I'm a bit torn on the sequel - only in the sense that I feel it had dragged on a bit too long. But I guess it's better to err on the side of too long than too short in exploring that sequence of events.

Still, looks like that's finally taken the first step towards resolution, so I'm happy again.

 

Anyone willing to spoil what happens in the sequal, sounds interesting but the first story didn't manage to interest me.

 

Well,

Spoiler

Vapors ends with Aiko dying to Pein and then being resurrected by him, like he did in canon, except she has complete memory loss. Doesn't know who she is, where she is. Then Obito shows up and kidnaps her out of there (IIRC he thinks she's the reincarnation of Rin or something, fixates on her pretty creepily).

The sequel basically follows that story, Obito training her up (shoring up the weaknesses that 'Bakashi' instilled in her, etc.) and surreptitiously replacing her eyes with Nagato's Rinnegan (he doesn't expect her to notice, but she does). He tells her she was an undercover Akatsuki agent, and basically brings her into the fold. They kill a couple of jinchuuriki but then Aiko becomes uncomfortable with the goals and escapes, destroying the Gedo Mazou.

She then gets rescued by Kakashi's team and comes back to Konoha. The last few chapters have revolved around Tsunade and co trying to get her back to the old Aiko, by exposing her to familiar stimuli - like VanRopen said, that's starting to work out.

 

Seems interesting, thought she got raped or something.

 

Yeah, that's actually a good point. The recent chapters are the ones fresh in my memory, but I do remember that it took a bit too long to get to that point. Still, I like where the fic is at now.

 

I know this question pops up every so often, but is there any Orochimaru/Naruto apprentice story done right? I recently remembered Strength of the Fox, Cunning of the snake , with the premise, that Orochimaru finds a lonely Naruto and trains him. Basically like canon/Kimimaro.

Sadly the story was a quilty pleasure 2008 and age didn't make it any better.

In my opinion the premise has enough basis without having to resort to massive AUs and Orochimaru has a lot of reasons to do it.

- a fuck you to the Third, the Fourth and Jiraiya
- a weapon against Akatsuki
- someone to push Sasuke
- he could sell the idea to Danzo
...

 

I'm interested in the Orochimaru/Naruto idea as well. Unfortunately, there are very few good ones. Most dissolve pretty quickly from what I've seen.

 

Ran across one of the first Naruto fics I ever read. Surprisingly it holds up well. Broad AU Team 7 centric fic . Firmly abandoned though but it's a pretty good time waster.

https://m.fanfiction.net/s/3787948/1/Break-the-World

 

Hey DLP,

Trying to track down a Naruto / ANBU fic.

From memory;

It was first person POV and followed Naruto through ANBU selection and onto him running missions for ROOT.
Naruto had to kill Rock Lee during selection
He ran his ROOT missions with Neji
He ends up taking the DOG ANBU mask
It ended up being a Naruto / Ino pairing.

I know, not many details to go off... it has been a while and I only just remembered reading it. Any help would be great

 

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9030224/1/Throwing-Shadows

here ya go

 

I've still never seen Lee done justice. Mostly he's just portrayed as a muscle head.

I think it would be interesting seeing how Lee actually copes with the Ninja world. In all aspects.

 

There's also the fact that it's impossible for Lee to lose a footrace to other ninjas, even after he's done ten times the number of push-ups they have.

 

Four Teams

It's kinda funny. It's also Naruto/Ino.

 

I feel that Ino is the Naruto equivalent of Daphne Greengrass. Rarely done right.

 

I don't get the Ino love, honestly. She is the Naruto equivalent to the stereotypical hot blonde dumb girl, and even more useless than Sakura.

 

I think Ino love makes about as much sense as any really. Lets face it as far as romance goes Kishi trolled us all. Ino's character resonated with me more than any other female character in the manga other than Sakura (he spoiled that with the ending though). Whether its her willingness to stand up for Sakura when she was in over her head in the forest of death or her desire and drive to get revenge for Asuma's death, she has shown surprising depth despite her rather limited role. So I will have to disagree with your assessment of her.

 

1000th Post yay!

That mission could easily have turned ugly if not for Kakashi and Naruto. I re-watched the episode again and Ino's contribution is very less than what Sakura usually does(Sasori).

Sure Ino is a better developed character than Sakura, but it doesn't change the fact that Ino is one of the most useless characters in the series. All she has is a single jutsu and her choice of clothing is as horrible as Naruto or as someone said, 'Another dumb blonde in the series'.

She goes to hug an Akatsuki! affiliated Sasuke for god's sake.

 

Well, I began to like her after reading Patriot's Dawn.

 

I agree. As far as abilities and her contribution in combat situations go she is completely useless. I am just saying she has more to her character than being a fangirl. I blame Kishimoto for that. He sucks at writing female characters.