I am really excited by the way Naruto's story has (at last!) been developing recently and was particularly inspired by the appearance of General Hatake Kakashi, leader of Division 3 last week for a couple of reasons:

a) it was great to see at least half of the delectable duo back in the manga after months and months and months of waiting and

b) that bloody tortoise was really irritating.

When I look at the battle scenes in Naruto they remind me of images you see of World War 1; every serious fight results in the complete and utter devastation of the surrounding landscape. You wonder how the training grounds in Konoha ever manage to regenerate into the leafy green fields and forests that are depicted in the manga/anime, bearing in mind all the destructive confrontation that goes on out there. Maybe Yamato's other job is to re-grow all the trees.

And with the coming of war in the story I turned to thinking about WW1 poetry because that was probably the most horrific war ever, with thousands upon thousands of soldiers dying in a matter of hours over a few wretched yards of land and yet from that misery emerged some remarkable wordsmiths. My favourites are Siegfried Sasson and Wilfred Owen because they both managed to convey a grim and tragic irony to war that never, ever glorified it. Anyway, with those thoughts in mind I've tried to write a war poem.

Usual disclaimers about not inventing Naruto and unbeta'dness apply

From a General to His Lover

As darkness falls upon our world once more,

And insidious shadows scheme to part us,

I am going to leave you now, for war.

I fight for you, my love.

I'm sworn to lead our fighting dreamers to defend our way of life,

No easy life for those born shinobi.

My stolen boyhood years of violence, struggle, heartbreak, war and strife,

Experience I will exploit wisely.

I have no doubt we will encounter unimagined, daunting power,

Our enemies abuse our every weakness.

If I can catch a moment's sleep amidst the mayhem, just one hour,

I'll dream of you, my love.

And yet this war's so very different to each one that went before,

Past adversaries, allied and united.

Avowed defeat of monstrous evils propagating ever more,

Confronting greatest terrors undivided.

And if this darkness were to take me to a place where you can't find me,

Know this: I don't fear death, I've died before and there will be no pain.

I'll wait for you in undetermined space 'til we can both be free.

I fought for you, my love