423 replies to this topic

[Illjwamh]

Pheh. That's nothing. I've been reading Arxane`s novelization of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for about six years. In the old days it was updated quite regularly, but we`re lucky if we get a chapter a year anymore.

[uzumakinaruko]

Pheh. That's nothing. I've been reading Arxane`s novelization of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for about six years. In the old days it was updated quite regularly, but we`re lucky if we get a chapter a year anymore.

Because I Am A Girl by Ice Princess hasn't been updated in almost 2 whole years. Newly Weds by PockyReiko hasn't been updated in 3 months shy of 4 years. ACK!!!

[desaix]

I'm still waiting for an update of 'Better Left Unsaid' by The Librarian's Apprentice, myself. Or 'Spirit of Fire' by Smiter. Both haven't been touched since I started following Naruto fanfiction, but they were and still are some of my favorites.

For the record, I'll try and get the next part out by the 28th, but while I've been able to do a little writing on it lately I've had a hard time re-assembling my notes (as I mentioned in another thread recently), so that's slowing me down.

And, I have to consider that it'll be a while between when I finish this coming chapter and when I'll be able to start on the next. Yay, deadlines!

[desaix]

Um, Volume 4, Chapter 6 is up. Uh, thought you'd want to know.



Edit: It's up in the Library, here. It'll be posted to ff.net and mediaminer late tonight (or early tomorrow, depending on your time zone)

[Illjwamh]

Well, I can't seem to review the story itself for some reason, so I'll just write in here.

Very nice. Even though it's been a year, you've kept all of your characterizations intact, which I know can be tough. You haven't lost your "feel" for the story at all.

Spoiler! --Click here to view--

The encounter with Hiashi wasn't what I was expecting at all, but I ended up liking it anyway. I was especially fond of the part with Naruto telling off Hyuuga-sama. Right on.

The Tenten stuff at the end seemed more like a teaser than anything else, which is probably what you were going for. It works, in that capacity, but I hope you don't wait too long before expanding on it or it could lose its significance.

All in all, good to see you back, even briefly. Maybe I should get up off my duff too, eh?

[desaix]

Now available on ff.net and mediaminer.

Oh, and it seems I was nominated for an award or something for this fic, although I've never heard of the award before (the Universal Fanfic something or other, I recall). I accepted the nomination, but don't really care if I win or not (again, I didn't even bother to remember what the name of the 'award' was, so you really think I care?). However, if you know what this aware is and care to vote for it, well, I won't mind.

[SakuNaruLover]

finally a new chapter

Spoiler! --Click here to view--

great chapter. I loved how everyone stopped hanabi's mother. I hope to see another update soon...although it will probably be a while as you said. But I don't mind the wait. The story is worth it.

[uzumakinaruko]

YAY! Finally! The Second Coming is here! The Apocalypse has been averted! A new chapter of Training For The Job is finally up! Thank GOD!

Great chapter!

[Illjwamh]

I'll give ten to one odds on having to wait until at least April for the next one. Any takers?

[uzumakinaruko]

I'll give ten to one odds on having to wait until at least April for the next one. Any takers?

No bet. That's a no brainer. He even basically warned us that it could happen again. If I believed he would post sooner than next April, then you'd have a bet. No, he won't post again most likely until early next July. I figure the Second Coming of Christ has better odds of occurring before next April than Desaix getting a chapter out before next July! :thumbs:

[desaix]

Is this some kind of attempt at reverse psychology?

The next chapter will come when it comes. Even I, the writer, wouldn't take a bet either way about either of the proposed months.

I can write a chapter a day, sometimes. Sometimes, I can write a chapter a year. Keep in mind I'm also writing (er, sort of) professionally, now. Novels in progress writing or in progress editing or in publisher's hands and working out some sort of contract (a process which has stalled, sadly) have been eating up a lot of time the past year, too, in addition to other hardships I've had to deal with (Mom's cancer being the most dramatic, but not the only one). I keep my head in writing all the time... though I don't always keep it in fanfiction. Heh.

[Lizardo221]

Desaix, I don't think he was taking a shot at you. Just make add chapter when its ready and I'm sure no one has a problem when that will be. We all love your story and want to know how its going to end.

[desaix]

I didn't think either of them were 'taking shots' at me. I did, however, want to weigh in on the whole 'bet' thing, however.

Plus, if it WAS an attempt at reverse psychology, well, I wanted to address that, too...

[Illjwamh]

I'm just givin' ya a hard time.

I know as well as anyone how many things can get in the way of writing something, even if it's something you want to write.

[desaix]

By the way, if anyone wants to help for the next chapter... well, I have an author's note I want to keep, but trim down (when you read it, you'll see why). If anyone wants to help with the trimming process (keeping in mind I want all the data, but I'd rather not have such a solid block of text in one author's note), see what you can do. (I've already cleared out some tangents, but it still looks too much like a big block of text to me)

Spoiler! --Click here to view--

Author's Notes, Historical References: The 'Insei system,' mentioned above, is referring to a form of government Japan once had where the 'retired' Emperor held more power than the Emperor, himself. It got a bit convoluted, at times, however. At one point (and only one, as there was only ever one attempt to use an insei-style shogunate, and it lasted only through part of one of the smaller shogunal lines) there was an Emperor, a 'Junior retired emperor,' a 'senior retired emperor,' a shogun, and a 'retired shogun,' all of whom could claim -- either by law, by custom, or by fact (though in none of the cases by all three) that they were the rulers of Japan. Most Japanese history texts in America -- and possibly in Japan, as well -- gloss over the retired shoguns, as they didn't last long and were rather insignificant in terms of their actions, outside of being one factor instigating the Kemmu Restoration. The laws of the Tokugawa Shogunate made it so that no Shogun could retire, they could only be replaced in death, and most people know of the Shogunate by the Tokugawa system... but prior to the Tokugawa line, there were many other Shogunal systems... including the original Hojo clan (if I ever did an Inu Yasha fanfic, you KNOW this little bit of historical data would find its way in there, somehow), which was wiped out during the Kemmu Restoration (and years later, adding to the confusion, another Shogunal Line would take their name in what is sometimes known as the 'Go-Hojo Shogunate'). The retired Shoguns I was able to find the names for (there may be one or two more, but these were the ones listed in Kodansha publishing's Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (just to give at least one reference, as my little-used history-major's reflexes are begging me to do)) all belong to the original Hojo line: Hojo Tokimasa, Hojo Tokiyoru, Hojo Masamura, Hojo Sadatoki, Hojo Mototoki, and Hojo Takatoki. The Kemmu Restoration was Emperor Go-Daigo's failed effort to restore power to the Imperial line by employing Takatoki's generals against him. A complex set of betrayals within betrayals lead to the complete destruction of the Hojo clan, the end of the failed 'retired shogun' experiment, the end of the Insei system altogether, the replacement of Emperor Go-Daigo by one of his relatives, a more centralized government that weakened the power of the lesser daimyos, and the rise of the Muromachi Shogunate. Why does any of this matter? Well... for this fic, it doesn't, but something intended to this fic's sequel (which is looking less and less like it will ever get written, which is why I'm giving this rather huge spoiler away now) is for all the Daimyo, all the Kage, and all the Jounin-Oyabun in the Naruto-verse attending the 'Capital' (I figure there is one -- the leaders of the 'countries' in Naruto are all Daimyo, which in a European feudal system is like a Duke. While Dukedoms do retain autonomy (in lesser or greater amounts, depending on where you are -- In England, a Duchy would be pretty directly ruled by the King. In the Holy Roman Empire, the 'Emperor' was little more than a figurehead whose rule didn't actually extend far past his castle walls, while his Dukes were like Kings of their own countries) they do at least pay lip-service to an Emperor. The situation these Daimyo, Kage, etc. enter is one where the situation is essentially identical to that during the Hojo Shogunate, where there were five people attempting to claim that they rule the whole country... while outside forces (Historically, the Mongols; in this fic, well, I haven't decided what to call them yet, but essentially are a 'barbarian' horde) are preparing to invade. Hence the reason for this history lesson....

[Illjwamh]

Well, let's see. I've shortened a few of your rather extraneous sentences and explanations, and broken it into paragraphs. See what you think.

Spoiler! --Click here to view--

Author's Notes, Historical References: The 'Insei system,' mentioned above, is referring to a form of government Japan once had where the 'retired' Emperor held more power than the Emperor himself. It got a bit convoluted at times, however. At one point (and only one, as there was only ever one attempt to use an insei-style shogunate, and it lasted only through part of one of the smaller shogunal lines) there was an Emperor, a 'Junior retired emperor,' a 'senior retired emperor,' a shogun, and a 'retired shogun,' all of whom could claim -- either by law, custom, or fact (though none by all three) that they were the rulers of Japan.

Most Japanese history texts in America -- and possibly in Japan, as well -- gloss over the retired shoguns, as they didn't last long and were rather insignificant in terms of their actions, outside of being one factor in instigating the Kemmu Restoration. The laws of the Tokugawa Shogunate made it so that no Shogun could retire, they could only be replaced in death, and most people know of the Shogunate by the Tokugawa system... but prior to the Tokugawa line, there were many other Shogunal systems... including the original Hojo clan (if I ever did an Inu Yasha fanfic, you KNOW this would find its way in there, somehow), which was wiped out during the Kemmu Restoration (and years later, adding to the confusion, another Shogunal Line would take their name in what is sometimes known as the 'Go-Hojo Shogunate').

The retired Shoguns I was able to find the names for (there may be one or two more, but these were the ones listed in Kodansha publishing's Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (just to give at least one reference)) all belong to the original Hojo line: Hojo Tokimasa, Hojo Tokiyoru, Hojo Masamura, Hojo Sadatoki, Hojo Mototoki, and Hojo Takatoki. The Kemmu Restoration was Emperor Go-Daigo's failed effort to restore power to the Imperial line by employing Takatoki's generals against him. A complex set of betrayals within betrayals lead to the complete destruction of the Hojo clan, the end of the failed 'retired shogun' experiment, the end of the Insei system altogether, the replacement of Emperor Go-Daigo by one of his relatives, a more centralized government that weakened the power of the lesser daimyos, and the rise of the Muromachi Shogunate.

Why does any of this matter? Well... for this fic, it doesn't, but something intended to be in this fic's sequel (which is looking less and less like it will ever get written, which is why I'm giving this rather huge spoiler away now) is for all the Daimyo, all the Kage, and all the Jounin-Oyabun in the Naruto-verse attending the 'Capital' (I figure there is one -- the leaders of the 'countries' in Naruto are all Daimyo, which in a European feudal system is like a Duke. While Dukedoms do retain autonomy (in lesser or greater amounts, depending on where you are -- In England, a Duchy would be pretty directly ruled by the King. In the Holy Roman Empire, the 'Emperor' was little more than a figurehead whose rule didn't actually extend far past his castle walls, while his Dukes were like Kings of their own countries) they do at least pay lip-service to an Emperor. The situation these Daimyo, Kage, etc. enter is one where the situation is essentially identical to that during the Hojo Shogunate, where there were five people attempting to claim that they rule the whole country... while outside forces (Historically, the Mongols; in this fic, well, I haven't decided what to call them yet, but essentially are a 'barbarian' horde) are preparing to invade. Hence the reason for this history lesson....

Didn't manage to cut much out, really, since you said you wanted all the data left in and it's mostly all data. @_@

It's more readable now, though, I think.

[desaix]

Seeing the difference, it's obvious I can't avoid breaking it up into paragraphs. I think I won't QUITE use your suggestion, Illjwamh (in part because I want to add something else, so that the throwaway line about the Mongols makes more sense at the end), but it's sent me on the right track at least.

[Illjwamh]

Glad I could help, even a little. :thumbs:

[InvaderSpax]

finally got a chance to sit down and read the new chapter (moving sucks hardcore)

I do have to say that I disagree with your AN, I was not disappointed (that word took entirely too many tries to spell correctly) at all. I was looking forward to the encounter with Hiashi (mainly because I like the angle you've taken with him) and I thought that you handled it in a nicely original manner.

All in all, good show, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter (whenever that may be)

M

[desaix]

Hm... does anyone want a teaser scene for the next chapter? I've got a few scenes written already, and may have more done shortly. This is turning into a slightly longish chapter, however, so perhaps putting out a teaser would make sense...