Indeed.
Like you , i think what is positive about this volume is the parallel from 631 and also the interactions that Naruto and Sakura had. The girlfiend comment also proove that Naruto still love Sakura.
What is negatifve ( at least for me ) is the fact that Sakura blush to Sasuke and scream is name when both him and Naruto proctected her. Also when Sakura said that she still trust Sasuke and that she is happy that he is here, this is a contradiction from 540...
In the green I agree, but what I mean is, in this volume alone, if anyone was the major character in this set of 10 chapters, it was Sakura, chapters 630, 631, 632, and 635 she stepped up and put up some major developments. The biggest part is not because of 631, its how Sakura has shown a few things key to what others usually view to be negative about her, all her actions basically proved them wrong. 630 and 632 and to a degree 634, they showed her improved powers and skill and how far she had come since part 1 and this allowed her to display her actions like a heroine. Though Sakura's moments may slow for a time, her role is far from done. This one volume was excellent for Sakura because 1. It proved her concern and support of Naruto from 629. 2. In 630 that speech naruto gave is what let her tell the allaince to not give up. 3. Minato made the Sakura-Kushina parallel though a small humorus moment, the foreshadow was built upon. 4. Sakura stepped up to Naruto and told him that she could fight, this is what did it for me, Naruto seeing her determintion and just going with it, 631 is still the best chapter in recent time in my opinion, rather many in all fanbases love this chapter for many reasons like the reunion of team 7. 5. 632 displayed Sakura's growth. 6. Sakura has different feelings for Sasuke, though she said it like it was positive, her smile was only saying how something negative was in the future.
While these past chapters did for us in NS though was really good, again 631 was the biggest thing for us since 450, not as great but still important. 631 was the biggest win for us in recent time due to Naruto practically confirming he still loves Sakura even if the girlfriend comment was for humor and just teasing her, it still shows nothing has really advanced for NH after 615. The parallel was the biggest new victory aside from Naruto reenforcing his feelings, because with this foreshadow element, it really just again reenforces that things may turn out the same but better for Naruto and his friends and it again just brings up the concept of parallelism in the story. The whole MK to NS deal is done, no matter how its argued, Sakura=Kushina, the similar pasts of MK and NS, they are just too obvious, always have been. This foreshadowing event opened a plethora of stuff that can be built upon. This foreshadow is not going to change, anytime soon otherwise things would just get confusing. The ordeal with 635 too, that made a sign of possible change for the future. SS may be near the end with Sakura not trusting him, the whole statement right there can break SS soon when his motives come forward.
These past few chapters set it up so NS is still going full positive, nothing really negative on our end (like those 3 events in the past), with NH not having advanced much as speculated orginially and 633 only showing more of the same we always knew about, its still static. SS now just hit even lower with Sakura herself not feeling good about Sasuke, if anything this is where 540 may come in, she knows something bad may happen soon and given what Orochimaru, Jugo, and Sai did, they know something is up. Sakura should react differently when this comes to light, I mean if she used her own experience of relying on Naruto from the land of iron to not depend on him for everything, like in 631 how she was cautious of Sasuke appearing, it stands to reason she would not be as impulsive as last time. There is no telling what Sakura would do but whatever she does, it may be done in a more positive manner unlike the land of iron. We need to see Sakura's thoughts and what she will do, but its assured, she views Sasuke negatively for now. Whatever Sasuke does will impact both Naruto and Sakura, 635 made this clear with him not listening to Naruto and Sai asking Sakura her view on him. Maybe she was just masking the pain and knows something bad, no telling if she will actually act but this set things in motion that could change Sakura's outlook on Sasuke completely.
As these chapters did, they showed Sakura's growth a lot and showed her heroine side and future chapters can continue this. The parallel and naruto still loving Sakura were the other big wins. In terms of pairings, NS is fine, NH is in limbo for all purposes, and SS may be nearing the end. Maybe this future impact on Naruto and Sakura from Sasukes motives will advance NS maybe not, but there will be some change for Sakura. NS got a lot of positive this volume, NH remained basically in the same place as soon as 616 came around (rather hardly advanced like it usually was), and SS just got a lot more negative.
As for the red, not really concerned, blush dirt, makes no difference given what we saw in 632. If anything that minor moment does nothing, even Sakura said not to sweat it to Naruto so no point in worrying. If anything 540 applies more to 635 with her fake smile and Naruto seeing Sasuke just wanting to burn down the juubi and kill the tailed beasts (if that is even possible).
Edited by Inferno180, 28 June 2013 - 04:38 AM.