*sighs tiredly* Negativity. I hate negativity. Okay, lord287. Here's my thoughts:
All these SS "moments" (if you can even call them that) are done for three reasons:
1). Drama
2). Conflict/"Ambiguity"
3). Sakura's closure
That's all it is. Sasuke was willing to write off Sakura and Kakashi to die if they became a distraction (maybe not out of hate but prioritizing, but it clearly wasn't that hard for him) just a few chapters before. It's stupid to forgot this just out of paranoia or even shipper excitement in the case of SS fans. Sasuke caught Sakura and glanced at Sakura? Big deal. Sasuke looked indifferent and in that glance faint, grudging acknowledgment ("You're not that bad, after all"). That's a good thing. Sakura searched so long for Sasuke's acknowledgment and she finally got it, just like Hinata did with Naruto's thank you and even "You're strong!" in 559. But it never had to be necessarily romantic in either case. That's what the girls need to realize.
You underestimate Sakura though. She's not in utter denial and still thinking to "pursue Sasuke-kun's love" nor is keeping a secret, more mature wish to be with him (which, sidebar--- more than I can say for Hinata). On some level, she already has realized she doesn't need Sasuke's romantic acknowledgment. Sakura did think "Sasuke doesn't care" in 676, but it wasn't her hoping Sasuke would love her. It was hoping he'd care for her as friend, as a human being or even an ally (which isn't particularly out of place either since she just got freaking stabbed). There's a difference between wanting someone to care about you in general and wanting someone to be in love with you. Something half of the fandom fails to comprehend. Anytime Sakura thinks, says, or does anything relating to Sasuke it automatically has to be related to "loving him".
I'm not saying Sakura's entirely evolved. Maybe she does believe she still "loves" Sasuke or at least believes in some romantic attachment (which does NOT mean she's pursuing a relationship). Maybe this should've been axed a long time ago. But why isn't it? Because Kishi wants drama and ambiguity. It keeps refreshing this T7 love triangle when it should've already been shot to death and resolved by the Kage Summit Arc. He doesn't want to make NaruSaku too obvious (which is kinda stupid with 631, but he still plays with pairings so whatever)
But, on a realistic level (if we ignore the murder attempts), Sakura needs to interact with Sasuke to get her closure. She needs to feel the difference between how she is with Sasuke now than when he left and she needs to look at him more maturely, something Sakura never did in Part 1 and never really got the chance to in most of Part 2 until now. Yeah, we're probably gonna get more SS "moments" and it's going to be irritating as hell, but it's something we need to deal with until it's over. Her relationship with Naruto and Sakura's own maturity and change still stands. We can complain, but it won't change it. We have to wade through the crap from the manga and the SS fandom until we get the gold of NaruSaku. Just remember the reward and it's worth it.
Through Sakura's actions, not so much her thoughts yet, it's quite clear her feelings for Sasuke changed. Kakashi may have been a mouthpiece, but we just need to look at Sakura to know that. Sakura's consciously chose Sasuke dying in favor of protecting Naruto and easing his burden in the Kage Summit Arc, she supported Naruto being Hokage over Sasuke (663), she searched for Naruto's acknowledgment instead of Sasuke's (631), she looked absolutely devastated of Naruto possibly agreeing with Sasuke they were useless in the situation (680), she didn't even react to Sasuke being missing (684), and then Sakura's main resolve to keep going to find Sasuke was to help Naruto (nothing like "We have to save Sasuke-kun!" like Part 1 Sakura would say). How does this, in any way, prove Sakura's "always thinking about Sasuke" and Naruto's a "second choice"?
Maybe Sakura's impression of Sasuke might recover a little bit after last chapter, but why do we need to be paranoid about it? It was bound, fated to happen. Even if Sasuke does another Heel Turn and she loses faith again, it's still going to happen. We need to accept it and not give up just because Sasuke might be good again and Sakura's impression of him gets better. We need to believe in Sakura's growth and that she'll make the right choice. All she needs is Sasuke's friendship. Sakura will realize it with the way things are going. Just give it time and believe in her.
IMO, Sakura's journey has always been about change. She was a girl that wasn't good at anything, selfish, had low self-esteem and a terrible perception of love and how to be treated in love. Now she's a girl with impressive power, natural compassion and selflessness towards others, developing a more determined willpower, and finding love with someone who not only treats her well but makes her understand what real love is. Sakura was never meant to be that "girl who will always be in love with Sasuke." It was one of her defining flaws she would grow out of with maturity and the time spent with Naruto.
Naruto is not someone she'd only be with because she couldn't have Sasuke. The series has demonstrated too much how much Naruto means to Sakura and even overshadows Sasuke at times. And even if Sakura dared to try that, Naruto will see right through her. He would never let himself be her second choice; he'd rather not be with her at all (469/470).
And not only that, but do you honestly expect the main character, who's always dreamed of earning Sakura's love and set goals for himself he eventually accomplishes through determination, to just be reduced to "second choice?"
Edited by xxRomanceGirlxx, 16 July 2014 - 11:35 AM.