Dear author, first - I'm not sure what you mean when you call this an "unofficial" story... what do you think is "lacking" or "incomplete" about it?? I'm obsessed, and I think this Part III may be my favorite part yet (which is saying something, because I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED parts I and II!!)
I loved seeing the competition brewing between Izuna and Madara in this installment (these little kids both vying for Sakura's attention was too cute!!)
I was also really moved by what we learn about little Koji (the way he was visibly shaken thinking something went terribly wrong that day in the play room, and then again at the end of the chapter genuinely questioning whether Madara and his father would come back well and broke my heart) :*(
I was also floored by young Madara's quiet confidence in this chapter: “You’ll wear it,” said Madara after a moment, looking at Sakura over his shoulder and meeting her eyes. His confidence was quiet and certain.
...
“And you’ll say my name. Because you’ll want to,” he added, determined.
I love how sure of himself he is, at only 12 years old! To me, that seemed like Madara to a T though - truly Tajima's heir! I also CRACKED UP reading the scene where Tajima asked Sakura to teach Madara ALL the bad words (and was especially struck by the reasons why - of course Tajima would be concerned that his son might be mocked while they were traveling overseas).
And Madara's last day before his trip was (one of) my favorite scenes in this chapter. "And he knew, without a doubt, that he would remember the way she whispered that word to him for the rest of his life." Ugh... my heart!! I love how HARDCORE and EXTRA Madara is, even at this young age. It seems so perfectly Madara - that he knows what he wants, and is so invested in that singular goal at such a young age.
Also: “Your iris bled red for a second. Are you alright?”
"Madara blinked the murder from his eyes." jkdgksjglkaekrgjaen I LOVED this introduction Hashirama in the story, and Madara's reaction to this interloper in Sakura's life was PURE GOLD.
oh lord Madara's reaction to Hashirama is GOLD I LOVE IT!!! " "...had she tried any of the matron societies—surely there were some for Dutch ex-pats, would she like him to look into it? He would do it anyway—, perhaps she would appreciate conversing more with a woman and not a filthy scoundrel like Hashirama." I laughed so hard!!
I was also stunned by how smooth little Madara is that last day in Konoha - I love how he slipped that kanzashi into Sakura's hair!! SO TENACIOUS!
And of course, I loved reading Madara's correspondence while he was in London. This AU has so many priceless details and I deeply appreciate how they show us aspects of these characters rather than just telling us in a straight narrative. "He mentioned the color green a lot." (I wonder why??)
"A periodical he thought she would like. A pamphlet put out by the suffragettes (“[Right up your alley. Your fists would fit right in]”, he wrote along the margin)." I love how these characters personality's shine through in unexpected ways.
"Thank you for the foot candy." kjgnkgnkaerkjrngkaernkr
Another one of my favorite scenes is when Izuna bounds out of the house to keep Sakura from running away from Madara's birthday party. "At Izuna’s touch at her cheek, Sakura’s eyes flew open and she stared at him. His expression was hurt, determined, fierce and unapologetic.
“He hasn’t stopped looking for you all day,” said Izuna irritably. “Eight months. And he comes home looking not for us, but for you.”
“I’m sorry,” whispered Sakura.
Izuna made a disgusted sound in his throat.
“Why do you keep saying you don’t belong,” he demanded. For an eleven year old, he certainly had mastered his father’s and brother’s forcefulness.
“Do you not understand castes, Uchiha-san,” said Sakura tiredly. She was more emotionally wrung out than a dish cloth.
Yet Izuna still held her cheek and her gaze, refusing to release her.
“Do you not understand devotion, Haruno-dono,” he countered with the wisdom of a man three times his age.
"“You could show up wearing a jute sack and coal dust, and he would see no one else but you in that room.”
Author-san: this passage SENT ME. I also loved what it taught me about Izuna and Madara's "rivalry". Izuna... wow. He is truly wise beyond his years to pick up on the degree of his brother's devotion. It's hard to believe how young these children are... yet - they are so committed, so devoted. This is so telling about how Tajima's sons were/are raised. The intensity of Madara's feelings are so moving, and after reading this chapter I can't see how anyone who is the object of that degree of devotion or affection could ignore it. Sorry,I'm rambling (I passed rambling 4 paragraphs ago), but I'm just so moved by this installment and this AU. I know I said this before, but the pacing and worldbuilding is phenomenal and I cannot wait to see what happens in Part 4!!!
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timeasmymeasure
Dear author, this might be my favorite installment yet
Date: 2021-09-11 09:49 pm (UTC)I loved seeing the competition brewing between Izuna and Madara in this installment (these little kids both vying for Sakura's attention was too cute!!)
I was also really moved by what we learn about little Koji (the way he was visibly shaken thinking something went terribly wrong that day in the play room, and then again at the end of the chapter genuinely questioning whether Madara and his father would come back well and broke my heart) :*(
I was also floored by young Madara's quiet confidence in this chapter: “You’ll wear it,” said Madara after a moment, looking at Sakura over his shoulder and meeting her eyes. His confidence was quiet and certain.
...
“And you’ll say my name. Because you’ll want to,” he added, determined.
I love how sure of himself he is, at only 12 years old! To me, that seemed like Madara to a T though - truly Tajima's heir! I also CRACKED UP reading the scene where Tajima asked Sakura to teach Madara ALL the bad words (and was especially struck by the reasons why - of course Tajima would be concerned that his son might be mocked while they were traveling overseas).
And Madara's last day before his trip was (one of) my favorite scenes in this chapter. "And he knew, without a doubt, that he would remember the way she whispered that word to him for the rest of his life." Ugh... my heart!! I love how HARDCORE and EXTRA Madara is, even at this young age. It seems so perfectly Madara - that he knows what he wants, and is so invested in that singular goal at such a young age.
Also: “Your iris bled red for a second. Are you alright?”
"Madara blinked the murder from his eyes." jkdgksjglkaekrgjaen I LOVED this introduction Hashirama in the story, and Madara's reaction to this interloper in Sakura's life was PURE GOLD.
oh lord Madara's reaction to Hashirama is GOLD I LOVE IT!!! "
"...had she tried any of the matron societies—surely there were some for Dutch ex-pats, would she like him to look into it? He would do it anyway—, perhaps she would appreciate conversing more with a woman and not a filthy scoundrel like Hashirama." I laughed so hard!!
I was also stunned by how smooth little Madara is that last day in Konoha - I love how he slipped that kanzashi into Sakura's hair!! SO TENACIOUS!
And of course, I loved reading Madara's correspondence while he was in London. This AU has so many priceless details and I deeply appreciate how they show us aspects of these characters rather than just telling us in a straight narrative. "He mentioned the color green a lot." (I wonder why??)
"A periodical he thought she would like. A pamphlet put out by the suffragettes (“[Right up your alley. Your fists would fit right in]”, he wrote along the margin)." I love how these characters personality's shine through in unexpected ways.
"Thank you for the foot candy." kjgnkgnkaerkjrngkaernkr
Another one of my favorite scenes is when Izuna bounds out of the house to keep Sakura from running away from Madara's birthday party. "At Izuna’s touch at her cheek, Sakura’s eyes flew open and she stared at him. His expression was hurt, determined, fierce and unapologetic.
“He hasn’t stopped looking for you all day,” said Izuna irritably. “Eight months. And he comes home looking not for us, but for you.”
“I’m sorry,” whispered Sakura.
Izuna made a disgusted sound in his throat.
“Why do you keep saying you don’t belong,” he demanded. For an eleven year old, he certainly had mastered his father’s and brother’s forcefulness.
“Do you not understand castes, Uchiha-san,” said Sakura tiredly. She was more emotionally wrung out than a dish cloth.
Yet Izuna still held her cheek and her gaze, refusing to release her.
“Do you not understand devotion, Haruno-dono,” he countered with the wisdom of a man three times his age.
"“You could show up wearing a jute sack and coal dust, and he would see no one else but you in that room.”
Author-san: this passage SENT ME. I also loved what it taught me about Izuna and Madara's "rivalry". Izuna... wow. He is truly wise beyond his years to pick up on the degree of his brother's devotion. It's hard to believe how young these children are... yet - they are so committed, so devoted. This is so telling about how Tajima's sons were/are raised. The intensity of Madara's feelings are so moving, and after reading this chapter I can't see how anyone who is the object of that degree of devotion or affection could ignore it. Sorry,I'm rambling (I passed rambling 4 paragraphs ago), but I'm just so moved by this installment and this AU. I know I said this before, but the pacing and worldbuilding is phenomenal and I cannot wait to see what happens in Part 4!!!