I'm at chapter 30 now, and I'm hoping as I continue that you've stopped with the surname usage. That I have to say is so very irritating. Holy cow. If you haven't yet, please stop it. It's an amazing story so far, but that one little thing ruined it somewhat. We know who they are, no need to keep on using their surnames. Other than that, loving it so far. Don't know if by chapter 44 there are any lemons or limes, but I can hope can't I xD

Good chapter !

If it were me in their place, with the attitudes and emotions you have shown them to have, Sasuke would be beheaded, body burnt, and head sealed as soon as he was fully trapped.

I went back and re-read chapter 40 and I still don't see why or how Naruto is so hurt. Nothing in his fight led me to believe he was hurt even half that bad. Chakra exhaustion at most from running the whole way back after the fight. You did so good last chapter with the Jirya fight and now hurt Naruto for no reason.

And if the sword seals everything how did they recover a body. And if it doesn't then they would have taken the body. So they still couldn't recover it.

I am really enjoying your fic but this chapter was just headache inducing.

I'm really really scared that Sasuke will be the temp teammate.

I am not sure what to put here it was very short and it feels like it doesn't actually belong here though to know that for sure I am going to have to re-read everything all over again due to the long wait for this update. I understand why it was so long but because of it I can't say if this was a good thing or a bad thing. I will say thank you for the update none the less I just hope that it actually belongs with the story.

As always smart shrewd moves by Shika. Love it! :)

Whats with Naruto losing his cool like that, You have been building him up like a bad ass which i like and then have him lose his head and the kyuubi supressed in seconds when he knows well not to look the Uchiha in the eyes. It was not believable and totally not with your naruto's fighting style.

Don't apologize about the length of the fights you write, a Nara would no doubt live by the words 'fight smarter not harder'. I think this is one of the best fight scenes I've read, no spamming of clones (which is cool), no throwing out flashy jutsus and no yelling of techniques. Just get in kill and get out, very well done. I loved the last thoughts of Deidara had as Ino took over his mind. Also loved the childlike curiosity of hers as she learned how the man made and used his explosives.

Anyway, it's about time for the rest of the R9 to shine and come to the aid of their Suna friends and allies. Look forward to the next chapter, you're not the only one with writer's block so you have my sympathies as I'm in the same boat so to speak. Take care.

Looking forward to the next chapter.
XXX

I know all fanfiction can be seen as AU but making Asuma the third's nephew instead of being his son like in cannon is not something I expected.

Just reached chapter 15 and while I'll continue reading thought to ask how you came to 21 genin passing the second stage. I'm asking because you started with 12 teams, meaning that most 6 teams could pass. 6 times 3 is 18, so where did the other 3 come from?

im reading and u have so much errors, the biggest are that the mokuton cant be learnt by mixing the elements if u dont have the bloodline, also when sakura learn her affinite she only have doton never mentioned suiton, that is the big problem u can let her learn mokuton the way u are doing but u miss her elements. for jiraya in the mission with samurais he say to kakashi that naruto is like his father so he know already who he is

If you still need Sasuke for something you have planned for this story, you should simply not have him turn up at every opportunity, have him try to kill Naruto and Sakura, then have him defeated only to finally have his life spared for the most moronic reasons and then have him escape again. This is just ridiculous.
The last time Sakura had him, she should have just killed him. He had already betrayed Konohy (simply by leaving, when Konoha was attacked, and then of course by joining the enemy) and thus declared himself a missing nin. Killing him would have been the only right thing to do.
Now, all it would have taken her to do was one quick twist of his neck and it would have been over. He would have no longer been a threat and could not have aided Orochimaru any longer in any way. It's not as if Sakura couldn't have spared that one second before assisting Naruto.
But, no, that's apparently too reasonable for you.

Are you going to give the rinnegan to naruto by way of fussing it into naruto just like how obito gave his sharinggan to kakashi in the last few episode of naruto shpdn. What of shinshu eyes is itatchi leaving that to naruto as well for him to use, if he does he should leave him with how to use it, or maybe fuss the sharinggan to nagato's rinnegan by passing it to naruto like how obito did it kakashi and they can also give kakashi a complete sharingan that can be deactivated. Just a sudgestion though