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blinddogfanfic · 2 years

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Okay, so, uh, Hello!

It's been a while, I know. I'm really sorry about that, about not having posted in so long.

I am still working on the next two chapters! Which is about how much I think is going to be left in Tsundoku, in all honesty.

Before the riots begin - that isn't going to be the end of the series! I have a sequel planned after I finally manage to finish Tsundoku, although the chapters will be of a more manageable length.

When I started writing Tsundoku, even before I posted that first giant chunk that was later split in half, I was in a different place. Writing was literally an escape, I was unemployed at first and then job jumping, and also very depressed and stuck in a rather one sided and controlling relationship. Pumping out 20k for a chapter was literally me trying not to think about or deal with the situation I was in, to escape in a very real meaning of the word. I couldn't afford to eat more than once a day and I was avoiding hunger with either sleep or writing, and I'm a chronic insomniac, so...

I did more writing than anything else, because I was trying to process but didn't have any other outlets.

There are a few hundred other projects I was writing at the same time as I first started making up Asuka, although I had only had the courage to post Tsundoku when the time came.

So now, I work an average of 50 hours a week - not counting OT on the weekends, despite how often I work Saturdays - and I help my sister take care of her children. I have to send money to my family frequently because I'm the only one with steady employment - I'm trying to work up the energy to work on that problem next - and there have been some truly horrible things happening since ye old apocalypse started.

There are other responsibilities in my life now that make working on such long chapters a really trying task. Exhausting.

You may have seen me posting new things in other fandoms - and even Naruto! - but honestly I was trying to not fall completely into writers block. Into burnout. Those chapters are a blip compared to the heavy things that Tsundoku chapters are. Practically brain candy in comparison.

When I started to post other things even while writing Tsundoku, it was because I knew that I was starting to hit my creative limit and was terrified of losing what I'd created. Of fading out with an incomplete work that people complained about.

Everyone says that you shouldn't rely on fandom to pull yourself out of real life problems. That comments shouldn't be about validation or be what makes you're worth something. You shouldn't take negativity to heart or let yourself revolved around your inbox.

Tsundoku, and the people that it has brought into my life, the confidence and self worth - no matter how unhealthy the means - saved my life. And kind of my soul, in a creative sense.

Not to go into a lot of drama or anything, but I'd never been called anything like a good writer before I started posting. I got accused of plagiarism in school because my teachers would look at me in my ill-fitting, third hand clothes, knowing the home situation I came from, and decided because I was consistently failing math that I couldn't write. The question "who wrote this for you" was one that followed me until I graduated, and it's been a weight ever since. Dragging me down, unable to appreciate my own creations or share them, because I knew that no one was going to believe it was good because it was mine.

You guys? You guys taught me that all of those teachers were full of shit. At least there was something to be enjoyed in what I'd created, and I - thankfully - haven't had to deal with plagiarism as a whole in fandom.

Thanks US education system, you gave me a complex that lasted literally decades.

Maybe I'll never write and publish a novel like I used to dream about. Never be that famous author that I'd wanted to be so I didn't have to live like I grew up even after I became an adult.

The response I recieved for posting that first truly ridiculous chunk of Tsundoku hit me like a punch in the gut. I think the first response was about the summary and the fact that it was misleading for the plot.

Of which at the time, I had no plans for. The plot. The chunk in the summary was just something random I had thought of that I had sort of wanted to put into the fic if I even got to that point. Part of the wave arc, I think? Then the commenter threw a chunk of my own newly posted fic at me, when i hadn't written and posted fanfic for years, and I realized "huh, that does fit. That's weird" because it didn't feel like something I would write because I'd never really considered my own shit worth much.

I figured, at posting originally in a panic, I'd read some truly unfortunate fic over the years, so maybe someone would at least look at it? I'm honestly not sure if I wanted someone to actually read it or if I was afraid of that very thing.

Not that the positive response would literally be able to carry me through a day. And yes, I'm entirely aware that that wasn’t a healthy response or interaction with fandom, but it was more than I had before that. I make "friends" very easily, but I don't have a lot of mental or emotional energy for face to face interaction, which kind of makes most relationships... fade.

You guys were my support, however unknowingly.

When I say I reread comments when I have a bad day, I mean it. I scroll through all of the - nearly 4k, jeez - comments in my inbox and reread them, letting the many and varied ways my efforts have been appreciated buoy me.

So when I say I am never going to abandon Tsundoku? I mean it.

Tsundoku may be a fic of ridiculous proportions in comparison to my other projects, but it's... it's my baby. A piece of myself that I put out not expecting anything good but ended up overwhelmingly wrong about. I put a lot into that fic, and it grew beyond my wildest dreams.

So, honestly, this is more of a thank you than a post about letting you know where I'm at.

Thank you, commenters, readers, my internet bros, for letting me love writing again.

I will never stop appreciating that.

#tsundoku #cher shares #fanfic #fandom #couch time

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blinddogfanfic · 2 years

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she's a 10 but she wants to stab me so that makes her an 11

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blinddogfanfic · 2 years

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Wow, I honestly forgot you guys mentioned doing this and now I'm literally trying not to cry while hanging out with my roommates. This is fantastic I'm so glad that you enjoy the Tsundoku universe so much, and all the work I've put into it.

Tsundoku Analysis Essay - Written by JFlicker and EC

[Sorry this took me so long, but you invited me to gush and…Well, I raved to my friend about it being so long it might end up as an essay, and she said something that (for her) translates to “do it, you coward”. Then she got dragged into co-writing it with me so who’s the loser now?! >8D SO HERE IS AN ESSAY! >8DDD Warning, it definitely references Iktsuarpok a lot lol.]

Someone in the fandoms once said that “plot holes are the pockets the canon keeps fanfiction in”. For us, a major draw of fanfiction is worldbuilding/expanding on canon. And we absolutely loved the logistical shinobi ranking system you drew out. The canonical shinobi ranking system has always been vague, especially for a military organization that’s been in and out of major wars throughout the last 50 to 60 years. It’s open enough that the dozens of ways people have tried to flesh it out are all viable. Your system is especially well done and makes TOO MUCH SENSE. It establishes a more legitimate step-wise approach for being promoted within and across ranks (something we know has to be there) as well as expanding on and standardizing specialties (ex: combat specialist for Asuka). Having different levels of Chunin and Jonin also adds an entire (realistic) dimension to the shinobi world that we have deeply appreciated. This is really driven home by the way you described Gai. His reputation among the ‘lower ranks’ as being scary strong and not knowing his own strength is an interesting perspective and highlights the practical power difference. Not just between chunin and jonin, but also between the five jonin levels that you described. As the type of people that REALLY APPRECIATE ESTABLISHING LOGISTICS, you would not believe how much time we spent crowing in reader-victory and gushing in reader-fulfillment about this. And this isn’t even going into the practical implications of being in a military state, which is a bit more present here in this story. From the weight of confidentiality in a military state (on everybody and everything they do) to the matter of rank having actual authoritative weight to the court-martialing being a very present threat, it makes it so that the rank isn’t just a matter of achievement and level. It carries weight because those of higher rank isn’t just stronger than you, they are your military superior. Court martialing for insubordination is a very present threat.

Secondly, we both have trained or still train in the Germanic and Italian styles of longsword as well as kenjutsu. You can imagine how delighted we were with reading about a sword fighter as well as, with elements like Sakura being taken on as an apprentice, a concentration on an actual, legitimate sword art that comes with its own legacy. After all, martial arts is a collaboration of many people over many decades carefully learning, adding, teaching, and passing down this one particular school/style. The portrayal of Asuka’s tactical thinking, her logging her own resources, and calculating how much she can still do all work together successfully to create the impression that she’s working for her victories while creating a stark contrast to how smoothly and efficiently her fights are. It’s wonderful writing-wise, but also accurate in what we’ve seen with our teachers and senior students in terms of how sword fights are heavily strategic in many aspects. For example, one of the things we’re taught is the concept of “conscious competence”, which includes actively reading our opponent’s body language and then using that knowledge by choosing positions, attacks, and defenses that would manipulate their body movements as well as influence their choices. Our main teacher, the owner of the school, can set up his attacks two to four steps beforehand.

Additionally, the two of us also did taekwondo for a couple of years, and so the early scene where Asuka started the genin off by practicing stances was a combination of nostalgia and delight. Asuka being dismayed at Naruto’s stance was something we felt on a visceral level because it’s so important in taekwondo to have a solid grasp on a balanced, ready stance and sensible footwork. That she was able to analyze each of them, pick these issues apart, and verbalize the problems was also a great wall to illustrate how Asuka’s experienced and a legit veteran as the story was starting. She also served as a great and sensible foil for Kakashi through this. Canon simultaneously shows how Kakashi being a once-in-a-lifetime genius causes him a lot of social issues but doesn’t really overtly go into the more subtle issues Kakashi would have had dealing with people (children) on a completely different level than he and his generation had been. There should be a hiccup somewhere there, but most of it is brushed off as comedy. You did illustrate it, and you did it very well. Specifically, Asuka interjected and helped in a manner where it’s obvious she’s at a lot higher level than the genin but much lower than Kakashi. That she isn’t an overwhelming genius helps her not just pinpoint and verbalize the issues, but know how to verbalize advice and instructions. Basically, thanks to having worked hard and gone through a more regular development, she has a bit more of an idea of where they would get stuck or what they wouldn’t just know (though even she’s taken aback by the Academy’s dropped standards lol). It’s such a small thing to just explain a concept, demonstrate, and then supervise, but then you realize that Kakashi’s first time really doing so in canon was in the Wave Arc for tree climbing.

Next, we loved the relaxed, easygoing relationship dynamics. It really made for such a relaxing read, weirdly enough. In your writing, you managed to capture Asuka’s satisfaction in just being with Kakashi. He’s so worried about misstepping as they advance their relationship to the point he’s a little flail-y and the emotional constipation REALLY shows (it’s hilarious). Go realistic, in-character reaction portrayal! Meanwhile, Asuka is laughingly relaxed in comparison and it’s wonderful how genuinely okay, satisfied, and happy she is at each step of the relationship. There’s no agenda, no demands, and her going along at Kakashi’s pace isn’t a compromise. There is a very upfront feeling that, if this relationship never advanced or even went back to being more platonic, she would have been perfectly happy with that too. It is so rare to have that platonic build-up without romantic pressure or severe overthinking from one or both of the characters, which makes their gradual relationship even more satisfying. This kind of simple comfort and meshing and advancement from mutual understanding is just…absolutely lovely. That this gradual progression is part of them developing a found family makes it even better! And it’s so relaxing in knowing that, even if their relationship settles back into platonic, this family they made would be fine, and their non-romantic relationship would remain deeply satisfying and comforting for all involved. This kind of security has been wonderful for Sasuke and we actually get to see him work through his grief and learn to open up again. Both Sakura and Naruto are also learning to do so to a lesser degree, but this slow progression and development that’s drawing all of them together really help Sasuke with his own traumas. His multi-faceted trauma involves looking for approval from, being overlooked by and for, being abandoned by, and being hurt by family. That he’s finding something completely different (but more along the lines of what he wants and needs) with his genin team is heartwarming. And this route where it’s is all very slow, very subtle development with all of them in the process of learning as he is makes it believable that Sasuke could accept this.

Okay, and this needs to be said. We. Absolutely. LOVE. The Nagisa! XD

A lot of people have been expanding on the experiences of the bijuu, who are major parts of the story while also having the least screen time outside of Tenten. What you did with the Nagisa and subsequently the bijuu is another beautiful expansion of the canon. While many have definitely expanded on Kurama, many then based the other bijuus’ experiences on what they thought happened with him. Your version has it so that the bijuu are all more individuals, with their individual experiences and histories (absolutely lovely mythological narrative, by the way). In many aspects, Isobu’s tragic story is a foil (or at least the other side of the spectrum) to Kurama’s tragic story.

The whole idea of a family line, community, or country being tied to or descended from a god, deity, mystical creature, spirit, etcetera, and then how that shapes the very fabric of their culture is something you see throughout the world. Isobu created the Nagisa and shaped them into who they became in more ways than he probably realized. After all, up until recently, he played and raised and taught and accompanied and protected his Nagisa. From the few Nagisa we got to read about, they were a very practical, down-to-earth (lol) people who understood and were at peace with the cycle of life (“the sea gives and the sea takes away”). Though I can’t help but think that the fact that, no matter who they lose, the surviving Nagisa would always have family in their “Isobu-nii-san” may have played into their cultural mindset of acceptance in the face of loss. This constant presence in the face of rough times seems similar to the way religions comfort people, but more tangible. The story read as the Nagisa loving and dedicating little parts of themselves to him all their lives in the same way you would your family, resulting in the feeling that the assertion that the Nagisa were his people read as being pretty mutual.

At some point, the Nagisa moved their entire culture out onto the water (from a fishing village to sea nomads?) and evolved it to suit in order to be closer to Isobu. Whatever else they ended up doing (raiding, pillaging, etc.), it doesn’t change that they’re an entire culture started from and based on genuine love. Love of the sea and freedom and their Isobu-nii-san, who they try to spend as much time with as possible before they pass away and leave him alone. Expanding on that, the idea of there being a dedicated nautical force for the Uzushio is another element that’s simultaneously too simple and makes too much sense. It takes into consideration that, unlike Konoha, it is not just a shinobi village on an island, but groups of people who lived on islands and coasts who came together to form a shinobi village. And that means there has to have been an island culture. And that kind of development has to have shaped many integral societal/structural facets, including their military. The reaction Karin’s mom had when she heard “Nagisa” was something we ended up discussing at length. Talk about cultural consciousness. The absolute faith in the Nagisa that must have been built up over the generations is clearly evident at that moment. A name carrying cultural weight, legacy, and associations is such a little thing, but it makes Uzushio so much more real.

Incidentally, another thing we liked was the delving into the fates of the Uzushio refugees. Generally, the obliteration of anything (much less something like a military city), is messy. People get away, people weren’t there, there are refugees, etc. Canon kind of oversimplified this part of the Uzumaki background. We have Karin, and you going into her parentage and the mentions of kidnapping gangs (and Kumo’s history) also made us wonder about people like Karui (the redhead woman who marries Chouji).

Another thing to note: people have been adding flavors of realism to Hashirama’s character and how specifically the “God of Shinobi” isn’t necessarily/probably isn’t a hero. Especially when you look at similar figures in history. There have been other fics about how he’s wiped-out entire groups before; something that more than likely canonically happened. But this succeeded in being PERSONAL. Your fic has succeeded in demonstrating what we’ve seen “great men” and rulers do throughout history when they pursue their goals to fulfill their visions. Hashirama’s apathy to what sounds like a genocide-massacre and betrayal-sabotage on his own allies was too real. It sounds like…a lot of dead civilians and noncombatants along with children in that. And he’s just stone-faced or that self-absorbed to have no reaction in the face of Isobu telling his Nagisa to run and Akane desperately trying to rescue him. At this point, people are more familiar with the concept of “transgenerational trauma”. He destroyed an entire culture without a second thought and, what’s even more horrifying to realize, was that this was a culture of transgenerational love—passed down from generation to generation—that he casually destroyed and he didn’t even care. You picture that great procession of ships and parade of happy, free, rough, seabound people that Tobirama describes and you can’t help but grieve because it’s all gone. They’re nearly all gone and the culture is permanently warped into something the few survivors have to make into something new from the remaining pieces. And it was for an equalizing system they were never even asked to be part of. The shattering of Gin’s sword is a perfect symbol of this and I haven’t felt so breathlessly grieved for a sword in such a short time since Ice got melted in the 1st season of Game of Thrones! This story was a real face-on address and then overturning of the propaganda surrounding Hashirama. That it was a story told to Tsunade (Hashirama’s granddaughter and the Senju) and Kurama (Isobu’s eldest sibling and the bijuu) made a long exposition work. The two are fascinating foils of each other with both of them having their worldviews shattered but in opposite directions. The hero was the villain in many aspects. Humans are not only villains, and the divide between bijuu and humans wasn’t as great as initially perceived. This mini-story within your fic just hits multiple emotional points.

The portrayal of Isobu himself was also interesting. You managed to portray how distinctly inhuman and immortal he is with how simultaneously emotional and childishly simple yet distant he is. Too young and too old at the same time. As a result, his moments of happiness, delight, comfort, love, protectiveness, grief, fear, and horror hit harder. Even his crueler acts are simple and childish, as shown with his casual extermination of the Hamaguchi. Ironically, his attitude about that mirrors how Hashirama went about wiping out the Nagisa to get to him. Though Hashirama’s act manages to be worse with its traces of betrayal and he doesn’t have the excuse of being distinct “not human”. Also, my friend spent a solid two minutes ranting about how Hashirama canonically not giving the Uzumaki a bijuu was just generally a dick move. Historical allies, our collective asses.

Kurama similarly ends up being a tragic figure in that he specifically seems to have inherited and absorbed all human hatred and negativity. In your fic, he’s specifically the bijuu foil to Isobu, starting from their legendary reputations. The Kyuubi is canonically seen as a natural disaster while your Sanbi is considered an auspicious sight omen of good tidings. Kurama’s greatest nemesis, his personal monster, is Madara. Madara, who lost himself to hatred and obsession, and so enslaved the fox to use as an attack dog to fight Hashirama. From then on, Kurama is passed from prison and warden to be used as a weapon and even blamed for his warden’s suffering. Meanwhile, Isobu has a much more positive introduction to humans when he finally became truly involved. Up until the fall of the Nagisa, his interactions with humans generally leaned more on the friendlier side, if only because negative actions were so inconsequential that he didn’t care. He became more involved, invested, and knowledgeable about humans and the world through his Nagisa. And in many ways, they were his support system when his siblings were more or less gone. So the only times he got proactively involved was because of his Nagisa. TLDR; the Hamaguchi thing was hilarious.

“It had been a long time since he’d had anyone call him nii-san, and he wouldn’t let pesky cannibals take that away from him.”

“Umiko’s mind could take her into dangerous territory if she weren’t careful. And he wasn’t quite sure if he’d eaten all the Hamaguchi yet.”

“She liked to dance on the shore with baby turtles as well, safe in the cradle of Isobu’s tails. He was pretty sure he’d eaten all the Hamaguchi a few years passed, but better safe than sorry, really.”

“It would be dangerous, a lively girl like her on the water, wielding a sword and the curiosity of youth. Best to nip any lingering worries about the potentially remaining Hamaguchi in the bud.”

Even the Uzumaki trying to buy him from the Nagisa was more like an amusing moment he shared with his family of the time with them. When Isobu did fight for humans, he did so willingly and with at least a bit of pride and satisfaction. He protected his Nagisa and the island and had a genuinely good relationship with these humans who loved and respected him. The Nagisa in turn inherited their love for their guardian turtle from generation to generation and were devotedly consistent. His tragedy was that the whole of the Nagisa sided with him when the God of Shinobi came for him. They all ran away with him because he was family and more important than pride or strength. This to led to Isobu watching Hashirama wipe out most of his Nagisa in front of him while being helpless to stop it, being imprisoned to be used as a weapon, and given to an establishment that tries to use him to wipe out the land he formerly protected where any of his surviving Nagisa would have been. And there is rage for his wardens destroying the island that he willingly devoted time to protect, and grief because that would have been where any of his surviving Nagisa would have been. One last crushing of his hopes.

Unlike Kurama who suffered from his own and others’ hatred stemming from humanity as a whole, Isobu suffered because humans died for the love of him. He has felt the difference between people literally dying to possess him and people dying for him. His looking at Hashirama and thinking monster and being afraid and you ruined my life hits hard. Most specifically in that, unlike Kurama, Isobu knows what it’s like to have had and lost. As summarized by Tsunade’s reflection, “[Jiraiya] hadn’t grown up in a Clan, and despite the tragedy of growing up without a family at all…he didn’t know what it felt like to have one, and then lose it.” This is a parallel between Gin, Tsunade, Sasuke, Haku, Asuka, and Kakashi versus those like Naruto, Kurama, Sakura, and Tenzo. Overall, I’m just very excited to see where things go with Isobu. He’s made so interesting here, and he is singularly significant in that he may be the last one alive who still has personal experiences with and exact memories of Nagisa tradition, events, culture, etc. We can’t wait for the reunion! With the Mist Revolution happenings, the possibility that Asuka and Isobu there is exciting!

On a side note, if I was Isobu with everything he’s suffered, I’d take Asuka and run. Fuck staying on this side of the world. While “I” will always love the Sage, we’re going through the Divide and never coming back. That was just so much love that disappeared. Another thing that’s hilarious to consider is that Isobu probably has the most childcare experience among the bijuu. The whole growing up in the protection of his tails, Nagisa children to teach, and exploring his back to see what kind of sea life he picked up is so cute. And now we have the image of a giant turtle mother hen whose worries and advice are specifically skewed towards sea-faring issues. (Ex. “Finish your citrus fruits, you’ll get scurvy” because having enough Vitamin C is a genuine seafaring concern.)

Your endeavor into the nature of chakra itself is also intensively interesting. Chakra interactions aren’t a truly new thing in the fandom, but the way you do it is definitely going more in-depth. We especially liked how humans themselves have basically adapted/evolved to have chakra natures reflecting their environments or place of origin. Additionally, the way you managed to tie everything in, including connecting the logistics of rank to chakra, the breakdown and use of Positive and Negative Chakra (and their difference but tie to Killing Intent), and even how it affects the use of Summoning is so cohesive! The additional layer of chakra interaction (and never manners) as a form of communication is another element that really adds to the Naruto world. That there are even unique, distinct ways of chakra interacting with each other makes this new story element more of a very real thing in itself. On a logistical level, this includes things like how exactly the Curse Mark leeches off the individual, how the Positive Intent interacts with the Curse Mark, and the way Tsunade was able to identify Asuka and Tenzo (the imagery of it as a musical resonance was fun). On a cultural level, which includes elements like the “smelling” as well as Kakashi and Asuka’s chakra communication and resonance, it’s even more fascinating as you managed to encompass manners, societal standards, and boundaries with it. It also does a great job of emphasizing just how thoroughly how different clan shinobi and clan shinobi cultures are from the wider breadth of general shinobi. The small details of how it is harder to form a second chakra nature when a shinobi is older, or how shinobi can gain ‘sympathetic’ chakra signatures after interacting with teammates for an extended period sounds so logical and yet seems unique to your fic. It also successfully help ties it in as something that leans towards it being a biological function. Having Kakashi being so fascinated with Asuka’s water nature is also very cute since Kakashi’s intellectual side isn’t often triggered.

There are many in-village elements we also really loved! For one, the practicalities of all the Uchiha disappearing are addressed more directly here, specifically in how a lot of people in the older generation would have the experience working with Uchiha. There’s definitely more of that feeling of their absence being unspoken of, but not forgotten. Secondly, the Uchiha culture being expanded upon is also appreciated, including the Uchiha-unique taijutsu styles created to be easily adapted as the Sharingan develops, the strict disciplinary measures, and the “Chosen” element that’s a feature of the actual eyes. Similar to the aforementioned Nagisa, this builds up carefully to the growing sense of loss for the Uchiha as a whole culture. Ironically, it’s also Asuka helping to pass on the Uchiha heritage to Sasuke on top of passing Nagisa teachings onto Sakura and non-big-clan shinobi culture/going-on to Kakashi. Even the problems she runs into work to teach them something if only through quiet observation that something’s wrong or off. Like how Sakura learned there are big differences between civilian and shinobi culture through how civilians gossiped about Asuka (leading to Sakura’s later questions), Sasuke gains perspective because he remembers old clan gossip surrounding her and her twins. It’s all still experience.

Also, you did great in illustrating just how messy the ROOT situation is. It definitely succeeds in the feeling that Danzo’s reach is all-encompassing and creates mounting tension as the sheer breadth of the organization is fleshed out. You can practically feel Tsunade’s anxiety and how legitimately and thoroughly comprised the whole system is. Frankly speaking, forget Naruto accompanying Jiraiya around for two years, take all five members of Team 7, and get the hell out of dodge for those two years instead. XD

Additionally, in terms of logistics, Asuka having to budget things was fantastic. It’s a great aspect of worldbuilding that she has to worry about food and weapons and we regularly see her grocery shopping and pondering what she is getting. It’s not addressed much in other fics how shinobi are running missions as a source of income, but it is completely true that their mission rank and length determines their pay, and that should be considered more. Her worrying about buying ‘expensive’ food and thinking about how Kakashi could pay for food WAY easier is extremely realistic. It was also satisfyingly complex to see her thinking about if she could afford new armor and how that would dip into her budget. Shinobi rely on armor and weapons to save their lives, and yet it really makes sense that shinobi might have trouble resupplying and that it could impact future missions. Little details about how she needs to renew seals for them to remain functional help retain the feeling that this is her life. I’m glad upkeep is a thing here! (“The Seals were updated every year around the same time, making sure to keep the entire structure safe from the pressure.”). Having Asuka repair her armor was a smart way of not only adding tension (constant vigilance, no auto-regeneration of anything) and making it feel like she works for every victory, but it also is a chance to demonstrate Jiraiya’s more academic competence. Her armor and the seal-use for it are so starkly practical that it’s easy to overlook that it’s actually pretty unique. That she needs to and can pull in multiple shinobi with different specialties for both upkeep and creation also works to highlight the advantage of a village and specifically Konoha’s wealth of resources.

All that aside, Tsundoku is hilarious and adorable with a strong female role model who remains feminine. Asuka is a well-written female character who could eat cute panda-shaped snacks and love petting dogs, while still being a competent combat specialist. She could tie little things into her hair and dress nicely and it didn’t affect her job as a kunoichi. It was simply part of who she was and made her a well-rounded character with the capacity to have unique traits. The Zabuza/Iruka rarepair appearance along with the Kakashi/Asuka/Iruka and Kakashi/Asuka/Zabuza hinted at are deeply appreciated. (Though we also curse you for that. Where else are we going to find fics to feed us?) Kakashi kind of absentmindedly and casually adding people to his collection is hilarious and great. Once the floodgates were opened, the river rushed and Hatake instincts for the win. XD Also, if no one else has said it yet, your version’s Naruto and Kurama is a bit similar to Lilo and Stitch. XD

We look forward to any and everything about Tsundoku. There are still so many things we’re curious about! Is that underwater coral structure they built based on the Coral Castle of Tori-gumi still around if it’s a canonical thing? (Lol, did it grow?) Asuka has said something about a Sanctum Key? Will we see more of a revival of the Nagisa, starting with Sakura? After all, Asuka seems to have various friends outside the village like Juli and Maki (medics and merchants). Not to mention, Asuka’s interactions with Itachi and Shisui are a whole barrel of drama on their own while not even mentioning the twins’ eyes and her not knowing she seems to have a storage seal on her back! We’re excited for the epic backstory to be unearthed there!

[Thank you for coming to our TedTalk lol.]

#Cher shares #Submissions #Tsundoku #People are apparently trying to make me cry

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blinddogfanfic · 2 years

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Tsundoku Analysis Essay - Written by JFlicker and EC

Someone in the fandoms once said that “plot holes are the pockets the canon keeps fanfiction in”. For us, a major draw of fanfiction is worldbuilding/expanding on canon. And we absolutely loved the logistical shinobi ranking system you drew out. The canonical shinobi ranking system has always been vague, especially for a military organization that’s been in and out of major wars throughout the last 50 to 60 years. It’s open enough that the dozens of ways people have tried to flesh it out are all viable. Your system is especially well done and makes TOO MUCH SENSE. It establishes a more legitimate step-wise approach for being promoted within and across ranks (something we know has to be there) as well as expanding on and standardizing specialties (ex: combat specialist for Asuka). Having different levels of Chunin and Jonin also adds an entire (realistic) dimension to the shinobi world that we have deeply appreciated. This is really driven home by the way you described Gai. His reputation among the ‘lower ranks’ as being scary strong and not knowing his own strength is an interesting perspective and highlights the practical power difference. Not just between chunin and jonin, but also between the five jonin levels that you described. As the type of people that REALLY APPRECIATE ESTABLISHING LOGISTICS, you would not believe how much time we spent crowing in reader-victory and gushing in reader-fulfillment about this. And this isn’t even going into the practical implications of being in a military state, which is a bit more present here in this story. From the weight of confidentiality in a military state (on everybody and everything they do) to the matter of rank having actual authoritative weight to the court-martialing being a very present threat, it makes it so that the rank isn’t just a matter of achievement and level. It carries weight because those of higher rank isn't just stronger than you, they are your military superior. Court martialing for insubordination is a very present threat.

Okay, and this needs to be said. We. Absolutely. LOVE. The Nagisa! XD

“It had been a long time since he’d had anyone call him nii-san, and he wouldn’t let pesky cannibals take that away from him.”

“Umiko’s mind could take her into dangerous territory if she weren’t careful. And he wasn’t quite sure if he’d eaten all the Hamaguchi yet.”

“It would be dangerous, a lively girl like her on the water, wielding a sword and the curiosity of youth. Best to nip any lingering worries about the potentially remaining Hamaguchi in the bud.”

There are many in-village elements we also really loved! For one, the practicalities of all the Uchiha disappearing are addressed more directly here, specifically in how a lot of people in the older generation would have the experience working with Uchiha. There’s definitely more of that feeling of their absence being unspoken of, but not forgotten. Secondly, the Uchiha culture being expanded upon is also appreciated, including the Uchiha-unique taijutsu styles created to be easily adapted as the Sharingan develops, the strict disciplinary measures, and the “Chosen” element that's a feature of the actual eyes. Similar to the aforementioned Nagisa, this builds up carefully to the growing sense of loss for the Uchiha as a whole culture. Ironically, it’s also Asuka helping to pass on the Uchiha heritage to Sasuke on top of passing Nagisa teachings onto Sakura and non-big-clan shinobi culture/going-on to Kakashi. Even the problems she runs into work to teach them something if only through quiet observation that something’s wrong or off. Like how Sakura learned there are big differences between civilian and shinobi culture through how civilians gossiped about Asuka (leading to Sakura’s later questions), Sasuke gains perspective because he remembers old clan gossip surrounding her and her twins. It’s all still experience.

[Thank you for coming to our TedTalk lol.]

#Asuka #Tsundoku #Blind Dog #headcanon #team seven #hatake kakashi #uzumaki naruto #haruno sakura #uchiha sasuke #submission

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