I have every reason to feel threatened by Hinata's surge in presence. Even though Sakura is the "heroine", Hinata is acting more like it. Hinata is completely outshining Sakura right now. Hinata already had a monumental focused previous chapters ago that should have already been ingrained in our heads by now, and now she is continuing on gaining brief moments. That is one of my main problems with the manga right now:
Even though Sakura is the heroine, Hinata is acting like it while making Sakura appear to be a ghost during this crucial moment in the manga.
So is Shikamaru. Shikamaru is getting significant moments too.
I know, I'm annoyed. I wish Hinata's tunnel-vision on Naruto was shown more to be also flawed, not a purely positive sense of strength. But still, her moment in this chapter was quite tiny, and just part of everybody supporting Naruto. I know we feel annoyed even by that because we think she's getting disproportionate focus that she doesn't even really deserve as a side character.
But, if Hinata got to pop Naruto's shoulder back in AND Sakura was shown in the background, given no significant action or dialogue, it would be obvious Kishi is sidelining her. But that's not the case. The case is that she, Sai AND Killerbee are conspicuously missing! (Unless I missed KB, I'll be glad if someone points him out
)
What I'm saying is to treat the fact that Sakura is shown VERY obviously missing when she was just right next to Kakashi, and Kakashi not mentioning anything about it as a positive sign that this is not just a case of Kishi 'forgetting' her. Kishi not wanting to give her a role- he could have just thrown her into the BG and not said anything. But to consistently show her reactions and have her disappear from Kakashi's side in two chapters? Too fishy too be a "oh I can't be bothered to develop her". He could have just put her far away from the front lines.
Plus about Hinata and Naruto.
1) Hinata was right there with Neji when Naruto mentioned his dislocated shoulder.
2) It was PUTTING a dislocated shoulder back in a joint. Not advanced medical ninjutsu that you need very good chakra control for.
Let's not feel so worried about Hinata when she wasn't even the focus of the chapter, please.
Edited by fireandice, 23 January 2013 - 05:48 AM.