Also just everything on Sakuras end to a bigger degree. She thought naruto was a pest but later saw everything he did. If anything, kishi writing events like her coming to completely trust him during the POAL and Sai's reveal only adding more of a revelation to her, theres got to be another event in which something big happens between them. As Naruto fell in love because of who Sakura was, he didnt care about her imperfections he came to love her as he liked her for who she was, Sakura on the other hand learned a lot more about naruto over the entire series.
Sakura is simply growing up, what she does next involving sasuke, well its not going to be love oriented, she doesnt trust him. This was sakura, the girl who was always said to love him endlessly, well she doesnt trust him and still has the shock of what he tried to do to her. If anything, Sasuke almost killing her was in a way a form of emotional development on her, she saw the guy she loved and even admitted to loving him go as far to kill her without hesitation or remorse. Basically at this point, she can always be happy with Naruto involved but have some negative impact with Sasuke.
I agree - it definitely fits just as well with Sakura > Naruto, since both of them have spent significant time interacting with one another, allowing their relationship to deepen as a result over the course of the series to the point we see now.
Kishimoto said himself that Sakura needs to grow up just as Naruto and Shikamaru did. Since Tsunade and Kakashi are not likely to die at this point (given their numerous and incredibly close calls with death in this Arc and the Pein Arc), I feel it inevitable that her growing up will center around Team 7, and include her reevaluating and moving on from her romantic feelings for Sasuke (since I think she's already grown up in all others areas at this point).
But that disregards what Naruto said back in Chapter 3 about understanding why he started to like her.
At the start of Chapter 3 it does imply that Naruto simply had a typical crush ("A cute girl that I like a lot"), but as the chapter progressed we found out that Naruto actually had a reason beyond the superficial to actually like Sakura. It's just that previously he wasn't sure of what it was, like when you have a feeling in your gut. Only after Sakura talked about wanting to be acknowledged is that it finally clicked inside Naruto's mind ("I finally understand why I like her").
Did Naruto fall even more in love with Sakura as time went on? Definitely. But to say that in the beginning it was just a typical crush is to disregard what Naruto said back in chapter 3.
I wasn't saying that Naruto didn't have a meaningful reason for liking Sakura in chapter 3 - I agree, it wasn't superficial at all. When I say juvenile, I am referring to the fact that chapter 3 Naruto was perfectly okay with transforming into Sasuke to trick Sakura into thinking less of Sasuke, into telling her personal information she would not have otherwise given him, and to even get a kiss from her (probably her first) that was never intended for him. He was focusing far more on his own feelings, and not really taking into consideration or respecting Sakura's feelings at all in that instance. It's in that aspect that I feel Naruto's crush on Sakura was initially juvenile.
I both appreciate and feel that it was necessary for Kishi to do this, since it allowed us to see just how much Naruto's feelings for Sakura and Naruto himself have matured over the course of the part one. By chapter 183, he is willing to place Sakura's feelings before his own in order to make her happy, despite it breaking his heart to do so. In this way, we get development from both sides of the relationship (Sakura develops a strong foundation of friendship from her end, and Naruto's crush develops into genuine romantic love, both based on them getting to know one another better).
If it was like this then Sakura would be in love with Naruto since the PAIN arc, the manga states a combination of both, what they do for you and what they are as individual.
Personally, I think that Sakura has been in love with Naruto since chapter 296 where she dashes at Naruto in his 4 tailed state and that she just hasn't realized the nature of her feelings for him yet. Even if she wasn't and still isn't in love with Naruto, this still fits because she is still coming to learn more about him - her realizations regarding Naruto haven't stopped after the Pein arc. Heck the events right before and during the summit are chock full of her coming to learn more about Naruto's feelings, both in regards to her and to Sasuke. Then in war we see her being able to see Naruto's memories, and feel his heart.
I agree it could be a combination of both, but I personally don't feel that what a person does for has anything to do with falling in love with them (for example, I think Sasuke should have been in love with Sakura by the end of part one if this was the case, given she said she'd do anything and had risked her life to save his numerous times and stayed by his side despite him being an ass to her). I respect that you feel differently however, and that your interpretation is possible as well.
I never understand how part 1 can be disregarded by fans. To say she was nothing more than a complete arse to him is wrong and to say that their relationship was nothing compared to say SS and NH is just plan wrong considering everything that happened in Part 1. I always see a lot of people claiming Sakura was a b*tch because she didn't return her feelings or show romantic interest but Part 1 wasn't about that IMO. It was a slow progression and yes, it was progression. From Chapter 3 onward, Naruto and Sakura have continously gotten closer and got to know one another. He encouraged hee, inspired her and went all put for her. Just because a lot of the monents wity Sakura were inner moments don't make them any less meaningful because it built her relationship with him up to now. Look how she views him, and the risks she's willing to take for him. This didn't start at the end of Part 1.
Meh, lol. Sorry for rambling. Haven't really posted here in awhile and just thought I'd get that off of my chest.
Well said - I couldn't agree more. People seem to forget that Sakura had zero clue of what Naruto had gone through or who he really was before joining a team with him. Heck, she thought he enjoyed seeing her struggle (she probably felt his romantic advances were simply him making her the butt of his jokes and preventing her from getting any closer to Sasuke). And despite the fact that I adore Naruto, he WAS annoying, especially in early part one. He was deliberately acting out to get attention, even if it was negative attention - Naruto flat out says this in his talk with Four Tails, so how can people blame Sakura for being short with him at times? When he did something impressive, she never hesitated to let him know. When he was in danger and when he seemed upset, she showed concern and tried to help him. When he helped her out, she acknowledged it and thanked him.
Naruto wouldn't have thought of her as one of the people who saved him from the hell of loneliness if she was the heartless b*tch people so often make her out to be.
I fully agree that there it was a gradual progression in their relationship that carried over into part two, where it continued progressing from both sides.
Edited by Paptala, 02 December 2013 - 02:34 AM.
well them kissing imagine what poeple are goanna say to twist that
