>Ichigo a more complex character than Naruto or Luffy
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

The only way Bleach could possibly be redeemed is if they either

a. Rebooted the entire series and made the whole thing about Ichigo going around protecting pluses from Hollows and looking out for their best interests in regards to soul society and the mortal world while maintaining minimal power levels and cutting Aizen and everything afterwards out of the story entirely. Basically, give me back the Ichigo that bought flowers for a ghost and beat up the assholes that knocked them over.

or b. Making a spin-off starring Don Kannonji and making the power levels as ridiculous as possible. Basically, turn Bleach into Gurren Laggann.

The Darkest Light

It's a crossover with Zatoichi the Blind Samurai, basically Kyuubi sealing makes Naruto blind and he grows up in the ghetto. Hayate eventually starts teaching Naruto how wield a sword and Naruto teaches himself echolocation. I can't remember much more than that except Naruto doesn't really feel like the character from the manga. More... dark and gritty.

 

To be entirely fair, Zangetsu does pretty much perfectly match Ichigo's personality.

There was a lot of potential awesome lost there, but the choice makes perfect sense within the context of the universe/system.

 

He mastered the weapon in ten seconds. What should have been an entire series spanning progression was trivialized. That Visard/ Fullbring/ whatever else just made me cringe harder with each successive introduction.

 

I was actually liking Sakura's character until I found out what she did in the flashback in chapter 3. Although it seems to be her driving force to try and make up for that.

 

Kids are dicks, who woulda thunk?

I actually really like the Sakura in that story, she's pretty dope.

 

Sakura as a stamina freak actually made me laugh irl, but other than that little tidbit of absurdity the fic is pretty dope.

 

Is there a Sasuke on team Guy story?

 

The Hokage trading Narutos art work for ladies... that had me laughing. Also it was kinda nice to read a Sakura who was not omgsasukeisthebestwhydidyouhurthimnarutoihateyouandthecouncilispayingmetoabuseyoubecausereasons.

 

I didn't even realize that this was matdeception.

 

Did I miss something? He trained himself through several stages, mastered new attacks and nothing of that ever happened in ten seconds. Sure, there could always be more, but I never found much reason to complain in that regard.

Bleach has other, much larger problems than Ichigo's relation with Zangetsu. (Not that I cared much for the Fullbring stuff)

On another note, does anyone know of a good Jiraiya-centric story? Doesn't necessarily have to be long.

 

Hugplx is probably talking about the fact that he managed get the Bankai in days, while it usually takes Shinigamis decades or more.

 

Back on topic, since this is, basically AR for Naruto:

I came across this.

Pretty much your run of the mill "Kakashi trains Team 7 seriously" fic. The main thing is, it's readable, and not an eyesore and a decent time waster.

 

It's a 3/5 for me. It reads more like a summary more than a story, or like the author has plotted out scenes, written them, then handed them out without anything to connect them together. So while it's technically well written, it's completely without style or substance.

 

I almost didn't read because civilian council

 

This, basically.

Though I disagree on the 'substance' point, it's really incredibly basic on the style front. If you're at all the sort of person who needs artistic writing, this one isn't for you.

 

Dude what are you talking about, Ichigo is smart as shit. I wouldn't call Luffy dumb per se, just unhinged. He has his own unique understanding that appeals to a lot of the more powerful/wise characters. It is a "never-give-up" mentality but stubbornness and grit are qualities that aren't exclusive to absolute idiots. Luffy always tries new things when his previous attacks don't work and he defers to experts on topics he doesn't know.

As for Naruto, his idiocy is meant for comic relief but it's also there to prove that anyone can succeed. I think it was in the manga or some interview or whatever, but Kishimoto made note of the fact that both Naruto's parents were incredible special ninjas and Naruto was absolutely average, even below average.

More than that, Naruto's more perceptive than he's given credit for. He reads other people much better than many other characters. He can understand actually crazy characters on a fundamental level, like Sasuke, Tsunade, etc. The idiocy is smoke screen for people to underestimate him.

It's also there to hide his loneliness. If you actually think about his supposed "idiocy" compared to the other two characters it's incredibly depressing. Kishimoto makes it campy as shit and I think its because it's a.) shonen but b.) also really fucked up that this kid grows up an orphan and friendless and unloved and hated.

So I think Naruto is an incredibly complex character. He also has a lot of character development that you've somehow mentally erased. From blind idiocy, to thoughtful moments, to even being wise and stern at the epilogue. He's a very likable character. There's a moment when Naruto forms the rasengan for the first time when he fights Kabuto. Naruto gets his hand stabbed by Kabuto's kunai, which is kind of thematic of the Wave mission when stabs himself to prove he isn't a coward, and absolutely destroys a jonin level ninja. Jiraiya says that it's guts that make a good ninja. I get goose bumps every time I go back to that chapter. And I still go back to that chapter. I don't know why you think the "never give up" attitude wasn't done well with Naruto but for me this is a perfect example of exactly that attitude. In that moment, he was the coolest motherfucker on the planet. And he has very many moments like this in Part I.

 

:facepalm

Naruto is an idiot. That is okay.

 

I'd argue that it's okay, but there's certainly no deep, canon reason for it.

 

I wouldn't say that Naruto destroyed Kabuto since Kabuto came out on top of that exchange. He stabbed Naruto in the heart while being able to walk away from the hit he took.