Similar is not "exactly the same" so the people in question will have points where they disagree, but overall they tend to be similar. That's the successful relationship. We tend to seek out people who are like us, and bond with people who share our opinions or at least are in agreement on some things we deem important. Think about it--do you 'like' comments that go against what you feel? 

Naruto and Sakura are similar in attitude, and they have some shared goals. They're also opposite in others, where she's more book smarts while he's more think on the fly. She's developed herself to becoming an exceptional medic while he's working to become hokage. However, they're both very proud and supportive of each other which I think is important. Also, what can happen in successful relationships is you begin to internalize your partner's goals, dreams and achievements as your own too. That sounds familiar to me. So on the points they're not similar, it's not causing as many conflicts. 

NaruHina and SasuSaku... I dunno. They're opposite in attitude, though I guess Hinata is trying with some success to adopt Naruto's ninja way, but they don't have any shared goals or interests that I can think of? Sasuke and Sakura were exceptionally good students but those are in their academy years, and Sasuke is the opposite of supportive when it comes to Sakura so... 

I dunno. I know in other manga sometimes "complete opposites" end up liking each other, such as the shy guy and the tsundere girl or something, but they usually find out that despite that they share a common value point. They're not usually bonding over their differences, but what they found they shared that's valued to them. 

People are bashing shojous here, but in shojou it's very much romance centred where from a narrative perspective it makes SENSE that the two have inclinations toward each other, and it is often not the man's question of whether he loves her or not, but the female in choosing from her harem of options. No, romantic conventions don't often translate out into great relationships; this has also been criticized of the tsundere trope that Sakura is part of, but the narrative often has an internal logic that allows for a plausible relationship. SasuSaku had barely that, even when we consider the whole 'girl saving the guy from himself'. Unlike usual shojous, this was not Sakura's role but Naruto's. Maybe the shippers did want it to be her role, but the narrative argued against it. The bad guy also doesn't put the female lead in danger, rather protects her from it. People who shipped SasuSaku in Part 1 weren't so crazy for doing so; Sasuke may have been a jerk, but he never hurt Sakura, and it was ambiguous but reasonable to assume that he cared about her. Part 2 had complicated this beyond the point of plausibility.

People will ship irregardless of what the text is trying to imply, as people are really good at reading what they want--this goes for us too, but NaruSaku always had the stronger argument. Maybe this Bastard Boyfriend is the reason why it's so popular or the behaviour is unquestioned, but even that trope offers better romantic plausibility than what SasuSaku is/was. 

I'm excited for this--it's a good concept from the beginning that there is controversy over Superman and I guess Batman needs to find out for himself the answer. Considering it's called Dawn of Justice this could be the prequel to a Justice League movie. I'm really hoping it's a good movie.

I'm not saying that Sakura shouldn't have known better, but come on--we know that when it comes to Sasuke everyone seems to want to love and forgive him. Also? He deceived her in the ending because after everything, it looked like he was going to come back and finally get on the right track. He may have even had a child with her. He may have given her his child with Karin and asked her to raise Sarada in a specific way--upholding a lie. Why Sakura goes along with it is the same question we ask of women in these real life cases. I'm frustrated that once again, Sasuke has been the cause of drama and conflict--after everything they've been through because Kishimoto keeps making characters love and adore him to their own detriment. Why? I don't know. 

Yet again, blaming Sakura entirely and expecting that she deserves it for being with a guy like that? Then blaming Sakura for the hate Sasuke gets? No, people hate him because after 700 chapters of drama, he's still an irredeemable ass. He would still abandon people. He's still causing harm. Kishimoto is still using him as this ambiguous antagonist.

You know why women stay in these horrible situations? Because they think they could fix the abuser. They think that he needs them. They think they're not worth anything more. They think that because of his past or whatever he's 'troubled' and he really loves them, he's just gotta work out his issues. Sound familiar? Sakura has built Sasuke up in her head and if this story was being treated seriously, who would let her stay with Sasuke?

People who love her aren't clamouring around to tell her she deserves better. Naruto, Ino, Tsunade, her parents, everyone is supportive of this because in some part they themselves share the same attitude, particularly Naruto. Sasuke not being treated like the bad news he is is practically a theme of the manga.

I'm upset because Sakura doesn't deserve this, and it's sad to see her in such a situation. It's not oh she made her bed--it's that she has the story of a victim without the proper addressing. Character flaws--actual character flaws not just lukewarm faults that are there to make a character 'complex' are a source of good writing and drama. The problem is, they're not going to spin this like Sasuke is a terrible person and everyone should stay away from him. This isn't going to have the resolution where after years of being deluded Sakura is going to let Sasuke go because he's been absent, unsupportive, and ungrateful. No, this is about Sakura learning that endurance is the path. As long as she endures, everything will be alright.

Obviously, she's not happy. Frequently visiting the hospital, taking out loans for the house, being insecure over normal questions about her marriage--Sakura is not just unhappy she probably feels useless. Yet Sasuke is just whatever right? Everyone should have known the detriment that he is--yet that's not how the entire manga thus far has been spun. There's always some excuse to pursue Sasuke, always some excuse to wait for him. Kishimoto is going to create another one, and I'm going to watch a genuinely good character suffer because of him. How can we expect Sakura to see him for what he is when Naruto never has?

I don't say that Sakura should be with him and this is how I wanted her character to handle things, but how can I call her horrible for it when she's suffering for it? Kishimoto intentionally writes it so that Sasuke remains this big dramatic plot point, and characters aside from Naruto and his fated (BS) bond with him is the only character who will remotely look 'strong' when it comes to Sasuke. Why would people hate Sakura for being with him, and then love Sasuke? I dislike Sasuke and feel sorry that Sakura had to be the one to be saddled with him. I hate that Sarada, by all accounts Sakura's daughter biological or not, has to be another unhappy Uchiha because Sasuke has learned nothing about being a decent person over 700 chapters.

There are valid criticisms and I share them but the 'Sakura should have been stronger' and 'she should have known' absolving Sasuke of the fault is just ridiculous. No one is helping her; the manga isn't addressing this properly, because Kishimoto doesn't seem to want to just admit Sasuke is not a good person and that other characters shouldn't love him as intensely as they do. Karin, Naruto, Sakura, they all share the same issue--loving Sasuke to a fault.

I feel like if Kishimoto let Sasuke have some culpability things would be a lot different, but it's very much that, as Nate said, there's this reflexive need to defend Sasuke from criticism. He has a horrible track record and look, characters have gone above and beyond for him. I could have maybe, maaaybe, maybe made peace with the fact that Sakura ended up with Sasuke if he was a genuinely changed man. Cop out? Yes, but given this journey of saving Sasuke cost Naruto an arm and lots of my time as a reader I could imagine during peace time he took on responsibility and was at least physically present.

Yet no, I have no idea what he's doing but a father he is not being. He's not changed any. He's still causing problems for characters and they're still not letting him go. Sakura won't move on from him until the story does. This is the next generation, post-resolution Naruto manga, and it still comes back to Sasuke's absence and people missing him--still comes back to the mystery surrounding his family. 

I feel some sympathy for Sarada because she can obviously tell something's not right, and I'll feel better about her character if she's shown supporting the woman that has for all intents and purposes raised her. Maybe Sakura is under a genjutsu (which would be absolutely disgsuting) but to Sarada, that's her mother. That's the single-mother who raised her and as far as the lash out goes I don't think Sakura is physically abusive to her. I want to believe Sakura could at least be a good mother. 

It's just so upsetting to see Sakura like this. In a way, I think we all knew as anti-SasuSaku fans that this was the expected outcome of their marriage, but to see it and to see her so down... and then to see people supporting Sasuke and fans on this very forum calling her useless because she's in this situation is just so disheartening. Nobody deserves to be in this complicated situation and it seems that Sakura just really can't catch a break. I want her to finally let go of Sasuke and it's so frustrating to know that this plot-point isn't going to be dealt with properly. It's just going to keep making Sakura look bad for the sake of Uchiha-drama. 

To quote Sakura, "I'm tired of it."

So I was on the anti-SasuSaku tag on tumblr because I was curious, and I ran across some rather... disturbing things? Sasuke fans, even those against SasuSaku (or SasuKarin) basically blame Sakura for being stupid enough to be in a relationship with him. I would agree to this to some extent, but the overall tone is victim blaming and while they can say vile things about Sakura being weak, overzealous with affection, and even going so far as to say Sarada is incompetant as a daughter, just will shrug and be like yeah Sasuke's a jerk not like anything's new.

Sasuke has always been the character that has been bad for others. He's always the one hurting people around him, and for some inexplicable reason people care about him. It doesn't matter if it was Naruto, or Karin, or Sakura. Sasuke is bad news. 

Then there's people who are pro-Sarada and anti-Sakura because they feel that she's being an abusive mom for hiding things. While I can agree somewhat that I have no idea why Sakura would hide these things and live this way, I feel like we need to at least wait for some explanation why before casting her into the abusive/horrible mother trope. Sasuke however, he has a terrible track record and I can believe he's out there being unfaithful, neglectful, or whathave you. He's the one who has been absent this whole time. He's the one who left Sakura in the situation that she's in--for whatever reason she's in it. 

I'm not saying that one needs to support Sakura and her horrible decision to be with Sasuke and live a lie. It's just baffling that there are people who are against the pairing, but supporting Sasuke. Whatever issues they take with Sakura, I can't take their arguments seriously if they don't offer the same scrutiny to him. Whatever she's done, she hasn't been nearly as much an antagonist. Even if she's a terrible mother, how can you defend the absent father any more?

What's Sarada so cold about? Her dad always being away travelling? Sasuke, when he had a loving family, wasn't cold. As Sakura's daughter she's really disappointing and I've said that a few times. Putting her in something similar of Sakura's to attempt to acknowledge the mother didn't really work. It really does feel like they've been written just to pick up their father's dynamics.

Wow, how the times changed. Back in my day, if you wanted a sharingan you either had to be an Uchiha or have a medic do a complicated procedure to give you that eye. Then kids were telling me that you can just grab it with your fingers and stick it in to whomever you please! Now you don't even need eyes that are actually there! Just make sure you were good friends with an Uchiha, and one in the afterlife might give it to you hassle free! 

Kakashi was a missed opportunity, because having to adjust from having a powerful catch-all justu to a 'mundane' would have been an interesting read, and to the post about how Kakashi and the Sharingan have gone hand in hand for so long that this should be expected, there is such a thing as progress and character development. I will only agree with Atheck that the positive about his 'powerup' is that as far as Susanoo's go, his does have a friendly, comforting quality to it that is in line with his attitude. I love that Kakashi's first priority once getting the sharingan was to save Sakura. I love that he says "let's watch over them" not in a way that belittles her, but recognizing their roles as supports. He's still that kind teacher that he always was, and hopefully Sakura and him can work together somehow to produce results.

Speaking of Sakura, my love for her grows in measure of the ridiculousness of the people around her. I wouldn't abhor any kind of crazy plot twist for her, because my goodness, she could go so long without one can I really be mad if she got something for once? No, BUT I am happy that she doesn't, and I hope it stays that way. True, getting saved -again- gets tedious, but it was at least by Kakashi's loving initiative rather than Sasuke 'deigning' to save her because Naruto asked. At Kakashi's side I feel like the two at least have a chance to share meaningful dialogue and strategize about something. 

Hip hip hoorah for our unrelentingly accountable heroine! You'll never see her with a jutsu that couldn't be explained through hard work! 

So since the manga's called "I like you" I'll guess I'll start with my opinion on that. Kakashi's sudden optimism is kind of, I dunno, forced and silly. Team 7 isn't acting as a team because they care about each other, but rather because as it worked out it requires two out of three in order to seal her (with no other option) and Sakura there to make it easier. It really does remind me of the bell test, where there are only two that can possibly get it... but in order for anyone to get them at all, all three must work together to take down the difficult opponent. I consider that this set up would have been the solution to Kakashi's bell test in Part 1; granted, with less theatrics and god-scale jutsu hehe. Yet, working as a team is one thing, but being likeable is another. I assumed Kakashi didn't like them because a) he didn't know them and b) they don't have any impressive bonds with each other like what he had. 

Naruto and Sakura he understandably likes, and they deserve his affection. Sasuke on the other hand mere chapters ago had verbally smacked them down, cast them aside, and would have let them die if he could. Sure, maybe now he sees 'use' in their being alive, but only for the purpose of his goal. Overall, he has the mentality more reminiscent of a younger Kakashi--the so called "scum" that Obito had named. Why would Kakashi like him? I suppose that's really the question you can ask anyone who feels anything for Sasuke lately. I think Sasuke's special affinity is the ability to get people to like him even if he does everything in his power to make them not like him. No wait, that'd be too much effort. He just doesn't care.

Now onto Sakura! It's not one of her most impressive feats, but I like that she's included at least. I take what I can get, not even gunna lie, but she's still the number one stunner of this arc so whatever. It's a simple move with a purpose. She swoops in from the top, because perhaps Kaguya hasn't factored in that Sakura would be able to step in and do anything, so when she began to rise she didn't anticipate the attack from above. Sakura may have been calling her out on this mistake. From one woman to another isn't the worst mid-battle cry I've ever heard... Naruto's coolest guy still takes the cake but it is a bit of a heavy handed statement. 

It's also unfortunate he calls attention that they're both women when they're obviously handed the short end of the stick. Kaguya is probably the most ineffectual villain with the least personality and the most lacking motivation in a manga where other (all male) villains take arcs to explain their side of the story. It super irks me that Kishi didn't let Kaguya speak and strategize for herself; Black Zetsu needs to exposit and make suggestions to her from the little sleeve, as if a goddess can't take authority on her own. At least this in a way makes her the least painful of the villains, because she hasn't reached that point where inevitably all villains in this manga reaches for me. Zetsu on the other hand... ugh. Get him away. 

I don't feel angry with Sakura, because this goes beyond her character. This is a flaw of every character, and every aspect of this plot that in a weird way Kishimoto is acknowledging and lampshading? "I don't understand what she sees in me," is pretty much the most accurate description of this whole thing. Except, replace "she" with team 7. Sakura's main fault here is that she's a victim of the plot like anyone else--the plot around Sasuke. She needs to have these intense emotions she can't let go of, in order to make it so that she can forgive Sasuke.

I don't forget that Sakura had shown wavering faith in Sasuke. I don't forget that she attempted to kill him herself because it seemed the right thing to do. I don't forget that she isn't happy and complicit about the action Sasuke has taken. I don't forget that she's so different from Karin, who sexualizes him and goes back to his side on the basis of an apology. Sakura is fighting to get Sasuke back on the right path--and she feels sad that he's turned into what he is now. She is still one of the best characters for me. I don't regret being a Sakura fan because I know who she is and who she has been from this point. 

It's "not Sakura's fault" because it's not as if the writing had been leading up to this point. It is the fault of the author for going against what has been established in order to fulfill some sort of goal for Sasuke. Everyone therefore is at fault--Naruto, Kakashi, Karin, Orochimaru, Itachi, the Sage, anyone who's ever contributed a word to this ridiculous notion that the unsubstantiated feelings toward Sasuke are worth anything. The reincarnation, the arguments about "love and hatred", the attempts at drawing strange parallels, it's all rather ridiculous.

To quote Sakura, "I'm pretty tired from it all,". The reason I had more hopes for Sakura was because she was in the dissenting party. Her 'uneasy smile' still burns in my mind. I hope this genjutsu gives her an moment to finally work past this and reason out this toxic relationship. As to not saying anything to Naruto--it's not like Sasuke gave her a chance. Also, Sasuke is the problematic one. The reason why Naruto has to fight in the first place is because of Sasuke and his stupid ideas for becoming hokage. It makes sense to address him in an attempt to stop him... though she should have known better. "If you have any feeling in your heart for me you would do this" well guess what, he didn't do it. 

Even if NaruSaku doesn't happen, I think all of us here know it's not because it wasn't the logical conclusion. It's not because the manga did not support it and we were blind. We'll know it's because the writing did not follow through. Because for some reason, Kishimoto favoured Sasuke above Naruto and Sakura. It's why these characters are the victims of stunted or even regressed development; because Sasuke has to be loved. 

Yeah, while I'm not pleased with what Sakura was doing this chapter I can sort of understand she's just trying a desperate approach just like she did once upon a time; but wouldn't she have learned from the past that it just doesn't work? One thing that confuses me about all this is how it shows Naruto's and Sasuke's backs in the panels beforehand, and then suddenly Sakura comes to what seems to be a determined look? Maybe this was giving Sasuke one last chance before making her decision? That is how I wanted to view it. Get it all out there, see his reaction. I can't forget that this is Sakura who still suspected Sasuke--who felt like she couldn't trust him. That, and her history, and good storytelling makes me have faith that there was a greater set up for her actions. 

My issue is everything that followed. They talked over her about the nature of love, in a way that means to excuse Sasuke for his hatred and everything, as well as justify why Sakura holding on and loving Sasuke is a good thing/makes sense? The Sage mentions how favouring one son over the other lead to hatred. Perhaps in this way he means to say it is a good thing that Sakura loves them both? I don't understand though; it's not her place to act as Sasuke's mother or for what he lost. Actually, it is Sakura who is the one who lost what she once had here. She lost team 7 by losing Sasuke. That is what can be hoped to be regained. Then there is Kakashi being like "love is a weird thing". 

It juggles two things; unhealthy obsession with Sasuke, and Sasuke's unhealthy persona in general. He's the character people love without it making sense, and in the dialogue between the Sage and Kakashi they're trying to somehow explain it but it doesn't work for me. It tries to explain Sasuke's behaviour and while I understand he lost so much and gave into hatred, what of all those people who never did? It makes it seem like if you suffer tragedy there is only a path to hatred--that you can't choose to still remain a moral person. By getting rid of that, it's as if Sasuke can't really be blamed. The right thing to do is to save this person, and still love them and care for them. I'm not saying that it's a fault in Naruto and Sakura to want to save him--but their feelings are what is so odd. All of the "I loved you" and "We're great friends" is so contrived, so unrealistic that it causes me to feel disappointed in the characters for feeling that way. 

Naruto didn't try to stop Sasuke, and his admonishment of what he did was really lame compared to the action Sasuke took. Even though it's just a genjustu, he planted the feeling of getting her chest ripped through AND DYING as well as insulting her and her feelings. That's really despicable, but no one takes care for that. I just hope that when she wakes up, she takes that message... wait for it... to heart. I don't want her to love and forgive Sasuke. I want her to save him because that's what's right, but I don't want her to forgive him. I don't want her to be smile and be like "team 7 is back!" because it's not. There's too much history now that would take time to get over--time to forgive. The only way Kishimoto gets out of that is by having the characters, all characters, stubbornly still hold on to their feelings so when the time for redemption comes, it's a dream come true and they're ready to do what they've done all along: love and forgive him. 

It's just poor handling. I don't even care whether it supports NaruSaku or SasuSaku or whatever because this effects everything. This is the handling of a major plot point and conflict in the story and it's not satisfying to me personally. I actually would have rather if Sakura just stayed quiet and none of this discussion took place. At least there is speculation and hope in ambiguity. 

This was awkwardly translated. I could almost see what it was going for, giving Akamaru a bit of 'bite' and talking in context of canine relations--heat, referring to a female as a kitten. The 'what do women know' comment was probably in response to the two fangirls, and it was just defensive of the admiration he held for his master. Naruto and Hinata walking together wasn't really interesting. Oh look, a Hyuuga Heiress and a Hokage, of course they're conveniently suited for one another. 

Cat girl and Kiba are really cute. Ino and Sai also looked kind of cute together too. Otherwise, I dunno, it wasn't horrible it was just awkwardly phrased and I think the tone was at times a bit too harsh for Akamaru. 

Kakashi and the photographer bit was likeable, but I don't like how team 7 feels now. It's the same pretty much, but with everything that's happened my nostalgia has been tainted I guess. It makes me sad to know how they grew up, especially when I see Sakura. Kakashi is pretty cute, in persnonality and appearance, though.

InoSaku is one of my first crack pairings that I like, and still love~ 

NaruSasu is so canon it's crack. 

InoCho or InoShika, mostly because neither seems likely in canon but I like exploring the idea she falls in love with one of them, espeially Choji. I feel like he's got that kind heart that might appeal to her beyond physical attraction, but then again their three-way friendship is one of the best. 

Does Naruko (female Naruto) and Sakura count? Because I'd so ship them.

I'd love a SakuIno thread. And a SaiSaku one

I second this--especially the InoSaku thread! 

I'm a huge fan of Sara who IMO was a far better alternative than what they had/have with Laurel as Black Canary. You can't have Nyssa train a woman less than a year and suddenly she can take three people at once at from The League. Killing her character was the beginning of the downfall of Arrow and I stopped watching--not just because they killed her, but because they handled it so poorly. I like the comic character Black Canary. I do not like what they've done with her in Arrow. You should never tell the story of a DC heroine like her within the framework of her established male's equal. Sara was Oliver's equal because they started at the same point and diverged on their own separate paths, to meet again as established vigilantes.

I do want to see how they handle her now. Black Canary, White Canary, whatever--I only acknowledge the one that makes sense and I'm glad she's been ressurected. Nyssa al Ghul is known for her potency with the Lazarus Pits. It made no sense to me that they didn't go that route and now I'm glad to see it's been fixed. I've been wary of their writers since season 3 of Arrow has been one big mess, but I might give this a go.

Let's not forget that Sasuke wasn't in the healthiest mindset in the manga, and being asexual isn't a choice or circumstance but an orientation. Luffy from One Piece was apparently stated to be asexual even though he had some instances of interest. Sasuke is tricky because he obviously settled down in canon and had a child and even that doesn't exclude being asexual (people of this orientation can have sex for reproductive means), but likewise the same can be said. Just because someone's sexual and romantic life isn't touched on, or seems scarce, doesn't mean they're automatically asexual. Also given Kishimoto's idea of romance I don't see him seriously considering his characters' sexuality. 

I would have preferred him alone because he has serious issues, regardless of his sexuality. Of all his strong potential love interests, Karin, Sakura, and Naruto, he attempted to kill each one. In my non-canon preferences, if he were to be with anyone, I would want this addressed, and in the end I don't particularly care for him as a romantic element. Asexual, aromantic, or otherwise, I think the real issue is his behaviour and what he's done. 

Seeing as how I hate the ending, and the new movie, personally I want everything to crash and burn around them like my expectations did. I don't want the movie to be successful because in some way, I want them to suffer consequences for such an uninspired ending and jerking fans around for so long with pairings. However, seeing as how The Last was successful I'm not going to be surprised that their schemes pay off and people enjoy "Part 3" and all its absurdity. Great for them, I suppose, but I'm no longer a fan. My support of any future projects has ended. I'm already feeling difficulties with the CURRENT fandom, let alone any future ones that have spawned directly as a result of the problem.

The system in Konoha is broken. What are they going to do to reintroduce ninja? It's an entirely different Konoha, a different world, from the original series. They were so reliant on conflict. The only thing I can think of now is seeing how chakra would be used to integrate with everyday life but they have LAPTOPS. I don't think I'm interested in seeing Kishimoto's / Studio Perriot's version of ninjas in modern day society. Korra pulled the transition off well, because bending wasn't explicitly tied to war or conflict. Republic City is not advanced yet so as to make bending obsolete, and it went into the origin of the Avatar while dealing with the major conflict. However, Aang's actions in his series did not dismantle a way of life for people; it ended a war. It was a positive resolution in the lives of many, and the world and its different cultures remained intact. Republic City did not re-imagine an existing and established location but created an entirely new locale that provided a place for once divided benders to come together; and combined antiquated technology with bending. It's harmony and progress rather than the stagnation hinted at in Konoha. Republic City came with its own problems, which provided good material for Season One. 

For me the main difference was that when Avatar ended, I was satisfied, and so I had trust moving forward to watch Korra and I don't regret it. I shipped Zutara and guess what? I was PERFECTLY FINE with Kataang because even if I would have liked to see Zutara's potential, being a fan of both the characters and its relationship, I could see how Kataang worked as the conclusion and support it. Their children are inspired and well thought out, unlike "Oops I forgot to give them the byakuugan lol add that for the next child" Bolt and Hima-what'sherface. I don't need my pairing to happen to be happy with the conclusion of a series as long as the pairing I get makes sense to the story--as long as the conclusion itself feel right. How can I trust that this new generation will be handled well when they couldn't do that for the old generation?

I really hope enough people feel the same way, if just for my personal satisfaction. I suppose one way or another, people will find things that make them happy. For me, these new movies and spin-offs certainly won't be it.

Not particularly, because we were fans of SOMETHING. We all have to admit that there were things we liked about the story or we would have saw the ending coming. I think what I regret was allowing my shipping fever to get my hopes up for a satisfying ending when I should have seen the signs of poor quality and writing everywhere. I still think Part 1 was a great story, and Part 2 did offer some great things like Sakura's development (before her derailment), Killer Bee, expanded understanding of the political structure and greater world building... We got a character like Sai who I thought made a great addition to team 7.

We have to accept that what we loved did not turn out great. Would it have spared us the heartache? Sure, but then we had a lot of great memories. Many of us enjoyed cosplaying the characters, discussing them, bonding over them, and having something to look forward to weekly. There are some great fanfiction out there and I still love Naruto and Sakura, respectively and in a pairing. Did I like what they turned into? No. Do I see some really big issues with them now? Yes, especially for Naruto. But I can't say I wish I never was a fan. I just wish it didn't end the way that it did.

I have hope in the fandom~ In the movie though? No, but I won't be watching it anyway.

My friend who isn't part of this site also told me that it was his assistant who wrote the ending--and that was where I first heard it from. I want to know where this information is coming from, too.  I was also considering under what circumstances would it make sense to go with NaruHina/SasuSaku and it came to my mind that maybe it was so that people would support the spin-off. I don't know how the numbers work or what the editor's viewpoints are to support it. If the ending was written by an assistant, I too would have to question WHY that is so. Why wouldn't an author write his own ending? I understand a chapter here or there if things are going on, but to not personally write the conclusion of your own story? 

There were a lot of ideas in the story that I disliked but I could live with, but an unsatisfying conclusion is missing what all the other instances had, which is hope for better writing. I had such high hopes that at the very least, after everything, I could see my favourite characters being handled well. After all the mess of destiny and conflict, I was hoping for a happy ending but this is... You're right, that it feels oddly cliched in the whole married with children, but has this really strange undertone. It was rushed, it was weird, and it gave us a lot of information but telling us nothing important. I don't know. I don't HATE Kishimoto, but I'm disappointed. He gave us something good and threw it away. It's frustrating and sad. I want to understand why, but I can't see it. This epilogue is so stupid XD

No, I saw more people hating Sakura over this, and saying that she's had zero development. Guys, if she had zero development we wouldn't have been so surprised and dismayed by this ending. We wouldn't have shipped this. The problem is that it's an all-too-sudden regression. The problem is that she held onto her love for Sasuke, when the guy himself didn't understand. The problem was that it was all too strange, given what we know for a character. 

Then there are people I've seen on tumblr, who are saying that fans are supposed to take was we get and to appreciate what was given to us. That's not how fans engage with the material. It's the creator who is supposed to be grateful being able to make his livelihood off a fanbase, for one, but we have every right to be disappointed when we feel the writing doesn't hold up. I appreciate what Naruto and Sakura were, and have been for the majority of this manga. The fact that this is their resolution makes me really sad for their characters. I'm sad because Naruto ends up with such an uninspiring character who just suddenly got this array of focus. Of course, I'm incredibly sorry for Sakura, who ends up with Sasuke despite everything.

It's like the morale of this story is to never stop loving and caring no matter what. That would be a nice theme, but... you don't have to marry him. These were not love stories. I think Sasuke just needed a reason to be tied to Konoha, and if Sakura loves him and has his kid then it keeps him linked while he goes out and does whatever the heck he wants. He can be a wanderer with a wife and child to return to. Karin is not tied to Konoha in the same way. This isn't for Sakura, it's for Sasuke. 

I mean, if there's any character I would blame it would be him. He's the element to this story that consistently regresses people around him. Sakura and Naruto must love and forgive him no matter what. They must be stuck in the past because that's where Sasuke left them.

Where is this picture everyone is getting freaked out about? Though, the story itself is enough to make one cringe. I keep a few house spiders alive, because I prefer those to various insects. Generally, they stay in their designated corners and never bother me--I even had the situation where they were in my shower. You just spray the ceiling above you and they don't crawl to there. Oftentimes when a spider falls down in front of you its not because it wants to attack or say hi--it just happened to lose its footing. So, I've developed a tolerance to the sight of a few spiders out and about. It's the American house spider/common house spider so I don't really worry about it. 

HOWEVER. THOUSANDS OF SPIDERS CRAWLING ABOUT--AND BROWN RECLUSE? When I read that number my eyes bulged out of my head. WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. They're so fortunate they didn't suffer a bite. That could have been fatal if for any reason they decided to turn aggressive toward the humans! Normally I would prefer introducing a predator species BUT HOW DO YOU HANDLE 6,500 BROWN RECLUSES?

That's when I would leave. Demand that the property be considered uninhabitable and therefore not be responsible for it, and just go.

The OP didn't exactly provide any compelling links or arguments that this was happening--now that there's this controversial ending out I'm suspicious of any so called information about the reactions or 'behind-the-scenes' reasons/conspiracies without something resembling a solid case for it. 

I'm never in the party that you HAVE to appreciate work that an author puts out. You can judge a medium as you so fit, and an author is the one that can be grateful to have his livelihood based on his fans enjoying his work. It's a reciprocal relationship and I know, fans can be a nightmare, but this doesn't mean because some people's expectations are crazy that every other fan must submit to any written work. We have opinions. If we didn't, we wouldn't debate on forums. So I get really annoyed when someone makes the argument we have to take what we can get. I'm not a passive reader. 

I don't have a problem with the idea then that we can voice our discontent, it's just about making sure it's peaceful and not aimed at hurting others, but trying to focus on the issue. I don't go out and attack NaruHina/SasuSaku shippers, I just ignore them, and I would certainly never go out and threaten the lives of others in any way. A couple of people standing around with signs where they think Kishimoto might see, okay, it's not exactly a mature response (and if the 'other side' of this pairing war would do it we'd call them pathetic) but if it remains just that, a small-scale protest that's not something to get up-in-arms over.

A riot is a different matter entirely. Extreme reactions, even to some causes that are worthier for one, are never good. They get negative attention and people get hurt. So I'm not like some people who complain about this generation not being happy with what they get (rolls eyes) but I don't condone violence either. I do hope that fans do complain about this ending. It grates at me when problematic media just goes unaddressed (looking at you, Arrow) and sometimes I do wish that these opinions could be reached to the people who control the stories; not to be received as some crazy fan who's never satisfied, but as a genuine criticism and an expectation to do better. 

However, when talking about anything that's going on--that it was Kishimoto's assistant who wrote it, that Japanese fans are unhappy with the conclusion, I don't want just statements--where's the proof? Where are people getting this info?

The 'thugification' of black young men is probably the new slur of the age--the new n word. Even our most gruesome murderers are not supposed to be shot on site. A police officer killed a man. The focus should be on him, but what I have noticed is that whenever we're talking about whether or not he did it, we're trying to discredit the victim. The racism and social political climate is evident that we can't talk about this case where a cop shot a young man. The issues of power and race are linked together because of a history. This doesn't come out of nowhere. 

The burden of proof does lie on the accusarer, not the defence, so I understand they need to establish whether or not the guilt is there. However, when there is a murder case regardless of the occupation of the accused, I would assume that the evidence would not be based on the perceived character of the victim, but by the events that transpired. The fact that this was six shots, that it was reported that the victim had his hands up--that's everything for the court to decide. What is not for us to decide was whether he 'deserved' it or not, because he didn't. We don't give power to our cops to arbitrarily decide who deserves to die or not. That should not be ever, at all in our dialogue of this discussion. It is whether or not the officer in question is guilty.

The people of Ferguson are angry at what they perceive to be a miscarriage of justice. The community is angry, and the more I see discussions like this that vilify Micheal Brown, the more I believe that they have every right to be--because as a white woman I don't know what it is like to live in a climate where you feel at odds with the police; the people that I feel are here to protect me. When I see a police officer, I feel safe. I can also believe that these grievances are legitimate, because I've seen something of this vein before.

Women face issues like this when it comes to rape. The sexual history, from what she was wearing, doing at the time, and all centred around how she may have given any indication that she was on board with what happened to her. If this can happen to women; if there can be a climate where I feel unsafe walking at night or being told by my parents when and where to go--the dangers of leaving a drink unattended, I can certainly imagine that maybe the people of Ferguson, that black men and women have similar dialogues in regards to their relationship with the police. Because of this, I believe that it is imperative that we are critical and open to understanding what is going on in this community. That's on the side of protests and social justice dialogue.