I like thinking of it in terms of FMA, it does make sense that way. But for Naruto, that brotherhood bond is only one-sided. That's what bothers me: their relationship is based on rivalry than on love (brotherly or otherwise). Ed/Win comes second to the brotherhood bond of Ed/Al. And Naruto does talk to Itachi about Sasuke as a brother.... Yet it's hard to compare a healthy bond of Ed/Al to the majorly screwed up bond of Naru/PsychoSasuke.
Hmm, good point. The brotherly bond is very one-sided in Naruto/Sasuke's case. I think Sasuke might have reciprocated that bond to some extent in Part I (at the very least, he admitted Naruto was his best friend during the VotE fight), but it hasn't been shown in a very healthy light since Part II started, at least in my opinion.
I guess the FMA parallel I was trying to make (but probably failed, LOL) was in regards to Ed and Naruto's devotion to their 'brother', and how desperately they want to 'bring them back'. The metaphor is pretty strained, I know, especially considering the feelings of the 'brother' in question, but I guess I was just thinking that it might be similar in that Naruto could finally truly acknowledge his bond with Sakura without diminishing his bond with Sasuke.
But I guess, the more I think about it, the parallel might be pretty flimsy.
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Anyway, I'm just hoping Sakura gets some respect, and that the manga doesn't end with her simply being one of the clamoring masses that loves Naruto, while her storyline is neatly packed away as the girl who loved him. Not as someone who will grow to be more powerful than Tsunade. Like you said, right now, as Naruto's best friend, she is second to Sasuke in importance and focus. There is an implied closeness, but nothing outright.
I'd like to think she'll be included as a major part in the plot at least few more times before the end. The way the manga has been going, it's pretty much every Edo zombie fighting against some major person from their past. And who else would make more sense to fight Chiyo? Kankuro already fought Sasori, so it'd be a little redundant to give him another fight, in my opinion. Kimimaro is with Chiyo as well, so it might be a pretty cool 2-on-1 fight if Sakura could pull it off. As a medic-nin, she might have some compound that can break down bones or something. But maybe that sounds too fanfic-ish...
I think the whole Sasuke issue with her will have to be brought up again too. I know how some people here have come to certain conclusions after 540, but I'm personally of the mind that she still has some hang-ups to overcome. Once that's brought up again, I think that whole aspect of her character will be close to being resolved.
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Hopefully Kishimoto will flesh out the plot, having Naruto move on from his obsession with Sasuke once it is resolved, and recognize Sakura. Not just have them kissing in an epilogue somewhere.
I hope so too. I hope that once his bond with Sasuke is secure again, Naruto won't be so obsessive over it.
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i hope i'm making sense
LOL, you're making more sense than I've been.
Edited by Boom...Winning, 27 July 2011 - 02:39 AM.