Title: If Only
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Gen
Genres: AU, Family, Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Length: Super!Epic (115,771 words)
Warnings: Self-mutilation (non-suicidal)

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Mari Falcon @ FF.net

Author's Summary:
Naruto and Sasuke stumble across a strange object in the woods. It lets out a sudden burst of power and Naruto is knocked unconscious. He wakes up to find everything is wrong. Is it genjutsu? A concussion? Hallucinations? Or something else?

Review:
Naruto is transported to another dimension by a MacGuffin, finding himself in what looks to be a perfect world. His parents are alive, he has loving siblings, and Konoha is thriving. He's not sure how to get back to his own world, or if he even wants to. This choice is where most of the angst (and a bit of melodrama) in this fic comes from; namely, the choice between duty and happiness. Naruto has to constantly lie to this perfect new family to keep his origins under wraps, and at the same time is second guessing his decisions and agonising over his fate. The decision he eventually comes to is very much in character, with the climactic chapters in the fic a delicious mix of drama, angst and badassery.

This fic contains a lot of OCs, most notably the AU Kushina's family. Thankfully none of them are Mary Sues, and in fact their unique culture the author has created is both interesting and an important part of the plot. Just enough screentime is given to Naruto's OC siblings to flesh them out as fully realised characters, whilst the authors focus is kept on Minato. One of my favourite things about time/dimension travel Naruto fics is the ample opportunities for Minato and Naruto interaction, and this fic delivers this in funny and touching ways.

The premise for why Naruto is suddenly sent dimension hopping is weak, as it usually is in fics like this. In the end it's not the travel itself that really matters, but rather the interaction between canon Naruto and the AU world - this is the case for pretty much all of the (many) Naruto time/dimension travel fics out there. So if it's interpersonal and family drama that you're looking for this fic is definitely right up your alley. If you're looking for a fic about the intricacies of dimension travel you'll have to look elsewhere.

An aside: ignore the final few paragraphs of the last chapter, after the line break. This the a set up for a not so good sequel and doesn't fit with the rest of the fic.

If Only