32 Points

splintered_soul @ 2007-09-24T12:40:00

2007-09-24T16:41:32Z

ARRGsjdfklsa;da Internet drama.

ARRSJFkdsljkdsfds losing friends over inane reasons.

I'm not sure if I liked it more now, or when I didn't care about anyone on the internet. :/

splintered_soul @ 2007-09-17T12:20:00

2007-09-17T16:22:30Z

I have twenty minutes until I have an exam.

Why the hell am I still on the internet!?

PS. Seren, I haven't talked to you in about a gazillion years after you moved to Ohio. Call me.

Anonymous doesn't forgive

2007-07-30T17:40:50Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNO6G4ApJQY

I thought it was a joke first time I saw it O_. But apparently 4chan or ebaums world or whatever hacked into Fox News. Why is always so amusing when serious news casters make reports about the internet?

My favorite part is that random car blowing up for no reason. GG fox.

splintered_soul @ 2007-07-29T13:29:00

2007-07-29T18:29:48Z

This is an extremely interesting and intelligent post.

splintered_soul @ 2007-07-28T14:26:00

2007-07-28T21:05:24Z

Some may hate it, but I loved this chapter. Everyone was running around going "AMGOBITO" nobody actually considered that Tobi could be Madara (Be it possession, lies or whatever, Tobi DID say he was Madara) Or actually be in such a strong position of power. The ultimate unintentional redherring. And um, yeah. Tobi looked bad ass this chapter, that new Akatsuki cloak is win.

I suppose some people have said, "but oh, he's not the same." I suppose, but I'm to busy being petty and reveling in a pseudo sense of justice that, no, he doesn't suck because Pein said so. I think it's hard to dislike a character that you fell in love with.

I think this is one of the stronger plot twists of Naruto. Tobi is his very own Aizen.

I like how they share headphones, but I didn't draw a cd player. I win. Sasuke looks odd in this one, I think. >_> I messed up with the coloring of his hair with his head or something, now he has a flat face and a retarded nose.

Lineart:

I knew people would dislike it... but I promised it wouldn't get in my way of loving this book. So I have decided to steadfast and stay away from HP fandom for a long time. That lasted all of two seconds and popped in a discussion about HP >_>

Anyway, as I said, I loved the book, and most of all the climaxes. I liked them on the run, I am a huge Dumbledore fan so I loved his sidestory, I loved Snape's sidestory, ecetera. Although halfway into the book, I got nostalgic for Hogwarts and was relieved when they actually got there. I mean, running around in the woods is okay, but it's Hogwarts the readers "grew up" in. And there was something about *everyone sticking up for him when Pansy wanted to give him up was near heartwarming.

The problem with the shock value of the book... is that I was spoiled by some ass on IRC ~~I'm so glad Kapsi is banned. That bastard is never getting help from me again.~~ So I knew a lot of people would die this book. But the only one that took me hard was Fred (I managed to look over most of the names -.-). Like most peopleI thought his death was almost... random and done because she wanted to kill someone popular off. To be fair, at war death is random and many times, unglorious. But still... it's fictional fantasy.

There's something said about killing off popular characters. Actually, there isn't, but I'm going to say something anyway. Two things can happen 1. The added shock value makes the story unpredictable, sad, a true sense of loss, ecetera. Basically, makes the book better. 2. It leaves the reader unsatisfied. Lupin's and Tonk's were leaning towards 1, but Fred is leaning towards 2.

Also, ending was weak. I thought the story in of itself was strong, interesting, and captivating. It had a brilliant climax, wonderful drama, great tension, well written war scene... and then he ends it in a classic Scooby Doo, lol joke. What the hell? There has always been time after the climax for mourning, for thinking, for Harry to think "let's do this in the future," for Harry/Ron/Hermione to have a strong moment, and to think back. That didn't happen. He basically said "I am glad we win, I am sad people are dead, I'm tired. End." That's why an epilogue was done, because the story ended but it didn't finish. And the epilogue was weak. Not because it was bad, but because it wasn't... well. Anything. It made no impact whatsoever. I swear I read that epilogue a hundred times over is fanfiction

But anyway, kudos to Rowling for making an awesome world, great characters, and a fantastic- yet crazy- fanbase. You brought us Hogwarts, huge book parties, and crazy fans like Ms. Scribes. GG. The saddest part of an end to a story, imo, is the eventual dying out of the fandom.

For the longest time I had stopped reading fiction books with the exception of HP. Anyway, I saw this name tossed around a lot and finally someone went and pushed me to read it. I couldn't think of a better book to make me want to read again, it's absolutely fascinating. I love his style, I love the plot, and I love how realism and fantasy are sort of mixing in it.

I think I was a little to upset when Robb died. He was my favorite non POV character and one of my favorites overall. I guess it sucks because I knew it would happen, I even told a friend I was a bit worried about it, and I was reading with a growing sense of dread. I seriously hate the Frey's now, and I hope Zombie Catelyn destroys all of them. ]< I was remarkably annoyed to see Ceresei be a regular POV, and Robb never got one. Injustice.

Bran would be my favorite characters, and because of that it took me a long while to get warmed up to Jamie. Even when he was sort of good I couldn't get passed his reasoning of throwing an eight year old boy out the window because he wanted to have uninterrupted sex with his sister. :S. I also hated Theon for the longest time. I actually sort of liked him during book one, but after he got his pov he acted like a little bitch. cry moar n00b. Tyrion is another one of them, and I felt kind of sorry for him. He's a genuinely good person who gets shit blown up in his face on a constant basis. He tries to save the court, Ceresei plans to destroy him, he tries to save the kingdom and he becomes hated, he tries to raise money an easy way, and he gets mocked for instigating a sex penny, he tries to be a good man- and his wife hates him. If that was me I would have been "lol, I give up, bye bitches."

I can't get myself to finish part IV though. It just doesn't interest me as much. I understand it's more plot intensive than character base... but the new characters seem to blend in with the others too well. I just can't get into their stories as much as I could the first three. D:

splintered_soul @ 2007-07-20T22:51:00

2007-07-21T04:32:24Z

Deeeer eljay,

Lately I've been horribly unPC, using internet memes like druggies use crack, and been using lots of internet lingo like "lol" and "gtfo." I remember when I first came to you and vowed never to use it.

Lolwtf happened to that? Should I care? >_>

On to important, life changing stuff. Naruto.

1. AL and BHG look pretty much what I expected them to look like. Only AL looks much younger and BHG looks, well, more exotic/oriental. I like it.

2. Someone's name is Pain. Or Pein. I think it's AL, but people say otherwise. Oh well.

3. I'm betting BHG is a haku type of character. Not in personality as much as devotion to AL. She gives off the "I am a stoic but dutiful woman who is not really evil, but is desperately in love with the main villain and therefore will do anything for him" type of character. There is one in every manga :/

4. Ok, Sasuke was out of chakra. But not only did he summon MANDA, he managed to use a strong enough jutsu to control it. What the hell? Ok, Sasuke was suppose to live, yes. I get that, but come on.

I'm not trying to annoy any Sasuke fans. He's cool and he's ultrawinning, but there's got to be a cap to that. Sasuke doesn't even feel like a main character anymore. Main characters don't keep pulling jutsu out of their asses, only villains and godlike side characters. Main characters have an established amount of moves to the point where you can document it. Once you don't know how many a character has, they move beyond your level of understanding. D: Sasuke, you better come back to Team 7.

5. Team7ReunionTeam7ReunionTeam7ReunionTeam7ReunionTeam7Reunion Gogogo! I'm so glad that they didn't get infected with the disease of idiocy and actually noticed the hueg explosion. Now run, you lazy bastards, run to Sasuke. It's not like he can fight now anyway.

6. Need more Tobi.

7. I'm not sad for Deidara, but I care a lot more than I thought I would. I never liked him, but he picked a hell of a way to go.

Fanart x2, one old, one done today

Original sketch

Drawing guys is a pain. Anyway, when I was coloring this my first thought was "Wow, I bet those two are going to be compared to NaruHina." Lo and behold, I checked and they already were. Fandom, you are such a predictable vice.

Original Sketch

Done before I realized Karin's colors. They [Karin's canon colors] suck, by the by. But I guess Kishi likes to keep it colorful. I think this combo looks much nicer on her.

Naruto anime is a shithole. I understand going a bit slowly, but good god. It's the actual fight now, at least keep a somewhat interesting pace. You are going to make me hate this arc. :/

I hate weddings. Even more so when I'm trying to kick a fever and been puking. Donavon's, though, wasn't that bad. I missed some of the short ceremony (thank god, when I heard it was a catholic wedding I thought I'd never get out of there. Luckily they didn't make it full. Though I totally told this guy that there was a wedding going on so there was no confessional. Lulz D: Anyway, I spent most the time holding my 10 month old niece and she screamed in horror (there is nothing more depressing and strikes that much terror into a child than catholic church music).

Reception was much better. I went to help to put the reception together which was a bit hectic. Especially in my shoes, which were uncomfortable as hell. And a shirt that, I found out too late, was a bit low cut for my taste :/ I dress up maybe once a decade (all two of them), and now I remember why. It was boring for awhile, but after a bit everyone started dancing. It was like a school dance, only without all the pricks you hate, and you got to see a really cool fifty year old black man do the chacha dance.

If I hear one more "AMGPLOTNOJUTSU" I'm going to kill someone.

splintered_soul @ 2007-05-20T11:32:00

2007-05-20T15:34:39Z

Finals are over and I'm currently in the process of draining everything I learned out of my head. I'm doing fairly well too, I was at PCbang with friends/family , playing wii until 3:30 AM last night D:

splintered_soul @ 2007-04-23T10:04:00

2007-04-23T14:09:35Z

So, I was thinking I should update my lj about something. Only to realize, I've got nothing to update about. Personally, I think this shows a sad fact about my life.

It's been really nice out lately. As in fantastic up to the cloudless sky and down to the dirt on the ground. Honestly, it makes me really happy. Makes me fall in love with nothing and everything.

Let's say hypothetically speaking, you are retaking a class. And in that class, you have to write a paper for it, only it's the exact same paper about the same topic, the same notes leading up to it, and you basically think the same way. Would it by ok to turn in the same paper as you did a year ago if you were satisfied with the grade?

Oh, and by hypothetical, I mean I already turned it in.

...

Internet drama makes me "lol".

splintered_soul @ 2007-04-20T08:59:00

2007-04-20T13:14:39Z

It's hard to offend me on the internet; especially since I can be remarkably unpc myself, but I know when and where to do it. This bothers me. It's not really unexpected, I've seen DB do it a couple of times. But seriously, it hadn't even been four days after the shootings when they/him (I heard they didn't really fire timecop) released it, that's just inane asshatery. It's the fucking worst school shooting in history, have some god damn tact.

The greatest irony being... I will still download their subs. :/

Not beating them with a self-righteous stick. I don’t want heads to roll or make them stop. But I still find it distasteful in the ultimate sense.

Naruto thoughts: Mmmm Team Sasuke mmmm.

Bleach thoughts: Why do you have to be so damn shippy? Seriously, I'm stockpiling crack fandoms. (didn't read the chapter, just saw the spoilers)

splintered_soul @ 2007-04-17T00:24:00

2007-04-17T04:25:16Z

People have a romantic notion of being the hero in bad situations.

Getting in a one on one fight is NOTHING like being in a frightened crowd of people while someone is gunning you down.

Just because everyone didn't go tackly the mass murderer while he was SHOOTING MULTIPLE ROUNDS doesn't make them stupid.

Ugh.

splintered_soul @ 2007-04-15T13:24:00

2007-04-15T17:24:20Z

I have just created...

The nastiest and most gross tasing pancakes ever.

I amaze myself.

splintered_soul @ 2007-04-13T21:03:00

2007-04-14T01:31:27Z

Deer Frendzlizt,

I've been gone for so long, I almost forgot some of you and I don't know how to keep up. So Imma going to post about Naruto instead.

1. Karin is hot. And bipolar. And has awesome hair. This is irrefutable truth. I honestly am slightly weirded out by the fact that her fandom sparked REALLY fast. In one day she became really loved, the next day I saw her paired up with Sasuke, Suigetsu, Sakura, and oddly enough Naruto. THEN she got an anti fanclub. Her fandom went full circle in a manner of a week. Impressive.

So far, I like her. She interesting and I like how she dupes Suigetsu all the time, while trying to molest Sasuke. It amuses me. I wouldn’t call her a favorite though, I haven’t seen too much of her.

2. Suigetsu, you are awesome. I can’t believe how fast it took for me to endear myself to you. I think it was the “I dunno… maybe because he’s retarted” that won me over. Or that time when he complained about needing a rest every five minutes. Or the fact he spent the better part of his introductory chapter, naked and grinding Sasuke. He just amuses me.

3. Sasuke, when did you get so cool. I remember never caring for you but liking what you did to the manga. Now with you here, it’s like the manga is expodentially getting better. Moar

4. Juugo, crack much?

It seems like we are getting a Sasuke arc. I’m going to repeat what I said before. I think Sasuke arc is just what the manga needs. I don’t want to keep switching from Akatsuki-to Rescue Sasuke- to Akatsuki- ecetera.

It’s a fresh plotline. Even more so, we have awesome new characters to develop. What makes this even better is that it is completely unexpected, no one thought Orochimaru would be gone so quickly (though I stand firm in my belief that he will return.) It also gives time to build up anticipation for Naruto and Sakura.

While I love this new line, it kind of makes me sad. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge Team 7 tard. If Sasuke does makes a new time, it makes me think that Team 7 actually will never get back together and that Sai really has taken Sasuke place. Is Sasuke really going to have someone as close to him as Naruto- whom were rivals and brothers? Is he really going to have intense moments of characterization with Sakura? Is he ever going to talk to Kakashi again, who in the databook stated that he was pretty much his mentor and father figure?

Also, Kishimoto,

Orochimaru is dead and Sasuke is free. What the hell is up with the nearly apathetic reactions. OROCHIMARU WAS LIKE A BROTHER TO JIRAIYA. What the hell?!

Also, Bleach.

Stop crying. There’s nothing wrong with this arc. Someone is getting rescued again, ZOMG, THIS IS THE ONLY CLICHED MANGA EVAR. It’s not that bad, and I see it going in a different direction. I’m not usually a fan of Ulquiorra, but him owning Ichigo into last RAW day and having a four on his body… that was nice.

Need more Orihime please D:

My computer is dead. Ugh.

Dear Kabuto,

lol shit...

Sincerely,
Kishimoto

splintered_soul @ 2007-04-11T13:50:00

2007-04-11T17:51:40Z

I'm about to throw my shoe at my car.

Once in a blue moon, the car alarms triggers. But because there it is so rare that there is no way to prevent it. Now it just turns on all the time, and I have to sit there, trying to turn on the engine while the car is screaming at me every time I need to go anywhere. Aughsadkasl;dadlaks.

I just finished reading and writing about the migration patterns of flamingos, no joke, so don't be worried if I seem a bit irritated with the world.

How's it going friend's list? Do we still like Naruto or is that not cool anymore D:

splintered_soul @ 2007-02-23T21:07:00

2007-02-24T02:07:43Z

I haven't updated in forever. Damn D:

The problem with shoujo

2007-01-16T20:19:23Z

Bitchings, ramblings, and a rec.

Anyway, I haven’t been doing internet duties for the past couple of days for a number of reasons that I don’t wish to go into. But I thought, hey, I haven’t updated my journal in awhile. Why not that, lolz?

Anyway, I’ve had a real irrational craving for shoujo as of late. Atypicaly, I despise shoujo as half of it I find shallow and uninteresting, and the other half I find myself despising every coupling that becomes official and with shoujo- that’s what it is all about (seriously, FruBas, kare kano, peach girl, Honey and Clover- never had a single pairing I liked happen. Damnit).

But anyway, I’ve only been reading shounen/ sennen as of late. And after the seventh volume of Vagabond I decide to lay off for awhile otherwise I was certain to grow a penis. (Vagabond, though highly recommended by most, I got bored with it after awhile. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good. But it’s only good because it’s good, \ I never found it enough to hold my interest). So I went on a downloading spree on shoujo, though I mostly tried “underground” shoujo that most people don’t know about.

And just as I thought, Shoujo was the same uninteresting monotonous cesspool of insignificant and boring drivel of a horny highschooler’s wetdream fantasies. Seriously, for a genre dedicated to romance, it seems that none of these mangakas actually know how to write an interesting one. I was sucked into a primordial incompetent hell of cliched “plotlines,” ridiculously shallow and dull characters, cardboard cut out relationships, and the same rehashed lackluster boob jokes.

There was this one manga that has fantastically lovely art, but even that didn’t make up for the smoldering pile of creativity defecation it really was. It had absolutely no point rather than pretty looking smut. I’ve never seen a manga so poorly created in terms of story. It was as if to make up for the total inability to have any skills of writing, the mangaka threw random taboos in it just to keep it going. Listen kids, strange =/= good. I don’t care how much incestual sex you draw, the only thing it’s going to make me think is that you had a completely unhealthy family relationship and have me fear for you kids. It wasn’t good the first time, and it’s not going to be good the second ime.

It almost made me cry for Yuu Watase’s work again (which I like but seriously, once you read once- you read them all). I was completely ready to crawl back into my happy land of Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, 20th Century Boy, Monster, GTO, Gantz, and other mangas of interest. Seriously though, they have a better grip on romance then half of stories I read. But after wading awhile in my seemingly endless sea of mediocrity, I finally buckled down and looked for recs- most of them I seen, others seemed uninteresting.

Eventually, I found one that was not only enjoyable enough worth mentioning, I’m going to recc it to you. “Skip Beat.” Where other mangas failed horribly (and by horribly… it’s more like going to a movie that you paid eight dollars for, only to realize that it was written by Anne Rice when she high on pshychellic drugs, co written by Tom Cruise, directed by a half brained math professor who doesn’t even speak English, and starring Keanea Reeves) this manga shines.

It’s really a fun read, the characters are satisfyingly complex yet not so difficult to comprehend that it turns you off. The comedy was unique, the relationships didn’t feel awkwardly thrown in. The story wasn’t exactly new but it was created in a way that it seemed fresh. Luckily, I didn’t read up on the plot before hand, otherwise I would have dropped it before giving it a chance.

Basically, it’s the story of the wrath of a woman scorned. Kyouko, a measly mild mannered girl came to the city with her childhood friend, now super famous “hot” singer Shou . She basically sacrificed her life and education to be with him, and is in love with him though he shows nothing back. He’s upset that he hasn’t made it to the level of “Ren” a famous actor who he considers his rival, and Kyouko encourages him. However, when going to meet Shou, she overhears him say that he was basically using her and he doesn’t like her at all. This causes Kyouko… to go insane. And swearing revenge on him, she begins to take steps to becoming famous so she can reach his level to break him.

Now, it sounds lame, I know, but it really isn’t. They way the mangaka delivers it makes it so that it’s enjoyable and you want to read the next chapter. Typically, I despise “plain girl gets famous” because it tends to be annoying sugar pop fluff with her hooking up with guy after guy. But this isn’t the case at all, while there are romantic developments, she initially has only spite for her romantic interests (Ren and to a lesser extent, Shou). So there are moments in which it’s really about her struggle as an actor as a person as much as it is hooking up with someone.

I like a manga that doesn’t drown itself and potential in its own angst (*cough* Mars), where the depression of the story waters down the whole experience. At the same time, it’s not all typical fluff. It’s a comedic story and there are sad moments, comical moments, and moments that make you awe. In general, a diverse manga.

The artwork is pretty, though I usually despise the style. It’s sort of generic and sometimes the faces just look odd, but in general it’s nicely done.

If you ever want to pick it up a well written shoujo, get Skip Beat. It really is worth the read.

Skip Beat previews:

Skip Beat downloads for you

Volume I, Volume II, Volume III

splintered_soul @ 2006-12-04T08:32:00

2006-12-04T13:32:43Z

So my mom flips out because she knows I won't be able to finish college in the typical four years and I don't have the heart to tell her I'm failing out of it all together.

Cheers.

splintered_soul @ 2006-12-02T18:40:00

2006-12-02T23:40:16Z

I draw too much

splintered_soul @ 2006-11-17T11:52:00

2006-11-17T16:52:22Z

Eh, damn, there goes all my icons, silly paid account.

Anyway, I guess this is an art update, I got my scanner to work and I've been doodling nonstop >_>

I drew this one for a friend, Mori on NF. It was meant so that I would force him to draw me something (and got a really awesome Gai-sensei :D)

A friend wanted me to make him a cute signature with Sasuke in it, but I told him I don't use fanart in my graphics, so I just drew a cute Sasuke, but it ended up as little Team7s

I will finish all of them, but so far I only colored Sasuke. Sadly, it was 2AM in the morning and I did a crappy job ><

Oh yeah, history notes:

This is my first doodle I scanned just to get it working XD Don't mind the Yondaime too much... that was mostly to annoy someone I know XD

The hangul is "Man-se" which is something like like "WoooO!" or "Banzai!" in Korean

I'm planning on a Gai-sensei rant next >_>

splintered_soul @ 2006-11-15T09:43:00

2006-11-15T14:43:40Z

Splinturd's rant on Team 7.

Warning: Off topic rambling, bad grammar, typos, extreme bias, and long winded bitching.

Apart from threesome orgy jokes and blatant “that way no one will be left out!” mentality, NaruSakuSasu has an almost cosmic impact on the Naruto manga. The story of these three children has shaped the events of their time, and the events had come to shape the three children. But even more so, these three children have shaped each other.

Kishimoto bashes our heads in with Naruto themes. “Precious people.” “Bonds.” And maybe even “living for somebody.” This manga isn’t about one person. It’s not about achieving greatness. It’s not about hokage, not about kyuubi, not about falling in love, not about avenging the past.

But of course, then what is about? Why the hell have we been reading 330 chapters, some for seven years, seeing hyperactive blonds screeching about some sort of dream followed by some weak little girl and an emotional shutout? What makes this manga substantial, what would it take to have a truly happy ending. Not one with flowers in a field, but one that could make you sigh in relief.

It’s under my opinion, that it’s one character, Team 7. Yes, team 7 is made up of three (for these purposes I could Kakashi not part of the team 7, but merely family of it) people but more so a “bond.” A bond/relationship isn’t simply about two people talking. A relationship grows, matures, it reacts to other relationships and characters differently, and characters and relationships interact with it. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura push and pull each other, they mold with the love, patience, friendship, spite, jealousy, and inspiration who they become. There’s no such thing as solidarity in this manga because it only leads to sadness, to despair, to desperation, to frustration, and it continues to chip chunks out of your soul until there is nothing left.

“The one thing that you can’t defeat is lonliness.” Gaara.

The most fucking powerful thing in this manga isn’t chakra. It’s falling asleep knowing that you will wake up to a smiling face the next day. Or it’s falling asleep, knowing there’s nothing left when you wake up.

Pre team 7, Naruto was such a pitiful boy. He was alone, searching for acceptance in something, anything. He lived day by day, sitting on his swing, watching as people left with family one by one until he had no one to play with, and he walked alone on the streets aimlessly. Then there were these people who just hated him, “When person hates and doesn’t acknowledge another’s existence… the eyes they use when looking at him are… frightening cold”-Sarutobi. He didn’t know why they looked at him like that, he didn’t know how to stop it. How do you deal with the entire village looking at you like he murdered half the village when you are four? Or eight? Or twelve years old?

Naruto sought out attention. He was a brat, obnoxiously spewing out anything that popped in his head, pulled pranks, and boasted. But he was just a miserable child who was alone and no one to comfort him and wasn’t talented at anything.

Thus at twelve years old, the begin of search for self in young adolescent, the two roads diverged and Naruto was at the fork. Mizuki was there whispering the truths that tore whatever hope Naruto away, and anticipation of fear in the Hokage as he realized that Naruto was unstable at this point, and if the seal broke who know what would happen.

Iruka saved him. No, not by taking a shuriken in his back, by acknowledging him. By looking at him with tears in his eyes and reminding him that yes, he was a person too. And Naruto, the worthless demon boy, now how had worth in the world. Naruto fully admitted that he would have become Gaara had it not been for the people that he had been loved.

Naruto could be the most powerful person in the world, but what use is it to have power and no reason to use it? What’s the difference between being a powerful person, and being an important person?

Naruto is an odd type of shounen hero. At first he’s the typical type, like everybody else, that gives power to people, he changes them in the right way and helps them push forward. But even more important, Naruto is the kind of hero that draws power from other people. For Team 7, he can beyond that miserable little brat, and he can find the strength to save someone.

Sasuke is just overloaded. He’s not emo, he’s not evil, he’s not ego centric, he’s a young little boy who has the weight of the damned on his shoulders. At eight years old, eight- not even a ninja yet, he had his entire clan slaughtered in front of him, and who was standing over the corpses of those had had loved but the person he had admired and trusted. And eight years old, he was mentally tortured, mindraped, by this person who he had admired and trusted. And then this man purposely embedded a seed of hate and desperation. You don’t survive a genocide without it destroying your happiness up. You don’t survive being mindrape by your brother without turning you bitter. And plagued with this mistrust of his last bond alive, post traumatic stress syndrome, and survivor’s guilt, was an emotion shut of eight year old boy who could no longer see a future beyond what was forced on him.

Sasuke came to Team 7 with one purpose in mind. A pure, unyielding ambition that he had worked towards for years. He didn’t mean to drag people into it, he didn’t mean to make alliances, but there was this baggage weighing down his soul and sometimes, it’s just too much.

Sakura is just Sakura. There’s no point in hating a twelve year old for liking twelve year old things, giggling about crushes, thinking of fairy tales, not understanding people. Or liking for that matter. An insecure girl who couldn’t see past her own life. In her life, she just wanted to be happy, beat her rival, fall in love, and who knows, maybe have a white picket fence just like in all the stories. And then she met Team 7.

They all changed each other.

Naruto, through his simpleness and brattiness to the point that it exasperated readers, shone brilliantly. He showed that there was weight to his words, not because he wanted to become stronger but because he was willing to do anything to save his team, his family that had saved him from something that was suffocating him.

Through his fights with Sasuke, he became stronger and more skilled. Through his interactions with Sakura, he had someone to talk to. And with them he went from a jinchuuriki boy… to a hero.

Sasuke who was just living his troubles, he began to find a reason outside of just Itachi. His life no longer revolved around just that one thing Itachi said, but by the words of Naruto and Sakura. He went from a haunted drone… to a human being.

And Sakura, who was weak and afraid. Who was just a simple little girl who had no demons in the past, made no deals with the devil, and had childhood dreams, threw herself away. She broke who she was and built herself up. She went from just being a face in the crowd… to a fighter.

The absolute power they had in each other’s lives is astonishing. The sillyness in their dialogue, waiting by the bridge for Kakashi, walking side by side, it all meant something. Even when there was no deeper purpose, they grew to love each other.

It’s important to remember, that yes, these people are shinobi. They are trained assassins, but even more astonishing and more important…

They are children.

Twelve years old, impressionable young ones, just starting to truly mature and find themselves. The years that they are to play, but also experiment with new things and gain identity.

All three children who should have been given the world for a chance, thrown into events that most adults couldn’t face. Apart they were shallow and searching for self satisfying goals. But they reached a deeper identity within each other. Within each other, they had a reason, they had a place in the world, they had a dream for another day.

Relationships aren’t just about being with somebody when they are happy. It’s not just about laughing when everything’s ok or strolling next to eachother on a warm sunny day. It’s about listening in their struggles, about accepting their faults, it’s about filling in the cracks in others with their own selves.

It’s about smiling at each other when the sun is high, but holding each other’s hand when the rain falls. And then finding the place where you can smile at each other while hold their hands as the rain falls down.

Team 7 were so deeply in each other, not romantically, but as family. They were willing to lay down their lives, physically and emotionally for each other. In an amusing paradox, Team 7 is running in circles trying to save each other to the point that it’s killing them. And the only reason they haven’t been killed is because they are running around, saving each other.

But then demon from the past came heralding and pressuring old wounds. What would come out of the bond of trust, rivalry, and admiration, would be jealousy, desperation, and bitterness. Sasuke plunged himself into darkness, and Naruto refused to let go, dragging himself down with his brother. The initial clash on the rooftops had almost killed Sakura, who saw the people that she loved and so frantic to stop their hate that she flung herself into danger, only to be saved by Kakashi.

And Sasuke, who was on the cusp of living for either waking up to see the faces of those he came to love, or waking up to nothing but the past, broke. He, as a child was being tosses around emotionally by some of the most mentally powerful manipulators. Itachi told him to kill Naruto, Naruto said he was doing things wrong, Orochimaru told him to embrace it, Kakashi told him to give up, Sakura begged him not to leave. And with every sort of influence telling him what was the right thing to do, he finally was forced to choose.

He broke that team 7.

But not without a fight. Sakura asked to come back. She cried for him, for herself, for what he was destroying. She pleaded with him, begged him, exposed her feelings in the truest self. Sasuke acknowleged that bond. And then he broke it.

Naruto came to him and gave everything he was and had to Sasuke. He did not hide in masks, he wept openly, he raged in fury, he smiled in fondness. Sasuke acknowledged this bond. And then he broke it.

The fact that this relationship was incredibly strong and NOT one sided makes it difficult to deal with. It’s not as simple as “God he doesn’t like you, go awai.” It’s not as simple as calling them all selfish for pursuing their dreams. It’s not so simple as saying it’s an unhealthy obsession. Because there was something there, something so solid and deep and wrapped up in their characters that couldn’t simply be discarded.

Nothing was quite as tragic as watching Sakura’s heart break on that quiet night. Then watching Naruto’s heart break when he came to realization, staring at Sasuke’s face. Love is the most beautiful and most terrible force in this entire world.

But Naruto and Sakura refuse to give up on Sasuke. There’s a pure, unconditional grace they give him that only comes from absolute love of for a brother. Grace is not earned, there’s no quota of good things that must be done, otherwise it is not grace. But there also no amount of points you can deduct. For two years, Naruto and Sakura struggled past their weakness and insecurities to get stronger. They had stalled their dream, it had only become secondary to team 7. Sakura’s crush had no longer mattered, Naruto’s dream to be hokage was there but it wasn’t his motivating factory. What pushed them, was each other.

And as time progressed, it wasn’t just about saving Sasuke, but saving Sakura from the elements of evil, and saving Naruto from himself and those after him. Team 7 is broken, in despair, shattered at their feet. But it’s there.

So, I wonder, would it be better to forget? Let the sleeping demons lie and continue on with life. Is it worth it to pursue a onesided bond? How are you suppose to throw your lives away from a man who is willing to kill you a whim, who truly doesn’t care that much about your existence?

Is it shameful to never give up hope for you brother? To wait at the door for the prodigal son?

Well, for one thing, that answer is sure as fuck not going to be given in some sort of deranged rambling of a college student’s blog centered around a cartoon character.

In fact, I don’t it’s anywhere in this world except by the actions by other’s people.

It’s foolish. It’s irrational. It’s unshinobi-ish. Let’s face it, all three of them are irrational, foolish, unshinobi ish, and who knows, maybe selfish. Imperfect beings, but imperfect beings struggling to become greater than who they are for each other.

A man reaching for the skies trying to touch the clouds is a fool, but if he never gives up, who knows how hard he will climb? After all, it’s kind of hard to know how far you will climb when you are staring at your feet. The fools are the ones that are going to change the entire world.

Who knows, maybe this will end up in smiles. Maybe it will end up in tears. But the thing is, why they are doing this, and that’s because of a dream, a bond, and hope that created the core of Naruto.

That is all.

I find beauty in a journey.

splintered_soul @ 2006-10-24T14:30:00

2006-10-24T18:30:27Z

I like how Konoha, village hidden in the leaves that is surrounded by forest, is in the fire country.

In other news, there is no other news

HELLZ YEAH

2.07 :3

Brianna:

My niece is so cute

My life lacks House.

splintered_soul @ 2006-10-10T14:23:00

2006-10-10T19:08:46Z

Encyclopedia Dramatica is my new crack. I enjoy reading their livejournal entries a little too much. .___.

LJ drama for the win.

Finished reading 20th Century Boys, or at least caught up with it. Wow. Just... wow. It has an amazing story. Art is something they could work up on, but I haven't seen anything so well written since Death Note (for completely different reasons though. Death Note was more a mind game, this one is about story)

Which reminds me, I had my doubts about Death Note anime (as the manga art was lovely) but it seems really well done.

Other anime: Ouran Highschool Host Club= win shoujo. It's hard for me to watch shoujo now a days but this one just amused me to no end. If you like Fruit Baskets, give the anime a try. The best part is that it makes fun of fangirls and shoujo. :D

splintered_soul @ 2006-10-05T12:44:00

2006-10-05T16:45:29Z

I suck because I haven't visited this place forever. Suffice to say I'm on one of those interenet downs when everything seems to be vastly uninteresting. Internet drama is for fail and internet politicks are worse.

Rec me Team 7 fics pls. ;____;

EDIT: I also promised to read some fics by me friends but I went through a time in which I actually couldn't read any because of my inablity to concentrate. I should be shot for this but could you give me a link if you did. (That is, dearest Cella and my sister)

splintered_soul @ 2006-09-11T14:08:00

2006-09-11T18:09:54Z

So, someone just IMed me and asked me if I was ugly.

...

How do you even respond to something like that?

*shakes head*

splintered_soul @ 2006-08-29T15:46:00

2006-08-29T22:52:39Z

MANGA PIMPING!

Now these manga are not neccesarily the ones that I like the best, they are just the ones that I have read recently. So as a general warning, some of them you might find suck. I'm only uploading three volumes each so if you want more, or if you are behind on the series, tell me :D

Eyeshield 21
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3

Beck

v. 1
v. 2
v. 3

D.Gray man

v. 1
v. 2
v. 3

Airgear
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3

I'll put sample pages later :(

In general: Eyeshield 21 is my favorite. READ IT. I love Beck too, but it takes awhile to get into. If I were to wager a guess, D.Gray man would probably be the most popular. I despise Airgear but I know a lot of people like it so I uploaded it anyway.

splintered_soul @ 2006-08-22T22:20:00

2006-08-23T02:21:34Z

AHDSFJKDLFJDO:LFJDGIKJFDLKJDKLG

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I'm an aunt now :D

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