#Naruto Episode 699

[mugiwara-lucy]

Have you been keeping up with the latest Sasuke Retsuden episodes in the anime?

Yes and no....

Like...I'm not that interested in Boruto tbh 🤣

[tamelee]

First of all, hi, how have you been? :)

So there is this Sasusaku account on Twitter who loves to use novels to defend their ship. I know, nothing new.

But this person recently made a thread to debunk the idea that novels are not canon, and their thesis was that every work published by Shueisha is canon because they have ownership of Naruto; therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either (according to them).

I know you have talked about this before, so I apologize if this ask comes off as repetitive and/or annoying, but I was just interested in knowing your opinion since you know more about these topics, so feel free to ignore this ask if you want to!

Have a nice day ^^

Hi! Doing alright thank you ^^! 

“every work published by Shueisha is canon because they have ownership of Naruto; therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either”

Oh yes, of course. 

Which means that aside from the novels that retcon the original, the… 

Random, OOC storylines in games 

Third-party interpretations, subjectively written data-books or fan-books

Merch, promotional art and other marketing material 

Filler episodes/Movies

Dash generation Manga or whatever 

Sasuke- and Lee’s chibi-adventures Manga

etc—

...are also all canon.

[click to enlarge]

Because "Shueisha published it".

Please make it make sense.

“But this person recently made a thread to debunk the idea that novels are not canon, and their thesis was that every work published by Shueisha is canon because they have ownership of Naruto; therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either ”

No.

This is an incredibly flawed argument, because it’s already a non-negotiable fact that the Naruto Manga is canon. It just is. No question about it whatsoever.  

CANON=

The Naruto Manga is the authoritative framework that is the source material. This holds things like the rules, core elements of the story like: characters, themes, messages, the author’s intent etc- And fundamental canon holds the most significance of all within a franchise and provides consistency to the fictional universe in case publishing companies decide to expand on it.. 

By nature its intent is to reflect the original author’s vision; the Naruto Manga = Kishimoto’s vision. 

And everything that doesn’t align with it is simply not canon. 

Therefore the only thing left to argue about is whether legal “ownership” by itself can determine whether something is canon or not. But that isn’t how you measure it alone because it ignores actual canon. I mean yeah, who would’ve thought you’d have to look at canon in order to determine whether something is canon??? 🤯 Wild, huh?

So no: you can’t and that’s not how it works.  

Everything Shueisha decides or publishes through their distributors is official. 

It is official because they are copyright-holders and own the intellectual property (IP) at large which has many different aspects to it. They do own most of them in order to manage it all.

But not everything that is official is canon.

These are two entirely different things.

In fact, the only thing they themselves consider to truly be part of the ‘official’ timeline (which would establish ‘canon’ if it wasn’t such a retcon either) on the official site is Brt. It’s technically canon because chapter 700 exists, though it still makes no sense as it doesn’t stack up against the other 699 chapters and it still means nothing in terms of actual storytelling. Alas:

And even if they did claim ‘canon’, it’s only as significant as the source makes it out to be. Not the amount of profit they can make because they are legally allowed to exploit the work as much as possible through distributions, adaptations, translations, trademarks at JPO and handing out licenses left and right to third-party organizations (‘Namco Bandai’ for example) which then get their own rights or having entire licensing devisions handle individual IP regarding characters (yes your little blorbo is intellectual property) who manage it in terms of advertisements, marketing/promotion and merchandising (think about these pop-up shops), like: ShoPro

*Shueisha used to be owned by Shogakukan if I’m not mistaken and then separated at some point

It’s a business. And an insanely large one at that. They own so much more than you’d think, it’s a HUGE company (2nd largest publisher in Japan I believe) that doesn’t only own multiple magazines like Shonen Jump and its Manga, they also published the ‘weekly playboy’ and publishes things like many (light/erotic/graphic) novels and nsfw picture-books/manga etc. They will do anything as a business to make sure to profit commercially as is legally permitted within the established contract that varies per published IP and which they’re incredibly tight-lipped about. 

In the case of Naruto’s franchise, information that came after the Manga constantly contradicts not just actual canon, but also each other. Contradictions can’t all be canon or equally as significant at the same time because it needs a source— which we have; the Naruto Manga. It’s what holds the most significance.

That’s how you measure whether something is actually canon or not. 

“… therefore, saying the novels are not canon is the same as saying the Naruto manga isn't canon either”

Besides, if this was true, then canon wouldn’t even exist. Jfc. 

And yes, you can expand on canon like I said. That’s the whole point. It indicates a framework that allows publishing companies to stay consistent and keep their audience happy if they care to do so. But consistency in story or consistency in business doesn’t mean the same thing because it's motivated by two entirely different motives. The willingness to sacrifice artistic work and its audience in order to profit from it financially literally kills creativity in the industry as well as opportunities and it gives them way too much power. The stuff that’s coming out lately is garbage and it’s mostly thanks to people pointing fingers at someone random with their eyes closed, unconcerned about the consequences, and grant them and the business the authority to decide whatever the hell they want about things that already exist— and it never improves. (I’m always free to rant more about it but yk.) 

Like the person you’ve quoted, the motive isn’t to actually convince people that their terrible novels are canon, it’s that canon should give a ship in this case some significance when there wasn’t in the first place. To "fix" something that didn't need any fixing. It has nothing to do with the actual story. 

But canon does because it just is.

Non-negotiable.

Oh! you have a nice day too🌷 I apologize for the rants ><

[lunaneko14]

https://www.tumblr.com/meglyfer/759897387849400320/new-boruto-episode-leaked-j-ah-another?source=share

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lol there was a controversy on Twitter about this comic an anti made about Naruto abandoning Hinata and newborn Boruto to go hang out with Sakura and Sasuke (as he says Sakura is just about to give birth) and when people called them out they said “it’s just a joke” as usual. And they blocked me.

But the thing about this stuff that will always irritate them is that our “joke” comics like this are closer to canon than anything they do. In canon Naruto wasn’t even aware of Sarada until Sakura came back with her alone but in canon, SS’s marriage IS close to divorce because they never even interacted that much after 699 when Sasuke dumped Sakura in the village. My god look at their “first date” in canon.

[cherryblossombombs]

Hi! Hi! It's the first time for me to find someone who shipped both Naruto/Sakura & Sasuke/Sakura, can I ask why you love both ships? Also, as Naruto/Sasuke shipper, I want to ask what do you think about Naruto and Sasuke's relationship?

Hey, getting a lot of asks lately lol

SasuSaku: The first ship I shipped when I got into Naruto. Although I started to leave it for NS during Shippuden, I came back to it after the manga ended to try to understand why it ended towards them over NaruSaku. I looked at the series again from an SS pov and I get why it was where the writer decided to go with. Plus, it's a cute dynamic. It had power back in part 1. Sasuke considered her to be precious and went on a rampage because she got hurt. Sakura loved him to the point where she knew he was suffering. I think it could've been handled better after 699 (I feel that we didn't see more of sasuke returning his feelings for sakura).

NaruSaku: I began to attach myself to it when Shippuden started. At the time, I thought SS was dead and the author seemed to be going for "Sakura moved on and started to return Naruto's feelings" route with the increase of NS moments during shippuden. The RTN movie, the NS hug after the pein arc, Sai/Yamato being NS suppoters, the filler episodes lol. Heck, they even had their moments back in part 1. Although SS was my first ship, I swore up and down that it was going to end NS. I do think that kishi was going for that ending, but changed his mind later, I don't really believe the "red-herring" thing.

****I like to HC that Naruto is still in love with her, and Sasuke is the only one who knows. (Naruto does love Hinata but never got over Sakura, no matter how much he tries to), but that's a HC****

SasuNaru: I do ship it as well. I don't ship it like I do with NS/SS, but I understand why people would think that SNS could've been canon as well. What stops me from raising it the same point of those two ships is the fact that the author only sees them as brothers. despite the queer subtext that kishi accidentally gave them, I believe that kishi never intended to give SNS any romantic implications. However, I think it's also something cute to think about. where it turns out that they weren't really feeling familial love, but romantic love but never realized it. Had it not been for kishi bro-zoning them and giving them female love interests, it would've been a great way to introduce a queer MC/endgame into shonen manga.

[sunsetshimmersposts-blog]

I wish this was the ending

[wickermayne]

🍋 What’s your favorite spicier trope to write? 🍇 Is there a particular scene/episode/book/etc that you want to just write a million fics about, over and over? Which one?

Thanks for the ask dayeongi!

🍋 What’s your favorite spicier trope to write?

There are so many that I love! Maybe my favourite is breeding kink, I just love how filthy the dialogue can get and also the descriptions of the creampies haha.

🍇 Is there a particular scene/episode/book/etc that you want to just write a million fics about, over and over? Which one?

From Naruto, either the scene at the end of chapter 699 when Sasuke is about to leave the village and Naruto is waiting for him. It's really intimate so I like it a lot.

The other I can think of is in Naruto the Last when Hinata is crying on the swing after failing to confess to Naruto. It's a melancholic scene but has a lot of potential to unpack the yearning and romance before that wasteman Toneri appears lol.

fruit emoji ask game

[skykashi]

Naruto in the first episode: "everyone is Sasuke Sasuke Sasuke!!! I don't get it!! What is so special about that guy?!!! 😤"

Naruto the rest of the series through all 699 episodes: Sasuke, I wanna be strong like Sasuke, where's Sasuke? I miss Sasuke, I had a dream about Sasuke, we have to find Sasuke, I have to bring Sasuke back, Sasuke, Sasuke Sasuke...

naruto's mood

[ariannjs]

SASUKE’S SEND-OFF REIMAGINED | A SasuSaku FanFic (One Shot)

What if Sasuke’s departure in Naruto Chapter 699 happened diferently?

--------

"So what are your plans now?"

"I'm not yet sure. All I've thought of is to wander for a time and figure something out in the process."

"Wander? You mean you're not staying in the village?"

Sasuke simply nodded at his former mentor who was seated behind the Hokage's desk – an odd sight for him, to be honest. It was not as if he was able to contemplate on how he would go on with his life while he was detained by the authorities of the Leaf.

He still couldn't even fully embrace the fact that he deserved this second chance granted to him. Being in prison for months sure was a long time wherein he could ponder about the direction he would be heading, but if anything, that long time only allowed him to be consumed with guilt about how he had intentionally chosen to be swallowed by the chasm of darkness.

Still, he was grateful for the grace he was given, which was mainly a result of the nonstop pleading of his fellow hero from the Fourth Shinobi World War and the growing influence of his now promoted mentor to the Hidden Leaf Council.

Kakashi released a sigh but he understood. Whatever would be best for the welfare of Sasuke, he would surely support that nonetheless. "Just don't do anything reckless, alright? You know I'll be accountable to that, especially with me being the Hokage now."

"I understand."

Kakashi was about to say something else when one chunin suddenly stormed into the Hokage's office, panting for a moment before announcing what surely looked like an emergency. His eyes darted to the new visitor as he waited for whatever news that caused the chunin to suddenly barge in without even knocking.

"Lord Sixth, we've received news from the new Tsuchikage that Sakura-san’s squad was ambushed on the way to the Land of Earth and she's nowhere to be found."

Sasuke stiffened at the news he just heard as he stared at the back of the chunin who was now standing on where he was moments ago. As much as he had no desire to interfere with the Hokage's duties, he realized it was a good thing that Kakashi hasn't officially dismissed him yet for he found himself listening intently to the urgent report being raised.

Alarmed at the sudden report, Kakashi furrowed his brows. "When did this happen? Were they able to gather enough intel about the situation?"

The chunin straightened up, now a bit more relaxed than the moment he entered. With a stern expression, he answered the Hokage, "More than five hours ago. All of the six squad members were badly injured, but there's one who was able to regain consciousness before the Tsuchikage sent her report to us. They're now all being taken care of at the Hidden Stone Hospital."

Sakura's been ambushed more than five hours ago and they still haven't found her?! Sasuke clenched his jaw as he thought of his former teammate, his ears itching to hear more information.

"According to the medical ninja who regained consciousness, They all fought against the attackers and miserably failed. But then, Sakura-san was able to take down ten of the enemies in one blow, afterwards however, another set of more or less eight men attacked her from behind and eventually took her, unconscious. That's the last thing the shinobi remembered and relayed to the Tsuchikage."

Sasuke couldn't help but be proud of Sakura when he heard that she single-handedly took on ten enemies in one attack. He remembered finding himself impressed with her astounding superhuman strength that was very much visible and efficient during the Fourth Shinobi World War, but for her to be unconscious and kidnapped, he knew they must've done something that caught her alert senses off guard.

Were they after her? What could they possibly be doing to Sakura now? For some reason, his mind started racing from a possible scenario to another and it made the pit of his stomach churn in an unfamiliar way. He was growing impatient by the minute as he considered that the longer they converse there, the worse Sakura's situation could be. His eyebrows creased as his gaze shifted to the hokage who now leaned back on his seat and waited for what he has to say.

"If they got to make Sakura unconscious, then these attackers are also shinobis for sure, not just any random group of bandits." Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose as he pondered on the matter.

He remembered how Sakura requested for him not to send her to missions as of the moment because she knew that Sasuke would be released any time soon and she wanted to be present when that happens. However, when the Land of Earth requested for medical ninjas to help them since there were still some remnants of the effect of the war there, Sakura had no choice but to oblige to the recommendation of the Fifth Hokage and the approval of the Sixth.

Kakashi knew that Sakura understands how missions should go first, but somehow, he debated with himself if he had made his first wrong decision after just a few months of being the Hokage. He could've sent someone else and appealed to Tsunade's recommendation despite the truth that Sakura is the best medical nin available and the only one capable of heading a squad, hence, also supporting Sakura's request and avoiding the circumstance that led her to be in danger. But it was too late now.

"We'll be sending a team immediately. But what are the Hidden Stone ninjas doing about this so far?" He finally uttered. Sakura had been through a lot since the war, and he could admit that it pained him to know the condition she was in so he wanted the best team to be sent to rescue the girl who's like an only daughter to him.

"Due to the village restoration still ongoing, most of their shinobis are helping for that project. Some are still unfortunately in a comma or recovering from a trauma. But Lady Kurotsuchi has already sent a team to track if there are leads to Sakura-san’s whereabouts within the boundaries of Hidden Stone. However, they indeed need our shinobis because tracking's the best that they could do to help as of now. Once they get some intel, they assured us that they would contact you immediately."

Kakashi sighed as he shut his eyes, thinking about the right people to send for this urgent mission. With the fact that one of the new generation of Sannins was taken, he knew that he couldn't just send a random team.

Sasuke fixed his stare at his old sensei who was in deep thought after listening to all that the chunin had to say. He knew that look full well. He remembered back in their genin days that it was the kind of look Kakashi always had whenever he contemplates on strategies or choices that were already very apparent yet he was making sure of all the possible angles of the option before settling with it.

"I can't wait to see you again once you're out here." The face of a smiling pink-haired girl flickered through Sasuke's mind as he recalled her words to him from that last time she visited him in his prison cell. That's when he knew that he couldn't wait any longer. There's an intense urge in him to do something with the situation at hand that he couldn't understand. I can't wait to see you too.

"I'll go," he eventually blurted out, making both Kakashi's and the chunin's heads turn swiftly to him.

The Hokage gave him a scrutinizing look. "You've just been released and the stump of your left arm's not yet fully healed, Sasuke."

"It doesn't mean that I couldn't fight."

Kakashi frowned behind his mask. Sasuke had a point, there's no doubt that the sole Uchiha survivor could and would fight even if he's already half-dead, how much more with a single hand. That's just how strong he is, and as his former squad leader, he knew that full well.

Yet, he was once again debating with himself if he would send Sasuke in a situation wherein even he could be more harmed, especially since he hasn't even adjusted yet to fighting with just one arm. And partly, he was imagining how Sakura would barge into the Hokage's office and scold him the moment she learns that he sent Sasuke to a rescue mission with the fact that he hasn't even fully recovered from the war.

That is, if they would both be able to come back.

"Why do you want to go?" This was one question a Hokage rarely asked when he sends people to missions, but for some reason, he wanted a piece of Sasuke's mind before he allowed him to go.

Sasuke was slightly taken aback with the query, but he didn't show that. Even he couldn't put into words where the heavy drive was coming from. He just knew that a certain cherry blossom needed to be saved and he couldn't just stay still, enjoy his newfound freedom, and do nothing.

For a moment, he was silent, then, with the most stoic face he could muster, he replied, "I mentioned that I wanted to help in saving the village, remember?"

Kakashi knew better. Sasuke's not the kind who would do anything just to try to prove something to others so he was sure that his old student was not this willing to be sent for the mission only because he wanted to help and immediately start in making his name clean to the village.

He could recall how he saw through his peripheral vision the way Sasuke stiffened at the mere mention of Sakura's name. This was Sakura they were talking about, and even though Sasuke was not good at understanding what others and what he himself were feeling, Kakashi knew the real meaning behind Sasuke's desire now, but he'd rather let his old student figure that out on his own.

He heaved a deep sigh and casually answered, "Alright, I'll be sending Lee and Naruto with you."

Sasuke forced himself not to glare at Kakashi. What's this, a rescue team of boys who like Sakura?! He thought, excluding himself, of course. "I don't need teammates, Kakashi," Sasuke muttered through gritted teeth. "Plus, Naruto's still healing from the war as well and he's waiting for that artificial arm from Hashirama cells. I'd rather get this over and done with immediately alone than have teammates who might slow me down."

"But, Uchiha-san, like what I've said, there were more than ten attackers and even Sakura-san's squad was outnumbered," the chunin butted in. "We don't even know yet how many are in their hideout and what they're really up to."

This time, Sasuke didn't fight his glare from appearing and directed it to the chunin. "Even Sakura was able to take down ten in one attack. Now what do you think of me?"

"Okay, enough!" Still as stubborn as ever. Kakashi raked his hair with his fingers, feeling the tension surrounding them. He was well aware that this has to be settled immediately or else they might be too late in rescuing Sakura. "Sasuke, are you sure you wouldn't need a team?"

A firm nod was given to him as a response.

"Very well, you may go. But I need you to keep in contact with us, alright?" Kakashi sent him a grim stare. "For now, head to the Land of Earth for that's the first possible lead we have. The moment we receive any intel from Lady Kurotsuchi, I would let you know at once," he then concluded, it was the only response that Sasuke was waiting for.

"Understood. I better get going." He was already on his way to the door when Kakashi called him again.

"Sasuke," the Hokage began with a low voice. "Bring Sakura back, okay?"

"Rest assured, I will." And then he took off.

Once Sasuke was able to retrieve his weapons and pack everything he would need for the mission, he didn't waste any minute and went on his way to the direction that Sakura's squad headed.

A developing agitation started to creep into him as he ventured the outside world that he didn't see for a number of months. As much as he was frustrated with the limited information that they received about this complicated situation, he was determined to make this mission a success even if he had to start from scratch. He still couldn't describe the inner push that he was feeling, but one thing's for sure, whoever did this to Sakura would pay – if they haven't even met their end yet under her enormous prowess.

But why Sakura?! What are their ulterior motives and what in the world do they need from her?

It would take him a little more than two days before reaching the borders of the Land of Earth, and for a second, he thought about the probability of getting there too late. He mentally grimaced. With every hour passing by came a deepening effect of the burden he's currently carrying.

When he told Kakashi he could be rest assured that he will bring her back, it was more of a covenant to himself than a mere compliance to the man who sent him on this rescue mission, and he wasn't going to compromise so he could fulfill that commitment.

The day was coming to a close and his limbs that had no sufficient exercise for months were starting to feel tensed, but he rather convinced himself that resting could wait. His physical discomfort was nothing compared to the agitation sitting and growing in his mind as he pondered on the peculiarity of how this mission seemed to feel heavier than all the other assignments he'd been given and battles he'd been involved in.

But then, flashes of images of a certain kunoichi dawdled in his mind with seemingly no plan of giving him a break. Sakura, you better hang in there. Please...don't leave me.

A small gasp suddenly escaped from his lips, causing him to halt from jumping from tree to tree and review the very words that he himself has uttered in his head. He's not one who ever begs, let alone seek anything from others. And he's been alone for a big chunk of his life that's why he knew full well that being left by anyone is something not far from normal – automatic, even – to him anymore. But those words that seemed to be hidden in his subconscious allowed him to contemplate on some things concerning the woman he was about to rescue.

Shutting his eyes as he rested his back on a tree trunk, he struggled to admit that he was not only saving her for her own benefit, but for his as well. A part of him couldn’t believe what he was now realizing. If his genin self was in front of him, he would've guffawed jarringly and in an out of character way while pointing at his older self in utter disbelief.

However, for a moment, a myriad of his memories with Sakura flickered in his brain as if to prove a point.

She was the one who genuinely cried for him – something uncommon for an orphan like him – while hugging his momentary lifeless body even though dozens of senbons were sticking out from it.

She was the one who never left his side when he was fighting the pain inflicted to him by the curse seal in the Forest of Death, letting him clutch her hand tightly and lean on her with a tad bit of comfort he never knew he needed.

She was the one who stopped him from his unprecedented rampage with an abrupt embrace from behind, knowing that he was not the Sasuke she knew that time, and astonishingly leading the curse seal's effect to recede due to the calming effect he didn't realize she has on him.

She was the one who almost too impulsively tried to block the partly transformed Shukaku from launching towards him, only to be caught by the redhead jinchuriki's sand that trapped her firmly on a tree, but successfully buying time for Sasuke to recover from the last attack he received.

She was the one who threw her arms around his neck with apparent joy – which he surprisingly chose not to rebuff due to its unfamiliar consoling sensation – when he woke up in a hospital after that first encounter he had with his brother.

She was the one who knew him too well back then to the point that she figured he was considering to leave the village, hence, waiting for him by its gates and pouring her heart out to him to try to veer him away from the decision that he now knows, would change his life forever.

And just when he thought she was done being a part of his life the moment he turned his back from the village he grew up in, she was the one who persistently sought after him alongside their best friend and some other ninjas that were given the task to do so.

Moreover, she was the one who didn't give up on him when all that he was becoming was far from the definition of good, killing people with his intent to avenge, and even mindlessly almost killing her.

She was also the one who visited him regularly in prison to monitor his health and somewhat give him companionship after just a few weeks since that day he trapped her in his strongest genjustu, something she surely had a difficulty in recovering from.

And what makes him more awestruck was the fact that she was the one who loved him so much then (and hopefully until now, his mind surprisingly pleaded), willing to take his pain on her shoulders if there was any way she could've done so, and willing to grant him forgiveness for everything he did and he did not do, may it be to her or to others.

The list could go on.

Sasuke found himself clenching his fist too hard when it finally dawned on him how he had long refuted to acknowledge that Sakura has always been a major part of his life. She hasn't only saved him from physical combats many times, she has also redeemed him from the dark abyss he had almost completely dived into. And he's grateful for that.

He's grateful for her.

It now clicked in his brain how certain he is that if he loses her – a vital piece in his almost too shattered life, he would be completely broken beyond repair.

Saving her right now wouldn't even repay and suffice everything that she has done, given, and become for him. But he swore to himself that this would only be the beginning of a beautiful future that he was only able to catch a glimpse of because of her. And if he didn’t start moving a muscle now, that future might be annihilated before it even began.

I will bring you back to Konoha, Sakura. I will bring you back to me.

Moments after resuming to travel, he noticed a hawk hovering directly overhead. His eyes widened in anticipation at the news he was about to receive so he skidded to a halt as the hawk landed on his arm.

As expected, it was from Kakashi. The Hidden Stone shinobis finally got a lead on where Sakura's abductors could possibly be staying, and it wasn't within the borders of their village, but somewhere in between Hidden Grass and Hidden Waterfall. Sasuke sighed in relief, it's going to be half a day shorter than the arrival time to his original destination.

Just a day more. Wait for me, Sakura. Like you always do.

When Sasuke reached the location described in Kakashi's letter the next evening, he found a hideout behind a waterfall as he sensed other chakra signatures there with the help of his Sharingan. And instantly, he was already cautiously venturing its dark corridors after breaking a seal on its entrance. He was trying to sense Sakura's chakra within the vast area but a slight confusion made him clench his jaw when he didn't succeed.

Is she even here? The last thing he'd want to happen was ending up in a wrong venue and wasting his time before being able to locate Sakura.

Without lowering his guard, he noticed a man's shadow suddenly appear from down the hallway and soon enough, a group of shinobi geared up to attack him.

He threw a handful of shuriken and quickly ran towards his attackers for a second attack with his sword against their weapons. A couple of moments later, he had them incapacitated without even using his Mangekyo Sharingan. Now who says he couldn't fight with one hand?

"You're not the one I'm looking for," he hissed when he glanced at them from his shoulder before proceeding to search every room in the lair.

There was one door left in the vicinity, yet he still couldn't sense Sakura's chakra from behind it. However, he was determined to make sure. It was when he was already grasping the doorknob that he heard a voice that alerted all his senses.

"You'll regret this!"

"Oh, yeah? You're done saving the world with your capabilities. Now it's my time to do so!"

"You cannot save the world with your evil plans by using me! Plus, the world actually needs to be saved from people like you!"

"Who said I'm going to use you?" A boisterous laugh from behind the door angered Sasuke all the more. "I don't need you for me to be able to use what you have. You're gonna be dead once I drain you!"

Without preamble, he dashed inside and found Sakura looking feeble and trying her best to stand in front of her attacker in a vast domed room. He felt a mixture of relief and rage at the sight. They haven't noticed his presence yet, but when the enemy raised his arm that was wrapped in a peculiar metal armor for another assault to Sakura, Sasuke was already in between them in one swift movement.

With a gasp, Sakura looked up at her savior, and she was shocked when she realized who he was for she would know that physique and that hair anywhere despite the cloak he was wearing. "S-sasuke-kun?!"

There was a beat of silence before their opponent jeered again, "Oh, well! Seems like I'm luckier than I thought I was." There was that laughter that ignited the fire in Sasuke's system once more. "Who would have thought that I'd have the privilege of organizing the funeral of two legendary heroes? I'm Ryuki, by the way. And you're that lone Uchiha survivor, right?"

"That or you wouldn't even have a proper funeral because I'll crush and burn your body today." There was apparent menace in Sasuke's voice with his mismatched eyes both activated and directed at his target. This man was a rogue shinobi for sure, wearing what seemed like a lab coat, with his left arm cocooned in a strong metal that collided against Sasuke's sword. "And I have no time for your introductions."

Sakura couldn't believe what she was seeing. Sasuke-kun was released from prison and he's now saving me? She felt a tinge of comfort as she stared at him in awe, but she knew that the fight wasn't over yet so whatever questions she might have for Sasuke must be kept at the back of her head for the mean time.

She continued to pant weakly as she felt the effect of her having her chakra absorbed. She's been fighting for hours but with no other weapons with her, so she struggled to find an opening to counter the man who had been draining her power and strength from her no matter how massive her chakra reserves are, stopping her from being able to heal herself as well.

It was actually a blessing that she was able to break free from that lab table she was tied to despite how weak she was slowly becoming. If she wasn't able to escape, the machine with the same purpose as Ryuki's metal arm would've totally finished her. But then, Ryuki was instantly at the door before she even got to vacate the place, hence, starting their strenuous match before Sasuke even came.

"She's right. You'll regret this," Sasuke concluded through gritted teeth before moving and attacking once again with his sword.

"Sasuke-kun! Avoid physical contact with his arm!" Sakura warned from behind him and immediately, Sasuke understood that perhaps, that was the reason he couldn't sense Sakura's chakra earlier since it was being sucked from her through their enemy's absurd weapon, leaving just a faint amount of chakra in her system.

However, another cackle was heard from Ryuki as he fought with Sasuke because a group of around twenty ninja suddenly appeared in the spacious room.

"Sakura!" Sasuke was alarmed, wanting the kunoichi to be away from the battle considering how her chakra was almost depleted.

"I'll take care of this!" But Sakura seemed to know what Sasuke was thinking so she eagerly pushed herself to stand before he could even argue. Channelling her remaining chakra to her feet and fists, she darted across the room and threw jabs to her opponents' bodies while observing if they had the same weapon as Ryuki’s.

Sasuke was determined to finish his own fight as he watched Sakura from the corner of his eyes. Noticing how Ryuki was trying to have a close contact to his skin, he made sure that every attack of his metal arm would be caught by his sword. He figured it might not be wise using ninjutsu, or rather, he still couldn't easily do so, considering that this was the first time he fought with a single hand which was already holding his sword. He mentally hissed. He needed to create an opening to get a good stab on his adversary's body, but Ryuki was too good and quick with defense.

They're too many and I'm slowly losing it by the minute! Sakura's attacks weren't as strong as she wanted them to be due to her lack of chakra. Frustrated with the enemies circling her, she once again brought some chakra to her feet and leaped high backwards, well aware that she might eventually regret pushing herself to her limit. And when she was already in front of all her opponents, she released a punch on the ground to stop them from launching towards her, at the exact time that Sasuke finally got to stab Ryuki from behind.

It dawned on Sakura that she needed Sasuke's help already so she eventually glanced at him, finding him gazing at her sideways with his rinnegan. And for some reason, this reminded her of a certain scenario during the Fourth Shinobi War wherein she was helping Obito in searching for the dimension Sasuke was in.

With a definite understanding of what she believed Sasuke was telling her, she then nodded. Then in a snap, they switched places, allowing Sakura to give Ryuki a finishing blow from behind him with the chakra she had left, the same moment that Sasuke assaulted the group of shinobi with his Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique).

Relief washed over Sasuke once they both knocked off their opponents with an astonishing teamwork that was even greater than what they had when they were genins. With a satisfied smirk on his face, he turned to where Sakura was, only for his smirk to be replaced with a gasp when he saw her about to pass out.

Through his rinnegan, he shifted places with Ryuki's demised body just in time to catch her on his arms. "Sakura!"

But she already fainted due to losing a massive amount of chakra in her body. If she didn't push herself to fight, she wouldn't be this drained, he thought as he checked her pulse and began transferring some of his chakra to her until her breathing became steady. "Tch. Still so annoying."

A small smile appeared on his lips as he stared at her and realized that this pink-haired woman is totally a different version of the Sakura he used to know; gone are the days that she's just oftentimes on the sidelines, merely having to be protected by him, Naruto, or Kakashi most of the time. This Sakura he was holding has grown into a strong and ardent shinobi, and he couldn't deny how proud he was. She's even becoming enviable to others due to her astounding chakra reserves. I guess my years of absence did something good to her, at least.

Sasuke was well aware that Sakura would need a long time before gaining consciousness so he carefully carried her on his shoulder and took off, giving a last glance to the casualties in the room that looked like a masterpiece signed by Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha – a proof that his urgent rescue mission was accomplished with flying colors.

It was already past midnight when Sasuke set up a campfire in a clearing just a few miles from Hidden Grass, with Sakura lying peacefully on his sleeping bag and his hawk waiting for him to finish the scroll containing his mission report to be delivered to the Hokage.

He figured it wouldn't be wise for them to continue heading back to Konoha considering that the road was already pitch-black and Sakura was still far from being awake. If Sasuke carried her all throughout, he'd find it difficult to respond immediately just in case sudden attacks came their way. And for a second, he kind of considered taking that offer to have an artificial arm from Hashirama cells just like Naruto, only to be reminded of why he opted not to take it anyway.

His left arm will always be a reminder of all the wrong decisions he had taken, negative beliefs he had held on to, and inexcusable actions he had done. It was also the same arm that almost unjustifiably took away the life of the woman he had just saved, a memory he's forcefully trying to eradicate from his mind, and hopefully now erased from hers, too.

His gaze darted towards the sleeping Sakura, taking him back to the realizations he had just before he got to rescue her. He will never understand how she could choose to forgive him even though he didn't deserve it, and how she could choose to love him still even when he was most unlovable. There's no denying of the truth that he would never deserve her, and he would never be the man worthy of all that she's lavishing upon him, but it didn’t mean that he couldn't try. As he stared at her with a developing admiration, he came to a conclusion that he needed to give himself a chance to start anew as the man that his Creator wanted him to be.

And so, he made up his mind. With revenge totally blotted out from the recesses of his thoughts, he decided that his wandering would be for the purpose of redemption to prove to himself that this second chance he was given wouldn't be put to waste, which meant that it might take him a little longer than he initially planned for him to accomplish that.

But then, his heart wrestled with the fact that this might hurt Sakura again. He had turned his back on her a number of times before, and every single time brought her to a point of breaking down caused by the strong feelings in her heart for the remaining Uchiha – feelings that he had no slightest idea how to reciprocate, until just after the war.

If she's hurt once again, I don't know what I would do.

 A day and a half after the incident, the kunoichi finally stirred in her sleep and became fully awake.

As Sasuke glanced at her from where he was seated with his back leaning on a tree, he hoped that she was already able to regain all the chakra she had lost.

"W-where am I?" Sakura scanned the surroundings after a few yawns and then she gasped. "Sasuke-kun! What happened back there?"

"Don't worry. We've both settled the fight."

She heaved a sigh of relief, smiling with satisfaction and pride with how the Uchiha mentioned "we" and "both" in a single statement. There was a rush of blood rising on her cheeks because of the little acknowledgment she received, but before it even manifested, she continued to ask, "How long have I been out?"

"Almost two days, actually. Are you feeling better?"

Blinking twice, she cocked her head to one side as she tried to absorb the softened expression on Sasuke's face. It was an expression she couldn't remember witnessing from the former rogue ninja. And for a fraction of a second, she wondered if this was just someone who used a Transformation Jutsu as Sasuke, but his apparent chakra signature told her otherwise. Before she could even reply to him, her gaze absently landed on the stump of his arm with its bandages visibly stained with a deep crimson. "Hang on...you haven't changed your bandages?!"

Sasuke was astonished with the sudden shrill of Sakura who immediately crouched on his left side, inspecting the almost forgotten remnant of the war that was apparently not yet fully healed. Tch. Of course she would notice. "I had no time to do so." And I had no idea how, he mentally admitted.

She gaped at him in shock. "But Sasuke-kun, you travelled and fought out there with this?!" She shook her head, hands already glowing with green over the area where his arm used to be connected. "This could've been infected in the past few days!"

A crooked smile appeared on Sasuke's face while he stared at the medical ninja whose concern for him was definitely unquestionable. Almost all of her chakra was depleted from her days ago and yet here she was, caring for someone who was in a much better state than her. 

Annoying woman. 

He shook his head to himself and then gently took her busy hand away from the stump of his arm. "Stop. You've barely even recovered and you're already using your chakra on me? I need you to be completely recovered so we could already go back to the village."

Sakura frowned at his remark, the truth of this hitting her as her head began to ache. "Says the one whose arm hasn't fully recovered either,” she mumbled. “At least let me change its bandage then." Looking at him with resignation, she waited for him to confirm through a nod before starting to do her voluntary task. "Kakashi-sensei sent you didn't he? He should've known that this mission could injure you all the more while you're still recovering from the war. Remind me to give him a good jab when we reach home." She rolled her eyes.

(And there went Kakashi's fear.)

"It doesn't mean I couldn't fight, Sakura." Her patient then looked away. "And don't blame Kakashi, I was the one who insisted that he sends me."

There was a beat of silence as Sasuke felt her pause from rolling the bandage around his arm, making him aware that this fact startled the medical ninja.

"Y-you...why, Sasuke-kun? I mean, I'm grateful. But, why would you even insist on going through all the trouble just to find me?"

Because I wouldn't forgive myself at all if anything happens to you. And...it would kill me if I lose you.

If all the things that ran inside Sasuke's mind all throughout the past few days' journey could be summarized to one thing, it would be this: finally understanding and acknowledging how much Sakura means to him. It was the bonus of this entire mission that he finally got to slowly unravel while enduring the agitation he had on the way to where Sakura was, seeing her fragile state when he finally found her in front of Ryuki, fighting with Ryuki while cautiously looking after her as she fought with other opponents, catching her chakra-depleted body, watching her sleep and hearing her murmur his name a few times (which made his heart skip a beat because he never imagined that someone would actually dream of him), and observing her care for him and his injured arm despite her own condition.

Even so, he wasn't too surprised with the revelation, in fact, it's like a hidden treasure well contained at the back of his brain which could only be unlocked after the prerequisite which was achieving his former goals. And as much as he would want to tell it to her as directly as possible now, he knew that it would be best for him to venture see the world and understand himself first, so that when he returned to her, he would be the best version of himself – hopefully worthy enough to be fully part of the life of the woman who never gave up on him, maybe not just as her boyfriend, but as her husband.

He understood how vital it was for him to let her go for quite some time, so that they could both grow.

Sasuke now turned to completely face Sakura, whose hands fully stopped in doing their chore. And, with his lips curled upwards, he lifted two fingers and lightly tapped her forehead – a gesture of affection that, for some reason, carries so much weight for him. "I'll tell you next time."

————

© October 2018 AriannJS

————

This is my first work with a fight scene. Haha. Would appreciate it if you'll comment your thoughts below! For other SS fics, check out my works here. Thanks & God bless!😄

Like what I do? Please consider supporting me on ko-fi as I continue to write fictions and make song covers! A cup of coffee would be a big encouragement! :)

- A

[sasusakumyotpforever]

♡ Like Mother, Like Daughter! ♡

[captnjacksparrow]

Heyy,

So y'know that scene before Sasuke left the village and he encounters Sakura, and then she asks him why he won't tell her anything, and then he was like, "Why should I have to tell you anything".

Well I think it's kinda weird that he said that because in the 5th episode of og Naruto, he told her about what happened the day his clan was slaughtered.

I don't ship SS, it's just the shippers that brought this up, so...

yeah, what are your thoughts?

The Difference is right there in your Ask itself.

During the Bell Test, Sakura didn't ask Sasuke about anything. It was Sasuke who willingly volunteered to say as to why he cannot waste his Time.

Whereas while leaving the Village, Sakura was asking him as to why he was not talking about anything... As if he was obligated to tell about his plans to her.. Or if such a dynamics existed between them...

In the first scene, Sasuke opens up by himself. In the later, Sakura is asking him to open up. There's a difference between the two scenes.

Anyways, this isn't something new though. Sakura always want to take part in his life and Sasuke has been very clear about his boundaries that he set with Sakura during Chunin Exams itself...

“This has nothing to do with you”

Sakura knew about that Cursed Seal and so that she says she can’t tolerate to see Sasuke suffering in front of her... 

But Sasuke was very clear about her place in his life. He literally says, “Don’t poke your nose into my stuff”

And that’s why Sasuke said

"Why should I have to tell you anything?"

It’s not very uncharacteristic of him at all.....

He still said the same thing in Chapter 699 too...

“My Sins have nothing to do with you”

He clearly didn’t want her to take part in his life...

And this is the same case in Gaiden too... 

I can’t believe Sasuke was making this face calm face when his daughter was bursting out of Anger which makes this scene all the more hilarious...

“This has nothing to do with you”

So, If he wants to say something... He will... On his own accord (With Sakura and Sarada). Otherwise he wants to keep his boundaries with them most of the time. It’s not OOC or contradicting. It’s well within his characterization.

[inomatsu]

What are your thoughts/opinions about Sakura? Just curious!

I hate her. She’s up there for me with some of the worst characters I’ve encountered tbh. Probably second on my list.

Here's the long answer, if you care. Before I start, I just want to say my opinion (I have a right to one) has nothing to do with ships, just Sakura as a character and the awful taste she leaves in my mouth. This is strictly off of what I consider canon, chapters 1 - 699 of Naruto/Shippuden.

I had a different opinion of her when I started the series at 7 years old. I just rewatched Naruto/Shippuden last month (minus fillers and the dozen or so episodes after VOTE2). As a kid, she wasn’t as bad to me, maybe just annoying, but due to troupes and what was ingrained in me to expect of main female protags, there were moments I glossed over her gross behavior and remember rooting for her. As an adult? She’s downright deplorable. I cannot believe she’s the heroine (because she’s supposed to be, right? The main female protag, I guess, if Naruto counts as having one). This is going to sound very pro Ino, because to talk about Sakura, I feel like you need to talk about Ino. Kishimoto writes in a way where he highlights a character’s flaws and strengths by weighing them against others, so it's unavoidable. 

The first time Sakura is introduced to us (we all feel a bit of empathy towards Naruto at this point, I hope) not only does she beat Naruto up first thing in the morning and steals his seat, but by the afternoon after the formation of Team 7, she’s insulted Naruto to Sasuke, saying he’s annoying because he doesn’t have parents to teach him (I’m paraphrasing, too lazy to get actual quotes or screenshots). I’m sorry, but even as a kid, you need to be a special type of messed up to insult someone because of their lack of parents. 

Just. Please let this sink in. SHE BROUGHT NARUTO’S PARENTS INTO THIS. UNPROMPTED. I–

Sasuke had to actually say something for her to sit down with herself and reflect on why that was terrible. Like, please think about this, she had no remorse or even a single drop of sympathy about a kid her age not having their parents. I get that other kids in their class didn't care either, but none of them actually vocalized it, or actually brought Naruto's parents into it outright. The insults stayed within the circle of Naruto's unruly behavior or something dumb he did or said. None of them said something so cruel out loud, and Sakura said it to Sasuke no less.

Anyways. Let’s move on. We get to the Forest of Death. Here, we get a flashback to her friendship with Ino, which bothers me on a literal personal level. As someone who values relationships, Sakura really has no respect for hers. We find out that not only was Sakura bullied as a kid (never mind that she bullies others now) but Ino was the one who pulled her out of her shell, helped her gain confidence, and included Sakura in her group of friends. What does Sakura Freaking Haruno do after this? Declares Ino her rival in love, because they both like Sasuke and it's a way for her to tackle this jealousy she has of Ino. Now, Sasuke is his own person and there’s nothing wrong with friends liking the same guy, it happens often. They don’t own Sasuke and they know that. But Sakura being Sakura, the ungrateful little ingrate she is, decides to give back the token of friendship Ino gave her (which helped Sakura find her voice and stand up for herself) and walks away from their friendship, because that’s how strong her feelings of love are, right? Wrong. More about this later. Anyways, Naruto and Sasuke are knocked out and she needs to protect them on her own against the Sound nins. Once the whole Lee thing happens, and the fighting ensues, Ino eventually gets over their childish bickering and jumps out to help her friend because it's the right thing to do (with some nudging from Shikamaru, but still). Ino is a decent enough human being after the altercation to help Sakura with her hair, fixing it up for her, after Sakura's chopped it off. Mind you, Ino-Shika-Cho didn’t have to help her. Shikamaru would have ignored Team 7 to a fatal point (he would have helped eventually, but something worse could have happened if they waited for him to come around) but Ino got them to step up in time (though it was for nothing LOL). Point is, she pulled through for Sakura in a terrible situation, even though Sakura kind of... well, betrayed her? (Yes, Sasuke was also there, but the whole scene was about Ino and Sakura, so really, Ino went to defend Sakura is the whole point). And what happens after Ino's brave gesture? Sakura declares this changes nothing between them. *facepalms*

After, when Sakura and Ino have their match during the chunin exams, Sakura just… basically gets frustrated that Ino had to help her in the forest, and she (Sakura) is still too weak, and blah blah blah, it’s all about her. There was no ounce of gratitude or appreciation, though Ino seems more mature about it. This kind of toxicity is easy to miss as a kid but I just... wow.

Next point. Sakura doesn’t think twice about leaving her parents behind when Sasuke’s leaving Konoha and tells him she’ll be just as lonely and miserable as he is, if he leaves… uuuuUUUUMMMM okay. Not even going to touch how inappropriate that was nor analyze how that must have made Sasuke feel.

I’m going to breeze through the rest of this because I can’t believe I’m still going on about Sakura. 

Let’s skip to Shippuden. There’s essays all over tumblr about the next few scenes, they're everywhere. Sai points out that Sakura is terrible for putting such a detrimental burden on Naruto’s shoulders and heart with the promise she had him make to bring Sasuke back. And right after, when Sasuke becomes an international criminal, Ino has no words and just cries because she’s sad over the whole thing, but Sakura, the girl who loves Sasuke oh so much and he's the reason she became so strong, right? Like, he’s the reason she gave up her best friend and everything, yeah, THAT Sakura. Her first instinct reaction is to kill Sasuke immediately, because it has to be her, because she loves him so much - yet, she doesn't even consider the possibility of asking him, just once, why he’s doing what he’s doing. Again. Her gut reaction is to put Sasuke down, like an animal (lmfao she really thought she could, too). And in order to kill him, to have her way, she fake confesses to Naruto, knowing love and wanting love is Naruto’s weakness, after burdening him with that promise regarding Sasuke for years, then lies to him when it doesn’t work, then charges at Sasuke while Sasuke’s literally going blind and having the worst mental breakdown of his life, all after leaving the people who helped Sakura get there defenseless and unconscious in middle of the road via drugs ON FOREGN LAND and –

I wiped her from my mind after all that. Seriously. I did.

I totally forgot she even existed, honestly, once the war started, and then she just - she comes back into the story properly, I guess, and one of the first things she does is charge at Madara and is shocked when it doesn't work and - *facepalms harder*

I cannot believe people like her? For what? I don’t get it. Sakura cares about no one. Her fickle "love" for Sasuke? Please. Someone who can make fun of another person for not having parents, who can carelessly toss aside her own parents, who can walk away from a friend who helped her not once, but twice, and plenty after that when Sakura didn't even deserve it... Sakura isn't truly capable of loving anyone, she's selfish, inconsiderate, manipulative, doesn't listen. Nothing can change my mind on that.

So, as the complete opposite, because Kishimoto, in my mind, wrote Ino this way, why wasn’t Ino the main female protag? This confused me in hindsight. She had the potential, the drive, and motivation. Her character growth, development, emotional maturity, and genuineness (especially after the Akatsuki and war arc) is way more interesting and likable. Well, I guess that’s the point. Kishimoto didn’t want his work to be about romance, at least not a straight one, so having a terrible female protag works in his favor, I guess. 

To conclude: Sakura Haruno sucks.

[hobakie]

Ino, Hinata and Medical Ninjutsu

The information presented in this post has been checked and revised. My aim is not to hate or to discredit any of the characters mentioned. Please read about me for further information. 

This post will contain evidence in picture format directly from the manga Naruto (1999 - 2014) created by Masashi Kishimoto and published by Shueisha in 1999. I will also use information from the official databooks of Naruto.

This informative post will show how the anime has created biased situations and changed the canon statements since the beginning of the manga and until chapter 699. I will use information present in the novels or the Boruto anime only if it includes character development within canon compliance.

This meta has been crossposted in AO3.

I give my permission to use or share this thread with informative purposes as long as you credit me. 

I will not count the anime in this list because I consider it over exaggerated and beyond biased. Furthermore, these fillers include some actions that these characters are unable to do in the canon according to official sources. These fillers also generate unnecessary debate. I do not support the anime or the work of Studio Pierrot in regards to Naruto.

Please, take this into consideration.

The anime of Naruto and Naruto Shippūden is full of filler arcs that complete empty spaces in the time-skips.

Because of this, they generate unnecessary debate among their fans on social media.

Hinata Hyūga and Ino Yamanaka have shown to be proficient in the art of Medical Ninjutsu. However, the canon states otherwise in certain aspects.

Hinata Hyūga:

Due to her lineage of the Hyūga Clan, Hinata has learnt jutsus that require very precise chakra control.

The Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists is a jutsu passed down only to the members of the Main Branch of the family.

This accomplishment, linked to the extreme chakra control required to perform the Mystical Palm technique, have led Studio Pierrot into making Hinata a medical ninja in the filler episode 293.

However, Hinata is not a medical ninja and cannot actually perform the Mystical Palm Technique according to oficial sources.

For instance, the Mystical Palm Technique is composed of physical energy, also known as Yang Release. Hinata does not have this chakra affinity according to the fourth databook.

Although this feat was shown only once in a very short screenshot, it has generated intense debate among her fans.

In addition, another filler of Naruto Shippūden makes a similar point.

In episode 103, Hinata, Sakura, Ino and Shizune are in charge of sealing three tails with the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier.

This Barrier, created by the Fifth Hokage, is to be performed by Shinobi with specially good chakra control. For this reason, Ino and Sakura, trained in the art of the Mystical Palm, are chosen to perform this task.  

Just because the rest of the girls are trained medical ninjas does not mean Hinata is one as well.

What Shizune says is that thanks to her mastery of the Gentle Fist, which requires precise chakra control, Hinata can fill in the role of another medic.

Her control of the Gentle First and chakra stem from her Hyūga blood. She needs this in order to be able to perform her clan’s techniques. This is undeniable.

However, Hinata’s chakra control does not develop to rival that of a medic ninja as her fans claim. This is stated nowhere

I have also seen their fans claim that she would make a better successor for Tsunade than Sakura because she, too, infuses chakra in her palms to perform the Gentle Fist. 

Again, Hinata’s abilities are directly connected to her Hyūga lineage and only that. Hinata’s place is within her clan. Her place in the hierarchy of Konoha has already been established. 

•

Ino Yamanaka:

In contrast to Hinata, Ino learnt medical ninjutsu during the time-skip and she is shown using it in the manga two times.

Her knowledge on the matter is introduced in chapter 328 of the manga. Shikamaru asks Ino to use her Medical Ninjutsu to aid Asuma. 

She shows that she has indeed learnt and demonstrates mastery. 

This is further based and explained in the third databook (source). 

Ino “mastered medical ninjutsu... her skill level is high enough that she can make an immediate judgement about the condition of a patient”.

There is no further information about the vastness of her knowledge or who taught her.

For more contextualization about the matter, the anime filler dedicates episode 406 to explain this. 

In this episode, a frustrated Ino asks the Fifth Hokage to teach her medical ninjutsu. She is tested by Tsunade for 3 months, the same time it took Sakura to learn the Mystical Palm Technique. 

She gets guidance from Tsunade to assess the condition of the “patient” and only learns the Mystical Palm, while Sakura, more advanced in the field, studies medical scrolls. 

It is explicitly referenced that Ino learnt the basics of Medical Ninjutsu and how to heal fatal wounds: the Mystical Palm Technique. She trains for 3 months, as she is later tested by Tsunade. No more information is given.  

It’s not true that she became Tsunade’s apprentice or that she learnt passed that stage. 

At the end of the episode, Ino tells Sakura that she came to Tsunade to discover her place and recognizes that her place is within the Yamanaka Clan. That is her legacy. 

It is not true that she became Tsunade’s apprentice or that she learnt passed that stage.

In another filler episode, number 103, while setting a barrier to seal Three Tails, which was to be performed by trained medics and Hinata, she reminisces a moment during her training in the medical field. 

In the episode it is implied that Sakura guides and encourages Ino, like an apprentice.

However, the veracity of episode 406 is dubious because in chapter 425 of the manga, Ino does not know who Katsuyu is. Three months is enough time to meet the summon of the Fifth Hokage, who, in fact, has Katsuyu summoned most of the time in the filler episodes. 

Furthermore, the anime filler downplays the meaning of a medic ninja. If the Mystical Palm is everything a medic ninja needs for battle, it is incorrect to call Ino a professional medic.

The manga and third databook are a little more vague when it comes to Ino’s skills as a medic ninja because it is not the center of her character. This ability was cast aside in the series and it is really unknown if she can do something more than heal wounds. 

Ino’s position as a support ninja that cannot engage in battle makes her suitable for medical ninjutsu.

Given this statement, one of the popular claims about Ino among her fans is that she is a renowned medic but this is not the case. 

Also, the Boruto Wiki compiles a huge amount of biased statements about her skills.

1. Ino is NOT a professional medic. She learnt from somebody. Her introduction as a medic-nin is very vague. She knows how to heal injuries with the Mystical Palm Technique, which requires high skills and precise chakra control.

If we take the information provided by the data-book and the anime, I would not call 3 months of training in the art of the Mystical Palm and the ability to tell the condition of a patient as professional.

2. She got help from the Fifth Hokage for three months. This is also a filler.

3. She can NOT perform surgeries! And you cannot tell the severity of an injury just by glancing. At least not in the majority of cases.

4. She did NOT learn about poisons. The branch of poisons within the field of Medical Ninjutsu is for defense. In Sakura Hiden (official translation of the novel published by Jump J Books and edited by VIZ Media: SJ Fiction on May 3rd 2016) Ino does not use poison. 

What she uses is a poisoned kunai she took from Magire. This extract is from page 147.

Later, she uses anesthetic to fool Magire (page 149). If she was really using poison, it would have been stated. Anesthetic is a medical formula, not a venom made by medic-ninja. Ino cannot blend poisons because she never learnt anything past the Mystical Palm Technique. 

In fact, wielding sleeping powders is part of the standard equipment of Shinobis. The second databook confirms that secret medicines are part of the ninja tools that a Shinobi must always have during missions. 

Here is a more detailed explanation:

Many Shinobi are not medical ninja, so Ino, who does not know how to concoct poisons, is equipped with anaesthetic as part of her ninja pouch. This applies to regular Shinobi. 

5. She has never worked in the Hospital neither as a kid or as an adult. The anime fillers do include her aiding other medics in Naruto Shippūden . 

In the Boruto anime shes does not even come close to medical ninjutsu.

Her position in the hierarchy of Konoha is not even a medic but a sensor ninja, the specialty of the Yamanaka Clan. She is a combat medic-ninja, a ninja that Tsunade, explicitly said by her in chapter 236, wanted to add in every platoon.

6. No, Ino did NOT open the Clinic with her friend in Sakura Hiden, Sakura did, with Ino’s assistance and support. 

Furthermore, it does not say anywhere that Ino is the Co-founder nor the Co-director. I explain this in detail in this post.

During the anime adaptation of Sasuke Shinden (in the link is the official translation of the novel published by Viz Media and edited by VIZ Media: SJ Fiction on March 7th, 2017), when the people affected by the Ketsuryugan were approaching Konoha, Sakura tells Ino that their priority is to aid the wounded. 

In the novel, Ino does not do any of this but she does help Aoba with her Mind Transfer Technique and later treated in a hospital because she passed out.

This are all the times Ino has shown her skills in medical ninjutsu in canon.

-

[primnroses]

― Explaining the Pillars of Konoha

The information presented in this post has been checked and revised. My aim is not to hate or to discredit any of the characters mentioned. Please read about me for further information.

This post will contain evidence in picture format directly from the manga Naruto (1999 - 2014) created by Masashi Kishimoto and published by Shueisha in 1999. I will also use information from the official databooks of Naruto.

This informative post will explain how the widespread concept of the Five Pillars of Konoha. I will use information present in the novels and the Boruto anime because it includes character development within canon compliance.

This meta will be crossposted in AO3.

I give my permission to use or share this thread with informative purposes as long as you credit me.

I do not support the anime or the work of Studio Pierrot in regards to Naruto because I consider it over exaggerated and beyond biased. Furthermore, these fillers include some actions that these characters are unable to do in the canon according to official sources and they also generate unnecessary debate.

Please, take this into consideration.

The name of “Five Pillars of Konoha” is a designation given to the most important shinobi of the village or the people that support Konoha and act as the bases that keep it working: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake and Shikamaru Nara.

A brief hint about the most important and influential figures of Konoha is present in episode 4 of the Boruto anime, which takes place during the Graduation Arc and was released on April 26, 2017. 

Konohamaru explains how Shino Aburame’s generation left a mark in the world and influenced the students’ dreams to become shinobi, emphasizing the four people known as the “Pillars”. 

This concept was first introduced in Naruto Retsuden: Naruto Uzumaki and the Spiral Destiny, a novel originally written by Jun Esaka and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. This book was published on October 4, 2019, two years after the hints of the anime. 

The novel does not originally mention the name of “Five Pillars of Konoha”, but, in essence, the meaning is the same: the most important and prestigious ninja of the village.

In this story, Naruto faces the consequences of having a Tailed Beast sealed inside him, an event that hinders him from using his chakra and could potentially close his keirakukei (the chakra pathway system) forever. His closest allies will collaborate together to find a solution to the problem and solve the mystery surrounding the Sage of Six Paths.

During a visit to the land of Stairs, Naruto starts noticing these weird patterns related to his chakra. When he starts having more fainting episodes, Kurama tells Naruto to gather only his closest friends to help him find the answer to his problem. For this reason, Naruto decides to call Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Kakashi; his teammates, and closest friends and confidants.

The novel also reveals that they gather together in a secret location provided by Tami, the girl that Sakura helped during Pain’s Assault in chapter 421. She now owns a Japanese confectionary shop and lets the group use a back room for their secret meetings, as she feels devoted to Sakura since the incident from several years ago.

The novel implies that the shop is a place the “pillars” use when they need, but it might be the first time they go there as well. 

Inside, Naruto finds them. It is also explained that Naruto had told Sakura of these fainting episodes and asked for her help. She had been treating Naruto and studying his case, which confirms that Sakura is the Hokage’s medic.

Inside the room, they discuss the need to investigate the Six Paths in Redaku, a remote land separated from the Five Great Shinobi Countries by a mountain range. This mission falls on Kakashi during the events of Kakashi Retsuden: The Sixth Hokage and the Failure Boy.

Kakashi, as the previous Hokage, built relations and established the foundation of what Konoha is in the present. For that matter, the Rokudaime is the only person that could travel to Redaku and speak with the King of Redaku. 

His role as a “pillar” is important, not only because he laid the groundwork for the current Konoha, but because the teacher is the most experienced member of the team.

The mission of gathering information about the polar particles that Rikudou Sennin used to heal his chakra block falls on Sasuke and Sakura during the events of Sasuke Retsuden: The Uchiha Descendants and the Heavenly Stardust.

Their roles as “pillars” are equally important. Sakura is the person that would come up with a diagnose for Naruto’s illness as his medic, while Sasuke is the person that takes the most dangerous missions outside Konoha and the best ninja for this task.

Naruto feels discouraged by the fact that he cannot really do anything to contribute and that the only thing he can do is rely on his friends, the people that will help him solve his problem. 

The concept of the importance of the “Pillars of Konoha” is reinforced by Naruto.

The “Pillars of Konoha” are equally linked to the village and Naruto: 

⇨ Kakashi built the Konoha of the present day, preparing a new village for the time when Naruto would take over the leadership.  ⇨ Sakura takes care of the village and the Hokage as the immune system and Head of the Medical Department, providing medical aid for the people and keeping the leader healthy.  ⇨ Sasuke protects the borders and takes the most dangerous missions, protecting the village from any future threats.  ⇨ Shikamaru aids the Hokage, using his power as the second person in charge and supporting Naruto’s decisions.  ⇨ Naruto is the current Hokage, the face of the village.

The theme of the Retsuden novels finishes with the “Five Pillars” doing a joint mission to save Naruto: Shikamaru would lead the infiltration of Kengakuin’s Headquarters; after the research in the Astronomical Institute and obtaining the polar particles, Sakura and Sasuke would reach the celestial body with Naruto; and Kakashi would build the path to the sky.

The concept of the “Five Pillars of Konoha” is concluded with the Boruto Ending 11 - Wish on. The ending’s theme is the Japanese card play Hanafuda (Flower cards - 花札). It debuted on October 6, 2019, two days after the release of Naruto Retsuden.

The mutual release of Naruto Retsuden, the debut of the “Five Pillars of Konoha”, and the release of Ending 11, where the most important shinobi are highlighted, is more than a mere coincidence. 

It closes the question of who supports Konoha and its current leader.

In the game Koi-Koi (こいこい), played with the Hanafuda cards, the Hikari cards are the most valuable combination of the game (20 points) and the cards together are called the Gokō (Five lights - 五光). 

The narrative chooses the most important shinobi of Konoha for this representation.

Each one of the five Gokō cards represents a month and a flower: 

⇨ Naruto is the Matsu (松, pine) - January.  ⇨ Sakura is the Sakura (桜, cherry blossom) - March.  ⇨ Sasuke is the Susuki (薄, Susuki grass) - August.  ⇨ Shikamaru is the Yanagi (柳, willow) - November. ⇨ Kakashi is the Kiri (桐, paulownia) - December.

In addition, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke also form a card combo called Sankō (Three Hikari - 三光). This combination omits Kakashi and Shikamaru’s cards.

There is another combination called Ame-Shikō (Rainy Four Hikari - 雨四光) without Shikamaru’s card. However, the anime ending replaces Susuki, Sasuke’s card, with Shikamaru to represent the village’s “pillars”.

The ending also highlights two of the “pillars”: the Uchiha family’s card formations. 

Sasuke and Sarada form the Tsukimi-zake (Moon Viewing - 月見酒), which celebrates the Japanese custom of ating dinner in the countryside at night in summer.

Sakura and Sarada form the Hanami-zake (Cherry blossom Viewing - 花見酒), which celebrates the Japanese custom of eating under the cherry blossom trees in spring.

Although it is not completely related, the Boruto manga also plays with the meaning of cards and their importance. Boruto and his friends collect cards for a game called “Extreme Ninja Cards” where the most famous shinobi of all time are featured.

In chapters 11 and 15, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha are labeled as SSR, meaning “super special rare”, which might not be a coincidence either considering both of them are two of the “Five Pillars”.

In essence, the “Five Pillars of Konoha” are Naruto’s closest bonds and the people that protect the village with the Hokage, and also support and protect him: Kakashi, his teacher; Sakura, his healer and best friend; Sasuke, his rival and best friend; and Shikamaru, his direct aid.

These positions must not be confused with the other people that support and protect the village. 

People like Sai, the ANBU Chief; Ino, the leader of Konoha Barrier Team; Ibiki, the leader of Konoha Intelligence Division and the Torture and Interrogation Force sub-unit; and Katasuke, the leader of the Scientific Ninja Weapons Team, also lead and help the Hokage to maintain Konoha. 

Many fans include them in the concept of "Pillars" erroneously and without the knowledge of what it means to be part of this group and how the history has described them. For this reason, they are not Pillars of Konoha and are not considered as valuable as the original Five.

End.

[never-mess-with-the-uchihas]

Bro why are people so obsessed with ships in naruto, i feel like sometimes they don’t even care about the whole fucking plot about ya know the saving the world n stuff and complain and whine about how sasusaku or naruhina ruined the ending

Like are you okay do you not care abot anything besides ships? honestly naruto has so many messages and people ignore all of that to just look at their personal favorite ships and characters

It was so much more to me tbh and it makes me sad that people entirely missed the key points of the show and instead choose to look at superficial things instead

Lol, don't get me started about that.

"KISHIMOTO NEVER DEVELOPED THE SHIPS. "

"HE SUCKED AT WRITING ROMANCE. "

"HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING. "

"HE JUST DID THIS FOR MONEY AND FAN SERVICE."

"THAT MAKES HIM A PATHETIC WRITER."

"I CAN WRITE THE STORY BETTER THAN HE DOES. "

These people NEVER GOT what NARUTO WAS ABOUT.

I mean, If you guys want to write the story on your own, why don't you just read your own fanfictions?

How hard is it understand that Naruto was NEVER ABOUT ROMANCE.

It was about FRIENDSHIP, BONDS, LOVE, and FORGIVENESS.

Kishimoto gave us a wonderful story and amazing characters. He is the kind of writer who can literally make you FALL IN LOVE WITH ANTAGONISTS TOO.

Him not focussing on "romance", doesn't make him a "bad writer". He might not have been comfortable in writing romance, but he NEVER FAILED IN making the readers understand the DEPTH OF THE "LOVE" between the characters - It NEED NOT ALWAYS BE ROMANTIC.

The reaction that the Fandom gives on the chapters and release of episodes is really disappointing.

For example, Chapter 699 should have made the entire Fandom happy, since Team 7, the core of the series was finally reunited. That chapter should have been an emotional moment for the entire Fandom.

But, instead of being happy, people were complaining about how "Sasuke disrespected Itachi by giving Sakura the forehead poke", "How Sasuke was looking as Naruto, as if he wanted to fuck him", "Why didn't Sasuke give the forehead poke to Naruto?", "Why did Sasuke leave Sakura in the Village alone?", "Why did we not get a NaruHina scene?", "I bet Sasuke is leaving the village to stay with Karin.", "Now since Sasuke is out of the village, Sakura and Naruto is definitely gonna marry eachother", etc. ,etc.

Even in the recent episode of Boruto, Episode-208, which had a Team 7 moment, where Sasuke and Sakura talked about Naruto's condition, it was meant to be taken as a positive Team 7 moment, but the Shipping Fandoms totally twisted it into something extremely negative. Seriously, This Fandom never fails to disappoint me.

They kept making posts about how Kishi was a "TERRIBLE WRITER" for making "SasuSaku", "NaruHina" or "ChoijiKaruii" canon, since they didn't make sense at all.

I mean Bro, You are literally disrespecting Kishi by saying these things. He invested 15 years in this amazing story. Just because you ship didn't become canon, doesn't make him a terrible writer, or Naruto a disappointing story.

[mugiwara-lucy]

Question what are things you didn’t like in Naruto that you would change.

Hmm….

It would be a LONG list!

BUT for one I would make sure Boruto isn’t a thing!

For me Naruto SHOULD have ended after Chapter 699/Episode 479 since the whole series revolves around Naruot getting Sasuke back.

But that’s just me.

[melody-of-lost-souls]

THE LAST (what a waste of time)

These are, from my point of view, some inconsistences I found from this movie. Not a proper analysis, just my thoughts.

I dont know where to start but first with Naruto.

I have seen all the Shippuden Movies, from 1 -Death of Naruto , to this one number 7. Almost in all these movies there was a princess or a girl who will be his "companion" across the events of the movie. We had Shion, Amaru, also the Snow princess- movie 1 from Part 1- and etc. In all of them, Naruto had chemistry with them. Not an amazing relationship since we have short time, an 1 hour and half, but there wasn't this akwardness and discomfort around the female co-protagonist.

With Hinata this happened. The Naruto we saw here, it's completely different from the person and shining boy we see until 479. I know, 2 years passed but in Shippuden 3 years passed , and we saw the transition from a kid naruto -12 yo.- to a 15/6 y.o. boy entering in adolescence. Two different evolutive stages, and yet he was the same shingin boy we know; of course he matured AND HE MATURED WITH SO MUCH MORE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

There are many fact wrong in this movie. First, across the whole thing he looks almost desolated, very quiet and akward. Coy, someone who doesnt know how to interact with hinata despite the fact that across all the manga, he never had problems to deal and talk with her.

Anyway, then we have Sakura insulting, because that what she did, him and saying that maybe "he doesnt know what love is" and Naruto also nods, to don't know what Love is. We are talking about the same Naruto, at age of 12, who made Zabuza Momochi cry

Then we have Sai, saying that when Naruto was whispering Hinata's name in dreams, Sai heard his sentimental spot, he didn't know Naruto had. And It was helping. Again, we are talking about the same naruto who said this to Sai

And I could quote many other scenes but this will be too long.

Then it takes just 30 minutes from the start of the movie to Naruto to "realize" with a epiphany of Jesus, that he ...loves hinata. What I see here is a glimpse of guilt tripping.

Other Inconsistence. they had to make Naruto fall in a Genjutsu -which theorically jinchuriki can not!- in order to let him realize Hinata was in love with him. Also, with the experience of Game of thrones ( i know, i know 2 totally different things but) but with the last shitty season they used the same resource that it was used here. Spit all the facts in your face, again and again just in case you dont forget that naruto HAS to fall in love with Hinata. Because we have this forced scenes between them all the damn time, at the expense of a Naruto totally ooc who can not interact properly with a mate that he knows since genin times. Also we have this recurrent scene from the academy Days, which was never shown on the manga, about some Iruka's class always repeating the quote "Whom would you spend your last day on earth?" Also, they made us recall a love confession that happened ALMOST 3 YEARS AGO, pain's arc, in which Naruto was absolutely indifferent about it until 699.

And it's not even that in these 2 years between movie and anime finale, that we see some approachment and more development between them (same with SS) because IS IN THE MOVIE, in this like 2/3 days that movie events takes place, where Naruto """realizes""" about Hinata's feelings. He literally just took days xD And it's inconsistent because with Sasuke he toook YEARS to set his true feelings AND EVEN THO when Sasuke asked him what A FRIEND means to him? He didn't know how to put that in words.

Following this logic, if a """friend""" took him all this time, i can imagine how it would be with the love of your life.

Also, worth to mention. All the Moon-symbolism stolen from Sasuke's figure. Across the last arc of manga we had a strong portrayal of how Naruto and Sasuke were Sun and Moon respectively.

* Another inconsistence, Naruto doing the ShadowClone jutsu at that short age. Yes, he doesn't make them properly but they were better that what we have seen in Naruto Episode 1. Also, in this movie he did 2 clones, mini clones, but they were capable of speaking, moving, and they were identical to naruto, the only flaw was the size. In episode 1, what he made was a really bad-almost dead-copy

And now some really random stuff that when i was watching this, i thought for a moment this was like Dragon ball.

-Why the fuck they had to fight ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON? This was IDENTICAL to that episode from Power Rangers Red Forever where all the red rangers fight on the moon surface in order to defeat the bad guy.

I know this is fiction, and we are in fictional world. But naruto never went that far to talk about astronomical phenomena such as "THE MOON IS FALLING IN PIECES AND METHEORS ARE FALLING FROM THE SKY" and we.. We plan on destroying the moon.

Yes, I remember Tsukuyomi Infinite and stuff, but this is very different and came out SP asses.

In conclusion, I think i'm forgetting some things but anyway. This is a bad movie, what a surprise, not JUST because of the ship -i mean yes jeje- but because of all the inconsistences, the out of characterization, the rush on making naruto fall in love with hinata at expenses of some guilt, akwardness, and in 30 fucking minutes.

For being the only Naruto canon movie, it's very poor. I could quote Bonds #2 movie, Naruto's Death #1, Last Tower #4, even Road to ninja, as better material with better plots than this one.