. Then it changed last minute and to top it all off "The Last" invalidates major parts of the story by saying Naruto was never serious about Sakura so as to not make Hinata look like a cheap silver medal. That just destroyed a major theme in the story on why Naruto made the POAL to Sakura, because he would never have made it if he WASN'T serious about h
I don't know why it's hard for some NaruSaku fans admit something contrary to their belief after 8 years...
Something like evil Pierrot/Editors deceived Kishimoto into thinking Hinata was the queen of the universe and he was forced to make NH official. Hinata was their favorite. But only in fillers and they have no power in manga.NH Possibility was open since chapter 437. This chapter come out in 2009. She have a descent ammount of popularity in West. SS already had a consolidated fanbase and popularity since Part 1. It's was simply more easy to him to take SS/NH route. Kishi has no interest in romance so he let Pierrot wrote whatever they wants.
The Pool was destroyed in 469. Naruto wasn't chasing Sasuke for Sakura and at this point the PoaL become irrelevant to him and Sakura. Since this Chapter the Poal never was mentioned again like something important. So i believe everything related to the promess was addressed in this chapter.
Sasuke has shown mostly toxic abusive behavior towards Sakura, As anyone that has ever been in a toxic abusive relationship can attest to.
I agree in some points Sasuke and Sakura trying to kill each other was too much. But this negative moment wasn't enough to fade their Part 1 Popularity and original appeal to their fans. In part 1 i remember Sasuke was willing to die and give up his revange just to saver her against Gaara. If you think this moment has no importance for a Character like Sasuke or to SS Pairing. SS/NH thinks the same about NaruSaku Moments and PoaL.
About the Abusive Argument of many Sakura/SS haters likes to use to diminish the SasuSaku and Sakura.
The main theme of Naruto was redemption. Just like how Naruto friendship is forever to Sasuke so was Sakura's loves to him...
Much of the SS problematic side is thanks to the Sasuke's traumas and journey as a final antagonist to fight Naruto in the end.
Just like ony other antagonist have problems with their relationships in this manga.
A Crazy psychopath like Gaara who threatened his own brothers. could never become a Kage of the same village he killed thousands.
Itachi abused and torture Kid Sasuke and is considered the "best" brother in manga.
Neji tried to kill and tortured Hinata and he died to protect her.
NejiHina was more famous than NH at the time in Japan. The same happened with worst people like Obito and Nagato.
Thats why i think hard to believe Kishimoto is stupid enough to call SS abusive/Toxic AFTER made them official. Since this will not only kitten on his two Main Characters but in his entire manga as well...
And by your "appeal to popularity logic", SS isn't the most popular pairing in Japan It Is Kakashi and Iruka so go ahead tell me Iruka should be married and show me a photo of Iruka wearing a wedding dress and Kakashi in a groom suit. Go on.
If you can't admit the rival pairings development or scenes or believe in Kishi own words that the have planned the pairings since the Beginning (i don't believe too).
What's was left? Only Popularity.
Kakashi/Iruka is a yaoi crack shipping who become popular out of nowhere because some japoneses like the concept of the Two Teachers having a gay relationship. But you could see Kishimoto actually implemeting this on his manga without sounding ridiculous?
This isn't the same as SasuSaku/NaruHina/NaruSaku who are hetero pairings with declarations and scenes in manga.
Edited by Therece, 06 February 2023 - 02:42 AM.