soushi

Kurenai is a pretty show

2008-05-29T01:44:14Z

Well, it's been a while once again.

I don't really have anything to share. Watching the series Kurenai right now. It's interesting. I'm afraid I'm going to be disappointed in how it ends (like what happened with Haruhi). I just get that feeling. The animation is really good on it, but I guess it's easier to keep the consistency with a short series like this one (I believe it's 13 eps).

Edit: I just looked over my last entry and it was rather depressing. XD

Hisashiburi da ne~

2007-10-06T17:18:52Z

It's been a long time since I really checked lj. Sorry if I missed out reading anything important or cool. >.>

Part of it is I've been trying to spend less time online when I get home (I just get tired of sitting in front of the computer all the time), and they recently blocked livejournal at work and that's when I'd typically check it anyway. And I was made joint-owner of the SasuSaku fc, so it's time-consuming keeping up with that ~~and smacking down any potential pairing wank in it - which has gotten a lot better within the fc's, which makes me happy.~~

So this is basically me saying hi. Hisashiburi da ne. XD

And if you have an account NF, may I suggest visiting The Happy Fun Place for a peaceful place for pairing fans to just hang out and get to know each other, regardless of pairing preference. (Well, at least I'm hoping that's what it's doing, slowly but surely....)

Misa-Misa!

2007-07-26T12:04:01Z

I know, I know, I haven't posted anything about Otakon yet. ~~I've been too busy looking up Zack/Aerith fanart/fics and replaying FFVII after seeing all the cosply over the weekend :D~~

Which by the way, Crisis Core is supposed to be released in September in Japan, and I think around Christmas in the US. I don't have a PSP and don't plan on buying one just for the game, but I'm hoping people will post all the cut scenes on youtube or something. I just want the Zack/Aerith back story. :DDDDD

Sorry lena_yume, I couldn't get Seki's autograph. He was waaaay too popular and I would have had to wait in line for a couple hours to get it. I was able to get Noto's for myself though.

Anyway, I'll try to get motivated to type more later, but I just wanted to say I had a ton of fun hanging out with nightmistress85, and meeting annwyd, and getting to dress up as Misa. I don't know how I'll be able to get my pics online since they're not on a digital camera, and our scanner's broken. D:

I was able to find pics of the photo shoot someone else took. I posted the two that you can see me in, and the link to the photobucket account in this post.

Colors of me

2007-04-24T00:26:06Z

you are lightcyan
#E0FFFF

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well.

Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working.

Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

I guess it sounds about right. I found myself clicking quite a few conflicting adjectives, but then I've realized that about myself for a while now. I think it comes from being born with traits from two parents who are nothing like each other. XD

Although now that I look at this more, I usually like darker colors. D:

My anime list

2007-03-19T16:17:37Z

I feel like I don't watch many of the same series as other people, and I tend to watch older series that are completed rather than following ones that are currently airing, so I thought I'd share what I have actually seen. Feel free to comment or ask for comments on any of these, or recommend anything you think I'd like now that you've been more enlightened to my tastes.

The list was edited from one that went around a while ago. I had to add some to it, so I probably didn't add them to the right category but I tried. D:

And I'm currently watching and loving Death Note, and still keeping up with Naruto.

X = completed, x = seen enough to get the gist, but never finished
I only included a series if I've seen more than a handful of episodes.

I. Action and Adventure
(x) Blood+ (I've only seen the movie so far, but it’s on my list (+=series but I still count the movie); little known fact of no import-watched the movie during T and my first date)
(x) City Hunter (watched a few episodes, one of which they kept calling the main girl a guy, and then a really pretty girl ended up being a guy…weird)
(X) Cowboy Bebop (mmm...delish – I secondly concur)
(x) Dragonball (mainly Z)
(x) Inu Yasha (only the CN version, but I saw a scene from the original and the Japanese sounds sooo much better, including Kikyo not sounding like she’s 30 instead of 16 or whatever)
(x) Lupin III (was bored so I tuned into adult swim)
(x) Naruto (except for the filler eps, but those don’t count, love the characters)
(X) TRIGUN (didn’t like it as much as I thought I would, but still good)

II. Comedy and Parody
(X) Azumanga Daioh (o-ji-san, nigete kudasai!)
(x) Ranma ½ (that series just lasted too long and ran out of ideas to finish)
(x) Tenchi Muyo (seen all but the newest OVAs, most of the tv series)
(x) DNA2 (well, have to give props for coming up with something origninal)
(X) Haruhi (really funny, liked how they told it out of order)

III. Drama and Miscellaneous
(X) Last Exile (didn’t really get the whole exile thing, but I loved the prince)
(X) Le Portraite de Petite Cossette (weird boy obsessed with a portrait)
(X) Monster (loved this, great suspense and good pacing)
(X) Princess Mononoke (it was ok, I liked some of the themes, but it just wasn’t that interesting to me)
(x) Weiss Kreuz (first half, love the opening-rescue a girl in a very traumatic situation but make it all better with a flower; yay for anime gatherings that summer!)
(X) Jin Roh (loved this movie, sad)
(X) Wolf’s Rain (I liked it, although nothing in particular really stood out except I loved hearing them pronounce “Buru~”)
(x) Death Note (love love love)
(X) Gunsliger Girl (very good series, just very good)

IV. Ecchi/Mature
…none

V. Fantasy and Supernatural
(X) Berserk (loved this show – especially the ending)
(x) El Hazard (again, yay for anime gatherings that summer!)
(X) Howl's Moving Castle (I love his movies, just yes)
(X) Record of Lodoss War (yay for chibi endings!)
(X) Slayers (“Gourry squid, wheeeeee~!”-nice, haven’t seen all the movies/OVAs, but I figured seeing all 3 seasons counted for a big X, the 1st season is definitely on my all-time list)
(X) Trinity Blood (excellent excellent show, I love the music)
(X) Vampire Hunter D (love the early anime)
(X) Vision of Escaflowne (I saw both series and the movie – Jessica and Pat, you aren't alone! – although I thought the movie was horrible, kinda a non-existent plot)
(X) X: TV (TV series was so much better than the movie, kinda like Escaflowne where compared to the series, the movie had no plot or character development)
(X) Fate/Stay Night (while I still liked it, and love Archer and Rin, the pacing was just really off that made it hard to sit through at times)
(X) Mushishi (absolute love, Ginko's character is just really awesome)

VI. Historical and Alternate History
(X) Chrono Crusade (they stopped subbing it? as far as I know, I finished the series)
(X) Ninja Scroll (love this movie! full of gratuitous violence)
(X) Otogizoushi (love Mansairaku – he rocks!)
(X) Peacemaker Kurogane (started off good, then kind of fell off at the end, Saya is adorable)
(x) Rurouni Kenshin (so many eps....didn’t watch the last arc)
(x) Reign (hated the animation style, but I like that period in history so I watched some eps on Adult Swim when I had nothing better to do, I really wish the guys would have worn pants, or at least short, please)
(X) Kai Doh Maru (I really wanted to like this, but there was just no coherent story, and I’m somewhat familiar with the legend)

VII. Kids and Family
(X) Castle in the Sky (enjoyable like his other movies, although the characters weren’t as memorable, I liked the story)
(X) My Neighbor Totoro (watched it with Tomomi and Mayumi-very cute movie!)
(X) Spirited Away (totally beats Princess Mononoke)
(x) Aria (wasn’t sure where to put this, but it’s cute and relaxing and fun)

VIII. Magical Girls and Boys
(X) Pretear (not bad for this genre, and the humor was nice, yay for love triangles and naked tranformations with little boys)
(x) Sailor Moon (I love Tux’s “relationship” with the alien in the 1st movie)
(X) Shamanic Princess (just…odd, Throne of something or other? Riiiiight, talking ferrets are fun though, as are connect the dot outfits)

IX. Romance
(X) Air (interesting, liked the “back story”)
(X) Chobits (didn’t really get the ending, but…I liked the funny parts)
(x) Fushigi Yuugi (seemed cool at first, but never really went anywhere)
(X) Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (this show frustrated me for about 3 weeks after I finished it before I could let it go, a few times a day I would just stop where I was and feel the need to punch/kick/slap a certain anime character or two-you’ll understand if you watch it)
(x) Love Hina (never finished it…did it ever go anywhere? took a while to get an actual plot)

X. Science-Fiction
(x) Gundam (Wing-yay for 15yr old boys saving the world!)
(x) Macross (first season, one ep of second season (horrible), never brought 3rd season to US tv; 1st, 2nd and Plus movies. Btw, 1st season was classic-I’ll never forget Exedor imitating Minmei)
(x) Saber Marionette (started J, need to finish this one, too…)
(X) Ronin Warrios (very 80s…or was it early 90s, whichever, but I loved)
(X) Casshan (I enjoyed the animated movie, live action was just no, but pretty)
(X) Land Lock (two part anime I picked up for cheap on sale, it wasn’t horrible, but yeah)
(X) Ergo Proxy (love love love, I especially ended up liking all the characters - they just felt real to me...no pun intended on Re-l's name...)

XI. Shounen-Ai and Shoujo-Ai
(X) Maria-sama ga Miteru (I was wondering if this was going to be one here-liked it a lot, but I wish they had done more with it, hear there’s a 2nd season in the works)

XII. Sports
…none

XIII. Surreal and Psychological
(X) Akira (classic - my first exposure to anime, I assume when it was first released in America way back when, it was my cousin's)
(X) Elfen Lied (loved the one-sided fighting, ending just kinda dropped off…)
(x) FLCL (just plain random)
(X) Gantz (wow, just wow – loved the song, the last arc wasn’t that interesting though)
(x) Ghost in the Shell (movie only…boring in my opinion)
(X) Neon Genesis Evangelion (excellent mind-warping series!)
(x) Perfect Blue (movie-definitely couldn’t tell what was reality and what was her dreaming, I think there’s a series?)
(x) Serial Experiments Lain (I really didn’t get it by the end)

People annoy me

2007-03-14T13:17:26Z

Disclaimer: This isn't directed to just anyone who happens to disagree with me, it's more the how I've been seing it said than what is said (about the recent spoilers and chapters). I don't care if people don't like where the series seems to be going, or if you think Kishi should have done something different - that's perfectly fine by me. Just people whining and complaining (and the warring fanboyism) put me in a bad mood, and so this is the result. Feel free to agree and rant with me. I don't know if anyone on my f-list disagrees (probably though), I'm going to be rude and ask that you don't post the disagreements here. I'm usually open and enjoy difference of opinions and perspectives, I'm just not in the mood for it right now. Sorry if I sound pissy, I don't really mean it, I just need a catharsis. >.>

Oh, and this is probably full of mistakes and typos. ^^ I'm also prone to some exaggeration when I'm pissed so sorry if I went over the top with anything, I tried to keep it within reason.

I just want to enjoy my Sasuke-filled chapter and people just can't stop pissing and moaning about something or other. You want Sasuke to be punished with divine retribution for leaving Konoha? Sorry, wrong series, this isn't about the evils of Sasuke's selfish choices - it's about bonds, and how his decision to resolve the conflict between his past and present bonds led to the abandonment of the present; that's his error, and so the resolution/redemption will probably be along the same lines and it doesn't have to be that he turns out weaker than the other two for his choice. Sasuke didn't choose the easy way, he chose the way that means giving up the [positive] bonds [that he wants to keep and have] in order to dedicate his life solely to the purpose of fulfilling his revenge against Itachi [which is something he feels he is obligated to do because of the strong bonds of his past]. You want Naruto to be the cool, classically strong character? Sorry, wrong character - his strengths lie elsewhere but that doesn't make him less strong or less good of a character.

And holy crap we don't even know exactly where Kishi is going with this yet so why don't you hold off hating the direction before you even know what it is? And I doubt Oro is gone forever, and if you solidly believe he is gone for good and that it's a bad move - well, your prerogative. I'm personally going to wait and see, and at least wait until I actually see the full chapter before even beginning to draw conclusions on Oro's fate other than it really looks like Sasuke is in control of his body.

And if you want to call someone a Gary Stu, how about Naruto's blinding ingenuity when Kakuzu was foolish and completely ignore his usual cautious attitude (and also somehow not hear/feel a giant wind-disturbing jutsu behind him) so he could fall for a more basic trick by Naruto than what he had come up with on their first real mission in the Wave Country? ...oh wait. I really think that was lazy writing on Kishi's part as far as how Naruto was able to successfully hit Kakuzu, but such is life, I'm aware that this series isn't perfect. (It wouldn't bother me so much if Kakuzu wasn't pointed out as the more conservative and cautious of the pair, why would he completely ignore the clones instead of at least leaving a little attention to them? But whatever.)

But WTF Kishi gave reasons and a history for Sasuke having the potential to counter Oro's transfer jutsu with the sharingan, in an arc about the new generation surpassing the previous as well as individual's in the new generation proving their strength to themselves - and with Sasuke showing he's not on the same page as Oro, why the hell is it suddenly a horrible thing that Sasuke can come out on top, too (at least for now - WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO END UP OR WHERE KISHI IS GOING WITH THIS)? Maybe if people wouldn't bitch so much they could see how this can actually make sense, and how so far it doesn't contradict what he's done before or where I see he's going with Sasuke's character or his future redemption. It's not about Sasuke choosing teh ebil path so now he will be pwn-ed by Naruto the righteous - the reason Sasuke chose to leave was for strength, so I'd certainly hope he'd work his butt off and get strong. True strength comes from protecting bonds, but that doesn't mean you can't also be strong just be becoming strong, and if Sasuke is only convinced to come back because he'd be stronger in Konoha because Naruto and Sakura are uberly stronger than him, is that really a true redemption for his character - that's the motivation that led him to leaving in the first place. I mean, Kishi could do it that way, but so much more focus has been on the bonds aspect than anything else that I'd think it'd be through that than being defeated in battle (which consequently that approach didn't work so well the first two times). The focal point of the conversation at even the latest reunion was Sasuke's conflict with present bonds interfering with past bonds, that's one of the reasons why he felt he had to leave, and why Sasuke's philosophy is currently opposed to Naruto. Bonds, people, bonds. This series is all about bonds, bonds and hope, has been from chapter one.

Normally I'm very open to other points of view, but I'm so sick of people complaining about how strong Sasuke is right now as if he should be punished from the heavens right at this moment. I'm sure something's coming, but I suspect that it's not what people want/expect. And so they bitch and moan. And I'm sick of it. I like this series. I enjoy this series. Sasuke's current behavior/strength makes sense. And if you think it doesn't, then please give me a better reason than 'but but he joined Orochimaru and Naruto has stayed true to the path ~~ignoring that he was taking an "easy" path with kyuubi because he was so desperate to reclaim a bond he lost....hm....sounds familiar~~ *whine*'. People annoy me.

It's like the whole hard work vs. genius thing. The message wasn't that hard work will win over genius, but that hard work can win over genius. I'm really trying not to sound elitest, and I know I could be wrong about some or all of that - I don't consider myself as a literary expert in even the slightest, and even then you can't always be on the mark with the author's intentions. But if you just take a little time and look at what the characters are actually saying, and how they're usually connected each arc through a common theme, it should be somewhat apparent. That's how this series works - I guess it's subtle, but also on the surface enough that even I can pick it up with a little exertion and I feel like people don't even try but just go off of their preconceived notions of how they think it should be. Hey, I'm all for major character deaths and real darkness that characters can't recover from, but that's not the Naruto series so I leave those preferences at the door and try to figure out and enjoy what this series does have to offer.

Sorry for the rant, but maybe you enjoyed reading it.

*sigh*

This was just too lolz I had to link

2007-01-22T16:48:07Z

Sakura is the Holy Grail of Naruto's children!!! :D:D:D:D

Seriously, I don't even know where to comment it's just so....creative. XD I feel bad pointing and laughing, but where do people come up with these things and honestly think it's plausible that it's really the animator's intentions? And the people who agreed with it?!

Frosty Haze

2006-12-10T23:17:29Z

I'm not very good at one-shots, but I thought I'd try to come up with one quickly as a present for my friend Luna's birthday. :)

SasuSaku one-shot
Characters and all that jazz owned by Kishimoto, not me.

Sakura leaned her forehead on the cool glass of her bedroom window as she propped herself up by her elbows on its sill; she was kneeling on her bed. It didn’t get cold enough in Konoha for snow, so Sakura had used her breath to frost up the window.

Sasuke-kun was gone, Naruto had already left with Jiraiya a while ago, and Kakashi-sensei was always out on missions to make up for the still lack of higher-level ninjas in the village. It was the first Christmas that Team 7 would all be apart since its formation.

Sakura pulled herself away from the window and sat back against her propped up pillow. A framed picture of the four of them sat face down at the corner of her bed. She had knocked it there from its usual position on the window sill.

“We’re going out shopping!” she heard her mother yell from down the hall. “We’ll be back in a few hours!”

“All right,” Sakura called back to her parents as she returned to her position at the partially foggy window. She usually hated the cold, but tonight the chilled glass was a welcome sensation.

Sakura watched the spectacle of pedestrians down below, the many colors of winter paraphernalia reaching her irises. She saw a purple hat enter one store, a green scarf enter another, someone wearing a fur coat bumped into an older lady walking a dog.

“Sakura.”

Her head snapped around in shock at the voice. In a moment she was standing next to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his form as if she was afraid he’d disappear as quickly as he had come.

“I- I don’t understand, you left. What are you doing here?” she asked as she buried her head within the folds of his shirt.

“You looked lonely staring out that window,” he replied, the familiarity of his voice sending chills down her spine. Feeling her slight shivering, Sasuke wrapped his arms around her to pull her in closer until their whole bodies were in contact.

Sakura felt him press his cheek against hers as he moved one of his arms to place his hand behind her head, his fingers interlaced with her pink locks. At the same time, Sakura lifted one of her arms that had wrapped around his middle to grasp the back of his right shoulder, digging her chin into his other one.

“Don’t go,” she begged softly as she squeezed him even harder.

At the sound of her request, he immediately released his hold. But instead of stepping back, he stepped forward, forcing her to bump into her bed with the back of her legs. Not being able to balance herself with Sasuke so close in front of her and her bed behind, she plopped lightly onto the mattress behind her.

Then Sasuke leaned down toward her, resting his hands on either side of her on the bed. Just before his lips were about to meet hers, she heard the clatter of the picture frame sliding off the bed and hitting the floor.

It was a simple kiss, just his lips pressed against hers. But Sakura felt as if her whole body was throbbing with the rapid beating of her heart.

And all too quickly, the warm sensation at her mouth retreated, and a chill spread across her forehead.

Snapping open her eyes, Sakura found herself in the same position she was before, propped up on her elbows and facing out her window onto the street below.

‘I must have fallen asleep,’ she mused to herself as she wondered if she would have an equally wonderful dream again that night.

Sakura was about to get up when she swore she caught through the haze of her version of frost a hint of red and white on blue, but it has disappeared around the corner before she could wipe the pane clean. Shaking her head to also clear the sleep from her mind, Sakura slipped off her bed and almost stepped on something. She reached down to pick up the frame.

Question on Heroes

2006-11-30T02:31:04Z

All right, I finally caught up on all the episodes of Heroes that I had missed by deciding to watch the show a little late. And I just had to ask if anyone else thought the guy who "hollows" people with Claire's dad had the same symbol on his tie that appears on Nikki's back when she's Jessica. I noticed it in the 5th episode (Hiro's) when they visited the QB, and just wondering if anyone else caught it or if I'm just seeing things (most probable), and any possible ideas of why they have the same symbol if it is the case.

Head of Hyuuga clan part 2

2006-11-17T16:59:49Z

Although there are a few who are on my side, unless a bunch of people come along suddenly and tell me they agree, I've come to terms with the fact that most people seem to think Hinata will become clan leader, and that's cool, I'm probably wrong. Oh well.

Oh, just a warning, this is cut'n'paste from a few posts and responding to specific arguments. I tried to fix it up some, but it's probably still rather jumbled and not very cohesive. But I'm too lazy to do more with it. >.>

Hinata's theme isn't so much about outward acknowledgment as it is about personal, internal change. If there is someone she wants to affirm her growth, it seems what is stressed is not Naruto more so than the Hyuuga clan. There also hasn't been any indication that being clan head is what she wants or is shooting for as a goal. What she wants to change is not being as skilled, and her shyness, not prove to her clan that she should be clan leader. While that could be an extension of her theme, it's not an automatic one, I don't think.

Also, in comparison, Neji's theme is directly tied into the Hyuuga's changing, and the change started with his learning the truth of the past, and then with Hiashi's training with him. His own theme resolution is also reflective of fork that the clan is also coming upon; forging ahead based on how one decides and lives one's life vs. fatalism and believing destiny is dictated from birth.

It has also been a point of irony that Hinata was born heir even though she didn't fit that role and her younger sister had more talent, and how a genius was born to the Branch house - the roles for each of them as dictated by their and their fathers' births. Hiashi said himself that Neji should have been heir, but that's not the way things are currently decided, and that's the foundation that needs to be shaken.

The Hyuuga clan hasn't been ruled by power, but by 'predestination' in a sense. Things are determined by the order people are born, not by their skill or merit. I agree that Hinata would make a good leader, it's just when I see two instances of foreshadowing for Neji to become clan head (Hiashi's comment that his brother should have been heir, so in turn Neji would be, rather than himself, and then already started to rise above the 'rules' with Hiashi training Neji personally) without any evidence of Hinata striving for clan head or thus far any clear indication that it's going in that direction.

Addressing a comparison with Gaara becoming Kazekage as his character resolution, I'm not saying Hinata doesn't also want acknowledgement, but look at what the keywords are for the characters. For Gaara, it was loneliness, fear instead of acknowledgement/love from others, only loving himself (rather then others - which leads into protecting and loving his village as Kazekage). With Hinata, what is stressed is change, gaining strength, not liking herself, and not giving up. Though the situations may be similar, with Gaara and Naruto, the focus was on outward perception; Hinata about changing herself. I think not being acknowledged by her clan is part of her suffering, but I don't think gaining her family's acknowledgement (acceptance is different than acknowledgement, I think) is what she's banking on for realizing her change. Didn't she talk about how no one else may be able to see the difference, but she herself knew that she changed. I'm sure she wants her family's acceptance, or even acknowledgement, but even if she can't get that, it seems to me the breaking point is whether she can accept herself, whether she feels that she has tried and succeeded at changing herself. With Naruto and Gaara, the deciding factor is how others view them and what they are desperately seeking; becoming strong to protect others is then a result of gaining that. Am I misreading what their themes are and what's the focus for each character?

As far as Neji following his father's footsteps of finding personal pride and love for family ascending however they are delineated as Main and Branch. I would agree this was a likely path to follow until we see that Hiashi has taken him on as a personal student which is already started to crack through taboos of the current system, and that in combination with the previous comment that Neji should have been born heir (but wasn't because of the conventions of the current system) is what makes me think the change will be along those lines. I'm not saying Neji is vying for clan head, but I think it could happen based on how other things are currently beginning to change with Hiashi involving Neji. The personal/emotional change has already started, and one step past that, the rules are starting to bend, so I guess I just see them as continuing to bend further until an actual break.

The irony of Hanabi, Hinata, and Neji not fitting their roles can be handled the way in that they individually change and accept/grow into their roles. But that doesn't necessarily alter the Hyuuga's except by whatever Hinata my do in the future that we don't know at this point. Or their destinies can be changed by growing into whatever they can become as individuals, and it's what they've become that determines who should fill what role (which Hiashi at least at one point thinks it should have been Neji, but maybe we'll get development and that will change back to Hinata like it already changed from Hanabi to Neji) rather than decided by birth, which in and of itself is a huge change for the Hyuuga even without any further actions that can also take place with the scenario you propose.

Neji being named head is a change to the system, and he may have taken up his father's way of viewing the clan as family (as he now views others as friends to protect). Who would make the best leader is speculation, and probably subjective since different people think different methods are best. I'm not saying Hinata's personality and such wouldn't be good for changing the clan because we won't know until we get there, just like we won't know how good Neji would be until we get there. But what we do know is that making someone not the heir as clan leader is an undeniable change. His father didn't change his fate, what he changed was he made it his choice. But he would have had the same destination regardless, but what he did was start the change for the future by affecting Hiashi, who in turn brought in Neji, and they could have the power to change the fates as determined by birth (my ideal would be Hinata become clan leader, and then pass it on to Neji so we still have the confirmation of Hinata, she plays a crucial role in the change of her clan, and Neji continues to reflect the clan change with his own). For Neji as an individual resolution, no he doesn't need to become clan head. But I'm talking about how it affects the Hyuuga clan.

I guess I just see the Hyuuga ripe for the change, or at least enough people in power/potential power to bring it about. But if a big change like that can't happen, then it's not like I'm not fine with Hinata becoming head and we're shown the start of change.

However, I'm reserving the right to feel good about myself if I do turn out to be right. :)

Also, I asked for people's opinions and speculations on the subject in my last post, so please let me know what you think if you haven't done so already, or feel free to add to what you said if you've thought of more, or perhaps I've changed your mind. Huh? Huh? :P

Poll on the Hyuuga heir

2006-11-17T00:38:17Z

All right, I can't make a fancy poll so just give your answer in a comment please. But I was wondering who you thought would ultimately become Hyuuga clan leader after Hiashi. An accompanying explanation as to why you chose that character would be appreciated. ^^

The obvious main choices are Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji, but creative answers are also welcome as long as there's some reasoning behind it. This has been a topic of conversation in a few places recently, and so I'm just curious as to how other people view this getting resolved and why. I have my own picture of how things will play out, but I'm certainly open to other ideas, and just might be convinced to alter the direction of my one fanfic.

Edit: Looks like I'm the only one who thinks it'll be Neji. :( I'll post my (apparently crack :P) reasoning in my next post.

To brighten my mood

2006-11-10T17:49:35Z

To pick up my mood a bit, I'll take now to mention that I started a HanaNeji fic last week. Not being able to think of a better title, I decided upon Lingering Glances. If you feel generous, be a dear and leave me a nice review so I can forget about Naruto fanwank for a while.

I also wrote up some of the things I like about this pairing, and you can find that here.

I think I'm officially on a HanaNeji kick

2006-10-28T01:01:58Z

I found some HanaNeji stuff! I realized that for doing a Japanese search, NejiHana (ネジハナ) pulls up some kind of plant, but HanaNeji (ハナネジ) had some luck　(and further encourages seme!Hanabi, hehehe). Oh, and I had also found this HanaNeji site the other day, it does have some nice fanart.

There's also a doujin for sale here. And while the $12.90 doesn't seem so bad considering how many pages it is, adding another $8 for shipping is a bit too much for fanwork for me. I've never actually bought a doujinshi before because, well, it's money for one (gotta pay those bills and get rid of debt unfortunately), and I'm hoping that most of my pairings will come to fruition in their respective series so seeing it in canon is enough for me (plus the occasional fanfic if I'm itching for something). But I don't really have much expectations for seeing this pairing pop up, so a 50-some page doujin sounds nice, but....

Ok, that's it.

Rekindled interest

2006-10-24T03:07:54Z

The topic of Hyuugacest (specifically NejiHina) was brought up in forums today, and I have rekindled my interest in NejiHana. And hey, why not? She seemed impressed enough during the tournament, but being skilled herself, I'd like to see how they'd compete ~~in more than one area~~. Besides, I think it's more interesting and fun than NejiHina - I think Hanabi's personality would bring out more enteraining interactions. ~~That and Hanabi would top Neji (at least she would in my mind), and that would just be awesome. XD~~

Anyone else have an interesting in this pairing and/or know of any fanworks?

Ramblins on writing

2006-10-21T02:30:09Z

I actually sat down and wrote a page for the first of three resolution chapters (I'm not sure what to call them at the moment) for 'What Words Can't Say'. I must admit, even though I don't really enjoy writing, I kind of enjoy writing. Or maybe a better way to put it, I like the art of expressing ideas or stories, and writing just happens to be the medium I tolerate in order to do so. Well, at least I have basic writing skills, unlike other forms of art, such as barely being able to draw a stick figure and can only paint if it's within someone else's lines. Took a ceramics class once, and I think I had one piece turn out nice...um, decent? - and I consider that more a stroke of luck. I guess I just was fortunate enough that after so many English and literature classes, something at some point finally stuck. Or maybe it was more like learning bits at a time, and one day being able to piece it all together and figure out how to construct an idea in coherent manner on paper (or computer screen). I guess being a left-brainer, I can only fake some kind of creativity by rationalizing it into a pattern I can break down and make sense out of, and thus reproduce. And, if I'm really good, extrapolate.

Just because

2006-10-16T02:01:09Z

Just because I need to dwell on something random and funny to escape the lack of intelligence in fandom, I couldn't help but laugh (and feel the need to make note of it here) when someone was correcting another poster's misspelling of Saskue by typing SasUKE. XD

My Perspective of Team 7 Dynamics

2006-10-05T01:07:28Z

I just typed this up quickly on a forum, decided it was half-way decent:

If you look at how the three pairs have related to each other since the beginning and how they've progressed:
NaruSasu: rivalry->brotherhood
NaruSaku: overcoming prejudice->strong friendship
SasuSaku: potential romance/annoyance->character growth with romantic context
(yeah, I know, these terms probably aren't adequate and certainly don't measure up to the multi-faceted relationships, but I try)

I'll skip the first one unless someone wants me to go into it since it's not really relevant for this specific topic.

Naruto's crush, while present from the beginning, has never been the overarcing factor in his relationship with Sakura, and more often than not, is used for comedic purposes. The few serious scenes we have had that were clearly in romantic context, they were of Naruto realizing/acknowledging Sakrua's feelings for Sasuke, etc.

On the other hand, there has been a much more present romantic undertone in Sakura's relating to Sasuke, and even within the limited response from Sasuke. What we haven't seen is how they relate as just friends although we've seen plenty of that for NaruSaku. So if Kishi were to go the route of NaruSaku, he'd have to redefine how Sasuke and Sakura relate to one another (still has time, this is doable) as well as hopefully exhibit NaruSaku in a romantic light in more serious scenes, which would also slightly adjust their relationship as it is now as well, although this is less of a change and gap than what would be left behind with SasuSaku with a NaruSaku romance.

I have heard of the argument that as Sakura matured during the chuunin exam and beyond, her relationship to Sasuke was less romantic and more motherly. While there is an element of tender care in her manner toward him, that's more the best way for her to approach and care for him than how their relationship is defined. They do not relate as a mother/child but on more equal footing (Kakashi is the parental figure for Sasuke, and there is a clear authority in that relationship even if it's not always apparent - Kakashi does have Sasuke's respect as someone older and wiser, someone to relate to on an intellectual level, with Sakura it's more give in take in different areas that led to growth and maturity on Sakura's part and bringing out the hunanity and gentleness in Sasuke - and these elements were present since the first volume and not a later development as Sakura matures out of her childish crush).

Furthermore, unless I'm grossly misreading, while Sakura made steps toward growing into and finding her own strength, she didn't jump in with both feet until she experienced loss. And that loss was presented in the context of romantic feelings by her confession in chapter 181, just as it parallels Naruto's confession that Sasuke is like a brother to him (sorry, I don't know the chapter number). And in each case, Sasuke tried to break that and leave with a firmly set will, and both times he ended up making concessions by the end of the meeting. There are some parallels with his meeting with Kakashi as well, but I'll leave this one out, again because of the difference in relating (authority/parental) than with his teammates that it makes it somewhat irrelevant for the point I'm trying to make.

All right, so now that I have set the (parallel) contexts for Sasuke's departure for the two teammates he left behind, they each have resolved to not give up and do what it takes to bring him back. Now, in Sakura's case, it took realizing that she can rely on Naruto as well as being encouraged by his perseverence and hope that she is able to stabilize and leap into doing her part in retieving him. Does this mean that Naruto's context remained stable, while Sakura's shifted out of romantic feelings for Sasuke and start moving toward Naruto? Perhaps, but I then I think that unbalances the parallel contexts that Kishi very nicely set up, and I think the reliance on Naruto is more to show how Team 7 relying on one another (as well as Sasuke's very present participation as well as really being the one to jump start the teamwork in the first place) is what will make this generation succeed where the previous two parallels failed - the Sannin giving up, and Team Yondy being too little too late. We have also seen a shift in Part 2 where Naruto seems to be the one who is floudering more with Sasuke's absence, and consequently with their second failed attempt to get him back, and now Sakura is the one who puts on the strong face for the emotional Naruto to lean on for stabilization. Again, is this a romantic shift? Possible, but I think it's again going back to how they're going to succeed in their determination and focus toward their missing teammate than a romantic relationship developing between them, all the while still having the same context of motivation driving each of them that was presented at the end of Part 1 (after all, so much of Part 2 starts off showing how much hasn't changed, but has remained the same - this is a common element in Kishi's writing, a lot of constants, repetition but pushing the characters a little further each time, not straying far off the paths set in the first volume even for Team 7 - it may appear that way for Sasuke, but really, his path was one of wavering between revenge and Team 7 since the beginning as well and has been oscillating since, and so I don't think he is permanently on the "dark side" or too far gone, but just making a strong shift in that direction after a strong shift toward Team 7). Naruto and Sakura's continued fervor toward their missing teammate, while it doesn't prove it, at least supports my case that the contexts haven't changed but are still being driven by the same motivating factors. NaruSaku romance would change this, and while again it's not impossible to write, I don't know why Kishi would choose to upset the balance, where both that and the change would seem uncharacteristic for his writing.

And this may not have been a satisfactory answer, I tried to at least somewhat put into a coherent few paragraphs as to how and why NaruSaku romance would change the dynamics of Team 7 and SasuSaku would be less altering (and even from my view actually a natural progression of the past and current dynamics where the potential is just being realized as opposed to a real change) from my understanding and perspective.

My Thoughts on Monster

2006-10-02T00:18:15Z

I just finished up watching the series Monster today. That was just an overall well done series. It kept pace throughout, it had a nice cast of recurring characters, Johann was creepy even when he's unconscious in a coma, and I found the way they explored human identity and emotions interesting, as well as how they slowly gave you more and more of the story along the way. It had nice closure to it, and I felt satisfied knowing that was the last episode (except I really want to know their names!).

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to watch anime with a little more realism, suspense, and lacking anything flashy but just in general, very good.

(And I'm horrible for writing summaries, so do a quick google search if you want to read a better general premise - in short, Japanese neurosurgeon in Germany who's life pretty much falls apart when he decides to not follow the higher ups and consider all lives to be equal, which is followed by becoming a murder suspect of his boss and the two men who got the promotion he would have had, then spends the rest of the series trying to make up for his mistake and meeting lots of people along the way. Oh, and serial killers are creepy.)

Why I think Sasuke will live

2006-09-16T14:13:08Z

I've been noticing a lot of people think that Sasuke has reached the point where his redemption will be on his deathbed, or that Sasuke will be the one person Naruto can't save. Well, here are some of my thoughts on why I think Kishimoto will have Sasuke live.

First of all, we have it emphasized that Sasuke has no dreams and all his ambitions lie in the past - ambitions he's willing to die for (as well as previously also for his comrades). What would death be to him who is already willing to fling his life away so readily? I think the greater obstacle for his character would be for him to live and have to find a future - one among Team 7, where he truly belongs according to databook 2.

Second, Sho (from NF) pointed out something interesting in that it seems that the "bad guys" who don't survive are those who no long have any bonds tying them to life (Zabuza-Haku, and she was never "bad" but not initially on the same side, Chiyo-Sasori and his parents); where as those who still have bonds to build on are redeemed and live (Gaara, Neji). Sasuke still has Team 7, which leads me into my next point.

Third, in this series which is overly fluffy in the exhibition of the power of "precious bonds", I think having Sasuke be a failure would be detrimental both to this theme as well as our remaining protagonists who are running around desperately to get him back. While dramatically it would work very well for Sasuke to be the one failure, I think in this case while it would add drama, it'd take away a lot more and not really fit with Kishimoto's more positive style thus far. Also, if he really wanted to go dark and dramatic, Neji and Chouji would be dead in liability to the darkness Sasuke chose. You could also relate this to Naurto's reaction at almost failing Gaara, and how detrimental that was to him; I think Sasuke would be even worse. Again, Kishimoto could take the route of saving Gaara but failing to save Sasuke in contrast, but he does like repetition and with the other reasons in place, I want to say redeeming characters like Gaara and Sai are more foreshadowing than what will become an unrepeated success with Sasuke.

Fourth, is where I do think Kishimoto will deviate from past occurences; Sasuke being redeemed and living through that redemption emphasizes the difference between the previous failed generations of the Sannin, who gave up, and Team Yondy, who were too little too late. Sasuke not being redeemed already is happening with the Sannin; Sasuke being redeemed but dying is similar to what happened with Team Yondy. I think for Team Kakashi, because of their strong bonds with each other and learning that lesson early enough, they won't give up, and they'll make it in time.

I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff, and of course there are other minor details that can be looked on as foreshadowing Sasuke's redemption and survival, but I think I've hit most of the major points I've thought of so far.

On Naruto chapter 319

2006-09-12T18:45:32Z

Yeah, don't know if anyone's reading this, and I know this is a few weeks old, but I figured a nice rant would make a nice start...

Ok, if you don't want to think that Sakura is still in love with Sasuke, or that she never was at any point, fine by me. But is it necessary to try to play down and rationalize a way out of the fact that she is focusing on him in that scene? Of course nothing that is not blatantly stated can be said with 100% certainty, but come on, the whole chapter, I think, is very obviously focused on the impact and influence of Sasuke's absence. Why then, when the rest of the chapter is permeated with the latter, would one scene with Sakura be about something different when she should also be affected by it? That makes a lot less sense than a smooth continuity. Like I said, believe what you want about the nature of the feelings, but no need to try to explain away what you don't want to see.

Sakura didn't come out and say Sasuke's name, but why would Naruto and the title be about Sasuke's absence being a motivation, and then Sakura only reminiscing about the past in general? If you put that scene in the context of the rest of the chapter, I think it's obvious. What is currently motivating Naruto is Sasuke. What motivated Sakura to become strong over the timeskip is Sasuke. (This is very simplified and obviously other reasons are also motivators, and Team 7 is certainly more intertwined than that, but I believe the focal point of the chapter is on Sasuke, which is the subject of the current discussion.) Even in his absence, he's still very much a part of the story because of Naruto and Sakura's reactions and dedication, and using the loss to push themselves. I believe this chapter is finally touching on the emotions that were brushed over at the conclusion of the previous arc. So I just feel when people throw out such comments like Sakura wasn't just thinking of Sasuke, she was thinking of all of them since all four of them are in the picture - I just feel like that's trying to rationalize something out of context instead of looking at the purpose of the chapter.