Another contest entry for @ [link]

Though I've been told that since I placed in her last contest, I can't actually compete in this one. Kind of a bummer though, since the last contest was determined by popular vote, not actual judges. Since I'm still a no-name on DA, it was no surprise that I lost. But thank you to those of you who voted for me anyway!

This contest is "Me as a Ninja". I really wracked my brain on this one. There are a lot of things that I know I would want to do in the Narutoverse. But if I wanted to be true to myself and the contest: I would be only one thing -- a medic nin.

Honestly, if it wasn't for the cost and my issues with a condition called 'fibromyalgia', I would be going to med school. Medicine has always fascinated me, and I've always had a great desire to help those in need.

Named this character (me) Aki Megumi (Autumn Blessings). I LOVE Autumn -- the season and the name.

The little crosses stand for the sign 'Red Cross', a symbol used universally to denote a medic ... just incase you didn't know.

Made her pretty toned (I use to be quite buff prior to fibro) and made her combat specialty in Taijutsu. I have some experience in hand-to-hand combat and it just seemed to come natural (lots of years wrestling my cousins I guess).

Gave her higher intelligence, not trying to sound egotistical - it's based of my skills in problem solving (which I'm pretty good at).

Picked water based chakra because for one: I love the water, whether it be rain or swimming and two: water is essential to good health, medic > water > healthy.

As for her being from Konoha, I love the woods; hope to build a home in a local forest soon. I just couldn't imagine living in any other setting.

Gave her big "clog-hopping boots". Basically because I like to do a lot of hiking AND as an aside, my feet are ALWAYS cold. So wearing ninja shoes (where the toes are exposed) would be misery for me. Also, I have found that when I did do hand-to-hand combat, I used my shins a lot for defense, so armored boots sounded like a good idea. If I was a bad guy and I saw those big things flying at my head, it would make me reconsider my purpose in life -- especially if it connected and I had a nice Konoha leaf imprint on my cheek.

I'm surprised that I drew her in a skirt. I was such a tomboy growing up and I HATED anything with a skirt. But now ... I kinda like them . I also think the skirt helps add more femininity to it, otherwise, the whole getup is a bit masculine.

The wooden necklace she is wearing is just like a necklace that I own. Anyone who knows me in person, know I wear that necklace a lot.

And NO, I did not model her after Temari. Though she is one of my favorite kunoichi from Naruto, I did not intentionally try to draw Aki to look like her.

All-in-all, nothing too fantastic. No bloodline limits or special jutsus -- just another ninja in the crowd.

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** Note: This is my first attempt at soft cell shading ... I'm kind of ambivalent as to how it turned out.