I’ve been meaning to type out a review for you in response to “Falling Tree” for quite some time already, but I must apologize – university has been wicked and replacement classes were all out to make my life a living hell. And I must say…they succeeded…in a way.

Nonetheless, I am not writing this to you just so I could moan and groan about my unruly life. Please forgive that moment of weakness there.

“Falling Tree”…I have always liked stories and fictions revolving around Sasuke and Naruto’s childhood. They tend to be sensitive and full of foreshadowing – all hinting towards a certain betrayal in the future, except, of course, when it is an AU story. “Falling Tree” is unique, I think, in the sense that it speaks only of that moment itself, without referring too much to the main plot from the anime or manga. It’s like an individual who did not need to depend on his family or society to help him survive. I don’t know if you can get what I’m trying to convey here, but…well, if you don’t get it, then just ignore my rantings.

Nonetheless, both Sasuke and Naruto are the very portrayal of innocence and true friendship of two lost children seeking out comfort, despite their ‘dislike’ for each other. I liked how Naruto would walk towards Sasuke and both would find it in their heart to stare and glare at each other, and then secretly call the other his friend. Reminds me much of my childhood; perhaps that’s why this fic was lingering so much around in my mind.

The only difficulty or confusion that I have here is that I could not really link the question: ‘If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, would it still make a sound?’ to your plot and storyline. Did you mean to put this as a kind of foreshadow? As in…if in the future, should Naruto die amongst all the shinobis sacrificed for the Hidden Leaf – in a battle or otherwise – would people still remember him? Would Sasuke still think of him? Is that it? I’m awfully sorry if I seem to ask stupid questions, but I find this very strange and would like to hear your opinion/explanation on the issue.

Author's Response: No, no, please don't think that your question is stupid at all--I really do appreciate your time and patience for this review. You have no idea how flattered I am to know that even though you are so busy with school, you still take the heart to remember this and leave me a review. Thank you so very much for this! I know life is hectic and I'm not hunting down reviewers and forcing them to review, so really, I do appreciate this!rnrnIn the very beginning stages of "Falling Tree," I began with the old analogy, "If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, would it still make a sound?" It really made me think all of a sudden. For really, if something terrible happens in the world, but no one knows of it, then did it really happen? Does it really make an impact? Could someone spontaneously die and no one would know of it? But then again, what if only that person thinks that 'nobody was around to hear it'? What if someone WAS there, but they just didn't know? THEN does it make a difference?rnrnI wanted to know the answer of this, and me being a bizarrely strange fangirl, I linked it to SasuNaru. Way back when, Naruto was just another tree in the forest with no one to really care about it. He should know that people don't care about him--that's why he strove so hard for attention. But to link it back into the story, the bullies, well, bullying him was more of a comparison to a tree getting cut down slowly. At the very end, when Sasuke came and "left" Naruto after the fight, Naruto thought that he had "fallen" and that "nobody was around to hear it." But Sasuke didn't leave, and he was still there.rnrnBut still, after all that, I don't think I properly answered your question, so let me try again.rnrnI don't think I ever went past the "childhood" stage of Sasuke and Naruto's life here in this fic. I never meant for any foreshadowing for what happens later or whatnot. I just wanted it to focus on one snapshot of their life. I'm not implying that Naruto will die later on, or that Sasuke will die later on, but simply that they are there as such at that time and that was what happened.rnrnBut then I suppose, the way I linked the analogy to my story is not very clear at all. I just like making people think about stuff sometimes. Just... Kick back for a bit, put there finger on their chin, and think. Wonder about life for a while, maybe the small symbolism I put in it, maybe the overall meaning of what I'm trying to say... But in the end, most of my stories, I guess, are all just a shot at trying to make the world seem clearer to me. I like to see what other people think about the same issues I wonder about, though it's rare.rnrnSo to be clearer, I think that the analogy and the plotline really doesn't have much to do with each other. I just wanted an answer, and I told a story to ask it. Haha, is that stupid of me? I really do hope not. XDrnrnBut see, it really is people like you who show me that, "Hey, yeah. There are people who are willing to spend a little time and share their wonderings with me," and that's what makes me really happy to write for you guys. I'm sorry if I didn't answer your question at all, since I don't think I have the answer either, but maybe this helped out a bit. And if not, you can always ask me again another time. I just really wished TONFA had a better communication system, that's all. Hahaha.rnrnThank you again for being so kind and leaving me a wonderful review! And best of luck to you at school--I hope they don't really succeed in making your life hell. (And goodness, I'm very willing to stay here and listen to your rantings--they're wonderful.)

that was so sentimentally sweet and cute! yes it was sad that happened to poor naru-chan...but sasuke was there to help him through it! sorry for stating the obvious....but this was beautiful. simply and utterly beautiful. and it just adds to it seeing as that was one of my favorite sasunaru moments in the series! thank you for making such a well written fic for it! it gives you sort of a second view of how they were possibly feeling. and you wrote it so well! the shadows in the beginning and then the leaf on the lake....it was all so detailed! i could actually picture exactly how it happened, and all the details in between! you showed all there emotions perfectly! it was like a mini movie in my mind it was so well done! and then the end....that was so sweet! it kinda reminded me of the first shippuuden ending. and oddly enough i was listening to that when i was reading it! and that just made me want to cry....beautiful things make me cry my eyes out! i dont know why, they just do...but this was perfect! and it was so awesome that im sad its over already! but maybe I'll just have to read it again! thank you so much for this wonderful fic! i cant wait to read more from you! *luvs* ♥

~lemon

Author's Response: I really like details in stories, so I'm happy that you found them to be satisfactory as well! That really flatters me to know that people get such strong emotions from reading my stories! But I do hate it when I make people cry... X__x;;rnrnI wished that something like this would have happened in the actual manga plotline, but alas for us! What a shame, what a shame...rnrnThanks for being so nice to me and taking so much time to review my stories!