#btb raido

[okamirayne]

Happy New Year Rayne! 🥳 Re-reading HHU and just wondering…how does Kakashi get on with Waif? Or vice versa right? 😆 I know Kakashi prefers the k-9s to the kitties. Just for my own BtB head-canon bc it looked like Waif was pretty chill with Ibiki and Raido so wondering how the copy-nin faired! 😘

Heya Anon!

Happy New Year to you too, sweetie! 🙌🏼

...how does Kakashi get on with Waif? Or vice versa right?

Ha, yes, vice versa alright. Waif is not sold on Kakashi. Might have something (or everything) to do with the ninken company Kakashi keeps, or perhaps something to do with Waif’s weird but random territorial antics with Genma — that said, right you are re: Raidō.

Waif shares very well with Raidō and would probably attach himself permanently to the Namiashi if he wasn’t already masochistically taken with Genma — for whatever reason that is. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 😉

So yes. While the worst Raido and Ibiki get are cat hairs, Kakashi has a few bloody souvenirs from Waif — though to be fair, so does Genma. Solidarity.

Genma’s solution:

Attack back.

Kakashi’s solution:

Mists himself in cat-repellent…🍋 …which is preferable to smelling like dog.

As for Waif’s absurd level of ease and comfort around Ibiki? It’s a mystery to the world and an insufferable annoyance to Ibiki. 😉

Thanks for revisiting HHU despite its WIP status. 🙏🏼

[okamirayne]

Hey it’s me again! Total simp for Raidō and Genma. Thanks for your reply Rayne! 😘 Sooo, I read the comment @sunlightrays left on your reply and omg… they put it waaaay better than my slutty shipper brain ever could’ve about why I adore BtB Raidō. How he is with Gen. Not just in UtS & Requiem but his protectiveness towards Gen in HHU. 😭 Bringing up our boy’s heartache like that. Now I almost feel bad to ship them bc like sunlightrays said, the platonic bromance is 🤌🏼 oh god I’m a perv. Whyyy.

Hello again, my dear! 😆

My pleasure to respond 😘

Sooo, I read the comment @sunlightrays left on your reply and omg... they put it waaaay better than my slutty shipper brain ever could've […]

Oh yes. Amen, Anon. Gods bless @sunlightrays, they did indeed put the chef’s kiss all over it 🤌🏼💓👌🏼

It’s true that they are each other’s constants in the BtB verse.

They are solid. Despite the shit they went through.

Raidō has never left Genma and despite Genma’s pride, he appreciates Raidō’s big brother and mother-henning routine.

…very much so.

So hey, don’t you dare feel bad to ship it. Hell, even Ibiki couldn’t resist needling Raidō about it…

Though yeah, granted, Ibiki was waaaay more of a dick about it…😅😅…

If quizzed, Genma would concur…

😆…if only to piss Raidō off in the spirit of razzing his poor long-suffering partner! Which he does relentlessly when it comes to joking about their relationship 🥰

So perv away, my dear. Ain’t no harm in it.

😉😘.

[okamirayne]

So…hey…erm….Is it wrong that I totally ship BtB Raidō and Genma? 😅 Just saying. I blame you Miss Rayne. You wrote them so beautifully and I will ship all over them with my shipper sluttiness. ✌🏼

Is it wrong that I totally ship BtB Raidō and Genma?

I mean, heck…I get it. I do.

I blame you Miss Rayne.

I will take whatever punishment you mete out, dear Anon. 🙇🏻‍♀️

You wrote them so beautifully and I will ship all over them with my shipper sluttiness.

Aw. First, bless you for saying that. I’m touched — in the head, clearly — but I mean in my heart 💓

Secondly…

You do you and ship away! I love writing them…their friendship/partnership and the way it unfolds in my dastardly brain is a very enjoyable thing to write…and if it inspires in your headspace something more…well, again, I get it. 💜

[okamirayne]

*weeps and loves on Genma, hopes he doesn't kill her, and leaves him shochu and pink pill-shaped mochi and knows she's as bad as Anko* There bb!

😅😅😅

Why, how considerate, Anon...*slides them over to him*

Genma: Ah, sympathy for my devils? Not today, Satan.

*is proud* He's doing the whole good little reformed Goei Shotai (as far as I can presently foresee). Taking his pain raw nowadays. Straight. No chaser. The way Lady Luck intended. 😅 Poor, poor bastard.

Thanks for the giggle, Anon.

[okamirayne]

I finished the entire BtB series (and HHU) about a week ago and it hasn't left my mind even once.

I'm not quite sure how to put my thanks into words: You managed to make me feel so obsessed with reading like when I was a kid. I stayed up until 4 am, had to literally force myself to sleep because I was (am!) so incredibly invested. No other piece of literature has done that since like... 6 years? I cried, screamed, laughed, gasped, blushed at so many scenes - the heartache was genuinely so beautiful.

I know the first part of BtB is quite old and your writing has improved a lot since then but all the parts read incredibly seamlessly.

I could *hear* the characters voices in my head while reading, picture the scenes like a movie in my head. The attention to detail and the accuracy of the characters makes me so incredibly happy. Usually when reading, I notice every single distraction going on around me and it's so rare that something pulls me in to the point I just zero in on the story.

There's a lot of scenes that stuck in my mind and to my surprise, I resonated most with your characterisation of Genma. I went in a die-hard Neji fan (and still am) and came out with a deep appreciation for Shikamaru and Genma. (That being said, I also really love then way you portray the other characters, especially Hiashi and Ibiki who I really didn't like before.)

Genma's story just... God it has my heartstrings in a death grip. His never-ending jack-assery and dirty jokes and the way Raido sees right through it.

The fact he held onto items important to him and related to the people he loved most...

The way he handled Shikamaru and Asuma and Kurenai's baby while still insisting he doesn't do well with children.

The way he made Kakashi say what he feels near the end of UtS in an ass-backwards way but a way that didn't allow for deception and empty words.

But, I think the moment that made me sob and laugh and feel the most was when he said "You ruined it" - that fucking killed me right then and there.

When I first met Genma in your story I was really sceptical and suspicious of him, thinking he was somehow the bad guy. And then I grew to love him and hurt for him. That was so extremely well done.

I also have to get off my chest that I love, love, love the way you described his drug trips (and Kakashi's little endeavor with medicines) as well as dreams and flashbacks. I find that these things are mostly feelings and oh so confused and confusing that it's hard to put into words but you genuinely excel at it.

I also love the transitions of dreams back to reality. Keyword here being "back". God, nothing hurt me more than reading that word in HHU. I think you know which scene I mean.

I also read through old asks and found out more about Naoki and Karibi. I love these two so much as well. Karibi struck me as very interesting and I'm glad I got to find out how she lived and died. Especially because HHU kind of alluded to her commiting or attempting suicide.

Naoki... My heart hurts for him. This poor, poor man. I'm so fucking glad he didn't have to die alone. He was so strong for Genma though, building him up, putting him on the right path and giving him a verbal slap for being an addict, giving Kakashi and him his blessings eventhough he used to be so possessive and protective of Genma.

His story really is tragically beautiful and incredibly complex. I really wanted him to live but realistically I knew it wasn't going to happen.

How old were Karibi, Naoki and Genma when they joined Team Yokai? When Inoichi saw Genma and Naoki kiss and Genma talks about his Senbon hitting certain nerves (hehe), they're said to be about 17 and I remember it being mentioned that Naoki took a while to "bottom" in bed due to his childhood trauma.

Also can we talk about the Tsubomi poem? That is so *beautiful*. Did it come easy to you or was it hard to write? It fits so incredibly perfectly to Naoki and Ino.

One thing that confuses me about the storyline is the epilogue of Requiem, where Genma has a flashback(?) about Shuken holding Naoki hostage and making him reveal his name. Could you explain to a confused-maybe-stupid-me when that takes place and how Genma and Naoki escape from that situation?

I can't stop gushing about your story so i won't:

Shuken's character is also so well written. When we first meet him in Shikamarus flashbacks, I was also oddly intrigued eventhough I had an idea about what sort of fucked up things he'd done to Shikamaru. You wrote his seductiveness really well. And then he reveals his age and I got *deeply* disturbed and as we learn more I just got more and more disturbed. The progression was so well done, I felt like I was sort of experiencing what Shikamaru was going through. The use of "Shika" sent cold shivers down my spine.

I also really loved your wheels within wheels and walls within walls metaphor for the ANBU. It creates such an amazing mental image that can be played around with so creatively.

Aaa. Okay. I think I got most of my thoughts down so far. I'm sure I'll come back to gush some more, maybe ask some more.

Thank you so much for this amazing story and all the work and hours you put into it. I can't wait to read more from you 💙

My dear @sunlightrays 💙💙 Thank you so much for both your patience with me as I finally secure the time to respond, and of course, for the phenomenal feedback you've given me. As expressed in my private DM. It impacted me immensely...and I am still moved and altered by it -- thank you. I will endeavour in this reply to answer your Qs to the best of my ability, given that I do tend to revert back into a blob of incoherent feels every time I revisit this message...💙

I know the first part of BtB is quite old and your writing has improved a lot since then but all the parts read incredibly seamlessly.

Oh dear lord...that first installment....*cringes* oh the temptation to rewrite it, luv...THE TEMPTATION....(aww, thank you though, I appreciate that you felt it all flowed together).

There's a lot of scenes that stuck in my mind and to my surprise, I resonated most with your characterisation of Genma. [...] Genma's story just... God it has my heartstrings in a death grip. His never-ending jack-assery and dirty jokes and the way Raido sees right through it.

Oh, luv, I do so love writing Genma and his respective relationships, whether platonic or romantic.

I'm so freaking happy you took a shine to his portrayal in BtB! The feedback you have given me with WHY and WHAT you loved about Genma's portrayal and story was just...I can't even begin to describe how nourishing that was to my writer's soul. If every writer were to receive this kind of feedback, I can see their proverbial cups running over with gratitude and inspiration. Thank you so, so much.

I also love the transitions of dreams back to reality. Keyword here being "back". God, nothing hurt me more than reading that word in HHU. I think you know which scene I mean.

Ah god damn, but you hit me hard with the love you showed my OCs. Thank you so, so much for that and for sharing what it was that drew you in -- especially with Naoki. 💗💗💗 (Even Shuken, dare I say)

How old were Karibi, Naoki and Genma when they joined Team Yokai?

13 to 14 years old. Naoki joined when he was 13, Karibi and Genma at 14. By the time they were assigned to Team Yokai, they were all 16.

When Inoichi saw Genma and Naoki kiss and Genma talks about his Senbon hitting certain nerves (hehe), they're said to be about 17 and I remember it being mentioned that Naoki took a while to "bottom" in bed due to his childhood trauma.

Correct! They'd have been 17/18 years old at that time. Age 19 is when Naoki tragically accepted Danzo's offer and was listed as KIA after his 'fake death'.

Re: intimacy issues. Right you are. Due to his childhood abuse, Naoki refused to "bottom" for the longest time. It took a hell of a lot for Genma to work through that with him. Karibi helped with this too.

Also can we talk about the Tsubomi poem? That is so *beautiful*. Did it come easy to you or was it hard to write? It fits so incredibly perfectly to Naoki and Ino.

Aww....I'm so touched you felt that way about Naoki's poem for Ino. It's such a tough question to answer. Anything that is deeply personal or painful for the characters always twinges my heartstrings when writing...but for Naoki, his guarded emotions came out in his seldom seen/heard creativity / art, so writing it was easy in the sense that it flowed into my head easily from the character, but it was hard in the sense that it reflected so much of Naoki's pain as well as his love.

One thing that confuses me about the storyline is the epilogue of Requiem, where Genma has a flashback(?) about Shuken holding Naoki hostage and making him reveal his name. Could you explain to a confused-maybe-stupid-me when that takes place and how Genma and Naoki escape from that situation?

Oh my dearest, YOU are in no way the confused-maybe-stupid party in this. In fact, "I" am the idiot who cut a LOT of scenes surrounding Naoki's torture at Shuken's hands and the escape situation *epic facepalm* In hindsight, I would love to go back and edit that by re-writing/editing and INCLUDING those scenes. I can see the holes there from the reader's perspective, and if I hadn't been operating like a runaway train at the time, I'd have slowed down to correct that error.

So, that scene where Genma has the nightmare flashback of Shuken holding Naoki hostage. Let me do a breakdown chronology as it's the easiest way my fucked-up spiderweb mind-map can be translated into a linear sequence....

Naoki gets stabby-happy with Shuken (plunges that needle into his neck) and fucks up his ROOT mission, but prioritises saving Shikamaru

Naoki needs Genma to "buy him time" while he tries to fix the trauma and everything coming undone in Shikamaru's head

So Genma goes happy-hunting on the Freak Show as Naoki deep dives into Shikamaru's brainpan

(DELETED SCENE) Naoki stablisies Shuken so the natural energy doesn't kill him. Then Naoki deep-dives into Shikamaru's brainpan and meets with some complications because of the natural energy swimming around inside him.

(cont. DELETED SCENE) Naoki tries to stabilise Shikamaru too, but gets interrupted mid-brain-and-body-fix by more Freak Show cross-breeds looking for bossman Shuken. Naoki can't complete what he's doing with Shikamaru and needs more time. He hides Shikamaru and takes out the opponents interrupting him before rushing to assist Genma

He assists Genma lol -- ends up getting injured (takes a nasty blow to his hip, if I recall)

He tells Genma he needs more time with Shikamaru to fix the kid

Genma is too busy freaking out about Naoki stabbing his mark/Shuken in the neck and the consequences of this action

They get interrupted by more Freak Show mutants, which sabotages Naoki's plan to regroup with Shikamaru and use the Nagu blood vial to get them the hell out

Naoki opts to stay behind to distract the Freak Show and give Genma time to get Shikamaru out, so he kisses Genma in a heated moment to shut him up and save time by connecting their minds where he " communicated in seconds what would've taken minutes to put into words; why Tenka had killed those children; where he'd hidden Shikamaru; what he'd tried to do to fix him; the secret route he planned to use to get them out; and lastly, what he was asking Genma to do – no, ordering him to do." -UtS

He tells Genma to get Shikamaru out, basically, even though he hasn't finished 'fixing' the kid. Naoki gets caught (DELETED SCENE)

Genma does as he's ordered, only he can't bring himself to leave Naoki behind again so after crossing through the portal so Shuken can't reach the kid, he hides and secures Shikamaru (DELETED SCENE) and returns to go and help Naoki, letting himself get caught in the process

Naoki in the meantime has been at Shuken's mercy (or lack thereof) and is receiving a traitor's punishment (DELETED SCENE) -- it is at this point that Genma's flashback dream comes into play where Shuken is starting to shown signs of transmogrification due to the natural energy in his system (think Sound Four on steroids) and wants to know Genma's name and where he stashed Shikamaru

(LONG DELETED SCENE) Meanwhile, Kurayami is borne in Shikamaru's consciousness and THAT is the person that wakes up when Shikamaru finally comes to. He secures himself some Nagu blood, re-enters the portal and goes on the hunt for Shuken

(HUGE DELETED SCENE - hinted at in Genma's memories when he's talking to Tsunade) Shikamaru/Kurayami finds Shuken. He goes for Shuken like a heat-seeking missile, taking out mutants as he goes, unintentionally freeing Genma in the process, his shadows bringing chaos. He does damage. A lot of it. But in the last minute Naoki comes between Shuken and Shikamaru and gets Shuken's knife in the back. Shuken is out for the count after that. Naoki, knife in back, prioritises clamping his hands to Shikamaru's head, trying to shut down Kurayami and lock the alter away, as the whole building is coming down.

This was Naoki's last bid effort to try to save Shikamaru's mind by sealing off all the alters, knowing he didn't have time to integrate them.

Shocked Genma snaps into Kaika mode and gets his shit together, scooping up unconscious Shikamaru and running like a mo-fo with Naoki in tow

Naoki can't run any further, he falls and is bleeding out, tells Genma to run one last time and get the kid to safety, reminding him that Shikamaru can't be allowed to remember etc. Makes Genma swear an oath to him.

Though it costs him his heart, Genma does as he's told one final time. And it's too late to go back again after getting Shikamaru to safety at last. He believes Naoki is dead.

Phew! Sorry for that LONG list. I hope it clarifies for you those missing/deleted scenes, sweetie? Sorry again for any confusion. I own that as a big mistake on my part; sadly at the time, the mammoth wordcount and my runaway brain steamrolled ahead. In hindsight, I'd absolutely fix those gaps upon revision.

Aaa. Okay. I think I got most of my thoughts down so far. I'm sure I'll come back to gush some more, maybe ask some more.

You are most welcome to, luv. I am delighted and humbled by your interest and your huge support for my fic. Thank you for your patience with my response and thank you again, so, SO much for such an outstanding response to my insane contribution to the Naruto fandom.

I am grateful beyond measure and meant every single word I wrote you in that DM. I repeatedly revisit this review and I shall for as long as I write. 💗💗💗 Thank you.

[okamirayne]

OMG Rayyyneeee 😭 I would literally pay you to write a GenRai / RaiGen scene…dead serious. Like proper pay for it. You have seduced my feels so bad 😭😭😭. Genma’s poor heart!!!! I never counted on loving him and his ships as much as I do ShikaNeji! Witchery, bb!!! 🤣💗Xox

Ha! 😆 Ah my dear Genma-fan Anon…and I would literally write it, if only I could take you up on that ‘commission-me-some-Genma-lovin’-offer’ without violating copyright laws six ways to Sunday. If fanfic paid, there’d be some jolly as hell writers out there!

That being said, I’m super happy you’re such a fan of Genma…and his precious dynamic with Raidō, even though crossing the friendship line would be a huge minefield for both of them. I totally get the appeal, believe me. I have my own little fantasies even if the characters don’t comply. 😂 I love writing those scenes with Genma and Raidō. For all the heartache Genma’s had, Raidō has always been a constant for him. 💗 Thanks for this ASK, my luv. Made me smile something wicked! 😈😉 X

[okamirayne]

Rayyyne!! I know Raidō loves Genma platonically and vice versa but, hypothetically speaking (and wishful fangirl thinking ha!) IF Raidō ever came onto Genma or pushed for some “sexy fun times” would our Shiranui be down for that? Love how you write their dynamic! X

Hey there, Anon!

Oooh….! Very interesting question, luv. Thanks for the ASK and for the love and interest for their dynamic. 💗

Hypothetically speaking?

Hmmm…

This is so tough…because it would depend on a few factors, namely regarding Genma and what kind of mental or emotional state he was in.

If of sound mind, he’d immediately question Raidō’s motives and probably assume he was joking…

Especially as Raidō is straight. Genma would find it oddly threatening to their dynamic if Raidō actually hinted seriously at that involvement — for several reasons:

1) Genma’s track record with heartache

2) how much he values and loves Raidō as his partner/friend and wouldn’t ever want to compromise that…as he almost did a few times in the past…Raidō means too much to him to risk it.

3) “sexy fun times” is normally a banter-point with Genma dicking about and teasing Raidō because he feels safe enough in the dynamic to do it

However…if Raidō caught Genma in a weak moment, where he was strung out emotionally or mentally…I can’t say for sure that he wouldn’t react to that offer, as he wouldn’t be thinking rationally at all.

Similar to how he was with Kurenai in the latest HHU chapter. Although he has far more to lose with Raidō.

Interesting hypothetical ASK, Anon! And especially for a character like Genma where it could potentially go either way. 💜

[okamirayne]

There's something buggin' me for so long... did Raido expect anything from Genma when he was trying to fix Genma's sh*t? Im always tempted to think that he didn't do it just for the stupid simoke reason that they are "friends, comrades and partners". But if that's really the case... damn did he lose.

Hey Anon!

Interesting question.

Interesting takeaway.

I can certainly swat that mental bug for you!

No. Raidō, being the kind of man, friend, and partner that he was/still is, did not expect anything from Genma — at least not what I think you may be alluding to, but I don’t want to assume. Instead, I shall pull out my crazy gif goody bag to sum their relationship up...

Pretty much sums it up. 😉 No losers in that dynamic, even if it’s had moments of complication.

Hope that answers your question, Anon!

Stay safe!

[okamirayne]

Title: Heaven Hold Us

Pairings: ShikaNeji, KakaGen, InoKiba (...more to follow)

Rating: M / R (language, themes, violence etc.)

Genre: Drama/Angst/General

Summary: A series of Post-War BtB one-shots [BtB Flashforward]

Timeline: Post Fourth Shinobi World War. 4 months after the War.