3.) Naruto's homecoming! Man, he was so close....if he just said it right and had enough money to top it off with a date, we could be rightfully pwning some NaruHina/SasuSakuers as we speak... Still cute nonetheless though!
2. Honestly, I thought it was SasuSaku too. Though after reading these posts and rewatching, I've come to the conclusion that it was specifically made so that it can be used by pairing with Sakura in it.
It's not a bad thing. It's a beautiful credit scene. And it's nice that fans from either side (not to mention those of lesser represented pairing like LeeSaku, SakuIno, ect.) can enjoy it.
3. Just point out that the animator's took alot of liberities. In the manga (ie cannon), she did go on that date with him. That's where he actually ran into Shikmaru and Temari.
Anyways, my favorite scene is:
I'm going to cheat and put two.
The first is when Sakura threw herself at the Kyuubi. That look of despair and he pleading with the Kyuubified Naruto and telling him SHE'LL bring Sasuke back for HIM simply broke my heart. Part II had me becoming increasingly sympathetic towards NaruSaku, but this is the scene that made me a fan. The other parts -Sakura's reflections on Naruto, her wanting to learn Yamato's jutsu and being told it's her feelings that will matter, her joy at Naruto waking up - are all perfect.
I truely love this scene though there is one I love more. But the fact that I can say Chapter 296, page 7, the middle-left panel is the exact moment I became a NaruSaku fan makes this scene worthy of at least an honorable mention.
My favorite NaruSaku moment ironically happens before that scene. It is........... *drum rolls* .................. The Renewal of the Promise of a Lifetime Scene. To me it is just a beautiful scene that illistrated what a healthy relationship should be.
When Naruto and Sakura first see each other, Sakura has a sort of shocked sadness while Naruto can't even look at her. He begins to apologize, while she fakes cheerfullness.
After his second apology and Sakura's continued selective hearing, he shouts out that he will keep his promise. For Sakura, he pushes aside his own dispair - from both losing Sasuke, and breaking the promise - continue on with the promise. He no only refusing to give into the sadness, he refuses to let that promise to be broken, for her.
Sakura, looking away from Naruto, tries to releive him of his promise, accepting Sasuke is gone forever.
But Naruto doesn't accept that. He shows his true strength and tells her what she's heard tons of times by now. That he doesn't back down. He always keeps his word.
She turns to him with a mix of dread and horror of what she knows she will see. Then we see her eye really looking at Naruto, which she has tried to avoid doing so far. She connects each word she said with each injury Naruto has. She sees the lengths that he will go for her. She sees that even after this, he will keep his promise to her. And she smiles and walks away.
She smiles because she feels comforted by Naruto's words and hope is reborn that maybe Sasuke isn't gone forever. But she leaves because she realizes she needs to do something. She needs to change. She doesn't want Naruto to go alone. She will be with him next time.
This scene represents some of the best qualities in a healthy relationship. Naruto drawing his courage from his feelings for her, and becoming a source of strength for Sakura despite his own pain.
And Sakura deciding to change, not because Naruto wants her too. But because what he's done for her wants her to become a better person.
It beats the actual Promise for me because:
1. I feel that was largely one sided even if Sakura realized she's been wrong about Naruto this whole time.
and
2. Naruto hadn't realized how far Sasuke had gone and was entirely confident he would bring him back. But during the renewal, he knew just how far he had gone and wasn't so confident anymore. But, for Sakura, he trudged through his dispair.