Well, to be honest it's not in good health. I've debated writing up a summary of my plans, posting that, and marking the project 'abandoned', taking it down pending a full rewrite, finishing out a shorter version that ends right after the chuunin exams...
Currently I'm leaning to the last. If that is what I end up doing, this'll end up being the epilogue. Naturally it contains spoilers; along with plot threads open for anyone who wants to take up my invitation to work on a sequel.
Aren't you glad I consider this community a beta-test zone rather than a real release?
Being of sound mind and body but soon to enter mortal combat, I, Bakusuta Neshan, Special and Administrative Jounin of the Village Hidden by the Leaves, do hereby set down this my last will and testament to be carried out in the event of my death.
To my student Tenten, called the Weapon User, Genin of the Leaf, I leave the contents of the folder among my papers marked 20, along with those of my personal armaments which may survive me.
To my student, Uzumaki Naruto, Genin of the Leaf, who as an orphan lacking the support of family is most in need of them among those close to me, I leave my apartment and monetary savings.
To my comrade, Mitarashi Anko, Special Jounin of the Leaf, I leave my personal effects and small things forgotten, to be disposed of according to her best judgement.
To the Hidden Leaf Medical Division, I leave my earthly remains, should they survive, to be used for research or instruction as they see fit.
To the Hidden Leaf Archival Division, I leave my personal notes and papers, to be stored in Section 23 (Original Sources, Leaf Shinobi, Jounin, Deceased) and subject to the usual conditions of access for that area, with the exception that Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hinata, and their heirs are to be given free and unlimited access and may permit others of their choosing supervised access at their discretion.
Finally, to the Saviors of the Snow Country, I leave one last lecture and a few spots of advice:
When I was a child, perhaps your age, my parents came to me and explained that we would be attenting a gathering, part party and part convention of the like minded, formed of those who felt that romantic love need not neccessarily be binding and exclusive, but rather, like its familial or friendly equivalents, could be given to several or many people without cheapening or harming anyone concerned. They had always held these beliefs, though up until that time there had been no opportunity to act on them, and wished my and my sister's input and approval before they began to put theory into practice, as the definition and feeling regarding adultery in my homeland was quite strict and liable to overflow into scandal if revealed.
We gave it, and they did, and their lives and ours were the richer for it. While my own romantic experiences have ended poorly, the observations and theory I gained from growing up in such a household lead me to believe that a willingness to tolerate another's foibles, and adapt or alter one's own for another's comfort, are key to a long-term intimate relationship, and that, while the difficulty of these tasks increases multiplicatively when additional persons are added, the final result has a richness, stability, and synergy which matches the effort put into it.
I have seen the admiring looks each of you gives the other three when you think yourselves unobserved. What, if any, loves may come of them I cannot predict at this time - your lives have many years still to live. I had hoped to watch as you worked it out, and to lend my aid in whatever capacity it should prove needful... but that is impossible, and so I can only ask, if you find yourself forced to choose between one love or another, that you remember that loving two - or three - is an option.
Sasuke - the best revenge is living well.
Sakura - being true to yourself suits and serves you better than being true to what's expected of you.
Naruto - be careful for once in your goddamn life.
Hinata - you're already stronger than I ever was, and far purer in heart.
All of you - be excellent to one another.
By this my hand and seal, Neisaan Bak's'taa, 3rd day 9th month 82nd year Konoha Date.
===============================================
"I'm terribly sorry, but I have to kill you quite horribly now."
Currently I'm leaning to the last. If that is what I end up doing, this'll end up being the epilogue. Naturally it contains spoilers; along with plot threads open for anyone who wants to take up my invitation to work on a sequel.
Aren't you glad I consider this community a beta-test zone rather than a real release?
Being of sound mind and body but soon to enter mortal combat, I, Bakusuta Neshan, Special and Administrative Jounin of the Village Hidden by the Leaves, do hereby set down this my last will and testament to be carried out in the event of my death.
To my student Tenten, called the Weapon User, Genin of the Leaf, I leave the contents of the folder among my papers marked 20, along with those of my personal armaments which may survive me.
To my student, Uzumaki Naruto, Genin of the Leaf, who as an orphan lacking the support of family is most in need of them among those close to me, I leave my apartment and monetary savings.
To my comrade, Mitarashi Anko, Special Jounin of the Leaf, I leave my personal effects and small things forgotten, to be disposed of according to her best judgement.
To the Hidden Leaf Medical Division, I leave my earthly remains, should they survive, to be used for research or instruction as they see fit.
To the Hidden Leaf Archival Division, I leave my personal notes and papers, to be stored in Section 23 (Original Sources, Leaf Shinobi, Jounin, Deceased) and subject to the usual conditions of access for that area, with the exception that Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hinata, and their heirs are to be given free and unlimited access and may permit others of their choosing supervised access at their discretion.
Finally, to the Saviors of the Snow Country, I leave one last lecture and a few spots of advice:
When I was a child, perhaps your age, my parents came to me and explained that we would be attenting a gathering, part party and part convention of the like minded, formed of those who felt that romantic love need not neccessarily be binding and exclusive, but rather, like its familial or friendly equivalents, could be given to several or many people without cheapening or harming anyone concerned. They had always held these beliefs, though up until that time there had been no opportunity to act on them, and wished my and my sister's input and approval before they began to put theory into practice, as the definition and feeling regarding adultery in my homeland was quite strict and liable to overflow into scandal if revealed.
We gave it, and they did, and their lives and ours were the richer for it. While my own romantic experiences have ended poorly, the observations and theory I gained from growing up in such a household lead me to believe that a willingness to tolerate another's foibles, and adapt or alter one's own for another's comfort, are key to a long-term intimate relationship, and that, while the difficulty of these tasks increases multiplicatively when additional persons are added, the final result has a richness, stability, and synergy which matches the effort put into it.
I have seen the admiring looks each of you gives the other three when you think yourselves unobserved. What, if any, loves may come of them I cannot predict at this time - your lives have many years still to live. I had hoped to watch as you worked it out, and to lend my aid in whatever capacity it should prove needful... but that is impossible, and so I can only ask, if you find yourself forced to choose between one love or another, that you remember that loving two - or three - is an option.
Sasuke - the best revenge is living well.
Sakura - being true to yourself suits and serves you better than being true to what's expected of you.
Naruto - be careful for once in your goddamn life.
Hinata - you're already stronger than I ever was, and far purer in heart.
All of you - be excellent to one another.
By this my hand and seal, Neisaan Bak's'taa, 3rd day 9th month 82nd year Konoha Date.
===============================================
"I'm terribly sorry, but I have to kill you quite horribly now."