veil_of_dreams - An Enduring Faith, extras

06:43 pm - An Enduring Faith, extras

EXTRAS

These have little/nothing to do with Naruto/Hinata, but reading them should give a better perspective on some of my viewpoints.

Extra 1: The Hyuuga Clan Conclusion

I had originally believed Hinata would most likely become the Hyuuga clan head, but I started to reconsider my standing after a debate with Phoenixblood. The problem with my view was simple: While I was thinking a lot about Hinata’s character/resolution regarding the clan, I had (for some reason I can no longer fathom) completely overlooked Neji.

So I started studying Hinata and Neji a little more, and came to realize that Hinata becoming clan head is not nearly as important/likely as Neji becoming clan head, from a character resolution point of view.

Hinata’s character is themed primarily around changing herself. While her becoming clan head would certainly prove she changed and had received Hiashi’s acknowledgment, it isn’t required. Hinata can still receive acknowledgment of her change regardless of whether or not she becomes the Hyuuga head, though I would certainly like for it to be implied/stated that Hinata would make a worthy clan head.

Neji, however, is themed primarily around changing destiny, and his ‘destiny’ is supposedly to suffer the curse of a branch house member despite apparently being the strongest Hyuuga of his generation. While this could be resolved simply by the caged bird seal being removed somehow, it is likely Neji will become clan head in the end, if you consider the fact that Hiashi has acknowledged Neji as the strongest Hyuuga of his generation and the fact that he is now training Neji. Since Neji can resolve his ‘changing destiny’ theme by becoming the clan head, and he’d likely be first choice for clan head anyway if the seal is removed, I really would be shocked if Neji did not become the next leader of the Hyuuga.

I suppose it’s also possible that Hinata could become clan head, change the Hyuuga, and pass the mantle to Neji, but that seems like an overly roundabout way of resolving things, especially since Hiashi now seems to think the clan situation needs to change.

Extra 2: Overshadow this, overshadow that.

This rant has been building up in my head every time I read your ‘overshadowed’ arguments. Be warned that when I say ‘rant’, it means I’m not going to pull any punches on this one.

Let’s start here, with this excerpt from the anti-Naruto/Hinata essay:

(Part 1, section II, point 5) “Hinata has suffered so much and worked so hard to get acknowledgement, starting with her family. Yet if she were to get married to Naruto... she'd end up being seen not for herself, but as "the Hokage's wife." There is nothing humiliating in of itself to be "the Hokage's wife", but it means that people would forever see her not for her own accomplishments, but for being the wife of the incredible person that is Naruto.”

This is a reasonable argument because you mention it in context of Hinata’s desire for acknowledgment, and I have argued why I think you’re wrong in the corresponding part of my counter. But since then, you have pushed the ‘overshadowing’ argument further and further to the point of ridiculousness.

From later in the anti-Naruto/Hinata essay:

(Part 2, section II, point 4) “I don't see it as the best thing for Hinata either, as Naruto's role as village leader would overshadow her own role as clan leader whether she likes it or not. >__<”

(Part 2, section IV, point 3) “But wait! If Hinata becomes clan leader, wouldn't she Get something "more"? Hell no, her "something more" would still be completely overshadowed by Naruto's own similar background resolution of him becoming Hokage. =\ Paths too similar. And Hinata would also look like just a watered-down Naruto on all the other aspects as well: strength, inspirational values, etc... On her own and without Naruto in sight so to say, she'd be able to stand out for herself. But if there's Naruto always right next to her, people would be more prompt to label her "the Hokage's wife" than seeing her for herself. I actually also view it as an acknowledgement problem as well in the end. People would not see her for HER, but as being paired up with Naruto.”

These imply that even if Hinata has earned the respect of the Hyuuga clan and Naruto (Which is all she really wants), she still shouldn’t be in a relationship with Naruto, since his role as Hokage would overshadow hers as clan head. However, the argument was still tolerable to me, because it was apparently made with the previous argument in mind, thinking that Hinata could not receive the acknowledgment she desires in a relationship with Naruto.

 But in your Naruto/Sakura manifesto, you push it too far:

(Annex, section II, point 1) “The fact is also that Sakura is probably the only girl who won't get completely overshadowed by a Hokage Naruto.”

This implies that Naruto shouldn’t hook up with any girl he may overshadow, regardless of whether or not Naruto’s would-be partner would care about something like that. Whoa now, I’m not about to let that one fly.

Think about this for a second. By saying people shouldn’t be together because one would overshadow the other, you’re essentially applying a reputation based caste system to romance. Do you have any idea what kind of havoc this standard would wreak on the Naruto universe?

Let’s start with the obvious examples: The Kages.

We never hear about the third’s wife, so she must have been overshadowed. I guess that means Asuma and Konohamaru never should have been born (Of course, considering Asuma’s recent luck, he may have found this preferable). And how about the first Hokage? His wife has never been mentioned, so he shouldn’t have been in that relationship. That means we can say goodbye to his descendant Tsunade as well. Gee, that would sure suck for Sakura, wouldn’t it?

On top of that, if you subscribe to the Naruto = Yondaime’s son theory, that would nix Naruto himself, since we never hear about any relationship the Yondaime may have been in. What would the series be called then? Shikamaru? (Well, I’d still read it)

And if we take a look at neighboring Suna, we’ll see that Gaara’s mother never received any recognition beyond being that and the Kazekage’s wife. Sayonara, sand siblings.

As for people who were just plain famous, Kakashi’s father, Sakumo, was said to be a legendary ninja rivaling the sannin, but we’ve never heard of his wife. Looks like the Hatake clan should have died with him.

But let’s not stop there. How about the clan heads? The Aburame clan seems to be prestigious, but we never hear about the wife in Shibi’s life. So sorry Shino, but your mother isn’t famous enough to give birth to you. Mrs. Uchiha is a little better off, having actually received some screen time, but she still is shown only acting the role of ‘The Uchiha Mom’. Looks like that’s that for Sasuke and Itachi (Well, I guess that’s the silver lining of this particular cloud).

Of course, while it’s not certain, we can’t consider characters like Chouji, Kiba (The only one with a known mother, but not father. There’s a refreshing change) or Ino to be completely safe either. They might have to be axed as well.

Which leads me up to the biggest problem: By your standards, Hinata (and Hanabi) shouldn’t have been born. What’s the point of this essay, then? You may be trying to argue for a situation you consider more favorable for Hinata, but you seem to be doing her (And a sizeable portion of the Naruto cast) more harm than good.