[FFML] Re: [Naruto] "Genin"

From: "Zac Wendler" <flashfyre5@msn.com>
Date: 2004/02/29 Sun AM 06:25:40 GMT
To: "FFML" <ffml@anifics.com>
Subject: [FFML] [Naruto] "Genin"


Oh.  Well, it's good to see a Naruto fic on the FFML. ^_^

Okay, to the point:

            "Yep," Naruto declared, spinning his kunai on his index finger, then holstering it.  "I'm not cut out to be a chuunin.  I just decided to come and try to give everybody here a good look at what the Third's grandson could do.  Besides, he's an old friend.  I wouldn't feel right taking away his next round, especially after he fought so hard."

Stooop!

...

Okay, so far the premise is that Naruto enjoys fighting too much, and so would be incapable of leading a team without getting them killed. That's fine. It's wonderful, even! Perfectly believable and in character, although the amount of time this goes on for is stretching it a bit. Still, it's good.

Now, in this scene, Naruto throws away the fight he knows he doesn't need to win in order to advance his friend (teammate) Konohamaru. Again, perfectly fine!

Now...the question is...how does this NOT fit what Naruto was missing in this story before? Naruto goes into the fight with an objective and keeps it in mind even through the heat of battle. He does not seem, at all, as a hothead who can't control himself. I can't read past this point without Naruto getting his Chuunin promotion for what he did. It just doesn't work.

This story would work perfectly as a oneshot, though things would obviously need to be changed to lead up to this revelation--that Naruto has finally learned what is necessary to be Chuunin. As a series, however, that doesn't feel right. If you want to show that Naruto hasn't learned the lesson, he has to fight to win even though he knows it won't do any good--that's the premise, remember? By saying "Oh, Naruto is willing to back out of fights" you are solving the problem that the premise presents, and so the story must end.

Now, there are two ways to fix this; you make the story a oneshot and have him made Chuunin at the end for throwing the fight (since winning isn't the requirement anyway), or you have Naruto join the Jounin exam and continue to win meaningless or hopeless fights until he DOES learn the lesson. Either way, the premise is maintained.

Hm...that's the main problem.

Other than the above...you could probably up Naruto's missions to A, just to be more realistic. Granted, he's doing everything solo, but even by the latest point in the manga he's kicking some major ass. I don't know if the anime is that far yet, but he trashed an enemy at Kakashi's level (it was said a number of times that they are about equal in skill, and the other guy came out on top the one time they clashed) a while ago in the manga. When you consider that Kakashi took on Zabuza and won, and the Wind Country mission was changed to rank A by Kakashi when some ninjas showed up, even before Zabuza (who was leagues ahead of them in skill) was introduced, it's pretty hard to believe that Naruto can't handle those by this time.

For your question about Tsunade...well, your best bet is to download the manga. Yes, it's licensed, but that's no excuse; the anime is just as illegal to download. The manga is currently up to chapter 206, which came out Friday in Japan and was scanned and translated HQ by the time I got around to checking for the file Saturday night.

Anyway...whether you decide to revise this into a oneshot or make it into a series...post! It's good stuff.