Itachi = ANBU at nine -_- and he was chuunin like a year after he graduated so six or seven. But then again these both happened during a war, and ones that had heavy casualties on both side iIrc. So all able bodied soldiers fought.

 

Itachi becoming ANBU squad leader at 13 wasn't during a war. As I recall, that was perhaps a few months before the Uchiha massacre - which was about 7 yrs after the Kuubi attack. So during the Rock-Leaf war, Itachi was likely only a toddler.
But Kakashi was promoted during the war without doubt. He was actually Jonin by canon at 13 (which by all accounts is higher than ANBU). So yeah, agree with Syao. Canon ages are whack.

 

Kakashi makes chunin at 6. Itachi makes ANBU at 13. Zabuza goes Battle Royale on like, 100 kids when he is just a tyke. Nagato owns chunins at 10 with no training whatsoever...

Agreed -_-

EDIT: Beat me to it Vylos -_-

 

Vylos: The cloud/leaf war. -_-

 

I think Kishimoto has continuity problems period. If you read through the first few chapters again you'll notice a lot of his backround is contrary to what he later establishes as story-canon. I think there's even a rifle in one of the wave panels.

Not to mention the one big issue that has always bugged me. How did Naruto fail the genin exam twice and still graduate at the same time as Sakura and Sasuke, who are the same age as him? Did he enter early? If so, why did Team Gai not recognize him at first?

The whole Naruto timeline just bugs the fuck out of me. Apparently Konoha was founded 60 years ago, Madara would have summoned Kyuubi to attack well within some of the oldest memories of the council, yet no one seems to remember the little fact that the Uchiha could sick the damn thing on them when it attacks again (which would have been 50 years later)?

((The HP timeline bugs me too, but that's besides the point. I think I have a fanfic bookmarked with a good argument on that somewhere...))

 

Well, perhaps Naruto took the exam early? E.g. He was in the same classes as the others and yet made such a big stink with Iruka that the chuunin actually allowed Naruto to take it, knowing that the boy'd fail. Twice.

That's what I always believed. Perhaps it wasn't even by the book. After all, does anyone apart from Iruka or Naruto comment on his failure? (Maybe, I never actually read the beginning. Lol.) Because if no one else did, maybe it was just Iruka trying to make Naruto shape up. Maybe.

But it would be logical, and it would fit.

 

Was there an actual war though? I thought it was just Cloud trying to steal the Byakugan through kidnapping Hinata.

This bugged the hell out of me. So I managed to convince myself that the 3 failures before the canon time line were year-end evaluations...just to see where the students rank compared to their peers. After all this Rookie of the year and student rank business was taken seriously.

And as far as team Gai goes, I find it strange that Naruto had not even heard of them before the Chunin Exams. I mean, are year classes really so isolated, that they don't even know their immediate seniors? Especially, when Neji was without doubt Rookie of the year and Lee was a ninja aspirant who couldn't use chakra. I mean these things are hard to hide.

 

What Jon said.


Edit: Yes it was a war. Kumo was there to sign a peace treaty. And the others knew who team Gai was. Remember Ino in the Forest of death commented on Neji being the Rookie of the year from the previous year.

 

Ah, I suppose that explains it.

 

I don't think there actually was a full-blown war. Rather, several skirmishes that raised the tension to unacceptable levels -- and both the Hokage and Raikage wished not to get into a tussle.

Otherwise, I don't think the village would take to the attempted kidnapping lying down like they had if they were already in the midst of the war. After all, it's one thing to sacrifice one ninja to avoid starting a war -- it's quite another to continue a war that's already started long ago.

Thus, a peace treaty. And even with the attempt -- neither Kages were willing to risk war. Thus, in exchange for one Konoha shinobi, for the brother of the Raikage, war was averted.

 

To sacrifice one single life to save thousands of lives from more war and destruction, when they where so close to peace. That I could see happening.

 

Aha!

Middle panel, below the register.

http://www.onemanga.com/Naruto/19/Naruto19-07/

 

Ehhh, The quality, distance as well as the poor angle make it hard to tell if it is a gun or a crossbow. I DENY GUNS IN MAH NARUTO! >_>

 

lol, the vanishing trick: WHERE MAH GUN AT?

 

Title: Regarding Ninja
Author: Lin7 M12i
Rating: T
Pairing: None / Naru/Hina Friendship
Category: One Shot / General
Summary: The world confuses you sometimes. It's not like any of the others were that much better prepared. Either way, you're stuck here and there's no turning back. It's time to try your best, and then maybe you can believe it too. Naruto's Point of View.
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4598427/1/Regarding_Ninja

Not the most clear summary out there, but it is a nice little one-shot set after Naruto fails the Genin exam at the start of the manga. Looks like it will evolve into a multi-chapter story eventually. The dialogue is nice and the author's writing style has a good flow to it. Not the greatest thing out there, but as there seems to be a lack of good updates or new stories right now it fills the gap.

 

Well, the new chapter of People Lie may have just given us the best Naruto quote ever. (Actually having just remembered parts of Daneel's story with the far too difficult name, this may be incorrect.) Rapidly followed by a Sasuke quote that is at least top ten.

Spoiler

Naruto shrugged helplessly, aware of that aspect of his personality. “You know that place they talk about when they say, ‘Yeah, I went there?’ That’s where I live.”


Sasuke glanced at him, frowning. “You know that place that the ANBU guy kicked me three times? That’s where my balls were. So shut up.”

Annnnnd shortly followed by a top three Hinata, maybe number 1. Maybe.

Spoiler

“Genius, huh?” Sasuke added with a smirk, once they were out of hearing range.
“I knew there was a reason we oppress the branch house,” she muttered.

Wow, this one's just full of gold.

Spoiler

Ugh, there was some god-awful giggling.
And…
…was that a shriek of girlish delight?
Sasuke frowned and twitched. There were happy people in his home. Reflexively, he reached for a kunai.

And the ending, is just about the best damn moment in the fic.