Sakura used to be my favorite Naruto Character, yes she was annoying as hell at first but as she got older and matured and especially post-timeskip she became my favorite. That all changed by the time the Naruto Manga ended, Kishimoto just completely shat all over Sakura's character and here are 7 Moments where Sakura's character was derailed the hardest.
1.) Marrying Sasuke and giving birth to Sarada (Somewhere between Chapters 699 and 700): Because nothing says true love than a man who tried to kill you not once, not twice but three times and is clearly only using you to rebuild his clan.
Agree with catsi in that it's culmination of previous choices rather than a genuine derailment. Once Kishimoto committed to it in 693 where else was he going to go? Speaking of that...What the hell Naruto Gaiden? They are married and have been for years. They conceived a kid and I am expected to believe they haven't kissed? While conception doesn't require kissing in any way, it's difficult to buy that when the story sold the relationship the way it did.
WTF?!
2.) The whole Iron Country Arc (Chapters 454-483): The whole kittening thing but most notably her kitten "Confession" and when she offered to betray Konoha and leave with Sasuke. And before anyone says she was lying to lure Sasuke into a false sense of security you forget she not only offered to leave with him when he left Konoha the first time but also when he left to "atone".
I disagree with many NS fans on this because she, without question, used his feeling to manipulate him and it does reflect badly on her. What did she plan on doing if he said yes? At the same time, I understand why she did it. I know I wouldn't want someone I cared about to get killed because of an obligation to me (even if it turned out that she misunderstood this). It's one of the few moments in Part 2 I think better of now simply because both react properly given what they think and believe at the time. They look human. Whether Sakura was over Sasuke or not her motive, clearly, was not simple confessing for its own sake and Naruto knew it.
It sucks that the Last makes Naruto look like a massive hypocrite here (especially since he probably wasn't supposed to be), but then internal consistency is massive problem throughout this story.
3.) Making Naruto promise to bring Sasuke back to Konoha (Chapter 183): Looking back this is where NaruSaku died because this was the moment Naruto gave up.
As with everyone else, I disagree with this. What Naruto did was an act of maturity. He was willing to put her feelings above his own. Was else was he supposed to do? I don't think this is the point where he gave up, but even if he did at some point if your crush isn't going to like you back then you have to grow up and move on. He seemed willing to do that if its what she wanted. Besides, if he gave up in Part 1 it was during the hospital scene.
For Sakura, she does look weak an inept, but it's that weakness that serves of the foundation of her resolve to change, something she actually does. She grows as a characters because of it. It's one of the few times (if not the only) where her growth as a ninja and person is genuine rather than token gestures (like slaying mooks).
4.) Telling Naruto that he only loved her because of his rivalry with Sasuke while also gushing about her love for Sasuke like the pathetic fangirl she is. (The Last: Naruto The Movie)
Disagree with catsi at least as to the specific reason. Author said it's canon, it's canon no matter how awful. That said, if she is right about his feelings who does this say more about: Naruto or Sakura? I see it reflecting more on Naruto.
.) Professing her pathetic undying love for Sasuke not once but twice. (Chapters 181 and 693): It's really kittening pathetic
I have no issue with 181 given how part 1 played was written from the get go. Makes sense and is line with her character at that point. 693 on the other hand...Yikes. That was a genuine derailment as it was basically a massive reset button on everything in between. To supposedly spend all that time growing as a ninja and person only to look as feeble as she did in 181..ouch. What was the point of it all if that is where she ended up? When it really mattered the most she ended being the same person she was in 181.
6.) Screaming "Sasuke-kun!" when Sasuke was about to stab Naruto (Chapter 307): This may not seem like that big of a deal but think about it had Sasuke actually killed Naruto in the next Chapter the last thing Naruto would've ever heard is Sakura shrieking Sasuke's name.
This is a nothing burger. Screaming because she worried for Naruto or wanted Sasuke to stop? Both are ration and unless Kishimoto comes out and says it was meant to show some kind of preference, it's hard to read anything into this when she cared for both.
7.) Asking about Sasuke first when waking up from Sasuke's Genjutsu (Chapter 698): Again this seems like not that big of a deal but think about it one of the last things Sakura heard before Sasuke placed her in a Genjutsu (Which by the way was her seeing him stab her in the kittening chest) was that Sasuke planned to kill Naruto. And who was the first person she asks about when she awakens? kittening Sasuke.
This and point 1 are kind of the same in that they are more the culmination of the derailment rather than the derailment itself. The big disaster in this area was 693. After Kishimoto went and did that, what else did anyone expect? It also has elements of point 6 in that I think you read way too much into this. I don't think it was meant to also serve as a slight on Naruto and I would need Kishimoto openly saying so before I accept it as one.
Let's say it had serve as the break in the SS relationship instead--would it be irrational for her to say Sasuke and meant it more of a "how could you do that to me" or "I can't believe he did that?"
The worst derailment (besides 693 of course) was what he didn't do:
1. Commit to a pairing and not switch gears more than half way through. If he had to this or the story took him places he hadn't intended then when he did change actually spend time developing and justifying it. (Or if you believe what he says spending more time and effort developing the red herring to such a degree you need a movie to fill in the holes).
2. Failing to include Sakura in the main plot to such a degree she was indistinguishable from the Rookie 9 in terms of relevance. She got more screen time, but was about as relevant.
3. Failing to keep up with Naruto and Sasuke, so that by the end she was this story's version of Krillin. Yeah, he was the strongest human, but he was so far behind the Saijin's that it didn't matter. A title without meaning. It was made worse by but the multiple recitations of this goal. Wasn't that the point of the skip, so why is she still complaining about behind so far behind in the last part of the story?
Hey Kishimoto: wailing on mooks doesn't cut it.