Author's Note!

No, I'm not dead, ya'll! I just wanted to update you all saying that no, Eternal Legends is NOT canceled, and it's still going to be updated…eventually. It's just going to go on a indefinite hiatus. When that'll be is lifted is anyone's guess as right of now, my focus is on dabbling into science fiction for a change.

The main reason I haven't updated is not only due to not enough time in the day, but mainly because the ending of Naruto REALLY soured me on the series as a whole and really turned me off from reading Naruto fanfiction in general. As a writer myself who prides myself on character interaction and development (though my Halo/Mass Effect crossover doesn't count, but it'll get there eventually) and most of all DEPTH, to see what I loved being slowly turned into a hot steaming pile of garbage is a travesty and sometimes writing the characters for that universe only reminds me of that pain. I won't go into details of WHY exactly it's so upsetting, as you have Tumblr and a plethora of blogs, websites, forums, and social media to discuss ad infinitum of the shortcomings of that utterly dreadful conclusion.

As for Eternal Legends? Yeah, my original plans are being reworked as you read this. A lot is being scaled back dramatically, simply because I don't have the time nor patience to work through it all seeing as how my love for Naruto has evaporated like the water cycle. I'll treasure Naruto and Kishimoto's story for life, because he is the reason I even discovered , how I got into writing, and ultimately meeting one of my closest friends who I'm likely going to be his best man at his wedding. For that, I will be forever eternally grateful.

But don't mistake gratefulness as for complying with whatever Kishi decides to draw and put down on ink. He has great ideas, bad ideas, and honestly mostly terrible execution, which culminated in a half-assed conclusion that was more about satisfying pairing preferences than tying up loose ends.

Will I return to Eternal Legends? Eventually, but it'll be awhile, so please deflate your hype a bit. I understand some of you will be upset seeing as how I promised to see this to the very end…but I can't. Not when I feel this way. I'd rather do it because I WANT to, not because I feel obligated. Right now, my obligation is to school and getting my dreams started, with the occasional writing on the side.

I don't know if any of you enjoy Science Fiction, but check out my Halo/Mass Effect crossover. I'll be the first to admit that it's more plot/circumstance driven than Eternal Legends, but I still find it decently enough/entertaining. It definitely could be better, but I know my crowd and my readers for that fic, so I aim to satisfy them, which isn't necessarily the same as satisfying the Naruto crew.

It's been a fun ride, and I will always cherish the reviews who gave me in-depth praise and criticism.

To reviewers 51 and VLS, you two have been my biggest fans and supporters and I'd like to personally apologize 1000x over as I know you'll probably be extremely disappointed. Out of everyone, you two have been here from the beginning. I don't know your names. I don't know your genders. But I do know this: From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Giving a final salute,

Arashi.