Daidoji_Tangen

I would calm down. Sakura's previous actions make no sense if she is serious. Why would she give a "love confession" to Naruto and only when he rejected her, does she try to go after Sasuke? I think it is pretty obvious that she is just trying to get close enough to take him out when he's not looking. She knows she cannot win in straight up fight (sure Sakura is strong and Sasuke is pretty worn, but the Sharingan is still ridiculously powerful). I am less bothered by this than the "confession" from before which seemed too strained and unreal (hence, why Naruto rejected it).

I do not see it lasting past next week unless Kishimoto decides to drag it out and have Naruto join the party (before Sakura or Sasuke turn on the other).

I thought it was a good chapter. It was also nice a character I liked did not die (quite the opposite, Karin is alive enough for Sasuke to finish her off, fortunately interrupted by Sakura), unlike the other frickin' two SJ mangas I read this week.

EDIT: Grammar, clarification, and erasing so many "honestly"'s

1. I know. I phrased it weirdly, but I knew what you were saying.

I was saying the opposite.

Honestly, there's no real evidence either way since we really don't get the parents' view until Naruto has started proving himself.

That's just the view I like since it shows them changing their opinion about him.

2. I know. It's just my guess work and I've been both right and wrong before.

I never read the fan fictions like you're talking about. Most I've read had her parents being supportive of Naruto or not knowing/caring.

Of course, I haven't too much fan fiction and most of it tends to be NaruSaku, but even when I read NaruHina (to get my fill until the day they got together*) I didn't read any anti-Sakura's parents. Most just focused on how "evil" Hinata's dad was. Is really that bad?

*Interesting realization. I don't read much fan fiction anymore after switching over to NaruSaku. Makes me think.....

Naruto saw how the village looked at him as "that kid." Even though he didn't know about the Kyuubi, he could probably sense they didn't look at him as human. They looked at him differently and taught their kids to.

Sakura's hatred was entirely personal. She didn't look at him as "that kid," but as Uzumaki Naruto. He saw that she viewed him the same as she did everyone else. She just didn't like him. I could see how it must have been a relief to have someone look at you like you're human even she didn't like you.



Your post was excellent.

Going back to the school thing, there are to things I would like to add (though definitely not necessary after your post):

1. Naruto told Gaara he almost became like him if not for Iruka and then Team 7. Seriously, I would not be able to like Hinata (which I do) if she saw Naruto was in such pain that he could see himself becoming a monster like Gaara. Her shyness is not an excuse.

2. Sakura didn't like Naruto because she thought he was teasing her and making fun of her. She misunderstood his feelings. He was a prankster. Combined with her own low self-esteem, it is understandable how she might not get him.



I don't know about the Rookie 9 not disliking Naruto because their parents did. I think they simply found acceptance of him after he proved himself (Kiba fight). It's been a while since I read it, but I don't remember the Rookie 9 outside of Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata getting along with Naruto before that. Except in the anime. I think their parents accepted Naruto after their kids did. Shikaku showed how Shikamaru changed his mind to some extent (admittedly it wasn't from hatting Naruto to accepting him, but same principle can still apply).

Honestly, I don't think Sakura's parents even knew. I think she is the first gen of ninja in her family. And the Third's law stopped a lot of the non-shinobi in the village from finding out (though Naruto was still bratty enough to encourage dislike for reasons other than the Kyuubi). But I could be wrong.

Agreed. This sounds like he's saying the main plot is in motion, not that the manga is ending soon (meaning with within the year).



1. Rereading: Yeah, you're right.

2. Disagree. Sasuke never seemed that formal to me. He had arrogance and the pride in the clan, but just never seemed to care too much for formality. Neji did and him saying it would seem out of character.

I guess it comes down to different interpretations of the character.

3. OK. Sometimes, it's hard to pick up jokes online.

4. It all depends on what you consider an Arc and what happens in the Arc. I honestly, think this Arc has two sides: Danzo and Killer Bee. Danzo needs to be taken down somehow and not in Naruto's typical way of beating the crap out of someone and giving a speech. Or it will end with Naruto being a criminal (I'm figuring for a) accusing Danzo of the crimes he committed and/or b) not killing Sasuke). I also think Naruto will find out Killer Bee is alive and search for him. This will help stop the chances of war between Cloud and Leaf. It will also let Naruto meet another junchuuriki who can teach him to control the Kyuubi (which will probably be Naruto's last big power-up, then again there is Yin and Yang chakra which he doesn't know about).

I thought about it and came up with two possibilities:

1. He saw Sakura the same time Ino saw her. He was just too shy to reach out to her (younger Naruto could have easily been shy).

2. Sakura had actual reasons for hating Naruto, unlike the village who hated him forbeing the Kyuubi and the kids who hated him because their parents did. Naruto took some relief in the fact that she hated him for being Uzumaki Naruto and not for being "that kid."