"You're annoying"- What It Means to Sakura and Her Character
So I started re-reading Naruto (Yes judge me all you want). But what I really notice was the importance of “You’re annoying” to Sakura’s character and what those words mean to her throughout the chapters. Hear me out. So the very first time we hear the phrase, “You’re annoying” was Sakura saying it to Naruto for kissing Sasuke:
Sakura said “You’re annoying” to Naruto like they were nothing. She never even realized how hurtful those words could be. All she cared about was fangirling Sasuke and herself.
She was a shallow girl and didn’t care much about other people’s feelings.
When Naruto pretended to be Sasuke, he asked her what she thought of him and yet again she replies, “He’s just annoying”:
Again, she just uses this phrase because Naruto is just a hindrance to her crush for Sasuke- she never really thought what Naruto felt from her words until Sasuke uses the same phrase on her:
Then she realized how hurtful that phrase could be when it comes from the person you like. In my opinion, I felt this was just one of the instances where the phrase, “you’re annoying” helped develop Sakura’s character. This time it makes her more empathetic to Naruto:
Now 181 was a very special moment- Sasuke uses that same phrase yet again to Sakura. But he’s not saying this in the derogatory manner as he did the first time:
Instead, Sasuke is complimenting her character in a roundabout way with these repeated words. Sasuke was angered by her words in the beginning because Sakura was judging Naruto without even getting to know him- she knew nothing about Naruto yet she spews out rude things:
Hence the first panel of Sasuke scowling and calling Sakura annoying- because she didn’t understand any of the loneliness he and Naruto felt.
But now during this 181 scene, Sakura is actually talking about loneliness and what she would feel if he left her:
I think this is showing a huge development in Sakura’s character because in chapter 3, she spews out words about how great it is to live alone (in Naruto’s case). But now in 181, she actually partially understand what loneliness means- it’s not fun or great to be alone- it is actually very painful and heartbreaking. So for Sasuke to repeat those same words again to her at this same bench- I think it means a lot in both of SasuSaku and Sakura’s development. For SS, this is Sasuke acknowledging how much Sakura has changed- she’s not really annoying in terms of ignorance like in chapter 3 anymore. She’s annoying because of how much she means to him now and how her words have an effect on him. Back in chapter 3, her words meant nothing to him because she didn’t understand anything. Yet, Sakura’s character changed so drastically from that chapter to now- she’s not just some shallow, ignorant fangirl. But she actually grew into a girl who really genuinely loves him (and has shown him many times!) and the fact that she poured her heart out to him and truly meant every word touched Sasuke’s heart- yet he had a goal to complete hence the only words he could leave her was the same phrase (yet more importantly spoken with a different undertone and facial expression) from the memory he said he “forgot” and his gratitude.
Now 300+ chapters later, Karui uses the phrase, “You’re annoying” and look how Sakura reacts to it:
In my opinion, she breaks down into tears because of the memory of Sasuke saying that. I don’t think she would break down like this if Karui left out the phrase, “You’re annoying.” I think this is another instance where this speaks volumes about Sakura’s character now- her love for Sasuke is very pure and genuine compared to the beginning of the manga. Sasuke has and always been in Sakura’s heart and on her mind- this is showing Sakura’s unwavering faith and love for Sasuke- it hurts to even hear one of the words Sasuke last spoke to her from a stranger. I also believe that this was another subtle way of Kishi showing how much Sakura thinks about how she was powerless to stop Sasuke from leaving and hearing that he’s a part of Akatsuki is just painful. Adding on the phrase “You’re annoying” is just salt in an open wound- which is why she burst into tears. I feel like this was also another prelude (in addition to the land of waves, FoD, 181 goodbye) of Sakura just “crying” for Sasuke like she said in 693.
Now let’s talk about 693’s “You’re annoying.”
Again, this phrase is directed at Sakura. This is so important because let’s look at Sakura’s words before Sasuke says this:
She acknowledges what she felt which is was powerlessness (like what I said in the Karui part) and disgrace- she says, “I couldn’t be there for you when you needed help…or even stop you from going down that path. All I could do is sit here and cry. It’s disgraceful really!” She recognizes what she feels like is her faults (her just “crying”/“sitting here” and “couldn’t help Sasuke”) and even says “It’s disgraceful really!”- I feel that’s another milestone in Sakura’s character. The Part 1 Sakura in the beginning could never say these words and mean them. However, this Sakura is not afraid to say what she feels and attempt to change Sasuke’s mind (I feel like early Part 1 Sakura would just go along with whatever Sasuke said and did). She pours our her heart yet again to persuade Sasuke to come back. And to me, I felt like she did a pretty great job because of what Sasuke says and thinks in response (You’re annoying (hinting that Sakura’s words get under his skin); him thinking about his family when talking about Sakura’s love).
I also love how perceptive Sakura is. She knew she had a place in Sasuke’s heart- the only doubt she had was whether she still had that grasp and to me, I feel like she did recognize that she still had a hold on his heart due to that fact Sasuke says, “You’re annoying” with that facial expression.
Overall, I think it’s ironic that “You’re annoying” was actually first used by Sakura in the beginning yet now those words mean so much to her and that phrase has influenced her character throughout the manga.
amandla
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
pixelskylines
tangentwithtanner
dailybridgerton
