Hello all! I’ve been following this site for quite some time but never really joined. I must say I’m glad to still see people giving this site some life and love even now! I’ll try to not be too long or ramble but I do appreciate anyone who reads our story. Thank you in advance! =)
Where do I start? Oh well, I originally encountered Naruto when it began airing on Cartoon Network back in 2005 (Today’s CN is a spawn from Hell). Manga wasn’t easily accessible back then as it is today.
As for NaruSaku: I originally fell in love with this pairing when Naruto first complimented Sakura’s forehead and wanted to kiss it. Which was the one feature she was always self-conscious about. I just wish she could’ve known it was Naruto after so many years. That and their continued development, chemistry and interactions throughout the manga only solidified my attachment to them!
Back on topic: The series was unique and loveable, and after the Zabuza Arc I was hooked. I loved the English Dub personally, each voice matched each character perfectly! Fast forward to the present day and I’m one sad cookie. How did something so precious and full of potential get so bad? Like horrifyingly bad?
It’s 2017 and the ending has still broken me. And probably always will. It’s not just about the pairings. The whole last arc was a mess. Don’t get me wrong. Part 1 was a masterpiece and Part 2 I’ll always remember fondly up to the Pain Arc. Everything after just feels like really, really, bad fanfiction. Which is fitting b/c I heard that Yahagi, Kishi’s main editor who helped shape much of the story, left after Sasuke got his MS while still leaving instructions for the Pain arc. How fitting. He probably knew where it was all heading.
The power level originally felt perfect for the series. I loved the close, hand-to-hand melee fights, with the occasional hand sign and jutsu/summoning thrown in. I loved when Naruto trained days to master Rasengan, change in Chakra Nature, Nature Energy and Sage Mode. When did we go from that to flying, glowy, super saiyan effects and Michael Bay movie explosions?
I’m rambling. Back on topic again: It’s 2017 now. It used to be the 5 of us who met back in school and became best friends, always talking about Naruto and how the story was going to go. We were all NaruSaku fans from the start. It’s so rare and I really treasure that about our friendship.
We began to lose interest with each chapter of the 4th Ninja Trash Arc. The only thing we remember fondly are those lovely NaruSaku moments and Madara Shippuden. For us, the moment Kaguya arrived we felt that Naruto as we knew it was dead. It was just barely hanging on but that was the last nail in the coffin. The dialogue was bad. The fight was bad. Naruto cried for Obito and called him the COOLEST guy. Sakura reverted back to her 13- year old Sasuke-kun fangirl self. Sasuke wanted to kill the Kages and Naruto. He put Sakura in a horrible genjutsu. In return he gets a high five and hall pass back at the village.
And I think I’ve seen enough laser fox and Megazord Samurais for one lifetime. Ugh.
Sakura gushes at Sasuke for poking her forehead. Naruto marries overrated stalker whom he loves now apparently because of a scarf and genjutsu cave and supposedly liked Sakura only because of rivalry with Sasuke. What a load of rubbish. And to think people eat that up. In return Sakura becomes a single housewife with a rogue ninja who tried to kill her twice, and couldn’t care less about her.
And we never get to see Naruto actually become Hokage in the manga. Like, really?
Whatever. I’m rambling again.
Last few words: Two of our friends ultimately gave up on the series and don’t talk about it. They’ve become distant. As for the last 3 of us, we’re still together. We think fondly of the memories we built on this series and what it could’ve been. And still can’t stand the atrocity it became and still continues to be with that Burrito manga. Ranting helps vent our frustrations. Sorry if we sound angry.
We’ll never move on.
To this day, we’re still burdened with the curse of falling in love with this series, what it stood for, and the love between Naruto and Sakura that almost was…
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Well darn it. I did take too long and ramble =/ Thank you if you’ve read this far. We really appreciate it. I’m glad to finally sign up and meet all of you. My friends and I love your continued passion for the series and true pairing.
Goodbye for now =)