58 replies to this topic

[Rai]

I really don't think that Kishimoto is avoiding romantic interaction...It's just that I think that he is just focusing on finishing the action and the story about some problems of Naruto before he focuses on romance...hehe...that's just what I think...

[KittenLou]

I personally believe Kishimoto avoids romance in his novels. For one thing, didn't he mention that he's not very comfortable with it, or that he's a little insecure about writing about it?

Also, when you take into account that this a fictional world filled with ninja, who are fighting for their country and loved ones every day, it kind of makes you wonder how trivial pairing wars really are. Ninjas like Sakura and Naruto or Hinata and Naruto can fall in love, but in the end, what will it accomplish? In a ninja's life, is there really any room or time to act on feelings like love?

Jiraiya said that a man isn't able to chase his dreams or to become happy before he left for the Rain village, didn't he? Perhaps this is Kishimoto's way of saying that no matter who Naruto truly loves in the end, he's not going to be able to act on it because, as a ninja, he's not allowed to?

Naruto's experienced the failure of rescuing Sasuke and the rejection of Sakura many, many times. He's individual who believes in helping anyone and everyone he can, but whenever he fails at this, well, I think you refer to the chapter Naruto is placed in a genjutsu and his closest people pop their heads off his body...

Maybe Kishimoto keeps the romance so ambiguous because he plans on killing Naruto. :x

[Naruto_T7]

I'm afraid I disagree, Leney. I think Naruto is mostly about these things. Character development is welcome, and I don't think I'd like Naruto so much if it didn't exist (after all, comics are about characters. Like Kazuo Koike told: "if the characters are good, the comic is good"), but it isn't the focus of manga. I suppose it's a matter of different points of view.

Anyway, this thread is affected by a very common misconception in the fandom (not only Naruto fandom): shonen is always fights and shojo is always romance. Romance is inexistent in shonen. Nobody ever kisses in shonen.

I'm sorry, but it's false: shonen manga is comic targeted towards young boys, and shojo manga is comic targeted towards young girls. Period. Therefore, shonen and shojo can include any and all genders. The public it is targeted towards determines if it's shonen or shojo, not the kind of story narrated in it.

Yes, usually shonen manga features action and shojo manga is about romance, but there isn't a carved-in-stone rule stating: "Thou shall not include romance in a shonen manga".

There're a lot shonen mangas where the romance really leads the plot, and the action is fewer to non-existent: Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku (if you have read Ranma or Inu-Yasha, this is Takahashi's best series, by far. Believe me), Ah! My Goddess, Touch (Kishimoto was fan of this manga, by the way), Video Girl Ai or Kimagure Orange Road are good examples of it. They are important shonen mangas. And they ARE romance mangas.

Actually, I preffer reading a romantic shonen rather than a romantic shojo. I find them more realistic and less cheesy (please, don't lynch me for this ).

I'd mention some shojo mangas featuring plenty action and a lot of fights, but I have read few shojo. I can cite Ribbon no Kishi, Sailor Moon, Magic Knight Rayearth and X, at the very least.

So please, let's stop telling romance or kisses are unheard of in shonen (Did I imagine it in City Hunter, Ranma or Rurouni Kenshin, then?). It is untrue. Romance is secondary in fighting shonen mangas is a more accurate generalization. Or friendship love is more important in shonen manga than romantic love.

So... I don't think Kishimoto avoids romantic interaction. Simply, it's less important than advancing the plot and drawing good fighting scenes. But when it's necessary, he includes romance or hints of romance.

Well, considering Naruto is a Shonen manga, Kishimoto has done pretty well with the romance. Naruto rotates alot around bonds and isn't love the strongest bond there is?
I think he's planting NaruSaku seeds everywhere and soon there will be an explosion. Very soon actually, considering the Akatsuki have stepped up their chase and Naruto's life is on the line.

Its just Cliche the Hero and Heroine get together Aka Naruto and Sakura :}
plus in manga, the girl normally falls for the guy she punches, well in Love Hina they do :}

I personally believe Kishimoto avoids romance in his novels. For one thing, didn't he mention that he's not very comfortable with it, or that he's a little insecure about writing about it?

Also, when you take into account that this a fictional world filled with ninja, who are fighting for their country and loved ones every day, it kind of makes you wonder how trivial pairing wars really are. Ninjas like Sakura and Naruto or Hinata and Naruto can fall in love, but in the end, what will it accomplish? In a ninja's life, is there really any room or time to act on feelings like love?

Jiraiya said that a man isn't able to chase his dreams or to become happy before he left for the Rain village, didn't he? Perhaps this is Kishimoto's way of saying that no matter who Naruto truly loves in the end, he's not going to be able to act on it because, as a ninja, he's not allowed to?

Naruto's experienced the failure of rescuing Sasuke and the rejection of Sakura many, many times. He's individual who believes in helping anyone and everyone he can, but whenever he fails at this, well, I think you refer to the chapter Naruto is placed in a genjutsu and his closest people pop their heads off his body...

Maybe Kishimoto keeps the romance so ambiguous because he plans on killing Naruto. :x

if thats true, Kishimoto has already broken the rules in that respect. Sakura cried when Naruto was in Kyuubi form and the Ninja rule # 25 states that a ninja should not show emotion when on a mission, regardless of whats happened. Sakura Did. Plus, Naruto has to suceed where Jiraiya failed. Jiraiya failed with Tsunade therefore Naruto will (possible,hopefully :}) succeed with Sakura

[NutMan]

I believe he will make it clear that the "pairing" will be Naruto/Sakura, BUT it's not gonna be something big. Don't expect something out of a shojo manga or something. It's gonna be something simple like Naruto just holding sakura.

[Nee-sama]

I've always kinda thought the story would play out like Final Fantasy 10 or something. From the way it's playing out I would assume we may get to see one intimate scene involving the main hero and the girl he fancies towards the end of the plot. Probably preceding an epic and climatic battle. That's the most I would hope to see, and frankly if we dont see it I'll be sorely disappointed in the manga as a whole.

[Sora no Kitsune]

Well like most people said, this type of manga has romance and a 5th element. Kishimoto is basing romance off as hints with action and fighting its main event. However, i do belive, with Naruto at his most powerful, killing Pain, and saving Sakura, as well as her screaming out for him in 429, i think once konoha settles down a bit or as soon as Naruto and Sakura get some 1-on-1 time, we will see the most epic NaruSaku moment in the history of Naruto. Those are my thoughts anyway

[Paptala]

However, the way Kishimoto has developed Naruto and Sakura's relationship is incredible - to me, at least. Its the first Shounen couple I've ever read thats actually had a base from the BEGINNING to work with.

Basically, if you're planning to add romance in your manga or story, either do it well or don't include any at all. Besides, in an action-oriented manga, the themes are mainly focussed on Teamwork and Friendship anyway. I even doubt any pairings might even happen, especially with the way the story is coming along at the moment.

This is exactly why I love this pairing. If nothing else, Kishi has an amazing way of building up relationships between two people.

As for actual romance, I won't hold my breath, but I'll cross my fingers.

[narusakuluv]

Hmm...I'll bet fifty bucks that Kishi read this thread and thought "'Avoids romantic interaction'???? Haha, I'll show you Narusaku fans! I'll just

SPOILER (CHAPTER 437) --Click here to view--

make Hinata confess, kill/fake kill her, then make Naruto go 6-tails!!!!

Mwahahaha."
Seriously though, the past chapter is an enormous contradiction of this thread.

[RyrineaHaruno]

I think he doses an excellent job with romance actually, just look at the Naruto x Sakura relationship. It just perfect I think it just seems more natural then Susake x Sakura or NaruHina.

Oh and if Kishimoto decided for Susake x Sakura I will scream my butt off because I hate that relationship with a passion.

Plus it Shouen manga their not going to be much romance in the manga but I still think that Naruto x Hinata will not happen I just will scream and if it does happen.

[jworks]

Kishimoto, like any intelligent author, is making the story and as we put it, romance, much more interesting by NOT shoving it in our faces. How satisfying or dynamic would it be to have our little couples suddenly kiss and live happily ever after. what makes me love narusaku so much is the immense build up of tension between the two over the course of the entire story, this will make that moment when it happens so much more meaningful to me. There is a deeper relationship between the two thanks to this and a sort of unspoken communication.

It dazzles me!

[Sora no Kitsune]

Kishimoto, like any intelligent author, is making the story and as we put it, romance, much more interesting by NOT shoving it in our faces. How satisfying or dynamic would it be to have our little couples suddenly kiss and live happily ever after. what makes me love narusaku so much is the immense build up of tension between the two over the course of the entire story, this will make that moment when it happens so much more meaningful to me. There is a deeper relationship between the two thanks to this and a sort of unspoken communication.

It dazzles me!

You summed up everything i was about to say. Indeed.

[Sherry]

since it's shonen, i guess too much romance just make "Naruto" comic become not a ninja comic. and...

i don't hope much for the romance, but narusaku must happens whatever happens!!!

[The Middleman]

Funny, I never actually noticed it 'til now. To be fair, it is shonen. But most shonens do have romantic elements. I mean; Buso Renkin? Reborn? Ubel Blatt? Most of them do have very active romantic threads. The big three however (OP, Naruto, and Blechhhhhhh) seem not to.

[Freakazoid]

Kishi himself if I remember right from an interview(can't tell you from where) said that he planned on adding more romantic content in part 2. The shonen argument is used alot, though you can't really argue against Kishi's own words.

[Sora no Kitsune]

Kishi himself if I remember right from an interview(can't tell you from where) said that he planned on adding more romantic content in part 2. The shonen argument is used alot, though you can't really argue against Kishi's own words.

To be honest, i think kishimoto already did this with the confession from Naruto and hug from Sakura because compaired to the rest of part 1, this hole area has alot more romance than normal. However, even if it is a shonen manga, romance should still have a big part in this, and im thinking alot of it will take place on Sakura's choice between Naruto and Sasuke during the next Sasuke incounter.

[TwilightLink20xx]

I've heard that comment about Kishi and Romance a lot. He's also said he's not very good at it, so perhaps instead of trying to avoid it, he's just trying to get it right the first time. Shounen it may be, but when you've decided to place characters at the forefront of your series, I fully expect to see it addressed if it comes up between main characters. A good storyteller lets the tale take it's course and ensures that his vision plays out as perfectly as possible. Important developments aren't rushed. That is one thing NaruSaku has on it's side: It's not only there, but is progressing at a healthy and steady rate (the main reason we had a lag there was because of Naruto and Sakura not being around each other; I don't expect that to happen for a while not).

So no, I don't think he's avoided it. It's just that the story simply didn't allow for anything of the sort at that time. There is a time and place for everything, after all.

[RyrineaHaruno]

So no, I don't think he's avoided it. It's just that the story simply didn't allow for anything of the sort at that time. There is a time and place for everything, after all.

I agree, with this statement. I didn't expect much romance either but I was surprised when I saw it.

[Justine_Mariyah_Narutard]

Actually, Naruto is a fast paced action story with a little bit of everything sprinkled on it.

Dont you think masashi kishimoto-sama is excellent in blending everything into one substantial plot?? he was able to put Lots and lots of exciting fighting scenes and remarkable tactical techniques, He was able to put themes of friendship and trust into it, He was able to give is a fair share of sweet pairings (although not evident), and he even put reality together despite the fantasy theme of the anime.

Judging from the hilarious humor of the story, He never fails to incorporate the harsh reality into the characters too making the fantasy themed story so real that we think it can also be possible to happen in this world too.

And Im not saying that I dont agree with you with the whole "trying to avoid romance scenes" thing. Its true, Naruto has lots of sweet pairings but lack more romantic scenes. but theres one thing Im trying to let you remember.

masashi kishimoto-sama is a boy......yes thats it...he's a boy and we know that boys arent big fans of mushy scenes like most females are but look at the bright side, if you think about it logically, I cant even believe that the one who made such a sentimental story could be a male. and besides, dont you think the lacking of romantic scenes makes the series more sweeter and exciting??

I didnt even expect romance when I first tried this series.

[Shadowmoon~]

Dont you think masashi kishimoto-sama is excellent in blending everything into one substantial plot?? he was able to put Lots and lots of exciting fighting scenes and remarkable tactical techniques, He was able to put themes of friendship and trust into it, He was able to give is a fair share of sweet pairings (although not evident), and he even put reality together despite the fantasy theme of the anime.

Yes, he is one excellent writer, and that was why many people started to like Naruto, because of the awesome things he cooks up. Great observation on that one, Mariyah-chan!

masashi kishimoto-sama is a boy......yes thats it...he's a boy and we know that boys arent big fans of mushy scenes like most females are but look at the bright side, if you think about it logically, I cant even believe that the one who made such a sentimental story could be a male. and besides, dont you think the lacking of romantic scenes makes the series more sweeter and exciting??

I didnt even expect romance when I first tried this series.

There are some Shojo mangas that were written by the male population, but, you have a point there.

Naruto is an action-Shonen manga, yet, Kishi-sensei doesn't avoid romantic interaction, he just lessens them, because its focus is on the action/adventure genre, but, it definitely has some sprinkles of romance.

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Think of the "We'll save him together!" and "I'll save Sasuke for you!" lines by Sakura.

Think of the Yamato and Sakura scene in the Heaven & Earth bridge.

Think of the NaruSaku hug!

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These are all just NaruSaku moments, and I can mention more, but I won't, for there is a seperate thread for that.

My point is, this manga is interesting because of the small romance included in it. It is pretty satisfying the way it is, so I'm not complaining.

But, I don't completely agree with the statement that Kishi-sensei is avoiding romantic interaction. Remember that he just lessens them.

That is my crazy opinion, anyway.

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This is OFF-TOPIC, but...

This post is my 100th! I am now officially a Genin! Whoopee!

I know, that this is not part of the topic, but I just want to have a small celebration. Please don't mind me. Thank you.

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Edited by Shadowmoon-Sakura, 20 June 2009 - 09:06 AM.