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primnroses · 7 months

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— Explaining Konohagakure’s Barrier Team from Naruto to Boruto:

The information presented in this post has been checked and revised. My aim is not to hate or to discredit any of the characters mentioned. Please read about me for further information.

This post will contain evidence in picture format directly from the manga Naruto (1999 - 2014) created by Masashi Kishimoto and published by Shueisha in 1999. I will also use information from the official databooks.

This informative post will explain the role and utility of the Barrier Team from its debut in Naruto to its role in Boruto. I will use information present in the novels and the Boruto manga because it includes character development within canon compliance.

This meta will be crossposted in AO3.

I give my permission to use or share this thread with informative purposes as long as you credit me.

I do not support the anime or the work of Studio Pierrot in regards to Naruto because I consider it over exaggerated and beyond biased. Furthermore, these fillers include some actions that these characters are unable to do in the canon according to official sources and they also generate unnecessary debate.

This meta does contain anime scenes from Boruto because it is a monthly manga draft that depends heavily on anime for context.

Please, take this into consideration.

This meta will include a small discussion from my own point of view about the Barrier Team and its members. There will be criticism and complaints, comparisons with other characters, previous leaders, etc.

HISTORY

The Barrier Team (結界班, Kekkai-Han) is an organization formed by sensor-type shinobi and regular shinobi in charge of maintaining the Sensing Barrier, a giant sphere surrounding Konohagakure and its outskirts, which detects any foreign chakra that crosses the border of the village. Many years after the Fourth Shinobi World War, it has been mechanized and transformed into an automated sensing system composed of a few sensor-type shinobi and led by members of the Yamanaka clan.

It is unknown for how long this team has existed, but the Barrier Team debuted in chapter 415 of Naruto. Based on its development, Konoha has kept a Konoha-wide exclusive sensing technique through the ages and, among their ranks, they count with sensor-type shinobi like Hyūga clan members.

This team also has their own unique crest in the shape of an inverted triangle with three circles inside, worn by their members in their clothes in armbands or hats.

Sensing Barrier and Sensing Water Sphere according to the fourth databook.

Naruto:

During the era of the Fifth Hokage, the Barrier Team was a rather small team located inside a room (most likely inside the Hokage Residence) where the large Sensing Water Sphere was guarded and monitored by three sensor-type wearing Shinto robes. According to the fourth databook, Kakoi, one of the sensor-type Shinto priests, was the leader at the time of debut.

The Sensing Water Sphere represents the invisible Sensing Barrier around Konoha, and the role of the Shinto priests was to inform of any unfamiliar chakra signature that crossed this barrier. When someone or something charged with chakra bypassed the barrier, the Sensing Water Sphere rippled around the area where the aura had been detected; a team of stationary chūnin were automatically sent to the location of the disturbance to investigate the threat.

Unofficially, the Barrier Team used to be divided in two groups:

The Detection was the division formed by the sensor-type Shinto priests.

The Interception was the division formed by chūnin, with Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane among these shinobi, in charge of investigating the threat and fighting the intruders.

The Barrier Team headquarters and both divisions.

The Sensing Barrier extends from the small portion of forest before the very entrance and walls of the A-Un gate, to the portion of land behind the Hokage Rock, according to the view the manga offers, from the right side. This means that anyone entering the barrier will be detected before they reach the proper gates of Konoha, but not if they halt before the start of the barrier itself. Only Pain could come undetected to the very limit of the barrier due to the visibility his Rinnegan granted him; however, it is to assume the exact spot of the barrier is unknown to non-Konoha shinobi.

According to Pain, it is revealed that the Barrier Team has a special jutsu to get through the barrier without being noticed applicable to ANBU and probably Konoha shinobi, which allowed Kisame Hoshigaki to enter with Itachi Uchiha without alarm.

The view of the full sensing dome from the right angle (Hokage Monument to the right, A-Un Gate to the left).

The Sensing Water Sphere, the Sensing Barrier and the sensor-type Shinto priests, or more specifically Kakoi, and all the staff members in the Detection group in the current era, are symbiotically connected with each other. This means that Kakoi’s sensory range and the rest of the staff, only correspond to the range of the Sensing Barrier and not farther, just confirmed by the presence of Pain and his summons by the limit, undetected. This detail also applies to future leaders who are currently replacing Kakoi.

Kakoi's symbiosis with the Sensing Barrier when he only detects Chikushodo (Animal Path) upon bypassing.

The role of the Barrier Team has remained the same through the eras, meaning that their job is to sense disturbances detected by the Water Sensing Sphere and inform shinobi teams to attack the possible threats. The Sensing Barrier has always remained Konoha–wide too.

Although the Barrier Team does not appear again until the Blank Period and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, we could see a similar version of it during the global conflict but on a greater scale.

Ao, a former ANBU and outstanding sensor-type from Kirigakure, was appointed the captain of the Sensor Division during the conflict. Alone, he could detect the presence of the reincarnated shinobi among the hundreds of White Zetsu clones in every division of the Allied Shinobi Forces through his Sensing Water Sphere, including natural energy which only a few selected sensors can perceive.

Ao maintaining the Sensing Water Sphere and sensing the White Zetsu army.

Blank Period

The next time the Barrier Team appears is in the Sasuke Shinden and Sakura Hiden novels:

According to Sasuke Shinden, after Pain’s attack, Konoha set up a more powerful barrier. However, the exploding humans could bypass the Sensing Sphere because they were Konoha shinobi, and thus, they are not considered intruders. The novel also confirms that the Interception group still exists and they also send messenger shinobi to alert the Hokage.

In Sakura Hiden, we notice a few modernizations. After Sakura Haruno defeated Kido Tsumiki, Kakashi arrived at the scene but was shortly cut by an instant Mind Body Transmission message from the Barrier Team alerting him of ANBU leaving the village.

Sasuke Shinden (above) and Sakura Hiden (below).

This detail is key to the development of the Barrier Team in Boruto, as telepathy via Chakra Transmission Communication Device becomes one of the most used tools by the team.

Boruto

By the era of the Seventh Hokage, the Barrier Team has continued to function the same was as before, with the exception of a few changes:

Although there are not any significant changes in headquarters, the Hokage Residence was reconstructed after Pain's invasion and so was the Barrier Team chamber. The location of the team has been confirmed in the anime inside the Hokage Residence.

The room has decreased in size and the area for the Interception Team has been replaced, in favor of a new Detection Team about the same size as the previous one and with the same amount of people monitoring the Sensing Barrier, although instead of Shinto priests, the staff is composed of regular chūnin.

In the manga, the room only takes a corner of an unknown location in the Hokage Residence. The automated sensing sphere has been replaced by monitors instead.

The Barrier Team headquarters in the anime and the manga.

According to Kashin Koji, Konoha used to have a Sensory Team led by members of the Yamanaka clan. However, this information is false.

Kashin Koji explaining the "role" of the Yamanaka clan.

The Yamanaka clan, or at least the only member of the clan in Konoha (apart from Ino) was Inoichi Yamanaka, who was in charge of the Analysis Team by performing Psycho Mind Transmission on targets that could not be interrogated by Ibiki Morino. There are no Yamanaka clan members aside from those two in Konoha, as Inoichi’s subordinates in the Analysis Team are all shinobi of other origins such as Mawashi Dokuraku, Tonbo Tobitake and Aoba Yamashiro. The latter being the only person other than Inoichi capable of performing Psycho Mind Transmission as seen in chapter 507 and Sasuke Shinden.

(I personally want to remind you that the Yamanaka are not known to be sensors of that calibre. They use Yin Release to control other people or even animals to take advantage of their senses. Masashi Kishimoto described this as a form of sensing in the third databook. By using Mind Body Switch, Ino controlled a bird to find the Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu even though they were nearby, meaning she does not have sensing skills past her surroundings. Mind Body Transmission does not use sensory skills to connect people either as it is a telepathy area like Bluetooth. Telepathy works by sharing their chakra with others as stated by Inoichi.)

Ino's sensing through controlling other species and the Mind Body Transmission range.

Moreover, the people in charge of the Barrier Team were Kakoi and his team of Shinto priests. This information was fixed in the anime, acknowledging the presence of the Shinto priests and Kakoi after Ukyō Kodachi rewrote the history of Konoha.

Kakoi described as a predecessor of the Barrier Team.

Ukyō Kodachi has renamed this team as Sensory Team or Sensory Unit, although it is still called by its original name, Barrier Team, in manga and anime.

To shed more context into the new era, according to Ino Yamanaka, the Barrier Team has been mechanized and modernized to replace sensor-types with an automated sensing. The Sensing Water Sphere has been replaced by a Scientific Ninja Tools sphere that detects intruders automatically and sends an alarm to the headquarters of the team.

In the manga, the Sensing Water Sphere has been replaced by screens and the area only takes about a room corner.

The new automated system also includes a database with the imprint of Konoha shinobi memorized in it, so anyone not registered within the system will be spotted.

Ino Yamanaka explains the new sensing system made by Katasuke Tōnō.

The range of the Sensing Barrier has decreased drastically, to the point of only covering from the gates to the Hokage Monument, instead of adding the portion of forest like previously established.

This is confirmed by Delta and Kashin Koji speaking on a tree branch by the A-Un Gate and passing undetected by anyone, even though they were within the previous range established by Kakoi in the Pain Arc. As soon as Delta crossed the walls, she was detected, but not before.

The new Barrier Team did not think about erasing the chakra signature of the deceased Jiraiya either, therefore, Kashin Koji, a Jiraiya clone, is able to come and go in and out of the village undetected.

Delta and Kashin Koji (to the left) right by Konoha's main gate, A-Un, undetected.

Led by Ino Yamanaka herself, the Barrier Team only counts with the Detection group, formed by three chūnin in charge of sensing, or rather, looking at the screens for any intruder and informing anyone they must. According to Shikadai Nara, the Interception group has been disbanded, now only informing Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha of danger so they can take care of it themselves.

The new Detection group informs via telepathy using the Chakra Communication Device, a tool used by the Allied Shinobi Forces to connect each division scattered across the map with each other. This device can cover greater distances than Inoichi or any Yamanaka, therefore we see him, as well as his assistants from the Intelligence Division and other members of each division, wear it. We also see Ino wear it during The Last: Naruto the Movie to receive messages from other villages, clearly outside her range.

The new Chakra Communication Device from the Barrier Team is a much more modern version of the previous one used by the Alliance. Moreover, all communications performed by the Barrier Team, the content of all mind transmissions, are stored in their own database in order to be analyzed or monitored. The Chakra Communication Device is connected the the rest of the automated sensing system to save all images, chakra prints and telepathy relays.

The telepathy device has a stationary version and two portable versions. Ino using it in the Blank Period and the modern version used by Barrier Team.

As aforementioned, the role of the Barrier Team continues to be that of detecting unfamiliar chakra signatures and informing teams to go and investigate. This time, as soon as someone is detected, Ino contacts headquarters to ask them if the presence is registered by the database, and, if not, she will contact Naruto and Sasuke to investigate.

Moreover, they can only detect things charged up with chakra, but not objects like Delta’s drones or shinobi erasing their chakra. This is pointed out by Kawaki, who can fool the Barrier Team by erasing his chakra signature and complains that they are “incompetent” and “only rely on sensing chakra”. This hinders Konoha's protection.

Delta sneaking a drone in Konoha to search for Kawaki. Kawaki complaining about Konoha's sensing system.

It seems that the new modernized version has not only decreased the sensory range of the Sensing Barrier of Kakoi’s time, but it also appears to be unable to deploy a boosting sensing system. In fact, Boruto was flaring his chakra on purpose while he was still inside the village. However, nobody in the Barrier Team was able to pick this up.

Not only does this inaptitude make it impossible to predict upcoming danger before bypassing the A-Un Gate, but it also makes it an impossible task to follow enemies when they have fled away from the borders.

Ino explains they are unable to trace anything beyond the gates or erased chakra.

For this same reason, Naruto Uzumaki had to step in and track Kawaki and Boruto by himself with Sage Mode.

When Kawaki and Boruto Uzumaki left the village, the Barrier Team could not detect them 40 kilometers outside Konoha because they were too far away from their limits. However, Naruto could finish what Ino or headquarters could not, even despite not having Kurama’s power for the extra boost.

Boruto flares his chakra to no response. Naruto detects Boruto in the battlefield against Code around 40 kilometers away with his sensing skills.

One of the most interesting details about the new Barrier Team is that they are self sufficient and automated because they possess technology to detect chakra imprints without the use of sensor-types, as well as being able to perform telepathy via Mind Body Transmission thanks to their Chakra Transmission Communication Device without the need of any member of the Yamanaka clan.

This clearly makes the role of their leader very questionable.

We have already witnessed the Barrier Team function perfectly without Ino Yamanaka. Not only during Kakoi’s time, whose job and abilities are the same and above the current Barrier Team, but also during this era.

During the cohabitation mission with Team 7 and the cyborgs Eida and Deimon, as well as during Code’s invasion, the automated sensing and the staff detected (or undetected Kawaki) chakra signatures using their alarms and their screens, and also contacted Shikamaru Nara through telepathy using their Chakra Transmission Communication Devices.

As of chapters 77 and 81 of Boruto, Ino Yamanaka is deemed not necessary for the Barrier Team, her role taken over by the staff wearing telepathy devices and monitoring the sensing screens at all times.

One worker of the Barrier Team detecting the Grimes and Boruto and alerting Shikamaru Nara. Other worker also contacts Shikamaru about Kawaki erasing his chakra.

How does the Barrier Team work and what is their role?

Detect chakra signatures that bypass the Sensing Barrier.

Inform the Interception group and send them to investigate. In the new era, inform Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha telepathically.

DISCUSSION

How important is the Barrier Team?

The Barrier Team has experienced a surge of utility in Boruto compared to Naruto. However, being written into the story does not equal being more important.

Originally, they were introduced quite late in the story. Konoha has experienced invasions since Orochimaru infiltrated during the Chūnin Exams disguised as the Kazekage, although their role during Pain’s invasion was decisive to demonstrate that Konoha has countermeasures against enemies looking to enter the village.

Masashi Kishimoto created a group of shinobi exclusively to lead the Barrier Team. This was neglected by Ukyō Kodachi, and he also made it that any sensor-type could replace Kakoi and company.

The equivalent of Konoha's Barrier Team was the Sensor Division. They worked in tandem with Mukta Aburame to discover that the enemy possessed an army of White Zetsu ready, and their captain, Ao, was also responsible of discerning the reincarnated Edo Tensei from the White Zetsu and informing Darui that Ginkaku and Kinkaku were among the ranks.

Ao senses the White Zetsu among the Edo Tensei and the presence of the twins.

So, the Barrier Team is essential to safeguard Konoha from the inside. Detecting anyone on the spot that has entered is one of the first steps to keep its villagers safe.

In Boruto, the Barrier Team suffered a downgrade compared to the previous appearance. Also counting 15 years of technological advancements that could have been implemented within their ranks, but have not happened. Because of Kara’s interests in Kawaki, who is currently protected by Konoha, they must maintain their Sensing Barrier in top condition to detect enemies.

A mistake made by Ukyō Kodachi, who made the Yamanaka clan, or rather, Ino, the leader or responsible of this team, is that he made someone without sensing feats in Naruto, a representative of sensor-types in Boruto. Choosing someone that cannot at least equal, maybe not surpass because it is impossible, Naruto’s sensing techniques granted by Sage Mode even after “nerfing” him, leaves much to be desired about Konoha’s resources and their range of sensor-types.

The failures of the Barrier Team

One of the reasons behind the surge of importance of the Barrier Team is due to Kara’s interests in Kawaki and Code’s desire to destroy Konoha. However, they also shine for their lack of resources and skills; and their lack of applying experience to reforming the new system learning by previous mistakes.

After fighting a large scale global conflict with reincarnated bodies and White Zetsu able to imitate shinobi chakra signatures (i.e White Zetsu impersonating Neji Hyūga to assassinate Sakura Haruno), Konoha’s new automated database and sensing system has not flagged chakra imprints from deceased shinobi like Jiraiya, prompting Kashin Koji to walk into the village as he pleases.

Sakura Haruno discovers White Zetsu's way of copying unique chakra imprints to fool sensor-types.

Moreover, they rely solely on detecting chakra, making shinobi like Kawaki and Boruto, who can erase their chakra flare thanks to their Karma, and Karin, who can erase her chakra at discretion, to be able to enter or escape the village without being detected by the system or lookouts who are extremely apathetic. Not to mention none of the gates have lookouts like the ones in the War or use other sensing methods like Inuzuka clan, Hyūga clan (who used to be members) or Aburame clan alternative sensing skills that do not require sensing chakra.

Hyūga with their eyes, Inuzuka with their noses and Aburame with their beetles being pivotal in tracking and sensing.

The sensors working for the Barrier Team are very limited to sensing only what is inside the Barrier, making their sensory feats only Konoha-wide or Sensing Barrier-wide. This sensing symbiosis with the Sensing Barrier is a problem, which means that sensors' skills scale to a machine rather than having abilities of their own. This problem results in them only sensing people when they have already entered Konoha, but not their approach, thus not preventing anything. If the enemy masks their chakra, these efforts are useless because they will not be detected.

This is more apparent for Ino Yamanaka, who was made into the leader of a sensing team and given prominence as someone that can potentially have above average sensing skills, but has failed to compel.

After having no sensing feats in Naruto, she is given a Konoha-wide sensing range equal to the Sensing Barrier’s Konoha-wide sensory to increase her importance. This way, her sensing power scales to a machine. However, after she debuts being able to sense Delta enter Konoha like a competent Konoha sensor, she gets gradually worse when it is discovered that she could not sense Delta plotting her entrance with Kashin Koji a few meters from the A-Un Gate to trying to sense Kawaki and Boruto knowing she cannot detect anything beyond the gates of Konoha or even being unable to sense Code’s ear on Shikamaru despite being a body part charged with chakra.

The writing made the Yamanaka clan into a sensory clan instead of sticking to their original role (or Inoichi’s role because he was the only member in Konoha like aforementioned) as mind interrogators to gather intel, which was scrapped and the whole family rewritten. This inclusion makes it all the more forced and nonsensical.

Inoichi Yamanaka and the Analysis Team using Psycho Mind Transmission.

Her lack of skills and Naruto’s necessity to use Sage Mode to do the job of the Barrier Team, has led the writers to dispose of Ino and keep writing their failures without her, as she really makes no difference in or out of the team. This means that any sensor, even Moegi Kazamatsuri who according to Ukyō Kodachi in her character trivia, got perfect sensing skills to replace her; just like Kakoi was serving the same purpose and was replaced.

Ino’s skills as a sensor and telepathist are easily replaceable by the Barrier Team’s automated sensing and Chakra Transmission Communication Devices. So her accomplishments could be replaced or she could be removed from the story (like she already has been) because she is fulfilling a role that should not be hers while also failing to do it decently. Connecting Eida, Shikamaru and Amado could be performed by headquarters with their telepathy devices and sensing is performed by a machine.

Could they be redeemed?

The greatest disadvantage of the Barrier Team is their small sensing range and their inability to rely on other sensing methods than chakra perception.

After exposing the main problems related to not erasing deceased people’s chakra imprints from their database and failing to boost their system in case of emergency, there are a few points to make in order to make the Barrier Team a competent and compelled facility:

Keep Ino away from their ranks as she makes no difference, while maintaining the automated system which includes alarms, visual screens and instant telepathy.

Reuse Kakoi’s greater Sensing Barrier to track Konoha’s forest area before the A-Un Gate.

Use other sensory and perception techniques from other clans like Aburame’s beetles, Hyūga’s Byakugan and Inuzuka’s ninken/sense of smell to counter shinobi’s ability to erase their chakra signature.

Put the Akimichi clan in the lookout by every gate like they used to guard the Logistical Support & Medical Division during the Fourth Shinobi World War, this way being able to see approaching danger and fighting them before their entrance to give Konoha time to elaborate a plan.

Considered the most powerful shinobi village, using past experiences and the full power of Konoha's shinobi forces, their clans and their technology, could prevent infiltrations; as well as giving each member of a clan their deserved time to show their abilities.

Note: The Fourth Shinobi World W4r has been replaced by global conflict to avoid mature content flags.

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eohachu · 7 months

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no but their bickering outside the general's tent is eating me up inside bc it very much shows just how different their backgrounds are, and how differently they view the world AND YET both of them must have understood at some point - sung-rok definitely in that burning house - how much they needed each other to survive

and it was never easy - we often hear sung-rok disagreeing with seon-ho's methods and approaches and vice versa, and yet, AND YET they cling to each other because their life depends on it - and then the necessity becomes some kind of comfort (i know I've said this before 😭) and comfort becomes "stfu I will never leave you behind" and in the end -

or is it? does sung-rok know that it is? - it's "not so bad being at your side (this is the closest to 'i love you' you'll ever fucking get me to say)" and then the confession is written in blood on bang-won's floor and oh. I'm feeling dizzy. it's a hand brushing over the fur of sung-rok's coat, confused tears and a stone grave, a sword - oh god, how the fuck did we end up here

we were just bickering outside the general's tent.

#my country: the new age #. somebody stop me #seonrok #naui nara 2019 #nn meta #r.txt

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felsenbluete · 1 year

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Fixing the Chunin exams arc

While I do think that the first two rounds of the exams are nearly perfect in narrative execution (except that Anko afterwards ceases to be relevant even though her backstory is so intriguing and could mirror Sasuke in so many ways, but I’m getting already off track here...) - I have some gripes with regards to the duels, especially Naruto’s, which is a fucking pity, given that he is the main character.

So this is my attempt to fix the mess that Kishimoto made of the last two rounds (concerning Naruto’s duels and the narrative around them, we don’t have the time for Kishi’s misogyny and whatever Sakura/Ino is):

1) Naruto vs. Kiba: In @margalotta‘s wise words:

Imo, it doesn’t benefit Naruto at this point in his story to win out of dumb luck. He is teamed up with Kiba, who pretty much suffers the same weaknesses as Naruto, mostly bad rage control. So seeing Naruto actually staying in control and outsmarting Kiba would have been such a great character moment for him! Especially given that his lack of any strategy already gave him a pretty humbling defeat from Lee in the very beginning.

> Fix #1: Let Naruto outsmart Kiba, keep the fart joke for a filler.

2) Chouji vs. Dosu: While disliking the outcome of the Naruto-Kiba duel, I do think that the point of “one can win with nothing but luck” is one worth making. So looking at the other duels of the preliminaries, I find Chouji vs. Dosu most fitting. We have already seen Dosu being completely brutal in the Forest and him losing would give him an extra reason to challenge Gaara before round 3 - him thinking he got cheated out of this encounter.

> Fix #2: Let Chouji win against Dosu through luck, let Dosu be bitter about it.

3) Naruto vs. Neji:

This actually get my blood boiling, because - as many have pointed out over the years - Naruto winning only because of the Kyuubi just proved Neji’s god damn point about predetermination. But (even though I like seeing Naruto lose) I don’t think Neji should win either. My solution is to scrap that entire duel.

> Fix #4: Let Neji fight against Shikamaru, let him lose

I am dead serious. While I like the ShikaTema interactions as much as anyone else, I think Shikamaru could have pulled his stunt with basically everyone else. The only difference is, that with Neji, it would have an impact. Because Neji technically losing only for Shikamaru to throw the whole thing out would have impacted Neji’s world view much more than losing against a jinchuuriki. In my very humble opinion.

> Fix #5: Neji vs. Naruto - talk-no-jutsu, the Hinata brawl

Between the preliminaries and round 3, a whole month passes. And I am aware that Naruto as a shounen protagonist has to change everyone’s path personally. So why not between the rounds? Let him be enraged about what Neji did to Hinata, so fucking livid that he doesn’t wait patiently for a month, but corners Neji the minute they are out of the arena and Hayate isn’t looking.

I have no idea, when Kishimoto decided on NaruHina as endgoal, but that would have set up that whole thing as well! Just a thought!! And you can have the Talk and maybe even Naruto actually catching Neji off-guard, if you want to. Idk, Masashi, you’re the Big Mangaka, you figure that out.

BONUS > Fix #6: Let Naruto fight against Temari, let him have a realistic chance, let him lose (?)

Surprisingly, I don’t have a strong opinion how this match should go. I think there is something for the idea of Naruto encountering someone with years worth of experience and losing and realising that even though he has grown a lot, he still has so much more to learn, which fuels his training under Jiraiya. But as a Proper Shounen Protagonist, I also have no issue if he has to win this fight. Maybe, to make it more spicy, have the Kyuubi come out and actually wreck Temari. Like, obliterate her to such a degree, that he is horrified. Show him and the audience in the arena why the village hates the jinchuurikis. I actually quite like this turn, because it mirrors the brutality Temari employs to win against Tenten.

BONUS BONUS: Actually I do have time to fix Ino vs. Sakura

> Fix #7: Keep the fight, throw out Sasuke and make Ino status-obsessed

Popularity aside, the main difference between Sakura and Ino during their academy years is that Ino has an inkling of her abilities, while Sakura is only aware that she can control chakra in the vaguest of ways. Ino is born into a clan, Sakura’s family isn’t mentioned in the canon. So why not make Ino think that she will get the best team (................... *sigh* and best team mates aka The Uchiha), while treating Sakura as an amusing puppy, but not really competition. If I remember correctly, Sakura has the best academy exam scores after Sasuke, so why not let her evolve into a real threat for Ino, maybe having their falling out be an actual duel on the training field that mirrors the duel during the chunin exams.

I think I am done now.

#Ola #excuse my Naruto blogging in 2022 - do you still think I'm hot?#my English is HORRENDOUS #Uzumaki Naruto #Hyuga Neji #Haruno Sakura #Nara Shikamaru #Inuzuka Kiba #Yamanaka Ino #not tagging the others let me be #someone pay me to rewrite Naruto plssss #Naruto meta

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huskymaine · 2 years

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Spoils of War (Naruto Fluff Fic)

Little fic that I had in mind after seeing this scene.

I was like, wondering if Kakashi truly will bring the kids to Ichiraku shop when Teuchi knows his face? The answer is yes, because Sukea is our beloved troll Kakashi-sensei who loves the kids so much.

Categories : Gen, little pairing hints if you squints, overused of words with -ly

Word count : 1,211

Ao3 link

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“Aaahh damnit we failed!”

After the full 5 minutes of Naruto and his classmates staring at the place where Kakashi’s clone dispersed, their heads drop heavily. Those kids’ collective crestfallen faces look so pitiful that even the most cold-blooded person will feel pity for them.

Well, Sukea is certainly not cold-blooded.

“Haah, that was very unfortunate indeed, so how about we lift our spirits in Ichiraku right now?”

Sakura lifts her downcast head, “Eh, do you still wanna treat us? Even though you didn’t get your scoop?”

“He better will still treat us, chasing Kakashi-sensei around makes me so hungry, shannaro!” Inner Sakura secretly hollers.

“Maa, that’s fine. Besides I promise to treat you guys if you help me, don’t I? Failing aside, all of your efforts are very useful for my data gathering.” says the journalist while he tucks his camera back in his bag.

Hearing Sukea’s words, any trance of disappointment vanishes from their faces, and the kids brightly grin at each other. Even Shikamaru and Sasuke let out pleased smiles.

“Yatta!!!”

----

“Teuchi-occan! We came!”

Teuchi turns away toward the familiar cheerful voice. Naruto is a (secretly his favorite) regular customer of his shop, and the boy’s happy face while he devours his ramen is his daily prize as ramen chef. Today, unusually he comes with many kids his age and a quite handsome man.

“Welcome! Ooh you bring many friends now, Naruto!”

Naruto slams the table hard.

“Occan, bring me my usual Tonkotsu Ramen extra pork!”

“Me too, but with beef!”, the boy with Inuzuka crest on his still plump cheeks butts in.

“Woof!”

“I-I’d like the same ramen as Naruto-kun..” a small girl, possibly from Hyuuga clan, appears behind the Inuzuka boy and shyly seats next to Naruto. Seeing the petite girl, Teuchi worries that she can’t finish her food, because Naruto’s ramen portion is quite big and heavy.

(Later, he finds out that his concern is futile).

“I order vegetable ramen with melon as dessert. Because, those are healthy meals, thus also my favorite.” Is that glasses boy from Aburame clan? That’s a surprise, because to Teuchi’s knowledge Aburame people prefer to eat alone.

A laid-back boy that looks like from Nara clan slouches on his seat “Guess I’ll have Shoyu Ramen with extra nori.”

Sasuke, Naruto’s Uchiha teammate takes a seat next to Naruto’s other side and hums, “Tomato Ramen.”

“I also want Tomato Ramen!” the blonde girl says bubbly while she moves to the seat next to Sasuke.

Sakura, Naruto’s other teammate, pushes the girl away, “Don’t copy Sasuke-kun’s order Ino-pig!”

“Tomato Ramen is my favorite too, Forehead!”

“I want 20 portions of gyoza!! Sukea-san will pay for it!” A boy that is clearly from Akimichi clan yells eagerly. Ah, then the blond girl is from Yamanaka. She indeed quite resembles Inoichi-san.

“Ahahaha, goodbye my savings..” The only adult that came with the kids rubs his back dejectedly. Knowing how massive Naruto and his friends’ usual appetite, Teuchi almost feels sorry for the man.

Wait, his face seems familiar...

"Eh, you are...”

The man waves his hand, “Hello! Please to meet you. I am Sukea, a traveling journalist.”

“He wants to write a scoop about Kakashi-sensei’s face, so we help him to unmask Kakashi-sensei in exchange for food.” the pink-haired girl explains.

Oh, so they still try to see Kakashi-san’s constantly masked face. As someone who serves ramen to the Jounin ever since the boy and his former team got dragged to his shop by a jolly red-headed kunoichi, Teuchi can’t relate to their frustration at all.

But-

“But we failed though.” Sasuke grunts. The boy feigns nonchalance, but the old ramen chef can see his frustrated pout.

“Uhh it was so close, so frustrating!” wails the Yamanaka girl.

Even the Akimichi boy who is usually always happy inside any place to eat laments sadly, “Even with Shikamaru’s strategy...”

The Shikamaru boy in question argues “Ugh, can’t help it, our opponent is Konoha’s top jonin. At least my strategy is better than Naruto’s.”

Hearing his peer’s accusation, Naruto fiercely retorts, “Hey, what’s wrong with my ‘Peek on Kakashi-sensei’s face while he kisses me’ plan?!!”

“N-naruto-kun, that’s...” stutters the Hyuuga girl, who blushes harder than usual. Seeing her embarrassed face, Naruto apparently realizes what he just said, and panics.

“Waah Hinata, I-I don’t mean it like that! It’s not like I wanna kiss a man, a boy, a male, tha- that’s just a strategy in a pinch... Teme Sasuke, what’s with that side eyes, If you want to say something, say it clearly!!”

“Hmph.” the Uchiha boy turned his face away from his loud teammate.

“It’s obvious that plan will not work. Because, Kakashi-sensei is not a sexual harasser.” The Aburame boy interjects calmly. The said Jounin’s kunoichi student grumbles flippantly.

“Says about a man who read adult books in public. But I am confident that my medical manipulation can fool him, though...”

Depressed aura suddenly envelops the kids. Well, luckily they are in the great Ichiraku shop, his delicious ramens will surely fix their moods.

“But with our combined forces, we are so close to dismantling him, so we are quite amazing, don’t you think?!” the boy from Inuzuka interjects excitedly, effectively pulling his friends out of their distressed state.

“Woof!”

Hearing his friend’s confident declaration, Naruto beams.

“Yosha, one day we will surely rip off Kakashi-sensei’s mask and see his baffled face!”

Sukea, who is content to see the kids’ banter ever since they entered his shop, chuckles affectionately, pulls his camera out of his bag.

“That’s the spirit! Someday, I am sure that you guys will become stronger in the future and even surpass that Hatake Kakashi! When that time comes, I’ll happily make praising articles for all of you.”

Thanks to those words, delighted sparks come back in the kids’ eyes.

“Ooohh!”

“My article will be the longest!”

“No, mine is!”

“Then I must diet for my article photo!”

“No amount of diet can magically make you pretty, Forehead.”

“Same as you Ino-pig!!”

“Praising articles exclusive for me! Haha that’s not bad!”

“Article will be nice. Because, it will uplift our clan’s reputation.”

“Clan’s reputation..”

Leaving the kids to bicker with themselves, Sukea takes a few more pictures, then averts his fond eyes to the ramen counter.

“Then I’ll have Miso Ramen please.”

Suddenly, Teuchi knows why the man’s face is familiar to him. Pictures of an arrogant boy flash in his mind, then turns into a gloomy teenager, then again drastically turns into an easygoing young man. People that accompany him to the ramen shop change over time, some disappear for various reasons and others appear for various reasons, but his order is always the same. No matter how he grows up, the silver-haired boy in his memory will always enjoy the taste of Ichiraku original miso diluted in hot soup, with his always hidden little mole bobbing happily.

“He’s...Kakashi-”

As if he hears Teuchi’s inner mind, Sukea stares straight into his eyes, forcefully stopping the ramen chef’s thought process. Away from the kids’ sight, the mysterious journalist brings his finger in front of his mouth, although the said gesture does nothing to cover the beauty mark on the side of his lips.

The mysterious journalist winks mischievously.

“Sshhh..”

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11quillen11 · 11 months

Text

About Family: The Unbreakable Bond

Okay so Family: The Unbreakable Bond is apparently getting a season 2. This does not make me super happy because I can’t help but feel like the fact that a second season was already planned is what fucked the first season up.

From episodes 5 to 11, the first season is really good. Sadly, that is only six episodes. The first four episodes are filled with irrelevant plotlines unrelated to the main conflict, and the last episode is disappointing because it does not tie up any loose end, delivers no emotional pay-off, and kills off a beloved character for no reason. Even if season 2 turns out great, the issue is that season 1 does not feel like a complete season of television.

If the introduction was only two episodes long, with the reveal of Yura’s identity happening at the end of episode 2, then surely, in the span of a standard 16 episodes, the season would have had time to conclude its most important storylines: (1) Cheon Ryun and Do Hoon taking down what is left of the Union and reforming the NIS, (2) Yu Ra and Do Hoon having an actual conversation about their pasts and the fact that they have been lying to each from the moment they met, (3) Tae Gu clearly telling Yu Ra that he did not kill her parents and helping her get her revenge so they can reconcile along the way.

What I think should have been cut to accommodate this: (1) the kids’ love story, (2) the grandpa’s love stories and the hints that he has super powers or whatever that was, (3) a lot of the scenes with the little brother and his pregnant wife. They should then be replaced by storylines that are tied to the main plot. Like, maybe the grandpa is an army veteran who was friends with one of the antagonists, maybe the brother getting involved with loan sharks ends up placing him in a dangerous position where his life is at risk and he is himself turning into a criminal, and Do Hoon and/or Yu Ra learn and don’t know how to best help him without putting him and themselves in danger, or maybe his storyline places him in a certain position vis-à-vis them that forces them to choose whether to cut him off to protect themselves and Minseo, or risk all of their lives for him. Minseo already has the whole plot with the uncle, who cares about her romance? Additionally, I think it would have been interesting if the family members learned the truth about Do Hoon and Yu Ra, so that they too can become a vessel to explore the theme: would they cut off Do Hoon and Yu Ra to protect themselves and their family?

The theme of the drama is very clear (they spell it out more than once): family matters more than anything. Despite this, there are too few instances where our protagonists, Do Hoon and Yu Ra are tested to prove that they indeed place family above all else. To fully explore the theme, it would have been interesting to see the characters be forced to define who they consider family, if all family is equal to them, and how far they are willing to go to protect their family. Would Yu Ra and Do Hoon sacrifice innocents for their family? Would they sacrifice one family member for another? Would they leave their family behind if they thought it was the only way to ensure their safety? The only time their belief is truly challenged is after they learn the truth about each other, but they both seem to make up their mind very quickly that they will choose to trust each other and remain together despite everything. Otherwise, the show only has them going around trying to protect their family from outside forces, something which should have been the focus of the last, say, four episodes of a 16 episodes season, after they’ve spent ten episodes of proper character exploration.

But hey, that’s just my opinion. Overall, I still enjoyed season 1, but it was definitely disappointing. Still, I have good hope that season 2 (if indeed there is a season 2) is going to be so good it will make up for the flaws of season 1.

#family the unbreakable bond #kdrama #my meta #jang nara #jang hyuk #it must be said that jang nara simply never disappoints #i love her so much

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todaysdocument · 8 months

Photo

Dr. James B. Rhoads, Archivist of the United States, with Horace M. Peterson III (at right), founder of the Black Archives of Mid-America, and the President of the Black Archives’ Board of Directors (left), on September 6, 1978.

Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration

Series: Photographs Documenting National Archives Program Activities, Ceremonies, and Observances

Image description: Dr. Rhoads, Horace M. Peterson III, and an unidentified man stand in front of bookshelves, posing for a photo. Dr. Rhoads is wearing a light-colored plaid suit with a striped necktie; Mr. Peterson is wearing a medium-toned suit with a light necktie; and the third man is wearing a dark suit with a dotted necktie and matching pocket square.

#archivesgov #September 6 #1978 #1970s #NARA meta #Black Archives of Mid-America

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skykashi · 2 years

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Sorry to butt in @primnroses but I 'm going to answer the ask you got from @erenandbaamfan too as a Kakashi stan I couldn't stop myself, I hope you don't mind 😅

Kakashi was stated in the manga several times to be a genius... Top of his class, youngest Gennin, Chunin and Jounin ever and one of the youngest and few ppl to create his own A-ranked Jutsu also, according to this Manga panel Naruto states that Kakashi is smarter than Shikamaru in early Shippuden and Sakura didn't deny or try to correct him so since Shikamaru's IQ was stated to be 200 in og Naruto so Kakashi is definitely not below 200

We also see Kakashi himself here stating that he has The superior intellect of Shikamaru.

So yeah, Kakashi's IQ is definitely above 200.

#naruto #kakashi #kakashi hatake #hatake kakashi #naruto uzumaki #uzumaki naruto #sakura haruno #haruno sakura #shikamaru nara #nara shikamaru #kakashi sensei #naruto shippuden #team 7 naruto #naruto team 7 #naruto meta #meta: naruto #naruto analysis

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twig-tea · 4 months

Note

5 BL characters in 2023 who you would help hide a body

*cracks knuckles* @wen-kexing-apologist I had things to do today! Let's not lie I was already not doing them so let's go.

I am notoriously bad at keeping my lists down to any reasonable number so I'm going to give myself very specific parameters: This is a character who (a) I love so deeply I would do anything for them, (b) they would murder someone, and (c) there is someone in their show who, if they murdered, I would support their gay crime. Ok with those caveats let's see how I do [spoiler alert: I failed pretty badly].

Ji Hyun, The Eighth Sense

Ji Hyun came from the country to the big city, saw a hot guy on a poster and decided "yep I'm going to learn to surf even though I can't actually swim". He almost died and decided to lean into his convictions even MORE. He sasses out his senior and isn't put off by his lover ghosting him. Luckily for them the people in Jae Won's life figured themselves out and apologized, because Ji Hyun was not going to put up with more of their bullshit. I would do anything for this man and I fully believe if pushed he would do anything for his.

Noey Watplu, I Will Knock You

Noey is a kid who ended up running a gang mostly out of care for his community. He thinks he's so much tougher than he is, but his bravado and endless self-confidence get him through so much. Still, if he hadn't turned away from that gangster lifestyle, he definitely would have gotten in trouble at some point and I would have been with the other aunties at the food stalls helping deal with the mess.

Dung from Mr Cinderella S2

He has had a rough life, but is extremely kind, and I always stan a man who stays beside his in the face of external threats, but who also has healthy boundaries about how he's treated. The people in Khoa's life who keep messing with their relationship in both seasons....I'm not advocating murder, but if they happened to die, I would be there helping make sure they didn't mess with them anymore.

Ueangphueng and Fongkaew, I Feel You Linger in the Air

I just want these women to be happy and safe (with Mai). And if there's anyone on this list who deserved to murder someone as a treat, it's them. I love so much that they teamed up to take down their husband. I love so much that they found strength in one another. I would absolutely help them bury whoever they needed me to. And in a time when justice would not have been served for what they actually experienced, do I think they could have gone there if they hadn't found the other evidence to take him down? Absolutely, and I respect them for it.

Namnuea, Wedding Plan

This is cheating against my own rules because I don't think he would actually kill anyone but I'd do it for him and I know he'd help me hide the body so I'm counting it. I love this man. He also could technically fit into the ending category because he is (rightfully) surrounded by people who love and protect him, but count me in.

Amane, If It's With You

This is now just a favourites list but listen. I was ready to throw down for him immediately re: that high school crush, and as we got more of him and saw how brave he was through this series my love grew exponentially. He is mine and I would protect him in any way necessary, including helping him bury a very unlikely body.

Hira, My Beautiful Man

I love Kiyoi as a character so much and want desperately to protect him, but I don't need to we have Hira for that. Hira, on the other hand, canonically fantasizes about murdering his classmates because they're a little mean to Kiyoi, he's way more likely to need my help. And I love his complete disaster self so much. His arc is so slow across the seasons/movie and I know some folks got frustrated with him but he's starting from such an incredibly messed up place that the way his growth spirals makes perfect sense and is very relatable.

Koki, One Room Angel

This guy keeps getting into gang fights even though he's not in a gang, he's very likely to need me. And as a stoic, sad, quietly kind and perpetually misunderstood gay man, he immediately fell into my Love Forever and Protect With All of my Might bucket.

Kat, the Warp Effect

Listen, Kat could and would (and yes I chose this gif intentionally to invoke Wild Things). She doesn't need to because she has a wonderful group of friends who rally around her, but if anything else went down in her life and she had to choose violence, I'd be there with a shovel.

Ryunosuke, Tokyo in April Is...

I don't mean to imply that we want to murder our protagonists lol All three of the men in this show could ask me to bury a body and I'd say yes, but Ryunosuke is the one who might actually take advantage. Ryunosuke was fully evaluating Kazuma in this scene and he had good reason to. I fully believe if he found Kazuma wanting he'd find a way to make him disappear if he had to. In any case, Ryunosuke is in my bucket of favourite characters from this year and I would do anything for him.

Uea, Middleman's Love

It's cheating that he's here because really the people I'd love to help him bury were all in Bed Friend but in my defense I'll say that his energy in this show was 100% "if you hurt Jade who is too precious to exist I will end you", and I support him on this.

Misaki, Me, My Husband, and my Husband's Boyfriend

This woman went through so much self-reflection and growth. At the start of the show she couldn't hurt anyone but herself, but by the end? She was ready to hold boundaries and fight for her own happiness even if she doesn't yet know what that is and I am here to support that even if it turns out to be violence. I can't find any gifs of her in her happiness and I'm very sad about it

Nai, Shadow the Series

Dan is a monsterfucker and so he has my whole heart, but Nai is the one most likely to need my services. While Dan is in his feelings and obsessed with the supernatural mystery in the show, Nai is in the real world gathering information, setting up their bully as a fall guy, and generally being brilliant. Here for him and all his gay wrongs.

Bonus

Folks I don't need to help bury a body because they already have people for that, but who I absolutely could not keep off this list!

Maya, Rose, and Charn, Laws of Attraction and Ai Di, Kiseki: Dear to Me

I don't think they need any further commentary.

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