Well here we go the epic continuation of Phatnom_999's Naruto love triangle argument lol.
So we've covered SS, We've covered NH, now let's delve into the the realm of NaruSaku shall we. But before we get into it and trust me I' m VERY excited to finally be posting this, remember what I said in my last comment about how Naruto not being a romance manga is not an excuse? Well the fact of the matter is if that WAS TRUE why were those moments between Naruto and Sakura ever present? Why delve so deeply and not to mention in detail about how they develop an emotional bond and are each other's main source of comfort when the other is in distress? Why do they not seek other friends to pour open their sadness and anguish at those times? Why doesn't Sakura consult Ino or Naruto go to Hinata for a much needed talk for instance, if NH was the end game and Sakura needed an person to confide in until the sexy B@$t@rd boyfriend Sasuke Uchiha returns to her arms? Why is it that Naruto and Sakura confide in each other their weak sides and show themselves fully to each other but not any of their other friends? And as you can see they are NOT lacking in that regard. It is more than just because they are squad mates because I don't care what the excuse is, if you can confide in someone you fears, pains and failures, there is a deep emotional intimacy there. An even better question, If Naruto is NOT A ROMANCE manga, then why did Naruto and Hinata need a movie dedicated to their romance instead of just leaving it to the readers/viewers interpretation of how they got together and not elaborate on it like Dragon Ball. That is what "not a romance series is", you don't delve into the specifics of a romance, they are just taken at face value and there is so little teasing at a couple if at all that whoever a character gets together with does not have to make narrative sense or need an explanation because again there was little focus OR NONE. But you see the story going out of it's way to have Naruto keeping his bond with Sakura strong when Team 7 was broken up and they are barely seen with Kakashi anymore. Now with that out of the way Let's begin.
We start with Sakura's introduction in Chapter three. Naruto introduces her as a cute girl that he likes a lot. Not a a romance manga you say? Then that part is not even needed. Sakura though does not enjoy Naruto's company to say the least, and instead turns red when in the popular "bad boy" Sasuke's presence. Now the teams are formed and by coincidence (or so it is suppose to be) Naruto is teamed up with Sakura, his crush, and Sasuke, his sworn rival. Sakura of course wastes no time to get Sasuke's attention and tells Naruto he is annoying her when he tries to talk to her and to get lost. Naruto at this point wants really wants to get Sakura to like him and so catches Sasuke off guard and ties him up, then transforms into him to charm Sakura. Sakura meets up with "Sasuke" who compliments her forehead. This is SIGNIFICANT because Sakura always hated her forehead and in fact was bullied over it as a young girl. "Sasuke" then asks what she thinks of Naruto and Sakura says, to be blunt, Naruto is an obnoxious loud mouth, and wanted approval from someone she likes which Naruto realized he could relate to. Sakura then tries to give "Sasuke" a smooch which is interrupted by a carton of expired milk. Sakura then meets the real Sasuke who was looking for Naruto, and Sakura thinking that she had the conversation with him already delves into how annoying she thinks Naruto is and that he probably has it easy cause he has no family to scold him. That hits home for Sasuke who coldly rebukes her as she shows no true understanding of not having a family and calls her annoying which really stung Sakura's feelings. She then realizes that is what Naruto felt when she told him the same and silently tells herself to try be nicer to Naruto. And that, ladies and gentlemen is quite a popular romance building literary device for stories where one character's completely negative behaviour towards another starts to improve, if just a tiny bit. Now onto the Bell test with Kakashi where after the failed attempt to gain a bell from him he criticizes Sakura's lack of care towards Naruto, Naruto's cocky attitude and Sasuke's superiority complex. He then tells Sakura and Sasuke not to give Naruto lunch as punishment for trying to sneak out a box for himself, and tells them they fail the test if either of them try to feed him. Sasuke of course eventually breaks that rule, reasoning out that all of them need to work together to get the bells and Sakura then offers Naruto some of her own lunch. So to supporters of the "Sakura hates Naruto and never gave a flying eff about him" argument, I ask you, would YOU do something nice for someone that YOU HATE if you stand to lose something quite important as in that very scenario? Now obviously that was a bluff to see if they would stick their necks out for each other despite the consequences as Kakashi's belief is that saving a comrade is more important than obeying an order or law. We now move to the first c rank mission for team 7 where Naruto berates himself for cowardice and stabs his hand as a vow to never runaway anymore after panicing in the middle of a brief scuffle with some mist ninjas and Sakura once again, whom SOME of the fan base says despises Naruto with all of her being and only exists to make his life miserable shows worry in the form of angrily snapping at him as to why he would do that to himself? Next is a manga only moment I believe, but Sakura tackled Naruto to the ground when Zabusa's sword came whirling at them. Sakura then has a blush on her face as and supposedly her heart skips a beat when she witnesses Naruto's determination to fight. we then skip to the tree climbing exercise where Naruto in a surprising display of humility asks Sakura if she can give him pointers on chakra control, and she does, again for someone that she "hates and never stopped hating". 
She didn't tell him to figure it on his own or give Sasuke special treatment by telling him and not Naruto, despite SS shippers and those that won't let go of their first impressions of her thinking that is what she would do.
Okay I'm a bit over taxed right now but I WILL get back to this later. Like I said, I want to fill in as much as I can and there is so much still to say 
Edited by Phantom_999, 03 November 2019 - 12:00 AM.
Nicely worded and said, James!
