Meme

[tj_dragonblade]

Meme, as lifted from tucuxi:

1. Pick a pairing or a character
2. Ask me my particular head-canon regarding something about them
3. Post to your journal to share your own head-canon

Comments

[rheasilvia.livejournal.com]

Tenpou/Kenren - the first time they noticed the other in a sexual way. ;-)

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Hah, well. Kenren being Kenren, I imagine he noticed Tenpou sexually right from the get-go, or at least within the first couple weeks of working with him. Probably didn't plan to really do anything about it, but. Tenpou being Tenpou, he picked up on the fact that Kenren found him sexually attractive and, just for fun, did whatever was in his power to perpetuate the attraction. Somewhere along the way--difficult to really say when or how--it stopped being a game, and then it was just a matter of waiting for Kenren to catch up and figure out that it wasn't a game anymore. ♥

[tucuxi.livejournal.com]

How old was Yamato when Orochimaru started experimenting on him? What was the rest of his childhood like?

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Piecing together shoddy canon and incorporating the anime filler arc that explains Anko's backstory a bit better and more in keeping with the timeline, I've settled on Yamato being...well, anywhere under 3, really. But since they talk about experimenting on 'babies', I'd probably put him somewhere in the 6-12 month range. Although I suppose he could've been a newborn, too. In any case, that means Kabuto was probably stuck with bottle-and-diaper duty, unless they supplied nourishment intravenously, but that still leaves the diaper issue. I imagine, since Orochimaru didn't know he had any survivors from the mokuton experiment, that it couldn't have been too long after starting the experiments that he was forced to abandoned the lab and he village. Which means, thankfully, that Yamato probably doesn't have any conscious memories of that time, but I imagine the trauma surfaces in nightmares periodically. Possibly the timeline could be expanded somewhat if he was subject to other experiments before the mokuton gene-splicing, but I still see the lab being busted by the time he's 18mos at the oldest.

As to the rest of his childhood, it sort of depends. If Orochi left behind enough for them to figure out what he'd been trying to do, and/or if itty-bitty-Yamato was manifesting mokuton abilities even then, I imagine he was probably held in somewhat high regard - Konoha in general seems to have great respect/admiration for Hashirama, and a child who might be considered either a semi-clone or an artificial descendant would likely be treated well. There's also a possible element of making karmic amends for not figuring out sooner what Orochi was up to, taking good care of the one survivor because they were too late for all the ones who died, that kind of thing. Yamato was probably fostered out to a good family (maybe a Sarutobi cousin? Hiruzen has some definite guilt-issues about responsibility for Orochimaru's misdeeds), raised in reasonable comfort, trained early and entered the academy early, the works. I imagine Danzou would have loved to get his hands on him, bring him into Root, and if he'd been in an orphanage Danzou probably would have succeeded, which is why I think he was placed with a family with enough clout to deter Danzou. I'm toying with the idea that he was raised by Hiruzen himself, at least up until he was maybe 12-15 (since the age-of-adulthood seems to be a bit lower than 18 in the shinobi world).

[tucuxi.livejournal.com]

This is awesome, and I think it might end up being my head-canon too, because it makes so much more sense than anything canon has supplied. :)

It would also go a long way toward explaining how someone that potentially fucked in the head ended up coming out more or less functionally sane (at least for a shinobi) for someone of that generation, especially for someone who was promoted so young. A not-just-horrifying childhood would go a long way toward giving him ballast, so to speak. And the idea of him not being in the orphanage (and therefore not in Danzo's grasp) is something I hadn't considered before, but it really rings true.

Yay, head-canon.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know a lot of people tend to give him a darker childhood, have him like raised in ANBU as a ward of the state or some-such, almost like a prisoner, kept a secret and all. But it's hard for me to see a past like that resulting in the man he is. And the bit about Danzou and orphanage kids in Kabuto's backstory made me think - if it's that easy for him, he shouldn't have had any trouble getting his hands on Yamato, unless Yamato wasn't readily available in any orphanage. So it all just kind of makes more sense to me this way, yeah. ^_^

[entitys.livejournal.com]

1. Itachi and Shisui
2. Do you think it was easier for Itachi to agree to kill off his clan knowing that Shisui was already dead? And if Shisui hadn't of died would Itachi have done it anyway?

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Truthfully, I need to revisit canon on Itachi and Shisui because I freely admit to not paying very close attention the first time through ('Uchiha, eyeballs, tragedy, blah blah blah whatever'). But. From where I stand now? I tend to think Itachi and Shisui were very close and that, if Shisui hadn't died (did Itachi kill him? Or is that unconfirmed fanon? I think I remember him telling Sasuke he'd done it, but all things considered that doesn't necessarily make it true), he still would have done what his superiors believed was best for the village, but it's entirely possible that Shisui might have been left alive as well as Sasuke. On the other hand, if he is the one who killed Shisui (for what I'm assuming were tragic-but-necessary reasons or at least believed to be such at the time), he might have killed him in the massacre as well, but it probably would have been extremely difficult.

To properly address the first question, I don't know if it made it easier, but it might have been something of a small relief that he wouldn't have to slaughter Shisui along with everyone else.

*headscratch* How old was Itachi when this all went down, anyway? I know he made ANBU captain at 13 and it can't have been too long after that, right?

[entitys.livejournal.com]

ah. i thought with your recent admitted affection for Itachi that you'd caught up. my bad. to answer unbiasedly though, no, Itachi didn't kill Shisui; he was accused of it. it has since been disclosed that Shisui was attacked by Danzou, who ripped out one of his eyes when Shisui couldn't be persuaded to jump on the Root bandwagon, or something like that. either way, it's part of the reason why Danzou was so f*cked-up when he was first introduced—Shisui put up a good fight even though he lost. however, right after the fight Shisui told Itachi to meet him—i think he was already dying—but he explained what was going down and then gave his other eye to Itachi for safe-keeping before drowning himself so that they wouldn't be able to use him against Itachi later.

does this give a better perspective for an answer?

Itachi was 14 (or barely 15 depending on birthday), when all that went down.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

God, these people and their eyeball-ripping/swapping. Ugh. And how the f*ck do you transplant an eye to an arm and still get any functionality out of it?

Ahem. Well, with that in mind, I'd say it's definitely possible there's an element of...of clan resentment coming into play. He's probably got a bit of resentment toward both sides for putting him in the middle that way, actually, which - village loyalty or not - probably made it easier to become a missing-nin at the end of it all and fight/wreak genjutsu-torture on Konoha nin later on. But if Shisui mattered enough to him that there was 'use him against Itachi' potential, then him killing himself to avoid it would probably trigger some kind of retaliatory-grief mechanism in Itachi, however controlled. I'm sure I still need to review. But I'm kind of thinking he might be equally put out with both sides - something tells me he wouldn't have too many qualms about taking down Danzou and/or Root, but at the same time I don't think he took any satisfaction in killing the clan? Argh. I'm getting aimlessly rambly.

But still. I think he was glad, if nothing else, that he didn't have to kill Shisui along with everyone else.

...dammit. Does this mean I have to find an Itachi icon? When I still don't have a Neji icon? >_< *sigh*

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Very much related to this thread: Have you had the chance to read ch 590? If not, you might be interested in catching up.

[entitys.livejournal.com]

i have not. hmm. shall endeavor to correct this, posthaste.

*Edit* indeed i have now! and sheesh, Kishimoto just keeps playing with my emotions. if the village now lauds Itachi's contribution to wiping out Edo Tensei as Heroic, and Sasuke knows the truth-through-actual-memories, the Third is long dead, and Danzou (main perpetrator of the whole Uchiha slaughter) is already death-by-Sasuke, then His Broodiness' entire reason for hating Konoha is gone. the only guilty person left to deal with is Tobi. right? so Sasuke should be on Konoha's side now when it comes to getting that bastard. i have no illusions about Sasuke seeing the sense in that though. Kishimoto will definitely do Contradiction no Jutsu and that'll be the end of that.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Yeah. If Sasuke does see the logic and switches sides, I guess that's one way to wrap it all up nice. But it's really hard for me to see that happening when he's been painted all this time as hell-bent on his single-minded focus of revenge. Maybe the truth, straight from Itachi, would actually be enough to give him pause and let reason get a foot in the door. I guess we'll find out sooner or laterish.

But man. That panel of Itachi all sobbing and conflicted and about to kill his parents is just...I don't quite have the right words. But it leaves an impression.

[entitys.livejournal.com]

ugh. the flashback scene with the parents . . . it was touching. Itachi had that look like 'why'd you make me have to choose?' and the parents are all resigned 'yeah, we screwed up, do what you gotta do, we don't blame you'. sheesh. Itachi has always been 'my dawg' though, so our brief time together again (even if it doesn't do any good in the long run) was precious. Sasuke has been jerked around his whole life, why stop now? what with the: 'my brother's a felon -- no wait. they are the crooks who made him a felon -- no wait. Itachi agreed to be the felon for my sake . . . so. that inadvertently makes me the crook who ruined Itachi's life. right? no. wait . . . f*ck it. everybody dies.' one expects him to see sense, but at the same time you can't really blame him.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

*laugh* I can't really blame him at this point for being all 'f*ckit, everybody dies', no. Though I'm cautiously surprised to see him being all thoughtful-introspective this week. I honestly don't know what he's going to do next. And the weird thing is, I do actually have just a little - a very little - interest in what that might turn out to be, where I've never much cared in he past. Y'know? Though it's probably attributable to the fact that he's got Suigetsu and Juugo along for the ride again.

Also, on another note - am I maybe correct in thinking that Shisui's name, being made up of shi and sui, has something to do with death and water and is possibly a reference to the whole drowning thing?

[entitys.livejournal.com]

i think in some ways, just Sasuke hearing Itachi tell him he loved him was a catalyst of something. it was almost like absolution for both of them. kind of like the scene with the parents where they were like 'it's ok' and even though it wasn't it kind of was. so yeah, i fully admit my attention is more on Suigetsu and this flirty thing he's doing with Sasuke than actual Sasuke, but yeah, i have some curiousity here. actually, i think Kishimoto's doing that 'back to original plot' thing with Sasuke's story now with Juugo and Suigetsu tossed in to make it more believable instead of Sasuke just pulling the answer out his ass. if nothing else we have SasuSui and Anko may score a boyfriend, what, 10 years her junior?

yes. Shisui does translate to "Death Water". and yes Kishimoto deliberately chose it as foreshadowing for how he'd die.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

UchihaBros - they both needed that, clearly, and I'm glad they got it and that it actually was handled pretty well. Will hope that enough of Itachi's words and intentions have sunk in to Sasuke's thick skull to do him some good.

You're probably right re: back to original plot - Sasuke 'feels' very different than he has in awhile, and this thing with Itachi makes a good enough excuse that Kishimoto can probably get away with the disparity. But I'm glad Juugo and Suigetsu are back in the picture, and that they got to Do Something Important in bringing Sasuke whatever info was in that scroll.

and Anko may score a boyfriend, what, 10 years her junior?

Pfft. Yes. Would have to look up Juugo's age, honestly, but yes. ^_^ At the very least, there's some interesting conversations to be had there under non-war circumstances.

yes. Shisui does translate to "Death Water".

\o/ Am disproportionately pleased that I've been able to pick up enough of what things mean to clue in on that.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

...a-also, I just read this week's chapter and need to let off a little squee on one or two points, but don't want to spoil if you haven't gotten there quite yet.

[entitys.livejournal.com]

i usually wait a month, but since you said 'squee' i went and read. and . . . ^___^. my boys are back together. am too, too happy.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

I was so hoping they'd show up again soon. Bout time, and all. And I laughed when Suigetsu yelled at Juugo for diverting Sasuke's attention when Suigetsu was talking to him first. How is it that more people don't ship these two? ^_^

Point-the-second of squee: Anko confirmed alive and tentatively rescued. \o/

Point-the-first of squee (and this is where you pat me on the head and tell me I'm absolutely pitiful, but): Yamato-appearance! \o/ Even if only as a face-in-the-crowd of the visualization of Sasuke's introspective thinky-thoughts. It's the most we've seen of him in nearly eighty chapters. ^_^;; T_T

On one hand, I'm looking at three-fourths of Team Taka and going 'Don't you dare leave without rescuing Yamato too!' but on the other, what reason do they have to go down below and there's maybe five percent of me still pulling for the Kakashi-rescue scenario, so.

Also, wtf - does Orochi-effing-maru never die??? And yet part of me is completely unsurprised.

[entitys.livejournal.com]

dude, i started laughing when Suigetsu was beside Kabuto like 'this thing coming out his stomach looks like a huge --" and from there it just got better. now that Karin isn't there cock-blocking, Suigetsu's got free reign. hopefully the subliminal message of 'fans, this is the pairing i would have chosen for Sasuke' will penetrate a few more skulls. *shrugs* what, Kishimoto's already pushed ChouShika, GaaNaru, and GaiKaka with this war, why not SasuSui, right?

I thought you'd happily freak out at the Anko live thing . . . but to honest, i didn't even notice Yamato was in that chapter at all >_<. Maybe your Kakashi rescue isn't so farfetched.

Orochimaru turned himself into a parasite. He was criminal #1, and i guess as long as there's a living thing to suck the life out of, he'll stay that way. just our luck, Tobi is probably Orochimaru or some garbage, and Sasuke will turn up on the battlefield beside Naruto to help duke it out *throws up hands*. the part that really irritates me here, is that Suigetsu didn't get a tearful farewell with his brother. wtf.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Tch. Yeah. There's been a lot of wasted opportunity for reuniony stuff with this Edo Tensei business. Someone postulated that we'll see more little bits of things like the Dan-Tsunade scene in 'flashback' as we touch base with other pockets of people, but I'm not holding my breath. We've established that Kishimoto doesn't seem to like his Hyuugas, so skipping Neji's father-son moment is kind of expected. And I can't see any 'flashback' meeting for Suigetsu and his bro being worked in when the jutsu was released before Suigetsu really got anywhere near the battlefield. *sigh* And...I can't even remember who else I might have been hoping for, at this point, the way things have bounced between so many pockets for so long.

Re: Suigetsu and his observation - dude. I didn't realize how much I actually missed him until he showed up again and started making crudely-accurate commentary. ^_^ I love the dynamic he's got with Sasuke, and with Juugo, and how the three of them just kind of gel as a natural unit. And yes, Kishimoto's clearly pushing SasuSui - 'I was talking to Sasuke first!!' is such basic kindergarten-level I've-got-a-crush behaviour, seriously. It's adorable. Poor Suigetsu.

Confirmation of Anko's lack of deadness warrants a happy-dance, without question. Was counting on her standing as Kishimoto's favorite female to keep her alive, and I'm glad to see my faith was not unfounded. ^_^

but to honest, i didn't even notice Yamato was in that chapter at all >_<.

Yeah, I know - I'm probably like the only one who did. T_T Or the only one who finds it squee-worthy, at least. It's not a 'real' appearance by any means and I fully realize I'm over-reacting. ^_^;; But I'm kind of hoping that the fact that Kishimoto bothered to stick his face in the group shot combined with Anko's survival bodes well for Yamato's survival. Because for all I talk about Rescue, I realize it's still entirely possible he'll wind up dead. I hope not, but I can't discount the maybe.

Kakashi rescue scenario would be such a bonus. It would also help catalyze the threesome I'm trying to write, I think. May end up dawdling over this attempt just in case it does happen and can be worked in. >_

[entitys.livejournal.com]

Hmm . . . Edo Tensei meetings that shoulda-coulda but didn't = Hyuuga check, Suigetsu/Mangetsu check, and Juugo/Kimimaro check. hell, y'know what, i woulda been happy if Naruto could have seen Haku again too instead of just Kakashi taking care of it. I think Haku would have been proud of Naruto's growth as a ninja. i don't remember the rest if there are more.

didn't realize how much I actually missed him until he showed up again and started making crudely-accurate commentary.

ah yes. that's the charm that keeps in my #1 spot. but, yeah, now that Sasuke is back to broody instead of psycho, they really are a good team together, huh. Seriously, if Sasuke had had people like Suigetsu and Juugo around during his Konoha years, he would have been just fine (vendetta or not). argh. and Suigetsu's crush really is so childishly cute.

I offer you hope for Yamato's situation though. The second Madara didn't fade away like he was supposed to, that made Yamato the most important person in the Naruto'verse right now. because remember, the only person who can defeat Madara is Hashirama, and the only person with Hashirama's abilities is ______. *nudges with elbow* Right ^___^. *nudge-nudge* Now that Edo Tensei's cancelled out, Yamato may actually be able to rescue himself.

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Yamato being able to rescue himself would actually be a nice touch. And would curtail that lingering damsel-in-distress impression lurking in the corners of my brain, too. ^_^; It would be awesome if he was the key to bringing down Madara. I doubt he could do it on his own at this point - he's always said his abilities pale in comparison to the original even when he's in optimum health, and I don't imagine he'll be anywhere near full strength when he gets out of that statue. But surely there's a role to be had there, all the same. *hopeful*

Sasuke and Suigetsu and Juug do make a good team. Hopefully they all stick together in the future. Suigetsu continues as the voice of reason in the following chapter, also, even if no one's listening to him. Poor guy. At least he has the sense to still be freaked out by Orochimaru. Looks like Anko will disappear from the story again, now that her usefulness has been served; disappointing, but...not like I expected any different. *sigh*

As a side-note, I'm bracing myself for a resurgence of that OroTenzou thing I was ranting about a little while ago now that Orochimaru is back in the picture. Even though, from what he says, he should know that Yamato is down below and yet he's leaving without doing anything about it. Not a very shippy decision, but I'm sure the shippers can spin it regardless. It's what shippers do. And honestly, it's not like I've got room to complain when I spent a couple years shipping NiiKou early in my Saiyuki phase. T_T;

I guess the ET could-have-beens will have to be left to fandom to provide. *sigh*

[chonaku55.livejournal.com]

*from logurt community*
Hum, Nightcrawler and his brother Stefan ?

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

Well, hi, and thanks for dropping by! *sheepish laugh* I should probably explain that I've got a long-standing love of various Marvel characters from lots of intermittent exposure over the last twenty years or so, but am very out of the loop on a lot of comic-verse canon. I...didn't know Nightcrawler had a brother. ^_^;; So you can probably surmise from there that I don't have any head-canon to offer regarding them. My apologies. But, in lieu of that, I can say that in my head (and maybe it has evolved this way in canon/is completely contradicted by canon, I don't know), Kurt is a man who has grown to value his own personal faith and belief in God over any particular tenets of religion that might label his existence an abomination, sinful, unholy, what-have-you--religion tends to be a construct of man and subject to the follies of mankind, but his relationship is with God, not necessarily the Church. Y'know? Eventually.