Monday, February 06, 2006
Sakura - Has Her Heart Changed?
CHAPTER 296 UPDATE
Sakura was definitely my favorite moment of the chapter because it was touching and unexpected. It was also incredibly stupid of her but you can't blame her for the sentiment. Proves that she doesn't see him as a monster and truely cares (I won't go so far as say loves although the possibility is now open) for Naruto and is not just using him.
I can't fault her ... it was just too touching a moment. Kishimoto doesn't flashback pointlessly ... so Sakura definitely put two and two together and realized Naruto is also doing all this for her. It also has shown how much she's grown ... she really wants to help and not be a burden anymore ... she just needs better timing for her moments of epiphony. The only time I was really disappointed in her was when she didnt heal herself and let Kabuto get near her. He could have done anything ... she was truely lucky he was being amiable at that moment. BTW, that one shot of her running with tears in her eyes is my absolute favorite but It reminds me sadly of Jiraiya's eye makeup.
Naruto is much more reliable to Sakura right now. I think Sakura truely and deeply loves Sasuke but she realized that had become an obsticle to her own growth ... and despite her heart is moving on. If Sasuke somehow (in the unlikely future) returned to Konoha, I think we will have a much more complex triangle on our hands because now that Naruto has a chance with Sakura, he has become altruistic about the Sakura/Sasuke relationship. And Sakura is not just looking for eyecandy anymore ... she wants something more.
NaruXSaku has no chance until both resolve their Sasuke issues, no matter what feelings are developing between the two. Naruto hasn't been letting Sakura in since he returned nor is allowing her to express her worry over him. Just like how Sakura is no longer letting her feelings for Sasuke hinder her own development and has made him instead be a catalyst for her growth, Naruto won't let his feelings for Sakura (nor any feelings returned from her) hinder him from his personal conviction to save Sasuke but instead prefers just to use those feelings as a further motivation.
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I really liked the new ending. It was poetic and animated beautifully ... The reflections in the leaf were breathtaking. Only issue I had was that Sakura kept looking too young - her face was particularly wrong when she wakes up - looks more like a 9 year old than someone 13-15. Maybe I've just been reading too much of the current manga with older Sakura but I could swear she never looked that young even during the Wave arc!
I did see the sexual implications but it just seemed to me to be a metaphorical awakening ... nothing quite so literal as her virginity actually being taken. We know that as this point in the story she just confessed her true feelings, lost her love, and is for the first time finding her niche within the ninja community in order that she never helplessly loses a love again. I love the idea of Sakura dreaming of reaching out to her love through his chakra image (what else would be the glowing green stuff) considering her study of chakra control is her one way to help gain him back.
When we first meet Sakura, she has no confidence in herself so she tries to get confident by leeching off those around her. Of course she will crush on the most popular and strongest boy because of what it will mean if he likes and acknowldges her (even if it is a lost cause from the start) and because instead of gaining joy in her own accomplishment (which she struggles to do) she can easily gain joy in his more certain success. It's something she has to grow out of ... and hopefully she has by having her crush become something of a more authentic love (wanting to deserve and share with him and help Sasuke instead of just using him as a safety blanket) and gaining emotional well being through her own accomplishments.
Sakura was definitely my favorite moment of the chapter because it was touching and unexpected. It was also incredibly stupid of her but you can't blame her for the sentiment. Proves that she doesn't see him as a monster and truely cares (I won't go so far as say loves although the possibility is now open) for Naruto and is not just using him.
I can't fault her ... it was just too touching a moment. Kishimoto doesn't flashback pointlessly ... so Sakura definitely put two and two together and realized Naruto is also doing all this for her. It also has shown how much she's grown ... she really wants to help and not be a burden anymore ... she just needs better timing for her moments of epiphony. The only time I was really disappointed in her was when she didnt heal herself and let Kabuto get near her. He could have done anything ... she was truely lucky he was being amiable at that moment. BTW, that one shot of her running with tears in her eyes is my absolute favorite but It reminds me sadly of Jiraiya's eye makeup.
Naruto is much more reliable to Sakura right now. I think Sakura truely and deeply loves Sasuke but she realized that had become an obsticle to her own growth ... and despite her heart is moving on. If Sasuke somehow (in the unlikely future) returned to Konoha, I think we will have a much more complex triangle on our hands because now that Naruto has a chance with Sakura, he has become altruistic about the Sakura/Sasuke relationship. And Sakura is not just looking for eyecandy anymore ... she wants something more.
NaruXSaku has no chance until both resolve their Sasuke issues, no matter what feelings are developing between the two. Naruto hasn't been letting Sakura in since he returned nor is allowing her to express her worry over him. Just like how Sakura is no longer letting her feelings for Sasuke hinder her own development and has made him instead be a catalyst for her growth, Naruto won't let his feelings for Sakura (nor any feelings returned from her) hinder him from his personal conviction to save Sasuke but instead prefers just to use those feelings as a further motivation.
___________________________________________________________________
I really liked the new ending. It was poetic and animated beautifully ... The reflections in the leaf were breathtaking. Only issue I had was that Sakura kept looking too young - her face was particularly wrong when she wakes up - looks more like a 9 year old than someone 13-15. Maybe I've just been reading too much of the current manga with older Sakura but I could swear she never looked that young even during the Wave arc!
I did see the sexual implications but it just seemed to me to be a metaphorical awakening ... nothing quite so literal as her virginity actually being taken. We know that as this point in the story she just confessed her true feelings, lost her love, and is for the first time finding her niche within the ninja community in order that she never helplessly loses a love again. I love the idea of Sakura dreaming of reaching out to her love through his chakra image (what else would be the glowing green stuff) considering her study of chakra control is her one way to help gain him back.
When we first meet Sakura, she has no confidence in herself so she tries to get confident by leeching off those around her. Of course she will crush on the most popular and strongest boy because of what it will mean if he likes and acknowldges her (even if it is a lost cause from the start) and because instead of gaining joy in her own accomplishment (which she struggles to do) she can easily gain joy in his more certain success. It's something she has to grow out of ... and hopefully she has by having her crush become something of a more authentic love (wanting to deserve and share with him and help Sasuke instead of just using him as a safety blanket) and gaining emotional well being through her own accomplishments.
