Evaluating the “Sasuke tried to kill Sakura” Argument
One of the main arguments that anti-sasusaku fans propose is that Sasuke tried taking Sakura’s life. I will admit, it is a good argument to have. After all, what an individual would really want to end up with someone who wanted to kill them? However, many who use this argument fail to realize several key concepts in the manga,or they are too stubborn to even try. In this post we will be looking at the world of Naruto, the attempts sasuke made to kill sakura and their context/meaning, and also observing Sasuke’s desire to kill Naruto (I will be mentioning this as it is a topic that many overlook).
First, let’s remember that the Naruto realm/reality is NOT REAL.
The lines of morality and ethics cannot be held to the same standard that we have in today’s modern society. I think we all seem to forget that Naruto’s society starts training children in academies at young ages to kill. Not only this, but they are later put through exams and missions where it is acceptable to kill in order to complete their mission. They are exposed to death, murder, and the struggle to survive throughout their entire lives. Of course, killing, especially a former comrade, is shocking to anyone. However, this brings me to the next topic: Sasuke always attacked Sakura with a reason.
Sakura was NEVER innocent in the attempts Sasuke made to kill her. At all the points where Sasuke and Sakura have had a deadly encounter, Sakura has always made the attempt to attack, or intended to. And because people are obsessed with viewing Naruto through a more realistic-view, I ask you this: If your best friend were to suddenly try to kill/attack you, would you just let them? And running isn’t really an option, especially since they plan to follow you until they die. Now, we can also apply how Sasuke was raised. At young age he was told he would need to kill to survive. This then leads to Sasuke’s state of mind during the attempts, which we will analyse individually.
*** ATTEMPT #1 CH 308 ***
Here team 7 is reunited (minus Kakashi) for the first time. As we all know, they are trying to bring Sasuke back to the village. Because Sasuke will not surrender, naturally they go to utilizing force.
Now, it is very important to point out that :
Sasuke attempts to kill Naruto immediately, in which Sai stops him. His attack towards Naruto was not warranted, and rather sudden.
2. Sasuke only attacks Sakura because she attacks him first. And with Sasuke’s sharingan, he is able to see her building up the chakra in her fists, which would be a lethal attack.
Sasuke did not simply attack Sakura out of desire, but out of instigation. Had Sakura merely stood there and watched, I believe she would have been left unharmed. Sasuke rarely killed those outside of getting his vengeance (until later that is….).
I also, believe that his chapter was more of a shocker than anything. Kishimoto is showing the audience Sasuke’s change from what they remember. He is more cold, collecting, and ruthless. It is setting up the story to truly emphasize that retrieving Sasuke will be a formidable task.
Notice that Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato are not fretting over the attacks, but understand that hey just need to become more powerful. If they’re not in a tizzy about it, why are you? They know exactly what they’re getting into. This is the way life is in the ninja world.
Oookay, so now chapter 482-484 were so ridiculously important in showing Sasuke’s dramatic change in character
. In 482, Sasuke has already attempted to kill his teammate Karin and was about to finish the job when Sakura suddenly appears. In which case, Sasuke is already suspicious of her motives.
After all, he does know Sakura. He knows her true character, and he further instigates her by prompting her to kill Karin herself. At this point, Sakura can tell that Sasuke has truly lost himself. It must also be noted that his ruthlessness is not just directed at her, but ALL of Konoha.
Sasuke is then able to see through her intentions as he watches her hesitate to kill Karin, knowing very-well that Sakura’s intentions are to kill him.
So, I pose this question to you again: If your best friend were to suddenly try to kill/attack you, would you just let them? Hell no, especially when Sasuke refuses to let anyone get in his way. Even Kakashi was able to recognize Sakura’s intentions.
Again, Sasuke was instigated into attack, not just because he just wanted to kill her for the sake of doing it. Also, these three chapters represent the true fall of Sasuke’s character. He has lost himself entirely. So again, Kishimoto uses this as a way to shock the reader, and make them understand the depths of Sasuke’s hatred.
I mean seriously…. The dude has freaking lost it. He’s gone psychotic:
And PLEASE DO NOT FORGET this psychotic line:
I mean, seriously? This also brings up the fact that Sasuke has verbally expressed his desire to kill Naruto and Kakashi, but never Sakura.
And how is it that Kakashi and Naruto can forgive him, but Sakura cannot?
*** ATTEMPT #3: CH 484 ***
Continuing from the previous chapter, ch 484 further emphasizes Sasuke’s dramatic change. HE IS NOT HIMSELF.
Sakura, unable to sit aside while Kakashi fights Sasuke, she decides to attack again:
So, for the third time, Sasuke has acted out of defense. He is not in his right state of mind, and she had full intentions of killing him, and had she not stopped she would have stabbed him with that poison. She was so close, but it was her love for him that stopped her. She is not lost in the darkness like Sasuke,
Now, these were all of the attempts Sasuke made to hurt or kill Sakura. Of course, nothing justifies murder, but these scene were much more than just Sasuke killing. They foreshadowed, gave the reader an understanding of Sasuke’s hatred, and made us realize how serious this was.
However, there is another important element in Naruto you all seem to forget : The ability to empathize and forgive.
Look at all of the villains in Naruto who have killed thousand of people, yet they find forgiveness.
In fact, in chapter 485, just after Naruto saves Sakura from Sasuke’s third attempt he says this to Sasuke:
I fully grasp and understand why anti- sasusaku fans would use this argument against SasuSaku fans, but this was never just directed at Sakura alone. It was to ANYONE.
So to use this excuse against SasuSaku, then you would be unable to support Sasuke’s redemption at all (and there are those who wish Sasuke had just simply died for what he did). Sakura is perfectly capable of forgiving Sasuke, like anyone else in the story.
This also brings me to how many time Sasuke has tried to kill Naruto - yet they’re best friends throughout the entirety of the manga
TIME WHERE SASUKE HAS TRIED TO KILL/TALKED ABOUT KILLING NARUTO:
CH 176 - Kakashi to Sasuke after stopping Naruto and Him
“That level of Chidoro just now… Isn’t an appropriate technique to be used against your own comrade. Were you trying to kill Naruto?” (here I am putting a picture of Sasuke’s face to show how menacing it is)
“I’m going to kill you and every last person in your beloved village”
“I’m not gonna’ die… you will”
There is a lot more dialogue and occurrences, but I’m sure you all get the point. So despite Sasuke attempting to kill Narto x2354633 times more than Sakura, I have yet to see anyone criticize Naruto for forgiving Sasuke, like they criticize Sakura.
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