Rock Lee My Beloved

I love getting requests for Naruto fanart or just to yap about my thoughts, but pls be wary of where I am in the series before mentioning something that contains potential spoilers!!!!

This reply is super super late (as evidenced by the Happy New Year lol) but I hope you enjoy!

Ooh this is such a fun idea!!! In fact, I had so much fun with it that I just ended up doing all the genin teams (pardon how sketchy they are). Thank you for the request!

(Future tidbit: You'll get to see a little more of Sasori in a few later filler episodes, one of the Naruto SD episodes, and a flashback scene in Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja 4, where you get to see Sasori being slightly younger, before the puppet body thingy, as he gets recruited to the Akatsuki by Konan.)

Here’s a younger, pre-puppet body Sasori in traditional Suna clothing for you!

Ep 31:

-I’ve really loved Naruto these last two episodes. Idk he’s just so sincere and good-hearted

-and Naruto giving Chiyo hope for the future??? I’m gonna fucking sob

-ohhhh Naruto not realizing that Chiyo sacrificed her life was kinda rough

-so does this mean Gaara no longer has a Tailed Beast in him? I hope they explain what’s going on with him now that he’s alive after going through the whole Akatsuki ritual thing

Ep 32:

-oh yeah I kinda forgot about Deidara tbh

-okay so I already know some stuff about Tobi and who he really is but if I didn’t I would be massively confused about wtf his deal is

-I like that they’re giving Chiyo’s death proper weight and not brushing over it

-aw and Sakura having her own little moment at Chiyo’s grave was good

-I’d say overall that was quite a good opening arc! I’d say my biggest critique (besides some pacing issues here and there) is that I don’t really know why Team Gai were included. Like don’t get me wrong I liked seeing them but they didn’t do much besides fill time with the stupid ass doppelganger fights

-LMAO NOT GAI PIGGYBACKING KAKASHI I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

-AND LEE TRYING TO GET NEJI TO DO IT TOO FHDHSGSHSHSHSH

-okay I also know some stuff about Danzo but again, if I didn’t, I would be SO CONFUSED. But I do like that we’re getting some interesting setup already

Ep 33:

-ah it’s good to see my favorite totally platonic besties Izumo and Kotetsu again

-Gai and Lee’s shenanigans will never get old to me

-it’s so funny that they used the hospital bedsheet to keep Kakashi’s lower face covered

-RAHHHHHHHH SHINO (also not Naruto not remembering him 😭)

-BIG AKAMARU BIG AKAMARU BIG AKAMARU

-god Naruto is so damn oblivious around Hinata

-I live for Shino being salty about Naruto remembering his teammates but not him

-aw Kiba fanning Hinata when she passed out was cute

-oh Team 8 my favorite fucking weirdos<3

-hm idk if this is a hot take but I think Choji might have the biggest glowup of the Konoha kids from OG Naruto to Shippuden

-oooooh Sai’s drawing powers are sick

Ep 34:

-yooooo a new move from Shikamaru! “Shadow stitching” is a cool move name too

-hm I actually do think the debate over sending Naruto on missions related to the Akatsuki is an interesting one. I see Shizune’s point and I also see Tsunade’s.

-also it’s touching to see Tsunade’s absolute faith in Naruto

-even in flashbacks Kabuto is fucking annoying

-bruh literally everything about Danzo SCREAMS villain

-Sai is kinda cunty tbh. I like his crop top

-also he seems a little unhinged. I have a feeling I’m gonna like him

-godddddd Kishimoto really did Ino dirty in the outfit department. I didn’t like her genin fit and I don’t like her fit here either:/

-Team 10 are so funny

-Yamato’s eyes are freaky. It’s giving Mark Zuckerberg

Ep 35:

-oh Sai is a master ragebaiter

-did Jiraiya really have to sneak into Kakashi’s room through the window? Bro was just doing that to be extra

-I kinda like that we’re getting a new team dynamic! It feels refreshing to have such a big switchup

-I like how they’re setting up Sai’s character so far. We’re already getting hints that he’s not completely “brainwashed” (for lack of a better word)

-soooo according to Jiraiya Naruto almost KILLED him while in Fox Mode??? Are…are we going to learn more about that?????

Ep 36:

-I think it’s hilarious that Sai telling Naruto that he’ll hit him if he keeps staring at him is what makes Naruto decide that he’s nothing like Sasuke… as if Sasuke wouldn’t say basically the exact same thing

-Naruto is highkey throwing a temper tantrum about Sai “replacing” Sasuke

-man Tsunade needs to lay off Shizune

-I’m liking Yamato a lot so far. He’s chill and funny and also vaguely terrifying. He also already feels like a distinct character from Kakashi, which is good

-aw it’s cute seeing Naruto and Sakura so excited about all the food

Ep 37:

-it was nice to have a quiet moment there with Sai and Sakura. I always like to see characters just kinda having conversations and interacting in non-mission-related ways

-Naruto fucking HATES Sai lmao

-I’m sorry, there is no fucking way that there’s a jutsu that just creates a whole-ass HOUSE. I call mega bullshit on that

-yknow if the plan is to capture the target without injuring or killing them, Team 7 is actually kind of an unideal team for the job. Granted, I’m not sure of the range of Sai’s abilities, but only Yamato really seems to have a good skillset for non-violent capture. The best team for this mission would actually probably be Inoshikacho bc of Ino and Shikamaru’s abilities

Ep 38:

-Sai continues to ragebait Naruto at every turn

-okay Sai is really funny

-Naruto being SO anti-Sai is… kinda ironic given that he and Sasuke also had a very antagonistic relationship at the beginning, and look how that turned out for Naruto

-one moment that I wish showed up more in flashbacks of/discussions of Naruto’s relationship with Sasuke is Sasuke basically sacrificing his life for Naruto back in the fight with Haku. I feel like that’s a SUPER important moment for understanding why Naruto feels so strongly about Sasuke, but it basically never comes up

Ep 39:

-the animation of Sai’s ink creatures is cool

-OF COURSE THE SPY IS MOTHERFUCKING KABUTO (aka one of my least favorite characters) GODDAMNIT

-although I guess the fact that I hate him so much means he’s teeeeechnically an effective villain? (I don’t actually think he is tho)

-I really wish Kabuto had gotten a change of clothes for Shippuden

-in a way I’m kinda glad to see Orochimaru bc it’s nice to see a nice proper intimidating villain instead of just lame-ass Kabuto

-wow Naruto is already starting to go feral just by being face to face with Orochimaru

Ep 40:

-wowwwww Naruto is starting to manifest chakra tails, gee I sure do wonder if the four tails that Jiraiya warned about are going to come into play here

-and yeeeeep I was right

-this is so incredibly off topic but why was Jiraiya kinda snatched when he took of his shirt-

-I know enough about Yamato to not be surprised by Tsunade revealing that Yamato has “the cells of the First Hokage in his blood” but if I didn’t I would be theorizing like crazy

-wow I didn’t realize I was going to get the story of Yamato’s creation so soon but honestly I welcome it