Behold! My ultimate wall of the marriage argument.
First of all, most of the following text is semi-psychological speculations based on canon.
Secondly, I'm going to focus this time on Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke as potential life partners. Hinata will have to wait.
Thirdly, one of my pricnipal postulates (due to relationship parallels in manga) is "like father, like son" or "young adults tend to copy their parents' family model". Be sure to remember it while reading my discourse.
Sakura
Unfortunately, we don't know that much about her family. Both her mother and father are alive (living together), and Sakura is their only child. Those are pure facts. Moreover, if we include RTN material, we can also add that the Harunos are quite noisy and loudmouthed. Certainly not cold or indifferent towards their daughter (that's very-very important). However, they show ignorance when it comes to Sakura's self-esteem (to some extent, at least).
It may mean:
Sakura grew up to be somewhat selfish and self-centered when it concerns affections of her close circle. In my opinion, she requires a man who will adequately nurture her selfishness: in other words, her future husband should pay attention to his wife's needs and tolerate her occasional tantrums but draw a sharp line when it comes to significant decisions. Do not worry, this mode of loving is not strictly one-sided. Eventually, Sakura will give back as much. She isn't that blind and has a strong caring streak in her. So, to summarize: she receives - she gives. There is also a source scheme according to which "she gives without receiving". Well, I assure you this one will result in Sakura's progressive fading. This woman wants and needs to be stubbornly loved and sometimes to be reminded about her half's feelings (feedback makes Sakura aware of others when she is behaving too selfish).
Sakura grew up bearing a bunch of insecurities. She's not from an esteemed clan with refined traditions (and is somewhat ashamed of that, I presume) but harbours ambitions. So her dream man should not be someone mediocre; yet should he value the clan and its honour (or own's vanity) more than anything else, every time his spouse will be placed as a second or third priority at best - as a means to an end. Not the best option for our sensitive blossom. In Sakura's childhood she used to be taunted by her peers, and that planted the seeds of insecurity about the girl's appearance and forming bonds (the last one resulted in the way Sakura chooses to show her affection - inadequetly due to imprinted fear and embarrassment). So her lover should be generous when it comes to complimenting her looks and understanding when she suddenly hits him instead of (or before) plainly saying that she was worried sick about his safety. And not only. Everything that she achieves should be noted by her partner. He supports her - she strives to be better. That's how it works. She's also fragile in the love department (thanks to rejections). As I've already stated, Sakura's potential patrner should frequently demonstrate that he loves his woman. Thus, we get a happy Sakura who wants to be even more loved and acts accordingly. Quite a demanding lass, isn't she?
Sakura grew up in a more or less warm emotional atmosphere full of interaction with her parents. I assume, she can't be deprived of dialog because she can't exist otherwise. She is and will always be annoying for unsocial individuals. Of course, she can be intrigued by the kind of them but won't be able to obtain a full-fledged intercommunication with such people. She just doesn't know efficient ways to pry open (or persuade into opening) the hard shell, besides breaking through. Sai has been her most successful project so far. So, Sakura's husband had better be talkative than taciturn.
I almost forgot about sex-life! My bad! Sakura's libido is far above zero (she reacts violently to Naruto's and Konohamaru's perverted jutsus, that's a sure telltale sign). What does it imply? Her husband can't imitate an icicle in bed. That's a no-no!
Now ask yourselves a simple question; does Naruto satisfy all these criteria of a good husband for Sakura?
Sorry, I have to stop at the current point, being a little bit too tired. Naruto's and Sasuke's cases will be analyzed later. But I'll continue shortly, I swear.
Edited by Syn11, 03 June 2014 - 12:39 AM.