54216 replies to this topic

[rikakim94]

And that's another reason why I loathe NaruSasu because of their beautiful bromance, a bromance that's been dragged for god knows how long, and the strongest bond in the series that Kishi obviously wants us to label as such, yet developing it terribly. Knowing that has to take precedence over Sakura is frustrating and makes me wanna bash my head into a wall.

 

The sasunaru bromance is whats killing sakuras reputation as a character and its making her less important other than being a neglected love interest thats what frustrates me. This could be the reason why naruto didn't even thank sakura before leaving. Its sad that naruto loves her and yet when near death he dosen't even thank her give her complement for saving him. And yet he does thanks a "certain" character that he doesn't love at all and complements her. No wonder why we as a ns fandom has to deal with antis everyday. This really really sucks kishi needs to show us that sakura important person to or else were going to have ungoing debate on whether or not sakura is important or not.

[xxRomanceGirlxx]

Like most of us here, I also have a problem with Sakura's relevancy. I can't understand why Kishi struggles so much to write her development outside of romance because IMO that really shouldn't be that hard. Just give her a few more logical conflicts, insight on other areas of the plot, and you have Sakura well-balanced. Just because Sakura's a girl shouldn't make her any harder to write than Naruto and Sasuke.

 

I'll admit it. A large part of Sakura's character is in the romance area and always has been, so large it's frustrating for those for who want more from her. I wouldn't ever put her on the same level as Hinata, but it gets a bit old that Sakura's relationships and conflicts are centered so much about her teammates. She deserves some more plot involvement like Naruto and Sasuke have, but instead it's mostly about her supporting Naruto and supporting Sasuke. Ever since Part 2 started, Sakura's main focus seems to be Naruto more than anything. Good maturity-wise and good for the ship, but it comes as a cost to Sakura's relevancy in other areas besides Team 7.

 

I would never say Sakura is as bad as Hinata. At least Sakura is well-developed personality-wise and doesn't always think of Naruto in every panel. She has also demonstrated being without that a few times once, more than you could say for Hinata. But still, Sakura being pushed the sidelines and driven by romance more than necessary is bothersome. I still think Kishi having Sakura give up on actively involving herself in Naruto vs. Sasuke and just "believe in them" was the biggest step back for that potential she had to be a much better heroine than now.

 

What's even more bewildering is that Kishi's capable of balancing love and other conflicts. With Naruto, he loves Sakura but Kishi focuses so much on his other stuff going on, you could have it scarcely cross your mind. Why is Sakura different?

 

 I still feel like Kishi kinda fails with Naruto on a romance level too, just in a completely different way. His most important bond is Sasuke and you rarely ever see anything that's associated to his love for Sakura in contrast. Honestly, the truth in that so strong that I feel like it's unrealistic. It's weird to me to see so much focus on a relationship like Sasuke, but romantic love takes a backseat when that's supposed to be something more important. I know this is a Shonen, but still it's strange. In Part 1 I could understand because Naruto and Sakura weren't really that close, but Part 2? Why is it that Sakura is the one focusing more on her bond with Naruto than the guy who's actually confirmed to love her?

Edited by xxRomanceGirlxx, 16 April 2014 - 12:29 AM.

[Inferno180]

I ignored it because there are no two sides. You wrote a lot, but in resume you explained on how Sakura is relevant. You say she's there, witnessing things, but witnessing is not the same as a catalyst. Yes, how is Sakura going to be relevant after this, besides being pairing fodder? You answer that. Oh no, I'm not ignoring Sakura until the first Team 7 reunion. No, Sakura was very important until the end of that chapter. After that, Sakura faded into irrelevant land.She confessed to Naruto, which had no plot relevance and nothing was achieved from it. During the second Team 7 reunion, she failed to kill Sasuke, while I don't blame her for not going through with it in the end her resolve achieved nothin. She was then sidelined from the conflict by Naruto and the author himself when she stated "All I can do is have faith in them." and you may feel free to think that's relevance but I don't accept that. The Team 7 chapter was cool but had no plot relevance, what had some plot relevance was the Naruto and Sasuke teamwork, which Sakura was excluded from. Shikamaru and Naruto, both moments where her medic skills should have shone, but both had to be healed with help from someone else (compare Naruto, who stopped Gai from dying on his own). Why do you think so many say Sakura is useless or that Hinata is a better heroine? Of course they are wrong, but their reasons aren't completely unfounded. Compared to Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura is useless and she really can only do the lamest of things, nothing spectacular like them. Anyone reading the war arc would think Sakura and Hinata have the same importance, because both have showed up relatively the same amount of time. Hinata is a secondary character while Sakura is supposedly a main character.I don't hate Sakura. I love Sakura. I can't pretend she's been well treaed by this story and its author, because she has not been well treated and it shows because she has no relevance to the final conflict of the manga. She's not going to fight Madara and she's not going to have input on the Naruto and Sasuke fight.I don't blame Sakura for this situation. I blame Kishimoto. He failed his heroine. It's good that Sakura didn't believe Naruto during the chunin exams. He was a moron who didn't even realise the true intent of that exam, how could he be ready to lead a village.My point is, how is believing in his dream or not relevant for pairings? First, the databooks aren't canon. Second, it's not debatable at all as there is no evidence in the manga that Sakura loved Naruto in the entirety of part 1. Third, to make Sakura in love with Naruto all this time and not realise it is to give her a stupidity award and that's not what she is. What's also amazing is how dislikable Naruto has become over this. Naruto's obsession with Sasuke isn't even reciprocated. Sasuke doesn't give a kitten about him in comparison. Naruto comes across as delusional and needy and that makes the trash that is Sasuke looks better than the hero. Seriously, his answer to Hogoromo "we are friends", no shut up you certainly are not.I feel bad wearing this avatar.

If you arnt even going to listen to my reasoning, just skip it, that's not putting up a debate, it's just promoting your opinion because you said so.

Sakura does have relevance, but to just say, oh it's defaulted, Kishi failed her, then it's simple to otherwise just say sakura is pointless like many haters resort to. The naruto Sasuke stuff in the central one, but sakura has been around the non sage stuff when it's been involved with naruto and Sasuke.

You said sakura wasn't a catalyst? What about narutos desire to save her during the gaara arc, was that not his catalyst to protect his friends there and onwards? What about the promise, was that not something to make him help his friends and to save sasuke more than his own reasons? Like it didn't give him a reason to why he couldn't tell sakura how he felt? The info she got for beating sasori which led to the Sasuke and sai arc? Again sais revealation wasn't enough to be a catalyst for her actions? That led to team 7 reuniting in the land of iron even though it wasn't ideal, her experience as a medical ninja wasn't a good catalyst to provide support to save him?

If you just focus in the negative and say she is bad or Kishi failed her, it's no wonder your view is what it is. I'm not trying to change your opinion but going on saying she hasn't had an impact in anyway is just the cheap way of saying, you don't even give her a thought, sakura has had impacts minor and major, there are others more than what I listed here. You say that she would be recent if she did more, in some cases saving shikamaru or naruto on her own. We don't expect sakura to do everything on her own,never since the Yamato speech, it's kinda been a deal of well she depends on teamwork and it's something naruto has rolled with for a long time, many people said he does better with allies,even itachi told him if he only relied on his own power he would be like obito (at the time) if he forgot his friends and tried to do it all alone.

Sakura has relevance but if you don't see it, it's your opinion, if she didn't have relevance, Kishi would never have used her like tenten or shino, they have no relevance. Hinata didn't get used much, we can call her hardly relevant, shikamaru, gaara, and tsunade have been used frequently they are relevant. Sakura is a main character, Kishi has used her a lot, even if it hasn't been ideal or what fans always wanted, she is still relevant.

[shisui]

Like most of us here, I also have a problem with Sakura's relevancy. I can't understand why Kishi struggles so much to write her development outside of romance because IMO that really shouldn't be that hard. Just give her a few more logical conflicts, insight on other areas of the plot, and you have Sakura well-balanced. Just because Sakura's a girl shouldn't make her any harder to write than Naruto and Sasuke.

I agree. She was very well handled in beginning of part 2. What changed? Oh, Naruto's unhealthy obsession with Sasuke and the so called bond they have.
 

Sakura does have relevance, but to just say, oh it's defaulted, Kishi failed her, then it's simple to otherwise just say sakura is pointless like many haters resort to.

Complaining Sakura doesn't have the importance that she deserves isn't being anti, it's stating the truth and not being happy about it!
 

The naruto Sasuke stuff in the central one, but sakura has been around the non sage stuff when it's been involved with naruto and Sasuke.

To do what? Sasuke pretends she doesn't matter, Naruto told her (and Kakashi) he'd take care of Sasuke alone and Sakura herself said she'd have faith in them (so did Kakashi). How is Sakura relevant to their conflict?
 

You said sakura wasn't a catalyst? What about narutos desire to save her during the gaara arc, was that not his catalyst to protect his friends there and onwards? What about the promise, was that not something to make him help his friends and to save sasuke more than his own reasons? Like it didn't give him a reason to why he couldn't tell sakura how he felt? The info she got for beating sasori which led to the Sasuke and sai arc?

I don't know why you are bringing these up. I said Sakura was fine until the end of the first Team 7 reunion and these examples you give are part of that.
 

Again sais revealation wasn't enough to be a catalyst for her actions? That led to team 7 reuniting in the land of iron even though it wasn't ideal, her experience as a medical ninja wasn't a good catalyst to provide support to save him?

Sai's revelation spurned Sakura into action yes... However, those actions were wrong. She lied to Naruto (how is this relevant to the plot, besides complicating the pairing debacle) and she couldn't go through with her resolution. Those actions were also futile. In the end, Sakura decided she'd be a passive factor in their conflict.
 

If you just focus in the negative and say she is bad or Kishi failed her, it's no wonder your view is what it is.

It's not my fault Kishi hasn't done anything positive with Sakura since the end of the first team 7 reunion. The CPR was good, but it's a one chapter thing, much like her Byakugo seal and the slug summoning. How many chapters did Kishimoto spend on that ridiculous SasuNaru teamwork? Precisely.
 

You say that she would be recent if she did more, in some cases saving shikamaru or naruto on her own. We don't expect sakura to do everything on her own, never since the Yamato speech, it's kinda been a deal of well she depends on teamwork and it's something naruto has rolled with for a long time, many people said he does better with allies,even itachi told him if he only relied on his own power he would be like obito (at the time) if he forgot his friends and tried to do it all alone.

It's not a matter of Sakura needing others to do things, because there's nothing wrong with that. What's wrong is that she's a main character and she needs others to do things, while Naruto and Sasuke are granted power ups after power ups (and worse, Karin. Or even Kaguya having the Byakugan like Hinata) and they do everything on their own. Naruto just saved Gai from dying from a fatal wound with a finger snap.
 

Sakura has relevance but if you don't see it, it's your opinion, if she didn't have relevance, Kishi would never have used her like tenten or shino, they have no relevance. Hinata didn't get used much, we can call her hardly relevant, shikamaru, gaara, and tsunade have been used frequently they are relevant. Sakura is a main character, Kishi has used her a lot, even if it hasn't been ideal or what fans always wanted, she is still relevant.

Since this war began, I have not seen Sakura being more relevant than Gaara and yet he's not a main character.

Edited by GoogleIsMyFriend, 16 April 2014 - 01:30 AM.

[Nostradamus]

Why is it that Sakura is the one focusing more on her bond with Naruto than the guy who's actually confirmed to love her?

Because Naruto is secretly in love with Sasuke and the whole Narusaku thing is just one gigantic red herring.

Even if Narusaku is the end pairing and we'll get a love scene between Naruto and Sakura; while that's happening we'll see Naruto thinking about Sasuke. His thoughts will be something like "I wonder what Sasuke is doing right now? Is he wearing the necklace I gave him? That thing looks so good on him, it really brings out the black of his eyes"

 

Ok enough with the stupid jokes. The truth is you're right Sakura is the one that's focusing on her relationship with Naruto while Naruto is to busy with Sasuke. It's an odd change in part 1 Naruto was chasing Sakura while in part 2 the roles reversed and Sakura started chasing after Naruto, and while that's going on Naruto started chasing after Sasuke. Team 7 has such an interesting "love triangle" don't they? 

Edited by Nostradamus, 16 April 2014 - 02:29 AM.

[Gojira]

Well this thread took an odd turn

[Nostradamus]

On a serious note. It's really interesting how the roles reversed in part 2. Now Sakura as a character is pretty well developed for what she is. However I'm sure most of us want more from her and sadly it doesn't look like we're going to see more from her. I hope that after the war is over Sakura will finally convince Naruto that Sasuke isn't really his friend. He now has people that truly care about him and should consider that before wanting to die with Sasuke.

Maybe if Sakura knocks some sense in Naruto and we get the fight between Naruto and Sasuke; Sakura will participate as well. Not as a healer but as a fighter. Similar to the fight between Orochimaru vs Jiraiya and Tsunade from part 1.

Edited by Nostradamus, 16 April 2014 - 02:44 AM.

[咲耶姫]

look this!!

We already saw it, it's just a relationship chart. And it's a too low quality to be translated. The only thing I see is the link between Sasuke and Itachi that says "brothers"

[narulsaku]

But then what was the point of the CPR if it wasn't going to be used later?

She only gave him CPR for like 30 seconds and spends the rest of the time just pumping his heart with chakra.

well if we see logically in manga wa cant really say for how much time or how many times sakura gave naruto cpr.^^

Like most of us here, I also have a problem with Sakura's relevancy. I can't understand why Kishi struggles so much to write her development outside of romance because IMO that really shouldn't be that hard. Just give her a few more logical conflicts, insight on other areas of the plot, and you have Sakura well-balanced. Just because Sakura's a girl shouldn't make her any harder to write than Naruto and Sasuke. 

ok so tell me one thing how many shounen like naruto there are where u have seen the heroine has eneromous power to change the world!!???. My point is even though sakura is a main character she is still a heroine. So she dont need that much character devlopment to gain equall power like naruto or sasuke . She has already gained great powers. She has the streangth of 100 seal. She cant release it fully yet she can master it and become as powerful or even more than tsunade.
So why find sakura's relevancy comparing her strength . IMO she is a perfect (may not be that perfect) female character . And in naruto and sasukes fight there can be many role of sakura .i think we should better leave it to kishi what to do about her . He is doing it well so far in part 2.

[ramenanmitsu]

 What's also amazing is how dislikable Naruto has become over this. Naruto's obsession with Sasuke isn't even reciprocated. Sasuke doesn't give a kitten about him in comparison. Naruto comes across as delusional and needy and that makes the trash that is Sasuke looks better than the hero. Seriously, his answer to Hogoromo "we are friends", no shut up you certainly are not.I feel bad wearing this avatar.

I agree with most of what you say especially this. It's obvious that Kishi doesn't care what the fans think with the way he handled Naruto. I thought Hinata was the most hated in the Japanese forums but it doesn't compare to the recent hate Naruto recieves. Sasuke has done kitten things, and yet Naruto is the one who receives all the hate because he looks like a lame, delusional, love-obsessed freak who keeps chasing and revolving his life around a guy who doesn't care jackkitten about him. And because of this, he brushes away his other friends who 'really' cares for him. Ex. Gaara, Sakura. How can this kind of a characterization be considered like able? Oe heroic? He devotes his life to Sasuke like a gamble-obsessed guy and yet bring zero contributions so far in redeeming him. Naruto had no relevance to the hero status Sasuke has currently achieved. It was done by Itachi and Hagoromo. He keeps on forcing people to leave Sasuke to himself and yet so far Sasuke has only listened to people other than Naruto. How unconvincing he is with the zero results he's accomplished so far.

To top it off, Naruto's fighting style is now centered around powers that were granted to him on a silver platter. He's now a walking contradiction. He keeps talking of how hard he tried, how he can change destiny, yada yada and ends up proving his messages wrong by actively doing the opposite.

I'm disappointed in all of team seven. Naruto, Sasuke, Sai, Sakura. But with the way I saw how Kishi gives Naruto 'development', I prefer he leaves Sakura and Sai alone, no matter how irrelevant they will be.

And before people jump on me, no, I'm not an anti. As a fan who has read Naruto from the beginning and bought the books, I believe I have every right to feel disappointed.

Edited by ramenanmitsu, 16 April 2014 - 03:25 AM.

[Gojira]

Another advantage NS has over other pairings (besides a kittenton of moments and a kittenton of foreshadowing teases)
 
Is the fact that sakura is the only female character who has interactions with Naruto's "Family"
 
She has been in 2 scenes with Minato (his biological father)
 
She shared 3 scenes with Konohamaru (his little brother)
 
She shared atleast 2 scenes with Jiraiya (his godfather)
 
She was trained by Tsunade (who idk is his aunt or granny I guess)
 
And ofcourse has been compared to Kushina
 
this is something that no other female has (I don't even think Hinata has interacted with any of these people or even been at the same place at the same time as them)
 
And yes I know Konohamaru and Tsunade aren't really related to Naruto.
 
Just something I thought was kind of interesting

[Hanabi]

how many shounen like naruto there are where u have seen the heroine has eneromous power to change the world!!???

i read pandora hearts and future diary, both are good to their heroines.

 

i heard fate/stay night, and attack on titans is good as well

[TouKen4Life3g]

Darn, got to sleep early today. Hopefully, it just released early.

[KnS]

Question:  If Sakura had not made such an emotional plea to Naruto to bring Sasuke back -- if Naruto's love for Sakura had not been so strong that he would do anything for her -- would Naruto have pursued Sasuke with the same determination?  Would Part I Naruto have committed himself heart, body, and soul to returning Sasuke based on his own feelings alone?

 

If you think strictly about the way Part I was written, it is Sakura who makes the chase after and retrieval of Sasuke of such paramount importance to Naruto.  There was also some pressure from Kakashi to get Sasuke to turn away from darkness and stay home, but after trying a number of times would Konoha have given up on Sasuke -- Naruto included?

 

Of course now, in retrospect, we would be forced to say that Naruto and Sasuke were locked in a reincarnation vortex and Naruto would have chased him no matter what, even if he didn't understand why, but that wasn't our understanding as we progressed through Part I and into Shippuuden.  

 

In fact, we are under the assumption that Naruto is doggedly pursuing Sasuke because of his Promise of a Lifetime to Sakura right up until the aftermath of her confession.  Naruto admits to Sakura that whether the promise he made to her was in force or not, he now wants to save Sasuke for himself.

 

I think Sasuke might have been someone that Naruto always remembered, and would have planned to encounter again, but I am not convinced Naruto would have been as focused on Sasuke if he had not started on the quest for Sakura's sake.

 

Y/N?

[Superman333]

Question:  If Sakura had not made such an emotional plea to Naruto to bring Sasuke back -- if Naruto's love for Sakura had not been so strong that he would do anything for her -- would Naruto have pursued Sasuke with the same determination?  Would Part I Naruto have committed himself heart, body, and soul to returning Sasuke based on his own feelings alone?
 
If you think strictly about the way Part I was written, it is Sakura who makes the chase after and retrieval of Sasuke of such paramount importance to Naruto.  There was also some pressure from Kakashi to get Sasuke to turn away from darkness and stay home, but after trying a number of times would Konoha have given up on Sasuke -- Naruto included?
 
Of course now, in retrospect, we would be forced to say that Naruto and Sasuke were locked in a reincarnation vortex and Naruto would have chased him no matter what, even if he didn't understand why, but that wasn't our understanding as we progressed through Part I and into Shippuuden.  
 
In fact, we are under the assumption that Naruto is doggedly pursuing Sasuke because of his Promise of a Lifetime to Sakura right up until the aftermath of her confession.  Naruto admits to Sakura that whether the promise he made to her was in force or not, he now wants to save Sasuke for himself.
 
I think Sasuke might have been someone that Naruto always remembered, and would have planned to encounter again, but I am not convinced Naruto would have been as focused on Sasuke if he had not started on the quest for Sakura's sake.
 
Y/N?

I agree 100 %

[narulsaku]

i read pandora hearts and future diary, both are good to their heroines.
 
i heard fate/stay night, and attack on titans is good as well

i havent read them yet but the heroine couldnt possilbly surpass or even get close to heros powers right all i am saying strength in battle only doesnt bring relevancy.

@KnS : i dunno i think they were good friends.i am confused .

[MoonDrop04]

Ok This Weeks Chapter Was Awesome!!! XD

[luffyq1]

Ok This Weeks Chapter Was Awesome!!! XD

Meh. I only liked the Sakura bits.

Edited by luffyq1, 16 April 2014 - 07:23 AM.

[MoonDrop04]

Meh. I only liked the Sakura bits.

Especially the Sakura bits!!!

[narusaku256]

Am I the only one here who thought that Naruto looked completely bad ass in his new avatar?