I don't think I could say anything about this chapter that hasn't already been said. I agree that it was a forced confession, but to be honest, I don't think I'd have been happy with any kind of NaruSaku relationship before the end of the manga. It just wouldn't feel... right.
Waiting patiently for the make-up sex,Jast
EDIT: Btw, just came across this...
Cold Confessionwhat chapter will that be?
okay, someone should close this thread, and move back to the debate thread...
can't we merge them togther?
I think a lot has been overlooked about the general direction of the manga in the wake of 469 and others. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are the new Sannin. The entire point of the manga, and Naruto as a character, is to SURPASS THE PREVIOUS GENERATION. This is a recurring theme, and has been stated by Jiraiya, Kakashi, Tsunade, Iruka and even indirectly by Yondaime Hokage on several occasions. We were reminded of this in the chapter where Jiraiya died, as he flashbacks over his life. He sums up his own goals as being failures (in his eyes); he couldn't bring back his friend, Orochimaru, when he left the village to be consumed by his own darkness and his greed for power. He also couldn't win the heart of the woman he was in love with, Tsunade. And his own student, Pein, had surpassed him in terms of ninjutsu (meaning he killed him basically).
So let's look at all the comparisons between the New and the Old Sannin:
1. Sasuke=Orochimaru, obviously. Orochimaru couldn't give less of a kitten about his teammates and friends, therefore he left Konoha. Jiraiya tried to bring him back and failed. The old Sannin were permanently broken and did not reunite, ever. In fact, Tsunade and Jiraiya had no qualms about killing him every time they had the opportunity to because they felt nothing but contempt for him anymore. They didn't waste their whole life on regrets. However the whole love triangle thing wasn't present, as it is in Team 7. This is one of the factors that will enable the new generation to surpass the old. Naruto cares about Sasuke deeply as a brother- his feelings for Sasuke are much deeper and more meaningful than Sakura's infatuation with him. Naruto is therefore not only pursuing Sasuke for Sakura (to whom he swore he'd bring Sasuke back for her) but for his own sake too. The double whammy of their regard for Sasuke makes them MORE determined than Jiraiya and Tsunade to bring him back- and also Naruto and Sakura feel that Sasuke isn't as far gone as Orochimaru, so they won't give up just yet. In all likelihood, they'll bring Sasuke back, or he'll at least realize that he cares about them AS TEAMMATES before he gets killed in some epic battle to protect them from Akatsuki, or whatever. So as far as Sasuke is concerned, Naruto and Sakura will succeed (NOT romantically though, in Sakura's case...but they'll manage to restore their friendship once more I feel). Either way, Sasuke WILL return, or see the error of his ways blah blah blah and die as a member of Team 7, OR he will surpass Orochimaru's evil and thus Naruto and Sakura will decide to let him go and just kill him already. Either way he's going to go a step further than Orochimaru somehow, which will be his way of surpassing the old generation. Personally I think his death will be similar to Pein's (comes round to Naruto's way of thinking right before he dies, laments his sins etc).
2. Naruto=Jiraiya. That much is obvious. Jiraiya taught Yondaime, who became Hokage in his time. And since like, the 1st page of the manga, its been clear that Naruto will end up Hokage someday. Also Naruto mastered the Futon Rasengan, which the 4th didn't manage, and also perfected Sage Mode which Jiraiya never did. He's in love with his teammate, LIKE JIRAIYA WAS, but UNLIKE Jiraiya he will prove himself worthy of her (not that Jiraiya didn't try or anything!! I love Jiraiya, but y'know he never actually confessed to Tsunade which is what I mean) without even meaning to- because for almost the whole manga, he's pretty much decided that he can never have Sakura's love. However the irony of it is that in his unselfishness, Sakura is slowly starting to fall for him- something he never expected to happen, EVER. But ultimately WE, the READERS, know that Narusaku is canon, because Naruto will surpass Jiraiya and achieve his goals. The whole manga is named after him for gawdsakes. He's GOING TO GET EVERYTHING HE WANTS.
3. Sakura=Tsunade. In order to surpass Tsunade, Sakura must become a better ninja- which she is well on her way to doing, as she has perfected the art of chakra control just like Tsunade has, has great taijutsu, is an exceptional medic, is extremely intelligent and has genjutsu abilities too which she hasn't even tapped into yet. She was the 1st ninja to kill an Akatsuki member which shows us how much she's grown. Also she's no longer the selfish, snotty-nosed brat that she was before her rigorous training. Sure, her motives might still be selfish, but she is slowly falling for Naruto, as we have seen unfold over the past 200 or so chapters. Sakura also has to surpass Tsunade in her personal life- Tsunade (again no offence to her, she's friggin awesome) spent most of her life mourning for the man she was in love with, who she couldn't be with because he was killed in battle. However instead of seeing what was right in front of her (Jiraiya) and opening herself up to the possibility that it is possible, and indeed PROBABLE, that you will love more than 1 guy in your life, and loving someone else after the 1st dude does NOT make him the "rebound guy" or a "shoddy replacement" or a "sloppy second", but that your next romantic choice could very well bring you complete peace. Chasing after an impossible dream only made her unhappy- which is exactly what Sakura has been doing. Even in the event that they somehow bring Sasuke back to Konoha, Sasuke is not magically going to fall in love with her. He's just NOT. He's had AMPLE opportunities, he's not just going to wake up and smell the daisies now. And no doubt Sakura will realise that she's in love with Naruto BEFORE they convince Sasuke to come home. In accepting that she loves Naruto more than Sasuke and thus finally feeling complete, she will have surpassed Tsunade.
So yeah, Naruto and Sakura will somehow get it together. Its a shonen manga called NARUTO. After the main character, Naruto. And Naruto ALWAYS gets what he wants.
Not that I have anything against Hinata (she's a lovely gal) but she's only a 2ndary character- and even so, she's less of a 2ndary character than even Shikamaru, Neji etc. She's barely appeared in the series even to help out with the rookies' missions. Yeah she loves Naruto, but she's not selfish- and her admiration of him as a person will still continue even if she doesn't manage to nab him from under Sakura's nose. Her goal isn't to be with Naruto for the rest of her life, her goal was to confess to him and show him how much she cared for him, and in doing so develop herself as a person. She had purely unselfish motives, but that doesn't mean Naruto is going to fall in love with her just for that. Yeah that might be selfish of him, but the poor guy's got his own emotions, and he's loved Sakura for his whole life. So even if Sakura DOES act selfishly, he still adores her and is willing to do anything for her.
So yeah, 469 was a bit awkward and unsatisfying, but its most telling about the direction Sakura's feelings have changed to. She's willing to put aside what SHE has wanted for so long just to give Naruto peace of mind. Is that love or isn't it? Guess we'll just have to wait it out for the next 20 chapters for Sakura to realize what her putting Naruto first ACTUALLY means.
anyway. On with the discussion.
wow that svery informitive i thought about that too.
Very good for your first post
I'm surprised to see a bunch of lurkers and old members joining in.
didnt know it was posible to lurk here.
i just can't do it
To easy to lurk on this site unless something really big is happening.
this would be something big
This topic is locked
