But that doesn't compare in tone or importance to Naruto saying, "I feel like I finally understand why I like [love] Sakura..." Naruto is the title character. His feelings and intentions are the ones to watch, and in terms of foreshadowing it's pretty likely that they trump Sakura's -- especially since her feelings for Naruto have changed so much since then.
Whatever there was between Sakura and Sasuke in Part I was all from Sakura. Sasuke returned no interest in her, much less any romantic feelings. The best she got from him was a "thank you" for her concern -- you know, right after he called her annoying and right before he knocked her out so she couldn't stop him. There is no SS in Part I or Shippuuden. There's just Sakura --> Sasuke.
There's FAR MORE between Naruto and Sakura in Part I. Sakura begins to show a change of attitude about Naruto right away, and the foundation for a possible romance begins to build early on. Although it is primarily Naruto --> Sakura in Part I, there is some Naruto <--> Sakura. There's even more in Shippuuden.
The reason for the SS set up in Part I is fairly easy to understand. Sakura's infatuation with Naruto's rival and their teammate was put in place as a dynamic stumbling block to Naruto achieving his personal goals. The premise is he has to fight to win -- including the girl he wants.
Sasuke was the elite, cool genius and Naruto wanted to be good enough -- in every way, including in Sakura's eyes -- to compete and stand on his own against Sasuke. Sakura's infatuation with Sasuke was just fuel on that fire, giving Naruto another reason to fight his way to Sasuke's level.
His feelings, accomplishments, and journey are what matter. His interactions with Sakura are greater in quantity and quality than anything between Sakura and Sasuke.
Its that Naruto<--->Sakura interaction that has come both ways between them throughout part 2 that makes NaruSaku different from the other 2. NH has some interaction but Hinata is more or less a rarity in Shippuden. Though she still has the crush on Sasuke, but that's practically just for dramatic suspense if anything.
Also good post
Hunatedcake the whole description of building a house just to demolish it, thinking about if Kishi did that with NaruSaku, that just another way of saying well everything here would have been pointless, I mean what exactly would kishi accomplish by making this all nothing more than friendship? I just cannot imagine it. I mean NS has a lot in its favor but this does make you think just why would he even need to do this? What exactly would it serve? Its imagining stuff like this if he overturned NS that just makes us laugh and see just how dumb it would really be if it occurred and how poorly written if he actually went with it, all it would accomplish is him proving himself as a failed mangika.
The whole point of the main character, his goals, his struggles, and endeavors including protecting/helping the girl he loves no matter what and letting her be herself while he acts selfless, it would be a waste to just have the efforts with his crush go wasted especially when that girl herself manages to return and care for the guy despite not being in love yet. Its like how many haters still just expect the ending in a nutshell to be Naruto gets Sasuke back and throws him on Sakura while he goes over to Hinata without much else done. That just merits so much effort down the drain. This is why me and many others see NaruSaku. Because its around the story and it fits it. I just cannot see Kishi making stuff developed so long unless he actually wanted to break the story beyond everything, I give him some ground for Sasuke turning because we knew that this stuff would come at least with development since Itachi spoke to him, but we did not expect it all at once and so suddenly so Hashirama can be irked at a bit but its still along with what we expected to come. I just don't see how unless he purposely wanted to be a bad writer, he would just dumb everything.
NaruSaku is still around and has not been demolished if we go by this metaphor, if anything it became a project on hold (dormant) for the past few years and we got a small notion last chapter, just Sakura ---> Naruto for concern and faith. Don't know to call it a moment but it is still simply what we know from her towards Naruto by now, caring and believing in him.
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