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QUOTE (Slextrem @ Apr 1 2013, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I heard some people are anxious to see "NaruSaku - The Build Up!" resurface again. I'm definitely not done collecting panels (it's really tedious~), but I'll give you guys a sample in the meantime. Enjoy! 
Aaaaand, it's done. I have a lot more panels than this, but it's going to take some time to collect the rest. I might be able to finish it today! We'll see.
NaruSaku - The Build Up sample --Click here to view--
Aaaaand, it's done. I have a lot more panels than this, but it's going to take some time to collect the rest. I might be able to finish it today! We'll see.
FEED. ME. MORE!
QUOTE (KnS @ Apr 1 2013, 03:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I suppose it depends entirely on how you define "faith." In my opinion, no, Hinata was not showing faith in Naruto. She simply recognized him. She said, "It's Naruto-kun. Just look at his eyes, you can tell. Besides that, he came to our rescue..."
How do those words or that brief scene in #559 demonstrate that Hinata understood Naruto's capabilities as a leader in this war? That she understood his goals and dreams and what drives him? That she understood who he really is, what he's fighting for, how he feels about Sasuke or Sakura or any of his closest bonds? How does it prove that she has faith that Naruto will find the right moral answer to the dilemma at the heart of the war, and that he will somehow manage to make the right things happen?
Short answer, it didn't prove any faith or understanding at all. It proved that Hinata knows Naruto when she sees him, that's all, and quite honestly, considering her fixation on him if she couldn't do that much I would really wonder about her.
As far as that entire scene in #559 goes, you'll notice that Naruto had to save Hinata. Meanwhile, when his clone appeared at Sakura's location he made the comment that he didn't have to save her because she already had the situation under control.
I've pointed out before how Naruto goes into bug-eyed panic mode whenever Hinata appears at a critical moment to "help." He did it during the encounter with Pain, and he did it again against Obito / Madara / Juubi. His reaction is not, "Oh, thank GOD Hinata is here to kick ass!" It's more like, "Oh, GOD -- Hinata is here, and now I'm going to have to look out for her because she's out of her league!"
Likewise, as I've also pointed out before, when Neji was dying Naruto said, "Why... not in a place like this!! You're the Hyuga's..." The Hyuga's what? Hope? Best and brightest? Genius? Future? In terms of Naruto's respect, there's no end to that sentence that is good for Hinata.
Hinata adopted Naruto's nindo early on by observing him from a distance, but without ever developing the confidence and guts to go with it. She never really knew Naruto or understood his personal feelings or his weaknesses. That's what makes #615 Hinata's pivotal moment of personal development. Naruto had a moment of weakness -- a momentary crisis in confidence -- something Hinata could finally see up close and understand. In #615, Hinata finally connected with Naruto as a human being rather than as the object of her affection/obsession, and for the first time she was able to reinforce his nindo -- the nindo she claimed to have adopted but was never able to really demonstrate -- when he needed it, just as he had for her many times before.
As others have pointed out, Naruto suffering a crisis in confidence was redundant. He had already been there, done that. So apart from allowing Hinata to finally grow, and allowing her to finally come full circle on her worship of Naruto and his nindo, how did her moment with Naruto in #615 advance the plot?
The proof of faith, understanding, and which girl is the main heroine was made crystal clear in #573. Consider what the two girls say:
Hinata: "Naruto-kun... I've always... always been chasing after you... even now. But... once this war ends, I'm going to stop once and for all. Next time, I'll be next to you, holding your hand... walking with you! Wait for me!!"
Sakura: "Naruto... you saved Konoha... And now you're trying to save the entire shinobi world... You always get left with these insurmountable tasks. But no matter what you say this time... we're going to be together... Not just me... We're going to all fight together this time!"
Spectacular difference.
Hinata thought about herself and about how what's going on affects her. She thought nothing at all about what the war means, why it's being fought, or about the tremendous responsibility that Naruto has on his shoulders and what it means TO HIM.
That's why #615 is a heroic moment for Hinata only, not for the story, and why it didn't advance the plot. Hinata is not connected to the overall plot because she's not connected to Naruto's goals, feelings, or purpose. Consistently through her words and actions, Hinata's character has revolved around her objectification of Naruto and her desire to emulate his nindo. I think #615 was the fulfillment of her purpose, setting Hinata on the road to closure.
By contrast, Sakura thought only about Naruto. She proved that she understands what the war means, why it's being fought, and is keenly sensitive to the tremendous responsibility that Naruto has on his shoulders and what it means TO HIM. Sakura didn't think of herself, instead she aligned herself with Naruto's goals -- thereby directly connecting herself to the plot.
So who's the main heroine again? Who's the girl Naruto admires? The girl he thinks is "great"? The girl he trusts and relies on? The girl who understands Naruto's burden and is focused on her unwavering support of him and his goals?
Oh right, it's Sakura.
From what I have seen in the manga so far, the importance of Hinata's moment in #615 is being greatly exaggerated. I think it was simply the resolution to Hinata's thoughts in #573, and to focus on it as if it is some kind of pivotal moment that elevates Hinata as the heroine of the story -- when her declared purpose and goals are not even connected to Naruto's role in the war -- is to ignore the obvious.
The resolution to Sakura's thoughts in #573 -- the girl whose declared purpose and goals are DIRECTLY connected to Naruto's role in the war -- is yet to come.
Well, not all readers are questioning the main heroine of the story. Like I said, not everyone is threatened by Hinata's moment in #615. Not everyone looks at it and questions Kishimoto's intentions or perspective. Not everyone is seriously considering the possibility that Sakura has essentially been written out of the story or might as well be, and her importance is over. I, for one, insist on waiting until the story is complete before I reach that conclusion or offer that sort of criticism.
There is "unrest within the community" because people are impatient and panicky, or downright bored and disappointed. That's certainly their right. But it is hardly uncommon for authors to attempt to create questions about character resolution -- to create tension and suspense by dragging out unresolved love triangles, motivations, etc. -- and to leave people guessing. Is Kishimoto being inconsistent, or is he attempting to create drama?
Depends on the reader.
Listen, I'm not saying I'm satisfied with Sakura's role lately. I miss her and would love to see her have some quality focus, but I believe that's coming.
And I don't disagree that Kishimoto might have made some better choices. Sometimes I think he seriously misjudges the patience, attention span, and perceptions of his target demographic.
How do those words or that brief scene in #559 demonstrate that Hinata understood Naruto's capabilities as a leader in this war? That she understood his goals and dreams and what drives him? That she understood who he really is, what he's fighting for, how he feels about Sasuke or Sakura or any of his closest bonds? How does it prove that she has faith that Naruto will find the right moral answer to the dilemma at the heart of the war, and that he will somehow manage to make the right things happen?
Short answer, it didn't prove any faith or understanding at all. It proved that Hinata knows Naruto when she sees him, that's all, and quite honestly, considering her fixation on him if she couldn't do that much I would really wonder about her.
As far as that entire scene in #559 goes, you'll notice that Naruto had to save Hinata. Meanwhile, when his clone appeared at Sakura's location he made the comment that he didn't have to save her because she already had the situation under control.
I've pointed out before how Naruto goes into bug-eyed panic mode whenever Hinata appears at a critical moment to "help." He did it during the encounter with Pain, and he did it again against Obito / Madara / Juubi. His reaction is not, "Oh, thank GOD Hinata is here to kick ass!" It's more like, "Oh, GOD -- Hinata is here, and now I'm going to have to look out for her because she's out of her league!"
Likewise, as I've also pointed out before, when Neji was dying Naruto said, "Why... not in a place like this!! You're the Hyuga's..." The Hyuga's what? Hope? Best and brightest? Genius? Future? In terms of Naruto's respect, there's no end to that sentence that is good for Hinata.
Hinata adopted Naruto's nindo early on by observing him from a distance, but without ever developing the confidence and guts to go with it. She never really knew Naruto or understood his personal feelings or his weaknesses. That's what makes #615 Hinata's pivotal moment of personal development. Naruto had a moment of weakness -- a momentary crisis in confidence -- something Hinata could finally see up close and understand. In #615, Hinata finally connected with Naruto as a human being rather than as the object of her affection/obsession, and for the first time she was able to reinforce his nindo -- the nindo she claimed to have adopted but was never able to really demonstrate -- when he needed it, just as he had for her many times before.
As others have pointed out, Naruto suffering a crisis in confidence was redundant. He had already been there, done that. So apart from allowing Hinata to finally grow, and allowing her to finally come full circle on her worship of Naruto and his nindo, how did her moment with Naruto in #615 advance the plot?
The proof of faith, understanding, and which girl is the main heroine was made crystal clear in #573. Consider what the two girls say:
Hinata: "Naruto-kun... I've always... always been chasing after you... even now. But... once this war ends, I'm going to stop once and for all. Next time, I'll be next to you, holding your hand... walking with you! Wait for me!!"
Sakura: "Naruto... you saved Konoha... And now you're trying to save the entire shinobi world... You always get left with these insurmountable tasks. But no matter what you say this time... we're going to be together... Not just me... We're going to all fight together this time!"
Spectacular difference.
Hinata thought about herself and about how what's going on affects her. She thought nothing at all about what the war means, why it's being fought, or about the tremendous responsibility that Naruto has on his shoulders and what it means TO HIM.
That's why #615 is a heroic moment for Hinata only, not for the story, and why it didn't advance the plot. Hinata is not connected to the overall plot because she's not connected to Naruto's goals, feelings, or purpose. Consistently through her words and actions, Hinata's character has revolved around her objectification of Naruto and her desire to emulate his nindo. I think #615 was the fulfillment of her purpose, setting Hinata on the road to closure.
By contrast, Sakura thought only about Naruto. She proved that she understands what the war means, why it's being fought, and is keenly sensitive to the tremendous responsibility that Naruto has on his shoulders and what it means TO HIM. Sakura didn't think of herself, instead she aligned herself with Naruto's goals -- thereby directly connecting herself to the plot.
So who's the main heroine again? Who's the girl Naruto admires? The girl he thinks is "great"? The girl he trusts and relies on? The girl who understands Naruto's burden and is focused on her unwavering support of him and his goals?
Oh right, it's Sakura.
From what I have seen in the manga so far, the importance of Hinata's moment in #615 is being greatly exaggerated. I think it was simply the resolution to Hinata's thoughts in #573, and to focus on it as if it is some kind of pivotal moment that elevates Hinata as the heroine of the story -- when her declared purpose and goals are not even connected to Naruto's role in the war -- is to ignore the obvious.
The resolution to Sakura's thoughts in #573 -- the girl whose declared purpose and goals are DIRECTLY connected to Naruto's role in the war -- is yet to come.
Well, not all readers are questioning the main heroine of the story. Like I said, not everyone is threatened by Hinata's moment in #615. Not everyone looks at it and questions Kishimoto's intentions or perspective. Not everyone is seriously considering the possibility that Sakura has essentially been written out of the story or might as well be, and her importance is over. I, for one, insist on waiting until the story is complete before I reach that conclusion or offer that sort of criticism.
There is "unrest within the community" because people are impatient and panicky, or downright bored and disappointed. That's certainly their right. But it is hardly uncommon for authors to attempt to create questions about character resolution -- to create tension and suspense by dragging out unresolved love triangles, motivations, etc. -- and to leave people guessing. Is Kishimoto being inconsistent, or is he attempting to create drama?
Depends on the reader.
Listen, I'm not saying I'm satisfied with Sakura's role lately. I miss her and would love to see her have some quality focus, but I believe that's coming.
And I don't disagree that Kishimoto might have made some better choices. Sometimes I think he seriously misjudges the patience, attention span, and perceptions of his target demographic.
Well said. Nice to see you back here.
