Happy Birthday Konoha Village!!!

[SeraphMazrakiel]

Before it gets past the 276th hour too late, I'd like to propose a toast to all of our members who've come this far. As of last week, (about a week and a half ago actually, Sept 18/19 depending on your timezone), we hit a milestone. It went largely unnoticed, which is quite funny because about a week or two before the date hit, I actually knew it was coming but when it arrived I forgot all about it. I hate when that happens. XD

But congratulations everyone who is now a member of our wonderful village. In the year this site has existed, we've seen numerous members come and go (with their accounts still in existence, we wait for your return!); we've seen numerous members spam post and fade into obscurity; we've seen our posting fiends and those reluctant to wade into the shallows.

We've seen great battles take place on our forums, from demonic furniture and Mexican transformations, to the past of our least favourite Uchiha (on average our least favourite XD) and why we don't like him, to the mad dash for the final Sannin title (c'mon guys, you can do it! Not far to go now!).

We've discussed so much about Naruto: our favourite Naruto characters and techniques (and how they're related -- NARUTO AND THE FOURTH -- *ahem*), our weird dreams which lead to stalking Jiraiya on cruise ships and Matrix-style battles, the release of the first movie, the video games for Gamecube, PlayStation 2 and Gameboy Advance... Naruto dating sim games (and the Fifth Hokage's possible addiction to them)... and what we would ask if we came face to face with the Guru of Naruto himself: Masashi Kishimoto.

Amongst all this, we've discussed so much NOT about Naruto: from Okage to Gundam Wing, anime conventions to the (mostly humorous) flaws of GoogleAds, Yuna's sudden IQ drop between sequels to LOCKING NAVI IN A JAR AND THROWING THAT STUPID FAIRY OFF DEATH MOUNTAIN, and pictures of ourselves (UchihaJyounochi still pulls off an awesome Kisame) to the selling of KT Pies and the possible existence of a food smuggling ring in Konoha!

And who would've thought that within only a few months of our wonderful village's founding that we would've started something so captivating as our own Interactive Fanfic? To Kiri and Kaori, our beloved ANBU, those who still now participate in the fic and all those in between: whether you've been involved with it right from the beginning or have only recently entered, your contribution to the story is greatly appreciated.

Among all of the things we've discussed, argued and blamed IF Maz for (who we should blame more!), great times have been had by all (apart from the aforementioned sod who cops all the blame for it. Too bad for him though. ).

We've seen major changes in our village. From when the Forums had few features to the addition of the Karma system and the Quick Reply box... and the employment of our moderators. NarutoNinjaGirl, HatakeHiroshi, and UchihaJyounochi... rock on, you guys.

I'd also like to take the time to appreciate our members. The Village Veterans: those of us from the first-generation and have been here since pretty much the first day: UchihaJyounochi, Kiba, NNG, Tranquility, Rasengan, KisameGoesToCamp to name but a few. Next-gens Kiri, Hatake Hiroshi, Kiel, LastWarrior0, Nayo-chan, Matsu Yamiko, ZethTheDarkMage... so many more to name. It's been a great year, you guys.

To the newest faces... Sorien, JyouNoHaku, Tennokage, Sufuma... your additions have not gone unnoticed either: your involvements in the village have helped us go on growing, helped us come together.

And to those who I haven't named... thank you for being a part of the village too. There are some I haven't named who have posted a lot in the past -- to whom I extend my thanks to. There are some I haven't named who haven't yet posted -- to whom I say "POST!!!". Lol.

Of course, the greatest praise should go to our beloved administrator: Kaori-chan, without whom it is likely that the majority of us may have never met and come as close together as we have. Because of the village, we've all made new friends: "oretachi wa FAMILY"... ne? ;D

Thank you Kaori, and Konoha Village. Here's to continuing and everlasting friendships and bonds, to full smiles and happiness, to our mascot the Naruto Burrito, and to shooting all moronic characters in the Interactive Fanfic whose name begins with Mazrakie. Let us hope all these things grow (especially that Sorien bloke).

Happy anniversary, everyone.

[SegatakaiIdaten]

YAY!!!! Wow, you have a way with words *sniff sniff*

[Tensei Kaori]

KYA! I can't believe it's been a year already! Time sure flies, ne? It seems like the Village has been around forever, and yet like we've only had a short time together. Funny how that works. Uhm....uhm.... as founder of the Village, I think it'd be appropriate to give some kind of speech, yes? *looks at everyone watching* Uhm.... *fubles with notecards* Well...

....uhh... wow. That's really all I can say. Wow. I can't believe we've come this far. From pretty much being able to see the entire forum without scrolling, and maybe a few posts a night for each of us, to almost 17,000 posts, exactly 600 threads, 114 members (most of whom, sadly, aren't with us - can you imagine what it'd be like if EVERYONE posted?), and nightly IM postings? Not to mention....

The fact that a huge number of active posters went from complete strangers to best buds, nightly AIM chats and a huge growth spurt in the Quote Montage, the hiring of our first ANBU and the following IF Squad, the foudning of the IF..... it makes me laugh fondly when I think that the Naruto Burrito thread is, if not THE longest thread on the Forums, it's one of them.

I remember when NNG and I had to recreate her account about five times because we couldn't get it to work. I remember struggling to learn the proboards controls and come up with a color scheme that was somehow "leaf" themed and easy on the eyes at the same time (I hope I succeeded). I remember wondering how I should set up the boards, and starting totally random threads to encourage discussion. I remember bugging all my friends to join, and I remember when the first time we'd see each other in real life, they'd say "Hey! I'm a chuunin now!" I remember being so excited over every 100 posts I made, and I'd edit my posts to mark the occasion. XD I remember being so excited when I got my first 100, and squeeing when the boards hit 1000. I remember getting my friends into Naruto (I TOLD you you'd like it XD) and sending them off to the forums immediately afterwards.

I remember when the IF was just a seed of an idea in the back of my brain. It's amazing to see what it's turned into now when I remember how we started. Who'd have thought that the IF would take up more space on the forums than any other category? The Trouble on the Horizon thread alone has been read almost 1,000 times. Crazy.

I remember talking about salad in Kisamegoestocamp's intro thread, policing his and Rasengan's rivalry (and the subsequent creation of the "just kidding" rule), I remember when global stickies were a dream and I had to copy paste a thread into every board I wanted it to appear in.

I remember when proboards was upgrading, and all the Villagers were AIMing each other, asking when the forums would be back up again - and how excited we all were when it happened. I remember when the Sannin didn't have user stars and the quick reply box was only wished for. I remember watching the forums, as I still do, prosper and grow into a beloved place for friends to hang out and act crazy.... and beat up on each other's characters. XD

But most importantly, I remember how far we've come, how many people I've come to know because of this place, and what a huge place it occupies in my heart now - just like all of you who made it possible. People thank me, yet it's you guys - the members, my trusty ANBU fiends- err, friends XD, and those of you who spread the word - who make it possible. Thank you, everyone, for visiting, for joining, and for becoming a part of this crazy (yet awesome) place. I firmly believe it's one of THE best forums out there. Nowhere else does it feel as much like home as it does here. But maybe that's just the Founder talking. XD

But most of all, thank you for becoming part of my extended family. I love you all, and here's to many more wonderful years of ninjaness. KANPAI! ;D

[Sorien]

Whee ^_^. Wheres the confetti? Party poppers? CAKE! I don't really know if I should create a post in here. I feel like its actually appropriate to me, even though I haven't been here as long as everyone else has, I still have a feeling of being here forever, and have such devotion to this place, that, I get up every morning before work, turn on my computer and get my breakfast and browse the boards, even if it makes me late to work, even if my mum finds me eating in front of my computer, she'd kill me.

What can I say? I love the place, the people. I haven't seen too many of the updates going on around here: The addition of the IF, skins, quick reply box, karma and so forth, what I have seen though, is the slight move of the participants from AIM to YIM, that way we can all talk to each other, no matter what geographical location, and have a lot of fun while doing so.

I too, can remember each level up; graduating, becoming genin, then chuunin, then jounin...and when I beat KT to the next Sanin place ^_^. The one thing that always makes me proud, is the variety of characters that come out of the IF, we have fire nin, wind, lightening, kenjutsu, listening jutsu users, bat like jutsu users, as well as some of the traditional Naruto folk like the Hyuuga, modified of course.

If I keep typing, I'm never going to get to work today ^_^, so I'd better stop here, I'll add more at a later date. Two things to say: LONG LIVE KONOHA VILLAGE! LONG LIVE THE 10TH HOKAGE!

[Kiri]

I haven't been here as long as Maz and Kaori, but I joined the November after it was started. I still remember K-Chan IMing me and saying "hey! have you seen Naruto? You should!" ^_^ Not long after that, I was given a link to the boards. I'm really glad, because this is now one of my most favorite places online.

I was lucky enough to be present at the beginning of the IF. I remember tossing the idea of a Naruto interactive fanfiction to the other board members, since the Holes forum I was a part of a while back had one. Remembering how much fun that was caused me to suggest it... several times. ;D

When I first came here I didn't really know anyone except for K-Chan, so I remember being really shy about posting. I was still a Naruto newbie, so I was worried I would say something stupid. Never once has anyone said anything rude or mean to anyone else, and that makes me happier than you can possibly imagine. I've been a part of several message boards in the past, and I always ended up leaving because of the number of rude people who couldn't be respectful of other people.

Mad props to you guys. You all rock.

So, thanks. Thanks to all of you who make my Konoha experience a rad one. Thanks to all of you who make me feel accepted. The last 10 months or so have definitely been a blast.

I <3 you all, mi familia!!!

[SegatakaiIdaten]

Im sad... i feel sooo newbieish... i mean Sorien has three times more posts than me and i started earlier than him! sniff sniff. But i also have to share my compy with LS... (he is a complete NERD!!! lol) But i really like this forum, its good stuff. Naruto gave me a girlfriend, a group of friends, memories of cons! I mean Naruto saved my life! *sniff sniff* lol. Yeah all you guys are great!