Naruto - Part 1

[Spider-Aziz]

Minato has Kyuubi chakara? Orochimaru summons the Hokage's to stop the war?
OMG, this is hilarious trolling by the author

I will become Hokage.

This line got me to read this last chapter, and it's funny Naruto is the only one who didn't give the anime shock look, he was swallowing calmly instead

 

[Mr. Dent]

Yep. She admitted her love, got stabbed for him, stayed at his side against an extremely powerful enemy. All Sakura did was whine about Sasuke. If Naruto doesn't end up with Hinata, then sorry Kishi, but screw you.

Disagree with this. You're basically discounting everything Kishi did with Sakura's character before the Pain arc, which was completely about her trying to figure out how she can help Naruto bring Sasuke back, support him, and not be a burden to him. That has continued. Not saying she doesn't still have feelings for Sasuke, she clearly at least holds on to her past perception of him, but that's not what her character has been completely built on.

 

[Liam_H]

Could be wrong but why do I keep thinking that a big reason Sakura wants Sasuke back because she's still in 'love' with him. I mean it feels like that's what defines her character. After the time jump I thought Kishi would make Sakura mature as a person by making her grow past the childhood crush. However I feel like Sakura hardly knows him as a person but still can't let him go.

 

[Mr. Dent]

I think you have to look at the subtleties. She can't let go of her love of the person who she thought him to be, her ideal, that's what she's holding on to. She realizes he's not a good person now, but it's the dichotomy of how you view your first love vs how they really are; you'll always want to remember that person fondly no matter what they are really like and she can't bring closure to that or let if go until she feels like he's "saved". That's what Kishi is trying to get at with her relationship with Sasuke right now, and it ties back into her overarching character arc of maturing into a strong woman.

As for why she loves him in the first place, I can understand why you would be confused and believe it's just a little girl crush still, but I believe the root of it is actually very apparent and was set up back in chapter 3 subtly. Remember when Naruto transformed into Sasuke to get closer to Sakura? He complimented on her forehead, which was probably the first time any guy had done that. It sounds stupid, but to her it was the first time anyone had acknowledged her insecurities. It's the same reason Kushina fell for Minato. Sakura doesn't know it wasn't Sasuke who said that, so to her he is the first person to even acknowledge her still. That's like a dream for her, the person she's had a crush on all academy actually acknowledged her, and was the first to do so. Given this, I believe Sakura's story arc with Sasuke will be wrapped up when she learns he isn't the one who complimented her forehead and everything comes full circle. She'll have come more or less to terms with the fact he isn't the person she thought he was by then, but it will bring full closure to the relationship's arc when this is done.

Look underneath the underneath, etc. Some people might think the way Kishi portrays this stuff is bad, but I'm guessing it makes sense to him. And you can't really fault him, I don't think he planned for the story to run over 14 years and having to spread out these themes and relationships for that long.

 

[Liam_H]

Okay I can buy that and it sounds pretty nice they way you explained it. But I can't see how that is strong enough to trump everything Sasuke has done since abandoning the village. All of his criminal activities can't be excused or be called misguided in his thirst for vengeance. The type of person those actions make of him should put her off.

I distinctly remember in some interview Kishi stating that he had 'forgotten' about Sakura. I'm paraphrasing but he basically didn't give anything for her to do for a long time. So its hard for me to care for her when it seems like the author doesn't.

Edit: Maybe the long timeframe does have something to do with it as oppose to reading it all in a shorter amount of time. The prolonged period makes it seem like she should've woken up by now.

 

[Mr. Dent]

Like I said, she doesn't like who he's become, she's holding on to her past perception. She was ready to kill him after all, she sees what he is now, but she can't let go because she still cares about him and believes/knows there is good in him; it's the same as Naruto. Neither of them can move on until they save their friend and teammate. It would be a failure for both of them. Sakura can't come fully to terms with her feelings or her inadequacies and Naruto can't allow himself to become Hokage. None of them can move on with their lives until they close this chapter.

And yeah, the long time period has a lot to do with it. Like I said, Kishi didn't plan for this to run 14 years. I remember an interview years and years back, like when the manga was still in part 1, where he said he had the end thought out but didn't know exactly how he'd get there. That clearly shows to me in the writing the past few years. It's clear he still has a hold on what his themes are and where he wants them to end up, but he's really bungled the process of actually getting there due to having to prolong these relationships and themes for hundreds of issues, and he really depends on a lot of parallels between the past generations to get stuff across now and foreshadow where everything is headed. Most of the stuff he does goes over people's heads (or they don't want to recognize it).

 

[Lord]

The problem is that Sakura is no longer a 12 years old girl, her growth is allways wishes to get stronger and takes a first step in that direction > goes back to how she was before > repeat.

Writing for 14 years with that weekly schedule must suck, but he never really knew how to write female characters, the best one he was able to write was Tsunade (for which he actually did a very good job). Remember when it was announced Sasuke was now a criminal? Even Ino cried, Ino! Why should she care about Sasuke, she never even talked to him on screen, Her and Sakura never really knew much of Sasuke at all, they just like him because of his look, after 3 years they should have wisened up.

Remember the rivalry between Sakura and Ino? What was it about? Sasuke. Sakura actually told Ino, her first friend and the one that helped boost her confidence, that they wouldn't be able to be friends because both liked Sasuke. Well, it was a child's conflict and they became friends again some years after, but even then they keep their crush on a boy they barelly knew?

Hinata's even the only one that allways respected Naruto, for Sakura Naruto's just the 2nd prize. Kishimoto also gave every female character healing powers, even if their abilities don't seem like they fit those powers, this just seems like an excuse to act as if they were useful while the male characters fight freely, i notice Kubo did the same thing with Orihime in Bleach.

As for the themes i kind of disagree, Part 1 was the story of an underdog and going against what people expect of you, Part 2 is about the child of destiny and bloodline strugles. Even the power levels are through the roof, remember when Kakashi had to rest a week for using the sharingan too much in Zabuza arc? Now everybody with a sharingan has mangekyo too. Remember when Sharingan was really rare? Now we have seen them used in people's arms.

I don't really hold it against Kishi, he has been writing 20 pages a week for 14 years, but i think the quality has been droping since soon after Part II began, and i don't see Sakura's character evolving all that much, expecially now that Sasuke has returned.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Could be wrong but why do I keep thinking that a big reason Sakura wants Sasuke back because she's still in 'love' with him. I mean it feels like that's what defines her character. After the time jump I thought Kishi would make Sakura mature as a person by making her grow past the childhood crush. However I feel like Sakura hardly knows him as a person but still can't let him go.

She wanted to join Sasuke when he told her to kill -the useless to him then- Karin
Didn't seem much of a bluffing, or so I thought

 

[Marvin]

I won't believe that both sasuke and sakura are anywhere near naruto's level.
nope.

good effort though.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Is Sasuke still Naruto's superior when none of them uses a special kind of chakra?

 

[Herolee10]

I think one of the biggest reasons why Sakura is such a painful character to watch is due to her always treating Naruto like crap in some form of matter while still being lovesick over the likes of Sasuke.

 

[Nathan]

I obviously extremely simplified everything, when I said Sakura basically just whines about Sasuke. Sure, she has grown considerably as a character and is a frighteningly, crazy strong Ninja and genius medic like Tsunada. Though that doesn't change in the slightest her relationship with Naruto, which is nonexistent, beyond being a good comrade to him. And we are way over 600 chapters into the story. At this point, the only person deserving to be Naruto's love interest, is Hinata. Because of her profound respect for him, that watching him made herself grow as a character, enabling her to gather her courage and follow her own Ninja way, and all the **** she had to go through, to get where she is now.

 

[Lord]

Kishimoto's previous tries to make her grow have failed, that's why she got this hidden power up

 

[Jick]

Can't they finally defeat this freaking Juubi? Please, Kishi. Move on.

 

[Liam_H]

So true, all these random forms its taking is getting boring. Even Madara has lost interest.

 

[Astrø]

This whole Sauske "I'm gonna become Hokage" thing was like being slapped in the face. *also yes I'm back from the dead*

 

[Lord]

Last chapter offered some evolution to the rest of the rookies, but that Sai bit was funny

Spoiler

"I'm from Team 7 too", is falls and is saved by Naruto

 

[Astrø]

I never liked Sai. His looks that resemble Sauske and all. Had an ok back story but his power always seemed weak. I wish the issues were longer, hate waiting a week for just a few pages.

 

[Lord]

Seems like Naruto's rating has fallen this year

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-06-02/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-series/2013-first-half

It's not even in the top 3 anymores, this reminds me of Bleach's fall some years ago, but it's a little sad that this happens right when it's close to the finish

 

[Astrø]

Is it Thursday yet? It needs to be Thursday for new Naruto.

 

[Herolee10]

at this point, I wish they would just finish up Naruto already. It feels like they're only prolonging the inevitable end and trying to find ways to stall it from happening

 

[Lord]

Don't worry, the manga is definitelly in its final stage, or else Kishimoto wouldn't have half-assed a good portion of the war or Sasuke becoming "good"

 

[Herolee10]

Don't worry, the manga is definitelly in its final stage, or else Kishimoto wouldn't have half-assed a good portion of the war or Sasuke becoming "good"

True; but if that's really the case, then it's kind of a anticlimactic situation considering on how many were expecting to see Naruto and Sasuke go at it one more time.

I mean look at how many chapters we spent building up to that rematch, and now all of a suddden, Sasuke is supposedly good? Not to mention, the once seemingly invincible Tobi (Obito) can now be inflicted damage by Kakashi?

And I still don't buy that Orochimaru is now all good as well and assuming if I'm right, that could lead to another extended arc onto itself.

 

[Lord]

True; but if that's really the case, then it's kind of a anticlimactic situation considering on how many were expecting to see Naruto and Sasuke go at it one more time.

I mean look at how many chapters we spent building up to that rematch, and now all of a suddden, Sasuke is supposedly good? Not to mention, the once seemingly invincible Tobi (Obito) can now be inflicted damage by Kakashi?

And I still don't buy that Orochimaru is now all good as well and assuming if I'm right, that could lead to another extended arc onto itself.

Yeah, i don't know what's up with Kishimoto right now, but to tell the truth Naruto has kind of been going downhill for some time, having to write and draw the chapters weekly for more than 10 years must have gotten Kishi exausted.

 

[Liam_H]

I am also waiting for this series to end. A big part of me keeps reading seemingly out of obligation because I've gotten this far and its almost ending.