[na_no_nai] Best NaruSasu awkward sex fic ever! :D

[Rikugou] *snickers* Wonderful fic. One really needs to read it to appreciate it. Occurs approximately 4 years after Sasuke leaves Konoha. Naruto suceeds in getting the Uchiha back to the village but not without dire repercussions on the friendship that had developed between when they were team mates. Everyone thought Naruto would get over Sasuke's leaving, but four years later, he was still avoiding and ignoring his ex-team mate. Then, Sasuke and Naruto get drunk during a gathering of their friends and end up in bed together. =X *snickers* Go read!!

[grey_sterling] Futurefic. Shikamaru takes an ANBU mission, and whether he succeeds or not, it's not going to end well. Very dark.

[cephiedvariable] This is just the most horrible, darkest, unpleasant excuse for a pairing fic that I've read in a long time. But it's so Temari, and so Shikamaru and it's the things like this that make me love the pairing. I can't fangirl over this enough- the fact that it's so twisted makes it all the better. XD

[Anria] Kabuto is evil. We all knew that. This fic, however, demonstrates it in such a delightfully creative manner - even if, technically, it's little more than the cliche animal torture. But Kabuto's inventive about it - and never directly harms the kittens.

[beckerbell] You know, it seems like such a simple idea. Iruka gets Naruto a houseplant. It dies. No great shock. Nor when Iruka gets him another one, probably trying to teach him responsibility. And then somewhere along the line, the story becomes... well, it's still funny and just so Naruto (especially what he does with the dead plants, that was just somehow worded so perfectly), but it was also one of those things that could have been so cheesy, but somehow worked for the series, that somehow said so much about the characters without being cliche about it. Plus, with the way it was buffed up with the sparkling characterizations, the way the author nailed Naruto's crazy antics, it made for a really fun read. XD (No warnings/pairings.)

[1uz] How did Naruto get all those odd, randomly placed houseplants in his apartment? What does he do with them?

[Mklutz] Iruka forgets an important promise to Naruto and while running around trying to find him so he can applogize, he runs into a group of enemy shinobi with less than benign intentions. Eventually, Iruka recovers, but can not stand the touch of people other than Naruto, so Tsunade gives him a special requirement, and Kakashi a mission.

[Rikugou] XD I generally don't read any fics with rape in it because sometimes it's just out there. Some really don't seem to be capable of falling victim to such a heinous crime. >_> Furthermore, the 'healing' would be 'omg i'm liek fine and dandy now because i put everything behind me and i can have fast hard sex without having a heart attack' type of thing. -_-;; This is a bit like that but I kinda liked the story despite all of it. XD Stressed, Iruka forgets a promise he made to Naruto. While searching for the blond, he runs into an ambush of unsavory men.

[beckerbell] I was browsing springkink and setting aside some fics to read and this one caught my eye as well, since... I think maybe I have a great obsession with other characters/pairings from Naruto, but NejiHina is the one I never felt satisfied with, so it's the one I keep coming back to, even after all this time. I liked what the author did here, the way Hinata's strengths and weaknesses were both used, the way Hinata used her frail looks to her advantage because she kind of had to. I really liked that she was stronger and more lethal, but still a Hinata that I could recognize! Plus, it's nice to have actual ninja antics in a fic sometimes! (Neji/Hinata.)

[beckerbell] This was an interesting Kakashi fic, with the way it drew parallels in ways that I don't see done very often. You frequently see the parallels drawn between Jiraiya/Orochimaru/Tsunade and Naruto/Sasuke/Sakura, but Kakashi/Obito/Rin is trickier because they're not exactly the same. But they're not entirely different either and this fic does a really good job of showing how there are aspects of the past reflected in the future, the way his students sometimes remind Kakashi of the past, of the course his life has taken, sometimes drawing them deliberately, sometimes letting the reader pick them up on their own. And it's a solid version of kid!Kakashi, which I don't see nearly often enough, which would have been enough to win me over all on its own. ^_~ (No warnings/pairings.)

[beckerbell] And then you've got the more playful fic, where Iruka suddenly has to deal with everyone being really nice to him and it takes him half a day to figure out why and it's just *so freaking fun*. I adored it because the author is really talented, the prose gliding by very smoothly, the pacing really solid, the way it flowed from one scene to the next very natural. But it was also that there was a sense of subtlty even amongst the obvious, that the concept of the fic (ie, why everyone was suddenly all over Iruka) wasn't hammered into our heads too badly so that the concept felt stretched and forced. Instead, it was lighter and had just enough little touches all over (Iruka's way of describing Kakashi towards the end, the way Kakashi was acting like a sulking six-year-old--which should have been a cliche description, but it worked--the way Kakashi menaced everyone without barely having to say a word <3) that I absolutely fell in love. Many ♥ for this one. (Kakashi/Iruka.)

[na_no_nai] Hot, first-time NaruIno smut. *__*

[na_no_nai] In which Sasuke is pissed off and hungry and Naruto is a pervert with odd taste in noodles.

[eevilprawn] To be perfectly honest, the noodles thing squicked me for the longest time, so I put of reading it for ages before giving in... It is quite delicious...

[1uz] Kakashi ponders on the reason students get crushes on their teachers, and the risks of Sasuke doing so.

[beckerbell] I say this increasingly more and more these days, but it seems more and more appropriate as my attention span continues to fluctuate. It's one thing for me to sit and happily read 70k of a Kakashi fic, given how obessed I am. It's another for me to be glued to the screen for a SasuNaru fic, despite my fondness for them. It's not that I'm disinterested many times, it's that SasuNaru is one of those pairings where the canon is so complex and so good that not much in the fandom can really live up to it. But this fic was brilliant, the dull, throbbing pain I felt in my chest the entire time that Naruto was trapped in Sound's care, the way everything about Sasuke tugged at him, the way you could really feel the gravity of everything between them. Which is not an easy thing to capture in fic, it's more than just a certain style of writing or dialogue or characterization, it's the way it all came together. It helped that I really felt Naruto's bruises and scrapes, that that's how everything felt while reading this fic--bruised and aching. Even when hope sprung up, it was the kind that hurt... much like the series at its finest. I really like the author's Naruto, the way he feels about Sasuke, the sharpness of his character, the way he views everything that's happened to him. It's rough and painful and everything hurts, but Naruto always has that certain quality that makes him believe. I really can't say much more about this fic, other than that I think it's a breath-taking read, something anyone interested in SasuNaru should read, a story that made my bones hurt not from the physical pain, but from everything these two have been through. Brilliant story and, damn, that ending was one hell of a punch. (Sasuke/Naruto, some NC-17 content.)

[isolabela] Ohsodark. Explores how fucked up Sasuke really is.

[Anria] This is a Neji-centric fic which . . . overall, doesn't have much purpose. What I liked was the way that we get one way Neji could see the rest of the shinobi around him - and in particular, the connections between them. I didn't like the fact that the author had Neji knowing about the Nine-Tails, seeing as nobody Naruto's age in the series has a clue about it - but apart from that, it's one of those pointless little fics that's wonderful to read anyway. I also liked the way the author took a pre-established metaphor connected to Neji - that of the birds - and moulded it for the purposes of this fic, giving it more of a sense that this was lifted straight from the series. Go read!

[cephiedvariable] An absolutely BEAUTIFUL Neji fic with an interesting concept to boot. Chakra blindness- I applaud the author for being able to write that well. I also applaud the author for just generally being able to write post-Kidomaru-fight Neji well. I just generally applaud the author for writing so damn well.

[subdee] Neiji+birds [insert joke about overused metaphor here] but seriously, this is the fic that did it first and best.

[Aza] Neji finds this both baffling and comforting; comforting because for the first two weeks after the failed mission to retrieve Sasuke, he was virtually blind. The world dissolved into a blurry haze two feet from his face, and into a sea of gray three feet from that. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hiashi had come to see him -- Neji dimly remembers barking out a hoarse order for him to leave, and then he maybe went a little postal. He would have made a full recovery if it hadn't been for the curse seal on his forehead, which apparently thought he was dying and began to erase the byakugan from his mind and body. He fought it off, but the damage was done. [NejiHina]

[Rikugou] We all know Naruto was shunned in the village though often times it fades into the background because of the amount of action packed into it. When he is reminded that this situation hasn't changed despite having people to acknowledge him, Naruto turns to other sources to fill the hole in his heart.

[na_no_nai] Het and yuri. Yes, yuri. And it's hot. *__*

[beckerbell] I haven't read much KakaIru fic lately, there's been too little that's caught my attention, much less managed to make me sit up and sparkle like mad. (To be fair, I haven't been looking lately, either. I've been branching out more towards gen.) But then this author posted this fic and I had to at least start it, I figured, and then I promptly could not put it down. The writing is gorgeous, this is why KakaIru works for me, why it's such a brilliant, fun, awesome pairing. Because Kakashi is weird without being a chariacture of himself, the author being so goddamned clever that I spent the entire fic alternately shimmering or laughing out loud. Her Iruka is much the same, he can snap back a retort or be remarkably human and it's a gorgeous, gorgeous foil for a character like Kakashi. Even the OC in the story fits so damn perfectly into a world like Naruto and, holy christ, her Ibiki in this story, even when he's barely on the screen, has to be my favorite portrayal of him, like, ever. The writing is that smooth, gorgeous kind that's fantastically done on a technical level, but also the kind that lets you see all these little quirks to both characters even while the story's plot (such as it is, with Kakashi and Iruka out on their 'date') rolls right along. The conversation is perfect. Iruka's thoughts/feelings are perfect. Kakashi's just... asdlfkjalsdfj, I can only jibber out of love because goddamn he's brilliant here. I sat down to read this fic and I didn't get up the entire time, I even had to force myself to slow down, because it was the kind of fic that I kept zooming forward in an attempt to get more, more, more of it. I just. Fuck, yes, this is why KakaIru is still my favorite pairing. (Kakashi/Iruka.)

[grey_sterling] Sequel to Spring Fever. So why didn't Iruka just refuse Kakashi's rather odd proposal? Perhaps the spring season is to blame once more.

[Mklutz] 'August is a time for ghosts,' the story starts, and Kakashi has ghosts, and Iruka has ghosts and really just about everyone in Konoha has ghosts. And ghosts have Konoha.

[subdee] Naruto/Gaara, in a way. Abstract, metaphor-rich, very pretty.

[Anria] Sasuke/Hinata is not a pairing I had ever considered before coming across this fic. I mean, come on, it's Sasuke and Hinata. I love both of them dearly, but there's no way I would have thought Sasuke could be good for Hinata, or vice versa. Then, this fic. It dealt with the relationship both of them had been forced into via arranged marriage in exactly the way the two of them would deal with such a relationship; by not dealing with it at all. Gradually, they come to an understanding in their own, unique, Sasuke and Hinata way, and it works.

[Sintari] Just the kind of realism that I like in my fics.

[disregard30] SasuHina.Usually not my cup of tea but this author made it believable for me,made me wanna explore it more, read more fics involving this couple. It's not overly sappy, not totally fluffy, there's no sudden "falling deeply in love" outta nowhere...it's real. Real the way life is and it put a smile on my face.

[cephiedvariable] I'm all Shikamaru/Temari OTP to the nth degree and this fic just does it so well. There's not very much romance in the relationship as potrayed here, just a lot of hard sensibility and the feeling that they're attempting to stray away from any sense of sentimentality. This was actually the FIRST ShikaTem fic I ever read and remains to this day my favorite.

[isolabela] A great AU with Kakashi as a contract killer and Sasuke as a troubled kid that keeps intruding into his life. The characters are translated really well.

[na_no_nai] This was just too damn funny.

[Aza] Oh dear god. Nearly pissed myself. Read this for a damn good laugh.

[isolabela] Beautiful piece and fantastic insight into Sasuke's mind.

[beckerbell] So, just the other day, I was bitching about the lack of fic with interaction between Kakashi and Jiraiya, and while this isn't exactly what I was originally thinking of, it was indeed great fun. Because Jiraiya is so Jiraiya with Yondaime's team of little brats, totally being himself while he ostensibly teaches them a ninja lesson and cuteness with Team Yondaime, but the highlight is really the ending when Yondaime comes back, because it reminds me, dude, there's not enough Jiraiya and Yondaime interaction either! I so totally want more. Plus, yes, this fic was cute and fun and happy. Naruto needs more of those. ^_~ (No warnings/pairings, maybe a little hinting of Team Yondaime pairings.)

[fic_shelf] Team Yondaime goodness.

[beckerbell] I really liked the narrative voice for this piece, it had a hint of something sharp and snappy to it without sacrificing the characterization to get it. I also really liked the way Hinata was written here, still shy and nervous and a little fidgety, but with that finally found core of something like strength to her, the way I just fell rather completely in love with her all over again, the way her shyness and stammering were endearing here because they weren't the only thing to her character. At the same time, I also loved Neji's characterization, the way he sees her a little differently now, the way they interact when Hinata works up the courage to ask for a second fight, this time without the bitterness, because she doesn't think it's good for him and the surprisingly complex and subtle way Neji responds to her words. While the ending is a bit abrupt, it was a fic that made me really just happy to like these two so much. (Neji/Hinata.)

[Sintari] My other favorite Neji/Hinata fic. I love how she gets in each of their heads.

[bakkhos] This one features an "ouch" ending. Cute at first, but gets sadder as you go on.

[fic_shelf] Starts sweet, but the last line hits you like a punch to the gut.

[beckerbell] Oho, this was terribly amusing and actually really clever in the way the cards were both described and individualized--a peek at the Naruto characters' mailboxes on Valentine's day pretty much sounds like a recipe for a boring, flat, and uninteresting fic in the wrong author's hands, yes? But this was fun to read and I laughed out loud at least twice and I LOVED that there wasn't too much time spent on any one particular thing (like the descriptions of the cards or the inscriptions or heavy favoritism towards one or two particular characters). And... I guess I was just quite amused and thus must shove it at people, if I can. ^_~ (No real pairings/warnings.)

[isolabela] A very interesting take on this scenario.

[Sintari] Sequel to Late Night Awkward. It may be even funnier, if that's possible. If you like these, make sure to poke the author about the 3rd installment. She keeps saying its almost finished...

[Sintari] This fic is hysterically funny and touching. The author has one of the best senses of humor I've come across in Naruto fandom.

[na_no_nai] An interesting take on why Itachi massacred the clan.

[Aza] Read this. A what-if that works.

[Sintari] There isn't enough well-written Neji/Hinata. Thank goodness for this story.

[etsumi] I'm not a fan of the use of the asterix or asterices for emphasis in fanfiction; it's a big peeve of mine. However I stepped beyond my snotty aversion because I adored this fic. It's hilarious, obviously just for fun, but really and quite original in its humour. Did you ever think Gaara's ultimate sand defense could be problem during gay sex? I certainly didn't and really enjoyed the result.

[Kat] Similar to the previous fic, as it an expansion of it; it's got all the same good points. I love Lee in this one. ^_^

[fic_shelf] A slightly angsty, ineffably sweet, believable LeeSaku fic.

[Aza] It's got all the elements of a damn good fic going on. There's romance that's sweet, new, shy and believable; humor because there's just so much humor in this relationship; action--in both ways: the fun and seuxal kind; and good, quality writing--I think I'm in love with the characterization of Sakura, the author has created a delightful voice, one that is so very IC. Just read. Go, now!

[beckerbell] *squee!* Eeeee! Oh, this left me with the biggest grin on my face because it was just absolutely damned darling and so funny. XD XD I adore Meg's writing and she could get me to read just about anything, but I'm terribly thrilled to see her writing Naruto fic and to characterize Sasuke and Naruto and Hinata and the way they interact so damned perfectly. I just... I could absolutely picture everything in this ficlet, especially Naruto, just... *happiness* I love goodgoodgood fic. (No real warnings/pairings.)

[fic_shelf] Some good Sasuke-Hinata interaction as well.

[beckerbell] I was just randomly surfing around FFNET while bored one night and I think I read some of the author's DGM fic (or set it aside to read at some point) and just happened to stumble over a Shikamaru/Ino story that had an interesting beginning. I rarely read fics unless they have a strong opening anymore and this one certainly caught my attention and kept it with the cute, fun, adorable ShikaIno dynamic that I really like. Plus, it's really funny to watch these two grow up together, to see Shikamaru's reactions to her and other people through his life, and then the very cute and funny relationship with Inochi, who was very fun to read about here. Just a nice fic that I'm glad to have come across, I don't get to read nearly enough ShikaIno, so I wanted something light and fun. :D (Shikamaru/Ino.)

[cephiedvariable] This is short, but beautiful. Shikamaru takes Temari to the ocean because he's lazy and can't think of any other way to thank her for saving his life. Temari's fascination with the ocean is beautifully handled in this fic and very typical of someone who's spent their entire life living in the desert. Oh, and did I mention I love this pairing. Har.

[Anria] Pairings don't really come into the purpose of this fic, but it definitely cannot be classed as gen, so there you go. Essentially, Naruto accidentally-on-purpose outs Sasuke to the rest of team 7. That description does not cover just how funny this fic is, though - and despite being so funny I had to bite down on my hand to keep from waking the rest of the house up, it also had the lovely touch of Sasuke wanting to hide being gay for the sake of not hurting Sakura, and also not knowing how to say that in order to get Naruto to shut up. The second chapter of the fic is a small sequel, which is slightly more sappy and slightly less funny, but adds a few nice touches if you wanted more of that fic universe.

[bakkhos] When Hinata is around, awkward situations and embarrassment will surely follow. If this is your cup of tea, start with a base of Hinata replacing Sakura for a day, add a mischievous Naruto, throw in a dash of humiliated Sasuke, and stir. The result is quite yummy.

[fic_shelf] Gets Sasuke's odd combination of rudeness and his hidden sense of decency just right.

[jesterry] One of the rare pre-shippuuden prepubescent SH stories written captivating enough even for those who crave the many reticences of a grown-up romance. Despite the hilarity of the scenario there're some very deep adult concepts which leave you breathless at the irony of it all.

[Aza] I'm not usually a fan of fics that pair Sasuke with anyone either than Naruto and Sakura, just because of that certain team 7 dynamic. But I thought crazy_toffee did an amazing job justifying this pairing. The writing, as always, was beautiful and there were parts here and there that made my heart skip a little.

[beckerbell] he writing of this story could maybe have used tightening up in a spot or two, mostly just a sanding down of the corners, but the heart of the story was there, when Sakura was visiting Lee in the hospital and you can start to see the glimmers of affection between the two, the way things start to become a little more comfortable. The author writes Sakura in such a way that she becomes so likable to me (not that I dislike her, mind <3) and Lee is OH MY GOD SO DAMNED ADORABLE. His enthusiasm and earnestness were wonderfully done--so intense in him, but not so bad that he became a parody of himself. And just... this made my LeeSaku fangirl happy, I totally wibbled when she gave him chocolates and they shared. ♥ (Lee/Sakura.)

[bakkhos] This is Sasuke angst at its best. Phoenix’s stark writing style compliments the tragic nature of the story, and the narrative itself manages to reflect the bleak mood of the main character. Utterly heartbreaking. There are no words.

[beckerbell] Eeee, yes. This is a fic I've been waiting for for what feels like ages, the idea of Kakashi as a potential future Hokage. Ever since Kishimoto mentioned it in an early interview (long before Tsunade was introduced), the idea of Kakashi taking on the heavy burden of Hokage has intrigued me because it would be such a terrible burden for him, but he would do it without hesitation because it's what the village needed. Aishuu does a lovely job of capturing the kind of future that could happen with the series if it were to go in a darker direction, one that is painful, but not necessarily quite bleak. There's one moment in this fic, when Gai addresses Kakashi that's such a quiet, subtle thing and it hit me like a ton of bricks because, yes, that's when you realized everything that had changed/been lost/ended. Very, very lovely fic. (No warnings/pairings.)

[Sintari] This fic features a delicious Genma and my new favorite pick-up line of all time.

[Anria] Considering how little interaction Naruto and Ino have during the series, this fic makes the pairing surprisingly plausible. Of course, anyone appealing to Naruto's loneliness is plausible, but still. The fic is from Ino's perspective, detailing the progression of their relationship from her point of view - which began as a way to rebel against her parents, but gradually changed into something much more.

[subdee] Naruto/Ino. Fun, funny and very, very teenaged. Sunfreak built this pairing single-handedly.

[beckerbell] So, I'm still at the point in the manga where Tsunade hasn't been around that much, she's just come back to Konoha (at least as of the time I write this rec, I'm still getting to the rest of it! XD) and I just... I remember seeing a fanart or two of Jiraiya/Tsunade and being intrigued by the idea 'cause I liked Jiraiya a whole lot at the time. Thinking that I'd never be able to find a story that matched up with my hopes for the characters, I clicked on this one anyway 'cause it promised me smut. And just... holy shit, this is perfect for what I wanted. The writing is incredibly sharp and good, just beautifully written, and the characterization is so perfect that my teeth ached from it. They're not in smooshy love, but they're not just using each other, either, and the story never had to comment on that, really, you just GOT what kind of relationship they had from Tsunade's feelings. And, oh, it was gorgeous that she didn't pull her punches, that he didn't pull his, that they drank and swore and were fighters/ninjas, that there weren't any easy answers, but they didn't dwell on things, either. She didn't forget the people she'd loved before, but neither was the attraction to Jiraiya about them, it stood on its own. And the attraction/sex? Gorgeous. Just... wah, GOOD HETSMUT for a pairing that I suspect I will now be forever in love with. I could not have asked for anything more than what this fic gave me. LOVELOVELOVE. (Jiraiya/Tsunade, graphic content.)

[subdee] Tsunade/Jiraiya. Nostalgic and HOT, grown-up in a way that most Naruto fanfic just isn't.

[beckerbell] "Lee-san... What does it mean when someone comes undone?" I really liked this little story because... the characterizations felt right to me, the way Sakura slowly starts to talk about the painful thought running through her head, the way she tied it into Lee's bandages, which are such a part of him and... I just like the whole parallel/metaphor that's used so well here. And Lee's characterization was just... heart-breakingly perfect, so bright and earnest and true. (A little bit Sakura/Lee, but genfic more than anything.)

[cephiedvariable] It's hard to believe that a fic about Sakura changing Lee's bandages in the hospital can be chock full of excellent character study and really good angst. It's very bitter, the way Sakura is falling apart over Sasuke and poor Lee can't do anything to comfort her no matter how much he wants to.

[cephiedvariable] The ledgendary Sanin as kids. Written by Sunfreak. *gushes*

[beckerbell] [Link snagged from headiscavingin. :D] I admit, when I first started this fic, I was a little worried that it would turn out to be a little... well, routine, that it wouldn't have the right spark of life to it. Don't get me wrong, it's cute and solidly in character and I really liked the way Lee looked at Sakura, the way they interacted. But then I got to the final third of the fic and just... oh. Yes. That's my LeeSaku right there. Because Lee isn't empty-headed by any means and because Sakura isn't just an empty-template of a cute girl, they're them when she tells him about her visit to Sasuke. Things like that melt my heart and make me fall even harder for these two, honestly. (Lee/Sakura.)

[Kat] I like how this author writes Lee. His voice, how he is with Sakura, everything. I also liked how it touched on Sakura's feelings for Sasuke...I could see that happening.

[beckerbell] *burbles happily* LeeSaku fic! Well, okay, it wasn't really out and out LeeSaku, but it was about them and it was a moment of connection and it was so sweetly them. I really liked the way that Sakura was so human here, that she's proud of what she's accomplished with her own two hands (it's set towards the beginning of the time skip), but she still misses her teammates, is still angry with them as much as she's sad over them. Sakura is a wonderful character here and I've never liked her better than I do in these moments, which is made even better when Lee comes along and helps her remember better times, even when he isn't trying. The dynamic between them here is so sweet and adorable and just slightly spastic, but it's more mature than it used to be and maybe something will happen and maybe it won't, but they're lovely together the way they are. And I adored, so much, the ending and what it might or might not be saying. ♥ (Lee/Sakura.)

[Kat] Cute little LeeSaku fic.

[beckerbell] Okay, this story starts out rather stiff in the prose, but it was hardly bad, so I kept with it and somewhere around the middle of the first chapter, the author found her rhythm, I think. After that? OMG, LEESAKU LOVE. I adored this story because it drew these wonderful parallels between the two characters without making them OMGSOULMATES, because it wasn't aiming for romance (even if there were still elements of that present and hints at something maybe in the future, maybe not), and instead focused on a friendship and understanding between Lee and Sakura, after Part One of the manga. I loved this because it fit with the Naruto world, because it had all of these moments that tugged at my heart in the exact same way that the manga itself does, because you got to see what amazing and likable characters they both are, seperately and playing off each other. As much as I love LeeSaku romance, this one knocked me on my ass for the way it didn't just toss them into a relationship, that it might never happen at all in this timeline, but that they're both growing older and understanding more and more. I just... I don't think I realized how much I wanted a story like this until I was in the middle of it, so I'm gushing over the absolutely solid sense the author has on the Naruto world. It may not work for those who aren't a fan of the pairing, but because I love it so much, this was exactly what I wanted. (LeeSaku. Except it sort of isn't.)

[Kat] I really like this one. The characterization for both Lee and Sakura is good, and I like how they interact. I just wish it was finished. =(

[beckerbell] You know, I could swear I'd rec'd this fic before... or at least read it because it seemed familiar, but I couldn't find it in my recs list, so here goes anyway. This was... it's bittersweet but not in a depressing sort of way, which is how I tend to view the Naruto series in general. And Lee is just... I love Lee. I love that he's not just comedic relief, that he understands more than a lot of people would give him credit for, but he still remains enthusiastic and strong in his beliefs. This fic was... something I could see working with the series itself, the way Sakura isn't perfect and how Lee begins to see how much more to her there is than he first saw and the way... even if it's not directly dealt with in the fic, the way it's implied and touched on how her feelings for Sasuke... it's not precisely that she moves past them or they fade, but that maybe they will someday and Lee holds her for that one moment when she needs it and there's a connection there. And then there's a future for them and it's good and it's... what I want for them someday. Because I love those two crazy kids together. (Lee/Sakura, one-sided Sasuke/Sakura.)

[Kat] I like Lee's perspective in this one. And Sakura, too; how she deals with Sasuke, and Lee.

[bakkhos] Does anyone know if Kisame was actually paired with Deidara before Orochimaru defected? If yes, you'll have to pretend otherwise when you read this. That aside, this one highly entertained me. And Kisame's first reaction to Itachi = priceless.

[cephiedvariable] OH GEN KISAME FIC HOW I LOVE YOU. AND WISH THERE WAS MORE OR YOU. This is Kisame on the dynamics of the Akatsuki- the role of the younger members in particular. I'm endlessly fascinated by the way the Akatsuki partnerships work and, especially, the way the entire group works as a unit, thus this fic was just... really brilliant. Interesting comparison between Sasori and Deidara's partnership and Itachi and Kisame's. Introspection on what makes shinobi as young as Itachi and Deidara become missing nin in the first place. Oh, and really awsome Itachi characterization because it's a general rule of fanfiction that the only decent Itachi characterization comes from Kisame's point of view. I love the way this fic does an analytical full circle that's more or less along the lines of Kisame being all like: "Well, I did stupid stuff when I was fourteen, but that's no frame of reference because I wasn't INSANE." Oh, and it's Kisame. Which is why you all need to go read it right now. *fangirls*

[Mklutz] Gen! How often do you get to see gen on my Naruto page? But it's worth it. Iruka-centric and...well, at first it almost seems insulting, but really it's not. It's pretty darn smart. O_O Iruka... I love you...

[beckerbell] .......ahahahahaha! *cracks up* Oh, god, somehow this was just absolutely perfect. And not only that, the author actually had some pretty good timing, she knew just how long to extend the story and not push it and the ending was PERFECT and, oh, my god, I would laugh so, so hard if this were true. 'Cause that'd be awesome. XD (No warnings/pairings.)

[beckerbell] ...wow. This is seriously one of the best Naruto fics I've read in ages, possibly in the entire fandom. Every single one of these scenes was perfectly crafted, not a word was wasted, and every single one revealed something about a character that most people would never realize, each insight was brilliant. Every single one of them showed exactly how difficult and harsh it is to be raised in a ninja village without anyone ever realizing it at all. I liked the first two very much, Aishuu did so very well with Sasuke and Neji, but by the time I hit drabble number three, the Chouji one... that was when I felt like I'd had the rug pulled out from underneath me because the insight into his character was painfully brilliant. Just... this is a must read, I cannot say anything further than that. (No warnings/pairings.)

[cephiedvariable] This is absolutely incredible gen fiction. Short drabbles about each of the genin tweleve and what shaped them as children. Shikamaru's is absolutely brilliant (and probably my favorite in the entire set) and Naruto's wins for heartbreak and mention of the Third Hokage. Because the Third Hokage is jawsome. ^___^

[Anria] Married life with Lee, Sakura, and the squirrels. Cute (but not nauseatingly so) and funny.

[beckerbell] Ahhh, I could really become fond of LeexSakura. I mean, I like it already, but I could become really fond of it. Lee took about all of five minutes to slide his way right into my heart and I just love him to tiny, tiny little pieces. And it's just... wonderful to read a fic about him and Sakura by such a wonderful author. It was so cute and fun and hysterical and just made me smile to read it when I was having a crappy day. Moonsheen really does have a talent for writing these funny lines that are the clever sort of funny, the kind that... I'm not sure how to describe it. But it's a lot like what the Naruto series itself has. Anyway, go read. LeexSakura! Funny! Plus! Squirrels!! There need not be any more incentive than that. (LeexSakura.)

[beckerbell] This was... oh, I couldn't stop laughing, because it was a hysterical parody and, well, really, HELLISH for Neji. Deeply and truly. Just... it's that kind of story that's beautifully OOC but yet not, you know? The kind that takes their basic character traits and amps them up until they're over-exaggerated versions of themselves and that's where the funny comes in? And just... it was clever and funny and, oh, god, that really is just HELL and I laugh just thinking about it and... yeah. This rec kind of sucks, but you should read the fic anyway. Just because Lee, TenTen, and Gai are so much fun when they're making poor Neji's life torture. And because Neji's cute when he suffers. And. You know. The funny. XD (No real warnings/pairings, I don't think.)

[cephiedvariable] *heroic pose* It's an absolutely hilarious Team Gai fic! Lee, Tenten and Gai drive poor Neji to the brink of suicide by playing nurse to him in the hospital! Wow, Neji seems to end up in the hospital a lot. o_O

[beckerbell] This was... oh, this hurt because I could see it and (as much as I don't want to) believe it. The dialogue between Neji and Lee was perfection, both three-dimensional characters in their own ways and not just plot devices (plus, Lee was just sparkling here, why, why, WHY DOES HE NOT GET MORE LOVE?), the writing was gorgeous, and the characterization was so right and fitting that it bordered on painful. It's one of those things that carried the Naruto feeling so sharply that I could almost believe that I had read this in the manga itself, I could hear the characters speaking their lines, and the light imagery (especially with the cotton candy) was fantastic. And there's a line in here, a certain moment where Lee comes to a point, that made me want to cry, that's how strong the emotional impact was. Quite possibly one of the single best Naruto fanfics out there. ;__; (Lee/Sakura.)

[cephiedvariable] Lee's pointless pursuit of Sakura as seen through Neji's eyes. Well written Lee, well written Sakura, well written (and long suffering) Neji. This fic sums up everything you have to love about Lee's character and then shows it to us from a very cynical, disapproving point of view. The writing and dialouge is absolutely BRILLIANT and despite the humour, it still manages to be a tad depressing at the end. And this makes my inner Neji fangirl SO happy. ^___^

[beckerbell] I was browsing recs_rainbow and came across a post with a Naruto rec in it, a NaruSaku one and I figured, oh, why not, I'll just read the beginning to see if I like it. It was light and snappy and fun, one of those fics that wasn't so heavy that it was like wading through water to read it (not that those aren't welcome sometimes, too), the way they sparred and Naruto slowly showed her moments of vulnerability and Sakura was determined and smart and a nice break from all the angst they go through without making their lives too easy or forgetting that they're ninja. An interesting piece I'm glad to have read. (Naruto/Sakura.)

[Kat] Neat little fic dealing with Sakura and Naruto. I like how it shows them as friends, first of all.

[etsumi] Lovely piece I came across randomly while googling believe it or not. I always liked Temari but never really thought to look for fiction about her. I liked this piece especially for it's comparison of Sand and Konoha, and also the author's ability to write a short, introspective piece about just life and then leaving both you and Temari content in the end. A smooth and a nice change in gen fics.

[cephiedvariable] And finally, a really random Temari-centric fic. And it's not just about Temari, it's also just about Konoha in general and how it's a rather atypical ninja village. Short, poignant and refreshing.

[Anria] I loved this fic. It never made sense to me that Iruka would automatically love Naruto, or even automatically forgive him for the Kyuubi. Iruka isn't a saint - he doesn't love everybody, and he isn't kind to everybody. He's kind to Naruto because Naruto has no one else, and Iruka sees himself in that. This fic detailed one potential beginning of their relationship in a way that I loved because it made Iruka human, instead of this too-perfect saint he is in too many fics.

[beckerbell] I had no idea what to expect from this story, I randomly clicked onto it, started to read (*gasp!* Actual readable Iruka narrative! Hooray!) and was promptly utterly engrossed by the story. It's about the days just before the series begins, with Iruka's latest crop of students, including one Uzumaki Naruto and the writing is just absolutely brilliant. Iruka is fully realized here, his balancing his hatred of the Nine Tails with his basic goodness as a person, with wanting to give Naruto a chance, but nearly making himself sick in the process and, god, frustrated, upset Naruto that everyone ignores and nothing is easy and everything is difficult in that way the series has and no one is perfect, everyone has their faults and it was just brilliant, to the point that it left me incoherent. Quite possibly the best Iruka fic I've ever read, it absolutely does justice to his character and the heartwrenching story told/about to be told. (No warnings/pairings.)

[subdee] Iruka and Naruto pre-series fic, sadly incomplete. Cute, great sense of detail, great characterization.

[bakkhos] Drop dead funny. Literally. Poor Kisame.

[beckerbell] So I marathoned about 40 episodes yesterday and almost got all caught up, but I had to end my little spree on the Itachi intro episode, right? And clearly I'm all "NARUTONARUTONARUTONARUTONARUTO" now and I was skimming the Naruto section at FFNET (Holy shit, it's grown since I was last there. Literally ten times the size I remember it as. o__o) and this was the first fic that jumped out at me with an author's name that I recognized. One of the things solderini does best is write funny, funny fics and this is no exception. I about sprained something laughing at some of the jokes (especially when Itachi was writing about his new partner, Kisame) and just generally enjoyed Teh Funneh. (No real warnings/pairings, I don't think?)

[cephiedvariable] Itachi and Sasuke write letters back and forth. Itachi works so deviously well in humour fics... and then Kisame was mentioned and that just made everything better.

[beckerbell] Of course, he knows that I love somebody too. I'm still not too sure what Sasuke-kun thinks of him... when I said the name, he just arched an eyebrow and sighed like he does when he's resigned to the worst-possible scenario. Then he wished me the best of luck and said he hoped the two of us never have babies. I dunno. There's just something about that line that got me, the way Sakura and Sasuke's friendship had changed from her crush to actually being friends and that she's moved on to someone else (and knowing me and that I'm rec'ing it, it's obvious who it is, of course)... and that now I totally wish they did have babies, because that would be the BEST THING EVER. And I liked this story for the way it was just the right amount of wistful and just the right amount of growing up and just the right amount of looking towards the future. It made me happy and it was adorable and I really quite like this Sakura. ♥ (Sakura/Lee.)

[Kat] I love Sakura in this one. Also, how Sasuke is dealt with in a more positive manner. It's nice to see them as friends.

[cephiedvariable] I don't know how I found this fic or why I like it, only that I do. It makes me buy Goth!Sakura. It makes me buy KakaSaku. It makes me... not totally angry about the way Sakura is treated in the fan community. I can't exactly pin down what is good about this fic (aside from the writing, of course), but I guess... it's completely improbable, yet somehow makes you believe that this could theoretically happen. Plus it points out that Kakashi pays less attention to Sakura than his slightly angstier boy students. And there's a POINT to pointing it out.

[Anria] It's not an especially new idea, that Naruto must have learned some pretty good accounting tricks since he was living on his own from age tiny. However, that particular idea has never been explored with such thoroughness - and with such hilarious consequences - as in this fic. Never underestimate the power of someone who knows what they're doing with money.

[Kat] Ha! Oh, I like this! =D

[etsumi] The hottest KakashiIruka PWP and when I say "plot what plot" I mean PWP, but so fantastically written. The notions of "uke" and "seme" and all characteristics attached are blessedly absent from this story.

[Micah] This story is incomplete and likely to never be finished. Honestly though, that doesn't matter. It's one of the quintessential must read kakairu fanfics.

[Keitorin] All about Kakashi and what he's really gone through. How Rin died, being an Anbu, how he coped and copes once again. Takes place after Sasuke returns. Many chapters full of wonderful descriptions, and when there's KakaIru, it's so good! A warning that the chapters are very long and there are many chapters. It took me hours to get to the last few chapters.

[beckerbell] This... is exactly what I want from Naruto fanfic. This is exactly the kind of story that keeps me in the English fandom, hoping eventually something like this will come along. I absolutely adored this fic, I absolutely adored the characterizations (I'm very protective of people making Iruka out to be some sort of whiney, wimpy, "girly" character, but the author did just the perfect blend of blushing Iruka, parental Iruka, and teacher Iruka. XD Naruto was a wonderful little hyperactive idiot and I just wanted to hug him all the time. And my love of Kakashi-sensei in this fic? It knows no bounds. Just perverted and weird and teasing enough, but not, like, a parody of himself.) and the interaction between all four of the characters was just perfect, that place between warm, heartfelt moments and yet not pushing it too far, so that I could still believe it. The writing is also wonderful, smoothly readable, making the story just flow right along, making it so much fun to read. Gah, this review sucks. Just go read the fic, it's entirely possibly my new favorite Naruto fic. *sparkles*

[gryvon] Iruka asks Kakashi to read Icha Icha to him as practice to avoid blushing. Wonderful sex ensues. A very cute, sexy, highly recommended read.

[Micah] Out of all the stories i've read, this is my favorite pwp fanfic. It's simplicity, wit and little bit of plot make it just that much more lovable... and hot!

[Beachan] One thing that really held me from enjoying fully this fic was the Grammar mistakes, but other than that it was a good read.

[etsumi] Somewhat sequel: Morning After

[Mklutz] Somebody's changing all the rules, and that just might be a good thing.

[beckerbell] When I first started watching the Naruto anime, I was immediately attracted to SasuNaru, because it seemed the obvious and interesting pairing, and then Kakashi-sensei showed up and there was all this KakaIru on the net and I got distracted. But Moonsheen reminds me of why I liked SasuNaru in the first place--those elements of teammates, friendship, rivalry, and attraction all mixed together in a fun little relationship with sparks flying everywhere. Moonsheen writes with a sense of humor that permeates the whole fic, not making it parody or a laugh-a-minute riot, but the kind that keeps you with a smile on your face the whole time you're reading. I really, really liked the way The Golden Rule was written, it's not a style you see very often and it worked so well for Naruto, really nailing down both his and Sasuke's characterizations and Morning After continued that and I is a haaaa~ppy fangirl. XD (Sasuke/Naruto.)

[Rikugou] It seriously captures the relationship between Sasuke and Naruto perfectly. If they were to ever get together, I can imagine just this happening.

[Kat] I love the narration style in the first piece. And I can totally see it going that way, too. ^_^

[etsumi] Sequel: Pretty When You're Mine

[etsumi] I was completely surprised at how well written this was. The battle scenes are great, very well thought out and it's very easy to believe that this could happen in the manga. While Naruto and Sasuke hold the main roles, the author did move between characters intermittently. It was interesting to see how people have grown, how their relationships have changed and generally appreciate some pretty good characterisation. Even with some OOC moments, I've enjoyed what she's written so far. I regret to say that it hasn't been updated for some time. Just fair warning :)

[Rikugou] I don't know how in hell I managed to miss this fic. But find it I did so onto this page it goes. I like fics with a more mature, older Naruto. The loud and brash ninja is lovable and all but I like seeing him grown up. From what we saw of the newest chapters of Naruto (chapter 245+), he's not as loud as he was when he was 12. Take that a step further and imagine him at 20. With Sasuke, you can tell that he's pretty much going to be the same because he's so focused on revenge that he disregards everything else. The only thing that brings a rise out of him is Naruto, Itachi and anyone who calls him weak. A reaction is better than none right? There isn't much known about the seal on Naruto and what the Yondaime hoped to accomplish by sacrificing himself to imprison the Kyuubi. When Naruto finds himself losing control over the fox demon, he leaves Konoha to protect the village and making everyone think he's dead.

[Beachan] One of my most favorite fics. It was such a treat to read this one, and I recommend it to anyone. The version in aff.net is the yaoi-sh version, while the one at ff.net is more of a general/friendship fic. The two versions are different from eachother in some of the SasuNaru scenes. (so If you want to enjoy the full yaoi experience, read it at aff.net. xD)

[Anria] Heh heh. When this fic begins, Sasuke and Naruto have slept together the night before. What the fic is about is Sasuke's typically paranoid reaction to Naruto leaving his shirt on Sasuke's floor. It's such a stupidly silly little thing to worry over that it makes most of the situations in the fic utterly hilarious, because Sasuke's being oh-so-serious about things which are anything but. Go read!

[Mklutz] This is probably one of my favourite Naruto lemons even though the sex isn't that graphic - it's just the pairing and the way it's done and the whole buildup. Lots of plot here, but in the end you're kind of left hanging. A forbidden jutsu is performed on Naruto, splitting him into two people - Naruto and the Kyuubi. But it's complicated, and very vulnerable, and they are sent to live in a house with Sasuke as a kind of balance. Sasuke's not sure why, but Tsunade insists, and she has very good reasons. AMAZING interaction between Naruto and Kyuubi and Sasuke and Kyuubi. Great use of characters not normally seen, like Ino. XD Whee~!

[Rikugou] I like Kyuubi fics except there aren't that many out there. There has to be a reason why Yondaime sealed the demon in Naruto. I mean, he put it in a baby! Unless he was a sadistic person and no one knew. Ź_Ź Which I seriously doubt. Sugahlei also wrote Out From Inside which I rec'ed back in February. Good authors usually put out good fics ne? XD An unknown enemy hire missing-nin to assassinate the Hokage. On the way to their mission, they find Naruto and decide to try the jutsu they planned on using to kill their target except it has unforseen consequences.

[Mklutz] Naruto wakes up feeling less than stellar and realizes he's not in his own house. Sasuke proceeds to throw his boxers at him. (No, really! There's more to it, but doesn't that sound great?)

[etsumi] This was an incredibly original plot. Don't let one-shot deter you because it's a very long one-shot. Your initial reaction to this fic would be some confusion, followed by doubt of the author's sanity, then a very pressing intrigue that may cause you to read the whole story far too quickly. Characterisation made the biggest impression on me as although placed in the Naruto timeline, the story takes place in a completely foreign setting to Konoha which I won't spoil for you. Sasuke and Naruto were very well written as they still retained their personality from the manga. While the story has an AU feel to it, it can easily take place after Naruto and Sasuke's fight. Very interesting writing style and I enjoyed the narrative quality immensely, especially since an eloquent "wtf" was predominant through my mind as I was drawn into the plot. Definitely a must read and a high quality fic.

[Mklutz] A fic about Sasuke and Naruto, but from Sakura's perspective. Excellent character development and characterization!

[beckerbell] How much do I love LC? Because the idea of a fic about Sakura realizing she's being left behind, because she can't not notice since she's the analytical and smart one, that Sasuke is never going to be hers, it all had to be done with a very careful hand. Because this is actually a lovely Sakura POV piece, because it doesn't just relegate her to the third wheel, it makes her sympathetic and human as she watches Sasuke not looking her way, instead looking Naruto's way in the way she wished he'd look her way. The beautiful thing about this story is that I came out of it liking Sakura even more, because she doesn't hate, she's just... a smart girl who can't deny the truth, a sad girl, a human girl who tries not to be overwhelmed. The writing is lovely and I really liked this fic. ♥ (Sasuke/Naruto implied, one-sided Sasuke/Sakura.)

[Rikugou] Sakura has always been said to be the smartest in Team 7, though she is stupid on one thing, or rather person--Sasuke. I am not one of those Sakura-haters and I dislike those who bash her. Sasuke is chased by every girl in the village and yet you don't see as many Ino-bashers as Sakura. Is it the pink hair or something? Either way, this is a nice fic. Sakura tries to hide from the growing relationship that she could see occuring between Sasuke and Naruto. It hurts when the one you like chooses someone over you nya?

[Mklutz] This is amazing. Seriously. It's like, if it was the first snow in Konoha, what would honestly happen? And this is that. It's...it's wonderfully in character, wonderfully plausible and just...just fun. Seriously fun. This piece also covers many of the more neglected characters in the Naruto fandom.

[Rikugou] Cute little fic in which Naruto incites a 'prison break' in Iruka's class and gets chased all around by an enraged Chuunin. Little images of Sakura and Lee, Hinata and Kiba are thrown in as well. Nice fic for a cold day.

[Kat] This is just awesome. The characterization is dead on, and it's very amusing. Plus, LeeSaku~ <3

[dbrrk] Naruto returns to the Leaf after years of absence. can the old flame between him and Sasuke rekindle? (Work in progress....)

[Anria] Irritatingly, this fic isn't finished and hasn't been updated since January 2004. It is a fantastic read, though, so . . . here's the rec! The fic takes place yonks after the series, when the genins are in their early thirties and there's a whole lotta backstory you don't get told at first. Naruto returns after being on an eight-year undercover mission a looooong way from Konoha, and Tsunade talks him into becoming the Jounin for a new team of genins, by telling him about a young boy he'd be coaching who's very much like he was. It seems like a repeat of Naruto's genin years all over again with the rivalry between the two boys on his team, except that both of them are Sasuke's sons. Through that link to the now-ANBU Sasuke (and a whole bunch of flashbacks) the story behind why Naruto took a mission that kept him away from the village for eight years is revealed. It also reveals the broken relationship between them, and its source. The fic doesn't narrowly focus on the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke, however. The OCs involved (Sasuke's sons and their female teammate) are developed into characters in their own right and not just imitations of the series, with subplots of their own. Other characters from the series show up as well, developed as they would have over time - for example, Konohamaru is married and an ANBU under the command of Sasuke. Tsunade is showing her age, and worrying over her plans for the next Hokage. It's a detailed, complex, bloody brilliant fic and I wish the author would continue it, although that doesn't look likely at this stage.

[Rikugou] Sasuke is a bastard with a big "repression" stamped on his forehead. This is set 7 years after the Chuunin exam. Naruto is trying to pass the field trial for his jounin exam. Unfortunately, Sasuke keeps failing him. Orochimaru, defeated and long dead, has once more come back to haunt Konoha or rather his followers. Word has it, they're going for Naruto and so they set up a conspicuous watch over him. In the end, Sasuke has to decide whether to face up to his fears or lose what he holds most dear.

[etsumi] I think what I loved most about this story is the way you're thrown into Naruto and Sasuke's relationship. The behind story came later so you're immediately confronted by Naruto's conflicted feelings. Becca Amon's writing is solid and gripping in the sense that she really weaves the story together. I was really surprised at how well laid out it was. For the romantic genre where reality usually becomes blurred, N and S in this story were wonderfully done. Their relationship is believable being between two school boys and refreshingly honest.

[bakkhos] The best Naru/Sasu I have ever read. Hands down. And one of the best Sasuke’s I’ve come across, down to the last insecure, paranoid thought wrapped in anger and annoyance. If Naru/Sasu ever truly became canon, this is how it would happen.

[Mklutz] Sasuke and Naruto have a conversation followed by delicious man-smut! Well, it's more than that. It's in-character and plausible and... it has some really nice moments.

[Mklutz] Naruto finally succeeds in sneaking into the women's bath, but there's only one other girl there and she seems...interested in Naruko?!

[beckerbell] This fic is a bit of a strange bird for me. It departs from the feel of canon themes because it's a much darker ending than I would imagine for the characters. On the other hand, I don't find it out of character, I can see, in a more hopless potential future for the characters, Naruto turning out like that, his inability to give up channeling his actions into a scenario like this. It takes all those things that make Naruto such a strong character and sort of turns them in on himself without breaking the spell of disbelief for me. The scenes between Sakura and Naruto were lovely, the pacing of the piece keeps it moving along and it doesn't drag its feet, the scenes are evocative and powerful. It's... yeah, I didn't quite figure out the ending, so the punch of it hit me just right. It's one of those rare SasuNaru fics that kept me interested because it felt like the pairing, but covered new ground for me. And there was that sense of... there are happy things and there are hard things in the Narutoverse and sometimes things don't work out the way you hope they do. And. Just. Ouch. (Sasuke/Naruto.)

[Anria] This is a Valentine's fic. That, combined with the title, might give you the impression that this is a fluffy fic. And okay, it's nowhere near angsty - but it's nowhere near sweet, either. Sasuke hates chocolate and girls, but gets mobbed on Valentine's Day; Naruto loves chocolate, and chases the girls off. Guess what that leads to?

[Mklutz] Naruto can't keep his act up much longer. Lots of hidden angst comes out and Sasuke begins to realize that there are more demons inside Naruto than just the Kyuubi.

[Mklutz] It's valentines at Naruto's school, only he has no idea what that is and suddenly they're studying ninja techniques in gym/history and he and Sasuke wind up locked in a closet...?!

[bakkhos] Don't let the premise scare you off. If you are a fan of Sasuke angst and redemption, you will not be disappointed. At first I was skeptical as well, but if you look past your doubt and give this a chance, it might just move you to tears. (Yeah, I cried. The first time I did so while reading fanfic. Sasu angst is my favorite genre, but I'm usually just left with an aching heart and a hurting head. Not so anymore.) Alright, now I feel safe revealing the premise: After Sasuke returns to Konoha from Sound, he takes to dressing in drag. He assumes the persona of Saki-chan for a number of reasons, all manifestations of his own psychological fragility: To keep himself as far from himself as possible, to disguise the Uchiha Sasuke the village hates and fears, to express feelings he has since deemed impossible for Sasuke to feel, to overall make things easier on himself. The problem is, every day Naruto loses more of his best friend to this invented creature, this shadow of the boy he used to love. Which is ironic, given that Naruto helped create her in the first place. This summary wouldn't be complete without some background on the character Saki-chan. She was created by askerian, whose stories spawned a host of other Saki-chan fanfics by other authors, described here. I recommend that you check out askerian's stories before you take a look at this fic (but it's not necessary.) The first and second chapters of Lace and Strawberries can be skipped in favor of Into The Rain, which is what inspired Tangled up in Lace. Warning: all of the Saki-chan stories are filled to the brim with yaoi and kink, so if that bothers you greatly, you should move on. (But you'll be missing out on some of the best Sasu!Angst.)