#sasusaku-on-konoha

[maricacarica]

Curse of Hatred has to be the biggest bullshit in all of Naruto and I understand how more then half the fandom takes it as truth. Tobirama tells us how Uchiha's feel strong emotions. Strong love and strong hatred when they lose somone they love. In other words they grief unlike most of Shinobi, who just bury it deep inside as we've seen. The Curse of Hatred is the same thing people used as to why women deserved less and weren't welcomed in politics. Because apperntly they were hysterical, unlike logical and rational men. Same went for Uchiha. Konoha used curse of hatred as excuse to not trust Uchiha and keep them out of politics. Because they were too irrational and their emotions would cloud their decisions and judgment.

And fandom took that to heart instead of seeing it as prejudiced propaganda. Madara and Sasuke are prime victims of this in fandom. Their ships are all literally "insert character" saving them from themselves and bringing them to good side (said good side supports having child soldiers). SNS and HashiMada/MadaHashi are literally the same thing as man saving women from themselves because their choices are "irrational". I've heard it thousands of times how Naruto "saved" Sasuke from his dark side. As if Sasuke didn't have evrey right to be mad at Konoha. Same goes with Hashirama "saving" Madara. It's always how they saved them from Curse of Hatred.

Or how SasuSaku fans use Curse of Hatred as reason Sasuke rejected Sakura. While after it was "broken" he suddenly realized his feelings for her.

The whole Curse of Hatred is just an excuse for how Uchiha's were treated. Just as whole women are too emotional statement was used as an excuse to not give women equal rights as men. Uchiha's weren't irrational, hysterical or too emotional. But if standard for love was "If anyone dares try and disturb that harmony. Whether it's my own offspring, family, or someone I consider brother I won't hesitate to strike them down" Hashirama, then Uchiha's do seem hysterical.

In conclusion, Curse of Hatred is bullshit and if we had major female Uchiha character we'd agree it sounds like sexism. It's just that Curse of Hatred wasn't used for sexism, but racism so they can keep Uchiha's away from powerful positions.

[susanoois]

10.10 - Happy Birthday Naruto 🧡🍥

[inpirso]

girlies I fall back to every time I have art block <3

[angelsyrip]

konohagakure didn't deserve these precious boys

work by masashi kishimoto

song is die with a smile by lady gaga, bruno mars

[dannyrebib]

[fatum679]

The anime "Naruto" showed me what friendship should not be and what love should not be, using the example of the long-suffering Uchiha Sasuke.

Naruto is an example of what friendship should not be. Naruto is a toxic friend, a manipulator, an abuser, a gaslighter, and a privacy violator. He bullies Sasuke, forces his friendship on him, provokes him into a reaction, emotionally vampirizes him, and humiliates him in every way possible because he is jealous that Sasuke is better than him. Sasuke constantly tells Naruto to fuck off and that he doesn't want to be friends with him. Naruto hasn't changed with age.

Sakura is an example of what love should not be. Sakura is a toxic girl, a manipulator, an abuser, a gaslighter and a violator of personal space. She wants to possess Sasuke like object, she wants him to belong only to her, she makes sure that he does not communicate with other girls, she imposes her love, provokes a reaction, emotionally vampirizes, violates personal space by constantly hanging on to him. Sasuke constantly tells Sakura to fuck off and that he does not love her. She did not even know that Sasuke is an orphan. Sakura hasn't changed with age.

In the end, we see the victim under the oppression of toxic people give in and accept Naruto's friendship and Sakura's love. It's disgusting. I haven't yet analyzed Itachi's "true brotherly love" for his younger brother.

An example of a healthy friendship is Sasuke and Suigetsu. They respect each other. Sasuke released Suigetsu from captivity after killing Orochimaru and Suigetsu voluntarily agreed to help Sasuke take revenge on his brother. Suegetsu said that he followed Sasuke because he believed that he would make the world a better place. Despite everything that happened next, they remained good friends.

An example of healthy love is Sasuke and Ino. As a child, Ino was in love with Sasuke and also violated his space and imposed her love, but by the age of 15, she grew up, kept her love for Sasuke and began to respect him. She no longer imposes herself, she does not manipulate him, does not abuse and gaslight. Unlike Sakura, she was able to realize that she was wrong. So I regret that they are not together.

Another example of healthy love is Sasuke and Chino, at the end of "Sasuke Shinden". Chino hates the Uchiha, but she sometimes forgot her hostility around Sasuke and cared for him, she is genuinely surprised when he saved her and this makes her look at Sasuke not as an enemy. When Sasuke finds out the whole truth about her and her clan, he shows sympathy, support and understanding. She forgives his clan, and he does not hold a grudge against her desire for revenge. Chino feels guilty for wanting to kill Sasuke, she genuinely cares for him and worries. Unfortunately, Chino is already in a relationship with Fushin, so she and Sasuke do not have any love relationship. But they really could have been a good couple.

P|S

About Sasuke x Karin. I don't hate this ship. Sasuke respects Karin from their first meeting, Karin understands Sasuke and knows the logic of his actions and what goals he pursues. They had a good relationship, there were no conflicts in the beginning, but Karin, like Sakura, imposes her love and it also looks manic. All this is very stressful and in real life such dependence is scary. In addition, Sasuke almost killed Karin and this is not the norm, although he was in an unhealthy mental state at that moment thanks to Konoha, Itachi and Obito, and if he loved her, he would not have done this, so Karin deserves better.

That's why I think Ino and Chino are the best option. Even when Ino behaved inappropriately like Sakura, Sasuke treated her loyally. While he directly told Sakura and Naruto to leave him alone and used violence against them. I also think that Ino's inappropriate behavior is related to her rivalry with Sakura. She didn't act so aggressively before she met Sakura and their fight. That's why there was such a striking difference in behavior when they both turned 15.

I also want to add that Sasuke is not a completely mentally healthy character, because most characters in anime look at him not as a person, but as their personal project [Itachi, Konoha, Obito, Madara], as a piece of meat or an inanimate object [Sakura, Danzo, Kabuto and Orochimaru], as something that is broken and needs to be fixed (not try to be a normal guardian) [Kakashi] and as an object of bullying or a person who supposedly owes you something [Naruto].

When I first watched the anime, there were strong hints in season 1 that Kakashi and Anko would be Sasuke's father and mother figures. They both worried about Sasuke and showed concern for him at the beginning. Unfortunately, the whole plot went to shit. We really lost such a good plot where Anko and Kakashi try to protect their child from Orochimaru. What a waste of potential for Anko, I was so hoping she would kick Orochimaru's ass.

[uchiha-itachi-amaterasu]

うちはサスケ

[bimgtt]

True Uchiha clan not that bulshite shown in the Boruto series so called fake Uchiha pathetic historically ignorant family( Sakura and Sarada who treat clan crest some sort of ornaments or achievements or trophy to brag about or show off for them without knowing its struggle and past history and how you get to wear it) or how the story tries to revise Uchiha tragedy and the oppression and racism against the Uchiha collectively.

[thisyearidontdie]

So I thought, what if our cute ninjas had a yearbook after their first year?

So I made this happen.

Hope you'll like it as much as I did!

(I wrote what I thought they might put and what would have been funny. SORRY, HINATA!

[moldy-flowers]

Trying to find a Sasuke x Sakura shipper that understands the complexity of Sasukes character and the trauma he went through and doesn't write him as a stone cold bad boy Is like trying to find a needle in a dystopian world in which sewing is illegal.

[maricacarica]

"Real Sasuke fans are glad he's happy and has family!"

Yeah well that is all nice. But you see. A lot of Sasuke fans aren't happy he is working for same village that ordered massacre of his family. It isn't about him being badass loner it's about him not getting justice he deserves. Plus the fact that his relationship is only beneficial for Sakura, Sasuke didn't show romantic interest in her until the end. Now he just feels like trophy husband for Sakura and all "pain" she had to endure.

Same with Naruto's and Sasuke's relationship. It's literally boss and worker relationship at this point. Sasuke even calls him Lord Seventh. Sasuke's around just so Naruto can feel better. Sasuke's basically a reminder that plan of rebellion against Shinobi system failed.

Sasuke barely spends time with his family, so I wouldn't call them a family really. He's a deadbeat and I don't blame him. He's a trauma filled man who was bassicaly guilt tripped into marrying Sakura who followed him around after war ended. And was also guilt tripped into working for village by Naruto.

It isn't about Sasuke no longer being "cool". It's about him having absolutely no justice he deserves. Naruto activity hides the truth about massacre, and Sasuke works for him, no complaints.

Real Sasuke fans should NEVER be happy about that.

[martialartslover7]

Sakura VS Sasuke (Kage Summit Arc - Rewrite)

Alright, I cannot hide this anymore. I HAVE to show this. Because I was so freaking annoyed with how the writing of Naruto Shippuden took a serious nosedive after the Pain arc (literally, the only big positive I can name, is Sasuke FINALLY killing that son of a bitch, Danzo, the guy just had it coming with his disgusting anti-Uchiha sentiment, abusing their power for his own aspirations), especially how the Five Kage Summit arc got concluded, with all of Sakura's sacrifices, once again, ultimately leading to yet another failure of hers, which, for some of her supposed IQ level, is just disgraceful (and mind you, I am not blaming Sakura, I am blaming Kishimoto for being a living laughingstock when it comes to writing females, I repeat myself, but this shit seriously gets on my nerves here, because the fandom is just as illiterate, as he is in writing any character with a vagina, on top of being a toxic cesspool too). You can dislike Sakura all you want, but it doesn't change the fact, she is part of the main cast, yet during this arc, where she could have done SOMETHING, she only ended up being a liability, yet again. All that training, all this yearning and devotion, all the sacrifices she made to get to this point to try and face Sasuke on her own terms, and she only ends up hitting a brickwall, as always. As if, all her attributes mean absolutely nothing, and she only exists for Naruto, or anyone else to save her, even in her best form. Yeah, no.

FUCK. EVERY. SINGLE PART. ABOUT ALL THIS.

And well, with all this in mind, I decided to rewrite the entire endgame portion of this arc, down to the root of it. Instead of Sakura hesitating, you will NOT be seeing this with me, the girls in Naruto are all queens, and deserve to be more than just the labels that Kishimoto put on them. She won't kill Sasuke, but she will beat the ever-living crap out of him. He is injured, blinded, exhausted and drained of almost all chakra. It would be STUPID to not see the chance, and get all in. Maximum effort.

And I was actually inspired to write this story, thanks to another dedicated Sakura fan on Twitter, who made this lengthy post, showcasing their efforts to rewrite that portion of the Kage Summit arc, as well. Go and check them out, this story wouldn't have been possible without them. In fact, I took a few notes from it, to write the fight choreography. You will notice, once I show you.

Side-note: And unlike what the canon story did, I will NOT go this route with the cast, Kakashi and the other Jonin will slowly catch on to the fact that, Danzo, and the Konoha elders, had always been the true evil, this whole time. And the assault on the Leaf village, along with the fact that, Naruto's arrival was uncomfortably delayed, all can be traced back to the elders, and mind you, for those who have read my "The Hero, The Blind & The Martyr" story (click the title to immediately get there, to get back up to speed, especially in the final portion), as a follow-up of the rewrite, Nagato had dropped a hint for them to take seriously. That there is a traitor among them, and he wasn't talking about Sasuke. So yes, once the war is over, do not expect Kakashi to play bootlicker to these assholes. And Sasuke WILL be getting the peace and pardoning he, and the rest of his family and clan, so dearly deserve. And Sakura is not blind to it either, anymore.

Especially not Neji, Shikamaru and Kiba, whose families unveil more evidence of what the elders had done, behind the scenes. Yes, another link, connecting to this story, and that is this one:

"Weird Wednesday Headcanon: Outside of Team 7, Neji, Shikamaru and Kiba sympathize the most with Sasuke's fall from grace after the Five Kage Summit"

And now, time for the main event, here is the link:

Sakura VS Sasuke (Kage Summit Arc - Rewrite) - AO3

PEACE.

[luna-blood]

I was debating on YouTube about Sasuke but YouTube deletes comments, especially those that have a link. It was also difficult for me to search for the publications. So I gave myself the task of collecting posts from all Sasuke fans and neutral critics of the work 'Naruto' that talk about Sasuke and his relationship with the other Naruto characters. I have also included my contributions, such as questions to other users and post responses. I hope this post helps you when you need support when you are debating in favor of Sasuke. Without anything else to say, I leave you the links:

Positive qualities of Sasuke.

Sasuke's chakra is extremely powerful, voluminous, and denser than Senjutsu chakra!

It is false that Bee could have killed Sasuke any time he wanted.

¡Sasuke has been shown to nullify mortal wounds with Raiton!

Sasuke is literally the first person to survive the Raikage's Liger Bomb.

All Sasuke received from Raikage was a small lip bleed, while Raikage lost an arm and another Kage, Gaara, had to intervene to save his leg and his life.

Orochimaru's "physical condition" has nothing to do with his ritual and Sasuke's victory.

Analysis Sasuke vs Deidara.

Sasuke killed Danzo; he did not commit suicide.

Are Itachi and Kakashi really prodigies at the level their fans believe them to be? No.

The only reason Naruto managed to hurt Kaguya was because Sasuke forced her to change dimensions more than once and she herself had changed dimensions about four times in total.

Because Sasuke haters say that Haku is simply more tragic and a better person than Sasuke; and Batman too!

What is it about Sasuke that provokes people so much, compared to all the other fictional characters (in and out of Naruto) who have done bad things? Gaara was killing people for fun in part 1, but no one ever complains about him not being punished. Zuko from ATLA burned down a village of civilians, sent a hitman after Team Avatar, and was just lucky that no civilian was injured/killed, but everyone adores him. But Sasuke is unredeemable for threatening to destroy the village?

A back and forth on why Sasuke is a much better realized character, with thematic and narrative depth, compared to Kurapika and Zuko.

Sasuke is the imperfect victim unlike the perfect victims of ATLA and Full Metal Alchemist.

Sasuke's character is too good for the Naruto universe.

Are people upset that Sasuke was going to let the Shinobi Alliance perish?

Sasuke as a feminist icon.

Sakura is a female incel.

Sakura is a narcissistic.

Sakura inserted herself because she wanted validations from people who were out of her league, that's why. She is perfect for self-insert.

The mere idea of turning over an entire manga in your head in which Sasuke hides a raging boner (at age 12) for Sakura is... repulsive. Don't you have anything better to do?

Sasuke never kissed Sakura.

The blow on the forehead is not the maximum expression of love.

Naruto Gaiden is a fucking masterpiece! It proves that Sasuke doesn't love Sakura.

Sasuke retsuden is not canon.

Sasuke retsuden is not canon, Jun Esaka herself said it and if you are a fan of Sasuke it is normal that you hate Sakura because Sasuke is unhappy with her.

Sasuke still considers Sakura inferior.

Sasuke didn't push Sakura away because of the curse of hate.

Sasuke rejected Sakura, Ino and Karin, he didn't push them away because he was afraid.

Sasuke is not in love with Karin and did not have sex in part 2 with Karin.

Why Karin's fans say she had sex with Sasuke in part 2.

What does Kakashi know about the genocide and the physical and mental torture that would lead the child victim to a fatal coma, at the hands of a family member?

Naruto is a narcissistic.

Why Naruto is the worst character.

How can anyone read the two chapter panels showing two very different worlds the characters occupy and be surprised by the way it ended? They were not going to reconcile since the world where Sasuke exists is the antithesis of the world where his former team resides.

Lee was never "good” at Taijutsu, let alone being a genius at it. The series' main theme, revolves around bonds. When the manga began, Naruto let loose Kurama (unintentionally) against Haku, breaking all Ice Mirrors that ... no Jutsu could break; and that, happened way back in the Waves Arc. How does that associate "hard-work" with Naruto's character, upon whom many poor souls project their misfortunes to feel vindicated, when two geniuses (Sasuke and Kakashi) in the near-vicinity failed? Naruto powered through this via nothing but brute force; and that isn't a precursor to hard-work. That's the exact opposite. With the beginning of the next Arc, the "if we work hard, we could beat all odds, too" trope lovers got their kicks from Sasuke's humiliation at Lee's hands (or gates?); but then they conveniently forget that Lee himself stated that what Sasuke accomplished was literally impossible for someone like him (he even emphasized on this argument). Gai even went so far as to state that even with the Sharingan's power, Sasuke should never have been able to do what he did (he literally invented his own Taijutsu maneuver from Lee's in a single day; if that's not prodigious, I don't know what is); and Gai, last I checked, is an authority on the subject of Taijutsu, not you—yes, you! Sasuke mastered Kimimaro's CS in under two hours whilst Lee survived simply because Kimimaro was dying and he literally died whilst delivering a death-blow to Gaara and Lee; so thematically, narratively, and metaphorically, Sasuke matched an adversary against whom both Gaara and Lee lost? That and Lee was outshined by Sasuke twice in a row, going so far as to undermine Lee in his own life endeavors that involved years of sweat and tears?

Shikamaru's revenge is meaningless unlike Sasuke's.

People who support Nagato but vilify Sasuke sound a lot more idiotic than they think.

In defense of Fugaku.

How does Sasuke's revolution develop?

Why didn't the narrative validate Sasuke's radical change from Konoha's Will of Fire to the Revolution?

Itachi massacred the clan out of conscience.

The difference between Kushina and Itachi is not that big.

The policies of Tobirama Senju and the Uchiha genocide.

At what point will people stop demanding Sasuke?

Tsunade was at the forefront of the Second Shinobi World War that massacred the people of Nagato, plundered their land's resources, and continued to use the land as a battlefield resulting in mass deaths, poverty, and suffering. A war that Konoha started.

Why do so many people still blame Sasuke for Sasuke's past?

Uchihas do not have mental illnesses.

Sasuke vs Readers without empathy.

Kishimoto canon vs Studio Pierrot fanservice.

The brilliant change of perspective and theme between Hebi and Taka Sasuke; and that there is no writing defect in the moment in which Sasuke stabs Karin to reach Danzō.

Tobirama never accepted the Uchiha as true allies like Hashirama did, never trusting them, something he admitted so openly that his brother had to warn him "not to continue pursuing the Uchiha." And the Uchiha weren't planning to kill innocent people, they were planning to take over the government itself.

Kishimoto is anti sasusaku and anti naruhina.

Kishimoto never wanted to write Boruto.

The real Sasuke fans.

Sasuke winking at Sakura was never happened in the manga, it was a translation error.

Sasuke didn't stalk Sakura.

Sasuke as a victim of genocide is realistic to the real world and does not act like a serial killer.

[dee3312t]

Dissecting Naruto’s Ending in Good Faith

Let's consider the possibility that Kishimoto's ending was deliberate—that things ended how they should've, and some plots weren't mistakes (looking at you, Kaguya).

Okay, hear me out. By assuming this, we can explore the series with a good-faith reading. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the series as an adult, and it’s shaken up many of my beliefs and perceptions—it's somewhat distressing, so I’ve been processing all this in therapy too, and coming to key conclusions. I think It's crucial to understand the motivations behind Kishimoto's choices, not just within the Narutoverse but also within the Kishiverse. Why did he make the decisions he did?

Why did he suddenly introduce reincarnations and fate? Aliens? Why the couples that seemingly came out of nowhere? Why doesn't Naruto quite change the system, or help the Hyugas? The final arc, overall, just seemed quite jarring, with some plots (like fate) seemingly subverting the message of the series.

I wonder, then, if Kishimoto's ending shows more of a realistic world rather than an idealized one. Reality often unfolds messily and sadly, devoid of perfect resolutions. Whether intentional or not, Kishimoto's storytelling may reflect his acknowledgment of the imperfect nature of existence. His reality bleeds into his creation, and he's subject to the same harsh realities his characters face.

Fate, Justice, and Change

In this unideal depiction, Naruto and Sasuke's actions are tied to fate rather than free will, Sasuke doesn't achieve his revolution, Naruto doesn't dismantle the shinobi system, and both end up in marriages that seem sudden and unsatisfactory.

If Kishimoto indeed intended this, why? Well, change often takes time, and sometimes change doesn’t even happen at all. People can become tired of fighting for a cause in certain ways, and settle for smaller victories. Relationships may not always align with desires, leading to compromises for convenience.

It's intriguing that Kishimoto explores themes of defying fate while ultimately making Naruto destined to save the world anyway. By making even the protagonists constrained by destiny, Kishimoto echoes historical cycles of rise and fall. Perhaps there's something inevitable about human love and hatred. We can begin to see Kishimoto's philosophical musings on how the universe came to be—the First Cause theory, that there's a divine Creator behind the universe. Or, perhaps, no matter the circumstances or our destinies, we must try to make our own decisions.

And, Sasuke's lack of revolution may not be a complete surrender. He doesn't fully support the system, remaining detached from the bureaucratic and familial norms by traveling. He pursues justice by roaming the world as a vagabond, championing justice as a vigilante. Sasuke has never been one to adhere strictly to Konoha's rules; he eschews the headband and prioritizes loyalty to his morals and loved ones. His rebellion does not manifest as he initially envisioned because his youthful idealism inevitably wanes. But this doesn’t take away from his fight, because Kishimoto portrays him as insightful and intelligent, showing that Sasuke can recognize the pragmatic benefits of partial conformity. He forever remains committed to his pursuit of justice by traveling and aiding others. Thus, his true surrender lies in acknowledging that he can be loved without compromising his strength, refuting the notion of love as a weakness.

As for Naruto, he isn't ignorant—he does comprehend the situation fully, sharing a deep understanding with Sasuke that transcends words (“I know your heart, and you mine” telepathic conversations). While it doesn't seem like much has changed, the events in Boruto unfold merely two decades after Naruto's era, a short span in historical terms. Significant societal transformations typically require centuries, not mere decades. Nevertheless, Naruto succeeds in establishing an era of peace, which Kishimoto shows through the relatively low stakes in Boruto. And when there are threats, they often manifest on a cosmic scale involving gods and extraterrestrial beings. While Naruto and Sasuke have brokered peace among nations, they acknowledge the inevitability of conflicts and warfare. Naruto's focus shifts towards fortifying the system itself, striving for safety within the constraints of reality.

Unexpected and Reluctant Couples

To thoroughly analyze the series, we must also examine the role of romance, as Kishimoto's introduction of romantic pairings significantly impacts plot themes, character development, and motivations. Whether we embrace it or not, these pairings alter the essence of characters in ways previously unseen.

In the canon material (manga and anime main story only), Sasuke and Naruto exhibit no romantic interest in Sakura and Hinata throughout the series. In fact, neither actively pursues romance in general. Sasuke states as such to Kakashi, and Naruto tells Jiraiya he’s not interested in girls. While Naruto initially does have feelings for Sakura, he eventually relinquishes them. Both protagonists prioritize their ideological missions above all else, with exceptions made for their friendship with each other. Sasuke, for instance, abandons his vendetta against Itachi when he sacrifices himself for Naruto in the Land of Waves, while Naruto is willing to forsake his dream of becoming Hokage to die to save Sasuke from loneliness and hatred.

So, how does Kishimoto portray their eventual marriages? Sakura pursues Sasuke persistently, repeatedly confessing her feelings until he ultimately relents and agrees to a family life with her. Meanwhile, Naruto displays no romantic interest in Hinata, even disregarding her confession during the battle with Pain. When he eventually marries her and starts a family, it feels contrived and dispassionate, a jarring image contrasting the boisterous Naruto we know. These relationships seem to emerge out of duty and resignation rather than genuine affection. Both Sasuke and Naruto appear worn down by their wives' persistence, leading them to reluctantly accept their marriages.

These couples have sparked considerable debate within the fandom, and rightly so, because they are not healthy or truly romantic relationships; rather, the depiction reflects the harsh realities of many real-life relationships. Kishimoto portrays Naruto and Sasuke's marriages with little prior development; perhaps a deliberate narrative choice rather than an oversight, highlighting their dissatisfaction through their roles as absentee fathers.

And in terms of specifics, Naruto's marriage seems to revolve more around Hinata than anything else. Consider this: why is Naruto portrayed as uncharacteristically serious and subdued when interacting with Hinata? Even during the pivotal moment when he finally confesses his love to her, his demeanor remains stoic and solemn. Where is the goofy and expressive Naruto we know and love? Additionally, why does Kishimoto include comments from other characters urging Naruto to "treat her well"? Because Naruto's marriage is not primarily about him; Hinata simply happened to be there, and it’s his duty to follow up on that.

And for Sasuke, why do we see panels like the family dinner in Boruto where Sasuke appears utterly miserable? Why is Sasuke never around? Why didn’t Kishimoto even give them a kiss scene? Why does Sasuke mostly display emotions when he's engaged in combat or interacting with Naruto? It's because Sasuke finds purpose and vitality in fighting for his beliefs, and Naruto is the only character depicted by Kishimoto who truly understands Sasuke's innermost thoughts and feelings. Sakura doesn't get Sasuke's essence. Isn't a marriage supposed to be built on true understanding, and progression?

One way we can see it is, Kishimoto, as an artist, is deliberate with his drawings, and these details are not mistakes. Canonically, both Sasuke and Naruto are depicted as tired or subdued in their relationships. Despite Kishimoto drawing them blushing in various situations before, neither of them ever exhibits such reactions when interacting with their wives. This deliberate choice by Kishimoto, despite them being his beloved main characters, shows that Sasuke and Naruto are not in love with Sakura and Hinata.

Love and (lack of) Romance

Sasuke and Naruto are not portrayed as romantic individuals; rather, they are depicted as traumatized fighters and idealists driven by a desire to change the world.

Kishimoto remains true to this characterization throughout the series, extending into Boruto. While Naruto is largely a series about love, it's not focused on romantic love. Instead, it delves into the concept of transcendent love and optimism amidst adversity, encompassing love found in seeking revenge, striving to change the world, and fostering bonds of friendship and loyalty. The relationship between Naruto and Sasuke is the one Kishimoto gives the most development to in the series, and embodies nuances of love, rivalry, loyalty, and compromise. This love isn’t necessarily romantic, but it can also be anything because it is transcendent love. This part is up to you to decide and I believe doesn’t take away from their story either way.

Another question that arises is, does Kishimoto really just suck at writing romance? Well, not really. He’s demonstrated his ability to craft compelling romances, such as those between Minato and Kushina, and Asuma and Kurenai. However, he chose not to apply this to Naruto and Hinata or Sasuke and Sakura. Although, he does show that Sasuke cares for Karin at one point, even awakening a new power for her, but takes it back as their relationship ultimately falls victim to Sasuke's madness at the time (although I believe this relationship, along with Naruto x Sasuke, can tentatively be argued for, but I digress for now).

These decisions reflect 1) the fact that Naruto and Sasuke's characters are not about romantic love; their goals and convictions for justice are prioritized above all else 2) Hinata and Sakura are not The Ones for them. Thus, their seemingly unhappy relationships serve as a reflection of their de-prioritization of romantic love in favor of their greater missions.

Further, realistically, people don't always end up with their ideal partners. Many people settle in relationships because they desire families or because they are pursued by others, rather than actively seeking out their soulmates. Kishimoto chooses to depict Naruto and Sasuke with a lack of emotional expression with their respective spouses. Even in the presence of their own children, Naruto and Sasuke are not depicted with joyful expressions, suggesting a lack of fulfillment in their familial roles.

The Whitepill

Ultimately, the way things turned out seems disheartening at first because shows are meant to inspire and provide an escape from reality. Throughout the series, Kishimoto led us to believe in the possibility of an ideal ending, where change is attainable and love conquers all.

But, Kishimoto's decision to depict Naruto and Sasuke's inability to achieve 100% of what we desire is, in fact, profound. The truth is, we can't always get exactly what we want, but we can make small compromises and strive for justice in whatever ways we can. This struggle is something humanity has faced throughout its history. Our world is far from ideal. But, we are still able to achieve bits of justice in ways we can; we get just enough to keep us going, to leave us with the thirst for more.

Perhaps Kishimoto portrays Sasuke's surrender not because he believes Naruto is unequivocally right, but because Sasuke wants to choose love, and is inherently kind and idealistic. He cares deeply about his friend and desires to see positive change in the world. Sasuke's journey leads him to become a protector of not just Konoha, but all villages, reflecting his compassion for people everywhere.

Similarly, Kishimoto may depict Naruto continuing on as part of the existing system not because Naruto is complacent, but because he's someone who seeks to work within established frameworks rather than tearing them down completely. This approach doesn't diminish Naruto's convictions or his commitment to change; rather, it reflects his pragmatic approach to achieving his goals while minimizing disruption.

Naruto and Sasuke's best efforts serve as inspiration for us to take up the mantle and continue the fight.

Ideal World and Optimism

Despite this, Naruto’s ending does not really make sense in an ideal world. In an ideal world, there would be a more perfect compromise, we wouldn't be bound by our fate, and the oppressive shinobi system would be dismantled. Naruto and Sasuke would have more time to heal and explore the world alone, and eventually find fulfillment in their love lives; Sasuke would find someone who truly understands him, while Naruto would enjoy a relationship where he can be his true, expressive self. Sakura would be able to move past her childhood infatuation and grow personally, while Hinata would gain confidence and develop her own identity.

Therefore, reading from a purely Narutoverse standpoint, the issues I mentioned do, in fact, undermine the themes and relationships built over the course of the narrative. Maybe Kishimoto fumbled after all, and Boruto sucks, and is simply a cash grab. Or, he intentionally wanted to troll us—suddenly breaking all conventional storytelling rules is suspicious, right?

Perhaps what really happened is a mix of all these things. While there are many external influences that led to this bleak ending, Kishimoto's intentions surely play a vital role.

Regardless, Kishimoto's big mistake is being too subtle and abrupt in introducing the new concepts at the end. However, in doing so, he has successfully sparked ongoing disagreement and discourse that persists even a decade after the series concluded.

In this sense, he has effectively brought attention to the messages: make love, not war; seek change, not complacency; and find The One, don’t settle. And even if I’m wrong in everything and this whole essay is just a copium, it's a lot better to believe in my ideals than to accept defeat. Because, Naruto taught me one invaluable lesson—no matter the odds, never give up.

[dannyrebib]

[generouskittensong]

It angers me to think about this.

Team 7 was apparently a team for barley 6 months. Sasuke spend barley 6 months with them. Then comes minus 1 month for the preparation for the chuunin exam (training with kakashi) and Sasukes 1 month hospital stay (after his beloved saint brother tortured him mentally and physically for hours).

So after the chuunin exam Team 7 had no mission together and after our saints visit Sasuke was not in the picture anymore for a long time till they brought that gambler into the village.

So you want to tell me, that Naruto, that blond fascist brat... chased after Sasuke for years.. he chased after someone he barely knew for 4!! damn months??

And he talks about commaradeship, friendship and brotherhood bullshit to someone he tied up at the beginning of the manga because he was fucking jealous? In the beginning in the manga it was said that Naruto is not a hard worker, he barely doesn't do anything. He doesn't train, doesn't study, doesn't work on himself but was mad and jealous over Sasuke cuz he was perfect at everything because he was not only a prodigy but because he worked hard, studied hard, worked on himself. A sharingan alone did not make him great. Hell even if the sharingan was taken away from him, he would still be the best because he's a hardworking guy. But take away Kurama from Naruto and he's nothing. A mere loser.

So after what kind of "friendship" is that blond shit after? Sasuke doesn't liked Naruto at all. Yes he helped his ass and that pink garbage ass out and that's it. And no, he doesn't had "special feelings" to pink shit. Sasuke helps everyone because he is not a shithead who helps people only to gain something in return. He does not abuse people or take advantage of them. He's a good guy that's why he helped and protected them. But on a personal level he didn't liked them. I wouldn't even say he hated them because to hate someone you need to acknowledge them first. He was indifferent to them because he saw no value in wasting his time hating them.

And Naruto chased after whom again? For years? And forced himself on him with his fascist mindset? And manipulated him?

Sasuke knows Orochimaru, Kabuto, Karin and to some extent Suigetsu (because sui was in that water tank so I suppose he didn't talked that much with him but they definitely interacted because Suigetsu was shocked when sasuke came after him and he talked in that bossy manner, which tells me that sasuke was very kind to him and also to karin because she also didn't understand why he talks in that bossy manner) more compared to that shitty team 7.... .. uhh I'll stop. I'm annoyed...again