19964 replies to this topic

[Codus N]

redragon88, what you say it is very true. I don't understand why so many people expect Naruto to move on from Sakura. The confession? Okay. Maybe this might reinforce the belief that Sakura will never love him like he loves her (Somehow, I think it did in this area) and he might look elsewhere. But think about it: Is this really the Naruto we know? I mean, he hasn't given up on Sasuke. You can argue "That's because it's more important!". Okay but if you look at it, to some changing Sasuke seems as impossible as getting Sakura to love him. How is Sakura loving him more impossible than saving Sasuke? I don't get it. Realistically, it's not if you pay attention to the manga. Sasuke might still care about Naruto in the smallest sliver of his heart but he has expressed nothing outloud but stubbornness and verbal killing intent.

Is this selective reading? Can people really say Sakura will never love him without a craploud of doubts? Why think that, they say 540. Okay. That only mentions that she loves Sasuke but is depressed when thinking of him. It was never hinted that she didn't love Naruto either. Naruto doesn't think so but he's dense as hell. Is he really the best source? I can't get it. I really, really can't. If NaruSaku doesn't happen then only logical option is no pairings. That's it. If it ends in NaruHina or SasuSaku, it's bad pairing writing. That is the blunt truth. Without a doubt, NS is the least one-sided if you compare it to NH/SS. It has the most chances.

I don't understand this hypocrisy of the NaruHina fandom. They cling so badly to the fact that Sakura loves Sasuke, they believe their pairing will happen. But why does Naruto have to change his feelings? So Hinata can be happy? It makes more sense for Naruto to move on than Sakura? How? My argument to that is Sakura views her love interest in a bad light. Naruto shows no sign he sees Sakura in a bad light so it makes less sense for him to move on. He told her "I hate people who lie to themselves!" but yet he mostly forgave her because he understood her intentions thanks to Sai. Sakura loves a criminal. She doesn't want to. If 540 wasn't clear enough, then Sakura's confession to Naruto was. She said all Sasuke does is get further away from her and breaks her heart. Does that sound like "I can win Sasuke-kun over someday. My love will reach him. I'm proud that I love him."? It doesn't! It says the opposite. That alone proves NaruSaku has a better chance.

*Sigh* I can't believe I have to completely rewrite my LAP to you just because my ISP yesterday was being a kitten....

Anyways, I have several good arguments for the above.

First, what I think will make or break it in this regard would be Kakashi vs Obito. Whatever the outcome of the battle will be, you can be sure it will heavily determine Naruto vs Sasuke. We know now that Naruto is slowly realizing he still has other friends than Sasuke, and that they need him. If Naruto changes his mind about dying with Sasuke, then you could make the case that this can be applied to Naruto's feelings. I think that whatever the outcome of Kakashi vs Obito will be, it will heavily influence his decisions about Sasuke. If the battle helps change his mind about Sasuke, then you could argue that it can be a basis for Naruto giving up on Sakura and turning to Hinata. It may be a bit OOC, but if this happens, then at least it had some development/foreshadowing prior.

Second, that panel in 540 would've been sooo much better if it had both Naruto and Sasuke in it. Think about it, if it had Naruto in it as well, it would've been easier to interpret and wouldn't have caused the controversy. Why?? because if it had both boys it would've shown Sakura's confusion so much better.

Third (bolded), I think you're being presumptuous here. We don't even know if Naruto even forgave or told her he understood what she did. The lack of on-screen interaction nowadays is completely bugging me. We seriously need a good long talk from them.

I keep remembering how Shikaku once told Shikamaru that even the roughest women can be tender to the one they love. It was because Shikamaru was expressing his dislike of bossy women.

I think it might've been a hint towards Kishi's intention when it came to developing possible relationships. Even the relationship with Minato and Kushina was implied to be like this. With Kushina winning every argument she ever had against Minato expect for the last one with Naruto, which let her know how serious he was about it.

This could indicate that Kishi has a preference for developing couples where the girl isn't afraid to be strict and bossy with the guy she love, but that she'll also have moments when she'll show her tenderness as a reminder of how much she cherishes that guy despite her temper.

Now, with that being said, I can't imagine for the life of me anyone more perfect to do that with Naruto than Sakura. No matte how gutsy Hinata can become I just can't imagine her being strict with Naruto when the time requires it. She can be a very incredible loving girl with him, but that's all she'll offer. Sakura, on the other hand, can be as much and even more loving that Hinata, but also be bossy enough to not let Naruto get away with everything he pleases.

When I think about how Hinata will react to Naruto in daily life I simply see her agreeing with everything he says and does because of her feelings for him. This is another reason as to why I'm perplexed at people saying Hinata became like Kushina in the latest chapter. Just because she finally has courage to speak her mind when the situation is dire doesn't mean she automatically has a complete change in personality, even in the last panels she starts stuttering again. Hinata is still the same tranquil girl she's always been. The difference is not in her personality, it's in her newfound courage. I sometimes wonder if people are expecting Hinata to suddenly start shouting "Hell yeah" or something like that.

Hinata has inherited Naruto's nindo and determination, so from now on every time she has to face up a crisis she'll be able to do it to her full power. That is what Naruto has left with her. The latest chapter is proof of that. It's not about showcasing Hinata to be like Kushina, it's not about showcasing Hinata as Naruto's ray of light, and it's definitely not about Naruto seeing Hinata in a romantic light because she's now brave. It's all about showing the influence Naruto has left in her.

I think I got a little side track but the point is that the one more fitting to take role described by Shikaku when it comes to a wife is Sakura. She know when to be bossy, but also when to be tender. Sakura is the one most fitting to prevent Naruto from being overtly silly or doing whatever he pleases.

This actually makes me wonder into what kind of arguments did Minato and Kushina got into. It's hard to imagine Minato doing mistakes that merit Kushina's wrath, but you never know.

I guess the point Kishi is trying to make is that from time to time men can make mistakes and it's nice that they can have a girl who is capable of telling them off so that they are less prone to the same errors in the future.

With all this being said I just can't imagine Kishi putting Naruto with Hinata, when she the least likely girl in the world to act strict with him. Or putting Sasuke with Sakura, when he's the guy who she'll less likely act bossy around.

Heck, when you think about it with Sasuke at the very least Karin is capable of being bossy and strict with him. I'm not saying that means they will end up together, but if we go by Shikaku's comment Karin is the best candidate to end up with Sasuke. She's not afraid to tell him off when he's reckless, she's called him a weakling and an idiot when she's seen him risk his life in fights, and has no issues disagreeing with his plans if she doesn't like them. She also the only girl that likes him that doesn't bother with the -kun suffix, indicating that even though she finds him appealing that she doesn't care is she acts rude in front of him.

If you want aggressive!Hinata look no further than RtN. Even then, Naruto avoided her like the plague.

Here, let me fix that:



Ah better. Good old light vs dark. You know, as in the main freaking theme of the story.

I just realized.... Sakura and Naruto's eye shape is almost identical. The same goes for SasuKarin.

[Bryon_Konoha_Ninja]

(edit: holy crap this is a lap. sorry! I think I've had too much caffeine this morning! haha!)

I think the exact same thing. Since those chapters came out.

When Sakura confessed to Naruto, she was doing so in deed and in spirit. In words and with actions. So when people say they don't the very precise measure of her love for Naruto over Sasuke...I say it doesn't really matter anymore. She has chosen Naruto. She said she loved him, and went out to kill his best friend, the object of everything he does, so that Sasuke won't kill him or hurt anyone else. She's making the ultimate sacrifice, because she knows she's either going to die, or she's going to live and Naruto's going to hate her.

Only love would drive someone to make a fatal choice like that. And I don't see any of Naruto's other friends standing up to take the bullet for him. No one else even thinks about it. No Sai. Not Shikamaru. Not Hinata. Only Sakura.

And she doesn't talk about it, she doesn't try to drum up support. She takes it all on herself. (Which is exactly like Naruto, right?) And she could have had support if she wished. Naruto has friends everywhere now who would do anything for him. But Sakura didn't do that.

She chose to do the awful thing to protect him and keep anyone else from getting hurt. In a way that no one would ever know about. Either way, after this choice, she knew her life before was over: If she survived, she knew Naruto would hate her. Sai confirms this. So we can guess that, knowing Sakura, she would probably leave the village to make life easier for him. And the other option is that she dies, hopefully taking him down with her, as the precedent has been set in the manga with Minato and Saratobi. But either way, she has chosen this path which ends her life as she knew it. And she's done it all because she loves Naruto. And she tells him so.

I honestly don't know how people can question that kind of devotion. It's undeniable.

And her love and near-sacrifice is never undermined by Kishimoto going forward.

When she is saved, Kakashi says specifically to Sakura about Sarutobi not being able to kill his student. And that now he understood that love. That is a message to the reader that Sakura could not kill him because of her team bonds. Not love. Only the readers still believe she loved Sasuke, because it's never supported in the manga. Kakashi says he understands her, and gives us the explanation.

So later, when Sakura is confronted with another option, another love choice (lovernin), she easily says she already loves someone else. Because she does. It's Naruto. Without a doubt. So being interested in someone else isn't even an option. Her heart is already taken.

But when the lovernin goes on about her, saying that since she's great the guy must be great too, implying that she always makes good choices, Sakura reflects back that she doesn't always make good choices. In fact, she made an awful one that was causing pain to her and the one she loves.

I've always thought that Sakura felt bad about liking Sasuke, who turned out to not be a great guy. And it also that she tied up Naruto with that stupid promise that was lie a curse, as Sai told her. But I like your idea that it may also be that she is reflecting back on her inability to stop Sasuke. She said she wasn't going to make any more mistakes, but yet she didn't follow through on what she said she'd do. So yeah, going forward, Sakura may feel responsible for any injury to Naruto from Sasuke, directly or indirectly. Just because Naruto saved her and tacitly smoothed over the rough patch from the confession so they could move forward doesn't mean that Sakura feels okay about not having accomplished what she set out to.

She was right in what she did then by trying to stop Sasuke. Because now the stakes are even higher. Naruto confirmed it himself. One or the both of them will die. And she was trying to prevent that by stopping Sasuke before he had a chance to kill Naruto. Her instincts were not wrong there. And she may have residual guilt because of it. She wasn't a damsel in distress, waiting to be saved. She was an assasin with a very worthy cause. So just because Naruto saved her doesn't mean her feelings for that failed mission have been reconciled.

Sakura is not Hinata. One hand-wave from Naruto's big, strong, safe hands is not going to make everything better for her.

Lastly, I really don't think Sasuke is a love impediment for her. I don't think he stands in the way of NS. Other things do, but not some childhood crush on Sasuke. And I think Sakura has confirmed that with her actions. The motives of which have been confirmed by Sai and Kakashi. So she knows she loves Naruto. But everything else is more important right now. So she's letting it go until later. But when asked, she confirms it. Swiftly and without doubt. Yes, there is someone that she loves. This she knows.

However, as was seen Sakura's closeup panel in the last chapter, she has now seen that perhaps Naruto doesn't return her feelings like she thought. On the surface, Naruto and Hinata's interactions are intimate and close. Much closer than Sakura's ever been with Naruto, or vice versa. She's holding his face and looking into his eyes. Then he stands up and takes her hand.

Sorry, I don't care what country you're from — that's crazy intimate.

If you saw that from across a bar or across a classroom, you would totally think they were dating. Both in a mutually invested love relationship. Not just work buddies or chemistry lab partners. But dating.

So, I don't think Sakura's going to stop fighting to moon over Naruto's big, safe, strong hands holding someone else's. She's not Hinata. She's going to stay focused on the battle in front of her (something Sakura has in fact warned Hinata about in the past.) But I think her mental image of her teammate just shattered (ironically, just as Naruto's did before).

The idea has crashed down on her that Naruto may actually not reciprocate her feelings. And that doubt was foreshadowed in the confession. "If you don't like me, then just say so!" So from here on out, even though Sakura believes in her own feelings, I think she's a smart-enough cookie to know that Naruto has never confessed or confirmed his feelings to her...or anyone. He may actually like someone else, and his crushing response to her confession was a sign of that.

So I don't think Sasuke stands in the way of NS anymore, nor has it in a long time. I think the storyline has shifted to a true pairing-based conflict. Now I think Hinata is what stands in the way. And will until the very end when Naruto finally reveals his true feelings. Not his immature date requests. Not lamenting his unfulfilled promise. But actually says he loves her and hugs her back or kisses her forehead or show her the affection, instead of the other way around.

If it is the case, I'd be one saaaaaaad panda since there was no build-up or real showing Naruto may like someone else, at least in Sakura's mind y'know?

Bersides, it's like some people said over in another topic, tricksie; that Naruto may not want to let Sakura in in spite of his loving her because of his unintentionally being a loner by nature due to his having been an orphan and everyone in the village despising him because he was a Jinchuriki, which prevents him from opening up to people in the process too. It's why, even as understanding as Naruto is, that he doesn't really understand the people closest to him because he tries to do what he thinks they want, like how he chews Sakura out over the confession when she wants him to give up on Sasuke. After all, she said it best; he doesn't understand her feelings WELL ENOUGH. He knows her well, yes, but not well enough to know she can change her mind.

Not to mention his naiveté to the point he just figures he saves Sasuke if possible, Sakura loves Sasuke, he can be happy which means she will be, but that's selfish thinking since Naruto also doesn't realize he's been hurting Sakura pretty damn badly. I really wish he'd get a wake up call once the wear is over with, y'know?

I'd say you're right about Hinata bein gin the way, BUT... I'd say Naruto with his still being quite immature in some departments stands in the way of his and Sakura being together. Since he's of the mind Sakura can only love Sasuke and not him and all that crap, as well as his also wanting to die with Sasuke if necessary, as well as his ignoring times he's worried Sakura and she's cried for him like the dork he is...

[Sakamaki Izayoi]

If it is the case, I'd be one saaaaaaad panda since there was no build-up or real showing Naruto may like someone else, at least in Sakura's mind y'know?

Bersides, it's like some people said over in another topic, tricksie; that Naruto may not want to let Sakura in in spite of his loving her because of his unintentionally being a loner by nature due to his having been an orphan and everyone in the village despising him because he was a Jinchuriki, which prevents him from opening up to people in the process too. It's why, even as understanding as Naruto is, that he doesn't really understand the people closest to him because he tries to do what he thinks they want, like how he chews Sakura out over the confession when she wants him to give up on Sasuke. After all, she said it best; he doesn't understand her feelings WELL ENOUGH. He knows her well, yes, but not well enough to know she can change her mind.

Not to mention his naiveté to the point he just figures he saves Sasuke if possible, Sakura loves Sasuke, he can be happy which means she will be, but that's selfish thinking since Naruto also doesn't realize he's been hurting Sakura pretty damn badly. I really wish he'd get a wake up call once the wear is over with, y'know?

I'd say you're right about Hinata bein gin the way, BUT... I'd say Naruto with his still being quite immature in some departments stands in the way of his and Sakura being together. Since he's of the mind Sakura can only love Sasuke and not him and all that crap, as well as his also wanting to die with Sasuke if necessary, as well as his ignoring times he's worried Sakura and she's cried for him like the dork he is...

He had this shock on the confession, it broke his view about Sakura from part 1 but Sakura hid her true feelings for Naruto too, she wants to Naruto dont worry about her.

[Bryon_Konoha_Ninja]

He had this shock on the confession, it broke his view about Sakura from part 1 but Sakura hid her true feelings for Naruto too, she wants to Naruto dont worry about her.

That's true, and it means that they both gotta be more honest to one another if they want to be together, since they both love each other, which is obvious. Even as uncertain as Sakura is of whether or not she does.

[Sakamaki Izayoi]

That's true, and it means that they both gotta be more honest to one another if they want to be together, since they both love each other, which is obvious. Even as uncertain as Sakura is of whether or not she does.

Sakura is not in love with Naruto yet.
You may say this but i think it's not better to use this "statement" yet, she hasnt recognized those feelings and she still think loves Sasuke.

Naruto now knows that Sakura really worries about him, but for some reason kishi is avoiding this confrontation, kishi purposely fainted Naruto here, and didnt made any moment that they would talk about it dunno why.

Edited by Dαrkrєrsŧ, 14 January 2013 - 03:29 PM.

[Phantom_999]

I know this completely off topic and everything but what I really wanted to ask was, why is NaruSaku despised so much by Western Naruto fans? I don't even know anymore

Not all of the western fandom hate NaruSaku. I mean Many of us here are Western NS fans right? I'm from Canada.

Not all western are hate or dislike NaruSaku.
I am from the western live in USA. I like NaruSaku to see how their relationship develop so far.
I am sadly to hear from some of you guys said that. I never know there people in the west hate and dislike NaruSaku. :/

Again not everyone and those that do, have different reasons like different cultural aspects and especially the fact that the sympathize with Hinata cause I'm sure many westerners feel that insecurity about not being able to confess to the person they like, and want her to succeed in love. Also, I just thought of this. I'm not insulting SS or Sakura here, but stating a possible stat of mind for some western NH shippers and anti-Sakura activists. Maybe they think Sakura is wrong for liking the cool bad boy because they themselves went through it. And They feel that if she is going to pass up on the Nice guy sho actually likes her the figured she is a fool. That's my take on it anyway.

Exactly! You have so much development without parallels that is crazy!




Well, the problem is there's nothing to parallel there, because you can parallel with other stuff, also. The problem here it's that it's not exclusive to them.

I just had a revelation, lol. About Sakura's confession, 540 and later, 573.

Sakura confessed Naruto, Naruto rejected her because of Sasuke. In 540 when she says there's someone else who... pause, the nin guys says, he must be a great guy, hope it works out for you, tra la la. Sakura thinks at Sasuke.
As I previously said, what if she thinks that it won't work out with that other guy BECAUSE of Sasuke, so that's why she thinks at him? What if, in 573, that part we're going to be together, no matter what you say, refers at the fact, she's going to be with him, no matter what Naruto says now regarding Sasuke?
In the end, the reason why Naruto rejected her was Sasuke, because he thought that she hasn't been moving from him, yet, she was saying she was and quite spirited. Kishi also enforces that. Not to mention, as I told you, she had no problem in calling him a criminal and glare at him when it came to Naruto's safety or Naruto's feelings.
Yes, she didn't killed him and she thought at him.
But what if those "I thought I could do it" and her crying was, indeed, a part of her not being able to, but also cying because she couldn't be of use to Naruto and failed to protect him. In her mind of course.
I think at this because as she said, "Naruto's resolve is way better than mine, I am supposed to be a ninja, yet I always fail" etc, something like that.
What if part of it, it was because she felt like she couldn't keep her promise to Naruto, of bringing back Sasuke?
Also, comparing resolves and how she wasn't ready back then, Naruto wasn't either until he had the clash. Afterwards, he was certain of what he had to do.
When the love letter nin came and said "hope it works out for you" what if, like I said, she was thinking at Sasuke because he's the reason things are NOT working out for her?
And now, with that we're going to be together, no matter what you say (Naruto's rejection), Sakura is ready to face Sasuke because after that love letter nin guy said, she realized that Sasuke IS the impediment in her and Naruto's way of working out?
What do you guys think? Does it makes any sense what I'm saying? I know my English sucks sometimes and now I'm writing on the hurry.

I like that that theory. Kudos to you Chatte!

[tricksie]

If it is the case, I'd be one saaaaaaad panda since there was no build-up or real showing Naruto may like someone else, at least in Sakura's mind y'know?

Bersides, it's like some people said over in another topic, tricksie; that Naruto may not want to let Sakura in in spite of his loving her because of his unintentionally being a loner by nature due to his having been an orphan and everyone in the village despising him because he was a Jinchuriki, which prevents him from opening up to people in the process too. It's why, even as understanding as Naruto is, that he doesn't really understand the people closest to him because he tries to do what he thinks they want, like how he chews Sakura out over the confession when she wants him to give up on Sasuke. After all, she said it best; he doesn't understand her feelings WELL ENOUGH. He knows her well, yes, but not well enough to know she can change her mind.

Not to mention his naiveté to the point he just figures he saves Sasuke if possible, Sakura loves Sasuke, he can be happy which means she will be, but that's selfish thinking since Naruto also doesn't realize he's been hurting Sakura pretty damn badly. I really wish he'd get a wake up call once the wear is over with, y'know?

I'd say you're right about Hinata bein gin the way, BUT... I'd say Naruto with his still being quite immature in some departments stands in the way of his and Sakura being together. Since he's of the mind Sakura can only love Sasuke and not him and all that crap, as well as his also wanting to die with Sasuke if necessary, as well as his ignoring times he's worried Sakura and she's cried for him like the dork he is...

I completely agree. Naruto has never been shown to be giving affection except once. To his mom, and at the very end of that.

Even to Sakura, his "love" is just a series of ridiculous dates things. He stands up for her, but he's never emotionally put himself out there. No confessions of any kind. It's just a bunch of air pudding with wind sauce!

And yeah, I'd say it's all about his village life, childhood, background, etc. etc. etc. And yes, he is definitely standing in the way of their love as well. But I don't think much focus is going to be put on him and his feelings until the very end, unfortunately. Anyway, I completely agree. Naruto's immaturity/single-minded naivete is a big problem as well.

[redragon88]

Well, knowing Sakura... she won't do anything to hurt Naruto, ever. And we saw that. So she knows that her feelings for Sasuke hurt him, she knows that if her and Sasuke would be sometime in the future together, that will hurt him... so she'd rather give up her happiness than to hurt Naruto. So that's why connection 540 with 573 and her confession, I came up with this conclusion.

You're making it sound as if she'll choose to never be with Sasuke just so Naruto isn't hurt. Don't you find that perspective wrong?

If Sakura chooses Naruto under those thoughts then he'll always be second place when it comes to her romantic feelings.

[Chatte]

(edit: holy crap this is a lap. sorry! I think I\'ve had too much caffeine this morning! haha!)

I think the exact same thing. Since those chapters came out.

Nice to see that we are on the same line, heh!

When Sakura confessed to Naruto, she was doing so in deed and in spirit. In words and with actions. So when people say they don\'t the very precise measure of her love for Naruto over Sasuke...I say it doesn\'t really matter anymore. She has chosen Naruto. She said she loved him, and went out to kill his best friend, the object of everything he does, so that Sasuke won\'t kill him or hurt anyone else. She\'s making the ultimate sacrifice, because she knows she\'s either going to die, or she\'s going to live and Naruto\'s going to hate her.

Exactly, she has chosen Naruto... period. Even if she couldn\'t kill Sasuke, Naruto is the chosen one. She couldn\'t kill him because, in the end, she, like Naruto, had their reasons... Sasuke means something to them, to both of them, they each have a bond with him. That\'s why she wasn\'t able to kill him. Same as Naruto before he had his confrontation, as I said. Everyone was telling him Sasuke is the bad guy, he was like no, no and in the end he hyperventilated. After he met him in person, he had his resolution regarding what he will do about that. Will he let his friends be injured by him, especially, Sakura, who had just gone through that, or he will fight him.
He chose to fight him and, if necessarily, die with him. That was his resolution.

Only love would drive someone to make a fatal choice like that. And I don\'t see any of Naruto\'s other friends standing up to take the bullet for him. No one else even thinks about it. No Sai. Not Shikamaru. Not Hinata. Only Sakura.

Totally agree. The others thought at how wars will start given Sasuke\'s actions, however, no one thought I am going to do this FOR Naruto, especially, as Sakura did.
She thought at others as well, but her major worry was Naruto and only him. Not to be mean, but where was Hinata then?
An idea popped in my mind now... Maybe that\'s why Hinata is helping him against all those villains, however, his biggest rival is and will always be, Sasuke. And when time came, it was Sakura who was willing to do something FOR Naruto.
What Hinata does, is something that everyone would do and have done. What Sakura does, it\'s something that only she\'ll do! Period.
I don\'t see anyone doing this for him, exclusively. Taking into consideration the emotional baggage with it.
Yes, they are all willing to protect him, however, with Sakura, there\'s something else.
I hope you get the idea of what I\'m saying!

And she doesn\'t talk about it, she doesn\'t try to drum up support. She takes it all on herself. (Which is exactly like Naruto, right?) And she could have had support if she wished. Naruto has friends everywhere now who would do anything for him. But Sakura didn\'t do that.

Once again, it shows how similar they are. Both Naruto and Sakura don\'t want others to get involved, to get hurt because of him. Same with Sakura. She put everyone to sleep because she didn\'t want anyone to get hurt because of what she was about to do. God, these two work so good together!

She chose to do the awful thing to protect him and keep anyone else from getting hurt. In a way that no one would ever know about. Either way, after this choice, she knew her life before was over: If she survived, she knew Naruto would hate her. Sai confirms this. So we can guess that, knowing Sakura, she would probably leave the village to make life easier for him. And the other option is that she dies, hopefully taking him down with her, as the precedent has been set in the manga with Minato and Saratobi. But either way, she has chosen this path which ends her life as she knew it. And she\'s done it all because she loves Naruto. And she tells him so.

Totally agree with this! She confesses his love for him, however, she doesn\'t go Mary-Sue on it. This is a thing I like about Sakura compared with Hinata. The fact that Hinata was like \"I\'m not afraid to die for you\" puts an immense emotional baggage on Naruto\'s shoulders that she isn\'t aware of, given the fact that she little knows Naruto. That\'s why he was going crazy when she got stabbed to death.
However, Sakura, knows Naruto that much and knows what this would cause to him, so she confesses to him, but when she gets rejected because Naruto is still a thick-head, she doesn\'t brag about it. She doesn\'t go \"I\'m gonna die for you!\"
This is her, knowing Naruto, avoiding making him feel guilty and burdened. She won\'t make Naruto feel guilty about her decision! Thing that Hinata, indirectly, did. Hinata, not wanted, I give people that, put a burden on him, the burden of his friends getting killed for him, which Naruto doesn\'t want. This proves once more she doesn\'t know Naruto. This is the difference between her and Sakura.

I honestly don\'t know how people can question that kind of devotion. It\'s undeniable.

And her love and near-sacrifice is never undermined by Kishimoto going forward.

Absolutely agree! How was that, action speak louder than words? Or something like that. That is what Kishi is doing with Sakura.

When she is saved, Kakashi says specifically to Sakura about Sarutobi not being able to kill his student. And that now he understood that love. That is a message to the reader that Sakura could not kill him because of her team bonds. Not love. Only the readers still believe she loved Sasuke, because it\'s never supported in the manga. Kakashi says he understands her, and gives us the explanation.

Agreed, once more. That\'s why he said to her \"Don\'t worry, I see the same resolve as you do\" or something along the lines. I wonder why readers don\'t take this into consideration and do only selective reading.
I guess it serves their cause on calling her \"useless, b*tch\" etc.

So later, when Sakura is confronted with another option, another love choice (lovernin), she easily says she already loves someone else. Because she does. It\'s Naruto. Without a doubt. So being interested in someone else isn\'t even an option. Her heart is already taken.

Totally agree once more, that\'s why I said she was so genuine when she denied that guy. Compared to when Karui asked her about Sasuke, when she didn\'t knew what to answer, she was very confused, undetermined, now, Sakura bluntly says her heart is taken already. This is why I said that it\'s like we have 2 Sakuras in 539 and 540. Couldn\'t agree more on this, once again.

But when the lovernin goes on about her, saying that since she\'s great the guy must be great too, implying that she always makes good choices, Sakura reflects back that she doesn\'t always make good choices. In fact, she made an awful one that was causing pain to her and the one she loves.

Exactly! Like I said, this is the reason why she thinks about Sasuke. Or at least, one of the reasons. It can be interpreted in other ways, so many ways, not only that she loves Sasuke. Because her actions, as I said, speak louder than words. She had the killing intent. Once that\'s there, love is gone.
What could, at most, in my opinion that be, is grief, that he her former choice was not a great guy and for the fact that her choice, affected, like you said, the one she indeed, loves and like I suppose, the one who, \"thanks\" to him, has made her chosen one, suffer.

I\'ve always thought that Sakura felt bad about liking Sasuke, who turned out to not be a great guy. And it also that she tied up Naruto with that stupid promise that was lie a curse, as Sai told her. But I like your idea that it may also be that she is reflecting back on her inability to stop Sasuke. She said she wasn\'t going to make any more mistakes, but yet she didn\'t follow through on what she said she\'d do. So yeah, going forward, Sakura may feel responsible for any injury to Naruto from Sasuke, directly or indirectly. Just because Naruto saved her and tacitly smoothed over the rough patch from the confession so they could move forward doesn\'t mean that Sakura feels okay about not having accomplished what she set out to.

I see this the same way you do. Sakura definitely doesn\'t like the fact that she has once, liked Sasuke and that this fact, resulted on her, putting a burden on Naruto\'s shoulders.
And, as I know Sakura, even though Naruto would tell her \"don\'t worry, everything is ok\" she wouldn\'t stop feeling guilty. As she did back when, even though she fought Sasori and found out about Sasuke\'s location, which it was a big part on her part of the promise between her and Naruto, she still felt guilty when he turned 4 tails mode and couldn\'t stop this. She then felt sorry that the things she does for him were so little, although, fighting Sasori and getting almost killed, was a big deal. Not to mention that, partially, thanks to her, Gaara was brought back to life! If she wouldn\'t have taken that sword for Chiyo, Chiyo could\'ve ended dead so there wouldn\'t be anyone to revive him. But, yet again, she feels guilty for something that, in the first place, wasn\'t even her fault. He turned 4 tails because of his desire to save Sasuke. And it wasn\'t like she put the Kyuubi inside of him... Yes, she felt guilty probably because of that part of the PoaL, but her actions were already out-weighting that, if I may say like this. She was bringing her own contribution in rescuing Sasuke, she didn\'t had to feel guilty for something that neither her or Naruto could control. Yet, she did.

She was right in what she did then by trying to stop Sasuke. Because now the stakes are even higher. Naruto confirmed it himself. One or the both of them will die. And she was trying to prevent that by stopping Sasuke before he had a chance to kill Naruto. Her instincts were not wrong there. And she may have residual guilt because of it. She wasn\'t a damsel in distress, waiting to be saved. She was an assasin with a very worthy cause. So just because Naruto saved her doesn\'t mean her feelings for that failed mission have been reconciled.

Absolutely agree once again. If we think at it, Sasuke is the cause of many things here. One, being the war. If no powerful Uchiha would\'ve lived, Obito wouldn\'t have started the 4th ninja war. He was planning to make Sasuke into the Juubi\'s Jinchuuriki, I am sure of it! True that it\'s not Sasuke\'s fault, however, his alone actions hurt Konoha and, Naruto, implicitly. She just wanted to stop that.

Sakura is not Hinata. One hand-wave from Naruto\'s big, strong, safe hands is not going to make everything better for her.

Exactly. Hinata is still immature. There\'s a war out there. Naruto holding her hand won\'t make it safe! As proven before. Even though he was in Kyuubi mode, nothing and no one was safe. Kyubi mode ran out, Neji and the others got killed. Really now, we\'re in a war... That little speech, once again, is so out of line. People were just dead next to her, Neji was dead next to her and she feels safe... Oh well, Hinata... I\'d rather not comment more about it.

Lastly, I really don\'t think Sasuke is a love impediment for her. I don\'t think he stands in the way of NS. Other things do, but not some childhood crush on Sasuke. And I think Sakura has confirmed that with her actions. The motives of which have been confirmed by Sai and Kakashi. So she knows she loves Naruto. But everything else is more important right now. So she\'s letting it go until later. But when asked, she confirms it. Swiftly and without doubt. Yes, there is someone that she loves. This she knows.

Well, I still think that it stays in their way, why? Let me answer it. Because even though, she has proved Naruto IS her choice, she still feels guilty about it. Guilty about making him suffer because of Sasuke, guilty because of once, liking him, that lead to Naruto\'s suffer. I agree that Sasuke doesn\'t stay in their way. But this is our perceptions as readers. I still think Sakura, complex like she is, feels guilty about it and thinks that this is, at least, one of the reasons her and Naruto won\'t be together.

However, as was seen Sakura\'s closeup panel in the last chapter, she has now seen that perhaps Naruto doesn\'t return her feelings like she thought. On the surface, Naruto and Hinata\'s interactions are intimate and close. Much closer than Sakura\'s ever been with Naruto, or vice versa. She\'s holding his face and looking into his eyes. Then he stands up and takes her hand.

Sorry, I don\'t care what country you\'re from — that\'s crazy intimate.

If you saw that from across a bar or across a classroom, you would totally think they were dating. Both in a mutually invested love relationship. Not just work buddies or chemistry lab partners. But dating.

I agree with this. It\'s like another burden to her heart... feeling guilty about Sasuke and seeing Hinata getting so close to Naruto, is definitely not good for her mind. And, once again, given her complexity, only enforces this idea.
Feeling guilty to have liked, once, the one who hurt the one you love, being at a point, rejected by him, because of that, knowing that someone else confessed to the one you love and now, they\'re getting closer, it\'s not good for her morale, nevertheless.

So, I don\'t think Sakura\'s going to stop fighting to moon over Naruto\'s big, safe, strong hands holding someone else\'s. She\'s not Hinata. She\'s going to stay focused on the battle in front of her (something Sakura has in fact warned Hinata about in the past.) But I think her mental image of her teammate just shattered (ironically, just as Naruto\'s did before).

The idea has crashed down on her that Naruto may actually not reciprocate her feelings. And that doubt was foreshadowed in the confession. \"If you don\'t like me, then just say so!\" So from here on out, even though Sakura believes in her own feelings, I think she\'s a smart-enough cookie to know that Naruto has never confessed or confirmed his feelings to her...or anyone. He may actually like someone else, and his crushing response to her confession was a sign of that.

So I don\'t think Sasuke stands in the way of NS anymore, nor has it in a long time. I think the storyline has shifted to a true pairing-based conflict. Now I think Hinata is what stands in the way. And will until the very end when Naruto finally reveals his true feelings. Not his immature date requests. Not lamenting his unfulfilled promise. But actually says he loves her and hugs her back or kisses her forehead or show her the affection, instead of the other way around.

Totally agree! She still has her insecurities about her actions that affected Naruto in relation to Sasuke, as well, now, seeing his closure with Hinata is something that will not be doing good for her. But I don\'t think, however, YET, that he might actually like someone else, in cause, Hinata.
Well, I agree she stands in the way from the reader\'s perspective, however, from Sakura\'s, I feel that she feels that everything is standing in her way. Sasuke, Naruto\'s rejection, Hinata and Naruto\'s closure to her.
Probably she feels like the universe is working against her. However, she\'ll keep her head high, though, as I previously said, I do see her backing-up, considering that she is not worth for Naruto, so she\';; leave Hinata\'s way free, even though she loves him. So that\'s why, in the end, the key to all this, will clear everything. Meaning, Naruto\'s feelings. Everything was played on the others feelings, however, now, more than even, HIS feelings will be the key to it.
At first it was Sakura liking Sasuke. Big emphasis on that. Then, we have their closure... The accent is put on her closure to Naruto. Then, we have Hinata, big emphasis on her feelings. Things get shaken. Afterwards, short after, we have confirmation of Sakura\'s feelings for Naruto. And it is confirmation since Kishi said so. We can\'t deny that. Afterwards, we have this closure of Hinata with Naruto, when previously Naruto, although it is known to the reader, he loves Sakura, he rejects her. From now on, what will truly clear the whole mystery is, what always has been important, the Hero\'s feelings.

Ah, God, I am soo curious about what happens next!

Not to mention his naiveté to the point he just figures he saves Sasuke if possible, Sakura loves Sasuke, he can be happy which means she will be, but that\'s selfish thinking since Naruto also doesn\'t realize he\'s been hurting Sakura pretty damn badly. I really wish he\'d get a wake up call once the wear is over with, y\'know?

I\'d say you\'re right about Hinata bein gin the way, BUT... I\'d say Naruto with his still being quite immature in some departments stands in the way of his and Sakura being together. Since he\'s of the mind Sakura can only love Sasuke and not him and all that crap, as well as his also wanting to die with Sasuke if necessary, as well as his ignoring times he\'s worried Sakura and she\'s cried for him like the dork he is...

Totally agree with this. I even talked to someone else about it on another forum.
He is so dense with his idea that Sakura lvoes Sasuke that he skipped all those parts where Sakura cried for him, lied for him when she got hurt because of him, in order to not make him feel guilty and so many toehr things that he\'s skipping her true feelings. That she, indeed, loves him! He has those Sasuke-goggles put on, that he doesn\'t see the fact that Sakura was about to die in order to protect him!
Sometimes, he really steps on my nerves! Lol.

That\'s true, and it means that they both gotta be more honest to one another if they want to be together, since they both love each other, which is obvious. Even as uncertain as Sakura is of whether or not she does.

I totally agree with this. Sakura loves Naruto. Period! Her actions have proved this many times now. And she\'s figured that. Remember her question \"What is this feeling Naruto?\" back in the old days. Well, she has finally found out what it was, given her confession, that part with \"You make me feel safe...\" etc.

Sakura is not in love with Naruto yet.
You may say this but i think it\'s not better to use this \"statement\" yet, she hasnt recognized those feelings and she still think loves Sasuke.

Naruto now knows that Sakura really worries about him, but for some reason kishi is avoiding this confrontation, kishi purposely fainted Naruto here, and didnt made any moment that they would talk about it dunno why.

I\'d say she is and this was proven many times. And you have the answer with Sasuke there. Either she thinks she still loves Sasuke, either is what I and Tricksie have said, that she feels guilty about having feelings for him when those feelings hurt Naruto.
And those feelings were recognized, yes, Naruto keeps avoiding that, because, as I said upper in this post, it will all depend on his feelings and perception about her actions. He needs to understand that she, indeed, loves him. To let go those Sakura only loves Sasuke-goggles.
I think this will be touched somewhere in the end.

I like that that theory. Kudos to you Chatte!

Thank yoou!

I completely agree. Naruto has never been shown to be giving affection except once. To his mom, and at the very end of that.

Even to Sakura, his \"love\" is just a series of ridiculous dates things. He stands up for her, but he\'s never emotionally put himself out there. No confessions of any kind. It\'s just a bunch of air pudding with wind sauce!

And yeah, I\'d say it\'s all about his village life, childhood, background, etc. etc. etc. And yes, he is definitely standing in the way of their love as well. But I don\'t think much focus is going to be put on him and his feelings until the very end, unfortunately. Anyway, I completely agree. Naruto\'s immaturity/single-minded naivete is a big problem as well.

Agree with this as well. It\'s like, Sakura has 3 major impediments to her, for now, unrequited love for Naruto. Sasuke and Hinata and Naruto HIMSELF!
And all these because of what you guys said and because of those goggles I've been telling you about.

@redragon88

Heh you do have a point... Dunno, I was just trying to get into Sakura''s head to find multiple reasons.
However, as I said afterwards, I think that she though at him because that hurt Naruto's feelings in the past. The PoaL thing.
Dunno, things are quite foggy now. We need some new chapters to clear the perspective. Gah, he complexity of this!

God, I wrote a lot! O_O

Edited by Chatte, 14 January 2013 - 05:07 PM.

[tricksie]

However, Sakura, knows Naruto that much and knows what this would cause to him, so she confesses to him, but when she gets rejected because Naruto is still a thick-head, she doesn\'t brag about it. She doesn\'t go \"I\'m gonna die for you!\"
This is her, knowing Naruto, avoiding making him feel guilty and burdened. She won\'t make Naruto feel guilty about her decision! Thing that Hinata, indirectly, did. Hinata, not wanted, I give people that, put a burden on him, the burden of his friends getting killed for him, which Naruto doesn\'t want. This proves once more she doesn\'t know Naruto. This is the difference between her and Sakura.

So true. Look at the way Sakura makes her sacrifice compared to Hinata's. Right out of the box Hinata is talking about herself, her feelings and how much she loves Naruto. She's not doing it for Konoha, she's doing it for him. She tells him so!

But Sakura tells him she loves him and does it unconditionally. She knows he's not going to come home with her. How do we know? Sai confirms it. So when she tells him she loves him, in the face of everything she knows that is coming — by her own choice — it is unconditional. No strings attached. She loves him, and so she is going to go do this thing that he will only hate her for. And she's doing it for him, for Konoha, and even for Sasuke. She loves him so much she going to take that burden.

It's not about her, not in the least. It's about saving him. And even if she did it this way because she remember what happened with Hinata and knew it might push him into a kyuubi state, even if that factored into her motivation, it would still be more about Naruto than Hinata's big "sacrifice" in front of pain. What a contrast.

Well, I still think that it stays in their way, why? Let me answer it. Because even though, she has proved Naruto IS her choice, she still feels guilty about it. Guilty about making him suffer because of Sasuke, guilty because of once, liking him, that lead to Naruto\'s suffer. I agree that Sasuke doesn\'t stay in their way. But this is our perceptions as readers. I still think Sakura, complex like she is, feels guilty about it and thinks that this is, at least, one of the reasons her and Naruto won\'t be together.

I agree. It's like her childhood love of Sasuke doesn't stand in the way, but her lingering guilt does. And that is definitely true as shown by that reflection in the lover-nin sequence, where she reflects badly on her choices and Sasuke. She doesn't love him, but his ghost is still hanging around.

And all the rest I completely agree with!!

I so hope the next chapter is a little bit of respite for NS shippers. I'm so worried Kishimoto is going to flip over to Sasuke and leave us hanging for a few more months! Ack!

[Sakamaki Izayoi]

I\'d say she is and this was proven many times. And you have the answer with Sasuke there. Either she thinks she still loves Sasuke, either is what I and Tricksie have said, that she feels guilty about having feelings for him when those feelings hurt Naruto.
And those feelings were recognized, yes, Naruto keeps avoiding that, because, as I said upper in this post, it will all depend on his feelings and perception about her actions. He needs to understand that she, indeed, loves him. To let go those Sakura only loves Sasuke-goggles.
I think this will be touched somewhere in the end.

Guilty for what?

She thought she was guilty because she made Naruto suffer, with her promise.
When she thought about hurting Naruto was the promise and this is stated on those panels, she thinks that she only bring pain to Naruto with her promise.
It's proven by her panels.
Those feelings were not recognized because if it was NS should be canon now.
Naruto is not avoiding her, What kishi is delaying is a confrontation or some talk between Naruto and Sakura, naruto stating why he loves her and tells her to not worry about him, and she did the best she could for him and plus doing Sakura to stop with her bad thoughts about herself.

Those googles have a reason.
It's proven by Naruto's flashbacks about Sakura and Sasuke.
all the nice NS scenes we have it's always Naruto being surprised when Sakura shows some affection for him, like he has a close minded that Sakura only shows affection for Sasuke and it's proven when she tries to feed him and he say "Sakura-chan going to feed me?" blushing and with a surprised reaction.
Always with a surprised look, the hug, the feeding everything.

What is missing for Naruto is for him to recognize that Sakura is not just about Sasuke and his life is important to her and for him to stop being selfish when it comes to Sasuke, Sai got this when Naruto said "dont tell Sakura-chan plox", and he told Sakura because he didnt find that it was right for Naruto to handle everything by himself and take the burden alone.

Edited by Dαrkrєrsŧ, 14 January 2013 - 05:44 PM.

[sushi.]

I don't like those "Sakura only likes Sasuke-googles". It's like Naruto wears them to protect himself, that it's a part of his wall. I think James wrote an essay about Naruto's wall a while back.

Maybe Naruto is just taking the easiest way out, and not daring to hope for Sakura to love him. Like he doesn't expect anyone to love him, because everytime he is given affection, he's utterly shocked. -And obviously not used to it. That is a very sad mindset indeed. : (

Edited by sushi., 14 January 2013 - 05:48 PM.

[Sakamaki Izayoi]

I don't like those "Sakura only likes Sasuke-googles". It's like Naruto wears them to protect himself, that it's a part of his wall. I think James wrote an essay about Naruto's wall a while back.

Maybe Naruto is just taking the easiest way out, and not daring to hope for Sakura to love him. Like he doesn't expect anyone to love him. That is a very sad mindset indeed. : (

It's not his fault you know all those moment he witnessed about Sakura and Sasuke really shocked him, even with the promise when she said "please Naruto i only ask you one thing..." well you know where it's going, his love for Sakura bring him a lot of pain on part 1 but he didnt give up on her why she would do this now when she starts showing affection for him, it's just retarded(from kishi's part).

Edited by Dαrkrєrsŧ, 14 January 2013 - 05:49 PM.

[sushi.]

It's not his fault you know all those moment he witnessed about Sakura and Sasuke really shocked him, even with the promise when she said "please Naruto i only ask you one thing..." well you know where it's going, his love for Sakura bring him a lot of pain on part 1 but he didnt give up on her why she would do this now when she starts showing affection for him, it's just retarded(from kishi's part).

Are you putting words into my mouth? I never said it was his fault, and not everything is about Sakura and Sasuke.

Naruto grew up with zero affection, the first experiences in your life is very underastimated. It determines what person you'll become. So even when he first gets affection, he still does not hold any high expectations of it. But it doesn't matter who's to blame, he needs to fix it to live a happy life with freedom and no walls. Trust me, I know what walls James where talking about, and when you release them, you can finally breathe and see everything clearly. For instance the signs that Sakura unknowingly gives him, which showes that she loves him. I don't think Naruto knows how loved and precious he is to those around him, yet.

Edited by sushi., 14 January 2013 - 05:55 PM.

[Chatte]

Guilty for what?

She thought she was guilty because she made Naruto suffer, with her promise.
When she thought about hurting Naruto was the promise and this is stated on those panels, she thinks that she only bring pain to Naruto with her promise.
It's proven by her panels.
Those feelings were not recognized because if it was NS should be canon now.
Naruto is not avoiding her, What kishi is delaying is a confrontation or some talk between Naruto and Sakura, naruto stating why he loves her and tells her to not worry about him, and she did the best she could for him and plus doing Sakura to stop with her bad thoughts about herself.

Those googles have a reason.
It's proven by Naruto's flashbacks about Sakura and Sasuke.
all the nice NS scenes we have it's always Naruto being surprised when Sakura shows some affection for him, like he has a close minded that Sakura only shows affection for Sasuke and it's proven when she tries to feed him and he say "Sakura-chan going to feed me?" blushing and with a surprised reaction.
Always with a surprised look, the hug, the feeding everything.

What is missing for Naruto is for him to recognize that Sakura is not just about Sasuke and his life is important to her and for him to stop being selfish when it comes to Sasuke, Sai got this when Naruto said "dont tell Sakura-chan plox", and he told Sakura because he didnt find that it was right for Naruto to handle everything by himself and take the burden alone.

Guilty for having the former crush on Sasuke. Yes, with her promise, but in her promise, she remembers how pained Naruto was because of that. And in her promise we can clearly see how much she wanted Sasuke. And she remembers the part with "I know you love Sasuke, I know how much you're suffering now, I can feel it too". It doesn't take a genius to figure that he was hurt more about her feelings for Sasuke, than the fact she asked him to bring him back.
Actually, I'd argue that NS would be cannon. Why? Because look at it, Naruto rejected her because he still has those, as I said, Sakura only loves Sasuke goggles. The feelings were not recognized by Naruto, not by Sakura, that's the difference.
Naruto stated why he loved her BEFORE she told her that she loves him, that's the thing.
And I do give you the fact that those goggles have a reason, however, those goggles don't see the confirmation of Sakura's love. And those goggles are like transposed to the reader. That is why people still think that she doesn't love Naruto. They see it through Naruto's perspective, not Sakura. Whoever sees from Sakura's perspective and from the author's perspective should be certain by now that she loves him.
Well, you are right about recognizing that. I mean, that's one of the reasons I said about those goggles (God I mention them a lot, lol), however, this doesn't unconfirm Sakura's love for him.

I don't like those "Sakura only likes Sasuke-googles". It's like Naruto wears them to protect himself, that it's a part of his wall. I think James wrote an essay about Naruto's wall a while back.

Maybe Naruto is just taking the easiest way out, and not daring to hope for Sakura to love him. Like he doesn't expect anyone to love him, because everytime he is given affection, he's utterly shocked. -And obviously not used to it. That is a very sad mindset indeed. : (

I don't like it either. But that's how it is now. And yes, James was right about the wall thing. I read his post as well, brilliant!
But now that makes me wonder, what will make Naruto be convinced of Sakura's love for him.

It's not his fault you know all those moment he witnessed about Sakura and Sasuke really shocked him, even with the promise when she said "please Naruto i only ask you one thing..." well you know where it's going, his love for Sakura bring him a lot of pain on part 1 but he didnt give up on her why she would do this now when she starts showing affection for him, it's just retarded(from kishi's part).

It's not and it is, a bit.
It's not because all those things you listed there, however, he should be more aware given the fact that Sakura did more things for him than she did for Sasuke. She fed him, like she was trying to do with Sasuke, she hugged him, like she did with Sasuke, she cried for him, like she did with Sasuke, she healed him, lied for his safety, was about to kill for his safety.
More things than she ever did for Sasuke. That's why he should be more aware of it. Those are things that he witnessed... We are not talking about those which he didn't witness, like Sai's talk to her about Naruto or Yamato's words, etc.
But well, it's part of his character, I guess, so the guilt should be taken off.

Edited by Chatte, 14 January 2013 - 06:06 PM.

[PhenixElite]

Guilty for having the former crush on Sasuke. Yes, with her promise, but in her promise, she remembers how pained Naruto was because of that. And in her promise we can clearly see how much she wanted Sasuke. And she remembers the part with "I know you love Sasuke, I know how much you're suffering now, I can feel it too". It doesn't take a genius to figure that he was hurt more about her feelings for Sasuke, than the fact she asked him to bring him back.
Actually, I'd argue that NS would be cannon. Why? Because look at it, Naruto rejected her because he still has those, as I said, Sakura only loves Sasuke goggles. The feelings were not recognized by Naruto, not by Sakura, that's the difference.
Naruto stated why he loved her BEFORE she told her that she loves him, that's the thing.
And I do give you the fact that those goggles have a reason, however, those goggles don't see the confirmation of Sakura's love. And those goggles are like transposed to the reader. That is why people still think that she doesn't love Naruto. They see it through Naruto's perspective, not Sakura. Whoever sees from Sakura's perspective and from the author's perspective should be certain by now that she loves him.
Well, you are right about recognizing that. I mean, that's one of the reasons I said about those goggles (God I mention them a lot, lol), however, this doesn't unconfirm Sakura's love for him.


I don't like it either. But that's how it is now. And yes, James was right about the wall thing. I read his post as well, brilliant!
But now that makes me wonder, what will make Naruto be convinced of Sakura's love for him.

Its not sure that sakura is fully aware of her true feelings for naruto already. its just speculation. Yes the way you guys described it could be true, but till now its not stated. B
But if i where you i would wait before i say for sure that sakura already fully knows her feelings. But we will see in the future.
My personal opinion is still that sakura will realize hger true feelings during narutos fight with sasuke.

[Chatte]

Its not sure that sakura is fully aware of her true feelings for naruto already. its just speculation. Yes the way you guys described it could be true, but till now its not stated. B
But if i where you i would wait before i say for sure that sakura already fully knows her feelings. But we will see in the future.
My personal opinion is still that sakura will realize hger true feelings during narutos fight with sasuke.

I believe that she is. The only problem here, is the ghost of the past - Sasuke. It's not stated from a view, stated from another view. But from the author's view, it is. Kishi said that she wasn't lying about her feelings. What more confirmation would we want? Yes, there's the Sasuke part she needs to get rid of, I give you that. And I believe, like you said, that the Sasuke part will be dealt in their fight.
At least, that's my opinion, my view, my take on it.
I will wait to see if indeed, I am right or wrong about it.
But it does serve the fact that we're debating this here. It puts my mind to work, lol.
And it will help me with the future analyze of her character, so I only have to thank you guys!

[sushi.]

I don't like it either. But that's how it is now. And yes, James was right about the wall thing. I read his post as well, brilliant!
But now that makes me wonder, what will make Naruto be convinced of Sakura's love for him.

I think Naruto needs more than words. He's already gotten the words "I love you, Naruto". What if he finally sees her cry for him, fight with her life for him? I've said it before, but I think there is an intention behind the fact that Naruto does not know everything Sakura did for him, Kishi is probably saving it for the right moment. I think Sakura needs to show some love with actions now, and the words behind it is the speech in 573.

[PhenixElite]

I believe that she is. The only problem here, is the ghost of the past - Sasuke. It's not stated from a view, stated from another view. But from the author's view, it is. Kishi said that she wasn't lying about her feelings. What more confirmation would we want? Yes, there's the Sasuke part she needs to get rid of, I give you that. And I believe, like you said, that the Sasuke part will be dealt in their fight.
At least, that's my opinion, my view, my take on it.
I will wait to see if indeed, I am right or wrong about it.
But it does serve the fact that we're debating this here. It puts my mind to work, lol.
And it will help me with the future analyze of her character, so I only have to thank you guys!

Well, thats nice

Yeah so we wil see soon enough. I just hope were getting the hinata development phase finished in the upcoming chapters so we can finally start focus on the rest of the rookies and of course sakura.

[Chatte]

I think Naruto needs more than words. He's already gotten the words "I love you, Naruto". What if he finally sees her cry for him, fight with her life for him? I've said it before, but I think there is an intention behind the fact that Naruto does not know everything Sakura did for him, Kishi is probably saving it for the right moment. I think Sakura needs to show some love with actions now, and the words behind it is the speech in 573.

True that. I mean, what I think he needs, is Sakura on the verge of her death, to realize how much she indeed loves him.
The idea with her being on the verge of her death, however, I think this is the wake-up call he needs to be honest.
And I also wondered why Sakura's biggest moments are hidden from Naruto. Probably because of what you say, being saved for something that's upcoming.
Let's hope for the best, but still not rise our expectations. Kishi is so damn twisting sometimes...

Well, thats nice

Yeah so we wil see soon enough. I just hope were getting the hinata development phase finished in the upcoming chapters so we can finally start focus on the rest of the rookies and of course sakura.

Hopefully. Not to be mean or something, but I'm so stuffed with Hinata, really. Might be because of her fandom, might be because of my bias, might be because I find her a bland character, might be a lot of things.
However, I am stuffed with her and I want to see a real drama and complex story. Hinata's is very uni-dimensional, nothing cheesy about it, lol.

Edited by Chatte, 14 January 2013 - 06:22 PM.