Blah.

2007-03-21T07:58:36Z

I went to bed early last night. Think I actually managed to sleep through the fireworks. Oh well.

I may not go back down to the festival again today. There's nothing new for me to see. Maybe I'll get some training in. I could certainly use it.

Anko-sensei? You set a bad example for your students. That's all I have to say.

entry the first

2007-02-28T08:47:46Z

HI ROKUDAIME-SAMA. THIS IS ME WRITING IN MY JOURNAL. AREN'T I A GOOD BOY??

Sorry. I had to get that off my chest. Apologies to the Hokage. You know how us kids are.

Training this morning. I think my sensei is making an honest attempt on my life. Not that I can't clear any danger with ease. [Let it be known to the reader at this point that there are two tiny dried splotches of blood on the bottom right corner of the page.] Good workout. For real.

~~I think I broke my headset. Again.~~

Festival tomorrow. Not sure how to feel about it.

a letter to Sasuke

2007-02-25T07:22:31Z

Uchiha Sasuke,

I'm writing this because I need to get it off my chest, and because you need to see it.

You disgust me.

There was a point in time when I admired you. You were on the same team as Naruto Nii-chan, and you always seemed so cool and collected. Where Naruto failed, you succeeded. I could tell that you and he were rivals. I thought you made a worthy one.

But apparently you were too cool to be here. Apparently Konoha wasn't enough for you. You left. And like the true friend Naruto Nii-chan was, he went after you.

For a long time I didn't know what happened with that mission. I didn't know why you left. I didn't know why you didn't come back - only that you hadn't. Naruto wouldn't talk with me about it. No one would. It wasn't until the second attack on Konoha from the Sound that I began to pry around. I had to know about you. I had to know what had happened with Naruto's rival.

Did you know your friends risked their lives just to bring you back? Did you know some of them nearly died for you? I'm sure you do now. Someone must have told you. Did you know what they were doing when they were found? Clutching their Leaf headbands. Naruto brought yours back, didn't he? This village meant something, everything to them. Seems it meant nothing to you. Too good for it, I bet.

I know everyone in your clan was killed. I've heard you want revenge on the man who did it. Your brother? Is that why you ran off to join Orochimaru? To get strong enough to beat him? Way to turn your back on everyone who ever helped you. Way to side with someone intent on destroying all you used to care for - all your family fought and died for. I suppose none of that matters.

I didn't have my whole clan destroyed, but I know what it feels like to lose people important to you. I wanted revenge for the loss of Iruka-sensei... for Ebisu-sensei, Moegi and Udon. It hurts, but I realized they wouldn't want me to turn into something horrible to avenge him. All his teaching would have gone to waste.

What about your family? Are you after revenge for them? Or is it for you? Your mom and dad... do you think they would have wanted you to betray the village and all that they stood for just for revenge? And what would you do after you'd gotten it and there was nothing left to return to? You're the last living member of your clan. Wouldn't you want to do it proud?

I don't think you even thought about all that. I think you're just selfish. I think your ego's so big it's overpowered your better judgement. You're so hyped up on yourself that you don't even realize it's not about anyone else anymore.

You're disgusting.

And I hate you.

- Konohamaru

OOC

2007-02-23T21:44:05Z

Name: Konohamaru
Birthdate: December 30th
Age: 12
Affiliation: Konohagakure of olde
Rank: Genin

Specialize?: He'll be looking for means of becoming stronger, but that's about it. He may take up training with someone else, but that would have to be worked out. (Like Lee. Konohamaru + spandex = win.)

Orientation: Heterosexual. I mean, come on. He was ogling women at age eight.

Appearance: Konohamaru is about of medium height and build for someone his age, with the typical scrawny-but-athletic body most young make ninja his age have. He takes after most of the males in his family in that he has dark hair and eyes. However, he doesn't seem to have picked up the more tan skin they often have, most likely due to his mother's side of the family. He generally keeps the top layers of his ragged hair long, spiking them up behind his headband. When he's drenched, or when he simply can't be bothered, they hang down a bit. Occasionally he'll pull it into a high ponytail.

He likes to dress in earth tones - a green jacket and brown pants that stop above the ankle as seems to be normal for most shinobi. Underneath his jacket is a plain black shirt, much like Naruto. His main trademark is his abnormally long blue scarf. It's a wonder he's able to function so well with it on, but he doesn't seem to trip up on it. The same can't always be said for others traveling with him, but he refuses to remove it.

Special Circumstances: Well... he's the grandson of a former Hokage Danzo didn't get along well with? And had Naruto as a role model? I can't think of anything else.

History: Konohamaru was born the first and only child of the Sandaime Hokage's only daughter. As such, he was treated with respect and courtesy all his young life. In fact, he was treated so respectfully by everyone that he grew tired of it. He wanted the respect to be earned, not given to him simply because he was the grandson of the current Hokage. Because of this, he became something of a troublemaker, with constant "attacks" upon his grandfather in an attempt to become Hokage in his place. It was meeting Naruto that taught him that there was no easy way to become Hokage, and he declared from that point on that the two of them would be rivals for the title. Despite these words, Naruto became more of a role model for him than a rival, with him and his friends Moegi and Udon wearing goggles similar to him and stalking him whenever possible.

With the death of his grandfather, Konohamaru lost a little bit of his status within the village. This didn't bother him in the slightest - it was the death he had to get over. He is still easily angered when anyone speaks of the third Hokage with anything less than reverence.

When Naruto went away to train, Konohamaru took it upon himself to get better as well. He was very fond of Iruka, and took his time at the academy a bit more seriously than Naruto had before him - the difference in maturity level between himself and his role model apparent here. (Though really, Naruto's maturity had very little to do with why Konohamaru looked up to him.)

Konohamaru was gravely wounded during the attack by the Sound that killed his teachers and classmates. It is rumored that his tutor, Ebisu, sacrificed himself to protect the life of his young pupil, but this is never spoken of in front of the boy. For weeks after the attack he would speak to no one but Naruto, whenever the older boy was around. Then all of a sudden he just snapped out of it, and was soon nearly back to his old rambunctious self. It's unsure what caused this, and he dislikes speaking of the events of the attack still and will avoid the subject if at all possible.

Though he is very fond of Naruto, and has a great amount of respect for him, he has lost all respect for Sasuke completely. In short, he hates the boy and tends to blame things on him irrationally, such as Naruto's disappearance and sometimes anything involving the Sound in general. He's also not particularly happy with Sai, as his involvement in Team 7 makes it seem like everyone's willing to admit Naruto won't be coming back, and he's not ready for that yet. (He likes Sakura, but sometimes she scares the bejeezus out of him.)

He also has some issues with his new team. While he finds no problem with following his jonin sensei Anko's instructions, he doesn't like the fact that Hanabi seems to have taken up a role of leadership among the genin of his squad. He's used to being the one giving the orders, and he follows Hanabi's only if he believes she has a point.

Personality: Konohamaru is a willful and stubborn pre-teen who generally thinks most of the world is out to get him and is prepared to strike back accordingly. Having suffered multiple losses over just the past few years, he does have his moments of emo, but mostly he's hardened himself against such things. In some ways, because of this, he's more mature than other kids his age. He doesn't show this side of him as often as some would like, however, because he tends to cover feelings of depression or unease with bouts of bravado and unnecessary sarcasm.

He's stubborn, very stubborn, and hates admitting being wrong about anything. He does usually realize when the time is right to stand aside, but he'll do it begrudgingly nine times out of ten. Often dissatisfied with the way Hanabi is usually given the role of group leader, Konohamaru will go out of his way to try and make himself look like the more preferably candidate - though this often ends with him making a fool of himself. He's used to having his orders followed by his friends, so the shift has been difficult for him and old habits die hard.

Also, there is the matter of him having reached the age where he's starting to feel comfortable actually making flirtatious advances on women. He prefers slightly older women, preferably with decently sized "assets". Hinata, Ino.. he's looking at you.

How do they feel about Danzo? He hates him. Liek whoa. While he'd come around to the Godaime being a suitable replacement for his grandfather, the Rokudaime is a far cry from that, especially since he doesn't see the man at all holding up the memory of his Grandfather or the principles he stood for. He resents the removal of Tsunade from the position, and he is especially pissed about the way the man speaks of Naruto.

Abilities/Specialties: Konohamaru lacks his own specific style currently, but he was a good enough student in the academy that he can perform all of the basics. He is particularly talented in the arts of transformation and stealth, having practiced heavily with both in the past (even though his first attempts were horrendous - practice makes perfect!).

His past efforts in developing his own techniques have not met with much success, but he is more determined now than ever to rectify that.

Should Konohamaru ever get to train in actual chakra elements, I would like to wager a guess that his main element would be air, uncommon as it is, same as Naruto and Asuma.

What do you plan to do, where would you like to take your character in this setting, what would you like to see? I would like to see the interaction between him and his new teammates, especially the personality conflict with Hanabi. A possible argument or two with Sasuke at some point would be fun too. Mostly I just want to see him develop a bit.

Samples

Sample Journal Entry:
This is everyone's favorite Genin Konohamaru, speaking from his journal to yours. Today it is bright and sunny, and I'm feeling cheerful and generous. So, for those interested parties - particularly those of the female variety - leave a comment below and we'll meet up over ice-cream. My treat. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, so don't leave me hanging, okay?

Also - I'm looking for ideas on a new nickname. I need something bold and easy to remember. Nothing cute, please. I've had enough of Ko-nii-chan from the younger academy students, thanks, and I will not respond to "Kon."

[Private to Sakura]
What's this I hear about your team getting a new member? Is that really true? How dare he! I'll bet Sasuke's perfectly fine with it too, the jerk. You better tell me all about him so I can beat the stuffing out of him when I see him. You can help me!
[/Private]

Sample Third-Person:
The end of his scarf was dirty again. Konohamaru sighed to himself as he twisted the thick blue fabric between his fingers. It was perpetually dirty, really. It didn't help that half the time it dragged behind him on the ground, but he refused to have it cut shorter. Moegi had always commented on how much she'd liked it.

He sat on the edge of his bed, the scarf laid out on his lap. He'd been there for the past half hour, sometimes rocking slightly on the springs but mostly just sitting and staring at nothing. Outside his window, the sky was gray and spilling to the ground in thick sheets of rain. He hated the rain. It always reminded him of bad things.

In five minutes, his teammates would be expecting him at the front gates. He was going to be late. He should have already left.

Standing suddenly, he let the scarf fall from his lap. It slid lazily to hang from his back and trail along the floor as he walked over to a full-length mirror standing in one corner of his room. He stopped, staring at his reflection as it stared back. Dark brown hair fell everywhere, limp in the humidity brought with the storm. For several minutes more he stood like that, before he brought his hands up to make a sign and muttered "Henge."

At once, the image in the mirror became someone else entirely. Dark hair turned to blond. Dark eyes turned to blue. The dull earth tones of his clothing became a bright black and orange, and he gained several centimeters in height. He was staring now at a perfect copy of Uzumaki Naruto, and the image in the mirror grinned back at him rakishly.

"Don't stand there looking like that," he told himself in Naruto's voice. "Everyone's going to think you've gone all moody on them. Then you'll have to listen to all the preaching and the 'Blah blah blah they'd want you to be happy blah blah uphold your honor blabbity blah.' And I know you hate that, Mr. I'm-Going-to-be-Hokage-before-you. Am I right? I am."

A puff of smoke and he was himself again. He sighed, a light smile turning up the corners of his mouth. Then, taking a deep breath, he turned that smile into an all-out grin and gave a thumbs up to the mirror. "Right," he said. "Right. That's how it is."

Glancing over his shoulder, his eyes came to rest on three sets of goggles sitting in a row on his nightstand. He turned the thumbs-up in their direction. "I'll be okay. I'll make you proud today, yeah?" Then he turned and quickly walked out of the room.

heaven queen, cover me, in all that blue

Blah.

entry the first

a letter to Sasuke

OOC