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The first reason why no one is expecting even a strongly implied pairing in Naruto is that it is Shonen. Now, I admit, there are a LOT of shonen mangas I'm probably missing out on. And I certainly can't deny that most never settle on a pairing. However, from what little I have observed, those that don't settle on a pairing really had no reason to. While I do enjoy romance, there are just some stories that don't demand or have incentive for a definitive pairing. I know we've got a lot of IchiRuki supporters here, but do any of you forsee any pairing in Bleach to happen? And if so, for what reason? This is what I think is neccesary for a pairing to occur, no matter what kind of story you do: A reason beyond simple attraction.
So, would Naruto have a reason to settle on a pairing? Well, ignoring the fact that I'm here at this MB, I'd say yes! Why?
1) Kishimoto wants to leave the story off at the next generation. To do that, kids are required. And what makes kids (points gun at fool who says artificial insemination)? While it's true that Kishimoto can easily do this using completley original characters whose parents never had a part in the story, most would be happier if this new generation was concieved directly from the characters we know. The previous InoShikaChou trio were the parents of the current one, so whose to say another one won't be the offspring of Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji? We've learned that Naruto's father was Hokage, and if Naruto had a kid, I bet most would want to see him declare he's going to be Hokage.
2) Being alone at the start of the series. Having a family brings it full circle and gives it a conclusion. I'm sure a lot of Shonen mangas have dealt with a protagonist who was an outcast. But for those involving a character whose young, how many had him/her begin the series not only with no friends, but no family either? Friends rock, and they can be a good enough substitute for a family. However, when an individual starts one of their own, I bet that brings a completley different feeling of joy. To me, with Naruto begining his life completley alone, giving him a wife and kids would bring about pretty good closure to me, and he would always acknowledge his kids, and I think it would be a cool ending if some kid that looks like him, or whoever he winds up with, is on a swing waiting to be picked up to the academy with a Hokage Naruto running and panting "Sorry I'm late!"
3) Growing up. Okay, you don't have be involved in a relationship to be considered an adult, nor does having a girlfriend or wife make you any more mature. But in fiction, to me it's still a sign of how far the characters have come with their lives and how they grew.
And on another note, at least 3 of the 5 Hokages had kids.
Those arguements are for any pairing in general(and AsumaXKurenai doesn't count because they were minor characters and already adults). So, why not argue for NaruSaku?
1) The JirayaTsunade mythos. Now, this arguement has been made, but I'll try to do it so it's not so repetitive. As you know, Jiraya and his teammates are based off of fictional characters from Japanese myth. Jiraya was a great ninja, he was married to Tsunade, and Orochimaru got seduced by snake magic and backstabbed them both. Now, in the manga, while Orochimaru certainly does live up to his myth, Jiraya and Tsunade for some reason or another have not in terms of their relationship. Kishimoto is going on about how the next generation will surpass the last, and we just know that's what he's planning to do with Team 7. Therefore, that would mean Naruto and Sakura's relationship just might go beyond mere aquaintences. While some are just expecting a little internal monolouge on Sakura's part, it's also pretty likely that Kishimoto will not only show them to be a little better than their predecesors, but be the legends they were supposed to be. So, it's not that much of a stretch in my opinon to see the two married.
2) Bonds. This theme is beaten to death in Naruto, and then someone uses the DragonBalls to wish it back to life! Anyway, Naruto making many different types of bonds is a recurring theme. With Iruka, we've got his "dad". With Sasuke, we've got his "brother." Jiraya sees him as his grandson. While his bonds for Kakashi and Tsunade have not been explicitly stated, I see the former as the lazy uncle and the latter as a mother (grandmother works fine too). So, what kind of bond does he have with Sakura? Many do argue for best friend, but doesn't Sasuke already fill that one in? If the Shippuden anime is any indication, Naruto is hoping to be more than just friends with her. And many people want a definitive answer on what Naruto means to Sakura. And Sakura is really the only major female character(his age) that he's interacted with, so why wouldn't you want to cover a bond with a lover?
3) Closure on Sakura's part. In the manga volumes, it is stated in part one that Sakura's goal is to win Sasuke's heart. I don't mean any disrespect to SasuSaku fans...but I doubt she's aiming for that now (bringing her teammate back, sure, but as lovers is too much of a stretch for me). Interestingly, I found Naruto's goal to be Hokage one that while under most circumstances would be considered unrealistic is also one well worth pursuing. Sasuke devoted his life to revenge, and if Ch. 399 is any indication, he's going to expand that goal a little, and it's going to cause problems for everyone, including him! Sakura's "goal" was in my opinion also selfish and would've been detrimental in the long run. She was in love with a boy she knew nothing about (not that there's anything wrong with that) and tried to make him her ideal guy in many ways. Whenever he was mean to her, she was clearly hurt but always came up with some excuse for him to justify it. Not only that, but she made her best friend her enemy as well, which I think also sends a message about crushes vs. friends. And as we all know, when she was in love with Sasuke, she devoted more time pampering herself than being a kunoichi. And look at her now! While she may not neccisarily be out of love with Sasuke right now, she does seem like a better and maybe even happier person without him around. I'd imagine at the end of the series, Sasuke will learn that the family you have in the present is more important than the one in the past that you lost, and Sakura will find the love she really hoped for.
Granted, I could be wrong about this. Maybe you know of some stories that fit similar criteria but never have any of the potential pairings go anywhere. But should Kishimoto decide on NaruSaku, I'd imagine that everyone would go "Yeah, it makes perfect sense!" I will admit, Kishimoto does seem to be unconfident about his ability to do romance. However, he's married now, and I'd imagine his views on romance will have either changed or been solidified.
So, what are your thoughts on this?
Edited by Kodachi Claws, 16 May 2008 - 06:18 AM.
