FrenchMyToast

So to sum up the last 15 or so pages...

 

SS fans actually did have the raws, but they butchered the translation to make it seem pro-SasuSaku. In reality, the MangaPanda/MangaReader translations were mostly accurate, and this whole scene was more anti-SS than pro-SS. Also, Viz continues to blow. 

 

Does that sound accurate? I've been skimming the past dozen pages and that's what I've learned, more or less.

I think what bother me is that to many fans, her reaction to the "great guy"comment was proof that she loves him still.

....well...that's what they see anyway.

 

Well either way, I'm fairly certain it was a way for Kishi to demonstrate how her feelings towards Sasuke (no matter what they may be) have a negative impact on her.

 

I mean, Kishi could have confirmed Sakura's feelings without having her look all sad and depressed, but he didn't. Writers do things like that a reason!

The only line that is bugging me is, "You still have feelings for someone who tried to kill you..." While I'd like to believe it was just an awkward translation and that he meant feelings of friendship, I won't make my judgement just yet. But context clues from the other parts of Kakashi's speech (and my own bias) have me thinking this is addressing Sakura's waning feelings for Sasuke. 

 

The other few lines about Sakura's feelings are very anti-SasuSaku. He classifies her feelings as having "changed" and are a "different feeling." This can't be good for SS.

 

I think Kakashi is basically saying that while Sakura may not have romantic feelings for Sasuke anymore, she still cares for his wellbeing, which shows how "kind" she is, as most people wouldn't care for someone who has tried to murder them. 

Geez, can't he be curious about what Hinata said without worrying about NH?

If anything, it's her character that I'm worried about. Does she want to be at Naruto's side as a wife or a comrade?

 

I find a lot of Hinata's dialogue to be somewhat ambiguous and confusing. I'm talking specifically about her speech at 573, and what she said in 633. In 573, I can think of two possible scenarios;

 

1) She will stop being so docile about her feelings and seriously go after Naruto in hopes of making him fall for her eventually. 

2) She realizes that she can't be with him and support him like a lover, so she will support him like a good comrade.

 

And in 633... (basically what you said)

 

1) Wanting to be by his side romantically.

2) Wanting to be by his side like a good comrade.

 

Of course, I'm hoping for the latter in both situations, but I'm a NS fan so that's pretty obvious. I'll admit, it's slightly unnerving, but it's really nothing new. We've known that she's loved him for like 200 chapters and that she's had feelings for him since early Part 1, so it doesn't really change anything in the SakuNaruHina or the NaruSakuSasu love triangle. Couple that with the fact that Naruto confirmed his feelings for Sakura two chapters ago, and we're in pretty good shape either way. 

I think Kishi ruined NH. It's too late to make seem relevant. But yeah I understand what you mean.

 

NH has really taken a back seat since 615. It looks like that hand-holding was just a way for Kishi to wrap up that pairing. I guess he'll finish off the Juubi before we see any more serious pairing related scenes. Although it's still going to be hard to handle because too many SS fans think that Sasuke acknowledging Sakura = Sasuke falling in love with Sakura. 

The anime team have already concluded that Naruto seems to think he'll be content with Sakura never loving him. I think this couldn't be more false; he does want her to love him. Saving Sasuke is not about him giving up on Sakura, and in that same sense, if Sakura wasn't in the picture, he wouldn't just give up on saving his best friend. One of the things the confession cleared up was that Naruto isn't torturing himself and putting the entire ninja world in danger because of his promise to a girl.

 

Many people still think Naruto's love for Sakura is just a crush, but I wouldn't blame the anime team. They did make a whole episode where he basically described his love for Sakura in vivid detail (235). I think this can all be traced back to the fact that most (or just a lot of) people who read Naruto take everything at face value. Yes, it's equally bad to over-analyze things, but if you don't take time to look "underneath the underneath," foreshadowed events will occur in the manga and you'll be taken completely off guard. 

 

Need proof? Just look at the fans' response to Sakura's character and the her confession to Naruto. Both are absolutely loathed by many fans. Lots of Sakura-bashers think that just because she doesn't have OP abilities (although she may have one now), she's "weak" and "useless." They fail to realize that the whole purpose of her character is to be portray a normal person that you can relate to, in an otherwise foreign world. I highly doubt any of us have had our families massacred by our siblings, or were orphans scorned by the entire neighborhood. We are supposed to connect with Sakura...not hate her. 

 

Then we have the confession. To me, it's the most controversial scene is all of Naruto. Anti-Sakura/NS fans are quick to tell you that she is a liar and that she only confessed to hurt Naruto, and that just hurts my head.   I'm not going to share my thoughts on it because other people on this forum can explain how she was being truthful much better than me, but Kishimoto flat out told us that she was being honest. Heck, he even had Sai tell us her true intentions. All they got from the confession was that Sakura can only love Sasuke and she likes to put Naruto in pain. It seems like whenever Sakura/a topic that requires some extra thought is presented, people always assume the worst. 

 

So basically, just because Naruto hasn't yelled out to the world that he loves Sakura (which Hinata and Sakura have done), his feelings are automatically weak and easier to move on from. It's a shame really. Everything Naruto has done because of his love deserves to be celebrated, not glossed over because of 615. 

The one argument I am just tired of is the Hinata = Minato theories. It's so easy to disprove but it keeps on popping up. 

 

The only real thing that links those two is that they're both "quiet." But they're quiet for completely different reasons. Hinata is unsure of herself and shy, while Minato has all the confidence in the world. I think the term "reserved" best fits him. To be honest, I think Itachi and Minato are a lot more alike than Hinata and Minato. 

 

On another note, I like the MinaKushi/NaruSaku resemblances, but the actual important parallel is Sakura and Kushina. In her dying moments, Kushina told baby-Naruto to find a girl like her, not base all his relationships off his parents. 

 

God, I sound like a broken record. 

It's unfortunate that a lot of the good NS fics aren't being updated. But then again, I guess being at the mercy of an author without a strict posting schedule is a is the price we pay for being fanfiction readers. I don't blame the authors though, I can't imagine constantly writing long and detailed chapters. Too many words.

Development doesn't lie.
Sakura has gone from hating Naruto, to possibly having feelings for the guy. And I like how they've been developed. It was gradual and pretty realistic. One-sided dislike, to shaky friendship, to good/best friends, to unbreakable bond. Honestly, I feel like Naruto's love for Sakura is a part of his character. Most of his actions are due to the POAL, and a major reason for making that promise was due to his feelings for her. SasuSaku is basically dead, and NaruHina lacks the development that NaruSaku has. Yeah, NH has gotten more focus in the war, but most of them have been Hinata -> Naruto moments where Naruto doesn't feel anything romantic.

Naruto and Sakura being really cute/amusing/sweet is a bonus as well.