Kakashi: Well... No. And that's why all we ninja live our lives with that ideal always bubbling beneath the surface of our minds, disturbing us. ... Like it did Zabuza ... And the boy.

Naruto: That's it. I've made up my mind! I am going to create my own nindo— my own ninja path. My own destiny!

This arc plants the seeds of what should be the rest of Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. Team 7 is frustrated and they don't agree with the tradition. None of them, not even Kakashi. Naruto promises to be the change, to make his own destiny.

Sadly, it doesn't happen. The manga changes its tone halfway through. Naruto ends up becoming part of such tradition and he ends up being the fated reincarnation, the chosen one. His destiny is not his exactly and his own ninja path gets lost in the way, replaced by a hollower desire to become Hokage. Naruto doesn't evolve to deeply question the order of his world or his society.

Instead, Sasuke occupies his place and the story turns him into an antagonist (someone who wants the direct opposite of the protagonist, someone who is on the way of the protagonist to reach his goal). The story radicalizes the dream that was so innocently spoken in this chapter. It also ends up chaining Kakashi to the same system, uses him as someone to fill the Hokage role until Naruto is old enough and then gives Naruto the hat, forgetting the themes set on the Land of the Waves arc.

What started as Team 7 fighting corruption and people sick with power while trying to help the victims of the system, understanding that their world is made of greys and not moral absolutes, ends up becoming a kids tale of ninjas = heroes and aliens = villains. All the complexities of politics get softened by Black Zetsu's manipulations and Kaguya's existence.

It wouldn't be a reach to say that the Land of the Waves belongs to a very different type of manga, one that never got its continuation.

[skykashi]

How Kakashi's mental health negatively effected his strength and why he was getting stronger and stronger throughout the story.

Have you ever wondered why Tsunade was surprised that Itachi defeated Kakashi and was so angry that she scolded him for losing?

That's because Tsunade personally knowing Kakashi's power level as a Shinobi and that he shouldn't have lost that fight ... Then what happened?!.

Aside from the things I explained in the second half of this post, Kakashi was actually rusty, after Hiruzen got him out of Anbu and before he gets team 7, Kakashi's mental health was at it's lowest, he lost the Anbu missions which despite not being good for him and was actually making his depression worse, it's was the only thing that was keeping him busy, so now he had too much free time, he was failing all of the students he got and apparently he wasn't being sent to S or A ranked missions and according to his own statements he stopped training too

And here in his fight with Zabuza he states that it has been so long since he had a fight like this

And here he once again confirms that he hasn't had a fight like this since he left Anbu

Now, remember when Kakashi was teaching team 7 to walk on trees and was explaining chakra control? Kakashi explained that the physical AND mental energies combine to form chakra.

And this is why having a bad mental health can effect the Shinobi's overall strength greatly.

Then Kakashi gets team 7 and slowly things starts to get better gradually especially in Shippuden when he tells Naruto this

And then he got to meet his father and forgive him and know that because of it his father too can now move on and can finally join his mother.

And then during the war he got the chance to properly say goodbye to Rin, Obito and Minato and then later they even get Sasuke back.

He finally gets to move on.. even the Sharingan that was a constant reminder of his pain and failures was gone. When he says "As of today Kakashi of The Sharingan is no more" it holds a much more deeper meaning than just losing the Sharingan. "Kakashi of the Sharingan" was the man who had the weight of the whole world on his shoulders, who was always burdened by his guilt, his failures and everything he lost, that sad broken man who used to be called "Kakashi of the Sharingan" is no more. The new Kakashi gets to have a new beginning with all of the friends and precious people he still has, who has filled the hole in his heart, in a new era of peace, the peace that they all fought so hard to get and now they finally have. And this is why Hokage Kakashi is much much more stronger than he ever was. The current Kakashi has a perfect mental energy combined with a perfect physical energy (especially after losing the chakra drain of the Sharingan and the great toll it used to put on his body) and he is even training and learning so many new powerful Jutsu and inventing new ones like it's stated in Kakashi Retsuden. The new Kakashi finally gets to use his full potentials without all the emotional baggage that used to hold him back 🥺❤️

[skykashi]

A reminder that Kakashi outsmarted Itachi in their second fight and Itachi couldn't beat him anymore, since people in this fandom always loves to remember their 1st fight and absolutely ignore their 2nd one.

Why Kakashi lost the first time? He said it himself

The Uchiha clan kept so many things about the Sharingan secret and those secrets died with them in the Uchiha massacre, he didn't know anything about the Mangekyo Sharingan, he didn't even know he had one himself or that each Mangekyo Sharingan had it's own special abilities and so he didn't know that rhis particular Genjutsu Itachi was using wasn't like the regular Sharingan Genjutsu, he didn't know that it's absolutely impossible for anyone to break Itachi's Tsukuyomi except if they are Itachi's blood relatives so the only person that existed in the world that would be able to do that was Sasuke and absolutely no one knew this except Itachi who stated this fact later.

Kakashi lost this fight because he was misinformed, because the had no one to tell him about the Mangekyo Sharingan and because Itachi spent 2 years being Kakashi's subordinate that he knew everything about him, his fighting style, the way he thinks and everything while Kakashi knew nothing about Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan... Kakashi had a great disadvantage here and this is why he lost but he learned from that and stood right back up and kicked ass.

It doesn't matter if you lost once or twice, what matters is that you won't drown in that loss and that you use it to learn and get better and stronger and that's what Kakashi did.

Kakashi isn't like those other ninja gods who were handed godly powers from thin air, he's one of the most realistic characters in Naruto, he stumbles and falls but refuses to stay down, he gets back up and learns from his mistakes and work harder and gets stronger and stronger as the story goes and we've all witnessed how his power level kept improving from the beginning of Naruto until the end... Kakashi in og Naruto who couldn't use more than 3 Chidori per day is different from Kakashi in early Shippuden who was still learning how to use Kamui, and both are different from Kakashi in mid Shippuden when was fighting Kakuzu and Hidan and was able to use Chidori a lot more than 3 times or the Kakashi in the Pain arc who literally died from using Kamui twice and all of them are different from Kakashi the powerhouse we saw in the war who was spamming Chidori and Kamui like it was nothing for 2 days straight without any rest and even before getting any chakra from Naruto and all of them pale in comparison to his powerlevel now after losing the Sharingan and after working and training so hard, learning and inventing countless of powerful Jutsu until he became much much stronger than he ever was.

It's so exhausting seeing your favorite character being constantly and unfairly downplayed all the time like this.

[teamsasukes]

the question of what would have become of sasuke had he not learned about konoha's involvement in the uchiha massacre really does keep me up at night. before that point, sasuke had devoted every waking minute to matching itachi. after finally letting naruto and sakura in and admitting to himself that protecting his friends was as important to him as seeking justice for the family he'd lost, his encounter with itachi knocked him back on the path of vengeance at the cost of everything else. killing itachi was all that he lived for... i don't think sasuke ever conceived of there being an "after."

this panel in particular is so haunting. what's left after you've completed the quest that consumed the very essence of your being? what happens once everyone you can admit to loving is dead and you've avenged them? what must have gone through sasuke's mind, watching itachi crumple to the ground not only as the murderer of his clan but also as his beloved nii-san, tapping his forehead and asking for forgiveness one last time -- and knowing that itachi fell by his hand? sasuke just smiles, and then collapses right next to itachi like he's dead too.

[burstsofenergy]

Also, I wonder if Sasuke ever believed that he would survive this fight. Sure, he did all he could to become stronger and he felt capable of taking on Itachi when he finally faced him, but still... When he grew up, he always heard about Itachi's greatness. He was constantly told that Itachi was the best. And it was always clear that Sasuke fell behind. He didn't match Itachi's achievements or milestones. He was not as good as him. And after the massacre, he had nobody left who could tell him how he did in comparison to Itachi, because all the people who knew both and who might have given him this answer were dead. And everyone else was not talking about it at all. Even though it was his goal, that he spoke about often, he had nobody to really ask how he measured up.

Add to it the whole idea of someone killing a whole clan. Which was not only old people or kids but also seasoned Shinobi with a lot of experience in battle. Sasuke must have idealized Itachi over the years after the massacre. Like, whatever strength Itachi did possess, Sasuke's mind probably added a shit ton more strength to it, simply because for him, the fact that he alone killed all these people... It sounds as if Itachi has the strength of some warrior in an old myth.

So yeah, I actually think it's possible that Sasuke never planned to make it out alive. That he would have to give all he had to kill Itachi and either die after him or live a quiet life somewhere at the edges of society with a broken body.

[andohmyloveiliedtoyou]

It makes me sad when I read comments brushing off obito as a crazy unhinged desperate dude trying to show off. Instead of going to the root of why he is what he is, a trauma survivor with a deeply sad inner monologue dictating everything he does. The guy is severely depressed and carrying a lot of pain, and it's not because "the love of his life died". It's pointless to frame rin as a moot plot point and mitigate obito's villain era to her and even kakashi. It's not excusing anything he did by recognizing that he has no stability system or outlet besides violence. obito as a kid was so promising, even after madara tried to manipulate mansplain gaslight bosskeep him, he only wanted to be back with his friends and was so ecstatic about it, even with half his body mutilated. You can't frame obito as a psycho loon when every event around him helped shape at least part of his mental headspace?? Talk about snuffing out the light in a kid and preparing him for an adult situation by pouring all this responsibility and demands on his fragile brain which he wasn't schooled for besides through "the world is hell deal with it kid" what are you gonna do? Evolve into a lean mean killing machine a soldier an advanced infantry warrior or you'll perish. In some ways obito's past is sadder than itachi's, at least if not as dark but Itachi had the common sense to know what was what. I'm not go into the details of Madara's past but there is a pipeline there Madara to Obito and Itachi to Sasuke and their shared responsibilities and brokenness.

TLDR empathy for the past experienced by a villain isn't excusing his deeds it's understanding why. obito is more than a loose canon (which I'm guilty for describing him as myself), he's more than a psycho badman. He's a tangled web sure, but there's so much fascinating psychology that not-fans of his put off that could use some light being shined on it that I get frustrated.

Edit: obito isn't a joke either. My boy is not a clown. Thank you for coming to my soapbox.

[tamelee]

:(🦊

[retroillustrates]

The Amagi is doing a cover of "What if Obito raised Naruto", and I admit I kinda dig the idea.

I once heard that the first person to hold you after your birth is the person you'll be the most similar to.

[shirotume]

☺️

[teeny-sun]

i’m just Thinking about how zuko literally tries so hard to please every member of the gaang, to make up for the wrongs he did them

(something beaten into him after years of believing he had to earn his keep, to earn love)

except for aang. the person he literally would logically feel the most shame towards.

it isn’t that i don’t think zuko wants aang to like him; it’s that aang makes it so easy, in a way that no one has ever done for zuko before. in one on one situations with katara and sokka, zuko is probably as subservient we’ve ever seen him. not a lot of hostility, or huffy comments, nothing.

with aang, zuko is tempermental and prickly, unafraid to raise his voice or give commands. you could argue that this is bc zuko is playing the role of aang’s teacher, and while i agree that’s part of it, that’s not the only factor at play.

what i’m getting at here is that from the very beginning, aang has offered zuko kindness and understanding. he didn’t blame zuko for his family’s legacy, for the eradication of aang’s entire people. aang has always seen zuko as a person. likewise, zuko on some level has always acknowledged the fact that aang is a person, a child under great pressure from circumstances beyond his control.

it makes total sense to me that zuko would be so comfortable in aang’s company, so unafraid to lose aang, as it were. they understand each other.

zukaang is just very important to me, and i wish we had gotten to see more of their friendship interactions in particular

[secretlyatargaryen]

I'm not contradicting this but I do want to say that the way that Zuko often challenges or gets angry at Aang also reads like a trauma response the way that his attempts to please everyone else is. It's exactly because Zuko wants Aang to like him and because Aang accepts him more easily than everyone else that he does this, like he's trying to test Aang to see how far Aang's acceptance of him actually goes. I'm not saying that Zuko doesn't trust Aang or value his friendship and Aang's acceptance of him DOES mean a lot (the fact that Zuko repeats to Aang what Aang said back in season one about how they could have been friends is evidence that that did mean a lot to him even though at the time he doesn't show it) but even though this response to Aang is different than how he is with the others, it's still something that he does because of being an abuse victim and to me it does show that he's afraid of losing him or afraid that his friendship might be conditional after all. And that's actually something that makes Zuko really realistic because people who have experienced that kind of trauma don't always behave the same way with everyone they meet.

[teeny-sun]

reblogging for this VERY insightful commentary!! @secretlyatargaryen is exactly right, and this super important point reveals another layer of why i LOVE the zukaang friendship dynamic!!

bc even as zuko tests aang, aang continues to be there for zuko and accept him and validate him!! to the very end; we see that uncertainty, that fear very clearly when zuko and aang are preparing for zuko’s coronation. zuko brings up how far they come, and hesitates with that “and now...”

and aang IMMEDIATELY answers “and now we’re friends”! just that absolute reassurance, it shows the way aang will always answer zuko’s (completely valid) feelings of insecurity or hostility and even partial mistrust with “hey i’m here, i’m your friend now, and i’m not going anywhere”.

it just *clenches fist* GETS ME

[oxydiane]

we talk a lot about how sasuke and naruto are so crazy about each other but there’s never enough attention on how the rest of the naruto cast Also thinks they are two fucking lunatics. like we are not alone on this. you have jiraiya telling naruto he needs to not go and chase a mf who tried to snatch his heart out his ribcage and naruto is like no i’d rather be a fucking moron for the rest of my life honestly. you have naruto leaving a mission and saying sory i cannot stay i need to go home and wait for sasuke and the fucking platypus looks at him ???? like he even had me confused where are you goin g to wait? ? why are you saying that like sasuke is coming back the fuck did i miss??? you have the kage summit arc which is just a whole bucket of ice being dropped onto you because you come in and immediately get slapped in the face by naruto letting himself be beat up because he won’t tell them where sasuke is??? like he has any fucking idea where sasuke is. and sai tries to make him come to his senses like naruto??? naruto WHAT ARE U DOING. it’s so bad they need an intervention. right after that naruto faces the raikage and gets on his knees saying i know my almost boyfriend almost killed your brother but i promise it wasn’t on purpose he was just being silly please don’t put a bounty on his head a war will literally ensue. and like. there’s LAYERS to this. 1. even RAIKAGE is like BOY what are you doing. STAND UP. 2. at this point you can count the people who like sasuke on the fingers of one hand like WHO is gonna start a war over him… naruto out there moving a war against a whole country by himself over his bf ok you go girl i guess. after this it gets even worse like gaara has to go up to him and be like SASUKE DOWSNT CARE ABOUT YOU. HE DOES NOT WANT YOU. and naruto just slaps his hand away in front of his family like rude?????? ignoring anything it is hilariouuusssss and then sai is like sorry. sakura lied to you they are actually off to kill sasuke and naruto gets a panic attack so severe he passes out. like i am not joking it was so bad his friends tried to kill sasuke behind his back. and then naruto escapes bedriddenment (is that a word?) after passing out from his panic attack to run and make sure NOBODY kills sasuke. like he’s on a RUSH leaping those trees he’s a boy on a mission. then after he gets there he’s like kakashi DO NOT TOUCH HIM. they launch themselves at each other bla bla gay monologues did you see what was in my heart and then. and then naruto is like. wait sasuke. and sasuke waits like sorry that’s such a little thing but it’s so funny to me like sasuke was just acting a lil murderous crazy manic wtv but naruto told him to wait and he waits. ok good boyfriend. anyways moving on naruto is like do you get it sasuke. if we fight again we will BOTH DIE! (everybody gets a ?????? bubble) i am the only one who can shoulder all that hatred. i will CARRY THE BURDEN OF YOUR HATRED AND WE WILL DIE TOGETHER! and . absolutely Everybody in that room just goes ???????????? what the FUCK is he TALKING ABKHT. everybody except sasuke. sasuke smirks and he’s like sure. they just talked about dying together and meeting each other in a different life where they’ll be free of their burdens and they’re just Fine and all ok smiling at each other and everyone is so fucking confused. like the entire supporting cast is with us side eyeing sasuke and naruto and thinking what in the everloving FUCK is WRONG WITH YOU????????

[feeniest]

training buddies and their very competitive teachers

[frog-thief]

🌱🍃🌱🍃🌱

[raindreames]

the handling of the hyuga clan is probably what annoys me the most within the naruto continuation/ending especially as someone who has neji and hinata as favorites (apart from sasuke) but what i need people to understand is that the lack of coverage over the resolution of their issues was kishimoto's fault and he dropped the ball because he had too much on his plate and too little time lol

what some people fail to understand is: neji is justified in his anger. more than justified, he has the right to be angry and use violence. he's under a system where he's basically a slave.

and what other people fail to understand too, is this: hinata was a privileged child. she was from the main family. she was the personification of neji's struggle, in a way. yet, she was still a child, one that was shunned and abused by her family too. she had power over neji and the second branch, power that wasn't chosen and that she didn't want, but still had.

could she change the power balance? could she abolish the seal? well THAT'S the real question.

during the war, it's said both her and neji are working together to change the hyuga clan. so maybe there is a way to abolish the seal. but what if there's not? it is made to understand that both families are fighting as equals, no longer divided, and from that moment on — blank period, boruto — we're not shown any divide between the hyuga, any mention of "first" or "second" family and no hyuga clan member with a seal in their heads.

so, what happened? how did it change?

we don't know and probably won't. kishimoto is not worried about getting the resolve on those political matters he himself created when they don't affect naruto (and now boruto) himself directly. it was important back when naruto could motivate both neji and hinata. once that was over, there's no need to expand.

the point is: yes, it sucks that a topic so crucial that basically shaped two very important and iconic characters from the series is so underwritten, but that's that. i feel like misogyny plays a role in that too, since the only relevant hyuga alive is hinata and her character is constantly sidelined anyway. also, kishimoto is always on the side of "everyone can be redeemed without showing them actually repenting" which is why hiashi hyuga is a cute little old grandpa after he just apologized to neji once.