Laylo

Hi again. Due to a recent fancomic posted in the theory thread, I really got to thinking about something.

Okay I won't lie. Many, many years ago when I first started reading Naruto, I couldn't stand NaruSaku because I hated how Sakura would hit Naruto and yell at him over trivial things. I understood it was for comedy, but Naruto was the character I was sympathetic to the most and so I couldn't stand seeing Sakura treat him that way.

But you know, now I love the couple and seeing Sakura mature greatly has of course made me extremely fond of her character.

So where am I going with this? I've read great NaruSaku fanfic and seen great fanart, but to this day I feel some go a little bit overboard with Sakura's anger issues regarding Naruto. I'm so sorry but it was the one thing I could not STAND in the beginning.

I won't use any specific examples (other than the recent comic and I'm sorry to use it because it is nicely drawn but it did bother me how at THAT point in time (Sakura has the byakugo) Sakura reacts to Naruto's simple question with anger.) but I have noticed that in a good chunk of fanfics, Sakura acts exactly how she does when she was 12.

Naruto asks a simple question or makes a simple statement. Cue Sakura scolding him, punching him, and/or calling him an idiot. The extreme anger Sakura reacts with reminds me of how Studio Perriot depicts her in any filler that has the story take place before Shippuden.

Now I always figured that love-taps and scolding would always be apart of their relationship dynamic and I know it can be appealing/done right. But the ease that Sakura just sees red and goes raging bull on Naruto for the SMALLEST of things actually makes me fear for Naruto O_O (I mean I feel that he needs to watch what he says and walk on glass around her which is not a good feeling haha).

I always figured that Sakura would mature enough not to immediately assume the worst when Naruto asks a question (unless she's teasing him and just wants to see him panic for a bit). I pictured playful banter and play-punches (unless he embarrassed her in public when he REALLY should've known better), not fury and cowering. It does not make the relationship abusive I know but I cringe so much when I see reminders of why I refused to give the pairing a chance in the first place.

The reason I'm posting this in the general Naruto thread instead of the fanfic section is because I feel that maybe I'm interpreting Sakura's and Naruto's character wrong.

I've read tons of discussion on here regarding Sakura's character and I'm not really sure how it fits into why Sakura is usually portrayed this way? I mean I know she has a temper but I figured she would not assume the worst of anything Naruto says and would keep the violence to a necessary basis. I figure there is a different way to keep their dynamic without having Naruto cower in fear for asking why Sakura changed her hairstyle(again sorry to bring it up but as you can tell it bothered me. I actually debated on whether or not to post this but then I'd go back to thread and see that comic...).

And in regards to maturity, I don't think Sasuke was the only one she was immature with. The fact that she got so angry with Naruto in the beginning appeared, to me, to be signs that she didn't understand him. So when it is stated that in chapter 699, Sakura reverted back to her 12-year-old self, I agree. But I also wonder if she would treat Naruto poorly again (if he wasn't already a boring, sad sack clearly too "mature"/living too much an empty life to even want to rile her up anymore).

Plus it was the one thing I found really hard to argue against when I read NH opinion. Don't get me wrong I still despise it with a passion. But when people brought up the 'Sakura hits Naruto', saying "it's just comedy" didn't cut it for me because I ALSO did not find it funny. Reading and understanding that Sakura eventually cut it out was a bit easier to swallow.

So I mean am I overthinking it?

Maybe it's a part of the whole 'scary wife' thing Kishimoto hinted at in the beginning. But is it possible for Naruto to just respect Sakura without being terrified of her (of course he's afraid of her wrath but I imagine by dating/married life his reaction would be more nervous than afraid).

Or maybe Naruto enjoys it? Is there any instance where he riles her up on purpose? I mean to be fair he didn't understand Sakura that well in the beginning, but I wonder if there are moments where he shows that he knows her well enough to tease her. I have not seen any hints that he would enjoy Sakura scaring him but I am open-minded so if you believe he does enjoy it please say so.

Is it plausible that as Sakura and Naruto mature, they would actually keep the exact same dynamic that they had in the beginning of part 2?

Or maybe this is just a completely inarguable subjective thing haha. Maybe it's just me and fanwork but I've seen it enough to be uncomfortable with it. I would like to hear others' thoughts on the subject though.

Another rantish thread but I thought of this maybe/kinda fun way to vent. Talk about the best thing that ever happened to a character/pairing that allowed it to become what it was by 698 (or 699/700 if you so prefer).

I'll start with NaruHina, SasuSaku, NaruSaku, and SasuKarin.

The best things that have ever happened to NaruHina are:

1) Hiashi being a bastard. Because Hinata only fell for Naruto because he inspired her after her father gave up on her. If her childhood was happy, she'd be just like INO.

2) Pain attacking. Because it allowed Hinata to confess her (ignored) feelings.

3) Neji getting killed. Because it allowed Hinata to slap Naruto and inspire him.

4) Hanabi getting kidnapped. Because it allowed Hinata to say 'PITY ME NARUTO-KUN! LOVE IS BORN THRU PITY'.

5) Getting kidnapped herself. Because being kidnapped is a magic action that always leads to your true love realizing they loved you. ALWAYS.

(NOTICE SOMETHING HERE?)

The best things that ever happened to NaruSaku are:

1) Getting put on Team 7 together. Because it allowed them to get to know one another.

2) Sasuke leaving. Because it allowed them to become closer and form a tighter bond.

3) Tsunade training Sakura. Because Kakashi was a neglectful bastard and Sakura now could keep up on the battlefield and thus stay by Naruto's side and relevant to the story (shhhh! Let's please pretend this happened because it should've).

4) Jiraiya training Naruto. Because Naruto sure knew how to treat Sakura and he had to learn that from SOMEONE right? What Jiraiya taught Naruto about women far exceeds what anyone else could've taught him.

5) Peaceful times in Konoha. Because they had enough free time to spend time together on friendly outings that did not include Sasuke or Hinata.

6) Sakura was raised by normal parents. Because their future, imaginary children would've been raised in a healthy household because Sakura would scold Naruto anytime he was an ass and set him straight. And Naruto would teach Sakura the importance of empathy and understanding why their children still deserve ramen for dinner despite staying out too late.

7) They got to know each other. Because they are each other's biggest fans and can keep each other's confidence boosted and put permanent smiles on each other's faces.

The best things that ever happened to SasuSaku are:

1) They got put on the same team. Same reason as above, got to know each other (to the point of comrade-ship).

2) Sasuke left. Because absence (somehow) makes the heart grow fonder? (this point was not explained well but it got them canon...somehow).

3) ????????????????

The best things that ever happened to SasuKarin are:

1) Karin and Sasuke joined the chunin exams at the same time. Because when Karin fell helpless because she was blind without her glasses, Sasuke's good heart shone through when he saved her. He even gave her a little smile to remember him by.

2) Orochimaru recruited them both. Because fate decided that they would meet up again and fate in this story is apparently right about everything.

3) Naruto FAILING to save Sasuke. Because they got to know each other better which lead to Sasuke treating Karin with more respect that anyone person with breasts ever.

4) Sasuke arrogantly deciding to attack Killer Bee. Because he got his ass whooped hard and learned Karin has so much more value beyond her sensing abilities. She meant something to him.

5) Sasuke returned to Konoha. Because we got the first genuine apology from him ever and it was to her and he made it on his own accord.

6) Sasuke got stabbed. Because Karin became a beast and unleashed her Uzumaki power. She was no longer shackled. She was the shackler.

That's all I got. Be sarcastic. Be genuine. Be both. Agree. Disagree. Both. Discuss. Please?