The Most Essential Iryō-Ninjutsu – Posted 2019.05.20

The following are the recorded responses of Eyazahrid to the feedback he received on the above listed chapter and the story in general for the week following. This document is to serve as a replacement to the traditional Author’s Note at the beginning and ending of chapters and will be kept separate from both the above listed chapter and any future chapters unless deemed sufficiently important.

Tsume and the Inuzuka

I’ve been hearing a lot that because Mai got with Tsume for a night that she’s been compromised and is now at risk of siding with the Inuzuka rather than the Wolves. What I think many people have forgotten – which is probably because it hasn’t been mentioned since chapter thirty-something – is that the Inuzuka are not just some random group the House of Wolves has allied with.

The Inuzuka are part of the pack.

As far as the Wolves are concerned, at least. Not all Inuzuka may feel the same way, thinking of the House of Wolves as allies or friends, but those like Hana do. She’s the daughter of the head and heiress to the clan and serves as an essential linchpin for the relationship between them.

The Wolves have already wholeheartedly accepted her as one of their own back in Nami no Kuni so as long as she continues to hold the respect of her clan the two groups will not be separating.

Also of note is that Hana doesn’t recognize Tsume as the single alpha of the pack, believing that Tsukiyomi and Tsume both control the combined pack with Mai who has the favor of both.

Really – and I think Hana mentioned this in her thoughts at some point – it’s like Mai being either a mamma’s girl or a daddy’s girl. Regardless of her favorite, she’s their girl.

Perhaps I haven’t shown enough- or any – interactions between other Inuzuka and the Wolves to properly convey this, but the groups will not be separating.

Well, unless inspiration strikes me again. We’ll see.

Lazy Argument

I have been helpfully informed that “”If you don’t like it don’t read” is one of the laziest arguments ever.” in a review tied to chapter 1. While I’m not completely certain why I’m being told this, I’m going to assume it’s in reference to my AN where I say “If you don’t like the story, well, I’m not exactly charging you to read it, am I?”.

I could argue what I believe the differences between these are, waxing on how my reminder that I’m providing free entertainment and that if you don’t care for it after giving it a try you haven’t lost anything is different from telling those who don’t like it to piss off, but instead I’ll take this opportunity to address the “If you don’t like it, don’t read” “argument”.

First, I have no idea how that’s an argument, it seems like sound advice to me. I can’t fathom doing something you don’t like if there’s no benefit for doing it. I work because I need to pay my bills, but otherwise I most certainly would not. I don’t watch movies I don’t want to watch, I don’t listen to music I don’t care for, and I don’t spend time with those I dislike- outside of work, anyway.

Why someone would not just waste their time like that- and gods above I wish I had that kind of time I could just throw away like that – but then complain about it I have no idea. It isn’t uncommon for people to tell me they’ve lost interest in my story, which I completely understand, and most of them are more apologetic about leaving than angry that my writing didn’t fit what they were looking for.

They shouldn’t be, I’ve stopped reading stories that I had really enjoyed at first because they went in directions I didn’t care for after a while.

When people do leave, however, I try to wish them luck in finding something more suited to their tastes. This is easier when they send me a PM about their imminent departure, but I try to respond to reviews saying the same. Not sure how successful I’ve been in that.

That said, threats to leave don’t bother me and I usually won’t respond to them. I have my story and if you don’t like it I guess that’s just one less person I’m entertaining for free.

Huh, putting it like that makes me sound kind of dumb, I should really be charging for this. Damn shame I can’t, would be a way better job than my current one.

The same reviewer also mentioned that the fact that I have chapters done has no bearing on the story itself and it doesn’t matter how long ago I wrote them if they’re bad.

Completely correct, but not at all the point.

The chapters are done, which means if you suggest something it will not be immediately addressed. By some miracle I’ve managed to pull my shit together and stick to a strict(ish) schedule but the absolute earliest you’ll see something you mentioned in your review is in another month when the chapter I wrote right after reading your review is posted.

Saying that I still haven’t changed something over two chapters is pretty useless because if I did make a change – to plot or writing style – it’s still two weeks away. I also do not have the time to go back and rewrite the five reserve chapters I keep ready to go, so you get what’s already been made. If I realize I’ve made a mistake- which I’m sure will be pointed out to me if I don’t – it’s correction is a month away for my readers.

Chances are good I’ve already incorporated the correction into the current chapter I’m working on.

Unless my mistake was not enough action. I’m not an action writer throwing around fights scenes and explosive confrontations as my characters race against the clock.

I like the technicals of world-building and the drama that can be made between characters. More than any of that, I like causing emotional suffering in those characters. Overall, I’d say I’ve done a very good job at reigning it in for this story.

If you’re tired of the world-building I can understand that, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s something that gets focused on because it is one of my favorite aspects of fanfiction.

And plot? Well, that’s something I haven’t had since chapter one. I’m making this up as I go along so I really don’t have anything to keep me from getting distracted. I’ll try to remain more structured in my next story. But, if you remind me, do try to keep in mind that it will be another month before I’ve gotten back to whatever passes for a plot in this thing.

I’ve probably been going on a tangent for three chapters by the time you’ve said anything.

Kind of like all my writing, actually.

We’ll just go ahead and end this here, then, before it happens again.

Minato

Something else that hasn’t been mentioned recently has to do with the father of Naruto and Naruko – Namikaze Minato. It’s true that Kushina never told them any more than that he died on the night of the Kyuubi’s rampage, but the Daimyo of Hi no Kuni informed Naruto back when Nami no Kuni first gained the support of Hi no Kuni.

Naruto knows.

Seeing as there hasn’t been any backlash from him knowing thus far, it’s unlikely to suddenly happen.

Should Naruko be told there may be something, but it’s unlikely.

I just can’t see her blowing up negatively about it. Rather, I can easily picture her bouncing around in excitement at being related to a famous Hokage.

As for Naruko believing Kakashi might be her father no, shes’ not an idiot. A little dense in a cannon-esque way, perhaps, but not an idiot.

She doesn’t know who her father is, doesn’t know how old Kakashi actually is, and not only does her brother act in a very similar manner and seem close to the man but Kakashi himself called Naruto a Hatake.

Now, Kushina did tell her children that their father was dead, but from Naruko’s perspective Kakashi is the kind of person you wouldn’t admit to sleeping with so there’s no way anyone would tell their children that he’s their father.

So, in the end, Naruko dose have reasons to come to that conclusion. Is it anything solid? No, not really. That’s why she asked. She didn’t just immediately assume her far-fetched conclusion was correct, she worried about the possibility for a while and waited for a chance to confirm her suspicion before actually acting on it.

In that sense, she did not remain very true to cannon Naruto, who she more or less replaces in this story.

Still, I did have her panic about it because I found it humorous. Sort of like when I had Anko and the Gals panic about the possibility of Naruto being gay. I thought it was funny so it ended up in the story.

Closing

There weren’t many specifics brought up for me to address this week but if I missed something you said and you’d like to know my thoughts on the matter feel free to send me a PM on Fanfiction.net or reach out to me via Twitter. You can also discuss it with me live during one of my streams, should you be so inclined.

For the most part, the feedback for chapter 81 was positive, focused around the ending. I’m pleased to hear that so many of you enjoyed it and look forward to seeing how the next chapter is received.

Until I next have your attention,

–Eyazahrid