I think SS fans are coming from an entirely different place, reading the manga from an entirely different perspective. Not unlike NH...however NH seems to be rooted in a reader's hopes, not a reflection of things in the manga.
Specifically, the manga is so totally geared to Sasuke. It literally revolves around him. To the point that sometimes it feels like Sasuke is the main character, and Naruto is only reacting to him.
So I think people who might ship SS can get there through a few avenues: because they like Sasuke and they want him to succeed, therefore he should get the long-standing love of the main heroine; readers like the idea of the darkhorse love story, the anti-hero getting redemption, and thus Sakura is a means for that redemption of Sasuke (sort of like Zutara); or they see Sakura's brand of long-standing love being her love for Sasuke, not Naruto.
I can see people shipping SS more than NH because Sasuke is a tremendous part of the manga. Hinata is not. So I think when people ship her or NH it is more of a reflection of individual feelings, their fantasy ideal or fairy-tale desire, not something that is actually supported by the story.
I think people can ship SS and still like Sakura because they are amplifying different characteristics in Sakura than when you pair her with Naruto.
The Sakura that would stay in love with Sasuke is loyal and long-suffering and ultimately wants to heal the deep wounds that apparently no one else can reach in him. She becomes the ultimate selfless healer in that scenario.
The Sakura that falls in love with Naruto is capable of changing, evolving, and seeing the good in things around her where she previously saw negative. She relies on her own strength and believes in Naruto's. She sees herself as support for him, not that he is someone who needs saving. Basically, she is his partner in an equal relationship in that scenario (not some perfectly shaped piece that fills the hole in his heart as she does in SS).
Obviously, I think NS is the healthier relationship, but I can see how people can ship SS much more easily than justifying NH.
Great post, tricksie, and I agree.
I liked Sasuke in Part I myself. It was easier to see his human frailty then, and feel compassion for what he had endured. Kishimoto did focus a lot of attention on Sasuke's trauma and heartbreak, but I'm not sure it was actually any more than he focused on Naruto's. Maybe. I haven't counted panels or anything.
I think one thing that contributes to that perception, though, is that Sasuke is emo and self-centered and with a colder, less expressive personality. I think that leaves some with the impression, or maybe just the illusion, that Sasuke is deep and sensitive and complex, and too proud and controlled to let it show. Personally? I don't think there's much more than meets the eye. Itachi seems to have had the lion's share of depth in that family.
By contrast, Naruto has suffered as much as Sasuke -- worse, actually, in my opinion -- but he doesn't sit in a pool of emo pity and hatred just spooning it over himself. Naruto is positive, optimistic, loving, kind, and outward focused. He wears his heart, thoughts, and dreams on his sleeve. It's all there for anyone to see if they care enough to look.
The problem is, so much of the story focus has been on Sasuke because all three of the leads -- Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke -- spend most of their time focused on and thinking about Sasuke. Naruto sort of gets forgotten because he always picks himself up, finds the silver lining, and moves on.
I don't like SS because as far as both of them are concerned, it's all about Sasuke. What little kindness or praise Sakura has received from Sasuke costs him nothing and costs her a great deal. The "thank you" upon his leaving the village in Part I cost him nothing. He didn't change his mind, or respond to her feelings in kind, he just thanked her for caring about him and went on with his own wishes.
Even recently, when he smirked at her power during their reunion fight, to me it felt more like she surprised him because he either had no faith in her or had never thought about her progress as a kunoichi, or both. It was as if he was thinking, "Well, at least she's not an embarrassment to me as a teammate anymore."
Sakura deserves so much better than that. And when you compare Sasuke's reaction to Naruto's smile when she claimed her right to fight with them? It's so easy to see the contrast between Naruto's genuine affection -- for her and for her sake -- and Sasuke's indifference.
Edited by KnS, 14 January 2014 - 05:27 PM.
