First of all, Naruto confessing is primarily about Naruto's character, and properly resolving his romantic feelings for her. If Hinata and Sakura got the chance to confess and directly express their feelings, logic dictates Naruto, as the main character, will get the same chance whether or not it leads to NS canonization.
Secondly, its not about being a hero at all, its about Sakura coming to realizations about herself and her feelings. Naruto confirming that he loves her (since she clearly doubts his romantic feelings for her at the summit) and why he loves her (since Sai gave no reasons), will only help Sakura's character (since again, she seems to be of the belief that she's not worthy of Naruto's love - hence her words in 459 that he's an idiot for loving her) in regards to her confidence issues and reinforce Yamato's words (that her caring for Naruto as much as she does is enough).
A confession from Naruto would solve a lot of problems. His emotionally intense TnJ has been a hallmark of his success in other important issues, and that makes it all the more interesting that he has chosen not to make any impassioned TnJ-style pleas to Sakura or even acknowledged his feelings for her when she asked him point blank.
Evidence suggests that Naruto is waiting for the timing to be right. In #469, his first reaction to Sakura saying she loved him proves that he's been waiting and hoping to hear those words from her. It is his heart's desire to hear her say it, and he's ready to accept her when she's ready to mean it. The problem is, he -- even more than she -- is aware that she's not ready yet.
And in a confounding contradiction, I believe Naruto is at the same time NOT ready to accept Sakura's love -- even if he were convinced of it -- until he and Sasuke are standing side by side as equals and he can finally give Sakura the opportunity to choose him on his own terms. That's the way it seems to me right now, anyway.
Again, look at her reaction in 458 and 459 - she thinks Naruto is an idiot for loving her (indicating she doesn't feel like she's someone who deserves his love), and that she's caused him the most pain. This is reinforcing her words in 297, where she clearly feels that she doesn't do enough for Naruto. At the summit, she even asks Naruto after his reaction - "If you don't like me, then just say so!", indicating that she probably doesn't even believe he's still in love with her - not because of his actions towards her necessarily, but because of her own lack of self worth in this particular regard.
I think this is an important point, and a good reminder of how Naruto's own behavior has contributed directly to Sakura's confusion. Despite being in love with her himself, Naruto has done everything in his power to foster and enable Sakura's fantasy about Sasuke. It's no wonder it's a confused mess. [Sidenote, for those who might be reading
Wilderness, this issue -- Sakura's confusion over Naruto's mixed messages, his reluctance to declare himself, and his complex dedication to Sasuke -- is at the heart of what I'm exploring in that story.]
"There's someone else that I love." The following chapter then shows that she was clearly talking about Sasuke. Her statement is no different from saying "I love Sasuke." There's no need to tell the Lover nin the exact name- its none of his business, really. For the readers and Sakura herself, whose she is speaking about is clear.
Taking it on face value and as a linear conversation, I agree with you that the logical implication is she was talking about Sasuke.
However, I also agree that it was written in a way that could be interpreted otherwise. One thing that doesn't get talked about much is the fact that regardless of Naruto's ultimate reaction to her confession, Sakura did publicly commit herself to Naruto at that time.
Even when Naruto argued with her she maintained that she could decide for herself how she felt, and challenged him by saying, "You think a girl confessing her love is stupid?" She never backed down from her statement that she loved Naruto and had chosen him over Sasuke. Whether Naruto and all the witnesses believed her or not doesn't change what she said or the impression she left by her statements.
So in that light, when Lover-nin first offered his letter and Sakura said, "Thank you, but there's someone else I--" Someone else she loves? She's promised to? She's made a public commitment to? In my view, the fact that it is worded that way and left incomplete does not rule out Naruto because she chose him publicly and that's where it was left.
Privately, though, when Lover-nin says (in the present tense, no less), "He must be a great guy if
you're in love with him..." Sakura definitely thinks of Sasuke, albeit very unhappily. So she's still confused about the nature of her feelings for him. But then, we knew that from everything that happened at the summit.
I personally don't find Sakura's prolonged confusion to be a barrier to NS. A stumbling block, yes, but not a barrier. I won't consider SS or NH seriously in play unless Naruto's feelings are shown to have or be shifting away from Sakura. It's his story, and it only makes sense that his feelings are the key to how it will be resolved.
Edited by KnS, 16 December 2012 - 11:09 PM.
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