Update 9/4/12 Writing an AU has turned out to be interesting, especially since I want to keep it as close to cannon as possible. Let's just say I'll have to do some very creative retconning with my own story now.

Update 12/4/08 Apparently, somewhere along the way, I got it in my head that the penalty for breaking the 'rule' about not telling Naruto that he was the Kyuubi vessel was execution. Which, seriously? Death because you told the truth? It even sounded pretty ridiculous before I went back and reread that chapter, yet somehow I was convinced that it was cannon. This is why I try to research anything I'm not certain about when I write. I feel better about this discovery, because it fits better with the Sandaime's personality, but it's going to make writing it a little more difficult. Still, I'm looking forward to it. I'm really glad I didn't give up on this story. It reminded me why I have so much fun writing.

Update 10/20/08 I can't remember the title of the story that made me realize Naruto had really lived all by himself as a kid, but the basic premise was that there hadn't been an adult to teach him how to read and so Iruka was helping him years after he should have been taught. Can you imagine having to learn how to read completely by yourself? You would have to understand what all these little squiggles on the page meant just from the way someone else squished them all together and made a sound. The fact that Naruto can read at all is amazing. So what else do we think is common sense that we actually had to be told by our parents as kids? Factoring in the Kyuubi's healing powers and the fact that the fox is a secret I realized that Naruto would have no idea what sickness was, or that 'normal' was a sunburn taking weeks to heal and peeling a little bit at a time. That's the premise behind The Truth of the Matter, but in the middle there is something else I've thought of. Naruto can't be as idiodic as he seems. He actually made it through the academy. That means that he can't have had all F's. I'm not saying that he's on Shikamaru's level, or even on Shino's or Hinata's (they seem like they would be pretty smart), just that he managed to get a passing grade through his own ability, which as a kid meant he would have to put in a lot of effort.

Important Update 6/10/08 Since it's been more than a month since I last posted a chapter of FYE I think I better get it out there that I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON THIS STORY!! I promise, most of chapter six has been written, but the last scene is giving me a headache. I have a general idea of what I want to happen, but getting there is turning out to be a bitch. In fact, the whole chapter has been just one problem after another. I literally started out with four different starts to the chapter before I found one that I liked/ could use. On top of that I've been job searching for a while and only just got a job, but I work evenings mostly which was when I used to write so I have to get used to a new schedule. The story will continue, though. I have plenty of material left that I haven't written, specifically the end of this story which is the part I was most looking forward to writing (although that will be another challenge in itself...when I get there.)

Update 5/10/08 This has turned into more of a journal of sorts as I'm writing FYE, because there are things I'm pretty sure no one is interested in but I still want to put out there and can't fit into the story. So first, I’m feeling like Naruto’s getting pushed to the side sometimes. Problem is, newborns honestly don’t talk and toddlers of his age can't really make full sentences yet so until I can make him older, this will have to do. Another thing I’ve found is that I have an interest in why the characters do what they do. I end up giving a lot of random background that I’ve made up and sometimes I wonder if it might be too much.

Plus, Gai! He was SO hard to write that I almost took him out, but that would have left me with Rin and the danger with her is that she might become a love interest which, no, no, no and NO! With Gai, Kakashi can have a friend to talk to and someone to talk him out of things when I need it, but still have the same relationship.

Update 3/29/08 I’ve discovered my biggest weakness in writing. Descriptive paragraphs. I can do them, and I think I do them well, but dialogue is just so much more fun. I end up agonizing over a paragraph in FYE for thirty minutes before coming up with an idea that has a lot of dialogue and spitting two pages out in an hour. Anyway, the second chapter is up! My first multi-chapter story! If I can keep a steady pace I think I can actually finish this one. I've written a few before, but never posted them and I think that will make the difference.

Update 3/15/08 Alright, Fire in Your Eyes. Yeah. I know that there are plenty of "Kakashi/Iruka/ANBU/some random person takes care of Naruto as an infant" stories out there, but I really liked the idea and wanted to try it out for my self. Plus, the plot bunny gods have decided that they need a multichapter story to keep them appeased. I actually had plans for another shoot off of Observation but it got stuck with midterms and then during spring break FYE came up. I might try to finish the other one first, but it's more likely that I'll write another chapter of FYE.

Update 12/21/07 Well I never expected to write another story so soon, especially a Naruto one. I've gotten really attached to Observation, though, and I decided to expand on some of it's aspects. However, I don't think I'll be writing at three in the morning anymore (is ded). Bonds That Hold isn't the best thing that I've ever written. I think it's a little rushed and the end is meh. But I'm really glad finals are over, so my mood about it won't go downhill for at least two days.

Update 12/9/07 I wrote my first Naruto fanfiction Observation which I am incredibly proud of. I'm pretty sure Shikamaru came out right and if not, oh well, better luck next time. His and Naruto's relationship really interests me because they look like they could have been really good friends. I think Shikamaru's too close to Chouji for him and Naruto to get really close, but the potential is there if you watch, especially during the chuunin exam.

The chapter story I had for Supernatural kinda died out with WIAWSNB.

Original post Hey there! So, I’m really excited since I finally managed to write and publish my first fanfiction. I’m gonna include my disclaimer here ‘cause I didn’t want it to detract from my story any so: Disclaimer: Kripke should just hand them over to me. It’ll save me the trouble of hiding his body… Last Words was actually a lot harder to write than I thought it would be. It was really easy to get the words out on the paper, but for some reason it was a lot more emotional than I thought . As any writer would ask, please review and tell me what you think! I don’t mind critical reviews either as long as they’re not flames. Thanks!