INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, I'll be discussing the fun but arduous journey of writing the Naruto fanfiction over the course of ten years. But before we dive into it, I want to share some exciting news: I've recently launched my own original anime series. If you're a fan of the fanfiction and enjoy anime like Sword Art Online and Solo Leveling, I invite you to explore my Linktree URL. There, you'll find various websites where you can read the story online for free. If the link below has been censored, you can find it in my bio:
ยป Linktree: /vaughnrrschneider
DISCOVERY
Like many, anime serves as the perfect escape for me. Whenever I'm having a rough day, I simply tune in and forget about reality. Naruto, in particular, was an excellent means of escape.
I vividly remember when Naruto first aired on Toonami way back in the day. I used to visit my friend's house every Saturday to watch it with her and her family - or at least, I think it was on Saturdays.
Anyway, if there's one thing I can remember it's that I was immediately hooked. My impatience for the weekly releases fueled my desire to find an alternative. This led me to start watching the series in Japanese with English subs, which had way more episodes than the dubbed version.
Naruto had it all - superpowers, martial arts, action, adventure, tragedy. I was enthralled. But these elements were only part of the reason why it's my favorite anime. The most notable reason is because Naruto and I had something in common.
According to my parents, because I didn't have any kids around my age when I was an infant and toddler, it took a while to learn how to speak properly. Even in school, I struggled with English. But now, after hard work and dedication, it stands as my strongest skill.
Similarly, the Shadow Clone Jutsu was Naruto's greatest weakness, but now it's known as his greatest strength. In my fanfiction, I portrayed this skill as his greatest asset, propelling him to become the strongest shinobi to ever walk the face of the earth.
Another reason why I like Naruto is because it addresses one of the biggest problems we face as a species: discrimination and prejudice, which often lead to segregation. How do we break the cycle of hatred and revenge? Kishimoto and I came to our own conclusion at the end of the tale. But in the real world, how do we solve this pressing matter? And is it even possible to stop it?
THE SPARK
My fascination with Naruto inspired me to write my very first fanfiction, and I knew exactly which aspects to focus on. Kishimoto admitted that romance isn't his strongest suit, and fans were disappointed with the little screen time, character development, and nonexistent romance between Naruto and Hinata. So, I decided to take it upon myself to appease them.
You'll find that I mostly followed the same plot as the canon. While we have the manga and anime for the series, I assumed people would appreciate having a novel version as well. At the same time, I weaved original scenes between Naruto and Hinata, breathing life into the romance that we all yearned to see.
Understanding that not everyone likes a damsel in distress, I gave Hinata a power boost. And I'm sure I speak for all when I say it became very tiring and frustrating watching Naruto charge into battle without a strategy, his fingers balled into fists. I decided to give him a few extra brain cells to remedy that. Kurama also got some much-deserved screen time too.
THE PROCESS
Without any formal training as a writer and with only a few books read, I resolved to put pen to paper. Well, technically, I didn't use a pen and paper. I used a phone, and not just any phone either. Up until a year or two ago, I was writing everything on my Blackberry.
No, that wasn't a typo. I literally typed hundreds of thousands of words on my BB. The QWERTY keyboard made it pretty convenient. I would still be doing so if my third Blackberry hadn't started acting up. Now, I type everything on my Android phone (yes, not iPhone, you traitors lol).
Why would I do such a troublesome thing, you may ask, especially when my big fat fingers tend to hit the wrong virtual button on a touchscreen phone? Simple - mobility.
When I get an idea while preparing for bed, I don't want to be getting out from underneath the sheets, turning on the lights, and booting up a laptop or desktop computer just to jot down a paragraph or two. And what if I forget by then? What about when I'm at work in the kitchen? Can I have a laptop then? A cellphone is light, mobile, and easily stored on your person. It's pretty easy to record my ideas without much hassle, and in a timely fashion too.
Once the story is completely written, I edit and prepare the final draft on the computer before publishing.
GETTING IDEAS
To supplement this process, it's crucial to thoroughly understand all the characters in the series - their quirks, mannerisms, strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, and more. This allows for a more authentic portrayal of the characters, making them appear genuine and believable.
It's also essential to have a basic idea of the scene or story arc to be developed next. From there, I keep an open mind while going about my daily activities. Interacting with people, taking walks in the park or forest, watching anime, reading manga, or even playing video games can trigger ideas since I constantly keep the fanfiction in mind.
Some fighting scenes and skills are inspired by the Naruto video games. Additionally, I maintain a playlist of all the Naruto fighting theme songs from the anime. I play them on loop while visualizing the fight sequences during meditation. Conversely, I listen to emotional themes when writing sad scenes.
Music is also a source of inspiration. I've incorporated a few song lyrics from artists like Celine Dion and others into the series as Easter eggs, though I'm unsure if anyone has noticed. There's even a phrase taken from the Twilight Saga.
Another ritual I practice is watching the intros and outros from the entire Naruto and Naruto Shippuden series. While enjoying the animation, I often get ideas. I have all the theme songs as well, and I visualize whenever I'm listening to them. That's another way to conjure up ideas.
In fact, the 13th outro of Naruto Shippuden, "Jitensha," triggered the idea for the entire "Hotel Resort" arc of the fanfiction. I found it intriguing that Hinata was riding a bicycle and not dressed in her typical kunoichi outfit. It was so different from the norm, compelling me to write a chapter where Konoha and its citizens were out of the picture for once, and Naruto and Hinata would live a seemingly normal life outside of war and strife.
Finally, one of the most effective methods for coming up with ideas is to have a conversation with someone. While discussing the anime or the fanfiction, I tend to get loads of ideas. Currently, I speak with my brother a million times per week over the phone about the anime I'm currently working on. I feel bad for his ears, but he doesn't seem to mind, lol.
COMMITMENT
Sometimes getting an idea strikes suddenly and unexpectedly, especially at very inconvenient moments. I've had to pull over on the side of the road while driving just to jot down ideas before I forget them. But the most memorable instance had to be in 2015 while I was at work.
At the time, I worked at a resort hotel and would covertly walk around with my phone cleverly tucked inside the sleeve of my chef jacket while I prowled around looking for Dratini while playing Pokemon Go - wait, I'm getting a little off track here.
The property I worked at had around seven different restaurants, and I worked at the one that prepared food for a buffet. It was known as the hardest restaurant to work in, and my blood and sweat definitely attested to that.
After cooking in bulk for seven hours, we had to get the food out on the buffet line, replenish it when needed, clean up after guests, and cook food in a flashy way at the various action stations for another three and a half hours. Despite the busy atmosphere, I got an idea during all that chaos.
Using one's phone was strictly prohibited, so during moments when the buffet line was a bit scanty, I tore off a bit of thick paper towel from a roll and started jotting down ideas using a pen. I did that a few times throughout the course of the night and remember worrying that my sweat would destroy the paper towel in my pocket.
Ah, good times.
THE JOURNEY'S END
Ten years is no short amount of time; Naruto and the fanfiction have been constant companions for many, shaping memories and sparking imaginations. However, time marches on, and while some have grown alongside the tale, others have drifted away, consumed by the responsibilities of adulthood.
Throughout different phases of my life, I found myself navigating various responsibilities, often working two jobs simultaneously for extended periods. Regrettably, this left me with little freedom or spare time to write. Though circumstances beyond my control dictated this path, I extend my heartfelt apologies for any disappointment this may have caused.
I can only hope that this special segment will reach even half of the fanbase.
CONCLUSION
I genuinely enjoy writing fanfiction, but at the same time, I feel an unrelenting urge to leave my own mark upon the world with something original. Initially, my plan was to wrap up Naruto, just like Kishimoto, by writing another fanfiction based on the last movie. Alas, by the time I had any semblance of free time, most of the fanbase had moved on and been replaced by kids who were more focused on Boruto rather than the classic.
It was heartbreaking, but perhaps it was also a sign that I needed to shift from the Narutoverse and turn my passion to my own original tale. That's exactly what I did, and I can only hope it will be even half as good as Naruto.
GRATITUDE
I appreciate you taking the time to read this segment, and my gratitude runs even deeper if you've read all the fanfiction. Your feedback over the years has been the fuel I used not only to finish the story but also to continue maturing as a writer. You have my eternal thanks for that.
If you wish to embark on another decade-long journey with me, consider checking out my new project. Additionally, if you have further questions, don't hesitate to head over to Discord. If there's high demand, I can organize a Q&A session:
ยป Linktree: โ๐ก๐ก๐๐ :/๐๐๐๐๐ก๐.๐๐/๐ฃ๐๐ข๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐